Request for your help

August 20, 1999

JAYA JAGANNATHA

Dear Gauranga,

Being truthful is important. I appretiate this very much. The reply to

the third question shows that you are still following the typical western

methods of beating about the bush instead of coming to the point. I expect

every jyotish to be like Arjuna who could only see the " EYE OF THE BIRD " .

That way the predictions are more pointed.

You gave me a detailed description about your characteristics. There is

no need for this. I want the Major life events listed in a chronological

order with the date, time and place of the event and your reasons

(Astrological only) for these events. List at least 20 events and explain

atleast 5 events. I do not want the dasa- Bhukti reasoning for why it

happened. What I want is the combinations/placement in your Charts for the

event.

Redo this exercise as I need to be convinced. You must be wondering as

to why I am so tough with you while I gave simpler tasks to others....Well,

you must have faith first in my abilities to test and judge correctly, then

you will also be able to learn how to test from a chart.

Other comments are below:-

-

Gauranga Das <gauranga

Sanjay Rath <srath

Thursday, August 19, 1999 1:17 AM

Re: Request for your help

JAYA JAGANNATHA

Dear Sanjay Rath Prabhu,

Please accept my Dandvats.

I'm sorry for answering so late, but I received Your email yesterday

evening,

and today morning I was at our temple doing puja to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai.

> Dear Gauranga Prabhu,

> Namaskar, Please convey my sincere Pranam to your Guru Maharaj.

I will, thank You.

> Since you have been studying Jyotish, please tell me the following:-

> 1. Why did you start learning Jyotish in Jup-Venus period.

Well, it wasn't my intention, afterall, I didn't know about it at that time.

Somehow it was the force of my karma. I was in Mayapur (W. Bengal) in

March, 1998. There I met a devotee, Devarsi das, who read my and my

wife's chart and I also asked him whether I would do Jyotish and he replied

thet there was a possibility for that. Then I heard one day they were saying

that that's a good day for beginning something so I sat down and began

studying Jyotish. At tha time I only had the book of David Frawley, so I

started with that, but now I have more. Actually I became interested in

Jyotish around Sept-Oct. 1996, when my Jup-Venus Antardasha

commenced. In March I was in Jup-Ven-Sun, so I think that was a significant

time as Sun is the Lagna-pathi, Venus is Lord of 10th, Jup. is natural

karaka

of 10th, and they both aspect the 10th from the 4th. Besides that, it was

spiritually a good time also, as I was visiting the holy tirthas. So it came

about like that and I think it to be significant because Jupiter and Venus

are

two natural benefics, and they are the strongest in Shadbala after the Moon.

SRath: WHICH HOUSES RULE JYOTISH? I WANT AN OBJECTIVE ANSWER PLEASE.

> 2. What do you wish to achieve by learning Jyotisha ?

I started dealing with it out of curiosity, and out of necessity, as we

needed

someone here who does marriage compatibility tests between devotees and

general necessary astrological work like finding muhurtas for samskaras etc.

The third thing is that we could preach to so many people about the values

of

Vedic culture through this medium. Many people are interested in astrology

here, but most of them don't realize that it needs to conquer the senses,

live a

pure life and worship God to become proficient in this science. And

especially they don't know that the purpose of Jyotish is also to enlighten

us

about our eternal identity as spirit souls and bring us closer to Krishna.

In the

Vedic times all sciences were used in a way supportive of the individual's

spiritual development. So when I became a householder then we discussed

with my Guru Maharaj a practical topic: how would I maintain myself and

then we came to the conclusion that I could do Jyotish and thus support

myself and my family.

Even though I'm a beginner, already I receive a lot of requests to read

charts,

give advice etc. which is especially difficult for devotees sometimes, as

Krishna changes their karma as they get purified. So I would like to become

a qualified astrologer so as not to deceive them. I never ask money for

this, if

they want to give a donation, then I accept that as a brahmin.

So these are my reasons for learning Jyotisha. I hope that I was sincere.

SRath: VERY GOOD & TRUTHFUL. AS YOU LEARN THE OBJECTIVE OF LEARNING WILL

ALSO INCREASE. WHEN I WAS A CHILD MY ONLY DREAM WAS TO OWN A SWEET SHOP. AS

THE LEARNING INCREASED SO DID MY OBJECTIVES. THIS IS TRUE FOR EVERY SPHERE

OF KNOWLEDGE.

> 3. Give a brief synopsis of your life describing the main events with

> Jyotish. To what extent do you believe jyotish actially decided these

> events?

I'm sorry if I'm too lengthy, but my Moon is in Gemini, so I tend to

overindulge in speaking and writing. I will try to be brief although I can't

yet

speak in sutras like You. I'm using Lahiri Ayanamsha and Vimshottari Dasha.

I was born in 1971, but I think You have my planetary positions as I have

sent my data to You. So I will just refer to them. It was the end of my

Mars-Sun period. The birth time (19.40) was obtained from the nursery

home, and may not be completely accurate, but the major events fitted into

it.

According to Devarsi pr. meybe I was born a few minutes earlier.

But the Lagna would be Simha I think, as I'm quite a Leo-like person. I have

great plans and I'm never satisfied with myself, I like to be the boss, and

I

respect orthodox priciples (Vaishnavism) but I tolerate others being of

different opinion. Mars as an Atmakaraka adds to these fiery qualities as

well. Sometimes I'm quite emotional as well.

SRath: WHY DO YOU THINK. WHY ARE YOU NOT SURE?

My Moon is in Gemini, Mrigasira Naksatra, also ruled by Mars, so there's

quite a lot of Mars influence. I like doing yagyas. I've learned all the

samskaras and I do them for the devotees many times. There's also quite a

few influences in my chart that show my strong attacment to sexual

pleasures.

So I'm trying to overcome this. Moon in Gemini makes me communicative, I

like to read and write, but my mind is weavering also. Moon refers mostly to

mental and intellectual abilities which I have strong I think. I speak

English

and Russian besides my native language. My Guru Maharaja once said that

I always get absorbed isn something new, and for that period of time I

think that thing ot be the most important. He was right, without knowing

about my Moon in Mithuna. But I will try to become more consistent with

astrology.

SRath: THIS IS NOT AN EVENT. IT IS A WEAKNESS. I AM NOT INTERESTED IN

KNOWING ABOUT YOUR WEAKNESSES AT THIS STAGE. IN ANY CASE SINCE YOU MENTION

IT, DON'T YOU THINK THIS CAN ALSO BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE 10TH LORD IN THE 4TH

HOUSE?

About my life events: First 19 years were Rahu Mahadasha, quite dark and

materialistic. I didn't believe in God, ate meat (Simha Lagna) and was

basically a materialist. I went to school first in Russia, since we were

living

there during my Rahu-Sani and Mercury subperiods (Sani is in 9th house,

living abroad). Then Ketu,Venus subperiods I spent in Hungary, then we

went to Russia again in Moon and Mars (Moon may indicate foreign living,

and Mars is Lord of 9th) So during Rahu-Mars subperiod I began slowly

enlighten up. I began believing in God, searching after Him in different

scriptures (Bible, Quran, and finally, Bhagavad-gita), became a vegetarian

etc. I was good at my studies, receiving good marks, (Ju and Ve in 4th) I

even went to university in computing maths (4th is Scorpio, ruler is Mars-

technical sciences).

I had a girlfriend then with whom we met in Rahu-Venus (Ra hu is in 7th, and

Venus is natural karaka of 7th house) and we had a qiute intense

realtionship

during the summer of 1990.

SRath: WHICH HOUSE RULES GIRLFRIENDS? SHOULD WE NOT SEE THE NAVAMSA IF THE

RELATIONSHIP WAS MORE THAN JUST " GIRLFRIEND " ? PLEASE READ THIS ALSO.

I became a vegetarian in Ju-Ju-Sa,

SRath:WHY?

and I also wanted to begin studying

astrology (western) in Ju-Ju-Me, but I found it too confusing. Maybe Krsna

saved me from having to fight my western preconceptions while studying

Vedic later. So I got the Bhagavad-gita also at that time ( I must have been

quite open for spiritual things - Jupiter is Guru and 9th karaka, Mercury is

Lord of Moon sign). When the Ju-Ju-Ketu subperiod came, quite a few deep

changes happened.

SRath: WHY? IS IT BECAUSE OF KETU IN 1ST OR IN 10TH FROM JUPITER?

I stopped my relationship with my gierlfriend (Ketu

aspects 7th, and has separating effect)

SRath: NO SUCH THING AS " SEPARATING EFFECT " . PLEASE QUOTE THE SUTRA FOR THE

" SEPARATING EFFECT " . THERE IS A VERY SPECIFIC REASON. TRY TO ANSWER THIS.

, because she didn't want to take

Krishna consciousness as seriously as me.

SRath: THAT WAS THE EXCUSE.

So then I joined the Hare Krishna

temple in Budapest and became a monk (brahmacari) at the end of October

1990. This was the greatest change in my life. Ketu is in the 1st house, so

it

may give fundamental changes, and is called Moksha-karaka, so it liberated

me from meny worldly attachments.

SRath: WHAT ARE THE COMBINATIONS FOR TAPASWI YOGA? SHOULD THIS NOT APPLY IN

YOUR CHART?

It also partakes of the nature of Mars,

which rules 9th and 4th (where Jupiter is) and is Atmakarak. So I was put

into a good place by Krishna. Ketu also finished up my studies at the

university.

SRath: NO, THAT IS NOT THE REASON. WHICH HOUSE DOES KETU OWN AND WHICH

PLANETS DOES IT DISPOSIT?

I went to India first in 1992 Ju-Sa-Sa (also 9th

house, pligrimage to holy places),

SRath: SATURN IN 9TH IS BAD FOR DHARMA, THEY WHY THIS EXCEPTION FOR YOU? I

THINK IN SANI DASA YOU WILL COME TO STAY IN INDIA FOR LONG PERIODS. WHY?

then in 94 Ju-Sa-Ju, then in 1996

Ju-Ke-Sa, then in 1998 Ju-Ve-Su, Mo. All these subperiods are suggestive of

going abroad for spiritual purposes. Although the last time I was a bit

depressed (Sun in 6th) because I had to leave my wife here, but gained a lot

(Moon in 11th).

SRath: FINE

So I was a brahmacari until October 1997 and then I got

married on the instruction of my Guru Maharaj. We began associating with

my wife literally in the days when my Ju-Ve Antardasha commenced. So

Venus subperiods tend to bring relationships to me. I hope this will be the

last one and last long.

SRath: EXPLAIN THE EVENT USING THE DARAPADA AND UPAPADA.

We had our legal marriage on the 6th of June

(Ju-Ve-Mo) and Vivaha samskar on 9th of October (Ju-Ve-Ra). The second

one was more important, and Rahu is in 7th. I hope it won't give so much

suffering in marriage.

SRath: EXPLAIN THE EVENT USING THE DARAPADA AND UPAPADA.

I also got a small house in Nov. Both things were

predicted to come through although we were unsure until the last moments.

SRath: WHO PREDICTED AND WHAT WAS THE BASIS?

So now I'm in Ju-Ve-Sa from early summer until November. As Sani is in the

9th, it also represents guru, and dharma. I got a few important instructions

from my Guru and found You! This must be also Krishna's mercy! Of course

this Sani and Mars influence on my 9th house is not the best. I tend to be

offensive sometimes, and I get chastised often. But I hope both of You will

be merciful to me, so that I could advance.

SRath: THE HOUSES OWNED BY THE ATMAKARAKA INDICATES THE DIRECTIONS FROM

WHICH THE VOICE OF GOD WILL BE HEARD. (LESSON #1) DOES YOUR AK HAVE ANY

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE 11TH HOUSE?

My wife's lagna is also Leo so we

had this solar eclipse both in our 12th house. We have suffered a few losses

in reality but also gained inner realizatons from that. So Krishna was

guarding us. We were performing a special havan during the eclipse togehter

with the devotees to propitiate the adverse effect of the planets. We were

performing Visnu, Laksmi, Nrisimha, Sudarshan and Vaishnava homas. I feel

that this helped a lot.

SRath: VERY GOOD. MAY SRI JAGANNATHA BLESS THE HOME.

I think that our fate is not determined by the planetary influences,

SRath: FATE IS DETERMINED BY THE PLANETS, BUT KARMA IS DIFFERENT. FATE SHOWS

THE SITUATIONS A PERSON WILL BE IN WHEREAS KARMA SHOWS HOW THE PERSON REACTS

TO THESE SITUATIONS. THUS IN JYOTISH WE MUST HAVE TWO PARALLEL AND

SIMULTANEOUSLY OPERATING DASA SYSTEMS TO DETERMINE (A) FATE AND (B) THE

REACTION/KARMA OR ANUBHAVA. THE BEST TWO ACCORDING TO ME ARE (A) NARAYANA

DASA & (B) VIMSOTTARI DASA.

but by our karma, or past deeds. So the planetary movements only indicate

the different

karmic forces that are acting upon us.

SRath: IN VEDIC ASTROLOGY WE HARDLY USE PLANETARY MOVEMENTS, AND RELY MORE

ON THE FIXED KUNDALI. KARMIC FORCES DO NOT ACT ON US. THESE ARE IN THE FORM

OF PAST GOOD KARMA (JUP) & BAD KARMA (SAT) ATTACHED TO THE ATMA (SUN) THAT

TENDS TO BRIGHTEN OR BLUR THE LIGHT OF THE ATMA (SUN) THAT COMES TO THE MANA

(MOON). THUS AT DIFFERENT TIMES THE MANA IS RECEIVING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF

LIGHT FROM THE ATMA...THIS IS SIGNIFIED BY JUPITER CALLED JEEVA. NOW,THE

ICCHA SHAKTI (DESIRE) IS THE CAUSE OF REBIRTH AND EVEN THE DESIRE FOR MOKSHA

IS AN ATTACHMENT THAT MAY CAUSE REBIRTH. THESE ICCHA (DESIRE) ARE SEEN FROM

VENUS. THUS, THESE TWO JUPITER AND VENUS BECOME THE TWO GURU'S OF THE

CHART...ONE SHOWING THE LIGHT OF THE ATMA AND THE OTHER SHOWING THE DESIRES

AND WAYS TO FULFIL THEM.

They are all Krishna's shaktis, so if we

worship Him, we are protected from negative karma in the best way.

SRath: KARMA IS IN YOUR HANDS. THAT IS WHY IT WAS NECESSARY FOR BHAGAVAN TO

TAKE SO MUCH TROUBLE TO EXPLAIN THE BHAGAVAT GITA TO ARJUNA. IF KRSNA

WANTED, THERE WAS NO NEED TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING TO ARJUNA. HE COULD SIMPLY

HAVE ORDERED HIM TO FIGHT. BUT BHAGAVAN IS DHARMA HIMSELF AND BY HIS ACTION

OF EXPLAINING SHOWED THE GREATEST TRUTH...EVEN WHEN WE BECOME GURU'S WE

SHOULD TRY TO EXPLAIN INSTEAD OF ORDERING AROUND. THE HOUSES CONTROLLING

KARMA ARE CALLED THE UPACHAYA OR THE HOUSES OF GROWTH. THESE ARE THE 3RD,

6TH,10TH & 11TH. NOW TELL ME WHY THESE HOUSES WERE CHOSEN. WHY NOT OTHERS.

Nevertheless, Jyotish is a brilliant tool for ascertaining these karmic

influences, and interestingly enough describe even the personality traits

and

activities of liberated saints and even of Krishna Himself or His avatars.

My

Guru Maharaja for example has a nice pravrajya yoga in His chart.

I hope that it wasn't too boring and I look forward for Your further

instructions.

SRath: NOTHING CAN EVER BE BORING FOR A TEACHER. THE DAY HE GETS BORED, HE

IS NO LONGER QUALIFIED TO TEACH.

Your servant, Gauranga das

Hare Krishna,

Sanjay

P.S. I am also sending this to the Astrology Class for all to benefit.

August 21, 1999

Manpreet & Sarat, Please also take a look at this for discussions in the

next class.

Sanjay Rath

Sri Jagannath Vedic Center

152B Pocket C Mayur Vihar Phase-2, Delhi 110091

Tel:+91-11-2489531;e-mail: srath

Webpage: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Crete/9544/