WESTERN versus HINDU ELECTIONAL ASTROLOGY
Some of the subtleties of Hindu & Western electional astrology shall reveal how the Western electional astrology is in infant stage, yet claimed of its originality & effectiveness in guidance to the modern aspirants.
Astrological wisdom is found in Vedic literature, where evolution of mankind in respect of physical, mental & spiritual spheres has been disseminated in various modes. Vedas extensively deals with propitiation & electional wisdom. In fact horoscopic astrology has been derived much later in the Hindu system.
Birth of a person is not in his control, but certainly his Karmas. The Vedic literature dilates on the various modes of propitiations to ward off evil effects of planets at birth and also during adverse transits.
Another most useful guidance is blessed is in the form of electional wisdom, rendering advice to the aspirants to initiate a life activity at the most appropriate time to enable him achieve highest possible success (Siddhi). In addition to Vedic dictums, Sage Vasist in his treatise “Vasist Samhita” written about 5000 BCE, has blessed us with exhaustive details on electional astrology. This is the first book on Hindu / Vedic system of electional astrology. In addition to electional prescriptions in respect of Hindu rite (Samskaras), electional usage are also prescribed for worldly activities. This treatise also dilates on propitiations during initiation of electional activity to annihilate evil effects of planets etc.
On contrary in the Western system of electional astrology is of recent origin. Vivian E. Robson has claimed to have written first book on Western electional astrology. There is no known book specifically on electional astrology in the recent ancient history of Western astrology. The latter system covers mainly the present day worldly activities. This book as well as subsequently written books deal only with present day worldly activities only. Exponents of the Hindu system of electional astrology had mastered the branch as a special subject and have gifted a vast number of exclusive treatises on this most useful branch of astrology.
Exhautive rules & prescriptions are available in Hindu system which are distinct from horoscopic astrology or mundane astrology. But Western system in based on Horary astrology. Readers are well aware that horary astrology, a branch of Hindu system of astrology, was first gifted to this world by Hindu Sages. Both the system are based on fundamentals of astrology, but dependance only on Horary astrology in the Western system of electional astrology shall certainly have inherent lacune; & the readers can themselves come to the inference. Hindu system opines that delineations based on horary has time limit (say up to seven years) to foresee the effects, but effects of election performed are permanent.
Hindu electional astrology which is fundamentally based on Lunar mansions. While in Western system, emphasis in given on fortification of electional chart and event significator. In agreement to this, the Hindu system believes that election chart is body, the Moon is mind, the Sun is soul of the election; and a composite & holistic view is considered. Significant importance is given to the five elements of Hindu Panchang (ephemeris). Lunar mansions are now very rarely used in electional astrology by the Western astrologers without referring to their inherent nature & effects.
Western system has taken some of the core concepts of its electional principles like Hora (24 divisions of daytime) & Tithi (Lunar day - 30 divisions of Lunar month), but are using the them in the same or in modifies styles. In Hindiu system, Hora divisions start from the local Sunrise time & end with the following Surrise time. Western electional astrologers also follow the 24 divisions in the mode advised by Sage Vasist and as per dictums mentioned in Hindu astronomy books (Siddhanta), but do refuse to accept the original source of information. Similarly the concept of Tithi, is also being used by some, but in various mutilated modes. How come that newly developed Western electional astrology is now selectively using elements of Hindu ephemris & that too in distorted forms; when the exponents of Hindu electional astrology have been using them since the Vedic era & the same has proven the test of time.
Hindu system have unique mode to balance the electional chart by “antidotes”, for which enough guidelines are available in numours treatises.
In both the systems, nativity, planetary strength & planetary conditions as per their own systems; at the time of initiation of an activity are taken into account. In Western system radical twelfth house is considered as the worst while in Hindu system eighth house from radical ascendant as well as radical Moon is prohibited. Via Combusta, cazimi, Part of Fortune, Void Moon, the Moon’s applying & separating aspects; are some of features in Western electional astrology which are not considered in Hindu system of electional astrology.
One of the subtle difference is that William Lilly opines cazimi (meaning "in the heart of the Sun"- a planet that forms a conjunction with the Sun within its 17 minutes of longitude ) planets to be “wondrous strong” and followers may thus select cazimi Moon (Solar eclipse period) in good elections; but as per Hindu election system, it is shunned in all good elections & has no remedy. Cazimi Jupiter similarly may be selected in elections following principles of Western electional astrology, but is certainly prohibited in auspicious elections & rituals (like marriage, tonsure, wearing of sacred thread, start of education etc.) in the Hindu electional system, and it has no 'antidote'.
Followers of the Western electional astrology must have their own experiences in using such cazimi Moon, Jupiter & other planets, & the results must be before them, which shall indeed be nothing but fatal elections.
Exponents of Hindu electional astrology were specialists in the branch & had written books only on the specific subject, while now-a-days astrologers claim specialisation in plurality of branches of astrology, a phenomenon not found in any other field of knowledge .
In a blog of this size, it is not possible to discuss all the differences in the two systems. Learned astrologers may have their own conclusions about the efficacy of the two systems & the depth of information available in the two systems.
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