Humans, known as Homo Sapiens began observing the stars with wonder. In their early explorations, they noticed a link between the movement of celestial bodies and seasonal changes on Earth. This marked the birth of astronomy. Over time, their curiosity deepened. They began connecting the stars’ movements not just with nature, but with individual human lives and the events that shaped them. This deeper exploration gave rise to the profound science of astrology.

Our ancient seers, through intense dedication and inner clarity, mapped the movements of planets and stars with remarkable precision. They documented personality traits, life events, and human tendencies based on these celestial patterns in countless sacred texts. Sadly, many of these works were lost due to time and cultural invasions.

In a land where astrology was once revered as Vedanga—an essential limb of Vedic knowledge—it has now, in many places, been reduced to a tool for fortune-telling, often misused by pseudo-astrologers as a mere source of income.

Astrology is traditionally divided into three main branches: Hora, which deals with prediction; Ganitha, focused on mathematical calculations; and Samhita, which addresses worldly or mundane affairs. 

To understand karma in astrology, one must first grasp the idea of reincarnation. Hindu astrology teaches that every human birth is the result of countless past lives 84 lakh (8.4 million) life forms, to be precise. This cycle of rebirth is shaped by one's actions or karma.

Good deeds in past lives lead to a blessed birth into wealth, knowledge, and favorable surroundings. Bad karma on the other hand results in suffering like poverty, illness or disability. This human life is rare and precious as it's earned after many lower forms of birth.

There are various types of births, including those from eggs- (Andaja), sweat- (Swedaja), seeds- (Udbija), wombs- (Jarayuja), and even divine creation- (Ayonija), where beings are said to be born directly from the will of Brahma.

In Vishnu Purana Prahallada, a devotee of God says that a person's next birth whether auspicious or inauspicious is determined by their past actions, especially how they treated others through thoughts, words or deeds. Causing suffering to others results in a difficult or unfavorable rebirth, while bringing joy to others leads to a fortunate and noble birth. In this way, one’s future is shaped by actions done through the mind, speech, and deeds in past births.  

In Vedic philosophy, karma is the driving force behind the cycle of birth and rebirth. Attaining moksha (liberation) is not easy, as the soul continues to get caught in this cycle due to accumulated karmic debts from countless lifetimes. 

There are three types of karma:

1. Sanchitha Karma – This is the accumulated karma from all past lives. Every deed good or bad leaves an imprint that adds to this vast karmic bank.

The Longevity, General Health, Education, Occupation, Marriage, Children, Property, Death etc., are decided before the human being comes into this world, i.e. in the womb of the one’s mother, according to their past deeds good or bad which are called Sanchitha Karmas.

2. Prarabdha Karma – These Karmas are called operative Karmas. The intensity of these Karmas whether good or bad can be understood by looking into the Horoscope of an individual. From this storehouse, a portion becomes active and begins to bear fruit in the present life. This karma determines our current circumstances both joyful and painful.
   
   

3. Agami Karma – These are the actions we perform in this life whose results will manifest in the future either in this birth or the next whatever good or bad are doing in the present life, will be carried over in the next Janma which are called Agami Karmas.
   
   

According to sacred texts like the Gnana Sindhu and Nirnaya Sindhu and teachings from the Bhagavad Gita, when a soul ascends to heaven due to good deeds (punya), it enjoys only half of that merit in the celestial realm. Once that merit is exhausted, the soul returns to Earth reborn to experience the remaining karma both good and bad through a new life.

This cycle continues endlessly until all negative karma is dissolved, and the soul is left with only pure merit. Only then can one achieve freedom from rebirth—salvation.

Many question the purpose of gaining knowledge if everything ends at death. But ancient wisdom offers a deeper view the soul is immortal, only the body perishes. The Bhagavad Gita beautifully explains that when a person dies with unfulfilled desires or incomplete knowledge, the soul returns in a new body to continue its journey. This rebirth happens in a suitable environment often among scholars or spiritually inclined families so the soul can resume its learning or fulfill its past aspirations.

Rebirth is not random; it's driven by karma vasana—the lingering impressions of past desires and deeds. For instance, someone who longed to be a renowned artist but died before achieving it may be reborn with an innate talent and passion for the arts, continuing from where they left off.

This endless cycle of birth and death continues until the soul becomes free from all desires and karmic debts both Punya Karma (good deeds) and Papa Karma (bad deeds) ultimately leading to salvation (moksha).

The Bhagavad Gita further teaches that the soul cannot be destroyed by weapons, fire, water, or wind—it is eternal. What dies is only the body not the soul. Lord Krishna explains this to Arjuna to help him understand that our true self goes beyond physical death.

From an astrological standpoint, the Sun represents the universal soul (Atman), as declared in the Vedas: "Surya Atma Jagatastastushashcha." The soul reincarnates to experience the consequences of its past actions—whether joy or suffering—through human birth.

Vedic scriptures also classify sins into three types:

• Physical (Sharirika Karma): Violence, theft and illicit relations.
  
  

• Verbal (Vachika Karma): Lying, gossip, harsh or meaningless speech.
  
  

• Mental (Manasika Karma): Harmful intentions, envy, hatred and disrespecting divinity.
  
  

True discipline lies in aligning our thoughts, words and actions. When these are in harmony the soul progresses. When misaligned, the cycle of karma deepens.

For those who don’t believe in karma or rebirth, Vedic teachings offer not just faith but a logical, spiritual, and cosmic explanation for the patterns of life we see and the purpose behind our existence.