N.N. Ojha: Understanding Indian Astrology

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An astrological peep

Book Reviews By Manju Gupta

 

N.N. Ojha: Understanding Indian Astrology, author-publisher, 192 pp, Rs

295.00

 

Astrology has been a well-established intellectual discipline in India

since the early Vedic age, combining the study and observation of

celestial bodies (stars and planets), mathematical calculations to

ascertain their precise positions in space at any given point of time and

the effect of such planetary configurations on the life of an individual

born at a particular point of time. The Arab traveler, Al-Beruni, who

visited India in the early 11th century AD, had observed, "If a person

wants to earn the title of jyotishi (astrologer), he must not only know the

scientific or mathematical astronomy but also astrology."

 

The first part of the book explains how astrology in India constituted the

study of celestial bodies and the method for calculation of planetary

configurations at any given time (known as ganit or mathematical

jyotish).

 

The second part comprising the effects of planetary configurations on

human life, (known as phalit or predictive jyotish) explains how the

earliest references to certain basic concepts of jyotish are available in

the Vedas, especially in the Rigveda and other ancient texts (the

Brahmanas and Samhitas) of the Vedic era, when planets in their

respective orbits and the fixed sequence of day and night followed each

other as well as the sequence of change of seasons on earth were

attributed to the Sun. However the references in the early Vedic

literature were scattered and haphazard and it was only in the Vedang

Jyotish, compiled in the 12th century BC by a scholar named Lagdh,

that astrology became a systematic study. The original text is however

lost but references to a commentary written on it by a scholar named

Somakar are found repeatedly in the subsequent texts.

 

The Vedang Jyotish contains detailed methodology for preparation of the

Indian almanac (Panchang), study of the mean speed of motion of

different planets and the timings of commencement and end of a

particular tithi (lunar date). It also explains the northern and southern

declination of the Sun and contains the names of 27 nakshatras

(asterisms) dominating the 12 rashi or constellations.

 

The book under review says that after the Vedang Jyotish no verifiable

work appeared till the 5th century AD. It was the period between the 5th

century and the 10th century AD that truly monumental works of jyotish

appeared by stalwarts like Aryabhatta, Varahamihira, Kalyan Verma,

Brahmagupta, Sripati Bhatt and Bhaskaracharya — whose Siddhant

Shivoma in AD 1166 became very popular. In the Vrihad Jatak, a leading

work on predictive astrology, Varahamihira says, "Only that person can

call himself an astrologer who is well versed in the five leading schools

of thought, i.e. Surya, Pitamah, Vashishta, Romak and Pacchis

Siddhanta."

 

The author of the book is a civil servant and has been seriously pursuing

astrology. He says, "Concept of theme is central to the study and

practice of jyotish." According to the Indian tradition, time is divided into

eternal time (kaal) and measurable time (samay). Talking about the

Panchang, which is a register of days, weeks and months of the year

with astronomical events, it is prepared with reference to the particular

place where the jyotishi is based. Panchangs contain longitudes and

latitudes of prominent cities and towns so that the larger clientele can

use it across the country or abroad by resorting to simple calculations

to convert the astronomical events as per the local coordinates of any

place. The process is called charantar.

 

The chapter on horoscopes (janam patrika)—a diagram showing the

relative position of stars and planets at the time of an individual's birth—

explains the Indian tradition of making horoscopes since the Vedic age,

calculation of time of birth and geographical coordinates of the place of

birth, the planetary position, the tradition and contemporary techniques

of preparing the north Indian and south Indian types of horoscopes.

 

The chapter on interpretation of horoscopes on the basis of the relative

position of stars and planets makes for interesting reading. The basic

tenets for interpretation of horoscopes are the samhitas (compilations)

and sutras (formulae) attributed to ancient Hindu seers such as Bhrigu,

Parashar, Garg, Vashishtha, Jamini, etc, and the author says, "The first

available authentic, standard text however is the Vrihad Jatak of

Varahamihir." The 12 bhavas, sthanas or grihas (houses) of the Lagna

Chakra are explained as also the effects of rashis. The special planetary

combinations like Chandra Yoga, Raj Yoga, etc. in a horoscope throw

light on the type of life an individual would lead.

 

The author seems to consider the Vrihad Jatak as the gospel of

astrology and says that the rules of astrology "are so concise and

unambiguous that if one horoscope is taken to a hundred (properly and

systematically prepared) different jyotishis, each one shall give a

strikingly similar interpretation."

 

In all, this is an attempt to recapitulate the rich scientific and

mathematical base of jyotish and present the subject in its truly

academic perspective.

 

(N.N. Ojha, B-29, 14 Ironside Road, Kolkata-700 009.)