LEARN ASTROLOGY - LESSON 14

REMEDIAL MEASURES

The divine science of Vedic Astrology unfolds the trends of life and tells us in advance of the favorable times as well as of the unfavorable times.  It tells us about the periods which provide success to our endeavors.  Similarly, it tells us the periods and the types of sufferings one is likely to face, right at birth.  There are diverse views about the sanctity of remedial measures.  Some learned friends opine that no benefit is derived by the performance of remedial measures.  While some others opine that the performance of remedial measures produces good results.  Our experience of more than 28 years and the feedback to those performing astral remedies, however, shows that the performance of remedial measures does help.  The birth chart indicates competence of performance of remedial measures for warding off the evil/malefic influences.

The success in deriving benefic influences and warding off of evil/malefic influences by application of remedial measures depends on more than one factor.  Firstly, one has to correctly find out the significator(s) which is/are afflicted or weak; secondly, selection of remedial measures for propitiating the afflicting planets and/or strengthening of weak planets; and thirdly, selecting an appropriate time for initiating remedial measures.  In the case of houses, which are severely afflicted and are not aspected by a strong functional benefic planet, the chances of effectiveness of remedial measures are comparatively weak.  A fairly strong Jupiter or a fairly strong Sun or fairly strong Sun-like planet in the nativity is indicative of performance of astral remedies and benefits therefrom.  The success also depends on the right conduct of both the astrologer advising these remedial measures and the person seeking consultation.

RELEVANCE

When we read through the narration of Maharishi Parashara that God has incarnated in the form of planets to confer on the living beings the results of their karma, we are confronted with the question of relevance of remedial measures to ward off the evil effects caused by the natal placement of planets on the basis of past karma.  We discover that the mention of remedial measures for mitigating evils of inauspicious planetary combination in one's chart are found in our scriptures as well as in the ancient astrological texts and commentaries. Their history can be traced to times immemorial.  The classical literature links the miseries/evils in one's life to the sins/bad deeds of the past life.

In Ramcharitmanas, Sant Tulsidas says that the evils cannot be fully mitigated by donations, reciting of mantras, yagnas, etc. without righteous conduct, which clearly indicates that before his time there used to be remedial measures in practice and that right conduct is also an important element of the effectiveness of remedial measures.  In his great work, he indicates to us clues on how to avoid evils.  'Attachment' is the cause of all sufferings.  One cannot enjoy happiness so long as one does not attain contentment.  In Kaliyuga, he mentions that mere devotion to God helps in mitigating evils.  He goes further and says that evils can only be destroyed by the grace of God.  In Vedic Astrology we understand the phenomenon of the God's grace coming through a strong Jupiter and/or a strong lord of the ninth house in the natal chart.

As per Varahamihira, the evils can be removed by worship of learned persons, palliatives offered to planets, recitation of mantras, dana (donations), company of saintly persons, etc.  Valmiki Rishi in his Ramayana also mentions a number of remedial measures.

The role of remedial measures in Vedic Astrology is supreme.  The indication of Vedic Astrology can be of real advantage if the unfavorable influences are averted by performance of propitiatory remedial measures and the favorable influences are enhanced by strengthening of the planets.

Remedial measures are prescribed for all the horoscopes interpreted by us and have been found to be useful to such an extent that the natives, who had planetary configurations for critical illnesses, including cancer, could avoid these during the indicating sub-periods of planets creating such afflictions.  However, a few illustrations are being given here to show the efficacy of the astral remedies in all walks of life.

CHART 104: Female born 15th May, 1962, 1130 Hrs. 80E12, 26N29, India.

The native was having problems with conception after her marriage.  Astrological help was sought.  As there is no mooltrikona sign in the fifth house, we shall concentrate on the lord of the second house and Jupiter, the significator for progeny.  No mooltrikona sign rises in the ascendant of the sapthamsa in this case.  The Sun being lord of the second house is weak as it is in the state of infancy.  Jupiter is badly placed and its dispositor, Saturn, is under the close affliction of the Rahu-Ketu axis.  Mars is yogakaraka for the Cancer ascendant and rules happiness through progeny.  Mars is fairly strong and well placed in the ninth house.  In the navamsa Mars occupies the ascendant and in the sapthamsa it occupies the tenth house.  Considering that the lord of the tenth house is fairly strong, it was predicted that the native shall be blessed with the birth of a male child with the help of remedial measures.  The remedial measures for strengthening of the Sun and propitiating Saturn, Ketu and Rahu were suggested to the native who was blessed with a male issue in the sub-period of strong Mercury, in the main period of Rahu.

CHART 105: Male born  31st March, 1960, 0800 Hrs. 76E26, 31N19, India.

This native had retarded growth.  The Moon, though exalted, is weak due to infancy and exact affliction from Rahu placed in the sixth house.  The lord of the fifth house, ruling learning and intellect, is weak as it is in the twelfth house.  Mercury closely afflicts the most effective point of the fifth house.  Venus and Mars become weak due to placement in an afflicted house. Saturn becomes weak as its mooltrikona sign house is almost under exact affliction of the functional malefic planet, Mercury. The native is physically well built but has a short temper, thievish habits and always used to be bewildered due to malefic influences on the Moon and the fifth house.  Remedial measures for propitiating Rahu, Ketu and Mercury and strengthening of the Moon and the Sun were suggested which helped him towards remarkable improvement.  The native is rendering useful service at the business place of his brothers.  Jupiter occupies the ninth house in its own mooltrikona sign. The native started learning singing devotional songs at a temple.

CHART 106: Female born  26th June, 1955, 1230 Hrs. 74E38, 30N55, India.

The native was a patient of severe arthritis.  Mercury and Saturn become the prime determinants of health in this case.  Mercury is weak due to combustion and old age.  Saturn is weak because of placement in its debilitation sign in the navamsa.  Saturn besides becoming a prime determinant of health also rules the joints.  The functional malefic planet Sun closely afflicts the most effective point of the tenth house ruling the knee-joints. The native started suffering from arthritis during the sub period of Mercury in the main period of Rahu. Remedial measures for strengthening of Mercury and propitiating the Sun, Rahu, Ketu, Mars, and Saturn were suggested which have provided a good amount of relief to the native.  Venus acting as a Sun-like planet in this nativity is strong.

CHART 107: Male born 18th December, 1951, 0835 Hrs. 82E04, 27N35, India.

The native sought astrological help when he was involved in a departmental inquiry without any fault on his part and was further harassed by way of delay in his promotion due to the said inquiry.  The lord of the tenth house becoming the prime determinant of job is combust, occupies the twelfth house, is in old age and is in its sign of debilitation in the navamsa.  The Moon is closely afflicting the most effective point of the second house ruling the status.  The tenth house is occupied by two functional benefic planets which are in exact mutual conjunction but these planets become weak due to weakness of their dispositor.  Jupiter and Venus are strong in the natal chart.

The native was suggested remedial measures for strengthening of the Sun and Mercury and propitiating the Moon, Rahu and Ketu the performance of which brought an end to the inquiry and blessed the native with a promotion.

CHART 108: Male born  24th February, 1950, 1700 Hrs. 77E28, 27N14, India.

The sign Cancer rises in the ascendant.  The planets Moon, Sun, Mars, Venus and Mercury become functional benefic (favorable) planets.  Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are the functional malefic (unfavorable) planets. Mercury acts as a Sun-like planet.

In this chart the functional malefic planets, Jupiter and Saturn, are close (Jupiter is exact) to the most effective point of the houses of their location and afflict the houses occupied and aspected.

The native was dismissed from service in the sub-period of the functional malefic planet, Saturn, and in the main period of another functional malefic planet, Jupiter.  Mars and the Sun become prime determinants of professional matters.  Mars suffers from the close affliction of the nodes.  The Sun is weak due to bad placement and weak dispositor.  Venus and Mercury become weak due to close afflictions to their mooltrikona sign houses and placement in an afflicted house.  The exact afflicting aspect of the lord of the house of disputes to the ascendant and placement of the functional malefic planet, Saturn, close to the most effective point of the house of status indicate severe problems of disputes and obstructions in job.  The lord of the ascendant, exalted Moon, is weak as it is placed in an afflicted house.

The native approached for astral guidance in January, 1991.  He was advised that with the performance of astral remedies regularly he could be reinstated through a departmental appeal, and without going to the court of law which could have taken a decade for the decision.  A Kavach for strengthening the functional benefic planets and charities for propitiating the functional malefic planets were suggested.  The native was reinstated in the sub-period of Mercury.

CHART 109: Male born  17th November, 1957, 0515 Hrs. 77E13, 28N39, India.

The sign Libra rises in the ascendant. The planets Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn become favorable planets. Besides Rahu and Ketu, Mercury also becomes a malefic (unfavorable) planet. Jupiter acts as a Sun-like planet.

Venus is weak as it is under an almost exact affliction of Ketu and its dispositor is weak due to bad placement and old age.  The functional malefic planet, Mercury, is placed close to the most effective point of the second house. The second house rules wealth, status and family, including birth of a male child. The close affliction to the most effective point of the second house makes the Sun and Saturn weak as they are placed in an afflicted house.  Besides the affliction of Mercury to the second house, Jupiter, ruling the business enterprises, and the Sun signifying a male child are weak in the nativity.  The lord of the tenth house Moon, ruling professional matters and happiness of a male child, is weak due to old age and weakness of dispositor. The native was running the sub-period of Venus in the main period of Rahu when he sought astrological advice.  Before the sub-period of Venus the native had seen the sub-periods of afflicting planets Mercury and Ketu. The planetary weaknesses and close afflictions to planets and houses were causing obstructions to the success of business enterprises, accumulation of wealth and addition to the family.

The native was suggested a Kavach for weak and afflicted functional benefic planets and charities for Mercury, Ketu and the main period lord, Rahu.  The native was blessed with a male child, was able to construct his house and re-setup his disturbed business within the sub-period of Venus itself.

CHART 110: Female born  11th September 1969, 0900 Hrs. 77E10, 28N37, India.

The sign Libra rises in the ascendant. The planets Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn become favorable planets. Besides Rahu and Ketu, Mercury also becomes a malefic (unfavorable) planet. Jupiter acts as a Sun-like planet.

In this case the astral remedies were sought for persistent health problems relating to stomach, employment and fixation of marriage in October, 1992.  Let us first see the reasons for these issues in the nativity. Venus becoming the prime determinant of health is weak due to the weakness of its dispositor, the Moon.   The lord of the tenth house, becoming the prime determinant of professional matters, is weak as it is in the state of combustion.  The lord of the seventh house governing marriage, Mars, is in the state of utter infancy and is weak as its dispositor is badly placed.  Saturn ruling the fifth house is weak due to the weakness of its dispositor.  The significator for husband is badly placed and afflicted by the close conjunction of the functional malefic planet Mercury.  The native was running the main period of the weak Moon.  The Sun is strong in the nativity which becomes helpful.

Astral remedies in the form of a Kavach consisting of mystical numbers for the functional benefic planets and charities for Mercury, Rahu and Ketu were suggested.  The native started keeping good health, got a government job, was married in December, 1993, during the sub-period of Rahu, and was blessed with a male child in the beginning of the sub-period of Jupiter.