Teachings of Astrology

In Hindu literature, of the six Vedangas i.e. branches allied with the Vedas, Astrology is designated as the eye of the Veda Purusha with which the reality of the universe is revealed to the mankind. The Supreme Soul, in order to enjoy Himself in various ways, divided Himself in innumerable parts. For this, He attributed in every part or soul two characteristics. The first is composed of six instincts or complexes termed as Sharha Ripus viz. lust, anger, greed, mental obsession, pride and envy or jealousy which compel every individual to act accordingly and the second is the force of reaction induced by the Free Will of the individual. As the consequence of the conflict of these two opposite forces, the native has to suffer from the deeds and is compelled to be born repeatedly until the realization develops that it is the Supreme Lord Who is the source of the entire creation and the rescuer of the creation and thereafter only the individual soul gets freed from all complexes and reunites with the Origin. Therefore, the ultimate goal of every individual is the Origin i.e. the Supreme Soul and to arrive at this, the necessary path is directed in Astrology. Excluding the stellar bodies in our solar system, the twelve signs signify the God-directed ideal lifestyle for the human being while the stellar bodies in the Zodiac signify the different manifestation of the six complexes under the influence of which the individual soul becomes deviated from the ideal life process and thereby is bound to suffer from the results of the deeds which make the individual take repeated births in this material world till the realization of the Divine Self. Therefore, the significance of the Zodiac alone excluding the stellar bodies is being analyzed.

Life process from the stage of non-living matter starts in the sign Aries – Tamasik, cardinal and fiery sign, and the active field of the ruler Mars. Here, the desire to express the self is very strong due to the characteristics of strongly egoistic Mars and being the sign of exaltation for the Sun, the highest expression of consciousness is also here. In other words, life energy and consciousness combinedly act in continuous moving mode.

The second sign is Rajasik, fixed and earthy Taurus, the passive field of the ruler Venus. The second house signifies the face and all its functions viz. intaking of food, talking etc. Being the earthy sign, it is the significator of intaking of food for the body building immediate after birth and having Venus as the ruler of the sign, all ingredients for earthly enjoyments viz. wealth, money, food etc. are judged from this sign and also the start of talking is signified in this sign.

The third sign Gemini signifies the neck, voice, arms, culture of music, respiratory process, mode of communication etc. Being dual, Sattwik and airy in nature and also the active field of the ruler Mercury, the child planet as it is designated in Astrology, it signifies child like simplicity, curiosity, inquisitiveness to understand the world in all aspects, strength of arm, valour etc. Being the fifth sign from Aquarius, the eleventh sign of the Zodiac ruled by Saturn, common-sense and inquisitiveness are expressed in this sign as the consequence of the spiritual attainment and material philosophical sense derived in the previous incarnations.

The fourth sign of the Zodiac is Tamasik, cardinal and watery Cancer ruled by the Moon and which is sign of exaltation for Jupiter, sign of debilation for Mars and inimical for Saturn and Mercury. The fourth house and the ruler Moon signify mother, family, domestic happiness, emotion, upper layer of mind etc. After birth a child is brought up in the domestic environment under the love and affection of mother and the family members. The memory based education being related to the upper layer of mind starts in this environment. The unbounded emotion of child is manifested here and as such the practical sense of Saturn and the rationality of Mercury are totally absent here. Being the sign of exaltation of Jupiter, the wisdom accumulated in the sign Saggitarius in pervious births is latent here in the field of the disciple Moon as narrated in Hindu mythology. Further, the desire to get rid of the sensual complexes as expressed in the sign Pisces in the previous births finds manifestation in the present birth in the fifth sign from Pisces i.e. in Cancer where sensual pleasures and lust are totally absent in the mind of the child.

Therefore, after birth these four signs viz. Aries, Taurus, Gemini and Cancer signify the construction of body, the expression of common-sense, the unlimited inquisitiveness to know the world, the manifestation of emotion under the control of the mother in the domestic sphere. The next phase starting from Leo is concerned with the desire to express the self of the child in the external world for which the God-directed instructions are analyzed below.

The second phase starts in Leo which is the fifth sign in the Zodiac ruled by Sun – the fixed, Rajasik and fiery sign signifying intelligence, talent, love, romance, regard, devotion, fame, offspring, creative activity etc. Sun signifies the soul for being the origin of our solar system. The fifth house signifies the consequence of the first house and therefore in the Zodiac the fifth sign Leo signifies the consequence of the individual soul which due to the rulership of the sign Leo by the Sun signifies the re-union with the Supreme Soul. The native here expresses the self to the external world through intelligence, talent and creative activity and in accordance with this, the most significant creative function of an individual through the reproduction of the next generation for continuance of the hereditary traits is also judged in this sign. Since, the sign symbolizes idealism, attraction towards artistic activities etc., therefore the sign Leo is the significator of pure love, devotion, artistic function of higher level through which the mental expansion of the native starts in the second phase of life.

As the result, the desire to enjoy the world materially with the help of intelligence and sensualities is accumulated in the sixth sign Virgo – Sattwik, dual and earthy in nature ruled by Mercury of which it is the sign of exaltation and also the sign of debilation for Venus, the significator of material enjoyments. All the complexes which are the origin of all activities of a native are latent in this sign. The sign Virgo is symbolized by a maiden girl with crops in one hand and a lighted kindle in the other moving in a boat in vast water. The significance of this symbol is that the complexes of the native should be controlled by Sattwik, rational and practical in nature and utilized for the good of the others and this should be the inspiring factor of all activities of the native. In such a situation, the mental complexes no longer remain inimical because the inducer of material enjoyments i.e. Venus is weakest here, but if the native be moved under the control of complexes for personal enjoyments, the malefic results of the debilated Venus have to be suffered by the native.

The love and romance together with the desire to express the self inherent in the sign Leo become established in the third sign thereof i.e. Libra which is the cardinal, Tamasik and airy sign i.e. the seventh sign in the Zodiac signifying the spouse, lust, environment, business, partner etc. Being the cardinal airy sign, Libra signifies lust and sensual attraction in a refined manner. In this sign, the ego and desire to enjoy wealth in the greater environment of Mars i.e. the ruler of the sign Aries is manifested with the help of air for expansion of fiery flames of Aries. In the eleventh sign from Libra signifying the female beings in general and the fifth sign from Aries signifying male beings in general, the sign Leo signifies the consequence and the success of sensual lust through the birth of child. The tenth sign from Libra is Cancer ruled by the Moon which signifies the highest manifestation of femalehood in the form of motherly affection. Being the fifth sign from Gemini, Libra signifies the gradual change of the child like queries for the eternal relation between male and female and takes the final shape through the expression of love and romance signified in Leo in the physical lust ruled by Venus. Being the sixth sign from Taurus also ruled by Venus, it is antagonistic to the self-centric desires to enjoy the world alone signified in Taurus and takes the refined shape through the expansion of the personality in the greater environment. Being the seventh sign from Aries i.e. the detrimental place, Libra signifies the loss of energy of Mars due to physical pleasures in contact with Venus although at the same time it signifies the process of continuation of the creation as desired by the Supreme Lord.

The next sign Scorpio is the eighth sign in the Zodiac and the passive field of the ruler Mars which is fixed, Rajasik and watery in nature. Eighth house signifies longevity cum death, all secret and mysterious affairs, genetic organs and the coiled energy of the soul in latent form. After death, the individual soul along with all accumulated ideas remains in latent form in this sign. Being the seventh sign counted from Taurus, it signifies the detriment of material desires. Being the sixth house counted from Gemini, it indicates that it is not possible for the child like mentality to realize the consequence of the individual soul. It is the fifth sign counted from Cancer where the significator of wisdom i.e. Jupiter becomes exalted i.e. the consequence of the sensations derived from wisdom lies in Scorpio till the next incarnation. Being the fourth house counted from Leo, it signifies the place of happiness for self realization, pure love, intelligence, talent etc. Being the third house from Virgo, it signifies the strength of sensualities inspired by Sattwik rationality. Being the second house from Libra, the sign Scorpio signifies the accumulated gain through the relation with the environment and material desires in addition to those earned in previous incarnations which are manifested as fortune in the next birth.

The last phase of life starts form the ninth sign Saggitarius where the Rajasik pure love, devotion, intelligence, talent etc. of Leo are developed into Sattwik conscience, sacrifice, wisdom etc. which ultimately give rise to religious outlook that holds the entire universe and maintains the creation through the Tamasik and cardinal fiery sign Aries in the form of life process. This wisdom gained in the sign Saggitarius brings the mankind above animalhood and thereafter makes it active to attain sublimed consciousness with the help of dual-natured Kshatriya Shakti inspired by the Sattwik Brahminic force. And for this reason, the sign Saggitarius signifying active religious outlook is treated as the origin of fortune.

The accumulated gain of fortune earned through the sign Saggitarius combined with the Sattwik and rational materialistic senses of Virgo induce the individual in servicing work to the mankind without any expectation for return and therefore does not create any binding for the individual in the sign Capricorn ruled by Saturn. In this sign, Mars which is strongly inimical for Saturn gets exalted because the strength and activity of Mars find best manifestation in this cardinal and earthy sign guided by the practical senses and experiences of the old aged Saturn. But Jupiter, the Master of the Deities, becomes debilated here since the wisdom of Jupiter can not be expressed in the house of servant and low-classed people represented by Saturn.

The eleventh sign of the Zodiac is Aquarius, the fixed, Rajasik and airy sign as well as the active field and Mool Trikona place of the ruler Saturn. Being the Mool Trikona place for Rahu also, the functions of Saturn in all aspects are enhanced to a high degree. Eleventh house signifies income, success, friends (being the enemy of enemy). Being the second house from Capricorn, it signifies the accumulated results of servicing deeds. Being the third house from Saggitarius, it signifies the strength of wisdom, religious outlook, Kshatriya Shakti inspired by Brahminic spirit. Being the fourth sign from Scorpio, the latent soul energy is further nourished and developed in this sign. Being the fifth sign from Libra, it signifies the maturity of the balanced practical intelligence in impersonality thereby enriching the outlook of material philosophy and spiritual consciousness. Being the sixth sign from Virgo, it signifies the enmity of the six complexes through the self control and spiritual consciousness of the hermit Saturn and this is manifested in the form of common-sense, child like inquisitiveness, inclination for learning in the subsequent incarnation.

The twelfth sign of the Zodiac is Pisces – Sattwik, dual, watery and the passive sign for the ruler Jupiter. The twelfth house signifies expenses, sacrifice, freedom from all complexes, long tours particularly voyages, foreign tours etc. The wisdom of Saggitarius finds the happy place of rest in this sign. The dedicated service to the mankind signified in Capricorn is strengthened here. The spiritual consciousness of Aquarius yields its accumulated gain in Pisces. The latent Kundalini Shakti of Scorpio is manifested in this sign. The materialistic intelligence of Libra finds an inimical sign here. The complexes or sensual desires of Virgo are detriment in this sign. The Rajasik pure love, devotion and desire for self expression are condensed here in the form of continuous unison with and detachment from the Supreme Soul. The total gains in a human life through the various activities are taken up by the individual soul while leaving the body on long tour for subsequent birth. From the above discussion, it is clear that the origin and consequence of life together with the searching for the true path to arrive at the target of life are described in the discipline of Astrology because it acts as the searching light for this purpose. The life cycle starts in the Tamasik form, expands with the help of Rajasik qualities and ultimately reaches the goal with the help of Sattwik qualities for reunion with the origin i.e. the Supreme Soul.      

The entire creation is composed of four elements viz. fire, earth, air and water spread over the vast space. Each of the four elements is manifested in three forms viz. cardinal, fixed and dual. Each element is the significator of three qualities viz. Tamas, Rajas and Sattwik. For the creation of life, cardinal fire and cardinal water are required both of which are manifested in Tamas qualities and for the continuance of the life process cardinal air and cardinal earth, both being of Tamas nature, are required. For the nourishment of the living body fixed earth is required and for its becoming, fixed sign is required. After death, the individual soul remains latent in fixed water and the ideas gained through the entire life are retained in fixed air. For the development of the individual soul, dual air and dual earth, both being of Sattwik nature are required. With the help of these, an individual in the present incarnation acquires religious consciousness and wisdom through dual and Sattwik fiery element and ultimately it remains in ever lasting enjoyment of reunion being freed from all complexes and thereby attaining the Moksha through the dual and Sattwik watery element. Therefore, to arrive at this ultimate goal are required – child like inquisitiveness and strong desire to acquire knowledge of Sattwik nature which is actually the root of valour and this is manifested in the first Upachaya place viz. the third sign of the Zodiac Gemini, the active field of the ruler Mercury. This is transformed into practical senses combined with rationality and Sattwik complexes in the second Upachaya place i.e. the sixth sign Virgo in the Zodiac. This in turn leads to the consequence manifested in the third Upachaya place i.e. the tenth sign Capricorn in the Zodiac ruled by Saturn signifying dedicated service without any personal attachment for the mankind as a whole termed as “Karmasannayasa” in the Shreemodbhagabodgeeta by the Lord Shree Krishna. This yields the result manifested through the fourth Upachaya place i.e. the eleventh sign of the Zodiac viz. Aquarius which is fixed and Rajasik airy sign and the active field of the ruler Saturn which reveals the true nature of this world in material as also spiritual form.

This is the real significance of the Zodiac excluding the functions of different stellar bodies coming into the realm of the Zodiac. The stellar bodies related with this express the different aspects of the six complexes which influence the life of an individual from birth to death through different activities thereby deviating the individual from the ideal course of life inscribed in the language of the Zodiac. The signs of exaltation for the stellar bodies signify the places of their best manifestation but in other signs the respective complexes of the planets are changed according to the nature of the signs. This process continues in every individual life till self realization happens. In the mind of individual, this wisdom is enlightened by the Master or Guru through the removal of darkness of ignorance and this is expressed in the ninth sign of the Zodiac ruled by the Master of the Deities viz. Jupiter. In our earthly life, this happens through the Sad Guru who is the embodied form of the Divine Soul. A proverb in Astrology says “in an individual natal chart having Jupiter in any of the four angles, no malefic planet can bring any harm to the native”. The real significance of this is that for any individual in whose life Sad Guru is established under whose guidance the activities of an individual are directed, no complex signified by the planets can create any obstacle in life i.e. Sad Guru in such a case is like the pivot of his life. Because, the six complexes signified by the sixth sign Virgo remain at rest in the fourth house therefrom which is the ninth sign Saggitarius which means that in the active field Saggitarius of the Guru i.e. Jupiter, the complexes are unable to act according to their natures. The fourth house counted from the ninth house signifying the place of happiness of the wisdom or religion is the twelfth sign Pisces i.e. the passive field of Jupiter where the individual soul guided by the Sad Guru becomes free from complexes and thereby attains Moksha. Therefore, the ultimate teaching of Astrology is that from the very start of life, every individual should by guided by the Sad Guru to fulfill the desire of Sattwik wisdom followed by dedicated work controlled by Sattwik and materialistic and rational sensual complexes for the good of the mankind which as the result awards the native with the achievement of the sacred ultimate goal of life i.e. reunion with the origin i.e. the Supreme Soul.