Mr Harshavardhan Reddy believes in mythology and astrological practices prevailing in India over the centuries. Following article outlines the Hindu Astrology.
Evidences prove that the early civilizations had deep knowledge of the science of Astrology. Astrology was germinated in the Hindu kingdom. Mesopotamians and Babylonians developed it separately. Even in prehistoric times Days, Paksh, Ayan, Months and Era were known. Moon was greatest clock at those times. Written around 5000B.C. Vedas have references of orbit of Planets, Nakshatras, Yug, Months, Tithis, Eclipse, Meteors, Comets etc. Northerly course and Southern course of Sun were also known. Astrology was practiced to predict various events of life of Natives and also Mundane events like wars, outcome of wars, floods etc. Various Rishis had advanced knowledge of the science. Some of them are Rishi Agastya, Narad, Bhrigu, Surya, Atri, Kashyap, Mirich, Manu, Lomesh, Chyawan, Garg etc.
Europeans believe that Seth (3769 B.C.) was the world’s first Astrologer. Around 2,600 years ago priests and shepherds of Chaldea studied this science seriously. Greeks also practised Astrology. One of the Greek Horoscope written in Papyrus about 2000 years ago is kept in British Museum. Astrology was popular with Egyptians too. Pharaohs had faith in Astrology and they use to consult Astrologers for taking decisions. At 2750 B.C. in China, from the days of King Fohi, Astronomy and Astrology were widely studied .
In India, sage Parashar is believed to have dictated “Brihat Parashar Hora Shastram” to his students in between 5000 B.C. – 4000 B.C. There were two schools of thought at those times. Sign system taught by Sage Jaimini and Planetry system propounded by sage Parashar. According to Jaimini, Signs aspect each other and Timing of events was done by Dasas attributed to Signs. On the contrary Parashar in his all time great work “Brihat Parashar Hora Shastram” considered Conjunctions and Aspects between Planets. Dasa were attributed to Planets and Transits also were read form Planets. The Parashari system didn’t loose and is still being practiced in whole of the country.
Astrology was widely in use in the period of Mahabharata.
Various Rishis had predicted the war beforehand and its outcome. Lagadh, around year 700B.C. wrote “Jyotish Vedang” in Kashmir. He described Muhurat, Ayan, Month, Year, Season, Day etc. He invented a time measuring instrument, which used to have hole in its bottom. It was kept on the surface of water. After a fixed time it used to drown in water.
Alexander attacked India in 326 B.C. from N.W. direction. This marked exchange of knowledge between Greeks (Yavans) and Hindus. Surya Sidhant is believed to be written in 100B.C. Greatest of researchers, Aryabhatt was born in 476 A.D. He wrote Aryabhtiyam. He had the knowledge of Heliocentric and Geocentric systems. He was a professor in Nalanda. He influenced Mihir, popularly known as Varahmihir. Born in 505 A.D. Mihir wrote “Brihatjatak” on the lines of “Brihat Parashar Hora Shastram”. He just added his observations. Kalyan Verma in 578 A.D. wrote Saravali on the same lines. Twenty years later Brahmgupt, wrote “Brahmgupt Sidhant”. Son of Mihir, Prithuyash wrote “Shat panchsika” on Horary Astrology.
Bhatopal explained the works of Mihir and Brahmgupt in his times. He wrote commentaries on their works in 888A.D. and became famous. Sripathi was born in 999A.D. He wrote Sripathi Padhati, Ratnasaar, Ratnamaala, Ratnawali. Born in 1114 A.D., Bhaskaracharya is famous for “Sidhant Shiromani”, “Karan Kauntal, “Sarvabhadra” based on Brahmguptas study.
All the Astrologers extended on the legendary work “Brihat Parashar Hora Shastram” until Yavanacharya gave a new look to Astrology, and developed “Tajik Shastra”. He wrote “Tajik Shastra” in Arabic, therefore some Astrologers believe that he developed this work in Tajakistan and not in India. This system is of annual horoscopy or “Varshaphal” and Tajik yogas are used for predictions like Ishraf, Induvar etc. They are not like aspects and conjunctions or combinations used in Parashari astrology. However for practicing this system Natal Horoscope is made in the same manner. Many Astrologers believe that Tej Singh in 1300A.D. evolved the Tajik system.
Born in 1456 A.D. Keshav wrote several books on Applied Astronomy. His famous works are Jatak Padhati, Tithi Sidhi, Ganit Deepak etc. Son of Keshav, Ganesh Daivagya wrote “Grah Laghav” and a dozen more books. Dhundhiraj, wrote his observations in Astrology in the book “Jatak Bharnam”. Maansagari is collection of observation of many Astrologers written in 1500A.D. Meanwhile few books on Muhurat were also written. Keshav wrote Muhrat Tatwa. Muhurat Martanda, Muhurat Chintamani, Muhurat Kalpdrum were written by Narayan, Rambhatt and Vithal Dixit respectively in the years 1491 A.D., 1600 A.D., 1627 A.D. Uttarkalamrit is believed to have written in 16th century by Kalidas (not the author of “Abhigyan Shakuntlam”) on the same lines of “Brihat Parashar Hora Shastram”.
Illustrious sons of Anant Daivagya, Neelkanth and Ram and wrote “Tajik Neelkanthi” and “Muhurat Chintamani” respectively. Munishwar wrote commentaries on Sidhant Shiromani. Jatak Padhati was written by Divakar.
Various studies including Astrology lost their way from the Times of Aurangzeb until Englishmen consolidated their position in the country. Ninteenth century was era of “Exploration of the Past”. Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Sudhkar Dwivedi, Nityanand, Mansagar, Raghunath Acharya, Sir Syyed Ahmed Khan, Sh. Ramkrishna Paramhans etc. and later Bal Gngadhar Tilak and others explored rich Hindu Tradition. Vedas, Epics viz. Mahabharat, Ramayan etc. were translated in various languages including English and were made available to common people. Raghunath Acharya was fellow of The Royal Astronomical Society. He wrote “Jyotish Chintamani”.
In Astrology various texts “Brihat Parashar Hora Shastram”, Brihat Jatakam and others were also translated. B. Suryanarayan Rao and his grandson B.V.Raman translated various texts. B.V. Raman set up schools of Astrology in various parts of the country in recent times in which Traditional Astrology is taught to the students. He also gave a new Ayanamsa which bears his name.
1950’s saw emergence of a new star, Jyotish Martand Krishnamurti in the Hindu Astrological scenario. He was from Madras, now called Chennai. According to him he tried predictions on the basis of traditional Astrology. Then he studied “Nadi Astrology” from Sh. R. G. Rao. Associate of Sh. Gurumurti and did research on it. He found the system to be extremely accurate. He said precise predictions are possible only on the basis of Nadi Astrology and not on the basis of traditional system. He wrote seven readers on it and spread this system in various parts of the country. According to him accurate predictions are possible by using Signs, Nakshatra, Sub lord, House cusps, and using combination of Houses for events which can be pin pointed by Vimshottari Dasa. He used inequal system of Houses in “Chalit Chart”. Method taught by him was spread all over the country and his followers are still spreading the science in the name of “K.P. System or “Krishnamurti Padhati”. His books bear the name “Stellar Astrology”.
On the similar lines Sh.Gurumurti who used equal Houses system taught “Nadi Astrology” to Sh. J.C. Luthra (1924-1997) in late 60’s. He had in his bank a number of combinations of Houses which he used to predict events. Sh. J.C. Luthra based on the teachings of Sh. Gurumurti developed the science and added more combinations based on his experience and research for a period of over 25 years. He also wrote two books on “Mundane Astrology” which was untouched branch of subject so far. Nadi Astrology is being taught by me in Delhi and Chandigarh regularly. It is also taught in various other cities of India and also Spain by me and my students. Now Nadi Astrology has spread all across the Globe. We also have a discussion forum on face book in the name of “Nadi Astrology’ on which students from all across Globe can join and discuss.
In this era of Information and technology hundreds of web sites on Hindu Astrology are there. Books are available in CD’s and DVD’s. I hope Hindu Astrology will spread further as a science and will enlighten people on Earth in times to come.
Nadi Astrology* – Nadi Astrology is believed to be practised by Sage Agastya and Sage Bhrigu in Ancient times. In addition to Signs, Houses and Planets; Nakshatra, Sub lord, Cusp of Houses and Combination of Houses are used for precise predictions. Vimshottari Dasa and Transits are used for Timing the events. Surprisingly, no classical or text is available on this branch of science.
