The Zodiac And Solar System

We will advise the students to study this lesson very carefully as it will be the proper understanding of the basic facts about the Solar System that would enable them to grasp properly the lessons that will follow.

Zodiac

First we should know what is meant by the Zodiac. Zodiac is a broad belt in the heavens extending about 9 degrees on each side of the ecliptic. Ecliptic Is the path of the Sun which (path) passes exactly through the centre of the Zodiac. The Zodiac is an imaginary circle of 360 degrees and our ancient learned divided this circle into twelve equal parts of 30 degrees each. Each equal part of 30 degrees Is known as a sign (or a rasi). The Zodiac is called Bhachakara in Sanskrit, and it revolves on Its axis once in a day from east to west.

Signs or Rasis

Thus we have twelve signs in the Zodiac, namely: Aries (Mesha), Taurus Wrtshabh), Gemini (Mithuna), Cancer (Kataka or Karka), Leo (Simha), Virgo (Kanya), Libra (Tula), Scorpio (Wischik), Sagittarius (Dhanus or Dhanu), Capricorn (Makara), Aquarius (Kumbha) and Pisces (Meena). As already mentioned above, each of these signs has a stretch of 30 degrees in the Zodiac.

Planets

The planets which, according to astrology, have most powerful influence on the earth are nine in number, namely: Sun (Ravi, Surya), Moon (Chandra), Mars Mangal or Kuja), Mercury (Buddha), Jupiter (Guru or Brahaspati), Venus (Sukra), Saturn (Sani), Rahu and Ketu The last two are called shadowy planets (chhaya grahas) as they do not have physical or celestial bodies like the other seven planets. Of the two places where the Moon crosses the ecliptic (that is, the path of the Sun), the north point is known as Rahu and the corresponding south point which is exactly 1800 away from the former is called Ketu. Inspite of the fact that they are not celestial bodies like other planets, they are very sensitive and effective points and it is on account of their powerful influence on the earth, our ancients have ranked them as planets in Hindu astrology.

In western astrology though some recognition is now being given to Rahu and Ketu, mostly these planets find little importance in their predictive system. On the other hand the western astrologers have given significant place to the newly discovered planets Uranus (also called Herschel), Neptune and Pluto. In Hindu Predictive Astrology, however, we do not generally give any importance to them, because they are at a very great distance from the earth, and very slow moving planets. The view taken is that their influence is more on mundane affairs that is, events affecting masses as a whole and not on individuals. We shall, therefore, exclude these planets from our lessons which are mainly intended for beginners.

Now to come to the planetary system with which we are concerned, let us mention that each planet exercises his influence on the earth according to his strength, position and dignity etc., in the zodiac at the time of birth of an individual or even in day to day affairs. As regards the influence according to power and position of a planet at a particular time, the necessary discussion will be held at the appropriate stage. In this lesson we shall mention only the preliminaries about them.