Kala Sarpa Yoga: The Mystery Revealed

[Guest guest]

Hello All,

 

I have seen many posts, letters and questions posed on

the planetary combination known as the Kala Sarpa

Yoga. It is perhaps the single most misunderstood

combination in all of Vedic Astrology, and that's

saying alot, as anyone with knowledge of VA knows,

that there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of

Graha Yogas (planetary combinations) extant within its

lexicon.

 

"Kala Sarpa Yoga" hails from the Tantric school of

Jyotish, and as such it implies links to the Occult,

the Supernatural, or, at the very least, those hidden

forces that prod us to do things we wouldn't

otherwise. The words mean "The Black Serpent of Time",

again denoting its ties to Occult or exotic subjects.

 

KSY is said to be formed when all of the planets are

"hemmed" or "caught" between the Nodes of the Moon -

Rahu and Ketu. Virtually all jyotishis agree on this

point, but that is where the agreement ends, for there

are almost as many varying opinions on what exactly

constitutes a KSY as there are jyotishis themselves -

as we can see from the many discussions that have

ensued.

 

It is my contention that to truly understand the KSY,

to truly understand the meaning of the Nodes overall,

one has to truly grasp the story of how the Nodes came

to be. I will briefly re-state it here.

 

Once, there was a huge party being thrown by the Gods,

and all the Planets were invited. They all had a great

time, dancing, great music and good food. Lord Vishnu

had all of his guests sit round the table and began to

pass around the potion known as Amrita, which would

bestow immortality to whoever drank it. As all the

Planets took their turn at the bottle, a shadowy

demon-like being sneaked into the party by creating

alot of confusion at the front door outside. Slipping

past the guards, he then made his way to the table

where Vishnu and the Planets were sitting, donned a

disguise and took a seat.

 

Soon the demon being's turn came, and just as he was

beginning to drink the potion, the Sun and Moon saw

through the demon's ruse and alerted Vishnu; he drew

his discus and threw it at the demon, slicing him in

two right at the neck. But the deed was done - the

potion, though not as much as what the Planets were

given, was ingested. So instead of falling dead right

then and there, the demon, split in two, continued to

live on. They escaped, but returned later to harass

the Sun and Moon from time to time. They became known

as Rahu and Ketu.

 

Because Rahu represents the mouth and Ketu the tail,

the both represent opposite ends of the spectrum of

life; Rahu, the mouth, wants to enjoy all that it can

-drugs, food, sex, and other material pleasures.

Because Ketu, the tail, didn't get to taste the Amrita

firsthand, he wants to leave this world, as he thought

he was doing when he got severed by Vishnu. Instead,

he can only glimpse into "the other side" and longs to

go there.

 

We learn from this story many things about what the

Nodes represents: foreigners, "aliens", deception;

carnal pleasures in abundance, in overload if I may;

the Occult, mystical and strange things; higher

spiritual paths; drugs and alcohol, and other mind

altering substances; and much, much more. The Nodes

represent all that is forbidden, taboo,

not-to-be-touched.

 

It is these themes and more, that becomes the focus of

the KSY, and based on my extensive study of this

combination here in the post-industrial revolutionary

West, I have found several things.

 

Firstly, the KSY can be formed in an number of ways,

as long as ALL the planets are hemmed between the

Nodes. It does not matter in which direction the

planets are moving from (Rahu to Ketu, or vice-versa).

Secondly, I have found that KSY is operative even when

a planet or a number of planets conjoins either Node,

even if this falls outside of the exact degree

position of said Node; because Vedic Astrology

recognizes conjunctions in a sign-based way and not

necessariy by degree-orb, the very presence of a

planet in the same house as a Node will still count as

a KSY.

 

And lastly, I have found that the meaning of the KSY

in these times, for most people, is that it suggests

strong themes of obsession, complusion and the like.

The person tends to be enthralled by whatever the

Nodes represent in terms of House position. This is

the repeating theme I have seen over and over again in

the lives of many people I know who personally have

this combination in their charts. I will discuss a few

of these examples in a moment.

 

Of course, there are adjustments that can be made

regarding KSY in the horoscope; for example, if there

are many planets on the Ketu arm of the Nodal axis,

then we would expect more of the above-mentioned

obsession/complusion themes to be along Ketu lines.

The same can be said if the reverse holds true, i.e.,

if Rahu is the Node that has many planets involved. We

can go further, by noting that if the Ascendant is

also "caught up" between the Nodes, that the themes

already discussed can be even stronger.

 

In exactly what way the KSY will manifest itself still

depends in great measure on the rest of the chart.

That is to say, that if the chart suggests issues

surrounding drug addiction, then the KSY seems to

heighten this already strong tendency, and things can

really get worse. The same can be said for a chart

that shows a strong potential for sexual taboos, or

Occult awareness, and so on. It must also be said,

that as the Nodes are based on the orbital path of the

Moon, and causes "distortions", the Nodes also

represent distortions of the Mind itself; if a chart

shows other mental instabilities, the KSY can really

bring this out.

 

KSY can also play a role in terms of other physical

maladies, such as stroke, for example. Other diseases,

usually those that are either incurable and/or

terminal, also fall under the purview of the Nodes,

like HIV/AIDS, cancer and so on. Again, the chart

overall has to support this, such as, in this case, a

weak Asc Lord, strong Trik house lords, etc.

 

While the KSY is a strong influence all throughout

one's life, its potentials come into "full bloom"

whenever one of its Dasas runs. I have seen this over

and over again. Of particular importance is the

running of both major and sub periods at the same time

(Rahu Dasa, Ketu sub period, or vice-versa). As the

Nodal Dasas are by far the most challenging for most

of us, they can be extremely so for those of us who

have KSY in their charts.

 

Before anyone out there thinks that the KSY brings

nothing good, let me also say, that is not true. KSY

can indeed be a strong indicator of focus, resolve and

a great moral teacher on the values of ethics and

leadership. A person with KSy should always strive for

the highest ethical standards and actions, and their

unusual approach and fresh ideas can be most useful to

any organization or effrt for which they work.

Innovative is the best way to describe such people,

they are always full of new ideas and new ways of

looking at old problems - often, it is people like

these (or at the very least, people who have strong

Nodally influenced charts) who dream up the ideas of

all the technology today (the 21st century version of

"magic") that we all make use of. In fact, if either

of the Nodes is placed in an angular house while at

the same time it is either conjunct or aspected by the

ruler of that or any other angular house, a Nodal Raja

Yoga is formed, and can bring great noteriety and

wealth upon the native.

 

And now, a few examples...

 

Everyone has the horoscope of American President

George W. Bush. In his chart, KSY exists, and is very

important because of their position, being exalted. He

is currently running Moon/Rahu, and this was the case

at the time of the Sep 11 Terror Attacks. Ever since,

he has been what many in the press calls "obsessed"

with Osama Bin Laden and other terrorists,

state-sponsored or not. His association with Saddam

Hussein, the ties between his fimaly and that of

Hussein are well noted and documented. It is also well

known that he is a recovering alcoholic, having gone

through a period where alcohol dominated his life. At

the time, he was undergoing through Ketu Dasa, and he

himself refers to this period as his "Wandering

Years". Much has been written and said about the

dubious nature of the timing of the Iraq War, who

benefitted from it etc, and as the transit of the

Nodes continue to re-stimulate GWB's natal positions,

and as he still is in Moon/Rahu, if there are any

secrets or untoward things happening, it is sure to

come out soon.

 

Anais Nin, the French writer, is probably known more

for her ill-fated marriage to writer Henry Miller and

her many affairs - with both men and women - than for

her literay work, primarily a very long and detailed

diary, which is in the possession of UCLA, I

understand nowadays. She was obsessed with

relationships, and by extension, sex. Her chart

clearly shows these things: KSY falls into her 1-7

house axis, with Mars conjunct Rahu in the Asc to

boot. As she had a Virgo Asc, Mars in this house

cannot be good for such matters, and it showed. Not

only was she abused within her marriage, but she was

also sexually abused by her father. The fact that

Venus, Jupiter and the 7th lord (Jupiter again) were

all challenged in many ways, only confirms the

portents for a most difficult relationship life.

However, seen from the Moon, this KSY did contribute

to her fame; Rahu and Mars now sits in the 10th house,

with Mars ruling the 5th house, which is both a

fortunate house and rules writing books. Her book was

all about scandals, affairs and the like, and clearly,

these are Rahu themes. At the time she married Miller

and began her literary career, Mars and Rahu ran their

Dasas.

 

Well known Western Astrologer Basil Fearrington has

KSY falling in the 6-12 axis. Rahu is with Mars in the

12th/Sag and Ketu is with Mercury and Jupiter in the

6th/Gem. It is commonly seen in the charts of

Astrologers that Mercury almost always aligns in some

way with one of the Nodes, and both usually have a

tie-in back to the 8th house, the House of Astrology.

Here, in Basil's case, we see that Mercury, which is

trong both by sign and through its association with

Jupiter, is conjunct Ketu; note that from the Moon,

which is in Leo, 8th lord Jupiter is placed in Gemini

with Mercury and Ketu. Note also that from the Asc,

Rahu is in the 12th. Basil is also an accomplished

bass guitarist and has toured the world many times,

travelling extensively to such places as India. Note

how, again from the Moon, that Mars is the Yogakaraka,

placed in the 5th house. Note also that, like in case

of Nin, the 5th house represents the authorship of

books. His first book, which is a presentation of the

teaching methods of famed Western Astrologer Noel Tyl,

was a huge success, and word is that his next book is

soon to be published. In this case, the Nodes have

played a prominent and positive role in this man's

development as an Astrologer.

 

A good friend of mine has KSY, with the Sun, Venus and

Mercury in the 12th house with Ketu, all in Virgo.

This man has a Libra Asc, with Rahu in the 6th house.

He too has a strong connection to Occult and Spiritual

subjects, as well as a liking for many girls. Both

themes are suggested strongly - and - when he was born

and up to about 10 years of age or so, Rahu Dasa was

running. Though born stateside (USA) his family went

to live abroad, in places in Uganda and Guyana.

Additionally, he developed an array of allergies and

the like that, even to this day, he has not been able

to fully get rid of. Note the presence of Lagnesh

Venus in the 12th with Ketu - and while Mercury is

there and exalted, it cannot help Venus in that it is

not angular from either the Asc or the Moon. This same

Venus position, also plays a role in this man's

romantic life; Venus in the 12th in Virgo suggests

having a private sense of beauty, an ideal that has a

very hard time finding expression in the real world.

This man has dated and met many women, but has yet to

find "the one"; he also has Saturn debilitated in the

7th house/Aries.

 

Finally, a young woman I know has KSY in her Navamsa

(this is an excellent example of just how important

the Navamsa is), falling in the 4-10 house axis. Rahu

is in the 10th/Libra and Ketu is in the 4th/Aries. She

led a double life as a "straight" woman by day, and a

sexual swinger, escort/prostitute, etc by night. When

her secret was found out, Mars Dasa was running,

activating the Ketu in the 4th in the Navamsa. In the

Rasi (natal chart), Mars is in the 5th conjunct the

Sun, ruling the 8th. Mars is also running its final

sub period before ending, that of the Moon, which sits

in the 7th. Note that in both charts, Venus, Mars and

Saturn are tied into the 4th and 7th houses of the

chart, something that, according to the South Indian

Jyotish classic Jatak Parijat, says will create one

that is a sexual deviant. Note also that, in the

Navamsa, the Asc, Sun and Moon are all in malefic

signs; Mantreshwara says in his Phala Deepika that

such a combination occuring in the chart of a female

will create a whore. The Moon being debilitated here

in the Navamsa, also speaks loudly to this woman

projecting one thing to the outer world, but actually

being something else - and, it does not bode well for

her relationship-wise. The KSY here does speak

strongly to her interest in the Occult, and it also

speaks strongly to her secrets tumbling out of the

"closet" and ending her relationship. She currently

plans to move on and go into the Sex Business full

time as an escort and porn star.

 

I hope all of this explains what puts into perspective

what the Kala Sarpa Yoga is all about; it is not as

mystifying as it seems.

 

Salaam,

Mu

 

Chart Data:

George W. Bush

July 6, 1946

7.26AM EDT

New Haven, CT

USA

Lahiri: Asc 13 Can 23

 

Anais Nin

February 21, 1903

8.16PM

Paris, France

Lahiri: Asc 10 Virgo 49

 

Basil Fearrington

August 1, 1954

7.31PM EDT

Philadelphia, PA

USA

Lahiri: Asc 3 Cap 50

 

Mu's Friend

(Male)

Sep 19, 1968

10.23AM EDT

Brooklyn, NY

USA

Lahiri: Asc 15 Lib 44

 

Female Sexpot

May 18, 1983

12.28AM EDT

Philadelphia, PA

USA

Lahiri: Asc 2 Cap 52

 

 

 

 

 

=====

Mu'Min M. Bey

Western and Vedic Astrologer

Priority Email: jedimu11

AOL IM Screen Name: JediMu

267-467-5158

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