Vedic astrology


Vedic astrology is a neologism for the traditional astrology of the Indian subcontinent, otherwise known as Hindu astrology or natively as Jyotiṣa.

The purpose of the adjective "vedic" is to presume upon the social prestige of the Vedas, as a form of branding. Strictly speaking, however, "Vedic astrology" is a misnomer,[1][2] as historically, astrology in the Indian subcontinent post-dates the Vedic period.[3]

Contents

History of the term

The term "Vedic astrology" occurs in occasional usage during the 1960s and 1970s, but it only enters common usage from the 1980s in self-help publications on Ayurveda or Yoga. "Vedic astrology" appears as a name for Hindu astrology in dedicated works on the topic from the 1990s, beginning with David Frawley's The Astrology of Seers: A Comprehensive Guide to Vedic Astrology (1990),[4] followed by numerous other authors.[5] By the 2000s, the term had become a common synonym for Jyotisha in astrological literature. The term replaces "Hindu astrology", which had been in use as the English equivalent of Jyotisha since the early 19th century.

In Indian universities

In 2001, the University Grants Commission of India issued a circular proposing that universities should offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in what it termed Vedic Astrology or Jyotirvigyan (i.e jyotir-vijñāna, lit. "astral science"). This was widely protested in the scientific and academic community.[6] A legal challenge filed by academicians with the High Court of Andhra Pradesh was dismissed in 2004; on subsequent appeal, this decision was upheld by the Supreme Court of India.[7]

References

  1. ^ Kushal Siddhanta, "Some questions concerning the UGC course in astrology", Breakthrough, Vol.9, No.2, November 2001, p.3
  2. ^ Narlikar (2001)
  3. ^ Pingree(1981), p.67ff, 81ff, 101ff
  4. ^ Passage Press, Salt Lake City, Utah. Frawley's book was retitled to "A Comprehensive Guide to Vedic/Hindu Astrology" in a 2000 reprint.
  5. ^ Bepin Behari, Fundamentals of Vedic Astrology, Vedic Astrologer's Handbook, vol. 1, Morson Pub, 1993, ISBN 9781878423092. Ronnie Gale Dreyer, Vedic Astrology: A Guide to the Fundamentals of Jyotish, Weiser, 1997, ISBN 9780877288893. Dennis M. Harness, The Nakshatras: The Lunar Mansions of Vedic Astrology, Lotus Press, 1999, ISBN 9780914955832. Kotamraju Narayana Rao, Raj Kishore Wishwakarma, Empirical insights in Vedic astrology, Sane Publications, 1999, ISBN 9788175030039. Sutton, Komilla (1999). The Essentials of Vedic Astrology, The Wessex Astrologer Ltd, England.
  6. ^ T. Jayaraman, "A judicial blow", Frontline Vol. 18 Issue 12, Jun. 09 - 22, 2001
  7. ^ "Introduction of Vedic astrology courses in varsities upheld", Hindu, 2004-05-06

Bibliography

  • Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, "Vedic Astrology or Jyotirvigyan: Neither Vedic nor Vigyan", Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 36, No. 24 (Jun. 16-22, 2001), pp. 2113-2115 JSTOR
  • David Pingree, "Jyotiḥśāstra", Jan Gonda (ed) A History of Indian Literature, Vol, VI Fasc. 4, Otto Harrassowitz - Wiesbaden, 1981

See Also

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