Astrology is the science of patterns and relationships – of planets in motion (moving planets), birth chart and make-up of elements (earth, air, water and fire). In Sanskrit, it is called HORA SASTRA. It is also called JYOTISHA (knowledge of light).
Indian astrology is divided into 3 parts – SIDDHANTA, HORA and SAMHITA.
Indian astrology is divided into 3 parts – SIDDHANTA, HORA and SAMHITA.
- HORA tells us information about individuals.
- SAMHITA tell us about happenings in the world.
- SIDDHANTA about the basic information on which Hora and Samhita are based.
The 9 planets are,
The Panchanga has five (pancha) parts (anga), includes five basic elements,
VARA, THITHI, NAKSHATRA, YOGA & KARANA
Vara or Week-day
The days are named after Sun, Moon and five principal planets. 7 such days form a week. A Vara begins at sunrise.
Thithi
A Thithi in Hindu calendar is a Lunar day, the time it takes for the longitudinal angle between the moon and the sun to increase by 12 degrees. Thitis begin at varying times of day and vary in duration from approximately 18 hours to 26 hours. There are 30 thithis in each lunar month.
The moment of new moon or that point of time when the longitudes of the sun and the moon are equal is called AMASVAYA.
The moment of full moon or that point of time when the moon is farthest from the sun when the longitudes differ by 180 degrees is called PURNIMA.
Nakshatra
Nakshatra or lunar mansion is one of the 27 divisions of the sky. Each nakshatra represents a divison of the ecliptic (is the apparent path sun traces out in the sky during the year) similar to the zodiac (ring of constellations that lines the ecliptic). Constellation is a group of celestial bodies, usually stars that appear to forma pattern in the sky.
There are 27 nakshatras, with Lord and Deity.
1 Ashwini, Ketu, Ashwini Kumaras - physicians to god
2 Bharani, Venus (sukra), Yama - god of death
3 Kritika, Sun (soorya), Agni - god of fire
4 Rohini, Moon (chandra), Brahma - the creator
5 Mrigashira, Mars (kuja), Chandra - the moon god
6 Aridra, Rahu, Rudra - the storm god
7 Punarvasu, Jupiter (guru), Aditi - mother of the gods
8 Pushya, Saturn (sani), Brishaspathi - priest of the gods
9 Aslesha, Mercury (budha), Sarpa - the snake
10 Magha, Ketu, Pitru - family ancestors
11 Poorvaphalguni, Venus (sukra), Bhaga - god of marital bliss
12 Uttaraphalguni, Sun (soorya), Aryaman - god of favours
13 Hasta, Moon (chandra), Soorya - the sun god
14 Chitra, Mars (kuja), Vishvakarma - celestial architect
15 Swati, Rahu, Vayu - the wind god
16 Vishaka, Jupiter (guru), Indira - chief of the gods
17 Anuradha, Saturn (sani), Mitra - friendship
18 Jyeshta, Mercury (budha), Indira - chief of the gods
19 Moola, Ketu, Nirrti - god of dissolution/destruction
20 Poorvashada, Venus (sukra), Apah - god of water
21 Uttarshada, Sun (soorya), Vishveda - universal of gods
22 Shravana, Moon (chandra), Vishnu - preserver of universe
23 Dhanishta, Mars (kuja), 8 vasus - deities of earthly abundance
24 Shatabisha, Rahu, Varuna - god of cosmic waters
25 Poorvabhadra, Jupiter (guru), Ajikapada - ancient fire dragon
26 Uttarabhadra, Saturn (sani), Ahir Budhyana - serpent or dragon
27 Revati, Mercury (budha), Pushan - the protective deity
Yoga
Yoga is the name of a particular division of time. The period of time during which the joint motion in longitude or the sume of the motions of the sun and moon is increased by 13o20’, is called Yoga. Yoga refers to the planetary combinations and their special results, which affect the life of an individual.
Karana
Karana is half part of the Thithi. A Karana is the time required for angular distance between the sun and the moon in incrased in steps of 6o starting from 0o. There are 11 Karanas. Of the 11, 4 are fixed and occurs only once in a cycle. The remaining 7 karnas repeat 8 times to cover the remaining 56 steps.
- Surya or Ravi - SUN
- Soma or Chandra - MOON
- Kuja or Mangala - MARS
- Budha or Soumya - MERCURY
- Guru or Brihaspathi - JUPITER
- Sukra or Bhargava - VENUS
- Sani or Manda - SATURN
- Rahu or Thama - DRAGON’S HEAD
- Ketu or Sikhi - DRAGON’S TAIL
The Panchanga has five (pancha) parts (anga), includes five basic elements,
VARA, THITHI, NAKSHATRA, YOGA & KARANA
Vara or Week-day
The days are named after Sun, Moon and five principal planets. 7 such days form a week. A Vara begins at sunrise.
Thithi
A Thithi in Hindu calendar is a Lunar day, the time it takes for the longitudinal angle between the moon and the sun to increase by 12 degrees. Thitis begin at varying times of day and vary in duration from approximately 18 hours to 26 hours. There are 30 thithis in each lunar month.
The moment of new moon or that point of time when the longitudes of the sun and the moon are equal is called AMASVAYA.
The moment of full moon or that point of time when the moon is farthest from the sun when the longitudes differ by 180 degrees is called PURNIMA.
Nakshatra
Nakshatra or lunar mansion is one of the 27 divisions of the sky. Each nakshatra represents a divison of the ecliptic (is the apparent path sun traces out in the sky during the year) similar to the zodiac (ring of constellations that lines the ecliptic). Constellation is a group of celestial bodies, usually stars that appear to forma pattern in the sky.
There are 27 nakshatras, with Lord and Deity.
1 Ashwini, Ketu, Ashwini Kumaras - physicians to god
2 Bharani, Venus (sukra), Yama - god of death
3 Kritika, Sun (soorya), Agni - god of fire
4 Rohini, Moon (chandra), Brahma - the creator
5 Mrigashira, Mars (kuja), Chandra - the moon god
6 Aridra, Rahu, Rudra - the storm god
7 Punarvasu, Jupiter (guru), Aditi - mother of the gods
8 Pushya, Saturn (sani), Brishaspathi - priest of the gods
9 Aslesha, Mercury (budha), Sarpa - the snake
10 Magha, Ketu, Pitru - family ancestors
11 Poorvaphalguni, Venus (sukra), Bhaga - god of marital bliss
12 Uttaraphalguni, Sun (soorya), Aryaman - god of favours
13 Hasta, Moon (chandra), Soorya - the sun god
14 Chitra, Mars (kuja), Vishvakarma - celestial architect
15 Swati, Rahu, Vayu - the wind god
16 Vishaka, Jupiter (guru), Indira - chief of the gods
17 Anuradha, Saturn (sani), Mitra - friendship
18 Jyeshta, Mercury (budha), Indira - chief of the gods
19 Moola, Ketu, Nirrti - god of dissolution/destruction
20 Poorvashada, Venus (sukra), Apah - god of water
21 Uttarshada, Sun (soorya), Vishveda - universal of gods
22 Shravana, Moon (chandra), Vishnu - preserver of universe
23 Dhanishta, Mars (kuja), 8 vasus - deities of earthly abundance
24 Shatabisha, Rahu, Varuna - god of cosmic waters
25 Poorvabhadra, Jupiter (guru), Ajikapada - ancient fire dragon
26 Uttarabhadra, Saturn (sani), Ahir Budhyana - serpent or dragon
27 Revati, Mercury (budha), Pushan - the protective deity
Yoga
Yoga is the name of a particular division of time. The period of time during which the joint motion in longitude or the sume of the motions of the sun and moon is increased by 13o20’, is called Yoga. Yoga refers to the planetary combinations and their special results, which affect the life of an individual.
Karana
Karana is half part of the Thithi. A Karana is the time required for angular distance between the sun and the moon in incrased in steps of 6o starting from 0o. There are 11 Karanas. Of the 11, 4 are fixed and occurs only once in a cycle. The remaining 7 karnas repeat 8 times to cover the remaining 56 steps.