Misplaced Pages

#561438

59-499: The stones are often set within gold or silver jewelry, with a ruby as the centerpiece representing the Sun. Each additional stone around the ruby then represents another celestial body within the Solar System , or a node , in addition to representing good fortune and the characteristics of various religious figures. For traditional purposes and the purported health benefits, the arrangement of

118-517: A case which had challenged astrology's status as a science. As of 2014, despite continuing complaints by scientists, astrology continues to be taught at various universities in India, and there is a movement in progress to establish a national Vedic University to teach astrology together with the study of tantra , mantra , and yoga . Indian astrologers have consistently made claims that have been thoroughly debunked by skeptics. For example, although

177-471: A gem which is cracked, fissured, devoid of luster, or appearing rough or sandy, should not be used at all ." "Just as a house can be fitted with a copper rod to absorb the shock of lightning, so the bodily temple can be benefited by various protective measures. Ages ago our yogis discovered that pure metals emit an astral light which is powerfully counteractive to negative pulls of the planets. Subtle electrical and magnetic radiations are constantly circulating in

236-573: A half year. — Yajurveda Jyotisha-vedanga 8, Translator: Kim Plofker There are sixteen Varga ( Sanskrit : varga , 'part, division'), or divisional, charts used in Hindu astrology: The Nirayana, or sidereal zodiac , is an imaginary belt of 360 degrees, which, like the Sāyana, or tropical zodiac , is divided into 12 equal parts. Each part (of 30 degrees) is called a sign or rāśi ( Sanskrit : 'part'). Vedic (Jyotiṣa) and Western zodiacs differ in

295-532: A person's life. Rahu and Ketu correspond to the points where the moon crosses the ecliptic plane (known as the ascending and descending nodes of the moon). Classically known in Indian and Western astrology as the "head and tail of the dragon", these planets are represented as a serpent-bodied demon beheaded by the Sudarshan Chakra of Vishnu after attempting to swallow the sun. They are primarily used to calculate

354-403: A point of intense debate, and other scholars believe that Jyotisha developed independently, although it may have interacted with Greek astrology . Muh scientific consensus is that astrology is a pseudoscience and has consistently failed experimental and theoretical verification. Jyotisha, states Monier-Williams, is rooted in the word Jyotish, which means light, such as that of

413-430: A position among the sciences in modern India . India's University Grants Commission and Ministry of Human Resource Development decided to introduce "Jyotir Vigyan" (i.e. jyotir vijñāna ) or "Vedic astrology" as a discipline of study in Indian universities, stating that "vedic astrology is not only one of the main subjects of our traditional and classical knowledge but this is the discipline, which lets us know

472-570: A result of the precession of the equinoxes , the origin of the ecliptic longitude has shifted by about 30 degrees. As a result, the placement of planets in the Jyotiṣa system is roughly aligned with the constellations, while tropical astrology is based on the solstices and equinoxes. Unlike Western astrology, Hindu astrology usually disregards Uranus (which rules Aquarius), Neptune (which rules Pisces), and Pluto (which rules Scorpio). The nakshatras or lunar mansions are 27 equal divisions of

531-405: A roundabout way, states Plofker, after the arrival of Greek astrology ideas in India. The Jyotisha texts present mathematical formulae to predict the length of day time, sun rise and moon cycles. For example, Water clock A prastha of water [is] the increase in day, [and] decrease in night in the [sun's] northern motion; vice versa in the southern. [There is] a six-muhurta [difference] in

590-547: A rudimentary level. Technical horoscopes and astrology ideas in India came from Greece and developed in the early centuries of the 1st millennium CE. Later medieval era texts such as the Yavana-jataka and the Siddhanta texts are more astrology-related. The field of Jyotisha deals with ascertaining time, particularly forecasting auspicious day and time for Vedic rituals. The field of Vedanga structured time into Yuga which

649-624: Is based are early medieval compilations, notably the Bṛhat Parāśara Horāśāstra , and Sārāvalī by Kalyāṇavarma . The Horāshastra is a composite work of 71 chapters, of which the first part (chapters 1–51) dates to the 7th to early 8th centuries and the second part (chapters 52–71) to the later 8th century. The Sārāvalī likewise dates to around 800 CE. English translations of these texts were published by N. N. Krishna Rau and V. B. Choudhari in 1963 and 1961, respectively. Astrology remains an important facet of folk belief in

SECTION 10

#1732863244562

708-580: Is believed that the daśā largely governs the state of being of a person. The Daśā system shows which planets may be said to have become particularly active during the period of the Daśā. The ruling planet (the Daśānātha or 'lord of the Daśā') eclipses the mind of the person, compelling him or her to act per the nature of the planet. There are several dasha systems, each with its own utility and area of application. There are Daśās of grahas (planets) as well as Daśās of

767-548: Is believed that these gems may have both positive and negative influences on human life and that astrological gems should be worn only after consulting an astrologer. Based on an individual's sidereal horoscope , either a single gem or a combination of compatible gems is advised to be worn to harness beneficial planets or counteract harmful planets. The supposed "astrological" or "piezoelectric" benefit of wearing or donating gems has not been scientifically quantified. Solar System Too Many Requests If you report this error to

826-487: Is called gochara ( Sanskrit : gochara , 'transit'). The study of transits is based on the transit of the Moon (Chandra), which spans roughly two days, and also on the movement of Mercury (Budha) and Venus (Śukra) across the celestial sphere, which is relatively fast as viewed from Earth. The movement of the slower planets – Jupiter (Guru), Saturn (Śani) and Rāhu–Ketu — is always of considerable importance. Astrologers study

885-498: Is made for the gradual precession of the vernal equinox . Hindu astrology includes several nuanced sub-systems of interpretation and prediction with elements not found in Hellenistic astrology, such as its system of lunar mansions ( Nakṣatra ). It was only after the transmission of Hellenistic astrology that the order of planets in India was fixed in that of the seven-day week. Hellenistic astrology and astronomy also transmitted

944-406: Is secured, and unless these remedial agents are worn next to the skin." According to Hindu astrology , life on Earth is influenced by the navagrahas , or nine influencers (the planets). The placement of the navagrahas in one's horoscope is supposed to influence an individual's life. Wearing the nine gems is said to provide an astrological balance and benefit to the wearer. In Hindu astrology, it

1003-511: Is stated by the narrator, Sri Suta Goswami that: " Pure, flawless gems have auspicious powers which can protect one from demons, snakes, poisons, diseases, sinful reactions, and other dangers, while flawed stones have the opposite effect ." A similar concept exists in the Agni Purana , chapter 246, slokas 7 and 8: " A gem free from all impurities and radiating its characteristic internal luster should be looked upon as an escort of good luck;

1062-495: Is the Abhiśeka Nakṣatra, which is held as king over the other nakṣatras. Worshipping and gaining favour over this nakṣhatra is said to give power to remedy all the other nakṣatras, and is of concern in predictive astrology and mitigating Karma. The junction of two Râshis as well as Nakshatras is known as Gandanta. The word dasha ( Devanāgarī : दशा, Sanskrit , daśā , 'planetary period') means 'state of being' and it

1121-927: Is the gem for the Sun, natural pearl for the Moon, red coral for Mars, emerald for Mercury, yellow sapphire for Jupiter, diamond for Venus, blue sapphire for Saturn, hessonite for Rahu (ascending lunar node), and cat's eye for Ketu (descending lunar node)." This quote, attributed to Brihat Jataka and is mentioned in Mani-mala as well as Jataka Parijata माणिक्यं तरणेः सुजात्यममलं मुक्ताफलं शीतगोः माहेयस्य च विद्रुमं मरकतं सौम्यस्य गारुत्मतम देवेज्यस्य च पुष्पराजमसुराचार्यस्य वज्रं शनेः नीलं निर्मलमन्ययोश्च गदिते गोमेदवैदूर्यके māṇikyaṃ taraṇeḥ sujātyamamalaṃ muktāphalaṃ śītagoḥ māheyasya ca vidrumaṃ marakataṃ saumyasya gārutmatama devejyasya ca puṣparājamasurācāryasya vajraṃ śaneḥ nīlaṃ nirmalamanyayośca gadite gomedavaidūryake Translation: "...these gems must be high-born and flawless." The traditional setting and arrangement of

1180-545: Is the traditional Hindu system of astrology . It is one of the six auxiliary disciplines in Hinduism that is connected with the study of the Vedas . The Vedanga Jyotisha is one of the earliest texts about astronomy within the Vedas . Some scholars believe that the horoscopic astrology practised in the Indian subcontinent came from Hellenistic influences. However, this is

1239-617: The Supreme Court of India stated that the introduction of astrology to university curricula is "a giant leap backwards, undermining whatever scientific credibility the country has achieved so far". In 2004, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition, concluding that the teaching of astrology did not qualify as the promotion of religion. In February 2011, the Bombay High Court referred to the 2004 Supreme Court ruling when it dismissed

SECTION 20

#1732863244562

1298-459: The sun or the moon or heavenly body. The term Jyotisha includes the study of astronomy , astrology and the science of timekeeping using the movements of astronomical bodies. It aimed to keep time, maintain calendars, and predict auspicious times for Vedic rituals. Jyotiṣa is one of the Vedāṅga , the six auxiliary disciplines used to support Vedic rituals. Early jyotiṣa is concerned with

1357-405: The 300 or so years between the first Yavanajataka and the Āryabhaṭīya . The astronomical texts of these 300 years are lost. The later Pañcasiddhāntikā of Varāhamihira summarizes the five known Indian astronomical schools of the sixth century. Indian astronomy preserved some of the older pre-Ptolemaic elements of Greek astronomy. The main texts upon which classical Indian astrology

1416-603: The Lagna, the two being a Keṅdra ('angular house'—first, fourth, seventh and tenth houses) and Trikona Bhāva respectively. Dhana Yogas are formed by the association of wealth-giving planets such as the Dhaneśa or the 2nd Lord and the Lābheśa or the 11th Lord from the Lagna. Dhana Yogas are also formed due to the auspicious placement of the Dārāpada (from dara , 'spouse' and pada , 'foot'—one of

1475-509: The Lords of the Trikona ('trines', 120 degrees—first, fifth and ninth houses). The Rāja yogas are culminations of the blessings of Viṣṇu and Lakṣmī. Some planets, such as Mars for Leo Lagna, do not need another graha (or Navagraha , 'planet') to create Rājayoga , but are capable of giving Rājayoga by themselves due to their own lordship of the 4th Bhāva ('astrological house') and the 9th Bhāva from

1534-513: The Navaratna are illustrated. A ruby (representing the Sun) is always in the center, surrounded (clockwise from the top) by a diamond, a natural pearl, red coral, hessonite, a blue sapphire, cat's eye, a yellow sapphire, and an emerald. Traditionally, no gem other than a ruby or a red spinel is set in the center of the arrangement. Because the Sun is the center of the Solar System , its gem is positioned in

1593-599: The Navaratna is officially recognised as a national and royal symbol. A specific honour awarded by the king is called the "Noppharat Ratchawaraphon" (the Ancient Auspicious Order of the Nine Gems ). The decoration consists of a single class (Knight). The insignia is: Late Thai astrologer Horacharn Thep Sarikabutr has given the meaning of these nine gems in his Parichad-Jataka (chapter 2, verse 21, pages 35–36) translated as follows: "Top quality and flawless ruby

1652-638: The Rāśis (zodiac signs). The primary system used by astrologers is the Viṁśottarī Daśā system, which has been considered universally applicable in the Kali Yuga to all horoscopes. The first Mahā-Daśā is determined by the position of the natal Moon in a given Nakṣatra. The lord of the Nakṣatra governs the Daśā. Each Mahā-Dāśā is divided into sub-periods called bhuktis , or antar-daśās , which are proportional divisions of

1711-559: The Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.150 via cp1114 cp1114, Varnish XID 455981569 Upstream caches: cp1114 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Fri, 29 Nov 2024 06:54:04 GMT Jyotisha Traditional Hindu astrology , also called Indian astrology , Jyotisha ( Sanskrit : ज्योतिष , romanized :  jyotiṣa ; from jyót  'light, heavenly body') and, more recently, Vedic astrology ,

1770-532: The Yajurveda recension has 43 verses of which 29 verses are borrowed from the Rigveda. The Rigveda version is variously attributed to sage Lagadha, and sometimes to sage Shuci. The Yajurveda version credits no particular sage, has survived into the modern era with a commentary of Somakara, and is the more studied version. The Jyotisha text Brahma-siddhanta , probably composed in the 5th century CE, discusses how to use

1829-433: The contemporary lives of many Hindus . In Hindu culture , newborns are traditionally named based on their jyotiṣa charts ( Kundali ), and astrological concepts are pervasive in the organization of the calendar and holidays, and in making major decisions such as those about marriage, opening a new business, or moving into a new home. Many Hindus believe that heavenly bodies, including the planets, have an influence throughout

Navaratna - Misplaced Pages Continue

1888-449: The dates of eclipses. They are described as "shadow planets" because they are not visible in the night sky. Rahu and Ketu have an orbital cycle of 18 years and they are always retrograde in motion and 180 degrees from each other. A natal chart shows the position of the grahas at the moment of birth. Since that moment, the grahas have continued to move around the zodiac, interacting with the natal chart grahas. This period of interaction

1947-526: The events happening in human life and in universe on time scale" in spite of the complete lack of evidence that astrology actually does allow for such accurate predictions. The decision was backed by a 2001 judgement of the Andhra Pradesh High Court , and some Indian universities offer advanced degrees in astrology. This was met with widespread protests from the scientific community in India and Indian scientists working abroad. A petition sent to

2006-472: The first Indian astrological treatise in the Sanskrit language. However the only version that survives is the verse version of Sphujidhvaja which dates to AD 270. The first Indian astronomical text to define the weekday was the Āryabhaṭīya of Āryabhaṭa (born AD 476). According to Michio Yano, Indian astronomers must have been occupied with the task of Indianizing and Sanskritizing Greek astronomy during

2065-689: The four divisions—3 degrees and 20 minutes—of a Nakshatra in the 7th house), when reckoned from the Ārūḍha Lagna (AL). The combination of the Lagneśa and the Bhāgyeśa also leads to wealth through the Lakṣmī Yoga. Sanyāsa Yogas are formed due to the placement of four or more grahas , excluding the Sun, in a Keṅdra Bhāva from the Lagna. There are some overarching yogas in Jyotiṣa such as Amāvasyā Doṣa, Kāla Sarpa Yoga-Kāla Amṛta Yoga and Graha Mālika Yoga that can take precedence over Yamaha yogar planetary placements in

2124-487: The head of the Indian Astrologers Federation about war between India and Pakistan in 1982 also failed. In 2000, when several planets happened to be close to one another, astrologers predicted that there would be catastrophes, volcanic eruptions and tidal waves . This caused an entire sea-side village in the Indian state of Gujarat to panic and abandon their houses. The predicted events did not occur and

2183-489: The heart of a Navaratna Talisman . For an example of the Navaratna in a necklace setting, see Thailand's "The Queen Sirikit Navaratna." In the above sloka the words sujatyam-amalam ( sujati =high born, and amala =completely pure or flawless) are significant. According to Asian belief systems, only clean, top-quality gems are considered to be auspicious. In the Hindu Garuda Purana , chapter 68, verse 17, it

2242-491: The horoscope. The Hindu Jātaka or Janam Kundali or birth chart , is the Bhāva Chakra ( Sanskrit : 'division' 'wheel'), the complete 360° circle of life, divided into houses, and represents a way of enacting the influences in the wheel. Each house has associated kāraka ( Sanskrit : 'significator') planets that can alter the interpretation of a particular house. Each Bhāva spans an arc of 30° with twelve Bhāvas in any chart of

2301-621: The horoscope. These are a crucial part of any horoscopic study since the Bhāvas, understood as 'state of being', personalize the Rāśis/ Râshis to the native and each Rāśi/ Râshi apart from indicating its true nature reveals its impact on the person based on the Bhāva occupied. The best way to study the various facets of Jyotiṣa is to see their role in chart evaluation of actual persons and how these are construed. Drishti ( Sanskrit : Dṛṣṭi , 'sight')

2360-475: The influence may have flowed from India to Mesopotamia. Ohashi states that it is incorrect to assume that the number of civil days in a year equal 365 in both Hindu and Egyptian–Persian year. Further, adds Ohashi, the Mesopotamian formula is different from the Indian formula for calculating time, each can only work for their respective latitude, and either would make major errors in predicting time and calendar in

2419-407: The life of a human being, and these planetary influences are the "fruit of karma ". The Navagraha , planetary deities, are considered subordinate to Ishvara (the Hindu concept of a supreme being) in the administration of justice. Thus, it is believed that these planets can influence earthly life. Astrology has been rejected by the scientific community as having no explanatory power for describing

Navaratna - Misplaced Pages Continue

2478-669: The loan-words typically seen when ideas migrate are missing on both sides as far as words for various time intervals and techniques. Further, adds Plofker, and other scholars, that the discussion of time keeping concepts are found in the Sanskrit verses of the Shatapatha Brahmana , a 2nd millennium BCE text. Water clock and sun dials are mentioned in many ancient Hindu texts such as the Arthashastra . Some integration of Mesopotamian and Indian Jyotisha-based systems may have occurred in

2537-533: The maha-dasa. Further proportional sub-divisions can be made, but error margins based on accuracy of the birth time grow exponentially. The next sub-division is called pratyantar-daśā , which can in turn be divided into sookshma-antardasa , which can in turn be divided into praana-antardaśā , which can be sub-divided into deha-antardaśā . Such sub-divisions also exist in all other Daśā systems. The navagraha ( Sanskrit : नवग्रह , romanized :  navagraha , lit.   'nine planets') are

2596-417: The method of measurement. While synchronically, the two systems are identical, Jyotiṣa primarily uses the sidereal zodiac (in which stars are considered to be the fixed background against which the motion of the planets is measured), whereas most Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac (the motion of the planets is measured against the position of the Sun on the spring equinox ). After two millennia , as

2655-549: The movement of planets, sun and moon to keep time and calendar. This text also lists trigonometry and mathematical formulae to support its theory of orbits, predict planetary positions and calculate relative mean positions of celestial nodes and apsides. The text is notable for presenting very large integers, such as 4.32 billion years as the lifetime of the current universe. The ancient Hindu texts on Jyotisha only discuss time keeping, and never mention astrology or prophecy. These ancient texts predominantly cover astronomy, but at

2714-427: The night sky used in Hindu astrology, each identified by its prominent star(s). Historical (medieval) Hindu astrology enumerated either 27 or 28 nakṣatras. In modern astrology, a rigid system of 27 nakṣatras is generally used, each covering 13° 20′ of the ecliptic . The missing 28th nakshatra is Abhijeeta . Each nakṣatra is divided into equal quarters or padas of 3° 20′. Of greatest importance

2773-523: The nine celestial bodies used in Hindu astrology: The navagraha are said to be forces that capture or eclipse the mind and the decision making of human beings. When the grahas are active in their daśās , or periodicities they are said to be particularly empowered to direct the affairs of people and events. Planets are held to signify major details, such as profession, marriage and longevity. Of these indicators, known as Karakas, Parashara considers Atmakaraka most important, signifying broad contours of

2832-500: The other region. According to Asko Parpola, the Jyotisha and luni-solar calendar discoveries in ancient India, and similar discoveries in China in "great likelihood result from convergent parallel development", and not from diffusion from Mesopotamia. Kim Plofker states that while a flow of timekeeping ideas from either side is plausible, each may have instead developed independently, because

2891-480: The planet Saturn is in the constellation Aries roughly every 30 years (e.g. 1909, 1939, 1968), the astrologer Bangalore Venkata Raman claimed that "when Saturn was in Aries in 1939 England had to declare war against Germany", ignoring all the other dates. Astrologers regularly fail in attempts to predict election results in India, and fail to predict major events such as the assassination of Indira Gandhi . Predictions by

2950-523: The preparation of a calendar to determine dates for sacrificial rituals, with nothing written regarding planets. There are mentions of eclipse -causing "demons" in the Atharvaveda and Chāndogya Upaniṣad , the latter mentioning Rāhu (a shadow entity believed responsible for eclipses and meteors). The term graha , which is now taken to mean the planet , originally meant demon. The Ṛigveda also mentions an eclipse-causing demon, Svarbhānu . However,

3009-487: The specific term graha was not applied to Svarbhānu until the later Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa . The foundation of Hindu astrology is the notion of bandhu of the Vedas (scriptures), which is the connection between the microcosm and the macrocosm. The practice relies primarily on the sidereal zodiac , which differs from the tropical zodiac used in Western (Hellenistic) astrology in that an ayanāṃśa adjustment

SECTION 50

#1732863244562

3068-482: The stones and their position on the body is of particular significance, as is the quality of the gemstones. In each culture, the Navaratna largely reflects the same core concepts associated with the stones. Their arrangement is considered sacred in almost all the countries of Asia , including, India , Nepal , Sri Lanka , Singapore , Myanmar , Cambodia , Vietnam , Indonesia , Thailand , and Malaysia , regardless of religious and cultural differences. In Thailand,

3127-517: The transit of the Daśā lord from various reference points in the horoscope. In Hindu astronomy, yoga ( Sanskrit : yoga , 'union') is a combination of planets placed in a specific relationship to each other. Rāja yogas are perceived as givers of fame, status and authority, and are typically formed by the association of the Lord of Keṅdras ('quadrants'), when reckoned from the Lagna ('ascendant'), and

3186-503: The twelve zodiacal signs beginning with Aries and the twelve astrological places beginning with the ascendant. The first evidence of the introduction of Greek astrology to India is the Yavanajātaka which dates to the early centuries CE. The Yavanajātaka ( lit. "Sayings of the Greeks") was translated from Greek to Sanskrit by Yavaneśvara during the 2nd century CE, and is considered

3245-417: The universe [...] This problem received attention from our rishis; they found helpful not only a combination of metals, but also of plants and most effective of all faultless jewels of not less than two carats. The preventive uses of astrology have seldom been seriously studied outside of India. One little-known fact is that the proper jewels, metals, or plant preparations are valueless unless the required weight

3304-453: The universe. Scientific testing of astrology has been conducted, and no evidence has been found to support any of the premises or purported effects outlined in astrological traditions. There is no mechanism proposed by astrologers through which the positions and motions of stars and planets could affect people and events on Earth. In spite of its status as a pseudoscience , in certain religious, political, and legal contexts, astrology retains

3363-592: The vacant houses were burgled. Time keeping [The current year] minus one, multiplied by twelve, multiplied by two, added to the elapsed [half months of current year], increased by two for every sixty [in the sun], is the quantity of half-months ( syzygies ). — Rigveda Jyotisha-vedanga 4 Translator: Kim Plofker The ancient extant text on Jyotisha is the Vedanga-Jyotisha , which exists in two editions, one linked to Rigveda and other to Yajurveda . The Rigveda version consists of 36 verses, while

3422-472: Was a 5-year interval, divided into multiple lunisolar intervals such as 60 solar months, 61 savana months, 62 synodic months and 67 sidereal months. A Vedic Yuga had 1,860 tithis ( तिथि , dates), and it defined a savana -day (civil day) from one sunrise to another. The Rigvedic version of Jyotisha may be a later insertion into the Veda, states David Pingree , possibly between 513 and 326 BCE, when Indus valley

3481-528: Was occupied by the Achaemenid from Mesopotamia . The mathematics and devices for time keeping mentioned in these ancient Sanskrit texts, proposes Pingree, such as the water clock may also have arrived in India from Mesopotamia. However, Yukio Ohashi considers this proposal as incorrect, suggesting instead that the Vedic timekeeping efforts, for forecasting appropriate time for rituals, must have begun much earlier and

#561438