Journal of Astrology Newsletter November 2010

Big bangs and explosions often accompany change. In astrology we see them from the 8^th house. Birth and death are dramatic events in an individual’s eternal life. They cannot be experienced and recalled except perhaps through past life regression methods which in any case give only faded reflections. Nevertheless, we have enough evidence to believe in reincarnation. To a Vedic astrologer this evidence is easier to relate to with time and maturity. Thus, astrology can also be defined as a science delivering subtle messages of eternal truth. All you need to do is to remain in touch.  And the messages will keep coming! 

This letter attempts to address some of the mysteries of life that have intrigued us forever. Perhaps, according to the design of the Almighty, we ought to be a distance away from the truth and reality. Man has been in quest of the grand design of our creator from the time perhaps he started to think. Still, to reach the final answer remains a distant dream. Through science and the depth of thoughts in scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita we could go some distance in unraveling the cosmic mystery of our existence.  

Why the 8th house is called the house of Ayu? The answer we seek perhaps lies in rebirth which astrology recognizes. Through the prism of astrology, death and birth are unavoidable events of existence. In a horoscope ayu (longevity) is merely seen as a span of one’s present life which is followed by lives after lives perhaps in different forms. The soul continues to live after each death. The Death deletes the memory of the present. It is like waking up in another world. The difference between sleep and death is only that after sleep you retain your memory but after death you do not.

Saturn governs the alarm bell that tolls for all. It’s logical why ayu karaka (significator of longevity) for the 8^th house is Saturn and not Sun.  Saturn has been clearly described as kaal (time) in our shastras and represents time limits as well; and the Sun is universally known as the atma which is timeless. It cannot die, at least for billions and billions of years till Sun becomes a cold star.

Can we Conquer time?  Time machines are fiction. Most of us do not get even a hint of what is in store in the time that perennially ticks by our side. An astrologer should keep referring to the 8^th house and its significator to reduce the intensity of shocks of changes the consultant is likely to receive. Death, sudden and unexpected happenings and other such matters, seen from the 8^th house remind us of the famous couplets from the popular Indian film of yesteryears, WAQT.

“Waqt ka har sheh gulam
Waqt ka har sheh pe raj
Kaun jane kis ghadi
Waqt ka badle mizaz”

Everything is controlled by time. Time has control over the minutest thing. Who knows with its changing moods?

Everything created by God has a purpose and a reason behind. Why are we born in this life with this form is to be reasoned to get to the answer we are seeking. Why are some born blind and some struck by polio in early childhood? Why are some born in palaces and some in slums? They could have done nothing in this life that could make them deserving of a destiny created during birth and early childhood. Surely, the criteria of allotment are not on the basis of the karmas of our present life! Each of such life’s facets when probed deeply led us to the theory of reincarnation. Whether it is rinanubandhan (debt of past lives) the reason of our pleasures and pains of this life and for choice of people who surround or it a fresh opportunity showered on us under a scheme of God is a question that we always consciously or subconsciously debate within and outside. But what can be easily concluded is that justice for the soul is available only in God’s court.  

BHAGAVAD GITA REACHED THE FARTHEST IN KNOWING WHO WE ARE 5000 YEARS AGO

No interpretation of life is anywhere near in the depth, reached in Bhagavad Gita. The 8th chapter of this scripture is not merely about spiritual practice but reminds one to keep in mind, at the time of death, the thoughts that decide the quality of salvation and rebirth. For Bhagavad Gita’s interpreters it is the toughest chapter, just as the 8^th house of a horoscope is for an astrologer, as it is from here that spirituality and reaching the ultimate goal is seen. In this chapter through the answers of God the ultimate truth is revealed for the humanity in Bhagavad Gita.  

Did God design only Hints for Humanity: Arjuna asks Lord Krishna in the Chapter 8 Bhagavadprapti What is universe? What is Atma? What is Sakam karma? What is this physical earth all about? Who are devtas?

The Lord Shri Krishna replied:
The Supreme Spirit is the Highest Imperishable Self, and Its Nature is spiritual consciousness. The worlds have been created and are supported by an emanation from the Spirit which is called the Law.

Matter consists of the forms that perish; Divinity is the Supreme Self; and He who inspires the spirit of sacrifice in man, O noblest of thy race, is I Myself, Who now stand in human form before thee. Whosoever at the time of death thinks only of Me, and thinking thus leaves the body and goes forth, assuredly he will know Me. On whatever sphere of being the mind of a man may be intent at the time of death, thither he will go.

Therefore meditate always on Me, and fight; if thy mind and thy reason be fixed on Me, to Me shalt thou surely come.

He whose mind does not wander, and who is engaged in constant meditation, attains the Supreme Spirit.

Who so meditates on the Omniscient, the Ancient, more minute than the atom, yet the

Ruler and Upholder of all, Unimaginable, Brilliant like the Sun, Beyond the reach of darkness;

He who leaves the body with mind unmoved and filled with devotion, by the power of his meditation gathering between his eyebrows his whole vital energy, attains the Supreme.

Now I will speak briefly of the imperishable goal, proclaimed by those versed in the scriptures, which the mystic attains when free from passion, and for which he is content to undergo the vow of continence.

Closing the gates of the body, drawing the forces of his mind into the heart and by the power of meditation concentrating his vital energy in the brain;

Repeating Om, the Symbol of Eternity, holding Me always in remembrance, he who thus leaves his body and goes forth reaches the Spirit Supreme.

To him who thinks constantly of Me, and of nothing else, to such an ever-faithful devotee, O Arjuna, am I ever accessible.

Coming thus unto Me, these great souls go no more to the misery and death of earthly life, for they have gained perfection.

The worlds, with the whole realm of creation, come and go; but, O Arjuna, who so comes to Me, for him there is no rebirth.

Those who understand the cosmic day and cosmic night know that one day of creation is a thousand cycles, and that the night is of equal length.

At the dawning of that day all objects in manifestation stream forth from the Unmanifest, and when evening falls they are dissolved into It again.

The same multitude of beings, which have lived on earth so often, all are dissolved as the night of the universe approaches, to issue forth anew when morning breaks. Thus is it ordained.

In truth, therefore, there is the Eternal Unmanifest, which is beyond and above the Unmanifest Spirit of Creation, which is never destroyed when all these being perish.

The wise say that the Unmanifest and Indestructible is the highest goal of all; when once That is reached, there is no return. That is My Blessed Home.

O Arjuna! That Highest God, in Whom all beings abide, and Who pervades the entire universe, is reached only by wholehearted devotion.

Now I will tell thee, O Arjuna, of the times at which, if the mystics go forth, they do not return, and at which they go forth only to return. If knowing the Supreme Spirit the sage goes forth with fire and light, in the daytime, in the fortnight of the waxing moon and in the six months before the Northern summer solstice, he will attain the Supreme.

But if he departs in gloom, at night, during the fortnight of the waning moon and in the six months before the Southern solstice, then he reaches but lunar light and he will be born again.

These bright and dark paths out of the world have always existed. Who so takes the former, returns not; he who chooses the latter, returns.

O Arjuna! The saint knowing these paths is not confused. Therefore meditate perpetually. The sage who knows this passes beyond all merit that comes from the study of the scriptures, from sacrifice, from austerities and charity, and reaches the Supreme Primeval Abode.”

SUMMARY OF THE EIGHT DISCOURSE

Lord Krishna explains how those who attain Him do not have to come again into this impermanent world of sorrow and pain. All beings, including even the gods, come again and again into this created universe from the state of unmanifest being wherein they remained at the end of an age-cycle. But the Lord exists even beyond this unmanifest being. That radiant, imperishable Divine Reality is the highest goal to be attained. Single-minded devotion of our heart is the means of attaining this highest blessed state. Even though there are auspicious and inauspicious circumstances of departing from the physical body and journeying forth, yet if one steadily abides in the Lord through firm devotion and faith, then these conditions do not matter. By always remaining in tune with the Lord through pure love, everything is made auspicious, if one can ever remain united with the Divine through deep devotion, constant remembrance, regular meditation and continuous communion, then all times, places, conditions and situations become auspicious and blessed. This is the secret of invoking His Grace and attaining Him and becoming eternally free and blissful. Arjuna here asks Lord Krishna about the meaning of the different terms referred to by Him in the last two verses of the previous chapter. He wishes to know what the Supreme Being is, what is Karma or action that He refers to, and what is the meaning that pertains to this spirit, the elements and the center of all things within this human body.

BHAGAVAD GITA

Beyond all things manifest and unmanifest, beyond these names and forms, there is the Supreme Being—Brahman. He indwells this body as the center of all things, including even our own self (individual soul). We are a spiritual being residing in this body and supported by the Silent Witness within—the Supreme Antaryamin. Prakriti or Nature is the being pertaining to the elements. Worship, prayer and offering to the gods with faith and devotion constitute actions that lead to blessedness.

The secret of reaching the Divine Being and thus freeing oneself forever from birth and death and the pains and sufferings of this earth-life, is to constantly practice unbroken remembrance of the Lord at all times, in all places and even amidst one’s daily activities. If one practices such steady remembrance through regular daily Sadhana, then he will be rooted in His remembrance even at the time of departing from this body at death. Thus departing, he will go beyond darkness and bondage and attain the realm of eternal blessedness.

One must practice sense-control. The senses must be well disciplined and gradually withdrawn from outside objects. The mind should be centered within upon God, by uttering Om or any Divine Name. By such steady practice daily the Lord is easily attained.  

Arjuna Uvaacha: Kim tadbrahma kim adhyaatmam kim karma purushottama; Adhibhootam cha kim proktam adhidaivam kimuchyate.

Arjuna said:

1. What is that Brahman? What is Adhyatma? What is action, O best among men? What is declared to be Adhibhuta? And what is Adhidaiva said to be?

Adhiyajnah katham ko’tra dehe’smin madhusoodana;
Prayaanakaale cha katham jneyo’si niyataatmabhih.

2. Who and how is Adhiyajna here in this body, O destroyer of Madhu (Krishna)? And how, at the time of death, art Thou to be known by the self-controlled one?  

ASTROLOGICAL CLASSICS ON THE 8TH HOUSE

Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra: Longevity, battle, enemies, forts, wealth of the dead, and things that have happened and are to happen (in the past and future births)  

Phaldeepika Mangalaya (the living of the husband during the life time of the wife), Randhra, filthiness, mental pain, defeat or humiliation, longevity, sorrow, blame, death, impurity, impediments and slavery.  

In Mundane Astrology the eighth house governs: Death of national rulers, presidents, prime ministers, kings or dictators, end of governments, destruction of the state, any set back to cabinet like death of important ministers, trouble to the people through famines, epidemics, mortality, death rates. Scientific organization, legacies, capital gain, taxes and death duties, pensions, hidden things, scientific investment, discoveries and death rate.   

THE GOOD AND THE BAD FROM 8TH HOUSE

To terminate a phase or an era, the Saturn is well equipped. Many things happen unexpectedly and suddenly that change life. Be it a train accident, riot, carnage, lottery, death unearthing of financial irregularities, a word uttered or a statement made could be interpreted as seditious without your realizing when spoken. Reflect on the 8th house for such happenings. We have had a fatwa issued that called for the death of Salman Rushdie for his remarks on God. A word or a statement can drive the whole civilization against you with rage and you could become the most hated overnight. Attribute this to the 8th house. Politicians have 8th and 10th connection in their horoscope, clearly showing a career that has many ups and downs. The mysterious unreliable politician, the death of democracy and reincarnation of communism are also the areas governed by the 8th house. Rage and riot that bring sudden and expected changes also fall under the 8th house. Anything that brings change lottery too and rumors also. 

The 8th House creates Headlines: November 16 HT “Three-time BJP MP shot dead in Meerut road rage incident. In a suspected case of road rage, Amar Pal Singh a three-time BJP MP from Meerut was shot dead on Monday morning by unidentified assailants. The 60-year old who had recently joined the Congress died on the spot at Mawana near Meerut. Police said Singh was on the way to his brick kiln when a grey Santro car hit his Scorpio from behind. He was shot by one of four youths in the car when he stepped, revolver in hand, to settle a brewing altercation” .Such developments that bring death and changes for the family are seen from the 8th house.

The 8th house decides Changes. It heralds a chapter, a phase, a decade and an era. For major turnarounds astrologers should scrutinize the 8th house as it has been found bringing about the changes – both negative and positive. Both during promotion and transfer the 8th house has found activated in horoscopes.  Whether it is a change of house, a job, a city or a partner the stamp of the 8th house is always found...  

The 8th is the house of Samadhi and Moksha: Crusades, depth of the eyes and the depth of the heart, the thinking, the thinker, research, the hindsight of philosophers and saints, intuition, the underground, the hidden, the mystic, are all seen from the 8th house.  The thoughts that meet the atma and then the paramatma are also seen from the 8th house.  

THE LIBERAL ZONE
Who is the significator of change and the 8^th house- Saturn or Mars? Do not conclude with just one meaning as astrology is meaningful. Saturn has been explained as the harbinger of changes of sorts. Why not Mars as it the 8^th lord of the natural zodiac. Why not Rahu and Ketu as the give results like Saturn and Mars. My observation is that Saturn, Rahu, Mars and Jupiter influence strongly in transit and they should be liberally used to predict changes. The dual transit theory advocated by Mr.K.N.Rao also works very well. The dasha of Saturn, Rahu or Mars intensely influence a destiny and bring in major turnarounds. 

Short but Sweet Octopus Paul had a fulfilling life. He perhaps had a better understanding of the 8^th house matters than any of us. He had name, fame and glory in his two years of life. The Mayfly lives for one day (duration of Moon transit in one nakshatra) She may be having her life’s dreams and ambitions fulfilled in hours and would age too in the time scale of hours. As per our shastras, what is one year to us is just a day in heaven. One should learn from the Mayfly and Octopus Paul how to make life a wonderful and fulfilling adventure by utilizing every moment bestowed by the Almighty.  

Robots can nowhere come near humans. The human being is complex with three levels- physical, mental and spiritual. A physical wound can be cured by modern medicines physically. It can be cured by will power mentally and spiritually also by attracting the positive energies. The cosmos is as complex as the human with all sorts of energies flowing for us to garner. The robots with conscience developed in Spain which will entertain teach and be a companion to humans slavish should also be seen as a toy developed by Science.  When we are far away from understanding human life we should forget about replacing it with rubber and metal.   

Researchers led by Daryl Bern at Cornell University, who carried out a study have also found that influencing events before they happen is also within many people’s remit, the Daily Mail reported. They have based their findings on an analysis of a series of experiments, involving 1000 volunteers. In one experiment, students were shown a list of words to memorize. They were later asked to recall as many as they could and finally they were given a random collection of words to type out. Not surprisingly they were better at remembering some words than others. But spookily, these tended to be the words they would later be asked to type, suggesting a future event had affected their ability to remember. In another experiment, the students were shown an image of two curtains on a computer screen and told one contained an erotic picture slightly more often than could be explained away by chance. Importantly, the position of the picture was randomly allotted by a computer which didn’t make its decision until after the volunteer chose one curtain or the other. To believe in the paranormal, this suggests the students were actually influencing future events. In other words, they were able to see into the future, according to Bern, who carried out the study  

NEWS ZONE
Seminar and Convocation of 14^th November, 2010. This time the function was held at Tapovan Hall, Chinmaya Mission, New Delhi. It was indeed a testing time for many. Monica  D.Saxena, Anju Sachdev and Lovely Gupta impressed the audience with their deeply researched presentations. The Star of the show was none other than Mr. K.N.Rao. Ms Komila Sutton, who was here with two her foreign students, rated the seminar as excellent and so did Mr.Purohit who had come all the way from Rajkot.  

Teacher student reaction at BVB in December, 2010. Astrology enthusiasts from Australia, Japan, Taiwan  Russia and the West, keen to acquire the nuances of  astrology  taught  by teachers of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan  during cold December days surely will create a winter festival of astrology for us. Though cold for us in India, perhaps the weather would be pleasant for our foreign friends.  Besides foreign enthusiasts, we have accommodated Astrology lovers from outside Delhi also. There is still space and therefore the registration is open. It could turn out to be an opportunity to grab the subtleties of astrology every year. Let’s wait for the event to take place. Perhaps it is Destiny that the finer tips of astrology are being delivered to the deserving in the month of December.

Charmer Obama in India on a trip that lacked trust: Some consider Americans as people who change their cars, furniture, home appliances and spouses every three years. And this time they desire to change their President before his four year term. Obama must be wondering what went wrong. He perhaps does not know that the answer lies in Vedic astrology. It is only after the Moon dasha which ends in June 2011 that the destiny of US will come in line and start responding to the stimulations after stimulations being given by Obama to save his face. The mid-term polls results in the US were one big disappointment for Obama. Every President looses in these Polls and then regains trust gradually. What is worrying for Obama is the margin of his defeat. In his visit to India on 6^th and 7^th November, the trauma of the defeat could clearly be seen. His approach was targeted at face saving. The announcement of India deciding to source infrastructure equipment, nuclear hardware and military aircraft from the US which could create over seven lakh jobs in America in the next ten years revealed all. 

It seems the Sensex climbed up just to fulfil our prediction. It was a long journey from July, 2009 when the Sensex was hovering in the vicinity of 14000 and the Lok Sabha elections were round the corner. All astrologers gave predictions of a coalition government based on the Chaitra Shukla Pratipada chart. We in our Newsletter of July, 2009 predicted economic boom and in the January 2010 Newsletter predicted that the Sensex will cross its highest ever and will be higher in April, 2011. It did cross the highest ever closing in a day on Diwali. The bull backers should not be disheartened with the steep fall because the prediction was that it will be higher only in April, 2011. 

Only Sun can smoke out the corruption holed in high places. One can feel the structure of corruption built over the years by Rahu with strong foundations, shaking under the influence of Sun in its dasha.  The 2 G spectrum scam that took place in the dasha Venus-Mercury three years ago stands exposed today. It is being described as the mother of all scams by the media. Corruption has seeped into the door step of PM is another media remark Manmohan Singh is charged with inaction! Supreme Court has asked PM to explain silence on Raja! DMK arm twisted PM is one of the allegations.PM Guilty of omission. It’s naïve that Raja has bungled and PM knew about it. To ignore the dirty politics is a crime perhaps our economist PM realized a little too late. The joke going around is Manmohan Singh knows only 2 G - Sonia G and Rahul G.  

We have Newspapers with corruption spread for breakfast these days. Newspapers have also reported that 9.6 lac crores have been lost in illicit outflows-Enough to wipe out country’s debt and tackle poverty. Graft and Greed is a real problem at high places where corruption exists in dignified and decorated cupboards. Chief Ministers are sacked. Direct involvement of Cabinet Minister and top bureaucrats, who were found in the fold of Nira Radia the ill-famed lobbyists, is alleged. Former Army Chief fell for a house in Adarsh Society where 30 benami allotments have been traced by CBI out of the 103 flats. The list is endless.  

The CWG scam and many like it, lined up for discussion are forgotten.    Parliament is rocking and roaring with corruption recited at least 108 times daily. As predicted in the October, 2010 Newsletter the good time was there till 3^rd November, 2010. In the following pratyantar dashas of Mars and Rahu in the Indian Independence horoscope such allegations, counter allegations with corruption as the focus were expected.

Yeduruppa's year of struggle Based on the 3:01 time of Shri Yeduruppa, as predicted in our previous Newsletter he would survive but has to struggle till Feb 2011. After February 2011, the horoscope gets strong. Congress High Command could not sack Jagat in Andhra and BJP Low Command could not make Yedurappa resign in Karnataka  

Remedy to live a fulfilling life: Shed your ego. Shed your anger! Excuse People. Do your tapasya and mantra jaap with the focus on God without diversion.