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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
 
 
 
 
 
 

Bhavat Bhavam

28 Jan

Principle of Bhavat Bhavam

 
There is a wonderful principle in astrology called ‘Bhavat Bhavam’ which can be applied to a chart to derive / decipher maximum information about an individual and his relatives. Bhava in Sanskrit means a ‘House’ which can be interpreted as residence, residence of celestial planets or astrological house.
 
 “Bhavat Bhavam” literally means from “from house to house”. By applying this logic, we can study the houses in a much deeper way than normal interpretation. This house-to-house principle can be extended to every house and reveals that there is a relationship between such houses.
 
 This principle can be applied different ways:
 1. Taking one house as reference point we can correlate other 11 houses to forecast for self and other factors representing those houses.
  • For example, 2nd house represent ‘Dhanastana’ i.e. money, accumulation of wealth etc of the self (Lagna). Similarly ‘gains ‘of children can be read by 6th house and that of spouse by 8th house.
  • 12th house is the house of expenses, hospitalisation and bed pleasure. This represent the ‘losses’ of self (Lagna). Extending this further we can say 6th house represents the losses or expenses of marriage (7th house) and 2nd house represents the same for coborns (3rd house)
 2. The house that is as far away from a house, as it is from the ascendant, also signifies those same things in a similar sort of way.
  • The 9th house is the house of Dharma. When we count 9th from the 9th house we get the 5th house. 5th house pertains to children, knowledge, scriptures and Purva Punya etc. Jupiter is involved as the natural karaka of the 5th and the 9th houses and of dharma and intelligence/creativity. When we judge the 5th & 9th houses we have to evaluate the common karaka, Jupiter as an indication to the fruits of family and expansion of Dharma.
  • Let’s look at the 5th from the 5th. We arrive at the 9th, the house of fortune (fortunate to bear children), it also indicates future children – that is grandchildren, which can only happen if the 5th house produces children.
 I will illustrate the application of this principle by taking one Bhava and correlating with other 11 Bhavas and the extra information we can get from such exercise. The second Bhava apart from being ‘Dhanastana’ for self can provide a variety of information as follows.
 SECOND BHAVA
  • Being 12th from 3rd it will represent losses, hospitalization, imprisonment of brothers and neighbours.
  • Being 11th from 4th – social activities and profits of mother, gains from land / house property and vehicle.
  • Being 10th from 5th _ career interests of children, their reputation and performance in school or college.
  • Being 9th from 6th – Long journeys of maternal relatives.
  • Being 8th from 7th _ death of husband or wife / end of marriage.
  • Being 7th from 8th – bequests and legacies through wife or husband
  • Being 6th from 9th – shows ill-health, debts and enemies of father.
  • Being 5th from 10th – investments and speculation in career.
  • Being 4th from 11th – homes of friends and elder brother
  • Being 3rd from 12th – short journeys of secret enemies.
The discussion on Bhavat Bhavam is not complete without the mention of another dictum known as ‘Karako Bhavanashaya’. In simple words a Karaka in its own house is not a good placement. The Karaka destroys the house it represents! Simply put, the planet which is the significator for that house, if placed in that house itself destroys the significations of that house. For example: Jupiter in 5th, Sun in 9th and Mars in 3rd and so on.
 
Some learned astrologers have opined that this principle mostly harms the living beings it represents than the inanimate aspect of life. However I will leave this to the readers to judge by experience and do not wish to get into any discussion.
 
The small treatise, “Bhavartha Ratnakara” written by Sri Ramanujacharya and translated by Dr BV Raman gives more insights into this.
 

Happy Sankranthi

12 Jan

Makar Sankranthi /Pongal /Boghi

14 Jan 2013

Makara Sankranti (मकरसंक्रान्ति, ಮಕರ ಸಂಕ್ರಾಂತಿ)

Sankranti is the Sanskrit word in Indian Astrology which refers to the transmigration of the Sun from one Rashi (sign of the zodiac) to another. However, the Sankranti festival usually refers to Makara Sankranti or the transition of the Sun from Dhanu Rashi (Sagittarius) to Makara Rashi(Capricorn). The festival therefore takes place around 21 days after the winter solstice (between December 20 and 23) that marks the starting of the phenomenon of ‘northward apparent migration of the sun’ or Uttarayana, literally meaning northward journey of Sun.
 
Makara Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. According to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Capricorn to the Tropic of Cancer or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, in the month of Pausha in mid-January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. The movement of the Sun from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac known as Makara in Hindi, this occasion is named as Makara Sankranti in the Indian context. It is one of the few Hindu Indian festivals which are celebrated on a fixed date i.e. 14 January every year.
 
Makara Sankranti, apart from a harvest festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is said as the ‘holy phase of transition’. It marks the end of an inauspicious phase which according to the Hindu calendar begins around mid-December. It is believed that any auspicious and sacred ritual can be sanctified in any Hindu family, this day onwards. Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season.
 
All over the country, Makara Sankranti is observed with great fanfare. However, it is celebrated with distinct names and rituals in different parts of the country. In the states of northern and western India, the festival is celebrated as the Sankranti day with special zeal and fervor. The importance of this day has been signified in the ancient epics like Mahabharata also. So, apart from socio-geographical importance, this day also holds a historical and religious significance. As it is the festival of Sun God and he is regarded as the symbol divinity and wisdom, the festival also holds an eternal meaning to it.
 

        

 

On this auspicious day when the Sun starts his northern journey, I wish all viewers a happy Makar Sankranthi / Pongal /Boghi and pray Almighty bestow good health and prosperity in the years ahead.

 

Jyothisha Mahopadhyaya

12 Dec
I am happy to inform you that I was honored during the 4th International Astrological Conference held at ‘Shikshakara Sadana’ (Teacher’s Auditorium)  Opposite Cauvery Bhavan, KG Road, Bengaluru from 30 Nov to 02 Dec 2012 with the title ‘Jyothisha Mahopadhyaya’ in recognition of the commendable services to the cause of Indian Astrology and Allied Sciences.
 
The conference was jointly organised by Astrological Institutions of Karnataka and Divyajyothee College of Astrology, Bangalore.
 
Honoring Ceremony
 
In the picture (L to R) Shatasthala Brahmi Dr Mummudi Chandra Shekar Shivacharya Swamiji of Aramane Japadakatte Math, Mysore, self and Prof. H.Chandrasekhar, General Secretary of the Organising Committee and Founder, Divyajyothee College of Astrology, Bengalur.
 
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