The word Jyotisha (ज्योतिष) is derived from “Jyoti” meaning light. It is the science that illuminates Kāla Jñāna - the sacred knowledge of time, karma and cosmic rhythm. In the Vedic tradition, Jyotisha is one of the six Vedangas (Limbs of Veda) - the auxiliary disciplines connected with the study of Vedas. These are Shikṣā (phonetics), Vyākaraṇa (grammar), Chandas (meter), Nirukta (etymology), Kalpa (ritual) and Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology).

The Pāṇinīya Śikṣā (verses 41–42) describes the Veda as Veda Purusha (cosmic being) in which each Vedanga corresponds to a specific limb:

• Chandas as the feet
• Kalpa as the arms
• Jyotisha as the eyes
• Nirukta as the ears
• Shiksa as the nose
• Vyakarana as the mouth.

In this sacred form, Jyotisha is revered as the Netra - the eye of the Veda Puruṣa. Just as the eyes offer vision to perceive the world, Jyotisha provides the insight - revealing the movement of time, unfolding of karma, nature of the person, tendencies(vasana) carried through several life times etc.

As described in Śabda Kalpadruma,
“ज्योतिः सूर्ययादीनां ग्रहाणां गत्या-दिकं प्रतिपाद्यते अस्त्यस्येति अच्” - Jyoti is that which reveals direction and time through the motion of the Sun, Moon, and planets. It is said that Jyotisha arises from five divine sources of light - the Sun, Moon, Stars, Fire, and Lightning - which unveil the rhythm of Kāla or cosmic time.

Time (Kāla) itself is revered as divine: “Kalo hi nama Bhagavan anadi-madhya-nidhanah” “Time is none other than the Supreme Being - eternal, without beginning, middle or end.”

No force can overpower Kāla and Jyotisha as the vidyā that reveals the unfolding of time, becomes our guiding light - showing the right moments to act, begin auspicious undertakings, perform sacred rites etc. This understanding is significant in Āyurveda, where timing is essential - for collecting herbs, preparing medicines, initiating treatment and determining when one may attain complete relief from disease. The sages repeatedly affirm that disease often has karmic roots: “Pūrvajanma-kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ vyādhirūpeṇa jāyate” - “karma of previous births manifest as disease in this life.”

Thus, Jyotisha complements Ayurveda by:

• Revealing the Prakṛti (constitution) – Gross body / mental tendencies of an individual, dominance of dosha, nature of the individual based on Trigunas- Satva, Rajas, Tamas and so on.
• Indicating vulnerable body systems and dosha imbalances that the individual is prone to.
• Offering insight into the timing of disease onset (based on time period –dasha) and periods of complete relief from the disease.

While Ayurveda empowers us to restore harmony within the body and mind, Jyotisha enables us to understand why and when imbalance arises and how it aligns with the deeper journey of the soul.

Together, Jyotisha and Ayurveda offer a holistic approach to life. They teach us to make conscious, timely choices aligned with our karma and nature. We begin to live rhythmically - not merely reacting to life, but flowing in harmony with it.