Retrogression of Planets

Retrogression of Planets
Planets from the point of view of the earth will tend to be slowing down and become apparently stationary when the relative position between earth and the concerned planet and the sun are in one line. Then they appear to move backward in the sky this motion is known as retrograde motion of the planets. This apparent retrograde movement is due to the motion of the earth’s orbit. The Sun and the Moon never retrograde. Rahu Ketu always move in retrograde motion. Retrograde planets in the natal chart or ephemeris are marked by R or Rx. Mars R or Jupiter Rx both indicates that these planets were retrograde at the time of the chart. Saturn retrogrades for 140 days and remains stationary 5 day before and after.

Jupiter retrogrades 120 days is stationary 5 days before and after.
Mars retrogrades for 80 days and is stationary 3 to 4 days before and after.
Venus is retrograde for 42 days and is stationary approximately two days before and after.

Mercury retrogrades for 24 days and is stationary one day before and after.
Each planet has it’s own percentage of time when it must retrograde. They are Saturn 36.39%, Jupiter 30.24%, Mercury 19.76%, Mars 9.33% and Venus 7.22%.

The Sanskrit name for retrograde planets is known as Vakriya. Vakriya means twisted, crooked, winding, roundabout, indirect, evasive and ambiguous. Vakra Asana in Yoga twists the body from back to front. Usually this Asana are done to strengthen the spine and make them flexible. The potential of the retrograde planets is to be flexible, to twist thing around, to make them unclear, to teach its message in an indirect way, to view life in a different way to others. By doing it correctly they can strengthen themselves and become adaptable, original, innovative and different. On the negative side they can be twisted thinkers, crooked and dishonest. The individual can deal with the quality of their retrograde planets in a positive manner or can use their potential in a totally negative way. The essence there is, to do good or bad in the planet but it is up to the individual to use this in the right way.

Rahu Ketu are forever moving backwards and this has lead to them being described negatively in the classics. But they also have the potential to view everything in a complete different manner and therefore can be quite innovative and make individual reach heights that they never thought they would conquer, by going against the normal. Rahu Ketu are usually comfortable with their nature as they only travel the retrograde way. Sun and Moon always go direct so it is only the five other planets, which are used to going direct usually that can turn retrograde.

The five planets Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn express the practical reality of our life. They are the planets that form the Pancha Mahapurusha Yoga that bestows greatness on earth. They rule the Pancha Mahabhutas, the five primary elements that influence our physical body but also sheath the eternal consciousness. These elements control our organs of desires, emotions and senses. They can keep us grounded in gross reality but if we start to use their energy spiritually they become infused with a different power.

To be Continued.

General Principles of Vaastu

Bowing to the heavy demand of matters related to Vaastu this is an attempt to bring forward some general points of Vaastu which could be of some benefit to many:

The following are some of the Vastu-logically correct principles of house making and design. Please note that like most of the ancient sciences, some of the knowledge that is contained in these principles may not be of any relevance at present times. However, the very basic of Vastu principles will always continue to be beneficial to the mankind in one form or the other.
The basic principles are:

* If you are in the process of buying a plot or site, please remember that plots/sites in South West, South & West directions are more advantageous than others.
* According to Vaastu, the most beneficial entrances in the house are those in North East, East or North direction.
* Living Room or the dining room is best looked in East, North & Northeast directions.
* The bedroom according to Vaastu should be in southwest/south or west direction.
* The children’s bedroom should ideally be in Northwest. It could be in Southeast & North as well but never in southwest or south.
* If you are fortunate enough in present times to have the luxury of having a separate room for the guests, make the guestroom in Northwest or northeast direction.
* The kitchen of the house is ideally located in Southeast followed by Northwest & East.
* Bathrooms & Toilets should be in Northwest of the house or in West or South direction.
* While purchasing a plot or a site, it is advisable to go in for a rectangular or square shape. As far as possible, the site should be slopping towards North & East or Northeast.
* While making the building or the house, it is advisable to have equal open space on all four sides. The levels of open spaces should be higher in South & West side and lower in North & East side. Outlets of rainwater should be in Northeast or North zones.
* The living room of the central zone (Brahmasthan) should be free from any kind of obstructions. By obstructions, we mean any kind of beam, pillar, fixture, toilet, staircase or even a wall or lift.
* The direction in which you sleep is also very important. One should never sleep with head in the north. Sleeping with head towards south ensures long life. While on a journey, it is advisable to sleep with head towards west.
* In your study room, have your seat so as to face east or north. Do not have a toilet in the study room, though you can have a bathroom.
* Do not use a dark color in the study room. Use yellow or white or pink. Put the book shelf in east or north.
* If you construct more than a floor, prepare the first floor on Southwest. The height of first floor shall not exceed that of ground floor. Do not build a storeroom on first floor.
* It is said that a storeroom in the Northwest corner leads to abundant supply of essential commodities. Keep a holy picture on one eastern wall. Light colours should not be used on the storeroom. Use dark colours or blue or green. Never sleep in the storeroom at night. Also refrain from taking out grains from the storeroom in night.
* The bathroom/bathrooms can be either inside or outside the house. In case it is inside, it should be located on the eastern or northern side. (If attached to a bedroom, then to eastern or northern side of the bedroom). When located outside, then it should be in Northeast corner, but away from the main building. The lavatories are forbidden in Northeast, Center, Southwest and West directions of the house.
* Vaastu Shastra also guides us about what type of plants and trees should be planted around a dwelling unit so as to enjoy their positive properties the most.
* Vaastu does not prescribe having a Mango, Banana or a Jamun tree very near your house. However Peepal at some distance from the house in West direction is considered auspicious as is Imli in South West of the house.
* It is also auspicious to have an Anaar, Ashoka, Chandan, Champa, Chameli,Gulaab , Nariyal & Keshar tree around a house.
* On the size & shape of the door , Vaastu advises that width of the door should be half of the height of the door. Square doors as also automatic doors should be avoided.
* The Paintings / Statues in the house are also important. One should not have pictures depicting war scenes (even if they belong to the Epic Mahabharata or Ramayan battles) in rooms other than the office. Similarly scenes depicting negativities of life like sorrow, struggle, violence (including that of wild beasts), tragedy and of calamities.

According to the Vishwakarma, the celestial architect, Lord Brahma was the first recepient of this knowledge from Lord Shiva as a part of the Vedas, just like He received the knowledge of Jyotish. Vaastu Shastra as is practised presently is based on the 125 verses contained in Brihat Samhita of Varahamihira. This very point indicates the vital link between Jyotish and Vaastu. Unfortunately, what the standard Vaastu experts are applying today is the use of temple architecture in homes and offices. There is a need to use the Astakavarga and other charts of Vedic Astrology along with Vaastu principles for every individual home, provided this is to be designed for a particular person to occupy for a long period. If instead flats and apartments are being designed for the general public, then the standard principles can be used.

Comparison of Hindu & English Time units

Here I would try to bring out the comparison between Hindu and English Time Units especially for those interested in manual calculations and for those who are keen about Hindu Time units.

Hindu Time Units : They are
Ghati, Vighati, Lipta, Vilipta, Para and Tatpara.

1 Ghati = 60 Vighatis
1 Vighati = 60 Liptas
1 Lipta = 60 Viliptas
1 Vilipta = 60 Paras
1 Para = 60 Tatparas

Further 24 Hours = 60 Ghatis
Thus 1 Hour = 2.5 Ghatis
or 60 Minutes = 2.5 Ghatis
Now 1 Ghati = 60 Vighatis
Therefore 1 Hour = 60 Minutes= 2.5 Ghatis = 2.5X60Vighatis = 150 Vighatis
or 1 Minute = 2.5 Vighatis
Similarly 1 Second = 2.5 Liptas
Beneath "Second" there is no English Time Unit so we generally go for milli second,
micro-second etc. Further
1 Second = 2.5 Liptas = 150 Viliptas = 9,000 Paras = 5,40,000 Tatparas
Imagine the division of a Second by 5,40,000 !! That was told by None other than the Great Sage Parashara !! It is believed to be known even before him, but it was scripted by him along with the Jyotish Shaastra.
A day has 24 Hours so it will have 24X60X60 = 86,400 Seconds

On the other hand A day has 24 Hours = 60 Ghatis
Therefore A day has 60X60X60X60X60X60 = 46,65,60,00,000 Tatparas
Just Imagine here the conception of the minuteness of Time by Maha-Rishis and their Intellect.
A day in the calculation of Hindu astronomers contains the above number of Tatparas. This can possibly be conceived by 'The highest Human intellect' and that too many Thousands of years ago!

Shadbala and its Conceptual details Part IV

4. CHESTA BALA
Planets which are relatively slow (among them retrograde planets) get a high Chesta Bala value. Planets which are relatively fast get a low chesta bala value. The reasoning is, the slow moving planets are able to focus their energy more because they stay at one place. The maximum amount of Shashtiamsas to be earned is 60, with respect to the relative speed and the average speed of a planet. Therefore it is possible that a relatively fast moving Saturn gets a low Chesta Bala, while a relatively slow moving Mercury gets a high Chesta Bala. The Sun and Moon do not get Chesta Bala values. They move in a fairly regular pattern and do not go retrograde ever.
5. NAISARGIKA BALA
Each planet gets a certain amount of Shashtiamsas according to the luminosity it has. Because the Sun is the brightest planet it is given 60 Shashtiamsas. Saturn is the faintest and gets 8.57 Shashtiamsas. This means that the amount of Shashtiamsas a planet receives according to Naisargika Bala is same in every chart.
6. DRIK BALA
Drik Bala is called aspect strength. If a planet is aspected by benefics the planet receives a positive Shashtiamsa value. If a planet is aspected by malefics than it gets negativeDrik Bala points. The calculation of the Drik Bala value is a bit complicated because we also take partial aspects in account i.e. 25% , 50% and 75% aspects. We know that the Sun, Moon, Venus and Mercury aspect the planet in the seventh sign from it. Now forthis purpose we say that these planet aspect the zodiacal degree in opposition (180 degrees from it). The point which is 120 degrees from these planets get a partial aspect of 50%, the point which is 90 degrees from the planet gets a 75% aspect, the point which is 60 degrees gets a 25% aspect and the point which is 30 or 150 degrees from the planet gets no aspect at all. Most Astrologers/Jyotishis only work with full (100%) aspects, but for thispurpose we work with partial aspects (that means aspects which are weaker than full aspects). This makes the calculation of Drik Bala quite cumbersome. What is important to know is that if a certain planet has a negative Drig Bala value than it is mainly under the influence of malefics and if it has a positive Drig Bala value it is under the influence of benefics. Therefore the Drig Bala value is very interesting. By looking at the Shadbala printout we can immediately see if a planet is mainly under the influence of benefics or malefics and how strong that influence is.
7. TOTAL SHADBALA
Finally, the Shashtiamsas are added up. We get the Shadbala value in Shashtiamsas. Next they are divided by 60. Then we get the Shadbala values in Rupas. It is important to realize that the influence of certain Shadbala factors is much greater than others. Simply because the amount of Shashtiamsas to be gained by certain Shadbala factors is much greater than by others. For example, the amount of Shashtiamsas which can be gained by the Sthana Bala is a lot more than, that can be gained by Dig Bala. Therefore the six Shadbala factors are not equally important. According to the Shadbala rules every planet needs a certain amount of Rupas to be strong. According to these rules Mercury needs 7 Rupas, Jupiter needs 6 ½ Rupas, The Moon needs 6 Rupas, Venus needs 5 ½ Rupas, Saturn, the Sun and Mars need 5 Rupas. These values are seen as the minimum requirement for a certain planet to be strong. There has been no explanation of this anywhere. The total Shad Bala in Rupas is divided by this minimum requirement and then we get the Shad Bala ratio. The most interesting about this Shad Bala ratio is to see whether a planet has more or less than the minimum requirement and how much that is. In general most astrologers attach more value to the total Shad Bala.