A Brief History of Jyotish. Learn why this ancient form of astrology has endured throughout the centuries to divination today.
Everyone has a desire to know their future and the only means to know it is astrology. There are many parts of astrology of which Vedic astrology is considered to be the most ancient.
This astrology is named Vedic Astrology because it originated from the Vedas. The number of Vedas is four, of which Rigveda is the oldest. There are 30 verses related to astrology in Rigveda. There are 44 verses in Yajurveda and 162 verses in Atharvaveda.
There is a big difference of opinion among historians regarding the Vedic period. Max Muller dates it to just 1200 BC to 600 B.C. Believe it. Whereas Shri Avinash Chandra Das and Pavagi believe that the Vedic period is much older than this. Despite this difference, there is a belief that our sages had already known about astrology before the Vedic period. They had learned how to calculate time and determine auspicious and inauspicious times.
According to Narad Purana, Narad got the knowledge of astrology from Brahma. How this knowledge reached other sages is not mentioned in this Purana. Due to this knowledge, Narad was revered among the gods and demons. 8300 BC to 3000 B.C. This time is considered to be the golden period of astrology. During this period many important researches were done on astrology. By the end of this period, astrology had developed scientifically.
Being a part of the Vedas, astrology at this time was known as Vedanga. During this period, 18 sages made important contributions in developing astrology. The names of these eighteen sages are Surya, Pitamah, Vyas, Vashishtha, Atri, Parashar Kashyap, Narad, Garga, Marichi, Manu, Angira, Pulasya, Lomash, Chavan, Yavana, Bhrigu, Shaunakya.
It is believed that Bhrigu Rishi was the first person in the world to predict the future through astrology. With the help of Lord Ganesha, he created approximately 50,0000 horoscopes. But only some part of the book written by Maharishi Bhrigu is unavailable.
Present-day astrologers give information about the future based on ‘Vrihad Parashar Horashastra’ written by Rishi Parashar. In this book of astrology, the properties of planets and constellations, Rajyoga, Marak Yoga, Daridra Yoga, Kaalchakra, Antardasha, Dashachakra etc. are described. On the basis of these, astrologers tell the future of people by looking at the horoscope.
