Some thoughts on Agni nakshathra

About Agni nakshathra…

The Agni nakshathra starts on 4^th May this year

and ends on 28^th May.

As per astrology, Agni nakshatra

is the time when the sun moves

through the 7 paadas (paada = ¼ of the star) starting from

Bharani 3rd paada to Rohini 1st paada..

These are Bharani 3rd & 4^th paadas,

all the 4 paadas of Kritthika and

Rohini 1st paada.

Agni nakshathra is also known as “katthiri” in Tamil.

This is adopted from ‘Kartaari’ in sankrit

which means being hemmed in between.

In Jyothisha there are papa kartaari yoga and Subha kartari yoga.

If a planet or bhava is hemmed in between malefics on both sides,

it gives rise to papa kartari yoga.

If hemmed between benefics, it gives rise to subha kartari yoga.

Agni nakshathra period is known as ‘kartaari’or ‘katthiri’

because this marks a time that finds the hot sun

hemmed in between agni-oriented stars.

This period is the hottest period of summer and

is also considered as unsuitable for conducting many auspicious events,

thereby making this a period of ‘agni nakshathra dosha’.

This write-up is to present some information on these issues.

The name –cause.

Agni nakshathra is so called

because it is the time the sun crosses Krittika.

The star krittika is known as agni nakshatra in

"Utthara KAlAmrutham” and in other texts of astrology.

Krittika is associated with heat and agni.

The ati-devatha of this star is Agni.

The Lord of the star Krittika is Sun,

which is at its exalted level at Aries

where the head of Krittika is situated.

The Lord of the house where the star begins is Mars, the planet for fire.

The sign, Aries is also the sign of fire.

The sojourn of Sun in this fiery star also coincides with maximum heat

experienced in the Northern hemisphere.

Bharani – Krittika

But the trail of heat starts even from Bharani 3^rd paada onwards.

Generally these 2 stars, namely, Bharani and krittika

are considered as dreadful stars.

It is common to hear the elders say

that one should not do anything on the days ruled by these two stars.

Let us see what is so dreadful about these 2 stars.

Bharani and krittika are not alone, but they are part of 12 stars

(others being

Arudra,

ashlesha (aayilyam),

Purva phalguni (pooram),

Purvashada (pooradam),

Purva bhadrapada (poorattadhi),

Jyeshta (kettai),

vishaka,

swathi,

magam and

Chithra)

that are considered as

'unfortunate' (aaghadha nakshathras) stars.

The rationale given in astrological texts is that

whatever is given on the day these stars reign, will not come back.

Particularly, if one lends money to someone on this day,

he / she wont get it back.

If one goes on a journey on these days, it is unlikely

that he/she will come back without problems –

means he/she may get into accidents etc.

If one falls sick on the day of these stars,

it is unlikely he/ she bounces back to previous condition of health.

This is explained in a saying in Tamil like this,

"maa-dhanam kondaar, thaaraar,

vazhi- nadai-p-pattaar, meeLaar.

paayinil padutthaar, thEraar".

But there is a twist to this.

This also implies that one can take money or borrow money from others.

The conditions will arise such that one need not have to return the money:-)

It also implies that if one loses money in pick-pocketing or burglary,

there are no chances of getting back the lost things.

But of all the 12 stars mentioned above,

bharani and krittikai are strictly meant for losing whatever is given,

while the other stars are

suitable for other specific occasions also.

Bahrani and krittika are specifically followed when one has to give

away something once for ever, say, in harvesting,

where the plant cut

is not going to be rejuvenated.

These stars are good for shedding illness,

like taking the first bath after an illness.

Other than losing what one gives,

there need not be any dread about

bahrani and krittika.

Perhaps this is also the reason (pOnaal varaadhu)

why auspicious events are not done when sun passes through these stars.

We undertake auspicious actions, expecting some goodness in return.

Such actions do not fructify during this agni nakshathra period.

The cool period.

Just opposite to this 7 -paada stretch is the sun's debilitation

starting from Vishaka -1 to Anusham (anuradha) 3

stretching between Thula (Libra) and

Vrischika – scorpio (months of Ippasi & kaarthigai)

In contrast to the firey agni nakshtra period, this period is a cool

'deepam' period.

(But this will be the hottest period in the southern hemisphere)

When the sun enters vishaka -1 in Ippasi, this is in direct opposition

to the exaltation, and coincides with the 180 degree distance from

Bharani -3.

The 6th day counted from this is shashti - the soora samhara day.

If the agni nakshtram stands for the hot conditions that preceded and

prevailed at the time of creation (cosmic level),

the opposite period

stands for destruction of enemies at the mundane level.

On shashti, the sun has moved 2 paadas more and will be in Mithuna (Gemini)

(where arudra, signifying destruction, predominates) in navamsa -

directly opposite to dhanus where shashti falls.

Thus for destruction of enemies, the sun, mars, vishaka & krittika

combination is required.

When it happens at the descending side (dakshinayana), events happen on earth.

When it happens at the ascending side (uttarayana),

it is about combustion in the heavens.

Another interesting information about krittika is that

it Lords over the best of all weapons, the sword.

The sword is the best of all weapons according to Bhishma,

who from his arrow bed narrated

the story of the sword that the Pandavas had come to possess

(the details of this appear in Shanthi parva)

The sword has krittika as nakshatra,

Rohini as gotra,

Agni as the deity and

Rudra as the Maharishi.

Thus the travel of the sun in the agni nakshthra

signifies destruction.

Agni-nakshathra dosham.

Many schools of thought have sprung up based on diverse

interpretations, each based on some logic.

One is that the agni nakshthra dosha kaalam is for 21 days.

(There is difference between agni nakshathra and agni nakshthra dosham.)

This is widely accepted concept.

This is based on the premise that the effect of any planetary movement

starts one paadam before it actually enters a star

and ends1 paadam after its tail end.

In the case of agni nakshathra dosham calculation,

the similar rule is applied.

The addition of 1 paadam before and after krittika is done.

This comes to 21 days.

So as per Utthatra kaalamrutham the dosham is for 21 days only.

The vakhya panchanga writers have developed their scheme

with this 21- day duration as the basis and

added further 1 paada before and after this period.

That is why they have approximately 28-day duration

for agni nakshathra.

Actually this must be read as agni nakshathra dosham period.

Another school of thought that is followed

by non- vakhya panchangam writers is to

start from Bahrani-3 and till Rohini 1.

The Rashtriya panchanga and all drik ganitha panchanga

follow this rule.

Rohini being a sthira nakshathra

which is the first rate benefic for auspicious sthira kaaryams,

there is no need to bring it to dosham period beyond the justifiable limit.

So most schools do not accept to bring Rohini-2 within dosham period.

Now what is this dosham mentioned in texts?

Texts say that works on soil, wood and stone are to be discouraged during this time.

"mrut, daru, sila karmaani varjayet" says text.

The rationale is understandable.

The intense heat would cause changes

in the nature of soil, wood and stones.

That is why Kumbhabhishekams and

manai muhoortham are not done in this period.

But no exclusive reference in texts

on a bar on marriages and other auspicious functions.

But it has been a practice not to have

marriages or auspicious events in this period.

The reason is obvious.

In those days when technology was not there to reduce the impact of heat,

people avoided this period for social functions such as marriage.

But in today’s world, this dosham has no relevance for marriages.

If one looks at all the issues of dosham while fixing muhurtham,

there are hardly 5 days available in a year.

Therefore it is advised ( in Kaala vidhanam)

to choose the day with positives over-weighing negatives.

For each event, there will be one or two issues of prime importance.

Those issues should not be compromised.

For instance for vivaha muhurtha,

the tara balam of the bride and the groom

are of prime importance at personal level

whereas the absence of guru-shukra moodam is necessary

at the cosmic level.

If these 2 are there,

other issues such as

agni nakshathra or mala maasam / adhika maaasam

can be ignored.

Ofcourse, muhurtha lagna shuddhi and

Shuddhi of the 8th house should be there.

Thus exceptions and adherence to basic rules co-exist

and a judicious balance must be arrived at.