jyotisha

Jyotisha, also transliterated jyotisha or jyotiṣa, is the traditional Indian system of astrology and astronomy. In Hindu culture it is one of the Vedangas, the ancillary sciences that support ritual and calendar calculations. The aim is to understand the positions and motions of celestial bodies—the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars—and their perceived influence on life, events, and natural phenomena.

Historically, Jyotisha developed in ancient India and was codified in astronomical and astrological treatises. The earliest functional text is the Vedanga Jyotisha, with later works such as Surya Siddhanta and the Brahma Parashara Hora Shastra shaping traditional practice. The tradition uses a sidereal zodiac, incorporates nakshatras (lunar mansions), grahas (planets), and dashas (planetary periods) to interpret influences on individuals and cycles.

Key components include the Janma Kundali (birth chart), Muhurat (auspicious timing for events), Prashna (horary astrology), and Jataka or Parashara-based computations. The Vimshottari Dasha system is widely used to analyze life periods, while Gochar (transits) are consulted to time predictions. Sub-schools exist within Jyotisha, such as Krishnamurti Paddhati, which emphasizes sub-lord rulership and distinct house-cusp methods.

In practice, Jyotisha is employed for matchmaking, choosing dates for ceremonies, and guidance in health, career, and spirituality. It remains influential in contemporary India and among practitioners worldwide, though it is regarded as a belief system or pseudoscience within scientific communities.