Ketu and its influence on a Native

Astro Guide Mysore

Ketu is a sensitive point of intersection of the descending arc of the Moon - Earth orbit and the Sun Earth orbit.  This is also called as the Descending Node and is always 180 degrees opposite to Rahu.

In this article the major characteristics and influences of Ketu is discussed.

Both Rahu and Ketu are said to be benefically disposed in a chart, if they are posited alone without any aspect on them.  But this is a rarity.  Hence we have to consider the other planetary influences additional to what has been discussed below.

Ketu makes a person very Intelligent and Acute.  The Person will have high capabilities to go into every detail of any small thing.  This may sometimes make him restless and hyper active.  In many cases the spouse of the native with this type of a character complains about his unnecessary intervention into all matters.

Ketu also makes the person indifferent towards formal education. Most cases where Ketu has interrupted the native's education, has helped him to go through practical / technical education informally.  The person goes into business or as a mechanic for example early in his life.

A native with strong Ketu may go into the area of research.  The native will get soo much immersed into his research that he will start losing interest in the real world outside.  He attaches no importance to the outward looks of himself, others or anything.

All my Gurujis have said one common sentence "Observation is the Key to Knowledge".

You can notice many people who get immersed into themselves and have no time even to exchange plesantaries.  Their diet is frugal, cold and dont mind if the food is served or if they have to help themselves.

Ketu gives a native immense concentration and hence is good for gaining knowledge. Ketu can elevate a native to a very high plane of spiritual knowledge.  The planets which hinder this progress are Venus (material tendancies), Mercury (too realistic, practical and less goal oriented) and Moon (fickle mindedness and depression).

Natives with Ketu in required positions for profession can get into professions like Journalists, Critics, Consultants, Editors, Quality Inspectors, Teachers (a little controversial), Lawyers, Preachers, Surgeons, Hair Stylists, Modern Arts and many more.

Ketu is not a good debater with regard to the present world.  They are perfectionists when it comes to debate and it is very difficult for them to survive this world full of Mercury, Rahu and Mars. Ketu only takes refuge to logical points and does not speculate.  Hence a person with a strong Ketu in the fifth and a malefically disposed Mercury in the trik houses should never go into speculations over stocks and shares.

The native succumbs into solitude and feels lonesome due to Ketu's influence on lagna or lagna lord.   Sometimes people prefer peaceful and tranquil areas to make their home.  This is also due to Ketu's aspect on the required positions/bhavas.

Ketu suggests barrenness and infertility.  This is because he is the karaka for ending ones Karma (Moksha Karaka).  In many cases it so happens that the native begets children after a difficult medical situation or after a minor/major operation.  In my experience many cases with Ketu in the 5th have been blessed with children.  Hence this aspect has to be studied in detail.  All aspects of planets and the saptamsa should be considered before propounding a statement.

Generally Ketu suggests the place of stay of a native may be barren, cold and arid.  Ketu also suggest poisonous creatures/bites.

Depending on the palcement of Ketu in the Rasi and Drekkana, it has to be concurred that, the specified body part / organ of the native's body is weakly constituted and that there is a possibility that the native may succumb to illness or failures of those organs / body parts.

Abrupt flow of blood or scanty flow of blood to the body part where ketu is posited is very important and has to be studied in detail.  Ketu in lagna may make the native anemic when its dasa/period is in progress or in its transit (which has to be assertained after further study into planetary transits)

Ketu governs fracture to bones. Sun who is the karaka for bones and their strength should be well placed to avoid the negative manifestations of Ketu. Here the synonyms of fracture - break/split/depart/tear/rupture  puncture/crack and many more are not to be taken only physically.  They are to be applied with regard to all the bhavas and their karakatwas.  For example, if Ketu is malefically disposed in the 10 house and its dasa/period is in operation, then there is a possibility of sudden termination/suspension from job.  There might also be a period of tension and joblessness. It also suggests retirement from profession.

In the field of Medical Astrology, Ketu plays an important role. It throws light into the field by suggesting the ways and methods used in the operation.  Whether the patient was operated by making a big insertion or if it was a key hole surgery.  Whether the native has to undergo surgery for removal of Kidney stones or if the native can go through Laser surgery. Ketu represents all sharp cutting instruments. There is wast scope for research in this area of medical astrology.

Ketu also throws light into the natives habits and addictions.  Nowadays Drug addiction is a bane to society and has to be tackled by one and all astrologers very scientifically.  Many patient counseling sessions are to be conducted with the native to make him realize the gravity of the situation he has got himself into and methods that can assist him recover into being a normal human being.

Ketu with Mercury makes the native cunning in matters of daily life. The native will gain the art of blending into situations.

Most of the natives with Ketu in the Lagna or with Lagna Lord do not come out in open and hence are shy of fame. These natives donot reveal things and are secretive.  Until it is otherwise disposed along with extrovert planets.

Ketu may give the native colourful eyes (cat eyes). Ketu also causes blindness if malefically disposed along with luminaries and the second lord. He causes disruption of supply of blood to the eyes causing many opthalmic illness.

Ketu is also karaka for Brittleness, Frozen objects, Objects that can shatter into pieces (like glass), Failure to start any thing, Stoppage, Seizures of the heart and brain, Rupture of the Varicose, Leucoderma, Conjuctivitis, etc.

I have limited myself to concentrate only on the ramifications of Ketu and rather divulge into the combinations of Ketu along with other planets which I propose to discuss in my later additions.



Watch my Astrology Videos on youtube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0piMd6Hcuw

Author:
Sheshachalam Iyengar
Jyotish Visharad : iyengarastro@gmail.com
(for online Astrology and Tarot classes contact : +91-7338608070)

Rahu and its influence on Lagna

Astro Guide Mysore

Rahu is a sensitive point (Ascending Node), the point of intersection of the orbit of Moon around the Earth and the Sun around the Earth (Eccliptic).  This sensitive point has gained immense importance in the field of Predictive Astrology.

In this article we are only discussing the placement of Rahu in Lagna/Ascendant and its influence on the native's behavioural patterns and situations.

The general characteristics of Rahu with regard to the subject we are about to discuss are :

Faulty Logic, Irreligious, Wanders far away from place of birth/stay, Humiliation, Depending on others support for living, Falsehood, Wickedness, Harsh Speech, Confused state, Dirty, Materialistic, etc.

After considerable interaction with people who have Rahu in lagna.  It can be said that some profound characters of Rahu do influence the behavioural pattern of these people.

Most of the natives with Rahu in lagna have accepted that they get confused when they have decisions to make.  This does not make the native fickle minded, but the native gets involved into deciding whether to go this way or that, that the native loses his confidence.

Rahu who has the capacity to mask the natives strength to think will bring down ones concentration.  This is usually seen with regard to children who do not concentrate on studies and often are regarded as dull headed.  These children are surely not dull headed and are very good at practical knowledge, but, due to the presence of Rahu in the lagna, it takes a lot more time for one to get a grip on a subject.

Rahu is also well known for pseudo dignity.  General observation shows that all do not dye their hair once they start becoming grey, but, some make it a ritual and they cannot imagine themselves without it.

This pseudo dignity / false image is the influence of Rahu on lagna.  People start putting lot of time into trimming their tummies, applying makeup, do anything to look younger and in the process sometimes look very odd. They become soo stubborn that they do not heed to any of their friends or family members who keep telling that they look odd.

Rahu like mars gives aggressiveness and falsehood.  The native succumbs to its pressure and resorts to telling lies and gets things done using unethical practices.

Rahu also influences the native with its obsessive characteristics. Sometimes this is positive if the obsession is creative and developmental, but, the same if is detrimental, the native will suffer from many disorders.  Rahu imbibes desire into the native and does not rest till it is accomplished. A negative / unrealistic desire may put the native into a lot of intangible knots.

All the above compulsions may result in a persons humiliation in society and may lead to a lot of emotional conflicts, legal battles, etc.

Due to the confused state of affairs, the native may resort to unethical means to satisfy himself. The native may resort to bullying, debate and sometimes get into physical conflicts.

Rahu makes the native lose his stand in his own place/country.  This sometimes results in the native getting a chance abroad.  Though going abroad is regarded as a boon these days, one has to suffer living alone far away from his family and loved ones.  Has to eat food prepared in hotels or road sides.  In reality the native is in exile from his motherland and goes through a lot of anxious moments. 

It is seen from my practice that most of the cases wherein the person has consulted an astrologer for the first time in his life, is when the native is running through the major/minor periods (dasas) of Rahu, wherein Rahu is influencing the lagna or the lagna lord.

Since this is a very elaborate subject I think one article will not suffice the topic and I hope to write more.

Watch my Astrology Videos on youtube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0piMd6Hcuw

Author:
Sheshachalam Iyengar
Jyotish Visharad : iyengarastro@gmail.com
(for online Astrology and Tarot classes contact : +91-7338608070)

Format for Calculating Lagna (with example) - (courtesy - Prof. E. Ravindran)

Astro Guide Mysore

Lagna / Ascendant Calculation

Input : 1. P.O.B, 2. T.O.B and 3. D.O.B

From Lahiri's Indian Ephemeris (page 144 to 158)

Place Longitude :
Place Lattitude  :

1. I.S.T of birth (AM / PM)                                                     :      h     m    s
2. LMT correction (where the place longitude/lattitude is available    :
    and next column of longitude)                          
3. LMT at P.O.B (AM / PM)     (step 1 + 2)                                   :
4. S.T at 12 Noon on Birth Date, Birth Month and Birth Year          :
    for 82 deg 30 mins (from Table of Asc : Table no. 1 pg 2 & 3)
5. Correction for Birth Year                                                            :
    (From Table of Asc Table no. 11 page 3 & 4)
6. S.T at 12 Noon on Birth Date, Birth Month and Birth Year         :
    for 82 deg and 30 mins (step 4 + 5)
7. Correction for Place of Birth (where the place longitude /            :
     lattitude is available and last column)
8. S.T at 12 Noon on Birth Date, Birth Month and Birth Year         :
    at the Place of Birth        (step 6 + 7)
9. Time interval (TI) between 12 Noon and L.M.T of Birth             :   12 h          00 m    00 s
    (if L.M.T is PM then T.I is L.M.T itself)

                                        (-) step 3                                               :
                             
                                          Time Interval                                       :

10. Correction for T.I (from Table of Asc, Table no. 4 page 5)

                        a) for              hours                                               :

                        b) for              mins                                                :

                            for               h              m     (a+b)                      :
                      
11. The increase in T.I     (step 9 + 10)                                          :
12. S.T at the time of Birth (Please see note below)                        :
 
      From S.T latitude of place, from the Table of Ascendant, to calculate Lagna by interpolation method.

13. For         deg North       Asc                   =
      For         deg North       Asc                   =
      For         variation                                   =

      For          deg North         Mins       Asc  =

14. Aynamsa correction (from Table of Ascendant Pg. 6                :
      for Birth Year  

Note :

a) if T.O.B is AM
    S.T = step 8 - step 11
          if step 8 is < step 11, then
    S.T = (step 8 + 24 hours) - step 11
b) if T.O.B is PM
    S.T = step 8 + step 11
c) if S.T > 24 hours then subtract 24 hours from it to get S.T
d)
     1) for southern latitude, add 12 hours to the S.T as Modified Sidereal Time (MST).
         if M.S.T > 24 hours then subtract 24 hours to get M.S.T
     2) for southern latitude, add 6 signs to the Ascendant.
         If Ascendant is > 12 signs then subtract 12 signs to get the ascendant.


Example Calculation Sheet


Lagna / Ascendant Calculation

Input : 1. P.O.B : Bangalore
           2. T.O.B : 11 hours 54 mins (PM)
           3. D.O.B : 25.09.1970

From Lahiri's Indian Ephemeris (page 144 to 158)

Place Longitude :  77 E 36
Place Lattitude   :  12 N 58

1. I.S.T of birth (AM / PM)                                                             :       11  h    54  m  00 s
2. LMT correction (where the place longitude/lattitude is available    :  (-) 00  h    19 m   36 s
    and next column to longitude)                          
3. LMT at P.O.B (AM / PM)     (step 1 + 2)                                   :       11 h     34 m   24 s  
4. S.T at 12 Noon on Birth Date, Birth Month and Birth Year          :        12 h    14 m   29 s
    for 82 deg 30 mins (from Table of Asc : Table no. 1 pg 2 & 3)
5. Correction for Birth Year                                                            :   (+) 00 h    00 m   11 s
    (From Table of Asc Table no. 11 page 3 & 4)
6. S.T at 12 Noon on Birth Date, Birth Month and Birth Year         :         12 h     14 m   40 s
    for 82 deg and 30 mins (step 4 + 5)
7. Correction for Place of Birth (where the place longitude /            :    (+) 00 h     00 m   02 s
     lattitude is available and last column)
8. S.T at 12 Noon on Birth Date, Birth Month and Birth Year         :          12 h     14 m   42 s
    at the Place of Birth        (step 6 + 7)
9. Time interval (TI) between 12 Noon and L.M.T of Birth             :   12 h          00 m    00 s
    (if L.M.T is PM then T.I is L.M.T itself)

                                        (-) step 3                                               :
                             
                                          Time Interval                                       :     11 h    34 m    24 s 
                                       (since TOB is PM)

10. Correction for T.I (from Table of Asc, Table no. 4 page 5)

                        a) for      11   hours                                               :  (+)   00 h   01 m  48 s

                        b) for              mins                                                :  (+)   00 h  00 m  06 s

                            for               h              m     (a+b)                      :          00 h  01 m  54 s
                      
11. The increase in T.I     (step 9 + 10)                                          :          11 h   36 m  18 s
12. S.T at the time of Birth (Please see note below)                        :          23 h   51 m  00 s
 
      From S.T latitude of place, from the Table of Ascendant, to calculate Lagna by interpolation method.

     (Banglaore place latitude : 12 N 58 can be directly looked up in page 20)

13. For    12 deg North       Asc                   =  2 sign   9 deg   47 mins
      For    13 deg North       Asc                   =  2 sign  10 deg  12 mins
      For         variation                                   =                         25 mins

  
    Calculation to for 58 mins to get to 12 deg and 58 mins (Bangalore)

     1 latitude = 25 mins (from above step 13)
  
     therefore 60 mins = 25 mins
     then        58 mins = 22.30  (or 22 mins 18 secs)  = 22 mins

      For    12 deg North  58 Mins       Asc  =            2 sign 09 deg 47 mins
                                                                      (+)     0 sign 00 deg 22 mins
                                                                       ----------------------------
                                                                                2 sign 10 deg  09 mins

14. Aynamsa correction (from Table of Ascendant Pg. 6                :        2 sign 10 deg 09 mins
      for Birth Year  1970                                                                  (-)   0 sign  0 deg  27 mins
                                                                                                       ---------------------------
                                                                                                             2 sign  09 deg 42 mins

The Ascendant falls in Gemini at 9 degrees and 42 mins

Note :

a) if T.O.B is AM
    S.T = step 8 - step 11
          if step 8 is < step 11, then
    S.T = (step 8 + 24 hours) - step 11
b) if T.O.B is PM
    S.T = step 8 + step 11
c) if S.T > 24 hours then subtract 24 hours from it to get S.T
d)
     1) for southern latitude, add 12 hours to the S.T as Modified Sidereal Time (MST).
         if M.S.T > 24 hours then subtract 24 hours to get M.S.T
     2) for southern latitude, add 6 signs to the Ascendant.
         If Ascendant is > 12 signs then subtract 12 signs to get the ascendant.

Watch my Astrology Videos on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYjpR98M6Ow

Author:

Sheshachalam Iyengar
Jyotish Visharad : iyengarastro@gmail.com
(for online Astrology and Tarot classes contact : +91-7338608070)

9th Lord (Bhagyasthanadhipathi)

Astro Guide Mysore

9th lord which is also called the Bhagyasthanadhipathi is said to be the most benefic and important planet. 

In this article lets go in detail for each lagna and see whether the 9th lord is really 100 % benefic or not.

In the case of Aries Ascendant, the 9th lord is Jupiter. The 9th house Saggitarius, is its Moolatrikona house.  Jupiter is also the lord of 12th and hence has dual role to play. Being a lord of the 12th house, Jupiter cannot be a 100% benefic.

Saturn becomes an ultimate benefic for Tarus Ascendant, since it is the 9th and the 10th lord.  Being the Dharma and Karmasthanadhipathi, it alone can give 100% results, depending on its placement.

The 9th house falls in Aquarius in the case of Gemini Ascendant.  Saturn here owns both Capricorn and Aquarius being the 8th and the 9th lord. Saturn acts as a badaka (creates hurdles and harships) in this case and hence Saturn cannot be called as benefic in this regard. Only if Saturn is associated with a benefic Mercury in a Kendra or Trikona it can give rise to benefic results. 

For Cancer Ascendant, the 9th house falls in Pisces.  Jupiter is the lord or both 6th and the 9th house making it a partial benefic.  It again cannot be called a total benefic due to its dual lordship. 

In the case of Leo Ascendant, the lord of the 9th house Aries is Mars. It is also the lord of the 4th house.  Since Mars is lord of a Kendra (Quadrant) and Trikona (Thrine), it makes it a 100% benefic. Its placement with the Ascendant lord Sun can give rise to Rajayogas.

The 9th lord is Venus for Virgo Ascendant.  Venus also owns the 2nd house which is a marakashathana (lord who can kill).  This aspect of Venus getting the authority to kill is ignored by some authors, considering the relationship between Mercury and Venus.  Here, Venus can be considered a benefic 9th lord.

For Libra Ascendant, the 9th lord is Mercury.  Here Mercury also owns the 12th house and hence cannot be considered as a total benefic. Mercury will surely give mixed results when its dasa operates.

Cancer is the 9th house for Scorpio Ascendant and its lord is Moon.  Since Moon owns only Cancer, it becomes a total benefic.  The placement of Moon in Scorpio Ascendant horoscopes is to studied in detail, since it plays an important role in the natives life time.

In the case of Saggitarius Ascendant, the 9th lord is Sun (Lord of Leo). Sun exalts in Aries which is the 5th from Saggitarius and hence making it 100% benefic.

Mercury becomes the 9th lord with regard to Capricorn Ascendant.  Since Mercury owns both the 6th and the 9th from Capricorn, it gives mixed results when its dasa operates. But, here we can consider that Virgo is Mercury's Moolatrikona and hence will tend to give more benefic results than malefic results of the 6th house.

Venus is the 9th lord for Aquarius Ascendant. In this case Venus is the 4th and the 9th lord, making it the lord of a kendra (Quadrant) and Trikona (Thrine).  Venus is an ultimate benefic for this Ascendant.

In the case of Pisces Ascendant, the 9th house falls in Scorpio. Here Mars owns both the 2nd and the 9th house. Mars owns the 2nd house, some authors opine that Mars being a friend of Jupiter will not kill though it is a maraka.  Mars can be considered as a benefic in this case.

The 9th lords are also badaka lords (Hurdle creators) for fixed rasi ascendants. This point has to be taken care along with placements, aspects and conjuntions of other planets.

Watch my Astrology Videos on youtube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0piMd6Hcuw

Author:

Sheshachalam Iyengar
Jyotish Visharad : iyengarastro@gmail.com
(for online Astrology and Tarot classes contact : +91-7338608070)

Insight to Astrology

Astro Guide Mysore

The way our life is moulded is directly related to how we think.  Life is directed in one direction or the other depending on how we think, what we desire, how we pursue, how we react/reciprocate and respond. How we understand society and control our emotions, etc.,

On the other hand the Image we create for ourselves keeps goading us to maintain itself for its positive outlook from the Society’s perspective.

This concept came to me when I was thinking on the relation between desire and the mind.

For example let us study the behavioral pattern of an Ant.

“Every day when it first comes out of its burrow, it scans for food and starts strolling in the field.  The pattern it follows each day is very complicated and fascinating, because it registers in its mind the path traversed for the past few days and its result. It finally starts to choose a particular route and repeats the trip. This shows that the desire for a particular food made the ant to repeat its route”.

Here the subject is very simple because the desire is singular and the ant is not confused. This is not in the case of human beings.  The desires are multifold and complex. The route is not definite, since one does not choose to fix to a singular desire. 

The path traversed is somewhat explainable as trial and error.  One gets fixed to some of the earlier traversed paths wherein one feels he is in-sync.  This also depends on the individual and the way he thinks. 

The hypothesis is that man thinks and then goes ahead in the path he likes or feels he finds happiness in it.  Does this mean that some part of our fate is also decided by the way we think? 

It surely does. The link between our urge to realize worldly matters and the pattern of our life is very much interdependent.

Can we control our desires, our thoughts; know our inner innate personalities and our Subconscious wants?

We surely can, this is where Astrology plays an important role in providing an insight into ones life pattern and the way one thinks.  The scientific analysis of a person will open-up the realities of one’s capabilities and will make him aware of his strengths and how to manage one’s short comings.

Astrology is a very deep rooted science in India and defaced due to petty astrologers who do not have the in-depth knowledge and are greedy to make money by suggesting remedies like performing poojas / homas and what not. If pooja’s and homa’s could have solved all our problems then there should have been lasting peace throughout India since centuries. With all regard to other religions, don’t people belonging to other religions have problems in their life? And when they go to an astologer, can he suggest pooja’s and homa’s as remedies?

The bigger picture is that everything is controlled by COSMOS and the vibrations coming from the constellations above us. Once we synchronize our physical, intellectual and psychological selves with the supreme power, we will be able to handle ourselves in a well orderly manner and our purpose of this birth will manifest.

A scientific approach is required to understand this beautiful phenomenon of the Cosmos and to know how it is related to what happens down here.

Watch my Astrology Videos on youtube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0piMd6Hcuw

Author:

Sheshachalam Iyengar
Jyotish Visharad : iyengarastro@gmail.com
(for online Astrology and Tarot classes contact : +91-7338608070)

Vision

Astro Guide Mysore

The spirit of living in the present is well understood only when an individual has a clear vision.  The vision of the farthest aim his conscious self can perceive.  All this is possible if he trains his faculties to work in cohesion.  The alignment of the subtle mind, the intellect and the conscious self makes one foresee the purpose of this birth.

This being the hardest of all phenomena, tests the strength of the native.  The experience of failures in the process of synchronization of faculties may hinder the progress but the journey towards solidifying one’s self gives tremendous satisfaction.  It will open our vision and broaden our purpose.

 Being born as simple human beings we get to know the world in one particular way.  This restricts our understanding towards creation. The thought that the whole setup is geocentric was rubbished a couple of centuries ago, but, the idea that has crawled into us which makes us think that we rule the world and control everything that encompasses us -- is dangerous.

The fact that we have such limited vision is very evident in our actions.  We study every situation by isolating it from others.  This method of understanding a situation by isolating it actually worsens the situation.

We should think responsibly by giving equal importance to all thoughts, the ones that are represented and the ones that are not represented but seem so relevant that they cannot be left out.

The biggest lacuna in our race is the unwanted prejudice which each one of us carry as though it is innate.  Prejudice grows into the system like unwanted weeds on a field of good crop.  It overshadows the purpose and sees that every individual succumbs to its will.

We should train ourselves in such a way that we do not succumb to our ego and suffer from prejudice, but, learn the art of sacrifice, togetherness and belongingness.

It’s only when we lose our self that we can be selfless.  All selfless actions are accounted into Gods Ledger.  That’s where the final accounts are kept and will be shown to every one of us when we report back after this birth is over. 

Opening one’s self and tearing apart from the clutches of ego gives one a vision that reaches far beyond one’s imagination.  It makes this birth and this life which we give such great importance, much smaller and trivial. We grow beyond to see our purpose of this birth with more clarity and make our life more meaningful.

Once the purpose of this birth has become evident, there is nothing that we have to fear or there is no agony.  Everything is just as planned and is going as perceived by the Will of God. It’s only our efforts that are required to lose our identity (ego) and merge into this beautiful creation of God. 


Watch my Astrology Videos on youtube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0piMd6Hcuw

Author:
Sheshachalam Iyengar : iyengarastro@gmail.com

Grooming one's Intellect

Astro Guide Mysore

It’s innate that everyone loves his face.  In fact loves himself.  He grooms himself to put up a good appearance in the world of perceptions.  In social gatherings most of the conversations start with “Oh, look at you, you look stunning” or “Have you gained weight recently?” or “You look out of place, you require having dressing sense”.  These opinions make a person unknowingly concentrate more on his looks and appearance. Since, this is more in women folk generally they get immersed into it so deep that, they become specialists in appearance counseling.

Men get into body building, show off, buying extravagant gadgets, etc., which they hope will upkeep their status of youth in their circles. 

This, since has a very big impact on an individual from the date of his birth, he really thinks that the appearance or looks of a person is the utmost important factor.

Generally, we stick to our routine every morning.  We brush our teeth, take  bath, scrub our bodies clean using our favorite soap, comb our hair, get dressed up, a minimal makeup in case of women, have a sumptuous breakfast, put on our best shoes and off we go to our offices.

All this time we were in the process of grooming our physical self and have forgotten the intellectual self which is really who we are. The importance given to this physical self over shadows the intellectual self.

It will be apt at this juncture for me to give a small example: -

This is a well known story of a shepherd who went on to marry a princess, who was deceived by the minister, who made the shepherd dress like a Sanskrit Scholar.  That night, the princess comes to know about the shepherd when he spills the beans by talking to her. The princess feels deceived.  She in her anger tells her newly married husband to sit in front of the idol of Goddess Kali and ask her for knowledge.  Innocently the shepherd does what is told. I hope everyone knows the later part of the story.  The shepherd is non-other than the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa.  Once he gained the knowledge or Jnana, he was recognized as a great scholar.  No one gave any importance to what he wore or how he lived. 

It will be the best day in a person’s life when he is recognized for what he intellectually is, rather to what he looks like.

So it is our responsibility to groom our intellectual self thrice every day.  This in our olden days was performed as sandhyavandana. It was done three times a day to cleanse ourselves from any ill/evil thoughts. Let’s now start this practice of grooming our intellectual self and start talking to ourselves. 

Do we want an external life where we will only perceive things through our five senses or do we prefer our mind, intellect and consciousness to get involved in the process of perception? 

Now it will be easy for us to understand why, we give importance to taste, colours & design, music, feeling of touch and fragrance.

Lingering towards all these physical entities becomes lesser if the intellectual self starts to blossom.  The perception of food as a required source of energy and not a medium to enjoy the sense of taste will set into our mind.

Likewise all the other four senses will come under the control of our intellect and our consciousness, making us more oriented towards bigger goals.

Watch my Astrology Videos on youtube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0piMd6Hcuw

Author:

Sheshachalam Iyengar : iyengarastro@gmail.com

Conscious of our Actions

Astro Guide Mysore

We had been on a three day trip to Nagarahole, Brahmagiri and Aralam Wild Life Sanctuary. That’s me, my cousin brother Raju and a reptile specialist Sunil.  We had a very nice time for all those three days.  On the way back we took the route from Mananthavady to Bangalore via Sulthan Bathery and Gundlepet. When we were passing through a beautiful stretch of road in the midst of Moole Hole Wild Life Sanctuary, Raju who was driving his Safari Dicor, started to speed.  The road was very good and had been maintained to the best.  He started to over speed, for which I objected and said that he should not cross a limit.  The reply he gave me was very casual but stirred me for a while.  He said “My Safari is an extension of me”.  He meant that he was in full control. But the thought of it being an extension of him was an extraordinary statement to me. 

We are all born with this body which as time goes grows and reaches the form of an adult.  But the process is too slow to notice.

As a baby, which is born into this world, does not know how to use the physical form (its body).  Slowly the brain with the help of neurons, the motor nerves, muscle contractions and many more functions tries to perform a particular act it desires.  This moment of success makes it confident to try other things.  This after a period of time and with a lot of practice after a million failures makes the child perfect.  It now knows how to hold, grip, clasp, pluck, break, push, stand, walk, hop, run, climb, etc.

As this is a phenomenon which is not a substantial one to remember we all forget it easily.

The hypothesis is that when any form of life is born, it is new in its physical body and does not know how to use it or control its movements.  This can be seen when a baby elephant plays around with its trunk thinking it’s a toy. 

As Raju said that after some thousands of kilometers of driving, he feels every sound the car makes and he knows how to control it.  We also have achieved the same thing with our body which is nothing but a physical entity which has to be controlled from inside. 

Then what is inside this physical body, which we now call a mechanism?  It is YOU who is inside, that is, you sit inside your body and try to control its actions to your requirement.  It’s beautiful when both the inner self and the physical self are in unison. 

The problem starts when the physical self starts to control you.  This is because the inner self cannot experience any feeling without the body and hence has to rely on the communicative factors of the sensory organs.  But due to uncontrolled usage of our sensory organs, we fall prey to its control and hence fall into the trap of being controlled by our senses.  This destroys the identity of a person and dissolves his individuality. 

We should recognize this phenomenon as early as possible in our lives.  We should take command and control of our actions by taking the reins from our physical self and securing it with our inner self. 

Let our Conscious Self take the decision and not our senses. 

Watch my Astrology Videos on youtube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0piMd6Hcuw

Author:
Sheshachalam Iyengar : iyengarastro@gmail.com