THE ASTROLOGERS TRUST OF INDIA
ASTROLOGY IS A DIVINE SCIENCE
Scholars of Astrology
King Vikramaditya
King Vikramaditya Statute in Ujjai
A person with unparalleled intellect, Vikramaditya captured the attention of philosophers, poets, and individuals who wrote and shared tales due to the captivating feats he managed to pull off. Because of this intellect, he is often compared with King Chandragupta II of the Gupta Era. His reign is often considered to be a defining characteristic of Indian civilization. Moreover, King Vikramaditya was interested in delving into advanced Vedic Astrology which focused on the cosmic order of the universe. This astonishing area of astrology can only be fathomed by general citizens knowing the political and military feats he achieved during his reign.
He is often associated with Bhagavad Gita due to there being a collection of scholars comprising of Kalidasa and Varahamihira who form the basis of his devotion to energy building. The ”Nine Gems” or Navaratnas included them along with many more. This virtue is also showcased in his kingly responsibilities as Varahamihira built Kalidasa into the most celebrated poet and playwright in Sanskrit. During this process, he also wrote Pancha Siddhantika which overviews the five leading astronomical systems that existed in India. Following that, he also wrote the famous “Brihat Samhita” which includes and covers everything astrology, architecture, weather and astronomy. Encouragement given by King Vikramaditya is what led Varahamihira to monetize his work and provide the world with such incredible documents, and his aid later allowed further advancements in this area of study.
Portrait of King Vikramaditya
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Vikram Samvat Calendar
One of Vikramaditya’s noteworthy accomplishments is the introduction of the Vikram Samvat calendar system that blends lunar months with solar sidereal years. Even today, this calendar is recognized by the Government of India and is widely used for religious festivals, events and in making the yearly Panchang or the Hindu Almanac. According to this calendar, we are 57 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar that is widely used today around the world. This is because the year 57 BCE served as the starting point as this was when the calendar was first introduced after the 9th century when King Vikramaditya defeated the Saka rulers. Prior to this, the same calendar system was known by other names such as Krita and Malava. The calendar has 12 months with each month divided into two phases: Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha, the bright half and dark half of the moon cycles.
King Rajabhoja is said to have been inspired by Vikramaditya’s legacy. He is said to have found King Vikramaditya’s throne with 32 markings describing his reign. Inspired by his indomitable spirit to overcome his adversaries and his commitment to advancing the mystical sciences, he took the throne to keep for himself. Another legend describes Rajabhoja as a descendant of Vikramaditya, according to the Bhavishya Purana. A foreign invasion had corrupted his reign and he was determined to fight the Mleccha or foreign Kings. The renowned poet Kalidasa is said to have accompanied him to support him in the battle. When he won, Bhoja took an oath to establish the language of Sanskrit in his Kingdom.
Rajabhoja
Raja Bhoj Statute in Bhopal
Manuscript of Samarangana Sutradhara
Raja Bhoja was a revered philosopher-King in the 11th century and ruler of the Paramara dynasty in India. He was a scholar and undertook various initiatives to promote the ancient sciences of India, including Jyotisha, the science of light or Vedic Astrology. He authored the “Samarangana Sutradhara,” a comprehensive text on Vedic Architecture or Vaastu Shastra. Nonetheless, he immersed himself deeply into the esoteric sciences to uncover the mystical links between astrology and architectural design to harmonize energies and foster wellbeing.
He also authored the “Rajamartanda” and a commentary on the “Yoga Yajnavalkya,” a Sanskrit text containing a dialogue between Sage Yajnavalkya and Sage Gargi. Rajamartanda was a text dedicated to the interpretations and insights of the Yoga sutras. It included various concepts such as memory, breath control and the nature of mental functions. It is the foremost foundational text for students of Yoga. Included in his writings were commentaries on esoteric sciences being not just a science of divination but also a kind of means to guide individuals towards higher wisdom and righteous living.
Rajabhoja's portrait
'Vedh Shala' Observatory in Ujjain
King Rajabhoja established centres of intellectual exchange where scholars from across the subcontinent gathered to discuss matters of profound interest and curiosity. He named Ujjain as the capital of astrological thought which attracted a number of renowned astrologers. He was instrumental in establishing the Vedh Shala observatory in Ujjain which served as a symbol of his visionary leadership and insight. It was an apt location being that it is located at the precise point of interaction with the Tropic of Cancer and the zero meridian.
Mahakavi Kalidasa
Mahakavi Kalidasa
Kalidasa's renowned poem, 'Meghaduta'
Mahakavi Kalidasa, an illustrious poet, is one of the brightest literary figures in Indian history. Kalidasa is known as the Shakespeare of Sanskrit literature, for his knowledge of astrology combined with Vedic understanding is unparalleled in the field. Kalidasas works encompass far more than drama and verse, displaying a deep understanding and integration of astrology and human experience alongside wisdom that feels both present and timeless.
Much like the constellation he often references in his work, Kalidasa’s life remains elusive. His legacy shines with unexplainable brilliance, and magnifies the skills of astrological insight incorporated into his literary works. Composed of intricate murals of poetry, his epics reveal patterns and designs of the cosmos and their influence on earth. His work highlights the celestial beauty associated with these insights and the profund connectedness between humans and the divine.
One of Kalidasa’s most renowned epics is the poem ‘Raghuvamsa’. It covers everything from the lineage of the legendary Raghu dynasty to celestial imagery, and Kalidasa made sure to skillfully detail the planets alongside his astrological insight to weave the body of the work into something deep and breathtaking.
“Meghaduta” (The Cloud Messenger), his other work, combines love and separation with elements of nature and the cosmos. Within the poem, Kalidasa crafts a cloud into an errand runner, who rides over India on his quest to deliver a lover's message. The geographical and chronological details of the story are provided in narrow margins but show mastery over jyotisha (Vedic astrology). His depiction of the constellations, seasons, and movement of planets serves not only to beautify the work, but to remind us of the position that we hold within the universe.
Kalidasa’s ‘Abhijnanasakuntalam’ (The Recognition of Shakuntala) is further elaborated by his Vedic intelligence. This classical Sanskrit drama has immense astrological symbolism ranging from eclipses to omens. It showcases Kalidasa’s belief of human life being synchronous with cosmic events, an idea very central to Vedic astrology.
Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur
Jantar Mantar
Jai Singh, is a man who single-handedly transformed Indian astronomy and is seen as an adept politician and an architectural marvel. The 18th century saw the rise of two great astronomers: Jai Singh II and Brahmagupta. Jai Singh II was born in a royal family and became the king of Amber at 11. From a very young age, compliance to tradition did not stimulate Jai Singh. His inquisitiveness motivated him to educated himself beyond just politics.
It is unquestionable that Jai Singh had an obsession with astronomy; an obsession which was targeted towards making Indian astronomy a globally renowned science. Jai Singh had the unique capability to recognize that in order to revive Indian astronomy to its past levels of brilliance, it was essential for him to bring an interdisciplinary approach and draw inspiration from other branches of science. Thus, in order to restore Indian astronomy, he created modern instruments, built observatories, wrote specialized books, and even sent diplomats to Europe. Such actions were not mere show pieces, but rather they created a paradigm shift in astrology, navigation, and timekeeping.
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Traditional Astrolabe used by Sawai Jai Singh
The inspiration for Jai Singh’s astronomical endeavors was the Zij, detailed tables of the position of stars and planets for a given length of time which could be used to find dates of horoscopes. These tables were necessary for astrologers, serving as their celestial maps. For such accurate data, Jai Singh used a very sophisticated instrument known as the astrolabe. The Greeks created the first version of the device sometime around 150 BCE, and it was later modified by Iranian and Indian astronomers. By the 14th century, the Indian craftsmen turned the astrolabe into an artistic masterpiece but kept the scientific functionality. Jai Singh’s astrolabes brought new shades to precision as they were able to measure time and angles to the limits of observations made without the use of telescopes.
One of Jai Singh’s more notable legacies is the development of several Jantar Mantar, an observatory of astronomy located in Jaipur, Delhi, Ujjain, and several other cities. These observatories were the first of their kind, containing large stone mason instruments that provided much more accuracy than previous models. After conducting research, it became evident to Jai Singh that the traditional brass instruments which were used widely were very intricate, but they became useless due to the wear and tear that occurred. His solution was both ingenious and grand, stationary, large scale stone and mortar instruments that were set into place forever. These observatories remain a testament to his vision as they attract scientists of many fields.
