Gods of the Hindu Cosmology

http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/vedicgods.asp
https://www.astrogyan.com/myhome/my_astrology_prediction_home.html
http://srisomesvara.org/knowledge/the-gods/nine-planets-navagrahas/
The Ancient Myth Behind the Zodiac
Originally, before human beings really existed, the entire zodiac belonged to and was the
responsibility of only the Sun and Moon. The Sun, specifically, made his home in Leo and cultivated it.
The Moon made her palace in Cancer. So only two of the zodiac signs had really been developed at
this stage of evolution……….But the smartest and most exchange oriented of all the planets, Mercury,
got an idea. He went to the Sun and Moon and proposed a deal, “If you give me some space, I will
take the responsibility for it off your hands.” The Sun and Moon agreed. They gave Mercury the space
on either side of their own. The Sun gave Virgo to Mercury, the sign next to his own Leo. The Moon
gave Gemini, the sign next to her own Cancer………….Mercury and Venus are always close and are
good friends. So Mercury went quickly to her and told her the amazing news. She came back with
Mercury to the Sun and Moon and said, “I too will take good care of the space you give me, and thus
lessen the burden of your responsibilities.” Agreeing, the Sun gave Libra to Venus, the space just after
Virgo – the closest available plot to his own Leo. In the same fashion, the Moon granted Taurus to
Venus, the space just outside of Gemini – the closest remaining area to her own Cancer……………..A
few days later, Mars came to know of this and became angry. He went to the Sun and Moon saying, “I
am always loyal to you! But you have given land to a poet and an artists before giving it to your loyal
agent!?” The Sun and Moon apologized by giving to Mars the closest space still available: The Moon
thus gave Aries to Mars and the Sun gave him Scorpio…………..Seeing Mars come into the picture,
Venus could easily foresee the future. He was going to try and conquer the whole remaining half of
the zodiac if nobody else claimed it. She went to Jupiter and Saturn but they were uninterested in
asking the Sun and Moon for material property. So she returned to the luminaries and said, “My dear
Sun and Moon, Jupiter is too modest and unconcerned with material things. He will never ask you for
any space to cultivate, he will never ask for any land. Still, he is your guru! Your revered teacher! It
would be a grave insult to let him remain without any property, while the rest of us enjoy our own
space! We will all suffer negative karma if we let this insult exist.”……………..The Sun and Moon then
went to Jupiter and requested him to take possession of the next available space. Thus the Moon gave
Pisces to Jupiter, and the Sun gave him Sagittarius……………Venus, who was present, then had the
chance to fulfill her ultimate design – the gifting of land to her dear friend, the unloved Saturn. She
pointed to him brooding off in the distance as usual. “Just see, Saturn broods in the distance. His
anger will be great, and that will not be good. There are only two plots left and they are already the
furthest from your own. He is already there by default, as well. So why be seen as generous and
officially give him that space?”………………..They agreed. The Sun and Moon reluctantly approached
Saturn and said, “We are giving you full possession of this area of space, Saturn. It is yours to develop
and cultivate as you see fit. The Sun granted him Capricorn, and the Moon gave him
Aquarius.”……………….Thus of all the wild stars in the sky, a narrow band called the zodiac became
civilized and developed as a result of being occupied by “people” – the planets. This area became
divided into 12 plots because the original owners, the Sun and Moon had a 12-based relationship to
it: As the Sun would go around the entire zodiac one time and created a year, the Moon would
become full 12 times, creating 12 months. And thus the zodiac divided into 12 distinct plots – one for
each full moon. The Sun took special ownership of Leo and the Moon of Cancer. And then, beginning
with Mercury the planets came to ask for (or were given) their own plots to be responsible for
cultivating and civilizing according to their own natural characters…………This incident took place in
cosmic history before the creation of the 8thand 9th planets: Rahu and Ketu. Therefore these two do
not own any of the zodiac signs.

Nine Planets (Navagrahas)

Just as in mathematics, there are basic operators – addition, subtraction, multiplication, division – so
too, there are operators within the structure of Consciousness. They are called the Nine Planets
(Navagrahas). They can be identified in every point, system, and dynamic within nature.........On the
physical level, the Navagrahas manifest as the mechanics within our solar system… the nine
planets: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus,Saturn, Rahu (north lunar node), Ketu(south
lunar node). While the planets themselves are superficial expressions of the Navagrahas, these
Navagrahas permeate everything..............Each of those expressions can be found in concentrated
form within different structures. The emerald is Mercury (Budha), the diamond is Venus (Shukra), etc.
It is no coincidence that the crystalline structure of gemstones parallels the crystalline structures
found within the geometry (yantras) of the underlying basis of existence. Abstract algebra is the
mathematical basis of these crystalline structures......... Mapping........Viewing the self-interacting
dynamic of pure Consciousness one way, it is the dance around the nine, the nine planets
(Navagrahas). It accounts for everything and can be followed as those Navagrahas well up through
the different levels of existence. The Navagraha system is appealing because it easily maps onto
(corresponds to) something that exists in the physical – planets in the solar system. Jyotish (Vedic
astrology) is the study of the quantum mechanical realm and its mapping onto the planets in a
mathematically rigorous way. It is a tool to analyze an individual’s place in the multidimensional
derivative of existence based upon a point in space time. The structure of the planets maps onto the
universe. The ongoing question is how well someone can read that mapping...........The motion of
planets in the solar system is a mapping, simply monitoring the pulse of the unified field as it wells up
through existence. To fully know who it is and what it is you truly are, you must understand your place
in the multidimensional universe. Each person is an inseparable, integral part of the totality of this
universe. Jyotish gives expression to the interface of one’s Transcendental being, one’s prana, with
the karmic scheme of things.............Alleviating Karma.......In order to mitigate the negative
effects of karma (shown as planet debilitation or difficult transits in the birthchart) or to provide more
potency to one’s good karma (shown as a planet that is in an exalted state or well-placed, or
beneficial transits in the birthchart), devotees make pilgrimages to Navagraha temples. When things
are out of harmony with Nature (karma), the Navagrahas can be an efficient means to affect healing
and restore Natural harmony. Therefore, we relate to the Navagrahas to avert mishaps, and help
bring health, peace, and harmony to our lives.............As per the ancient scriptures, at temples, the
Navagrahas are usually placed in a square, with the sun (Surya) in the center, and the other planets
surrounding it. None face each other. At Sri Somesvara Temple, we have used the planet installation
arrangement of Vaidika Prathishta which is the most powerful for worshippers.........This puja is a
short Navagraha puja in which mantras are chanted that address the nine planets as a whole. If you
are interested in a puja that addresses the nine planets individually, please see the Navagraha Shanti
Puja in the Request a Puja section.

Sun (Surya)........ 5 Elements: fire......3 Gunas: sattwic.......3 Doshas: pitta.......Influence:

Malefic.......Body: heart, Vitality, overall health.........Relationship: self, father.........Day:
Sunday.......Color: red.......Gemstone: ruby........At sunrise, Surya is delicately palpable as the rays of
the sun twinkle and radiate gentle beams upon which Surya’s seven horses run… looking just like the
pictures of Him on his chariot coming straight out of the Sun..........Sun represents Self-realization, soul
power, a sense of self, status, dignity, authority, leadership, self-development, king, influence, power,
creativity, achievement, and courage............There is a central source to all existence… namely, the
Unified Field in physics, the Transcendent, the Absolute Source, etc. All things gravitate back to that
one thing, just as all matter in a solar system gravitates back to the central Sun. This principle is seen
everywhere: the center of a wheel, the seed that births the tree, etc. The Sun correlates to the Unified
Field… one is the other, just expressed on a different level............Most people think of the Sun as
something that emanates and radiates. However, it is actually a convergence point in space time. A
convergence point is a point where energy and matter merge. Working on nuclear fusion, the Sun is
the natural interface between energy and matter...........Though you cannot feel the Sun… it is too far
away… you can feel the Sun’s rays. By so feeling the rays, you come to know the nature of the Sun.
The soul is like the rays… emitting from the Absolute. Be it from the bottom of the swimming pool or
the top of the highest mountain, you are looking at the same Sun, which maps on to the Absolute.
Even an earthworm, with relentless conviction, crawls through the soil, reaching towards the Sun.

Moon (Chandra)........ 5 Elements: water....3 Gunas: sattwic.....3 Doshas: kapha....Influence:

benefic......Body: blood, swelling,.....stomach, eyes, intestines, womb.......Relationship:
mother......Day: Monday....Color: milky white.......Gemstone: pearl..........Yin and Yang… the Moon and
the Sun. The Moon is water – Soma, soft and nourishing. The Sun is Agni – fire. Polar opposites.
Infinite microcosms are born, each a full expression of the mechanic of manifestation of
Oneness......When the moon is closer to the earth, it brings more Soma. When the moon is closer to
the sun, it brings more Agni. The waxing moon is considered to be benefic, and the waning moon is
considered to be malefic............The moon influences emotions, will, and mind. During a full moon,
the tide comes in and there are bigger waves. The same happens to the emotions, which is why there
is more lunacy on full moons. This choppiness happens on new moons and full moons – people are
affected by both. Brilliant moons are more upsetting than less brilliant ones................Moon
represents emotions, mind, receptivity, sensitivity, sweetness, queen, fertility, travel, water retention,
feeling, maternal protection, and nurturing............Chandra is connected with the night’s dew, and is
thus a god of fertility. Because the Soma value is the life-giving sap of the plants, Chandra is also the
lord of plants. He is young, beautiful, and his chariot glides upon the soft moonbeams with his ten
white horses.

The Limbs of the Sidereal Zodiac

Name of Constellation Deg Min Deg Min De Mi De Mi
1 Beta Arietis ( Aswini ) 00 00 13 20 15 Alpha Bootis ( Chothi ) 186 40 200 00
2 41 Arietis ( Bharani ) 13 20 26 40 16 Beta Librae ( Vishakam) 200 00 213 20
3 Eta Tauri ( Karthika ) 26 40 40 00 17 Delta Scorpi ( Anuradha) 213 20 226 40
4 Alpha Tauri ( Rohini ) 40 00 53 20 18 Alpha Scorpi ( Jyeshta ) 226 40 240 00
5 Lamda Orionis ( Mrigasira ) 53 20 66 40 19 Lamda Scorpi ( Moola ) 240 00 253 20
Delta Sagittari
6 Alpha Orionis ( Aridra ) 66 40 80 00 20 253 20 266 40
( Poorvashad )
Beta Geminorum Delta Sagittari
7 80 00 93 20 21 266 40 280 00
( Punarvasu ) ( Uthrashad )
8 Delta Cancri ( Pushya ) 93 20 106 40 22 Alpha Aquilae ( Sravana ) 280 00 293 20
9 Alpha Cancri ( Aslesha ) 106 40 120 00 23 Alpha Delphini ( Dhanishta ) 293 20 306 40
10 Alpha Leonis ( Magha ) 120 00 133 20 24 Lamda Aquari ( Satabhisha) 306 40 320 00
Alpha Pegasi
11 Delta Leonis ( Pubba ) 133 20 146 40 25 320 00 333 20
( Poorvabhadra)
Alpha Andromeda
12 Beta Leonis ( Uttara ) 146 40 160 00 26 333 20 346 40
( Uttrarabhadra)
13 Delta Corvi ( Hasta ) 160 00 173 20 27 Zeta Piscium ( Revathi ) 346 40 360 00
14 Alpha Virginis ( Chitra ) 173 20 186 40
Introduction of Vedic Astrology………………Vedic Astrology is based on a very sound
understanding of astronomy. In ancient India, astronomy was a highly developed subject. Knowledge
of astronomy was considered essential for an astrologer. To the ancient Vedic astrologer, such
phenomena as the rotation and the revolution of the earth, the formation of seasons, the occurrence
of eclipses, the concepts of solar and lunar months, the equinoxes, and the subtle concepts of
disposition of planets and stars in the sky, were all well known. Without the availability of the present
day sophisticated instruments and telescopes, he was able to decipher fine variations in the
disposition of heavenly bodies. The fact that he could take into consideration such fine divisions of
time without the electronic/atomic clocks of today is marvelous .……………….….Vedic astrology, also
known as Vēdānga or Indian astrology, is an ancient science which deals with the study of celestial
bodies and their influence over human life. The word 'Vēdānga' itself shows that astrology has its
roots and is an integral part of the Vēdās. The literary translation of Vēdānga is ‘the limb of Vēdās’.
Humanity has, from time immemorial, upheld the belief that astrology has an important influence
over the growth of living beings and the course of their life. History testifies the presence of
astrologers in Babylonia as early as 3000 BC. But astrology had developed as a science in India much
before this. It is believed that ancient scriptures like Sūrya Siddhāntha and Vēdānga Jyothisham are
more than 5000 years old. Astrology is perhaps one of the oldest, deepest and greatest sciences of the
world………..Vedas are divided into six parts:

1. Shiksha - A preliminary study of vedic elements and their correct pronunciation

2. Chhanda - Learning the correct expression of vedic suktās.
3. Vyākaraṇa - Helps to learn the grammatical aspect.
4. Nirukta - Useful in understanding the difficult words, pādās and mantrās.
5. Kalpa - Helps to comprehend the ritualistic aspect of vēdas.
6. Jyothisham or Astrology - The eyes of Vēdas, enabling to see the past, present and the future.

The science of astrology helps a person to make his life easier and peaceful in the face of an unknown
future. Astrology gives a clue regarding the various experiences one may go through in life…………
Astrology has roots in the firm belief in pre-birth virtues and vices, re-birth etc. Every living being
experiences the fruits of his actions, which could be the results of this birth or previous birth. The
horoscope helps to get an insight into the actions of previous births. One may go through the effect of
a vicious action in the previous birth in this life. With the help of astrology we can foresee such
instances and take remedial measures.

Classification of vedic astrology……Vedic astrology is primarily divided into three parts:…1. Hōra
2. Siddhāntam 3. Samhita

1. Hōra is classified into four categories: a) Jāthakam b) Praśna c) Muhūrta d) Nimitham

a) Jāthakam:……….Determined on the basis of a child’s time of birth or the time of beginning of
an activity, and whose fate is predicted with the help of planetary position and conjunction.
Three systems are commonly used for this:
o Parāśari: This is the most popular method. As it uses elaborate mathematical
processes it can provide extremely accurate forecasts on the basis of horoscope.
o Jaimini: This highly complex system is based on small verses. The fact that each verse
can be subject to completely different interpretations renders this system a challenge
to learn.
o Tajika: This system is used to make yearly predictions.
b) Praśnam: ……….This method is very similar to the study of natal horoscope. Natal Horoscope
is based on the planetary disposition at the time of a person’s birth, whereas Praśnam is the
forecast from a horoscope prepared on the basis of the time when a person raises a question.
c) Muhūrta: ………..It is the method of selecting suitable time to start or do any activity.
d) Nimitham: …………These are forecasts based on the omens and signs at a particular point of
time. Some consider this as a part of Samhita.
2. Siddhāntham: This is actually mathematics. This involves complex mathematical processes
including calculating the position of planets and stars on the basis of their motion and other
relevant factors.
3. Samhita: This is the study of natural phenomena like floods, earthquakes, volcano eruptions,
rains, climate, and comets. Astrologers can predict the strength and consequences of such events
using the principles of the Samhita.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Panchangam…….The Panchanga is a combination of five factors that show time namely Vaara (day
of week), Nakshatra, Tithi, Karana and Nithyayoga……..The time from one sunrise to the other is
called Vaara…………There are 7 weekdays:………Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday and Saturday………27 stars……Aswini, Bharani, Krittika, Rohini, Mrigasira, Ardra, Punarvasu,
Pushyami, Ashlesha, Makha, Purvaphalguni, Utaraphalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Vishakha,
Anuradha, Jyeshta, Moola, Purvashada, Uttarashada, Shravana, Dhanishta, Satabhisha, Purvabhadra,
Uttarabhadra, Revati……….Tithi……….Tithi is the value when the longitude of Sun is deducted from the
longitude of Moon. Nithyayogam is the value of addition of these two longitudes. There are 15 Tithis,
namely……….Pradhama, Dwitheeya, Thritheeya, Chathurthi, Panchami, Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami,
Navami, Dasami, Ekadasi, Dwadasi, Thrayodasi, Chaturdasi, Pournami/Amavasya……Karanam……
Karanam is half of Tithi. There are 28 Tithis from Shukla Pradhama Uttarashada to Krishna
Chathurdasi Purvashada. So there are 56 Karanams……….Charakaranas……..1) Lion (Bava), 2) Tiger
(Balava), 3) Pig (Koulava), 4) Ass (Taitila), 5) Elephant Gara), 6) Cow (Vanija), 7) Vishti (Bhadra)………
These 7 Charakaranas are repeated 8 times………..The four Karanas including Shukla Pradhama's
Purvashada, Krishna Chathurdasi's Uttarashada and the two parts of Amavasi are permanent
karanas. These come only once. They are 1) Bird (Sakuna) 2) Four-legged animal (Chatushpada) 3)
Snake (Naga) 4) Worm (Kimstugna)………….27 Nithyayogas…….1) Vishkambha, 2) Preethi, 3)
Ayushman, 4) Soubhagya, 5) Shobhana, 6) Athiganda, 7) Sukarma, 8) Dhrithi, 9) Soolam, 10) Ganda,
11) Vridhi, 12) Dhruva, 13) Vyaghatha, 14) Harshana, 15) Vajra, 16) Siddhi, 17) Vyathipatha, 18)
Variyan, 19) Parigha, 20) Shiva, 21) Siddha, 22) Sadhya, 23) Subhra, 24) Braahma, 25) Mahendra, 26)
Vaidhruthi, 27) Shubha………….Their length, as the length of the stars, is 13 degree 20 minutes.
Nithyayoga is the sum of the longitudes of Sun and Moon.
https://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100924000523AAy8TmU

Durga devi: durgatinashini means one who eliminates all sufferings so durga devi protects us from
evil and also removes miseries.The ten arms of durga maa represent the 10 directions of sanathan
dharm

Nine Forms

4. Shailaputri : she is depicted on a bull and carrying a trident she is the embodiement of the
powers of maheshwara,brahma and sri hari also she is called by various names like
sati ,hemavathi,parvathi,bhavani etc ..shailaputri itself means daughter of the mountains

5. Brahmacharini:brahmacharini translates to one who performs severe asuterities she is potrayed

with kamandal in one hand and japa mala in another hand she is the one who enlightens us about
the power of durga maa .peace and happiness is bestowed upon all her devotees
6. Chandraganta:cnadra =half moon ganta means bell..so she is one who has the bell shaped
halfmoon on the head .she is depicted sitting on a lion ,having 3 eyes and holding various
weapons for combat ..she is the symbol of bravery and she is worshipped for peace and
tranquility in life

7. Kushmanda: Ku means little ..shm means warm anda means egg ..here it reffers to the cosmic
egg..she is believed to be the creator of the universe and creation itself began only with the light
from her spreading in all directions

8. Skanda matha:skanda also known as lord karthikeya is the commander of the entire devta
army ..he lead the demigods in the great battle against the asuras ..skanda matha means the
mother of lord skandha ..she is worshipped on the 5th night with bala murugan sitting on her lap
for boons

9. Katyayini : once upon a time, there was a great sage called kata, who had a son named Katya.
kata was very famous and renowned in the lineage of saints. He underwent long austerities and
penance in order to receive the grace of the Mother Goddess. He wished to have a daughter in
the form of a goddess. According to his wish and desire the Mother Goddess granted his request.
Katyayani was born to Kata as an avatar of Durga.

10. Kala rathri : she is also called shubhamkari or one who always does good ..she is depicted in a
very fearful form and is potrayed on a donkey she is black like goddess kali and she holds spakling
sword in her right hand to combat all evil so he protection assures us from freedom from fear

11.Maha gauri : from her worship all sins of present past and future get washed away instantly !it is
believed that her body had turned dark due to the severe pennaces she performed in the
himalayas then when lord shiva cleansed it with ganges then her body turned white she grnats
boons to all her devotees

12. Siddhidatri: she is worshipped by all siddhas ,mahayogis and others ..she has great healing
powers ..onec bhagavan shiva worshipped her and was blessed with all supernatural powers from
her blessing only lord shiva acquired the ardhanareeshwaran form

What are the 9 forms of Shakti worshipped during Navratris:…….. According to Hindu belief,
the universe is destroyed at the end of each kalpa ( life of the creator god, Brahma). Between the
destruction of the world and its re-creation, at the end of each cycle, Lord Vishnu is said to rest in the
coils of Ananta, the great serpent of Infinity, while he waits for the universe to recreate itself. At the
end of Kali Yuga, the present age, it is believed that Lord Vishnu will descend in the form of the tenth
and final avatar - as Kalki, the warrior, riding upon a white horse. He will destroy ignorance, drive
invaders from India, and save the good from whom the people of the golden age, the Satya Yuga will
descend………..Lord Vishnu is said to rest in the coils of Ananta, the great serpent of Infinity, while he
waits for the universe to recreate itself…………….Vedic mythology:…….The earliest iderss of "Egg-
shaped Cosmos" comes from some of the Sanskrit scriptures. The Sanskrit term for it is Brahmanda
(Brahm means 'Cosmos' or 'expanding', Anda means 'Egg'). Certain Puranas such as the Brahmanda
Purana speak of this in detail……………..The Rig Veda (RV 10.121) uses a similar name for the source of
the universe: Hiranyagarbha, which literally means "golden fetus" or "golden womb". The Upanishads
elaborate that the Hiranyagarbha floated around in emptiness for a while, and then broke into two
halves which formed Dyaus (Heaven) and Prithvi (Earth). The Rig Veda has a similar coded description
of the division of the universe in its early stages ……………… The Five Element Theory……….Let start
to know about the five elements theory according to ancient spiritual and physical education……….The
supreme power (supreme soul) has all qualities – Create, operate and destroy………….In this world,
there was nothing. Our universe was dark. After long time one sound, long and long AUM chanting
sound comes from that dark. According to modern science that sounds was came from by atomic
friction. The sound was very long and there after comes light And slowly spread the light in whole
dark place. That whole light part called Akash tatva (ether element ). Our this universe made by
mainly five element. In order 1st Akash Tatva (ether element), 2nd Vatyu Tatva (Air element), 3rd
Agni Tatva (Fire Element), 4th Jal Tatva (Water Element) and 5th Prithvi Tatva (Earth Element )
…………Akash tatva (Ether Element ) has one quality: sound . Vatyu Tatva (Air element) has two
qualities: sound and touch. Agni Tatva (Fire Element) has three qualities: sound, touch and form. Jal
Tatva (Water Element) has four qualities: sound, touch, form and ras (liquid). Prithvi Tatva (Earth
Element) Has five qualities : sound, touch, form, ras(liquid) and smell …………….According to spiritual
education, human being is symbol of whole universe, same as universe human being made by five
elements. Our universe is drive by Supreme Soul and human body drive and active by
soul…………….Everyone human have to know about the five element theory and how to keep balance
these. In the childhood, the five elements live in balance level when these elements became
unbalance after that human body became ill. When human body parts and body don’t function after
that divine soul come out and leave the body forever………..These days human only concentrate on
two elements in the world and rest three elements became unbalance. It cause all human are become
ill and life is become painful…………By the divine yoga and natural science, all human can be live
pleasant life in little bit natural food. After that our world became stress free and pleasant…………Art
of Divine Yoga’s course is designed and prepared on the last 10 to 12 thousand years by Yoga &
Natural Science Researcher Sanjay Kumar.…………………Hindu Cosmology discussion:……In India
science and religion are not opposed fundamentally, as they often seem to be in the West, but are
seen as parts of the same great search for truth and enlightenment that inspired the sages of
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Thus, in the Hindu scientific approach, understanding of external
reality depends on also understanding the godhead. In all Hindu traditions the Universe is said to
precede not only humanity but also the gods. Fundamental to Hindu concepts of time and space is the
notion that the external world is a product of the creative play of maya (illusion). Accordingly the
world as we know it is not solid and real but illusionary. The universe is in constant flux with many
levels of reality; the task of the saint is find release (moksha) from the bonds of time and
space………………."After a cycle of universal dissolution, the Supreme Being decides to recreate the
cosmos so that we souls can experience worlds of shape and solidity. Very subtle atoms begin to
combine, eventually generating a cosmic wind that blows heavier and heavier atoms together. Souls
depending on their karma earned in previous world systems, spontaneously draw to themselves
atoms that coalesce into an appropriate body." - The Prashasta Pada………………….As in modern
physics, Hindu cosmology envisaged the universe as having a cyclical nature. The end of each kalpa
brought about by Shiva's dance is also the beginning of the next. Rebirth follows destruction. Unlike
the West, which lives in a historical world, India is rooted in a timeless universe of eternal return:
everything which happens has already done so many times before, though in different guises.
Hinduism arose from the discoveries of people who felt that they had gained an insight into the
nature of reality through deep meditation and ascetic practices. Science uses a heuristic method that
requires objective proof of mathematical theories. Yet both have proposed similar scenarios for the
creation of the universe. Here is a look at Creation, Maya, Churning of Milky Ocean, Shiva's Cosmic
Dance, Serpent of Infinity and a few articles on Hindu Cosmology………………."Indian cosmologists, the
first to estimate the age of the earth at more than 4 billion years. They came closest to modern ideas
of atomism, quantum physics, and other current theories. India developed very early, enduring
atomist theories of matter. Possibly Greek atomistic thought was influenced by India, via the Persian
civilization." ……………….The cycle of creation and destruction continues forever, manifested in the
Hindu deity Shiva, Lord of the Dance, who holds the drum that sounds the universe’s creation in his
right hand and the flame that, billions of years later, will destroy the universe in his left. Meanwhile
Brahma is but one of untold numbers of other gods dreaming their own universes……………..The 8.64
billion years that mark a full day-and-night cycle in Brahma’s life is about half the modern estimate
for the age of the universe. The ancient Hindus believed that each Brahma day and each Brahma
night lasted a kalpa, 4.32 billion years, with 72,000 kalpas equaling a Brahma century, 311,040 billion
years in all. That the Hindus could conceive of the universe in terms of billions……………….The
similarities between Indian and modern cosmology do not seem accidental. Perhaps ideas of creation
from nothing, or alternating cycles of creation and destruction are hardwired in the human psyche.
Certainly Shiva’s percussive drumbeat suggests the sudden energetic impulse that could have
propelled the big bang. And if, as some theorists have proposed, the big bang is merely the prelude to
the big crunch and the universe is caught in an infinite cycle of expansion and contraction, then
ancient Indian cosmology is clearly cutting edge compared to the one-directional vision of the big
bang. The infinite number of Hindu universes is currently called the many world hypotheses, which is
no less undocumentable nor unthinkable……………………..Hinduism the only religion that propounds the
idea of life-cycles of the universe. It suggests that the universe undergoes an infinite number of deaths
and rebirths. As in modern physics, Hindu cosmology envisaged the universe as having a cyclical
nature. The end of each kalpa brought about by Shiva's dance is also the beginning of the next.
Rebirth follows destruction………………"All the planets of the universe, from the most evolved to the
most base, are places of suffering, where birth and death takes place. One day of Brahma is worth a
thousand of the ages [yuga] known to humankind; as is each night." Thus each kalpa is worth one day
in the life of Brahma, the God of creation. In other words, the four ages of the mahayuga must be
repeated a thousand times to make a "day of Brahma", a unit of time that is the equivalent of 4.32
billion human years, doubling which one gets 8.64 billion years for a Brahma day and night. This was
later theorized (possibly independently) by Aryabhata in the 6th century. The cyclic nature of this
analysis suggests a universe that is expanding to be followed by contraction... a cosmos without end.
This, according to modern physicists is not an impossibility……….Hinduism is not a single religion,
rather it is a multifaceted matrix of beliefs, philosophies, practices, myths and epics. Within this
matrix there are many myths of cosmogenesis. The Sanskrit word for creation is srishti, which means
projecting a gross thing from a subtle substance. Srishti does not mean bringing out existence from
non-existence or creating something from nothing. Creation implies something arising from nothing
or non-existence becoming existence. Hindus declare that non-existence can never be the source of
creation. Thus, the universe is more accurately said to be the projection of the Supreme Being rather
than a creation. To the Vedic sages, creation indicated that point before which there was no Creator,
the line between indefinable nothingness and something delineated by attributes and function, at
least. Like the moment before the Big Bang Theory. These concepts preoccupy high wisdom, the Truth
far removed from mere religion. The Bible begins with the Creation. Before the Creation, however,
there was the Creator, but does even He know what was there before He existed ? Long before such
philosophical questions occurred to other historical peoples, Vedism posited the existence of
something more ultimate than the one God. Whatever must have created Him. That is presuming the
absolute and basic reality. Or is it?.............................."Modern physics has thus revealed that every
subatomic particle not only performs an energy dance, but also is an energy dance; a pulsating
process of creation and destruction. The dance of Shiva is the dancing universe, the ceaseless flow of
energy going through an infinite variety of patterns that melt into one another’’. For the modern
physicists, then Shiva’s dance is the dance of subatomic matter. As in Hindu mythology, it is a
continual dance of creation and destruction involving the whole cosmos; the basis of all existence and
of all natural phenomenon. Hundreds of years ago, Indian artists created visual images of dancing
Shivas in a beautiful series of bronzes. In our times, physicists have used the most advanced
technology to portray the patterns of the cosmic dance."………..The posture and balance of Nataraja's
dancing form show Lord Shiva in the aspect of tamas, the expansive centrifugal force that creates and
destroys the universe. This is the first of the three "tendencies" (gunas) that permeate the universe in
Samkhya philosophy. Tamas (darkness), symbolized by Shiva, is responsible for the constant birth,
change and death of all living things; the force sattva (tranquility) represented by Vishnu the
Preserver, holds the atoms of every object together. These two "tendencies" - one holding the atoms
of the universe together and the other ripping them apart - create a " friction " (rajas) that "vibrates"
the world's atoms and creates the gravity to hold them to the earth. This is the third tendency,
symbolized by the deity Brahma. It is the building stuff both of matter and of subtle energies such as
perception and thought………..Consciousness inhabits all living things and has permeated the universe
since it was created from its original bindu (energy center). The first stage of the universe was filled by
"space”: the potential area in which the world will "expand" with the energy of Shiva's aspect as
tamas. At the end of Kali Yuga (the current age of ignorance), the expansion accelerates, everything
merges and Shiva performs the terrible tandava dance of destruction. The most important Shiva
image during the Chola dynasty was that of Shiva as Lord of the Dance, or Shiva Nataraja. In this
form, Shiva is a summation of Indian religion, philosophy and culture. Shiva's dance is of cosmic
significance and represents five principle manifestations of eternal energy: Creation, Destruction,
Preservation, Salvation, and Illusion. He holds in his upper right hand a small drum, the symbol of the
sound of creation. In his upper left hand is a flame representing the final destruction of the universe.
His lower right hand makes the gesture "fear not." With his lower left hand he points to his raised left
foot, the place of refuge and salvation for the devotee. His right foot is planted on the back of the
demon Apasmara Purusha, the personifying illusion of ignorance over whom Shiva triumphs. In
Shiva's hairdo sits the river goddess Ganga, the personification of the Ganges river which is said to
spring forth from Shiva's head. The dancing lord Shiva represents the constant process of creation,
preservation and destruction of the universe. He trods on the dwarf, symbolic of Ignorance, which
must be eliminated if a believer is to attain release from the eternal cycle of birth and death. In Shiva's
upper hands are a drum, symbol of creation, and fire, symbol of destruction. This magnificently
modeled bronze image is a superb example of Chola workmanship. The entire Universe is then
engaged in movement and endless activity, in an uninterrupted cosmic dance of energy. In Hindu
iconography the images that represent this dance are shown with Nataraja dancing with four arms
and waving hair and should be read as pictorial allegories. The upper right hand holds a small drum
shaped as a clepsydra, which according to Zimmer keeps the rhythms of sound, the vehicle of the
word transmitting revelation tradition and enchantment. The opposite hand, on the top left, with
fingers postured as half moon, (ardhachandra mudra), carries a Flame, the element of destruction of
the world on the palm of the hand. In the balance of the hands creation and destruction are shown as
counterweights in the game of the cosmic dance made evident even by the quietness and serenity of
Shiva's face at the centre between the two hands. The second right hand is making the gesture of
'motto fear ' that gives peace and protection, while the last left hand, suspended at the height of the
breast, points toward the left foot symbolising liberation from the enchantment of Maya. Universally
regarded as the quintessential image of Hindu art and culture, representations of the god Shiva
dancing in joyous abandonment within a circle of flames graphically depict his five cosmic acts of
creation, preservation, destruction, unveiling of illusion, and liberation of the soul. His creative aspect
is symbolized by the hourglass-shaped drum, in his proper upper right hand, which reproduces the
primordial sound of creation. Shiva’s preservation of the universe is suggested by his lower right hand
held in the gesture of reassurance and safety. The flame in his upper left hand and that encircling the
aureole represent the fire by which he destroys the universe in order to recreate it. He lifts the veil of
illusion through his engendering act of dancing………………………….His liberation of the soul is shown by
his upraised left leg, which tramples on a prostrate infant signifying forgetfulness and is thus a source
of grace. While Shiva is believed to dance in various forms and locales for differing purposes, in this
pose as Lord of the Dance (Nataraja), he is praised by the renowned eighteenth-century South Indian
poet Thayumanavar as performing the “Dance of Bliss in the Hall of Consciousness.” The dance of
bliss is specifically associated with Chidambaram, the sacred center of Nataraja worship, where
Shiva is said to have first performed it in order to convert a group of holy men who were engaged in
heretical practices. Chidambaram is also the site of the great twelfth-century temple specifically
dedicated to Shiva’s aspect as Lord of the Dance. The temple has a silver image of the dancing god as
its main icon, and the gateway around the complex is adorned with sculpted depictions of the 108
basic postures of classical Indian dance, Bharata Natyam, which has been performed since at least
the second century B.C…………..South Indian copper alloy images such as this were originally carried in
processions during religious festivals; ropes were inserted through the square holes in the base to tie
it to support poles. The distinctive elliptical shape of the aureole and slender figural style indicate that
it is one of the earliest surviving images of this type. As Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the Dance, Shiva
enacts the end of the world. He is the symbol of death but only of death as the generator of life and
as a source of that creative power ever renewed by Vishnu and Brahma…………..He evokes the most
intense adoration from devotees for he fascinates even as he terrifies. He dances for cosmic re-
creation. Shiva's dance of bliss is the catalyst for the destruction of one period of time and the
creation of a new cosmos………………….He has a third eye in the center of his forehead, the skull and
crescent moon in his headdress. He has long, matted hair and there is a small female figure of the
river goddess Ganga in the loose locks of hair twirling around head. The Indian genius for expressing
movement in sculpture derives in large part from the high aesthetic value that dancing holds in Indian
tradition. It is the posturings and movements of the dance that inspire the imagination of the
sculptor. The four arms display the powers of Shiva. The upper right holds the drum or vibrant rattle
of creation. The upper left holds the flame of destruction. The lower right hand is raised in the
gesture of protection. The lower left hand points to the upraised foot that symbolizes escape from
illusion, represented by the dwarf whom he crushes beneath his right foot. The drum is a symbol of
rhythm and sound. The matted hair symbolizes his power (like Samson). Crescent moon is the symbol
of growth and birth…………………………Einstein and Shiva's cosmic dance 'There is a striking
resemblance between the equivalence of mass and energy, symbolized by Shiva's cosmic dance and
the Western theory, first expounded by Einstein, which calculates the amount of energy contained in
a subatomic particle by multiplying its mass by the square of the speed of light: E = mc2. "
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

COSMIC EGG:…….In Hindu mythology, there was a primordial cosmic egg with a really long name I
can't write but when the egg burst out came the Triad: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva (the Creator, the
Preserver, and the Destroyer - respectively). They gave order to the "waters" of the
universe........What came first, the chicken or the egg? Can an egg ‘come’ for it has no legs! But one
can expand imagination to think there is a squirrel like form causing circular running within to cause
an egg to roll and come first. But come from where? One can say ‘someone’ invented the egg first and
put a chicken inside, then sat on it and hatched. Taking the jovial side of life, can the egg ‘cum’ by
itself as it has no penis? So that takes you to Darwin or the theory of origins and stretching that, you
may ponder the Linga-Yoni. In all, it has been perfect and balanced so far like the self-fertilizing Yin
and Yang egg………….The egg must have come from the Universe, or is it the other way around for the
Universe to be the creation of a Cosmic Egg? Pralaya, in Hindu cosmology, is an daemonic term for
Dissolution.

Matsya Puranam is believed to be the oldest puranam and it has 14000 verses in it the core of this
Puranam is the teachings that Narayana Himself imparted to the Manu of the current Manvantara
called Vaivasvat Manu .............CONTENTS OF THE PURAANAM:.........Since Matsya Puranam is
considered to be a Mahapuranam it has all the features of a Mahapuranam .The content of any
Mahapuranam is as follows

1. the original creation of the universe (sarga)

2. the periodical process of destruction and re-creation (pratisaryga)
3. the various eras (manvantara)
4. the histories of the solar dynasty (surya vamsha)
5. the history of the lunar dynasty (chandra vamsha) and royal genealogies (vamshanucharita)
these are called in the Puranam as Pancha Maha Lakshanams ..these 5 are required for any
Puaranam to be called Mahapuranam and Matsya Puranam is the 16th Mahapuranam .Totally there
are 18 Mahapuranams ..........It has very much in common with the Mahabharata and the Harivamsa
Parva the legends of Yayati , Savitri , the incarnations of Vishnu. We find a considerable section about
all manner of festivals and rites, a glorification of the sacred places of Allahabad, Benares ,Varanasi
and Avimuktamahatmya, , and of the Narmada River ; then sections on the duties of a king , on
Omina and Portenta , ceremonies at the building of a house, the erection and dedication of statues of
deities, temples and palaces, the sixteen kinds of pious donations, etc.........As far as the religious
content is concerned, the Matsya-Purana might be called Shaiva with just as much reason as it is
classed as Vishnava text. Religious festivals of the Vaisnavas are described side by side with those of
the Saivas, and both Vishnu and Shiva legend are related. In Chapter 13 enumerates to Daksha the
one hundred and eight names by which she wishes to be glorified. Thus it is seen that both sects used
the work as a sacred book.................General contents of this Purana are Description of the greatness
of Narsimh incarnation. Description of all the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Greatness of fasting like
Anant Tritiya and the places of pilgrimage like Prayag. Tales of Chandra vansh, Surya vansh and Kuru
vansh and the kings like Yayati, Kartveerya etc. Description of the Kalpa and Yugas. Appearance of
idols. Appearance and construction of Deva-mandapa (canopy for the deities). Tale of Savitri and
Satyavan. Results of auspicious and inauspicious motion of the planets. Birth of Parvati. Immolation
of Madan (Kamadeva) Wedding of Lord Shiva with Parvati. Birth of Kartikeya. Duties of a king.
Description of the future kings.According to Matsya Purana (Chapter 53) the Hayagriva avatara of
Visnu preceded Matsya; when the worlds were burnt down, Visnu in the form of a horse re-compiled
the four Vedas, Vedangas, etc ............This Matsya Purana is sacred, life-extending, status-providing,
sanctifying, propitious and sin-demolishing. It yields the fruits of ‘Punya’, the benefit of many ‘Tirtha
Snaanaas’ and of virtuous life. This exalted Purana is a purifier of all blemishes. It is likened to
Narayana at Pralaya and Manu who assisted the Matsya Deva. Asmaat Puranaadapi paadamekam
pathet tu yah sopi vimukta paapah/ (Whoever reads even half of a Shloka would be rid of all sins and
imperfections). If one reads or hears through this confidential and ‘Punyaprada’ Purana fully, the
person concerned would be blessed by Maha Deva with the boon of performing Ashwamedha Yagna
as also the ‘Avabhruta Snaana’.

The Matsya Purana (literally, the ancient chronicle of Matsya - is one of the oldest of the 18 post-
Vedic Hindu scriptures called the Puranas. It narrates the story of Matsya, the first of ten major
Avatars of the Hindu god Vishnu.) stated that after Mahapralaya - Pralaya, in Hindu cosmology, is an
aeonic term for Dissolution, the great dissolution of the Universe, there was darkness everywhere.
Everything was in a state of sleep. There was nothing, either moving or static. Then Svayambhu, Self-
Manifested Being arose, which is a form beyond senses. It created the primordial waters first and
established the seed of creation into it. ………The Hiranyagarbha Sukta from Rig Veda 10.121 states
that the seed turned into a Golden Womb, into which Svayambhu entered into the egg. According to
Manu, Hiranyagarbha was Brahma, the first male, formed by the indiscernible eternal First Cause in a
golden egg resplendent as the sun. "Having continued a year in the egg, Brahma divided it into two
parts by his mere thought, and with these two shells he formed the heavens and the earth; and in the
middle he placed the sky, the eight regions, and the eternal abode of the waters."……………..While
Iswara is the causative principle -karanabhutam, Hiranyagarbha is the dynamic or the active principle
- karyabhutam. He is also called Brahma who as the creative and dynamic principle uses the forms
existing in Him and brings forth the Beings……………………………The word 'brah' means “bursting out or
bringing forth” and 'ahm' means ego. Brahma is therefore he who brings forth many 'ahms' or egos
or beings into this world using his divine power and matter and pouring life breath into them.
Hiranyagarbha is not an eternal being, but comes into existence at the beginning of creation and
becomes dissolved in Iswara at the end of creation……………………The Cosmic Egg, as prana-producing
entity, is the absolute symbol that describes the concept of the co-existence of the dual forces of
Prakriti and Purusha. Thus Ardhanarishvara form represents the biological unity of the outward
duality, which the human mind has perceived in all things and in the entire creative process. Together,
Shakti and Shiva blend as One as they go about the functions of creation, protection, sustenance and
destruction of the material world…………………….One need not pay much attention to puns that Hindu
cosmic eggs are intelligently designed to spawn penises in a million years. We will just accept the pun
to be Lingas and there you have the Hiranyagarbha which came first, which stretching will lead to the
philosophy of the Yin and Yang of Ardhanasirshwara!.......
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Devanagari – Gods’ City

The main Hindu Gods as we
worship and accept today can
be broadly classified as:
Shiva Gods -- Siva including
His consort, His sons, His other
forms
Vaishnava Gods -- Vishnu
including His consort, His
various incarnations and
Sakthi or Saktha -- Forms of
Goddess Sakthi
Apart from Gods and goddesses who have been
attributed specific qualities, characteristics, several
According to the Rig Veda,
inanimate objects, emotions and the various forms of
we can know of the Vedic
nature had also been sacred and worshipped most
Gods:
probably.
The earliest accepted Gods are:
Dyaush-pita -- the sky father Adityas -- a group of
Prithivi mata -- the earth mother deities, who are six in
Vayu -- the wind God number in the Rig Veda,
Eight Vasus, Parjanya -- the rain God eight in most of the
Eleven Rudras, Surya -- the sun God Brahmanas and twelve in
Varuna -- the God of oceans the Satapatha Brahmana
Twelve Adityas,
Agni -- the fire God Rudras -- eight in number
Indra and Prajapathi, Indra -- the war God Vasus -- eight in number
………………………….. Soma -- the God of speech, deity of Visvedevas -- ten in
→Being the Gods of all -- soma creeper number
the earth, the space and the Ushas -- the Goddess of dawn Nakshatra -- The
heavens. Yama -- the God of death Constellations or stars
Aswini -- twin Deities Space -- Antariksha
Sky – Dyaus

Being the Gods of all -- the earth, the space and the heavens. But in reality, in Rig Veda - lore of the verses, counts
numerous Vedic Gods. Vedic priests believed in rituals and ceremonies which were mostly offered to appease these all
Gods. It is true that no one Vedic God or particular one God has been considered as the Supreme God. In fact, all
different Gods and goddesses have been considered as Supreme and ultimate at different times, attributing the qualities
and powers of one to another.
The names are
God Brahma –- creator of the entire universe
God Vishnu – The preserver of the Universe
God Shiva – The destroyer and has the power of his 3rd eye
But these all Gods are classified as
The great and chief Hindu Goddesses: Hindu Trinity Goddesses –Tridevi
under:
The great and chief Hindu Gods
The names are
Hindu Trinity Gods-Tridev
Goddess Saraswati -- The consort of God Brahma, the goddess for knowledge
Goddess Laxmi –- The Consort of God Vishnu and the goddess of wealth, delight,
beauty and love.
Goddess Parvati -- The consort of God Shiva and the goddess of transformation,
power and destruction.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
The God and Goddess incarnation
Sati Maa -- the form of Goddess Parvati Gayatri Maa -- the goddess of learning
Durga Maa -- the form of Goddess Parvati and the energy Santoshi Maa -- the goddess
of mother Mata Vishnodevi -- the goddess
Kali Mata -- having the destructive power and harmful Maa Annpurna -- the goddess of Harvests
energy God Rama -- the seventh incarnation of God Vishnu
The Mahadevi -- the powerful form of Shakti God Krishna -- the eighth incarnation of God Vishnu
Sita Mata -- the consort of Lord Rama God Bhirav -- the strong and powerful incarnation of God
Rukmani -- the consort of Lord Krishna Shiva
Radha -- the divine devotee and fan of Lord Krishna
Ganga Mata -- the holy river
Yamuna Maa -- the holy river
The Most 10 Incarnation of God Vishnu
Matsya Avatar -- Vishnu as a fish Parasurama Avatar –- Vishnu as brahaman’s son - Rama with an axe
Kurma Avatar -- Vishnu as a tortoise Rama Avatar –- Vishnu as the prince of Ayodhya
Varaha Avatar -- Vishnu as a boar Krishna Avatar -- Vishnu as in black tribal
Narasimha Avatar –- Vishnu the half lion-half Buddha Avatar –- Vishnu as form of the completely enlightened one
man) Kalki Avatar –- Vishnu -- the incarnation to come in future
Vamana Avatar –- Vishnu as in form of the
dwarf
Sons and Relatives
Ganesh -- son of God Shiva and Goddess Parvati Balarama – Elder brother of Lord Krishna
Kartikeya -- Subramaynan, Shanmuga -- son of Shiva and Parvati Hanuman -- son of Vayu
Krishna -- son of Vasudeva and younger brother of Balarama Vasudeva -- The father of Lord Krishna

The Hindu Cosmic Trinity or Vedic Gods

Surya – The god of energy or life
Agni – The god of fire
Vayu – The god of air
The other Hindu Vedic or Lesser Gods
ARJUNA (the dew) : God of the dawn and the charioteer Narada- the wandering seer who features in almost all the
of the sun (son of Vinata and the wise Kasyapa). Puranas
Ganga- personification of the holy river Rudra – the god of storms
Gayatri- personification of the Vedic hymn Sanjna - the god of conscience and the wife of SURYA (sun)
Hanuman- the monkey god - devotee of Rama Soma- the moon god
Indra- King of the abode of gods Varuna- the god of oceans
Kamdeva- god of love Vishwakarma- the divine architect of the universe
Kubera- god of wealth Yama- the god of death
Manu – the Hindu Noah Varuna- the god of oceans
Rudra – the god of storms Vishwakarma- the divine architect of the universe
Sanjna - the god of conscience and the wife of SURYA Yama- the god of death
(sun)
Soma- the moon god
Celestial beings
Apsaras- beautiful ladies, who dance in the court of Indra Kinnaras- mythical beings, with a body of a man and head of
and names RAMBHA, a horse
URVASI and MENAKA Siddhas- classes of spirits of great purity and holiness
Gandharvas- celestial musicians who play in the court of Yaksha- the guardians of wealth and attendants of Kubera
Indra
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
http://allhindugodgoddess.blogspot.com/2010/08/list-of-hindu-gods-and-goddesses.html

In Hindu mythology, Animals have also a special place.

Main Animal Deities
Sheshnag The infinite - the king of Nagas, vehicle of
Kamadhenu The cow of plenty
or Ananta Vishnu or the bed on which Vishnu rests.
The king of birds - half man and half eagle Airavata the elephant - vehicle of Indra
Garuda
or vulture, vehicle of Vishnu
The other various Animal Deities in Hindu Mythology
The tortoise - on which Earth or Prithvi Dog and
Akupara Vehicle of Shiva as Bhairava
rests. Horse
The King of Bears - Ally of
Antelope Vehicle of Vayu and Chandra Jambavant
Rama
The mythical sea monster -
Mythical being half horse and half bird - Makara or
Arva vehicle of Varuna (god of
one of the horses of the moon Jalampa
water)
Buffalo Vehicle of Yama Mouse vehicle of Ganesha
The three headed infernal dog of the The Bull - vehicle of Shiva and
Cerbura Nandi
Krishna legend Parvati
The peacock - vehicle of
Crow Vehicle of Shani Parvani
Kartikeya
Parrot Vehicle of Kamadeva Ram the he-goat - vehicle of Agni
Vehicle of Saraswati and
Sarama Dog of Indra Swan
Brahma
Vehicle of Parvati as Kali and
Tarkshya Winged horse personifying the sun Tiger & Lion
Durga
The eight headed king of horses produced
during the churning
Uchchaihshravas
of oceans

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva seated on lotuses with their consorts, Saraswati, Lakshmi
and Paravati respectively……First about God: ……….In Hinduism, the Trimurti 'three forms' - is a
concept in Hinduism "in which the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction are
personified by the forms of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the maintainer or preserver, and Shiva (Kali)
the destroyer or transformer." These three deities have been called "the Hindu triad" or the "Great
Trinity". Of the three members of the Trimurti, the Bhagavata Purana, which espouses the
Vaishnavite viewpoint, explains that the greatest benefit can be had from Vishnu. ……….. Why does
Hinduism have so many Gods? Hindus all believe in one Supreme God who created the universe. He is
all omnipresent. He created many Gods, highly advanced spiritual beings, to be His helpers. Contrary
to prevailing misconceptions, Hindus all worship a one Supreme Being, though by different names.
This is because the people of India with different languages and cultures have understood the one
God in their own distinct way. Through history there arose four principal Hindu denominations—
Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and Smartism. For Saivites, God is Siva. For Shaktas, Goddess Shakti is
supreme. For Vaishnavites, Lord Vishnu is God. For Smartas—who see all Deities as reflections of the
One God—the choice of Deity is left to the devotee. This liberal Smarta perspective is well known, but
it is not the prevailing Hindu view. Due to this diversity, Hindus are profoundly tolerant of other
religions, respecting the fact that each has its own pathway to the one God……………One of the unique
understandings in Hinduism is that God is not far away, living in a remote heaven, but is inside each
and every soul, in the heart and consciousness, waiting to be discovered. This knowing that God is
always with us gives us hope and courage. Knowing the One Great God in this intimate and
experiential way is the goal of Hindu spirituality.

Brahma: ……Brahmanda: Universe

 Brahma, the universal father, is the first of the omnipotent trinity of Hindu gods. In the Puranic
period, the magnificent trinity of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva, with their all pervasive luminosity,
completely overshadowed the Vedic triad of Indra - Agni - Surya. Brahma lives in Brahmanda or
the Universe. His abode is Mount Meru which is the centre of the world and is shaped like a wheel.
Brahma's consort is Saraswati, the Goddess of learning, also known as Brahmi.
 Brahma, representing the rajas guna is a swayambhu or self created deity. All manifestations of
this great cosmic creator emanate from his thoughts. He is the universal intellect. He is said to
have produced ten mind born sons like the sages Vashishta and Narada. He also caused the birth
of Vaka the goddess of learning. The Saptarishis who first heard the hymns of the Vedas were also
a result of his infinite creativepowers. All divine and human qualities and weaknesses are also
born from him. Dharma or righteousness emanated his chest, kama or desire from his heart,
krodha or anger from his eyebrows, lobha or greed from his lips, moha or attachment from his
mind, mada or intoxication from his egoism, and mrityu or death from his eyes.
 Brahma is the eternal creator of the earth, its creatures, the heavens, the gods and the demons as
well. The demons emerged from his thighs, the gods from his mouth, the ancestors from his sides,
and the males and females were formed out of his body when it broke up into two.
 When Brahma awakes, the three worlds are created. When he sleeps there is chaos.
 He is usually depicted as reddish hued, four faced, hoary, old man with a flowing white beard
seated on a lotus flower. It has been said that his fifth face was burnt off by the fire emanating
from Shiva's third eye, because he had shown disrespect. According to the Mahabharata, Shiva
was annoyed with Brahma, because he was enamoured of his own daughter. In his four arms
Brahma holds the Vedas, a ritual alms bowl, a scepter, a string of beads and his bow Pavitra. He is
mature and wise and a source of knowledge. The theatrical arts, music, dance and drama are all
attributed to him.
 Synonyms: Brahma as creator is Vidhi, Vedhas, Druhina, Srashtri, and as sustainer he is Dhatri and
Vidhatri. He is also called Pitamaha, the great father, Adi Kavi , the poet of early times, Lokesha,
the lord of the world, Chaturmukha, the four faced one and Parmeshta, the supreme being in
heaven.
 Primordial AUM “Sound of The Universe”... the sound that existed that exists and that will exist...
the sound of Brohmono... the sound of deep space...the sound of the cosmos... "A" is the sound of
bigbang..."U" is in between and ..."M" is when it reaches the end... and then again another
bigbang... the cycle goes on... and so the AUM... AUM sound in a more modern interpretation of
its elements. In short: "A" is the sound of infinite expanding energy in the universe, the energy of
unity consciousness and Divine Love; "U" is the sound of that very energy manifesting and
materializing in our waking reality; with the sound of "M" we absorb and integrate that energy
 into our own being. In the silence after the sound we give thanks and allow the process to
resonate within us.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Astro Cycles Theory…….Revealed to the Indian Seers in yogic flashes of heightened

Consciousness, Astrology was developed strictly on scientific laws. Backed up by Astronomy and
Maths, Astrology continues to rule as the Queen & Mother of all Sciences……….Long Astro Cycles have
fascinated mankind. This is the Vedic perspective of Astro Cycles………….The Vernal Equinoctial Point
was found to precede one degree in every 72 years. Hence as one Zodiacal Sign is 30 degrees in
length, 2160 years is the duration of an Age Cycle. We are at the moment undergoing the Piscean
Age which will give way to the Aquarian in 2444 AD. It is called the Piscean Age because the Vernal
Equinoctial Point is passing through Pisces and is at the moment 06 degrees 40 minutes 24 seconds in
Pisces…………Age Cycle ( 72*30) = 2160 years Precessional Cycle (72*360) = 25920 years ( as the Zodiac is 360
degrees )………Equinoctial Cycle (2000*2160) = 43,20000 years Cosmological Cycle ( 2 million *2160 ) = 4.32
billion years……….One Cosmological Cycle ( Brahma Kalpa) was considered to be one Brahma Day and
another 4.32 billion years was considered to be one Brahma Night. One Cosmological Cycle was one
thousand Equinoctial Cycles (Chatur Yugas) or 2 million Age Cycles!............The Vedic Calendar - Based
on Equinoctial Cycles……….An Equinoctial Cycle comprises of 4 Ages.

o Satya Yuga = 800 Age Cycles

o Threta Yuga = 600 Age Cycles
o Dwapara Yuga = 400 Age Cycles
o Kali Yuga = 200 Age Cycles
o Maha Yuga = 2000 Age Cycles ( Equinoctial Cycle )

As per Vedic Astronomy, the Dark Age (Kali Yuga) commenced from 3102 BC, 16th
February Midnight..............The Concept of Ayanamsa….The Date of Coincidence of the
Tropical and the Sidereal Zodiacs was found to be 285 AD and the Ayanamsa ( precessional distance )
was called Lahiri's Ayanamsa. Different scholars gave different dates but the Indian Govt in order to
standardise the Ayanamsa value took the initial point of the Zodiac as the point in the Ecliptic
opposite the star Chitra ( Alpha Virginis ) which was the vernal equinoctial point on the Vernal
Equinox day of 285 AD. The rate of precession of the Vernal Equinox was taken as 50.3 seconds per
sidereal year……In Vedic Astrology, Ayanamsa value is deducted from the Tropical ….longitudes of
planets to get the Sidereal longitudes. Hence the ……longitudes of planets in Western Astrology
( Tropical ) and Indian …..Astrology differ by 23.5 degrees this year. Natal charts cast in ……..these 2
systems will be entirely different!.......The Tropicalists (Western Astrologers) maintain that the Vernal
Point is in the 6th degree of Pisces now. The Siderealists ( Vedic Astrologers ) maintain that the
Sidereal Starting Point remains to be 0 degrees Beta Arietis ( Aswini ) and that the Sidereal Zodiac
doesn't change.......Scientific Offshoots of Astrology.........Pythagorus discovered that the
Nine numbers correspond to the Nine revolving heavens and became the founder of Astro-
Numerology.The most auspicious number Three was represented by the monarch of the sky,
Jupiter..............Another intuitively scientific offshoot of Astrology was Vedic Planetary Gemology. The
nine gems correspond to the nine planets and Gems were found to heal humans. This gave birth to
the science of Gem Therapy...............Astrology as related to Yoga.........As per Indian
Philosophy, Astrology was considered to be the foremost amongst the six auxiliary sciences as Yoga
was considered to be the foremost amongst the six main sciences. Even Yogis used to consult
astrologers about gaining Self-Actualization. Jupiter, Saturn and the South Node were considered to
be the spiritual planets which bring in Immortality or Self-Actualization...............The Law of
Correspondences........There is correspondence between the Seven planets and the Seven
Chakras or Dynamos of Cosmic Energy in Man. The Sun at the Centre of the Solar System is
represented by the Anahata Chakra and Saturn by the Mooladhara Chakra. "As Above, so Below" -
the seven energy centers are arranged exactly as in the Solar Logos. We are, indeed,
made in the image of Godhead, in His Image, in the image of the Almighty Solar Logos!.........The
importance of time in Astrology……The study of astrology accords primary importance to
time. Not even two smallest fractions of time element can be said to be similar. Each of them is
different. Every fraction of time energises the living beings in the earth in many ways. The existence of
planets and their effects on life in earth depends upon time cycle. Time is the force behind the
creation and destruction of every organism in the cosmos. Time is classified into 9 types namely
Brahmam, Divyam, Pithryam, Prajāpathyam, Gauravam, Souram, Savanam, Chhandram and
Arkham……….Day and night calculations, the holy periods of Shadhasheethi and Vishnupathi and
Dakshiṇāyaṇa and Uttarāyaṇa period are reckoned with the help of Souramānam………One lunar
month contains thirty days from Prathipādam to Amāvāsya. The daily rotation of the stellar sphere
makes one star day. A Savana Day is of 60 Ghatis duration from one sunrise to the next sunrise. Thus,
360 Savana days form a Savana year. 365.25 days make a solar year (Souravarsham). Kalpa is one
year of Lord Brahma and is equal to our 4,320,000,000 years………..There are four Yugas, namely:

1. Krutha or Satya = 1,7 28,000 human years

2. Thretha = 1,296,000 human years
3. Dwāparam = 864,000 human years
4. Kali = 432,000 human years

These four Yugās together form the Mahāyuga which spans 4,320,000 years. The Kali Yuga is believed to have
begun in 3102 BC.

Factors of astrological time calculation........The following are some of the important

factors that help calculate time:

o 1 vighati = 24 seconds
o 2.5 vighati = 1 minute
 o 60 vighati = 1 ghati = 24 minutes
o 2.5 ghati = 1 hour
o 60 ghati = 24 hours = 1 day
o 7 days = 1 week
o 2 weeks = A fortnight (Paksha) (It has been divided into Krishnapaksha and Suklapaksha)
o 2 paksha = 1 month
o 2 months = 1 season
o 6 months = 1 ayana
o 2 ayanams = 1 Year

There are 12 months - Chaithram, Vaishākham, Jyeshtham, Āshādham, Srāvanam, Bhādrapadam,

Āśwēyujam, Kārthikam, Mārgaśiram, Pushyam, Māgham and Phālguṇam………..There are 6 seasons -
Spring, Summer, Monsoon, Autumn, Winter and Late Autumn………..There are 2 Ayanas -
Dakshiṇāyaṇa and Uttarāyaṇa……….One lunar day is called Tithi………..There are 15 tithis in one
paksha. They are the following:……….Pradhama, Dwithiya, Thrithiya, Chathurthi, Panchami, Shashti,
Sapthami, Ashtami, Navami, Daśami, Ekādaśi, Dwādaśi, Thrayodaśi, Chathurdaśi, Amāvāsya /
Pourṇami…………..

The ancient Hindus had given the world the idea of the smallest and largest measuring
units of Time. Astonishingly, the ancient Hindus used the following units of time :
th
………………….34000 of a Second to 4.32 Billion Years

Unit Equivalent Equivalent Unit Equivalent Equivalent

34,000th of a
Krati 7 Divas 1 Saptaah 1 Week
second
1 Truti 300th of a second 4 Saptaah 1 Maas 1 Month
1 Rutu
2 Truti 1 Luv 2 Maas
(season)
2 Luv 1 Kshana 6 Rutu 1 Varsh 1 Year
30
1 Vipal 100 Varsh 1 Shataabda 1 Century
Kshana
60
1 Pal 10 Shataabda 1 Sahasraabda 10 Centuries or 1000 Years
Vipal
60 Pal 1 Ghadi 24 minutes 432 Sahasraabda 1 Yuga 4320 Centuries or 432000 Years
2.5 43200 Centuries or 4320000
1 Hora 1 Hour 10 Yuga 1 Mahayuga
Gadhi Years
24 43200000 Centuries or 4.32
1 Divas 1 Day 1000 Mahayuga 1 Kalpa
Hora Billion Years
Ancient method of time reckoning……The Vedic seers had an elaborate method of reckoning
time. They combined genius with religion so that it appealed to the intellectual and the devoted alike.
There were several methods of reckoning time. One standard method was as follows:
1 Asu (or Prana) = 4 (sidereal) seconds
6 Asus = 1 sidereal Pala (or Vighati or Vinadi or 24 seconds)
60 Palas = 1 Ghati (24 minutes)
60 Ghatis = 1 day (24 hours)
30 days = 1 month
12 months = 1 year
43, 20, 000 years = 1 Yuga
72 Yugas = 1 Manu
14 Manus = 1 Kalpa (or 1008 Yugas)
2 Kalpas = A day and night of brahma
30 day-nights of Brahma = 1 month of Brahma
12 months of Brahma = 1 year of Brahma
100 years of Brahma = Life of Brahm (or 1 Mahakalpa
In addition to the above, the following methods of reckoning of time were used for
astrological purposes :
1. Sidereal day = Time interval between one star-rise to the next
2. Civil day = Time interval between obe sunrise to the next
3. Lunar month = One new moon to the next
Interval between entry of Sun from one sign to the
4. Solar maonth =
other.
5. Solar year = Period of one solar revolution
6. Jupiterian (Barhaspatya) year = Period of Jupiter's motion through a sign.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Kaliyuga calendar………The Kaliyuga calendar is apparently much older than — and quite out of
line with — the other surviving old calendars. It also has a somewhat special standing because of its
linkage with the religious account of the history of the world, described with mathematical — if mind-
boggling — precision. (It is the last and the shortest of the four yugas, meant to last for 432,000
years, and has been preceded respectively by three other yugas, which were in length — going
backwards — two, three and four times as long as the Kaliyuga, making up a total of 4,320,000 years
altogether.)……….The epoch (starting point or first day of the zeroth year) of the current era of Hindu
calendar (both solar and lunisolar) is February 18 3102 BC/BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar or
January 23 3102 BC/BCE in the proleptic Gregorian calendar. Both the solar and lunisolar calendars
started on this date. After that, each year is labeled by the number of years elapsed since the
epoch………This is a unique feature of the Hindu calendar. All other systems use the current ordinal
number of the year as the year label. But just as a person's true age is measured by the number of
years that have elapsed starting from the date of the person's birth, the Hindu calendar measures the
number of years elapsed. As of May 18, 2005, 5106 years had elapsed in the Hindu calendar, so this is
the 5107th Hindu calendar year. Note that the lunisolar calendar year will usually start earlier than
the solar calendar year..............Yuga:…………….The units of time larger than a year are called
yugas. The word yuga has been derived from yoga and yoga from samyoga, or conjunction of
heavenly bodies. So one finds the origin of every unit of yuga to a specific conjunction of the heavenly
bodies in the sky. In Indian astronomy, starting from a mere 5 year yuga to a vast Mahāyuga of
4,320,000 years are in vogue. Every 5 year, a conjunction of the sun and the moon occurs at the
asterism Dhanişthā in the zodiacal sign Makara (Capricorn). The sun enters Makara, in the month of
Māgha. Hence the conjunction recurs every 5 year on the new-moon day in the month of Māgha and
that is the basis of counting a 5 year yuga. The Vedānga Jyotisa provides special names for these five
years and they are Samvatsara, Parivatsara, Idāvatsara. Anuvatsara and Idvatvatsara [VS: 26/45,
30/16; TB: 1/4/10;111/4/1-4)……….The planet Vŗhaspati (Jupiter) takes 1 year to cover a zodiacal sign
and hence takes 12 years to complete its journey through all the 12 signs of the zodiac. This is the
basis for counting a 12 year yuga and since it originates from the motion of Vŗhaspati, it is often
called the Vrāhaspatya-yuga. It would be relevant to mention here that the Kumbha-Mela is held
when Vŗhaspati enters the house of Kumbha (Aquarious) and hence the festival recurs every 12
years…………..From the facts narrated above, one observes that a conjunction of the sun and the moon
at Dhanişthā, while the Vŗhaspati (Jupiter) at makara (Capricorn), occurs every 60 years and that is
the basis for counting a 60 year yuga. Hindu scriptures provide separate names for all the sixty years
of a 60 year yuga.[4] The rare occasion when the sun, the moon and Vŗhaspati (Jupiter) meet at
dhanişthā repeats at an interval of 865 million years. Such a conjunction occurs five times in a
Kalpa……………………..Mahayuga (Chaturyuga) — The Yuga Cycles……………Beyond this level there are 4
epochs or yugas, namely, Krita Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga. All these four yugas
together is called a chatur yuga, which means "four epochs"or also termed maha yuga that means
"great epochs". Together a chatur yuga constitutes 4,320,000 human years and the lengths of each
chatur yuga follow a ratio of (4:3:2:1:).

yuga human years ratio

krita-yuga 1,728,000 years 4
treta-yuga 1,296,000 years 3
dvapara-yuga 864,000 years 2
kali-yuga 432,000 years 1
.....................................

1 chatur yuga (mahayuga) 4,320,000 human years

The ages see a gradual decline of dharma, wisdom, knowledge, intellectual capability, life span and
emotional and physical strength.
 Krita Yuga Treta Yuga Dvapara Yuga Kali Yuga
Golden Age or Satya
Other Name Silver Age Bronze Age Iron Age
Yuga (age of Truth)

Human Years 1,728,000 1,296,000 864,000 432,000

 Three quarters Qne quarter Virtue
Virtue Reigns One half Virtue and
Climate virtue and one and three quarters
Supreme One half Sin
quarter sin Sin

Human Stature 21 cubits 14 cubits 3.5 cubits

lakh of years and

Lifespan is 10,000 Lifespan is 1,000 Lifespan is 100 or
Human Lifespan death occurs only
years. years. 120 years.
when willed.

Kali Yuga:………..Kali Yuga , the present world age is the Age of Quarrel. There is quarrel among
persons, quarrel in behaviour, quarrel in one’s mind and intellect. One is always disturbing the peace
of others. Cruelty becomes the hall mark of the society in which we live. As a result nature becomes
imbalanced, natural disasters are increased, everywhere there is dissension and chaos……….In the
Vedic scriptures the only means of deliverance in Kali Yuga is to “recite the Holy Name of the Lord”, a
transcendental vibration which allows peace and compassion to flow within one’s being, and helps
the mass consciousness evolve to a higher level. One can no longer perform complicated Vedic
sacrifices according to their proper manner, because knowledge and action have deteriorated to such
an extent. But one can still recite the Holy Name of the Lord, not just for oneself, but out of
compassion for all of Humanity, Mother Earth and Beyond.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Time of the Devas — The Cosmic Years……. The lifespan of the Devas is 100 years of the
Devas (= 36,000 human years).

1 day of the Devas 1 human year

1 month of the Devas 30 days of the Devas
1 year of the Devas (1 divine year) 12 months of the Devas

…………………………………………………….

Kalpa — A Cosmic Day of Brahmā…………….In this cyclic process of time, 1000 chaturyuga
or mahayuga period is called a Kalpa, and period of time is equal to a daytime for the Brahma, the
creator of the universe. A thousand and a thousand (i.e. two thousand) chaturyuga-s are said to be
one day and night of Brahmā (the creator).

1 kalpa 1000 chatur yuga (mahayuga)

1 day and 1 night of Brahmā 2 kalpas
………………………………………………………………………….

At the beginning of creation begins the day of creation. At the end of that goes back all of the
creation of the Absolute. This is a Kalpa a cosmic cycle of becoming and either of creation and
destruction..............Mahakalpa — Brahma's Lifespan:………….Brahma (the creator) lives
for 100 years of 360 such days and at the end, he is said to dissolve, along with his entire Creation,
into the Paramātman (Eternal Soul). The scriptures put Brahma's age at 100 years in his unique time
scale..................Brahma's life span is equal to 311,040,000,000,000 human years. This period in
named as maha kalpa. A universe lasts only for one maha kalpa period. At the end of it the universe is
completely destroyed together with the creator Brahma and a new universe would be created with a
new Brahma. This cycle goes on endlessly. The Vedic universe passes through repetitive cycles of
creation and destruction. During the annihilation of the universe, energy is conserved, to manifest
again in the next creation.

100 years of Brahma (311,040,000,000,000 human

1 maha kalpa
years)
Motion of Earth….There are three motions of our earth. The first is rotation on its axis (23 Hrs
and 56 Minutes), the second is revolution around the Sun (365.25 days), while the third one is rotation
of the axis (of rotation) itself(26000 years). The third motion is the most peculiar and it may be
compared with the rotation of the axis of a spinning top. Just as in case of a spinning top, the time
period of rotation of the axis of Earth is much higher than the time period of rotation of the Earth. The
time taken in one rotation of the axis is about 26000 years. Thus the Earth's axis takes about 72 years
in moving one degree(about 1/72 degree per year).

Ancient method of time reckoning…….The Vedic seers had an elaborate method of

reckoning time. They combined genius with religion so that it appealed to the intellectual and the
devoted alike. There were several methods of reckoning time. One standard method was as follows:
……………Astro Cycles Theory……..Long Astro Cycles have fascinated mankind. This is the Vedic
perspective of Astro Cycles………The Vernal Equinoctial Point was found to precede one degree in
every 72 years. Hence as one Zodiacal Sign is 30 degrees in length, 2160 years is the duration of an
Age Cycle. We are at the moment undergoing the Piscean Age which will give way to the Aquarian in
2444 AD. It is called the Piscean Age because the Vernal Equinoctial Point is passing through Pisces
and is at the moment 06 degrees 40 minutes 24 seconds in Pisces.

Age Cycle (72*30) = 2160 years

Precessional Cycle (72*360) = 25920 years
Equinoctial Cycle (2000*2160) = 43,20000 years
Cosmological Cycle ( 2 million * 2160 ) = 4.32 billion years

One Cosmological Cycle (Brahma Kalpa) was considered to be one Brahma Day and another 4.32
billion years was considered to be one Brahma Night. One Cosmological Cycle was one thousand
Equinoctial Cycles (Chatur Yugas) or 2million Age Cycles!...........Earth as the
centre…………….The Vedic astrologer was aware that nothing in the universe was stationary. It
was, therefore, irrelevant to attempt to pick up a fixed point in the sky, and consider the movements
of earth and other heavenly bodies in relation to such a point. He, therefore, considered the position
and movement of all heavenly bodies in relation to the earth itself, which was his residence. It is no
wonder then that Indian astronomy and astrology consider the earth as the centre, and all other
heavenly bodies moving around it in one manner or the other. The Indian astronomy is thus
geocentric and not heliocentric which latter considers the Sun as the centre. The Indian astronomer
does appreciate the Sun to be the centre of the solar system, but he also appreciates that the Sun, the
solar system, as well as the stars are all moving. Hence he considered the pole star Dhruva as the
point of relative fixity at the centre of heavenly bodies in the galaxy. With such profound appreciation
of astronomy, one can'ts attribute ignorance of the earthly movements to the ancient Indian
astronomer............Zodiac:………. Imagine a belt or a path in the sky, some 18 degrees of arc in
width, running around the earth in an east-west direction. Groups of stars, to all appearance fixed,
are studded along this imaginary belt. Twenty seven (or twenty eight!) such groups of stars are
recognised in Vedic astrology. Because of lack of apparent motion, these are called as Nakshatras.
This imaginary belt, with nakshatras studded on it, is called the zodiac. The zodiac forms the reference
point for fixing up the position of any planet or star in the sky. Since it encircles the earth, it is
comprised of 360 degrees. The twenty-seven nakshatras being evenly placed on it each have a span of
13'20' arc. The various nakshatras are numbered from one to twenty-seven………….The zodiac is a 18
deg wide band placed obliquely to the equator. It is divided in 12 rashis and 27 nakshatras……………In
contrast to the fixed nakshatras, there are the moving heavenly bodies called the Grahas. These move
along the zodiac from the west to the east. They derive their name from the fact that, while moving
against the background of the nakshatras, they appear to get hold of one nakshatra after the other
(graha = to catch hold of). Vedic astrology recognises nine grahas. They are the Sun, the Moon, Mars,
Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Satrun, Rahu and Ketu. Of these, the Sun is a star, the Moon is a satellite of
the earth, Rahu and Ketu are mere mathematical points on the zodiac, while the remaining ones are
planets. For the sake of descriptive convenience, we shall refer to all of these as 'planets'. These
planets (appear to) revolve around the earth while staying within the limits of the zodiac. The
apparent path of the Sun along the zodiac is known as the ecliptic. The ecliptic passes through the
centre of the zodiac. It is inclined at an angle of 23'28' to the plane of the equator. The extra-
Saturnine planets, called Uranus, Neptune and Pluto have not been considered deliberately as they do
not form a part of Vedic astrology.

Signs or Rashis…………When the zodiac is divided into twelve equal parts, each such part has an
extension of 30 degrees of the arc. Such a division is called a sign or Rashi. A rashi consists of two and
a quarter nakshatras. A particular group of stars in the zodiac is considered as the starting point of
the zodiac. From this point, the twenty-seven nakshatras or the twelve signs begin. A planet located
anywhere along the zodiac may be considered as located in a particular sign, depending upon which
twelfth division of the zodiac it is in; it may be considered as being located in a particular nakshatra
too, depending upon which twenty seventh division of the zodiac it is in…………The planets from the
Sun to Saturn have been allotted the ownership of these signs. While the Sun and the Moon own one
sign each, the remaining planets own two signs each. Rahu and Ketu are generally not allotted
ownership of these signs. The names of the twelve signs, their planetary lords, and their extent in the
zodiac, etc., are given in Table given below :
Nakshatras:……….The twenty-seven nakshatras also extend along the zodiac from 0° to 360°. They
too are owned by planets. But in case of nakshatras, the planets Rahu and Ketu are also allotted the
ownership. Each nakshatra is further divided into four parts called the Padas or charanas. There are
thus 108 nakshatra padas or quarters in the twenty-seven nakshatras. Each nakshatra quarter
measures 3°20'. The relation of nakshatras with rashis, along with their extent and owners, are shown
in Table given below:………….Note:…….. A segment of the zodiac extending from 276°40'0" to
280°53'20" (equivalent to 6°4'0" to 10°53'20" in the Makara rashi, involving the last quarter of the
twenty first (i.e. Uttarashadha) nakshatra and the beginning of the twenty-second (Sharavana), is
sometimes considered as a separate nakshatra by the name Abhijit. This addition changes the
number of nakshatras to twenty-eight. In such a situation, Abhijit is considered as the twent-second
nakshatra, and the subsequent six nakshatras (from Sharavana onwards) assume changed numbers
(from 23 to 28, instead of 22 to 27).

The geocentric astronomical framework……………..In order to understand the very basic

astronomical concepts, as pertinent to an understanding of Vedic astrology, it is important to
understand certain facts about the earth, the movements of the earth, and the apparent movement
of the planets around the earth. Explanation of a few definitions is also in order……………Earth as a
sphere : The earth is spherical. It rotates from west to east around its axis. The axis of the earth is an
imaginary line which, passing through its centre, connects its two poles, the North Pole and the South
Pole. Another imaginary line running across the largest circumference of the earth, equidistant from
its poles and running in an east-west direction is called the equator. The terrestrial equator is
considered as the zero degree of latitude. Parallels drawn to the equator, either north or south of it,
indicate the north or south latitudes, from zero degree at the equator to 90 degrees at either pole.
Imaginary lines can also be drawn on the surface of the earth connecting the north pole to the south
pole. Encompassing the circumference of the earth, these correspond to the 360 degrees of longitude.
They are also known as the terrestrial meridians. Ancient Vedic astrologers considered the terrestrial
meridian passing through Ujjain as the zero degree longitude. At present, the meridian passing
through Green witch in England is regarded as corresponding to zero degree of longitude. The
longitudes are marked from zero degree to 180 degrees east or west, depending upon whether a
place falls to the east or to the west of Greenwich. The latitude and the longitude of a place are the
co-ordinates, which help to locate the place accurately on the surface of the earth. The 360 degrees of
terrestrial longitude represent a time span of 24 hours. One hour thus corresponds to 15 degrees, and
one degree of terrestrial longitude represents 4 minutes of time. The equator divides the earth into
northern and southern hemispheres. Latitudes and longitudes help locate a place on the surface of
the earth. Arrow shows the direction of the earth's rotation from west to east…………..The great and
the small circles : A great circle is any circle the plane of which passes through the centre of a sphere.
Equator is a great circle on the earth, equidistant from the north and south poles. Any circle the plane
of which does not pass through the centre of a sphere is called a small circle. As the equator
corresponds to zero degrees latitude, all parallels to it are small circles, which represent the north or
south latitudes……………….Imaginary extensions into space : The space around the earth extends to
an infinite extent. To us, the extension of space up to the zodiac is of primary importance. Celestial
Sphere is an imaginary projection of the earth in all directions upto infinity. An extension of the plane
of terrestrial equator into space is called the celestial equator. Any great circle that joins the celestial
north and south poles is called a meridian. The meridian of a place corresponds to the terrestrial
longitude. The meridian passing through Greenwich corresponds to zero degree of longitude, and is
termed as the Principal meridian or the Standard meridian. The angular distance between the
principal meridian and the meridian of a given place (i.e., the angle subtended by the principal
meridian and the meridian of a given place, at the centre of the earth) is called the longitude of a
place………………The Sun crosses the meridian of a place at mid-day. The intersection of the ecliptic
(i.e., the sun's apparent path around the earth) with the meridian of a place is termed as the
midheaven which in other words corresponds to the cusp of the tenth house of a horoscope. The
meridian of a place thus passes, around the earth, through north pole, midheaven (10th house or
zenith), south pole nadir (4th house) and back to the north pole……………Declination and right
ascension: Just as parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude help to locate a place on the
surface of the terrestrial sphere, so do their extensions in the form of parallels of declination and
meridians of right ascension help to locate heavenly bodies on the celestial sphere. Declination of a
planet is the angle subtended by it and the celestial equator at the earth. The declination of a planet,
thus, corresponds exactly with the terrestrial latitude. A planet at the terrestrial equator is said to
possess zero degree declination. Right ascension of a planet is its angular distance, measured
eastwards along the celestial equator, from the vernal equinox to the point where a perpendicular
drawn through the said planet falls on the celestial equator……………Equator and ecliptic; formation
of seasons: The earth rotates on its own axis in twenty-four hours. Along with this rotation, it also
revolves around the Sun in one year or 365.2422 days (365 days 5 hours 48 minutes 46 seconds). This
span of time is called a tropical year. The path of the earth around the Sun appears to us, from the
earth, as the Sun's path around the earth, and is called the ecliptic The equator runs around the
middle of earth in an east-west direction and divides the earth into a northern hemisphere and a
southern hemisphere. The ecliptic, or the Sun's path, in the apparent east-west direction, does not lie
along the equator but is obliquely placed to it. Half of the Sun's path thus lies to the north of the
equator and a half of it to the south of the equator.

Aryabhatta wrote over fifteen centuries ago: "One half of the ecliptic, running from the beginning of
the sign Aries to the end of the sign Virgo, lies obliquely inclined (to the equator) northwards. The
remaining half (or the ecliptic) running from the beginning of the sign Libra to the end of the sign
Pisces, lies (equally inclined to the equator) southwards."

The Sun thus happens to cross the equator twice a year, giving rise to what are termed as the two
equinoxes. The vernal equinox happens around the 21st March, when the Sun is on its northerly
course. The autumnal equinox occurs around 23rd September when the Sun is on its southerly course.
The ecliptic is inclined to the equator at an angle of 23.28'.It crosses equator at two points, the vernal
equinox and the autumnal equinox.The north of the earth corresponds to the celestial north and
celestial south poles.

On these two occasions, the day and night all over the globe are of equal duration. The Sun is
vertically above the equator at this time. The declination of the Sun at these occasions is zero as it
corresponds to the terrestrial equator which represents zero degree latitude………….After vernal
equinox, the Sun progressively attains north declination unit it reaches a maximum of 23°28'. This
occurs around 21st June and is known as the summer solstice . The Sun is vertically above the tropic
of Cancer at this time. The northern hemisphere experiences the longest day and the shortest night on
this occasion. The reverse holds true for the southern hemisphere………………After the autumnal
equinox, the Sun pursues a southward course and attains a maximum south declination of 23°28' at
the time of winter solstice . This happens around 22nd December. The Sun is vertically above the
tropic of Capricorn, at this time. The northern hemisphere experiences the shortest day and the
longest night on this occasion. The reverse holds true for the southern hemisphere………..The obliquity
of the ecliptic to the equator thus results in the formation of seasons . When it is winter in the
northern hemisphere, it is summer in the southern hemisphere. When it is summer in the northern
hemisphere, it is winter in the southern hemisphere…………..The horizon: It is the great circle, which
represents the meeting line of the earth and the sky. It varies according to the position of the observer
on the surface of the earth. For example, for an observer at the north pole of the earth, the horizon
corresponds with the equator while the southern hemisphere remains out of view. For one standing at
the equator, the great circle passing through the poles represents the horizon; the two poles lie on the
horizon in this case. For any intermediate positions, the horizon too varies accordingly. More and
more of the southern hemisphere moves out of the horizon as the observer moves northward, and
more and more northern hemisphere moves out of the horizon as the observer moves
southward…………..The point of the celestial sphere, which is directly overhead for the observer, is
called as the zenith. This is at right angles to the observer's horizon. Its opposite point is known as the
nadir. The great circle that passes in a north-south direction through the zenith and the nadir,
through the celestial north and south poles (i.e., the north and south poles of the equator) and
through the north and south points of the horizon is called the meridian which has been already
referred to………….The rising and setting of signs…………As already mentioned, the ecliptic passes
through the centre of the zodiacal belt which extends some 8' to 9' on its either (north as well as
south) side. The planets remain within the limits of the zodiac. The earth rotates around its axis once
in twenty-four hours from west to east. As a consequence, all heavenly bodies appear to revolve
around the earth from east to west once in twenty-four hours. The zodiac, with the nakshatras and
rashis fixed upon it, also appears to revolve around the earth once in twenty-four hours. Thus all the
signs and nakshatras on the zodiac appear to successively rise in the eastern horizon and set at the
western horizon once in twenty-four hours. Six of the twelve signs appear at the eastern horizon
during the day-time and the remaining six during night-time. The following points are of importance:

1. The sign that rises at the eastern horizon, at a given moment of time, is of primary importance
and called the ascendant or the lagna. It is the sign where the ecliptic cuts the eastern horizon.
In a horoscope this represents the first house.
2. The sign seventh from the ascendant is the descendant or the setting sign. That is, when a
particular sign is rising in the eastern horizon, its opposite sign is setting in the western
horizon. It is the sign where the ecliptic cuts the western horizon. In a horoscope this
represents the seventh house
3. The points where the meridian cuts the ecliptic are the zenith (above the earth) and the nadir
(below the earth, exactly opposite to the zenith) The Zenith (mid-heaven) represents the tenth
house in a horoscope, while the nadir represents the fourth house.
4. Each sign takes time to rise at the horizon from zero degrees to 30 degrees. All signs are not of
equal duration so that some signs take longer to completely rise above the horizon compared
to the others
5. Signs can be divided into three groups, depending upon their rising periods (rashi maanas).
 Group A Mesha Kanya Tula Meena
Group B Vrisha Simha Vrischika Kumbha
Group C Mithuna Karka Dhanu Makara

A sign belonging to one group takes the same time to rise as another belonging to the same group at
the equator. The six signs from Karka to Dhanu lengthen and the remaining six shorten as one
proceeds from the equator to the North Pole. On the other hand, the signs from Makara to Mithuna
lengthen, while the remaining ones shorten, as one proceeds from the equator to the south pole.

6. For any given latitude, the rising period for different signs is fixed.
7. As one moves away from the equator, certain signs lengthen while the others shorten as far as
their rising period is concerned. That is, certain signs remain longer on the horizon than the
others.
8. Six signs elapse between sunrise and sunset, while the remaining six signs do so between
sunset and sunrise.
9. This means that in winter, when the days are shorter, the six zodiacal signs that rise
successively during the day have a shorter time duration, while the remaining six have a
longer time duration. This gives rise to signs of short ascension and those of long ascension.
10. Signs of long ascension in the northern hemisphere are: Karka, Simbha, Kanya, Tula, Vrischika
and Dhanu.
11. Sings of short ascension in the northern hemisphere are: Makara, Kumbha, Meena, Mesha,
Vrisha and Mithuna. These are the signs of long ascension for the southern latitudes.
12. As one nears the poles, certain zodiacal signs fail to rise.

The concept of sidereal time…………..The earth rotates around its axis in 24 hours, in what may be
termed a mean solar day. In other words, the mean solar day is a function of earth's rotation in
relation to the Sun. Considered with reference to any fixed star in the zodiac, the earth completes its
one rotation in approximately 23 hours and 56 minutes (23 hours, 56 minutes, 4.09 seconds, to be
precise). One rotation of the earth in relation to a fixed star is called a sidereal day. Said in another
manner, a sidereal day is the time interval between two successive transits of a fixed star over the
meridian of a place. A sidereal day is 3 minutes and 56 seconds (or roughly 4 minutes) shorter than
the mean solar day…………………A sidereal day consists of 24 sidereal hours. Time reckoned according
to this method is called the sidereal time .Since the sidereal time considers the angular rotation of the
earth in relation to the fixed stars of the zodiac, the earth will attain the same position with
reference to the zodiac every day at the same sidereal time. In other words, for any location, for
the same sidereal time, the disposition of the signs of the zodiac (including the rising sign, the
setting sign, the tenth house, the 4th house, etc.) will be the same. This is the reason why it is
essential to obtain the correct sidereal time for the purposes of erecting an astrological chart for any
given moment of mean solar time as provided by the watch……………..Why is the mean solar day
longer than the sidereal day? By the time the earth rotates once, with reference to a fixed star, i.e., in
one sidereal day, the Sun has moved by approximately 1° thereby consuming approximately 4
additional minutes each day.
The Precession of the Equinoxes……….While the Western astronomers compute everything from
0 degree Aries which is the beginning of the Tropical Zodiac, the Indian astronomers compute
everything from 0 degrees Aswathi (Beta Arietis), which is the beginning of the Sidereal Zodiac.
Sidereal is derived from the Latin word "Sidereus" meaning the constellation of fixed stars. The Vernal
Equinoctial Point was found to precede one degree in 72 years and hence 360*72 = 25920 years was
fixed as the Precession of the Equinoxes or the Precessional Cycle… …….Tropical/Sidereal
Chart……..The Tropical system, on which much of Western astrology is generally based, is no longer
based on the actual observable position of stars in the zodiac or the night sky. This is because the
Tropical zodiac is based upon the equinoxes and not on the fixed stars. One of the fixed stars is
Antares, which can be found Sidereally in the heart of Scorpio………..The beginning of the Tropical
zodiac is at the first degree of Aries, the vernal equinox. This is also the position of the Sun at the first
day of Spring. The orientation of the equinoxes is a moveable system compared to the backdrop of
fixed stars, due to the precession of the earth on its axis. This phenomenon of the precession, (which
also involves the changing tilt of the earth), causes the Earth to move backwards in the zodiac,
relative to the fixed stars. Over a period of around 25,000 years, a point on the earth relative to the
fixed stars makes a full circle of the zodiac………..This means that for a Tropical astrologer, Jupiter in
Sagittarius would very likely be actually found placed in Scorpio when gazing at the night sky. In fact
all of the planets in the Tropical zodiac are actually found 23 degrees behind their actual Tropical
placement when we convert the chart to a Fixed star or Sidereal Vedic chart. This means that some or
all of the planets in a Tropical chart will move backwards from one sign/house to another, if we want
to convert the Tropical placement of planets to the actual placement of stars in the sky (the Sidereal
placement)……….Around 2000 years ago when Western astrology was in its formative years the two
systems happened to coincide. Since then, with the precession of the equinoxes, the two zodiacs have
been moving apart by 50’ per year. There is now over a 23-degree difference between the two
systems…..The Tropical zodiac is also based on the orientation of the earth to the Sun, not on stars.
The Vedic system is based on the fixed stars and the Moon……For this reason the Sun is very
important to Western astrologers, whereas the Vedic astrologers have made the Moon their most
important planet…….The Concept of Ayanamsa………….(In astrology, this is the longitudinal
difference between the Tropical and Sidereal zodiacs)…………The Date of Coincidence of the Tropical
and the Sidereal Zodiacs was found to be 285 AD and the Ayanamsa (precessional distance) was
called Lahiri's Ayanamsa. Different scholars gave different dates but the Indian Govt in order to
standardize the Ayanamsa value took the initial point of the Zodiac as the point in the Ecliptic
opposite the star Chitra (Alpha Virginis) which was the vernal equinoctial point on the Vernal Equinox
day of 285 AD. The rate of precession of the Vernal Equinox was taken as 50.3 seconds per sidereal
year…………….In Vedic Astrology, Ayanamsa value is deducted from the Tropical longitudes of planets
to get the Sidereal longitudes. Hence the longitudes of planets in Western Astrology (Tropical) and
Indian Astrology differ by 23.5 degrees this year. Natal charts cast in these 2 systems will be entirely
different!.............The Tropicalists (Western Astrologers) maintain that the Vernal Point is in the 6th
degree of Pisces now. The Siderealists (Vedic Astrologers) maintain that the Sidereal Starting Point
remains to be 0 degrees Beta Arietis (Aswini) and that the Sidereal Zodiac doesn't change……….
Ayanamsha (Precession of Equinox)………..Vedic astrology refers to the mathematical difference (in
degrees) between the Tropical and Sidereal (based on nakshatras) zodiac as Ayanamsha. This
difference occurs on account of wobble of the Earth and indicates the actual position that can be
confirmed by the naked eye of the Sun and other planets, as against the hypothetical position given
by Tropical zodiac………..This difference between theoretical positon of grahas and their actual
placement, as viewed from earth, arises on account of the fact that the ecliptic (apparent path of the
Sun along the Zodiac) and the Zodiac are not parallel, but are angled to each other. This angle
gradually changes and the annual change is calculated to be about 50.3 seconds per year. This
phenomenon is known as the precession of equinox. For a simple understanding of the phenomenon,
one must know that the celestial equator holding the nakshatras and grahas, theoretically is assumed
to be parallel to the Earth’s equator. Nakshatras are spread evenly over a 16 degree (approximately)
wide belt of this celestial equator. This theoretical model appears correct if we assume that Earth is
stationary and planets move around it. This not being so, coupled with the fact that the Earth changes
its angle on account of its wobble, means that the Ayanamsha, which is the angular difference
between the celestial equator and Earth's equator, changes gradually. Current Ayanamsha is said to
be about 23.54.59.21. Graphic representation might perhaps make this a bit clearer (we are assuming
the Ayanamsha of 23.50 degrees). One must remember that the Ayanamsha is ever changing and as
such, usually the average Ayanamsha is used for calculations. However modern software makes it
possible to calculate daily and even hourly Ayanamsha. I prefer using "Lahiri" Ayanamsha and the
readers may safely use this option in the Jyotish software that they may be using………….Theoretical
position of the celestial equator:………….It is assumed that the celestial North Pole and the celestial
South Pole are located when we extend the earth's polar axis to meet the celestial globe. The zodiac,
which spreads 8 degrees to either side of the ecliptic, is assumed to be parallel to the ecliptic.
However that is not so and it is at an angle to the ecliptic on account of precession of the equinox.
This precession is known as Ayanamsha (travel of amsha or precession of equinox). The next graphic
tries to show schematically the relative positions of ecliptic and the celestial equator.
The tipping motion of the Earth axis is called precession
108…………108 was a sacred number already at the time of the Buddha, probably due to the
astrological system that came from Sumeria around 5,000 years ago and was taken on by the Indus
Valley civilisations. It gave Europe and Asia the 7-day week and the 12-month year, which are found
everywhere to this day. 108 has been a number sacred for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains for at least
2,500 years. It is also found in the West, through the Greeks who also got their astrology and
numbers from Sumerian origins. The main astrological reasons were put together in the Kalachakra
Tantra, which came to Tibet in 1027 - - quite late on……………Why 108? Here are some of the answers:

1. Astrologically, it is the combination of the 9 heavenly bodies (mainly planets - Sun, Moon,
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the North Node and the South Node.) with the 12 houses of
 the Zodiac. 12 times 9 = 108. On a more secret level, the number 9 is associated with Saturn (Za
Penpa) and you may have seen the 12 sets of Saturn "magical squares" set around a Tibetan
astrological chart. This is used to calculate Mewas and Parkas. There are 108 squares in the
diagram below…………..There are also, in astrology, the 27 Lunar Mansions (Jukar) and if one
combines these with the 4 phases of the Moon, that gives 108…………..In the Kalachakra, these
outer 108 are corresponded to the inner 108 major, secondary and tertiary channels deriving from
the heart centre………..
2. In Buddhism, it becomes the main number of possible experiences. It works like this - there are the
six consciousnesses (seeing, hearing, smelling , tasting, physical sensation and mental). These can
be either pleasant, unpleasant or neutral so that makes 18 possibilities. There are the three times
(past, present and future) in which these can occur, so that makes 3 x 18 = 54. Then they can be
either virtuous or non-virtuous = 108.

3. Numerology. The number has fascinated mathematicians all over the world because it is
a. multiplied by (2 x 2) multiplied by (3 x 3 x 3) ....one one, two twos and three threes.
4. The Greeks' famous beautiful architecture was based on a height-width relationship know as the
"Golden Rule". You get this by taking two points 108 apart on a circle, joining them with a straight
line and comparing that to the circumference of the circle.
5. The ancients didn't know all of the following, but by an incredible "coincidence" , the distance
between the Earth and the Sun is 108 times the Sun's diameter, the distance between the Earth
and the Moon is 108 times the Moon's diameter and also the diameter of the Sun is 108 times
that of the Earth. Just by coincidence, the radius of the Moon is 108 miles.
6. This is more debatable. The Hindu pantheon of Gods is 108: some people say that these were
'upgraded' by tantra to make 108 main deities in Buddhism. This is certainly why the Hindus think
it is a holy number. Of course, the deities are representations of cosmic realites, so we come back
to the inner channels and the outer cosmos.

Mathematical &Scientific Data for above………..①Distance between earth and sun = 108
times sun-diameter

o The diameter of the Sun has not been easy for scientists to measure. These are the numbers:
o -1,392,000 km ("Sun" Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. 6th ed. Columbia University Press, 2003)
o 1,400,000 km (Namowitz, Samuel N. and Spaulding, Nancy E. Earth Science. Evanston, IL:
McDougal Littell Company, 1999)
o 1,390,000 km (The Amazing Structure of the Sun. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA), 2003)
o 1,380,000 km (Namowitz, Samuel N., and Nancy E. Spaulding. Heath Earth Science. Lexington,
MA: Heath, 1994: 398.)

The distance between the earth and the Sun is called an Astrological Unit (AU). 1 AU =
149,597,870.691 kilometers……….Even though this is the number given there are multiple places
where variability gets into the numbers. One way is the elliptical orbit of the earth around the Sun.
Perihelion: 147.5 million km, about January 4 th Aphelion 152.6 million km, about July 4th
(http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast04jan_1.htm)...............Findings: ………Taking the mean
distance between the earth and the Sun ( 149,597,870.691 km) and dividing it by the most commonly
used diameter of the Sun (1,392,000 km) the result is
107.46973469181034482758620689655…………… ②Distance between earth and moon = 108 times
moon-diameter ……….Moons diameter is: 3,474.8 km (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth) Distance
from earth to the Moon:…….Again the Moons rotation is elliptical and not an exact circle. But Apollo
11 astronauts put mirrors on the Moon and lasers measure the amount of time it takes for the light to
reflect, this gives measurements with accuracy up to a few inches at any given time……Perigree
363,300 km………..Apogee 405,500 km………..Mean Distance 384,400 km ……….Findings:….Taking the
mean distance from the Moon to the Earth (384,400 km) and dividing it by the Moons diameter
(3,474.8 km) results in 110.62507194658685391965005180154………….. ③Diameter of the sun = 108
times the earth diameter……….The diameter of the earth is: Equatorial diameter 12,756.28
km………….Polar diameter 12,713.56 km…………..Mean diameter 12,742.02 km……….The angle of 108
has a unique property: the ratio between the straight line uniting two points at 108 from each other
on a circles circumference (in effect one of the sides of a 10-pointed star) and the radius of that circle
equals the Golden Section. Likewise, the inside of every angle of a pentagon measures 108, and the
pentagon is a veritable embodiment of the Golden Section, e.g. the ratio between a side of the 5-
pointed star and a side of the pentagon is the Golden Section. So, there is an intimate link between
the number 108 and the Golden Section.

Creation (Pt. Sanjay Rath).........INTRODUCTION……….Creation of the Universe has been a

popular theme with philosophies and so also with Vedic Astrology. Parasara teaches that the entire
manifested Universe is but one-eighth portion of the body of Narayana. The size of the unmanifested
Narayana is infinite and just like dividing infinity by any number the quotient is still infinity, so also the
size of the manifested potion of Narayana is infinite. Essentially, the absolute Narayana is Nirguna
but as a part of His pleasure, does attain the three Guna due to Yoga (union) with the three kinds of
Shakti. ………….The whole body of Narayana is divided into four parts called (1) Param-Brahmä, (2)
Maha-Vishnu, (3) Sada-Shiva and (4) Vasudeva. These parts cannot really be differentiated from the
whole as the pure nectar pervades them and the names used here are merely to aid understanding.
Thus, Narayana with Sri Shakti is called Maha-Vishnu and is of pure Satwa Guna; Narayana with
Bhu Shakti is Param-Brahmä and is of pure Rajas Guna; while Narayana with Nila[12] Shakti is Sada-
Shiva and is of pure Tamas Guna. These three parts are full of nectar and are imperceptible. The
fourth part of Narayana is Vasudeva. This quarter is further divided into two parts – one part that is
perceptible (with three Shakti i.e. Sri-Shakti, Bhu-Shakti & Nila-Shakti and three Guna’s intermingling)
and the other part that is imperceptible (with two Shakti’s: Sri-Shakti & Bhu-Shakti).

THE EXPANSION OF VASUDEVA……….he perceptible part of Vasudeva is Karanodakasayi-Vishnu or

the principal evolver and the first intention of creation is seen in the evolution of the sixteen principles
of material action[13]. Srila Prabhupada[14] opines that many such universes come out of the pores
of the skin of Karanodakasayi-Vishnu. This is the first expansion (first Pada) of Vishnu of the three
Pada[15] (steps) in which the Lord manifests. Having created the universes Vasudeva/Vishnu enters
into them for continuing the process of creation. In the next two-stages/ steps, He is known as
Garbhodakasayi Vishnu and Kshirodakasayi Vishnu………..The three-fold division continues into the
next level due to the expansion of this perceptible part of Vasudeva with the motive of entering into
each universe. Vasudeva takes the form of Garbhodakasayi Vishnu lying within the half of the
universe, which is full with the water of His perspiration from the pangs of multiple births. Vasudeva
(Garbhodakasayi Vishnu) with Neela Shakti (Tamas) evolves as the Shankarshana; with Bhu Shakti He
expands into Pradyumna (Rajas) and with Sri Shakti He evolves as Aniruddha (Satwa Guna)[16]. There
is an intermingling of the Guna’s (modes of nature), and the prevailing modes shall dominate the
nature of the expansion.

Figure 1: Narayana & Creation

The expansions of Sankarshana (Neela Shakti – Tamas) further evolve into the Maha Tatwa (the
primordial five states of physical existence) while those of Pradyumna (Bhu Shakti – Rajas) evolve into
Ahamkara (individual ego) and Aniruddha (Sri Shakti – Satwa) evolves into the demiurge Brahma
(Ahamkara murti). This is conceived as the stem of the lotus (akin to the umbilical chord) growing out
of the navel of Garbhodakasayi Vishnu (as Aniruddha). The stem has a thousand petal lotus as its
apex (like the Sahasrara Chakra – thousand petal Chakra in the cranium) on which resided Brahma.
The stem has been equated to the three Loka (planes of existence) or to fourteen Loka depending on
the context. Such brilliant imagery helps to clear many a misconception. For example there is this
never ending debate about the correct time of birth – as to (a) whether it is the Garbha pravesha or
coming out of the uterus, (b) Nadi sodhana – cutting of the umbilicus or (c) Prathama rodana – first
cry? If we were to accept this imagery of Brahma on the umbilicus of Garbhodakasayi Vishnu as
symbolizing birth, then it is time of cutting of the umbilical chord, which is the correct birth moment.

Figure 2: Karanodakasayi-Vishnu
Ahamkara born of predominant Rajas further evolves into three parts based on the Guna’s. A more
Satvic expansion (born from Satwa or goodness) is into a Deva; Rajasik expansion (born from Rajas or
Passion) is unto the Indriya’s {five Gyanendriya or senses related to knowledge (1) smell, (2) taste, (3)
sight (4) hear and (5) touch or feel and five Karmendriya or five primary actions (1) speech, (2)
grasping, (3) walking, (4) evacuation/cleansing and (5) procreation}; and the Tamasik expansion
(born of Tamas or ignorance) is into Pancha Bhoota (five states of physical existence) called (1) Agni –
fire/energy (2) Prithvi – earth/solid (3) Jala – water/liquid (4) Vayu – wind/gas and (5) Akash –
ether/vacuum. The Dhi (Supreme intelligence of Vasudeva) enters the process of creation through
Ahamkara and besides the creation of the Tanmatra {five subtle elements – (1) Energy – Agni (2) Solid
– Prithvi (3) Liquid – Jala (4) Gas – Vayu and (5) Akash – Vacuum in the physical sense but an ethereal
substance in the metaphysical sense} and the Indriya as indicated, also creates the Mana (Mind or
consciousness). All these creations are ‘active’ as they arise with their individual Shakti’s. In fact,
Ahamkara itself has been created from the Rajas of Pradyumna and in turn its creations will also
exhibit such traits as associating for the purpose of creating active elements and bodies that are
principally Rajasik. Thus all creatures and living bodies are created from Ahamkara.
 Figure 3: Garbhodakasayi Vishnu

The Vishnu Purana confirms this postulation and adds that the ‘Paramatma’ is the ‘Purusha’ and adds
that He is ‘Kaala’ or time (the controller of the sixteen laws of material action). Thus evolved the
concept of Kaala Purusha (personification of time as an aspect of God) and the Bha-Chakra (zodiac)
as the celestial clock that not only represents the Kaala Purusha but also indicates the quality of time.
Kshirodakasayi Vishnu or the Paramatma expands from Vasudeva/Garbhodakasayi Vishnu into the
body of Brahma (through the Satvic incarnation Aniruddha) and thereafter enters the body of every
living being to reside in the heart (lotus). By a similar process, the Jeevatma (or the individual
personal soul) also enters the body and shares a berth next to the Param Atma in the heart.
Parasara[18] has opined that the Paramatma resides in all Jeeva’s i.e. all living beings have a portion
of the divine spark of Vishnu within their hearts. The potency of this spark of Vishnu is called
Paramatma-amsa whereas the potency of his or her own individual soul is called Jeeva-
amsa……..Sankhya Shastra has a similar postulation (as taught by Sri Krishna in the Srimad Bhagavat
Gita and Kapila Muni an incarnation of Vishnu in the Srimad Bhagavatam) in so far as the expansion
of Garbhodakasayi Vishnu is concerned. This teaching is grossly different from the fundamental
atheism of the Sankhya Shastra given in the Sankhya Karika of Isvarakrishna attributed to Kapila.
Kapila Muni the legendary founder of this system of philosophy gave this knowledge to His mother
Devahuti and is different from Kapila Muni as indicated in the Bhagavatam. The principal difference is
in the view of the Purusha as being the prime creator (Krishna/Kapila) and just an inactive spectator
of the evolution of Prakriti (Isvarakrishna)……………..The expansion of Vasudeva is based on twenty-
five principles (Tatwa). The first principle is the Purusha or Vasudeva the principal evolver Who
glances at [2]Prakriti (Shakti - personified as Mother Nature) while lying on the Karana Sagar (causal
ocean). The Purusha has three forms as (a) Maha Vishnu or Karanodakasayi Vishnu, (b)
Garbhodakasayi Vishnu and (c) Kshirodakasayi Vishnu at the three levels of evolution. At the first
level, the exhalation of Karanodakasayi Vishnu produces innumerable universes that start as a seed
and expand as they float above the causal ocean. At the second level, Garbhodakasayi Vishnu enters
each of these universes and interacts with Prakriti in its three constituent qualities called Guna to
produce besides others, [3]Intelligence (Dhi or buddhi called Maha ‘the Great One’). From intelligence
is produced [4]Ahamkara (Self consciousness)…………….Ahamkara interacts with Neela Shakti in the
mode of Tamas to produce the Tanmatra (five forms of material existence in the particle form). The
Tanmatra or particle forms of physical existence are Akash - Vacuum or ether depending on context,
Vayu – Gas, Jala – liquid, Prithvi – Solid, and Agni – Energy. The five forms of gross physical matter
called Maha Bhoota was created from these molecular forms. These are also named as the
molecular forms (as they are not different from their constituent molecules) as Akash - Vacuum or
ether, Vayu – Gas, Jala – liquid, Prithvi – Solid, and Agni – Energy……………..Ahamkara interacts with
Bhu Shakti in the mode of Rajas to produce the five sense organs called Gyanendriya – hearing, touch,
sight, taste and, smell and the five organs of action called Karmendriya - speech, grasping, walking,
procreation and, evacuation. Each of these organs and senses correspond to a Tanmatra / Maha
Bhoota respectively. The final product of Ahamkara is the Mana (Mind) that interacts with the various
Gyanendriya and Karmendriya and is influenced by the Tanmatra and Maha Bhoota i.e. the mind is
the link between the senses and organs that are in constant interaction with the molecular and gross
material forms.

[2] The manifest is referred to as ‘Maya’ or illusion, and in the Bhagavat Gita is called the Akshara’
(syllable), immutable Brahma. Thus, if Narayana is said to be even above this sound syllable.

[3] Narayana is composed of two words ‘Nara’ meaning ‘any body’ and ‘Ayana’ meaning ‘Goal’. Thus
the composite word Narayana means the ultimate goal of every body both living and non-living or
mobile and immobile. In a more subtle sense it refers to the individual soul (Microcosm) endeavoring
to attain Union (Yoga) with the Universal Soul (Macrocosm). Thus, Narayana also means this
universal soul or supreme personality of God.

[4] Poornamada poornamidam poornatapoornamudachyate; poornasya poornamadaya

poornamevavasisyate.

[5] Nirguna means untouched by material contamination - [Prabhupada]. Beyond the Guna’s or
without Guna.

[6] Bhagavat Gita 9.8

[7] Guna are the material qualities of Prakriti (personified nature) as Satwa (Goodness), Rajas
(Passion) and Tamas (Ignorance).

[8] Shakti literally means strength or power and specifically indicates the strength to achieve an
objective. The three primary objectives are creation, preservation and dissolution.

[9] Sri Shakti is the phoneme causing Satwa Guna and is personified as Maha-Lakshmi. Satwa Guna is
of the nature of Goodness causing preservation.

[10] The word ‘pure’ has been used to indicate the presence of Amrita (nectar) that causes
immortality or perceived immortality in a relative time concept.
[11] Bhu Shakti is the phoneme causing Rajas Guna and is personified as Maha-Saraswati. Satwa
Guna is of the nature of Passion causing creation.

[12] Nila Shakti is the phoneme causing Tamas Guna and is personified as Maha-Kali. Tamas Guna is
of the nature of Ignorance causing destruction.

[13] SB 1.3.1

[14] SB 1.3.1 purport

[15] Trinipada vichakrame Vishnur-gopa adabhya. Atho dharmani dharayen. RV

[16] This postulation of Parasara (BPHS 1.14 –1.17) is corroborated by the Sloka - Om namastubhyam
Bhagavate Vasudevaaya dhimahi. Pradyumnayaaya, Aniruddhaaya namah Sankarshanaya cha. In
addition we are taught that the intellect ‘Dhi’ evolves with these expansions which in turn, results in
the creation of (a) Brahma and the 14 Loka, (b) Ahamkara that creates living beings and (c) Maha
Tatwa. These expansions are spontaneous without any time lag.

[17] Ref: Appendix-1 – Heart lotus is the Hridaya Padma or a psychic energy center in the region of
the heart.

[18] BPHS 1.21 -24

[19] There are six systems of Philosophy called Shad-Darshan. Refer Appendix-4 for more details.

[20] Laghu Bhagavatamrita, Purva Khanda, 33