Influence of Nakshatras and Planets on the Human Body

Astrology, or Jyotish, strongly believes in the celestial causes of diseases. According to Jyotish, the positions of the constellations and the planets at each person’s birth will seriously affect what the person will turn out to be in later life, whether there would be success or failure in life, whether the person would be afflicted by certain diseases, etc. The constellations are called as nakshatras in Indian astrology. There are twelve of them similar to those in western science, and each of them represents a single part of the human body.

The planets in astrology are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. These are also known as grahas. Since they are nine in number they are sometimes known as the navgrahas, or the nine planets. The planets too exert their influence on the person’s well-being in later life.

A chart mapping the position of the sky at the time of a person’s birth is known as the kundali, or the birth horoscope. This kundali is considered by Jyotish Shastra to be one of the primary deciding factors in determining how a person’s life will become. The kundali is a very complex chart showing the position of all the nakshatras and grahas at the time of birth of the person. The Jyotish will use such charts in order to analyze the causes of diseases on an astrological basis.

Astrological Basis of Diseases

The grahas are very influential signs in a person’s kundali. Some of these grahas are beneficial if they are present in the chart. These grahas are known as the benefic planets, or quite simply, the benefics. While other grahas, if present, they could negatively affect the person’s progress in life. Such grahas are called as the malefic planets or the malefics.

On this basis, the planets are classified according to the following:-

(i) The Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are always malefic if they are present in the person’s kundali.

(ii) The Moon and Mercury will behave as malefics only if they combust or are present in a weak position in the kundali.

(iii) Jupiter and Venus are the only two grahas that will always have positive effects. They are the only benefics among the navgrahas.

A person’s kundali will be an assortment of all the navgrahas. If a malefic graha is present in the person’s nakshatra, then negative effects will be felt and if a benefic graha is present, then positive effects will be felt. Then there are weak and strong positions within the kundali. Effects of the grahas in strong positions are more influential in a person’s life.

Planets have inter-relations of friendships and enmities too. Hence, the correlation between two planets would determine whether they would have a cumulative positive or negative effect on a person’s life. For this reason, it can be said that malefic planets can sometimes behave as benefics, and benefic planets can also behave as malefics.

Diseases are also believed to exist due to the malefic planets in strong positions of a person’s kundali. Though, even weak positions can bring about several diseases. A careful study of a person’s kundali would show what kind of diseases the person could be affected with in the future.

Types of Diseases in Astrology

There are three different types of diseases as classified in astrology. The following are the types described:-

1. Natural Diseases – The natural diseases in astrology are not actually diseases as we know them. They are the results of destructive natural acts such as disasters involving the earth, water, atmosphere, fire, etc. Even accidents and sudden deaths are included in natural diseases according to astrology.

2. Seasonal Diseases – The diseases that occur due to seasonal changes are included in this category. They are the diseases that are caused due to cold, heat, rain, snowfall, etc. Most of these diseases are epidemic in nature such as malaria, cholera, typhoid, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, etc. Sunstrokes are also climatic, so they are put in this category. Individual diseases such as dysentery, eczema, ringworms, common cold, etc. will be called as seasonal diseases.

3. External Diseases – All diseases that are due to external agencies are put under this heading. If a person afflicts an injury on another, then it is an external disease. Problems with spirits, hallucinations, wounds, etc. are external diseases. The diseases that are associated with migration from one country to another are also external diseases.

Other categories in which diseases can be classified are physical, psychological, circumstantial, etc. The principles of Ayurveda are more helpful in understanding the types of diseases. According to Ayurveda, diseases could be due to food, sleep and mental control. Herein lies an important parallel between Ayurveda and Jyotish Shastra.