Jyotisha or Jyotishya is the traditional Hindu system of astrology, also known as Hindu astrology, Indian astrology and more recently Vedic astrology. The term Hindu astrology has been in use as the English equivalent of Jyotiṣa since the early 19th century, whereas Vedic astrology is a relatively recent term, entering common usage in the 1970s with self-help publications on Āyurveda or yoga.
Bangalore Venkata Raman was an Indian astrologer in modern India and an author of numerous books and articles. He was instrumental in making Vedic or Hindu astrology known and respected throughout India and the world. With the help of his sons Niranjan Babu and Sachidananda Babu, he also started the Raman & Rajeswari Research Foundation to promote the knowledge of Astrology and Vastu Shastra.
The term Varga in Indian astrology (Jyotisha) refers to the division of a zodiacal sign (rāśi) into parts. Each such fractional part of a sign, known as an aṃśa, has a source of influence associated with it, so that these sources of influence come to be associated with collections of regions around the zodiac.
In Hindu astrology, yoga is the relationship between one planet, sign, or house to another by placement, aspect, or conjunction. It is the consideration of the planetary dasha's directional effects, the most important factor which distinguishes Hindu astrology from Western astrology.
Raja yogas are Shubha ('auspicious') yogas that give success and a grand rise in career or business, and a greater degree of financial prosperity particularly during the dasha of the planets that give rise to Raja yogas. However, these results get adversely modified by the presence of other Ashubha ('inauspicious') Arista yogas. Basically, the Yoga or Raja yoga-causing planets during the course of their respective dashas confer their most auspicious results if they happen to own the lagna-bhava or the Suta-bhava or the Bhagyasthana ; the person remains healthy, wealthy, happy and successful enjoying yoga and Raja yoga results in case the lagna, the 3rd, the 6th, the 8th, the 9th and the 12th houses counted from the lagna are also not occupied by any planet, and the kendras (quadrants) are occupied only by benefic planets.
Bhavartha Ratnakara was formerly a little-known Sanskrit treatise on the predictive part of Hindu astrology which is believed to have been written by Ramanuja, it had for a very long time remained confined mainly to the southern parts of India. It was in the year 1900 that Raman Publications, Bangalore, published this text along with its translation into English and comments by Bangalore Venkata Raman, the 10th Edition of which translation was published in 1992 followed by another edition in 1997.
Laghu Parashari, also known as Jataka Chandrika, is an important treatise on Vimshottari dasha system and is based on Bṛhat Parāśara Horāśāstra. Written in Sanskrit in the usual Sloka format, it consists of forty-two verses divided into five chapters. Thus, it is a brief but an important treatise on predictive part of Hindu astrology whose authorship is not known even though it is presumed that it was written by ardent followers of Parashara. It contains all the fundamental principles on which the Parashari system is based. It is widely relied upon by the exponents of Hindu astrology and a text that is frequently cited.
Jaimini Sutras, also called as Upadesa Sutras is an ancient Sanskrit text on the predictive part of Hindu astrology, attributed to Maharishi Jaimini, the founder of the Purva Mimamsa branch of Hindu philosophy, a disciple of Rishi Vyasa and grandson of Parashara. It comprises nine hundred and thirty-six sutras or aphorisms arranged in four chapters, and though having several distinct features of its own, the Jaimini System, which is a unique system, appears as an offshoot of the Parashari System only; wherever it deviates, it is not found to be in conflict with the Parashari system, and gives due importance to Rahu and Ketu, the two Lunar Nodes.
Tajika Neelakanthi is a treatise on the predictive part of Hindu astrology written in Sanskrit Slokas by the celebrated authority on Tajika shastra, Neelakantha, son of Ananta Deva, on the basis of many earlier works of Samar Singh and others. He completed this work in the year 1509 Saka or 1587 A.D. Neelakantha also wrote Prasna Tantra, a treatise on Horary astrology based on the Tajika Shastra.
Hora Ratna, a treatise on the predictive part of Hindu astrology, was written in the usual Sanskrit Slokas - format by Bala Bhadra sometime during the reign of the Muhghal Emperor Shah Jahan. Whereas the opinion of Parashara prevails much more in North of India, in South India the method of Bala Bhadra, who was influenced by Garga, is considered to be more authoritative. This text is a unique treatise on the effects of the twelve signs and houses which aspect it deals in its own peculiar way.
Prasna Tantra is a famous work of Neelakantha on Horary astrology. Neelakantha Daivagnya, the author of Tajika Neelakanthi was the minister and court astrologer of Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Akbar. Prasna Tantra is based on the Tajika system of prognostication. It comprises 430 slokas divided into four chapters, and is written in the usual Sanskrit Sloka – format. It is believed that this work, which is compact and comprehensive, proven and applicable to modern conditions, is the Third Tantra or division of Neelakantha's larger work, Tajika Neelakanthi. Prasna Tantra is divided into four chapters, viz – Prasna Vichara (preliminaries), Bhava Prasna, Vishesha Prasna and Prakirnakadhyaya. The aspects considered by this work are those of the Tajika system, an aspect by itself has no orb but planets have orbs of operation; Yogas in this system arise on the basis of applying and separating aspects, the closer the yoga, the more certain will be the results. The rules and methods initiated by this text have found favour with astrologers since the time it was written and came to light around 1580 A.D. Prasna Tantra by Neelakantha and Daivagya Vallabha of Varahamihira are a must to cover Prasna or Horary astrology.
Viparita Raja yoga is a special kind of Raja yoga that arises out of the weakness of the lords of the Dustasthanas i.e. of the evil bhavas or houses. The word, Viparita, in Sanskrit means the "Opposite", unexpected because the Viparita Raja yoga is basically a planetary combination/association of the lords of Dushtsthanas, which lords otherwise by virtue of their being functional malefics, during the course of their own dashas and also periodic unfavourable transits, give much pain, hardship and losses.
Planetary dispositors play an important role in Astrology. The dispositor is a planet in whose sign another planet is located in the natal chart and which resident planet gains strength when its dispositor is also strong.
Balarishta in Hindu astrology is one of the Arishtas. These Arishtas are indicated by certain specific planetary situations or combinations or associations present at the time of one's birth or at the time of query or at a particular muhurta or happening as are revealed by the Natal Chart or the Query Chart or the Muhurta Chart. It is a Dosha.
Dhana yogas are astrological combinations or yogas for wealth and prosperity which prove more fruitful if both the lagna and its lord are strong, and there are no Arista yogas present affecting the Dhana yoga - causing planets and the bhavas associated with earning, acquisition and accumulation of wealth. Jupiter is one of the natural Dhana-karaka, a strong Jupiter gives lifelong prosperity and financial stability.
Karmasthana, also known as the Kirtisthana and the Rajyasthana, is the 10th bhava or house counted from the Lagna or the Ascendant or from the Chandra-lagna i.e. the natal position of the Moon. It is the house of action and the house of profession.
Yoga-karakas are those planets which, according to Hindu astrology, confer fame, honour, dignity, financial prosperity, political success, and reputation. The lords of the kendras and trikonas associating with each other, or the lords of the 9th and 10th interchanging signs or fully aspecting each other, give rise to Raja yoga.
In Hindu astrology, the term, Pārijāta yoga refers to a yoga or planetary combination which is a Raja yoga. It is based on the Planetary Dispositor Principle. According to Parasara, Pārijāta yoga arises if the lord of the sign occupied by the lord of the Lagna (Ascendant) and the lord of the sign occupied by the dispositor of the lord of the lagna both, or if the lords of the navamsas occupied by these two lords are situated in a kendra or a trikona from the lagna-kendra in their own or exaltation signs.
Parajāta yogas are special planetary combinations or yogas that indicate birth of children who are not genetically related to their father or non-marital children or born out of illicit connections of their married mothers. Illegitimate children are stigmatized for no fault of theirs; some, like T.E.Lawrence, are made to seek redemption of their mother’s status but most accept their fate like Satyakama Jabala did. In India, illegitimate children of a Hindu father do not inherit from him on intestacy but they do inherit from their mother at par with her legitimate children.
Cāmara yoga is an auspicious yoga which blesses a person with name, fame and riches; and a Rāja yoga which confers upon a person a high social and official status, and ability and opportunity to lead, rule and administer.
