ASTROLOGY

AND

CAESAREAN BIRTHS

Astrology and Caesarean Births Caesarean section births are in. Normal deliveries are out. Not only that, caesarean sections are not by choice but more by medical advice. Though earlier the caesarean section was generally recommended when natural delivery posed a risk to the mother or the baby, the present trend appears to be more doctor-centric and hospital-centric than mother-centric or baby-centric. Most times it is recommended, simply because it is profitable to the nursing home or hospital complex in question than for any other reason. Many families which have seen a caesarean section will testify to the somewhat unpalatable fact that certain nursing homes routinely recommend caesarean section seven when not necessary because of the monetary advantages this procedure brings either the attending doctor or the hospital or both. In fact, in certain countries like China, doctors are given incentives to prevail on pregnant women to go in for caesarean section. In Italy, doctors are said to routinely recommend this procedure so much so that over 90% of the total number of births in that country are by C-section, the reason cited for it being to pre-empt legal action for any possible complications that may develop during normal delivery but which need not technically come under malpractice but yet attract penal action. In India too, the trend to go in for a C-section is catching up in the upper classes of society as it is in the United States. While in other countries, the procedure in timed according to the doctors or pregnant womans convenience, in India it is decidedly largely on the basis of astrological factors. In fact, apart from the event of marriage, the most number of requests for a good Muhurta appear to be for caesarean sections. While this is a compatible matter and shows the growing awareness amongst people of the importance of astrological timing, it is also indisputable a good Muhurta lowers the risks associated with a C-section and ensures the well-being of both the mother and the child. But what it cannot but is often wrongly believed to do is to create a destiny pattern of the child-to-be-born. When a Muhurta is sought for a C-section, it is invariably accompanied by a request to ensure the child will be taken out under a horoscopic pattern that promises success, wealth and every other advantage in life. Some typical requests would want the Muhurta Moon to be with Jupiter to produce a Gajakesari Yoga. Or, the 7th house to be so placed as to ensure a fortunate marriage. Yet others would ask for Dhana Yogas and Raja Yogas in the C-section chart to ensure their progeny will some day wield political power and influence. Such requests are understandable for it is human psychology to want the best for

ones progeny. But honestly, this is something beyond the scope of Muhurta which in its simplest form may be defined as a specific point of time identified as favorable for the specific purpose in view, in this case the surgical intervention. The Muhurta is only an attempt to ensure the procedure is gone through as safely as possible subject always to the birth chart of the woman in question. There are some guidelines that need be borne in mind while electing a Muhurta for a C-section. 1) It is important to have Tara Bala or the Muhurta Nakshatra compatible with the mothers Janma Nakshatra. That is, the 2nd (Sampat), the 4th (Kshema), the 6th (Sadhana), the 8th (Mitra)or the 9th (Atimitra) Nakshatra reckoned from the mothers Janma Nakshatra would be desirable. For example, if the Janma Nakshatra is Satabhisha, then Purvabhadrapada (2nd),Revati (4th), Bharani (6th), Rohini (8th) and Mrigasira (9th) would be Nakshatra compatible with the motherto-bes. Uttarabhadra (3rd), Aswini (5th) and Krittika (7th) are to be avoided. Bharani, though Sadhana Tara, is to be avoided as a general rule. Though Purvabhadrapada, Revati, Rohini and Mrigasira are all favorable, Rohini and Mrigasira would be preferable, especially Mrigasira being Atimitra. But what happens when the Moon is in none of these Nakshatras but somewhere on the opposite side of the Zodiac during the crucial period? Assuming the Moon is transiting Cancer, then the Nakshatra which are trinal to the above-named would be in order, they being Punarvasu, Aslesha, Poorvaphalguni, Hasta and Chitta. Though Hasta and Chitta are the Mitra and Atimitra Taras, they are in Virgo which brings the Janma Rasi of the woman under the Chadrasthama period and therefore to be avoided as far as possible. Then the choice would narrow down to Punarvasu, Aslesha and Poorvaphalguni, Aslesha is defined as sharp in nature and Poorvaphalguni as dreadful and so are ruled out leaving Punarvasu as the best option. 2) Secondly, the Muhurta Moon should not be close to the Full Moon. That is, it is always preferable to time the C-section between Krishna Ashtami (8th lunar day of the dark half) to Sukla Ashtami (the 8th lunar day of the bright half) but avoiding Chaturdasi and Amavasya. 3) It is the best to avoid the Moon in Virgo and Scorpio which signs rule the region of the abdomen and the reproductive system respectively. 4) The Moon should be free of association. The Moon should not be in association with either a benefic or a malefic which would otherwise bring the chart under the Sangraha Chandra Mahadosha.

5) The 8th house should be vacant. 6) The Ascendant should be a benefic sign. 7) Either Jupiter or Venus should be in the Ascendant or at least in a Kendra from the Ascendant. 8) The eclipse day and that preceding it are to be avoided. 9) Tuesdays and Saturdays are good. When all these factors have been taken care of, one gets a Muhurta which would help the surgical intervention proceed without problems and also protect the mother from post-caesarean complications. Another question that is often directed at astrology, in the context of caesarean births, is if child can be taken out under the best planetary positions, that tantamount to creating a destiny pattern of ones choice. Can astrology really design destinies? What those asking such questions overlook is simple facts. The most simple one being a caesarean section cannot be made to wait for an ideal placement of planets. One does not have a infinite time range within which to locate a good Muhurta. Very often, the time window within which a C-section is to be performed is a matter of 7 to 10 days at the most which means one has very little choice in the matter of opting for the best planetary positions. All that one can do is to find the best planetary positions but only within the timeframe available which automatically narrows down the planetary options. In other words, a C-sections Muhurta invariably comes under heavy constraints with very little choice on how the planets are to be placed. To start with the Muhurta Nakshatra has to be compatible with the pregnant womans Janma Nakshatra. Even here the choice peters down to one or two days as the Moon if in conjunction with any other planet (and which happens most days of the month depending upon how the rest of the planets are spread across the Zodiac) would attract the Mahadosha of Sangraha Chandra Dosha which is to be avoided as a general rule. Take for instance the date of August 23, 2012, a Thursday, the Nakshatra being Visakha. Though the Moon is in a benefic sign Libra, it comes under heavy affliction due to association with Mars and Saturn. Therefore even if Visakha is either the Sampat (2nd), Kshema (4h), Sadhana (6th), Mitra (8th), or the Atimitra (9th) Tara for the Janma Nakhsatra of the mother-to-be, it has to be ruled out. In fact, the nine Grahas are so placed in successive signs from Taurus to Scorpio that there is hardly any choice for a good Muhurta during the entire period of the Moons passage though this part of the Zodiac, a period of at least 16 days from August 10th to August 26th.

What choice then would one really have if the delivery date falls in this timewindow? Likewise, other Muhurta requirements, not all but at least the more important ones, would leave practically no scope for electing the best planetary design if one is looking at as an exercise at creating a destiny pattern for the to-be-born babe. With so many constraints, the choice of a Muhurta peters down to a very narrow range of time proving beyond doubt, destiny pattern are not the business of humans but of a Supreme Omnipotent Omniscience. Astrology has never made any claims of being able to design destinies. This misconception is the product of the wild imagination and prejudices of the astrology critic. And if this misconception has taken deep roots in the minds of the people it is because astrology has no official recognition or a place in the main stream educational curriculum when one would have been properly exposed to the subject in a systematic way. Once astrology is introduced in the Universities at the postgraduate level and students taught the subject methodically, all such misconceptions that have been allowed to mushroom and proliferate without check are likely to get blown off leading to a better understanding and greater appreciation of astrology as a tool of great consequence in timing human activities for the best results. Gayatri Devi Vasudev