Jyotish in Ramayana will be presented on Wednesday, 13th Dec, 2023 from 2 PM to 3 PM at Ayodhya Jyotish Conference to be held in Hotel Royal Heritage, Ayodhya.
Here is a summary of what can be expected in this presentation.
Sage Vālmikī’s Rāmāyaṇa is an epic poem of some 24,000 verses, divided into seven kāṇḍas (Bālakāṇḍa, Ayodhyakāṇḍa, Araṇyakāṇḍa, Kiṣkindakāṇḍa, Sundarākāṇḍa, Yuddhakāṇḍa, Uttarakāṇḍa), and about 500 sargas (chapters). It is classified as Itihās among the scriptures. Itihāsa literally means, it thus happened (History).
Each of the 7 kāṇḍas of Rāmāyaṇa has some references to Muhurta, Lagna, Nakṣatras, graha and such cosmic arrangements. It is interesting to note how Sage Valmiki describes precise position of different graha and Nakṣatra at the time of birth of Śri Rāma. In fact, different characters of the epic shows Jyotiṣa wisdom, like King Janaka suggesting the day of Uttara Phālguni Nakṣatra for marriage of Śri Rāma with his daughter; King Daśaratha informing Sage Vasiṣṭha about the day of Pushya Nakṣatra for coronation of Śri Rāma, Śri Rāma giving instructions to Lakṣamaṇa for propitiating Vāstu Devatās in the new hermitage in jungle; Jatāyu talks about Muhurta when he informs Śri Rāma about Sitā’s kidnapping; Kabandha talking to Śri Rāma about getting relief from bad daśā; Supārśva advising Rāvana about muhurta to go on a war with Śri Rāma so that the latter is killed and defeated.
This shows Jyotiṣa was known very well to not only the Kings and the Royals but also to the birds like Jātayu. It was part of their life and was practiced well not only for casting muhurta before important events but also for suggesting remedies to pass through bad times. The effect of macrocosm (Celestial beings and their vibrations) on the microcosm is an integral part of this epic and this presentation is a humble attempt to list out few such verses mentioned in this Itihāsa.
