Black Money in Swiss Banks: Astro Analysis

Black Money in Swiss Banks: Astro Analysis

The question of black money stashed away in Swiss bank was an important point of political campaign in the parliamentary election of 2009. A series of data regarding the size of black money was released by different political parties.

Advani said “At a lower estimate, the amount of Rs 25 lakh crore which is secret foreign money is sufficient to relieve the debts of all farmers and to build world class roads all over the country, apart from providing safe drinking to six lakh villages in the country.”

Sharad Yadav the president of JDU claimed that Indian citizens had deposits USD 1,456 billion followed by Russia (USD 470 billion), UK (USD 390 billion), Ukraine (USD 100 billion) and China (USD 96 billion) in various foreign banks including Swiss bank.

Professor R Vaidyanathan, (Professor of Finance at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore) estimated that Indian money stashed away may be of the order of $1.4 trillion (about Rs 71 lakh crore). The well-known tax havens are Switzerland / Liechtenstein / Luxemburg / Channel Islands etc.

The question of repatriation of this unaccounted money arose because the United States government took some steps to retrieve such funds from Swiss Banks and Swiss government authorities.

When India got its independence in 1947, it was a poor country lacking in wealth although it was very rich in natural resources. The process of wealth creation began at a fast pace. But, the rates of Income Tax in India were one of the highest in the world. This encouraged manufacturing of black money and its transfer to outside banks. It is really an enigma that India is a developing country but Indians have largest deposits of black money in Swiss Banks.

If we examine this situation astrologically, the following observations can be made. The observations are based on the horoscope of India drawn on the basis of the birth of Independent India in the midnight of 15th August 1947.

Independence Day Horoscope of India

NORTH INDIAN CHART                                   SOUTH INDIAN CHART

Interpretation of the horoscope:-

As per Vedic astrology, Jupiter and Venus both have been assigned the role of ministers in the cabinet of the Sun (king). When Jupiter and Venus are not well placed in the horoscope, it may indicate dubious role of the executives, administrators, ministers and the elite class of the country.

In the horoscope of a nation the 2nd house represents wealth, the 3rd house represents business and enterprise, the 5th house is seen for stock markets and entertainment industry, the 9th house represents fortune and the 10th house represents occupations of the country. Similarly, the 11th house represents income and 12th house represents expenses and outgo of funds to foreign lands.

The tenth lord in the horoscope of India is Saturn that happens to be placed in the 3rd house. Sun, Mercury, Venus and Moon are conjunct with the 10th lord. The 11th lord Jupiter aspects the 2nd house as well as the 10th lord Saturn. These placements indicate that the people of India will have varied vocations like agriculture, industry, mining, commerce, entertainment, flourishing media and IT sector etc. The people of the country will have presence in almost every field because of the influence of so many planets with the 10th lord. This will help in the process of wealth creation.

Strong 3rd house indicates flourishing enterprises in the country. Saturn placed in the 3rd house indicates that India is a country which believes in the philosophy of hard work and is a country of hardworking people.

The placement of Jupiter as the lord of house of gains in the 6th house is playing a dubious role. Firstly, 6th house being the house of debts, the placement of 11th lord in the 6th house increases the quantum of national debt which is a fact. The aspect of Jupiter on the 12th house further indicates that the national wealth will be siphoned off to foreign land. The ill-placed 2nd lord in the 3rd house is also an indication of pilferage of nation’s wealth. The lord of the 9th house is Saturn. Its aspect on the 12th house further aggravates the possibility of pilferage of wealth.

Can these funds be brought back?

Yes, it can be brought back by strong will of the government. Placement of Sun in the 3rd house and the start of the dasa of Sun from 12th September 2009 indicate that the government at the centre is strong enough to take firm decisions regarding repatriation of black money stashed in foreign banks.

The dasa to follow is of Sun / Moon from 30/12/2009 to 30/06/2010 indicating that the government will initiate the process of dialogues with the Swiss Governments and Bank authorities during this period. Own sign moon in the 3rd house can give some diplomatic success in this matter.

The next dasa is of Sun / Mars from 30/06/2010 to 06/11/2010. Mars being the 12th lord placed in the 2nd house may mean that some amount of repatriation of money stashed in Swiss Bank is possible during this dasa.

Astrology can give only guidance. An honest attempt by the Government is required to bring back a part of our wealth on which taxes have not been paid to the government which is the reason for its categorization as black money.

Written by: Anand Sagar Pathak

Astrologer

Dated: 28th August 2009

Post Election Plight of BJP

Post Election Plight of BJP

The campaign for parliamentary election began in May 2009 and the slogan of the BJP for election was “Majboot Neta – Nirnayak Sarkar”. The prime ministerial candidate of BJP, L. K. Advani took all possible steps to paint Dr. Manmohan Singh as the weakest Prime Minister that the country ever saw.

This negative campaign backfired and boomeranged on the BJP inflicting colossal damage to its own image and standing. The party was not a significant gainer in the number of parliamentary seats it won, except in Jharkhand and Karnataka. It lost seats even in BJP ruled states.

The main leadership of the party was provided by L.K. Advani, Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley. None of these three leaders were ready to take responsibility of nationwide poor showing of the party. The central leadership started finding scapegoats and began penalizing them one by one. Khandoori was removed as the Chief Minister of Uttaranchal. Vasundhra Raje Scindia was directed to resign from the position of leader of opposition in Rajasthan assembly. These steps have done immense harm to the party.

L.K. Advani absolved himself from all responsibilities. At first he refused to become the Leader of Opposition in parliament, but, reluctantly accepted the responsibility after request from partymen. It was very difficult to choose the successor of Advani in a short time.

Rajnath Singh, the president of BJP started cracking whips in the style of Late Indira Gandhi which has backfired and a number of leaders of BJP have started questioning the steps taken by the central leadership of the party. Two such initial leaders were Jaswant Singh and Yashwant Sinha.

Jaswant Singh was conveniently expelled from the party for writing a book on the partition of the country. He was penalized for criticizing Sardar Patel for which his book has been banned in Gujarat. But, the RSS stalwart Sheshadri had also held Nehru and Patel responsible for partition. Jaswant Singh was penalized for his resenting remarks on the central leadership. But, the book of Jaswant Singh has become an instant bestseller.

Now, everybody seems to be in revolt in the party Arun Shourie has thrown up a fresh challenge. Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha and Brajesh Mishra have spoken that Advani was aware of release of terrorist at Kandhar. But, during election campaign he lied to the people of India. This proves that the tallest leader of the party is dishonest in his statement. This is not a mean thing and the party is in a state of shock.

If we analyze the horoscope of BJP based on the date and time of the formation of the party i.e., 6th April 1980 time 11:40 AM, Delhi, the following points emerge clearly. First we will start with an overview of the horoscope.

The Lagna rising was Gemini.

The third house has Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Rahu.
The sixth house has Moon
The ninth house has Mercury and Ketu
The tenth house has Sun
The twelfth house has Venus.

Moon is placed in the sixth house and is not supported by any planet from either side commonly known as “Kemdrum Yoga”. This signifies that BJP will largely lead a lonely life and will remain politically untouchable for a long period.

All the three major planets viz Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are retrograde in the horoscope. In Vedic astrology retrograde planets refers to “Aparampragat” (uncommon) behavior. This gets substantiated by the focus of BJP on issues that have no relevance in today’s world. The raising of issues like Ram Sethu, Ram Janambhoomi, Jinnah’s role in partition are of similar nature.

The 8th lord Saturn is placed in conjunction with the 10th lord Jupiter. In Vedic astrology 8th house is seen for dead and death. The conjunction of 8th lord and the 10th lord indicates that BJP polity did not even spare dead for political gains. It also signifies an interest to bring back the past wounds which any progressing society likes to forget for a better future.

The 3rd lord Sun in the 10th house and placement of Malefic Mars, Saturn and Jupiter in the 3rd house gives the party a strong fighting power which can see the party bounce back to prominence again. However, a divisive politics that the party is known to play is not allowing the party to win the confidence of the nation. Vajpayee was a moderate face of BJP and was liked by all but the present leadership with hard liner image has suffered credibility.

The party is right now passing through the pratyantar dasa of Venus / Mercury / Moon from 15th July 2009 to 10th October 2009. Moon, the pratyantar dasa lord, in the horoscope is the 2nd lord representing kutumb (family) that happens to be placed in the 6th house (disputes). With the beginning of this pratyantar dasa infighting in the party has taken serious proportions.

The pratyantar dasa of Venus / Mercury / Mars will start from 10th October 2009 and will continue up to 10th December 2009. It is possible that disputes may aggravate during this period and show of strength may throw out a new leadership.

The functioning of a healthy democracy requires a strong ruling party and a strong opposition party. BJP was functioning as the largest opposition party and it is sad to see the party bleeding in this way. The situation can be retrieved by a change of leadership.

Written by: Anand Sagar Pathak

Astrologer

28th August 2009

What is Luck?

What is Luck?

Synonyms of luck are advantage, blessing, fluke, fortunateness, godsend, good luck, kismet, windfall etc. It is believed that luck is a derivation of the Sanskrit word “Lakshmi”. She is the original “Lady Luck” – a Hindu Devi of Money & Fortune.

In a natal horoscope the 9th house is relevant for fortune or luck. It is believed that propitiation of the deity represented by 9th lord helps in the enhancement of fortune. Luck denotes anything that one gets by “chance”. We always talk of “good luck” or “bad luck”. In Hindi, the equivalent word for Luck is “Bhagya”. The other equivalents of “Bhagya” may be fate and destiny. But, we never say good fate or bad fate. Destiny is also not used in that way. Therefore, a feeling of fluke or fortunateness is always associated with luck.

Definition of Luck:-

There is a good discussion on luck available in Wikipedia. It defines luck as follows:-

“Luck is a way of understanding a personal chance event. Luck has three aspects which make it distinct from chance or probability 1) Luck is good or bad 2) Luck is by accident or chance 3) Luck applies to a person or group of people.”

“Luck” is generally used as a matter of chance. For example, if a person wins in a lottery, he is considered to be lucky. If the captain of the cricket team wins the toss, he may be considered lucky. Losing toss is never considered lucky but sometimes it proves otherwise.

There is an elaborate system of spiritual practices which people follow for seeking Divine Grace. The second name of divine grace is luck.

Views about luck in Christianity and Islam:-

According to Wikipedia, “Christianity and Islam believe in the will of a supreme being rather than luck as the primary influence in future events. The degrees of this Divine Providence vary greatly from one person to another”.

Hindu View of Luck:-

The Hindu view of luck is different. In Hinduism every living being has a soul and according to Bhagwat Gita, this soul never dies. It reincarnates and takes rebirth. While living in one birth, the soul indulges in good and bad karmas (deeds). The reincarnation of the soul in the subsequent birth is determined by the quality and load of karmas of his previous birth. The following quote from Mahabharata is relevant:-

“Man is the dispenser of his own destiny. The actions done in a former life are seen to produce fruits in this. The soul is born again with its accumulated load of karma. By performing only virtuous actions it attains to the state of the celestials. By a combination of good and bad actions, it acquires the state of human beings. By indulgence in sensuality and similar vices, it is born among the lower animals.” (Mahabharata, III. 208.22.30)

This statement makes it clear that rebirth in human race is also a matter of luck. It depends upon the accumulated karmas of his previous births. If he is born in the family of a superrich, he is considered to be lucky and if he is born in the family of a beggar he will be considered unlucky.

Both, of these births are births in human race. But, there is a big difference between the two. Therefore, lord Krishna says that the karmas of the previous births reflect the fate, destiny or luck of the individual in the subsequent births.

The Main Ideology of Hinduism:-

Salvation of soul is the main theme in Hinduism. The main goal of the individual is to obtain Mukti or Moksha. If a soul becomes free from the misery of taking rebirth, then it is considered a lucky soul. Lord Krishna has counseled Arjun in Bhagwat Gita about the necessity of salvation and he also showed the path for attaining salvation. Some translations of the relevant verses from chapter VI is given below:-

“The unsuccessful yogi, after many, many years of enjoyment on the planets of the pious living entities, is born into a family of righteous people or into a family of rich aristocracy”  (Verse 41)

“By virtue of the divine consciousness of the previous life, he automatically becomes attracted to the yogic principles- even without seeking them. Such an inquisitive transcendentalist stands always above the ritualistic principles of the scriptures” (Verse 44)

“And when the yogi engages himself with sincere endeavor in making further progress, being washed of all contaminations, then ultimately, achieving perfection after many, many births of practice, he attains the supreme goal.” (Verse 45)

These quotes from Bhagwat Gita tell us that efforts are necessary for betterment of luck. The 9th house of horoscope stands not only for luck but also for pious deeds, spiritual practices and dharma. Many people say that man is the architect of his own destiny and the three verses of Bhagwat Gita given above also give a message of continuing effort.

If a person gets something by chance, it may just be a fructification of some past deeds of previous lives. Gifts, inheritance, lotteries and similar gains can be explained as methods of such fructification. Losses, debts and miseries may be because of Rinanu-Bandhan (debts of past life).

Astrologically, when we say that worship of deities associated with the 9th house can help in enhancing fortune, we mean that it helps in drawing the good luck from the accumulated karma of an individual. It should be an endeavor of everybody to keep on accumulating good deeds so that one can seek divine help from time to time. The philosophy of doing effort for enhancement of good luck remains always true.

Conclusion:-

Lord Krishna in Mahabharata said the following words which are quite relevant.

“Destiny and human effort depend upon each other. The high-minded perform good and great deeds. It is only eunuchs who worship fate.” (Mahabharata, XII. 139. 81)

The same message gets reflected in the following quote.

“All of us have bad luck and good luck. The man who persists through the bad luck – who keeps right on going – is the man who is there when the good luck comes – and is ready to receive it.” (Robert Collier)

Written by: Anand Sagar Pathak

Astrologer

29th August 2009

The Auspicious Ganesha Chaturthi

The Auspicious Ganesha Chaturthi

As the legend goes, Ganesha was beheaded by Shiva when he was on duty under the command of Parvati. The vehement protest and anger by Parvati was the cause of resurrection of Lord Ganesha but with the head of an elephant. One of the first animation films made in India “Bal Ganesha” has made the deity popular among the children also and the children also know the Beej Mantra “Om Gung Ganapathaye Namah”.

The elephant headed God, the son of Shiva and Parvati was awarded the first right of worship after his resurrection with the head of an elephant. Therefore, Lord Ganesha has a presence in the “Panchayatan Puja” which consists of the five deities Bramha, Vishnu, Mahesh, Durga and Ganesha. Therefore, every Hindu begins his work in the name of Lord Ganesha by chanting “Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah”. Lord Ganesha is worshipped by Hindus as a supreme god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.

He is considered a terminator of evils. He is known by various names some examples are Dhoomraketu, Ekadantha, Gajakarnaka, Lambodara, Vignaraja, Gajanana, Vinayaka, Vakratunda, Siddhivinayaka, Surpakarna, Heramba, Skandapurvaja, Kapila, Vigneshwara etc. He rides on Musak (mouse) which represents ego.

Special Significance of Ganesha Chaturthi Puja and Time of Puja:

Lord Ganesha is worshiped everyday and for starting every new work. But, there is a special significance of doing his Puja on the Ganesha Chaturthi day. This year Ganesha Chaturthi falls on 23^rd August 2009 and the auspicious time for starting his puja is after 10:00 AM in the morning.

The Ganesha Chaturthi day is considered the birthday of the Lord. It is believed that the Lord remains on this earth on this particular day to bestow his presence for all his devotees. This particular day is called Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi in Sanskrit, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu. It is called Chavath in Konkani.

This Puja is celebrated as a big community festival in Maharastra, Goa, Karnataka, Andhara Pradesh, parts of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and western Madhya Pradesh. It is the most important festival of the Konkan belt in India.

The Puja begins on Ganesha Chaturthi day and extends for about 10 days up to Anant Chaturdasi. This festival is observed in the lunar month of Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha Chathurthi as per the Hindu Calendar. The corresponding months as per English Calendar may be August or September.

The immersion of the idol generally takes place after 10 days which becomes the most important community event in the states named above.

Benefit of doing the Puja apart from doing the daily Puja:

The daily Puja of the lord is performed in every household in the Hindu family which is done as a matter of devotion and routine. The presence of Ganesha is solicited on the occasion of marriages and the invitation cards are generally printed with the following Ganesha Mantra.

“Vakratund Mahakaya, Suryakoti Samaprabhah

Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva, Sarvakaryeshu Sarvada”

But, the worship of Ganesha becomes a community event during the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations. The worship of Ganesha was started as a non-community event by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who was the great Maratha ruler. Shivaji Maharaj was always in conflict with Mughal emperors and he wanted to unite the Hindus with the help of Ganesha Puja to promote culture and nationalism. Therefore, Ganesha Puja became important in the Peshwa Empire ruled by Marathas.

The Puja transformed into a community event due to the efforts of Lokmanya Tilak (a freedom fighter). Tilak was conscious of the fact that Lord Ganesha had a universal appeal among the Hindus. Ganesha was recognized as a God for everybody. He popularized Ganesha Chaturthi Puja as a Community Puja. His objective was also promotion of nationalistic feelings in masses. This festival was also used as a tool to bridge the gap between Brahmins and Non Brahmins.

Tilak wanted to spread the message of freedom struggle through organizations of Ganesha Chaturthi festivals. Another objective was to defy the British rulers who had banned public assemblies. The occasion of Puja was utilized for public assemblies and mass communications and gave Indians a feeling of unity and revived their patriotic spirit and faith.

India is free today. But, it is a country of great diversities. Unity is absolutely necessary in this environment of diversity. The country must learn to behave unitedly at the time of strains and stresses. It is necessary to safeguard our freedom. The objective of Lokmanya Tilak is still relevant. In addition Lord Ganesha remains present amongst us on Ganesha Chaturthi day. Therefore, the worship of Ganesha on this particular day is very significant.

Astrological significance of Ganesha Puja in the year 2009

In Vedic astrology it is said that for an affliction caused by Ketu the best deity to be propitiated is Lord Ganesha. In the year 2009, Ketu is playing a negative role which has manifested in the rise of Swine Flu. (Please refer to our earlier article “Astrological Aspects of Swine Flu”).

The occasion of Ganesha Chaturthi on 23^rd August 2009 is a chance to do grah-shanti of Ketu by mass worship of Lord Ganesha. Maharastra has the highest number of Swine Flu deaths. Therefore, Ganesha Chaturthi should be celebrated with faith and devotion in Maharastra and other parts of India where this disease is spreading.

Written By: Anand Sagar Pathak

Dated: 17^th August 2009

The Auspicious Ganesha Chaturthi

Astrological Aspects of Swine Flu

Astrological Aspects of Swine Flu

The outbreak of Swine Flu from May 2009 has become a serious concern for the world and the UNO has also sounded a world-wide alert. The first death of a girl child in Pune suffering from the attack of the disease has unnerved the entire country and people are in real scare.

Swine influenza is also known as swine flu, hog flu or H1N1 flu. The transmission of the virus from pigs to humans in not common but if it occurs it is called “zoonotic swine flu”. The main symptoms of the influenza are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort.

The spread of the disease at this particular time can be explained by astrological methods. The main angle of discussion is through the Kaal Purusha as shown in the diagram below.

The Kaal Purusha is the manifestation of time which has been shown in personified form with reference to Lord Vishnu. In the above picture we can see that the Cancer sign (Karka rashi) represents the chest and the heart region of the Kaal Purusha. Human disease connected with the chest areas may be cold and cough and other symptoms found in influenza. The relationship of these symptoms is with the process of breathing which is the main function of lungs.

Cancer rashi signifies lungs as shown in the picture. Therefore, breath related disease in human beings can be related to Cancer rashi. This rashi is under constant affliction due to the transit of Ketu into this rashi from 30th April 2008. This affliction was enhanced manifolds due to the Total Solar Eclipse of Sun by Ketu in this rashi on 22nd July 2009.

The lord of Cancer rashi is Moon. Its element is water which is the most important constituent of body fluids. The Moon rules over rainy season. According to Ayurveda, Kapha is one of the Tridoshas which is produced by the combination of water and earth. Kapha increases anabolism and moon represents Kapha element. Cough and Cold are main symptom of swine flu.

The first case of swine flu in 2009 was reported on 2nd May in Canada and it spread to many countries thereafter. Its intensity has increased rapidly in the season ruled by Moon (rainy season). The second enhancement in the intensity was after the Total Solar Eclipse due to conjunction of Sun and Ketu in Cancer rashi on 22nd July 2009. In India this disease has acquired appreciable proportions after the solar eclipse.

Ketu means foreign land and foreigners as per Vedic astrology. Before the solar eclipse, swine flu was not a threat in India but, it was already a threat in Mexico and other countries. The disease has come into India from outside the country through human carriers. Swine flu has still not acquired serious proportions in India but “prevention is better than cure”. India’s rashi as per Independence Day horoscope is Cancer (Karka) and swine flu is connected with this rashi.

Ketu in medical astrology is a nightmare for doctors. Ketu, not only makes diagnosis of disease very difficult, it also keeps on testing doctors with new diseases. One who masters Ketu will master the art of healing and diagnosis.

As per the transit of planets, swine flu will continue to remain a menace till Ketu remains in the Cancer rashi. Ketu will transit out of Cancer on 18th November 2009. It is expected that swine flu will be restrained after this date.

India was already suffering from floods and droughts due to the Medini effect of Total Solar Eclipse. This disease has slowly entered into the country as the third Medini effect. It must not be allowed to take an epidemic form for which total medical screening of passengers coming from abroad is absolutely necessary. In addition, person to person transmission within the country has to be prevented.

Written by: Anand Sagar Pathak

Astrologer
Dated: 8th August 2009

The Mysterious Rahu and Shooting of Ravana

The Mysterious Rahu and Shooting of Ravana

The killing of Mahout by elephant on the sets of Ravana on 29th July 2009 (As reported by media on 30th July 2009):-

Here we are presenting the angle of Rahu in this tragic happening.

The shooting party on the set of Ravana would like to forget the horrifying incidence which found them stranded in a jungle for more than 12 hours surviving on bread and eggs. Andavan the Mahout was not lucky enough to survive. He was crushed to death by the rampaging elephant. The elephant was to be utilized for the shooting of the film and was trained for this purpose. It went berserk and became the cause of death.

Vedic astrology has emphasized that Rahu represents serpents. It also connects wild life to Rahu. Lal Kitab which is a recent inclusion to astrology classics (written originally in Urdu) has specified many other roles of Rahu. It addresses Rahu as an elephant also. The book tells us that an elephant represented by benefic Rahu is a source of power and wealth to its master. However, a mad elephant that tramples over the master and works havoc all around is represented by malefic Rahu.

A crosscheck of horoscopes of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan the main casts of the film will help us understand if the happening had any connection with the mysterious role of Rahu. Was the elephant an agent of Rahu?

Aishwarya Rai was born on 1st November 1973 when Virgo was rising in the eastern horizon. Rahu is placed in the 4th house with natal Moon. She is currently running the operational dasa of Rahu / Rahu till September 2009. To be more precise she is currently running the operational dasa of Rahu / Rahu / Mars which shows the dominant influence of Rahu in her horoscope at present. The pratyantar dasa of Mars (placed in the 8th house) signifies danger to her spouse. In Vedic astrology 8th house is considered the Suhag Sthan (house of spouse) in woman horoscopy.

Abhishek Bachchan was born on 5th February 1976. The lagna rising at the time of birth is Libra. Rahu is placed in lagna. Lal Kitab suggests that placement of benefic Rahu in the lagna confers kingly status to a person. However, it also suggests that Rahu placed in lagna, if not benefic, can cause safety and health concerns. Lagna is the most important house in the horoscope. Hence, placement of Rahu in lagna makes Rahu quite dominant.

Rahu is functional malefic both for Aishwarya and Abhishek because it is placed in their 4th house and the lagna respectively. The best placement of Rahu is in 3rd house, 6th house and the 11th house. Hence, both of them need to thank God and their Sadguru in guiding them to their safety. Was the Mahout the scapegoat to safeguard the celebrity couple? Only God knows.

Can these incidents be predicted in advance? Astrologers of yesteryears like Varahmihir could predict that son of Vikramaditya will be killed by Varaha (wild boar). The king took all precautions to save his son and made a fortress in which there was no chance of any wild boar to enter. Varahmihir insisted that the death cannot be stopped by any human intervention. Only great Rishis like Vasishta could reverse the karma of the Prince.

On the predicted day the prince died of accident from a falling royal emblem made of iron which had an artificial boar attached to its top. This was the reason why Mihir got the title of Varahmihir. (Rao, Suryanarian, 1987, 3rd edition, Life of Varaha Mihira)

Written by: Anand Sagar Pathak

Astrologer
Dated: 6th August 2009

Why Do We Do Puja?

Why Do We Do Puja?

The English equivalents of ‘Puja’ are homage, reverence, worship, respect, etc. The system of Puja relates to religions, deities and God. In some religions there is an elaborate system of rituals for Puja while in some religions there is a simple method of prayer.

All the major religions of the world originated in Asia. South Asia is the birth place of four major religions- Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. All these religions originated in India. Christianity and Islam originated in South- west Asia for which Jerusalem, Mecca and Madina are important places. In all these religions, the concept of God exists. Only Sikhism concentrates on Gurus. But, the system of Puja and prayers is associated with all the religions.

This system is visible in today’s world. Almost all the religions except Hinduism evolved during the last 2,600 years. Hinduism is the oldest religion of the world and its history is about 4,000 years long but Hinduism also developed after the 1st agricultural revolution which took place about 10,000 years ago and the intervening period was Vedic period in India during which such Puja systems had not taken roots.

In order to understand the purpose of Puja we will have to go back in the early stages of human civilizations when man was a jungle dweller and without shelter, because, the system of reverence to some unknown power started emerging in that period. This will define the causes also which drive human beings to perform Puja.

a) The Puja system emerged to get protection of unknown powers, from natural calamities, hazards and disasters in the early period:-

In the initial stages man was a food gatherer, hunter, fisher and shelter-less living in jungle in small groups. There was no concept of God in that period. The small groups of people lived in isolation. However, they saw the impact of natural calamity on their lives. They experienced the impact of wild fires, thunderbolts, storms, heavy rains, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and they began fearing such phenomenon.

In order to protect themselves from such events, they must have visualized the role of an unknown superpower and started showing reverence to such powers. This culminated in the Vedic period in ancient India when elaborate system of worship of Fire God (Agni Dev), Wind God (Vayu Dev), Water God (Varun Dev), Sun God (Surya Dev), Thunderbolt God (Indra dev) began.

In addition to such deities a system of reverence was also invented to get protection from every element of the environment of the earth. Trees, soil, rivers, hills, animals, reptiles, birds, all became objects of reverence in the Vedic period. We may call it “Animism” which was the system of Puja up to the Vedic period.

b) The rise of Sakam Puja (worship with expectation of reward):-

Since Hinduism developed from Vedic religion, there is a multiplicity of God’s and Goddesses in the Hindu religion. There are 100’s of Puja systems associated with deities. There is a multiplicity of religious books. The concept of “Tridev” (Trinity namely Bramha, Vishnu and Mahesh) developed in the early stages of Hinduism.

The system of worship was designed to please a particular deity for obtaining some blessings and rewards. This Puja is for fulfillment of human desires, wants, freedom from sufferings, for off-springs, for marriage, rise in status and position, for health, wealth, and other desires.

The ancient kings organized “Aswa-medha Yagya” for enlarging their kingdoms and empires. According to Ramayana even Raja Ram took recourse to this yagya and the horse of the yagya was caught by his children Lav and Kush which triggered a war between father and sons. Yagya is an elaborate system of Puja which is practised even today with a particular purpose.

However, this type of Puja is medium quality Puja, because it is done for material rewards. Lord Krishna in Shrimad Bhagwat Gita said as follows:-

“Antavat tu phalam tesam tad bhavaty alpa medhasam
devan deva yajo yanti mad bhakta yanti mam api”

(Chapter VII, Verse 23)

Translation: Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but my devotees ultimately reach my supreme planet.

c) System of Nishkam Puja (worship without attachment to expectations):-

The Hinduism continued to transform through the ages and became more scientific. It came to be regarded as a religion associated with fundamental doctrine of Karma. This thought emerged during the battle of Mahabharata when Lord Krishna began counseling Arjun. The same preaching is found in Shrimad Bhagwat Gita.

According to Hindu doctrine, all beings have souls and there is a process of reincarnation after death. These souls are arranged in a hierarchy. The fundamental point is to move upward in the hierarchy and then escape from the eternal cycle of birth and death through union with the Brahma. The principle of reincarnation of soul is the cornerstone of Hinduism and every soul should try to attain salvation (Nirvana, Mukti, Moksha) through spiritual practises. This should be the supreme purpose behind Puja.

For this Lord Krishna showed the paths of “Karma Yoga” (adherence to duty while remaining detached from reward), “Gyan Yoga” (knowledge of the absolute) and “Bhakti Yoga” (spiritual practise of fostering loving devotion to God). Lord Krishna said in Bhagwat Gita:-

“a-brahma bhuvanal lokah punar avartino rjuna
mam upetya tu kaunteya punar janma na vidyate”

(Chapter VIII, Verse 16)

Translation: From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one, who attains to my abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again.

d) Rise of Sadguru Puja (worship of ascendant masters):-

Sadgurus (ascendant masters) are incarnations of God himself who live amidst us to guide us in our endeavor to reach to God. Lord Krishna in Bhagwat said that “Saints are incarnations of God”. Sadgurus are known by different names in different religions. Hindus call them “Paramhansa” Muslims call them “Qutub” and Christians call them “the ascendant masters”. They have incarnated in almost all religions. Some prominent names are “Jesus Christ”, “Moses”, “Gautum Buddha”, “Lord Mahavir”, “Aadi Sankracharya”, and “Prophet Mohammad”. The most recent incarnations of Sadgurus go by the name of “Ram Krishna Paramhansa”, Shri Sai Nath of Shirdi”, “Guru Nanak” etc.

The Sadguru guides his disciple to attain God for which Guru Bhakti (devotion to Guru) is the most important requirement. Therefore, the disciples are duty bound to keep their Guru in high reverence.

The life of the modern man has become very complex. He cannot follow the elaborate Puja systems and rituals followed by his ancestors. There is shortage of time and in these difficult moments; the only recourse left to human beings is to keep faith in Sadguru who guides them to spiritual betterment. Hence, worship of Sadguru is the most important Puja in today’s world.

Written By: Anand Sagar Pathak

Astrologer
Dated: 3rd August 2009

Friendship Traits of Different Rashis: Astro Analysis

Friendship Traits of Different Rashis: Astro Analysis

Aries:

Aries is the first sign in the zodiac symbolized by Ram. Persons belonging to this are of fiery temperament and natural leaders. The ruling planet is Mars which gives solidarity and strength to Aries personality.

Arians seek variety in friendship but can get offended easily which may impact friendship. To get the attention of Aries, one has to change himself constantly in order to remain interesting otherwise one may be dumped by them for boring attitudes.

Aries friends are supportive and take all steps to help their friend achieve their targets in matters of profession and career. They make friends easily and show remarkable loyalty. But, at times selfishness can take the upper hand when they try to choose between people and possessions. Their leadership qualities make them inspirational friends.

Friendly with: Gemini, Aquarius, Leo and Sagittarius.

Taurus:

The second sign of the zodiac symbolized by Bull is Taurus. They are known for their organizing skills. Taurus is an earthy sign. The ruling planet is Venus. Taureans are friend-in-need-is-a-friend-indeed type people. They are excellent advisers and their advice can help in distress.

Generally, Taureans keep their friends on the same level of respect and affection which they normally reserve for family members or lovers. When they say that they are your best friends forever, they mean it and normally their friendship can stand the test of time.

Taureans are steady in friendship, but one should care not to arouse their jealousy. Belonging to Fixed Sign, they can be very possessive when it comes to relationships.

Friendly with: Pisces, Cancer, Virgo and Capricorn.

Gemini:

Symbolized by Twins Gemini is the third sign in the Zodiac. They are known for their sociable nature and are categorized as communicators. Gemini is an airy sign. The ruling planet is Mercury. They make many friends.

Gemini friend is a sympathetic listener. This makes them popular among friends. They are humorous and help in reducing the tensions of others. They bond well with people of different mindsets and groups and they favor diversity in friendship.

If one wants to hold on to the Gemini friend, it is necessary to develop a bond with him on the intellectual level. As long as one is able to serve the appetites of Gemini with respect to new learning and ideas, the Gemini will continue to remain a good friend.

Friendly with: Aries, Leo, Libra and Aquarius.

Cancer:

The fourth sign of the zodiac represented by Crab is Cancer. Cancerians are known for secretive, strategist and reflective tendencies. The sign is ruled by Moon and is represented by water.

Despite their supportive nature they do not make friends easily because they are very selective in making friends. They are also shy and wait for friendship to occur in their life rather than taking any initiative themselves.

Normally, they make loyal friends unless their trust is betrayed. People come to them with their problems and worries and they take interest in solving problems.

Friendly with: Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio and Pisces.

Leo:

The fifth sign of the zodiac symbolized by Lion is Leo. Leos are known for aggressive, dynamic and idealist natures. They are of fiery temperament and are good organizers. The ruling planet is Sun.

To make friendship with Leo is very difficult, but they love to remain surrounded by friends. They love to be the center of attraction. Since, they are sensitive to their ego; they try to have a one-to-one close friendship rather than friendships with many.

They also try to keep themselves in high pedestals and do not like to see their friends outshine them. It is better to behave like an underdog with a Leo. One needs to be appreciative of the Leo’s generosity from time to time to move along with him.

Friendly with: Gemini, Libra, Aries and Sagittarius.

Virgo:

Virgo is the sixth sign of the zodiac and is represented by Kanya. They are known for their secretive and strategist qualities and categorized as communicators. The ruling planet is Mercury. The element that it represents is earth.

Virgos are by nature shy and lack self confidence. It becomes difficult for them to bring the people together. Therefore, establishing friendship becomes difficult for them. Hence, they are not in habit of frequently changing friends. They like to befriend a person with showy personality for a long period.

As a rule Virgos are good and trustworthy friends and good advisors. They become active for help in crisis situations. However, nothing should be done to embarrass them.

Friendly with: Cancer, Scorpio, Taurus and Capricorn.

Libra:

Libra is the 7^th sign of the zodiac and is represented by Scales. They have aggressive, dynamic and idealist personality. The ruling planet is Venus and the element is Air. They have flair of leadership quality in them. Librans are social people and attract many friends.

Like a teacher, Librans are great counselors. They have the inbuilt quality of weighing the pros and cons of everything. They like to be surrounded by friends and hate loneliness. They are good communicators and excellent debaters.

They are party animals and can easily be found in any gathering, parties and functions. They can be easily distinguished in the crowd as they will remain perfectly dressed for the occasion. They act as excellent guides to their friends by giving them relevant fashion tips.

Friendly with: Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini and Aquarius.

Scorpio:

Scorpio is the eighth sign of the zodiac and is represented by Scorpion. They are secretive, reflective and strategists. The ruling planet is Mars and the element is water. They are good organizers. They have very few close friends. They are known for their wisdom and are in great demand for guidance.

Scorpion is known for its bitter sting. Therefore, one should exercise care in cultivating friendship with Scorpio. One should take care not to cross his path or offend him because he may turn out to be the worst enemy under such circumstances.

Scorpios are not interested in keeping too many friends but they remain a true and loyal friend to those who are able to establish friendship with them especially in long- term relationship.

Friendly with: Virgo, Capricorn, Cancer and Pisces.

Sagittarius:

Sagittarius is the ninth sign in the zodiac represented by Archer. They are aggressive, dynamic and idealist. The ruling planet is Jupiter, the element is fire. They are excellent communicators and make excellent friends.

Sagittarians are open minded friends and can be comfortably chosen for travels, tours and for anything adventurous. They remain informed about the details of happenings and places which is very important.

They are in the habit of making quick friendship and they love to make many friends from all over the world. They are highly considerate, cooperative and charming in their manners. They are abler to strike quick bonds with others if they relate to the adventurous style of Sagittarians.

Friendly with: Libra, Aquarius, Aries and Leo.

Capricorn:

It is the tenth sign of the zodiac represented by Goat. The Capricorns are secretive and reflective but have profound leadership quality. It is an earth sign and is ruled by Saturn. Capricorn makes loyal and caring friends. They love stable and long-term friendships.

The Capricorn behaves more like a parent than as a friend. They may try to impress their friend by their knowledge and problem solving advice. However, the intention will be to help the friend.

It is fortunate to get the advantage of cultivating friendship with a Capricorn, because, they will always remain devoted to the cause of friendship. They have a tendency to keep on testing their friends. Once the trust is betrayed, it is difficult to heal the relationship.

Friendly with: Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus and Virgo.

Aquarius:

Aquarius is the eleventh sign of the zodiac and is represented by Water Bearer. They are aggressive, dynamic and are good organizers. The ruling planet is Saturn and the element is air.

The Aquarians believe in mass friendship and sometimes it becomes difficult for them to keep track of all the friends. Since, the scale is very wide, it is difficult for them to cultivate close friendship with anyone.

They love their freedom very much and if they apprehend that the friendship is going to cost their freedom, they will not welcome the idea of friendship at all.  If they relate to their friend at the intellectual level, they will remain friends forever.

Friendly with: Sagittarius, Aries, Gemini and Libra.

Pisces:

Pisces is the twelfth sign of the zodiac and is represented by two fishes. They are secretive, strategists and good communicator. The sign is ruled by Jupiter and the element is water.

The Pisceans get attracted towards the less fortunate people and towards the people who are suffering. But, it is not due to any pity or any weakness in their character. They are sympathetic listeners and careful analyzers.

They are most caring friends who can be trusted under most trying circumstances. They are true friends at the time of need and for close discussions for solving intricate problems.

Friendly with: Capricorn, Taurus, Cancer and Scorpio.

Written by Anand Sagar Pathak

Astrologer

Sania Mirza – Indian Tennis Sensation:Astro Analysis

Sania Mirza – Indian Tennis Sensation:Astro Analysis

“Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them”.

-          Act II, Scene V, Twelfth Night (William Shakespeare)

These lines of William Shakespeare looked meaningful while writing about Tennis Star Sania Mirza. Her horoscope indicates that the dasa of yogakaraka Venus was running at the time of birth. Her supportive parents also helped her become a female tennis superstar of India. Born to parents, father Imran Mirza, a sports journalist and mother Nasima, it was her father Imran who initiated her into the game and always encouraged her to be the best.

The young Indian women tennis sensation, Sania Mirza, was born in Mumbai on November 15, 1986. Presently, the highest ranked Indian in the game, she started playing Tennis at the tender age of six at the Nizam club in Hyderabad.

The details of her horoscope are as follows:

The lagna rising is Capricorn.

Exalted Mars is placed in Lagna.

Jupiter is placed in the 2^nd house

Rahu is placed in the 3rd house

Moon is placed in 4^th house

Ketu is placed in 9^th house

Sun, retrograde Mercury and retrograde Venus are placed in the 10^th house

Saturn is placed in the 11^th house

There are powerful yogas in her horoscope. The prominent among these is “Ruchaka yoga” (Panch Mahapurusha yoga) formed by the placement of exalted Mars in Lagna. This yoga makes her a good sportsperson and gives her an aggressive temperament in pursuing her game.

“Malavya yoga” is formed by the placement of Venus in its own sign in the 10^th house. It is also a prominent Panch Mahapurusha yoga. This combination makes her spiritually inclined and conversant in spiritual text. As per reports, she is very religious and never misses her daily prayers and Quran reading. This combination also gives her name, fame, money and popularity.

“Budha- Aditya yoga” is also formed in her horoscope by the conjunction of Sun and Mercury. This makes her a person of sharp intellect. There are other yogas like Neech Bhanga Rajya Yoga and Vipreet Rajya Yoga in the horoscope signifying her capability to fight back all odds and emerge as a winner. There is formation of Karma Dharam Adhipati Rajya Yoga and Dhan Yoga making her successful in her career and also giving her good luck with respect to finances. Rahu and Saturn are also well placed in 3^rd and the 11^th house respectively.

However, the horoscope suffers from Manglik dosha (formed by placement of Mars in the Lagna) causing issues relating to marital life, Kemdrum yoga (formed because of no planet on either side of Moon other than Rahu and Ketu), causing loneliness in personal life.

She was born in the Mahadasa of Venus that happens to be yogakaraka planet for her. The placement of Venus in the 10^th house forms both Karma-Dharam Adhipati Rajya Yoga and Malavya Yoga which were instrumental in early start of her career. She started playing tennis when she was barely 6 years of age. She played her first international tournament in 1999 when she represented India at the World Junior Championship at Jakarta when she was about 12 years of age.

A big boost came in 2002 when Paes decided to take her as his mixed doubles partner at the Asian Games. The duo went on to claim the bronze medal. The rise has been steady since then. In 2003, Sania at 16years did India proud by becoming the youngest and first ever Indian to figure in the main draw of the girls’ doubles junior Wimbledon tennis championship and winning the Grand Slam title. Her achievements in sports front has been numerous, the information given above are only indicative to justify the promises of her horoscope.

Sania Mirza has been recently in news because of her engagement with her childhood friend Sohrab Mirza. She exchanged rings with Sohrab in Hyderabad on Friday, 10^th July 2009. At the time of ring ceremony, the 7^th lord Moon was afflicted by Rahu and the 7^th house was in Pap-Kartari. This indicates that the couple may undergo severe ups and downs in their relationship.

Exalted Mars in Lagna (in natal horoscope) makes her dominating by nature. The placement of 7^th lord Moon in 4^th house makes her enjoy family life also. Over-expectations from each other can become source of tension. Hence, the couple should seek marriage counseling from time to time and should not let any issue in their life unattended for long.

Written by: Anand Sagar Pathak

Astrologer

Dated: 11^th July 2009