People in ancient times lived a much more natural lifestyle than we do today. They often slept, walked, sat and ate outdoors, in natural surroundings. They were keen observers whose livelihood depended on knowing well the subtle patient changes in nature. There was little of the pollution that presently mars our view of the heavens. So of course they noticed the millions of luminous bodies in the night sky.

BPHS Chapter 1 Slokas 1-4

1-4. Offering his obeisances to all-knowing Maharṣi Parāśara and with folded hands, Maitreya said: “O venerable Maharṣi, Jyotish, the supreme limb of the Vedas, has three divisions: Horā, Ganita and Samhita. Among these three divisions Horā, or the general part of Jyotish is most excellent. I desire to know of its glorious aspects from you. Be pleased to tell me, how this Universe is created? How does it end? What is the relationship of the animals, born on this earth, with the heavenly bodies? Please speak elaborately.”

BPHS Chapter 1 Slokas 5-8

5-8. Mahārśi Parāśara answered, “O brāhmaṇa, your query has an auspicious purpose in it for the welfare of the Universe. Praying to Lord Brahmā and Śrī Sarasvatī, his power (and consort) and Sūrya, the leader of the Grahas and the cause of Creation, I shall proceed to narrate to you the science of Jyotish, as heard through Lord Brahmā. Only good will follow the teaching of this Vedic Science to the students, who are peacefully disposed, who honour the preceptors (and elders), who speak only truth and are god-fearing. Woeful forever, doubtlessly, will it be to impart knowledge of this science to an unwilling student, to a heterodox and to a crafty person.”

BPHS Chapter 1 Slokas 9-11

9-11. Śrī Viṣṇu, who is the Lord (of all matters), who has undefiled spirit, who is endowed with the three Guṇas, although he transcends the grip of Guṇas (Guṇātīta), who is the Author of this Universe, who is glorious, who is the Cause and who is endowed with valor, has no beginning. He authored the Universe and administers it with a quarter of his power. The other three quarters of Him, filled with nectar, are knowable only to the philosophers (of maturity).

This section is a review of the philosophy of the three modes of material nature as described in Bhagavad-gita.  To practice Vedic astrology, it is essential to have a strong background in the Bhagavata philosophy, including the knowledge of the three modes of material nature expressed in Bhagavad-gita and the cosmology of universal creation expressed in Srimad-Bhagavatam.

BPHS Chapter 1 Slokas 12-15:

12-15. The Principal Evolver, who is both perceptible and imperceptible, is Vāsudeva. The Imperceptible part of the Lord is endowed with dual powers, while the Perceptible with triple powers. The three powers are Śrī-Śakti (Mother Lakshmi) with Sattva-Guṇa, Bhū-Śakti (Mother Earth) with Rajo-Guṇa and Nīla-Śakti with Tamo-Guṇa. Apart from the three, the fourth kind of Viṣṇu, influenced by Śrī-Śakti and Bhū-Śakti, assumes the form of Saṅkarṣaṇa with Tamo-Guṇa, of Pradyumna with Rajo-Guṇa and of Aniruddha with Sattva-Guṇa.

BPHS Chapter 1 Slokas 16-19

16-19. Mahat-tattva, Ahaṅkāra and Ahaṅkāra-mūrti, and Brahmā are born from Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha, respectively. All these three forms are endowed with all the three Guṇas, with predominance of the Guṇa due to their origin. Ahaṅkāra is of three classes, i.e. with Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic dispositions. Original pure consciousness, the sensory organs and the five primordial elements (space, air, fire, water and earth) are manifest from the three types of Ahaṅkāra.

BPHS Chapter 1 Slokas 20-24

20-24. Lord Viṣṇu, coupled with Śrī Śakti, rules over the three worlds. Coupled with Bhū-Śakti, He is Brahma causing the Universe. Coupled with Nīla-Śakti, He is Śiva, destroying the Universe. The Lord is in all beings and the entire Universe is in Him. All beings contain both jīvātmā and Paramātmā. Some have predominance of the former, while yet some have the latter in predominance. Paramātmā is predominant in the Grahas, viz. Sūrya etc., and Brahma, Śiva and other demigods. Their powers, or consorts too have predominance of Paramātmā. Others have more of jīvātmā.

 BPHS Chapter 2 Slokas 1-2

1. Maitreya: “O Mahārṣi Parāśara, are the incarnations of Viṣṇu, viz. Śrī Rāma, Śrī Kṛṣṇa etc., endowed with jīvātmā?”

2. Mahārṣi Parāśara: “O Brāhmaṇa, the incarnations Rāma, Kṛṣṇa, Narasiṁha and Varāha are wholly Paramātmā. The other incarnations have jīvātmā in them too.”

BPHS Chapter 2 Slokas 3-7

3-7. The unborn Lord has many incarnations. He has incarnated as the Nava Grahas (nine planets of Jyotish) to bestow on the living beings the results due to their Karma. He is Janārdana. He assumed the auspicious form of Grahas to destroy the demons (evil forces) and sustain the devotees. From Sūrya the incarnation of Rāma, from Candra that of Kṛṣṇa, from Mangal that of Naṛasiṁha, from Budha that of Buddha, from Guru that of Vāmana, from Śukra that of Paraśurāma, from Śani that of Kūrma (Tortoise), from Rahu that of Varāha (Boar) and from Ketu that of Mīna (Fish) occurred. All other incarnations than these also are through the Grahas. The beings with more Paramātmā are called incarnations. The beings with more jivātmā are mortal beings.

BPHS Chapter 2 Slokas 8-13

8-13. The high degree of Paramātmā from the Grahas did incarnate as Rāma, Kṛṣṇa etc. After completing Their pastimes, the Paramātmā of the Grahas again merges in the respective Grahas. The jivātmā portions from the Grahas take births as human beings, live their lives according to their karma and again merge in the Grahas. And at the time of Great Destruction the Grahas merge in Lord Viṣṇu. One who knows of all these divine incarnations will become well-versed in knowledge of the past, present and future. This cannot be known without knowledge of Jyotish. Hence everyone, particularly the Brāhmaṇas, should have a knowledge of Jyotish. One who, devoid of knowledge of Jyotish, criticizes this Vedic science, will go to the hell called Raurava and will be reborn blind.