The Bhrigu Samhita is an astrological (jyotish) classic written by Maharishi Bhrigu during the Vedic period. Although the available evidence suggests that this was compiled over a period of time by the various sishyas (Students in the lineage) of Maharishi Bhrigu. It is confirmed cannon that saint Bhrigu was the first compiler of predictive astrology i.e. the fifth Veda of tretayuga or beginning of Hindu culture and ancient age. (The first four are the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda which are shrutis having been heard by the maharishi's from the mouth of Lord Brahma). Maharishi Bhrigu compiled about 5 Lakh horoscopes with help of Lord Ganesha and recorded the life details and events of the persons along with their ages. This formed the database for further research and study. This study culminated in the birth of the science (shastra) of determining the quality of time (Hora) and is the Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra. These Horoscopes were based upon the planetary position of the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. After that, Maharishi Bhrigu gave his predictions on different types of horoscopes compiled by him with the help of Lord Ganesha in a brief and concise manner. The total permutations/ possible horoscope charts that can be drawn with this is about 45 million.
During the foreign invasions in India, brahmin community was dispersed all over India. The invaders also captured these prime assets of brahmins. For them, it was a miraculous form of telling the fortune of a person and some parts of the 'Bhrigu Samhita' were taken away by them to some foreign countries. The most unfortunate and destructive happening was the destruction of Nalanda university library by Mughals. Later on 1 or 2 lakhs of horoscope of Bhrigu Samhita remained with the brahmin community which are now scattered in various parts of India.
Jyotish is often discussed as the instructional element of the Rig Veda, and as such is a Vedanga, or "body part" of the Vedas. Jyotish is called the Eye of the Veda, for its believed ability to view both phenomenal reality and wisdom itself. Part of a larger Vedic curriculum including mathematics, architecture, medical and military applications, it surfacially has much in common with ancient and modern Western astrology (and the early traces of the descent of various schools of astrology from the Harappan culture, and the Egyptian, Chinese and the Chaldean, through the Arabs, Greeks, and early Romans show complex interweavings that are assessed variously by diverse camps of scholars -- who, however, currently find little common ground as to the exact historical development). Jyotish has many facets, and some of its basics are clearly also cornerstones of Western astrology, such as symbolically endowed signs, houses and planets. But Jyotish has its own sophisticated reference to the noumenal: the planets are "grahas", semi-divine consciousnesses that seize created beings and influence their actions and fates. Jyotish has historically been part of a continuous "holistic" approach to living and to spiritual practice.
The Vedas are replete with references to astrology in that cosmology and divinity are indistinguishable from the movements of Nature and planets and the growth of understanding in man as he lives in harmony with his highest spirituality. Surya, the Sun, is a manifestation of Vishnu, a central aspect of the Supreme, and is also the Atman within man. The term "Vedic astrology" has been recently introduced by American and Western astrologers in the 1980s and 1990s, leading to collaborative organizations such as the now-international Council of Vedic Astrology.
Jyotish is still commonly used to aid in important decisions in modern India. In Hindu culture, newborns are traditionally named based on their jyotish charts, and jyotish concepts are pervasive in the organization of the calendar and holidays as well as in many areas of life and science. Astrology is vital to decisions made about marriage, opening a new business, moving into a new home, etc.
Both Jyotish and Western traditions have existed for millenia. Vedic astrology includes several nuanced sub-systems of interpretation and prediction incorporating unique sacralized elements not found elsewhere, such as its specific system of lunar mansions (called nakshatras, encompassing a pantheon of archetypal deities). The nakshatras are used to pick auspicious times of day or month for every human activity as well as to provide insight into the motivations and guiding characteristics of humans and events coming under their influence. Nakshatra cycles, or dashas, are developing a reputation in contemporary culture for the accuracy with which they time events.
| Abbreviation | Sanskrit Name | English Name | Represents |
| Sy | Surya | Sun | Soul |
| Ch | Chandra | Moon | Mind |
| Ma | Mangala or Angaraka | Mars | energetic action, Confidence and ego |
| Bu | Budha | Mercury | Communication |
| Gu | Guru or Brihaspati | Jupiter | the great teacher |
| Sk | Sukra | Venus | Wealth, pleasure and Reproduction |
| Sa | Sanaiscarya, Shani, or Śani | Saturn | learning the hard way. Career and Longevity |
| Ra | Rahu | Ascending/North Lunar Node | often described as a Demon who does his best to plunge any area of one's life he controls into Chaos |
| Ke | Ketu | Descending/South Lunar Node | Supernatural influences |
They also recognize twelve zodiac signs, or Rashis:
| Number | Sanskrit Name | Western Name |
| 1 | Mesha | Aries |
| 2 | Vrishabha | Taurus |
| 3 | Mithuna | Gemini |
| 4 | Karka | Cancer |
| 5 | Simha | Leo |
| 6 | Kanya | Virgo |
| 7 | Tula | Libra |
| 8 | Vrishchika | Scorpio |
| 9 | Dhanus | Sagittarius |
| 10 | Makara | Capricorn |
| 11 | Kumbha | Aquarius |
| 12 | Meena | Pisces |
One's Ascendant, or lagna, the rashi which is rising on the eastern horizon at the time of one's birth, is the most influential and important one. Of lesser importance but still some impact is the Janma Rashi, the rashi in which the moon lay while one was born.
There are two different Jyotish chart notations, which are functionally equivalent but quite different in appearance. The following images show the same birth chart in both notations.
| [image] | [image] |
| In the North Indian notation, the house positions are fixed (1st house top middle, with the rest following in counterclockwise order) and the signs of the zodiac are indicated by numbers in the chart (1 for Aries, and so on). | Conversely, in the South Indian notation, the signs of the zodiac have fixed positions (Aries always occupies the 2nd box from the left in the top row, with the rest following in Clockwise order), and the first house is marked "As" (for Ascendant) with the rest following in clockwise order. |
The charts are broken into twelve sections, houses or Bhavas, each of which is related to a rashi in an equal house system.