Rashmi Singh

Exploring Astrology and Its Connection to Dharma                               

 I wanted to delve into a thought-provoking topic that has captured my interest recently – the intersection of astrology and dharma. While both fields may appear distinct, they share a fascinating connection that can offer us valuable insights into our lives and paths.

Astrology, as we know it, is a belief system that connects celestial movements and positions with human behaviour and events on Earth. It provides us with a framework to understand our personality traits, strengths, and challenges based on the positions of celestial bodies at the time of our birth.

Dharma, on the other hand, is a concept deeply rooted in various Eastern philosophies, including Hinduism and Buddhism. It refers to one's moral and ethical duties, responsibilities, and the path one should follow in life to achieve inner and outer harmony. Dharma guides us towards living a life that is aligned with our true purpose and values.

Now, let's explore the connection between these two concepts:

1. Alignment with Cosmic Forces: Astrology suggests that our birth charts can reveal our life's purpose and challenges. Dharma, in a similar vein, encourages us to align our actions and decisions with the greater cosmic order. Understanding our astrological profile can aid us in recognising how we can best fulfil our dharma.

2. Self-Discovery: Astrology provides a unique lens through which we can explore our inner selves. By identifying our strengths and weaknesses, we can better understand how to navigate our dharma. Self-awareness is a crucial component of both astrology and dharma.

3. Timing and Life Stages: Astrology often considers the timing of events and the influence of celestial cycles. This aligns with the idea in dharma that life unfolds in stages, and our duties and responsibilities may change as we progress through life. Recognising these transitions can help us make informed decisions.

4. Karma and Destiny: Astrology and dharma both touch upon the concepts of karma and destiny. While astrology suggests that our birth chart can offer insights into our karmic path, dharma teaches us to take responsibility for our actions and strive for spiritual growth.

The astrological chart clearly spells out what our dharma is and how we should pursue it in life. It reveals the inborn gifts that the individual is meant to share and the best ways to express them. The chart reveals the purpose of the soul's current incarnation and how the soul can fulfil its dharma in this lifetime.

According to Vedic astrology, 1st, 5th and 9th Bhavas/Houses connects to our Dharma - the need to find our path and purpose. Similarly, 2nd, 6th and 10th Bhavas/Houses relates to our Artha - The need to acquire the necessary resources and abilities to provide for ourselves to fulfil our path and purpose. Again, 3rd, 7th and 11th Bhavas/Houses indicates about our Kama - The need for desires and enjoyment. And finally, 4th, 8th and 12th Bhavas/Houses represents our Moksha - The need to find liberation and enlightenment from the world.

In Sanskrit Jupiter is called Guru or Brihaspati (the Guru of the Gods), since its vibrations are inherent to justice, truth and abundance. It is the planet of Dharma, the King of the benevolent planets, and its influences are aimed at supporting and expanding.

Jupiter being the most spiritual planet is considered as the karaka or significator of the ninth house. If Jupiter is connected with the ninth house or the ninth lord, it can lead to an uninterrupted flow of blessings and good fortune in our lives.

The ninth lord in the rashi chart is significant because it reveals information about our past life merits (purva punya), our luck and fortune, and our dharma (life purpose) in this lifetime. To get a better understanding of how our luck and fortune may play out in different areas of life, we need to study this planet in all divisional charts.

I believe that exploring the synergy between astrology and dharma can provide us with a holistic perspective on our life's journey. It can help us make decisions that are in harmony with our true selves and the greater universe.

Wishing you a harmonious and fulfilling journey on your path of dharma.