Ayurvedic Astrology: Self-healing Through the Stars

From the Jacket

Ayurvedic Medicine represents the healing branch of yogic science, while Vedic astrology provides its understanding of time and karma. Ayurvedic Astrology teaches the interface of these two extraordinary systems in the Vedic astrology of healing. The book explains how the different mind-body and planetary types of the two systems interrelate. It examines disease factors from an astrological perspective and goes into depth into astrological remedial measures, particularly gem therapy. It also contains many notable example charts.

About the Author

Dr. David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri) is a recognized expert on both Ayurveda and Vedic astrology, having already authored numerous books and course materials on both subjects. The current book is a culmination of his twenty years of research into the field.

Back of the book

The author demonstrates great skill in presenting the treatment methods and remedial measures of ancient India for their healing benefits to the modern world. Ayurvedic Astrology: Self-Healing through the Stars is destined to become a classic text in the field.-DENNIS M. HARNESS, PH.D.
President, American College of Vedic Astrology

This is probably the first book available that jointly examines both Ayurveda and Vedic astrology in detail for the modern reader. Even in the traditional literature on these subjects, there are few works that cross-reference both so directly and completely. It is likely to be the standard work in the field for serious students for years to come.-CHAKRAPANI ULLAL
World Renowned Vedic Astrologer

Vamadeva Shastri in his latest book, "Ayurvedic Astrology," unlocks ancient astrological understandings of the human body's inherent weaknesses based on positions of the planets and stars at birth. In so doing, he guides us to avert sickness by applying detailed traditional Vedic remedial measures and then helps us understand the karma behind illnesses when they do manifest.

Here, for the first time in a single book, two of India's remarkable gifts to mankind-Vedic knowledge of healing and Jyotish-are interwoven in a tapestry of wellness, providing invaluable tools for professional astrologers, ayurvedic practitioners and novices of both sciences.ACHARYA CEYONSWAMI
Hinduism Today

Preface

Over the past few decades, interest in Ayurvedic medicine has grown rapidly worldwide, with many new books on the subject coming out on a regular basis. Ayurveda in now recognized as one of the foremost systems of traditional and natural medicine, with deep spiritual and yogic insights, including an important usages of astrology.

Following in the footsteps of Ayurveda, interest in Vedic astrology has also grown exponentially. It is now honored as one of the most accurate and profound systems of astrology available. It has also been the subject of a number of new books, including several that refer to its connection with Ayurveda. The following book-Ayurvedic Astrology-focuses on the interface between these two fascinating systems. It shows how to use them together in a practical manner in order to optimize your karma in life, unlocking the healing potential of the stars.

Ayurveda (Vedic medicine) and Vedic astrology are closely related branches of Vedic science designed to harmonize us with the greater universe of consciousness. The two have been used together throughout the centuries in India to promote balance and well-being in all aspects of our nature. This book explores the astrological aspect of Ayurvedic medicine, which is also the medical and healing aspect of Vedic astrology. For the spiritual connections between the two systems, it brings in the role of Yoga, the Vedic science of Self-realization.

Ayurvedic Astrology presents the main astrological factors behind health, both physical and mental, according to the Vedic vision of the unity of the human being and the cosmos. It emphasizes the special typologies of both Vedic systems, combining the doshic (mind-body) constitutions of Ayurveda with the planetary types of Vedic astrology. This correlation shows how psychophysical and planetary forces reflect one another in our makeup and in our expression, including noting their disease causing potential.

In addition to this 'diagnostic side', the book presents the corresponding Vedic 'treatment measures' for promoting healing and for improving awareness. It shows how Ayurvedic therapies, like diet and herbs, can be used to help balance planetary influences; and how astrological remedial measures, like gem therapy, can help improve our overall health and well-being. The book also brings in yogic methods, especially the use of ritual, mantra and meditation, showing us how to propitiate the deities or cosmic forces working through the planets.

While the first two sections of the book are oriented toward the general reader, the third section contains about thirty sample charts for those interested in a more technical application of astrological principles. To understand this section requires some background in Vedic astrology such as explained in introductory books on the subject.

Ayurvedic Astrology is not meant to fully explain either Ayurveda or astrology to someone who knows nothings about the subjects. The first two sections of the book are less technical, but can still benefit by supplementary reading. The third section contains about thirty sample charts for those interested in a more technical level of applying astrological principles. It requires some understanding of the calculations used in Vedic astrology to entirely appreciate.

Ayurvedic Astrology is meant to complement my other books, including Astrology of the Seers and Yoga and Ayurveda. A reader with little background in either subject can benefit from examining these books as well. In this regard, I have already presented some important material on the astrology of healing in Astrology of the Seers which I have not addressed the role of the Nakshatras or lunar constellations, though this is very important, because it will be the subject of a separate volume.

I hope that this book will encourage further research in the field of medical astrology and its related psychological and spiritual branches. I would not regard it as the last word on this study but merely as an initial and introductory examination to a vast system of knowledge with unlimited benefits for humanity. I would also like to express my appreciation to my teachers Dr. B.L. Vashta and Dr. B.V. Raman for their inspiration and a special thanks to Hinduism Today for the illustrations.

May this union of the Vedic sciences of light and life transform your approach to both healing and to astrology for the well-being of both yourself and the entire planet!

VEDIC Astrology is an ancient science which is both uni versal and timeless. This vast body of knowledge encompasses all earthly phenomena past, present and future. Vedic Astrology is based on the laws of nature which express the unity within the diver- sity of life, and support the idea of an underlying intelligence govern- ing all things with great precision and compassion. Vedic Astrology seeks to impart to mankind a tool with which to understand and live in greater harmony with nature, to maximize opportunities for growth and minimize suffering.

Vedic Astrology is the study of the subtle energies emanating from the sky upon people, plants, animals and the Earth itself These ener- gies influence the human body and mind on all levels. The astrologi- cal chart has the capacity to indicate good or ill health, strong or weak vitality, proneness to disease or accident, emotional stability or insta- bility, intellectual soundness or mental insanity. One should not un- derestimate the role of the planets in causing or indicating disease and suffering in life as well as indicating happiness and well-being. The ancient seers of India understood the close relationship be- tween the laws of nature and mankind, and as a result of this natural connection developed a system of health called Ayurveda, the medi- cine of life itself. Although Western thinking has come to embrace these profound and essential truths to some degree with the discovery of Quantum Physics, this understanding of the nature of existence has been the basis of Vedic knowledge for thousands of years.

The Vedas are, in contemporary terms, "holistic" in their approach to all knowledge. Human ailments can be linked to the outcome of the gravitational pulls exerted by the planets through rotation and revolution, which is why Astrology has such a close relationship with Ayurveda. Astrology is used as a diagnostic tool for Ayurvedic practi- tioners in the treatment of disease - it provides the understanding of a person's karma which can help the healer optimize their efforts. Fur- thermore, the dasha system of Vedic astrology - its unique set of plan- etary periods - is particularly important for the timing of both disease and treatment, indicating the patient's likelihood of full and lasting recovery or further disease.

Astrology indicates and Ayurveda analyzes the bodily patterns which consist of three health tendencies called Doshas or biological humors. These are Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which equate to wind, bile and phlegm as bodily substances. Vata means motion, Pitta is con- nected with heat and light, and Kapha indicates inactivity and con- servation. The great Ayurvedic teacher Sushruta says that "just as the Sun, the Moon and Wind are necessary for the regular functioning of this world outwardly, so are Vata, Pitta and Kapha necessary for the regulation of health in the human body". When the planets are in disharmony in the sky, the balance in the human body between Vata, Pitta and Kapha becomes disturbed, thus creating ill health.

Vedic astrology is famous for its remedial measures of gems, man- tras and yajnas (rituals). It shows us how to bring the benefic energies of the cosmos into our human lives in order to create powerful forces of change and transformation. These methods tan help reduce our negative karmas and provide us with the spiritual attitude to deal with those difficulties that we cannot change. Such remedial measures can also help with health concerns and the treatment of disease when applied with regard to Ayurveda. Ayurveda teaches the proper lifestyle, diet, herbs, exercise and behavioral patterns to implement the wis- dom that astrology teaches us and to complement these astrological remedial measures.

Western medicine has developed a system which treats one part of the body without regard for the body as a whole. This approach to healing has become infamous for treating the symptom rather than dealing with the underlying and primary causes. More importantly, in the process, it has often resulted in creating greater problems than it has attempted to solve, creating side-effects often more dangerous than the disease. Different from this, Ayurveda is a holistic form of treatment which is meant to harmonize the body, mind and spirit. As long as our culture ignores astrological influences and tries to treat disease without their consideration, it will miss much information which can help alleviate many unnecessary and avoidable difficulties. Dr. David Frawley is not only a prolific writer, thinker and researcher - he is considered to be a true scholar of Vedic culture. His profound understanding of Vedic culture is not only the result of his academic research but is backed by his intimate knowledge of India through his connections to its people in its villages, towns and cities. He has con- tributed to the spread of Vedic knowledge in the West as well as its preservation in India, which has earned him the title of Pandit Vamadeva Shastri.

Dr. Frawley has written numerous books on Astrology, Ayurveda, Yoga, Mantra and Meditation all of which are significantly relevant to those wanting to learn and practice these ancient Vedic sciences. His current. volume "Avurvedic Astrology" shows how these two sciences of life and light fit together and can be used in harmony to provide a greater understanding and deeper application of each. The book ad- dresses both the predictive and treatment sides of both systems with clarity and precision.

This is probably the first book available that jointly examines both Ayurveda and Vedic astrology in detail for the modern reader. Even in the traditional literature on these subjects, there are few works that cross reference both so directly and completely. It is likely to be the standard work in the field for serious students for years to come. p>