Saturday, February 24, 2007
On Vedic Astrology
For a beginner, learning Vedic astrology can be confusing as one of the first ideas presented is that Vedic astrology is referencing "nine planets": Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu.
A beginner can scratch their head and think, ok, Sun is not a planet, it is a star; Moon is not a planet, it is a satellite of Earth; Rahu and Ketu are not planets, they are points in space, the energetic spots where the Moons orbit is most "above" the Earths elliptic around the Sun (Rahu North Node) or where the Moons orbit is most "below" the Earths elliptic around the Sun (Ketu South Node).
So, if four of these nine "planets" are not really planets, whats up with that?
The Sanskrit word for these nine celestial energies is grahas, and this word conveys a better idea than the English word "planets." It is easier to understand all of these nine energies as "grahas." Graha carries a meaning "to seize" or "take hold of", and this indicates more clearly the active power of these celestial energies to seize our consciousness when we come under their influence or to take hold of what we focus on. The Sanskrit word captures the idea that these nine grahas are living energies which put out waves of energy. These waves of energy affect our awareness.
Patanjali, an enlightened sage who attained Samadhi in Rameshwaram wrote in the Yoga Sutras: "Yoga is the control of the thought-waves of the mind." The tremendous energetic waves of the nine grahas can strongly affect our own thought waves, and the divine law is "as we think, so we become."
Thus, to properly perform yoga and enter into deeper meditation, the ancient sages wanted to learn to control the effects of these grahas in their lives. They embarked on the study of astrology and made discoveries of how various combinations of grahas had certain results in the lives of people. They established "remedies" to help counteract these results when the predicted results were non-desirable.
Astrology is one of the branches of meditative arts as this tool can help one "control the thought-waves of the mind".
More...
A beginner can scratch their head and think, ok, Sun is not a planet, it is a star; Moon is not a planet, it is a satellite of Earth; Rahu and Ketu are not planets, they are points in space, the energetic spots where the Moons orbit is most "above" the Earths elliptic around the Sun (Rahu North Node) or where the Moons orbit is most "below" the Earths elliptic around the Sun (Ketu South Node).
So, if four of these nine "planets" are not really planets, whats up with that?
The Sanskrit word for these nine celestial energies is grahas, and this word conveys a better idea than the English word "planets." It is easier to understand all of these nine energies as "grahas." Graha carries a meaning "to seize" or "take hold of", and this indicates more clearly the active power of these celestial energies to seize our consciousness when we come under their influence or to take hold of what we focus on. The Sanskrit word captures the idea that these nine grahas are living energies which put out waves of energy. These waves of energy affect our awareness.
Patanjali, an enlightened sage who attained Samadhi in Rameshwaram wrote in the Yoga Sutras: "Yoga is the control of the thought-waves of the mind." The tremendous energetic waves of the nine grahas can strongly affect our own thought waves, and the divine law is "as we think, so we become."
Thus, to properly perform yoga and enter into deeper meditation, the ancient sages wanted to learn to control the effects of these grahas in their lives. They embarked on the study of astrology and made discoveries of how various combinations of grahas had certain results in the lives of people. They established "remedies" to help counteract these results when the predicted results were non-desirable.
Astrology is one of the branches of meditative arts as this tool can help one "control the thought-waves of the mind".
More...
Monday, February 19, 2007
Your BirthStar in Vedic Astrology : Swati
Swati (6°40 to 20°20' Libra)
General Characteristics: Sweet, soft spoken, virtuous, compassionate, mild, quiet nature, controls passions and desires, skilled in trade, merciful, charitable.
Translation: The priest, the sword
Symbol: Coral - strong intuitive and psychic properties - A young sprout quivering in the wind.
Animal Symbol: Male Buffalo
Ruling Planet: Rahu
Nature: Deva (god-like)
Presiding deity: Vayu the demigod of wind, air, breath, and prana.
Favorable: Tender; moral; able in business - clever in trade and commerce; truth-seeking; studious; meek; truthful; humanitarian - cares about others; thinks before acting; accurate; reduces things to their simplest components; uncorrupted; friendly; positive outlook; disciplined; seeks harmony; generous; active in spiritual organizations or humanitarian causes; likes to be around religious or well integrated people; interested in scientific or philosophical thought; independent; traveler; persuasive communication.
Unfavorable: Do not know their limitations resulting in loss of money; status; and respect; creates debt due to high expenses; discontented due to lofty goals; restless; critical; fault finding; not concerned with family; shy; monastic; self isolating; secretive; hides their passions and sexual urges; gives too much away; absurd creative thinking; vulnerable to the whims of others; hot tempered.
More...
General Characteristics: Sweet, soft spoken, virtuous, compassionate, mild, quiet nature, controls passions and desires, skilled in trade, merciful, charitable.
Translation: The priest, the sword
Symbol: Coral - strong intuitive and psychic properties - A young sprout quivering in the wind.
Animal Symbol: Male Buffalo
Ruling Planet: Rahu
Nature: Deva (god-like)
Presiding deity: Vayu the demigod of wind, air, breath, and prana.
Favorable: Tender; moral; able in business - clever in trade and commerce; truth-seeking; studious; meek; truthful; humanitarian - cares about others; thinks before acting; accurate; reduces things to their simplest components; uncorrupted; friendly; positive outlook; disciplined; seeks harmony; generous; active in spiritual organizations or humanitarian causes; likes to be around religious or well integrated people; interested in scientific or philosophical thought; independent; traveler; persuasive communication.
Unfavorable: Do not know their limitations resulting in loss of money; status; and respect; creates debt due to high expenses; discontented due to lofty goals; restless; critical; fault finding; not concerned with family; shy; monastic; self isolating; secretive; hides their passions and sexual urges; gives too much away; absurd creative thinking; vulnerable to the whims of others; hot tempered.
More...
Labels: Swati
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Your BirthStar in Vedic Astrology : Chitra
Chitra (23°20 Virgo to 6°40' Libra)
General Characteristics: attractive, sociable, intelligent, and natural leaders.
Translation: The brilliant
Symbol: A bright jewel or pearl reflecting the spirit within us, or a shining light.
Animal Symbol: Female tiger
Ruling Planet: Mars
Nature: Rakshasa (demon)
Presiding deity: Tvashtar or Vishvakarma - the celestial architect of the universe.
Favorable: Attractive; artistic; great lovers; independent; natural leader who wants to make an impact on life; sociable; perceptive; high-spirited; elegant; conversant; dignified; judicious; business skills; happy; well dressed and well groomed; well read; drawn to philosophy and social thought; does well outside their place of birth or in foreign countries; handy; incline toward more physical expressions of art such as sculpture; printmaking; competent designer.
Unfavorable: Smug; conceited; easily bored; self centered; attracted to exciting yet negligent mates; quarrelsome; critical; too quick to challenge someone's point of view; corrupt; amoral; may not focus enough on saving money.
More...
General Characteristics: attractive, sociable, intelligent, and natural leaders.
Translation: The brilliant
Symbol: A bright jewel or pearl reflecting the spirit within us, or a shining light.
Animal Symbol: Female tiger
Ruling Planet: Mars
Nature: Rakshasa (demon)
Presiding deity: Tvashtar or Vishvakarma - the celestial architect of the universe.
Favorable: Attractive; artistic; great lovers; independent; natural leader who wants to make an impact on life; sociable; perceptive; high-spirited; elegant; conversant; dignified; judicious; business skills; happy; well dressed and well groomed; well read; drawn to philosophy and social thought; does well outside their place of birth or in foreign countries; handy; incline toward more physical expressions of art such as sculpture; printmaking; competent designer.
Unfavorable: Smug; conceited; easily bored; self centered; attracted to exciting yet negligent mates; quarrelsome; critical; too quick to challenge someone's point of view; corrupt; amoral; may not focus enough on saving money.
More...
Labels: Chitra
