birth

Gandant the gap of the zodiac

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Nakshatras/Lunar mansions are the basis of Vedic Jyotish, but we too have become too lazy and use the approximate system of rashi/signs, but if you want to really perfect your predictions, you have to know your Nakshatra. Start with the very basics then build up.

The 27 Nakshatra are owned by the 9 planets in a sequence starting with Ketu and ending with Mercury. So there are 3 sets of such 9 nakshatra as per their planetary owners. At every junction of this set, ‘Gandant’ operates. This is a very basic post to pique your interest.

  • So in the first 3 degrees and 20 seconds of every Ketu owned Nakshatra i.e. Ashwini Magha and Moola
  • and the last 3 degrees and 20 seconds of every Mercury owned Nakshatra i.e. Ashlesha, Jeyshtha and Revati, exists this gap called Gandant.

This arc 3 min 20 sec can be approximated as 1/4th of the Nakshatra or one Pada of the Nakshatra if seen very broadly. The Gandant operates at the boundary of watery and fiery signs. i.e Pisces – Aries, Cancer – Leo and Scorpio – Sagittarius. If the birth moon or even the ascendant degree falls within this Gandant zone, there are a few typically peculiar situations in life. Let’s analyse the how and why.

Moon represents the mother, the mothering, nutrition, nurture, emotions, rest, sleep, sub-conscious, mind, astral self, emotions, comfort, security, protection, liquids, house, vehicles, the traditions, heritage, culture, cold, watery etc.

Ketu is dissociation, apathy, disinterest, separation, amputation, unwanted, not-needed etc. But he is the moksh-karak, inclines to the spiritual and is fiery in nature.

Mercury is the analytical working intelligence, skills, superficialities, quickness, duality, impressionable nature etc. He is an enemy of the Moon.

Ascendant i.e. the rising sign represents your personality, the physical body and the overall environment and status in the society.

Gandant the gap of the zodiac

The Ketu owed Nakshatra Gandant operates in the start of the fiery signs Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

If the birth moon is in the Ketu owned Nakshatra Gandant, this child has been born in the first phases of the Ketu mahadasha, most likely the first sub-period owned by Ketu himself. This is a very uncomfortable position to be in, double dose of ‘Ketu the headless’ and he has been born into it. The closer to the start of the nakshatra, the more severe the effect. Ketu is fiery by nature creates a strange dissociated environment for the comfort-seeking moon. Then these fiery signs make the Moon rather uncomfortable.

  • Having the Ketu dasha operating at birth can lead to disconnection in several ways, maybe isolated in a natal care ward, or abandoned at birth, or put in an orphanage, or facing parental neglect or even death if it is severe.
  • Then follows the entire Ketu Mahadasha of 7 years. The early childhood is marked by neglect and abandonment issues which have the potential to scar the physical body’s growth. Nutrition and care can be denied.
  • This is Moon Gandant so the emotional expectation of the child is neglect and he himself is emotionally apathetic to overtures from his parents and family too. But in this his body and mind’s growth suffers.
  • Such a child will be more ‘spaced out’, can communicate with the astral/sub-conscious realms and can move on the spiritual path quite well if he gets guidance from a responsible Guru.
  • The Ketu Mahadasha is followed by Venus Mahadasha so then this child will suddenly seem to blossom, develop, create relationships etc. (Unless Ketu is conjoint Venus, in such a case the Venus Mahadasha will be a similar continuation of the Ketu experience, 20 more years of it)
  • If Ketu is aspected by benefics and placed well, the effects will be less severe. Also evaluate the strength of the Moon, the house he is placed in. And the power of the ascendant lord for a more complete picture.

If the rising ascendant degree is in the Ketu owned Nakshatra Gandant, it will give pronounced effects on the physical/manifested body more that the astral/emotional self. It can result in Ketu type of medical problems including surgeries, physical handicaps, etc depending on severity.

Gandant the gap of the zodiac

Now when the birth moon is in the Mercury owned Nakshatra Gandant, these will be the last parts of the watery signs Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio.

Mercury considers the Moon as an enemy and this planetary conflict impacts the mind-set of the person throughout his life. Moon is drowned in Pisces, dual natured, uncertain, confused and is great in the astral. Then Cancer is his own sign so double strength Moon energy. And in Scorpio he is debilitated drilling into the watery depths of his mind with catastrophic force. Then the gandant,

  • The person is in the final phase of the Mercury mahadasha, most likely the Saturn sub-period/ chidradasha. The last antardasha phase/chidradasha is a very uncomfortable position, as the mind releases all the unmet expectations and consolidates all the achievements made during the closing Mahadasha and prepares itself for the next planet’s new Mahadasha.
  • This is also the change from one set of 9 Nakshatras to the next set of 9 Nakshatra energies. It is deeply transforming at all levels.
  • It is state of flux on the sub-conscious and emotional levels, and the child has been born in this! The more closer to the junction of the signs the more severe the effect. It can be a very dangerous and traumatic period and under malefic influences can result in severe mental and physical damage.
  • Now after the Mercury Mahadasha starts the Ketu Mahadasha which then is 7 years of Ketu’s apathy, abandonment and indifference related issues as above.
  • Evaluate the positions of Mercury, Ketu, the Moon and the ascendant lord for a detailed picture.

If the rising ascendant sign is in the Mercury owned Nakshatra Gandant, the effects will be seen more on the physical body rather than the mind and the emotions. In such cases, there is a chance of misdiagnosis or incomplete information and Mercury type of medical problems in the early childhood.

Gandant the gap of the zodiac

Some astrologers apply the Gandant concept to all planets, depending on the question being asked. However generally it is used for the birth Moon and the ascendant degree. It is more severe for the birth Moon because it denies the love, protection, nurturing, comfort of a mother. (If the parents deny maternal/paternal love it causes a life time of trauma.)

Ascendant degree gandant creates hidden weaknesses in the body because the birth is at the junction of the watery-fiery signs. These weaknesses may not be visible generally but may suddenly erupt during the transits and dasha periods of the ascendant lord.

If you get a baby’s or young child’s horoscope with these issues, there is a set of pujas to be done to fortify the health, this should be done as early in life as possible. Do analyse the birth chart for longevity in these cases to rule out the possibility of physical death during Mercury’s or Ketu’s Mahadashas. You can also counsel the parents to pay more attention to their child if it is possible. Ensuring that the child gets emotional and physical support, though he may not respond to such loving overtures, will support him deeply in his Ketu period.

Now if you get such charts of adult clients for analysis, it is possible that they may be quite high achieving individuals. But they will have deep seated issues caused by the strange Ketu dominated childhood. These persons will have faced typical issues when they were babies/infants. They might not be consciously aware of the issues but their internal self does. If you feel that the impact is not too severe you can do a simple guided mediation to accelerate the healing process. But if the impact is too severe as seen from the chart, it is best let the client recover himself slowly and gradually through his own spiritual practice. However these charts are quite rare, maybe one out of a 100 will have a significantly Gandant moon or ascendant degree.

Moon gandant however can be quite strangely spiritual, interested in the occult and very aware of the other dimensions, interacting with the other energies quite easily. These persons have been born with a built-in bais against the manifested, right from their birth. They expect detachment from the manifested, and if other planetary placements support, can achieve Moksh.

 

Gandant the gap of the zodiac

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Planets to help you in your Pregnancy

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The planets have a significant influence on our development right from conception. While we are in the mother’s womb, her horoscope had overarching influence on us, then followed by the father’s horoscope. A human pregnancy lasts for about 280 days. We think of it as 9 months, but more correctly its is about 9 Solar months and 10 exact Lunar months. (One Lunar month is for 28days.) The Lunar month is more important here as menstrual cycle too is linked to the moon. So one human pregnancy is 10 Lunar months of 28 days each.

We can use astrology to help a pregnant woman and her baby. We can use our Intentions and the energies of the planets harnessed through their specific mantras. Each planet governs a specific phase of the in-womb development, thus strengthening the planetary influences by reciting their mantras always helps.

Now check out the horoscope of the pregnant woman. Check out the following especially, and the other planets too, as each one of them is involved in creating a new human baby.

  1. 5th house – its sign, the occupant planets, and the owner planet – this is the house which creates the child
  2. 8th house – the reproductive organs of the mother
  3. Sun – natural ruler of the 5th sign of the zodiac will influence the creation of the child wherever he may be placed.
  4. Mars – The natural owner of the 8th sign of the zodiac and the energy and vitality of the reproductive organs is linked to him.
  5. The relative strength of all the planets should be examined, especially the debilitated or combust or retrograde planets and the planets located in the 6th house, 8th house and 12th houses should be checked. Planets under the influences of malefics may also need to be supported during the pregnancy.
  6. The transiting planets over this period of pregnancy should be given due attention too.
  7. One point to highlight. Abortion, Miscarriage and Medical termination of pregnancy can be seen from that month’s ruling planet, if he is adversely placed in the mother’s birth and transit charts and both and her 5th and 8th house shows additional malefic influences.

Planets to help you in your Pregnancy

The first month of 28 days – This period immediately follows intercourse and is ruled by Venus/Shukra. The sperm and ovum combine to produce the embryo. A time of very high activity in the embryo where the cells are set up in blocks destined to be the new body. The cells are still fluid in the sense the programming is not yet fixed. The cells are still totipotent, one initial cell can give rise to several types of cells. During this period if the mother’s chart has a weak birth Venus or even if the current Venus in transit is combust, retrograde or with malefics, the mother needs to support herself and her child by reciting the Venus mantra, “Om draang dreeng draung sah Shukraya namah Om”. At least thrice or 108 times everyday. If the father or others want to support they can by reciting this version “Om draam dreem draum sah Shukraya namah Om”

Second month of 28 days – This period is ruled by Mars/Mangal. By now the cells of the fetal body have become rigid. The totipotency has been replaced by pleuripotency. The cells destined for the liver cannot re-programme themselves to become the muscle now. Thus rigidity has set in. Shape of the body is discernible. If the mother’s Mars is weak or the transit Mars is afflicted or retrograde or combust etc it is necessary to help the fetus with his energies. The mother must recite, “Om kraang kreeng kraung sah Mangalaya Namah om” thrice or 108 times, and the father will recite, “Om kraam kreem kraum sah Mangalaya Namah om” to help his wife and the growing baby.

Third month of 28days is ruled by Jupiter/Guru – this is a period of rapid expansion and the shape of the fetal body becomes more defined. The fetus becomes aware and now onwards can preceptively respond to the mother/father. Here it is necessary to provide him energies of Jupiter, depending on the Jupiter in the mother’s chart and also the position of the transit Jupiter currently if combust etc. The mother should recite, “Om graang greeng graung sah Gurave namah Om”, thrice or 108 times daily, and the others can help her and the baby by reciting, “Om graam greem graum sah Gurave namah Om”.

Fourth month of 28 days is ruled by the Sun/Surya. The baby’s intelligence expands and the divine spark helps it in establishing its soul’s energies during this period. The Vedic Sanskar of Pushban is performed during this period to help establish the energies of the Sun in the fetus. The strength of the body increases, bone and muscle structure begin to form. To help the fetus during this period and enhance the energies of the Sun available to it, the mother should recite, “Om hraang hreeng hroung sah Suryaya namah Om”, either thrice or 108 times daily. And the father and others will recite, “Om hraam hreem hroum sah Suryaya namah Om”. Especially if the mother’s Sun in the chart is badly placed or debilitated or the current transit Sun is placed with malefics, like Rahu/Ketu Saturn etc or there is to be an eclipse during this period.

Fifth month of 28 days is ruled by the Moon/Chandra here the circulatory system of the fetus is in place and his blood and blood cells start functioning, the immune system develops. A sense of emotional self is initiated. The fetus can now understand its emotions and express them too. This is a critical period in the development as the mind and emotions are taking root. The mother’s chart Moon should be examined and if in a bad position/sign/aspected or with malefics or debilitated it needs to be strengthened. If there are any eclipses during this period be very careful. Especially be careful on the amavasya/new moon day falling in this month.

Planets to help you in your Pregnancy

Sixth month of 28 days is now ruled by Saturn. The bones, nerves and supporting frame of the body gets defined, Hair and nails grow out. This period is also crucial because here the capacity for endurance of the child is being laid down. The mother can support the Saturn in building the body of her child by reciting his mantra, “Om praang pring praung sah Sanishcharaya namah Om”. The father should recite “Om praam prim praum sah Sanishcharaya namah Om”. This will be essential in case of badly placed Saturn in the cart of the mother or the current transiting Saturn being combust, retrograde or debilitated etc.

Seventh month of 28 days is ruled by Mercury. here the baby can now think, its nervous system and brain development has now reached a critical stage. It is clearly aware of its own fetal body and the signals which it receives from its mother and the outer environment too. It can feel. It’s intelligence and awareness has reached a significant stage and it can understand. It would be ideal if the mother recites the beej mantra, “Om braang breeng braung sah Budhaya namah Om.” either 3 times or 108 times daily and the father recites “Om braam breem braum sah Budhaya namah Om” for the growth of his unborn child’s wisdom and intelligence. Especially if the mother’s birth Mercury or the current transit Mercury is not well placed this remedy would be critical.

Eight month of 28 days is ruled by Lord of the Mother’s ascendant sign seen from her birth chart. This is a highly critical period for the mother and child, and the Vedic Sanskar of Seemantonayan is performed during this period for protection of the fetus and the mother. The mother needs to keep herself surrounded by positive vibrations and keep herself happy. If by chance the woman prematurely delivers during this period it would be disastrous. This is the period where the complete personality of the fetus is being decided. The mantra to be recited is the beej mantra of the ascendant lord seen from the mother’s birth chart.

Ninth month of 28 days is ruled by the Sun/Surya again. Here the fetus gains an understanding and control of his own body. He is well on his way of being a person. He can feel hunger and thirst. Fetal images of the fetus sucking his thumb etc are from this period onwards. It starts finalising its body structures in preparing for delivery. The mantra here is again the beej mantra of Sun/Surya to be recited by the mother and the father.

Tenth month of 28 days, is again ruled by the Moon, this is the last phase before delivery occurs. This baby’s mind and emotions are now active and it is mentally prepared for the delivery. Child’s mind becomes active and it gets ready for delivery. Recitation of the beej mantra of the Moon will help immensely during this period ensuring the safety of the mother and her child. Natural delivery will occur in this period when there is a link between the mother’s Moon sign, Mars sign and the transiting Moon and Mars positions.

Thus after this hectic activity of 280 days, the baby is born into the world as a separate individual with his its own horoscope charted out with its chosen life-events. As the mother and the father, it is our responsibility to help as much as we can, with Mantras, Intentions and Will-power on the spiritual plane. With our assets, presence and support on the physical plane and with Love and Understanding on the emotional plane. If we can do this for our child, right from its conception, we would have successfully completed our debt to the society by raising a responsible, well-adjusted individual, an asset to the society.

 

Planets to help you in your Pregnancy

 

Jupiter, the owner of Sagittarius and Pisces

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Jupiter/Guru is the agent of conventional wisdom, and also the agent of expansion. I have written posts on this force in your chart in the past. Do read them to gain a better insight into his workings. Now it is time to discuss his two signs, 9th Sagittarius/Dhanu and 12th Pisces/Meen. Jupiter’s signs are the natural 9th and the 12th in the zodiac and thus Jupiter is also the natural owner of the 9th and 12th houses in the chart.

(Just to define this term ‘Natural ruler’. The 9th sign is Sagittarius and its lord is Jupiter, thus in any horoscope, placement of Jupiter and Sagittarius sign in the birth chart will have a subtle influence on the matters of the 9th house. This subtle influence exists irrespective of whatever the actual 9th house sign is.)

Jupiter, the owner of Sagittarius and Pisces

Jupiter Owns Sagittarius the 9th – The psychological motivation and the deep aspects of the energy of Jupiter as Sagittarius as 9th. These will be expressed in different ways depending on the individual charts, signs and position of planets, aspects etc. But the core of this energy remains this.

This Jupiter has realised that philosophy is a treasure which can only be derived from the transformative forces of the 8th house of re-birth. He has explored every route possible, searching for the depths of Wisdom. The secret and often quick movements of the energies of the 8th grant a deeper understanding and experience of the Ultimate Truth. These transformations have been several and terrible but he has endured, questing for the Arcane. Now he Understands!

He also knows that whatever he has gained has to be passed on to his students for the cycle to be complete and the Karma balanced. He refuses to hold back anything. He does not hoard. He does not limit himself to a single family. He belongs to greater Humanity. Thus here the 9th, identifies himself as a magnanimous patron of deep doctrinal beliefs. He teaches these theories as a regular profession and is a priest, a father, a Guru, an energy-worker, a preacher or the wise elder of the house whom everyone respects. Jupiter’s partnerships tend to ruffle him as his preferred partner is the conversational, shallow, detail-oriented Mercury. Mercury too feels a bit uncomfortable in his relationship with a pedantic, permanent teacher, preacher. Thus marriage may not materialise unless harmonising aspects from other planets help out!

As the 9th, his depth of knowledge is such that his extended family, groups, communities afford him respect and he derives much fame and fortune in all strata of society, homelands and foreign. His students also gain from him, knowledge, respect and fortune too. This Jupiter does not bother with the establishment or the class boundaries and all who seek are welcome at his door. He respects the divine will which is his Doctrine, more than the legal mandates of the society and may be separate from the social classes as an ascetic, a sage, a Guru in a Matth. A Patron of Philosophy!

The 9th finds his emotional security and comfort in the depths of the sub-conscious, the abstract, the metaphysical and the other dimensions of thought and experience. But he also understands that his students may not be able to comprehend the abstractness of spirituality. Thus he takes efforts and makes up a framework of religious practices and outward show of spirituality so that his students can gradually but better understand the metaphysical eventually. The intelligent and creative aspect of such a Jupiter is his compassion, all-inclusive-ness and deep understanding of human nature. He attempts to create kindness in his every student. This is his House of Humanity!

This is the expression of Jupiter when he is the Sagittarius.

Jupiter, the owner of Sagittarius and Pisces

Now Jupiter Rules Pisces the 12th and the Last – Here Jupiter is the Last, and he carries the summation of the entire energies of the Zodiac within him. The 12th has no fixed identity on the visible plane. But this Jupiter has become the expansive Waters of the sleep, subconscious, visions, dream-life, astral realms and the unknowns, the vast fathomless Pisces, the 12th. He is very wise but does not feel the need to communicate his wisdom in his wake states.

Here he is not concerned with the Identity of the current life-body, he has transcended the boundaries that tie him to it. He is rather unaware of his physical body, ego, and role in the society. He breaks down the vitality of his physical body to fuel his explorations into the sub-conscious. The energies of the Pisces also function as the resources which will be utilized in creating the life-body identity of the next cycle of birth. He is indifferent to Death as he has realised the creative aspect of this transformation. A Realised Soul!

Pisces is quite lethargic and relaxed in their awake lives, their real actions are hidden from all, including themselves, as they occur in the ‘other states’. He may leave his home-land and settle on foreign shores or he may leave his body every night to spend his time on the spirit shores! Either way he will roam as this gives him emotional satisfaction and security. The 12th secretly transforms his identity periodically using divine creative energies available to him and these actions are quite terrifying and quick, adding always to his secret store of wisdom.The 12th is a bridge, connects the living identity to the departed ancestors; links the waking life to the meditative states; and human nature to the Ultimate Moksh. This bridge is very tenuous, composed of half remembered memories and vague impressions. Jupiter here is curious, child-like, guileless, innocent and helpful. The 12th often gives and gives without restraint as his resources are technically infinite in the sub-conscious realm. This then causes him problems in the conscious states. The aura of his physical body leaks especially at the feet, the feet chakras are weak.

This Jupiter is into experience. He is by nature a teacher but in the 12th, he is a private one-to-one teacher whereas in the 9th he was a public one-to-many teacher. As the 12th, he prefers solitude, privacy, if he leaves the society he will vanish into the caves in the Himalayas. Social identity is rather  immaterial to him. He is the shaman, tantrik, a solitary prisoner or the absent-minded brilliant researcher in some obscure University lab.

He finds marriage a bit difficult as his partner is the rather juvenile chatty Mercury. Mercury too finds living with the vague, dreamy, expansive Jupiter difficult in return. But this is a karmic lesson for both of them. Jupiter here feels one-on-one partnerships to be a source of irritation.

This is the Jupiter when he becomes the 12th Pisces.

 

Jupiter, the owner of Sagittarius and Pisces