Astrology is the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world. Vedic astrology is a science developed in ancient India based on the understanding of celestial bodies known to Indians at the time. The mention of astrology has been there in Hindu texts dating back to 5000 B.C. Interestingly when most of the world was occupied with hunting/gathering and surviving in the caves, the Indian subcontinent was not only aware of the planets and the solar system but was evolved enough to know that it impacts life on earth. Over the centuries this science had transformed and evolved into different branches like Jatak, Muhurtha, Swar, Prashna, Ankjyotisha, etc(I will discuss these in detail in some other articles). Each of these branches is useful in specific scenarios. Unfortunately, a lot of people mix everything as one 'Vedic Astrology' and apply principles from one branch when using another. This leads to a lot of errors in predictions and solutions.
A rational mind asks - How do planets and stars affect us, tiny humans, on earth? The answer is simple, each celestial body is big enough to have its own gravitational pull, its own energy based on its matter composition. If humans lived on mars, then energy from earth would affect us, along with the sun, mercury, venus, etc. But since we are on earth the energy from all the other bodies around earth affects us. Energy from the sun in the form of light and heat is felt on the earth. Energy from the moon in the form of gravitational pulls causes tides in the oceans. Similarly, energy from other planets is felt on earth, just that it is not as tangible as energy from the sun and moon.
Ancient Hinduism does not believe in heaven and earth. It believes in rebirth. When a soul acquires a body, its purpose is to use some of its past karmas. It is also an opportunity for the soul to accumulate some good karma.
Your birth horoscope is a snapshot of the celestial bodies as seen by a specific point on earth(birth location). Its purpose is to outline your general life - past good karmas (areas of life where life will be breezy), and past bad karmas (problem areas of life that will need more attention).
Is Vedic astrology an exact science? Are there exceptions to rules? How accurate is it? How should one use it in day-to-day life? With only 12 signs and 5 planets(mercury, venus, mars, jupiter and saturn), 2 luminaries(sun and moon) and 2 special entities(rahu and ketu) how can vedic astrology account for billions of different people living on earth at a given time?
More questions than answers, will try to answer some of these in other articles.