Seeing Stars

Jessie Kok

Psychics, fortune-tellers, tarot card readers and astrologers… the descriptions of these people tend to border on extremes. From frauds and spin-doctors to sages and masters, what people perceive of them might be as irresolute as the predictions they make. But before you decide on which trajectory to take, read on; because one of the crafts mentioned is not as unorthodox as you think and might even have scientific relations. Jessie Kok learns more.

I am seated comfortably on a cushioned wicker chair in Dr.Theja’s study, surrounded by cream coloured walls and wooden shelves that consist of numerous books placed alongside deity idols. A highly polished, sturdy oak table rises before me, bearing division between the man I had waited for four days to meet and my somewhat surprised self. This encounter with an astrologer speaks nothing of what I had anticipated. Looking around, I fight the inclination to laugh out loud at myself after recalling my initial expectations to see a man clad in white cloth with a turban around his head, foretelling my future in a sparsely decorated house dimly lit by candles.

Dr. Theja’s abode is of the direct opposite. Upon stepping through the front door politely opened by his 18 -year old daughter Piumi, I was enveloped by the warmth and charm his place embodied. The milky white draperies and dark, wooden furnishings blended well with the creamy interior of his house and suggested taste and elegance. The temperature in the house was set to a decent degree: a certain welcome when compared to the cold and wet afternoon outside. My feet padded through the thick butter coloured carpet as his daughter led me into his study where he was on the phone. Still speaking on the line in Sinhalese, the official language of Sri Lanka where he hails from, he gestured solicitously to the wicker chair. I immediately settled down on it gratefully, thankful that there were no floor mats doubling up as seats in this room.

A light, unidentifiable lingering scent of incense tests my olfactory senses as I wait for him to complete his call. Time is not an issue here for the both of us. For a man who has experienced and seen past the human worries and troubles of the world, Dr. Theja emits an aura of calm and tranquillity even as he handles modern day gadgets designed for the busy and the impatient. His flexibility for time is amicable with mine, but the comparison is infinitely paradoxical. My lack of regard for time is because I had scheduled my entire afternoon for this exclusive interview with the reputed reticent man. He only speaks when needed, and there is absolutely no fluff in his words. Add that on to the fact that we were going to analyse my birth chart with a patient audience of one.

He is dressed in a casual but neat attire of a dark green polo shirt and camel coloured pants. A pair of thick glasses perches on his nose and his hands reach up to touch his prominent high forehead ever so occasionally, drawing attention to his crown of well groomed black hair which has gen tly receded through the years. His physique is not one of a thin yoga instructor’s as I had predicted either. The 54 year-old has a comfortable weight for his stature; very pleasing to the eye when correlated to some of the skinny anorexic looking yoga fanatics out there.

Dr. Theja greets me by my name once he is done with his call. “I am glad you could come and see me today.” He smiles benignly through his thick convex lenses as a grandfather would to a child, and I am taken by surprise at how gen ial this man can be. After all, it was only a few days ago when I learnt through his astrology website that this seemingly worldly man has achieved a PhD in mineral science from the University of Berlin in West Germany after five consecutive scholarships that saw him climb steadily in the education status ladder. He has given multiple lectures in astrology and Gemmology at the department of Mineralogy, University of Berlin and in parts of Asia like Singapore , Sri Lanka and Malaysia . The man speaks fluent German, and though the study of astrology is not his main expertise, remaining traces of suspicions are diminished when I find out that he was given the “Rudra Bhatta Award” at the 12 th Asian Astrologers Conference in India- a very major event where reputable astrologers around the world gather for the annual meeting. In light of his achievements, the address he gives himself, “Doctor”, is apparently not just for occupation purposes, since he has all the credits to verify it.

Before we begin with my astrology chart readings, Dr. Theja runs me through the complexity of astrology. According to him, astrology is unlike the other forms of predictions such as tarot card readings, clairvoyance, crystal ball fortune telling and the likes of them. “Astrology is Science,” He stresses while his gaze penetrates through his spectacles at me, pupils enlarged by the convex glasses, bringing across the inkling of irrepressible knowledge and truth. “It is the science that we use to evaluate the life of a person through the positioning of the planets in the sky using their birth dates, time and place,” he maintains.

According to him, different planets serve different purposes in influencing our lives. For example, some people may experience sleepless nights or changes in mental conditions when the full moon is up. Generally, astrologers make charts to study the lives of people, and the alignment of the planets during their birth can be deemed negative or positive. One’s personality is also determined by the planets, and the understanding of it can be applied to enhance an individual’s career and life.

Unlike psychics or tarot card readers who make use of psychological mindsets to predict the future and jargon of words to make customers feel comfortable, astrology focuses on reading the alignment of planets and how that influences the characteristics of a person to give clarity, warn or dispel worries.

Perhaps a few better-known facts about the astrology are that one born under a certain horoscope will have a typical ruler. For instance, Capricorns are ruled by Saturn- the planet that signifies determination, leadership abilities and spiritual growth. Those born under Mercury, or are associated with it, tend to have good communication skills. Making use of this knowledge, a person can choose to forage into professions such as marketing, business, lecturing or any other occupation that requires plenty of interaction.

The Sri Lankan astrologer deems visiting any reputable astrologer as identical to a visit to the doctor. “People visit an astrologer not to test him. People visit an astrologer as one would with a cardiologist.” He weighs his words soberly, speaking at andante with a foreign accent, which could have been used for an air of mystery to befuddle clients if not for the fact that he chooses to focus on the main aspects of Astrology instead of selling the peripheral.

“The cardiologist may run some tests and try to find out what is wrong with a person’s heart. But no science is 100 percent accurate. So similarly, the astrologer looks into the tendencies and gives you some idea. This is what an astrologer does.”

Having rounded off the explanation of astrology in relation to science, he turns to the divine aspect of the subject, telling me that Indian astrology is also partly God’s given wisdom to the ancient Indian seers, which is why there are not many astrologers in Australia .

“You may find in Australia , about 1500 tarot readers, psychic readers, clairvoyants, medium readers. But there are only 3 Indian astrologers in Australia .” He speaks of his practice, smiling with pride. “I am the only one in Western Australia .”

It is no wonder then that the Sri Lankan has up to 3500 number of clientele under his belt within the past four years. They come from all walks of life, from the pious and puritan Buddhists to the wealthy wives of even wealthier businessmen who lunch at the prestigious Tanglin Club in Singapore . Socialites and holy men laud him for his sanctity and respect for God while trusting his ability to use scientific explanations and give accurate judgement on matters relating to life and personalities.

The intricacies of astrology explained, he proceeds with my birth chart and lights incense stones in a tiny pot placed in front of the Indian Deity of wisdom and removal of obstacles, Ganesh. Instantly, cognition strikes my senses. The fragrance I had been trying to decipher all the while is no other than Frankincense- a gift of the Magi during the biblical times and an ancient symbol of wisdom. Dr. Theja touches the deity and utters words of prayer in total devoutness while the white smoke emanating from the pot ascends steadily, seemingly bringing his prayers and praises up to heaven. As quickly as the prayer began, it was done; and he brought out my birth charts for an in-depth analysis.

The charting of the planets during my birth was not done by hand. It was pre-entered into a computer program the day I called to schedule the interview. The planetary alignments during my birth appear on the screen to be analysed by the astrologer. Once again, I witness the fusion of modern day technology and ancient time wisdom. The computer only makes use of science to relate information to the astrologer. He has to rely on his knowledge and understanding of the planets for interpretation of the data. He does this with nondescript effort though, interpretations akin to erudition. The analysis of my chart sails past with a look into my past with interpretations such as having suffered a threatening illness once in my childhood (I was admitted into hospital at the age of four) and a family member was lost between the dates 1992- 1996 (my grandmother passed away in 1993). He also mentioned that as the sun was very close to Saturn during my birth, I would have reasonably financial success in my life. This put a very broad grin on my face, until Dr. Theja warned of achieving a balance and harmony between everything. It is pointless to have wealth when there is no health. With my stellar constellation charts however, it would be rather consistent. But until September 2005, I would face some problems until my timeline leaves moon Rahu- the cause of mental disturbances and travel, and moves into planet Jupiter, planet of spiritual growth, expansion and contentment. The journey would be smoother after that and I would find reasonable stability till I am 38 years old, whereupon Saturn would enter my life once again and my career takes off even further.

After more talk about my personality, present and future, the consultation is over. It all seems too soon though we had already spent three hours in his study. He ends off the session with a Sanskrit chant to bless my life and hugs me like a daughter before telling me I am welcomed to call him anytime. The sincerity of his words and embrace warms me up so much so that the biting air outside his house fails to sting my face.

The session was nothing like my idea of an astrology consultation. The lack of pretences and promises made his words more plausible. As I drive home from one of the most enlightening interviews I ever had, his words of wisdom that sum up the convolutions of astrology reverberates around my mind, “The best forecasts are not those that come true, but those that warn, teach and prepare to lead a happy and contented life.”

These are words of a learned man and trustable astrologer indeed.

*Dr. Theja’s astrology consultation fee AU$150. For enquiries and more information, please call him at (61-8) 93326119 , 9332 5336 or visit his website

www.consultantastrologer.com

E-mail: Theja@primusonline.com.au

COPYRIGHT NOVA MAGAZINE 2004-2005

Ancient Indian Science:
Indian or Vedic Astrology

By T. Selva

Editor – STAR Newspaper – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -19th Feb 2003

VEDIC astrology can help people find answers for many things happening or are going to happen to them or to their family members and friends. The predictive and interpretive science provides timeless wisdom that takes into account a vast range of influences from the cosmos.It began many thousands of years ago in India when its principles appeared in the intuitive awareness of great sages.
According to Vedic astrology expert, Dr Theja Hettiaratchi, astrologers have since then explored the detailed workings of this system and passed down their knowledge.
He said that unlike Western astrology, the starting point of Vedic astrology is star-based.
“This ‘sidereal’ system looks at actual stellar constellations as we see them from earth. The system used by western astrology is based on a ‘fictional’ zodiac rather than the one we see in the constellations,” said Theja, who will be giving a talk on Vedic astrology in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.
Theja said this zodiac turns or moves backwards in space as a function of time and takes as its starting point the location of the sun at the spring equinox.

In Vedic astrology, greater emphasis is placed upon the totality, including the ascendant, planetary placements and relationships and lordships.
He said only when all parts are seen in terms of the whole can a balanced view be found.
For the sake of understanding one needs to have some appreciation of the parts such as planets, constellations or signs and houses.
He said sages saw a relationship between the movement of the planets and the ups and downs of human experience.
“Vedic astrology explores these variations to help us anticipate challenges and comprehend their meaning. Each of the nine planets used in Vedic astrology is associated with particular qualities including strong or weak, and exalted or debilitated,” he said.
The zodiac for Vedic astrology is similar to that of western astrology with the 12 signs or constellations from Aries to Pisces.
But rather than emphasising the Sun sign, Vedic astrology uses the ascendant , moon and sun signs.
“Horoscopes in Vedic astrology have 12 houses, each of which covers a prescribed territory of influence,” he said
For example, the first house is one aspect of the chart used to examine physical traits, the seventh house for partnerships and 10th house for careers.
He said houses are like homes for the energy of various segments of our life.
“I study the placement of planets within these houses to understand the balance of influences on the life of my clients. Computer software helps me to get all calculations and figures needed for an in-depth analysis of the horoscope,” said Theja.
He prepares additional harmonic charts to analyse life areas like career, marriage, wealth, health, children, spiritualism, education and assets.
“A good astrologer should be able to explain the negative issues in a positive manner and they must not stress on the negative aspects and drive fear into people,” he said, adding that there are remedial measures.
“Wherever there is strength, we feel more easily propelled into success. Our weaknesses attract problems. Vedic astrology offers a sophisticated system of recommendations for working with our strengths and weaknesses.
“It describes remedial measures for problems based on compensating for weaknesses and drawing attention to our strengths to help us fulfill our desires,” said Theja.
Theja, a Vedic astrology practitioner in Perth, received the prestigious Rudra Bhatta award from the Centre of Astrological Study and Research in Bihar, India, last month for his outstanding contribution of knowledge on Vedic astrology outside India.
He said Vedic astrology recommends gems as one of the methods of remedying problems.
Research has shown that certain gems are able to avert negative influences of planets and increase positive ones. The colours and “vibrations” or electromagnetic frequencies of specific gemstones correspond to the colours and vibrations of the planets.
“This is used to our advantage in gem remedies,” said Theja, who holds a PhD in Mineral Science and is a certified gemologist of Germany and the United Kingdom. He is also a director of the Australian Institute of Vedic Studies.
“I have been enjoying doing research as a scientist and I find researching a horoscope to be much more challenging than everything else I have done in my life.
“I find that I can help people understand their values while guiding them and giving warnings to go forward in their life,” he said, adding that this can be explained as karmic influence.
He said he gains happiness by making people understand the issues and encouraging them to understand the value of spiritual practice.
Theja said part of his horoscope reading is to teach the values of spiritual practice, caring, loving, compassion, charitable deeds, sharing nature, helping the less fortunate, supporting elders and giving unconditional love.
“Unfortunately, many people in the Western world have been pursuing material comforts while ignoring the values behind the spiritual life. They have taken everything for granted and when things do not take place in the way they want, they get confused, frustrated and stressed.
“I’m delighted that I have the opportunity to give them clarity and happiness in an era where most Westerners are looking for peace through eastern philosophies.”

Dr Theja Hettiaratchi will give a talk on the science of Vedic Astrology at 7pm tomorrow at the Rudra Devi Samaj Centre (46, 1st floor Wisma Vyran, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur). Admission is by donation of RM10 to the Rudra Devi Samaj charitable activities. To register, call Maniam at 03-40443044 or Thena at % 03-77843622 / 012-3083858.

Laura Attwood explores the wisdom of the Vedas in her first experience of centuries-old Vedic astrology

In God's Light
NOVA Magazine – December 2004

IN GOD'S LIGHT

Continuing our Astrology special this month, Laura Attwood explores the wisdom of the Vedas in her first experience of centuries-old Vedic astrology.

As each of us follows the vagaries of our fast paced modern world, we face a myriad of decisions daily. As the planet of free will and choice, this provides us with a major opportunity in decisiveness! But, often, it's making our decisions that gives us the biggest headaches. All the hours spent over coffee with friends chewing over the pros and cons, the fears and negative future visions we can launch ourselves into and the complete waste of energy and time over these "decision thugs". Now wouldn't it be a whole lot easier if we meditated or just tuned into the wise being within us and made our choice from there? Some people feel this takes too much time, or they then encounter a second "beast" - trust, or more precisely, the lack of it. Either way, their lack of inner peace and a mind full of chatter blocks this inner wisdom.

What would we give for a foolproof tool to help us with this crucial area of our lives? Well, of course, half the lessons we've come to learn centre around self responsibility and the choices we make in our lives and obviously the related karma. So, we can't give our power away to other people to make the decisions for us - we're living our own lives. But we can find ways to make choices that open up worlds within us, new possibilities, and mystical wondrous journeys. One such map or tool is astrology - it shows us tendencies, our own personality and karmic influences and our soul purpose. With a map, the territory becomes manageable, the code is cracked.

Life is full of enormous possibilities -growth through intimate relationships, choice of profession, choice of place or country to live in, to name just a few. One "bad" choice can cause untold grief and gnashing of teeth - though, of course, it may have been just what the doctor ordered for our personal evolution. In ancient India, under the tradition of arranged marriages, parents chose prospective marriage partners for their offspring, largely based on astrology. Of course, materialism could enter the equation, but the true aim provided the son or daughter with an excellent and compatible match, taking into account past life experiences, karmas, psychological disposition, ayurvedic temperaments (which indicate how their psycho-physiological energies resonate with each other), spiritual compatibility, magnetic attraction, sexual compatibility, the potential of the relationship for spiritual growth and auspiciousness.

In ancient times, Indian parents turned to Vedic astrology for many of their life choices. Vedic astrology or Jyotish (in Sanskrit) means the "light of God". Basing some of its wisdom on the knowledge of India's sacred texts, the Vedas, this astrology has been practised unbroken for thousands of years. The Vedas, the primary texts of Hinduism, are held to be entirely superhuman, direct intuitional revelations having no author as such. Vedic astrology is steeped in Vedic thought and philosophy.

Other major and important life choices, besides the one of life partner, which can be assisted by an astrological chart, are certainly the career or personality tendencies and talents of a particular person. A chart can match up the personality and individual gifts with the karmic and planetary line-ups to give clear guidance on career choice. Curious about whether guidance on my current life situation could be found in my chart, I had a brief reading by Vedic astrologer Dr Theja.

A Vedic chart is laid out like a diagonal chessboard with the twelve houses forming a diamond divided into four diamond houses and then the further eight making up triangles to fill the rest of the square. Used to the traditional astrological wheel, I found this square of triangles quite mystifying and a completely different energy to other charts I've experienced. The scientific nature of the method is quite evident when viewing the chart and Dashas or planetary time cycles. Vedic astrology has a system of Dashas showing the precise timing when the tendencies found in the birth chart will manifest. Dashas are planetary periods that rule very specifically defined periods of one's life. The ancient system paints a portrait of karmic effects as different planets move in and out of the individual's life as shown by their chart. Once Dr Theja began his interpretation, the pattern fell into place and the chess pieces gained meaning.

One of the major distinctions between Vedic and Western astrology is the predictive nature of Vedic astrology. A reading can help you with the timing of upcoming events and changes in life and is incredibly accurate with regard to your past, present and future. A birth chart in Vedic astrology shows what you can expect in your life, as well as when.

Dr Theja gave me a brief rundown of certain themes in my past that my Vedic planetary line up indicated. The summation of events and timings was so exact it was quite uncanny. He started off by saying my line-up indicated my parents had moved house when I was around two years of age, a completely accurate and precise detail, and related periods of real difficulty in my life with exact age brackets and the areas in which I experienced these difficulties. He said my chart showed that in the years 2000 - 2003, I had a huge Saturn influence and enormous growth period with lots of worry, financial issues, emotional problems and heartache and work difficulties. This was completely accurate as at this time I struggled to find work in a new city with no emotional support network or friends, and in a young and difficult marriage which ended in divorce within that period.

Perth-based and highly regarded for his astrological predictions in South East Asia as well as Australia, Dr Theja hails from Sri Lanka. He is a former geologist in the precious mineral industry, turned astrologer, and his chart revealed both these career potentials. "Vedic astrology is not only a philosophy that deals with the physical nature of the universe, but is also one of the most important of the inner or spiritual sciences which deals with the mind and soul," he told me.

"A Vedic interpretation can show a person's basic character, as well as serve to highlight some of the forces influencing them at different periods of their life." Dr Theja says that Vedic readings embrace the law of cause and effect or karma. Vedic astrologers study the laws of karma as they apply to any particular horoscope. The positioning or the placement of seven major planets, the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury Jupiter, Venus and Saturn play an important role in moulding one's life.

Batting around an inner conflict between the desire to devote all my energies to being a full time mum for my young daughter and the desire to resume my career, I wondered if my chart could shed any light for me. Before I could even ask the question, the future aspects of my chart revealed themselves. Dr Theja told me the next few years would be troublesome for work and frustrating - and that it was very important I spend a lot of time with my daughter up until 2006 or later. Question answered. While I already knew intuitively the right thing for me to do was to devote much of my energies to my young daughter, both for her benefit and my own growth, having the chart back this up gave me undeniable proof that any ego desires seeking to sabotage this correct plan for my evolution were shattered.

As for more specific career guidance, some of my planetary line-ups indicated I would be suited to service oriented work, particularly the position of my moon. This served to confirm what was already clear to me, but was wonderful confirmation. Being a mini-reading, I know there's more detail still to be accessed and the position of Jupiter in my Tenth House indicates particularly that I could have an influential career. More to investigate after parenting! And probably best not to have too much detail on my career possibilities as this might have tempted me away from my designated path at present! "The best forecasts are not those that come true but those that warn, teach and prepare to lead a happy and contented life," says Dr Theja.

The influence of the Indian culture and philosophy was very evident in my reading, particularly with regard to the importance of family. Dr Theja mentioned several times how my chart impacted on my parents and how especially the appearance of Saturn for regular periods caused them worry. Saturn can be a particularly challenging planet, one that prods and guides us to grow and learn, sometimes in deeply uprooting means. My chart revealed that my birth had been difficult for my mother, emotionally as well as physically, and that it had not been entirely natural. This was very true as my birth mother, who was very young, had a forceps delivery and I was adopted at birth. Amazing what one can read from astrology! While many people at this time have a strong dedication to a spiritual lifestyle, Vedic astrology's emphasis on our spiritual development and how the quality of our lives can be improved through living a spiritual existence, is extremely valuable. Peace of mind, emotional, physical and mental wellbeing can certainly be achieved through clear living, decision -making and right choices. So, if astrology is a powerful tool to help us with these choices, taking into account the predetermined karmas we each bring with us, I believe this "leap frogs" us into glorious and joyful right living. To quote Dr Theja: "To deny the influence of the stars is to deny the wisdom and providence of God."

COPYRIGHT NOVA MAGAZINE 2004-2005

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
WEBMASTERS & DESIGNERS
http://www.iawmd.com

Congratulations
On having your site selected to receive the
"2003-2004 Golden Web Award"

In recognition of creativity, integrity and excellence on the Web.

http://www.consultantastrologer.com

PLANETARY GEMOLOGISTS ASSOCIATION
PGA PATRON & MEMBER NEWS
www.p-g-a.org/pga-news.html

First PGA Sri Sapta Ratna Award Winner

http://www.consultantastrologer.com

The Site of Dr. Theja, Ph.D., P.G., is the first recipient of the rare 7 Gems award. Excellent site combining beauty and knowledge with extensive meta tages and bot friendly coding. Congratulations!!!

PLANETARY GEMOLOGISTS ASSOCIATION
Hrisikesh Plaza, C3 Building, Lumpini Night Bazaar, 1875 Rama 4 Road,
Lumpini, Bangkok 10330, Kingdom of Thailand
Tel. (662) 252-1230 Fax. (662) 252-1231
E-mail: info@p-g-a.org

NEW "PLANETARY GEMOLOGIST"
(PG) DIPLOMA AWARDED

CONGRATULATIONS: The newest recipient of the rare "Planetary Gemologist" or "PG" Diploma is Dr. Theja Hettiaratchi, Ph.D., FGA, FGG, PG. Dr. Theja (photo above)) resides in Australia at 47 A Aveley St. Willeton, WA 6155 and his email is Theja@aol7.com.au --- for those who may wish to contact him for his expert services as BOTH a certified Planetary Gem Advisor (PGA) and a double certified Gemologist (FGA, UK/FGG, Germany). He has also earned his Ph.D.

Please note that Dr. Theja follows the "anukul" system of choosing gems (only for well placed planets) and he is also a qualified Vedic Astrologer.

Dr. Theja was introduced to the PGA by Founder Member, Mrs. Wendy Vasicek, a former Dirah Academy instructor.

In the field of Planetary Gemology no one should be deemed as qualified as a "Planetary Gemologist" or "PG," i.e., a person who is both a PGA certified "Planetary Gem Advisor" AND a certified Gemologist;

With the addition of Dr. Theja there are now only FOUR (4) PGs (Planetary Gemologists) in the whole world, viz.,

Mr. Howard Beckman, PG, USA
Mr. Richard Shaw Brown, PG, Thailand
Dr. Theja Hettiaratchi, PG, Australia
Mrs. Benjawan Arparpardh, PG, Thailand

The Vision of Vedic Astrology
By Dr Theja Hettiaratchi

An article appeared in the Conscious Living magazine, Perth, Australia, issue 60 – Winter 2002

“To deny the influence of the stars is to deny the wisdom and
providence of God”

I first encountered Vedic Astrology orJyotish about 25 years ago and discovered a system of astrology which can reveal the secrets and truer promise of our lives. Some believe that in Jyotish, our own absolute nature speaks to us through the astrologer (Jyotishi). Indeed, the Jyotishi’s first words reveal incontrovertibly that we are known to some higher intelligence.

Jyotish (ja-yo-teesh) is the Sanskrit (most ancient language on Earth) dual word for Vedic Astrology. Jyoti means light and Ish is in short for Ishwar, which means God. Combined with Vedic, which means “of the knowledge”, the words aptly describe this astrological system.

Vedic Astrology differs significantly from Western astrology.

First, it uses the sidereal or fixed zodiac, instead of the tropical or movable zodiac of Western astrology. In Western astrology, because of a tilting of the earth on its axis, thezodiac appears to be moving out of alignment with the actual star-based zodiac. Currently, this misalignment amounts to slightly more than 23 degrees, nearly one entire sign. So a person whose rising sign might be Scorpio in Western astrology, has a good chance of being Libra ascendant in Vedic astrology.

Second,Western astrology emphasises the Sun sign while Vedic Astrology looks to the Ascendant and the placement of the Moon. In addition, Vedic Astrology does not recognise the outer planets, Neptune, Pluto, or Uranus. It does, however, give emphasis to the two lunar nodes, Rahu and Ketu, the points at which the moon (in its orbit around the earth) passes through the plane of the ecliptic. Although merely points in space, these nodes are so crucial they are given the status of planets in Vedic Astrology.

Also of great importance are the Nakshatras, the 27 star constellations, one of which the Moon will occupy at the moment of birth. This establishes the cycle of planetary periods that determine the sequence of events in one’s life.

On one level, Vedic Astrology deals with the circumstances and characteristics of a person’s material life, to reveal and perhaps remedy what opportunities or perils may await us. It is believed that by knowing what lies ahead it is possible to maximise the good and avert obstacles or dangers.

An expert in Jyotish can derive full knowledge about a person’s potential and trends in life from place and time of birth. The Birthchart, or Janma Kundali, can forecast precise times when different tendencies will manifest. The Grahas (planets) are positioned in their respective Rashis (Signs of the Zodiac). Each Rashi falls in exactly one Bhava (house). The planets aspect each other, and have lordships over the Bhavas.

Then comes the system of Dashas, unknown in Western astrology. Dashas are planetary periods that rule defined stages of one’s life. The main periods (Maha dashas) last between 6 and 20 years, and during this period, a planet will have a dominating influence in the life of a person. Each main period is divided in 9 sub-periods, each ruled by a different planet. Just like the main periods, each sub-period is characterised by the particular qualities and significations of the ruling planets. The dasha system can explain changes in life from day to day with amazi