Indian Astrology
Indian astrology shares the same system as Western astrology of linking zodiac signs to elements. The following table gives the correspondences:
Number | Sanskrit | International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration | Sanskrit gloss | Western name | Greek | Gloss | Tattva (Element) | Quality | Ruling Planet |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | मेष | Meṣa | ram | Aries | Κριός | ram | Tejas (Fire) | Cara (Movable) | Mars |
2 | वृषभ | Vṛṣabha | bull | Taurus | Ταῦρος | bull | Prithivi (Earth) | Sthira (Fixed) | Venus |
3 | मिथुन | Mithuna | twins | Gemini | Δίδυμοι | twins | Vayu (Air) | Dvisvabhava (Dual) | Mercury |
4 | कर्कट | Karkaṭa | crab | Cancer | Καρκίνος | crab | Jala (Water) | Cara (Movable) | Moon |
5 | सिंह | Siṃha | lion | Leo | Λέων | lion | Tejas (Fire) | Sthira (Fixed) | Sun |
6 | कन्या | Kanyā | girl | Virgo | Παρθένος | virgin | Prithivi (Earth) | Dvisvabhava (Dual) | Mercury |
7 | तुला | Tulā | balance | Libra | Ζυγός | balance | Vayu (Air) | Cara (Movable) | Venus |
8 | वृश्चिक | Vṛścika | scorpion | Scorpio | Σκoρπιός | scorpion | Jala (Water) | Sthira (Fixed) | Mars |
9 | धनुष | Dhanus | bow | Sagittarius | Τοξότης | archer | Tejas (Fire) | Dvisvabhava (Dual) | Jupiter |
10 | मकर | Makara | sea-monster | Capricorn | Αἰγόκερως | goat-horned | Prithivi (Earth) | Cara (Movable) | Saturn |
11 | कुम्भ | Kumbha | pitcher | Aquarius | Ὑδροχόος | water-pourer | Vayu (Air) | Sthira (Fixed) | Saturn |
12 | मीन | Mīna | fish | Pisces | Ἰχθεῖς | fish | Jala (Water) | Dvisvabhava (Dual) | Jupiter |
In addition, in Vedic thought each of the five planets are linked to an element (with ether as the fifth). It was said in the Veda that everything emanated from the one basic vibration of "Om" or "Aum." From "Om" the five elemental vibrations emerged representing the five different tattwas (or elements). The five planets represent these five vibrations – Jupiter for Ether, Saturn for Air, Mars for Fire, Mercury for Earth, and Venus for Water.
Read more about this topic: Astrology And The Classical Elements
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