Namaste

[Guest guest]

Respected Gurus and List Members,

Namaste.

 

My name is Sudha Iyer and I have been a silent part of this list for a

while now. I had the great good fortune of attending a small part of the

Conference in Mumbai and meeting many of the illustrious Gurus there.

 

I have officially joined the SJC as a student and have the good

fortune to be accepted by Lakshmiji as her student.

 

I have worked on the first lesson and am posting my answers here for

your comments and guidance. I have also attached a file with the

answers.

 

Regards,

Sudha

 

SJC Lesson 1 Assignment Answers

 

Q1. Explain the changing of the seasons and its connection with the

above-mentioned astronomical factors.

 

1. We know that the earth moves around the Sun and not vice versa.

However, for the purposes of astrology, we take the geocentric solar

system and construct imaginary paths of all the celestial objects

around the earth. So there is a seeming motion of the Sun around the

earth, which is the Ravimarga or the ecliptic.

 

The earth is not strictly vertical, but its axis is at an inclination,

tilted from to the plane of the ecliptic by 23.45°. This tilting

coupled with the Sun's movement along the along the tropical zodiac

(Sayana) is what gives us the six seasons of the year, each lasting

two months (Sisira, Vasanta, Grisma, Varsa, Sharada and Hemanta).

Since the axis is tilted, different parts of the globe are oriented

towards the Sun at different times of the year, during the motion of

the sun around the earth. The distance between the Sun and the earth

is fixed (though ecliptic, the earth's speed compensates to maintain

distance). The declination or Kranti of the Sun, as it moves, which is

its angle with respect to the celestial equator will change

continuously.

 

During two equinoxes, i.e., when is sun is above the equator, the

duration of day and night is equal. The Vernal equinox, on Mar 21

signifies the start of spring in the North. The Sun enters 0 degrees

of Aries around April 14th, which is the start of the New Year for

many solar calendars. Similarly, the Autumnal Equinox is on Sep 21,

and soon after that, when the Sun enters 0 deg of Libra, we get autumn

in the North. The solstices correspond to the Sun's position over the

Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. When the Sun is above the Tropic of

Cancer, we have the summer solstice; the longest day in the Northern

hemisphere, and around 10 days later, the sun enters Cancer. The days

then progressively get shorter till the sun is above the Tropic of

Capricorn and we have the shortest day. This is the winter solstice,

followed by the sun's entering 0 deg of Capricorn. The opposite is

true of the Southern hemisphere. The reason for this few days'

difference between the start of the seasons and the entry into the

rasi is due to the Ayanamsa (Precession), which has pushed the

equinoxes into Pisces and Virgo.

 

I will now try and also relate this to the other astronomical concepts

in the lesson, in turn (each astronomical concept italicized). We have

seen that the seasons will be absolutely opposite in the Northern and

Southern hemispheres, according to the angle of the sun's rays falling

in that area. Also, the season will depend heavily on the latitude of

the place, even within the two hemispheres.

 

Longitude will not affect the seasons too much, due to the earth's

rotation; evenness is assured around the globe.

 

Rasi chakra: The rasis, in which the sun spends 1 month each will then

have specific seasons associated with them. Each season extends into

two rasis. This will influence the nature of the rasis, which will

correspond to the seasons that they are associated with in some way.

In the Northern Hemisphere, Mesha, which has the sun in it in

March-April, is bound to have characteristics of early spring. (Liking

new things, implying starts). Similarly, rasis that are associated

with rainy season will be more emotional and rasis associated with

winter, more cold and detached. Does this mean that a person born in

the Southern Hemisphere, where Mesha is actually a cold season is less

spring like and more airy and cool, corresponding to the Libran of the

Northern Hemisphere? I would like to know the answer to this.

 

Nakshatra Chakra: Just like the rasis, the nakshatras also line the

zodiac. The sun does pass through each one of them in turn, spending

approximately 13 days in each nakshatra. The nakshatras may also be

aligned with the movement of the sun by having natures in part at

least due to the timing of the Sun's movement through them and the

changing seasons.

 

Q 2. There are some days of the year where the sun either doesn't rise

nor set above certain parts of the globe. Explain.

 

2. The earth is tilted, so for half the year, the North Pole faces the

Sun and the South Pole faces the Sun for the other half. On Mar 21,

the day and night are of equal length. As the Sun moves towards the

summer/winter Solstice, when it is above the Tropics of Cancer/

Capricorn, its direct rays reach the areas around the poles at these

times. The Kranti of the sun and its position is such that despite the

earth's rotation, the sun is always on the polar horizon at this time.

So before and after June 21, there is no sunset at the North Polar

Region. During this time, of course, the Southern Polar Regions are

experiencing a continuous sunset as the South Pole is tilted

completely away from the Sun. The positions are reversed for the

Winter Solstice.

 

Q. 3. Parasara mentions two classes of heavenly bodies: the moving and

non-moving ones. Please explain, what will be the difference between

their roles in the astrological interpretation.

 

3. The zodiac is a continuous broad band extending 9 degrees on either

side of the ecliptic. In it are the nakshatras and the grahas. A

nakshatra is actually a group of stars arranged in a constellation.

These are extremely far from the earth and hence, relatively do not

move at all in space and perhaps time (?) also with respect to earth.

(I am not sure of the latter factor and how it may apply to influences

of nakshatras in the timing of events on earth) Their locations are

fixed, as far as earth is concerned. There are 27 nakshatras occupying

the 360 degrees of the zodiac, so each nakshatra gets 13.20 degrees (a

28th nakshatra is defined, but it shares zodiac space). Parasara

defined grahas (we loosely translate this as planet) as bodies that do

move within this zodiac. The grahas are much, much closer to earth

than the Nakshatras.

 

(My guru had also asked me to look at the Vasus and correlate their

significance.) The Vasus are eight elemental gods representing aspects

of nature, representing cosmic natural phenomenon. The include the

sun, moon, nakshatras and the pancha bhutas. (Aditya, Soma,

Nakshatrani (Dhruva) Agni, Prithvi, Vayu, Apa (Antariksha/Aha),

Dyaus).

 

The best explanation, meaning and significance I found for the Vasus

is from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (beautifully translated by Swami

Krishnananda, The Divine Life Society). I give the relevant portion

here, because it made several things clear to me. ete vasavah? etesu

hidam sarvam hitam iti, tasmad vasava iti.

 

Ete vasavah: "Why do you call them Vasus?" What is the meaning of the

word Vasu? Vasu is that in which something resides. Now, these things

mentioned here, eight in number, are really the substances, in a

subtle form, out of which everything is made, including our selves.

Agni, Prthivi, Vayu, Antariksa etc. are not solid bodies, though names

are given here, which are applicable to physical bodies. Even the

earth is not a solid body. It is a vibration. There is no such thing,

ultimately, as a "solid" body. Everything is a conglomeration of

forces. The increased density of a particular force is the reason why

we give it a particular name in a particular context, as it becomes

visible. Even these distinctions between earth and fire and air etc.

are tentative distinctions. One is convertible into the other. So we

see that there is an internal connection among the gods. We know that

solids can become liquids, and liquids can become gases, and anything

can be converted into anything by certain processes to which they are

subjected. The solidity of the earth; the fierceness of fire, the fine

character of air; the glowing nature of the sun etc., can be

attributed to the increased density of the manifestation of the force

of which they are all constituted. Distance does not matter here. Even

if the sun is so many millions of miles away, it can regulate us,

control us. Distance is completely overruled by the existence of

invisible powers, cosmic energies that can reach over great distances

as immense light does. So, all bodies are constituted of these Vasus.

Our physical body, our subtle body and the physical bodies and the

subtle bodies of everyone and everything everywhere - all these are

made out of the energies of certain forces which go to make up these

elements - the fire, the earth etc. They are, therefore, called Vasus

because everything abides in them. Etesu hidam sarvam hitam iti,

tasmad vasava iti: "Everything is deposited as it were in these

constituent principles. Therefore, they are called Vasus."

 

The above excursion into Vasus shows that though the distances from

the nakshatras are tremendous, they do not matter at the cosmic scale.

Grouping the nakshatras along with the Sun and Moon, pancha bhootas

and indeed earth, as Vasus brings home the importance and the extent

of their influence on us.

 

Now, let us examine Grahas and Nakshatras and compare and contrast and

look at roles in prediction:

 

Due to the closeness, the influence of the grahas may be more obvious

and may be more on the gross plane. The influence of the nakshatras

will be more permanent and long-term and may be exerted more on the

subtle or causal planes. The effect of the nakshatras is both direct

and through the effect on the grahas themselves, which in turn

influence the native. Due to the motion, the grahas keep moving into

the different nakshatras. Plus, the natal chart can tell us which

planet occupies which nakshatra. The nakshatras thus can influence the

grahas, but not vice versa. Nakshatras being fixed, one should be able

to predict their direct effect on an individual's entire life, after

seeing the natal chart, at birth. The grahas show the blue print in

the natal chart, however, with constant movement, their circumstances

are changing continuously (As they influence one another, get

influenced by different rasis and nakshatras). So it is necessary to

pay a lot more attention to their movements across the zodiac and

thereby the changing influences, during prediction.

 

4. If you are able to construct your own chart, please do it and

explain as many astronomical principles from it as you can

(terrestrial latitude/longitude, season, Sun's cycle, Sunrise/Sunset

etc.). Also try to determine which planets are above and under the

horizon in your chart. In which Ayana the Sun is?

 

A 4. The following details were taken from the Jag. Hora program.

 

April 5, 1966

Time: 2:48:42 am

Time Zone: 5:30:00 (East of GMT)

Place: Chittur, Kerala: 76 E 45' 00", 10 N 42' 00"

 

Lunar Yr-Mo: Parabhava - Chaitra

Tithi: Pournimasya (Sa) (66.90% left)

Vedic Weekday: Monday (Mo)

Nakshatra: Hastha (Mo)

 

Taking the Vedic week date (sunrise to sunrise) as still being April 4,

Sunrise: 6:22:08 am (April 4)

Sunset: 6:30:24 pm (April 4)

 

The Sun is in Uttarayana. It has almost entered Aries and the season

is Spring. The Lagna is the constellation rising on the east and it

defines the horizon. The tenth house is the zenith and the 4th house

the nadir. So everything between the 7th and the 1st house is above

the horizon and the others are below. So the planets above the horizon

in my natal chart are Moon (9th) and Ketu (11th). The planets below

the horizon are Saturn, Venus, Mercury (in 2nd), Sun and Mars (in

3rd), Rahu (5th), Jupiter (6th).

 

Sri Gurubhyo Namah

Attachment: (application/msword) SJC Lesson 1 Assignment.doc [not stored]