Big Five Foundation
Vedic astrology is a rich ancient study depending on Hindu philosophy. Since its early ages, scholars and proponents wondered the best method of learning this vast study by focusing the essential components that learners need to adopt in order to become able to implement Vedic astrology productively. There are five essential components of the study of Vedic astrology.
1) Technical Expertise
Vedic astrology is a specific field of study that demands own periphery of academic proficiency. For instance, memorization of wide area of technical details plays a vital role to the success of the practice. Similar to the guitarist needs to remember the scales till it turns out to be the second characteristics of the individual, the astrologer needs to memorize the technical details thoroughly at the time he or she is analyzing an astrological chart.
Vedic astrology can clearly describe the logical explanation of a given chart. For instance, an individual is having a strong probability of children, since the 5th house is an indicative of children. Additionally, a learner must learn to calculate manually in combination with memorizing the basic technical details. The first and primary focus of an astrologer should be laid in the development of technical proficiency. If the astrologers increasingly rely on the software and only on intuitions in order to interpret the components of chart, it is impossible for that astrologer to develop technical proficiency at considerable level.
2) Persistent Practice
Only memorizing information is not sufficient to become an expert in this field. Vedic astrology and its application are so complicated, that the astrologer needs to implement it repeatedly, over and over. It does not really depend on the number of workshop participation or book reading, but virtually there is no substitute for chart interpretation. So the astrologer needs to focus on interpreting more and more charts on a regular basis. In fact, one droplet of practice is far more appreciated than reading dozens of books. It is not necessary for an aspiring astrologer that he or she has to interpret the chart for professional cause, but the individual can put best effort in interpreting as many charts as he can in his spare time, say at least 3 or more per day. If he can do this, it will certainly improve his understanding of Vedic astrology.
3) Jyotish Guru
This is such a vast and in-depth study that is nearly impossible to accomplish by own effort only. Since its origination, it largely depends on the cooperation of Guru. When someone starts reading the chapters of Vedic astrology, he may encounter difficulties for which he may not be able to sort out personally. These problems, in general, can only be answered by a Guru or Master, who has years of experience in this area. Guru or Master is someone who plays the role to bring someone in the way of illumination or accelerates the process of illumination. The word 'Gu' implies darkness or shadow, and 'ru' implies 'to remove' or 'to eliminate'.
Essentially, Vedic astrology stemmed from oral tradition. In olden days, learners sat with their masters and the masters recited the astrological texts and knowledge with them. Moreover, both the teachers and the disciples spent long hours with each other discussing the major governing principles of Vedic philosophy in the perspective of Vedic astrology, and chart interpretation. There are three essential criteria of a Guru and these are – experience, easy accessibility and skills and knowledge to disperse the confusions in the disciples.
4) Spiritual Practice
Vedic astrology is a holistic study. Not only the technical knowledge, but also the spiritual knowledge and understanding are essential to reach the core of this study. It is the expertise and talent of the astrologer to combine the essence of intuition and intellect at the time of interpreting the symbolic meaning of astrological chart in a proper frame. Through the spiritual practice in continual form, one can be able to develop intuition. Conventionally, the astrologer may initiate the process of understanding by worshipping individualized deity, referred to as Ishta Devata, who is believed to offer the astrologer the essential guidelines for illuminating their intuition.
The objective of this spiritual practice largely varies with the conventional understanding of worshipping. It is done with a purpose of cultivating rich inner life by enhancing the calmness of mind. In order to set the background, different rituals may need to be implemented. These are – worshipping, chanting mantras, meditation, prayer, reciting affirmations, or doing similar practices.
Since Vedic astrology or Jyotish Shastra signifies 'study of light' or 'study of illumination', referring to the luminosity of the celestial objects in relation to illumination of life's pathway. It is believed that our outer reality is a mere reflection of inner reality; hence the illumination here refers to the understanding of Supreme Being. Vedic astrology needs the understanding of inner spiritual light for interpreting outer phenomena in an accurate form. Since Vedic astrology is an illuminative and exploratory science, it can only be revealed with the tools of spiritual understanding and faith to the law of nature.
5) Ethical Orientation
The astrologer can experience or become able to experience the spiritual guidelines in the sense of illumination, but all depend on the excellence of one's disciplined life and strong faith to altruistic quality governing the law of nature. Ethical orientation is the basic foundation of spiritual understanding. If someone lacks ethical orientation in his life, he will not be able to gain the purity of mind, which is intrinsically essential in order to develop the knowledge of Vedic astrology. Vedic astrology was evolved for the purpose of serving the humanity as a whole, so there is no room for personal benefit. If someone violates this belief, he or she may not be able to reach the success.