Astrology & Ayurveda
Astrology is an ancient school of thought, which believes in a correlation of the movement of celestial bodies with events on earth. It is considered to be a sort of divine knowledge of nature which consists of the study of positions of the stars and the movements of the planets which affect all the events of the world. The Sanskrit term for astrology is Jyotish. The word Jyotish literally means the ‘knowledge of light’. The derivation of this word from its syllables is also interesting to know. The different syllables of the word Jyotish stand for the following:-
Ja +Ya - Water or Birth
O – And
Ta – Earth or Stars
Ish – Knowledgeable
Hence, the entire word Jyotish could sum up as ‘knowledge of the water and birth in relation to the earth or stars’. In other words, it means the influence of light over all things and occurrences on the earth.
In the Indian scriptures, Jyotish Shastra is one of the six disciplines required for the proper understanding of the Vedas, which are known as the Vedangas. The other five Vedangas are:- Shiksha – Study of Phonetics, Chanda – Study of Meter, Vyakarana – Study of Grammar, Nirukta – Study of Etymology, Kalpa – Study of the Rituals
Thus it can be seen how astrology has been given a prime position along with the other disciplines in order to get a proper understanding of the scriptures.
The study of astrology was not done by one man. It is the fruit of millennia of observation and study of how celestial changes show their effects on the earthly lives. Several great rishis and munis have contributed to the volume of Jyotish knowledge available to the world today. Bhrigu, Jaimini, Satyacharya, Narada, Garga, Parashara, Kalyana Verma, Mantreshwara, Vaidya Nath are some of the important figures in the development of Jyotish as it is known to man today. The very great Kalidasa, who is remembered even today for his great literary works Shakuntala and Vikrama-Urvashi, was a staunch believer of Jyotish Shastra.
Beliefs of Astrology
These believers of Jyotish went even so far to propound that Jyotish is the only direct science in the world, and all other sciences are just an extrapolation. They argues that the foundation of Jyotish stems from the external bodies that govern the world and humankind, but other sciences merely delve into the internal factors, i.e. earthly factors to arrive at their theories and conclusion. According to Jyotish, the primordial bodies – the Sun and the Moon – have been in existence much before humans came on earth. Hence they are the best witnesses to the kind of changes that have occurred. The physical sciences only deal with contemporaneous changes; but Jyotish is a rich science that goes much into the past to make its studies more relevant.
One more important belief of Jyotish is that the human being is not an isolated entity; but he/she has links to both the past and the future. In short, Jyotish Shastra believes very strongly in the Karma theory and in Punar Janam, i.e. reincarnation. Whatever a human being achieves in his/her present life, it is a result of the deeds of the previous birth(s). This has been recorded by Varaha Mihira in the Brihata Jataka. He says:
‘Karmarjita poorvabhave sadadi yattasya pankti samabhivyanikti.’
which literally translates as:
‘A person’s good or bad deeds will always influence his/her future births.’
Astrology and Modern Science
The conventional medical experts have always looked upon Jyotish as a baseless and erratic kind of science; they have not even accorded Jyotish to be called as science. However, this cannot be so easily neglected. Just as medical science deals with diseases and their treatments, astrology also investigates a correlation of heavenly bodies with the diseases afflicting people. Therefore, astrology cannot be made light of and denounced as a mere superstition.
Even the Father of Modern Medicine, Hippocrates, had made the statement, ‘A physician without the knowledge of astrology has no right to call him/herself a physician.’ This kind of belief over astrology has been seen in contemporary America too. Dr. Kallman of the Psychiatric Institute at New York has said that, ‘Every being has a clock set at the moment of his/her birth which predetermines illnesses and accidents.’
Though this kind of statements might seem quite fanciful and difficult to digest, a careful understanding of what Jyotish implies would lead to a much clearer perspective. Astrology believes in horoscopes, which are known as kundalis, which are determined by the positions of stars and planets at the time the person is born. One of Jyotish Shastra’s strongest beliefs is that the kundali of the person is like the blueprint which would determine in which direction his/her life would go. Whatever good or bad is to occur in life is already indicated in the kundali of the person. Obviously, corrective measures can be taken to offset the faults or defects in the person’s kundalis. This is what constitutes the treatment included in the vast repertoire of Jyotish Shastra.
Astrology does tell many more things than just the positions of the celestial bodies at the time of a person’s birth. It also tells at what time which medicine must be taken to have the best effects, when a particular activity should be started, and such time-related information. People going by their kundalis have made great successes of their lives, as is seen quite clearly in the celebrity world of India.
The Parellels between Ayurverda and Astrology
Both Ayurveda, the science of life, and Jyotish Shastra, the science of correlation of heavenly bodies with human existence, are ancient Indian sciences. They are known as Vedic sciences, which have developed and recorded in the most ancient scriptures of Indian tradition. Owing to this factor alone, both these sciences are greatly intertwined with each other, and often one of them corroborates or even suppliments the other. In fact the correlation is found to a much subtler extent in the Indian cosmic science that is today popular all over the world by its name, Yoga. Just as Yoga strives to achieve oneness between the internal constitution of a person with the nature that surrounds it, both Ayurveda and Astrology strive to equate humans with the factors that surround them. For this reason, several Ayurvedic vaidyas have looked upon Astrology as a supplement to their prescriptions, and several astrologists have tried to rectify planetary maladies with the help of Ayurveda. And all of this is done within the ambit of Yoga.
The Parallels in the Causes of Diseases
Ayurveda studies the effects of natural herbs and their extracts on the human system. Since the times of Charaka, there have been efforts to treat almost all human disorders with the help of nature. Hence, it is for several millennia that Ayurveda has been in existence today. Even today the Ayurvedic medicines are used in their age-old forms. One of the most important principles of Ayurveda is to treat the human as an aggregation of the three chief humors – the vata, the pitta and the kapha. These represent the air element, fire element and the earth and water elements respectively. Ayurveda believes that each individual contains a particular composition of these three doshas in their body. When any of these doshas are vitiated, then the person becomes a house for disease.
The parallels of Astrology are too clearly seen in this aspect. Astrology believes that the motion of the stars and the planets in the sky have effects on the human body. These effects can be either positive or negative. However, each nakshatras or graha – referring to the constellations and the planets – are responsible for the proper functioning of a particular part of the body. When any of these celestial bodies move, that particular region of the body is affected.
In this manner, both Ayurveda and Astrology believe that it is the external agencies that bring about disease into the body. These external agencies could be natural elements like air, fire, earth and water; or they could be celestial elements like the stars and the planets. However, the main point to be noted is that diseases comes from outside and not from within.
The Parallels in the Diagnoses of Diseases
Diseases in both Astrology and Ayurveda are defined as an affliction that occurs due to some external natural or heavenly agency. For this reason, it could be assumed that both sciences use common methods of diagnosing diseases. But that is not the case. Though Ayurveda and Astorology run parallel in many cases, there are marked dissimilarities when it comes to diagnosing the diseases.
Ayurveda is more practical in its approach. The Ayurvedic vaidya would make a diagnosis of the disease on the basis of the external symptoms, much as a conventional doctor would do. However, these symptoms would be indicators of the vitiation of the particular dosha. Then the vaidya would take measures in order to rectify the errors in the balance of the dosha by his/her herbal remedies.
But in Astrology, the occurrences of diseases are predicted at the birth of the individual itself. This may not be a very explicit prediction, but the occurrence could definitely be implies by a sort of extrapolating rule. Every person has a kundali, which is the birth chart. This chart outlines the positions of the various nakshatras and grahas at the time of his/her birth. By looking at the positions of the malefic and the benefic planets in this kundali, the Jyotish can determine what diseases could victimize the person in later life.
The Parallels in the Treatments of Diseases
It is difficult to distinguish the treatments of Ayurveda and Astrology for the simple reason that they are often very intricately intermingled with each other. When a vaidya would diagnose a disease by its symptoms, they would invariably look at the kundali of the person and see which planetary aspects have brought on the affliction. The medicines they would prescribe would try not only to vitiate the particular dosha, but also to bring about harmony between the malefic aspects of the kundali.
In the same way, if an astrologer predicts a disease to occur later on in life, they would definitely carry out some sort of yadnya or jaapa in order to offset the malefics, and also provide some mantras to ward off the pestilence. At the same time, they would suggest the use of Ayurvedic medicines from a qualified vaidya.
In fact, there is a highly developed branch of Astrology prevalent today, known as the Medical Astrology. This is considered to be a very important aspect of Ayurveda also. This science involves the calming of the planets which have entered wrong positions with the usage of Ayurvedic techniques. This treatment cannot be done in a short period of time, or with just a layman’s information. The entire astrological aspect of a person’s composition is taken into account before even venturing to prescribe a single remedy. Hence, this system is being looked upon as a potential method to treat chronic diseases that cannot be treated by conventional medical science.
Understanding Ayurveda Through Astrology
It might be a bit difficult to believe from a contemporary point of view, but vast research carried out by the Indian rishis and sages have indicated that there is a strong planetary influence on human bodies. These studies were carried on through meditation and observation of nature, something in which these ancient sages were quite proficient. Most of these findings have been incorporated into the holy Hindu scriptures, known as the Vedas. These Vedas are the focal point of all astrological and Ayurvedic research that is being carried out all over the world today.
Indications that both astrology and Ayurveda have developed four thousand years ago are present in the ancient Sanskrit texts. This was the time when the early versions of the Ayurvedic treatises – the Sushruta Samhita and the Charaka Samhita – were developed. They contained a wealth of information on how diseases are caused due to vitiation of the nature elements that surround the human body. While Ayurveda probed at the natural elements as the root of the human diseases, astrology scoured the skies. They believed that movements of the planets and the constellations in the sky have some definite purpose, which is felt in the diseases that attack the human body. Among the planets there are the malefics and the benefics. When the malefic planets are present in the wrong houses, then they can cause all sorts of diseases in the human body.
In this sense, both Ayurveda and astrology are ancient Indian nature sciences. One of them relies on the earthly elements, while the other relies on the heavenly bodies. Both of these can have very negative effects on the human body when vitiated. This is the scope under which Ayurveda and astrology both perform. Ayurveda provides treatments to remedy the diseases, but astrology would provide suggestions to correct the effects of the harmful positions of the planets. In some cases, astrologists would prescribe some Ayurvedic preparation in order to reduce or even completely eliminate the perils of planetary positions. Similarly, Ayurvedic vaidyas would also make a detailed investigation into the horoscope of the patient before deciding on a treatment. In this way, it can be said that both Ayurveda and astrology are hand in glove with each other. They are not different kinds of treatments, but they are branches of the same overall kind of treatment in the ancient Indian tradition.
Ayurveda, Astrology and Modern Medicine
Despite several attempts, modern medicine– read allopathy – has proved to be a failure in the treatment of chronic disorders like cancers, AIDS, etc. Even with adequate knowledge on the causative factors of these diseases, modern medicine has not come up with effective treatment methods. Then there are also several idiopathic ailments whose causes are either not known at all, or not fully understood by modern doctors. What could be the cause of the failure of modern science in this respect? Could it be that the modern medicinal methods rely too much on the human body itself and are reluctant to look elsewhere?
This could well be the case if the principles of astrology and Ayurveda are considered. The cause of the disease is perhaps not seated within the human body itself, but is predetermined by the planetary positions at the time of the person’s birth and elements of nature that surround the person. The sun has been connected since millennia with the human soul. Progress of the sun in the person’s birth chart decides several psychological aspects of the person. This is the cause of mental disabilities for which medical science has not been able to find credible causative and treatment explanations.
There are several examples in scriptures of all religions how diseases were cured by seers and prophets in the form of miracles. Could these miracles have been actually an effective use of astrology and Ayurveda? Some Ayurvedic herbs (especially those for skin disease) need nothing more than an application on the afflicted part. Could this have been the miraculous touch of healing recorded in our religious texts?
Sushruta in his Samhita has divided Ayurveda into eight classes. These are general medicine, surgery, ear-nose-throat and eye problems, toxicology, psychiatry, gynecology, sexology and virility. These are all the main branches of medicine in even modern science. To supplement this, ancient rishis and munis have shown how various planets influence these very aspects of human health in particular cases. So, a careful study of Ayurveda and astrology taken in conjunction is what is needed to better understand the treatment options of various diseases.
The Union of Ayurveda and Astrology
Ayurveda directly indicates the necessity of astrology in completing its treatment procedures. By rectifying the malevolence of the planetary positions, diseases can be cured – this is one of the fundamental points under which Ayurveda works. Whether the diseases are of a simple type – like coughs, cold, fevers, constipation – or of a very complicated type – like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular problems or mental problems – they can be treated over time with an effective balance of astrology and Ayurveda. Astrology will help to ascertain which planet is causing the negative aspect of the disease, while Ayurveda would prescribe a herb to rectify the planetary disposition as well as the vitiation of the doshas within the body.
In conclusion, Ayurveda without astrology and astrology without Ayurveda are incomplete. In order to make the greatest use of these hitherto unexplored aspects of science, one must devote equal time and effort in grasping the ideals of both these sciences.
Ayurvedic Treatment for Disorder of Navgrahas
Astrology is the belief that everything that occurs with the human system is due to the movements of the stars and the planets. The important planets that influence the human system are the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Rahu and Ketu, the head and tail of the demon respectively. Since they are nine in number, the grahas are collectively called as the navgrahas (nava = nine in Sanskrit). Each of these grahas corresponds to specific tissues or organs in the human body. Hence, if they are placed in a benefic position, they will improve the body; while if they are placed in a malefic position, they will cause disease in the body.
The following table shows which tissues or organs in the human body are influenced by the movements of each of the nine planets. When the planets are in weak positions, then they will likely cause some ailment corresponding to the body part that they influence.
Planet in Astrology Western Name Body Part Represented
Surya Sun Soul
Chandra Moon Mind
Mangala Mars Vitality
Buddha Mercury Nerves
Guru(Brihaspati) Jupiter Heart
Shukra Venus Sex organs
Shani Saturn Feet
Rahu North Lunar Node Bones
Ketu South Lunar Node Secret parts
Ayurveda relies on herbal remedies for the treatments of diseases. These remedies have been carefully prepared since several millennia in order to offset the negative influences of external elements in the human body. As such, they are also effective for planetary imbalances that can cause diseases in the human system. There are specific treatments for problems caused by each of the different navgrahas.
The following table shows the ailments caused by the different grahas and the Ayurvedic medicines used for the treatment of the sam
Grahas Diseases Caused Ayurvedic & English/Latin Namef Herb
Sun Inflammations in the body, epilepsy, fevers and Billwamoola- Bael tree (Aegle marmelos) bilious disorders, eye diseases, diseases below the
navel, skin diseases, bone diseases, psychological
diseases, irrational fears, rational fears, bites from
poisonous reptiles like snakes
Moon Sleep diseases such as insomnia (lack of sleep) or Khrika-Cucumbe(CurumisSativus)
somnambulism (sleep-walking), coughs, dysentery,
tumor, malaria, idleness, constipation, loss of appetite,
disinterest in food, jaundice, blood-related diseases,
hydrophobia, fear of animals with horns, problems
concerning women, hallucinations
Mercury Lack of self-confidence, irrational fears, throat and Anantmool-Indian Sarsarapilla
eye problems, goiter, nose diseases, colds, coughs, (Hemidismus Indica)
fevers, flatulence, poisoning, skin diseases, jaundice,
excessive fear of fire
Venus Anemia, diseases of the eye, flatulence, cough, urinary Ramvasakamool-Saal
diseases, diabetes, syphilis, prostatitis, low sperm count, (Adhatoda vasica)
impotence, dryness of mouth, constipation, irrational
fears, unable to socialize with people
Mars Excessive thirst, bilious disorders, flatulence, excessive Bridhadwarakamoola-n.a.
fear of fire, tumors in stomach and appendicitis, leprosy,
eye diseases, epilepsy, bone marrow diseases, itching,
rough skin, fractures in the body, continuous family
conflicts, continuous problems with enemies
Jupiter Stomach tumors such as gastric tumors and fantum Brahmajati mool-n.a.
atumors, appendicitis, typhoid, coughs, ear diseases,
comas, frequent litigations, problems with friends,
parents and other relatives, diseases resembling
affliction due to curses
Saturn Flatulence, cough, pain in the legs, excessive Shwetaberelamoola - n.a.
fatigue, illusion, excessive heat in the body, mental
shocks, personal calamities, accidents causing
temporary or lasting wounds in the body, problems
with the heart, frequent bereavement
Rahu Heart diseases such as attacks and inflammations, Shwetachandanmoola - n.a.
leprosy, illusions, hallucinations, diseases due to
poisoning, irrational fears, excessive hurt and wounds
Ketu Conflicts between castes, unknown mysterious Ashwagandha - Winter Cherry
diseases that cannot be easily found out by doctors (Withania somnifera)
When a person with a disease approaches an Ayurvedic vaidya, the first thing that the vaidya would do is to ascertain the cause of the disease. This is first done symptomatically, i.e. by making a careful study of the symptoms that are prevalent. This helps to establish a link between the disease and the dosha that is causing it. When this is established, Ayurvedic vaidyas would next see the birth horoscope chart (kundali) of the person and determine which the malefic planet that is triggering the disease is. The medicine that they would prescribe would try to achieve two things:-
(1) Bring the vitiation of the dosha to a relaxed state, i.e. return the body to the normal unvitiated state
(2) Reduce or eliminate the problems caused by the entry of the malefic planet into a weak house.
In this manner, astrology is used as a tool by Ayurvedic vaidyas in their treatments of diseases. The prescriptions provided by the vaidyas are not only based on Ayurvedic texts such as the great treatise Charaka Samhita, but also on the studies of astrology over the various millennia.
Astrology and Modern Medicine
Astrology believes quite staunchly that the changes occurring in the celestial bodies influence the actions that take place on the earth. All activities that influence the human lives are dependent in some way or the other to how the stars and the planets move. This is the basic premise of the Indian astrological study known as Jyotish Shastra.
Modern science does not attribute to this kind of a study. According to modern science, all diseases are individual, and arise due to some defect or deficiency within the mechanism of the body. As such, the treatment to be employed depends on the constitution of the person afflicted, and on that factor alone. This is where astrology deviates widely from conventional medicine. Astrology would investigate the cause of the disease in the positions of the celestial bodies at the current time, and also at the time when the person was born. In fact, astrology lays great stress to the birthchart known as kundali, which shows the positions of the various stars and planets when the person was born. Astrology believes that the disease occurs because of a particular predisposition of the celestial bodies at the time of the birth of the person. Hence, the treatment methods provided by astrology would be in order to offset those changes. That is, the treatments within astrology can hardly be termed as individualistic treatments.
The importance of astrology in treatment has been emphasized by none other than Hippocrates himself, the one who is called as the Father of Modern Medicine. Hippocrates has states that a physician who does not know about the principles of astrology can hardly call him/herself a physician. This is the amount of stress that the originators of modern medicine themselves put upon astrology.
Position of Astrology in Ayurveda
It can be said that there is a long parallel connection between Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of treatment with herbs, and Jyotish, the ancient Indian astrological beliefs. Both Ayurveda and Jyotish have been mentioned in the Hindu scriptures quite profusely. Jyotish is one of the six Vedangas, which are basic disciplines necessary to understand the scriptures; while Ayurveda is an upveda which is present in the Atharvaveda, one of the four main Vedas of the Hindu religion. Atharvaveda is the last Veda, which deals with medicine.
Ayurveda literally means ‘the science of life’, and Jyotish literally means ‘the knowledge of light’. Both of them are quite intertwined within each other. Ayurveda believes in the treatment of human ailments by the prescription of herbs, while Jyotish believes that offsetting planetary and stellar defects at the time of birth of the person would relieve the person of problems. In a way, both these ancient studies look upon nature as the influencing factor in man’s life, and not vice-versa as modern science tends to believe.
Charaka is considered to be the greatest ayurvedic exponent who ever lived. He is believed to have perfected the study and written his Samhita, which is the backbone of all knowledge Ayurvedic experts have today. He has said, ‘Life is nothing but the union of the physical body, senses, mind and soul.’ The belief of soul, i.e. Atma is a very cosmic belief which is strongly corroborated by Jyotish. Jyotish believes in Punar Janam, or reincarnation. The great Jyotish Kalyana Verma has said that, ‘All good or bad deeds that a person does in one life would influence what is going to happen with him/her in the next life.’ Comparing both these thoughts, we can see how closely correlated the branches of Jyotish and Ayurveda are.
Principles of Jyotish Applied to Ayurveda
By looking at the various charts that Jyotish draws, the following things can be understood:-
· The planetary combinations that bring about various diseases
.· The duration of the diseases
· Whether or not the diseases would be fatal.
Hence, Jyotish could set a physician on the right track on how to go ahead with the treatment of the disease. An Ayurvedic expert would first investigate the kundali of the person and make a proper study of the above factors. Once this is done, the cause of the disease is ascertained on Ayurvedic grounds also. In Ayurveda, there are three parts known as skandas in order to study the causes of the diseases. These skandas are known as the hethu, linga and aushadha. Based upon these three factors, the cause of the disease can be determined.
According to Ayurvedic beliefs, every person is a sum total of three governing humors within his/her body. These three important humors are:-
Vata dosha – this is the humor that represents the air element
Pitta dosha – this is the humor that represents the fire element
Kapha dosha – this is the humor that represents the earth and the body elements.
Any vitiation in the above doshas is what leads to any disease. Doshas exist in different parts of the body. Vata resides in the lower part of the body, pitta resides in the middle part of the body and kapha resides in the upper part of the body. Due to this, the kundali is very much influential in deciding what kind of vitiation can take place in the body.
The influence of Jyotish in Ayurvedic treatments cannot be ignored. In the past it was necessary for Ayurvedic doctors to be well-versed in Jyotish Shastra also. However, with the passage of time, Jyotish Shastra has been given a back seat and Ayurveda is marching ahead as an independent therapy.
Astrology and Cause of Disease
Influence of Nakshatras and Planets on the Human Body
Astrology, or Jyotish, strongly believes in the celestial causes of diseases. According to Jyotish, the positions of the constellations and the planets at each person’s birth will seriously affect what the person will turn out to be in later life, whether there would be success or failure in life, whether the person would be afflicted by certain diseases, etc. The constellations are called as nakshatras in Indian astrology. There are twelve of them similar to those in western science, and each of them represents a single part of the human body.
The planets in astrology are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. These are also known as grahas. Since they are nine in number they are sometimes known as the navgrahas, or the nine planets. The planets too exert their influence on the person’s well-being in later life. A chart mapping the position of the sky at the time of a person’s birth is known as the kundali, or the birth horoscope. This kundali is considered by Jyotish Shastra to be one of the primary deciding factors in determining how a person’s life will become. The kundali is a very complex chart showing the position of all the nakshatras and grahas at the time of birth of the person. The Jyotish will use such charts in order to analyze the causes of diseases on an astrological basis.
Astrological Basis of Diseases
The grahas are very influential signs in a person’s kundali. Some of these grahas are beneficial if they are present in the chart. These grahas are known as the benefic planets, or quite simply, the benefics. While other grahas, if present, they could negatively affect the person’s progress in life. Such grahas are called as the malefic planets or the malefics.
On this basis, the planets are classified according to the following:-
(i) The Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are always malefic if they are present in the person’s kundali.
(ii) The Moon and Mercury will behave as malefics only if they combust or are present in a weak position in the kundali.
(iii) Jupiter and Venus are the only two grahas that will always have positive effects. They are the only benefics among the navgrahas.
A person’s kundali will be an assortment of all the navgrahas. If a malefic graha is present in the person’s nakshatra, then negative effects will be felt and if a benefic graha is present, then positive effects will be felt. Then there are weak and strong positions within the kundali. Effects of the grahas in strong positions are more influential in a person’s life.
Planets have inter-relations of friendships and enmities too. Hence, the correlation between two planets would determine whether they would have a cumulative positive or negative effect on a person’s life. For this reason, it can be said that malefic planets can sometimes behave as benefics, and benefic planets can also behave as malefics.
Diseases are also believed to exist due to the malefic planets in strong positions of a person’s kundali. Though, even weak positions can bring about several diseases. A careful study of a person’s kundali would show what kind of diseases the person could be affected with in the future.
Types of Diseases in Astrology
There are three different types of diseases as classified in astology. The following are the types described:-
1. Natural Diseases – The natural diseases in astrology are not actually diseases as we know them. They are the results of destructive natural acts such as disasters involving the earth, water, atmosphere, fire, etc. Even accidents and sudden deaths are included in natural diseases according to astrology.
2. Seasonal Diseases – The diseases that occur due to seasonal changes are included in this category. They are the diseases that are caused due to cold, heat, rain, snowfall, etc. Most of these diseases are epidemic in nature such as malaria, cholera, typhoid, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, etc. Sunstrokes are also climatic, so they are put in this category. Individual diseases such as dysentery, eczema, ringworms, common cold, etc. will be called as seasonal diseases.
3. External Diseases – All diseases that are due to external agencies are put under this heading. If a person afflicts an injury on another, then it is an external disease. Problems with spirits, hallucinations, wounds, etc. are external diseases. The diseases that are associated with migration from one country to another are also external diseases.
Other categories in which diseases can be classified are physical, psychological, circumstantial, etc. The principles of Ayurveda are more helpful in understanding the types of diseases. According to Ayurveda, diseases could be due to food, sleep and mental control. Herein lies an important parallel between Ayurveda and Jyotish Shastra.
Disease and Nine Planets
Influence of Nakshatras and Planets on the Human Body
The Navgrahas of Astrology
There are nine planets in astrology which are the deciding celestial body in determining how a person’s life would turn out to be. These planets are not the nine planets of the solar system, and hence to differentiate them they are called as the navgrahas, where nav means nine. So navgrahas literally means nine planets.
Astrology considers the sun and the moon as planets. At the same time, distant planets such as Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are not included. Earth itself is also not included as a planet because it is considered to be the focal point of the universe in astrology. Important additions to the list of the navgrahas are Rahu and Ketu, which represent the head and the tail of a banished demon into space, respectively. Hence, the navgrahas are the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu.
These nine planets determine various aspects of the person’s body. Astrology has deeply studied the correlation of the navgrahas with different spiritual and physical aspects of the person’s body. The following chart will help to understand which the parts of the body represented by the navgrahas are.
Planet in Astrology Western Name Body Part Represented
Surya Sun Soul
Chandra Moon Mind
Mangala Mars Vitality
Buddha Mercury Nerves
Guru or Brihaspati Jupiter Heart
Shukra Venus Sex organs
Shani Saturn Feet
Rahu North Lunar Node Bones
Ketu South Lunar Node Secret parts
The Navgrahas in the Kundali
Kundali is the birth horoscope chart that represents the positions of the nakshatras and the planets in them at the time of the birth of the person. The nakshatras are fixed in the sky, but the planets are moving. So depending on which planet lies in which nakshatra when the person is born, it would exert a positive (benefic) or negative (malefic) effect on the life of the person.
Planets are inherently benefic or malefic. The Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are always malefic. They will have negative effects if they are present in the nakshatra of the person at the time of birth. The Moon and Mercury could be either malefic or benefic depending on circumstances. If these planets are combust or present in a weak position, then their negative effects are more prominent. Jupiter and Venus are the only planets that are always benefic.
But the situation is not as simple as it seems. Planets have their inter-relations; they also have constructive and destructive alliances. Hence, what the overall effects of the navgrahas in the final count will be will only be revealed by a careful study of the kundali.
Diseases are caused when the planets are malefic. According to Jyotish Shastra, planets that are weak, combust, debilitated, retrograde, in inimical houses or malefic are responsible for causing the diseases in a human being.
Typical Diseases of the Navgrahas
Studies over millennia have shown that the nine planets do exert unique influences on the human system. Let us see what the typical diseases that are caused by each of the navgrahas are.
Sun - Weak, debilitated, in inimical house or unaspected by benefics - Bone fractures, eye problems, respiratory disease, indigestion problems, etc.
Moon - Weak - Mental depression, blood diseases, colds,venereal diseases, nasal inflammation, etc.
Mars -Weak - Marrow diseases, fevers, smallpox, swelling, boils, jaundice, blood diseases, menstrual problems, etc.
Mercury - Weak, combust, retrograde, in inimical house, debilitated,combust - Skin problems such as itching, eczema etc., nervous system problems, speech disorders, inability to concentrate on work.
Jupiter - Weak, aspected with malefics, unaspected with benefics, debilitated - Obesity, diabetes.
Venus - Sun or Saturn is in two or twelve houses from the ascendant or the moon. - Diseases of semen, sore throat, venereal diseases, eye diseases, etc.
Saturn- Weak, aspected with malefics unaspected with benefics, debilitated,combust - Muscular pain, colds, melancholy, epilepsy, fistula, deafness, problems with the limbs, paralysis, rheumatic troubles, gastric troubles, mental problems such as dejection and sorrow,
Rahu - Sudden unexpected attacks depending on the place where it is positioned. - Epilepsy, pox, worms, thoughts of suicide, leprosy, pains, etc. It also causes infestation of the body with spirits and ghosts.
Ketu - Hidden. - Mysterious pains in the body, diseases that resemble effects of curses of the previous birth.
Some aspects of the diseases caused by the various planets must be noted quite carefully.
1. The sun represents the human soul. For this reason, it is not only the master of the solar system, but also the master of the human body. If the position of the sun is strong in the kundali of the person, then his/her body composition also would be strong.
2. The moon is a cooling planet. If its balance is proper, then the person would not find much mental problems in his/her life. On the contrary, if the moon is weak, then the person’s mind would also not function effectively.
3. Mars is a hot planet. Among the navgrahas, its status is closes to that of the sun.
4. Mercury is responsible also for natural diseases, which may not be directly related to the body. These include natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, etc. and also problems with business, family life, and such others.
5. Jupiter causes the lowest amount of diseases of any graha. Its strength in the kundali is an essential element for a person’s wellbeing.
6. Venus is also a great benefic planet. It does not cause many diseases. People with Venus in their kundali are quite lovable.
7. Saturn is the biggest cause of diseases in the human body. Most human diseases are caused due to the prevalence of Shani or Saturn in the kundali.
8. Rahu is known as a cheating planet. This is because it can attack suddenly even if it was not in the chart before.
9. Similarly, Ketu is called as a hidden planet. It is very difficult to predict the presence of Ketu before the affliction actually strikes.
Principles of Jyotish
Jyotish, or Indian astrology, believes quite strongly on the influence of the celestial bodies on the occurrences on earth, and more so, on the human body in particular. Each and every movement that occurs in the skies has its repercussions on the activities that take place on the earth, and this is what astrology deals with. The basic premise of Jyotish is to first study these changes, and then seek out measures to offset negative changes. This can only be done by a careful study of the chart which shows all the positions of the main celestial bodies during the time when the person was born. Such as birth horoscope chart is known as a kundali.
The importance of kundali in a person’s life cannot be stressed enough. Indian Hindus believe very greatly in the kundali, and it plays a very important role in deciding auspicious times for actions. Marriages, inaugurations, foundations, etc. are all done in accordance with the muhurtha, i.e. auspicious time, as indicated in a person’s kundali.
Though Jyotish cannot change anything that is in the kundali, measures can be taken to plan future events in such a way that there are very few negative repercussions of the activity. The same can be said about diseases.
Diseases and Jyotish
Diseases are caused due to vitiation of the vata, pitta or kapha doshas in the human body. This is according to Ayurvedic beliefs. The human body is governed by these three doshas or humors. The vata is the wind element, pitta is the fire element and kapha is the element that inter-relates the earth and the water elements. In this way, the human body can be said to be governed to a large extent by the nature that surrounds it.
The doshas are quite positional in the body. Vata dosha resides in the lower part of the body, i.e. in the lower limbs and the genitals; pitta resides in the middle part, i.e. the digestive system and the kapha dosha resides in the upper part of the body, which is the chest and the head regions. Each of these regions of the body is also governed by the external factors such as the stars and planets in the sky. Therefore, the kundali chart would also tell how much the body can be affected by the celestial bodies and what measures can be taken in order to offset these problems.
The Rashi and the Human Body Nakshatra is the name given to the zodiac signs that are present even in western astrology. There are twelve of these nakshatras, quite similar to western astrology. Each of the nakshatra is influential on a particular part of the human body. The following chart shows the body parts that are influenced by the twelve nakshatras.
Rashi(Indian) Rashi (Western) Body Part Represented
Mesha Aries Head
Vrishabha Taurus Face
Mithuna Gemini Throat and bronchial region
Karka Cancer Lungs & upper part of heart
Simha Leo Lower part -heart stomach
Kanya Virgo Navel
Tula Libra Intestines
Vrishchika Scorpio Sex organs
Dhanus Sagittarius Thighs
Makara Capricorn Knees
Kumbha Aquarius Calves
Meena Psices Feet
The Jyotish Shastra believes the human body to be a Kalpurusha, i.e. an embodiment of the being governed by time. This Kalpurusha is influenced by the nakshtras. Hence it is very important to know which nakshatra a person is born in. The particular nakshatra in which a person is born is called as a raashi. Raashi is as important to a person’s being as the zodiac sign is in western astrology. It influences various characteristics of the person, and it also influences where the person will be vulnerable and where not. In other words, the nakshatras predetermine what physical condition the person might suffer from in the future.
Apart from the zodiac governing factors that are mentioned in the above table, there are various other nakshatras that live within the body of the person. It is important to know about these resident nakshatras too.
Nakshatra Part of the Body
Kritika Head
Rohini Forehead
Mrigsira Eyebrows
Aridra Eyes
Punarvasu Nose
Pushya Face
Ashlesha Ears
Magha Lips
Poorva Phalguna Right hand
Uttara Phalguna Left hand
Hasta Fingers
Chitra Neck
Swati Chest
Vishakha Breast
Anuradha Upper stomach
Jyeshtha Lower stomach
Moola Womb
Poorvashada Back
Uttarashada Backbone
Shravana Waist
Dhanishtha Anus
Shatbhisha Right thigh
Poorva Bhadra Pada Left thigh
Uttara Bhadra Pada Calves
Revathi Knees
Ashwini Upper part of the feet
Bharni Lower part of the feet
Hence, nakshatras do not just influence the body from outside, they also act from within.
The Planets and the Human Body
Planets in astrology are different than those in astronomy. In astrology, sun and moon are included in the planets and so are rahu and ketu, the head and tail of the demon respectively. All these have far-reaching effects on the human body. The following table shows what the different planets govern in the human body.
Gems Therapy
The gems therapy has its roots in ancient Indian traditions. One can find its links in the Jyotish Shastra, which is the name for the specialized astrological beliefs of India. Jyotish Shastra believes that the movements of the celestial bodies, which include the Sun, the Moon and the prominent planets, have far-reaching effects on the life on earth. Each activity that occurs on the earth is a repercussion of some activity in the skies.
The Navgrahas of Jyotish Shastra
In order to make its beliefs more concrete, Jyotish Shastra believes in a system of nine planets. These planets are not the same as in astronomy. This is because Jyotish Shastra places the earth at the center of the cosmic universe and every other body is taken in relation to the fundamental position of the earth. The Sun and the Moon are also considered as grahas or planets in Jyotish Shastra. Out of the solar planets, only the closer ones visible from the earth are considered. These are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. In addition to these solar planets, the lunar nodes – both north and south – are also considered to be grahas. In Indian mythology, the north lunar node is called as Rahu, and the south lunar node is called as Ketu. Rahu and Ketu are supposed to be the head and tail of a demon who was exiled by the Sun into the solar system.
The Kundali
When each person is born, the positions of the bodies in the sky play an important role in determining how the future life of the person will shape up to be. These positions are mapped in a zodiac chart, which is called as the birth horoscope or the kundali of the person. Each aspect of this kundali is an important deciding factor in shaping the person’s life. The kundali cannot be changed once a person is born, but there are several ways to modify the things that are going to happen later. Though the planetary positions cannot be changed, their effects can be either magnified or diminished. One way to do this is by gem therapy.
Principles of Gems Therapy
Gems or precious stones can exert both malefic (negative) or benefic (positive) influences in a person’s life. Since ancient times, Indian rishis and munis have believed that every graha is related to a particular gem which favors their prevalence. These gems could be expensive or cheap, that does not matter. What matters is how strongly the gems influence a particular graha.
Each graha has a gem that represents it. It is the color of the gem that is distinctive and bears the influence on the person’s life. For this reason, most Ayurveda doctors would suggest their patients to wear specific gems as long as the treatment continues. The gem therapy is considered to be an addition to the Ayurvedic treatment. The following table shows the name of each graha with its favoring gem.
Graha Gem
Sun Ruby
Moon Pearl
Mercury Emerald
Venus Diamond
Mars Coral
Jupiter Topaz
Saturn Sapphire
Rahu Zircon
Ketu Cat’s Eye
Let us now see the manner in which the gems are influential in a person’s life.
(1) Ruby
Ruby is the gem of the sun. It is a red colored stone made of aluminum and oxygen with traces of iron and chromium in it.
It is observed that wearing a ruby is favorable in headache, skin diseaseand heart ailments. It can keep minor ailments like constipation, coughs and flatulence at bay. It helps in cooling the mind down, consoling in times of dejection and increasing the concentration. Due to its red color, ruby is associated with the formation of blood. Hence people wearing rubies will not suffer much loss of blood, and whatever loss takes place, it will be replenished soon. Ruby is also found to be beneficial in problems of a spiritual nature such as hallucinations, appearance of ghosts and spirits, etc.
In order to get all these benefits of the ruby, it must be prepared and worn at a specific period. The preparation should be done on a Sunday – the day of the Sun – between 6:00 a.m. to noon. The wearing must be done after worship to the sun on the Sunday that has a Pushya Nakshatra. If the Pushya Nakshatra is not close, then wearing can be done on any Sunday with a sun nakshatra such as Uttarashada, Uttara Phalguna or Krittika. It is most effective to wear the ruby encrusted in a gold ring on the first finger of the right hand. A Gayatri mantra must be chanted regularly, otherwise the effects of the ruby will not be felt. Similarly, the Aditya must be chanted everyday after wearing the ruby following a bath.
If the ruby is not available, or is too costly, then there are some other gems that have similar beneficial effects. These are lalmani, garnet, padanranga, neelganthi and uparatna.
(2) Pearl
Pearl is the gem of the moon. It helps in offsetting problems that are caused due to a weak position of the moon in the person’s kundali. The pearl is a milky-white smooth stone, just as the moon is visible from the earth. It is found on the sea-beds inside oysters. It takes several years for a single pearl to form.
All calcium related problems like weak bones and weak teeth can be resolved by using pearls. Pearls are helpful in many other diseases such as tuberculosis, goiter, typhoid, dropsy, dysentery, problems with urination, etc. Among minor ailments that pearl can cure are included cough and fever. Pearl improves the circulation of blood in the body and hence increases its resistance to diseases. It is also helping in soothing the nerves and keeping mental disturbances away.
Wearing a pearl for positive effects does not require as rigorous a ceremony as wearing a ruby does. It is enough if the pearl is worn anytime in the period of the waxing moon, i.e. the Shuklapaksha. While wearing, an incantation to the Lord Shiva is required, and must be followed by a daily recitation of the Shiva Mahima Stotra.
Alternative gems for pearls are moonstones and opals.
Here we continue the discussion on how various gems are influential on a man’s life. Let us see which the beneficial gems for the navgrahas are in this article.
(3) Emerald
Emerald represents the planet Mercury. It is a green colored gem. It contains the elements beryllium and aluminum, and its green color is due to the presence of chromium in it. Just as Mercury stays close to the Sun and absorbs its solar heat all the time, the emerald also has the capacity to absorb the excess heat from the human body and create a cooling effect in it. Emerald is called as panna in Hindi.
Emerald is found to be beneficial with lethargy-related problems such as laziness, lack of concentration, no desire to do work, etc. It can be helpful for people whose memories are weak and also for those who are intolerant of changes in their surroundings. The stone has powers to increase the fertility in males. It is believed that wearing an emerald can also help in solving family and business problems, and in easing the labor pains.
Wednesday is the best day to wear an emerald for the first time. It must be seen that any Mercury constellation must be present on that day such as Hasta, Revathi or Jyeshtha. The gem must be encrusted in a gold ring and worn on the little finger of any hand.
If a person is not able to get an emerald, then alternative stones are the peridot and the vairaj.
(4) Diamond
The properties and the scintillating beauty of the diamond are widely known to everyone. It is also the costliest of all the gems available on the earth. It is generally colorless, but artificial colors could be put in it. However, the most effective color for a diamond is pristine white. Diamond is the representative gem of Venus.
The powers of the diamond are most effectively felt in the alleviation of the sexual functions of the human body. The diamond can reduce the sexual drive in men and women in whom it is excessive. Problems such as lack of semen are also done away with by wearing diamonds. Hence, it could be said that diamond can treat several marital problems that could cause due to a deficiency in either partner.
Apart from its sexually healing powers, diamond can also reduce other diseases such as constipation, flatulence, dysentery, paralysis and epilepsy. It can increase the blood count and decrease the fluid buildup in hydrocele.
Diamond is also useful in the materialistic life of a person. It can bring success in love, money and career. It has a special significance in improving the person’s career if it is pertaining to some art form like music, films, paintings, etc.
A diamond must be encrusted on a gold ring and worn on any finger on any morning. Ascetics suggest the chanting of the invocation to Shukra before wearing the diamond ring.
There is a lesser known gem known as the turmali, which can be used as a substitute for diamond. This is a light blue colored gem, and is much cheaper than the diamond. However, the effects of this gem are found only in men.
(5) Coral
Corals are red colored gems available in many different hues. These are gems that are formed in the seas by aquatic fauna. Since there are many different hues to corals, they have different influences on the human beings. It is generally believed that the lighter the color, the better the effects as far as coral is concerned. Blood red corals must be avoided as they could lead to accidents. Instead faint red corals are the best. The effects of corals depend from person to person depending on how the principle planet, Mars, is placed in his/her kundali.
People wearing corals could experience a sudden spurt of courage and self confidence. The person may begin to believe in his/her own capabilities. The positive zest of life is one of the chief benefits of corals.
Corals are also very advantageous in people with blood pressure problems. In fact, there are a lot of people who claim to have their blood pressure under control by the regular wearing of a coral on their fingers. Other diseases that can be kept under check by the regular wearing of coral are cardiovascular problems and piles. If coral is put in water and then the water is drunk (not the coral), then it is very beneficial in people who have piles problems.
Wearing coral is advisable to people who have Mars in their 4 th, 6 th, 8 th, 11 th or 12 th houses in their kundalis. However, if the position of Mars is strong, then there is no purpose achieved by wearing a coral.
The best day to wear a coral is the day of Mars, i.e. Tuesday. It should be encrusted in a silver and worn on the third finger of either the right or the left hand. The benefits of wearing coral on the right hand are more than on the left hand.
Alternative stones to be used in place of coral are akik and rudraksha. Though rudraksha cannot strengthen a weak Mars, it has more or less the same beneficial properties in increasing blood circulation.
(6) Topaz
Topaz is the gem of the great planet Jupiter. It is a white color gem in its pure form, or it may show slight coloration of faint yellow. However, other colors such as blue, pink, green are also seen.
The qualities of topaz are beneficial in making social adjustments in life. By wearing a topaz, the person becomes charming and charismatic, and is able to win over people. Hence this stone is much in demand within the glamour world. Topaz can also help to make a person increase in his/her popularity in the world. Wearing a topaz can eliminate the negative thoughts from the mind, like the will to do something bad to others. It can remove the negative traits of laziness, anxiety, destructive thoughts, sorrows, etc. and fill the mind with positive energies.
Topaz is also suggested for people who are trying to break some vicious habit, such as gambling, smoking and alcoholism, or visiting prostitutes. Topaz can do this because it increases the willpower of the person. It can bring about success in a job or in exams, and also help to recover lost monies.
The positive points of topaz are the generation of happiness, luck and prosperity in an individual. Hence, topaz may be called as the master-gem in deciding a person’s life.
Thursday is the day of Jupiter – that’s the day when the topaz must be worn. Care must be taken to see that the Thursday selected has a Pushya Nakshatra in the period of the waxing moon. But, bear one thing in mind. Wearing a topaz in such circumstances could lead the wearer to live an almost spiritual and virtuous kind of existence.
The qualities of topaz are found to some extent in another lesser known gem, sunela. This is used as an alternative for topaz.
(7) Sapphire
Sapphire is a bright blue colored stone, for which it is known in Hindi as neelam. It is a characteristic stone for the planet Saturn.
The beneficial powers of sapphire are felt in people who have long-lasting problems with their bodies such as nervous system disorders, comas and bronchitis. It can cure melancholia and bring the person to a happy state of mind. Problems of a bilious nature are also brought in check by sapphire. Sapphire is beneficial in hiccups, incapacity of the brain and memory problems. A person who wears a sapphire increases in courageousness and consistency in thought.
Sapphire is used to remedy the weak position of Saturn in the kundali. The day of Saturn is Saturday; hence the stone must be first worn on any given Saturday, provided it has a Dhanishtha, Shravana, Uttarashada, Swati, Vishakha or Chitra nakshatras. The ring in which this gem is encrusted is a special ring made of five metals. If such a ring is not available, then it can be worn in a simple iron ring.
Jamuniya is the gem that is used as an alternative to sapphire. This gem is also blue in color. The gem is a powerful combatant of diseases, so it can provide the person with a long and improved life.
(8) Zicron
Zircon is a soft and transparent stone which is heavier than the other stones used in gem therapy. There may be many impurities in zircon, which should be rejected. The purest zircon would be of a straw yellow color with orange hues in it, and it must be completely transparent. Blemishes in the stone such as dots or lines, torn stones, etc. disqualify them in gem therapy.
This stone is good in getting love and happiness. People who are seeking good partners ought to wear zircon stones. Zircon can also bring luck to people who are in the midst of litigation. Zircon is the character stone of Rahu, who is called as the cheating graha. Rahu appears most unexpectedly and attacks the person with disease. Zircon can equip the person to be resistant from such sudden diseases. It also strengthens a person morally and physically to resist the sudden obstacles in the path of progress which Rahu can create.
Among diseases, zircon can be beneficial in epilepsy, piles, syphilis, weakness, fevers, flatulence, melancholia and insanity.
Wearing the zircon stone must be done under a carefully planned and supervised ritual. It must be found out from the kundali when the Rahu is the most harmful. At such a period, the zircon must be worn in a five metal ring in the third finger. The nakshatras auspicious to the ring wearing ceremony are Shatbhisha, Swati and Aridra.
(9) Cat’s Eye
Cat’s eye or lahsuniya is a very lesser known gem that is used to offset the weak positions of Ketu in the kundali. This stone is known to be effective in diseases of a sexual nature like syphilis and gonorrhea, piles, dysentery, cough, cold, diabetes, impotency, obesity, constipation, ocular diseases, labor pains and idiopathic diseases, i.e. diseases whose causes are not known.
Cat’s eye must be worn in the same manner as the zircon stone is worn. The beneficial nakshatras are Ashwini, Magha and Moola
Ja +Ya - Water or Birth
O – And
Ta – Earth or Stars
Ish – Knowledgeable
Hence, the entire word Jyotish could sum up as ‘knowledge of the water and birth in relation to the earth or stars’. In other words, it means the influence of light over all things and occurrences on the earth.
In the Indian scriptures, Jyotish Shastra is one of the six disciplines required for the proper understanding of the Vedas, which are known as the Vedangas. The other five Vedangas are:- Shiksha – Study of Phonetics, Chanda – Study of Meter, Vyakarana – Study of Grammar, Nirukta – Study of Etymology, Kalpa – Study of the Rituals
Thus it can be seen how astrology has been given a prime position along with the other disciplines in order to get a proper understanding of the scriptures.
The study of astrology was not done by one man. It is the fruit of millennia of observation and study of how celestial changes show their effects on the earthly lives. Several great rishis and munis have contributed to the volume of Jyotish knowledge available to the world today. Bhrigu, Jaimini, Satyacharya, Narada, Garga, Parashara, Kalyana Verma, Mantreshwara, Vaidya Nath are some of the important figures in the development of Jyotish as it is known to man today. The very great Kalidasa, who is remembered even today for his great literary works Shakuntala and Vikrama-Urvashi, was a staunch believer of Jyotish Shastra.
Beliefs of Astrology
These believers of Jyotish went even so far to propound that Jyotish is the only direct science in the world, and all other sciences are just an extrapolation. They argues that the foundation of Jyotish stems from the external bodies that govern the world and humankind, but other sciences merely delve into the internal factors, i.e. earthly factors to arrive at their theories and conclusion. According to Jyotish, the primordial bodies – the Sun and the Moon – have been in existence much before humans came on earth. Hence they are the best witnesses to the kind of changes that have occurred. The physical sciences only deal with contemporaneous changes; but Jyotish is a rich science that goes much into the past to make its studies more relevant.
One more important belief of Jyotish is that the human being is not an isolated entity; but he/she has links to both the past and the future. In short, Jyotish Shastra believes very strongly in the Karma theory and in Punar Janam, i.e. reincarnation. Whatever a human being achieves in his/her present life, it is a result of the deeds of the previous birth(s). This has been recorded by Varaha Mihira in the Brihata Jataka. He says:
‘Karmarjita poorvabhave sadadi yattasya pankti samabhivyanikti.’
which literally translates as:
‘A person’s good or bad deeds will always influence his/her future births.’
Astrology and Modern Science
The conventional medical experts have always looked upon Jyotish as a baseless and erratic kind of science; they have not even accorded Jyotish to be called as science. However, this cannot be so easily neglected. Just as medical science deals with diseases and their treatments, astrology also investigates a correlation of heavenly bodies with the diseases afflicting people. Therefore, astrology cannot be made light of and denounced as a mere superstition.
Even the Father of Modern Medicine, Hippocrates, had made the statement, ‘A physician without the knowledge of astrology has no right to call him/herself a physician.’ This kind of belief over astrology has been seen in contemporary America too. Dr. Kallman of the Psychiatric Institute at New York has said that, ‘Every being has a clock set at the moment of his/her birth which predetermines illnesses and accidents.’
Though this kind of statements might seem quite fanciful and difficult to digest, a careful understanding of what Jyotish implies would lead to a much clearer perspective. Astrology believes in horoscopes, which are known as kundalis, which are determined by the positions of stars and planets at the time the person is born. One of Jyotish Shastra’s strongest beliefs is that the kundali of the person is like the blueprint which would determine in which direction his/her life would go. Whatever good or bad is to occur in life is already indicated in the kundali of the person. Obviously, corrective measures can be taken to offset the faults or defects in the person’s kundalis. This is what constitutes the treatment included in the vast repertoire of Jyotish Shastra.
Astrology does tell many more things than just the positions of the celestial bodies at the time of a person’s birth. It also tells at what time which medicine must be taken to have the best effects, when a particular activity should be started, and such time-related information. People going by their kundalis have made great successes of their lives, as is seen quite clearly in the celebrity world of India.
The Parellels between Ayurverda and Astrology
Both Ayurveda, the science of life, and Jyotish Shastra, the science of correlation of heavenly bodies with human existence, are ancient Indian sciences. They are known as Vedic sciences, which have developed and recorded in the most ancient scriptures of Indian tradition. Owing to this factor alone, both these sciences are greatly intertwined with each other, and often one of them corroborates or even suppliments the other. In fact the correlation is found to a much subtler extent in the Indian cosmic science that is today popular all over the world by its name, Yoga. Just as Yoga strives to achieve oneness between the internal constitution of a person with the nature that surrounds it, both Ayurveda and Astrology strive to equate humans with the factors that surround them. For this reason, several Ayurvedic vaidyas have looked upon Astrology as a supplement to their prescriptions, and several astrologists have tried to rectify planetary maladies with the help of Ayurveda. And all of this is done within the ambit of Yoga.
The Parallels in the Causes of Diseases
Ayurveda studies the effects of natural herbs and their extracts on the human system. Since the times of Charaka, there have been efforts to treat almost all human disorders with the help of nature. Hence, it is for several millennia that Ayurveda has been in existence today. Even today the Ayurvedic medicines are used in their age-old forms. One of the most important principles of Ayurveda is to treat the human as an aggregation of the three chief humors – the vata, the pitta and the kapha. These represent the air element, fire element and the earth and water elements respectively. Ayurveda believes that each individual contains a particular composition of these three doshas in their body. When any of these doshas are vitiated, then the person becomes a house for disease.
The parallels of Astrology are too clearly seen in this aspect. Astrology believes that the motion of the stars and the planets in the sky have effects on the human body. These effects can be either positive or negative. However, each nakshatras or graha – referring to the constellations and the planets – are responsible for the proper functioning of a particular part of the body. When any of these celestial bodies move, that particular region of the body is affected.
In this manner, both Ayurveda and Astrology believe that it is the external agencies that bring about disease into the body. These external agencies could be natural elements like air, fire, earth and water; or they could be celestial elements like the stars and the planets. However, the main point to be noted is that diseases comes from outside and not from within.
The Parallels in the Diagnoses of Diseases
Diseases in both Astrology and Ayurveda are defined as an affliction that occurs due to some external natural or heavenly agency. For this reason, it could be assumed that both sciences use common methods of diagnosing diseases. But that is not the case. Though Ayurveda and Astorology run parallel in many cases, there are marked dissimilarities when it comes to diagnosing the diseases.
Ayurveda is more practical in its approach. The Ayurvedic vaidya would make a diagnosis of the disease on the basis of the external symptoms, much as a conventional doctor would do. However, these symptoms would be indicators of the vitiation of the particular dosha. Then the vaidya would take measures in order to rectify the errors in the balance of the dosha by his/her herbal remedies.
But in Astrology, the occurrences of diseases are predicted at the birth of the individual itself. This may not be a very explicit prediction, but the occurrence could definitely be implies by a sort of extrapolating rule. Every person has a kundali, which is the birth chart. This chart outlines the positions of the various nakshatras and grahas at the time of his/her birth. By looking at the positions of the malefic and the benefic planets in this kundali, the Jyotish can determine what diseases could victimize the person in later life.
The Parallels in the Treatments of Diseases
It is difficult to distinguish the treatments of Ayurveda and Astrology for the simple reason that they are often very intricately intermingled with each other. When a vaidya would diagnose a disease by its symptoms, they would invariably look at the kundali of the person and see which planetary aspects have brought on the affliction. The medicines they would prescribe would try not only to vitiate the particular dosha, but also to bring about harmony between the malefic aspects of the kundali.
In the same way, if an astrologer predicts a disease to occur later on in life, they would definitely carry out some sort of yadnya or jaapa in order to offset the malefics, and also provide some mantras to ward off the pestilence. At the same time, they would suggest the use of Ayurvedic medicines from a qualified vaidya.
In fact, there is a highly developed branch of Astrology prevalent today, known as the Medical Astrology. This is considered to be a very important aspect of Ayurveda also. This science involves the calming of the planets which have entered wrong positions with the usage of Ayurvedic techniques. This treatment cannot be done in a short period of time, or with just a layman’s information. The entire astrological aspect of a person’s composition is taken into account before even venturing to prescribe a single remedy. Hence, this system is being looked upon as a potential method to treat chronic diseases that cannot be treated by conventional medical science.
Understanding Ayurveda Through Astrology
It might be a bit difficult to believe from a contemporary point of view, but vast research carried out by the Indian rishis and sages have indicated that there is a strong planetary influence on human bodies. These studies were carried on through meditation and observation of nature, something in which these ancient sages were quite proficient. Most of these findings have been incorporated into the holy Hindu scriptures, known as the Vedas. These Vedas are the focal point of all astrological and Ayurvedic research that is being carried out all over the world today.
Indications that both astrology and Ayurveda have developed four thousand years ago are present in the ancient Sanskrit texts. This was the time when the early versions of the Ayurvedic treatises – the Sushruta Samhita and the Charaka Samhita – were developed. They contained a wealth of information on how diseases are caused due to vitiation of the nature elements that surround the human body. While Ayurveda probed at the natural elements as the root of the human diseases, astrology scoured the skies. They believed that movements of the planets and the constellations in the sky have some definite purpose, which is felt in the diseases that attack the human body. Among the planets there are the malefics and the benefics. When the malefic planets are present in the wrong houses, then they can cause all sorts of diseases in the human body.
In this sense, both Ayurveda and astrology are ancient Indian nature sciences. One of them relies on the earthly elements, while the other relies on the heavenly bodies. Both of these can have very negative effects on the human body when vitiated. This is the scope under which Ayurveda and astrology both perform. Ayurveda provides treatments to remedy the diseases, but astrology would provide suggestions to correct the effects of the harmful positions of the planets. In some cases, astrologists would prescribe some Ayurvedic preparation in order to reduce or even completely eliminate the perils of planetary positions. Similarly, Ayurvedic vaidyas would also make a detailed investigation into the horoscope of the patient before deciding on a treatment. In this way, it can be said that both Ayurveda and astrology are hand in glove with each other. They are not different kinds of treatments, but they are branches of the same overall kind of treatment in the ancient Indian tradition.
Ayurveda, Astrology and Modern Medicine
Despite several attempts, modern medicine– read allopathy – has proved to be a failure in the treatment of chronic disorders like cancers, AIDS, etc. Even with adequate knowledge on the causative factors of these diseases, modern medicine has not come up with effective treatment methods. Then there are also several idiopathic ailments whose causes are either not known at all, or not fully understood by modern doctors. What could be the cause of the failure of modern science in this respect? Could it be that the modern medicinal methods rely too much on the human body itself and are reluctant to look elsewhere?
This could well be the case if the principles of astrology and Ayurveda are considered. The cause of the disease is perhaps not seated within the human body itself, but is predetermined by the planetary positions at the time of the person’s birth and elements of nature that surround the person. The sun has been connected since millennia with the human soul. Progress of the sun in the person’s birth chart decides several psychological aspects of the person. This is the cause of mental disabilities for which medical science has not been able to find credible causative and treatment explanations.
There are several examples in scriptures of all religions how diseases were cured by seers and prophets in the form of miracles. Could these miracles have been actually an effective use of astrology and Ayurveda? Some Ayurvedic herbs (especially those for skin disease) need nothing more than an application on the afflicted part. Could this have been the miraculous touch of healing recorded in our religious texts?
Sushruta in his Samhita has divided Ayurveda into eight classes. These are general medicine, surgery, ear-nose-throat and eye problems, toxicology, psychiatry, gynecology, sexology and virility. These are all the main branches of medicine in even modern science. To supplement this, ancient rishis and munis have shown how various planets influence these very aspects of human health in particular cases. So, a careful study of Ayurveda and astrology taken in conjunction is what is needed to better understand the treatment options of various diseases.
The Union of Ayurveda and Astrology
Ayurveda directly indicates the necessity of astrology in completing its treatment procedures. By rectifying the malevolence of the planetary positions, diseases can be cured – this is one of the fundamental points under which Ayurveda works. Whether the diseases are of a simple type – like coughs, cold, fevers, constipation – or of a very complicated type – like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular problems or mental problems – they can be treated over time with an effective balance of astrology and Ayurveda. Astrology will help to ascertain which planet is causing the negative aspect of the disease, while Ayurveda would prescribe a herb to rectify the planetary disposition as well as the vitiation of the doshas within the body.
In conclusion, Ayurveda without astrology and astrology without Ayurveda are incomplete. In order to make the greatest use of these hitherto unexplored aspects of science, one must devote equal time and effort in grasping the ideals of both these sciences.
Ayurvedic Treatment for Disorder of Navgrahas
Astrology is the belief that everything that occurs with the human system is due to the movements of the stars and the planets. The important planets that influence the human system are the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Rahu and Ketu, the head and tail of the demon respectively. Since they are nine in number, the grahas are collectively called as the navgrahas (nava = nine in Sanskrit). Each of these grahas corresponds to specific tissues or organs in the human body. Hence, if they are placed in a benefic position, they will improve the body; while if they are placed in a malefic position, they will cause disease in the body.
The following table shows which tissues or organs in the human body are influenced by the movements of each of the nine planets. When the planets are in weak positions, then they will likely cause some ailment corresponding to the body part that they influence.
Planet in Astrology Western Name Body Part Represented
Surya Sun Soul
Chandra Moon Mind
Mangala Mars Vitality
Buddha Mercury Nerves
Guru(Brihaspati) Jupiter Heart
Shukra Venus Sex organs
Shani Saturn Feet
Rahu North Lunar Node Bones
Ketu South Lunar Node Secret parts
Ayurveda relies on herbal remedies for the treatments of diseases. These remedies have been carefully prepared since several millennia in order to offset the negative influences of external elements in the human body. As such, they are also effective for planetary imbalances that can cause diseases in the human system. There are specific treatments for problems caused by each of the different navgrahas.
The following table shows the ailments caused by the different grahas and the Ayurvedic medicines used for the treatment of the sam
Grahas Diseases Caused Ayurvedic & English/Latin Namef Herb
Sun Inflammations in the body, epilepsy, fevers and Billwamoola- Bael tree (Aegle marmelos) bilious disorders, eye diseases, diseases below the
navel, skin diseases, bone diseases, psychological
diseases, irrational fears, rational fears, bites from
poisonous reptiles like snakes
Moon Sleep diseases such as insomnia (lack of sleep) or Khrika-Cucumbe(CurumisSativus)
somnambulism (sleep-walking), coughs, dysentery,
tumor, malaria, idleness, constipation, loss of appetite,
disinterest in food, jaundice, blood-related diseases,
hydrophobia, fear of animals with horns, problems
concerning women, hallucinations
Mercury Lack of self-confidence, irrational fears, throat and Anantmool-Indian Sarsarapilla
eye problems, goiter, nose diseases, colds, coughs, (Hemidismus Indica)
fevers, flatulence, poisoning, skin diseases, jaundice,
excessive fear of fire
Venus Anemia, diseases of the eye, flatulence, cough, urinary Ramvasakamool-Saal
diseases, diabetes, syphilis, prostatitis, low sperm count, (Adhatoda vasica)
impotence, dryness of mouth, constipation, irrational
fears, unable to socialize with people
Mars Excessive thirst, bilious disorders, flatulence, excessive Bridhadwarakamoola-n.a.
fear of fire, tumors in stomach and appendicitis, leprosy,
eye diseases, epilepsy, bone marrow diseases, itching,
rough skin, fractures in the body, continuous family
conflicts, continuous problems with enemies
Jupiter Stomach tumors such as gastric tumors and fantum Brahmajati mool-n.a.
atumors, appendicitis, typhoid, coughs, ear diseases,
comas, frequent litigations, problems with friends,
parents and other relatives, diseases resembling
affliction due to curses
Saturn Flatulence, cough, pain in the legs, excessive Shwetaberelamoola - n.a.
fatigue, illusion, excessive heat in the body, mental
shocks, personal calamities, accidents causing
temporary or lasting wounds in the body, problems
with the heart, frequent bereavement
Rahu Heart diseases such as attacks and inflammations, Shwetachandanmoola - n.a.
leprosy, illusions, hallucinations, diseases due to
poisoning, irrational fears, excessive hurt and wounds
Ketu Conflicts between castes, unknown mysterious Ashwagandha - Winter Cherry
diseases that cannot be easily found out by doctors (Withania somnifera)
When a person with a disease approaches an Ayurvedic vaidya, the first thing that the vaidya would do is to ascertain the cause of the disease. This is first done symptomatically, i.e. by making a careful study of the symptoms that are prevalent. This helps to establish a link between the disease and the dosha that is causing it. When this is established, Ayurvedic vaidyas would next see the birth horoscope chart (kundali) of the person and determine which the malefic planet that is triggering the disease is. The medicine that they would prescribe would try to achieve two things:-
(1) Bring the vitiation of the dosha to a relaxed state, i.e. return the body to the normal unvitiated state
(2) Reduce or eliminate the problems caused by the entry of the malefic planet into a weak house.
In this manner, astrology is used as a tool by Ayurvedic vaidyas in their treatments of diseases. The prescriptions provided by the vaidyas are not only based on Ayurvedic texts such as the great treatise Charaka Samhita, but also on the studies of astrology over the various millennia.
Astrology and Modern Medicine
Astrology believes quite staunchly that the changes occurring in the celestial bodies influence the actions that take place on the earth. All activities that influence the human lives are dependent in some way or the other to how the stars and the planets move. This is the basic premise of the Indian astrological study known as Jyotish Shastra.
Modern science does not attribute to this kind of a study. According to modern science, all diseases are individual, and arise due to some defect or deficiency within the mechanism of the body. As such, the treatment to be employed depends on the constitution of the person afflicted, and on that factor alone. This is where astrology deviates widely from conventional medicine. Astrology would investigate the cause of the disease in the positions of the celestial bodies at the current time, and also at the time when the person was born. In fact, astrology lays great stress to the birthchart known as kundali, which shows the positions of the various stars and planets when the person was born. Astrology believes that the disease occurs because of a particular predisposition of the celestial bodies at the time of the birth of the person. Hence, the treatment methods provided by astrology would be in order to offset those changes. That is, the treatments within astrology can hardly be termed as individualistic treatments.
The importance of astrology in treatment has been emphasized by none other than Hippocrates himself, the one who is called as the Father of Modern Medicine. Hippocrates has states that a physician who does not know about the principles of astrology can hardly call him/herself a physician. This is the amount of stress that the originators of modern medicine themselves put upon astrology.
Position of Astrology in Ayurveda
It can be said that there is a long parallel connection between Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of treatment with herbs, and Jyotish, the ancient Indian astrological beliefs. Both Ayurveda and Jyotish have been mentioned in the Hindu scriptures quite profusely. Jyotish is one of the six Vedangas, which are basic disciplines necessary to understand the scriptures; while Ayurveda is an upveda which is present in the Atharvaveda, one of the four main Vedas of the Hindu religion. Atharvaveda is the last Veda, which deals with medicine.
Ayurveda literally means ‘the science of life’, and Jyotish literally means ‘the knowledge of light’. Both of them are quite intertwined within each other. Ayurveda believes in the treatment of human ailments by the prescription of herbs, while Jyotish believes that offsetting planetary and stellar defects at the time of birth of the person would relieve the person of problems. In a way, both these ancient studies look upon nature as the influencing factor in man’s life, and not vice-versa as modern science tends to believe.
Charaka is considered to be the greatest ayurvedic exponent who ever lived. He is believed to have perfected the study and written his Samhita, which is the backbone of all knowledge Ayurvedic experts have today. He has said, ‘Life is nothing but the union of the physical body, senses, mind and soul.’ The belief of soul, i.e. Atma is a very cosmic belief which is strongly corroborated by Jyotish. Jyotish believes in Punar Janam, or reincarnation. The great Jyotish Kalyana Verma has said that, ‘All good or bad deeds that a person does in one life would influence what is going to happen with him/her in the next life.’ Comparing both these thoughts, we can see how closely correlated the branches of Jyotish and Ayurveda are.
Principles of Jyotish Applied to Ayurveda
By looking at the various charts that Jyotish draws, the following things can be understood:-
· The planetary combinations that bring about various diseases
.· The duration of the diseases
· Whether or not the diseases would be fatal.
Hence, Jyotish could set a physician on the right track on how to go ahead with the treatment of the disease. An Ayurvedic expert would first investigate the kundali of the person and make a proper study of the above factors. Once this is done, the cause of the disease is ascertained on Ayurvedic grounds also. In Ayurveda, there are three parts known as skandas in order to study the causes of the diseases. These skandas are known as the hethu, linga and aushadha. Based upon these three factors, the cause of the disease can be determined.
According to Ayurvedic beliefs, every person is a sum total of three governing humors within his/her body. These three important humors are:-
Vata dosha – this is the humor that represents the air element
Pitta dosha – this is the humor that represents the fire element
Kapha dosha – this is the humor that represents the earth and the body elements.
Any vitiation in the above doshas is what leads to any disease. Doshas exist in different parts of the body. Vata resides in the lower part of the body, pitta resides in the middle part of the body and kapha resides in the upper part of the body. Due to this, the kundali is very much influential in deciding what kind of vitiation can take place in the body.
The influence of Jyotish in Ayurvedic treatments cannot be ignored. In the past it was necessary for Ayurvedic doctors to be well-versed in Jyotish Shastra also. However, with the passage of time, Jyotish Shastra has been given a back seat and Ayurveda is marching ahead as an independent therapy.
Astrology and Cause of Disease
Influence of Nakshatras and Planets on the Human Body
Astrology, or Jyotish, strongly believes in the celestial causes of diseases. According to Jyotish, the positions of the constellations and the planets at each person’s birth will seriously affect what the person will turn out to be in later life, whether there would be success or failure in life, whether the person would be afflicted by certain diseases, etc. The constellations are called as nakshatras in Indian astrology. There are twelve of them similar to those in western science, and each of them represents a single part of the human body.
The planets in astrology are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. These are also known as grahas. Since they are nine in number they are sometimes known as the navgrahas, or the nine planets. The planets too exert their influence on the person’s well-being in later life. A chart mapping the position of the sky at the time of a person’s birth is known as the kundali, or the birth horoscope. This kundali is considered by Jyotish Shastra to be one of the primary deciding factors in determining how a person’s life will become. The kundali is a very complex chart showing the position of all the nakshatras and grahas at the time of birth of the person. The Jyotish will use such charts in order to analyze the causes of diseases on an astrological basis.
Astrological Basis of Diseases
The grahas are very influential signs in a person’s kundali. Some of these grahas are beneficial if they are present in the chart. These grahas are known as the benefic planets, or quite simply, the benefics. While other grahas, if present, they could negatively affect the person’s progress in life. Such grahas are called as the malefic planets or the malefics.
On this basis, the planets are classified according to the following:-
(i) The Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are always malefic if they are present in the person’s kundali.
(ii) The Moon and Mercury will behave as malefics only if they combust or are present in a weak position in the kundali.
(iii) Jupiter and Venus are the only two grahas that will always have positive effects. They are the only benefics among the navgrahas.
A person’s kundali will be an assortment of all the navgrahas. If a malefic graha is present in the person’s nakshatra, then negative effects will be felt and if a benefic graha is present, then positive effects will be felt. Then there are weak and strong positions within the kundali. Effects of the grahas in strong positions are more influential in a person’s life.
Planets have inter-relations of friendships and enmities too. Hence, the correlation between two planets would determine whether they would have a cumulative positive or negative effect on a person’s life. For this reason, it can be said that malefic planets can sometimes behave as benefics, and benefic planets can also behave as malefics.
Diseases are also believed to exist due to the malefic planets in strong positions of a person’s kundali. Though, even weak positions can bring about several diseases. A careful study of a person’s kundali would show what kind of diseases the person could be affected with in the future.
Types of Diseases in Astrology
There are three different types of diseases as classified in astology. The following are the types described:-
1. Natural Diseases – The natural diseases in astrology are not actually diseases as we know them. They are the results of destructive natural acts such as disasters involving the earth, water, atmosphere, fire, etc. Even accidents and sudden deaths are included in natural diseases according to astrology.
2. Seasonal Diseases – The diseases that occur due to seasonal changes are included in this category. They are the diseases that are caused due to cold, heat, rain, snowfall, etc. Most of these diseases are epidemic in nature such as malaria, cholera, typhoid, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, etc. Sunstrokes are also climatic, so they are put in this category. Individual diseases such as dysentery, eczema, ringworms, common cold, etc. will be called as seasonal diseases.
3. External Diseases – All diseases that are due to external agencies are put under this heading. If a person afflicts an injury on another, then it is an external disease. Problems with spirits, hallucinations, wounds, etc. are external diseases. The diseases that are associated with migration from one country to another are also external diseases.
Other categories in which diseases can be classified are physical, psychological, circumstantial, etc. The principles of Ayurveda are more helpful in understanding the types of diseases. According to Ayurveda, diseases could be due to food, sleep and mental control. Herein lies an important parallel between Ayurveda and Jyotish Shastra.
Disease and Nine Planets
Influence of Nakshatras and Planets on the Human Body
The Navgrahas of Astrology
There are nine planets in astrology which are the deciding celestial body in determining how a person’s life would turn out to be. These planets are not the nine planets of the solar system, and hence to differentiate them they are called as the navgrahas, where nav means nine. So navgrahas literally means nine planets.
Astrology considers the sun and the moon as planets. At the same time, distant planets such as Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are not included. Earth itself is also not included as a planet because it is considered to be the focal point of the universe in astrology. Important additions to the list of the navgrahas are Rahu and Ketu, which represent the head and the tail of a banished demon into space, respectively. Hence, the navgrahas are the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu.
These nine planets determine various aspects of the person’s body. Astrology has deeply studied the correlation of the navgrahas with different spiritual and physical aspects of the person’s body. The following chart will help to understand which the parts of the body represented by the navgrahas are.
Planet in Astrology Western Name Body Part Represented
Surya Sun Soul
Chandra Moon Mind
Mangala Mars Vitality
Buddha Mercury Nerves
Guru or Brihaspati Jupiter Heart
Shukra Venus Sex organs
Shani Saturn Feet
Rahu North Lunar Node Bones
Ketu South Lunar Node Secret parts
The Navgrahas in the Kundali
Kundali is the birth horoscope chart that represents the positions of the nakshatras and the planets in them at the time of the birth of the person. The nakshatras are fixed in the sky, but the planets are moving. So depending on which planet lies in which nakshatra when the person is born, it would exert a positive (benefic) or negative (malefic) effect on the life of the person.
Planets are inherently benefic or malefic. The Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are always malefic. They will have negative effects if they are present in the nakshatra of the person at the time of birth. The Moon and Mercury could be either malefic or benefic depending on circumstances. If these planets are combust or present in a weak position, then their negative effects are more prominent. Jupiter and Venus are the only planets that are always benefic.
But the situation is not as simple as it seems. Planets have their inter-relations; they also have constructive and destructive alliances. Hence, what the overall effects of the navgrahas in the final count will be will only be revealed by a careful study of the kundali.
Diseases are caused when the planets are malefic. According to Jyotish Shastra, planets that are weak, combust, debilitated, retrograde, in inimical houses or malefic are responsible for causing the diseases in a human being.
Typical Diseases of the Navgrahas
Studies over millennia have shown that the nine planets do exert unique influences on the human system. Let us see what the typical diseases that are caused by each of the navgrahas are.
Sun - Weak, debilitated, in inimical house or unaspected by benefics - Bone fractures, eye problems, respiratory disease, indigestion problems, etc.
Moon - Weak - Mental depression, blood diseases, colds,venereal diseases, nasal inflammation, etc.
Mars -Weak - Marrow diseases, fevers, smallpox, swelling, boils, jaundice, blood diseases, menstrual problems, etc.
Mercury - Weak, combust, retrograde, in inimical house, debilitated,combust - Skin problems such as itching, eczema etc., nervous system problems, speech disorders, inability to concentrate on work.
Jupiter - Weak, aspected with malefics, unaspected with benefics, debilitated - Obesity, diabetes.
Venus - Sun or Saturn is in two or twelve houses from the ascendant or the moon. - Diseases of semen, sore throat, venereal diseases, eye diseases, etc.
Saturn- Weak, aspected with malefics unaspected with benefics, debilitated,combust - Muscular pain, colds, melancholy, epilepsy, fistula, deafness, problems with the limbs, paralysis, rheumatic troubles, gastric troubles, mental problems such as dejection and sorrow,
Rahu - Sudden unexpected attacks depending on the place where it is positioned. - Epilepsy, pox, worms, thoughts of suicide, leprosy, pains, etc. It also causes infestation of the body with spirits and ghosts.
Ketu - Hidden. - Mysterious pains in the body, diseases that resemble effects of curses of the previous birth.
Some aspects of the diseases caused by the various planets must be noted quite carefully.
1. The sun represents the human soul. For this reason, it is not only the master of the solar system, but also the master of the human body. If the position of the sun is strong in the kundali of the person, then his/her body composition also would be strong.
2. The moon is a cooling planet. If its balance is proper, then the person would not find much mental problems in his/her life. On the contrary, if the moon is weak, then the person’s mind would also not function effectively.
3. Mars is a hot planet. Among the navgrahas, its status is closes to that of the sun.
4. Mercury is responsible also for natural diseases, which may not be directly related to the body. These include natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, etc. and also problems with business, family life, and such others.
5. Jupiter causes the lowest amount of diseases of any graha. Its strength in the kundali is an essential element for a person’s wellbeing.
6. Venus is also a great benefic planet. It does not cause many diseases. People with Venus in their kundali are quite lovable.
7. Saturn is the biggest cause of diseases in the human body. Most human diseases are caused due to the prevalence of Shani or Saturn in the kundali.
8. Rahu is known as a cheating planet. This is because it can attack suddenly even if it was not in the chart before.
9. Similarly, Ketu is called as a hidden planet. It is very difficult to predict the presence of Ketu before the affliction actually strikes.
Principles of Jyotish
Jyotish, or Indian astrology, believes quite strongly on the influence of the celestial bodies on the occurrences on earth, and more so, on the human body in particular. Each and every movement that occurs in the skies has its repercussions on the activities that take place on the earth, and this is what astrology deals with. The basic premise of Jyotish is to first study these changes, and then seek out measures to offset negative changes. This can only be done by a careful study of the chart which shows all the positions of the main celestial bodies during the time when the person was born. Such as birth horoscope chart is known as a kundali.
The importance of kundali in a person’s life cannot be stressed enough. Indian Hindus believe very greatly in the kundali, and it plays a very important role in deciding auspicious times for actions. Marriages, inaugurations, foundations, etc. are all done in accordance with the muhurtha, i.e. auspicious time, as indicated in a person’s kundali.
Though Jyotish cannot change anything that is in the kundali, measures can be taken to plan future events in such a way that there are very few negative repercussions of the activity. The same can be said about diseases.
Diseases and Jyotish
Diseases are caused due to vitiation of the vata, pitta or kapha doshas in the human body. This is according to Ayurvedic beliefs. The human body is governed by these three doshas or humors. The vata is the wind element, pitta is the fire element and kapha is the element that inter-relates the earth and the water elements. In this way, the human body can be said to be governed to a large extent by the nature that surrounds it.
The doshas are quite positional in the body. Vata dosha resides in the lower part of the body, i.e. in the lower limbs and the genitals; pitta resides in the middle part, i.e. the digestive system and the kapha dosha resides in the upper part of the body, which is the chest and the head regions. Each of these regions of the body is also governed by the external factors such as the stars and planets in the sky. Therefore, the kundali chart would also tell how much the body can be affected by the celestial bodies and what measures can be taken in order to offset these problems.
The Rashi and the Human Body Nakshatra is the name given to the zodiac signs that are present even in western astrology. There are twelve of these nakshatras, quite similar to western astrology. Each of the nakshatra is influential on a particular part of the human body. The following chart shows the body parts that are influenced by the twelve nakshatras.
Rashi(Indian) Rashi (Western) Body Part Represented
Mesha Aries Head
Vrishabha Taurus Face
Mithuna Gemini Throat and bronchial region
Karka Cancer Lungs & upper part of heart
Simha Leo Lower part -heart stomach
Kanya Virgo Navel
Tula Libra Intestines
Vrishchika Scorpio Sex organs
Dhanus Sagittarius Thighs
Makara Capricorn Knees
Kumbha Aquarius Calves
Meena Psices Feet
The Jyotish Shastra believes the human body to be a Kalpurusha, i.e. an embodiment of the being governed by time. This Kalpurusha is influenced by the nakshtras. Hence it is very important to know which nakshatra a person is born in. The particular nakshatra in which a person is born is called as a raashi. Raashi is as important to a person’s being as the zodiac sign is in western astrology. It influences various characteristics of the person, and it also influences where the person will be vulnerable and where not. In other words, the nakshatras predetermine what physical condition the person might suffer from in the future.
Apart from the zodiac governing factors that are mentioned in the above table, there are various other nakshatras that live within the body of the person. It is important to know about these resident nakshatras too.
Nakshatra Part of the Body
Kritika Head
Rohini Forehead
Mrigsira Eyebrows
Aridra Eyes
Punarvasu Nose
Pushya Face
Ashlesha Ears
Magha Lips
Poorva Phalguna Right hand
Uttara Phalguna Left hand
Hasta Fingers
Chitra Neck
Swati Chest
Vishakha Breast
Anuradha Upper stomach
Jyeshtha Lower stomach
Moola Womb
Poorvashada Back
Uttarashada Backbone
Shravana Waist
Dhanishtha Anus
Shatbhisha Right thigh
Poorva Bhadra Pada Left thigh
Uttara Bhadra Pada Calves
Revathi Knees
Ashwini Upper part of the feet
Bharni Lower part of the feet
Hence, nakshatras do not just influence the body from outside, they also act from within.
The Planets and the Human Body
Planets in astrology are different than those in astronomy. In astrology, sun and moon are included in the planets and so are rahu and ketu, the head and tail of the demon respectively. All these have far-reaching effects on the human body. The following table shows what the different planets govern in the human body.
Gems Therapy
The gems therapy has its roots in ancient Indian traditions. One can find its links in the Jyotish Shastra, which is the name for the specialized astrological beliefs of India. Jyotish Shastra believes that the movements of the celestial bodies, which include the Sun, the Moon and the prominent planets, have far-reaching effects on the life on earth. Each activity that occurs on the earth is a repercussion of some activity in the skies.
The Navgrahas of Jyotish Shastra
In order to make its beliefs more concrete, Jyotish Shastra believes in a system of nine planets. These planets are not the same as in astronomy. This is because Jyotish Shastra places the earth at the center of the cosmic universe and every other body is taken in relation to the fundamental position of the earth. The Sun and the Moon are also considered as grahas or planets in Jyotish Shastra. Out of the solar planets, only the closer ones visible from the earth are considered. These are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. In addition to these solar planets, the lunar nodes – both north and south – are also considered to be grahas. In Indian mythology, the north lunar node is called as Rahu, and the south lunar node is called as Ketu. Rahu and Ketu are supposed to be the head and tail of a demon who was exiled by the Sun into the solar system.
The Kundali
When each person is born, the positions of the bodies in the sky play an important role in determining how the future life of the person will shape up to be. These positions are mapped in a zodiac chart, which is called as the birth horoscope or the kundali of the person. Each aspect of this kundali is an important deciding factor in shaping the person’s life. The kundali cannot be changed once a person is born, but there are several ways to modify the things that are going to happen later. Though the planetary positions cannot be changed, their effects can be either magnified or diminished. One way to do this is by gem therapy.
Principles of Gems Therapy
Gems or precious stones can exert both malefic (negative) or benefic (positive) influences in a person’s life. Since ancient times, Indian rishis and munis have believed that every graha is related to a particular gem which favors their prevalence. These gems could be expensive or cheap, that does not matter. What matters is how strongly the gems influence a particular graha.
Each graha has a gem that represents it. It is the color of the gem that is distinctive and bears the influence on the person’s life. For this reason, most Ayurveda doctors would suggest their patients to wear specific gems as long as the treatment continues. The gem therapy is considered to be an addition to the Ayurvedic treatment. The following table shows the name of each graha with its favoring gem.
Graha Gem
Sun Ruby
Moon Pearl
Mercury Emerald
Venus Diamond
Mars Coral
Jupiter Topaz
Saturn Sapphire
Rahu Zircon
Ketu Cat’s Eye
Let us now see the manner in which the gems are influential in a person’s life.
(1) Ruby
Ruby is the gem of the sun. It is a red colored stone made of aluminum and oxygen with traces of iron and chromium in it.
It is observed that wearing a ruby is favorable in headache, skin diseaseand heart ailments. It can keep minor ailments like constipation, coughs and flatulence at bay. It helps in cooling the mind down, consoling in times of dejection and increasing the concentration. Due to its red color, ruby is associated with the formation of blood. Hence people wearing rubies will not suffer much loss of blood, and whatever loss takes place, it will be replenished soon. Ruby is also found to be beneficial in problems of a spiritual nature such as hallucinations, appearance of ghosts and spirits, etc.
In order to get all these benefits of the ruby, it must be prepared and worn at a specific period. The preparation should be done on a Sunday – the day of the Sun – between 6:00 a.m. to noon. The wearing must be done after worship to the sun on the Sunday that has a Pushya Nakshatra. If the Pushya Nakshatra is not close, then wearing can be done on any Sunday with a sun nakshatra such as Uttarashada, Uttara Phalguna or Krittika. It is most effective to wear the ruby encrusted in a gold ring on the first finger of the right hand. A Gayatri mantra must be chanted regularly, otherwise the effects of the ruby will not be felt. Similarly, the Aditya must be chanted everyday after wearing the ruby following a bath.
If the ruby is not available, or is too costly, then there are some other gems that have similar beneficial effects. These are lalmani, garnet, padanranga, neelganthi and uparatna.
(2) Pearl
Pearl is the gem of the moon. It helps in offsetting problems that are caused due to a weak position of the moon in the person’s kundali. The pearl is a milky-white smooth stone, just as the moon is visible from the earth. It is found on the sea-beds inside oysters. It takes several years for a single pearl to form.
All calcium related problems like weak bones and weak teeth can be resolved by using pearls. Pearls are helpful in many other diseases such as tuberculosis, goiter, typhoid, dropsy, dysentery, problems with urination, etc. Among minor ailments that pearl can cure are included cough and fever. Pearl improves the circulation of blood in the body and hence increases its resistance to diseases. It is also helping in soothing the nerves and keeping mental disturbances away.
Wearing a pearl for positive effects does not require as rigorous a ceremony as wearing a ruby does. It is enough if the pearl is worn anytime in the period of the waxing moon, i.e. the Shuklapaksha. While wearing, an incantation to the Lord Shiva is required, and must be followed by a daily recitation of the Shiva Mahima Stotra.
Alternative gems for pearls are moonstones and opals.
Here we continue the discussion on how various gems are influential on a man’s life. Let us see which the beneficial gems for the navgrahas are in this article.
(3) Emerald
Emerald represents the planet Mercury. It is a green colored gem. It contains the elements beryllium and aluminum, and its green color is due to the presence of chromium in it. Just as Mercury stays close to the Sun and absorbs its solar heat all the time, the emerald also has the capacity to absorb the excess heat from the human body and create a cooling effect in it. Emerald is called as panna in Hindi.
Emerald is found to be beneficial with lethargy-related problems such as laziness, lack of concentration, no desire to do work, etc. It can be helpful for people whose memories are weak and also for those who are intolerant of changes in their surroundings. The stone has powers to increase the fertility in males. It is believed that wearing an emerald can also help in solving family and business problems, and in easing the labor pains.
Wednesday is the best day to wear an emerald for the first time. It must be seen that any Mercury constellation must be present on that day such as Hasta, Revathi or Jyeshtha. The gem must be encrusted in a gold ring and worn on the little finger of any hand.
If a person is not able to get an emerald, then alternative stones are the peridot and the vairaj.
(4) Diamond
The properties and the scintillating beauty of the diamond are widely known to everyone. It is also the costliest of all the gems available on the earth. It is generally colorless, but artificial colors could be put in it. However, the most effective color for a diamond is pristine white. Diamond is the representative gem of Venus.
The powers of the diamond are most effectively felt in the alleviation of the sexual functions of the human body. The diamond can reduce the sexual drive in men and women in whom it is excessive. Problems such as lack of semen are also done away with by wearing diamonds. Hence, it could be said that diamond can treat several marital problems that could cause due to a deficiency in either partner.
Apart from its sexually healing powers, diamond can also reduce other diseases such as constipation, flatulence, dysentery, paralysis and epilepsy. It can increase the blood count and decrease the fluid buildup in hydrocele.
Diamond is also useful in the materialistic life of a person. It can bring success in love, money and career. It has a special significance in improving the person’s career if it is pertaining to some art form like music, films, paintings, etc.
A diamond must be encrusted on a gold ring and worn on any finger on any morning. Ascetics suggest the chanting of the invocation to Shukra before wearing the diamond ring.
There is a lesser known gem known as the turmali, which can be used as a substitute for diamond. This is a light blue colored gem, and is much cheaper than the diamond. However, the effects of this gem are found only in men.
(5) Coral
Corals are red colored gems available in many different hues. These are gems that are formed in the seas by aquatic fauna. Since there are many different hues to corals, they have different influences on the human beings. It is generally believed that the lighter the color, the better the effects as far as coral is concerned. Blood red corals must be avoided as they could lead to accidents. Instead faint red corals are the best. The effects of corals depend from person to person depending on how the principle planet, Mars, is placed in his/her kundali.
People wearing corals could experience a sudden spurt of courage and self confidence. The person may begin to believe in his/her own capabilities. The positive zest of life is one of the chief benefits of corals.
Corals are also very advantageous in people with blood pressure problems. In fact, there are a lot of people who claim to have their blood pressure under control by the regular wearing of a coral on their fingers. Other diseases that can be kept under check by the regular wearing of coral are cardiovascular problems and piles. If coral is put in water and then the water is drunk (not the coral), then it is very beneficial in people who have piles problems.
Wearing coral is advisable to people who have Mars in their 4 th, 6 th, 8 th, 11 th or 12 th houses in their kundalis. However, if the position of Mars is strong, then there is no purpose achieved by wearing a coral.
The best day to wear a coral is the day of Mars, i.e. Tuesday. It should be encrusted in a silver and worn on the third finger of either the right or the left hand. The benefits of wearing coral on the right hand are more than on the left hand.
Alternative stones to be used in place of coral are akik and rudraksha. Though rudraksha cannot strengthen a weak Mars, it has more or less the same beneficial properties in increasing blood circulation.
(6) Topaz
Topaz is the gem of the great planet Jupiter. It is a white color gem in its pure form, or it may show slight coloration of faint yellow. However, other colors such as blue, pink, green are also seen.
The qualities of topaz are beneficial in making social adjustments in life. By wearing a topaz, the person becomes charming and charismatic, and is able to win over people. Hence this stone is much in demand within the glamour world. Topaz can also help to make a person increase in his/her popularity in the world. Wearing a topaz can eliminate the negative thoughts from the mind, like the will to do something bad to others. It can remove the negative traits of laziness, anxiety, destructive thoughts, sorrows, etc. and fill the mind with positive energies.
Topaz is also suggested for people who are trying to break some vicious habit, such as gambling, smoking and alcoholism, or visiting prostitutes. Topaz can do this because it increases the willpower of the person. It can bring about success in a job or in exams, and also help to recover lost monies.
The positive points of topaz are the generation of happiness, luck and prosperity in an individual. Hence, topaz may be called as the master-gem in deciding a person’s life.
Thursday is the day of Jupiter – that’s the day when the topaz must be worn. Care must be taken to see that the Thursday selected has a Pushya Nakshatra in the period of the waxing moon. But, bear one thing in mind. Wearing a topaz in such circumstances could lead the wearer to live an almost spiritual and virtuous kind of existence.
The qualities of topaz are found to some extent in another lesser known gem, sunela. This is used as an alternative for topaz.
(7) Sapphire
Sapphire is a bright blue colored stone, for which it is known in Hindi as neelam. It is a characteristic stone for the planet Saturn.
The beneficial powers of sapphire are felt in people who have long-lasting problems with their bodies such as nervous system disorders, comas and bronchitis. It can cure melancholia and bring the person to a happy state of mind. Problems of a bilious nature are also brought in check by sapphire. Sapphire is beneficial in hiccups, incapacity of the brain and memory problems. A person who wears a sapphire increases in courageousness and consistency in thought.
Sapphire is used to remedy the weak position of Saturn in the kundali. The day of Saturn is Saturday; hence the stone must be first worn on any given Saturday, provided it has a Dhanishtha, Shravana, Uttarashada, Swati, Vishakha or Chitra nakshatras. The ring in which this gem is encrusted is a special ring made of five metals. If such a ring is not available, then it can be worn in a simple iron ring.
Jamuniya is the gem that is used as an alternative to sapphire. This gem is also blue in color. The gem is a powerful combatant of diseases, so it can provide the person with a long and improved life.
(8) Zicron
Zircon is a soft and transparent stone which is heavier than the other stones used in gem therapy. There may be many impurities in zircon, which should be rejected. The purest zircon would be of a straw yellow color with orange hues in it, and it must be completely transparent. Blemishes in the stone such as dots or lines, torn stones, etc. disqualify them in gem therapy.
This stone is good in getting love and happiness. People who are seeking good partners ought to wear zircon stones. Zircon can also bring luck to people who are in the midst of litigation. Zircon is the character stone of Rahu, who is called as the cheating graha. Rahu appears most unexpectedly and attacks the person with disease. Zircon can equip the person to be resistant from such sudden diseases. It also strengthens a person morally and physically to resist the sudden obstacles in the path of progress which Rahu can create.
Among diseases, zircon can be beneficial in epilepsy, piles, syphilis, weakness, fevers, flatulence, melancholia and insanity.
Wearing the zircon stone must be done under a carefully planned and supervised ritual. It must be found out from the kundali when the Rahu is the most harmful. At such a period, the zircon must be worn in a five metal ring in the third finger. The nakshatras auspicious to the ring wearing ceremony are Shatbhisha, Swati and Aridra.
(9) Cat’s Eye
Cat’s eye or lahsuniya is a very lesser known gem that is used to offset the weak positions of Ketu in the kundali. This stone is known to be effective in diseases of a sexual nature like syphilis and gonorrhea, piles, dysentery, cough, cold, diabetes, impotency, obesity, constipation, ocular diseases, labor pains and idiopathic diseases, i.e. diseases whose causes are not known.
Cat’s eye must be worn in the same manner as the zircon stone is worn. The beneficial nakshatras are Ashwini, Magha and Moola
