How to spot problems caused by weak planets and eliminate them Part VI – Mars

I have mentioned earlier that Mars’s aspect on the fifth house does not allow easy conception and delivery. To get over this problem one must get hold of Shri Surya Uvaach and do the following.

 
If despite there being no problems with the reproductive system, a pregnancy fails to occur, the woman desiring conception should wait for her menstruation period to end, and on that day at the time of sunset, after a shower wear clean clothes. She should hold a tumbler (preferably copper) of water in her hands and chant the Shri Surya Uvaach Stotra seven times while facing the setting Sun. She should then drink that energized water. A pregnancy will occur after a while. This process should continue even after pregnancy and childbirth for a year. This puts a shield around the mother and child that saves them from all harm. 

 

Surya UvaachStotra

Remedy for Manglik Dosh
If the affliction to the seventh house, its lord and Jupiter in a girl’s horoscope is severe, one can safely assume that the marriage is heading towards widowhood. In such cases it is advised that the girl be first married to Lord Vishnu or to Varun. This is a real marriage and is conducted with complete Vedic rituals. A pitcher of water represents Varun the God of water. This removes the obstacles caused by Mars and leads to marital happiness.

Mangal Chandika Stotra
 

Mangal Chandika Dhyan, Mantra and Stuti are mentioned in Bramhavaivarta Puran, under Narayan Naradiya. If a girl has Manglik Dosh in her chart, She should chant the Dhyan Mantra and then offer red flowers and two fruits to the Goddess.
Follow by chanting this mantra 108 times.
OM HREEM SHREEM KLEEM SARVPUJYE DEVI MANGALCHANDIKE HUM HUM PHAT SWAHA.

After this is done the main Stuti should be chanted. The complete chant is given below.



Mars can be pacified by adding red sandal wood to the bath water or by adding leaves and/or fruit of Bel tree. 

 
Metal
Copper
 

Gemstone
Blood red Coral or white Coral
 

Donation
Copper pot, wheat, Masoor Dal, red flowers and Ghee.

This brings to a close the remedial measures for Mars. In the next Blog Mercury.

 

Rajiv Sethi 

Bouquets and brickbats at planetstories@gmail.com,

Mobile consultation 9899589211 

The content of this blog is copyright protected and no part of this article in any shape and form may be used for any purpose without the written permission of the author. www.indian-vedicastrology.com

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Amazing Vedic astrology: What Love has got to do with it.......

With apologies to Tina Turner.......

The desire for romance and sex is one of the most enduring one in humans. In fact it is so strong that people will do almost anything to satisfy it. The Phrase ‘Everything is fair in love and war’ succinctly sums up our passion for love. It is for this reason that on every continent and in every civilization the male female relationship has been controlled by society at large. Social norms have been set and laws enacted to regulate one’s emotional and sexual life. Indeed one major religion does not permit more than one marriage, and barring some exceptions most countries do not allow polygamy.

In the first flush and exuberance of teenage, when the growth of frontal lobe of human brain overtakes the growth of the rest of the gray matter, emotions dominate the thinking process because the rational brain is still developing. All decisions taken by individuals are therefore highly emotional. Looks and biology figure predominantly in all relationships. Meeting and mating is all one wants and more the merrier seems a very attractive proposition.

By the time one comes out of this phase there is a glimmer of realization that relationships ought to be more meaningful. One may not be ready for marriage but a long-term relationship definitely seems attractive. The million-dollar question is how can we find the right mate? There is the hit and trial method which one has already tried and found wanting. In some societies the extended family may pitch in by introducing some promising mates. But this we all agree is not a reliable proposition. Blind dates often turn into dark evenings. So once we have experienced ‘been there – done that’ situation what else is left. The answer is Vedic astrology.

Vedic Astrology looks at the male female relation in a different light. It divides the human personality of two persons into four segments of spirituality, intellectual capacity, emotions and sex. It then looks for an overlap in these areas. Greater the overlap, better the relationship.

This division and matching is done mathematically and points are given for each overlap. More points indicate better compatibility. The converse is also true. The mental bias of the astrologer does not enter the picture.

The total points that the system generates are 36. Half of it is 18 and at this point the relationship is fine for short-term relationships. It is good for dining out, watching movies and spending weekends together. It rarely has the horsepower to keep the relationship going over the long haul. Cracks emerge and relationship falls through in a year or so. As always there are exceptions to the rule. If these 18 points are obtained in the emotional and sex categories, the relationship can last longer. After all the major requirements have been met. Nothing is perfect anyway.

In the fast moving life of present times, it is advisable to look for a higher number. 25 is good and anything above that excellent.

This is however only one part of the story. There are other factors that can make or mar a relationship. We shall take a quick look.

The whole gamut of hetero and homosexual relationships especially the mating part is ruled by the seventh house in a horoscope. This house, its planetary lord and the significator for marriage – Jupiter for females and Venus for males – should be strong and free from any influence of separatist planets like Sun, Saturn and Rahu. In addition to this Mars should not affect the twelfth, second, seventh and eighth houses because he tends to injure the connection. Under these circumstances, the relationship goes in a downward spin and eventually crashes and burns.

There are twelve signs in the zodiac and those that fall in the first, fourth, seventh and tenth position to each other promote compatibility.

Moon is closest heavenly body to earth and plays an extremely important part, so much so that Moon sign is given equal status to the birth ascendant.

What is true of the birth ascendant is also true of the lunar ascendant.

Our zodiac is divided in to 27 Nakshatra and each one spans 13 degrees and 20 minutes of arc. At the time of birth Moon will be occupying one of these segments. The Nakshatra occupied by Moon becomes the Janma (birth) Nakshatra and becomes an important tool in predictive work. Nakshatra that fall in the second, fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth from the Janma Nakshatra are exceedingly compatible and promote prosperity and happiness in each other’s life. For example if the Janma Nakshatra of one partner is Ashwini and the other partner happens to be born in Bharani, Rohini, Ardra, Pushya or Ashlesha Nakshatra, the relationship will prosper.

If the partner is born in third or seventh Nakshatra from Bharani utter chaos will prevail between the couple. This is irrespective of the sex. Gay and lesbian relationships will fare the same way.

There are other factors like mutual placements of Jupiter, Venus, and lagna lord in two horoscopes. These will shed some more light on the relationship.

The greatest advantage that Vedic astrology has over other systems like psychological profiling used in dating websites is that it goes to the root of the issue and immediately weeds out undesirable matches. It saves time and cuts the signal to noise ratio. Reception becomes crystal clear. One is left with one or two optimum matches, which can be explored further.

So next time some one warms the cockles of your heart, obtain the birth details and use astrology to figure out if it is the pay dirt or simply dirt.

Your questions and comments are very welcome.

Rajiv Sethi

http//indian-vedicastrology.com

rajiv@indian-vedicastrology.com© copy right 2009. No part of this article can be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the author.

How to spot problems caused by weak planets and eliminate them Part V

Continuation of the previous Blog.
 
Fasting on Tuesdays.It is quite likely that in any horoscope one or more planets will be placed in houses where they do not give favorable results. The degree of the adverse results will depend upon the strength of a planet and the houses owned by it. In this multi part article we shall take a look at Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu, and discuss appropriate remedial measures. In this fourth article of the series we continue with Mars.

After this is done put two fruits in the Thali (large plate) as offering to Mars. Then stand on your knees in the Thali and read aloud this Stuti (hymn)


DHARANI GARBH SAMBHUTAM VIDUT KANTI SAMAPRABHAM

KUMARAM SHAKTI HASTAM TAM MANGALAM PRANMAMYAHAM

ANGARAK MAHABHAG BHAGWAN BHAKTVATSAL

TWAM NMAMI MAMASHESH MRINMASHU VINASHAYA

RINROGADI DARIDYAM, YE CHANYE CHAPMRITYVAHA

BHAYA KLESH MANASTAPA NASHYANTU MAM SARVADA

ATI VAKRA DURA RADHYA BHOG MUKTA JITATMANAHA

TUSHTO DADASI SAMRAJYAM RUSHTO HARSI TAT-KSHANAT

VIRANCHI SHAKRA VISHNUNAM MANUSHYANAM TU KA KATHA

TEN TWAM SARVA STTVEN GRAHRAJO MAHABLAHA

PUTRAN DEHI DHANAM DEHI TWAMASMI SHARANAM GATAHA

RIN DARIDRYA DUHKHEN SHATRNAM CHA BHAYAT TATAHA

Admittedly, English is a very restricted language and can not do justice to the honeyed beauty of this hymn. It is also unable to produce the sounds that Sanskrit invokes. Please therefore try and get the original Sanskrit verses and use those as a chant. The above is just a pointer.

One should keep A fast on every Tuesday for one year. On the last Tuesday, one should offer 108 offerings of black sesame seeds to the sacrificial fire using the mantra of Mars given above.

Weak Mars undermines the enthusiasm for life and also cause inferiority complex and loss of self respect. In such cases Mangal Gayatri is extremely helpful.


ॐ अंगारकाय विद्महे शक्तिहस्ताय धीमही तन्नो भौमः प्रचोदयात।
OM ANGARKAYE VIDMAHE SHAKTI HASTAYE DHEEMHI TANNO BHOMAHA PRACHODAYAT

If there are frequent quarrels in the home, and recurrent friction between husband and wife, 108 chants of the following mantra every day remedy the situation quickly.

ॐ हं हं सः खं खः
OM HAM HAM SAHA KHAM KHAHA

Recital of SUNDERKAND from RAM CHARIT MANAS every day or at least every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday removes all problems connected to Mars.

To be continued….

Rajiv Sethi
Bouquets and brickbats at planetstories@gmail.com
Mobile consultation 9899589211
www.indian-vedicastrology.com

The content of this blog is copyright protected and no part of this article in any shape and form may be used for any purpose without the written permission of the author.

© 2010 copyright http://www.indian-vedicastrology.com. Your website for horoscopes, astrology, daily horoscope, love astrology and everything else.

How to spot problems caused by weak planets and eliminate them Part IV

It is quite likely that in any horoscope one or more planets will be placed in houses where they do not give favorable results. The degree of the adverse results will depend upon the strength of a planet and the houses owned by it. In this multi part article we shall take a look at Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu, and discuss appropriate remedial measures. In this fourth article of the series we continue with Mars.
 
Mars
 
If Mars as Lagna Lord is placed in 6,8 or 12 houses, is influenced by Rahu and Saturn, and is not influenced by a benefic planet like Jupiter, full Moon or well associate Mercury, then there exists a strong possibility for muscle atrophy. The remedy as always is a coral ring.
 
Mars and children
 
If Mars and/or Ketu aspect the fifth house, the fifth lord and Jupiter, there is usually a problem connected to children. Either they are not there or their life is threatened. It must be remembered that Mars in the fifth house in Aries or Scorpio is not an insurance against what is mentioned above. Mars in the fifth house simply does not give favorable results. The remedy in this case would be to strengthen the fifth lord by wearing the gemstone connected to him. Mars in this case needs to be pacified through mantra, Stotra, fasting and donation.
 
If Aries or Scorpio Mars is in the fifth house, and Jupiter is afflicted, it will not be advisable to wear a Topaz to strengthen Jupiter. In such a case Mantra, fasting and donation will be needed for Jupiter also.
 
There is one positive result of the influence of Mars on the fifth house. Mars is the significator of constructive thought and deductive thinking. Fifth house amongst other things, is the house of ability to give sound advice. The combined result of the two makes one a successful consultant.
 
Mars and the seventh house
 
Manglik, Mangal or Kuja Dosh
 
The seventh house deals with male-female relationships, and in the Indian context, with marriage. For a marriage to be successful; the seventh house and its lord should be strong. Significators for marriage – Jupiter for females and Venus for males should also be strong. Any weakness in any one of four factors will reduce marital happiness.

Mars as we all know is a potent Marak (killer) and kills quickly. There is no lingering death where Mars is involved. If the four factors mentioned above come under the influence of Mars it is quite likely that marriage will be cut short due to sudden death of one of the partners.
 
Mangal Dosh is a flaw which occurs when Mars occupies 1,4,7,8,12 in a horoscope. Some astrologers also include second house in this list.
 
Mars aspects the fourth, seventh and eighth house from where he is placed. When placed in Lagna, he aspects the seventh through his seventh aspect. Fourth house Mars harms the seventh house through his fourth aspect. In the seventh house the damage is done by the very placement of Mars. The eighth house aspect falls on the second house. Mars when placed in the eighth house aspects the second house which is the house of longevity of the life partner and shortens his/her life span. In the case of twelfth house the eighth house aspect falls on the seventh house.
 
When Mars falls in any one of the houses mentioned above, one needs to be very careful in matching charts of two people. Any carelessness can cost the couple dearly.
 
Exceptions and exemptions to Mangal Dosh
 
If the seventh lord and the significator for seventh house(either Jupiter or Venus) are strong, Mangal Dosh loses its sting.
 
If Mars is placed in the second house in his own house – Aries or Scorpio – then too the Dosh is cancelled as Mars actually strengthens the house of marriage.
 
Association and aspect of Saturn weakens Mars and cancels Manglik Dosh.
 
Another factor that cancels this Dosh is an extremely high matching of charts in the Asht Koot system, the seventh lord however should be strong.
 
What one should not do in the case of Manglik Dosh
 
One must never wear a Coral under any circumstance. This will reinforce Mars and actually increase the extent of the problem. The remedy lies in propitiation of Mars through Mantra, fasting and donation and reinforcing the seventh house lord through the appropriate gemstone.
 
Taurus Ascendant and Mars
For Taurus Ascendant Mars becomes neutral as he owns the twelfth and seventh houses and bound by Parashar laws gives the results only of the seventh house. Mars loses his malefic nature by virtue of the ownership of a Kendra. If therefore Mars happens to be weak, it is perfectly fine to wear a coral set in silver ring to strengthen marital prospects and health of the partner.
 
Mars and brother in law
Mars represents younger brother. In the case of Leo Ascendant Mars becomes the ninth lord which happens to be the third house from seventh, and represents wife’s younger brother. If Mars is well placed and associated with planets friendly to him like Sun and Jupiter, brother in law becomes instrumental in bringing financial gains. This is even otherwise appropriate as Mars becomes Yoga Karak planet for Leo Ascendant. This is true for women also.
 
Remedies for Mars
Daily chanting of Rudra Sookt removes complications generated by Mars.
Another certain remedy is daily recital of Hanuman Chalisa and Ram Stuti.
Bhairav Mantra given below is also very helpful.

भैरव मन्त्र

ॐ ह्रीं बटुकाय आपदुद्धारणाय कुरु कुरु बटुकाय ह्रीं ॐ।

OM HREEM BATUKAYE AAPDU DHHARNAYE KURU KURU BATUKAYE HREEM OM
 
Required Items and preparation
 
A copper pot, some water, Roli, some rice, red flowers, Thali (a large plate) preferably of copper and a picture of Mars or Lord Hanuman. Take a little amount of rice and color it with Roli. Dry in the Sun and keep it for use later. Some fruits preferably of red color. Pomegranate, Cherry etc.
 
Fasting
Fasting for Mars is an elaborate procedure. Its details are given below.
The ritual is best begun on the first Tuesday falling in the month of Vaishakh (March) or Margshirsh (November). Fasting involves having one meal only in 24 hours. Salt is prohibited and sweetened wheat porridge is the preferred cereal. Start with a prayer to Ganapati and chant the Mantra “Gananam Twa Ganapati Havamahe Priyanam Twa…” After this is over chant the following mantra 108 times.
 
OM GAM GANAPATYE NAMAHA. (this prayer and the others given below are available in a booklet form from shops near major temples)
 
In a copper pot, take some water and add Roli, rice colored red with Roli, red flowers and establish this pot on the right hand side.
 
Make thin paste of Roli and with your ring finger make a triangle on the large plate. Take a pinch of red colored rice in your right hand and chant OM with each of the 24 names of Mars. 

Mangalaye Namaha, Bhoomiputraye Namaha, Rinhartre Namaha, Dhanpradaye Namaha, Sthirasanaye Namaha, Mahakayaye Namaha, Sarvakarmabodhkaye Namaha, Lohitaye Namaha, Lohitakshaye Namaha, Samganam Kripakaraye Namaha, Dharatmajaye Namaha, Kujaye Namaha, Bhomaye Namaha, Bhootidaye Namaha, Bhoomi-nand-Naye Namaha, Angarkaye Namaha, Yamaye Namaha, Sarv-rog-apharaye Namaha, Vrishti-kartre Namaha, Sarva-kam-phalpradaye Namaha, Aaraye Namaha, Vakraye Namaha, Bhoomijaye Namaha.

To be continued…..

Rajiv Sethi

Bouquets and brickbats at planetstories@gmail.com,
Mobile consultation 9899589211

The content of this blog is copyright protected and no part of this article in any shape and form may be used for any purpose without the written permission of the author. www.indian-vedicastrology.com

© 2016 copyright http://www.indian-vedicastrology.com. Your website for horoscopes, astrology, daily horoscope, love astrology and everything else.

How to spot problems caused by weak planets and eliminate them Part III

It is quite likely that in any horoscope one or more planets will be placed in houses where they do not give favorable results. The degree of the adverse results will depend upon the strength of a planet and the houses owned by it. In this multi part article we shall take a look at Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu, and discuss appropriate remedial measures. In this third article, as also in the next one, Mars.
 
Mars
Mars, the fourth planet from Sun is a remarkable planet in as much as that it is the only planet that never really becomes Neech (Loses his goodness). This may sound strange because we know that Cancer happens to be the sign where Mars becomes Neech at 28°. When in Cancer Mars happens to be fourth from his Mool Trikon Rashi Aries and ninth from his other Rashi Scorpio. This is peculiar to Mars and doesn’t happen with any other planet. It is for this reason that for Cancer Lagna (ascendant) Mars remains a Yoga Karak even when he is placed in Lagna in a Neech state.
 
This is in keeping with the status of Mars as the commander in chief of the army of Devas (demi gods). They never really get defeated, not for long anyway!
 
Astrologically Mars is called Bhumi Putra in Sanskrit. This was a mystery to most people until modern science came up with the theory that Mars indeed broke off from earth when it collided with another heavenly body and the matter hived off into space became the genesis of Moon and Mars. 

Significations of Mars
 
Mars signifies younger brother, blood, red color, base and rotten things, military activities, commerce, air journeys, weaving and public speaking. Intellectually he is the significator of logical and deductive thinking. Mars also signifies real estate in the form of buildings. (Undeveloped land comes under Saturn). Mars also represents independence, persistence and youthful age.
 
Mars is masculine and malefic and rules over fire places, boilers, furnaces, urinary system, enemies, wounds, organizing capacity, executive ability, leadership over laborers and police department.
 
Materials governed by him are copper, metals, mines, minerals and ores, gold fields, coral, weapons, lands and tobacco.
 
Diseases caused by Mars are rupture of veins and arteries, diseases of the bone marrow, hemorrhage, abortions, menstrual disorders, gonorrhea, rheumatism, cuts, burns and muscle atrophy.
 
Mars is a Kshatriya (Warrior) by caste, is Masculine sex and rules over southern Direction.(it is for this reason that in Vastu Shastra all heat producing implements like HVAC and kitchen are best sited in the south or southwest direction.)
 
Weakness of Mars
 
Under certain circumstances Mars loses his power to give favorable results. This happens when Mars is combust or very close to Sun. In this state, Mars is said to be set. The Sanskrit term for this is Ast.
 
When conjunct with his arch enemies Saturn and Rahu, Mars tends to give bad results. A similar thing happens when he is placed in 6,8 and 12 houses. Whatever the reason, weakness of Mars will create problems in all areas represented by Mars to some extent. Increasing affliction being responsible for increasing distress.
 
Mars represents violence and blood spilling. When Mars is intimately connected to Ascendant and Ascendant lord, he makes one violent. Moon represents mind, and Moon-Mars combination makes one mentally cruel. The fourth house and fourth lord also represent mind. If all factors or a majority of them occur in a chart, the person is definitely cruel and violent and will not hesitate to take a life to further his objectives.
 
For Aries Lagna (Ascendant), Mars becomes the Lagna and the eighth Lord. Both are houses of longevity. If such a Mars is associated with Rahu and Saturn, the life span suffers. The remedy will involve wearing a blood red Coral in a silver ring on the ring finger of the right hand and propitiation of the Rahu and Saturn through Mantra, Stotra fasting and donation.
 
For Aries Lagna (ascendant), If Mars is placed in the fourth house, he generates the possibility of chest disease and loss of money. Happiness also takes a hit. A five carat blood red Coral set in a silver ring worn on the ring finger helps. 

If Moon is placed in Scorpio Ascendant, Mars becomes a confirmed representative of blood because Moon herself represents blood. If Mars is then influenced by Rahu and Saturn, it is certain that blood and its flow will be adversely affected. A person with this combination can suffer from leukemia and similar diseases. If Mars is placed in the eighth house, there may be danger to life. The remedy will involve a red colored coral set in a silver ring and worn on the ring finger of right hand. This will take care of the weakness of Mars. The complications caused by Rahu and Saturn can be removed by mantra, fasting and donation.

To be continued . . . . . . . . .

Rajiv Sethi

Bouquets and brickbats at rajiv@indian-vedicastrology.com, planetstories@gmail.com
Mobile consultation 9899589211
www.indian-vedicastrology.com

The content of this blog is copyright protected and no part of this article in any shape and form may be used for any purpose without the written permission of the author.

© 2010 copyright http://www.indian-vedicastrology.com. Your website for horoscopes, astrology, daily horoscope, love astrology and everything else.

My tribute to an Unknown school teacher

Amarnath is a shrine of Lord Shiva and nestles deep in the Himalayas in the state of Kashmir in India. Its altitude is high – about sixteen thousand feet – and the shrine as well as ninety percent of the approach route is above the tree line. It’s a barren and rocky landscape all the way and affords no shelter to man or beast. It’s a real desert in the mountains.

Every year in the month of August the pilgrimage to Amarnath begins and thousands of people from every walk of life from all over India congregate in Jammu – the capital of Kashmir. From there the buses and coaches move in a convoy to Pahalgam under military escort as terrorist violence is an ever present danger.
From Pahalgam the pilgrims travel to Chandanwari and it’s from here that the trek begins and takes about three to four days to the shrine.
 
In 1997 I booked myself on a coach, which was leaving Delhi for Pahalgam. I was listed to be picked up by the coach at four in the afternoon but due to a last minute snag I missed it. I had to rebook my self for the next one, which was leaving after three days.
The overnight journey to Jammu was uneventful and we reached there late morning the next day. There were about three hundred other coaches in the specially constructed parking area. We were to leave in a convoy the next morning.
It was a clear day with blue skies and bright sunshine. Around two in the afternoon the character of the sky changed and very dark clouds began to form. Around four it became so dark that lights had to be switched on. Then the rain began. I had never seen rains of such intensity. The downpour was extremely heavy and water fell in thick sheets. Very soon the visibility dropped to zero and the ground underneath turned to mud with the consistency of kneaded dough. It rained through the night and next day the parking area resembled a lake with water rising at places up to the height of coach wheels. It was difficult to step out to answer the call of nature, get drinking water or just to stretch our cramped limbs. The orderly parking had given way to a chaotic situation as the coach drivers tried to find higher ground.
The convoy was to begin forming at around six in the morning but the slushy ground made it a difficult task. The authorities found it impossible to herd this teeming mass of coaches in a straight line. It was still raining non-stop.
Around nine, the convoy finally took shape and slowly began to snake along the Jammu-Srinagar highway towards Pahalgam. We traveled for some time at around Forty kilometers per hour and passed the city of Udhampur. About five kilometers past the city the convoy came to a grinding halt as torrential rains had washed away a two hundred yard long  stretch of road taking two supply trucks along with it. All we could see was brown colored slush and mud. The trucks were buried somewhere under it. No trace of the crew was to be found.
Further journey was impossible. The military escort decided to route the convoy back to Jammu until the situation stabilized.
There was however one snag. The road was not wide enough for a coach to make a U-turn. More than three hundred coaches stood stranded there like a train without the engine. It was raining without any let up and pretty soon the drinking water that we were carrying with us ran out. It was about one in the afternoon.
Some one had the bright idea of collecting rainwater for drinking and we started filling our bottles from the water running out of the drainage channel on the roof of our coach. Mercifully it was not dirty, as the roof had been washed clean in the past eighteen hours. It was still raining heavily.
Finally around two; some of us – I included - decided to walk balk to Udhampur town and get something to eat. We donned our raincoats and started to walk. With in the first fifteen minutes the rainwater seeped under the collar and slowly began its way down. It took us about ninety minutes of brisk walking to reach the town. By the time we reached there we were drenched to the skin.
Unfortunately for us, several hundred other people had the same idea. They too wanted some food and they had the added advantage of being nearer to the town. By the time we reached the town all the food in every restaurant in that small town was gone. There was no cooked food, no loaf of bread, no milk, and no bottled drinking water.
I was wet, cold, hungry and miserable. I couldn’t stop shivering. Some one decided to look for the most expensive eating joint in the hope that it would have been spared. He was right. We had a nice hot lunch and some very welcome coffee.
Hunger pangs satisfied the next task was to find a shelter. We couldn’t trudge back to our coach as one lone co-traveler who had left sometime later, informed us that our coach was no longer there. The military had used bulldozers to make a clearing for the coaches to make a u-turn. It was now lost in a sea of buses some where on the highway.
It was about six in the evening and it was getting colder by the minute. The rain was unrelenting and pretty soon our partially dried clothes were again soaking wet. The rain was especially trouble some for me as my glasses kept misting over.

We went from place to place to find a room to spend the night in. Every room was taken. Finally a kind soul directed us to the local Hare Krishna temple where he thought they might allow us to stay overnight. The only trouble was it was dark and we didn’t know the directions. It was raining without a letup.
Some how we staggered up to the temple and asked the head priest to let us stay. He didn’t have any room with beds but he did have a dormitory where some other stranded people like us were sleeping on the floor. We were advised to go there without disturbing any one.
When we reached the dormitory, I found it to be a room, which could house about twenty people. Thirty people were already asleep there. There was barely enough room to just sit. I had no bedding and the floor was covered only with a thin cotton durry or rug. I was seated next to the door, which was kept open to allow the air to come in. I was wet and cold and very uncomfortable. Later that night, some how the fatigue overpowered the cold and I slept fitfully.
Next day it was still raining as I stepped out to look for a rest room, some hot tea and some breakfast - in that order. My luck had apparently changed overnight because I found all three in quick succession.
I focused now on finding my coach, which had all my belonging including the change of clothes and underwear. It was nowhere to be found. Milling around the mass of pilgrims I saw a familiar face from my coach and he pointed me to where it was parked.
I found it empty except for the driver who informed me that a group of about twenty people had been offered a place to stay in the home of a local school teacher. The rest had found shelter elsewhere. He took me to the house and it was a relief to find myself amongst people I knew. The school teacher very kindly extended his hospitality to me as well.
The rain was unstopping even on this third day and all of us were confined to the two bedrooms that had been vacated for us.
We stayed in his house for two more days and were treated like honored guests. His wife provided tea, snacks, lunch and dinner for next three days. All this time the downpour was continuous. The rain finally stopped late on the third day and we begged our leave from him.
All of us wanted to pay for the expenses but he wouldn’t even hear of it. For him we were pilgrims to the shrine and to take our money would be sacrilege. He was simply adhering to the ancient Hindu tenet of a house holder which commands one to offer every facility to a guest. Sanskrit adage “Atithi Devo Bhavha” “Guest is god” perhaps never found a more thorough expression as far as I know.
He had a daughter of marriageable age and we pooled in enough money to buy her a decent gift for her wedding.
We left his home with moist eyes and heavy hearts. Every one of us was bowed down with the debt of gratitude that he had freely lavished on our motley group.
I made another pilgrimage to Amarnath the following year and successfully accomplished it. More about that some other time.
I wanted to meet that angel, and thank him once again, knowing fully well that words were a poor substitute for what I felt for him in the depth of my soul.
Circumstances conspired against me however and I could not do so. But even now after so many years every detail is crystal clear in my mind and every time I think of that anonymous school teacher, I can not but pray to God for his utmost happiness and prosperity.
One doesn’t meet angels easily. I must have done something really good in my past lives to have met a man like him.

Rajiv Sethi

Bouquets and brickbats at rajiv@indian-vedicastrology.com, planetstories@gmail.com
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How to spot problems caused by weak planets and eliminate them Part II

Free Vedic astrology article on weak planets in a horoscope.

It is quite likely that in any horoscope one or more planets will be placed in houses where they do not give favorable results. The degree of the adverse results will depend upon the strength of a planet and the houses owned by it. In this multi part article we shall take a look at Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu, and discuss appropriate remedial measures. In this second article we discuss the Moon. 
Moon
Moon becomes Neech (loses her goodness) in Scorpio. If this is not cancelled by the placement of other planets in the horoscope, there will be problems connected to all areas of a person’s life which are connected to Moon. Let us take a look at what Moon signifies.
A study of the famous Vedic astrology tomes tells us that Moon represents the mind, heart, mother, beauty, saturation of blood, Blood Plasma, young women, perfumes, fickle mindedness, watery substances, lakes and seas. She has a very lustful temperament.
The organs of the body ruled by Moon are the arteries, nerves, brain, fat, stomach, uterus, bladder, breasts, ovaries and reproductive organs. Moon has a phlegmatic and windy nature.
Strength of Moon
Moon has two sources of strength. One is the strength by virtue of her placement with respect to Sun. She is strongest when diametrically opposite to Sun. This is the full Moon day when she is brightest and most beneficial. She is at her weakest when she is at the same degree as Sun. This corresponds to the no Moon day and Moon does not have any strength to do any good.
The second source of Moon’s strength is by virtue of her placement in her sign of exaltation. Moon becomes Uchha (exalted) when at 2°-3° of Taurus in Capricorn Navansh. She has her highest strength here.
Moon is exceptionally strong when she gets exalted on a full Moon day. Such a Moon brings wealth and happiness of every kind. At the other end of the spectrum of her strength, Moon gives utterly unfavorable results if she becomes Neech in Scorpio on a no Moon day. Generally however Moon enjoys varying degree of strength between these two extremes and an accurate assessment of her power is very important.
Affliction of Moon and its outcome
If Moon is Neech and/or is placed with her arch enemies like Rahu and Saturn, she becomes bereft of her capacity to give beneficial results. Rahu and Ketu are planets that cause separation and their association with Moon disconnects her from her beneficial results. All things mentioned above that Moon signifies also experience decrease in their strength.
Moon does not give good results in 6,8,12 houses and here too the results are similar to those mentioned above.
Moon represents infancy. If Moon is very weak, there is a danger to life at a very early age. Moon also represents wealth and if weak tends to destroy it. An important point needs to be mentioned here. If the Moon is weak, then the lord of the Rashi (sign) where Moon is placed also needs to be strengthened. This is because the placement of Moon in a Rashi establishes a connection between Moon and the planet who owns that Rashi.
Linked weaknesses
A typical case in point will be a horoscope where Moon is Neech in Scorpio and does not attain Neech Bhang (cancellation of debilitation). In such a case if Mars is also weak due to conjunction or aspect of Saturn, Rahu etc or is placed Neech in Cancer, mere strengthening of Moon will not prove beneficial. Mars needs to be fortified as well. A house standing on weak foundations is unstable.
In this case, it will be beneficial to wear a large round pearl in a silver ring on the little finger, and a Blood red Coral in a silver ring on the ring finger of the right hand.
Mind and Moon
Moon represents the mind. That is why on full Moon days, the incidents of insanity in mental asylums show a steep rise. Rahu represents corruption, materialism low thinking, and darkness. When Moon and Rahu are together, it always indicates that a snag exists in the smooth functioning of mental processes. This combination signifies imaginary fears, depression and psychosis of one kind or another. Here too the Moon needs to be fortified and Rahu propitiated through Chants, fasting and donations.
If this combination exists in a horoscope, the condition of Mercury and the fourth lord should be investigated thoroughly. If they too are afflicted by Rahu and Saturn, Insanity is likely as in such cases mind and intellect are both corrupted.
Moon and eyesight
Moon represents the left eye, and weakness of Moon results in weak eyesight there. The remedy again is a pearl in a silver ring. Sun represents the right eye and his strength should also be assessed.
The lord of the second house rules over the left eye while that of the twelfth over the right. The weakness and affliction to these lords has a direct bearing on eyesight. If all four factors are strong, the vision is perfect. Weakness of one or more planets gives varying extents of vision impairment.
Moon and childbearing
As mentioned above, Moon rules over ovaries and uterus. A weak Moon therefore causes infertility. That weakness, if severe will also cause loss of sexual desire. In all cases of childlessness, it is extremely important to assess the strength of Moon and the other two significators of children, Jupiter for male and Venus for female children.
Individual cases
For Pisces Lagna, (Ascendant) Moon becomes the lord of the fifth house. If the birth is on a no Moon day (Amavasya), and Mars and/or Ketu influence the fifth house, the chances of survival of children become weak. Self abortion is often a problem in such cases. The remedy as always is to wear a pearl in a ring.
For Cancer Lagna, a weak Moon in the sixth house causes shortened life. Moon should be strengthened and the afflicting planet if any propitiated.
For Aries Ascendant, a weak Moon in the eighth house causes all sorts of problem and should be fortified.
Kemdrum Yog
Kemdrum Yog is created when in a horoscope, there is no planet in the second and twelfth house from Moon. It is a bad yoga and brings about poverty, obstacles and low level existence in life. Usually the yoga gets cancelled by other factors in the chart. However if that does not happen, remedial steps need to be taken.
Birth in the same Nakshatra
A new born who shares Janma Nakshatra with either a parent or another sibling, causes obstacles for self as well as for the person with the same Nakshatra. Usually, this results in impeded progress, reduced happiness and shortened lifespan. Pacification is done through Mantra and Havan.
Remedial measures
Our forefathers have left us a treasure trove of Sanskrit Stotra and Mantra for every occasion and every problem. One of the best is the Shiv Stuti given in Rudra Yamal.
OMKARAM BINDU SAMYUKTAM NITYAM DHAYANTI YOGIN HA. . . . .
This must be immediately followed by 108 chants of OM NAMAH SHIVAYE.
Gauri Stuti is another powerful hymn and helps in all cases of weak Moon.
JAYANTI MANGALA KALI BHADRAKALI KAPALINI
DURGA KSHAMA SHIVA DHATRI SWAHA SWADHA NAMOSTU TE.
Gautam Rishi created Chandra Kavach is a powerful shield against problems created by weak Moon.
Tantra given Mantra for Moon
OM SHRAM SHREEM SHROM SAHA CHANDRA MASE NAMAH

Fasting
Monday is Moon’s day and fasting if needed should be done on this day.
Gemstone
Pearl which is spherical and white is Moon’s representative gemstone.
Color
Moon’s color is white.
Donation
Donate white colored items like milk, rice, pearl, clothes, sweets and silver to the poor
In the next Blog Mars.

I have not been able to give complete Sanskrit text of the Mantra as there is no facility in Blogger to do so. I have however given the name of the Rishi and the Puran from where it is taken. These Mantra and Stotra are available in booklet form from all shops which are clustered near a temple.

Rajiv SethiWebsite http://www.indian-vedicastrology.com

The content of this blog is copyright protected and no part of this article in any shape and form may be used for any purpose without the written permission of the author.

© 2010 copyright http://www.indian-vedicastrology.com. Your website for horoscopes, astrology, daily horoscope, love astrology and everything else.

How to spot problems caused by weak planets and eliminate them

Free Vedic astrology article on astrology, planets, horoscopes and remedies
It is quite likely that in any horoscope one or more planets will be placed in houses where they do not give favorable results. The degree of the adverse results will depend upon the strength of a planet and the houses owned by it. In this article we shall take a look at Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu, and discuss appropriate remedial measures.
Sun
Sun becomes Neech (loses his goodness) in Libra and if this situation is not canceled by other planets, it can cause diverse problems.
Sun is the significator of father, soul, warrior, right eye, digestion and heart. He also represents the ruler and the ruling class. All of these suffer to varying extents by the weakness of Sun. Weak Sun causes weak eyesight in the right eye. The digestion is poor and the emergence of high cholesterol in mid life is high. Weakness of Sun can reduce the happiness from father. It can be due to separation from him either physically or mentally. If the ninth house lord is also afflicted by malefic planets, this can cause severe health problems to father. A person with weak Sun does not show any capacity to fight. He chooses the easy way out of any conflict. The spiritual strength of such a person is low. Weakness of Sun also manifests as losses due to the government. Since Sun represents bones, its weakness causes brittle bones which snap easily.
The situation is compounded if Rahu and Saturn who are enemies of Sun influence him, either singly or together. Placement of Sun in the eighth or twelfth house will increase the unfavorable results even further.
As for all planets the remedial measures for Sun revolve around Mantra, fasting, use of metal connected to Sun, gemstone and donation.
Mantra
There are a number of Stotra and Mantras which reduce the problems connected to Sun. Here is a list. Choose the one which attracts you most.
The most popular Mantra for Sun is Gayatri Mantra. It can be chanted 10, 28 or 108 times everyday.
Surya Gayatri is also a powerful Mantra though it is not as well known as Gayatri.
Tantra Mantra for Sun is ॐ ह्रां ह्रीं ह्रौं सः सूर्याय नमः OM HRAM HREEM HROM SAHASURYAYE NAMAHA.
Aditya Hridayam is a potent salutation to Sun and removes all problems connected to him.
Chanting of Suryashtkam achieves the same results.
Surya Namaskar done every morning propitiates Sun comprehensively.
Sun placed in fourth, seventh or tenth house causes reduced help and support from friends and life partner. It also causes problems connected to profession.In such cases ॐ ह्रीं घृणि सूर्य आदित्य श्रीं ॐ OM HREEM GHRINI SURYA ADITYA SHREEM OM chanted 10 or 28 times every day helps a great deal.
Sun placed in 1,6,8,12 houses causes illness, sorrow and loss of courage. The Mantra to remove these is VAIKARTANO VIVASWASMANSH MARTANDO. . . . . .
Sun in 5, 9 houses causes unhappiness due to children. In such cases chant the following Mantra. Raktambujasanam Shesh Gunaiksindhum. . . .
Mudgal Puran given, Ganesh Dwadash Nam Stotram chanted just before the following Stotra is a powerful remedy.
Yagyavalkya Muni given Surya Kavach (shield)
Maha Mrityunjaye or Trayambak Mantra.
Ganapati Stotra, 108 chants of Om Gum Ganpatye Namaha, Purush Sookt, Surya Sookt and Rudra Sookt chanted in succession remove all problems connected to Sun. Fasting
Sunday is the day of fasting for propitiating Sun. One must keep a fast for the whole day and in the evening have a meal of milk and wheat porridge. Salt is totally prohibited and one is advised to drink only water, fresh fruit juice, tea or coffee.
Metal
Copper is the metal which represents Sun on earth. A copper bangle or ring worn in the ring finger helps a great deal.
Gemstone
Sun’s representative stone is Red Ruby. It should be free from spots, white lines, cloudiness or cobweb like lines. Ruby should be set in Copper or Gold.
Donation
Wheat is the chief representative grain of Sun. Its donation helps in mitigation of Sun related problems.
Color
Color of Sun is orange. If one is not able to buy a Ruby, one can drink water which has been kept for a day in a orange colored bottle. The required shade of orange is easily achieved by wrapping yellow and red cellophane paper around a glass or plastic bottle.

In the next Blog Moon . . . . . . .

Rajiv Sethi

Bouquets and brickbats at rajiv@indian-vedicastrology.com, planetstories@gmail.com
Mobile 9899589211
www.indian-vedicastrology.com

The content of this blog is copyright protected and no part of this article in any shape and form may be used for any purpose without the written permission of the author.

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Meditation – What, Why, How and When Part V

Continuation of the previous Blog. . . . . . . . .

It is important not to lean on the elbows otherwise they begin to ache after a while. The idea is to close the ears without straining the elbows and shoulders.
When this is accomplished keep focusing on the third eye. It is Okay to dispense with the Hong-Sau chant at this point. Breath evenly and start a chant of Aum.
The Aum Chant needs to be done mentally. Scriptures tell us that Aum is a very high frequency sound and can not be reproduced by our speech system. It can only be imitated. What we aim to do during meditation is to tune in to the all pervading Aum sound and merge our consciousness into it.
Hindu philosophy talks about loud chanting, in which there is an audible sound heard by everyone in the vicinity. Most hymns and mantra chanting falls in this category. This followed by whisper chanting in which no sound comes out of the mouth but the lips move to form the words of the chant. The third type of chanting is the mental chant in which the mind focuses on the mantra or a seed sound and becomes one with it. This becoming one with the mantra can happen only, when one reaches the state of super-consciousness. This is that wonderful and beatific state of existence when body is absolutely still and mind is at one with the universe.
Compared to the left ear, the right ear has more energy available to it. It is for this reason that the right ear is more sensitive to sounds than the left one. A dying man has the hearing ability in the right ear available until the very end.
When we shut off the sounds by pressing Tragi against the outer ear and focus the gaze on the third eye, we first hear the sounds of our body. The heartbeat and sound of blood flowing through the body is clearly heard. We need to focus on this sound and slowly it will be replaced by other sounds of the lungs, diaphragm and stomach etc. After a period of time, the duration of which is determined by the intensity of our effort, we can hear the musical sounds emanating from the seven cerebro-spinal centers or chakras.
The five lower Chakras control the elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether. The frequency of these different sounds is distinct and can be clearly heard by a meditating person. The first Chakra called Mooladhar or earth center produces the sound of bumblebee. The second called Swadhishsthan or water center has a sound like a flute. The Manipur or fire center has a sound resembling a harp. The Vishuddh Chakra emanates a sound of rushing waters. The symphony of these sounds is together heard as the roar of Aum.
This admittedly is not easy. One has to first get over the sounds of the physical body and then of the astral body before one can hear the sound of Aum.
Some lucky people will accomplish this process rather early because of the good Karma brought forward from the past lives. Some others will take a little longer.
How to know if one has achieved the goal?
When one hears the sound of Aum, the body vibrates like a huge drum. One hears the roar of an ocean. There is complete bliss and one can hear the cosmic music of the universe.
It is quite possible that one may hear the roar of the ocean or the drum sound right away. If that happens just merge yourself with the vibration and become one with the creator of the universe.
Benefits of contacting Aum
Wondrous things happen when mind becomes super-conscious. All desires can be satisfied and actions performed using mind power alone. One does not need the agency of the human body to perform actions. Seemingly impossible feats can be performed through mind power alone.
Contacting Aum also enables the mind to unwaveringly focus on any subject whether physical, mental or spiritual and immediately know the real truth behind it. This is not done through intellectual process, it just happens. One becomes omniscient.

Concluded.

Rajiv Sethi

Bouquets and brickbats at rajiv@indian-vedicastrology.com, planetstories@gmail.com
Mobile 9899589211
www.indian-vedicastrology.com

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