by Lucas Vanderlinden
Share on:
The modern science of astrology gets its name from the ancient Greek word astrología, or the study of the stars. Specifically, astrology looks at how the movements of the stars and planets influence events on Earth, including the lives of individuals. Various forms of astrology have been practiced across human cultures since the beginning of recorded human civilization.
In this article, we explore the origins of astrology, how astrology works in practice, and different types of astrology.
The Origins of Vedic Astrology
Vedic astrology has been practiced since before recorded history. For instance, ancient Indian culture used a calendrical system that relied on accurate tracking of the moon, stars, and planets. The ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, which is believed by many to be over 5,000 years old, includes many references to astrological signs and calculations. Astrology was not only used to judge a person’s character and destiny, but also for practical daily necessities, such as planting grains, harvesting, and planning weddings and other festivals.
Virtually the same system of astrology as is seen in ancient Indian culture was also used in various places across the world. In the Middle East, there was the Babylonian Empire of the 3rd and 2nd millennia B.C, which utilized astrology to predict natural disasters and other major events. In what is now known as Central America, there was the Mayan Empire of the 2nd millennium B.C, which based the architecture and design of their temples on the movements of the planets.
Perhaps the most famous historical event that involved astrology was the birth of Jesus Christ. It was three astrologers who saw a celestial sign in the sky which indicated the birth of a great soul, a king of kings. By accurately interpreting the stellar and planetary positions, they were able to understand the exact time and location when Jesus would be born.
Today, many cultures use astrology, and especially the movement of the moon, to measure the passage of time, and to determine the dates of holidays and festivals. Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, and other traditions all base their traditional holy days on a lunar calendar.
How Does Vedic Astrology Work?
Astrology is a complex and sophisticated science. Drawing from thousands of years of theoretical and applied knowledge, an astrologer interprets the arrangement of planets and stars to see how they reveal a certain course of events on earth.
In this section, we’ll look at the key elements of the astrological science: the signs, the houses, and the planets. Although this is just a basic overview of the main building blocks of astrology, it will give you a “big picture” of what this fascinating and useful practice involves.
The Twelve Signs of the Zodiac
Even though the solar system is three-dimensional space, all of the planets orbit along the same plane, known as the ecliptic. This means that, in the course of their travel, all the planets pass through the same star formations, also known as constellations.
In astrology, there are twelve specific constellations, or “signs,” which divide the 360° orbit along the ecliptic plane into twelve segments of 30° each. Collectively, these twelve signs are known as the zodiac.
Each sign has a unique symbol and set of characteristics which give it a kind of personality of its own. Think of each sign as a different kind of environment which the planets travel through. In addition, each sign is owned by a particular planet. This means that when the planet passes through that sign, it is in its home, or native environment.
Recommended: Look up your Vedic zodiac sign with our Zodiac Sign Calculator.
Now we’ll take a look at each sign one by one:
Aries
Planetary Ruler: Mars.
Symbol: The Ram.
Chief domains: Leadership, playfulness, competition, self-confidence, and sense of purpose.
Taurus
Planetary Ruler: Venus
Symbol: The Bull.
Chief domains: Loyalty, determination, thoughtfulness, sensuality, and the arts.
Gemini
Planetary Ruler: Mercury
Symbol: The Twins
Chief domains: Charm, communication, logic, imagination, and curiosity.
Cancer
Planetary Ruler: The Moon
Symbol: The Crab
Chief domains: Creativity, compassion, emotions, sensitivity, and motherhood.
Leo
Planetary Ruler: The Sun
Symbol: The Lion
Chief domains: Power, nobility, ambition, authority, and dignity.
Virgo
Planetary Ruler: Mercury
Symbol: The Virgin (Unmarried girl)
Chief domains: Intelligence, resourcefulness, courtesy, modesty, and service.
Libra
Planetary Ruler: Venus
Symbol: The Scales
Chief domains: Balance, justice, aesthetics, optimism, and ethics.
Scorpio
Planetary Ruler: Mars
Symbol: The Scorpion
Chief domains: Intensity, mystery, criticism, harshness, and secrets.
Sagittarius
Planetary Ruler: Jupiter
Symbol: The Archer
Chief domains: Virtue, wisdom, spirituality, good fortune, and religion.
Capricorn
Planetary Ruler: Saturn
Symbol: The Crocodile
Chief domains: Deliberation, philosophy, discipline, stubbornness, and skepticism.
Aquarius
Planetary Ruler: Saturn
Symbol: The Water Bearer
Chief domains: Altruism, social justice, patience, idealism, and renunciation.
Pisces
Planetary Ruler: Jupiter
Symbol: The Fishes
Chief domains: Shyness, depth, beauty, mysticism, and knowledge.
The Twelve Houses
Astrology divides the circumference of the sky into twelve equal compartments — six within the visible sky, and six within the sky that is not visible to us due to it’s being on the opposite side of the earth.
Unlike the stellar constellations, or signs, which appear to rotate through the night sky, the houses remain fixed in their place. In other words, the first house always begins at the eastern horizon, and the seventh house always begins at the western horizon.
Each house governs a particular domain of human life. Here’s a brief overview of each of the twelve houses:
The First House
Position: The eastern horizon to 30° below it.
Body part: The head.
Chief domains: Personality, physical appearance, character, happiness, and longevity.
The Second House
Position: 30°-60° below the eastern horizon.
Body part: The face.
Chief domains: Wealth, traditions, speech, education, and generosity.
The Third House
Position: 60°-90° below the eastern horizon.
Body part: The neck, shoulders, arms, and hands.
Chief domains: Siblings, courage, virtue, literature, and sports.
The Fourth House
Position: 60°-90° below the western horizon.
Body part: The chest, lungs, and heart.
Chief domains: The mother, the home, the homeland, vehicles, and beliefs.
The Fifth House
Position: 30°-60° below the western horizon.
Body part: The stomach.
Chief domains: Children, creativity, investments, wisdom, and success.
The Sixth House
Position: The western horizon to 30° below it.
Body part: The lower abdomen and intestines.
Chief domains: Fear, debt, disease, enemies, and service.
The Seventh House
Position: The western horizon to 30° above it.
Body part: The colon and internal sex organs.
Chief domains: The spouse, marital happiness, faithfulness, contracts, and sexual desire.
The Eighth House
Position: 30°-60° above the western horizon.
Body part: The genitals and anus.
Chief domains: The time & cause of death, scandals, calamities, revolutions, and the occult.
The Ninth House
Position: 60°-90° above the western horizon.
Body part: The thighs and hips.
Chief domains: Religion, morality, piety, destiny, and the spiritual master.
The Tenth House
Position: 60°-90° above the eastern horizon.
Body part: The knees and the back.
Chief domains: Career, reputation, rank, authority, and the father.
The Eleventh House
Position: 30°-60° above the eastern horizon.
Body part: The calves.
Chief domains: Gains, income, aspirations, communities, and marketplaces.
The Twelfth House
Position: The eastern horizon to 30° above it.
Body part: The feet.
Chief domains: Losses, misfortune, the subconscious, forgiveness, and liberation.
The Planets
Originally, the word planet comes from the Greek word planetes, or “wanderer.” This is due to the fact that the planets all travel through space along a defined orbit, and at a fixed pace.
In Astrology, each planet is attributed a specific personality, complete with characteristics, likes, dislikes, etc. Now we’ll examine the main features of each of the planets:
The Sun
Day of the week: Sunday
Speed of travel through the zodiac: About one sign per month.
Portfolio: The soul, governments, will-power, health, prestige, and the father.
The Moon
Day of the week: Monday
Speed of travel: About one sign every two-and-a-half days.
Portfolio: The mind, agriculture, happiness, emotions, creativity, and the mother.
Mars
Day of the week: Tuesday
Speed of travel: About one sign every two months.
Portfolio: Vitality, warfare, enemies, courage, anger, and opposition.
Mercury
Day of the week: Wednesday
Speed of travel: About one sign every week.
Portfolio: Intellect, communication, logic, theatre, literature, and learning.
Jupiter
Day of the week: Thursday
Speed of travel: About one sign per year.
Portfolio: Wisdom, devotion, holy places, piety, sons, and the husband.
Venus
Day of the week: Friday
Speed of travel: About one sign every two-and-a-half weeks.
Portfolio: Sensuality, marriage, aesthetics, luxury, music, and the wife.
Saturn
Day of the week: Saturday
Speed of travel: About one sign every two-and-a-half years.
Portfolio: Longevity, philosophy, poverty, livelihood, impiety, and obstacles.
Rahu
Day of the week: None
Speed of travel: About one sign every one-and-a-half years.
Portfolio: False arguments, outcastes, travelling, swelling, wickedness, and snakes.
Ketu
Day of the week: None
Speed of travel: About one sign every one-and-a-half years.
Portfolio: Wounds, fever, out-of-body experiences, surrender, apathy, and salvation
The 27 Nakshatras
In Vedic astrology, the nakshatras are small constellations of stars that the moon travels through as it orbits Earth. In English, nakshatras are known as “lunar mansions.” A Vedic astrologer looks at the nakshatras along with zodiac signs to determine additional details about a person’s inborn traits. In addition, in electional astrology, also known as muhurtha, nakshatras are essential for determining suitable times for major life events.
Recommended: Look up your nakshatra with our Nakshatra Calculator.
There are a total of 27 nakshatras:
Ashwini
Planetary Ruler: Ketu.
Zodiac Sign: Aries.
Symbol: A horse’s head.
Bharani
Planetary Ruler: Venus.
Zodiac Sign: Aries.
Symbol: The female sex organ.
Krittika
Planetary Ruler: Sun.
Zodiac Sign: Aries (first quarter) and Taurus (second through fourth quarters).
Symbol: Knife or flame.
Rohini
Planetary Ruler: Moon.
Zodiac Sign: Taurus.
Symbol: Oxcart or temple.
Mrighashira
Planetary Ruler: Mars.
Zodiac Sign: Gemini.
Symbol: A human head or a teardrop.
Ardra
Planetary Ruler: Rahu.
Zodiac Sign: Aries.
Symbol: A horse’s head.
Punarvasu
Planetary Ruler: Jupiter.
Zodiac Sign: Gemini (1st through 3rd quarter) and Cancer (4th quarter).
Symbol: Bow and quiver.
Pushya
Planetary Ruler: Saturn.
Zodiac Sign: Cancer.
Symbol: The udder of a cow, a lotus, or a circle.
Ashlesha
Planetary Ruler: Mercury.
Zodiac Sign: Cancer.
Symbol: Serpent.
Magha
Planetary Ruler: Ketu.
Zodiac Sign: Leo.
Symbol: A palanquin or throne.
Purva-phalguni
Planetary Ruler: Venus.
Zodiac Sign: Leo.
Symbol: Hammock.
Uttara-phalguni
Planetary Ruler: Sun.
Zodiac Sign: Leo (1st quarter) and Virgo (2nd-4th quarter).
Symbol: Bed.
Hasta
Planetary Ruler: Moon.
Zodiac Sign: Virgo.
Symbol: The hand.
Chitra
Planetary Ruler: Mars.
Zodiac Sign: Virgo (1st and 2nd quarter) and Libra (3rd and 4th quarter).
Symbol: Pearl or jewel.
Swati
Planetary Ruler: Rahu.
Zodiac Sign: Libra.
Symbol: A fresh blade of grass.
Vishakha
Planetary Ruler: Jupiter.
Zodiac Sign: Libra (1st-3rd quarters) and Scorpio (4th quarter).
Symbol: Potter’s wheel.
Anuradha
Planetary Ruler: Saturn.
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio.
Symbol: Lotus flower.
Jyeshta
Planetary Ruler: Mercury.
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio.
Symbol: Umbrella
Mula
Planetary Ruler: Ketu.
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius.
Symbol: Roots.
Purva-ashadha
Planetary Ruler: Venus.
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius.
Symbol: A winnowing basket.
Uttara-ashadha
Planetary Ruler: Sun.
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius (first quarter) and Capricorn (second through fourth quarters).
Symbol: The tusk of an elephant.
Shravana
Planetary Ruler: Moon.
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn.
Symbol: An ear.
Dhanishta
Planetary Ruler: Mars.
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn (1st and 2nd Quarter) and Aquarius (3rd and 4th Quarter).
Symbol: A drum.
Shatabhisha
Planetary Ruler: Rahu.
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius.
Symbol: An empty circle.
Purva-bhadrapada
Planetary Ruler: Jupiter.
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius (1st through 3rd quarter) and Pisces (4th quarter).
Symbol: A funeral bed.
Uttara-bhadrapada
Planetary Ruler: Saturn.
Zodiac Sign: Pisces.
Symbol: A snake.
Revati
Planetary Ruler: Mercury.
Zodiac Sign: Pisces.
Symbol: A fish.
Different Types of Vedic Astrology
The science of astrology is used for many different purposes. In the West, most people are familiar with birth chart readings, commonly known as horoscopes. However, there are other types of readings that can provide valuable information in different circ*mstances. Below, we’ll look at the most common divisions of astrology:
Horoscope Readings
Popularly known as a birth chart, a horoscope is a two-dimensional map of the planetary and stellar positions in relation to earth at the time of a person’s birth. The exact time, latitude, and longitude of the birth location are taken into account.
The horoscope is a powerful prognostication tool, which, when read properly, can accurately foretell a person’s personality, major life events, past life, time of death, and more.
Relationship Compatibility
A relationship reading looks at two individual horoscopes to determine how compatible they are. This is mostly used when planning marriages or counseling couples. However, it can also be used for any relationship: between parent and child, boss and employee, teacher and student, two friends, business partners, etc.
The relationship reading is invaluable for identifying major strengths and weaknesses in the partnership. It can give tremendous insight to couples who are having trouble understanding their significant other’s point of view.
Electional (Muhurtha)
Virtually unheard of in the West, an electional reading, or muhurtha, is used to determine the most auspicious time for significant events. Some circ*mstances when an electional reading can be useful include:
- Life events, such as weddings, important ceremonies, and conceiving children.
- Major purchases, such as a home or vehicle.
- Launching a new business or financial venture.
- Traveling long distances.
Horary (Prashna)
In horary astrology, the astrologer casts a chart at the moment a person asks a specific question. The chart is then interpreted in a way that provides a clear and conclusive answer.
While almost any question can be asked, the first step in any prashna is to verify the sincerity of the inquirer. This is signified by the strength and qualities of the rising sign. Some common uses of horary astrology include:
- Locating lost people or items
- Informing major life decisions
- Ascertaining when and how a person will meet their future spouse
- Understanding the cause of an illness and its cure
Modern Astrology vs. Vedic Astrology
Nowadays, most people are familiar with astrology as it is practiced in the western world. This is generally known as “modern astrology.” Key features of this school of astrology include:
- Planetary positions are calculated by the movement of the sun
- A person’s “sign” is their sun sign
- Planets such as Neptune and Uranus are also given importance
Ancient Indian astrology, known as Sidereal astrology, is a practice dating back thousands of years. Its main features include:
- Planetary positions are calculated in relation to the fixed stars of the zodiac
- A person’s “sign” is their moon sign
- “Shadow” planets Rahu and Ketu are given importance
Although there are numerous differences between modern and sidereal astrology, the two approaches are largely the same. You can read our article to learn more about how they differ.
