Astro Cycles Theory

Long Astro Cycles have fascinated mankind. This is the Vedic
perspective of Astro Cycles.

The Vernal Equinoctial Point was found to precede one degree
in every 72 years. Hence as one Zodiacal Sign is 30 degrees
in length, 2160 years is the duration of an Age Cycle. We
are at the moment undergoing the Piscean Age which will
give way to the Aquarian in 2444 AD. It is called the
Piscean Age because the Vernal Equinoctial Point is passing
through Pisces and is at the moment 06 degrees 40 minutes
24 seconds in Pisces.

Age Cycle ( 72*30) = 2160 years Precessional Cycle (72*360)
= 25920 years ( as the Zodiac is 360 degrees ) Equinoctial
Cycle (2000*2160) = 43,20000 years Cosmological Cycle ( 2
million * 2160 ) = 4.32 billion years

One Cosmological Cycle ( Brahma Kalpa) was considered to be
one Brahma Day and another 4.32 billion years was
considered to be one Brahma Night. One Cosmological Cycle
was one thousand Equinoctial Cycles ( Chatur Yugas) or 2
million Age Cycles!

The Vedic Calendar - Based on Equinoctial Cycles

An Equinoctial Cycle comprises of 4 Ages.

Satya Yuga = 800 Age Cycles
Threta Yuga = 600 Age Cycles
Dwapara Yuga = 400 Age Cycles
Kali Yuga = 200 Age Cycles

-----------------------------------------------------
Maha Yuga = 2000 Age Cycles ( Equinoctial Cycle )

As per Vedic Astronomy, the Dark Age ( Kali Yuga ) commenced
from 3102 BC , 16th February Midnight.

The Concept of Ayanamsa

The Date of Coincidence of the Tropical and the Sidereal
Zodiacs was found to be 285 AD and the Ayanamsa (
precessional distance ) was called Lahiri's Ayanamsa.
Different scholars gave different dates but the Indian Govt
in order to standardise the Ayanamsa value took the initial
point of the Zodiac as the point in the Ecliptic opposite
the star Chitra ( Alpha Virginis ) which was the vernal
equinoctial point on the Vernal Equinox day of 285 AD. The
rate of precession of the Vernal Equinox was taken as 50.3
seconds per sidereal year.

In Vedic Astrology, Ayanamsa value is deducted from the
Tropical longitudes of planets to get the Sidereal
longitudes. Hence the longitudes of planets in Western
Astrology ( Tropical ) and Indian Astrology differ by 23.5
degrees this year. Natal charts cast in these 2 systems will
be entirely different!

The Tropicalists ( Western Astrologers) maintain that the
Vernal Point is in the 6th degree of Pisces now . The
Siderealists ( Vedic Astrologers ) maintain that the
Sidereal Starting Point remains to be 0 degrees Beta
Arietis ( Aswini ) and that the Sidereal Zodiac doesn't
change.

Scientific Offshoots of Astrology

Pythagorus discovered that the Nine numbers correspond to
the Nine revolving heavens and became the founder of
Astro-Numerology. The most auspicious number Three was
represented by the monarch of the sky, Jupiter.

Another intuitively scientific offshoot of Astrology was
Vedic Planetary Gemology. The nine gems correspond to the
nine planets and Gems were found to heal humans.This gave
birth to the science of Gem Therapy.

Astrology as related to Yoga

As per Indian Philosophy, Astrology was considered to be the
foremost amonst the six auxiliary sciences as Yoga was
considered to be the foremost amongst the six main
sciences. Even Yogis used to consult astrologers about
gaining Self-Actualisation. Jupiter, Saturn and the South
Node were considered to be the spiritual planets which bring
in Immortality or Self-Actualisation.

The Law of Correspondences

There is correspondence between the Seven planets and the
Seven Chakras or Dynamos of Cosmic Energy in Man. The Sun
at the Centre of the Solar System is represented by the
Anahata Chakra and Saturn by the Mooladhara Chakra. " As
Above, so Below "- the seven energy centers are arranged
exactly as in the Solar Logos. We are, indeed , made in the
image of Godhead, in His Image, in the image of the
Almighty Solar Logos!

In our next article we will deal with the properties of the
nine revolving heavens and their significations.