[Jagannath] lesson 2

March 17, 2000

Jaya Jagannath !!!

Dear Ajit,

> >From Table 2 (Scope of Jyotish), Creation, Preservation and Destruction

> which are ruled by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, are characterized as Raja,

> Satwa and Tamasa Guna. But what about the devas themselves? Are they

> characterized by Raja, Satwa, and Tamasa Guna as well, or are all devas

> characterized by Sawta Guna?

Sarat: You must first understand the very basic meaning of the Gunas. I

too am not an authority in higher philosophy. But it is important to know

this for doing proper Jyotish. I suggest you must read Srimad Bhagavatam

for a better understanding.

What is Rajas? It indicates high energy levels - passion, desire - without

which creation is impossible. Only if you had the desire for some thing

will you yearn for it and ultimately achieve it or create it. If there was

no passion or desire, creation of a child is impossible. Hence, Brahma -

the creator - is associated with Rajas Guna. Vishnu is the

preserver/custodian of the universe. To be able to sustain the universe one

will need a great deal of patience, understanding, love and affection.

These are the qualities of Satwa - meaning well wishing for one and all

without differentiation between the animate and inanimate - the essence of

VASUDAIVA KUTUMBAKAM - the family of Vasudeva (Vishnu). Tamas means

ignorance. Any of us who are ignorant are with a predominant Tamas guna

because of which the destructive bent of mind prevails. Shiva is the

ultimate destroyer of all evils and destruction of evil is his Dharma and

Karma. Hence, Tamas Guna is associated with Shiva. When somebody's

ignorance has to be removed, the Lord has to take the rupa (form) of Shiva

to perform the act of removal from Tamas. As regards Devas, they have the

two gunas - Satva and Rajas (the learned one's may correct me if I am

wrong).

> Rajas Guna implies differentiation and the six weaknesses resulting

> from this Guna are called the Shadripu and can be studied from Shastamsa

> and Trimsamsa. Can you please explain what the Shadripu are?

Sarat: Rajas is the knowledge to differentiate and is full of fire -

passion - desire, which gives rise to weaknesses in man. There are

Shadripus, meaning six basic weaknesses (shad = six and ripu = weakness).

They are (i) Krodh (anger) (ii) Kama (desire) (iii) Lobh (jealousy) (iv) Moh

(obsession) (v) Madh (addiction); and (vi) Ahankar (ego).

> The four-fold division is represented by the four-fold division of the

> Rasi into Kendras. Three Parts of the four are imperceptible. The fourth

> part, Vasudeva is partly perceptible. According to the Shematic

> representation of Narayana, if the 1st section represents houses 1-3,

> section 2 represents houses 4-6, section 4b represents houses 7-8,

> section 4a represents the 9th , and section 3 represents houses 10-12,

> then only two houses can be properly analyzed by the Raasi chart. This

> does not make sense. Can you please point out the flaw in my logic?

Sarat: No, no. Don't get yourselves confused and stretch the rules.

What has been explained by the higher philosophy in this lesson is the basic

fundamental to drawing up a Rasi chart. Think about this - why are we

talking of Vishnu - Vasudeva - Krishna - Narayana, why rasi chakra, what

does it represent, what are you seeing in a rasi chakra, why only 12 houses

and not thirteen, why four kendras etc. Lesson # 2 will lay the foundation

for entire Jyotish Shastra. The above fundamentals begin from this lesson.

Don't jump into the significance/application part straightaway. You will

learn to apply these in the subsequent lessons. Read this lesson once,

twice, thrice and get to the fundamentals which is very important. Mind

you, Jyotish is a Shastra and is not only logic. Of course, you need logic

but with a sound and principled base. Otherwise, it is not Jyotish.

> Q1) Which Graha is given over-lordship of the divisions and why?

>

> >From an observer standing on the earth, each planet and each sign rise

> and set in the sky. When a person is born, the sign that should be given

> lordship should be either the rising sign, middle sign or setting sign.

> Since birth and rising sign both represent creation, the rising sign

> should be given over-lordship of the divisions.

Sarat: The risign sign at birth gives lagna. That is not the point. The

question is on the Graha and not the sign. First, tell me which are the

grahas we use in Vedic Astrology and who is the over lord of all grahas and

divisions and then tell me why. If you have Dr. Raman's " Astrology for

beginners " or Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra writtern by Sri R. Santhanam or

Sri G.C. Sharma, you will find this answer in the very first two chapters.

Please read them and then let me know.

> Q2) Make a shematic representation of the Earth, Bha-Chakra and mark out

> areas of Nara and Narayana.

>

> The figure is attached in the file asn2.jpg

Sarat: A good attempt. You will now get to learn the basic vedic system

of drawing the chart and marking them out ie., the Indian system of drawing

the charts. For marking out the areas of Nara and Narayana, again I must

repeat - the clue is in the Lesson # 2. We are talking of certain very

specific houses of Narayana in the rasi chakra in Lesson # 2. Please read

it carefully and tell me.

* * * * * * *

Why are you not mailing it in the main list. You must do so in future.

With best wishes,

Sarat.

-

Ajit Krishnan <ajit

Guru Sarat Chander <sarat

Wednesday, March 15, 2000 9:35 PM

lesson 2

> OM namo narayanaya

>

> Dear Guru,

>

> I have a couple of questions that i hope you can clear up for me.