Sunday, December 27, 2009

Shifting magnetic pole affects Vaastu?


The reported news of the shifting magnetic pole at the rate of 64 km per year, seems to have generated speculations of its impact on Vaastu principles. Not to lag behind in liberally giving ‘opinions’, here I am to say something on this from what I understand.



The worry is that if the northern magnetic pole shifts, where will we pin point the North in Vaastu? Today’s Vaastu masters give great importance to North as capable of giving wealth. (Kubera moolai). How to note the exact North if the pole shifts at this rate, is the worry. (see news report given below)

In my opinion, this is not a problem.



Olden Vaastu masters were worried about exact east rather than about any other direction.

According to them the exact east (Shuddha Praachi) is determined by the Sun!


The directions are noted from the sun and not from magnetic North.

In determining the direction - which is the first step before starting work in a plot - they followed two parameters: one, the position of the sun and another noting the Pole star.


The sun keeps shifting its position everyday – which becomes distinct every month.

Methods have been given in olden books of Vaastu on how to determine the exact east in any month be the measurement of the shadow of the conch of specific height (12 inches) which varies differently in different months.

This is really a cumbersome work and requires patience and experience in determining the exact east.



Determination of the exact east is necessary because based on that only, the other 3 directions are found.

Why the other exact directions were needed? It is because based on them only, the Aaya and other factors can be determined. These are necessary for deciding the location and dimensions of rooms etc. This is a lost science as far as Tamilnadu is concerned. To know what is Aaya (Aaya prakarana) and related Vaastu principles that were originally followed, kindly refer to Kshethra phala in

http://www.thirumala.com/fortune-vaastu.aspx#kshetra


Even if the magnetic north oscillates, the exact orientation of North with reference to exact east will not change.

This can be understood form the other method the ancients followed.
They followed the Pole star or Dhruva nakshathra to determine the exact North and from that the exact south is determined. Once these two are known, the other two can be known easily.


Today people use magnetic compass to determine north and south and from that east and west are oriented. Going by this rapid shift in magnetic north, one has to calculate in how many years such a shift will make a difference to exact north as oriented from Sun’s direction in exact east. If it does make a difference then we must stick to Sun only and not go by the magnetic compass.



A fantastic truth about Vaastu is that it is not just about earthy issues.

It positions earth in the cosmos and derives maximum benefits to earth from the cosmos.

The Directions are given specific potential in a way to tap the existing potential in larger framework of the cosmos.



To understand this, we have to look at our position in larger framework.

The easy way to understand this is our square-shaped horoscope.

In the following picture, the side of the milky way galaxy that we can see is given. The centre of this galaxy lies at Sagittarius. Beyond that we can not see in the visible sky. Our earth (solar system) is located in the middle of the second half of the limb of the Milky way. This roughly comes closer to the sign Cancer. (It will be an interesting information to note a research study that a vast majority of people are born in Cancer ascendant only, compared to other ascendants.)


The end of the limb of our galaxy rests at Gemini. The directions given in astrology are also noted in this picture.



Aries , Taurus – East

Libra, Scorpio – west

Capricorn, Aquarius – north

Cancer, Leo – south.



The corners are

Gemini – South east

Virgo – south west

Sagittarius – North west

Pisces – North east.


The cross section of our galaxy on the side in which our earth is located stretches from north west to south east.

South east is where newer stars are forming. Science tells us that new stars are born as twins in these outer regions of our galaxy, thereby substantiating the name “Mithuna” (the twins) as given by our ancients. This Mithuna is where savita and saavittri are inner deities who generate growth. In Saavithri Upanishad this is beautifully explained with a final conclusion that the twin forces of Balai – Ati Balai give abundance of food.



Balai and Atibalai are the two mantras that Vishvamitra taught Rama and Lakshmana when he took them to the forest to guard the yajnas. These two mantras enabled them to be free of hunger (no need to take food- they would feel no hunger as though they had eaten well, even though they had not eaten anything) and free of sleepiness.



This part of the sky is endowed with Mithuna of Balai and Ati balai – probably enriched by the two signs Taurus and Cancer from its two sides.

It must be noted here that this direction stands for the place of making food – kitchen – so that whatever is cooked there, will also and automatically have the directional benefit – perhaps lent by some cosmic forces coming form that direction.


Opposite to this is the centre of our galaxy, which ‘supplies’ air to people – or becomes basis for the very existence of all the beings, including us – in this galaxy.

Now look at the opposite of this cross section.



North and east comes ‘above’ our galaxy while south and west comes ‘below’ our galaxy.

The North east has Pisces and South west has Virgo.


The Vaastu purusha - the eternal Vaastu purusha also known as Sthira Vaastu lies with the head in northeast (Pisces in cosmic map) and feet in South west while his limbs are enclosing our galaxy!

In that picture, Pisces in North east denotes, Mukthi maarga while Virgo (month of Purattasi) denotes Pithru loka or land of departed souls.


The Mukthi marga lies outside or above or in the northern realms of our galaxy while the pithru loka lies close to our galaxy or probably within itself.


If you look at the night sky throughout the year, you can see the stars of signs starting from Gemini to Scorpio very bright and distinct. Without any scientific knowledge about them, I can say with confidence that all these constellations are part of our galaxy.


From Capricorn to Pisces, the stars are faint. They are far away galaxies and somewhere near them (or in their direction) lies the initial root of all our galaxies. Otherwise our ancients would not have given importance to this direction, nor recorded it as Devayaana or the route of Mukthi.


This direction (Northeast) is thus important as a Direction of that Eternal Something.

The task of marking exact east on earth is related to this direction because a little north of exact east (shuddha praachi) is known as Aishee prachee – or eesha praachi - for building temples for Shiva.

A little south to exact east is noted for Aimdri praachee – or indra prachee – the location of Devendra.



These directions are oriented not from the magnetic north but from the pole star – in relation to which earth is wobbling. The relation between the exact direction of pole star and the sun is a constant – if we go by the Vaastu principles given in very olden books. It shows that Exact east is position of sun at the equator from where the Pole star is at right angles.



Some tidbits related to this topic.

The North is given importance in cosmic scale before it denotes the direction of Elevation – mukthi maarga or Devayaana.


The goal of life is for the Individual Consciousness to elevate to the level of Supreme Consciousness – either to merge with it or be subservient to it – all these are schools of thought. But what is undisputed is that the Individual Consciousness in us is in a constant process of elevating itself to the level of Eternal Consciousness which is surging in the direction of Northeast. So North, North east and East become important directions of positive energy. Such a surge can happen only when the physical environment is also in tune with it or conducive to it. That is why the insistence on directions in housing and anything connected with us.



Vaastu is applicable to Land primarily and it is adopted for all the substances we handle – from furniture to weapons and from vehicles to places.

The North gains importance – in material terms and also in spiritual accounts.


Look at the picture again.

The signs of the North and east are considered auspicious and we do all auspicious functions only in those months when sun rises in these signs. The energy flow received by earth in these months from these directions is of sublime ones – of the eternal Consciousness.


The opposite of it occurs in the other half of the year.

The signs from cancer to Sagittarius are inward constellations. We will be on the other side while the sun will be rising in these constellations. The energy flows from these constellations reaching us will that of whatever that is formed and recycled within our galaxy. The souls undergoing recycling in the name of re-births are remembered by us during these months.


It starts from Gemini, in fact, after Canopus reappears after conjunction with sun. Canopus is known as Sage Agasthya. In olden days our ancients used to offer water ceremony (arghya pradana) to Canopus within 7 days of its reappearance (Heliacal rising).


From that time onwards, starts the remembrance of Rishis (Upaa karma or AaavNi avittam) when sun is in Leo and of departed souls (pithrus) when the sun is in Virgo.

These remembrances are part of ‘paying off debt’. If not done, one comes under troubles.


At the physical level, this corner is a feared one. If this corner is not properly secure, losses are accrued. Heightening this corner is recommended as a remedy. In the level of consciousness, paying of debts to forefathers and is the remedy.


This is how the Vaastu principles have emerged.

Locating the exact North – when it results in material prosperity must be followed by spiritual harvesting. That is the import.


Such a North in cosmic terms is not dependant on magnetic pole of the earth.

The exact north is related to the Pole star in the north and the sun in the east.
The outer constellations to solar system also come to the picture here and therefore the direction is not earth based.


Another justification that I can think of is that the Sthira Vaastu ( perpetual Vaastu with head in Northeast) is with reference to eternal principles. He is interpreted as ‘Chara vaastu’ – as one changing direction with the movement of sun through the months (signs).


Based on changing position of Vaastu, the doors are installed.


There is another Vaastu also – “Dina Vaastu” (given by Kalidasa of Uttara Kaalamritha) which does a rotation everyday with the movement of sun in the sky.

From these it is deduced, that Sun becomes the locus for deciding directions and not the magnetic pole.

- jayasree


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http://www.dc-epaper.com/DC/DCH/2009/12/27/ArticleHtmls/27_12_2009_001_015.shtml?Mode=0



Vaastu: Magnetic north shift good

HYDERABAD



Vaastu adherents are upset over the report by National Geographic that the earth's magnetic pole is shifting towards Russia at a speed of 64 km a year.

This means "north" is no longer where it was. It's going east. According to some Vaastu experts, the shift could have a huge impact. "When we have to check Vaastu, we normally start with the true north and begin all construction on that basis," said K. Phani Raj, a Vaastu expert. "But equally, if the north's magnetic pole is shifting, it will have an impact."

Mr C. Ragavendren, another Vaastu consultant, said, "North is Kubera Sthanam and hence any change in north will hit the financial position of the family," adding, however, "If north is shifting towards east, it's for the good."

Scientist H.V. Rambabu at the National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, says, "The pole reverses once in a million years and direction of north will alter once in 40 years for us. No real cause for worry." The shift will come to the aid of those who ignored Vaastu experts and constructed houses without angling it northwards.

***************

From

http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20091225/981/tsc-earth-s-north-magnetic-pole-racing-t.html

Earth's north magnetic pole racing towards Russia due to core flux

Fri, Dec 25 11:10 AM


Washington, December 25 (ANI): A new research has determined that Earth's north magnetic pole is racing toward Russia at almost 40 miles (64 kilometers) a year due to magnetic changes in the planet's core.


The core is too deep for scientists to directly detect its magnetic field. But researchers can infer the field's movements by tracking how Earth's magnetic field has been changing at the surface and in space. Now, according to a report in National Geographic News, newly analyzed data suggest that there's a region of rapidly changing magnetism on the core's surface, possibly being created by a mysterious "plume" of magnetism arising from deeper in the core.

"It's this region that could be pulling the magnetic pole away from its long-time location in northern Canada," said Arnaud Chulliat, a geophysicist at the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris in France.

Magnetic north, which is the place where compass needles actually point, is near but not exactly in the same place as the geographic North Pole.


Right now, magnetic north is close to Canada's Ellesmere Island.

Navigators have used magnetic north for centuries to orient themselves when they are far from recognizable landmarks.

Although global positioning systems have largely replaced such traditional techniques, many people still find compasses useful for getting around underwater and underground where GPS satellites can't communicate.

The magnetic north pole had moved little from the time scientists first located it in 1831.


Then in 1904, the pole began shifting northeastward at a steady pace of about 9 miles (15 kilometers) a year.

In 1989 it sped up again, and in 2007 scientists confirmed that the pole is now galloping toward Siberia at 34 to 37 miles (55 to 60 kilometers) a year.

A rapidly shifting magnetic pole means that magnetic-field maps need to be updated more often to allow compass users to make the crucial adjustment from magnetic north to true North.

Geologists think Earth has a magnetic field because the core is made up of a solid iron center surrounded by rapidly spinning liquid rock.


This creates a "dynamo" that drives our magnetic field. cientists had long suspected that, since the molten core is constantly moving, changes in its magnetism might be affecting the surface location of magnetic north.

Although the new research seems to back up this idea, Chulliat is skeptical whether magnetic north will eventually cross into Russia.

"It's too difficult to forecast," Chulliat said. (ANI)




Do not become a martyr in this country – Kavita Karkare

I received the translated version of a poem by Mrs Kavita Karkare through e-mail which I am sharing here. The following salutation by Dr S. Kalyanaraman ( who is working for saving Sethu and restoring the lost glory of Saraswathy civilization) reflects what millions of people like me would wish to say.


This poem of Kavita Karkare is an epitome of the state of the nation. It verily defines rashtra dharma. The rashtram which does not know how to honour her heroes is an adharma nation.

The rashtram which knows how to honour her heroes and
patriots who have laid down their lives in defence of the motherland is a dharma nation.

Kavita ji, you have rendered a great service to the rashtram.

Yours
is a wake-up call to every bharatiya as Hero Hemant Karkare's aatman has attained the paramapadam of the paramaatman.

May paramaatman give
you the strength of will to take the rashtram to great heights. Do not despair. People of this punyabhumi bharatam will not let you down.

Hemant's dharma will protect you, your family and all the
citizens of Bharatam. For the sake of the children of Bharatam, don't despair Kavita ji. Be brave, like pujaniya Hemant ji. Dharmo rakshati rakshitah."


kalyanaraman

*************


From

A POSTING IN A "VETERAN'S GROUP"

Kavita Karkare’s heart-rending poem which she read out on the occasion
of the Marathi edition launch of `To The Last Bullet’ on December 22,
2009 in Pune should pierce the heart of every conscientious citizen of
this country.



Title: Do not become a martyr in this country

by

Mrs Kavita Karkare

Do not commit the mistake of becoming a martyr in this country

Your image will be tarnished by being called as `Headless Chicken’ or
`Dumb Ass’

Hence, never commit the mistake of being a martyr in this country.

Why has the martyr being adorned with `Ashoka Chakra’?

Is what they will argue aimlessly and insensitively

Even the `Ram Pradhan Committee (meant to give justice) will hang the martyr

Hence, never commit the mistake of being a martyr in this country.

While fighting terror, why didn’t help come in time? Why were the injured

lying for 40 minutes without help?

As a martyr’s wife in this country, never ask such questions.

Firstly, never commit the `crime’ of being a martyr in this country.

Nowhere in the world is a martyr tested for alcohol, but in this
country this humiliation is also not spared

Never try to understand the politics behind this irrational demand.

Never commit the mistake of being a martyr in this country.

Which senior officer switched off his mobile during the hour of terror?

Or which senior officer twiddled his fingers on a terrace?

Never pick up courage to point such fingers.

Never commit the mistake of being a martyr in this country.

We have been reminded a hundred times about compensation to martyrs

As also the money we got as their `Leave Encashment’ and `Provident Fund.’

If that was not enough, we were reminded they paid us Rs.15,000 for
our husbands’ funeral,

Never commit the mistake of being a martyr in this country.

By being in the government service

Never make the mistake of being a martyr in this country

In this country, the crime of murder is pardoned

The corrupt released from the prison

Walk in public, with their head held high

But if you become a martyr, you are ostracised from society

Never commit the mistake of being a martyr of this country.

Should the martyr be hanged?

Or should he be kept alive?

You will decide that

We have set aflame the torch,

Which you will keep it burning.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Female facial beauty & Samudrika lakshana for women.


Here is a study on the 'golden ratio' that determines the facial beauty of a woman.
Conducted by the researchers of University of California and the University of Toronto, the study has drawn its conclusions from the opinions given by people.



We have a complete book on anga sastra in India developed by astrologer- rishis for the ideal features for men and women from head to toe. I don't know what methodology they used for arriving at their conclusions. But they have connected the features to some predictions about the life and future. Anga sastra for both men and women therefore is part of predictive astrology.

Sometime ago we saw a similar study done by westerners on men – connecting the square face of men to aggressiveness. In that context I gave some outlines of anga sastra for men in my post  Face shows the character of men?


In this post, I don't want to delve into the entire sastra for women but confine myself with some interesting points on face and marks on face of women.

The facial lakshana for women given in anga sastra is slightly different from what these researchers have found out.

Facial sastra says that the ideal female face has 3 equal divisions – the length of the forehead must be equal to the length of the nose which must be equal to the length from the tip of the nose to the end of the chin.

The beautiful eyebrow is that which is curved like a bow. We find comparison of eyebrow of women to a bow in many old texts. Or it must be like crescent moon.
The forehead must be like half moon.

Speaking on moles and marks on the face, it is said that a mole in the centre of the forehead will get a woman married to a rich person.

Similar is the prediction for one who has a mole at the tip of the nose.

If there is a mole on the left cheek, such a woman will be a contended woman. She will enjoy good food also.

Generally it is lucky to have moles in the left side of the body for women.

Connecting the facial feature to horoscopic indications, the first house indicates the face the looks of a person. For a woman to have the above said features of anga sastra, the lagna must be one lorded or occupied by Venus. Benefics in Lagna makes one look beautiful. The lagna Drekkana falling in benefic houses also makes one look beautiful.

- jayasree


*****************************

From


New `golden ratios' for female facial beauty

It is said that beautiful eyes make a woman attractive but according to a study distance between them and the mouth also hold the key to her looks. According to researchers from the University of California and the University of Toronto, the distance between a woman's two eyes and between her eyes and mouth are key factors in determining how attractive she is to others.

Pamela Pallett and Stephen Link of UC San Diego and Kang Lee of the University of Toronto tested the existence of an ideal facial feature arrangement and successfully identified the optimal relation between the eyes, the mouth and the edge of the face for individual beauty.

In four separate experiments, the team asked university students to make paired comparisons of attractiveness between female faces with identical facial features but different eye-mouth distances and different distances between the eyes.

They discovered two "golden ratios," one for length and one for width.
Female faces were judged more attractive when the vertical distance between their eyes and the mouth was approximately 36 per cent of the face's length, and the horizontal distance between their eyes was approximately 46 per cent of the face's width. Interestingly, these proportions correspond with those of an average face, the journal Vision Research said.

"The Greeks found what they believed was a `golden ratio' ­ also known as `phi' or the `divine proportion' ­ and used it in their architecture and art," Pallett said.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Discovery of Atlantis – Maya’s Romaka connection?


A team of under-sea archeologists have come up with a claim that they have discovered the sunken city of Atlantis.

Speculation has been going on for sometime now that some meteors could have hit the Atlantic Ocean about 10,000 years ago. It is possible to assume that it resulted in the sinking of the fabled city of Atlantis.


This location has a parallel to the Romaka city spelt in Surya Siddhantha. Maya belonging to Romaka desa received the teachings on astronomy from Surya and had given it as Surya Siddhantha. Names of 4 places on earth located 90 degrees away form one another are noted in this text. According to it, when it is sun rise in Lanka, it is midday at Yamakoti, mid night at Romaka and sunset at Siddhapura.

That means these places are located at 90 degrees ( 6 hours) from each other with Yamakoti in the east of Lanka, Romaka in the west of Lanka and Siddhapura, just half way around the globe form Lanka.



If we look at the world map of today, we find that both Yamakoti and Romaka are under water!

The interesting observation is that Romaka is located in a region which is supposed to have housed Atlantis!!

I have written the probable location of Mlechchas and their connection to Atlantis in the last part of the following article:-

http://www.scribd.com/doc/22717150/Roots-of-Mlechcha-Astrology

The astrological knowledge of Maya of Romaka in that part of the world and the subsequent adaptation of it in Europe (Rome & Greece) after the loss of Romaka (Atlantis?) looks like a probability.


When we look eastward, the place of Yamakoti off the coast of Japan seems to have been traced. There are reports of a sunken city in that part of the world.

If these leads are explored well, perhaps we can know the early spread of mankind form India (that the genetic studies reveal).


Within India and in the surroundings of India, a lot more needs to be explored.

We needed a NASA satellite image to prove the world that a man made bund indeed was constructed as told in Ramayana



http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/sseop/


An image by Indian satellite does show the underground river of Saraswathy.

http://sites.google.com/site/kalyan97/

This discovery and the subsequent works on the inputs got form more than 1000 sites in the course of Saraswathy establishes the truth of the puranas and ithihasas.


Similarly, the works of Graham Hancock in Mahabalipuram and Poompuhar are proving the literary evidence about these regions and the associated rich civilization.

http://www.grahamhancock.com/underworld/mahabalipuram1.php

Mahabalipuram is where Vamana avathar has taken place and 7 temples had existed where there is sea now. The tsunami did expose some remnants of a past. However an all out effort to explore this region must be done by the government. In the absence of any interest in this region by the Tamil nadu government, we have to pray for NASA’s or ISS’s mercy to turn their cameras on this region form above.

http://www.grahamhancock.com/underworld/poompuhar1.php?p=3

Poompuhar is another region that must also be photographed from above. This place has a rich past which is known from Manimegalai. The pathigam of Manimegalai says that this was the oldest city in the Jambhoodweepa where the deity of Jambhoo dweepa was housed from times even before the river Cauvery was formed. It had been a city for several 1000 s of years. The West has only one Atlantis connecting them to a past. But in India we have many – of which Poompuhar and Mahabalipuram are just the important ones, for which we have literary evidence.


The Master of all such pasts is the sunken land of Kumari!!

Texts speak of a mountain range and 2 rivers, Kumari and Pahruli in that land.

An image released by NASA of the tectonic plates of the world does show a feature resembling a continuing mountain range from the eastern ghats into the sea. This stretches up to Madagascar





I wish NASA looks at the ocean floor of this region to solve one of the biggest mysteries of spread of mankind in the last 50,000 years. This map shows the proximity of the land of Kumari (as told in Tamil texts) to Africa, Australia and South East Asia. Any talk about the human –spread from India as the pivot must be accompanied with a wider image of an Indian landmass. This is a major region of the world crying for attention.


**********************************



From

http://www.dc-epaper.com/DC/DCC/2009/12/19/ArticleHtmls/19_12_2009_012_014.shtml?Mode=0

CARRIBEAN SEA SNAPS SHOW RUINS OF EGYPTIAN CITY


Around 350 BC, Greek philosopher Plato wrote about a technically advanced city, Atlantis, which vanished under the Atlantic Ocean waves in one night.

Time and time again hopes have been raised that the lost city has been found -only for those hopes to be dashed against evidence.


Now, a team of "undersea archaeologists" has become the latest to claim that it has finally found the lost city of Atlantis beneath the Caribbean, British newspaper Daily Mail reported.

The anonymous scientists have released a series of images taken beneath the Caribbean, and they insist the snaps show what appear to be the ruins of a city that could pre-date Egypt's pyramids, which appeared after 2600 BC.

Furthermore, they even told a French newspaper that one of the structures is a pyramid.


Now, the anonymous group wants to raise funds to explore the secret location where the images were taken and have not revealed the exact location, saying only that it's somewhere in the Caribbean Sea, the report said.

In fact, in Plato's account, Atlantis was a naval power lying "in front of the Pillars of Hercules" which conquered many parts of western Europe and Africa 9,000 years before the time of Solon, or approximately 9600 BC.

After a failed attempt to lost civilisations. invade Athens, Atlantis sank into the ocean "in a single day and night of misfortune".


Though scholars dispute whether and how much Plato's story or account was inspired by older traditions, Atlantis inspires today's literature, from science fiction to comic books to films, its name having become a byword for any and all supposed advanced prehistoric



Thursday, December 17, 2009

Summer in Saturn’s north & Mayan myth of 2012!



I felt excited by the news that summer has begun in the Northern hemisphere of Saturn.

This news gives some understanding about why certain basic principles of astrology have been designed as they are by our sages.


More importantly this news offers an explanation for the way the Jupiter based calendar, called as Brihaspathya-maana has been formed which in turn gives some clues on how the Venus based calendar could have been framed. The Venus based calendar known as Shukra-maana or Asura-maana is what the Mayans had followed. The end of a cycle in their calendar in the year 2012 can be analyzed from another perspective – from what we gather from our astrological texts, buttressed with a new understanding by the discovery of Saturn’s summer that began this year.



Let me explain this.


Saturn’s revolution around the sun takes approximately 30 years. This is the duration of a year in Saturn.

Saturn is tilted enough that the sunlight (or seasons) shifts constantly from south to north and from north to south.

In other words, Saturn is also experiencing seasons like the earth.

The duration of light in each hemisphere lasts for 15 years each.



On August 11th this year (2009), the sun was shining on the equator of Saturn.


From that time onwards the northern sojourn of the sunlight has begun.



North has a special place in our system (Hinduism and Hindu astrology). North actually means the plane above our path of revolution. The vast expanses above our plane of existence or above the Milkyway are known as North.


This can be easily understood by looking at the square shaped Horoscope chart we make.



The North always stands for Devayaana or the path of Gods or the path of transcendence to Higher realms.



The South stands for Pithruyaana, or rebirth or getting back into the cyclical sameness.


It is no wonder that Saturn also exhibits uniqueness in its Northern realms by some surging activity in for of hexagonal patterns.

What is of interest to us in astrology is that the Saturn’s summer is going to coincide with Exaltation of Saturn as per our astrological principles.


Just in contrast was in the 80s when Saturn’s north was gloomy and the south was shining. That coincided with the debility point of Saturn.


Going by the exact degree of Saturn’s location (27th degree Leo) on the day of sun crossing its equator (11-08-2009), this exaltation point shifts to Scorpio and not in Libra. But what can not be dismissed is that the exaltation period coincides with its peak summer in north!


Astrologically speaking, exaltation time of Saturn is the best time for the birth of seers and great and dharmic people.


In mundane astrology, debility time of Saturn comes with lot of bad news for mankind. Though Aries is the sign of debility, its transit in Taurus (which will be Winter Proper in north pole according to Cassini’s findings) comes with a lot of troubles.



To say the important ones, when Saturn transits Krittika, it must not be opposed by Jupiter in Vishaka. That will spell doom on mankind. There will be wars and bloodshed on earth.


Retrogression in Krittika (as seen from earth) – that is going back towards deep winter - is also a bad time for mankind. There will be famine and drought. There will be hostilities among people.


When Saturn cuts across Rohini in Taurus, that is again a time of wars and acrimony. In its last transit on these stars, we witnessed terrorism raising its ugly head. WTC and Indian Parliament were attacked when Saturn was in its deep winter in Taurus. In the earlier round when Saturn was transiting Taurus the world was shattered by the 2nd world war and atomic bombs.


In a much ancient past, King Dasharatha (father of Rama) appeased the Saturn with Shani sthuthi to save the people from famine conditions when Saturn was crossing Taurus through Rohini.


Thus we see a correlation between Saturn’s winter in its Northern hemisphere and bad happenings to mankind.

But this is not the news I am excited about. The knowledge of what it means by exaltation or debility of a planet, understood from this scientific revelation is what makes me feel excited that I have hit upon a breakthrough.


The 2 planets of interest in this context are Jupiter and Venus.


Jupiter is the preceptor for Devas or for those living in the northern hemisphere of the earth and Venus is for Asuras, those living in the southern hemisphere.



Vedic seers have devised 10 types of measurement of time or calendars of which the Suryamaana , Chandramaana and Brihaspatya maana (based on Jupiter’s revolution) are important for us. The Brihaspatya maana was in vogue for a long time in the past. Shukra maana is based on the revolution of Venus but not much is known about it as our ancients have disregarded it as not suitable for those in Northern hemisphere. Another reason is that it was followed by Asuras.



For long I could not rationalize the principles of Brihaptaya maana of Jupiter as given by our ancient sages.

But now after understanding how exaltation and debility signs go along with the summer and winter in the north of Saturn, I am able to get an explanation.



Let us begin with exaltation and debility of Jupiter.


Jupiter has just moved out is its debility now, which means that it is winter in the north of Jupiter now.

When Jupiter exalts it means peak summer in Jupiter’s north.


Now the next understanding is how the beginning of a cycle is allotted to the planets in astrology.

The basic principle is when the planet disappears behind the sun and reappears again.

In other words the cycle begins after the conjunction with the sun.


For moon, its new cycle begins after it conjoins the sun.

That is, after the New moon or amavasya, (when the moon joins the sun), the new cycle of revolution around the zodiac starts for the moon.


Similarly the new cycle of revolution around the zodiac starts for Jupiter after it conjoins the Sun in the star Dhanishta!


It is said in Brihat Samhita ( chapter 8 -27) “ When Jupiter reappears at the beginning of the constellation of Dhansihta in the month of Maagha, the first year of the cycle of 60 years of Jupiter known as Prabhava commences.”



Jupiter completes one revolution around the zodiac in 12 years. But that is not taken as a cycle. The Jupiter-maana had 12 yugas of 5 years each. When all the 12 yugas starting from Vishnu yuga gets over by 60 years, it is said that Jupiter has completed one cycle. The duration of the cycle is 60 years.

The commencement of a new cycle starts after Sun conjoins Jupiter in Dhansihta. Such a conjunction happens this year when Sun moves to Aquarius. When that happens it means Jupiter has just crossed its deep winter in its north (debility).



By this principle, we can say that a new cycle for a planet begins after conjunction with the sun that happens after it crosses its sign of debility or deep winter in its northern pole.

We may wonder if such a principle is not applicable to Moon. Should not a new cycle of moon begin after it crosses debility in Scorpio?


Should not the Lunar new year (new cycle) begin after moon crosses debility and conjoins the sun?



Yes. Vikrama calendar begins the lunar year from Kaarthigai after moon conjoins the sun soon after its debility!

But that calendar is not in vogue today. A debate must have happened among the sages about the logic of having a calendar like that for moon.



The Sun and the moon are exceptions as they are not treated along with other planets. Moreover moon’s debility is not technically correct because it attains neecha bhanga – by being in Kendra to itself.



The same question if applied to Sun and its debility has a different application in astrology.

Sun debilitates in Libra. Soon after it moves out of Libra, that is, when it enters Scorpio, that marks an important time. All facets of vegetable horoscopy are assessed from the day the sun enters Scorpio.



The prediction of the crops and crop pattern to be raised in the ensuing season is judged from the sun’s entry into Scorpio, after leaving its sign of debility.


If solar cycle is observed for agricultural purposes, the lunar cycle is observed for festivals and vrathas that form by itself another type of maana called Saavana maana.


From all this we deduce that sun and the moon are excluded from the regular pattern of how the new cycle begins for a planet.



From the Jupiter’s cycle we know that the new cycle begins after the planet leaves its debility (deep winter in its northern pole) and repapers after a conjunction with the sun.



Let us apply this principle to Venus. We don’t apply this to other planets such as Mars or Mercury, because the 10 types of measurement of time as given by Vedic seers do not consider them. The calendar of sun and the moon are for mundane life. Jupiter is for those living in the north (Devas) and Venus is for those living in the south (Asuras).



Venus debilitates in Virgo. That must be the time of peak winter in its northern pole. But it is not so. Because Venus is tilted very little, say by 3 degrees only. The seasonal changes are almost nil, but it is a matter of exploration if some change in illumination of the poles happens in Venus. The Mayan cycle of 5,125 years is perhaps to do with such a cycle that is possible once in many 1000 s of years.



If we look at the sky map of 21-12-2012, we find that Venus has emerged from its sign of debility and traveled the next sign. The conjunction with the sun would not yet have taken place. But I noticed some other thing.

Venus, after emerging form the sign of debility becomes conjunct with Saturn in Libra and emerges from that in Scorpio.



A similar happening can be noted on August 11, 3114 BC when the current cycle of the Mayans was said to have started.

Then also Venus had emerged from debility sign, then conjoined with Saturn and re emerged at Scorpio.

Its location in degrees on both occasions is very close – within 6 degrees.

That sign (Scorpio) is in opposition to Taurus lorded by Venus.


For Asuramaana, the sun may not be a close ally, but Saturn could be!

Saturn and Venus are friendly planets and their association and interchange give rise to odd behavior and perverse pleasure which are characteristic of Asuras.

Perhaps the Asura-maana that was discarded by the sages had the new cycle of Venus beginning after it crosses its debility sign and a subsequent conjunction with Saturn when summer runs peak in Saturn’s north.



Related information:-

5 reasons why the world will not end on 2012.


The 10 types of measurement of time are as follows:

1.Brahma maana (kalpa)

2. Deva maana (of the Gods)

3. Pithru maana (of the fathers or pitrus)

4. Prajapatya maana (of Prajapathi / manvanthra)

5. Brihaspatya maana (of Jupiter)

6. Saavana maana (civil year – day starts from sun rise)

7. Chandra maana (lunar year)

8. Soorya maana (solar year)

9. Nakshathra maana (sidreal time)

10. Asura mana (of Venus)




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From

http://www.dc-epaper.com/DC/DCC/2009/12/11/ArticleHtmls/11_12_2009_013_011.shtml?Mode=0#



Saturn's mystery hexagon emerges

New York,



After years of waiting for the Sun to illuminate Saturn's North Pole again, cameras aboard Nasa's Cassini spacecraft have captured the most detailed images yet of the fascinating hexagon shape crowning the planet.


The new images of the hexagon, whose shape is the path of a jet stream flowing around the North Pole, reveal concentric circles, curlicues, walls, and streamers not seen in previous images.

Nasa's Voyager spacecraft had last captured the visible light images of the entire hexagon nearly 30 years ago. After the sunlight faded, darkness engulfed the north pole for 15 years, and much to the delight and bafflement of Cassini scientists, the location and shape of the hexagon in the latest images match those they saw in the Voyager pictures.


"The longevity of the hexagon makes this something special, given that weather on Earth lasts on the order of weeks," said Kunio Sayanagi, a Cassini imaging team associate at the California Institute of Technology. "It's a mystery on par with the strange weather conditions that give rise to the long-lived Great Red Spot of Jupiter," he added.


The hexagon was originally found in images taken by the Voyager in the early 1980s. It encircles Saturn at about 77 degrees north latitude and has been estimated to have a diameter wider than two Earths. The jet stream is believed to whip along the hexagon at around 100 meters per second.


Early hexagon images from Voyager and ground based telescopes suffered from poor viewing perspectives. Cassini, which has been orbiting Saturn since 2004, has a better angle for viewing the North Pole. But, the long darkness of Saturnian winter hid the hexagon from Cassini's visible-light cameras for years.


However, infrared instruments were able to obtain images by using heat patterns which showed the hexagon is nearly stationary and extends deep into the atmosphere. They also discovered a hotspot and cyclone in the region.


From

http://365daysofastronomy.org/2009/08/11/august-11th-cassini-watches-the-sun-rise-above-saturns-rings/

Today, August 11, 2009, marks Saturn's equinox, the first day of spring in its northern hemisphere. An observer at Saturn sees crazy things happening when the Sun passes through the plane that contains Saturn's enormous ring system and the orbital paths of all its moons. Moons eclipse each other; they cast shadows on Saturn and its rings; the weird waves in Saturn's rings begin to cast their own shadows; and, finally, today, the north side of Saturn's rings will see the Sun rise for the first time in nearly 15 Earth years. The Cassini spacecraft is there to capture images of the weird and beautiful play of light and shadow.

http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00002044/

Monday, December 14, 2009

Article on NeeLaa Devi.


Of the three consorts of Lord Vishnu, not much is known about NeeLaa devi, who was born as Nappinnai. Interestingly whatever available information is there  - apart from the 8 lined NeeLa sooktham of Vedas, is found in Tamil texts only. An analytical article on different facets of NeeLa Devi has been written by me and published in tamilhindu.com.
The link is
http://www.tamilhindu.com/2009/12/neela-devi-in-tamil-tradition/


To read the article on Nappinnai, click the following link:-
http://www.tamilhindu.com/2009/12/who-is-nappinnai/

Sunday, December 13, 2009

India as the base of Asian populations (genetic study)

A study of Human genetic history done across 10 Asian countries namely, India, China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand – has revealed that people of all these countries have originally spread out from India! The initial source for the people in India was from Africa that happened about 50,000 years ago. This is yet another important discovery that strengthens another recently published genetic study that showed common ancestry for all Indians.

The news reports about this discovery are reproduced below.

However there is a major flaw in the understanding of these migrations according to me.
Going by the current topographical outlines of India, it is said that originally people ‘migrated’ from Africa to India. The researchers have failed to look back in the ancient past when Indian sub continent was extended upto Africa and far down the South of the Equator. They refuse to acknowledge (or they may even be unaware of) the literary evidence in Tamil of an extended India in the past. In such a past, south east nations, India, Australia and Africa were geographically closer to each other. The migration or exchange of people between these regions must have been easier then. That must explain how the people of other 9 countries have connection to India. This was until 10,000 years ago.


According to Tamil texts, the first wave of sea- rising and submergence of vast expanses of land happened 10,000 years ago. That must have separated south east Asia from India and India from Africa and Australia. Marine and other studies will substantiate this view of the Tamil texts.


The 2nd wave of submergence had totally cut off India from other lands. Even then India had extended upto just the South of equator.


The 3rd wave of submergence happened 5000 years ago which defined the current sea boundaries of India. The migration or spread of the ancients to Japan or south east Asian countries must have happened through land before the first submergence. The Chinese might have been concentrated in the north east corridor of the vast Indian mass even at that time.

From the Hindu concepts of Daksha prajapathi we deduce that evolution of man happened first in the South and around Meru.



Going by the description of Meru, we come across a place called Meru in Mount Kenya in Africa. This place is near equator where people called Ameru have been living.


This could probably be the Meru told in Hindu texts. Early human evolution was around Meru. Studies on the people of this place might yield better insights
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meru,_Kenya




When the extended India was close to this part as also with south East Asia and Australia, the ancestors of present-day people of the 10 countries had spread through this land. When lands were cut off due to submergence, the people also were cut of from one another. This is a plausible explanation of how they all come to be related to the people of India as found in the recent study.



Another important clue from Tamil texts is that Arabian sea is an old sea, where as the Bay of Bengal was a dug-out sea.


The Arabian Sea must have been a land trapped one like Caspian Sea in earlier times before the extended landmass got separated.





Related posts:-


BAY OF BENGAL was a high-land once!

SETHU – Digging of the Bay of Bengal ended here!

Mankind’s date with Indian land mass!

Indians belong to India – No Aryan invasion!



- jayasree

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From

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ancestors-of-Chinese-came-from-India-Study/articleshow/5328596.cms



Ancestors of Chinese came from India: Study

by

Prashanth G N, TNN 12 December 2009, 01:08am IST


BANGALORE: The ancestors of most Asian populations, including the Chinese and southeast Asians, came from India, a new genetic study across 10 countries has revealed. The study found that humans first migrated to the Indian subcontinent from Africa some 100,000 years ago and then spread to other parts of Asia.


"When humans moved out of Africa, there was a migration to India and from India to southeast Asia and then east Asia, and finally to the Americas. So, all Asians have a genetic connection with India," Mitali Mukerji, a scientist from the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology who was in the team, said.


The study — Mapping Human Genetic History in Asia — was conducted in 10 Asian countries including India. Apart from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research DG Samir Brahmachari, the Indian study team comprised eight members and some students from IGIB, New Delhi anthropologist Partha Majumdar and researchers from the Centre for Genomic Applications.


The study contradicts earlier findings that humans directly went to East Asia from Africa. The study found remarkable similarities between the Dravidian population of south India and specific populations of Malaysia and Singapore. More interestingly, north Indians and Dravidians, too, were found to be genetically connected — meaning there are similarities in their gene structures.


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From

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/India-is-the-source-of-genetic-diversity---Study/553371/


India is the source of genetic diversity : Study

by
ASHOK B SHARMA
Posted: Dec 12, 2009 at 1746 hrs IST


A study done by a consortium of geneticists from 10 Asian countries shows that Indian genetic diversity is the basis of other population in Asia. It says that over 50,000 years ago there was a first single stream entry of humans into India from Africa. From India the human population settled in South-East Asia and from there some of then moved to east and central Asia.


The study tends to refute the age old belief that Aryans as a distinct race who migrated from Central Asia and settled in the plains of North India. If we are believe the origin of humankind in Africa and the first outward stream of humans settling in India and thereafter spreading to other parts of Asia, including Central Asia, then they are same people who might have probably come back and resettled in India from Central Asia However, HUGO has planned to undertake further studies including Central Asia and the Polynesian Islands.


The first ever study of human genomes of Asia conducted by Human Genome Organisation (HUGO) Pan-Asian SNP Consortium also says that some of the Indian population showed evidence of shared ancestry with European population and this is consistent with the expansion of Indo-European speaking population.


This HUGO’s Pan-Asian initiative is a consortium of 90 geneticists and 40 institutions from 10 Asian nations, namely China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. It collected samples from 1,928 unrelated individuals representing 73 groups of people from 10 countries and 10 linguistic lineages from member countries as well as from two non-Asian population groups of Africo-American and Caucasian ancestry.


HUGO Pan-Asia SNP Consortium study has been recently published the reputed Science magazine (vol 326) in December 11, 2009
According to the study modern humans evolved in Africa and spread across the world, adapting locally to the selective pressures of climate, food sources and pathogens.


“Tracking genetic variations through human migrations provides clues to evolution of diseases and phenotypes. India can be a crucible for clinical trials of medicines suitable for Asian population,” said Prof Samir Brahmachari, director-general of the apex Indian scientific body, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Along with Prof Brahmachari, Dr Mitali Mukherjee of Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology and Dr Partha P Majumdar, head of the human genetics unit of Indian Statistical Institute were represented in the consortium from India.


According to the study the most recent common ancestors of Asians arrived first in India. Later some of them migrated to Thailand and southwards to the land known today as Malaysia, Indonesia and also eastwards to the Philippines. The first group of settlers must have gone very far south before they settled successfully. These includes the Malay Negritos, Philippine Negritos, the East Indonesians and early settlers of the Pacific Islands.Thereafter one or several groups of people migrated North, mixed with previous settlers there and finally formed various population groups we now refer to as Austronesian, Austro-Astiatic, Tai-Kadal, Hmong-Mien and Altaic.


“This study is a milestone not only in the science that emerged, but the consortium that was formed. Ten Asian countries came together in the spirit of solidarity to understand how we related as a people and we finished with a truly Asian scientific community. We overcame shortage of funds and diverse operational constraints through partnerships, good will and cultural sensitivity,” said Prof Edison Liu, executive director Genome Institute of Singapore and President of the HUGO.

The study also reveals that more than 90% of East Asian haplotypes are found in either South-East Asian or Central-South Asian population and shows clinical structure with haplotype diversity decreasing from south to north. Furthermore, 50% of East Asian haplotypes were found in South East Asia only and 5% were found in Central-South Asia only, indicating that South-East Asia was a major geographic source of East Asia population.


India has recently achieved a major breakthrough in human genome sequencing. Scientists at CSIR’s affiliate organization, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) sequenced the human genome of an anonymous Indian citizen. The human genome has 3.1 billion base pairs The team at IGIB generated over 51 gigabases of data using next generation sequencing technology, resulting in over 13x coverage of the human genome. This next generation sequencing technology used in this case enables massively parallel sequencing of millions of genomic fragments of 76 base pairs which are then mapped back to the reference genome. This humongous exercise was made possible with the CSIR supercomputing facility at IGIB.


Sequencing of a human genome requires high computational capability and technological know-how in handling sophisticated machines and analyzing huge volume of data. The first human genome sequencing initiative was conceived as early as 1984. In addition to the US, the international human genome project consortium comprised geneticists from UK, France, Germany, Japan and China. This project formally started in 1980 and sequencing was completed in 2003. India then could not be a part of the process due to lack of resources. Currently more than 14 human genomes sequences from different countries have been announced globally. With the completion of its first human genome sequence, India is now in the league with few select countries like the US, UK, China, Canada and South Korea.