SJVC Lesson 3Compiled and Edited by J Sarat Chander, c SJVC

ankarcary s prayer

: nArAyZ, pro_&y?tAdXm&y?tsMBvm

aX-yAtE-t(vm lokA, s=tdFpA c mEdnF

OM nryaa parovyaktdaamavyaktasambhavama

aasyntastitvame lok saptadp ca medin

OM. Narayana is beyond (much above) the unmanifest. The Brahmanda (cosmic egg) evolves from theunmanifest. The Brahmanda contains all the worlds including this earth with its seven continents.

This prayer of Adi Sankara has been taken from a smriti and gives the ultimate objective of every birthin this world at least. Thus, Sri Ramanujacharya has given the best mantra that will guide us to thispenultimate goal.

What is Jyotish

Having created the Brahmanda and srishtikarta Brahma, Maha Vishnu handed him the four Vedas (RigVeda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda). This form of Maha Vishnu is worshipped as Jagannath atPuri where the division of the Veda into four parts was the beginning of the passing down of the knowledgein the Parampara. Brahma then began creation of srishti (nature) and created his manasaputra Manu andmanasaputri Satarupa who became Manus wife and thus began a whole process of creation of mankind.Man possessed the Rajas and Tamas guna also along with the Satva guna because of which he is more likelyto stray away from the path of Dharma and proper Karma. Therefore, the knowledge of the Vedas waspassed to bind mankind to the path of Dharma and thereby, self-realization. The Vedas were passed on tothe mankind through the Maharishis.

The Maharishis codified the Vedas and the knowledge was spread to the human beings. Different Maharishisworked on different portions of the Vedas. The Vedas and other Sruti Literature themselves were too difficultfor the understanding of common people. Hence, the essence of Veda was explained by the different schoolsof thought through the different Purana, Upanishad etc which were a part of the Smriti literature. Thedifferent ancillaries through which Veda was explained to people came to be known as the Vedanga (literallytranslated, it means Veda + Anga where Anga means parts or limbs). There are six such limbs of theVeda or Vedanga. They are (i) Siksha (phonology or phonetics); (ii) Vyakarana (grammar); (iii) Chhanda(prosody); (iv) Nirukta (etymology); (v) Jyotish (astronomy and astrology); and (vi) Kalpa (procedure orcode of conduct for Vedic rituals).

As the Vedas emanated entirely from Maha Vishnu, it has been equated to Him in body and shape andthe six Vedanga meaning the six limbs, represent the different body parts of Maha Vishnu and the sametheory is extended to we human beings as well for Maha Vishnu is ultimately our creator & benefactor andis omnipresent in all, both animate and inanimate, including us. The representation of the body parts isgiven in Figure 1.

From the above we will now be able to deduce the importance of Jyotish which are the Eyes of MahaVishnu. Thus, Jyotish Shastra assumes the second most important Anga of the Veda (it is subservient toKalpha or Brahmarandhra which is the Head and the seat of the Diksha Guru while The THIRD EYE is theseat of the Jyotish Siksha Guru). Besides, this Shastra enables the Jyotisha to see the Will of God in thehoroscope of the person and is then able to guide him (To guide is a function of sight or vision) to performthe right karma to be able to attain Him.

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SJVC Lesson 3 Creation Raths Lectures

Vedanga Body Part Tatwa1 Kalpa or Religious/ Spiritual Code Head Moon2 Jyotish or Astronomy/Astrology Eyes Agni3 Nirukta or Etymology Ears Akash4 Siksha or Phonetics Nose Prithvi5 Vyakarana or Grammar Face or Mouth Jala6 Chhanda or Prosody Feet Vayu

Figure 1: Vedangas, Body Parts and Tatwas

Guna Event Deity BeejaksharaCreation Rajas Birth (Appearance to be precise) Brahma APreservation Satwa Life form (mortal form) Vishnu UDestruction Tamas Death (Disappearance to be precise) Shiva M

Figure 2: Gunas

It maybe noted that Narayana is pure Satwa and the first differentiation was done by Brahma (Rajas) thedeity of Saturn. Thus, Rajas Guna implies differentiation and the six weaknesses resulting from this Gunaare called the Shadripu. The divisional chart for studying these in the physical plane is the Shastamsa (D-6Chart), and in the sub-conscious plane is the Trimsamsa (D-30 Chart as 30 = 12 2 + 6).

We have already learnt, Jyoti is light and Isha is God. Thus, Jyotish is the light (meaning the lightof knowledge, wisdom) that leads us to our goalNarayana. Jyotish is the eye of the Vedas the aspectwhich throws light on the Vedas and teaches its importance and relevance to man. Jyotish is the biggest(voluminous) branch of all Vedas which is unfathomable.

What is the relevance to Jyotish?

To know the meaning of having been born and leading a mortal form of life, it is important to know Godand his creation and the reason for our birth. Maharishi Parasara has clearly emphasized the importanceof this understanding in his very first chapters of the Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra. He has explained theimportance of the understanding and distinguishing the two aspects of the Atma viz., the Paramatma andthe Jeevatma; the Das Avatar of Maha Vishnu and the relevance to Jyotish; the Panch Tatwa (the fiveelemental forms of existence) and their relevance etc.

The mortal form in which we are born comprises the Atma, known as the soul and Mana known as themind which binds the Atma to the physical body. The higher and purer form of the Atma is Paramatma,known as God. Though we are a part of the same Paramatma (God), our Atma is lesser as it has Karmaattached to it and is called Jeevatma. It is, thus, entirely different from Paramatma, which is actually amanifestation of God himself in a physical form (avatars such as Ram & Krishna) as he had no Karmaattached to it. Such forms of manifestation of the Lord happen for a specific cause and purpose. However,there are different schools of thought on this subject of Paramatma and Jeevatma as propounded in theAdvaita and Dvaita philosophies, which is a never-ending debate considering the infiniteness of the Lord. Adebate on this is not the scope of Jyotish, but of the Kalpa and hence we are leaving this open.

It is enlightenment or the knowledge of Para Vidya that allows us to perform Satwik karma (actions/deeds)and delivers us from this cycle of births and rebirths and transcends the Jeevatma to the higher level tobecome one with the Paramatma. To know how to break from this cycle, it is very important to understandthe concept of Karma without desire for which purpose a reading of the Bhagavat Gita-As it is by Srila

hr rAm k

Z 2 hare rma ka

SJVC Lesson 3 Creation Raths Lectures

Avatar Form/Appearance Predominant Amsa GrahaSri Matsya Fish Jeevatmamsa KetuSri Koorma Tortoise Jeevatmamsa SaturnSri Vamana Dwarf Brahmin Jeevatmamsa JupiterSri Buddha Jeevatmamsa MercurySri Parasurama Angry Brahmin Jeevatmamsa VenusSri Varaha Boar Paramatmamsa RahuSri Narasimha Man-Lion Paramatmamsa MarsSri Rama Paramatmamsa SunSri Krishna Paramatmamsa moonSri Kalki End of Kali Yug Lagna

Figure 3: Das Avatar

Prabhupada is recommended.

Das Avatar

Lord Vishnu, also known as Maha Vishnu, is the supremeAlmighty. He is creator and preserver of thisUniverse (Bramhanda). What we know as the Universe, the Sun, the stars, the planets, the mortal lifeforms, the inanimate objects etc., are all born out of Him, and hence He is the natural Pater. He isunfathomable and imperceptible. The Dasavatar (Ten Appearances or Incarnations of the Lord Himself) aregiven in Figure 3. There are other authorities who have given different list of Avatar and also their planetaryrepresentations like replacing Buddha Avatar with Sri Balaram and the planet for Him has been mentionedas Jupiter. However, all these authorities are incorrect in view of Parasaras teachings.

Vishnu (Sarva Vyaapakeshwara Devata) is Omnipresent in His imperceptible form. Truly as Sri Aurobindohad said, it is beyond the realms of the human life to be able to perceive him. Since the Graha (Planetsaffecting Life) have represented Vishnu, they have been ordained to guide the cycles of re-birth and todetermine the Karma Phala (results of past Karma).

To explain this, Maharishi Parasara divided the whole universal expanse or Narayana into four parts. Thisfour-fold division of the Universe is also carried further into Jyotish as its second fun-damental division of the Bha-Chakra (Zodiac symbolizing the body of Narayana) into fourparts called Kendra (Quadrants).

Coming back to the Universe, three parts of the four are imperceptible (beyond the reach or understandingor perception of mortals) and are full of amrita (nectar or immortality & purity). These are: -

1. Maha Vishnu having Yoga with Shri Shakti (Maha Lakshmi- Hrim Beeja) in Satwa Guna;

2. Param Brahma having Yoga with Bhu Shakti (Maha Saraswati-Aim Beeja) in Rajas Guna; and

3. Sada Shiva having Yoga with Nila Shakti (Maha Kali- Kleem Bija) in Tamas Guna.

4. The fourth part is Vasudeva. This part is both partly perceptible and partly imperceptible (see Figure4; for our convenience and understanding, let us call these parts Vasudeva and Krishna). The twoportions of the fourth part are further defined as follows:

(a) Vasudeva in the imperceptible portion having yoga with Sri Shakti and Bhu Shakti with theGuna Satwa and Rajas respectively; and

hr rAm k

Z 3 hare rma ka

SJVC Lesson 3 Creation Raths Lectures

ImperceptibleMaha VishnuYoga: Shri ShaktiAmritaSatwa Guna

ImperceptibleParam BrahmaYoga: Bhu ShaktiAmritaRajas Guna

ImperceptibleSada ShivaYoga: Nila ShaktiAmritaTamas Guna

ImperceptibleVasudevaYoga: Shri Shakti

AmritaSatwa &

& Bhu Shakti

RajasGuna

Satwa, Rajas & Tamas Guna

Perceptible

Rukmini, Satyabhama,

KrishnaYoga: Shri, Bhu& Nila Shakti as

& Radhika

1 2

3 4A

4B

Figure 4: Schematic Representation of nryaa

(b) Krishna in the perceptible portion having Yoga with Sri Shakti, Bhu Shakti and Nila Shaktiwith Satwa, Rajas and Tamas Guna respectively. For further ease of understanding we define SriShakti as Rukmini (Lakshmi), Bhu Shakti as Satyabhama (Saraswati) and Nila Shakti as Radhika(Kali).

The discussion on the imperceptible part is beyond this lecture. Suffice is to say that it is a question ofindividual deliverance. The perceptible portion of the Universe is what we are aware of in the form ofvarious galaxies, solar systems and other creation. In this perceptible portion the Guna (modes of nature)are intermixed and at any point of time and at any place, all three Guna co-exist. However, there will alwaysbe a predominance of one of the three Guna. This is defined as the prevailing Guna. From the Jyotishviewpoint, this is the third fundamental division of the Bha-chakra and is called Trikona(trines).

From a Jyotish standpoint, compare 4A & 4B. The main difference is the absence of Tamas Guna. Since allbeings exist in the three Guna in Part 4B, the primary effort should be to get over the effect of the TamasGuna. This can be done by worshipping Radhika with Krishna and due to the effect of the Yoga, the TamasGuna will be gradually destroyed. It is only a question of perception and Nila Shakti can also be defined asKali and then the Yogeshwara will take the form of Shiva for the destruction of Tamas.

Bha-Chakra: Its Development

Now, if we had to make a two-dimensional representation of Narayana as perceived from the central axis ofthis earth (i.e. Standing at the North pole), then the same would be a circle of 360 Degrees where the radiusis infinite. However, as Jyotisha we are interested in defining a finite radius or range that will affect the livesof mortals living in this planet. This is the dual concept of Narayana (Infinite) and Nara (Finite) popularly

hr rAm k

Z 4 hare rma ka

SJVC Lesson 3 Creation Raths Lectures

called Nara-Narayana. This finite radius is defined by the Graha (planets or other points of the zodiac) thatcan affect human lives and the limit is the Saptama Dwipa or the area traversed by Saturn in its revolution.Why Saptama Dwipa is answered by the Prayer of Sankaracharya at the beginning of thisLecture.

The next step is to accommodate the four-fold and three-fold division in the Bha-Chakra. For this purpose,we take the least common Multiple of the numbers (4 & 3) and arrive at the twelve fold division of theBha-Chakra. The result is what is popularly called the Rasi Chakra where the 360 Degrees of the circle aredivided into 12 equal parts of 30 Degrees each. The question of the starting point for this division shall betaken up at a later stage. Suffice is to say that this is defined as the Zero degree of Aries.

Assignment

1. The next question is which Graha should be given the over-lordship of this twelve-fold division or thetwelve signs of the zodiac and why?

2. Make a schematic representation of the Earth, Bha-Chakra with its 12 spokes and mark out the areasof Nara & Narayana.

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hr rAm k

Z 5 hare rma ka