The Moon as a Goddess In Vedic Astrology

May 7, 2006

The Moon cycle is divided into three parts and the Tri-Devi are seen

according to the Moon phase. From Shukla Pratipad to Sukla Dashami

the Moon is ruled by Durga. Dashami to Krisna Panchami is ruled by

Laksmi, and Panchami to Amavasya is ruled by Kali.

In determining the Devi (goddess) according to one's natal Moon only

two forms of the Goddess are used (Durga and Kali). Laksmi is taken

as the planet Venus. The Moon can be either Kali or Durga in a

specific chart depending on multiple factors. All these factors have

to be taken into account with the proper understanding of the

factors influencing the Moon.

I.Prasna Marga

Prasna Marga says that if "the Moon is strong it is Durga and when

weak the Moon is Bhadrakali, if it is weak and in a Mars sign then

the Moon is Chamunda with dark attributes."

Mythology:

Durga is a benefic form of the goddess with multiple hands riding on

a tiger. She has always been and is all that is. Her physical

manifestation took form when there was a demon that was so powerful

that all the gods could not defeat it. All the gods put there Shakti

together and gave manifestation to Durga. Shakti is a concept that

cannot be translated into one word. Sanskrit is a conceptual

language (not like English). One level of shakti means the female

counterpart of a god, for example, the counterpart/shakti of Visnu

(god of sustenance) is Laksmi who is the goddess of wealth/money.

Sustenance works through wealth. Shakti also means the power/energy,

and wealth is the power of sustenance. So the shakti of a god is

their power/energy which is represented by their female counterpart.

The weapon a deity holds is symbolic of the shakti/powers that the

deity has; what it can do. So when all the gods put their shakti

together, it means that all goddesses merged into one, or the power

of all the gods merged into one. She has many arms and holds the

weapons of all the gods, showing she has the power/shakti of all the

gods. She is all gods and goddesses in one form, called Jagadambe

(jagad-universe, ambe-mother = Mother of the Universe). Did She come

from the gods or did they come from Her? It is an interdependent

universe and She is the Universal Mother.

Kali came about when Durga became angry. Durga's face turned black

and the darkness condensed in her third eye out of which jumped

Kali. So Kali is a fierce, angry form of Durga. Bhadra means

auspicious, and Bhadrakali is an auspicious form of Kali.

Kali went to battle with the demons Chanda and Munda. They represent

the minds state of revolving between too little and too much,

constantly discontent. Kali had to become ferocious to kill these

demons. When She bit their heads off, Durga said that since she had

killed Chanda and Munda She would then be called Chamunda. So

Chamunda is the cruel form and Kali who is a fierce form herself.

She is often depicted with her ribs showing, looking very intense.

More stories and information about Durga, Kali and Chamunda can be

found in the Devi Mahatmya, which is available in numerous

translations.

II. Rasi

Form of the Mother when the Moon is placed in:

Aries-Chamunda- Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Vicche

Taurus- Durga (Rahu Mulatrikona)

Gemini- Durga (Rahu exaltation)

Cancer- Kali (natural house of Kali)

Leo- Kali

Virgo- Durga

Libra- Kali

Scorpio- Kali (Ketu own sign)

Sagittarius- Kali (Ketu exaltation)

Capricorn- Kali

Aquarius- Durga and Her alone (Rahu's own sign)- darkest sign of the

zodiac (where the ghosts are)

Pisces- Kali (Mulatrikona of Ketu)

III. The Mother's Mood

1) Moon going towards Ketu (Kali) or

Moon going towards Rahu (Durga)

2) Sukla Paksa- Durga

Krisna Paksa- Kali

3) Debilitated Moon- Kali

Exalted Moon- Durga

4) Conjunct day strong planets- Durga

Conjunct night strong planets- Kali

(except Mercury-strong day and night- Lalita=Lalita Sahasranam)

IV. Yogas

There are certain yogas that indicate specific goddesses. Mars with

the Moon shows Chamunda, Moon with Saturn is Kali, Moon with Rahu is

Durga, Moon with Mercury is Tripura/Lalita. Mars and Rahu together

is called Vijaya yoga and with Moon is Vijaya Durga. This is the

form of Durga worshiped on the tenth day of Navratri. It is the

celebration of the goddess conquering the demon for which she was

born to destroy. New Moon is associated with Kali, Full Moon is

associated with Tripura Sundari/ Sodasi (as well as Laksmi).

Analysis

Factors I to IV need to be analyzed, and the strongest indications

taken. To pick the devi rupa (form) for the Moon is very important,

especially when the Moon is afflicted and needs to be made stronger

or propitiated.

All the Planets as the Goddess

>From the Arudha Lagna, all planets can be seen as different forms of

the Goddess. The Arudha Lagna is Maya, which is Shakti. From Arudha

there is only Kali or Durga (no bhu shakti-laxmi). The two fold

division is ruled by the Moon; Durga- Sukla paksa, Kali- Krisna

Paksa, (Three fold division is ruled by Jupiter). Shiva is

worshipped from the lagna (Sun karaka), Visnu is worshipped from the

pakalagna (Jupiter karaka), and Shakti is worshipped from Arudha

Lagna (Moon karaka).

To use this system properly it is imperative that one understands

the houses from the Arudha Lagna (Maya). When this is fully

understood then the planet can be either Nila Shakti (Kali) or Sri

Shakti (Durga).

Planets according to Sri Shakti: Navadurgas

Sun-Shaylaputra (daughter of the Mountains)

Moon- Mahagauri (The Great White Mountains)

Mars- Skandamata (Mother of Lord Skanda)

Mercury- Katyayani

Jupiter- Brahmacharini

Friday- Kushmandi

Saturn- Kalaratri

Rahu- Chandraganta (bell of the Moon)

Ketu- Siddhidatri (giver of siddhis)

Links with more information about the Navadurga.

NavaDurga

Durga Puja

Planets according to Nila Shakti: Mahavidyas

Sun- Matangi

Moon- Bhuvaneshvari

Mars- Bhagalamukhi

Mercury- Tripura Sundari

Jupiter- Tara

Venus- Kamala

Saturn- Kali

Rahu- Chinnamasta

Ketu- Dhoomavati

Lagna- Bhairavi

Remember, if you use the wrong goddess, it is dangerous. In western

culture, everything dangerous has been thrown out, so the westerner

generally doubts that the goddess can be harmful, but remember she

is Shakti, Prakritti, she is Nature. If you play with Nature, it

plays with you. Play with it right and you will be well, play wrong

and know that water drowns and fire burns, Jai Mata.

Vimshottari dasa is connected to the Arudha Lagna (the Moon and

perception). The mahadasa is ruled by the Sun, and the Moon rules

the antardasa. The antardasa is very important to interpret from the

Arudha Lagna, and it is the crucial place to apply Shaktis.

Determine where and how the antardasanath is placed from the Arudha

Lagna. This is used to indicate which goddess to use for which antar

dasa (time period of the life).

Conclusion:

The Goddess is very important in one's life. She is that which gives

us direction (gati) in life. From the Moon, the Goddess guides the

mind in the right direction. From the planets, the Goddess is

uplifting (Durga) or purifying (Kali) the planets and their effects.

One should be competent in reading a chart and understand the

deities and what they will do before recommending these goddesses as

remedies. The worship of the Goddess is very powerful and gives

results quickly, relative to the indications of the chart