The Jewel of Auspicious Moments

Knowledge is absolutely necessary. These are the limbs of the Vedas The Vedangas: six auxiliary disciplines traditionally studied to understand and apply the Vedas —

'The meters are the feet of the Veda, and the ritual instructions are called its hands.
Astrology is the eye, and etymology is called the ear.

'Phonetics is the nose of the Veda, and grammar is remembered as its mouth.
Therefore, only by studying the Vedas along with these limbs is one honored in the world of the Creator.'

The Importance of Astrology Among the Vedic Limbs

This science of Astrology, being the eye of the Veda, enjoys the highest importance and primacy among the six limbs. This is because Astrology is the science that determines time. "Determining time" means it is the communicator of time. Ritual activities such as sacrifices and offerings, when performed in accordance with a Muhurta An auspicious period of time or "election" chosen for starting an activity, lead to the desired results, and not when performed at random. Thus, it has been said by the learned:

The Vedas are indeed directed toward the purpose of sacrifice,
and sacrifices are prescribed according to the sequence of time.
Therefore, he who knows this science of time-keeping,
which is Astrology, knows the sacrifices.

For instance, there are Vedic injunctions such as: "One should offer oblations at sunrise," "One should offer oblations before sunrise," "One should bathe during an eclipse," or "One should sacrifice at the new and full moon." But whose sunrise? Whose eclipse? What is this "new moon"? In the absence of such knowledge of time, when one asks how these duties should be performed, Astrology alone provides the answer. The Daivajnas Astrologers; literally "knowers of the divine/fate" determine the time of sunrise, non-sunrise, the new moon, and eclipses through minute observation, tracking the movements of the sun and other celestial bodies with extreme precision. Only through their constant labor is the time produced that is fit and praised for the performance of sacrifices and rituals.

It was stated earlier that Astrology is the determiner of time. However, it is not only the determiner of time, but also the decider of the past, present, and future. Following the noble saying, "We are the sharers of the fruits of our actions," people in this world wonder and desire to know: what will be the result of the work already done, the work being done, and the work yet to be done? There is no means in this world to answer this other than Astrology.