| The sacred literature of the Hindus, known as the | | | | Houses (Bhavas). "The positions of the planets in the |
| Vedas is divided into two categories. They are,"Shruti | | | | signs and houses are depicted in what is called the |
| (revealed knowledge)" and "Smriti (the practical | | | | Horoscope." (ref. |
| application of the eternal principles)". The discipline of | | | | Moon (Chandra): |
| Hindu astrology or "Jyotish (astronomy and | | | | It is significant to note that the Moon takes the |
| astrology)" belongs to the latter category (ref. | | | | position of planet in the Hindu astrology. We all know |
| 'Self-unfoldment', book by Swami Chinmayananda). | | | | the crucial role our mind plays in our lives. Mind |
| The Hindu astrology is also known as the Vedic | | | | creates our reality. Moon is used in the Hindu |
| astrology or Indian astrology. The Hindu culture is | | | | astrology as the representation of the human mind. |
| inherently intertwined with astrology, which is not | | | | Sign (Rasi), Birthstar (Nakshatra): |
| unlike the ancient cultures such as the Greece, with | | | | The twelve constellations or the zodiac signs called |
| its Oracles of Delphi or the Mayan civilization, with its | | | | the Rasis are also further divided into twenty-seven |
| widely mentioned Mayan calendar. | | | | (27) parts, known as the Birthstars (Nakshatras) or |
| The origins of the Hindu astrology is dated as far | | | | the Lunar mansions. The Birthstar (Nakshatras) of a |
| back as 6500 B.C. | | | | person is the star in one's horoscope where the |
| With the birth of internet, it is only becoming easier | | | | Moon is placed. Similarly, one's zodiac sign (Rasi) is the |
| for the modern mind to demystify the spiritual | | | | sign in which the Moon is found in one's chart. |
| wisdom of the Hindu astrology, that runs through the | | | | Houses (Bhavas): |
| sinews of the culture. | | | | All of the Houses combined are representative of the |
| One of the experiences in studying Vedic sciences, is | | | | whole of our life, with all its experiences. Its twelve |
| the logic and structure that goes with it. If you are | | | | parts are indicative of the twelve areas that make |
| scientific, Indian astrology will allure you to study it, | | | | up our life. Each of the houses belong to one of the |
| perhaps even in its depths. | | | | four qualities of life. They are, Purpose (Dharma), |
| However, through a little perseverance, any one can | | | | Material acquisition (Artha), Desire (Kama) and Spiritual |
| get comfortable with the basics of the Hindu | | | | liberation (Moksha). |
| astrology. | | | | Each of the components are archetypal energies with |
| Even the most rational among us, have at some | | | | unique meaning attributed to each one of them. The |
| point, wished we knew what our future is meant to | | | | dynamism of each of these energies (eg. Planet, Sign, |
| be. Or, in a better way, had we not wanted to know | | | | Planetary movement) and how to interpret them |
| what choices of ours would create our best future? | | | | along with the interactions between them, is what |
| Had we not desired to know why and how some | | | | makes the vehicle of astrology capable of directing |
| situations are personally challenging and, whether and | | | | one's life. |
| when we can turn it around? | | | | So one can learn about one's own life by learning to |
| The purpose of astrology is to address, on our behalf | | | | interpret the chart. You can also get a free astrology |
| these internal enquiries. Gaining an insight into how it | | | | chart and report online at The Hindu astrology is so |
| serves this purpose can be beneficial and worth the | | | | thoroughly laid out that is also known as the |
| effort. | | | | predictive astrology. For example, Gautama Buddha's |
| Astrology works on the basic premise that each one | | | | father was given the prediction that his son will either |
| of us are one with the cosmos. So what happens | | | | become the king of the world or a saint. |
| inside of us is reflective of what happens in the | | | | As resourceful and fascinating as the discipline of |
| heavenly bodies - with its planetary positions, | | | | astrology maybe, it is always pointed out by good |
| planetary behavior and the constellations. By studying | | | | practitioners of astrology that there is another |
| the external functions, we learn to understand and | | | | important factor that awaits to be honored |
| work with our inner universe. | | | | simultaneously. Will (purushartha) is a unique capacity |
| The three main components of the Hindu astrology | | | | of the human species. Applying one's will, as we do |
| are the Nine Planets (Navagrahas: In the Sanskrit | | | | moment by moment, consciously or unconsciously, |
| language, Nava indicates Nine, Grahas indicate the | | | | either guided or unguided by astrology, creates one's |
| Planets), the twelve Signs (Rasis), and the twelve | | | | future. |