ALL GLORY TO SHRI GURU AND SHRI GAURANGA

The big news in the world of astrology is that Shanideva—the wise old taskmaster Saturn—will be leaving Libra and entering Scorpio on 2 November 2014. This is important because it is Saturn, who more than any other planet, governs broad social trends and who influences on a grand scale the changing way of life of the world around us. Even as Saturn will leave Libra and enters Scorpio, there are at least thirty wars around the world. The big question is whether the small fires will combine to create a grand inferno that engulfs most of the world. We hope that the research in this edition of The Astrological Newsletter will provide some answers.

The exact time that Shani leaves Libra according to Universal Time (UT or Greenwich Mean Time) is 10:38:17. That moment is calculated according to the ayanamsha correction of Shri Nirmal Chandra Lahiri for that date or 24º 02' 54.39". To calculate the time Saturn enters Scorpio for where you are, simply adjust the time to your particular time zone. Subtract if you live west of the UK, and add if you live towards the east. For example, people in New York will deduct five hours for their -5 W (EST) time zone making the event at 5:38 am on 2 November. India which is +5.5 E (IST) hours ahead of Greenwich, will observe Shani’s movement at 3:38 PM. With the exception of a few months when Saturn will enter Sagittarius and return via retrograde motion into Scorpio, Saturn will remain in Scorpio until 26 January 2017.

How does this affect you? The change will have many ramifications both for the world and for the individuals, as we will shed some light in this issue. Thanks for reading.

Always wishing you the very best in Krishna consciousness, I beg to remain,

Yours at the lotus feet of the servants of Shrila Prabhupada,

Patita Pavana dasa Adhikary, Ed

Saturn in Scorpio

2 November 2014- 26 January 2017

Patita Pavana dasa

Shanideva spends 2½ years per sign and rounds the twelve signs of the zodiac only once in thirty years. This is a feat that the swift Moon god Chandra accomplishes in a little over twenty-eight days. This means that it takes Saturn, the slowest of the nava-grahas, some thirty years (12 X 2½=30) to pass through the twelve signs from the beginning of Aries to the last degree of Pisces. Therefore Saturn’s stay in a particular rashi is something that is generally seen three times at most in the life of someone who is fortunate enough to reach old age.

Who is Shanideva?

Before we begin our brief dissection of history let us explore Shanideva’s function in the cosmic scheme of things. Saturn is the son of the Sun god, Surya Narayana, who is the lord of time. As described in Shrimad-Bhagavatam (5.21.13), the route of Lord Surya Narayana is fixed and determines the twelve months and six seasons, and thereby measures time. Surya in his great chariot never deviates an inch from his prescribed route. Unlike the other planets of the nava-graha pantheon, with the exception of Chandra the demigod of the Moon, the Sun never moves in reverse motion. Similarly time never goes backwards but always moves from the present into the future. In the same way, karmic reactions, ruled by Saturn, progressively close in on the living entity in due course of time.

Shanideva is the son of the Sun god, and this way his slow movements gradually present before individuals the results of their activities in the form of karma-phala. And he delivers to entire nations the results of the collective sins of the citizens. Shani as the son of the demigod whose job it is to measure time punishes the sinful in this life for their past misdeeds. Shani’s brother, Yamaraja, punishes the sinful in their next life. For the devotee, Lord Surya’s daughter Yamuna renders the servant of the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna free from sins so that he can leave the karmic bonds of samsara and prepare to go back to home back to Godhead.

Generally, the average classes offer worship to Shanideva out of fear, which ironically is the fear of the reaction to their own past misdeeds. Such worship cannot have any sort of eternal benefit and is compared to a prisoner trying to bribe the warden to get a better cell. Intelligence would mean to use your efforts to get out of the jail rather than being satisfied with a more comfortable bed. The devotee sees Shani as a servant of the Supreme Lord.

There is even a temple of Shanideva in Kokilavana, the forest of the kokila or cuckoo bird, on the Nandagram-Barsana Road. It is said that here Lord Krishna Himself gave darshan to Shanideva who was serving penance here just to see the Lord. Therefore when devotees visit the temple of Shanideva, it is not a form of mere demigod worship. Rather it is their remembrance of the divine lilas of the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna.

It is said in the Shani Mahatmyam that Lord Krishna underwent sade sati as per His desire to appear on earth almost as an ordinary man and move incognito amongst the people who were not sufficiently fortunate to recognize Him as the Supreme Controller. Krishna’s later sade sati period occurred during the episode of the Shyamataka jewel during which Krishna was falsely accused of stealing the jewel as read in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.56.16-17). For the definitive verdict on worshiping the demigods including Shani, refer to Shrimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.26) http://vedabase.com/en/sb/1/2/26 .

Relationship of Saturn with Mars

Some astrologers have expressed concern regarding the future prospects of Shani’s transit though Vrischika (Saturn in Scorpio). After all, Saturn is the greatest malefic (or papi-graha) in astrology. And Scorpio is also a malefic sign whose symbol is a vrischika, a stinging, poisonous insect. Add to this the fact that Saturn and Mars are natural enemies, and any trepidations regarding Saturn’s 2½ years in Scorpio may certainly appear well-founded.

Furthermore as far as Saturn’s relationship with Mars lord of Scorpio is concerned, it is noteworthy that Saturn becomes debilitated or nicha in Mars’ other sign of Aries. That is because Saturn is a planet of calculated deliberations. Long-range plans (ruled by the wise old Saturn) come to naught when such schemes are rushed. Mars is youthful and energetic while Saturn is old, contemplative and slow. Therefore, Mars’ dynamic, movable fire sign of the Ram (Aries) makes Saturn uncomfortable. Saturn cannot be pushed. But here Saturn’s reaction to Mars’ negative and feminine sign of Scorpio, which is also a fixed sign, is quite a different story as we shall see.

As far as the planet of war is concerned, Mars becomes exalted in Saturn’s movable earth sign of Capricorn. Strategies of confrontation require careful planning and deliberate execution. Rushing into a battle is a formula for wholesale defeat. Hence the fiery and aggressive qualities of Mars are best suited for careful and long-range plans, and that is why Mars becomes exalted in Capricorn.

Through such contemplations, the astrologer considers the personal nature and individual qualities of the planets, the signs, the owners of the signs and the planets’ reciprocal relationships to one another before making a snap judgment. Astrology is, after all, a personal science, because it was created for our guidance by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna. Personality in astrology means that not only are the unique qualities of each individual living entity considered, but the personal natures of the great demi-gods who are instrumental in the control of material nature must be understood as well.

Neither does an actual study of history bear out fears that Saturn in Mars’ fixed watery sign of Scorpio leads to global chaos. In fact, Shani was in Vrischika rashi at the time of the advent of Lord Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (CC Adi 13.89) Indeed, knowledge of the past is comforting during such uneasy times as these as this essay will show through historical precedent. There are understandably fearful days ahead. These are times when war-mongering nations threaten to create any excuse to launch aggressive mobilizations against nations of people who have been conveniently set up for the purpose of becoming the fall guys for self-deputized “super-powers.” Such opportunistic aggression only serves to cause untold misery to innocent civilians—persons not much different from you or me, yet who have the misfortune of living on the wrong side of a whimsically-drawn artificial border.

America’s Coming Sade Sati Cycle

Peering through the eyeglass of history, it appears that rather than an actual world war breaking out in the next three years while Saturn transits Scorpio, the diabolical “powers that be” will prefer to maintain the status quo by keeping the world hovering on the edge of global conflict. As we know, the politicians get themselves elected through hollow promises. They create fear and promise to magically quell all fears as soon as they enter office. They are not qualified kshatriyas whose unyielding words echo the timeless intelligence of sanatana dharma. They are mostly shudras who have been trained as lawyers with a great talent for bending reality to their fancy. Politics today is filled with bags of hot wind who (at least for the time being while Saturn is in Scorpio) find more value in spreading the fear of global carnage than in actually lighting the fuse of any impending holocaust. After all, Scorpio is the 8^th sign, the natural place of hidden motives and intentions. The 8^th house is astrology’s ayushabhava or mrityustan, the horoscope’s key to birth and death. And so in the coming three years it is certain that these politicians will continue to avoid letting out their real motives, let alone divulge who they really work for.

At the US capital of Washington, DC, 3º 26' Libra rises at the exact moment of Saturn, the great planet of fate’s, entrance in to Scorpio at 5:39 AM on 2 Nov. Exalted Jupiter controls the moment by sitting in the 10^th house of work. From the 10^th or karmastan Brihaspati blesses the event by aspecting Saturn’s new home in Scorpio. Mars, the planet of war, is also blessed by exalted Jupiter because Mars sits in Jupiter’s sign of Sagittarius. Debilitated Sun rises at the instant of transition, but his debility is technically cancelled through Sun’s conjunction with Venus the house lord of Libra. Even though Venus is combust (leading to the potential for rash behavior) the day will ultimately be saved by Jupiter’s benign control over the muhurta. Rahu and Mercury are secluded in the enigmatic 12^th house in Virgo, speaking of secret political machinations that come to naught. The Moon is in Aquarius which, like Scorpio, is another fixed sign of the zodiac. This lends further stability to the chart and instills further confidence that there will be no world war during Saturn’s transit over Scorpio.

Incidentally, the natal sign of America is Makara rashi or Moon in Capricorn. This is another bright omen for the States over the next three years since Saturn is Scorpio will be in the auspicious 11^th house position. However, once Saturn leaves Scorpio on 26 January 2017, and enters into Sagittarius, the inauspicious 12^th house from America’s Moon sign of Makara sade sati will begins for the United States.* This transit coming in three years is sure to bring on decades—if not centuries—of collective karmic retributions for the home of the once free and once brave in its wake.

*For more on sade sati, see the next article.

Political Architects of Brinkmanship

A look over into the past four epochs of Saturn’s transits through Scorpio reveals some surprisingly stable periods of history. Therefore, through the process of historical deduction, it is our conviction that Saturn in Scorpio foretells a time of planned brinkmanship rather than out-and-out global conflict. The online dictionary may describe the coming years best:

brinkmanship (noun): 1. the technique or practice of maneuvering a dangerous situation to the limits of tolerance or safety in order to secure the greatest advantage, especially by creating diplomatic crises.

Although Saturn remains in a sign for around 2½ years, the dates below indicate three year durations. That is because we have not shown the intermittent dates when Saturn sometimes leaves a sign due to retrograding back into the previous sign, or leaving his position for the next sign, only to rejoin the previous sign in retrogression.

1899 and the Rise of American Dominance

Examining a snapshot of past transits of Saturn in Scorpio from a historical viewpoint yields many clues to the three years to come. As we shall see, for the past century or more, American politics have been dominated by the Republican Party whenever Saturn was transiting Scorpio.

Saturn moved through Scorpio from 18 November 1896 until 17 November 1899. Shortly after Saturn left Libra, Republican William McKinley—who served from 4 March 1897 until his assassination on 14 September 1901—led the defeat of the earlier Democratic administration. McKinley, who stood for national stability, would lead the nation to victory in the three months of the Spanish–American War. The Republican had been elected based upon his promise to keep the nation on the gold standard. To strengthen American interests and to promote American industry, he had raised protective tariffs. It was during his administration while Saturn was in Scorpio that—after the brief Spanish-American War—America would emerge as a contender on the world stage.

As soon as Saturn left Scorpio to move through Sagittarius (17 November 1899 till 6 November 1902), the leading nation of the day, England, was rocked by wars in its distant colonies and territories. In South Africa, the English fought the Boer War (Dutch Farmers’ War) which lasted throughout 1900-01 and well into 1902. In distant China the English had to contend with the Boxer Rebellion. Meanwhile during Dhanusha Shani the Americans became embroiled in the Philippine–American War.

This trend of relative stability during a relatively conservative regime of Saturn in Scorpio followed by chaos during Saturn in Sagittarius would continue throughout the 20^th Century. As we will see from the cycles of Saturn in Scorpio over the hundred years to follow McKinley’s term in office, this transit marks a time of restraint and comparative strength on the American and world home front. Then during Saturn’s run through the fiery sign of the archer there is a tendency for large-scale wars to break out. Notice that it was while Saturn was in Sagittarius that President William McKinley was shot and killed on 14 September 1901. The very leader of the nation who had given America stability while Saturn was in Scorpio at the close of the 19^th Century, was tragically assassinated in office during his second term.

The Roaring Twenties

For the most part, Saturn was in Scorpio from 31 December 1925 until 24 December 1928. In the States, Republican President Calvin Coolidge ushered in a period of wealth and stability. The ashes of WW1 had long ceased smoldering. Now the Roaring Twenties had been ushered in, a time famous for excessive sensual gratification: wealth, abandon and enjoyment. In France, a country strongly linked to the sign of Scorpio, the 1920’s are remembered as Les Années Folles or “crazy years.” Now for the first time in the developed countries, the population of the cities began to exceed that of the farms and rural areas. And now that the hyper patriotism and rampant paranoia of the First World War was behind them, the citizens of America and Europe once again took to hedonistically satisfying gross desires.

Indeed, it would not be until Saturn had departed Scorpio and had entered Sagittarius that the Great Depression would spread financial havoc across the world. When the crash of Wall Street occurred on 29 October 1929, Saturn was only in the third degree of Sagittarius. The party was over only once Saturn had left Scorpio as the effects of financial gloom gripped the world. In this regard, it is noteworthy that Scorpio is one of the four sthira rashis or fixed signs. Scorpio, being a water sign, also belongs to the brahminical class. As a fixed water sign, Scorpio actually lends firmness to the world. Water in its fixed form is ice. Saturn is the planet of the people, the working class. Saturn governs destiny and broad world events. It is not until Saturn enters the sign of the archer poised for war, fiery Sagittarius, that the thaw and melting of icy motives and unseen manipulations ignite the conflagration of karmic retributions.

The Fabulous Fifties

Saturn’s next trip through Scorpio was from 12 November 1955 until 6 November 1958. This was the middle of the “Fabulous Fifties.” Again, like Saturn’s previous trek in Scorpio, these were years that followed a great conflict. Just as WW1 had ended a few years before Saturn’s earlier trek in Vrischika, so now the horrors of WW2 had been allocated to history and the world was reaping the so-called “benefits” of technological advancement that wartime brings. Now every house had to have an all-electric kitchen, a TV and a car with sweeping tail fins that looked like a chromed rocket ship. The Republican Dwight Eisenhower, a retired five-star General, was in the White House. He had been elected two years earlier in 1953 due to his distinguished military career as the Supreme Allied Commander in the European theater. His Presidency was marked by decisive strength and stability, while much of the world, at least in the West, rolled in the lap of luxury.

During this period of Saturn in Scorpio the Second Indochina War simmered in the background. It was a colonial conflict that would later swell to become the Viet Nam War (or the War of Resistance Against America, depending upon your historical perspective). However, it was not until Saturn was well ensconced in the sign of the warring centaur, Dhanusha, that a falsely jubilant America would enthusiastically enter the war with huge numbers of troops and equipment, and all to the patriotic-sounding motto of “Fight Communism.” That unnecessary and brutal war gave its name to a period of non-conformity and rebellious “draft dodgers.” To this day The Sixties shamefully bear the indelible moniker “The Viet Nam Era.”

Interestingly, when President Eisenhower left office in 1961 his final speech to the nation carried the stern and ominous warning of a rising “industrial-military complex.”* As a side note, it is interesting that that Eisenhower was born under Chitra nakshatra, the “picture star.” Notwithstanding President Eisenhower’s experience in the military and in politics at the highest levels, as a Chitra natives had the ability to “picture” future events. The Presidential prophecy was indeed warning to his fellow citizens about coming wars waged solely in the interests of corporate profit, which in retrospect would include Viet Nam.

The Reagan Era

Saturn’s next transit through Scorpio lasted from 20 December 1984 until 16 January 1987. Once again, these were years of plenty, of stability and of relative freedom from war. Early computers, though primitive, were becoming popular. Cable television had recently appeared. The Viet Nam Era had ended some nine years earlier in 1975 with the defeat and retreat of the American giant. Now by the time Saturn was moving in Scorpio; America, Europe and many other countries were again enjoying times of expansion and prosperity. In fact, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada noted that it was actually due to the effects of sankirtana, the chanting of Hare Krishna on street corners across America that actually ended the war in Viet Nam.

For the third time in the 20^th Century while Saturn was in Scorpio, a Republican sat in the Oval Office of the White House. The actor-turned-politician Ronald Reagan, dubbed “The Great Communicator” by a submissive media, presided over the US from 1981-89. These were years when America was proud, if not overstuffed. The citizens recited truisms like “life is good” as there was no end to enjoyment in sight.

Again, history repeated itself when Saturn bade farewell to Scorpio and passed into the sign of the archer. For the third time in the 20^th Century the grim specter of a major war rose on the horizon. Once Saturn had entered Sagittarius, George Bush, Sr., an open advocate of the phantasmagorical New World Order, entered the White House on 20 January 1989. And while Saturn was still moving through the sign of the bowman, Bush Senior ordered the Desert Storm invasion of the Persian Gulf. To this day the war against an enemy (or rather emotion) called “terror” has continued to intensify in cycles, pulling more and more countries into its fiery grip. Since the American military-industrial complex confronted Iraq in 1990, war has spread in flames to a number of other countries throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa. This by the way proves that war does not necessarily stop war, especially when for-profit corporations can continuously benefit from it. And how much more true this fruitless quest of bombing an adversary becomes when the enemy is nothing other than an emotion rather than an actual standing army.

In fine, let us say that most of the fears of world war of some soothsayers regarding the sojourn of Shanideva in Vrischika are mostly unwarranted, though an increase in conflicts are sure to come to pass when Shani enters Dhanusha. Ultimately, these things are in the hands of the Supreme Lord, and the soldiers of sankirtana are the only means to quell the tide of demonic war-mongering Therefore, this period from 2 November 2014 until Saturn once again enters the agni-tattwa rashi of Dhanusha offers thousands of devotees a golden opportunity for finding some haven in the natural world of varna-ashram in case changing times bring in their wake the overdue collapse of fiat currencies and the general caving in of an oil-based so-called civilization founded on rampant exploitation of resources. As Shrila Prabhupada pointed out, no invented weapon in history has gone unused. And nuclear weapons will prove to be no exception to this problematic canon.

*Here is the link for President Dwight David Eisenhower’s visionary Farewell Address to the Nation delivered on 17 January 1961 [“In the councils of government we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence whether sought or unsought by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” –President Dwight David Eisenhower]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWiIYW_fBfY P

How Will Saturn in Scorpio Affect You?

Patita Pavana dasa

Sade Sati: the Dreaded Seven Year Cycle

The above glimpse into world events vis-à-vis Saturn’s transits is a branch of jyotisha shastra known as mundane astrology or samhita. Let us now turn to the subject of predictive astrology or hora, the science of determining individual destinies with Saturn in Scorpio in mind.

The big news is that those who were born in Kanya rashi, Virgo Moon sign, will be leaving sade sati. And those who were born under Sagittarius will be entering sade sati. Sade sati is the most dreaded of all astrological progressions. But what exactly is sade sati? Here is the definition from the Bhrigu Project”

sade sati: (pronounced SAHday SUTtee). The so-called “thralldom of Saturn.” Literally “7½,” sade sati is the seven and a half year period when Saturn in his constant rounds crosses the signs before, of and after your Moon sign. Say your Moon sign is Taurus, the second sign. Then sade sati would occur whenever Saturn is in transit over signs Aries, Taurus and Gemini. Since Saturn stays in each sign for 2½ years, sade sati lasts 7½ years, hence the name. Generally, sade sati is a time of reversals that is feared by many followers of Vedic civilization. Sade sati can bring in its wake loss of position and/or wealth, problems from authority figures, dangers to life, danger of slander, friends turning enemies, becoming prone to accidents, depression, disappointment, danger from fire or natural disaster, etc. It is, therefore, a period that merits great circumspection.

It is the job of Saturn’s to introduce to the native the effects of long sleeping karma. Therefore, a person who is undergoing sade sati may be forced to suffer for sins that have long since been forgotten. Saturn as the unwelcome harbinger of karmic destiny is simply performing his prescribed duty as a powerful demigod and devotee of Lord Krishna. He is like the slowly progressing hour hand of a clock that through the agency of time indicates the hour. Similarly, the ticking “clock” of Saturn shows us what the time is in terms of suffering for our past transgressions. Therefore, it is not necessary to fear Saturn when it is we ourselves who are the agencies of our own suffering.

For the devotee who has become sinless through taking shelter of the lotus feet of the Holy Names of the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna, Saturn blesses the bhakta through his higher octave. Although on one hand Saturn rules poverty, filth, decay, diseases like leprosy, loss of the use of limbs, etc, he also has a “higher octave” for those who have become freed from karmic reactions through performing devotional service. In this higher mode Saturn rules penance, atonement, austerity, yoga and cultivation of knowledge.

It is said that the second sade sati cycle can be the cause in a steep rise in career for many. What is certain is that the sade sati cycle calls for patience, tolerance and determination.

Saturn in Scorpio and You

There are two principle means of judging the transits of planets. The first is in relation to the Moon sign or janma rashi and the second is in relation to the rising sign or lagna. For this article, we will continue the thread of sade sati, which judges Saturn’s movement in relationship to the Moon sign. As per Shri Phala Dipika (26.1) “Of all lagnas, the Moon’s lagna (Chandra lagna or Chandra rashi or the Moon sign itself) is the most important for ascertaining the effects of transits (or gochara-phala). It is best to make predictions about the effects of transiting planets through the various signs from the sign occupied by the Moon.” Shri Phala Dipika gives the effects of Saturn’s transits in verses 26.22-3 as follows:

If you were born with the Moon in Aries or Mesha rashi:

Saturn in Scorpio is in the 8^th house from your natal Aries Moon sign. Thus as long as Saturn remains in Scorpio you will be undergoing Ashtama Shani, the transit of Saturn in the 8^th house from your Moon sign. This transit is not welcomed and it is said to produce over the next three years results that are similar to sade sati. You must guard your health well or you may feel weak. Do not give in to impulsiveness or rash behavior but think your plans through carefully before acting on them. There could be dangers from water or fire. Risky business practices or investments invite losses. Your position at work may become tenuous.

If you were born with the Moon in Taurus or Vrishabha rashi:

Saturn in Scorpio is in the 7^th house from your natal Taurus Moon sign. For a proper householder this transit can be a position of strength which creates a sort of stoic happiness amidst some ongoing strain at the home front. Otherwise there could be miseries in marriage, as well as fruitless endeavors and travels. In all cases, however, the marriage partner should be carefully looked after.

If you were born with the Moon in Gemini or Mithuna rashi:

Saturn in Scorpio is in the 6^th house from your natal Gemini Moon sign. The 6^th house transit of Saturn is one of the most desirable and brings luck in all directions. Old issues are put to rest while new challenges are swiftly overcome and your life is happy all around.

If you were born with the Moon in Cancer or Karkata rashi:

While Saturn is in Scorpio he is in the 5^th house from your natal Cancer Moon sign. Students will find that learning has become a greater drudgery and parents may experience some difficulties with their children. Protect your children and wealth well.

If you were born with the Moon in Leo or Simha rashi:

While Saturn is in Scorpio he is in the 4^th house from your natal Leo Moon sign. This transit is considered to be problematic for all affairs connected to your household happiness as well as to your well-being in general. It has for this reason been given the name kantaka, the “thorny” transit. Protect your domicile well.

If you were born with the Moon in Virgo or Kanya rashi:

While Saturn is in Scorpio he is in the 3^rd house from your natal Virgo Moon sign. Your sade sati has finally come to an end after eight long years and the next three years denote times of upliftment and of seeing long cherished dreams come true. You rise in the eyes of society at large and much opulence and recognition comes your way.

If you were born with the Moon in Libra or Tula rashi:

While Saturn is in Scorpio he is in the 2^nd house from your natal Libra Moon sign. This means that you have already endured some five years of sade sati and you have another three years still ahead of you. However, for Librans with overall lucky charts, this period could also fulfill some cherished financial dreams since Saturn, your yogakaraka or power planet, is now in your house of wealth. Just be careful with your money and do not invest foolishly or it could all be lost in an instant. Generally, however this transit can cause financial difficulties and even losses.

If you were born with the Moon in Scorpio or Vrischika rashi:

While Saturn is in Scorpio he is in the 1^st house from your natal Scorpio Moon sign. You may feel as though the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Do not overwork yourself or try to attain ambitions that are not realistic. Give yourself some down time each day and avoid becoming anxious or nervous about the drudgeries of life.

If you were born with the Moon in Sagittarius or Dhanush rashi:

While Saturn is in Scorpio he is in the 12^th house from your natal Sagittarius Moon sign. This means that sade sati has now begun for you. Remember that a harsh Saturn transit can delay but not deny the good yogas of your horoscope. Business interests my prove fruitless and cause wasted expenses. Your enemies can cause you financial difficulties. Family members may fall ill.

If you were born with the Moon in Capricorn or Makara rashi:

While Saturn is in Scorpio he is in the 11^th house from your natal Moon sign. This is probably the luckiest transit of all. Saturn in the 11^th gives unexpected wealth, honor and popularity, so use the next three years well. Many golden opportunities lie ahead and you have only to keep an eye out for them.

If you were born with the Moon in Aquarius or Kumbha rashi:

While Saturn is in Scorpio he is in the 10^th house from your Aquarius natal Moon sign. This position can give a strong rise in career and bring you luck especially in your field of work. However, you must be extra careful that fate does not set you up to let you down. Walk the straight and narrow and you will reap your due rewards.

If you were born with the Moon in Pisces or Mina rashi:

While Saturn is in Scorpio he is in the 9^th house from your natal Pisces Moon sign. This transit can give fruitless travels or difficulties on journeys, problems in the household and business endeavors that come to naught. However it is ideal for tirtha yatra. P

Shanideva’s Prayers to Lord Narasimhadeva

Since great sorrow and suffering are associated with Shanideva, Saturn personified has provided a method of solving all karma-related problems through seeking the blessings of Lord Narasimhadeva. Shanideva made an agreement with the Lord that he would never trouble those who recite his Nrisimha Stuti. He states dvadashashtama janmastad bhayam mastu tasya vai indicating that those who are facing the fearful transit of Saturn over the inauspicious 8^th or 12^th houses will be protected.

If one recites with devotion Shanideva’s Shri Narasimha Stuti, especially on Shanivara (Saturday or the day of Saturn), all obstacles and suffering will be removed by the grace of the Personality of Godhead Lord Narasimhadeva.

This prayer is found here: http://nitaaiveda.com/All_Scriptures_By_Acharyas/Prayers_and_Songs/Shanaishchara-krta_Sri_Narasimha_Stuti.htm . Unfortunately neither the Puranic reference nor the name of the translator was provided. To hear the prayers chanted in perfect meter by a qualified pandit, see this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp3u8tvUKbo .

Shri Shanaischara-krita Shri Narasimha Stuti

sulabho bhakti yuktanam durdarsho dushta chetasam |

ananya gatikanam cha prabhu bhaktaika-vatsalah||

shanaishchara tatra nrisimha-deva chakaramala-chitta-vritih |

pranamya shastangam ashesha-loka kirita nirajita pada-padmam || 1 |

Lord Narasimhadeva is easily accessible to the devotees, though He punishes those who are evil-minded. He is the savior of those who are helpless and who seek refuge in Him. When the demigods of the innumerable planets bow down to His lotus feet, the bright jewels from their crowns are reflected on His toenails giving the impression that lamps are being waved in front of them. Unto His lotus feet, Shanideva prostrated and prayed (in the court of Brahma).

shri shani-uvacha:

yat pada-pankaja-raja paramadharena|

samsevitam sakala kalmasha rashi-nasham ||

kalyana karakam asheshanijanuganam |

sa tvam nrisimha mayi dehi kripa-valokam ||2||

Shri Shanideva said: By the mercy of the dust of Your lotus feet which destroy a multitude of sins, please grant infinite auspiciousness to Your devotee who always worships Your lotus feet with devotion. O Lord Narasimhadeva, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

sarvatra chanchalataya sthitayapi lakshmyah |

brahmadi-vandya-padaya stirayanya sevi ||

padaravinda-yugalam parama-dharena |

sa tvam nrisimha mayi dehi kripa valokam ||3||

Your lotus feet are worshipped by Goddess Lakshmi, even though She is fickle by nature (Chanchala), and by Lord Brahma and by Lord Shiva whose feet are worthy of worship with devotion. O Lord Narasimhadeva, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

yad rupam agama-shirah pratipadhyamadhya |

adhyatmikadi paritapa haram vichintyam ||

yogishvarair apathagakhila dosha sanghaih |

sa tvam nrisimha mayi dehi kripa-valokam ||4||

By contemplating or meditating upon Your appearance, which is extensively expounded in the Vedas, the best of the saints are liberated from the three-fold miseries and from all misfortunes. O Lord Narasimhadeva, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

prahlada bhakta vachasa harir avirasa |

stambhe hiranyakashipum ya udharabhavah ||

urvau nidhaya udharam nakharai dadhara |

sa tvam nrisimha mayi dehi kripa-valokam ||5||

By the word of His devotee named Prahlada, Lord Hari, Who is generous and kind, appeared from a pillar and—by placing Hiranyakashipu on His thighs—split open the his stomach with His nails. O Lord Narasimhadeva, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

yo naija bhaktam analambudhi bhudharogra |

shringa-prapata visha dhamti sarisupebhyah ||

sarvatmakah parama-karuniko raraksha |

sa tvam nrisimha mayi dehi kripa-valokam ||6|

You protected your own devotee Prahlada from a raging fire, from the deep ocean, from falling from a tall mountain peak, from poison, from a mad elephant and from the fangs of poisonous serpents. You are omnipresent and supremely generous. O Lord Narasimhadeva, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

yannivikara para-rupa vichintanena |

yogishvara vishaya sagara vita ragah ||

vishramtim apura-vinasha vatiṁ parakhyam |

sa tvam nrisimha mayi dehi kripa-valokam ||7||

By meditating upon He whose great form is devoid of imperfections, the best of the saints attained liberation from the ocean of material attachments and obtained unmitigated salvation. O Lord Narasimhadeva, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

yad rupam-ugra parimardana bhava shali |

samchintanena sakalagha vinasha kari ||

bhuta jvara graha samudbhava bhiti nasham |

sa tvam nrisimha mayi dehi kripa-valokam ||8||

By meditating upon He whose form is fearsome; all peace, happiness and prosperity can be obtained. All sins can be obliterated. Fear arising from evil spirits, fevers and unfavorable planetary positions can be removed. O Lord Narasimhadeva, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

yasyottamam yasha uma-patim padma-janma |

shakradi daivata sabhasu samasta-gitam ||

shaktaiva sarvasha-mala prashamaika daksham |

sa tvam nrisimha mayi dehi kripa-valokam ||9||

Your transcendental fame and glories are sung in all the divine assemblies of Shiva, Brahma and Indra (and other devatas). You whose power is steadfast in wiping out all impurities, O Lord Narasimhadeva, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

evam shrutva stutiṁ devah shaninam kalpitam harih |

uvacha brahma vrindasta shaniṁ tam bhakta-vatsalah ||10||

On listening to the heartfelt prayer composed by Shanideva in the assembly of Lord Brahma, Lord Hari who is ever compassionate to His devotees, spoke to Shanideva as follows:

shri nrisimha uvacha:

prasannoham shane tubhyaṁ | varam varaya shobhanam ||

yam vanchasi tameva tvam | sarva-loka hitavaham ||11||

Shri Narasimhadeva said: O Shani, I am pleased with your devotion. What ever you desire that will benefit the world, ask for that kind of boon and I will grant it.

shri shani uvacha:

nrisimha tvam mayi kripam kuru deva daya-nidhe |

mad vasaras tava priti-kara syat devata-pate ||12||

mat kritam tvat param stotram shrinvanti cha patanti cha |

sarvan kaman purayetas tesham tvaṁ loka-bhavanah ||13||

Shri Shanideva replied: O Lord Narasimhadeva, O reservoir of compassion, please be kind to me. O Lord of all gods, let my week-day (Saturday or Shanivara) be Your favorite day. O Purifier of all the worlds, may You fulfill the desires of all those who listen to or read this great prayer to You composed by me.

shri nrisimha uvacha:

tataivastu shaneham vai raksho-bhuvana samsthitah |

bhakta kaman purayishye tvam mamaika vachah shrinu ||

tvat kritam mat param stotram yah patechchrinu yachcha yah |

dvadashashtama janmastad bhayaṁ mastu tasya vai ||14||

Shri Narasimhadeva said: O Shani, let it be so! By virtue of My being the universal protector (Rakshobhuvana), I fulfill the desires of all My devotees. Please listen to My words: Let there be no fear of the 12^th and 8^th birth positions* (and implicitly any other unfavorable birth positions) and consequent troubles from you for anyone who reads or listens to this prayer to Me composed by you.

shani naraharim devam tateti pratyuvacha ha|

tatah parama-samtushto jayeti munayovadan ||15||

Then Shanideva replied to Lord Narahari that he would follow the Lord’s instructions. Then the joyful saints and sages present there (in Brahma’s assembly) responded with cries of, jaya, jaya!

shri krishna uvacha:

itam shanaishcharasyata nrisimha deva |

samvadam etat stavanam cha manavah ||

shrinoti yah shravayate cha bhaktya|

sarvanyabhishtani cha vindate dhruvam ||16||

Shri Krishna told Dharmaraja: Whoever listens to or recites this conversation between Shanideva and Lord Narasimhadeva in the form of this prayer of devotion will definitely have all desires fulfilled and will always rejoice.

iti shri bhavishyottara purane rakshobhuvana mahatme shri|

shanaishchara krita shri nrisimha stuti sampurnam||

Thus ends the prayers offered to the universal protector Lord Narasimhadeva by the great soul Shri Shanideva.

*12^th or 8^th birth positions: Those who chant this prayer composed by Shri Shanideva in honor of Lord Narasimhadeva need not worry about the trials and tribulations caused by Saturn moving either in the 8^th or 12^th houses from the ascendant or the natal Moon sign. These are the most feared positions of transiting (gochara) Shanideva.

How to Never Come Back to the Material World Again

Abhaya Mudra Dasi

You have heard of the story of the poor brahmana described in the Nectar of Devotion who used to meditate on worshiping Lakshmi-Narayana. Though he was very poor and he had practically nothing to offer to the Lord, his poverty did not deter him from worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Through his meditation he would offer the most opulent service unto Lord Narayana with golden pots filled with nectar. He would fan the Lord with a peacock fan and offer Him the most beautiful flowers. He would also prepare a feast of many preparations. One day when he was cooking in his meditation, he decided to see if the sweet rice he was preparing is ready. With his finger he touched the hot preparation in his meditation and was startled to see that it had been burnt. In due course of time Lord Narayana took him to Vaikuntha as he was very pleased by the brahmana’s worship.

This story practically illustrates how by the grace of the Supreme Lord a devotee can create reality simply by directing his thoughts. There are mystics who know this secret but who use their power of visualization for their own enrichment. The devotees can use this technique for serving Krishna. One who feels trapped and limited by karma—whether poor, not favored by others, physically unappealing or mentally slow—such limitations can be changed somewhat through meditation on devotional service.

A devotee is imbued with the power to bless others. When walking on the street he may see unhappy people but in his mind he can immediately imagine them as happy and dancing in ecstasy devotees, chanting the holy names of Shri Krishna. Walking down the street he can see ugly building and immediately visualize them as temples or houses where devotees worship Shri Krishna. With the power of his imagination a devotee can turn a negative situation into positive and spiritual situation. This is how imagination should be used. Imagination ultimately is the power to change reality when used in Krishna’s service. But it takes strong belief in the process, and not being distracted by any tinge of disbelief, that a devotee’s imagination can become reality.

We often think that if we imagine something it is only a picture and has nothing to do with reality. But we cannot imagine anything that we have not experienced. In other words, we cannot imagine things that do not exist. Imagination means to put together two or more things that do not normally relate to each other. This is an art form and for this reason art is based on imagination. For example, artists can take things that have happened hundreds of years ago and mix them with the present. This mixture can create a paradox and evoke astonishment in the onlookers. Ordinary people are surprised at the possibilities that art creates. Many artists are considered to be geniuses that deserve to be placed alongside some scientists who “invent things.” In fact nobody invents things that are not already there. Those genius people simply put things together with the help of their imagination or creative thinking. But this kind of imagination—whether artistic or scientific—is useless when seen against the grand scheme of things because it leads only to temporary sense enjoyment.

This same mystical power is practiced by mystic yogis who know very well that they can create reality with the power of thought. But the result of their imagination is also temporary as it is aimed at ego gratification. The only real use of imagination is found when it is applied to devotional service.

Hanuman, the great devotee of Lord Ramachandra, was much greater than any mystic and he also had supernatural powers. He used his powers in the service of the Lord, and in this way his powers grew exponentially. This is the real use of mystic powers and the servant of the Supreme Lord has plenty of them up his sleeve. A devotee of Shri Krishna does not need to show off his mystic powers as he does not use them for ego or sense gratification. Mystic powers are used by the devotee only when he needs them in the service of Shri Krishna. Shrila Prabhupada once said that mystic powers are not important as even growing our fingernails is also a mystic power. But he himself had plenty of mystic powers when it came to serving the mission of the Lord. In 1965 a gentleman saw Shrila Prabhupada sitting alone on a bench in New York’s Central Park. He sat down and asked him what he was doing there alone. Shrila Prabhupada replied that he has many students and opulent temples all over the world. The gentleman was surprised, but Shrila Prabhupada continued by adding that he is separated from that reality only by a thin veil of time.

The reality of the material world is that the manifestation of desires is always separated by time. During the intermission between desire and its manifestation, a doubt may appear in the mind that the desire would ever come true. But a devotee of Shri Krishna knows better. Everything is the energy of the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna. Our karma is ruled by desires. What we desired in the past we reap in the present. And a desire starts by imagining its end result. Knowing this simple rule, a devotee can dovetail his imagination towards obtaining results for Shri Krishna. A devotee imagines the results as already existing, and avoids the delays of three-dimensional time consisting of past, present and future. In short, the desires of a pure devotee manifest as reality. That is how the energy of the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna works. A pure devotee can imagine anything for the benefit of Shri Krishna and it will happen.

The conditioned souls in the material world tend to be very negative in what they imagine simply because they are conditioned by constant suffering. Their imaginary world is filled with scenes of revenge, jealousy and negative expressions. The art to imagine positive things is the way to bless others rather than punish them for what they have not given to us. To really bless others is to visualize them in their connection with Shri Krishna and ultimately this is the way to change the world. When we change the world into a spiritual reality we are no longer actually living in the material world because we understand that Shri Krishna is everything. In the Spiritual World which is self-effulgent there is not delay in manifestation as there is only the time of “now” that exists.

Everyone feels that they have been born to do something important. They wait for the time when something special will happen to them, when some bright star will shine upon them. But why wait for something that may never happen? After all, favorable material circumstances depend on karma. Karma-phala is very complicated and is difficult to turn from negative to positive. Why wait when we can start imagining right now? Armed with this mystic power of visualizing everything in Shri Krishna’s service we can offer everything to the Lord despite our present circumstances. We can cross the material world and never come back. We can understand our constitutional position as servants of Shri Krishna like the advanced devotees who have truly developed mystic powers. Just like Hanuman with his mystic powers burnt the entire city of Ravana alone, so the devotee can also in his lone meditation visualize the transformation of the today’s world of Rakshasas into a world of transcendental bliss. And by following the footsteps of Shrila Prabhupada, this movement will continue to grow all over the world and be the cause of liberating the planet through the vision of the pure devotee’s empowered servants.

(A talk delivered 24 October 2014 at the Suhotra Sadana in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria) P

Letters to the Editor

(Edited for brevity)

“After Reading Many Times”

Dearest Patita Pavana dasa Adhikary & Abhaya Mudra Dasi,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories Sri Guru & Sri Gauranga. All glories Shrila Prabhupada. I received a reading from you many months ago and only now do I write to you after reading many times to thank you so much for your Vedic expertise and compassion. I grow by assimilating the information.

your servant,

RD (UK)

“Editing Protocol”

Dear Patita Pavana dasa,

Thank you for the latest newsletter. It was the best one so far. Please keep sending them.

Jai.

DBD (US)

Dear Prabhu, We received many kind letters like yours applauding the Sept. issue of the The Astrological Newsletter. However one letter questioned why we edited the talk of Shrila Prabhupada. Since our reply that Shrila Prabhupada wanted his talks edited did not satisfy the reader, we have decided not to edit any further discussions of His Divine Grace in the newsletter.