FEBRUARY 2012 3THE ASTROLOGICAL eMAGAZINE

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Lead Article

Biochemistry in

Ancient India

THE GREATEST DISCOVERIES and inventions ofthe modern generations, are already lying prefiguredin the unlimited ocean of Aryan Sciences, A credit which

belongs to one nation for what it has achiceved should

not be grudged to be given to it if it makes good its claims-

India has long been before the intellectual world. The

Vedas and Puranas the Yogas and the Sankhyas, the

Grammar and the Logic, the Mantras and the Tantras

are not the work of invention of any laterday priestcraft.

They are perfectly incapable of bringing into existence

that which with all the attempts of the world have not

been able to do Before the Mohome-dans came to India

the Greeks had already admired the wonderful literature

and sciences of India, Three thousand years ago or

more properly five thousand years ago, India showed

signs of intellectual decay while other nations were trying

to make a name in arts and sciences on the ruins of their

Aryan predecessor. After the war described in the

Mahabharata it appears certain that the Aryans in India

lost considerably their intelllectual and physical

supremecy. We can well account for this- Duryo-dhanas

fall meant the fall of a great and consolidated &

prosperous empire. In the ruinous war that was waged

for 18 days, between the Pandus and Kurus almost every

prince and chieftain of any pre-tensions in India must

have taken tome part or other in this famous war and

although Pandus finally overthrew the legitimate Sovereign

Duryodhana they did so at a great sacrifice of relations

and friends. Nations were ruined and there must have

been anarchy for a long time which followed this epoch

until an apology for peace and prosperity pre-vailed The

best men in arts and scien-ces must have perished in the

convolu-tions of this fearful war, and thus the prosperity

and intellectual pride of India attained through vast series

of generations must have received a rude shock from

which, we are of opinion, it never fully recovered. It would

be absurd, therefore, to say that India knew nothing of

physical sciences before the dawn of History,

Mahabharata, appears to be admittedly 5,000 years old,

and if this is taken for grantedas it must be then we

have an older and more valuable book in the shape of

Ramayana com-posed by Valmikibearing the proud

title of Muni-Pungava. He calls it adikavya or the first

epic poem and this must certainly have been immensely

old and highly respected when Vyasa wrote and

composed his Mahabharata, Brahma-tutras and his

immortal Bhagavadgita and the 18 Puranas. Vyasas

acknowledgement of Valmikis superiority, and his non-

disputing the proud title of Audikavi, given to Valmiki is

certainly the best testimony we have, and we can rest

assured that if Valmiki was duly appreciated and

respected by Vyasa, he must have been a most wonderful

personage to exact intellectual homage by its greatest

giant- Valmiki exhibits a profoundity of research into

terrestrial and celestial phenomena that is considered

almost impossible to guage the intellectual reach of this

great Rishi. Valmiki composed a work on the physical

sciences called Bhoota Tatwa Praka-sika. This work

is an exhaustive one and has been condensed into a book

called the Tatwasagard by the learned scientist

Kshiraswami. We have to go into some details before

the expressions used in these sciences could be

understood and the explanations will show the depth of

the intellectual development which the ancient Hindus had

attained at the very start of the Aryan invasion. It is alleged

(This article is reproduced from our old records specially since January 30th happens to be my great grandfather Prof. B. Suryanarain

Raos Birthday - The sacred Ratha Saptami day. In rememberance, we are reproducing his genealogy on page 27 of this issue.)

PROF. B. SURYANARAIN RAO

FEBRUARY 2012 5THE ASTROLOGICAL eMAGAZINE

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BANGALORE NIRANJAN BABU

VASTU AND JYOTISHA are inter-related and interdependent. Vasati Iti Vastu means the place in whichyou dwell is Vastu. When we speak of a dwelling we

invariably speak of the directions and the five elements

of nature. When we speak of directions we speak of

rulerships. Vastu identifies the rulership of the four cardinal

directions north, east, south and west with Soma or Kubera,

Aditya, Yama and Varuna respectively. The four angular

directions northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest

are assigned to Easha, Agni, Gagana and Pavana

respectively while the central sector of an area is assisgned

to mother earth Prithvi. Astrological texts assign the

four cardinal directions north, east, south and west to

Mercury, Sun, Mars and Saturn while the four angular

directions northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest

have lordships of Jupiter, Venus, Rahu and Moon

respectively.

Fourth House

The fourth house relates to property homes, sites and

ancestral, apart from habitational needs of peace,

happiness, mother, domestic life, conveyances, etc. With

this we see that the proper selection of conveyance and

property based on both Vastu and astrological aspects can

Vastu,Property and Fourth House

contribute to peace and happiness (to and from mother

too) and harmony in the home. Fourth house in ones

birth chart should be read with respect to the running dasa

and bhukti and transits thereof. Based on this the relevant

directions/sectors should be made Vastu appropriate to

minimize the effects of planetary imbalances and optimize

the benefic planetary strengths. This apart based on your

ascendant certain planets are benefic and certain malefic.

Application

If your birth ascendant (in your vedic horoscope) is Taurus

(Vrshabha), Saturn is the best benefic since he is lord of

the 9th and 10th houses (trine and quadrant) and becomes

a yogakaraka . This means the importance of west as a

compatible direction is seen for the native. In fact Vastu

texts, referring to West, tell us Paschima

Pushtivardhanam West is increase of prosperity and

welfare. Mercury - north, Mars - south and the Sun

east, are also benefic. By giving West strength in terms

of heavy landscaping in the site and by way of thick walls,

heavy furniture, etc within the home and the room of the

native, negatives indicated by Saturn in ones horoscope

can be minimized considerably. When we consider the

ascendant Cancer (Karkataka Sri Ramas ascendant),

Mars (5th and 10th lord, yogakaraka)

and Jupiter become the benefic

planets. This means the south and

northeast are the important areas

which one should strengthen.

Verbatim Use

Word for word use of book rules is

not right. For instance, if in your

horoscope, the fourth house is

occupied by Mars or Saturn, the

indication is that one will lose his

property. This means in the property

that you own, the two relevant

sectors of South and West,

primarily, and other relevant sectors

are to be made Vastu appropriate

FEBRUARY 2012 7THE ASTROLOGICAL eMAGAZINE

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Yamakanda and Yamakantaka: Which Is Correct?

Are Yamagandakalam and Rahukalam Mahaadoshas or

major afflictions? Opinions are different and diverse. While

some hold that these are to be avoided for electional

purposes others hold that they need not be given much

importance. DR. RAMAN has also opined fully in support

of the contentions that they need not be bothered about,

too much.

By way of clarification some have suggested that

Yamaganda and Yamakantaka are quite two different

factors. They clarify that while Yamaganda is like

Rahukalam and is relevant in electional astrology,

Yamakantaka is an Upagraha like Mandi and is relevant

only to natal horoscopy.

Definite or specific scriptural sanction is found lacking to

clinch the difference between them. However, the popular

view held by scholars like late Mr. V. A. K. Iyer is that

only Yamakantaka, with a faulty pronunciation, came to

be called as Yamaganda, in due course of time. While

there is no dispute to the fact that either Yamakantaka or

Yamaganda, in whatever way it is called, is accepted as

the son of Jupiter, (illicit or otherwise), the Yamakantaka

is held as good as Guru and taken as auspicious. On the

other hand, Yamaganda, by popular convention is held as

inauspicious and unsuitable for auspicious deeds.

Necessarily, therefore, only one of these contentions can

stand the test.

Phaladeepika speaks very clearly about the

auspiciousness of Yamakantaka in chapter 25 slokas 18,

19 and 21. Though later works like Kaalavidhana and

other Muhurtha Granthas give malefic attributes to

Yamaganda and its kala or period, it must be noted that

the earlier works mention only the good effects of

Yamakantaka.

Jyothisha Chinta Nidhi

YAJNAVALKYA

The problem arises because both the Yamakantaka and

Yamaganda periods coincide and there can be no one

period, which can be deemed as harmful as well as

beneficial simultaneously. It is reasonable that the average

reader may want to be kept informed of the correct

position. There is some strength in the argument of late

Mr. V. A. K. Iyer that Yamakantaka is the correct term to

be used to signify the time periods attributed to it to dispel

the mistaken notion by calling it Yamaganda, which name

itself carries with it a specific malefic import. The views

of DR. RAMAN also appear to be in conformity with this.

The argument is that Yamakantaka, being the son of Jupiter

can only be auspicious because Jupiter unquestionably is

a benefic according to astrological scriptures. Gulika,

deemed to be the son of Saturn, is termed as malefic in

horoscopy. However, its kala or period is taken as good

for auspicious deeds. So, it goes without saying that the

nature of the Upagrahas and their role in natal horoscopy

are not in agreement with their benefic or malefic qualities

for their respective kalasor periods of time.

Now, how can an average reader and believer in astrology,

get out of this confusion? Definitely he will have no other

option but to compromise with one of the following two

options. As a first option he can take the Yamakantaka

Kalas as good except on Thursdays and ignore the adverse

Yamaganda Kala results enunciated for the other

weekdays. Or else, he can stick on to the Yamaganda

Kalas, mentioned in the panchangas as bad and reckon

the Yamakantaka Upagraha for natal horoscopy alone, by

following its rising time schedules and ignore them for

Kala calculation.

With everything said and done, these Kalas of Muhurthas

are followed only in some parts of the land and their

importance is only strictly regional. On the other hand,

the Upagraha calculations have wider connotations, in

applied astrology.

(Our senior contributor Yajnavalkya provides you, every month, especially students some succinct notes on

select astrological topics of interest )

peesefLe

FEBRUARY 2012 9THE ASTROLOGICAL eMAGAZINE

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V. R. SOUNDAR RAJAN

Mr. V.R.Soundar Rajan, with a

Diploma in Mechanical Engineering,

has served Anna University,

Chennai for over thirty years. He

has been rendering astrological

counseling for two and half decades.

Mr. Soundar Rajans training has

been under Pandit Asuri

Venkatachary .

Next

Prime Minister

Indiaof

Unhappy is the man or the nation which, when the divine moment arrives, is found sleeping or unprepared

to use it, because the lamp has not been kept trimmed for the welcome and the ears are sealed to the call.

But thrice woe to them who are strong and ready, yet waste the force or misuse the moment; for them is

irreparable loss or a great destruction. Sri Aurobindo

Indias independence is such a period; our nation accepted the moment and welcomed the situation.

In Indias independence chart, Lagna was Taurus and Moon sign is Cancer. Starting Dasa was Saturn

and sub dasa was also Saturn. Saturn Dasa was completely headed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

During Mercury Dasa, the nation was led by Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri and Mrs. Indira Gandhi. During

Ketu Dasa, it was Mr. Rajiv Gandhi. The complete confusion arose during Venus Dasa when Mr. P.V.

Narasimha Rao, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee and (now) Mr. Manmohan Singh were the popular Prime

Ministers. The table indicates Sun Dasa, for the independence chart, began in September 2009.

Mahadasa From To

Saturn 1946-09-10 1965-09-10

Mercury 1965-09-10 1982-09-11

Ketu 1982-09-11 1989-09-10

Venus 1989-09-10 2009-09-11

Sun 2009-09-11 2015-09-11

Moon 2015-09-11 2025-09-11

Mars 2025-09-11 2032-09-11

Rahu 2032-09-11 2050-09-11

Jupiter 2050-09-11 2066-09-11

Navamsa

Mercury

JupiterMoon

Saturn

Venus

Rahu

Sun

Ketu

MarsAscendant

IndiaRasi

Mars

MoonSaturn (R)Sun,VenusMercury

Ketu

Ascendant

Rahu

Jupiter

FEBRUARY 2012 17THE ASTROLOGICAL eMAGAZINE

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ANCIENT INDIAN EPICS and festivals have bothreligious and moral implications. Moral values aredisguised in them and have to be drawn out. Even the

religious practices or rituals like prayer, homa (havan)

and so on are full of moral values, if we understand their

inner meaning. Those moral values are to be imbibed by

humanity to meet the materialistic onslaught. Here an

attempt is made to analyze

Mahasivratri, one of the

important Hindu festivals to

bring out its significance and

inner meaning or its moral

ethical side. Generally, people

follow rituals mechanically,

which does not help to realize

the purpose of festivals. It is

hoped that this short article

would help the reader to

understand the values

underlined this festival, to

assimilate them and practice in

their day to life, thus making

life more wholesome and

derive enduring happiness.

Mahasivaratri or the great

night of Lord Siva, being one

of the important Hindu

festivals, is celebrated with

devotion and religious fervor

to propitiate Lord Siva. Unlike celebration of other

festivals, Mahasivaratri festival is not celebrated with

festivities, revelry and gaiety;, on the other hand, it is

celebrated with solemnity and piety and devotional

fervor.. This is so because, Lord Siva is the very

incarnation of vyragia or renunciation or sacrifice of

MahasivaratriIts Significance

DR. A. SREEKUMAR MENON

physical pleasures. and he is in deep meditation in most of

the times.Lord Siva is the most powerful deity and one

among the trinities,Bhrahma, Vishnu and Mahesvara

among Hindu deities. Siva means being auspicious and

power or energy, the most powerful God of Hindi

pantheon.. This year Mahasivaratri falls on 20th February.

It is believed as the most auspicious time to invoke the

blessings of Lord Shiva by day

long worship.Due to unique

planetary position, a powerful

natural upsurge of energy is

said to occur on that night in

the human system.Worship on

this day is considered

beneficial for ones material

and spiritual wellbeing. Lord

Siva is the destroyer of evil

and protector of good. Those

who utter the name of Siva on

this night is said to be free from

ones past sins and wrong acts

committed and would enjoy

material prosperity and peace.

Celebration starts on the day

of Mahasivaratri. Devotees

wake up early morning and

after ritual bath, wear new

clothes and visit Siva temples

for worship. They observe

strict Vrata or follow acts of discipline. Fasting or going

without food is one such act of self-control or being

oblivious of body consciousness which lead to unholy life.

There are people who do not drink even a drop of water

till next day. Sivalingam or Idol of Siva is worshipped

throughout the night. Abbishekam or ritual bath is most

Dr. Athickat Sreekumar Menon hails from Nallepilly villiage of Palakkad Dist, Kerala . He has excellent academic and professional back

ground with a masters and doctorate in Psychology and Management. Has done post-doctoral work in Australia. Recipient of five post-

graduate and doctoral fellowships including one from the Ford Foundation, U.S.A., he has held senior positions in India and abroad .

Has published five original books on Management of which two have received All India awards. He is also the recipient of N.I.P.M award

and Wills Award of Excellence. Authoring several original articles on Management and Human Values he has delivered many (highly

valued) lectures in India and abroad. He is an original thinker , voracious reader , prolific writer and an eloquent speaker. He is keenly

interested in human welfare and youth development . He continues to have active professional interest dating back to five decades.

FEBRUARY 2012 13THE ASTROLOGICAL eMAGAZINE

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IN THE TODAYS WORLD, inwhichever way you turn, you willfind invariably every other person

claiming to know Jyothisha, as

imperfect as possible. However,

those who have really mastered this

divine science of Jyotisha and more

importantly those who could really

predict are extremely rare.

Astrological prediction is a different

set of ball game. It requires specific

skills that can be acquired only by

divine worship or spiritual Sadhana

The truth is, Astrology is not only an

art as well as science but is also an

expression of spiritual evolution of the

Diviner or Astrologer .Our ancients

knew that very well. Gaining of

knowledge in Horas (Text books)

should go hand in hand with the

spiritual sadhana of the Astrologer,

if his prediction has to come correct

was the sermon preached by the great

Masters of yesteryears.

I would like to introduce our esteemed

readers to two gifted Astrologers,

who cared least for any type of

publicity and whom the world of

astrology should and must know.

Chellapan Aasan

Astrology and Kaniyarcommunity

In the entire world, only in the state

of Kerala, one can find a caste

assigned exclusively for the purpose

of casting and delineation of

horoscopes and for conducting

prasna. They are known as

Kaniyar

Great

DaivagjnasMADHU N. NAIR

In the caste hierarchy, Kaniyars

come in the low rung of the ladder;

nevertheless, even in those dark age

of untouchables, the Kaniyars

were never denied access to the

house of the Royals and the chieftains

due to their profound knowledge in

Jyothisha with that of Sanskrit and

computational skills.

Kaniyars believe that they are the

chosen ones and learnt Jyothisha

directly from the mouth of Lord

Subramanya, the presiding deity of

Jyothisha. Kaniyars are now re-

christened as Ganakas or one well

versed in computation. Anyway, the

new generation has distanced

themselves from Jyothisha activities.

Early Years of the legend

Chellapan was born in the Kaniyar

community. As is usual in his

community, at that time, he learnt

Jyothisha in the traditional way

starting with memorizing the slokas

of Brihat Jataka of Varahamihira,

popularly known as Hora in Kerala

and other texts like Prasnamarga and

of course some rare slokas passed

by one generation to the other

including that of Skanda Hora,

supposed to have written by Lord

Subramanya Himself and regarded

as the first text book in Jyothisha.

Appearance and personality

Chellapan stood apart in any crowd

due to his majestic appearance .He

was more than six feet, clean shaven

and with broad shoulders.

Practice and fame

Chellapan started practicing at the age

of 17 and it is said that he rose to fame

in 1950s, in a prasna connected with

a murder case. From the horary,

Chellapan himself was able to tell one

very clearly for what one approached

him and his objectives.

It so happened that a Nair feudal

landlord after murdering his wife and

burying her in the backyard advertised

in the local dailies that apt reward will

be given to anyone who will provide

any information about his missing wife

and lodged a complaint with the

police. The man came to Chellapan

and did a prasna and the former

reportedly told him that he murdered

his wife and buried her in the backyard

of his house. Later when the defence

counsel examined Chellapan how he

could tell about the fact, Chellapans

reply was that it was through

Jyothisha

The word Aasan is a title of

reverence and is synonym with the

master or teacher. Chellapan used to

be addressed as Chellapan Aasan. It

is said that Aasan did the match

making for more than 15,000 couples,

through, three generations, with

precision and infallibility.

This scribe is one of the very few who

knew the Aasans uncanny ability in

Mushti Prasna You take anything

in your hand; close the fist and ask

him what the fist contains. With his

cowries (sea-shells) that he uses for

all the computations, within seconds,

FEBRUARY 2012 23THE ASTROLOGICAL eMAGAZINE

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MESHA (Aries)

Aswini, Bharani and Krittika 1

The Sun helps you. Mercury graces you Venus also helps

you. Others do not.

This does not offer a good picture. Yet some of the

favourable planets give good results. The problems of

dislocation and skirmishes that perturb you continue.

Your problems in the family also give concern. Some

travels, which you do not like also, take place. They

may be the constraints caused by profession. You

succeed partially in your missions, no doubt. But the

overall picture is unsatisfactory. You are often misled

by people with evil designs and when you face the

problems your associates silently keep away. They

may indulge in character assassination and cause

numerous problems. With all these, you get wealth

and acquire valuable goods. Newly weds enjoy

themselves. In conjugal life there will be some

happiness. Proposals for marriage may click with great

effort at times. On the whole, this is a mediocre period.

Aswini: There will be problems of health, giving concern.

You vanquish your enemies and earn wealth. There will

be some unfavourable currents.

Bharani: Many favourable currents cheer you up.

You win disputes. There will be favours of senior

relatives.

Krittika 1: There will be favourable currents and fruitful

exercise of influence. Your health gives concern. There

will be gains from enemies.

VRISHABA (Taurus)

Krittika 2, 3, 4, Rohini and

Mrigasira 1, 2

The Sun is partially favourable. Mercury, Venus and

Saturn grace you. Others do not.

This offers a fairly good picture. It is true that you exercise

your influence and try to cut the Gordian knot at times.

But in the neck and neck fight with your rivals you are

the loser. But there are many good experiences which

cheer you up. You get recognition in profession and get

the well-deserved elevation and enjoy perquisites. There

is flow of money and the development of personality helps

you. Some of your acts get accolades and you feel that

you are a fortunate father.

Your relatives admire you for your abilities. Your integrity

and truthful words also give you a dignified position. In

matters of disputes, your acts of arbitration solve the

problems to the extent of losing your image. Occasionally

you are misled by people particularly in matters of travel.

There are many things to the proud of. But the plans for

travel do not succeed. With all these things this is a good

period from the point of view of prosperity.

Krittika 2, 3, 4: There will be problems of health. Those

with be chronic illness should be careful. There will be

many favourable currents and success in disputes.

Rohini: There will be gains from investments. There

will be success in lawsuits. Many unfavourable currents

cause dissatisfaction.

Mrigasira 1, 2: There will be problems of health. Injuries

are likely. There will be many favourable currents and

the favour of men of consequence.

This Month for You

FEBRUARY 2012VARAHAMIHIRA

The Sun enters Aquarius on 13th February. Mercury leaves for Aquarius on 10th February and Pisces

on 27th. Venus enters Pisces on 3rd February. Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are respectively in

Leo, Aries, Libra, Scorpio and Taurus.

FEBRUARY 2012 29THE ASTROLOGICAL eMAGAZINE

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PANCHANGA

February 2012

The Astrological eMagazine

First column gives the English dates and next to it the names of the regional months and dates. The ending moments ofTithi, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana are given in the 24 hour clock extending to 30 hours.

Of the Nityayogas, Vishkumbha, Parigha, Vyatipata, Vajra, Vyaghata, Vaidhruthi, Sula, Ganda and Atiganda are generally

spurned for auspicious events and they are marked in red in the Panchanga. Vydhruti pervades from 34640 to 360 andVyatipata from 21320 to 22640 of the sum of the Nirayana longitudes of the Sun and the Moon. Vydhruti and Vyatipatapunyakaala are observed on the day when the yogas prevail for 1 hours or more, when Sraddha is performed by the

astute. These two belong to the shannavati -96- Sraddhas ordained for a householder. Considering the astronomical

implications, the Sayana Vydhruti and Vyatipata days are also indicated in the Panchanga. The auspicious Amritayoga andSiddhayoga and inauspicious Maranayoga and Prabalarishtayoga come under Amirtaadiyoga scheme and are different

from the Nityayogas.

The Karana is the half of the Tithi. They are mainly classified as Sthira - fixed or immovable and Chara or moveable. The

Chara Karanas are seven in number and the Sthira are only four. The fixed ones are inauspicious. They are Sakuni,

Chatushpada, Naga and Kimsatugna. The seven movable Karanas are in their order, Bava, Baalava, Kaulava, Taitila, Gara,Vanija and Vishti (or Bhadra.) Among the movable Karanas Vishti or Bhadra is considered to be of dreadful. The

forbidden Karanas are marked in red for easy identification.

We have most of our religious observances pegged on to the Tithis. Pournamipooja Chandradarisana,

Sankataharachaturthi Vrata, Shastivrata, Ekadasi Vrata and Pradosha are specially mentioned in the Panchanga.Pournamipooja is done in the evenings on days the full Moon is prevalent. Chandradarisana is observed on the evening

on the day when the crescent Moon appears for the first time in the west after the Amavasya. Chaturthi of the Krishnapaksha

or Bahula Chaturthi of every month is known as Sankataharachaturthi. The evenings of Sukla and Krishna Trayodasidays are specially observed as Pradosha Vrata days.

The important dates and festivals for December 2011 are as follows:

1. Wed - Krittikavrata; 3. Fri - Jaya Ekadasi. Bhisma Ekadasi; 4. Sat- Bhisma Dwadasi; 5. Sun - Pradosha;

7. Tue - Maghi Pournima. Taipoosam. Pournamipooja. Vadalur Jyothi Darisana; 10. Fri Sankataharachaturthi;

13. Mon - Sayana Vyatipata. Shastivrata; 14. Tue - Ashtaka (Sakashtaka) Vaikkatashatami (Kerala) Kalashtami;

15. Wed - Ramadasa Navami. Anvashtaka; 16. Thu - Birthday of Swami Dayananda Saraswati (Founder of Arya

Samaj); 17. Fri - Vijaya Ekadasi (for Smarta); 18. Sat - Ekadasi (for Vaishnava and Vidhava) Satilla Ekadasi;

19. Sun - Pradosha. Sivaji Jayanti; 20. Mon - Maha Shivaratri. Sravanavrata; 21. Tue - Sarva Amavasya;

23. Thu - Chandradarisana. Birthday of Sri Ramakrishna; 25. Sat - Sayana Vaidhruthi. Masa Chaturthi;

28. Tue - Shastivrata. Krittikavrata; 29. Wed - Holastaka.

Moon in Mesha enters:

Vrishabha on 1st at 12h.44m; Mithuna on 4th at 00h.07m; Kataka on 6th at 08h.10m; Simha on 8th at

12h.52m; Kanya on 10th at 15h.27m; Thula on 12th at 17h.31m; Vruschika on 14th at 20.13m; Dhanus on

17th at 00h.05m; Makara on 19th at 05h.14m; Kumbha on 21st at 11h.55m; Meena on 23rd at 20h.42m;

Mesha on 26th at 07h.57m; Vrishabha on 28th at 20h.50m.

The Sun in Sravana enters: Dhanishta Nakshatra on 6th at 23h.52m; and Satabhisha nakshatra on

20th at 04h.24m. The Sun enters Kumbha rasi on 13th February at 13h.58m.

FEBRUARY 2012 33THE ASTROLOGICAL eMAGAZINE

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I belong to the Mulakanadu Andhra section of the Brahmin

Community, and descended from the stock of the venerable

Vasishta and claim that Gotra. Twelve generations ago my

ancestors resided in Walaja Nagar, under the patronage of

the Nawabs of Arcot and the neighbouring Polagars and

they had distinguished themselves by performing sacrifices

or Yagnas, by simple and holy lives and by the religious

fervour of their exemplary and virtuous lives. My family

records give me the following names of my ancestors:

1. Sarana Varjhulu ... Had performed Yagnas or

sacrifices.

2. Konda Varjhulu ... - do -

3. Naga Varjhulu ... - do -

4. Mallava Dhanlu ...Religious and holy Brahmins.

5. Malla Bhatlu ... - do -

6. Lingappagam ... Devoted themselves to

public and private business

and service.

7. Venkatappagaru ... - do -

8. Venkatagiriappagaru ... - do -

9. Parayyagaru

10. Venkataramaniahgaru

This was my grandfather who was born in 1747 A.D. and

died in 1828 A.D. having lived 81 years. He married first

Narasamma and had two sons by her. After her death he

married Naranamma when he was nearly 60 years. He

commanded 500 horse and a suitable corps of infantry under

Hyder and Tippu and changing his life into civil, he was an

Amildar and became Peshkar of Kikkeri, Channarayapatna

and Devanhalli, in which last place Hyder first made his

political entry. My grandfather had two daughters and five

sons by bis second wife and my father Gopala Rao was the

third son and the most lucky among the lot. My father was

born on the 17th July 1816 on Friday, the 10th lunar day of

the dark half of the month Ashadha, at about 15 ghatis after

sunrise when the constellation Bharani ruled with the dasa

of Venus, He was only 12 years when his father died and

My Genealogy*PROF. B. SURYANARAIN RAO

had to educate himself, as best as he could. He was of

slender build, energetic, strong and extremely active in work

which I have inherited from him to a large extent. My mother

Rukminiamma was an intelligent, quiet going and very

handsome woman and she died when I was about 10 years

old. My father could read and speak about ten languages and

filled various posts in the Ganjam District and became Manager

or Dewan of Parlakimidi Zamindari. He was an expert in Mantra

Sastras, and highly religious and obliging. He would never flinch

from doing an obligation and brought me up with great care

and love. The following is his horoscope :

Mark the positions of planets

in all the kendras. In addition

to his onerous duties, he

completed the gigantic task

of completing with his own

hand, one crore and twenty-

five lakhs of Rama Namas or

names of Sri Rama and

concluded the religious rites

connected with them four

months before his death. He died in his 76th year on the

morning of 27th August 1891 and was therefore 75 years

and 40 days according to English calculations. My mother

bore six children, four daughters and two sons, and I am

the second. My elder brother Jagannatha Rao entered Mysore

Service retired as an Amildar and died in December 1915.

I was born on the Rathasaptami, Tuesday, in the month of

Magha in Rakshasa at about 14 ghatis after sunrise at

Chicacole and my horoscope is given on the next page.

An incident occurred in my fifth year which has influenced

all my life to a. remarkable extent. My first Akshara-bhyasa,

education, began at Parlakimidi in my fifth year and I slept

that night with my father. I dreamt that I was taken to

Suryaloka to the presence of the Sun, made to sit on his

lap, and given some Payasam (wheat preparation) by his

wife Chayadevi and after a greal deal of love, the Sun putting

his hands on my head, observed that I would live long, be

happy and become a great scholar and author. I awoke and

related my dream to my father, who had already anticipated* Ack;Brihat Jataka published by Ms/: Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi

Mercury

Rasi

Rahu

Venus

Sun

Moon

Ascendant

JupiterKetu

MarsSaturn