Author: Sanjay Rath

Brahma Vidya

Brahma
Brahma in meditation

CHAKRA

The basic quantum of time is 120 years which is the Param Ayus of the Human birth (Parasara gives the exact figure of 120 Years & 5 days, but we stick to the round figure of 120 years for the preliminary understanding). As explained earlier, this is also two cycles (Aaroha or increasing and Avaroha or decreasing quality of time) of Jupiter & Saturn of 60 years each. This is also a Kali (literally ONE) Chakra. Dwapara( Literally TWO) Chakra is 240 Years, Treta(literally THREE) Chakra is 360 Years and Kreta(literally FOUR) Chakra is 480 Years.

MAHACHAKRA

By adding all these four Chakra, we get a Maha Chakra of 1200 Years. (120+240+360+480=1200). Thus, Kali (ONE) Maha Chakra is 1200 Years, Dwapara (TWO) MahaChakra is 2400 years, Treta (THREE) Mahachakra is 3600 years and Kreta (FOUR) Mahachakra is 4800 years.

DAIVACHAKRA

By adding all these four Mahachakra, we get a Daivachakra of 12000 Years. (1200+2400+3600+4800=12000). As the name implies, the Daiva indicates the luminous ones (Sun & Moon) and we again come to the Ahoratra (Hora) concept where we have one Aaroha (increasing) cycle and one Avaroha (decreasing) cycle of 12000 years each to give the period of 24,000 years.

YUGA

Thereafter, 18 Ahoratra of the Daivachakra or 36 Daivachakra form a Yuga of 4,32,000 Years. This number is based on the Drekkana Division ruled by the Maharishi’s (3×12=36). Thus, Kali (ONE) Yuga is 4,32,000 Years, Dwapara (TWO) Yuga is 8,64,000 years, Treta (THREE) Yuga is 12,96,000 years and Kreta (FOUR) Yuga is 17,28,000 years.

PADA

Trini-pada-vichakrame Vinur-Gopa-adabhyo (.) Atho Dharmani dharayan (.) Rig Veda

The spiritual meaning (Veda) of this Gayatri from the Rig Veda can be studied from the works of Sri Dayananda Saraswati & Aurobindo. I can only attempt one lower level (Vedanga) Jyotish interpretation where ” The Bha-Chakra or Zodiac is divided into three parts called the Nabhi (occuring in the Sandhi (junction) between the Water and Fire signs). These are the Vishnu-Nabhi and Brahma (Gopa) Nabhi at the two levels of Daivachakra and Chakra respectively. It is on the basis of this inviolable principle that Dharma is established.”

On the basis of this we can define two Pada. First, on the basis of the Vishnu Nabhi, is the Daiva-Pada where three Daivachakra are included to give 36,000 Years. Since at this level, Vishnu is one of the 12 Aditya’s (Sun’s or Diva or Daiva), the 12 Aditya’s give 12 Daiva-Pada’s of 36,000 years each which is equal to one yuga (36,000 x 12 = 4,32,000 years). Second, on the basis of the Brahma Nabhi, is the Chakra-Pada where three Chakra’s of 120 years each are included to form a Daiva-Varsha or the popularly known “Year of the Gods” of 360 years. Thus, Kali (ONE) Yuga is 1200 Daiva-Varsha, Dwapara (TWO) Yuga is 2400 Daiva-Varsha, Treta (THREE) Yuga is 3600 Daiva-Varsha and Kreta (FOUR) Yuga is 4800 Daiva-Varsha .

[From here we use Daiva-Varsha or “Year of the Gods” each equalling 360 earth years as the standard quantum of time].

MAHAYUGA

By adding all these four Yuga, we get a Maha Yuga of 12000 Daiva-Varsha or 4,320,000 Earth years. (1200+2400+3600+4800=12000).

KALPA

One thousand Mahayuga are equal to one Kalpa. Thus, the Kalpa is the basic Vedic Cosmic cycle equal to 12,000,000 Daiva Varsha or 4,320,000,000 Earth years. This is also called the “Day of Brahma”. The “Night of Brahma” is of equal length to the “Day of Brahma”. Thus, the Ahoratra (Day & Night) of Brahma is 24 Million Daiva-Varsha or 8,640 Million earth Years. The Year of Brahma is 360 such days & nights thereby equal to 8640 Million Daiva-Varsha or 3,110,400 Million Earth years (or say 3.11 Trillion Earth Years). The Life of Brahma is said to be 100 such years of Brahma and is 8,64,000 Million Daiva Varsha or 311,040,000 Million Earth years (or say 311 Trillion Earth years). Thereafter Nirvikalpa Pralaya (complete dissolution of all worlds) occurs followed by the creation of another Brahma from the Navel of Narayana.

MANVANTARA

Material creation is the natural activity of Brahma during the Diva-kalpa (Day of Brahma)and material dissolution called Naimittika Pralaya (whereby the entire Universe is withdrawn into Him where it exists as a potentiality) followed by sleep is the activity in Ratri-kalpa (Night of Brahma). Brahma creates these material worlds due to yoga (union) with all the “Rasa’s”.

[The spiritual concept (Veda) of all the Rasa’s is “Sa-Rasa-Wati” or the Divine Mother “Saraswati” whereas the Jyotish concept (Vedanga) is of the seven Rasa’s (of the Saptamsa or D-7 Chart) repeating in two cycles of odd and even signs thereby causing fourteen yoga’s of Brahma and Saraswati. These seven Rasa’s come from the seven planets from Sun to Saturn having physical bodies and Rahu & Ketu are excluded as they do not have any material body].

Thus, each Manvantara, which is the Yoga of Brahma with one of the Rasa’s, is for one-fourteenth the period of the Kalpa which is approximately 71 Mahayuga’s. The period of a Manvantara equal to 852,000 Daiva-Varsha (i.e 71×12000= 852,000) or 306,720,000 Earth years. Fourteen such Manvantara give the total period of 119,288,000 Daiva Varsha (i.e. 14x 852,000= 119,228,000) or 4,294,080,000 Earth years whereas that of the Kalpa is 12,000,000 Daiva Varsha or 4,320,000,000 Earth years. This leaves a gap of 72,000 Daiva-varsha between the 14 Manvantara. There are twelve gaps or period of dissolution of the ANIMATE WORLD (the INANIMATE WORLD continues to exist as Brahma is awake) between these fourteen Manvantara with each gap equal to 6000 Diva-varsha. Manu is the progenitor of the human race and a Manu appears at the begining of each Manvantara. We are presently, in the seventh Manvantara of the Kalpa started by Manu Vaivasvata. Thus, he is our penultimate forefather as far as this material existence is concerned.

DOOMSDAY OR GOLDEN AGE FROM 2000 AD

There is no doom. Sri Achyutu Dasa the direct disciple of Sri Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has stated in a stanza about India that “FROM 13OO AD TO 2000 AD INDIA SHALL SUFFER DASATWA OR BONDAGE. TOWARDS THE END, THIS WILL BEGIN TO BREAK AND FROM 2000 AD SATYA SANATANA WILL BE ESTABLISHED.” Thus, when we are going to see a very glorious phase beginning 2000 AD, I cannot agree with those predictions about Doom. Later Sri Achyuta adds that this will be done by the strength or people of Baladeva (Sri Balaram, the elder brother of Bhagawan). Now, we can only speculate here.

EPILOGUE

There seems to be some confusion about understanding of the Yuga cycles. This is so because of the lack of appretiation of the “Sankalpha” done at the begining of the prayers. The day of Brahma is called “Kalpha” from which the word “Sankalpha” is derived. Kalpha also means Lagna. Hence Brahma controls longevity. In the day there is “Leela” and in the Night, the universe is withdrawn and exists as a potentiality. This Kalpha is about 4320 Million years and 360 such Brahma days make a Brahma Year. Now, Brahma’s life is for 100 such years (followed by a dissolution called Prakrittika Mahapralaya) and it is believed that Brahma is in His 51st Year. The Kalpha is divided into 14 Manvantaras of which we are in the 7th called Manu Vaivasvata. Each Manvantara is for 306,720,000 years with gaps between the manvantara’s in any Kalpha. Each Manvantara is further subdivided into 71 Mahayuga (approx.) as 1000 Mahayuga make one Kalpha. Each Mahayuga is further divided into four Yuga’s called Krta (Four), Treta (Three), Dvapara (Two) and Kali (One) of lengths 4800, 3600, 2400 and 1200 “YEARS OF THE GODS”. Here the years of the Gods refers to the Sun as Deva is derived from Diva (Light) and the Sun is also called Divakara. THIS IS WHERE THE ERROR CREEPS IN I.E. THE INTERPRETATION OF THE TERM “YEAR OF THE GODS”. WHILE THIS IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED AS THE MOTION OF THE SUN IN ONE DAY, SOME HAVE EQUATED THIS TO ONE YEAR OF HUMAN LIFE. Thus, they misrepresent the periods as 4800, 3600, 2400 and 1200 human years instead.

The Manu Smriti has stated that “A DAY OF THE GODS IS EQUAL TO A YEAR IN HUMAN LIFE” . This is also the reason why I have been requesting the Software programmers to calculate the dasa-antar and other smaller periods correctly on the basis of the Actual solar transit of 360 Degrees with fluctuations in one year instead of interpolating on the figure of 365.25 days as a lot of approximation creeps in. Another blunder is to equate the year of the Gods blindly to 360 human years on the approximate basis of 1 Degree transit of the Sun per day when we know this to be 365.25 solar days This is how another doubt of 360 days instead of 365.25 days per year has crept in.

START OF KALI

The dating of the Kali yuga is the vexed question. Tradition accepts this as 3102 BC, whereas others relying on the other factors give 900 BC or 600 BC etc. How do we resolve this?

MY VIEWS/ WISDOM OF SRI ACHYUTA DASA

Not going into other considerations, the 60 Year cycle of Jupiter and Saturn is considered very significant. The Yuga of Kali of 1200 Years of the Gods can be sub-divided into four sub-periods of 480, 360, 240 and 120 years of the Gods. WE can again divide this into sub-sub-periods…and so on. Now, Two such cycles of Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Aries maybe called a “Chakra” with the first cycle called as Avaroha and the second as Aaroha. Thus the smallest measure of quality of time or “Chakra” is 120 solar years. These Chakras can again be grouped as Krta (Four Chakra), Treta (three Chakra), Dvapara (Two Chakra) and Kali (one Chakra) having periods of 480, 360, 240 and 120 solar years each and the MahaChakra will be for 1200 solar years. According to Sri Achyuta Dasa, the “Dasatwa (Bondage) of India ends in 2000 AD” showing that the Kali Chakra of 120 years that started in 1880 AD is to end in 2000 AD when Jupiter & Saturn are to conjoin in Aries again. Thus, this MahaChakra must have started 1200 years back in 800 AD. Further, the KrtaChakra should have been from 800 AD to 1280 AD and during this period the best temples were built and the finest literature produced. This was the golden age of India. After this, TretaChakra was from 1280 to 1640 AD during which we find that Satwa declines and strife increases. The Dasatva (Bondage) of India begins as invaders came to rule and Muslim dynasty’s are set up in India. DvaparaChakra was from 1640 to 1880 when the British directly ruled India under the Crown. With the advent of KaliChakra (1880 to 2000 AD), the fight for freedom begins in the form of revival of religion etc. Strife is at its highest and has gone to the villages as well. The main theme in India, the most spiritual Land, is still peace or a peaceful approach to freedom in the Aaroha (Increasing) portion of 60 years (1880 to 1940 AD) whereas in the Avaroha portion 1940 to 2000 AD even Mahatma Gandhi takes a war-like posture in the Quit India resolution of 1942.

The KaliChakra (1880 to 2000 AD) has seen the development of the most powerful weapons for mass destruction as well as their use. Next year, the entire cycle changes and another MahaChakra of 1200 Years begins with a KretaChakra (2000 to 2480 AD) and once again, the temples will be built, literature will flourish and a lot of good will happen on this planet. Sri Achyuta Dasa, the pride of the Tradition of Orissa and the Direct Disciple of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has left such brilliant Gems in Oriya Prose and I hope to translate them properly for the benefit of all jyotish

Is Astrology a science?

astrology1By Karthik Venkataramani
Most scientists would reply in the negative.
Especially if they are from India, where we have been systematically trained over decades to discount anything Indian. But, opinion espoused by scientists shouldn’t discourage us from pursuing facts. Had Einstein postulated that time-space continuum is a dimension in the 19th century, the chances are he might have been ridiculed. The most common objections to astrology are:

One, astrology implies that planetary movements have impact on individual lives. Modern research shows that planets cannot influence individuals.

Two, astrology claims to predict the future events. Again there is no empirical way it can be done. From the perspective of modern science, these objections are valid. Yet, this throws open a few more questions:

Does modern science describe reality in its entirety on the basis of empiricism and reductionism? The answer is a clear no, as every quantum mechanical postulate has to be buffered with correction factors to justify them. And most theories are based on very esoteric assumptions, which haven’t been proven. A case in point would be black holes, wormholes and white holes. And we understand very little about what constitutes inter-stellar space or how this universe evolved (if at all it evolved). So, to discount astrology on the basis of current advancements and understanding in modern science would not be valid.

Also, most of us have experienced that even a mediocre astrologer can make very detailed and fairly accurate prediction of future events. And with good astrologers, the level of accuracy increases. This begs a question. How can a stranger predict events to come in someone’s life? Even if he can predict one
event to a fair detail and accuracy, there has to be a method behind it. How much the practitioner has mastered the method is specific to the individual.

So, this gives rise to 2 possibilities, both hypothetical:

One, there is a science behind astrology, but it is of a higher level of abstraction. But the calculations themselves are made with reference to planets, which are at best reference co-ordinates.

Two, the science of astrology has consciousness as its central theme. And Vedic science recognizes that every entity, including planets, have consciousness. Dutch philosophers like Spinoza share this view too. And some Physicists like Einstein and Wigner share that as well. So, the planetary effect on an individual’s life is indeed interplay of the
consciousness of the individual and the planet.

Consciousness is yet to be recognized as part of modern science. Nobel laureate Eugene Wigner feels that sans consciousness our efforts at building a Grand Unified Theory will come to a naught.

At this juncture, let us step aside and look at astrology from a quantum-mechanical perspective. From the QM point of view, the concept of linear time is meaningless. Hence, our normal understanding of past, present and future are rendered meaningless in QM. There are just 3 things – Events, Observer and the
Interaction between them.

As for events, they don’t occur; they exist. The observer perceives them when he is located at the right co-ordinates from where he can interact with those events. So, for the purpose of understanding, let us depict time as an axis. If we assume that the observer is located at (0,0) co-ordinate, everything to the left of (0,0) co-ordinate will be the past; everything at (0,0) co-ordinate will be the present; everything to the right of (0,0) co-ordinate will be the future. The observer can perceive and interact with the events of the present. He remembers events of the past with which he has interacted. But, he doesn’t know what events lie in the future, i.e., to his right. For some reason unknown to us, he can move only from left to right at a defined velocity. So, he perceives future events whenever he reaches the co-ordinates at which they exist.

Now, let us hypothesize that astrology is a science that has a method to shift the co-ordinates at will either to the right or left. That means an astrologer trained in that method can perceive the events that exist in the past or future. But, he cannot interact with that.

Perhaps this could be understood with an
analogy. Let us say it is pitch dark and you are
looking at your car, which is parked 100 metres from you. Obviously, you can’t read the number plate on the car. But, you have torchlight and project a beam at the car, then you can read the number plate, though you cannot touch it. So, when an astrologer shifts the co-ordinates to perceive a future or a past event, it is like flashing a beam of light at a distant object to perceive it.

That brings up another interesting question. How do we account for time travel? Is it the same as astrology? Well, time travel is documented in Vedic scriptures. Many modern researchers have also documented cases. Well, if we were to continue the analogy, then time travel is in part distinct from astrology. An observer may use astrology to perceive a future event, i.e., he flashes a beam of light at it. But if he were to interact with that event, he has to undertake time-travel. That he has to travel in some form to the co-ordinate where the event is located. Since we know that QM limits us from doing so with our gross body, this again brings up the relevance of Consciousness and subtle body employed to do this.

Hari Bol

Venkateshwara A Reddy adds…

Astrology is beyond Science. There is an emerging Mathematics known as Clifford Algebra (higher dimensional divisional Spaces) deals with existence of Magic, Occult, and Astrology et al. All these so-called sciences are certain examples in that mathematics.

Why don’t you question on the Axiomatic foundations of these sciences.
Axiom is neither proved, nor disproved.  Ask for the proof of those axioms from those so-called scientists.

A Finite system can’t understand /comprehend the Infinite Truth. This is called Godel Incompleteness Theorem in Logic. Godel was tried to prove the existence of God.

There is a book. It is titled as ‘on the history of mathematical proof of existence of god’ written in German by some mathematician.

AL Gore and The US Presidency

algore
Vice President Al Gore

By J Sarat Chander
HL – Hora Lagna GL – Ghatika Lagna UL – Upapada Lagna
Chart of the Vice President of the USA, Mr. Al Gore, Born on 31st March 1948 at Washington DC, USA.

AC – 13 deg 20 min. Char Karak Jupiter 05 deg 28 min. Gnati
Sun 17 deg 47 min Matri Venus 02 deg 53 min. Dara
Moon 10 deg 11 min Pitri Saturn 22 deg 51 min. Bhratri
Mars 25 deg 00 min Atma Rahu 22 deg 53 min. Putra
Mercury 23 deg 46 min Amatya Ketu 22 deg. 53 min

HOROSCOPE

algored1
As may be seen from the above chart, Mr. Al Gore was born in Cancer Ascendant and Scorpio Navamsa Lagna. Moon the ascendant lord/Lagna Lord has gone to the 6th and is in conjunction with the lord of the 6th – Jupiter, who is in his own house (Sagittarius). The Ascendant has conjoined Saturn (lord of the 7th and 8th) and Mars (lord of the 5th & 10th). Mars, being the lord of the 10th, conjoining the Ascendant gives rise to Kendradipathi yoga and it is also his Yogakaraka. Though it is debilitated, its conjunction with Saturn (the lord of its exaltation sign) in a kendra (Ascendant) cancels the debilitation and gives rise to Neechabhanga Rajyoga. Moon, the lord of lagna, conjoining the 6th lord in 6th house gives rise to Dheemantah yoga, which makes him a very well read and knowledgeable person. Mars and Saturn conjunction in the Lagna also makes him a very hardworking person though the traces of a sagging spirit could be seen in him occasionally due to the debility of Mars and also the conjunction of Saturn.  Besides, the lagna is also conjunct A3 and A10, the arudha padas of the 3rd and 10th house. The 10th lord (Mars) conjoins A10. This also makes him a man with great strength to achieve the goals of his karma/action. Thus, his Martian qualities will predominate his disposition because it has won over the ‘Graha Yuddha’ and is the Atmakaraka.

The Ascendant is also aspected by Venus from the 11th house – Taurus, which also happens to be his Arudha Lagna (Arudha Lagna is arrived at by first calculating the number of signs the Lagna Lord has moved from its house (Lagna) and then by progressing those many signs from its placement). This makes him a person with a very charming personality and a strong charisma. Venus, being the karak for Arudha Lagan (Maya), bestows upon him undying charm, name and fame as it also aspects his Lagna (the Truth). Thus, he has risen to a great height by having become a Vice President at a very young age and has gone into the history of America.

In fact, achieving the highest office is the desire of his Atma (Soul) too as may be seen from the Arudha of the Navamsa Ascendant. The Lord of Navamsa Lagna – Mars, becoming Atmakaraka becomes a Karaka yoga – a great yoga in itself. It is also quite interesting to note that the Martian sign Scorpio plays an important role in deciding the US President and Mr. Al Gore has Scorpio rising in his Navamsa Lagna.

The lagnesh – Moon – having gone to the 6th house not only makes him a Dheemantah, but he is also troubled by a number of enemies and great amount of his energy is spent fighting his adversaries. No wonder he has a good number of adversaries given the fact that he is in politics and his desire is to achieve the highest office. Jupiter’s presence in the same house, which is also his own house, indicates presence of strong political enemies but he will win over these adversaries as Moon has won over Jupiter in degrees.

His Upapada conjoins Ketu, Hora Lagna (HL), A7 (Arudha pada of 7th house) in the 4th house and it has the aspect (Rasi drishti) of Venus from the Arudha Lagan and Mercury in the 8th house. His Upapada is also in “Sashtashtak” relationship with the Arudha Lagna. This means that his public image would, quite often, be a source of disturbance in his private life.

His Dasamsa (D10) chart has Cancer rising in the ascendant and Sun is placed in the 10th house – Aries – in exaltation. Mars is once again aspecting both the Dasamsa Lagna and the Sun in Aries by Rasi drishti from Scorpio – the 5th house. Moreover, the Dasamsa lagnesh, Moon, is placed in a trine (9th house) to the ascendant. This indicates that he should rise in his karma to achieve the high political offices in his lifetime, which he is bound to do so.

His Ghatika Lagna, which indicates power and authority, is placed in Virgo (Kanya) in the 3rd house, which is the 5th from Arudha Lagna. The Ghatika Lagna is also aspected by Sun in Pisces; Jupiter and Moon in Sagittarius and A9 in Gemini. The aspect of Sun, Moon and Jupiter on the Ghatika Lagna is very beneficial for his political career. He is currently running the Rahu Mahadasa – Saturn Antar Dasa. Rahu is occupying the 10th house in his natal chart (Rasi Chart) and is aspecting the 10th from Arudha Lagna (Aquarius), which is its own house, while Saturn occupying the Lagna also aspects Aquarius (10th from Arudha Lagna). He also begins his Aquarius Narayan Dasa, which begins from 1st April 2000. This indicates that he will be blessed with high offices. He already continues to hold one (Vice President for the past 7 years) and definitely seems to be a potentially strong candidate to ascend to the highest office – that of the President of the US.

SJC Logo

logo_digpala1

The SJC Logo comprises an eight petal lotus yantra of crimson red (satva guna) petals in the eight karmic directions with each petal being an offering made of pure devotion (bhakti – devotional ecstatic love) to the digpala (deities of the directions), so that we may be released on the karmic bondage. The deities are –

Direction Paper Devatä Sun/Soul
East Top/Up Indra Sürya
South-East Top Right Agni Ravi
South Right Yama Vivasvan
South-West Bottom Right Raksasa Bhaga
West Bottom/Down Varuna Varuna
North-West Bottom Left Mitra Mitra
North Left Kubera Äditya
North-East Top Left Siva Vishnu

This is the inner pedestal of the inner heart chakra (anahata chakra) while the outward is the twelve petal lotus comprising the twelve sun signs.

Sri Jagannath, the lord of the Universe is the paramatma in the center witnessing all the little games and frolic (lila) going on with each of the creation. May we have His sight to witness all the events of the universe as they unfold.

Sri Jagannath Center

sjclogoSri Jagannath Center (SJC) was established in 1998 in India with the objective of teaching jyotish in the time honored tradition of maharishi Parasara and Jaimini and sages of yore. The tradition traces its lineage to Mahapurush Achyuta Dasa, the disciple of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Jyotish or Vedic astrology is taught by a panel of jyotish gurus in the traditional jyotish parampara of Sri Achyuta Dasa of Jagannath, Puri.
SJC attempts to infuse the highest standards of integrity through the strict discipline of yogic practices of Vedic tradition including training in remedial measures. Meditation including dhyana, dharana, and pranayama is taught to ensure spiritual discipline while classes on scriptures and Sanskrit ensure a balanced spiritual growth along with the knowledge of astrology.
SJC aims at continuing the time honoured guru-shishya tradition and is dedicated to the propagation of Vedic and Vedic Astrology learning covering the gamut of allied subjects including astrology, scriptural studies and mantra shastra, numerology, vastu shastra, shakuna Shastra, swapna shastra and yoga.
It concentrates on propagating research in the highest scholastic tradition in the different areas of jyotish and aims at demystifying the subject by rescuing it from the hands of quacks, while restoring its dignity and prestige that it enjoyed previously.
SJC has numerous students around the world who are connected through e-lists (Achyuta Gurukulam, Varahamihira, Vedic Astrology) and free online classes where there are intense discussions on a variety of issues. In more recent times, numerous study circles and centers have started around the world.
We believe that Sri Jagannath Mahaprabhu (Krishna in the form of the Universal Teacher as adored and worshipped in Puri, India) will always guide our intellect in this holy mission.