Michael Laughrin's North American Jyotish Newsletter April/May 2006

[Guest guest]

Michael Laughrin's North American Jyotish Newsletter April/May 2006

http://www.jyotish.ws

Michael Laughrin, Michael, business phone: (440) 582-9848;

cell phone: (440) 263-2159

To , send an email to: jyotish_ws-

Contents of this newsletter © copyright 2006, Michael Laughrin

unless otherwise noted.

 

Contents:

1. Introduction to Michael Laughrin's North American Jyotish

Newsletter

2. Lunar Yogas in Jyotish

3. Navaratri as a Personal Sadhana

 

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1. Introduction to Michael Laughrin's North American Jyotish

Newsletter

 

I offer you this newsletter to enhance and deepen your experience of

Vedic Astrology. In these newsletters, expect to find a combination

of helpful articles, book reviews, Jyotish links and more. The

purpose of this newsletter is to educate and titillate the Jyotish-

loving public. The opinions given within are solely those of the

author.

 

In this issue, Alison Neilsen covers many of the lunar yogas and

their strong influence on personality. And Margaret Mahan offers an

extensive look at the Navaratri, the Nine Days of Mother Devine

(which just started). This includes a lengthy and interesting

analysis of how worshiping during Navaratri acts as a metaphor for

the steps to enlightenment.

 

Please visit my website at http://www.jyotish.ws at your convenience.

I offer Traditional/Classical Vedic Astrology, Intuitional Jyotish

(Vedic Astrology based on deep intuition), Chakra Readings, and

Advanced Structured Psychic Work (for deeper interpretation of your

karmic pattern).

 

- Michael Laughrin (Michael)

 

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2. Lunar Yogas in Jyotish

By Alison Nielsen (premavratini)

 

The Moon lagna is the second most important factor in analyzing a

Jyotish chart (the ascendant is the most important). Looking at the

lunar-based yogas is crucial to good chart analysis. Even if the

chart does not appear strong from the lagna, if the moon is strong

and there are good lunar yogas, the person's life will usually show

quite a bit of success.

 

The moon rules rasa, the nectar of life; the stronger the moon is,

the more she is able to impart life's various forms of juiciness to

someone. The moon also rules the manas, the emotional mind. Perhaps

more potent than what we experience is how we experience it. A strong

moon gives good emotions and a good capacity to extract the best from

our experiences and to expect the best in our future. Like Mercury,

the moon is very influenced by the rashi in which it sits and the

planets that associate with it. The condition of the moon says

perhaps the most about someone's personality.

 

The moon fares best when she is in the company of other planets.

Isolated, she becomes lonely and afraid. So most of the lunar yogas

involve the moon having some kind of proximal relationship with other

planets. The first four classic lunar yogas are the Sunapha, Anapha,

Durudhara and Kemadruma yogas.

 

Sunapha yoga exists when there is a true planet in the second house

from the moon. Phaladeepika states that a person with Sunapha yoga

will be "a king, or like him, with self-acquired property, well known

for his wisdom and wealth."

 

Anapha yoga exists when there is a planet in the twelfth from the

moon. Phaladeepika says this yoga will make the native "powerful,

healthy, cheerful and courteous, reputed, with all the material

comforts, well-dressed, happy and contented."

 

Durudhara yoga exists when there are planets on either side of the

moon. Of this yoga, Phaladeepika states, "Enjoying freely the joys of

life as they chance to come up and blessed with unlimited wealth and

vehicles, the native born under Durudhara yoga is bountiful and

waited upon by faithful servants."

 

In contrast, Kemadruma yoga, which exists when there is no planet on

either side of the moon or in an angle from the moon, causes even

those born in royal families to become forgotten, penniless, menial

and wickedly inclined.

 

These four yogas all tend to occur with great frequency. They become

noticeably significant when either the moon or the proximal planet is

very strong and when they also make other yogas. Otherwise, a tamer

version of the above results is likely to apply.

 

Another important series of lunar yogas involve the moon's

relationship with Jupiter. The first of these is Gaja-Kesari yoga,

the Lion-Elephant yoga. Phaladeepika raves, "The native with the

Kesari yoga in his birth chart will be a lion-like destroyer of his

enemies. He will impress the audience with his noble and lofty ideas.

In his behavior, he will be both passionate and emotional. He will

enjoy a long life with great renown and wisdom. Due to his valour, he

will get over every hurdle." This is a key yoga for philosophers,

philanthropists and great networkers. Additionally, this yoga

enhances the significations of whichever houses the moon and Jupiter

sit in. Gauri yoga occurs when the moon is in its own or exaltation

sign in a Kendra or a trikona and is aspected by Jupiter. This yoga

gives an appealing personality, an illustrious family, a friend to

the king, beautiful looks, great success and praise, and beautiful

children.

 

In contrast, Shakata Yoga, which exists when Jupiter is located in

the 6th, 8th or 12th from the moon and the moon is not in angle,

gives significant ups and downs in life because of Jupiter's

occupation of a dussthana as counted from the moon. OJ Simpson has

Shakata Yoga. Jupiter, as the greatest natural benefic, increases the

juiciness of the moon, gives positive emotions and strength, and

durable optimism to a person's mind, as well as luck; all qualities

that greatly assist with a rise in life. The other natural benefics

will do the same to a lesser degree.

 

Other lunar yogas without specific names include multiple

combinations of the moon with strength influenced by strong planets,

especially benefics, including the bright moon aspected by a planet

from its own sign (a yoga that Prince Charles has).

 

If one analyses the attributes that the lunar yogas give, one sees

easily how much they contribute to the level and quality of a

person's life. This is not only about the external manifestation of

material reality but also about the personality, wisdom and state of

mind of the person, which are key elements of success.

 

 

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3. Navaratri as a Personal Sadhana

By Margaret Mahan (mjm108)

 

Salutations to the Divine Mother, Durga, who exists in all beings in

the form of intelligence, mercy, beauty, who is the consort of Lord

Shiva, who creates, sustains and destroys the universe.

 

Background on Navaratri

 

Navaratri means literally Nine Nights, and is celebrated four times a

year. They are the Ashada Navaratri, the Sharada Navaratri, the Maha

Navaratri and the Vasantha Navaratri.

The beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two important

junctions of climatic and solar influence, and these periods find

India celebrating the two prevalent Navaratris. They are indicated by

the Chaitra Navaratri in Chaitra (March-April) and the Sharada

Navaratri in Aswayuja (September-October).

 

Durga is the great Goddess who is the creator, sustainer and

destroyer of the worlds. She famously dispatches demons that threaten

the balance of life itself in the known universe. The Devi Mahatmya

(also known as the Durga Saptashadi or Chandi Path) is the primary

text for the stories of Durga. These 700 verses are embedded in the

Markandeya Purana, and are chanted or sung throughout India during

Navaratri. The text itself is divided into three main sections, each

section being a major story that describes the victory of one of

Durga's forms: MahaKali, MahaLaksmi, and MahaSaraswati. And so, when

honoring Durga during Navaratri, the first three days are devoted to

the worship of Kali and the breeding of courage and valor in the

world; the next three are for worship of Lakshmi for universal

prosperity and sustenance; and the last three are for worship of

Saraswati for growth of learning.

 

Remember that Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are not different

entities, but different facets of the singular Divinity.

 

Typically, people who observe Navaratri will read the entire Chandi

Path each day of the nine days. Many people will fast on fruit and

milk during the nine days, or at least for one day for each of the

three parts of Navaratri.

 

Daily recitation of the Lalita Sahasranama (the names of the Divine

Mother in the form of Lalitadevi) is done by many people.

 

Navami, the 9th day, can include worship of all things associated

with learning and language--books, typewriters, and even computers.

 

The ninth day is also the day of the Ayudha Puja. The Ayudha Puja is

worship of whatever implements the aspirant uses in his livelihood.

On the preceding evening, it is traditional to place these implements

on an altar to the Divine. If the aspirant can make a conscious

effort to see the divine in the tools and objects he uses each day,

it will help him to see his work as an offering to God. It will also

help him to maintain constant remembrance of the divine. (In India,

it is customary to prostrate before the tools before starting work

each day; this is an expression of gratitude to God for helping one

to fulfill one's duties.)

 

Householders should invoke Durga's help to surmount obstacles, pray

to Lakshmi to bestow peace and prosperity, and contemplate upon

Saraswati in order to gain knowledge. These three ingredients are

just as necessary for a full and complete worldly life. In reality,

when we pray like this, we are but invoking the Shakti that is within

ourselves.

 

Spiritual Tasks For Observing Navaratri as a Personal Sadhana

 

Let us examine in detail the spiritual significance of Navaratri. The

central purpose of existence is to recognize one's eternal identity

with the supreme Spirit. It is to grow into the image of the Divine.

The supreme One embodies the highest perfection. It is spotless

purity. To recognize your identity with That, to attain union with

That, is verily to grow into the very likeness of the Divine.

 

The aspirant, therefore, as his initial step, has to get rid of all

the countless impurities, and the demoniacal elements that have come

to cling to him in his embodied state. Then he has to acquire lofty

virtues and auspicious, divine qualities. Thus purified, knowledge

flashes upon him like the brilliant rays of the sun upon the crystal

waters of a perfectly calm lake.

 

This process demands a resolute will, determined effort, and

struggle. In other words, strength and infinite power are the prime

necessities. Thus it is the Divine Mother who has to operate through

the aspirant.

 

Days One Through Three: Destruction of Impurities

 

Let us now consider how, on the first three days, the Mother is

adored as supreme power and force, as Kali the Dark One. The

spiritual aspirant prays to Mother Durga to destroy all his

impurities, his vices, his defects. She is to fight with and

annihilate the baser animal qualities in the spiritual aspirant--the

lower, diabolical nature in him. Also, She is the power that protects

his spiritual practice from its many dangers and pitfalls. Thus the

first three days, which mark the first stage or the destruction of

impurity and determined effort and struggle to root out the evil

tendencies in the aspirant's mind, are set apart for the worship of

the destructive aspect of the Mother.

 

Days Four Through Six: Acquisition of Divine Qualities

 

Once the spiritual aspirant has accomplished his task on the negative

side (breaking down the impure propensities and old vicious habits),

the next step is to build up a sublime spiritual personality, to

acquire positive qualities in place of the eliminated demoniacal

qualities. The divine qualities that Lord Krishna enumerates in the

Gita have to be acquired. He has to earn immense spiritual wealth to

be able to pay the price for the rare gem of divine wisdom. If this

development of the opposite qualities is not undertaken in earnest,

the old demoniacal nature will raise its head again and again.

 

Hence, this stage is as important in the aspirant's career as the

previous one. The essential difference is: the former is a ruthless,

determined annihilation of the egoistic lower self; the latter is an

orderly, steady, calm and serene effort to develop purity. This

pleasanter side of the aspirant's Sadhana is depicted by the worship

of Mother Lakshmi. She bestows on Her devotees the inexhaustible

divine wealth or Devi Sampath. Lakshmi is the wealth-giving aspect of

the Divine. She is purity itself. Thus the worship of Goddess Lakshmi

is performed during the second set of three days.

 

Days Seven Through Nine: Attainment of Wisdom

 

Once the spiritual aspirant succeeds in routing out the evil

propensities, and develops Sattvic or pure, divine qualities, he

becomes competent to attain wisdom. He is now ready to receive the

light of supreme wisdom. At this stage comes the devout worship of

Mother Saraswati, who is divine knowledge personified, the embodiment

of knowledge of the Absolute. The sound of Her celestial veena

awakens the notes of the sublime utterances of the Truth, and the

sacred monosyllable, "Om." She bestows the knowledge of the supreme,

mystic sound and then gives full knowledge of the Self as represented

by Her pure, dazzling snow-white apparel. Therefore, propitiating

Saraswati, the giver of knowledge, is the third stage.

 

Day Ten: Celebration

 

The tenth day, Vijaya Dasami, marks the triumphant ovation of the

soul at having attained liberation while living in this world,

through the descent of knowledge by the Grace of Goddess Saraswati.

The soul rests in its own Supreme Self. This day celebrates the

victory, the achievement of the goal. The banner of victory flies

aloft.

 

This arrangement also has a special significance in the aspirant's

spiritual evolution. It marks the indispensable stages of evolution

through which everyone has to pass.

 

Victory, victory be yours!

 

Glory to the Divine Mother!

 

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Michael Laughrin's North American Jyotish Newsletter

http://www.jyotish.ws

Michael Laughrin, Michael, business phone: (440) 582-9848;

cell phone: (440) 263-2159

To , send an email to: jyotish_ws-

 

Articles from past issues of this newsletter are archived at:

http://www.jyotish.ws/wisdom

 

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