Frequently Asked Questions

Jyotiṣa is the knowledge of astrology based on the Vedas, the holy scriptures of India, also commonly known as Vedic Astrology. Veda means all knowledge, knowledge of all forms and types, of everything in this world and beyond. But the key purpose of the Vedas is to impart to us the knowledge of the reality of the soul. We are not just this body and mind, that which we can experience with senses, but rather in reality we are all part of One Soul – an undifferentiated Consciousness.

And the ultimate objective is to realise that we are This and nothing else. But due to avidya or ignorance, we believe in this separate existence, and hence there is a reaction to our every action – binding us to our karma. So every soul is actually striving to overcome these bonds of karma and become free, which is mukti or mokṣa from this karmic cycle.

Jyotiṣa is a Vedāṇga i.e. part of the Vedas. There are six Vedāṇgas, and they all help in different manner to understand and realise the Vedas themselves.

Jyotiṣa literally means the science of light. This is not light as a physical entity but rather light as part of the Universal Consciousness of which we each are but a ray. In practical terms, Jyotiṣa helps us to understand our karmic past, present and future – it reveals our karmic lifemap. And based on this understanding, how can we karmically better navigate in our future to gain mokṣa. This is different from how astrology, which is non-Jyotiṣa, is practised in the West or even by many practitioners in India.

One can use vedic astrology and even Jyotiṣa for solving mundane problems at the material level, like career, relationships, health, wealth etc (and there is nothing wrong with this approach), but that is not its real purpose. It's very similar to how Yoga is being used these days, just as a toolkit of physical exercises, when its true purpose is to delve much deeper.

Vedic (Jyotish) and Western astrology differ primarily in their zodiac system (Sidereal vs. Tropical), leading to different sign placements, and their focus, with Vedic emphasizing karma, destiny (dharma), and remedies, while Western focuses more on personality, psychology, and self-improvement, though both use planetary placements. Vedic uses fixed stars (Sidereal Zodiac) and emphasizes the Moon, Rahu/Ketu, and Nakshatras, often using square charts, while Western uses seasonal alignment (Tropical Zodiac) with the Sun, favoring circular charts for personality analysis.

• Vedic (Jyotish): Uses the Sidereal Zodiac, based on the actual, observable constellations and their fixed positions, aligning with astronomy. 
• Western: Uses the Tropical Zodiac, tied to Earth's seasons and the Sun's position at the spring equinox (0° Aries), not the constellations. 

Jyotisa is for everybody, not just for Hindus – just like the Sun and the Moon give light and energy to everybody, just as water quenches the thirst of everyone. Jyotisa is a universal science and is unbound by any religious or ritualistic beliefs.

For e.g. in what Shiva or Mahadev for a Hindu can mean Jesus Christ or Christ consciousness to a Christian. The key thing is to understand what is the nature of the energy being referred to is.

It entirely depends on the nature of the problem being addressed. Sometimes, just some particular actions or changing some activities themselves can address a problem. Many times, a mantra can be suggested and sometimes gemstones as well. But I am very careful while recommending gemstones. In some cases, a mantra along with a Yantra is also recommended.

Over a period of a decade I have acquired proficiency in recommending a rudraksha, sometimes a single bead or a mala and have found amazing success. This I will almost certainly recommend :)