Dr. Shanker Adawal
Part
1
Of all the beneficial
Yogas, Gajakesari finds a prominent place in ancient astrological chronicles.
It has been highly extolled by our Rishis and Munis. Brihat Samhita, Brihat Jataka, Phaladeepika, Uttarakalamrita- all
are praise for this “extraordinary Yoga”. And there is no gainsaying the fact
that Gajakesari has certainly served as a backbone in many a successful nativity.
Varaha Mihira, the celebrated author of Brihat
Samhita, says that this Yoga is caused by Jupiter and the Moon being
disposed in mutual Kendras as a result of which one gets “respect from
relations, constructs buildings and has lasting fame”. The founding father of
astrology, Parasara, goes a step further and gives a somewhat different but
elaborate definition of the Yoga. According to him “Jupiter in a Kendra from
the ascendant or the Moon aspected by or associated with benefics, not combust
and not occupying a debilitated or inimical place, gives rise to Gajakesari
Yoga”. Result: “…endowed with magnetic appearance and high character, wealthy,
intellectual and favourite or rulers…” Mark Parasara’s words “Jupiter in a
Kendra from the ascendant or the Moon aspected by the or associated with
benefics, not combust and not inimical…” Gajakesari is supposed to give long
life and bestow all that is good of the material and the spiritual world.
Certainly this Yoga must
prove beneficial as Jupiter represents all that is good in and beyond this
world. So is the Moon, another natural benefic. “Jupiter, the divine planet, is
the symbol of a realm of human experiences which take individualized conscience
away from the problems of one’s own self Jupiter is the planet for extending
one’s personality to great causes and organizations, natural, cultural, social
and religious…” (Jyotish Mahachayan).
Dr. B. V. Raman, the doyen
of modern astrology, is of the opinion that Gajekesari, caused from Chandra
Lagna (natal Moon), is more powerful than the one obtaining from Janma Lagna
(ascendant), In one of his masterly articles, he has said: “…Though according
to Parasara, Gajakesari could be caused by Jupiter occupying a Kendra either
from the ascendant or the Moon, but we are of the view that more lasting
effects…” True. Chandra Lagna has added importance in Hindu Astrology, and this
is one of the reasons why transit of planets Kesari is counted from the Moon
alone and never from Lagna. It seems the advice of the founding father has
fallen on deaf ears and Varaha Mihira’s utterances are given credence.
There is another Yoga,
caused again, by two natural benefics Jupiter and the Moon and this goes under
the name of Sakata Yoga. This Yoga has been condemned by the ancient as well as
modern savants. The Moon 6th/8th (Shadashtaka) or 1st/12th
(Dwi-Dwadash Dosha) with mighty Jupiter is said to produce this Yoga. As the
name implies, Sakata means “immense troubles and tortures, failures, set-backs,
ups and downs, misery, misfortune, anxiety, etc.”
There is yet another
combination which too has been criticized bitterly. It is the association of
the Moon with malefics such as Saturn, the Dragons, the Sun or Mars. Under this
combination, it is said, only cheats and cut-throats are produced.
However, the facts are
otherwise. It has been observed that sometimes nativities with Gajakesari Yoga
have lagged behind and persons with Sakata Yoga or the Moon under malefic
pressure have marched headlong in life. Finger through Notable Horoscopes of Dr. B. V. Raman and you will be surprised to
see numerous celebrities with Sakata Yoga. True, the condition of planets
responsible for causing Sakata Yoga may be somewhat different in Navamsa and
other charts. But, Sakata Yoga is glaring in the birth chart.
A Delhi-based astrology of
international fame told me the other day (of course, in a lighter vein) that he
has found Gajakesari Yoga generally in the birth charts of rickshaw pullers. I
have found it in the horoscopes of taxi drivers also.
The sevants claim that
Gajakesari Yoga in birth chart is capable of lifting a person from scratch to
sky. “It sweep away all that is bad in a horoscope. How is it then that it has
failed miserably in many cases as explained below. On the other hand, it is
emphasized that one with Sakata Yoga if born in a high family will have to take
out his days miserably. Interestingly, there are several eminent personalities
with glaring Sakata Yoga in birth chart who have enjoyed from cradle to the
grave the very best of both the words. Gajakesari has failed miserably whereas
Sakata has ruled the roost.
It is not my intention to
underestimate the hard labour and intuition of our revered masters. But,
certainly something is wrong somewhere. May be we are not able to understand
the language of our ancestors or, we interpret them unintelligently.
Perhaps what the
visionaries of yore meant was that Yogas of birth chart should be confirmed
with the Yogas in shadvargas especially with Navamsa – the king of all charts.
But, generally we fail to do it.
Now, let us analyse
unbiasedly the horoscope of Pt. Nehru (14-11-1889). Was his contribution less
than anyone? Wasn’t he popular and successful? There is glaring Sakata
Yoga in his birth chart. He had complete
Kalasarpa Yoga also. Then how is it that he rose to such great eminence? If we
are to believe Sakata Yoga then he should not have gone so high. Besides, these
unfavourable Yogas, Nehru’s nativity had Malva Yoga too with retrograde Saturn
(equivalent to exaltation) and Mars powerfully posited in the 3rd
house.
Take the case of
indomitable Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (31-10-1875). This too containsSakata
Yoga. In addition, two great luminaries, the Sun and the Moon are in
debilitation. Jupiter though in Kendra (angle) from the ascendant is associated
with malefics – a debilitated planet, and the whole combination in the 7th
house is under the 10th aspect of Saturn. Kalasarpa Yoga is also
present. With such a so-called bad combination, the Sardar rose so high.
Perhaps, no one has beaten his record, so far as his courage and principles are
concerned. Mark Sasa, Ruchaka and Malva Yogas with Budha-Aditya and Raja Yoga.
Dr. Shanker Adawal
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