[original date 2005-03-21] Jyotish or Jyotisha, is a Sanskrit word meaning “the science of light”. It refers to the practise of Astrology, sometimes known in the west as “Vedic Astrology” or “Hindu Astrology”.
Jyotish differs from western “Sun Sign” astrology (“I’m a Leo!”) in various ways. Here’s a brief run-down:
Jyotish considers all planets important; but the Moon and Lagna (aka Rising Sign, Ascendant) are more important than the Sun. Traditional Jyotish uses the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, and the nodes of the Moon, Rahu (north) and Ketu (south). It does not use the outer planets, although it’s sometimes claimed ancient jyotishis knew of them. Some modern Jyotishis,
including myself – often called “neo-Jyotish” practitioners – do use Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, although do not assign rulership of zodiac signs.
Jyotishis use the traditional rulerships of Scorpio-Mars, Aquarius-Saturn, Pisces-Jupiter. Jyotish uses the sidereal zodiac not the tropical. ie it refers to the actual constellations visible in the sky.
If I tell you your moon is in Taurus, then at the time of your birth your parents could have looked up into the sky, found the constellation of Taurus (if you were born at night) and seen the Moon shining among those stars. However the tropical zodiac is based on the solar year, it always starts at the spring equinox – the first day of spring, 20th/21st March. Tropical Taurus is not the same as the constellation Taurus.
Think of the tropical zodiac as a kind of virtual zodiac, shifted from the constellations by a certain number of degrees (which changes over time). Both zodiacs have validity, although those of us who do sidereal or jyotish astrology think using the real stars is more powerful. Jyotish normally uses an equal house system based on the zodiac signs. Each house is one zodiac sign.
If your Ascendant sign is Pisces the first degree of your ascendant is one degree Pisces. It does not use as many aspect relationships as western astrology. And each planet has preferred or strong aspects specific to itself. Jupiter throws trines, Venus doesn’t. Saturn throws a forward sextile, Mars doesn’t.
Jyotish is more blunt than western astrology with respect to malefic and benefic influences. Although all planets are good for something, Jyotish says more openly that certain planets tend to be malefic: Mars, Saturn and Rahu (the Sanskrit name for the North Node of the Moon). Their transits often bring troubles.
House meanings are slightly different from western astrology’s, although there is considerable overlap.
Jyotish has various techniques unknown to western astrology, including dasas (pronounced “dasha”). The idea is that during your life the planets take it in turn to be influential in your life. Sort of like a revolving Head of Department … or even the President of the United States. Every few years a new boss planet takes over. In Jyotish you can’t elect that planet, it’s identified according to a formula. The current Head of Department planet (“mahadasa” ruler) is highly influential. Planets bring about their strongest results in their periods of influence.
The difference is sometimes summed up as: western astrology is good at psychological profile but Jyotish is better at prediction.
