JYOTISH (VEDIC ASTROLOGY) OVERVIEW

vedic astrology is a branch of JYOTISH, study of light, the ancient science of interpreting karma as revealed by vedic wisdom.
mantreshwaras Phaladipika (16 century a.d.), chapter 15, verses 1 and 6. All bhavas will give rise to exclusively good results if occupied or aspected by benefics or their own lords, or by planets owning benefic houses, provided such houses are without the aspect or association of malefics. This will be so even if malefics own the houses concerned. This good effect of the houses will be certain if the planets involved are strong, that is, not in their debilitation constellation, not combust*, and not in an enemy's constellation. A bhava suffers destruction when the bhava itself, its lord and its karaka are devoid of strength, and are hemmed in between malefics, or are associated with or aspected by malefics or unfriendly planets and not by others; or if the fourth, the eighth and the twelve houses or the fifth and ninth houses from them are occupied by malefics.
*combustion occurs when a planet is weakened due to proximity to the sun; the orb of combustion varies from planet to planet.

THE GOLDEN KEY

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THE BHAVAS AND KARAKAS

the bhavas (houses, with basic meanings) and the karakas (significators), shown in a traditional north indian style chart.

2nd HOUSE
FAMILY wealth rd talents 3 JUPITER HOUSE ACTIONS siblings oration MARS

12th HOUSE Lagna

(ascendant)

DEATH mysteries sex SATURN

11th HOUSE

1st HOUSE

THE GRAHAS (PLANETS)

Planet Description Exalted Debilitated House Ownership* Dig Bala Houses** Aspects*** Day

4th HOUSE

HEALTH beginnings presentation SUN

10th HOUSE

FRIENDS inheritance society JUPITER

SUN MOON MARS MERCURY JUPITER VENUS SATURN RAHU KETU

Libra Leo (4-20) 10th /4th 7 Sunday Scorpio Cancer (Taurus 4-20) 4th /10th 7 Monday Cancer Scorpio, Aries (0-12) 10th /4th 4,7,8 Tuesday Pisces Gemini, Virgo (16-20) 1st /7th 7 Wednesday Capricorn Pisces, Sagittarius (0-10) 1st /7th 5,7,9 Thursday Virgo Taurus, Libra (0-15) 4th /10th 7 Friday 3,7,10 Saturday Aries Capricorn, Aquarius (0-20) 7th /1st Sagittarius Virgo, Aquarius (Scorpio 6-10) 5,7,9 Gemini Scorpio, Pisces (Aries 0-3) 5,7,9 *with Mulatrikonas (favored location) **strengthened / weakened ***always count houses inclusively BENEFICS AND MALEFICS: The expression of a planet is determined by its natural inclination, placement, and associations. The waxing Moon, a well-associated Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter are natural benefics. The Sun, the waning Moon, Mars, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu are natural malefics. Planets offer good results in their own or friendly rashis even if naturally malefic. Rahu and Ketu (the North and South lunar nodes) are Chaya Grahas (shadow planets), and are generally malefic, although their interpretation varies widely.

Soul (objective self) Mind (subjective self) Warrior (vigor) Messenger (intellect) Guru (wisdom) Priest (aesthetics) Grandfather (discipline) Brigand (delusion) Malefactor (instability)

Aries Taurus Capricorn Virgo Cancer Pisces Libra Gemini Sagittarius

5th HOUSE

MOTHER property home MOON MERCURY VENUS MARS

7th HOUSE

VOCATION recognition achievement SUN MERCURY JUPITER SATURN

9th HOUSE

THE RASHIS (SIGNS)

Sign Lord Sun Sign Dates* Element Sex Type/Guna

grahas can be friends, enemies, or neutral. no relation implies neutrality.

PLANETARY AFFINITIES

MARRIAGE CHILDREN arrangements learning partnerships th creativity 6 HOUSE VENUS JUPITER ILLNESS accidents enemies MARS, SATURN

FATHER teachers religion 8th SUN HOUSE JUPITER SECRETS the occult difficulties SATURN

The Lagna (Ascendant, or rising sign) determines the order of signs in houses (indicated by numbers in houses).

BASIC CLASSIFICATION OF THE HOUSES

KENDRA 1,4,7,10 primary experience KONA 1,5,9 spiritual activity KAMA 3,7,11 pleasure, desire ARTHA 2,6,10 material wealth MOKSHA 4,8,12 release, liberation TRIK 6,8,12 destructive houses these are the most common bhava classifications, there are many others.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo Libra Scorpio Sagittarius Capricorn Aquarius Pisces

Mars Venus Mercury Moon Sun Mercury, Rahu Venus Mars, Ketu Jupiter Saturn Saturn, Rahu Jupiter, Ketu

Apr 15 May 14 May 15 Jun 14 Jun 15 Jul 14 Jul 15 Aug 14 Aug 15 Sep 14 Sep 15 Oct 14 Oct 15 Nov 14 Nov 15 Dec 14 Dec 15 Jan 14 Jan 14 Feb 13 Feb 14 Mar 14 Mar 15 Apr 14

Fire Earth Air Water Fire Earth Air Water Fire Earth Air Water

M F M F M F M F M F M F

Movable/Rajas Fixed/Tamas Dual/Sattva Movable/Rajas Fixed/Tamas Dual/Sattva Movable/Rajas Fixed/Tamas Dual/Sattva Movable/Rajas Fixed/Tamas Dual/Sattva
rahu likes saturn, mercury and venus, hates sun and moon (especially sun). ketu likes mars and jupiter, hates sun and moon (especially moon). in general, rahu and ketu call for subtle interpretation.

THE DASHAS
Dashas, or stages of life, are critical to assessing karma over time. The most commonly interpreted are the Vimshottari dashas, which are based on the moons progression, and follow the sequence below. The start of a life cycle is determined by which of 27 nakshatras (lunar houses) the natal moon is in. ketu venus sun moon mars rahu jupiter saturn mercury 7yrs 20yrs 6yrs 10yrs 7yrs 18yrs 16yrs 19yrs 17yrs

* unlike western astrology, the ascendant (lagna) is more important than the sun sign. also note that jyotish uses the astronomically accurate sidereal (starbased) calendar, which accounts for the earths rotation.

this introductory overview cannot begin to cover the depth of the ancient science and art of jyotish; many more concepts and details comprise its practice. some important concepts not depicted include divisional and harmonic charts (such as the navamsha moon chart), yogas (specific planetary combinations), nakshatras, transits, and much more. unlike western astrology (which is based on vedic astrology), jyotish is never entertainment; a teacher or guru is always recommended, as is a devoted study of indian philosophy and spirituality.
2005 matthew souzis and ted rallis