Thursday, December 8, 2011

SANI PEYARCHI--SATURN’S TRANSIT THROUGH OUR BIRTH CHARTS

SANI PEYARCHI--SATURN’S TRANSIT THROUGH OUR BIRTH CHARTS

(DISCOURSE BY N. R. SRINIVASAN, DEC 2011)

 Hindu priests ask for our Janma Nakshatra and Janmarassi at the time of taking religious resolution (Sankalpa) whenever we undertake to participate in worship or perform a ritual. In Hindu Astrology Nakshatra or star is only one of the 27 segments of the Zodiacal Belt whereas in astronomy stars are heavenly bodies twinkling in the sky.
Among 8 Vasus (ashta vasus) mentioned in Vedas one deity is   Nakshatra Devata or Presiding Deity of Asterism. The moon’s path lies within the Zodiacal Belt which is the region extending to about 5 degrees on either side of the ecliptic. The moon completes a circuit of its path with respect to the earth in about 27.33 days. Hence the Zodiacal Belt is divided into 27 equal parts of 13 degrees 20” each called a Nakshatra which is translated as star in English. The first segment longitude of the moon 0 degrees to 13 degrees 20” is called Aswini, the second 13 degrees 20” is called Bharani and so on. You can know all the names of 27 stars and 12 Zodiac signs from my discourse on Navagrahas. Revati is the last star of 360 degrees and 40” which is usually taken as 360 degrees. The segment in which the Moon lies at the time of birth of a person is called Janma Nakshatra (Birth star) of the   person and the corresponding Zodiac sign as Janma Raasi. When the longitude of the Moon is 26 degrees 40” at the time of birth his Jamanakshatra is Bharani, as an example.

 People all over the world have believed in the influence of planets on human life and history of the land. If we think logically planets came first in Lord’s creation and then living beings as we learn from Vedas. Therefore a sort of cause and effect seems to be a logical outcome. We can also note strange behavior in animals during the time of eclipse. The  seven  planets Sun (Soorya), Moon (Soma or Chandra), Mars (Angaaraka or Kuja or Mangala), Mercury (Budha), Jupiter (Guru or Brihaspati), Venus (Sukra) and Saturn (Sani), and two Ascending Nodes of the Moon (Raahu and Ketu) together are worshipped as Navagrahas by Hindus. Uranus (Varuna), Neptune (Indra) and Pluto (Prajaapati) though worshipped regularly are not considered as Navagrahas that influence human life. Ketu is depicted as the personification of comets and meteors sometimes. Sani, Raahu and Ketu are believed to be inauspicious, positively maleficent and responsible for many ill effects.  Because of their strong influence on human lives like Sani, Rahu and Ketu  are almost considered as planets. They are therefore propitiated.  Sani is feared most. Both Yama and Sani are sons of Ravi (sun) in Hindu mythology and are dreaded most. The nine planets are invariably installed in all Siva temples in South India. Navagrahas are displayed on the lintels of doors in North Indian temples to protect the temple and all those who enter it. Usually they are housed on a small pavilion (mandapa) in South Indian Temples in the order in which they are in zodiacal circle, care being taken that no two of them will face each other to avoid inter-reacting effects.

To many, who are not Tamilians and even to Tamilians who are not familiar with Hindu astrology, Sani Peyarchi may sound strange and baffle as to what it means and why a special worship is conducted to appease Saturn in Hindu Temples on this particular day. Astrologers predict that our life is affected by the transit of the planets through the house of birth. It may have both positive as well as negative effects. Our prayers to Navagrahas are therefore directed as gratitude for good things in life or pleading for mercy to ward off evil effects on our lives. In this regard planet Sani or Saturn is presumed to be very forceful and influential. Sani Preyarchi means Saturn’s function as he transits through the houses of our birth charts, to teach us our life’s lessons. It influences all as it enters a particular Zodiac Belt and remains there for some time. It affects with ill effects a on those with the Janma Nakshatra when Saturn enters their Janmaraasi.

Saturn is the farthest planet visible from the Earth for the naked eye and its rings are certainly its most outstanding feature. The rings are symbolic of limitations and represent the parameters of the Laws of Karma. According Vedic Jyotisha (astrology), Sani entered the Zodiac sign of Tula Rasi on November 14th 2011 at 12.45 P.M. leaving Kanya Rasi where it has spent last two years and some months challenging all of our conventional ideas about health and healing and influencing our life style.

Sani is the task master of the Zodiac whose lessons of Karma once learnt remain with each one of us throughout our lives as per the opinion of astrologers. He represents reality, challenge, obstacles, hard work, restrictions, limitations and structural foundation. He is cold, distant, stoic, determined and persistent. His function as he transits through the houses of our birth charts is to educate us of our life lessons. For next two and a half years he will be in Tula Rasi. Sani is seen with Kaaka (crow) as his Vehicle.  To a spiritual seeker Sani means slowness and laziness. Kaaka means that which is to be driven out. In Saadhana (spiritual practice) of a spiritual seeker, there should be no relaxation or laziness—such tendencies should be firmly eliminated.

As per Vakya Panchangam predictions, which all Saivites in Tamil Nadu follow, Sani Peyarchi takes place on 21st December, 2011 in the early hours. The virulence with which Sani influences our lives can be in the positive node or in the negative node as applicable to particular Zodiac sign. Sani moves slow and steady. The good effects are long lasting. The bad effects will be the kind of experience that modulate or shape our future. For another two and a half years, those born on different Nakshatras of Tula Rasi will be the most affected by Saturn, predict astrologers. Even though Hindus believe that everyone has to go through what he is destined to, they still hope Saturn can modify bad effects to a large extent or make it bearable if they earnestly pray to him. Every individual is born to go through his Praarabhda (accumulated) Karma and so chooses a particular time and place to be born, to lead a life destined to him. If correct astrological predictions can be made the time of his birth at that particular conjunction of the planets indicates his fate. Astrologers believe that it is the individual’s mental mood that decides his world and the position of the planets dictated by Jyotisha saastra. Saastras therefore prescribe poojas and appeasement rituals (Shantis) to change his mental mood and consequently his world. The same thinking goes to the country also.  The world order depends on the psychology of a nation. It can be shaped by changing the psychology for the better. Hence special worships like Sani Peyarchi are conducted on a grand scale with mass participation.

Scriptural records mention only orthodox dates for major events such as birth, death, incarnation, battle, crowning ceremony etc. based on astrological predictions. Such records have helped in determining the historic dates where historic records are not available.  These are based on particular conjunction and configuration of the planets. One such study using planetarium software has helped in determining the date of Mahabharata War and the dawn of Kaliyuga as reported by Dr. Narahari of Memphis.  Special conjunction of planets such as Sanipeyrchi sometimes helps in such a study.
Navagraha iconic worship is found only in Saivite temples. A special altar for Navagrahas is usually found in Siva or Sakthi Temples and not in Vishnu temples. Devotees make sure to circum-ambulate Navagrahas nine times to please all the deities before leaving the temple. Also all Hindu rituals begin with appeasement to Navagrahas by a special worship called Navagraha Shanti. Occasionally Navagraha Homas (fire sacrifices) are also conducted for the benefit of individuals as well as general public. [For more details on Navagrahas, please go through my detailed discourse on Navagrahas.]
chaayaa-maartaanda sambhootam tam namaami saneesvaram ||”
 [I pray to Saturn, the slow moving, born of Chaayaadevi (Shadow) and Sun God, the elder brother of Yama, The God of Death, the off-spring of Sun, he who has the appearance of black collyrium.] 
Religious Hindus who have faith in astrology regularly chant Navaagraha stotra (prayer hymns) on the day suited to them as well as on Saturdays.
Saneeswara prayer and fasting on Saturdays is recommended for those that are badly affected by Sanipeyarchi, particularly those whose Janmaraasi is Tula. Janmanakshatras of this Raasi are: Chitra 3rd and 4th quarters; Swaati; Visaakham 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarters.


APPENDIX

A NOTE ON ASTROLOGICAL EFFECTS OF SATURN


The travel of Saturn through once birth Zodiacal sign is the middle phase which is 2.5 years. The zodiacal sign which it just left after 2.5 years, a sign preceding the birth sign, is its e first phase. Saturn after remaining in the middle phase moves to the next sign that succeeds the birth zodiac sign and spends another 2.5 years. This is the third phase or the last phase. An individual who is affected by these 3 phases is said to be experiencing 7.5 years of the effect of Saturn concerning his life. On this month those that are in Tula Rasi (zodiacal sign of birth) will be in their middle phase on 21 December 2011.
Saturn travels through 12 zodiacal signs in 30 years. Therefore Saturn remains in each zodiacal sign for 2.5 years to complete his thirty years of journey.  Every individual will have this experience for 7.5 years in his life span of 30 years. If a person lives up to 90 years he will have this experience 3 times of the duration of 7.5 years of Saturn effect. Each time this happens Saturn will remain 2.5 years each in first, middle and last phase. In each of these phases he will experience different effects and not the same.

If Saturn is already there in the birth zodiac sign of a child, it will not be affected but the parents will be affected being worried and burdened. The child will impose lot of botheration and concern for parents being sick often with poor health. It will be a constant source of pain. The first phase of travel is the most serious one called the pre-phase. Beyond 12 years if this movement of 7.5 years Saturn occurs    child will suffer from frequent illness and will also not develop skills for good education etc.

 In the first phase people affected can suffer financial losses, job loss, poor health etc. In the middle phase people will have constant worry, feel miserable in life and face physical illness.  The last phase is the waning phase and all ill effects will gradually taper down.

Marriages that take place during first phase of this period will not lost long or be happy. Therefore the marriages are avoided when Saturn is operative in one’s life.  In the second phase Saturn will inflict lot of pain and cause worries. Then only he will show sign of relief. If one is at his fag end of his destined life he will hasten his departure. But this is not true in all cases. There are many who live through this last stage effect.
If Saturn is in the eighth position in the birth zodiac sign it is said to be Ashtama Sani (Eighth Saturn). At present Saturn is in Kanya Rasi and those who are in Kumbha Rasi will have Ashtama Sani. This Ashtama Sani is worse than 7.5 Saturn.  In general what one experiences in 7.5 years will be experienced in 2.5 years itself for those who are affected by Ashtama Sani. 

 The best recourse is to be careful to avoid bad ways, follow the path of virtue and pray to God to have mental peace and the strength of forbearance.
[The above Astrological predictions are only informative and not indicative. One should consult knowledgeable astrologers]



A  NOTE ON GRAHAS (CATCHERS) TRANSLATED AS ALL PLANETS
(With  no disrespect to Vedas and   Astrologers)

For all the people of the world (except Indian Astrologers), our Sun never moves like all other stars in our milky way.   Only the planets and satellites move.

The speed of our Earth is as follows:  Its radius is 6.37 million  meters.  That means, 6.37 times tenth power of six meters.  The circumference of our Earth is 2piR = 2(22/7)6.37(1000000)m.  When we divide this by 24 hours and 1609 m, we get 1036.876 miles per hour.  Because one mile equals 1609 m, we divided by 1609 m in order to get in miles.  THE SPEED OF OUR EARTH IS  1036.876  MILES PER HOUR.  It rotates by itself with this speed and moves on constantly on the elliptical orbit while our Sun is in one of the focal points of the ellipse.  Remember, no circular orbit, but elliptical orbit (egg shaped orbit).  Our Earth is also constantly wobbling from 0 to 23.5 degrees above Equator (middle line of our Earth) for six months and below Equator for six months.  When we sit on the Earth, while Earth is doing all these, we apparently feel as if Our Sun is moving north of Equator or south of Equator.  In reality, Our Sun never moves but our Earth moves.  When we sit near the window of our moving train, we see as if all the trees and mountains are moving.  In reality, they are not moving, but we are moving.  When we docircumambulation, we rotate out body and move around the prakaaram at the same time.  Our Earth also does the same thing.

When we come shortest distance to our Sun, we have summer.  When we go longest distance from our Sun, we have winter.  Between summer and winter, we have Autumn.  Between winter and summer, we have spring.

In the early days, people worshipped Sun as God.  They thought that the Earth was the center of the universe, and the Sun was moving around the Earth.  This was called as GEOCENTRIC THEORY by Ptolemy.  GEO means Earth.  Then Galileo proposed HELIOCENTRIC THEORY.  The Sun was the center of the universe while all the planets were moving around the Sun.  He also discovered many things, like the actual value of the gravity of the Earth, telescopes, and conducted many experiments.  He was charged by Catholic Churches that he was corrupting the minds of the people, and put him in prison until his death.  Then Copernicus discovered the ELLIPTICAL THEORY which is true even today.  All the planets are moving on elliptical orbit while the Sun is at one of the focal points of the ellipse.  All these are taught in all the high schools, colleges and universities in India and all the countries of the world. 

Only in India, the   astrologers make the Hindus believe in the center of the universe, the planet Sun, planet Moon, planet Ragu, and planet Kethu,  planet  Budha, planet Sukra, planet Kuja, planet Guru, and planet Shani are moving around the Earth.   This has been going on  for generation after generation, just because the Hindus  do jot question  our astrologers or Scriptures:     

1. “He who fixed firm the earth that staggered, and set at rest the agitated mountains, who measured out the air's wide middle region and gave the heaven support, he men is Indra"
Rig Veda 2: 12: 2.

We all now know today that the earth rotates itself and orbits on the elliptical path with sun at one of the focal points of the ellipse.  The earth is not at all fixed and the sun is not at all going around the earth.

2.  "In the beginning rose Hiranyagarba, born only Lord of all created beings.  He fixed and holds up the earth and the heaven".
Rig Veda 10: 121: 1
We all know now today that the earth rotates itself with a speed of 1037 miles per hour and moves on the elliptical path while the sun rests on one of the two focal points of the ellipse.  The earth moves, the sun rests but not the other way.

3.  "Firm is the sky and firm is the earth and steadfast are all this living world".
Rig Veda 10: 173: 4

4.  "The Bull has supported the sky"
Yajur Veda 4: 30 5

5.  "God has firmly fixed the earth with pegs around it".
Yajur Veda 5: 16 6

This is wrong.  Where is the proof?  We are sitting on the earth which rotates by itself with a speed of 1037 miles per hour and orbits on the path of the ellipse with sun at one of the two focal points of the ellipse.

6.  "North West of the Heavens".
Yajur Veda 13: 56, 57 7

7.  "The Bull has supported the sky".
Yajur Veda 14: 5 8

Both Rig Veda and Yajur Vedas  conflict with science today because  the earth rotates by itself with a speed of 1037 miles per hour and orbits on the elliptical path of the ellipse with sun rests on one of the two focal points of the ellipse.

A simple translation of Grahas as Catchers ( who influence our lives) and heavenly bodies or points in solar system would be more appropriate though most authors translate them as Planetary Deities.







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