Guru Nadi 1

Translated
By
Chandrashekhar Sharma, India

adis are one of the most ancient

literature on astrology at times
written by Sages and at times by
stalwarts of astrology who named it after a
planet or a diety. In this space we translate
one such unheard of nadi called Guru
Nadi. This Guru Nadi finds mention in
"Chandra Kala Nadi" AKA Deva Keralam,
wherein the author tells that certain
interpretations be done as per Guru nadi.
Guru Nadi is obviously written by
Achyuta as is evident from the manuscript
and is part of Deva Keralam.
Unfortunately it did not get translated and
the public at large remained a stranger to
it. Guru nadi was never published but its
manuscript
was
copied
by
P.
Mavibasavaradya and checked by K.S.
Mahantadevana on 11th May 1961, perhaps
from Oriental Library Madras, and was
kindly made available to "Saptarishis
Astrology" by a student of Late C.S.Patel
who bought it from him & now has given
it freely for all in the Manuscript section
of Saptarishis Astrology website. It is
interesting to note that some of the nadi
amsha that are mentioned in Guru nadi
have different names than those given in
"Chandra Kala Nadi" AKA Deva Keralam.
It was put on Saptarishi website for
translation by scholars of sanskrit & I have
undertaken this task of translating it with
the best of my abilities. Some letters ae
difficult to decipher in the manuscript, but
I have tried to keep the logic in the same
fashion as it appears. Bhoot sankhya is
used in the calculations given in

Chandrashekhar Sharma, from Nagpur,

has translated the first two pages and sent
us to be posted on the web, so that other
learned could read and modify the
translation
done,
if
necessary.
Chandrashekharji has also promised to
translate rest of the pages over time. He has
also asked us to make it clear that if there is
any mistake in the translation, the fault is
entirely his alone. Chandrashekharji is the
author of the book "Vedic Astrology
Demystified", published by Parimal
Publications Delhi "

161

manuscript and so they will have to be carefully decodified. I am sure there can be
other interpretation of the text as Sanskrit uses many similies, encrypts and allegories. So if
there is any mistake in the translation, the blame for that lies with me alone.

gurun
gu nafI
vasudev< pr naray[namym!,
lmIso< nmSkTva vye=h< devkerlIm!.
vsudevaparabrahmanryaanmayam|
lakmsakhanamasktvvakye'hadevakeralma||

Having saluted the Parabrahma Vaasudeva, who is called Narayana the husband of Laxmi, I
(now) tell about Deva Keralam.

kerle iv;ye kidCyutaenam Usur>,

b&hSpit< smuiZy s ce tp %mm!.
keraleviayekaccidacyutonmabhsura|
bhaspatisamudviyasacakretapauttamam||

Achyta a brahman, having labouriously studied and understood the zodiacal science as
explained in the treatise called Keralam.

sadsumuoetSMmE ah devpuraeiht>,
tpsatvtuaeiSm vTs ik< te kraeMyhm!.
prasdasumukhetasmmaiprhadevapurohita|
tapastavatuosmivatsakitekaromyaham||

Guru (lord Brihaspati or the preceptor of Achyuta), of the pleasing contenance, said
graciously that I am pleased with your (Achyutas) great labour (in studyof the science) and
said, oh my son what is it that you desire from me.

ACyut
acyuta-
Achyutasays:

nmSte muinnaway vcsa<ptye nm>,

yid m< saeiSm y*nuh aghm!.
namastemuninthyavacasmpatayenama|
yadimahyaprasannosmiyadyanugrahabhgaham||

162

I salute you Oh Lord of Sages , Oh Lord of Speech. If you are pleased with my efforts and
you want to grant me a boon.

AtItanagt}an< yen me SyaTsurer,

s<i]PyJyaeit;< za< mTkte vmhRis.
attngatajnayenamesyatsurevara|
sakipyajyotiastramatktevaktumarhasi||

Kindly tell me, in brief, about the Science of Jyotish which is the knowledge of great
antiquity, Oh Lord of the Gods.

gu>
guru-
GuruSaid:

saxu saxu mhaa} yNme mnis vtRte,

vVyimitvTsaXya tdev< aiwRt< Tvya.
sdhusdhumahprjayanmemanasivartate|
vaktavyamitivatsdhytadevaprrthitatvay||

You have said well, oh learned, that which was in my mind. I shall tell you that which you
have prayed for and desire to know.

puranaray[ae dev> kmlasnyaicRt>>,

jatulR]imt NwEe Jyaeit; s<ihtam!.
purnryaodevakamalsanayrcita|
jturlakamitagranthaicakrejyotiasahitm||

In ancient times (or in the beginning), Brahma created 100,000 (One hundred thousand
One Lakh) treatises of Jyotish about the zodiacal circle related to that which shines (grahas)
and arranged them in a careful order and offered them respectfully to Narayana.

a vtRyamas snkaid;u tTSvym!,

tsar< smx&Ty cSte s<ihta< p&wk.
brahmpravartaymsasanakdiutatsvayam|
tatrasrasamadhtyacakrustesahitpthaka||

Brahma then instructed the knowledge, himself, to Sanaka, Sanandan, Sanatkumar and
Sanaatana Rishis (sages), its essence by combining the (essence of) texts.

163

Aak;Rimhme[ aiwRt> pUvm

R adrat!,
NwEiRyut s<OyakEnaR a gumt< ij.
karamihamantreaprrthitaprvamdart|
granthairdviyutasakhykairnmngurumatadvija||

Having been attracted to this science and requested with respect, earlier, Guru said, that as
per his opinion, there are three granthas/texts (or Principal divisions), Oh Brahmin.

AyutEaRgRve kpyav&;pvR[I.
%mayE gvan zMu> aevacayut s<Oyya.
ayutairbhrgavacakrekpayvaparva||
umyaibhagavnaambhuprovcyutasakhyay||

Lord Shambhu, the greatest among astrologer (having created the zodiac), while explaining
the science of division of time, told Goddess Uma (his consort) that there are innumerable
texts (of this great science).

yNmya sukt< pUv jatkSkNxmumm!,

ishe[ s<iyPy TvTkte aeCyte=xuna.
yanmaysuktaprvajtakaskandhamuttamam|
dvisahasreasakyipyatvatkteprocyate'dhun||
1

Now you abridge the Jataka Skandha (which is the best amongst the three divisions of
Jyotish), which I have beautifully created in 2000 texts (shlokas?).

@v< muva guStSmE %pivZy< Svk<mtm!,

mnu agRv< ipa tEvaNtr xIyt.
evamuktvgurustasmaiupaviyasvakammatam|
manucabhrgavapitrtatraivntaradhyata||

In this manner did Guru tell his opinion (while sitting in front) to the wise astrologer
(Brahma), who then used his intellect to decipher the science of Jatakaskandha.

ACyutae=ip pun> Itae tpsaraXyagRvm!,

tSmaTsh s<Oyak< avan agRv< mtm!.
acyuto'pipunaprtotapasrdhyabhrgavam|
tasmtsahasrasakhykaprptavnabhrgavamatam||

Jataka Skanda means astrology dealing with humans

164

Achyuta again pleased the deity of astrologer (Guru that is Shiva ), who is obtainable with
performing great austeries, and received 1000 granthas that were received from the great
astrologer (Shukra or Guru).

zusad l_yen me[araXy zrm!,

shNw s<i]< yu< lee 1 saMbizv<mtm!. 1 leoe
ukraprasdalabhyenamantrerdhyaakaram|
sahasragranthasakiptayuktalebhe1smbaivammatam||1lekhe

On account of the grace of Shukra (purity of mind/great astrologer) the Lord Shiva is
attainable and I (Achyuta) have put the knowledge of the 1000 granthas in an abridged form
which gives the opinion of the Lord Shiva who is with Goddess Amba.

snkaidiraida> s<i]a> s<ihta> p&wk,

sMadan me[Ev te;a< te;a< sadt>.
sanakdibhirdisakiptsahitpthak|
samprpradnakrameaivateteprasdata||

Many concise orderly texts have been handed down from the times of Sanaka and other
rishis due to their grace (over long period of time).

ktkTySttae iv> g&h< aPyaCyutae muda,

iz:yanXyapyamas za< tevkerlm!.
ktaktyastatovipraghaprpycyutomud|
iynadhypaymsastrataddevakeralam||

Oh Brahmin, having brought/received (from Guru) the science (Text) of Deva Keralam on
this earth (loka) Achyuta is happy to give it, for its study, to (his) shishyas.

teip nanaiv*a< cSsara<zE> kits<Skitm!,

AtItanagt}ane yaSyaiSt Iitma.
tepinnvidycakrussraiktisasktim|
attngatajneysystiprtiruttam||

The (science of Jyotish/Deva keralam) has also been interpreted and refined, through
knowledge of different sciences of ancient times that are of excellent (and dear to Achyuta).
2

Publisher: Incidentally this translation was to appear in May 2009 issue in a much bigger form, but on
23rd Feb 2009 on day of Shivaratri (Day of Lord Shiva), we felt a sudden urge to include it without
knowing this verse & significance of Lord Shiva in it. This article was then formatted on the day of
Shivaratri itself & when we saw this verse it was a thrilling moment. The most thrilling moment came
later when we learnt that one of the names of Lord Shiva is Chandrashekhar, the name of our respected
translator.

165

AXyetsimd< za< ten sMyGguraemuRoat!,

avaephs<yu oec rS)qsaxnm!.
adhyetasamidastratenasamyaggurormukht|
bhvopagrahasayuktakhecarasphuasdhanam||

The study of calculations of the exact degrees of the grahas together with bhavas and
upagrahas in this shastra should be learnt correctly from the mouth of Guru (from Guru
himself)

haSSvpkwn< razInamupl][m!,
avana< c pir}an< )l< tTvprI][m!.
grahssvarpakathanarnmupalakaam|
bhvncaparijnaphalatatvaparkaam||

Knowledge of Bhavas, principles of giving results, attributes of grahas, rashis attributes,

AvgRkar< c kI[Rkwt> prm!,

raJyyaegae aeGyyaegae prjatk l][m!.
aavargaprakracaprakrakathataparam|
rjyayogobhogyayogoparajtakalakaam||

The results be given on (duly expanding the results of) analyzing the 8 parameters (namely)
Yoga for ruling a kingdom, yoga for luxuries, indications of being born from a stranger,

A<g<gaidyaeg< c ivprItjinStwa,
dirjatk< cEv kmRjIvmt> prm!.
agabhagdiyogacavipartajanistath|
daridrajtakacaivakarmajvamataparam||

Yogas for breaks of limbs and body parts, yogas giving reverse effects, penury, results of
past karmas,

laekyaa pir}an< idzana< in[Ry< twa,

ANtdRza<ivcar< c dzair)l< twa.
lokaytrparijnadinnirayatath|
antardavicracadariaphalatath||

Knowledge of travels and deciding the direction of travel, analysis of Antardashas and the
arishta (calamities) causing Dasha results and,
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dzairzmn< m&telR][mev c,
twalaekaNtr aiCyte sraemRte.
dariapraamanamterlakaamevaca|
tathlokntaraprptirucyatesadgurormate||

The pariharas to stop or reduce the ills or arishtas that will happen during a dasha, the
indications of death and what loka one shall get after death should be told, is the opinion of
the pious Guru (Sadguru).

1 AyuxaRypir}an< Apm&Tyael][m!, 1 AayudaRypir}an<

pirajk yaeg pd<zkrSta.
1ayurdhyaparijnamapamtyocalakaam|1yurdyaparijna
parivrjakayogacapadabhraakarastatt||

Knowledge of life span, the indications of accidental or unnatural death, parivrajaka yoga
3
and yogas that lead to break of the vow of a parivrajaka ,
4

To Be Continued.

Parivrajaka means one who travels and refers to the sanyasi or renunciates who may not live in one
place for more than 3 days lest they develop attachment to the place and people there, barring the four
months of Chaturmasas.

167