About Jyotish

Frequently Asked Questions
(what to ask during a jyotish session, basic information needed, cost of a reading and more)

Astrology is called Jyotish in Sanskrit, which means "science of light."

Jyotish is the science of understanding the subtle influences that come to us from the universe. These influences are a reflection of the law of karma. Here, both fate and free will are at play. Fate means that our present circumstances are a result of our actions from previous lives. The external events of our lives are ruled by past karma, and over this we have little control. Free will means that our future is shaped by our actions in the present.

Jyotish can help us to understand how to optimize our potential so our lives develop according to our true destiny. It gives us an idea of the trends and periods of life — when to act and when not to act. It helps us understand our weaknesses — where we may need to put extra attention in order to attain fullness in our lives. It offers practical remedial measures that can help to alleviate areas of difficulty in the chart.

Jyotish holds that sadhana (spiritual practices) help neutralize the effects of karma. The main upayas (remedial measures) of Jyotish are also spiritual and consist of ritual, mantra and meditation. Propitiation of the planets through puja (ritual worship) and other prescribed measures is an integral part of Jyotish. Each planet has a deity, whose name can be chanted, and associated articles, which can be offered in worship or given in charity.

Someone once asked Mother, "Amma, what is the purpose of astrology and pujas when we have a Guru?" Amma replied, "When one is completely surrendered to the Guru, the planets stop acting and the Guru takes over completely . . . when that happens there is no need for astrology or pujas." She went on to say with the next breath, however, that she has seen very few with that level of surrender. So, while we are on the way to cultivating that supreme surrender to the Guru, knowledge of astrology can have a benefit.

What can one ask during the Jyotish reading?

Natal chart analysis and current life trends. Relationship compatibility analysis. Astrolocation analysis (find your best place to live). Selection of auspicious dates for important events (business, new home, marriage, etc.). Charts of family members (parents, children, etc.).

What is the cost per reading?

The cost for the Jyotish consultations is $60 per half-hour for both the Jyotish Tour and Amma's World Tour. During the World Tour only half-hour sessions are offered, as we try to see as many as possible. During the Jyotish Tour people may schedule longer sessions, to allow more time for questions about different aspects of the chart, family members, location analysis, finding auspicious times, etc. The cost remains the same, i.e. $120 for a one-hour session, etc. The proceeds from these readings go to support Amma's vast humanitarian activities.

What is the basic information required to do a reading?

To cast a horoscope, the date, time and place of birth of the person are needed. For some people, their time of birth is not known or readily available (sometimes even the date of birth is unknown!). While there are techniques for calculating the time of birth, this takes time. If the time of birth is approximately known, it can usually be narrowed down by checking the dates of a few important events in life. When the time of birth is not know within 24 hours, this process is very complex, and it may take a half-hour or possibly more to determine the time of birth. People in this situation are advised to schedule for a one-hour session, to allow time for rectification of the birth time, and should also bring with them a list of important dates in life, such as the following: 1) date of marriage; 2) birth of children; death of parents and/or grandparents; 3) dates of moving; dates of starting or ending a job; 4) dates of accident or major illness/surgery, etc; 5) dates of meeting guru or spiritual master any other; 6) dates of significance to the person.

What are the remedies recommended by the Jyotishee?

The main remedies offered by Jyotish for bringing balance into life involve the wearing of gemstones, performance of pujas (sacred rituals designed to remove harmful forces or enhance positive forces), and performance of personal sadhanas.

Who is the Jyotishee?

Nirmala Cohen has been studying and practicing Jyotish (Vedic Astrology) since 2004.  She has studied exclusively with her teacher, Hart deFouw, throughout that time.  These teachings originate from the Parasari lineage as passed on to him by his guru Mantriji.  

Nirmala met Amma in the summer of 2000.  She has followed Amma around the world since then dedicating her life to Amma’s teachings. In the autumn of 2005, Nirmala received Amma’s blessing to conduct readings during Amma’s foreign tours and in Amma’s ashram.