INTRODUCTION
The current crisis of healthcare, brought about by chemical, mechanical and
artificial treatment modalities, now demands the return of natural, life and
soul affirmative systems with their lifestyle regimens for self healing. While
the modern system of medicine focuses on identifying external pathogens
and controlling diseases from outside, the self healing system concentrates
on the living individual and controlling the disease through balancing the life
force within the person.
The limitations of antibiotic medicines are now evident today with weakening
immune systems and the return of contagious diseases once thought to be
eradicated. Moreover, today’s treatment has become very expensive and it
is draining all our resources. It is true that if we are ill, we have to take
recourse to the modern system of medicine to control our illness. But a
conscious effort is required to reduce the frequency of sickness. Unless we
re-learn the art of self healing, we will be drowned in drugs, medical testing
and chronic diseases that leave us not only unhealthy but financially
insecure. We can no longer simply try to change our environment for health
and happiness, as if manipulating the outer will make us feel better on an
inner level. In fact, the need of the hour is just the opposite. We must learn
how to develop and improve ourselves and our own internal resources for
creating a sound health where diseases, drugs and hospitals can become
peripheral and not primary. This new move of self healing is bound to be one
of the most important developments in healthcare for the present century.
All over the world there is a new emphasis on health with the resurgence of
natural forms of healing. This is causing new interest in Ayurveda & in the
medical aspect of Vedic astrology. A re–examination of these two subjects is
therefore crucial for the future of humanity. Unfortunately, the connections
between Ayurveda & Astrology, though hinted at in many places, are not
obvious in the available literature on either subject. Today, there are a few
Ayurvedic doctors who are competent astrologers or vise versa, and can
show how to practically correlate the terms one with the other. The newly
constructed R. S. System have understood the need of this integration long
before and have thus been able to design specific theories about the
correlation of Ayurveda & Astrology. Moreover, this system has also been
successful in combining these theories and explaining them in the language
of modern medicine. Thus, the subject in totality has become fully
compatible in the present day context.
The purpose of this article is to make my fellow astrologers encouraged to
learn, teach & practice the correlation of Astrology & Ayurveda. A manifold
approach is required including organizing and researching and developing
the subject more in terms of the modern conditions.
ASTROLOGY & AYURVEDA CORRELATED
Astrology & Ayurveda have a common origin in the Vedas, the ancient Hindu
books of spiritual & cosmic knowledge. To reconnect the two, an
examination of their common Vedic root is important. Astrology is one of the
six VEDANGAS or limbs of the Vedas. Ayurveda is one of the four
UPAVEDAS or supplementary Vedas. Both Astrology & Ayurveda are based
upon the concept of KARMA and how speaks about not only to determine
what it is but to change or mitigate it against its negativity.
Vedanga Jyotish, which appears to be the oldest remaining text on
astronomy & astrology, arose mainly for the purposes of timing of rituals &
for the development of the calendar for the basic timings of events. Yet,
Vedanga Jyotish had a Karmic aspect as well. The vedic rituals brought
about the good karma or right action that ensured a healthy life of a
hundred years (Sata Samvatsara dirgham ayur). This became the basis of
Ayurveda.
The Vedas are filled with both astrological and Ayurvedic symbolism. Most
notably the Agnichayana or building of the fire (in the SATAPATHA
BRAHMANA) connects time with the image of human being. It shows how
the sacred vedic fire, the AGNI corresponds to a zodiac of 720 portions,
correlating with the 360 bones & 360 nerves of the body by explaining the
principals of five PRANAS and different tissues(DHATUS). The idea of
KALPURUSHA, or time personified, is one of the main links between
ayurveda & astrology and is reflected in the correlation between the signs of
the zodiac and different parts of the body. The PURANAS also contain a
wealth of information on astrology & ayurveda.
AYURVEDIC ASTROLOGY
India never separated science from philosophy and religion. Rather it viewed
all knowledge as part of a whole designed to promote human happiness,
health and growth.
Philosophy is the love of truth. Science is the discovery of truth through
experiment. Religion is the experience of truth and application of it in daily
life.
According to astrology & ayurveda, the source of all existence is universal
Cosmic Consciousness, which manifests as Male & Female energy. Purusha,
often associated with the male energy, is choice less, passive, pure
awareness. Prakruti, the female energy, is active, choiceful consciousness.
Both Purusha & Prakruti are eternal, timeless and immeasurable. These two
energies are present in all living organisms, including all every man &
women.
