Ch. 1: Introduction to Vedic Astrology

Elements

In hinduism there are five elements

Agni/ tejas - fire

Ap/ jal - water

Kshiti/ bhumi - earth

Maruti/ pawan - air

Shunya/ vyom - Nothingness or void or ether, sometimes meant as sky


These words are difficult to pronounce. Many indian jyotish use the english versions air water fire earth and shunya.

Thanks May,

I should have added to my previous post that both Plato and Aristotle refer to Ether as the fifth element (quintessence), though it is found only above the terrestrial sphere - i.e. it does not exist on Earth. Unlike the four elements on the earthly sphere, ether is unchanging, and has no qualities (it is neither hot nor cold, dry nor moist). Plotinus described it as penetrative and non-material.

I've not seen it used in an Astrological analysis, which from the Hellenistic writings I have come across (and they are not many) and the later texts deal with the four elements.

I'm therefore very interested to see if it plays any role in Vedic Astrology, or we have a similar situation as with Hellenistic Astrology, with only the four terrestial elements being used.

Thank you, May!