Vedic Astrology - Part II

Revealed to the Indian Seers in yogic flashes of heightened

Consciousness, Astrology was developed strictly on

scientific laws. Backed up by Astronomy and Maths,

Astrology continues to rule as the Queen & Mother of all

Sciences.

Astro Cycles Theory

Long Astro Cycles have fascinated mankind. This is the Vedic

perspective of Astro Cycles.

The Vernal Equinoctial Point was found to precede one degree

in every 72 years. Hence as one Zodiacal Sign is 30 degrees

in length, 2160 years is the duration of an Age Cycle. We

are at the moment undergoing the Piscean Age which will

give way to the Aquarian in 2444 AD. It is called the

Piscean Age because the Vernal Equinoctial Point is passing

through Pisces and is at the moment 06 degrees 40 minutes

24 seconds in Pisces.

Age Cycle ( 72*30) = 2160 years Precessional Cycle (72*360)

= 25920 years ( as the Zodiac is 360 degrees ) Equinoctial

Cycle (2000*2160) = 43,20000 years Cosmological Cycle ( 2

million * 2160 ) = 4.32 billion years

One Cosmological Cycle ( Brahma Kalpa) was considered to be

one Brahma Day and another 4.32 billion years was

considered to be one Brahma Night. One Cosmological Cycle

was one thousand Equinoctial Cycles ( Chatur Yugas) or 2

million Age Cycles!

The Vedic Calendar - Based on Equinoctial Cycles

An Equinoctial Cycle comprises of 4 Ages.

Satya Yuga = 800 Age Cycles

Threta Yuga = 600 Age Cycles

Dwapara Yuga = 400 Age Cycles

Kali Yuga = 200 Age Cycles

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Maha Yuga = 2000 Age Cycles ( Equinoctial Cycle )

As per Vedic Astronomy, the Dark Age ( Kali Yuga ) commenced

from 3102 BC , 16th February Midnight.

The Concept of Ayanamsa

The Date of Coincidence of the Tropical and the Sidereal

Zodiacs was found to be 285 AD and the Ayanamsa (

precessional distance ) was called Lahiri's Ayanamsa.

Different scholars gave different dates but the Indian Govt

in order to standardise the Ayanamsa value took the initial

point of the Zodiac as the point in the Ecliptic opposite

the star Chitra ( Alpha Virginis ) which was the vernal

equinoctial point on the Vernal Equinox day of 285 AD. The

rate of precession of the Vernal Equinox was taken as 50.3

seconds per sidereal year.

In Vedic Astrology, Ayanamsa value is deducted from the

Tropical longitudes of planets to get the Sidereal

longitudes. Hence the longitudes of planets in Western

Astrology ( Tropical ) and Indian Astrology differ by 23.5

degrees this year. Natal charts cast in these 2 systems will

be entirely different!

The Tropicalists ( Western Astrologers) maintain that the

Vernal Point is in the 6th degree of Pisces now . The

Siderealists ( Vedic Astrologers ) maintain that the

Sidereal Starting Point remains to be 0 degrees Beta

Arietis ( Aswini ) and that the Sidereal Zodiac doesn't

change.

Scientific Offshoots of Astrology

Pythagorus discovered that the Nine numbers correspond to

the Nine revolving heavens and became the founder of

Astro-Numerology. The most auspicious number Three was

represented by the monarch of the sky, Jupiter.

Another intuitively scientific offshoot of Astrology was

Vedic Planetary Gemology. The nine gems correspond to the

nine planets and Gems were found to heal humans.This gave

birth to the science of Gem Therapy.

Astrology as related to Yoga

As per Indian Philosophy, Astrology was considered to be the

foremost amonst the six auxiliary sciences as Yoga was

considered to be the foremost amongst the six main

sciences. Even Yogis used to consult astrologers about

gaining Self-Actualisation. Jupiter, Saturn and the South

Node were considered to be the spiritual planets which bring

in Immortality or Self-Actualisation.

The Law of Correspondences

There is correspondence between the Seven planets and the

Seven Chakras or Dynamos of Cosmic Energy in Man. The Sun

at the Centre of the Solar System is represented by the

Anahata Chakra and Saturn by the Mooladhara Chakra. " As

Above, so Below "- the seven energy centers are arranged

exactly as in the Solar Logos. We are, indeed , made in the

image of Godhead, in His Image, in the image of the

Almighty Solar Logos!

In our next article we will deal with the properties of the

nine revolving heavens and their significations.