Introduction to  Janamkundali

Before we explain what is Astrology or Jyotish we must make it quite clear to the students that astrology is not an art of fortune telling as understood. It is on the other hand as much an exact science like physics or chemistry. In fact it is a divine science which has come to us as a gift from the gods. In the ancient India our sages had developed by their untiring spiritual exercises a divine eye (Divya dristhi) by which they could see the movements of planets and their effects on human beings. In those days of the past, astrology was a subject which all disciples of a Guru had to learn and it is through this media of instruction that a has come down to us.

Astrology is a branch of Veda (Vedanga) with the aid of which it is possible to know about all the past and future events by considering the position of lagna and planets in the person Janam Kundali. Astrology has three broad divisions, namely: Siddhanta, Samhita and Hora. Siddhanta deals with the astronomical side of the science, Samhita with the world events and Hora with horoscopey of human and animate objects

According to tradition, our sages who, with the strength of their spiritual powers, were able to have direct contact with our creator Lord Brahma, were initiated by the Lord into divine science. Then the sages propagated these for the benefit of humanity. What at present we have in our Hindu astrology we owe entirely to those sages and the principles laid down by them still hold good as they were when they came from the mouths of those sages.

It will be worthwhile for those who want to enter this divine field, to know the names of those great men who put these principles in writing for the benefit of others. They are Varahamihira, Kalidasa, Varunchi, Vashista, Vyas, Parashara, Venkatesa, kashyap Neelkantha Jayadeva, Ganapathi Satyacharya, Manitha, Jeeva Sharma, Bhaskaracharya, Aryabhatta and many others.

Though when our country lost its independence there was a kind of black out of this divine science; but the science did not die and went on flourishing and we now see today that except those who just for the sake of saying say that astrology is a great bluff, there is hardly any body who does not (though sometimes not openly) believe in this science and seeks its assistance, particularly when he is in distress.

It is true that astrology is a science tedencies and a fatalistic or deterministic approach to horoscopes and events is not called for. In this connection we may quote frequently repeated principle of astrology constantly:

"Phalani grahcharen suochyanti manishinah ko vakta tartamyasya Vedlisam vina".

"Those who know astrology can indicate in a way What will take place in future. Who else, except the Brahma, can say with certainty what will happen?"

We have stated this at length so that the students who are anxious to learn this great and divine science, whether as a hobby or for professional purposes should not take it as a joke or fun. They should also be clear that the lessons which will be given by us are not sufficient to make them a great Pandit in astrology. These lessons are aimed only to give them a complete grounding in the principles of Hindu astrology and with that strong base (if they make it so by their sincere and serious study of the lessons) they could plunge further into this field and advance their knowledge by study of the classical texts available in the market and by research and practical experience.