Volume 22, 22 September 2013

“Just what future the Designer of the universe has provided for the souls of men I do not know, I cannot prove. But I find that the whole order of Nature confirms my confidence that, if it is not like our noblest hopes and dreams, it will transcend them.”

Kumbhabhishekam to Lord Dakshinamurthi Temple

For a few days early this month, my husband and I found ourselves transported back to ancient India. Through some incredible grace, we were present at the magnificent re-consecration of the Lord Dakshinamurthi temple at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, an event that takes place every twelve years following the cycle of Jupiter.

There were three days of pujas, parades, a decorated cow and music. I will never forget the sounding of primal horns and drums as the murthi was paraded around the grounds of the ashram. Every cell of the body seemed to vibrate with those sounds.

The final morning was the joyous culmination of the rituals consisting of two important parts. The most dramatic perhaps was the vimana puja which involved having the priests take an aerial lift to reach the vimana (spire of the temple). Then the lift brought up Puja Swami Dayananda as well and while seated in the aerial lift, he poured the sanctified waters over the vimana to much cheering and sounding of drums and instruments (see the media corner for videos)

The next part of the ritual involved the many sponsors of the ceremony coming into the temple each bearing a separate kalasha containing the sanctified water. The sixteen priests were all gathered around Lord Dakshinamurthi and amid chanting and bells, poured the waters over the deity. Then the doors were closed while the murthi was bedecked with spectacular garments and flowers. It was truly a work of art. The rituals finished with the familiar and beautiful temple prayers and offering of light representing the rekindled spirit and commitment for carrying forward the flame of knowledge in this generation.

As we reflect on the experience, it was as if the cars, video equipment etc. were the anachronisms and the reality was the power of these ancient rituals to bring forward the blessings of this eternal wisdom.

Charisma - How Do We See It in a Chart?

The very word charisma seems to shimmer and jump out from the page. We all seem to know when someone has it. It is palpable. TV has capitalized on this with “reality shows” such as “The X Factor”. How do we see “The X Factor” in a horoscope?

The first and most important thing is a strong lagna and strong lagna lord. The ante is upped if we see the “showy grahas” (MO and/or VE) in prominent positions where they influence the lagna, lagna lord and/or 10^th house and lord. There are also yoga combinations for charisma but for now let’s stay with the above parameters and check out the following examples:

1. Clark Gable

He was the complete heart throb of my mom‘s generations. She often said she married my dad because he looked like Clark Gable!

Note the powerful lagna lord in the lagna with VE and a very “showy” almost full MO aspecting from the 7^th. This is a knock out charisma combination with just enough exotica (and money!) from SA to make him irresistible. Very strong yogas for pre-eminence all over the place.

2. Princess Diana of Wales

Diana thoroughly captivated not just the British public but the whole world and she lives on with great posthumous fame (a topic for another day). Note that strong lagna lord in the 10^th bhava aspected by a powerful Moon. And the lagna! Beautiful Venus pulled into the lagna with the lagna lord MA aspecting back in.

3. Madhuri Dixit

Madhuri Dixit is considered to be one of the best Bollywood actresses who went on to establish herself as one of Indian cinema’s leading actress widely celebrated for her performances, her beauty and accomplished dancing. She holds the record for the highest number (13) of Best Actress Nominations.

Note her beautiful lagna untouched by any malefic with its lord in the bhava accompanied by a powerful Jupiter. And who is the lagna lord? It is the strong, stabilized Moon forming very auspicious combinations with that Jupiter.

4. Charlie Chaplin

His charisma was so powerful that he could capture you without uttering a word! Every movement of his was mesmerizing.

Note the powerful lagna lord in the 7th aspecting back to its own first bhava. And that lagna lord is the very Venus that contributes to charisma. Not only that, look at the beautiful full Moon sitting right in the first bhava as well. Strong Venus and strong Moon across 1/7 in a strong lagna - as good as it gets for charisma.

Why are Venus and the Moon considered to be the “showy” grahas? Based on natural astrology, these two are the brightest objects in the night sky unless, of course, the Moon is new. That observational fact lends itself to the interpretation that if they are configured in the ways specified above while having strength, the person will be “seen by the public”. If this occurs in a chart with a powerful lagna, we can predict “the X Factor”.

Media Corner - Kumbhabhishekam at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam

There are a whole series of wonderful videos at this link:
http://new.livestream.com/accounts/5113745/events/2355131.

The videos seemed to have been arranged with some of the highlight videos at the top of the list rather than completely sequential

Here are my suggestions:

• First video is the Gho (cow) Puja. Advance to around 13:30 for the start of that event
• Second video Day 2 Procession - Starts right off from the beginning for as long as you care to watch
• Third Video - Advance to 1:11:00 to see the first part of the Vimana Puja - one of the two most major events
• Scroll down to the video called Vimana video from roof part 2 (seventh video). This is the dramatic pouring of the water to conclude the Vimana Puja
• Scroll down to video 17 for the incredible entry of the priests into the newly consecrated temple.
• Video 18 AVG Kumbhabhishekam Day 3 This will give you a good idea of the rituals and homas that went on all three days
• Scroll down to Day 3 Kalasam Puja and Abhishekam and advance to 18:00 to see Puja Swami-ji start the abhishekam of Dakshinamurthi - the culminating event of the festival.