Introduction to the Philosophy of

Vedic Astrology

The subject of this book is ‘Vedic astrology’, but the name itself implies a very Western concept. In India the full name of the science we are about to study is Jyotish. The word jyoti has several meanings. On a practical level, it means a candle-flame. Symbolically, it means light as the divine principle of life, because when there is no light there is no life - it also means the light that shines down on us from the heavens. The suffix ‘sh’ means ‘best, wisest’. In full then, Jyotish can be translated as ‘the science of light’ or ‘the wisdom of the heavens’. Light banishes darkness, the light of knowledge dispels ignorance.

The majority of people in the West tend to think of astrology in terms of a daily sun-sign column in the newspaper - something quite trivial, not worth exploring further. The ancient sages of India, however, understood the importance of the celestial bodies. It is the study of the planets, the stars and the horizon which is Jyotish; through this we are able to understand more about life and why we were born. In India even today, parents of a new baby will visit an astrologer to see how they can best guide their child in the future. Understanding its destiny means they can encourage the child to develop to its fullest potential and correct purpose in life. The more material questions of wealth and marriage are not usually considered at this point.