“Vedic” comes from the word “Veda” in Sanskrit, which means knowledge, in a very broad context.  Vedic astrology is a system of astrology that is predictive in nature.  Read on to find out more.

What is Vedic Astrology?

Vedic astrology is an analysis and forecasting system based on astronomical data that allows practitioners to assess and understand behaviour, measure the effects of the past, the influence of the present, and the tendency of events to unfold in the future.  Vedic astrology comes from the oldest and most important scriptures in India, the Vedas.  The Sanskrit name for Vedic astrology is Jyotisha or Jyotish and it means “the eye or light of nature”.  It describes the ability of the astrologer to view people’s behaviour as well as projected cycles and outcomes of times and events.

Vedic astrology is linked to other Vedic systems such as Ayurveda for healthy, Vastu for dwellings, and other philosophies.  It is part of a holistic, integrated knowledge system.  Vedic astrological calculations are different from what most of us are used to in the Western systems.  Vedic astrology is sidereal or based in reference to the stars, and all its calculations are constantly adjusted for a back slipping motion of the earth called precession.

Vedic astrology assumes the law of karma, which states that a human being lives and works within certain parameters that were created by actions undertaken in previous lives.  Thus it is regarded as predictive in nature as it can show when the results of these prior actions will come to fruition in the present life.

The History of Vedic Astrology

The fundamentals of Vedic astrology were believed to have been instituted by Brahma, the creator, with the knowledge then being passed down to Rishis and then to man.  The current form of Vedic astrology was written several thousand years ago by Maharishi Parashara; however, it could have existed several thousand years before than in oral form.

The Purpose of Vedic Astrology

The purpose of Vedic astrology is to avoid problems before they occur.  The astrologer uses the tools of this form of astrology to forecast the times to promote events in one’s life or to pull back, recognising that the indications can point to some obvious serious risk.  Followers of Vedic astrology focus more on when things might or might not happen, rather than on psychological matters.  Vedic astrology is not fatalistic. Rather, it is intended to point to useful and actionable indications or probabilities that certain behaviours may emerge or specific events could take place over time.  It is important to know that the events seen in an astrological chart are not required to happen as they appear.  A motivated, sincere person, under the guidance of the astrologer, can make effective changes in their lives.