Indian Astrology

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Astronomy Indian Astrology or Is Astrology
a Science?
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At the outset, a historical-societal PSM (rather
than rationalist) perspective

• origins of astrology lie in ideas about and the
  role of the Moon and Sun in early human cultures,
  the Sun gaining importance with start of annual
  agricultural operations
• regularity of motions of planets and stars then
  drew attention and systematic observation

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Origins of Astrology

• As human being gathered capacity to wonder at,
  and indulge in certain amount of speculation ...
• The regularity of appearance and disappearance of
  these objects should have impressed them.
• the sequence of day and night, and the obvious
  connection of the sun
• the periodic waxing and waning of the moon
• the unchanging character of the stellar vault
• No wonder that all ancient civilisations possess
  proto-astronomy in one form or other.

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Origins

• Primitive societies noticed that the hunting
  seasons changed along with the periodic change in
  the night sky. Animals and birds migrated with
  seasons
• Soon primitive agriculture settlements emerged
• In agricultural societies sowing and other
  operations depended on climatic changes or the
  seasons.
• The seasons arrived with appearance of certain
  groups of stars and changed with the arrival of
  others.

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Origins.

• In lower Egypt the periodical overflowing of the
  Nile was noticed to have some connection with the
  heliacal rising of Sirius.

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Origins

• Naturally, a little amount of superstition could
  be expected at this stage because many phenomena
  lacked physical explanations eg. a very small
  circular disc like the sun shines and heats the
  whole world another small disc, the moon causes
  tides planets usually moving from west to east
  through the star field, stops motion one day and
  reverse the direction, called the retrograde
  motion or Vkara Gathi.
• Do these heavenly bodies have will of their own.
  All these heavenly bodies must have supernatural
  powers, they thought. Yet, nobody thought in
  those days that a persons future could be
  predicted from planetary positions.

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Vedic period 2000 BC

• In fact it is interesting to note that Vedic
  literature is largely devoid of astrology as we
  know today.
• There is no reference to Rasi which is most
  essential feature of astrology.

The ancient Indian Astronomy used concepts like
Nakshatra, Tithi and so on but not Rasi chakra.
Even the Vedanga Jyothisha of Lagadha, of
around 10th C. BC, does not give any such
indication.
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Omens

• However there are references to omens and
  prophecies in the Vedic literature- Adhbuta,
  Utpaata or nimitta. (Eg Tik-Tik by lizard
  implies what is stated is Satya Vakku)
• Certain rare and specified natural occurrences
  were expected to foretell future events, good or
  bad.
• Rigveda and Atharaveda is replete with reference
  to Shakuna a ominous bird. Vedic literature also
  talks of auspicious time muhurta.

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Magic natural world

• On the other hand such beliefs in portents and
  omens are not to be confused with predictive
  astrology.
• Just before rain one could foretell by sensing
  the gathering of black cloud or perceive the
  smell of the soil.
• The naïve beliefs towards omens are based upon
  naive realism.
• Nevertheless many of such correlations drawn by
  the early civilisations have actually proved to
  be incorrect.

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Nakshtra Vidya

• Nakshtra Vidya developed and practiced during the
  Vedic times essentially consisted of omens and
  predictions based upon the nakshtra occupied by
  the Moon (Janma Nakshtra) at the time of ones
  birth (eg those who are born in Bharani will
  rule the world etc)

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Birth of predictive astrology

• The prediction business started with the
  Chaldians of Mesopotamia during the 7th C. BC.
  Babylonian Civilization was in decline, peoples
  life became miserable and the priests could
  easily exploit them by divining things from
  planetary positions.

Thus, astrology, which began as an observational
science, gradually turned into a pseudo science
and by the 4th C.BC, when Alexander conquered
Babylonia, the superstitions had reached its
zenith. Predictive Astrology gradually spread to
Greece and Rome. It was Baroses, a Chaldian
priest, who first started a school of astrology
in Athens.
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Astrology reaches India

• Perhaps around 150 AD in the court of Western
  Kshatapa Rudadaaman in Ujjayini, a Greek
  manuscript of an astrological text composed in
  Egypt around 100 AD was translated into Sanskrit.
  The text refereed to as Yavaneshwara, the names
  and concepts related to predictive astrology were
  sanskritised. Though the original work in its
  entirety is not available portions of it
  incorporated in Sphujidhavaja composed around 270
  AD is available. This Yavana Jataka incorporated
  Egyptio-Greek astrology into Indian
  astronomy/astrology.

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Greek roots of Indian Astrology

• The famous Brihit Jaatakam of Varahamihira ( 6 C
  AD) is candid in acknowledging the Greeks
  influence on Indian Astrology. Brihat Samhita
  (II.14) notes that though Greeks (Yavana) are
  melechas the astrology is well established among
  them. Even they are honoured as sages.

Brihat Jaatakam lists the twelve signs of Zodiac
(Rasi). The names are very similar to that of
Greek name. Even technical terms like
declination (aapoklima) horizon (harija) diameter
(Jaamitra) Angle (Kona). Further scholars
identify the author of Paulisha Siddhanta, an
astrological text with that of Paulus
Alexandrinus.
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Vedic Astrology is a bunk!

• The weekdays (Monday to Sunday) that we are so
  familiar, was not Indian in origin. Earliest
  inscriptional evidence so far available for the
  week days is Eran Stone Pillar of Budhagupta
  (484 AD)
• Historians say that the practice of naming days
  after the seven heavenly objects (5 visible
  planets, Sun and the moon) was commenced by
  Chaldeans. Name of week days are nowhere found in
  Vedas. It is clear that the predictive astrology
  is not at all Vedic Astrology as some make it
  to be.

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Why Astrology took root in India

• Aryabhata, tallest personality in ancient Indian
  astronomy ( 450 AD) has no reference to
  Astrology in his work. He seeks no supernatural
  powers to explain natural (celestial) events like
  Eclipse.

In his work he explains how Solar eclipse occur
due to obstruction by moon. He does not even
refer to the Puranic myth of Ragu and
Ketu. ..But then why India is plagued by
astrology?
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Aryabhatiya

• His work Aryabhatiya, completed in 421 Saka or
  499 A.D., included, among others (1) Aryabhata's
  advocacy of the diurnal motion of the earth
  (rather than the apparent rotation of the sun
  around it), (2) a corresponding theory of gravity
  to explain why objects are not thrown out as the
  earth churns, (3) recognition of the parametric
  variability of the concept of up'' and down''
  depending on where one is located on the globe,
  and (4) explanation of lunar and solar eclipses
  in terms respectively of the earth's shadow on
  the moon and the moon's obscuring of the sun.

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Aryabhats time

• Gupta period in which Aryabhata and his followers
  lived was one that saw the building of not only
  Hindu temples but also Buddhist monuments such as
  Sanchi and universities such as Nalanda and
  Nagarjundakhonda.
• It was a period of openness to global ideas, that
  it was characterised by magnificent achievements
  in religious-philosophical debates among Jains,
  Buddhists and Hindus

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Emergence of Hindu orthodoxy

• Soon many parts of India came under the influence
  of Hindu orthodoxy- esp Manu Smrithi- which had
  strict injunction against heretical thinking.
• Caste rules, rules of high and low, rules of
  untouchability and inequality all were made more
  and more strict. All knowledge and science was
  made more secret, secluded, hidden and concealed,
  and every new thought and invention was opposed.
  Even Auyrveda Vaidyas were considered polluted
  and down graded

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Astronomy and science attacked

• Scientists like Aryabhatta became the subject of
  attacks. For example, Aryabhatta's work was
  attacked by Brahmagupta, Bhaskaracharya and
  Varahmihira.
• Astronomers, or so-called 'jyotirvids' were
  denounced were declared polluted. Manu
  Smrithi condemned and prohibited from being
  called to yadnyas, mahadanas and shraadhas.
• Further, the Brahmins changed the meaning of the
  word jyotirvidya, which now meant those who study
  the 'effects' of stars on human beings contrary
  to the original meaning of study of stars, and
  themselves became 'daivaidnyas', -- the knower of
  fate

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Puranic myths were upheld

• Brahmasiddhanta says Some people think that the
  eclipse is not caused by the Head. This, however,
  is a foolish idea, for it is he in fact who
  eclipses, and the generality of the inhabitants
  of the world say that it is the Head that
  eclipses. The Veda, which is the word of God from
  the mouth of Brahman, says that the Head
  eclipses... On the contrary. Varahamihira,
  Shrishena, Aryabhata and Vishnuchandra maintain
  that the eclipse is not caused by the Head, but
  by the moon and the shadow of the earth, in
  direct opposition to all (to the generality of
  men), and from the enmity against the
  just-mentioned dogma

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New role for Astronomy

• On one hand Astronomy in India was constrained by
  the new emerging social order
• On the other astronomers had to seek legitimacy
  for their profession
• Astronomers began to parade themselves as
  astrologers
• Even famous astronomers like Varahamihira,
  Bhramagupta, Baskara II were astrologers as well
  as astronomers
• Even in West astronomers like Kepler were
  astrologers

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• astrology was the major application of astronomy
  use in agriculture was limited and important role
  in navigation came much later
• astrology thus remained intimately related to
  astronomy till c. 15th Cent.
• astrology was perhaps the major driver for
  accurate astronomical observations in the ancient
  and medieval periods
• though Church, sects like Sikhism shunned
  astrology, decline in importance of astrology (in
  West esp.) began with the birth of modern Science

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PATH OF SUN

• Sun in the sky moves in a path called ecliptic

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What is Rasi

• The concept of Zodiac originated in Mesopotamia
  and spread to India via Greek.
• Similarity of the names/ figures attest to the
  same.

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Apparent position of Sun against a particular
constellation is the Rasi..
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Panchank

• Panch (five) Ank (elements)
• Thithi- waxing and waning of moon ( 29/30 days-
  a month)
• Nakshartra position of moon in the background
  of stars (27 or 28) 1/3 part Padam (feet)
• Yogam total of angle of sun moon
• Karnam- one half of Thithi
• Vara- 7 day week

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TITHI
is a lunar day, or the time it takes for the
longitudinal angle between the moon and the sun
to increase by 12. Tithis begin at varying times
of day and vary in duration from approximately 19
to approximately 26 hours. There are 30 tithis in
each lunar month.
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NAKSHTRA
The position of moon each day in its orbit aginst
a prominat star is called the nakshatra or lunar
mansion. There are 27 nakshtras
Moon takes about 27.3 days to go around Earth
once.
Ashwini
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VAR- WEEKDAYS
Shani, Guru, Mangal, Ravi, Shukra, Budha,
Chandra. Is in order of the speed at which they
appear to move

• 1Shani 2Guru 3Mangal 4Ravi 5Shukra 6Budha
  7Chandra 8Shani 9Guru 10Mangal 11Ravi 12Shukra
  13Budha 14Chandra 15Shani 16Guru 17Mangal 18Ravi
  19Shukra
• 20Budha 21Chandra 22Shani 23Guru 24Mangal
• 25Ravi

In like manner, weekday order Sun, Mon, Tue
flows
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VAR- WEEKDAYS
Shani, Guru, Kuja (Mangal), Ravi, Shukra, Budha,
Chandra is the order in which they appear to move
around Earth. Shani is the slowest. Chandra is
fastest.
Every day is 24 parts called hours (hora). The
successive hours are governed by the celestial
bodies in the above given order. After every
governing the first hour of the day lent its name
to that day. For example, if you start from
Shani as the planet governing the first hour,
that day is Shanivaara (Saturday). The fourth
planet from Shani in the given order is Ravi (the
Sun) whose name is lent to the next day as
Ravivaara (Sunday). Then, the fourth planet from
Ravi is Chandra and hence the next day is named
after Chandra (the Moon) as Somavaara (Monday),
Soma being a synonym for Chandra.
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KARNAM
Karnam is half of a Tithi. Like day and night of
solar day, Karnam is two half of lunar day. One
Karana equals 6 degree difference between Moon
and Sun.
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YOGAM
angular relationship between Sun and Moon. It is
total of the solar and lunar longitude. One Yoga
equals 13 degrees20 minutes. There are 27 Yogas
in 360 degrees. This has no real physical
meaning This has only astrological significance.
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WHAT IS KUNDALI?
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Moon in Pisces
Mars in Pisces
Mercury in Scorpio
This is the basis of Kundali it records the
position of celestial objects at the time of Birth
Saturn in Libra
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Position of Planets, Moon and Sun as seen from
Earth
Mangal in Kanya
Raising Rasi- Kanya- Lagna
Budha in Thula
Shani in Karkataka
Sun in Vrichika
Guru in Mithina
Shukra in Dhanus
Chandra in Meena
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Position of Planets, Moon and Sun as seen from
Earth.. Birds eye view
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Position of Planets, Moon and Sun as seen from
Earth.. In Kundali format
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The Kundali
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Jathagam South Indian style
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What does this Kundali mean
Ragu and Saturn in Meenam
Kumbam is the ascending rasi
Venus in Mesham
Moon in Danush
Sun, Mars and Mercury in Rishab
Ketu in Kanni
Jupiter in Simham
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In ancient Indian traditions(similar to
Greek, Roman, Arabic, Persian etc)

• astronomy AND astrology (Asterstar
  logoslogic) are called Hora (Time) Shastra or
  Jyotisha (Light) Aryabhatiya (c. 474) deals only
  with astronomy, uses jyotisha only in this sense,
  makes no astrological predictions or statement
• Panchang and Kundali thus have a astronomical
  basis but were hijacked by astrology c. 600
• dominant astrological tradition is Parasari
  (others being Jaimini and Tajaka) followed by
  Varahamihira, Bhattotpala, Venkatesa etc
• astronomical basis is the Suryasiddhanta (c.700)

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Astronomical assumptions in Hindu Astrology

• along with almost ALL astrology
• a zodiac or band of 9º either side of the
  ecliptic
• set of planets (including Sun and Moon)
• 12 Constellations or Signs (?solar months)
  (Indian?Greek)

Actually the path of all planets including
Neptune and Uranus passes through 13
constellations!
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Geocentrism

• Ancient astrology astronomy was founded on
  geocentrism, that the Earth is the center around
  which the heavenly bodies move.
• Copernicus (1540) showed a great simplification
  was possible if the sun were in the center
  instead- his heliocentric theory proved to be a
  step in right direction.
• Newtons physics provided theoretical foundation
  and Sun centered Solar system is accepted in
  modern science
• Modern astronomy is distinct from astrology in
  this count.

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Indian Astrology

• movements of planets explained by geo-centric
  observation (eg. retrogression of Mercury etc
  also from Ptolemys epicycles used by Aryabhata
  too) and not accounting for Copernicus-Kepler-Newt
  on laws

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Indian Astrology is Earth centered, epicycle
based astrology. Ucham and Neecham is the high
and low point of the planets as they go in
epicycle.
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Other uncorrected assumptions

• all planets rotate around their axes once/day
  W-E!
• However, Venus rotates from E-W. Saturn rotates
  in 10 hrs.

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• Planets are (in order of distance from Earth)
• Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Sun, Jupiter, Saturn
• do not recognise Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
• include phantom planets Rahu and Ketu (missing
  in Aryabhatiya which explains eclipses by
  shadows)

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Precession
Movement of the earths axis (with a period of
24,000 years) has gradually shifted which sign of
the Zodiac the sun is in each month.
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Shift of the Equinox

• Due to precession the position of the zodiac has
  shifted in actual reality.
• Today the sun is in Pisces from March 11 to April
  18.
• But modern western astrology columns still give
  its location 2000 years ago, February 19 to March
  20.
• Indian astrology give Meenam to be March 14-
  April 13.

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Shift of the Equinox

• Thus modern newspaper astrology columns are about
  one sign (a month) off from where the sun
  actually is!
• So you have been reading the wrong sign for
  years!
• Astrologers who adjust for this seem to have no
  better success than those who do not!

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• In Indian astrology
• winter/summer solstices coincide with beginning
  of Makara (Capricorn) (uttarayana) and Kataka
  (Cancer) (dakshinayana)
• Actual Utarayana is December 22 but in Indian
  astrology it is January 14
• And Dakshinayana is June 22 but is actually
  July 16th

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Astrology claims to be

• the most ancient science, almost perfected in
  India thousands of years ago, for foretelling of
  the regular movements of the planets
• based on the mysterious and subtle power of
  planetary and stellar conjunctions which
  influence humans and all animates/inanimates on
  Earth
• a rigorous discipline, with mathematical
  foundations and proven predictive capabilities
• unlike witchcraft, palmistry, reading of cards or
  omens and other occult beliefs
• able to interpret the future in the light of past
  karma AND enable coping through human will
• (from B.V.Raman, Hindu Predictive Astrology)

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Astrology as a discipline

• has no theory for influences of cosmic bodies,
  only axiomatic assertions eg. no sane brain
  could ever deny the influence of planets upon
  man
• Predictions
• are mostly vague, with have many qualifiers (ifs
  and buts)
• have multiple causative factors and
  interpretations
• anecdotal successes failures unexplained
• Nature mag. studied 4,500 persons born within
  1 hr. over 25 years found no correlations for
  25 parameters!
• Explanation not a science like physics
  requiring strict adherence to reasoning and
  logic!
• AND cannot be simply based on strict
  principles but a certain amount of intuitive
  capacity called for
• non-falsifiable in ultimate analysis
• (Quotes from B.V.Raman, Hindu Predictive
  Astrology)

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Astrology ..predictions
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Properties of Planets

• Jupiter, Venus, Full Moon, Mercury Good
• Saturn, Mars, New Moon, Rahu, Ketu Bad
• Jupiter, Mars, Sun Male used for
• Venus, Rahu, Moon Female gender
• Saturn, Mercury, Ketu Neuter determination
• Jupiter, Venus Brahmin Varna
• Sun, Mars Kshatriya based on
• Moon Vaisya guna karma
• Mercury Sudra
• Saturn Antyaja
• (from B.V.Raman, Hindu Predictive Astrology)

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What are Astronomical Objects?

• Ancient astrology had planets as gods or angels.
• Telescopes space travel show they are worlds
  like our Earth.
• Nothing to indicate they are living beings like
  gods or angels.

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What are Astronomical Objects?

• Similarly, stars are burning gas balls like our
  sun.
• Comets are large, dirty snowballs.
• These discoveries require (at least) a large
  adjustment in astrology.

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Stars Constellations

• Using parallax, we now realize that the stars are
  very distant.
• Using telescopes, that the stars are very
  numerous.
• The constellations disappear when dimmer stars
  are taken into account.
• The constellations are also just the result of
  local perspective.
• Hence Rasis are rather imaginative picture,
  rather than actual shape

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New Planets

• Discovery of Uranus, Neptune Pluto since 1700s
• How are these taken into account by astrologers?
• Most ignore them
• A few include them
• No evidence the latter have better results

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Stellar Influence

• We do not claim that the sun and moon have no
  effect on earth
• Light, heat, tides
• But planets stars exert negligible forces at a
  persons birth
• Compared to gravity of mother, doctor, hospital
• Compared to radiation from room lamps
• Astrological successes are probably a combination
  of luck, fraud, and vague pep-talk.

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The Twin Problem

• Astrological horoscopes are based on the position
  of the planets Zodiac at a persons birth.
• Though identical twins often have very similar
  character, they sometimes have very different
  lives.
• Fraternal twins often have very different
  character.
• Time twins have very few similarities.

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Night Side
Planets like Jupiter and Saturn are visible in
the night
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Vakram