Vedic astrologers are well aware that nothing in the universe is stationary. Therefore it is irrelevant to consider the movements of earth and other heavenly bodies in relation to an arbitrary fixed point, such as the sun. It is far more convenient and practical to simply consider the surface of the earth as the central point, and calculate the motions of the bodies of the universe from their actual observed positions in the sky.

The Vedic calendar is not based on clock time, but on the natural motions of the sun and moon. Therefore it is a reliable predictor of the seasons, weather and many other phenomena. The Vedic Astrological science of Muhurta or the election of auspicious timings for activities is based on the Vedic calendar system. Therefore every competent Vedic astrologer must be familiar with the Vedic Calendar. The Vedic Claendar is based on the lun ar month. In general, a lunar month is the time it takes the Moon to orbit the earth. Like other planets, the Moon moves from west to east along the Zodiac. Three types of lunar months are important in Vedic astrology: the Sidereal month, the Synodic month and the Nodical month.

Here begins our study and commentary on the Brhat Parasara Hora Sastra (BPHS), the most important Vedic text on astrology. Jyotish or astrology is considered the eye of the Vedas. Just as a blind person cannot walk or perform many other ordinary tasks, one who studies the Vedic literatures but does not know Jyotish may have theoretical knowledge, but will be handicapped in the practical realization of Vedic truth. We know many superficially learned students of the Vedas who can quote Sanskrit texts, but who cannot successfully apply them in their own lives.

The Supreme Lord Śrī Viṣṇu is the creator, owner and controller of everything and every living being. The purpose of all Vedic knowledge, including Jyotish, is to realize Him through direct transcendental consciousness. Because the Lord is supremely pure, not only is He never contaminated by the influence of the three modes of material nature, but He is the supreme purifier by which all else is purified. Therefore association with the Lord by any of His innumerable Holy Names, transcendental forms or pastimes is purifying to the conditioned souls.

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.

This class video is an analysis of Spiritual Background of Vedic Astrology by Patraka das. This essay does a great job of expressing one of the most important points of our Jyotish teaching: Jyotish is designed to function in the spiritual context of the Vedas. All of the four main pillars of Jyotish—the planets, signs, houses and charts—are expressions of different aspects of the Supreme Lord. If someone tries to practice astrology outside of that context, it may be astrology but it's not Jyotish anymore. Jyotish is ultimately about how our original eternal spiritual relationship with God is fragmented and reflected in the changing material energy—and most importantly, how to find our way out of the funhouse mirror maze of the material world and back to our original spiritual identity and eternal life in the spiritual world.

Of course everyone would like to start casting and analyzing charts, and getting the often astonishing insights Jyotish makes possible. But before we get to the fun part, there is the small matter of acquiring the proper background. As we have discussed many times, taking a Vedic science like Jyotish out of its natural context distorts its meaning and cripples its benefits. If we try to shoehorn our understanding and practice of Jyotish into the inappropriate and limited context of the impersonal, reductionist Western mechanical model of the universe, we will lose its most important values.