Jyotish is a branch of knowledge yoga (jnani) translated as the ancient “Science of Light” outlined in the 5000+ year old Vedas as preserved by the ancient yogic scholars of India and the Himalayas
The Vedas are the root texts behind much of our known human cosmology and religion. “Vedic” implies knowledge from the Vedas, and is the source of all yogic texts—”yoga” means “union” and is the ancient study of living in unity with the one human consciousness that we are—in this view, all beings are cells within a single, living whole.
Jyotish is commonly referred to as “Vedic Astrology” and reflects the ancient understanding of the cycles and seasons of the major forces behind all that is. This cosmic navigational meteorology was one time undivided from astronomy, but unfortunately has been confused and abused in all the typical silly and for-profit ways. Regardless, the core study remains a beautiful musical and mathematical notation of the harmony of the spheres and appreciation of life.
Witnessing and appreciating the divine order can directly inform our own ability to live in harmony and act from a place of greater self-trust.
Is Jyotish a form of yoga?
Unlike the more physical, fitness-oriented yoga familiar to most westerners, Jyotish is a lesser-known yogic discipline within the vast “eight limbs of yoga.” Jyotishis study the cosmic order behind the “one great whole” of yogic philosophy, as recorded in the 5000+ year old Vedas.
Generations of sages have observed the larger cycles and seasons in our wider ecosystem and noted for history how human consciousness and development moves forward in circles over the ages. The beautiful clockwork of this ancient system reveals an ordered, cosmic dance of precision moving through the hours and the eons which can be directly observed.
Jyotishis have advised kings and empires for millennia, and study the same system that guided the wise men to Bethlehem for the birth of the great Yogi himself. This elegant way of seeing not only sheds light on the times we live in, but offers a practical, time-tested system to understand how your personal daily rhythms can peacefully connect to the greater whole. In it we can discover the freedom of living more cooperatively within our world.
Is Jyotish Vedic Astrology or Vedic Cosmology?
Just as the sailor learns the sea, sky, and stars to navigate, we can understand the “weather” of all of the meteorological and cosmological forces in play to help us wisely and safely use them to fill our sails and power our journey in a practical way.
When we apply this knowledge of the wider ecosystem and forces to help us forward our own material purposes, desires, and agendas in matters of money, power, relationships, career, possessions—the more external factors typically prioritized in pop culture astrology—we call this Vedic Astrology.
To differentiate Jyotish as a more spiritual or inner navigation practice to help us harmonize and heal ourselves with divine order and align with unity consciousness, we prefer the term Vedic Cosmology in our discussions. But for the sake of providing clarity to internet users and the search engines, you will see “jyotish,” “vedic astrology,” and “vedic cosmology” used interchangeably on this site.
What is the Difference Between Vedic Astrology (Jyotish) vs. Western Astrology?
Vedic Astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, which accounts for the gradual shift of the Earth’s axis over time, aligning more closely with the actual positions of the stars. Most people do not know that pop and Western Astrology use the fixed tropical zodiac, which remains tied to the seasons rather than the shifting sky—so the western tropical system and our actual stars have been moving apart for 2000 years.
This key difference means that in Vedic Astrology, actual planetary placements may show to be in an entire sign compared to fixed Western charts. The Vedic model predates the Western variation by millennia and likely gave birth to it, and today offers the more literal perspective of our ecological systems and seasons. While the two systems share some archetypal and universally human stories and timings, Jyotish (Vedic Astrology) remains rooted in the actual unchanging vastness of cosmic order.
While Jyotish is taught and learned through stories and symbols, it reveals the literal relationship of interplay between light and gravity on human consciousness. It explores our development from the microcosmic level of our atoms and cells to the macrocosmic vantage point of our species and cosmos.