Jyotiṣa. Basics

Jyotisha (Sanskrit: ज्योतिष, IAST: Jyotiṣa) or Vedic astrology is considered the science of heavenly lights and their effects on human life. It offers us guidance on the path of our evolutionary spiral.

The word ‘Jyotisha’ has been derived from Sanskrit language. ‘Jyoti’ means light, “Isha” — the prefix of the sanskrit word stands for ‘Ishwara’ or God. Thus Jyotisha mean ‘Made of Light’ or the ‘Light of God’ or the study of Light. As the word stands for the keyword of light, Jyotisha becomes the science of human existence connected with physical, astral and casual body and his relationship with Nature. The human body exist on macrocosm and the existence within the body microcosm is of the same.

From the astrological point of view, Jyotisha uses the planets for calculations, and this is a metaphor for the ‘device’ in this science. The simple astro-physics equate the human body as a prism allow the light to pass through. Basically the light refracts and open as a spectrum of seven colours. Here prism is the physical body, the beam of light is the Soul, the study of the spectrum is Jyotisha and the source of beam of light is Ishwara. The energy that sustains All is the ‘Kundalini Power’ that is the all pervading cosmic energy.

The seven colours of the spectrum complement the seven planets other than the two extra un-illuminated planets called Rahu and Ketu. They are the North and South Poles of the spectrum. Western astrology considers these nodes calling Dragon head and Dragon Tail. All these planets are the devices used in Astrology just as a clairvoyance use a crystal ball or ‘Tarot cards’ as a device to predict.

Jyotisha is a map of the Soul’s journey and return back to God head. In the Vedas it is called Karma (the happening) linked with past, present and future. The spectrum of an individual is unique and its graphic presentation is called ‘Kundali’ (birth chart) covering 12 ‘Bhavas’ - unleashing personal and physical characteristics, financial position, relationships, academic achievements, past lives, health, spousal happiness, disgrace and illness, spiritual attainments, occupation or means of livelihood.

Consider it like a life code. It is the language of the Divine, the blueprint of our Soul. If you know this language, the universe and its celestial energetics will speak with you. It is a way to know about yourself more intimately. Jyotisha shines light on the stairway to your innermost self and helps you understand how it really is, not just how others see you or how you imagine you are.