Astrology is by and large understood as a predictive branch of knowledge; it is perceived as a means to know about the future. Normally people want to know about their career, married life, children, health and above all how and when shall they be able to gain success, riches and fame. Actually, the real purpose of astrology is above and beyond all this.

Our birth horoscope viz our kundli is actually a mirror of our past karmas. In Bhagvad Gita, Sri Krishna said: “No one can ever remain without performing action for even a moment; everyone is helplessly driven to action by nature” (Chapter 3, Shloka 5). Karma means a culmination of our actions; it includes our thoughts too.

Actions and thoughts are nothing but forms of energy. Thus two laws work here – one, energy is neither created nor destroyed; it only transforms from one form to another; and secondly, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.   So each and every thought and action of ours will DEFINITELY have a reaction – it cannot be dissolved; it has to be written off by a counter karma. Good actions and thoughts create good karma while bad actions and thoughts create bad karma. Thus, according to the law of karma as promulgated by the Vedanta, one shall face the consequences of one’s actions, karma whether in this birth or the next or the one after that. This explains the happy and tragic incidents in our lives. Nothing happens by chance: all our relations, joy, sorrows, success, failures, etc. are the outcome of the permutations and combinations of our own karmas as well as karmas of others.

These permutations and combinations take shape in the form of signs and placements of planets in our birth horoscope.  If a person is born in a poor family, it’s due to his past karma; if a person is not able to earn well in spite of putting in the best possible efforts; it’s due to his past karma. Many times we see people born with a silver spoon in their mouths; people who get and have every conceivable luxury even without having to work or ask for it – yes, again it is due to their past good karma. 

So the next time you go to an astrologer, instead of asking him “When will I be happy?” ask him: ‘Why am I unhappy?’ in so-and-so area of my life. Know your past karma and you will know the reason of your failure or sorrow. Once you know the reason, the solution will become clear.

A person who was very rich industrialist, but was childless for years after marriage seeks advice of an astrologer. The astrologer reads from the horoscope that in one of his previous births, he was responsible for the deaths of many children. He was cursed by so many parents. He had a cross to bear. He was advised to help orphanages, to finance the needs of poor children and above all, if possible, to adopt a child and bring him up lovingly thus atoning for his past karma, which he did. He is happier and content today – because he understood the core of his sorrow and knew that he had to set right the wrong done by him earlier.

In fact, every little detail, such as one’s nature, events in one’s life, and reasons for good or bad relationships – all can be traced to our past karmas as visible in a horoscope. You will understand why you are what you are. You will understand why you get angry/jealous/irritated and so on. You will be able to know what remedies – in the form of counter karma - will help you overcome these traits.

Understanding what the horoscope wants to tell you will also help you know the real purpose of this birth. So many people spend their whole lives wondering what the real purpose of their existence is. Your horoscope tells you all – knowing your pending karmas will help you to work in the direction of clearing them. You can improve your relations, your way of working, your line of work, your thoughts and yes, your nature, actions and reactions. Only then can you live a fulfilling and content life.

Once you understand your past well, you will be able to create your own future by now deciding your karma! You will now become the creator of your own fate and master of your own destiny!