Siddhanta 1: Astronomy Fundamentals

Astronomy is the basis for Astrology. Without knowing the coordinates of Grahas in the sky, how could one practice Astrology? Among the six Vedāṅgas, Jyotiṣa occupies an honourable place, and it includes both Astronomy and Astrology. Like the classical texts of Jyotiṣa state, the corpus of the subject is made up of Gaṇita, Saṅhitā and Horā. The Gaṇita is the astronomical part of Jyotiṣa, also called Siddhānta.

The Maharṣis and Ācāryas of yoga computed the Graha positions for ascertaining the auspicious and inauspicious times for the performance of important activities such as Yajñas. The important events, such as the birth of Kings and princes, were recorded in terms of Graha positions at birth. We can find such evidence in Rāmāyaṇa, which contains the Janmakuṇḍalī of Śrī Rāma and his brothers. Similarly, we find numerous references to Graha positions in Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābhārata and Purāṇas, such as movement of Grahas through Rāśis and Nakṣatras, commence of a year, Eclipses etc., that requires advance mathematics and astronomy.

If you are curious about how our ancients computed the planetary positions, this book is for you. The book covers the Graha computations based on both Modern and Siddhānta approaches. This book is essential for all true seekers of Jyotiṣa because, in the absence of Siddhānta (Gaṇita), there is no Saṅhitā and Horā.