A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO VEDIC ASTROLOGY
G.K. Goel
Director of Astrology
Astro Science Research Organization
Historical background
Existing records prove that astrology was a highly developed branch of knowledge in India even as far back as 6000 BC. Manuscripts which were written between 3000 BC and 1700 BC are still available, eg Pitamha Siddhanta - a treatise on astrology that was authored about 3000 BC.
The works of Parasara, who lived about 1800 BC, are also available and referred to with great respect and honour. These works are the backbone of the Indian system of astrology even today.
Astrology – the Greatest Science
The science of astrology is concerned with the observation of the position of certain bodies and certain points in the heavens in relation to the Earth, and with the correspondences between these relative positions and the Earth. Some modern scientists assert that astronomy is the science of the stars, but such a statement is only partially correct. Astronomy is, and always was also a part of Astrology. It was used as a means to an end.
Some scientists doubt if astrology is a science. Funk & Wagnall’s Standard Dictionary gives the following definition of science:
“A knowledge of facts, laws and proximate causes, gained and verified by exact observation and correct thinking - else the universal knowledge - an exact and systematic statement or classification of knowledge connecting some subject or group of subjects or any department of knowledge in which the results of investigation have been systematized.”
If this is a correct definition of science, then indeed astrology is the greatest of all sciences, since its percepts and formation are based on actual and systematic records of observations made by men of repute since at least 6000 B.C. The ancient Rishis, no doubt, were adepts at synthesis. Astrology is indeed a synthesis of all branches of knowledge. The whole of mankind is deeply indebted for the knowledge and the path shown by these ancient Rishis. The present and the coming generations carry the responsibility to further enrich and develop the knowledge of this great science of astrology.
Ancient Astronomy
The Vedic rishis had observed that there is a mathematical point in the northern direction in the sky, around which all the stars seem to rotate. This is called Dhruva (Pole). This polar point itself moves very slowly amongst the stars. Whenever a star is near the polar point, that star is designated the Pole Star. According to Yacobi, star a Draconic was very near to Dhruva about 2780 BC. This star was so near to the polar point 250 years before and after this year, which it was called the Pole Star during that period. Maharishi Garg and the other rishis of his Era observed that the slow motion of the polar point in the sky is directly linked to the precession of the Equinoxes.
This phenomenon is vividly explained in the Samhita Granthas, Puranas and other scriptures. I quote the following three slokas from the Vishnu Purana, which was narrated by Maharishi Parasara to Maitreya:
Ansha 2, chapter 9, slokas 1, 2 and 3
rkjke;a Hkxor% f'k'kqekjkÑfr izHkksA
fnfo :ia gjs;ZÙkq rL; iqPNs fLFkrks/zqo%AA2AA
lS"k Hkzeu~ Hkzke;fr pUnzkfnR;kfndku~ egku~A
HkzeUreuq ra ;kfUr u{k=kkf.k p pØor~AA2AA
lw;kZpUnzelkS rkjk u{k=kkf.k xzgS% lgA
okrkuhde;ScZU/S/zqZos c¼kfu rkfu oSAA3AA
The above slokas convey the following information:
“In the sky, God has placed himself amongst the stars, in the form of the Shishumara Chakra, whose tail is placed in the Pole (Dhruva), and body and head are placed in the Solar System. This motion of Dhruva amongst the stars is connected with the motion of the Moon, the Sun and the other planets. All the stars also seem to move around Dhruva. The motion of the Sun, Moon and nakshatras along the ecliptic causes the movement of the Dhruva among the stars and are inter-dependent to each other, as if they are all interconnected by fixed atmospheric strings.”
Parasara goes on to emphasise this further in slokas 24 and 25 of the same chapter of the Vishnu Purana:
vk/kj Hkwr% lforq/zZqoks eqfuojksÙkeA
/zqoL; f'k'kqekjks¿lkSlksvfi ukjk;.kkRed%AA25AA
gfn ukjk;.kLrL; f'k'kqekjL; lafLFkr%A
foHkrkZ loZ HkwrkukekfnHkwr% lukru%AA25AA
“The movement of the polar point depends upon the Solar System and the Shishumara Chakra. This movement draws its stability and sustenance from Narayana, whose abode is deep in the northern direction above the polar point.”
This concept is unique and correctly depicts the arrangement of the Solar System. This concept was observed by the school of Maharishi Garg much before 3000 BC. Gargacharya was the chief preceptor of the Yadavas in the days of Lord Krishna, when the Vernal Equinox point was in Rohini nakshatra. The above concept is not only referred to in the Vishnu Purana, but also in the Brahmana Samhitas, other Puranas and in the Mahabharata.
Astronomically speaking therefore, Narayana is a concept analogous to a big magnetic force deep in the northern direction above the polar point. This holds the Solar System and the stars in their respective positions. The Solar System is conceived of in the form of Lord Vishnu who provides sustenance to all living beings on Earth. The Brahmana Samhita Granthas and the Puranas are full of such lore’s which were recorded in the Vedic period since 6000 BC. This Vedic lore’s, recorded in the form of hymns, depicts what occurred in the sky in vivid detail. As a matter of fact, these hymns are true records of actual observations made by Vedic rishis till 2000 BC.
VISHWAMITRA AND PARASARA
Rishi Vishwamitra (around 2400 BC) and Parasara (around 1800 BC) had taken a quantum leap and brought about a conceptual change in Astrology. In fact they had given a new dimension to the astrological thought process, based of course on the vast feedback available to them in the form of Vedic literature. Vishwamitra provided the analytical data and Parasara conceptualized the same in the form of dicta and basic principles.
We also find a parallel occurrence in the modern history of astronomy. After the invention of the telescope in the 16th century AD, Tycho left behind vast astronomical data on the movement of the planets and stars. Kepler analyzed this data and gave three laws of planetary motion, which are valid even today. Newton gave three laws of motion in 1666 AD conceptualizing the principles working behind Kepler’s laws. All these gave a new direction to the science of astronomy.
We will now summarise the unique achievements of Vishwamitra and Parasara in the fields of astronomy and astrology respectively.
The Era of Vishwamitra (24th Century BC)
1. Ingress of the Vernal Equinox into Krittika nakshatra
Some authorities talk about three Vishwamitras who lived in three different Eras. Here we will explore the achievements of the Rishi Vishwamitra who lived in the 24th century BC. This can be proved with the help of the following verse which indicates the commencement of the Yudhishtra Era:
izklu~ e?kklq euq;% 'kkflr i`fFkohe~ u`irkSA
"kM f}diap f};qr% 'kd dkyLr jkT;L;AA
This verse says that the Saka Era commenced after a lapse of 2526 years from the commencement of the Yudhishtra Era. Thus we can draw the simple conclusion that the Mahabharata Era was before 2448 BC (i.e. 2526 years before78AD, the year of the commencement of the Saka Era). Some authorities believe that the original Saka Era actually commenced in 550 BC. This would push the commencement of the Yudhishtra Era back to 3076 BC. In any case, the Rishi Vishwamitra, to whom we are referring, lived after the Mahabharata Era.
I have quoted this verse to prove that the sage Vishwamitra and the sage Parasara whose achievements I am discussing lived after the Era of the Mahabharata. The sage Vishwamitra of the Era of Lord Rama and the sage Parasara of Mahabharata fame were different rishis.
The Astronomical hymn of Vishwamitra (RV III 9.9) reads as follows:
trini satä trï sahasräny agnim
trimsat ca devä navä casaparyan
tri saharäni, trini satä,
trimsat ca nava ca devä agnim asaparyan, i.e.
3339 devas (dyus or tithis) worshipped Agni (Krittika = Alcyone 2) by perambulation in the sky.
Vishwamitra’s astronomy thus contains the mystic number 3339 which can be factorised as follows:
3339 = 371 ´ 9= 53 ´ 7 ´ 9
This is purely an astronomical hymn which refers to the worship of Agni, the lord of the star Krittika, by perambulation in the sky.
The hymn yields the following concepts when the full moons in Krittika (Alcyone 2) are observed and studied continuously for 30 years:
2. The length of the year
A solar year is made up of 371 lunar tithis to a first approximation; a nine-year period is made up of 3339 tithis.
In three years, there is one intercalary month. Vishwamitra discovered that in 30 years, one extra intercalary month (in addition to the usual 10) is needed.
Hence 30 solar years
= 30 synodic years + 11 synodic months
= 30 X 360 tithis + 11 X 30 tithis
= 30 X 371 tithis
Thus one solar year = 371 tithis
= 371 X 29.531/30 = 365.20 days
The modern values are:
Mean length of a tropical year = 365.242190 days
Mean length of a sidereal year = 365.256363 days
Vishwamitra’s calculations are truly a wonderful achievement in so remote a period! (We should also remember that the duration of the rotation of the earth varies in different Eras and is not constant.)
Since ancient times, man has observed that day comes after night and night after day. Similarly, he has observed the phases of the Moon and the yearly cycle of seasons. Vishwamitra’s mystic number 3339 correlates beautifully all the three elements of time, i.e. tithi, day and year.
3. Eclipses – Cycle of Saros
The plane of the Moon’s orbit has an inclination of 5.15 degree to that of the Earth’s orbit. The two opposite points of intersection of these orbits are called Rahu and Ketu. These nodes regress, and in 6793.470 days (18.60 years) make a complete circle of the zodiac. When a conjunction or opposition of the Sun and the Moon occurs near either node, a solar or lunar eclipse occurs. Man has always been very curious about the occurrence of the eclipses in all Eras.
It is believed that the Chaldean astronomers discovered that eclipses recur in a cycle of 18 tropical years, 11 days and 8 hours, a period within which four leap years are contained. If there are five leap years, then it is one day shorter; and if there are three, then it is one day longer. The Indian rishis discovered that the corresponding cycle contained 223 synodic lunar months. This cycle is more appropriate and meaningful because the eclipses can take place only at the full or new moons. The Indian law is, therefore, integrally rigorous.
Now, 3339 tithis = 111 synodic months plus 9 tithis.
If the above period is multiplied by two, the figure will come to 222 synodic months plus 18 tithis. This is only 12 tithis shorter than the Saros cycle of 223 synodic months. Thus, astronomers could predict the eclipse at the next full or new moon after the period arrived at by using the mystic number 3339. This establishes that the Vishwamitra School knew about the cycle of eclipses.
4. Vishwamitra Yuga (Exeligmos)
The period of 3339 synodic years equals 3240 solar years (3339 ´ 360 ¸371). Actually one third the period i.e. 1080 solar years, was extensively used and applied in determining Eras in India up to the 5th century AD. (The period of 1080 solar years will include all intercalary tithis in full number to first approximation. 1080 solar years will contain 1113 synodic years.)
From this initial period of 1080 years they evolved the concept of a Chaturyuga of 4320 years (1080 ´ 4). From this, Aryabhatta derived the concept of 4,320,000 years as comprising a Cosmic Yuga for higher accuracy. (This is called one day of the creator, Brahma.) And Brahmagupta conceived of 4,320,000,000 years for still higher accuracy.
Some authorities believe that the value of the Cosmic Yuga mentioned above is the LCM of the sidereal periods of all the seven planets. It is not possible to verify such a claim mathematically based on the astronomical data available at present.
Vishwamitra’s mystic number 3339 gives a better and a more scientific explanation for the adoption of the time durations of the Yugas, by different authorities
I may mention that some astrologers recommend the use of the Savan year of 360 days for the calculation of dasas and for other predictive purposes. This is not correct. The solar year must be used for dasa calculations as is clear from the above discussions.
5. Vernal Equinox - Vishwamitra, the architect of a new creation
It is very obvious that even before 6000 BC, the Vedic rishis made accurate observations of the sky. The phenomena observed by them are recorded in Hindu scriptures. They had, therefore, evolved a method to observe the precession of the equinoxes. This is the most (and may well be the only) reliable method to fix the different Eras.
The Aitareya Brahmana specifically mentions that it was Vishwamitra who first saw the summer solstice in the nakshatra of Magha and also the Vernal Equinox in the Krittikas. The word is ‘saw’, which leads us to believe that he first observed the phenomena and then, later, composed the hymns. It was almost like the creation of a new zodiacal order in the sky, and hence Vishwamitra was called the ‘rival creator’.