Astrology as Science.
Jyotish Shastram - Shastram means Science. Jyotish means Astrology.
Astronomy is the study of Celestial Objects. Astrology is the impact of certain celestial objects on us.
Our sages have identified those certain objects that have an impact on us. They named and grouped them into Nakshatras.
Nakshatram:
What is Nakshatram? It mean Objects that have little or no movement.
In Sanskrit, everything was named based on the characteristics it possessed.
When we talk about Aryabhatta or Bhaskara to the young generation, they assume them to be in Saffron robes and don't understand how they could
study the celestial objects.
The celestial bodies that have an impact on us were classified into 27 Nakshatras and they were given their names based on their properties.
Examples : Dhanishtha, Jyeshtha
Mrigashira - Mriga(Deer) + Shira(Face) - Lambda Orinis(Modern Name)
Nakshatra called in English - Asterism
In observational astronomy, an asterism is a pattern or group of stars that can be seen in the night sky. Asterisms range from simple shapes of just a few stars to more complex collections of many stars covering large portions of the sky. The stars themselves may be bright naked-eye objects or fainter, even telescopic, but they are generally all of a similar brightness to each other. The larger brighter asterisms are useful for people who are familiarizing themselves with the night sky. For example, the asterism known as the Big Dipper comprises the seven brightest
stars in the constellation Ursa Major. Another is the asterism of the Southern Cross, within the constellation of Crux.
All Nakshatras are Asterisms but the vice versa is not true as not all of them have an impact on us.
Jyeshtha Nakshatra - 18th Nak. Modern Name is Antares. The Sanskrit meaning of Jyestha means elder/older/greater. Modern discovery on Antares is that it is at the end of its life. What does it mean? It means it's very old. If Antares replaced Sun in our Solar System, its circumference could extend upto Mars. It's that big. Nakshatras were mentioned in the Vedas. In Rig Veda and Yajur Veda. According to Vishnu Puran, Chandra is the son of Atri Maharishi. He married the 27 daughters of Daksha. These are 27 nakshatras. But Chandra was spending more time with Rohini. This is called the Lunar Occultation of Aldebaran. Modern name of Rohini.
Occultation means an eclipse. If covered by Moon, its called the Lunar Occultation. Research is going on this.
Thithi:
What is Thithi?
If we check the Lunar Calendar, the Numbering system starts with :1. Pratipada 2. Dvitiya 3. Tritiya. Like this We have 30 days and 15 thithis. Thithi by definition is the difference in the motion between Sun and Moon. “Surya Chandrayo ha Gatyantaram tithi hi Bhavati”. Moon goes 360 degrees around the Earth. Amavasya is Moon exactly between Earth and Sun. New Moon day i.e Moon is not visible. Angle is 0 degrees. Each Tithi is 12 degrees movement of Moon and until Moon reaches Poornima, it's called Shukla paksha. Shukla means fair. Waxing Moon. From Poornima(Full Moon) to New Moon, it's called Krishna Paksha(Krishna means dark). Waning Moon.
