BASIC CONCEPT OF VEDIC ASTROLOGY

The sky as seen from earth appears as a sphere with earth as its centre. This hypothetical sphere is called Celestial Sphere or Celestial Globe.

Our solar system is very very small as compared to our universe. The distances of stars seen in the sky are so huge that they hardly appear changing their positions in the celestial sphere even in thousands of years. In other words the celestial sphere appears like a black hollow sphere on which is stars are fixed on its surface from inside. Obviously the structure made by stars practically does not change with time.

Since the planets of our solar system including Sun and Moon are comparatively much nears, they can be seen moving in the Celestial Globe. In Indian Astrology all such heavenly bodies, which appear moving are called Grahas(planets). Because our earth moves around the Sun on almost a circular path, the Sun appears moving around the Earth on a circular path on the Celestial Sphere from west to east. All the other planets (Grahas) also appear moving along this circle from west to east, on a 9 degree wide path, which is called Zodiac.(Do not confuse with the daily apparent motion of heavenly bodies which is from east to west, due to rotational motion of earth.)

In ancient times only 5 planets namely Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were known, as they can be seen by naked eyes. If Sun and Moon are also included the number of planets(Grahas) becomes 7.

There are 12 houses in a Vedic Astrology chart. Each of these houses is representative of certain areas of a human life. Also, each of these 12 houses has a natural signifier planet known as Karakas in Vedic Astrology. Given below is the table of each of the 12 houses and their significations along with the karakas. House Represents Karaka 1 Physical self of the native i.e. his/her physical appearance Surya 2 Wealth of the native Guru 3 Siblings, communication skills of the native Mangal 4 Mother, property of the native Chandra 5 Progeny, education of the native Guru 6 Enemies, Servants of the native Mangal 7 Spouse, Partners of the native Shukra 8 Death, diseases of the native Shani 9 Teacher(s), Father of the native Guru 10 Achievements, Career of the native Budha 11 Income, profits to the native Guru 12 Expenditure, loss to the native Shani Then Vedic Astrology has the concept of Rashi (sign). There are 12 rashis in total. Rashis are basically 12 divisions of the 360o zodiac. Each of these rashis is lorded by particular planet(s). Each of these rashis aspect other three rashis in the zodiac – aspects from rashi consisting of good planets and otherwise good house are beneficial and the aspects from rashi containing bad planets and otherwise bad houses are malefic. Given below is the table of 12 rashis and their lords, along with other details. Sanskrit Name English Name Lord Rashi Aspects Mobility Nature Characteristic Type Representative Sex Mesha Aries Mangal Simha, Vrischika, Kumbha Movable Fire Male Vrishabha Taurus Shukra Kartakam, Thulam, Makara Fixed Earth Female Mithuna Gemini Budha Kanya, Dhanus, Meena Dual/Common Air Male Kartakam Cancer Chandra Vrishabha, Vrischika, Kumbha Movable Water Female Simha Leo Surya Mesha, Thulam, Kumbha Fixed Fire Male Kanya Virgo Budha Mithuna, Dhanus, Meena Dual/Common Earth Female Thulam Libra Shukra Vrishabha, Simha, Kumbha Movable Air Male Vrischika Scorpio Mangal and Ketu Mesha, Kartakam, Makara Fixed Water Female Dhanus Sagittarius Guru Mithuna, Kanya, Meena Dual/Common Fire Male Makara Capricorn Shani Vrishabha, Simha, Vrischika Movable Earth Female Kumbha Aquarius Shani and Rahu Mesha, Kartakam, Thulam Fixed Air Male Meena Pisces Guru Mithuna, Kanya, Dhanus Dual/Common Water Female   Each planet is supposed to give certain results. Now each of these planets give intense (mainly in a good way) results in a particular rashi and weak (mainly in a bad way) results in another rashi. The rashi in which the planet gives good results is known as its Uccha (Exaltation) rashi and the one in which the planet gives bad results is known as its Neecha (Debilitation) rashi. Given below is a list of Neecha and Uccha rashis of planets. The table below gives the uccha, Neecha rashis of the grahas as well as information about their aspects. Graha Uccha Rashi Neecha Rashi Surya Mesha Thulam Chandra Vrishabha Vrischika Mangal Makara Kartakam Budha Kanya Meena Guru Kartakam Makara Shukra Meena Kanya Shani Thulam Mesha Rahu Vrishabha Vrischika Ketu Vrischika Vrishabha Each graha aspects other grahas just like rashis, as shown in the table below. Note that each graha aspects the 7th house from it always. Apart from that, some grahas like Mangal, Guru, Shani, Rahu and Ketu aspects other houses. Aspects from good planets in the chart are always beneficial and that from bad planets are malefic. Graha Aspect Surya 7th house from where it is placed Chandra 7th house from where it is placed Mangal 7th, 4th, 8th house from where it is placed Budha 7th house from where it is placed Guru 7th, 5th, 9th house from where it is placed Shani 7th, 3rd, 10th house from where it is placed Rahu 7th, 4th, 8th house from where it is placed Ketu 7th, 3rd, 10th house from where it is placed