Scorpio : Parjanya / Prajapati
Parjanya is
the deity
of rain and coincidentally it is also the name of the Aditya associated with
Scorpio, the water sign. ‘Rasa’ / water is also very important in procreative
urge. In the Lalithopakhyanam, there is a detailed description of loss of
virility among the devas and the other species, along with depletion of water /
rasa in their bodies.
Prajapati is the deity presiding over procreation, and
protector of life. While Prajapati Brahma is viewed as the
ultimate creator, he is assisted in the task of creation by 10 mythical
progenitors / Prajapatis… namely, Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Vasishtha, Prachetas or Daksha, Bhrigu, Nārada. He is said to have made the heavens and the earth, and the
creatures that live within the universe. In early forms, Prajapati was portrayed
as a lingam figure, sitting in full lotus position, preparing to give
birth to all creation.
Coupled with the fact that Scorpio rules
over ‘Genitals’, it is more than apparent that Parjanya and Prajapati both
relate to the act of procreation. Here, I would like to raise the topic of
Ekastaka, which is referred to by Jaimini and many other scholars.
Ekastaka
The word refers to the 8th
day (Ashtami) after the full moon in the month of Magha, when the Prajapati is
said to visit his wife, for the purpose of procreation. If we choose to count,
Magha pournami occurs when Moon is in magha nakshatra…then on the 8th
tithi afterwards, Moon should be in jyesta nakshatra in Scorpio, thus
establishing Scorpio as the arena for regeneration. Infact, according to the
scriptures, death is also another birth. According to the Satapata Brahmana
trIr ha vai puruSho jAyate, etan nu eva mAtus
ca adhi pitus ca agre jAyate; atha yaM yajnaH upanamati sa yad yajate, tad
dvitIyaM jAyate; atha yatra mriyate yatrainam agnAv abhyAdadhAti sa yat tatas
sambhavati, tat trHtIyaM jAyate. XI. 2. 1. 1.
(a man has three births, the first which
he gets from his parents, the second through sacrificial ceremonies
(upanayanam) and the third which he obtains after death and cremation).
The word “ekashtaka’, referring to the 8th
day after the full Moon, occurring in the 8th sign seems synonymous
with Ashta Prakrti or Nature with its eight divisions. In Scorpio it refers to
action at the end of our life, when it is necessary to renounce it, because the
month of Magha is the penultimate month before the end of the Hindu year. We
had earlier mentioned the Ashta-prakriti in connection with Taurus, where it is
connected to the beginning of year (Vaisakha – Jyestha months) and beginning of
life.
Sagittarius : Indra / Akshara
Indra is
the legendary king of gods and
Lord of Heaven. He is also depicted as the storm God ruling thunder and
lightning. Sakra (the mighty one), as he is often referred to, is depicted as
one of the Ādityas and
the defeater of Vṛtrá. He is the
god of war and the adhi devata of Brihaspati. Gradually, Indra became the prototype
for all Kings and is considered to carry the potency of Vishnu, as Sri Krishna
says ( of the demigods I am Indra, the king of heaven…Bhagavad Gita
10.22). Also, every king is said to necessarily carry the amsa of Vishnu, the
husband / Lord of the Mother Earth (Bhudevi)
thus giving rise to the decree..na vishnuh prithvipathiH
Thus
from this rulership of Indra and linkage to the gland called ‘Bharga’ implying
protection and grace of God for the virtuous, one can understand why
Sagittarius is a kshatriya sign and signifies battle grounds! Since Dhanus is
also the ‘Dharma bhava’ the what immediately comes to the mind is the ancient
saying “dharmo rakshati rakshitaH’ (if you protect dharma, it would protect
you).
South
– west (Niruti) is also a directon, which contains the abode of Pitris, thus
Sagittarius / 9th house is also the house of Father or pitris, yet
again signifying a great protection.
Coming to
the second Deity, the Vedas proclaimed “AUM’ as Akshara (Imperishable).
It is the very personification of the Infinite Para Brahman and the beginning
of the palpable creation. The world ‘Akshara’ is used as a synonym for
AUM in many scriptures including Bhagvad Gita, as is the term ‘udgita’. This
single letter has such enormous power and significance, it’s repetition alone
can ensure that we can ‘cross over’(Tara) to the side of emancipation.
Aksharas (letters) are bijas, or seeds of
existence, which emanated from the Damaruka (Drum) of Shiva / Nataraja,
signifying creation. The word Akshara epitomizes all the 50 alphabets of
Sanskrit starting from "a" and ending with "ksha",
symbolizing AUM as the
embodiment of all sounds in the universe
and as the essence of all mantras.
According to Aitareya Brahmana 5.32
…om iti vai svargo lokaH om ity asau yo’sau tapati
(AUM is the world of heaven, AUM is yonder sun, that giver of heat).
Further, Right at the commencement of Mandukya Upanishad, it is stated…
Ōmityetadakṣharamidam
sarvam, tasyopavyākhyanam,
bhūtam bhavatbhaviṣhyaditi sarvamomkāra eva;
yaccānyat trikālātītam tadapyomkāra eva.
bhūtam bhavatbhaviṣhyaditi sarvamomkāra eva;
yaccānyat trikālātītam tadapyomkāra eva.
(The
Imperishable is OM, and it is 'all and every thing'. Everything else, whatever
be of the three state of time…past, present or future, is like an exposition,
explanation or commentary on the meaning of this great Truth - the Imperishable
Om. Everything is Om, indeed.)
Bhagavad Gita 3.15 confirms this as follows:karma brahmodbhavam viddhi
brahmakshara-samudbhavam
(Regulated activities are prescribed in the Vedas, and the Vedas are directly manifested from Akshara, the sacred syllable Om)
Lord Krishna eloquently describes Akshara / AUM thus in the Gita:
om ity ekaksharam brahma (B G 8.13)
(The single syllable Om is the supreme God)
yad aksharam veda-vido vadanti (B.G 8.11)
(Those knowers of the Vedas recite AUM (akshara).)
pranavaH sarva vedeshu (B.G. 7.8)
(Within all the Vedas, I am the AUM.)
giram asmy ekam aksaram (B.G. 10.25)
(of vibrations I am the transcendental AUM)
The Brahma sutras also say
(Sutras 1.3.10-12)
(Akshara is
Brahman)
Aksharamambarantadhriteh I.3.10 (73)
(The
Imperishable (is Brahman) on account of (its) supporting everything (from
earth) up to Akasa (ether).
Sound and Sagittarius
The four levels of sound- Para, Pashyanti,
Madhyama and Vaikhari - correspond to four states of consciousness. The Sign
Sagittarius is symbolized by Centaur. The following table explains how the
symbol of Sagittarius succinctly sums up the eternal craving of the human soul
to go back to its roots / Moola, which is Dharma / Akshara.
|
AUM |
Type of sound |
Physical state |
Conscious state |
Sagittarius |
Deity |
|
A |
Vaikhari |
Sthoola /Gross |
Jagriti / Wakeful state |
4 legs and animal portion |
Brahma |
|
U |
Madhyama |
Sookshma/ Subtle |
Svapna / Dream state |
Human torso |
Vishnu |
|
M |
Pashyanti |
Karana / Causal |
Sushupti / Dreamless sleep state |
Arrow |
Shiva |
|
Anahata Nada / am –matra/ beeja |
Para |
Para / Transcendental |
Turiya / Transcendental |
The unseen goal / ideal / akasha at which the arrow is aimed |
Vasudeva / Narayana / Ishvara |
Dhanus is also
said to represent the two eyes and eye brows, with the nose forming the holding
ridge of the bow and the third eye / upward vision is said to be the arrow,
aimed at the Brahma randhra, which is Akshara, and this can be easily achieved
by Indra, i.e., one who has conquered his indriyas.
Capricorn : Gandharva / Rudra
Gandharvas are demigods and
the husbands of the Apsaras. They
have superb musical skills and are divine musicians and guardians of the Soma
(elixir). Gandharvas also act as messengers between the gods and humans.
Capricorn sign indicates southern direction and is
an abode of the gods like Yama, Gandharvas, Mriga, Pusha, Vitath and Kshat.
Thus it explains why Gandharvas are the deities of this sign as well as why
Mriga (deer) is a symbol of Capricorn.
Rudra is the
God of anger, who punishes the errant with his terrible wrath. Among the
Trinity. He is associated with Shiva, who rules Death / Destruction. Rudra from
the root ‘rud’ does not only mean ‘to cry, howl’ but also ‘to be red, ruddy’
from ‘raudra’ (anger). When we contemplate about these terms in connection with
south direction and Capricorn, it becomes apparent why this sign stands for the
burial ground (Rudra bhoomi) and why all the Rudra grahas (Sun, Mars and Ketu)
gain digbala here!!
Capricorn represents the highest point
in the zodiac and at noon, the Sun is at the zenith in the 10th
house, at his fiercest. He is then the Rudra hurting all with his brilliant
shafts (rays), which run about the heaven and earth (RV 7.46) This is also the
no shadow-time, indicating that Rudra burns all sins and shadows. Thus Sun is
revered as
brahmaswaroopamudhaye
madhyaahnetu
maheshwaram
saayam
dhyaaye sadaa vishnum
trimoorthyancha
divakaram
Rudra punishes people through causing
diseases, and when people recover from illnesses, it is again the mercy of
Rudra, thus Rudrabhishekam is performed as a panacea for curing all ills and
for strengthening longevity, because
Siva is Vaidyanatha and the best doctor for all earthly troubles
(bhishaje bhavarogiNaam).
As the highest point in the zodiac and
also endowed with three dimensional vision (nakshatras owned by Sun, Moon and
Mars), this sign also activates the highest intellect…indicating the exaltation
sign of the natural Lagna Lord (the carrier of intellect).
Aquarius : Pusha / Brahma
pavanah pavatam asmi (B.G. 10.31)
(Of purifiers
I am the wind)
Aquarius, the mulatrikona of
Saturn (Vayu tattva), is ruled by Pusha,
meaning the best purifier. Pusha is a solar deity and
is also the protector of travelers, men, livestock, flocks
and herds. Pusha is responsible for marriages,
journeys, meetings, feeding of cattle and conducting souls to
the other world. He bestows riches upon his devotees, as the word Pusha is
derived from ‘pushyati’
(Sanskrit), which means "cause to thrive", very
similar to Pushyami nakshatra. Such a beneficial deity associated with
Aquarius, the natural 11th house, perhaps endows it with the significations
of gains and friends. Perhaps because Pusha has something to do with ‘pashus’ /
animals / unbridled passions, the siddhi that accrues here is that of
suppression, and not unstrangely, Rahu is the co-lord of this sign.
Another deity associated with
this sign is Brahma, the God of creation. From him and his sons / manasa
putras, the Prajapatis, descended the entire material creation. Thus, He is often
referred to as the progenitor or the great grandsire of all human beings.
Another siddhi that one obtains here is that of wisdom, indicated by the letter
‘da’, which brings to mind the celebrated advice ‘da’ given by Brahma to the
celectials(daama-control), humans(daana-charity) and the demons
(daya-mercy).
Brahma is also the Adhi devata of Saturn
and since he can not be worshipped due to the curse of Sage Bhrigu, the letter
‘Ka’, denotes the creative urge / cause of rebirth. It is interesting to note
that all the factors that form the root of rebirth, like Kama, Karma and Kaala,
all begin with ‘Ka’ shabda / syllable. Perhaps it is this association of Brahma
that designates Saturn as the oldest and the 11H as that of the elder brother,
because in this ‘Vasudeva Kutumbam’, Brahma certainly is the eldest son of
Vishnu.
Jupiter, who normally, is not very happy
in Vayu tattva signs, is very comfortable in Aquarius and his position here is
said to be like that of exaltation. Perhaps the link to “Pusha / Pushyanti’ and
Brahma who symbolizes knowledge is the reason behind this.
Pisces : Mitra / Vishnu
Mitra (literal meaning is ‘friend’) is an important vedic deity and one of the Adityas. The Sun is worshipped in the morning as Mitra. Mitra is a benevolent god, the patron divinity of honesty, friendship, contracts and meetings. The siddhi one obtains here, is that of devotion, which is very necessary both in friendships and spirituality.
Moksha & Vishnu
They also indicate that moksha / mukti is the domain of Vishnu and all the worship and tapasya one performs, directed no matter towards whichever deities, ultimately reaches only Narayana…
aakaashaat patitam toyam yataa gatchathi saagaram
sarva deva namaskaaraH keshavam pratigatchati
(as raindrops falling from the sky all
ultmately meet their end in the ocean, prayer to all gods ultimately goes to
Lord Keshava).
In
the last issue we have discussed how Vishnu is intimately related to the number
‘4’, mukti thus is also connected with this number. There are 4 types of moksha
/ mukti as enumerated by the scriptures and these are:
Table
1.6 Pancha Tattva and Mukti
|
Pancha tattva
|
Type of Mukti
|
Quality of
mukti
|
|
Akasha
|
Jivan mukti
|
Soul state even when alive
|
|
Vayu
|
Salokya mukti
|
the soul reaches the world of that devata. Stays, serves, adorea
and worshipa the devata in its own world.
|
|
Prithvi
|
Samipya / Sannidhya mukti
|
the soul, after acquiring the capabilities of faith and
surrender, lives in the proximity of its personal god
|
|
Agni
|
Sarupya mukti
|
The soul acquires the form of the personal god and enjoys the same,
intense bliss as its god.
|
|
Jala
|
Sayujya mukti
|
The soul becomes absorbed in the devata, never to be separated.
|
Brahma
Muhurta
The sign Pisces also contains the celebrated
Brahma muhurta. In the last issue we discussed how Pisces is the actual beginning
of creation. Likewise, though the actual day begins from sun rise, the
spiritual day begins one and half hours (1 hr 36 mins to be exact) before
sunrise and is Brahma muhurta and also Arunodaya. It is said to be the
time when sattva manifests most in us. However, it is not surprising,
because the 12th house and Vishnu, who signifies sattva guna, rule this period.
Moreover, the gland related to this sign is “Niranjana’ activating the
qualities of service and selflessness. The significations of 12th house
like charity and hospitals seem to stem from this attribute.
There is no time more ideal and potent than this
marvelous period for spiritual activities and reflection on the truths laid
down in Vedanta. It is the time when mind is calm, uncluttered and free from
the Rajasic distractions, which manifest after 6 a.m / sun rise,
when the day’s frenetic activities begin
It is after sundown that tamas begins to manifest resulting in
indulgence and inactivity.
Pragyaanam
Brahma
Knowledge is Brahma and it alone has the
power of burning away “Maaya” and blazing a path to the Brahma. Such knowledge
is available only to the “Sraddhaavan” or the committed souls, as promised by
Sri Krishna n Bhagavad gita
(sraddhaavaan labhate gyaanam). He further says,
tadvidhi praNipAtEna pari-prashnEna
sEvayA
upadEshyanti tE gnyAnam
gnyAninas-tattva-darshinah:
(B.G 4.34)
(Seek out the wise men of knowledge.
They will surely show you the Way if only they see you to be truly humble,
devoted and unrelentingly questful).
Those souls, who are consumed by an
overwhelming hunger for true knowledge, also know that THIS knowledge of Aatma
lies beyond books. Only a person who’d known “Aatma”, who’d experienced the
bliss of oneness with the “Brahma” can authentically pass on this exalted
gyaana. It is said in Upanishads that the ultimate knowledge, which is beyond
the ken of normal human comprehension, is revealed or passed on only to those
whom “Aatma” or the Supreme Spirit chooses and not the other way round.
Swadhyaaya
Swaadhyaaya as the very word connotes,
is “ Self-study”, with two meanings 1) studying on one’s own and 2) study of
Self. When the discussion is about holy scriptures or Paraa vidya both the
meanings merge, because study of holy scriptures is study of Self / Brahman,
Who dwells within all. Swadhyaya is also the 4th among the ‘niyamas’
of Raja yoga.
Regular practice of ‘Swaadhyaya’
is no less than tapasya (tapo hi svaadhyaayaH). Infact, Swaadhyaya and
Pari-prasna are two essential parts of gaining Brahma Vidya. Infact, Pari
prasna is as old as Prapancha…When the Creation began, so did the questions !!
To answer those questions, the first step is to seek clarifications from Guru,
the second part is to introspect on Guru upadesa and to consolidate one’s
insight through Swaadhyaya.
It is said in Puranas and Brahma
Samhita, that at the beginning of Creation, Brahma was alone and seated upon a
lotus flower, surrounded by waters, totally bewildered about his origin,
identity and function. Then, as an answer to His unsaid prayers, he heard a
mystical direction ‘Tapah
Tapah’, issuing out of primordial darkness. Taking inspiration from that
upadesa, He performed intense tapasya, and out of that tremendous introspection
found answers to all His questions.
Brahma
is an epitome of knowledge, because Saraswati, the patron deity of Vidya is His
shakti / power. Their Manasa putra, Sage Narada, is said to be a
complete embodiment of Vedas and is thus the only Deva-Rishi.
Naarada it self means one who
bestows knowledge about the Absolute (naaram dadaati iti naarada, where naara =
knowledge; da = giver; naarada= the rain cloud) and Narayana is the Absolute,
Who is ‘known’ through Knowledge. Being such a great Rishi, Narada constantly ponders over that Absolute to get
the real essence of that Absolute, where else can we get better examples of
Swaadhyaaya than Brahma and Narada, who are counted among twelve most
knowledgeable people. The
other ten being Siva, Subramanya, Kapila, Manu, Prahlada, Janaka , Bali, Suka,
Bhishma and Yama .
Table 1.7 Signs & Knowledge
|
S No
|
Sign
|
Knowledge
|
|
1
|
Aries
|
Brahma
|
|
2
|
Taurus
|
Kapila
|
|
3
|
Gemini
|
Shiva
|
|
4
|
Cancer
|
Subrahmanya
|
|
5
|
Leo
|
Manu
|
|
6
|
Virgo
|
Prahlada
|
|
7
|
Libra
|
Bali
|
|
8
|
Scorpio
|
Suka
|
|
9
|
Sagittarius
|
Janaka
|
|
10
|
Capricorn
|
Yama
|
|
11
|
Aquarius
|
Bhishma
|
|
12
|
Pisces
|
Narada
|
Pari-Prasna
Pari prasna forms an integral part of
exalted quest for Truth and was always insisted upon by the Master, who
delighted in the agile participation of the pupil. The beauty and grandeur of the vedic thought
and religion is that it does not encourage mindless parroting. Through out the
Upanishads and puranas, we come across various glimpses of an ancient tradition
of deep unceasing questioning about Truth, which is called pari-prasna. The
guru-sisya samvada / pari-prasna form the crux of many celebrated spiritual
texts, that contain hard questions and sublime thoughts, as those between
Krishna-Arjuna, Yama – Nachiketa and Yaksha and Dharma Raja.
Perhaps no other word personifies this
eternal and incessant search of human spirit for answers to those eternal baffling riddles of the
universe as ‘kim’ does…
kim
tad brahma? kim adhyAtmam? kim karma pUrUshOtama?
Adibhutham cha kim? prOktam~adhidaivam
kim achyutha?
(Bhagavad-gita 8.1)
"What is Brahman? What is soul?
What is this world of ceaseless
strife, O PurushOttama? What perishes?
And what lives eternally, O
Achyutha?"
In the above 4 urgent and profound "kim-s" is
encapsulated, centuries of honest, painstaking and perennial questioning of the
human race, which is mandatory to know / reach God, because the Chandogya
Upanishad says that one is obliged to seek and pursue Brahman before It can be
known.
"so'nnvEshtavvyah sa
vijnyAsitavyah..." (chAndOgya upanishad - 8-7-1)
(One must set out in search of Brahman
before He can be found and
known).
The inevitable ‘kim’ forms the leitmotif
of quintessential questioning in Kathopanishad and Vishnu Sahasranamam as well.
The famous Svetasvatara Upanishad commences with the dramatic line -- "kim
kAraNam brahmA ...?": Adi Sankara indefatigably echoes "samsArE
kim sAram?"
So do we…so often …kim kAraNam
janmA?
References:
- Web resources
- SriPedia - Oppiliappan - Archives - Jun 2003
- http://gayatri.awgp.org/GayatriSadhana/ActivationofInternalPowerCentresbyGayatriSadhana
- :www.gayatrimata.org/gayatri_mantra.htm
- Introduction to the Principal Upanishads : Dr S. Radhakrishnan
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