My perceptions
Growing up in a Brahmin family and brought up in a modern society. I have had my doubts about astrology. The conflicts of getting a new born named as per the time of birth and knowing that planets are just huge chunks of matter in space.
The abuse of the art (still not convinced enough to call it a science) in modern times has added to the uncertainty. Astrology as we perceive it in the contemporary world. Is a sham science, a way for the so called astrologers to rake in the moolah.
Maybe that’s what it has become in mdern times. But is this the way it was conceived. Why was it created in the first palce.
To start with the Jyotisha (jyotiṣa, in Hindi and English usage Jyotish) is the Hindu system of astrology, one of the six disciplines of Vedanga. (ref wikipedia)
The Vedanga (IASTvedāṅga, "member of the Veda") are six auxiliary disciplines for the understanding and tradition of the Vedas.
Shiksha (śikṣā): phonetics and phonology (sandhi)
Chandas(chandas): meter
Vyakarana (vyākaraṇa): grammar
Nirukta(nirukta): etymology
Jyotisha (jyotiṣa): astrology and astronomy, dealing particularly with the auspicious days for performing sacrifices.
Kalpa (kalpa): ritual
The Vedangas are first mentioned in the Mundaka Upanishad as topics to be observed by students of the Vedas. Later, they developed into independent disciplines, each with its own corpus of Sutras (ref wikipedia)
Each Vedanga is regarded as a body part of the Vedas. Joytish is considered the eye of Vedas. for its alleged ability to view both phenomenal reality and wisdom itself. Jyotish's many lineages emphasize that its study is a sadhna or technique of mental development.
Vedic astrology (Aagam Shaastra / Jyotisha- futurity sciences) has three main branches:
Siddhanta (Astronomy): Astronomy & its application to astrology
Samhita (Mundane astrology): Covers Mundane astrology, predicting important events related to countries such as war, earth quakes, political events, astro - meteorology, financial positions, electional astrology house & construction related matters (Vaastu Shaastra), animals, portents & omens etc.
Hora (Predictive astrology):
Hora has 11 sub branches and this is one of the most practised branch in moderntimes. It also remains the most fascinating part of Joytish. If done right it is said that a man can predict the exact location of GOD on earth with it.
Hmm.. the key here is “ if done right ”. How do we know what is the right way. One of the resons why astrology is seen as a pseudoscience is because there is no right way to learn it. We have pathways to become an engineer , a doctor , a lawyer. Etc. Do we have anything for astrology. To become a doctor a person has to complete 12 years of schooling, 5 years of degree and 2 years of further studies. 19years of hard work to only start being called a doctor. And don’t know how long to become good at it.
Do we have any such framework for astrology. If we look into the ancient texts for it. Its said to become an astrologer a person must be an expert mathematcian, with a keen sense of observation, and has to learn it for 30 years before he can start making predictions. So do we have any astrologer in the present world who fits the bill. If not is it fair to dismiss it as a sham…
Will have more on this….
The abuse of the art (still not convinced enough to call it a science) in modern times has added to the uncertainty. Astrology as we perceive it in the contemporary world. Is a sham science, a way for the so called astrologers to rake in the moolah.
Maybe that’s what it has become in mdern times. But is this the way it was conceived. Why was it created in the first palce.
To start with the Jyotisha (jyotiṣa, in Hindi and English usage Jyotish) is the Hindu system of astrology, one of the six disciplines of Vedanga. (ref wikipedia)
The Vedanga (IASTvedāṅga, "member of the Veda") are six auxiliary disciplines for the understanding and tradition of the Vedas.
Shiksha (śikṣā): phonetics and phonology (sandhi)
Chandas(chandas): meter
Vyakarana (vyākaraṇa): grammar
Nirukta(nirukta): etymology
Jyotisha (jyotiṣa): astrology and astronomy, dealing particularly with the auspicious days for performing sacrifices.
Kalpa (kalpa): ritual
The Vedangas are first mentioned in the Mundaka Upanishad as topics to be observed by students of the Vedas. Later, they developed into independent disciplines, each with its own corpus of Sutras (ref wikipedia)
Each Vedanga is regarded as a body part of the Vedas. Joytish is considered the eye of Vedas. for its alleged ability to view both phenomenal reality and wisdom itself. Jyotish's many lineages emphasize that its study is a sadhna or technique of mental development.
Vedic astrology (Aagam Shaastra / Jyotisha- futurity sciences) has three main branches:
Siddhanta (Astronomy): Astronomy & its application to astrology
Samhita (Mundane astrology): Covers Mundane astrology, predicting important events related to countries such as war, earth quakes, political events, astro - meteorology, financial positions, electional astrology house & construction related matters (Vaastu Shaastra), animals, portents & omens etc.
Hora (Predictive astrology):
Hora has 11 sub branches and this is one of the most practised branch in moderntimes. It also remains the most fascinating part of Joytish. If done right it is said that a man can predict the exact location of GOD on earth with it.
Hmm.. the key here is “ if done right ”. How do we know what is the right way. One of the resons why astrology is seen as a pseudoscience is because there is no right way to learn it. We have pathways to become an engineer , a doctor , a lawyer. Etc. Do we have anything for astrology. To become a doctor a person has to complete 12 years of schooling, 5 years of degree and 2 years of further studies. 19years of hard work to only start being called a doctor. And don’t know how long to become good at it.
Do we have any such framework for astrology. If we look into the ancient texts for it. Its said to become an astrologer a person must be an expert mathematcian, with a keen sense of observation, and has to learn it for 30 years before he can start making predictions. So do we have any astrologer in the present world who fits the bill. If not is it fair to dismiss it as a sham…
Will have more on this….
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