Fundamental Principles Working in the Birth Chart of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

Fundamental Yogas of Astrology

The three most fundamental yogas of classical Indian natal astrology are those concerning the neighbors and direct influences upon three points: the Ascendant, Sun and Moon. When a classical astrologer picks up a horoscope, the first thing he or she should do is evaluate these three fundamental groups of yogas. In so doing, he or she figures out the baseline and foundation on which to construct the rest of the interpretation of finer details in the horoscope.

Let’s see this principle in action, in the horoscope of the great astrologer and sadhu, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.

His birth data is February 6, 1874 at 15:30 in Puri, Orissa, India. We calculate the chart in classical Indian style, which uses whole-signs for houses, and the tropical zodiac (as defined in classical Sanskrit texts and as most likely was employed by Bhaktisiddhanta himself), using European glyphs out of personal preference…

Confining ourselves to the three key points defined above, What do we observe here?

Ascendant:

• Nothing joins it or flanks it on either side.
• It’s dispositor is the Moon, which means anything affecting the Moon is doubly significant (since the Moon is already significant on its own).

Moon:

• Jupiter joins it. That sets a scope for reading the horoscope towards Jupiter-themes: honesty, learning, philosophy, religion, morality, law.
  • The junction is in the 4^th house. Jupiter in the 4^th indicates heartfelt morality and inner happiness.
  • Jupiter in Libra. This shows a modern, forward-thinking, non-conformist approach to morality, religion, philosophy, etc.
• Ketu in the 2^nd. Classically speaking, we’re not supposed to care about Ketu or Rahu in these positions, but it is hard to ignore the spiritual, mystical indication of Ketu in the 2^nd from the Moon while Jupiter joins the Moon.
• Many Trines. Many planets are trine to the Moon, in its 5^th house (showing intelligence) and the 8^th house from the ascendant (showing mysticism and research). Venus is particularly aligned with the Moon’s degree, causing it’s 5^th house aspect to be at its peak. Venus is the Moon’s own lord and the lord of the Moon’s 8^th – showing great inner emotional contentment and peace, as well as a great capacity for research into unknown / mystical topics.

Sun:

Mars in the 2^nd position from the Sun: Ambitious, independent, and sharp.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was extremely ambitious: he “took on the world” and formed a whole new religious/spiritual movement with a global focus, preaching even to the British during the British occupation, and sending missionaries to Great Brittan.

He was extremely independent: he divorced himself from the popular Hindu understandings of culture and religion, accepted a guru in a non-conventional way, ascribed his lineage in a non-traditional way, gave himself sanyassa, and never married, and was completely aloof from public opinion.

He was extremely sharp – his words were like arrows, and his intellect was like a razor.

This places Mars in the 9^th house. Passion for religion (a Mars in the 9^th house indication) becomes more fundamental and sure in the chart because Mars in the 9^th house is also in the 2^nd position from the Sun.

Mars in Pisces adds to the above that the character of the passion for religion is philosophical and learned.

Saturn, Venus and Mercury join the Sun, in Aquarius. This shows the ability to use language poetically when expressing esoteric logics.

Summary

In this chart we find a very big emphasis has to be placed on the Moon. Why? (a) It is the Moon, which always deserves emphases (b) It disposits the Ascendant, which has no other significant influences (except an aspect from Mars in the 9^th house), and (c) because it (joined Jupiter) is alone amongst the Kendras (4 central houses: 1, 4, 7, and 10).

We also have to very significantly emphasize our interpretation of Mars, a single planet that affects all three important points.

• It aspects the ascendant (with 47 out of 60 virupas)
• It perfectly aspects the Moon (60/60)
• It is in the 2^nd position from the Sun.

So we are inclined to use the symbol of “the Moon joined Jupiter in 4^th house Libra” as the baseline for the chart, the foundation upon which the interpretation of this horoscope should be constructed. And the first condition we blend this with should be “Mars in the 9th house Pisces.”

Doing that without knowing who Bhaktisiddhanta was, we would quite easily come to these accurate interpretations

• Religion and philosophy was the main focus of his life (viz Jupiter),
• He was detached from external sources of happiness (viz Jupiter),
• He was passionate, ambitious, and independent (viz Mars),
• And he was quite learned (viz Moon/Jupiter/Sun).

This serves as example of how to build the basic understanding of the person by looking for the most important conditions affecting the Sun, Moon and Ascendant. Only after this basic understanding is formed can one surely proceed into finer details.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur on 29 March 1918 two days after taking sannyasa. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

– Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com