Demystifing The Kala Sarpa Yoga

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Demystifing The Kala Sarpa Yoga

 

May 5, 2003

 

By Mu'Min Bey

 

 

 

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 a lot, 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, implies links to the occult, supernatural, or, at the very

least, those hidden forces that prod us to do things we wouldn't

otherwise do. The words mean "The Black Serpent of Time;" again

denoting its ties to occult or exotic subjects.

 

KSY forms 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 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 KSY, we must understand

the meaning of the Nodes, which means that we must grasp the story of

how the Nodes came to be--and I will briefly re-state it here.

 

Once, there was a lavish party being thrown by the Gods, and all the

Planets attended. They were having a great time dancing, listening to

great music, and enjoying good food. Lord Vishnu had all of the

guests sit round a table and passed around the godly elixir known as

Soma or Amrita, which bestows immortality to whoever drinks it. As

all the Planets enjoyed their portion, a shadowy demon-like being

sneaked into the party and created much confusion. Slipping past the

guards, this demon, known as Rahu, made his way to the table where

Vishnu and the Planets were sitting and donned a disguise, and then

took a seat.

 

Soon the potion, which was meant only for the godly Planets, was

passed to Rahu and he started to drink it. But at that same moment,

the Sun and Moon saw through the Rahu's ruse and alerted Vishnu.

Vishnu quickly drew his legendary discus at the demon and slicied him

in two pieces. However, the deed was done - Rahu ingested the Amrita

and obtained immortality. So, instead of falling dead after being

severed, he was split in two, and continued to live on as a severed

head from his body (Ketu). From now on Rahu would be in two pieces

and his head would be called Rahu, and his severed body would become

known as Ketu. And thereafter, every time Rahu saw the Moon or Sun

near him, he would swallow them, thus creating the Solar and Lunar

eclipse.

 

Astrologically, and therefore symbolically, Rahu represents the mouth

and Ketu the tail of the sneaky demon, and both pieces combined

represent the constant opposing spectrums of life. Rahu, the mouth,

wants to enjoy all that it can--drugs, food, sex, and other material

pleasures. And Ketu, the tail, which didn't get a taste of the

Amrita, wants to leave this world for the spiritual as he thought he

was when Vishnu severed him. However, he can only glimpse and dream

of "the other side" and longs to go there.

 

>From this story we can derive many meanings for the Nodes:

foreigners; aliens; deception; abundant carnal pleasures; the occult;

mystical and strange events; higher spiritual paths; drugs, alcohol,

and other mind altering substances; and much, much more. The Nodes

represent all that is forbidden, taboo, and untouchable.

 

These themes and more become the focus of KSY, and based on my

extensive study of this combination in the post-industrial,

revolutionary West, I have discovered several things:

 

First, 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).

Second, KSY is operative even when a planet, or a number of planets,

conjoins either Node even when this conjunction falls outside a

position of exact degree, since Vedic Astrology recognizes

conjunctions in a sign-based way and not necessarily by degree-orb.

Therefore, the very presence of a planet in the same house as a Node

will count as KSY.

 

Finally, I have found the meaning of KSY in modern times, that is for

most people, to suggest strong themes of obsession, compulsion and

the like. A person tends to be enthralled by whatever the Nodes

represent in terms of House position. I observed this repeating theme

over and over again in the lives of many people who have this

combination in their charts; and 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/compulsion themes to be along Ketu lines. The same can be

said if the reverse holds true; i.e., if many planets conjoin Rahu.

We can go further by noting that if the Ascendant is also "caught up"

between the Nodes, then the themes already discussed might be even

stronger.

 

The exact way KSY will manifest still depends in great measure on the

rest of the chart. That is to say, if the chart suggests issues

surrounding drug addiction, then the KSY seems to heighten this

already strong tendency, and the condition might be more obsessive.

The same can be said for a chart that shows a strong potential for

sexual taboos, or occult awareness, and so on. However, it must also

be said that the Nodes are based on the orbital path of the Moon, and

causes "distortions." Likewise the Nodes represent distortions of the

Mind itself, and if a chart shows other mental instabilities, then

KSY can really bring it out.

 

KSY can also play a role in 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 overall chart has to support

this condition, and we must look to other factors such as a weak Asc

Lord, strong Trik house lords, etc.

 

While KSY is a strong influence throughout one's life, its potentials

really 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 are usually extremely so for

those who have KSY in their charts.

 

Nonetheless, before anyone thinks that KSY has no favorable

qualities, let me say that is not true. KSY can, indeed, be a strong

indicator of focus, resolve, and it can be a powerful moral teacher

for ethics and leadership. A person with KSY should always strive for

the highest ethical standards and actions, since their unusual

approach and fresh ideas can be very useful to any organization or

effort for which they work. Innovative, is the best way to describe

such people, for they are always full of new ideas and new ways of

looking at old problems. Often, KSY people (or at the very least,

people who have strong Nodally influenced charts) dream up the ideas

behind today's technology (which is the 21st century version

of "magic") that we all make use of. In fact, should the ruler of any

angular house either conjunct or aspect the Nodes, while the Nodes

are located in an angular house, then a Nodal Raja Yoga is formed,

and this can bring great notoriety 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 family 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 benefited 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 erotic writer, also known for her ill-fated

marriage to writer Henry Miller and her many affairs - with both men

and women 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.

 

Popular 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. Astrologers commonly have Mercury

alignments with the Nodes in their charts, and the Nodes usually have

a tie-in with the 8th house; which is the House of Astrology amongst

other things. In Basil's chart, we see that Mercury is strong by

both sign and through its association with Jupiter, and it 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, traveling extensively

to such places as India. Take note that Mars is in the 5th house from

the Moon and is the Yoga Karaka, and as in case of Anais Nin (see

above), 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 Lagnesha 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 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 occurring 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 CA 23

 

Anais Nin

February 21, 1903

8.16PM

Paris, France

Lahiri: Asc 10 VI 49

 

Basil Fearrington

August 1, 1954

7.31PM EDT

Philadelphia, PA

USA

Lahiri: Asc 3 CP 50

 

Mu's Friend

(Male)

Sep 19, 1968

10.23AM EDT

Brooklyn, NY

USA

Lahiri: Asc 15 LI 44

 

Female

May 18, 1983

12.28AM EDT

Philadelphia, PA

USA

Lahiri: Asc 2 CP 52

 

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