Archive | February, 2013

March Panchanga

27 Feb

March 2013 – Monthly Panchanga

Nandana Samvatsara –Uttarayana

  Shishir Ritu –Magha / Phalguna Masa

 

Important events for the month of March are appended below for information and guidance.
01 Mar 2013
  • Sankasta Chaturthi
  • ಸಂಕಷ್ಟ ಚತುರ್ಥಿ
04 Mar 2013
  • Mars enters Pisces. Mars is good in 3, 6 & 11 from natal Moon
  • ಫೂಭಾ ೪ ಮೀನೇ ಕುಜ
09 Mar 2013
  • Shani Pradosha
  • ಶನಿ ಪ್ರದೋಷ
10 Mar 2013
  • Maha Shivaratri
  • ಮಹಾ ಶಿವರಾತ್ರಿ
  • Shaneswara Jayanthi
  • ಶನೆಶ್ವರ ಜಯಂತಿ
11 Mar 2013
  • New Moon
  • ಅಮಾವಾಸ್ಯೆ
14 Mar 2013
  • Sun enters Pisces. Sun is good in 3,6,10 & 11 from natal Moon.
  • ಫೂಭಾ ೪ ಮೀನೇ ರವಿ
  • Meena  Sankramana
  • ಮೀನ ಸಂಕ್ರಮಣ
17 Mar 2013
  • Venus enters Pisces. Venus is good in all places except 6 &10 from natal Moon.
  • ಫೂಭಾ ೪ ಮೀನೇ ಶುಕ್ರ
  • Mercury turns Direct in Aquarius
  • ಬುಧ ವಕ್ರತ್ಯಾಗ
24 Mar 2013
  • Pradhosha
  • ಪ್ರದೋಷ
26 Mar 2013
  • Holi Habba
  • ಹೋಳಿ ಹಬ್ಬ
  • Satyanarayana Pooja
  • ಸತ್ಯನಾರಾಯಣ ಪೂಜೆ
27 Mar 2013
  • Full Moon
  • ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮೆ
30 Mar 2013
  • Sankasta Chaturthi
  • ಸಂಕಷ್ಟ ಚತುರ್ಥಿ
Disclaimer: This Almanac is published as an advisory only. Individuals are requested to use their discretion and consequently  the author is not responsible for any damage / loss suffered by them.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Rathasapthami 2013

14 Feb
                                           Rathasapthami – 2013
 
This year Rathasapthami falls on Magha Masa Shukla Paksha Sapthami, Sunday the 17th February 2013
 
Ratha Sapthami or Rathasapthami (Sanskrit: रथसप्तमी, Kannada: ರಥಸಪ್ಥಮಿ) or Magha Sapthami is a Hindu festival that falls on the seventh day (Sapthami) in the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu month Maagha. It marks the seventh day following the Sun’s northerly movement (Uttarayana) of vernal equinox starting from Capricorn (Makara). It is symbolically represented in the form of the Sun God Surya turning his Ratha (Chariot) drawn by seven horses (representing seven colours) towards the northern hemisphere, in a north-easterly direction. It also marks the birth of Surya and hence celebrated as Surya Jayanthi (the Sun-god’s birthday).
 
Rathasapthami is symbolic of the change of season to spring and the start of the harvesting season. For most Indian farmers, it is an auspicious beginning of the New Year. The festival is observed by all Hindus in their houses and in innumerable temples dedicated to Surya, across India.
 
                                                Religious significance
 
Rathasapthami marks the seventh day following the Sun’s northerly movement (Uttarayana) of vernal equinox starting from Capricorn (Makara). Remember this year we have a ‘Adhik Maasa’.It is symbolically represented in the form of the Sun God Surya turning his Ratha (Chariot) drawn by seven horses, with Aruna as the charioteer, towards the northern hemisphere, in a north-easterly direction. The symbolic significance of the Ratha and the seven horses reigned to it is that it represents the seven colours of the rainbow. The seven horses are also said to represent the seven days of a week starting with Sunday, the day of Sun god Surya. The Rathasapthami festival seeks the benevolent cosmic spread of energy and light from the Sun God.
Rathasapthami also marks the gradual increase in temperature across South India and awaits the arrival of spring, which is later heralded by the festival of Ugadi or the Hindu lunar New Year day in the month of Chaitra.
                                                             Surya
 
                                                  Religious observances
God Vishnu in his form as Surya (the Sun-God) is usually worshiped on this day. Usually, Rathasapthami begins in households with a purification bath (bathing is also done in a river or sea) by holding several Ekka (Calotropis Gigantea) leaves on their head while bathing and chanting a verse which is supposed to invoke the benevolence of the Lord in all that one indulges in during the rest of the year. Its use during the ritualistic ceremonious bath involves placement of seven leaves – one on the head, two on the shoulders, two on the knees and two on the feet.
The following mantra on Sun god is chanted while taking the bath.
“Saptha Saptha Maha Saptha|
Saptha Dweepa Vasundara|
Sapth Arka Parna Madaya|
Sapthamyam Snana Machareth||”
 
By following this simple ritual people believe that the Lord will bless them with success for all their endeavors in the coming year.
Argyam or (Tharpanam) (water held in the palms) is offered to the Sun God on this day while chanting hymns  to the Sun God. It also involves doing a Pooja with the ritual Naivedhya (food offering to God), and offering of flowers and fruits. Important prayers offered to the Sun god on this occasion are the Adityahridayam, Gayathri, Suryashtakam, Surya Sahasram namam. The preferred time for the pooja is within one hour after sunrise. In places like Mysore and Melkote, ceremonial processions carry the Surya Mandala – the icon of Surya.
 
The food grain associated with Surya/Sun god is the wholesome Wheat, so on this day Godi/Wheat Payasa or Avalakki/Beaten Rice Payasa/Pudding is prepared and the Payasa is allowed to overflow the pan in which it is being cooked. Perform Pooja and offer fruits and payasa to the god.

 

Profession

7 Feb

Profession

I have been flooded with request to write an article on ‘Profession’ and this is my small contribution on the subject. What I have depicted is general in nature and I have tried to keep the content simple to understand by budding astrologers.
 
Predicting the profession of a native is quite a tricky job and is one of the most sought after fields in predictive astrology.  Numerous areas and highly competitive environment, be it business, service, profession, politics, etc. and its magnitude are the areas which have charged the atmosphere, making it quite difficult for the decision makers to identify one which should be most suitable from the point of view of success and also the potentialities of the seekers.
 
There are a number of factors that help us in arriving at a decision on this vital issue. The nature of the sign falling in the ascendant (Lagna), tenth house governing profession, second house ruling wealth,the eleventh house signifying income and the Lagna of Dasamsha (D-10) of a native.  The strength of the lords of these houses and the operating planetary periods hold the key to decipher the codes.  Similarly, understanding the nature of planets which become significator for profession and the planets exerting influence on these planets is necessary. 
 
I will endeavour to give certain ‘Thumb Rules’ which can be followed to identify profession and I must caution that these are not exhaustive and readers are advised to do their own research further. This is purely by Parashara method and readers are not confuse with Jaimini system.
 
Methodology
1. Check the strength of Lagna. Strong Lagna indicates a steady and good job. Also the nature of sign gives an indication of the job.
2. Identify 10th house from Lagna. Note down what type of sign it is and this gives a clue to profession.
Nature of Sign
  • Movable sign: Explorers, businessmen, travelers, sportsmen and marketing professionals. Job involving travelling and a transferable job.
  • Fixed sign: Sedentary jobs, clerks, peons and job involving routine nature.
  • Common sign: Service industry, teachers, middlemen, accountants, cashiers, actors and writers.
 Type of Tatwa
  • Fiery Sign: engineering, iron industry, surgeons, explorers, soldiers, barbers, trade union leaders and politicians.
  • Earthy Sign: Administrative jobs, civil services, real estate, buildings, agriculture, furniture, wood and timber related business, food items and mining.
  • Airy Signs: Intellectual professions like philosophers, writers, scientists, astrologers, advisors, lawyers, lecturers, pilots and literary pursuits.
  • Watery Signs: Jobs in liquids like petroleum, dairy farming, chemicals, drugs, biology, shipping, Navy, marine engineers and fishing industry.
Careers by Zodiac Signs
  • Aries:  Army and police, surgeon, mechanics, iron and steel, firefighting, industrialists and athletes.
  • Taurus:  Luxury goods, jewelry, cosmetics, music, actors, banking, tailors, fashion and property.
  • Gemini:  IT, Media and journalism, accountants, representatives, translators and writers.
  • Cancer:  Naval and marine, fishing, nursing, interior design, food, petroleum and historians.
  • Leo:  Government jobs, politics, religion, investing and diplomacy.
  • Virgo: IT computing, astrology, accounting, media, doctors and healing.
  • Libra:  Judges, artists, cosmetics, fashion, receptionists, advertising and interior decorating.                                                                                 
  • Scorpio: Chemicals, drugs, liquids, insurance, doctors, nurses, police and occult.
  • Sagittarius: Law, religion, banking and finance, entrepreneurs, athletes, clothing and shoes.
  • Capricorn: Raw material extraction and processing such as lumber and mining
  • Aquarius:  Advisors, consultants, philosophers, astrologers, engineers and computing
  • Pisces:  Doctors, marine related, chemicals, oil, painters, hospital and prisons.
3. Planet / Planets posited in 10th House and aspecting 10th House.
4. Planet / Planets aspecting 10th Lord.
5. 10th Lord and where he is posited in D-1. Here we have to relate the Karakatwas of the planet representing 10th Lord.
  • Sun: Authority, politicians, scientists, leaders, directors, government employees, doctors,
  • Moon:  Nursing, the public servants, women, children, travelling, marine, cooks, restaurants, import/export.
  • Mars:  Fire, energy, metals, initiative, weapons, construction, soldiers, police, surgeons, engineers.
  • Mercury: Intellect, writing, teaching, merchandise, clerks, accountants, editors, transport, astrologers.
  • Jupiter:  Finance, law, treasury, scholars, priests, politicians, diplomats advertising, psychologist, humanitarian.
  • Venus: Pleasures, luxuries, beauty, art, music, entertainment industry, hotels.
  • Saturn: Iron & steel, real estate, labour, agriculture, building trades, mining.
  • Rahu: Researchers, engineers, physicians, medicine/drugs, speculators, waste.
  • Ketu: Idealism, enlightenment, religion, secret affairs, poisons, metaphysics. 
 6. Navamsha dispositor of 10th Lord
7. Lagna Lord of D-10.
8. 10th Lord of D-10
Analysis
 
1. Having obtained all the above data it is now the time for identifying the profession.
2. The strongest of the planet gives the final result. If there are more than one strong planet, the you have to blend all their Karakatwas and arrive at the result.
3. There may be more than one profession indicated.
4. Intuition plays a major part in this analysis.
 
Case Study   
 
Jyothishi - CS - D-1     Jyothishi - CS - D-9                   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Jyothishi - CS - D-10
       
 
1. Lagna: Libra in all three cases. Mars and Mercury in Lagna.
2.10th House: Cancer. Movable and Watery sign.
3. Planet posited in 10th House / aspecting 10th House – Venus & Jupiter
4. Planets aspecting 10th Lord – None
5. 10th Lord: Moon posited in Mercury House.
6. 10th Lord Navamsha dispositor is Mars with Sun
7. D-10 Lagna Lord: Venus. Saturn is in Lagna.
8. In D-10, 10th Lord: Moon
9. All planets are sufficiently strong in Shadbala
10. Final combination of planets is: Moon, Mars, Sun, Venus, Jupiter and Mercury.
Reality
1. The individual is a dynamic and balanced person since Lagna is Libra in all three Vargas. Mars in Lagna made him an adventurer.
2. Cancer, Moon, Movable sign and Watery sign – all of these gave him a career related to water.
3. Mars and Sun assured him a job in government defence service i.e. Navy and he retired as a very senior officer of the Navy.
3. Venus helped him in specialize in the fine art of Navigation. He was also a good orator and glib talker. He was also a good sailor and represented India in various sailing events.
4. Jupiter moulded his teaching skills and he was an instructor in Navy at various stages.
5. Mercury made him a prolific writer by contributing articles to various magazine and journals.
6. Post retirement, Jupiter-Venus-Mercury combination helped him become a faculty member at a prestigious B-School
7. You may also note, Saturn who is Yogakaraka for this Lagna is posited in 11th House indicating that his gains will be through service.
 
Author’s Note
I have tried to keep this as simple as possible. The professions mentioned above are only representative and by no means exhaustive. The students are advised to do their own research and expand their horizon. The data gathered are mostly from classical texts and the reference list may be helpful for further research.
References
1. Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra
2. Saravali by Kalyana Varma
3. Brihat Jataka by Varahamihira
4. Jataka Bharanam by Dhundiraja
5. How to Judge a Horoscope by Dr BV Raman
6. Practical Vedic Astrology by GS Agarwal