Search This Blog

18 May 2019

A Brief History Of Hindu Or Vedic Astrology

By Jose Edwards


Most people use astrology to discover personal assets, personality traits, predictions and other factors based on astrological signs and readings. Although, the Western or tropical zodiac is the most commonly used, there are different aspects and zodiacs depending on whether using Western or Vedic astrology. While both forms have been around for quite some time, the term Vedic has only recently become associated with Hindu astrology.

While the Hindu practice has been going on for quite some time, it was not until the 1970s when the practice became known as a Vedic practice. Whereas, there are some astrologists whom suggest that the Indian astrological practice came from previous Western influences, thus dating the practice back to the Vedic period. In addition, while a number of authors claim that the myths associated with Ramayana and Maharharata forms of the practice had nothing to do with planetary alignment.

Originally Vedic and Western forms were thought to be part of the occult. Whereas, times have changed as there are a number of Indian universities now offering advanced degrees in Vedic form. In the beginning, a number of scientists protested the course offerings as being nothing more than pseudoscience. However, in 2001, the High Court favored the practice and allowed the universities to move forward with such offerings.

The Hindu form is also considered one of the 6 disciplines which are part of Hindu holiday rituals and observances. While in the beginning, the form used a calendar to mark the date of sacrificial rituals, this is no longer the case. In addition, while the word demons was originally found in the Hindu form, later the term graha which had been thought to refer to demons was determined to mean planet.

Original Hindu astrological practices came from a basic belief focusing on a connection between the microcosm and macrocosm of the universe. Today, the practice relies on the sidereal zodiac which is somewhat different from that of the tropical zodiac used in Western astrology. The Hindu form also uses a number of subsystems related to interpretations and predictions based on the elements not generally found in Western forms.

The zodiac known as sidereal or Nirayana consist of a 360 degree imaginary belt which like the tropical zodiac is divided into twelve equal sections. Each part being called a rasi or sign. While this is the case, Western and Hindu forms differ when it comes to measurement methods.

Both forms appear to be synchronously identical though this is not the case. For, the Western zodiac measures the location of the planets against the Sun at the Spring equinox. Whereas, the Vedic form uses the stars which are fixed in place to measure the position of the planets. As such, while often appearing to be identical, each form often provides different interpretations and predictions at the same time of year.

Western astronomy has always transmitted the twelve signs of the zodiac beginning with Aries. However, the first introduction to Grecian astrological practices to India was through Greek sayings dating back to the beginning of time. Regardless, the earliest version of any type of astrological chart known to survive was one known to be an Indian text which defined the weekday beginning in 476 AD.




About the Author:



No comments: