Is Astrology a Science or Not?

There are relatively many contradictions held behind whether astrology is science or pseudoscience. The perspectives of people around the world based on how they understand and react to any concept or situation are different from one another.

Vedic astrology is a natural astrological science estimated to be at least 5000 years old. It is the most authentic system and the astrology prediction is believed to be the most accurate. 

Vedic astrology is an integral part of Vedas which explains the influence of planetary movements on human beings. It is widely used by various classes of people in India and it is encouraged by all other countries as well.

 It is highly debatable by many people that it is based on science while other groups of people disagree with this view. In this article, you'll have a basic understanding of how Vedic astrology originated, the karmic influences on people's lives, and why Vedic astrology is contemplated as science and its components.

 

Origin of Vedic Astrology

Vedic Astrology has its roots in the Vedas of the Hindu religion. Vedic astrology or Jyotisha is one of the six Vedangas – the supplements or limbs of Vedas. It is found in Atharva Veda as Mahopanishat or Jyotishmati.

Vedic astrology started with Parasara, one of the famous celestial sages of the Vedic age. He was the father of Vyasa who is known for his compilation of well-known scriptures such as Mahabharata.

Parasara compiled ‘Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra’, a Sanskrit term that means astrology. It is a treatise that contains 71 chapters symbolizing the whole system of astrology. He delineates that Vedic astrology is suitable for the Kali Yuga which began in 3102 B.C and it is the age which we currently live in.

Parasara also unfolded that the natal horoscope of the native involves 12 zodiac signs, 12 astrological houses, 9 planets, and 27 nakshatras. After him, many others contributed to this field. Among them are Satyacharya and Varaha Mihira.

Vedas believe that everything is under the control of time. It also holds that our future is determined by destiny and free will. Vedic astrology is the system of understanding one's karma by analyzing how planets and stars are posited at the time of one's birth.

 

Karma – Is it destiny or free will?

Vedic astrology is the map of our karma. It believes that karma influences the person's way of living in the future. Karma holds the fact that the actions, as well as the consequences of our actions in the past and present, affect our actions in the future.

Before people die, they go through a sequence of stages of existence determined by their karma. Karma is one of the four goals of Vedas which explains that karma is determined by destiny and free will. By destiny, what Vedic astrologers mean is the position of planets and stars at the time of birth affects the person's present life. Free will is the degree of freedom that people have with them to determine their happenings in life. Vedic astrology believes that human actions are partly determined and partly free.

Vedic Astrology vs Western Astrology

Vedic astrology or Astro science is an ancient system of knowledge when compared to Western Astrology. Western Astrology is relatively new and has been developed recently. The main difference between both these forms is based on how the astrologers view the pattern of stars known as constellations surrounded by the planets. A planet is said to be posited in the astrological sign when it moves in front of the constellation. This area of the ecliptic path where the planets move along is the zodiac. All the planets and stars are within this belt of the zodiac.

 As we all know earth spins on its axis, which leads to the formation of precession. This leads to a change in the orientation of the rotational axis which tilts the earth along the ecliptic plane. The period of precession is about 26,000 years and every 72 years, the ecliptic plane shifts by one degree.

Vedic astrology calculates the natal chart of the native based on the precession. But Western astrology doesn’t take precession into account. Even though both systems differ in their nature, they function on a scientific basis.

 

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Vedic Astrology as a Science

Vedic astrology is the introspective and predictive science accepted by most people. It provides the understanding of what is transpiring in one's life and provides insight into their current problems.

-Two parts of Vedic Astrology

Vedic astrology mainly has 2 parts – calculative part & predictive part.

·The calculative part or Ganit Jyotish uses an astronomical calculation based on the planetary afflictions concerning the date and time of birth of a person. Earlier, Panchang was used for the calculation part but as technologies have improved, astrologers also make use of computer software systems.

 

·The predictive part or Phalit Jyotish involves the analysis of a person's various areas of life such as education, marriage, children, health, and interpersonal relationships. A Vedic astrologer who is the dispeller of darkness analyses the horoscope of the person and gives an insight on what will happen to them in the future with a view of planetary movements.

 

-Basics of Astrology

Vedic astrology ascertains the observations and the movements of planets based on zodiac, astrological signs, celestial bodies such as nakshatras and planets, astrological houses, and the time of birth.

·Astrological or zodiac signs

There are 12 zodiac signs in Vedic astrology. They are:

1.Aries 2. Taurus 3. Gemini 4. Cancer 5. Leo 6. Virgo 7. Libra 8. Scorpio 9. Sagittarius 10. Capricorn 11. Aquarius 12. Pisces

·Celestial bodies

The celestial bodies in astrology include nakshatras and planets. There are 27 nakshatras and 9 planets or Nava-grahas. The planets are:

1.Sun (Surya)

2.Moon (Chandra)

3.Mars (Mangala)

4.Mercury (Buddh)

5.Jupiter (Guru)

6.Venus (Shukra)

7.Saturn (Shani)

8.North node (Rahu)

9.South Node (Ketu)

·Astrological houses

There are 12 astrological houseseach representing the key part of our life namely the first house, second house, third house, fourth house, fifth house, sixth house, seventh house, eighth house, ninth house, tenth house, eleventh house, and twelfth house.

 

Is Destiny Predetermined?

Being the oldest system of knowledge evolved more than thousands of years back, Vedic astrology is considered interpretive science. Some critics in the scientific and research community deny the science behind Vedic astrology and put it in the pseudoscientific point of view. They say that astrology lacks consistency and lacks the connection of the zodiac to the constellations. Some researchers portray that astrology lacks predictive power and fully approved scientific evidence.

The curiosity of whether the future can be foretold is proven by various branches of Vedic astrology over the years.

Some Common Branches of Vedic Astrology

-KP Astrology

Krishnamurthy Paddhati of Astrology, also known as KP Astrology, is a highly accurate system of astrology that predicts the future events of the native by studying the position of stars.

-Lal Kitab

 As the name suggests, Lal Kitab is a collection of 5 books that contain poetic verses written in ancient Urdu language from 1939 to 1952. It is a system of horoscope analysis based on Samudrika Shastra with quick and easy remedies by identifying the beneficial and malefic planets of the native. Lal Kitab is based on the belief that both the astrological houses and zodiac signs are fixed.

-Numerology

Numerology or Sankhya Shastra is also an interpretive science that uses numbers, letters, and symbols to make predictions. The date of birth is taken into account and calculations are made.

-Palmistry

Palmistry also known as palm reading or Hasta Samudrika Shastra is the study of physical features such as lines and undulations of palm to predict the future of a person. With the help of Palmistry, a person can introspect about his own life if any positive or negative event is about to happen.

Conclusion

Vedic astrology is the science of light and is considered the eye of the Vedas by many people.  It is a guidance to people who are disoriented in their life and want a clear idea to navigate on all aspects of life in their future such as health, education, marriage, children, family, material possessions, and work environment. Even though skepticism and prejudice are prevailing behind Vedic astrology, the history of Vedic astrology speaks up as the natural and interpretive science.

We, at StarsTell, provide expertise in the realm of Vedic astrology. Talk to our Expert Astrologer to know about your karmic influences and get a solution to all your problems.