Om Namaù Çiväya

Rath’s lectures – Upäsanämça

By Visti Larsen – Guide and Guru: Sanjay Rath

This article is in continuation of the series of articles on upasanamsa.
Refer: http://srigaruda.com/articles.htm. These discussions are based on the teachings of Pt. Sanjay Rath on
three separate occasions; i. during March 2004 in Puri – India; ii. during the SJC-Boston conference 2004;
iii. during Atri-SJC classes in February 2005.

Contents
VIMSÄMÇA BHÄVA 2
1.1 Self – first house 2 Charts
1.2 Mukti Märga, dhyana, Samadhi and transformation–
Chart 1: Example of Swami Vivekananda –
the twelfth and eighth house 2
prastara añöakavarga of Saturn 5
1.3 Dhäraëa and Bhagavan Darshan – the tenth house 3
Chart 2: Ramakrishna Paramahamsa 7
1.4 Guru and Upadeça – ninth and third house 3
Chart 3: Srila Prabhupada 8
1.5 Mantra and bhakti yoga – fifth house 3
Chart 4: Acharya Rajneesh (OSHO) 9
1.6 Mantra märaka – sixth and eleventh houses 4
Chart 5: Aurobindo Ghosh 10
1.7 Spiritual family/community – second, fourth and
seventh houses. 4 Chart 6: Sri Achyuta Dasa 11
1.8 Teachings from the tradition (añöakavarga) 5

2 CASE STUDIES 7
 Om Namaù Çiväya

Vimsämça bhäva
When trying to understand a divisional chart, the various bhäva are said to take on
specific characteristics. These will be explained hereunder. As the purpose of spiritual
practices is to be liberated from ones bondage in this world and move towards mokña,
the order of the bhäva will be explained in reverse order.

1.1 Self – first house

The lagna indicates the self which has been born. The seers are unanimous in this
regard, and so also the lagna in the vimsamsa will indicate the self. Since the vimsamsa
deals with spirituality, the native in matters of spirituality is seen from this divisional
chart. This is the first and foremost consideration. If the lagna or its lord is weak in the
vimsamsa, then the native may not be instigated or be interested in spirituality at all.
The natives attitude and approach towards spirituality must all be understood from
here. To ensure the natives success in their upasana or spiritual practices, the lagna
should be made strong.
The houses in trines to the first house, promote the spiritual awareness of the
native. More planets promote more awareness, whilst less decreases the same. This is
usually observed through the native’s sensitivity towards dreams, omens, where as a
result the native may get certain premonitions.

1.2 Mukti Märga, dhyana, Samadhi and transformation– the twelfth and
eighth house
The twelfth house shows the natives meditation and ability to attain Samadhi.
Planets here show the native’s engagement in dhyana and their ability to attain
Samadhi. The karaka Ketu will through his association with the twelfth house, give
enormous potential in this matter.
The bhäva in trines to this viz. the eighth and the fourth houses will support this
path, where the eighth house specifically ensures the natives ability to transform
themselves and burn their néja doça1. This also shows death and can indicate the act of
taking sanyasa or renunciation. The placement of the eighth lord will show whether the
mantras/prayers are able to cause the transformation in this life itself, or whether the
effects will be felt in the next lives.

1
Karma caused by ones own wrong intentions.
 Om Namaù Çiväya

1.3 Dhäraëa and Bhagavan Darshan – the tenth house

The ability to see God comes from the tenth house. Strong yogas with the tenth
house or lord will give the native the vision of God. This house also shows ones ability
to focus or concentrate on the image of the devatä. This act is called dhäraëa.
Just as the tenth house shows seeing, and the same bhäva in the vimsamsa
indicates the sight of God, the other houses of hearing, smelling, etc shows senses which
may develop into supernatural potentials. For instance, the highest Gurus of the Veda
are the four Saëkaräcarya, whom are strictly forbidden to be touched as to maintain
their purity. The gurus are seen from the ninth house, and this is also where the sense of
touch arises from.

1.4 Guru and Upadeça – ninth and third house

The dikñä guru and the spiritual-penance one does as a result of the gurus
instruction is seen from the ninth house. A Graha here promotes ones association with
the Guru, and promotes the pursuit of jïäna Märga. The grahas in the ninth house also
indicate ones outlook on spirituality, e.g. Mercury in the ninth can give a very modern
outlook, whilst Saturn gives a very traditional and orthodox view.
The opposite house, viz. the third house, indicates the Upadeça or advice given
by the guru. It paves the way for new instructions and sadhana, besides the receiving of
new mantra. The third house also shows the nitya karma, and upasana through writing.

1.5 Mantra and bhakti yoga – fifth house

The fifth house shows the personal mantra of the native. The nature of the
graha(s) will indicate the devatä the native worships. If the fifth lord is influenced by the
ninth house/lord, the bhakti will be towards the devatä assigned by the guru.
The act which will increase the bhakti or power of the mantra is seen from the
nature of the fifth lord, e.g. if Mercury is the fifth lord then speaking to the devatä will
increase bhakti, whilst Saturn indicates pain or self-torture that must be experienced by
the native. Similarly Sun can indicate donation of wealth (of any kind) can increase
spirituality.
The houses which end the mantra, and show irregularities in the worship are the
sixth and eleventh houses. These houses are evil for mantra, as they are the märaka
houses to the mantra. Planets in or lording the sixth/eleventh houses will show when
the mantra stops or is disrupted for the native. Here the sixth house indicates the
shadripu which is inhibiting the native from doing the mantra properly, whilst the
eleventh indicates the läbha or gain which the native is seeking from the spiritual
practices. This decreases spirituality and obstructs the mantra from working.
 Om Namaù Çiväya

1.6 Mantra märaka – sixth and eleventh houses

The sixth/eleventh house/lords will show the matter which instigates these
problems. To ensure the destruction of ñadripu, the placement of a sätvika Graha in
lagna can burn the sin and sustain the mantra. The stronger the ability to burn sin, the
greater the teacher.
The placement of the eleventh lord will show which matters the native seeks to
earn some money from or derive some gain from. E.g. if eleventh lord is in the ninth
house, the native may believe that gurus and temples are matters from which they can
derive some gain. Same situation applies to planets placed in the eleventh house. The
native should discern their planetary associations with the eleventh house, and try to
overcome this ‘wrong understanding’ of spirituality.

1.7 Spiritual family/community – second, fourth and seventh houses.

The spiritual family or community is seen from the second house. This is also the
seat of the family deity and will indicate which deity the native belongs to. Worship of
this deity will bring harmony to the family and make the spiritual circle/family stronger
spiritually.
In contrast to the second house, the seventh house shows the growth of the
community in matters of spirituality. It shows the act of practicing kértana2 which has
the purpose of attracting more people into spirituality. Hence, the seventh house will
show the practice of celebrations and singing/dancing to invite the devatä and its
followers.
The place where the act of kértana occurs is the fourth house where the temple of
the devatä sits. Here the temple or spiritual seat/péöha which the native belongs to is
found. The Graha(s) placed here indicate birth close to a holy place, whilst the lord will
indicate the temple which the native belongs to.

2
Monier Williams: n. mentioning , repeating , saying , telling. Refers to the act of making others aware of ones purpose.
 Om Namaù Çiväya

1.8 Teachings from the tradition (añöakavarga)

The most recent conference presented a few principles on añöakavarga which Pt.
Sanjay Rath had learnt from his Uncle and Guru Sri Käçinätha Rath. Here follows the
use of the añöakavarga of Saturn in the vimsamsa varga.
Shadripu or sin causes the obstruction of upasana. The natural significator of sins
is the Graha Saturn. The planets contributing to Saturn would indicate the various ripu
that the native may face, which will obstruct their upasana or worship.
Method of calculating:
1. Draw the vimsamsa chart, and from these placements draw the
astakavarga of Saturn.
2. Analyze the sign of Saturn in the vimsamsa, and see which planets are
contributing to this sign. The nature of the planets will show the nature
of the ripu or weakness. Saturn will not contribute to this place.

Chart 1: Example of Swami Vivekananda – prastara añöakavarga of Saturn

This image is Saturns añöakavarga contribution for the vimsamsa chart of Swami
Vivekananda. First time onlookers will notice the unusual amount of grahas and lagna
repeating in the various bhäva. Here it should be mentioned that the bhäva structure is
irrelevant, and the focus is on the dark-grey area, which indicates the position of Saturn
in the natal vimsamsa. Here we see the contribution of Moon, Mars and Jupiter. They
will indicate his main weaknesses or shad ripu in spiritual matters.
 Om Namaù Çiväya

The Moon indicates that he may lack compassion towards others at times, and
this lack of compassion can inhibit his spiritual progress. The placement of Jupiter
indicates an inability to convince the people of his native land, which instigated Swamiji
to go abroad to get the proper attention. Lastly Mars placed here will show a weakness
in matters of celibacy. Swamiji admitted that he started having sexual urges, and in a
pursuit to control these urges, he sat on a piece of burning coal.
The native should seek to control these weaknesses or at least understand their
presence. A list of weaknesses associated with the planets is given below:

# Graha Weakness

1 Sun – wealth/finances

2 Moon - compassion

3 Mars - celibacy

4 Mercury - greed

5 Jupiter - lack of conviction of ones

own community

6 Venus - ones relationships, ones

spouse

7 Saturn will not contribute to his

own sign

8 Lagna - desire for name, fame, etc.

 Om Namaù Çiväya

2 Case studies
The charts analyzed have been rectified based on the life events displayed by the
native’s. Any comments or corrections can be send to: visti@srigaruda.com
Chart 2: Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

In vimsamsa, the lagna is of the philosophical sign - Aquarius, giving a very high level
of philosophy to the native. Both lagna lords are in the twelfth house with Ketu showing
a person who will be on the path of mokña and renunciation. This also shows a person
who is very apt at attaining the higher states of Samadhi, which is well known from his
life events. Two very significant events are known to have occurred during the daçä-
antara of Saturn-Venus and during Rähu-Moon. Here the mahadasas are both associated
with the twelfth house and lagnesh where the antara daçäs are both placed in the lagna,
thereby activating the upasana and spiritual experiences.
Fifth lord is in the ninth house, showing that he will go to the guru or a temple to
worship. Mercury is the fifth lord; hence an uncle's demise caused this event to happen.
Ninth lord is in turn in Lagna, so he will be very respectful towards Gurus and elders,
and treat them like God. He will do the worship in a temple of the Mother, as ninth lord
is joined the Moon. Moon is in Aquarius making it is a form of Kalika.
Sixth lord is in Lagna and would normally be very bad for mantra, but sixth lord is the
satvic Moon and placed in Lagna hence the shadripus which cause the mantra to stop
are instead getting destroyed. He will try hard to overcome his sins due to this.
 Om Namaù Çiväya

Eleventh lord is in the fourth house, hence some attachment to property or home will be
there which he will seek to attain through his spiritual practices. He sought to establish
an ashram, which eventually was fully established by his disciple Swami Vivekananda.
The PAV of Saturn has Sun and Venus' contribution indicating Money (sun) and wife
(Venus) which were the two areas that he was particularly strict about; as he knew they
would obstruct his sadhana.
Chart 3: Srila Prabhupada

In vimsamsa the lagna is again Aquarius. Lagna lord is in the fifth house with the Moon
indicating the bhakti Märga, and that towards Sri Krishna as this is Mercury’s sign. Sixth
lord is in the fifth house and is Moon, and hence there will be breaks in his practice
during the daçä of Saturn (joined Moon).
Eleventh lord Jupiter is luckily placed in the twelfth house and debilitated; hence he
gave up all his desires when taking Sanyasa.
Vimçottari daçä (started from Moon):
Maha Dasas:
Mars: 1894-05-01 (12:25:37) - 1901-05-02 (7:21:19)
Rah: 1901-05-02 (7:21:19) - 1919-05-02 (22:11:50)
Jup: 1919-05-02 (22:11:50) - 1935-05-03 (0:34:58)
Sat: 1935-05-03 (0:34:58) - 1954-05-02 (21:36:05)
Merc: 1954-05-02 (21:36:05) - 1971-05-03 (5:54:17)
 Om Namaù Çiväya

Ket: 1971-05-03 (5:54:17) - 1978-05-03 (1:18:03)

Ven: 1978-05-03 (1:18:03) - 1998-05-03 (4:03:29)
Sun: 1998-05-03 (4:03:29) - 2004-05-02 (17:03:47)
Moon: 2004-05-02 (17:03:47) - 2014-05-03 (6:38:59)
Fifth lord Mercury is in the second house in mutual aspect with Venus who is in the
eighth house causing Sanyasa Yoga. Both are debilitated indicating the ability to give up
anything easily, without attachment. As Venus is ninth lord, he gave up everything for
his Guru. So during Mercury-Venus daçä he renounced life. During the end of Mercury
he also traveled abroad to the US to establish temples.
In Saturn’s añöakavarga Sun and Jupiter are contributing to the placement of Saturn,
hence money and people of own community will give him problems. This is the reason
he went abroad to initially establish ISKCON.
Chart 4: Acharya Rajneesh (OSHO)

In vimsamsa the lagna lord is in the tenth in parivartana with tenth lord, hence his
Märga in spirituality is purely pointed towards the attainment of a vision of God and
large-scale administrating a large organization.
Eleventh lord is in the ninth which will give a desire towards earning through the
temple/religion. Mercury is the lord and can indicate that students or friends will
instigate this desire.
Gajakesari in the fourth house gives an immense focus on vidyä, books, upanishads, etc
and Jupiter being fifth and eighth lord, shows that this was his real worship or bhakti.
 Om Namaù Çiväya

Four main weaknesses are indicated in Saturn’s prastara añöakavarga. These are Jupiter,
Mars, Mercury and Sun.
Chart 5: Aurobindo Ghosh

In vimsamsa, lagna lord and fifth lord are in a strong parivartana, as Lagna lord in the
fifth house gives the path of bhakti yoga. tenth lord is also in Lagna and is Mars,
showing that the spiritual path will really change, after receiving the darshan of Sri
Krishna, due to Mars-Moon Parivartana.
Seventh lord is in the fifth as well, hence the establishment of the Ashram or public place
for Sri Krishna will happen through his bhakti. Ninth lord has gone to the twelfth house
of meditation and dhyana, showing that his Guru came through this form.
Mercury is in the ninth house, hence giving him a new and modern perspective to
spirituality.
Vimçottari daçä (started from Moon):
Mahä daçäs:
Ket: 1869-09-07 (5:22:04) - 1876-09-07 (0:28:28)
Ven: 1876-09-07 (0:28:28) - 1896-09-07 (3:22:46)
Sun: 1896-09-07 (3:22:46) - 1902-09-08 (16:10:08)
Moon: 1902-09-08 (16:10:08) - 1912-09-08 (5:51:19)
Mars: 1912-09-08 (5:51:19) - 1919-09-09 (0:45:55)
Rah: 1919-09-09 (0:45:55) - 1937-09-08 (15:30:46)
 Om Namaù Çiväya

Jup: 1937-09-08 (15:30:46) - 1953-09-08 (17:54:37)

Sat: 1953-09-08 (17:54:37) - 1972-09-08 (14:50:49)
Merc: 1972-09-08 (14:50:49) - 1989-09-08 (23:19:42)
During the end of Moon daçä, he got the vision of Sri Krishna - in Mars daçä he went to
Pondicherry and established the Ashram. This is a perfect example of Parivartana
working.
Chart 6: Sri Achyuta Dasa

In vimsamsa Gajakesari Yoga is formed on the lagna, giving a lot of focus on the self and
the nature of the self. The lagna lord is in a perfect tapasvé Yoga in the twelfth house
with Saturn and Ketu; hence his Märga was one of perfect mukti Marga, and he will
have many powerful Samadhi experiences. As per the writings of Sri Achyuta dasa he
used to worship Nirankara-Näräyaëa.
Ninth lord is in the fifth house, so the Guru will come to give him the mantra. Mercury
is in parivartana Yoga with the twelfth house combination with Rähu, and hence during
Rähu mahä daçä the Guru will arrive.
Jupiter is the third lord and strong, hence during Rahu-Guru he received the dikña from
Sri Chaitanya Mahäprabhu and his life changed.
Sixth lord is in the Lagna and is Jupiter - joined the Moon, hence a perfect sadhaka who
will burn his sins is born.
OM TAT SAT