Astrology and Sanathan Dharma

It is said that from Astrology came religion and not from religion came Astrology.

“Astrology and Astronomy” were always the cradle for birth of civilizations, be it any civilizations. It always played a pivotal role in shaping the civilizations, people’s feelings about the world and their feelings. Cosmos was always fascinating with its colourful Celestial bodies and mankind had always been fascinated by the Cosmos.

Hinduism also known as “Sanathan Dharma” (Sanathan means eternal and Dharma means inherent nature of reality). Hinduism or Sanathan Dharma is more than 5,500 years old. Astrology had always been a central part of “Paganism”.

Hinduism or Sanathan Dharma is accepted or viewed as a form of “Paganism”. “Paganism” incorporated the beliefs of nature worshipping and most importantly the worship of planets or Celestial bodies in the form of personification of gods and goddesses.

In Hinduism, gods like Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are Cosmic allegories which is worshipped by Hindus.

“Jyothish” which means “knowledge of light” was a form of Astrology system originating from India, which was a part of “Vedic civilization” of India. It is also known as “Vedic or Sidereal Astrology” at present or modern times.

“Jyothish” or “Vedic Astrology” or “Sidereal Astrology” has always been a part of Hindu culture because in India you find many temples dedicated to “Navagrahas” where “Nava” means nine and “graha” means Celestial bodies (not exactly planets).

In India, it is quite common for Hindu people to get a “Janam Kundli” or “Birth chart” (Janam means “birth” and Kundli means “horoscope”) to be cast right after the birth of new born baby, when it has breathed in first amount of air after entering this materialistic world. 

According to Hinduism (and even Jainism too), the 9 Celestial bodies act like indicators of our past life samskaras and our Karma. The different Celestial bodies placed in different houses acts as your strengths and weaknesses depending upon the position in the 12 different houses they are placed.

According to the Hinduism or Sanathana Dharma every human is egoistic and there will be endless cycles of rebirths or Reincarnation until that “human” attains Moksha or salvation by getting rid of ego and by attaining Universal Consciousness he becomes part of Brahman and will never be born again thus stopping the cycles of Reincarnation where they will not be born again in this materialistic Earth. A person can never get Moksha after death without shunning egoism in his lifetime and it is not that easy, it has its own time (depends on good Karma). It takes “endless number” of rebirths or Reincarnation to get Moksha (where you have shunned egoism). A person can get Moksha only when he has nil Karmic baggage.

Everyone is Egoistic and it is a Spiritual mission for every human in order to become part of Brahman (God) and to stop this cycle of rebirths or reincarnation by shunning egoism.

The word egoism has 2 meanings when taken in context, according to materialistic point of view the word egoism means having a sense of belongingness towards yourself and materialistic things which you possess.

But the word egoism in spiritual point of view or in context of spiritual view the meaning of the word egoism means having a sense of belongingness towards yourself where you are a part of the Cosmos or Universe. The meaning of this is that Cosmos is part of us and we are part of the Cosmos. Us also refers to you when taken individually.

According to the view of Spirituality, egoism means having a sense of belongingness towards yourself and materialistic things like your car, your home etc and where “you are part of the Cosmos and Cosmos is part of you.”

There is one verse in Yajur Veda,” Yatha Pinde, Thatha Brahmande, Yatha Brahmande thatha Pinde” which translates to as “ As is the human body, so is the Cosmos and as is the Cosmos, so is the human body” which is what Astrology concept is about.

Astrology is the gateway to Spirituality. You can understand Spirituality better and be a better Spiritual person or Spirituality inclined person.

Vedic Astrology or Sidereal Astrology is a branch of Astrology originating and developed from Indian Vedic civilization. Sidereal Astrology or Vedic Astrology is Astronomical in nature unlike the western or tropical Astrology.

Some of the great Hindu sages like Parasara Muni, Bhrigu Muni, Varahamihira Muni were some of the great Hindu Astronomers and Astrologers.

Vedic Astrology or Sidereal Astrology is very much part of Hinduism. We have many mythological stories or mythologies which refers to the celestial bodies and their Astrological or even Astronomical phenomenon where that Astronomical or Astrological phenomenon is explained in the form of a stories.

For example: In Indian Mythology, there is one story where it is said that Ravana who is a demon king wanted to have Saturn in 11th house for his Son’s birth chart. Saturn in 11th house is considered as a beneficial position for a native according to Vedic Astrology. So demon king Ravana asks Saturn or Shani to be posited in 11th house in his son’s birth chart, but it so happened that Saturn posited himself in 12th house and Saturn in 12th house for a native’s birth chart is said to be malefic according to Vedic Astrology. The infuriated Ravana then breaks the right leg of Saturn.

It is Astrologically observed that during Saturn retrograde, a person undergoing Saturn retrograde meets with an accident where that person’s right leg gets injured. Thus, Mythological stories were simple stories created by different civilizations to explain about different phenomenon in the form of stories.

In Sanathan Dharma, Navagraha is worshipped as god and there are many famous Navagraha temples in India.

The Navagrahas are:

1. Surya Graha (Sun)
2. Chandra Graha (Moon)
3. Mangal Graha or Kuja (Mars)
4. Brihaspathi Graha or Guru(Jupiter)
5. Shani Graha (Saturn)
6. Budha Graha (Mercury)
7. Shukra Graha (Venus)
8. Rahu Graha (Lunar North node)
9. Ketu Graha (Lunar South node)

It is to be noted that Rahu and Ketu is not a planet, but an Astronomical point where it denotes the point of intersection of the paths of Sun and Moon in Vedic Astrology. Rahu and Ketu are called as “Shadow planets” due to their influence on humans according to Vedic Astrology.

In India, you can see marriages take place only after consulting an Astrologer where the birth charts of the couple is seen, whether they match or not and then they only they get married. Here match means in the sense that whether they make good couple or not, in other words compatibility. It may be a rare case, where you find that marriage take place without the consultation of birth chart with an Astrologer.

Even the person who doesn’t believe in Astrology and skeptical of Astrology, finds that his/her family follow this tradition of matching horoscopes in order to find a good bride or groom. It is rather accepted as part of Hindu culture and traditions, leaving aside the question of its validity whether it is true or not. Hindus also refer to “Rahu Kaalam chart” before commencing any good event, Rahu Kaalam is a time which is considered that you shouldn’t commence any auspicious work during that period of time. It is 90 minutes of duration of time.

There is a ring called “Navagraha ring” which is worn by Hindus as a sacred ring dedicated to Navagrahas. The Navagraha ring has 9 types of gemstones embedded on it each representing 9 different Navagrahas.

Some of the famous temples dedicated to Navagrahas are Kalahasti Temple in Andhra Pradesh, Bannanje Shani temple, Karnataka, Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra, Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu which is very famous, Navagraha temple in Bada Ganpathi temple, Madhya Pradesh and Navagraha temple in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh and many more all over India is famous for its own history.

Almost every Hindu festival has Astronomical flavour or touch to it (you can say Astrological, because once a period of time both Astrology and Astronomy were one and the same). For example: Kumbh Mela is a Hindu festival which is associated with planet Jupiter. Karva Chauth is a Hindu festival associated with the Moon.

There is even one Yoga called “Surya Namaskar” which is associated with the Sun.

Thus, Astrology is very much part of the Hindu culture and traditions.

Yes, at present times or modern times Astrology is considered as pseudoscience. But there are some evidence which proves that Astrology may be true.

In India, “Jyothish” or Astrology is rather accepted as part of Hindu culture and traditions and not much importance is given to the question of its validity whether it is true or not.

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