Women & the Dreadful constellations.

By Jayasree Saranathan (Article published in the February 2001 issue of The Astrological eMagazine, Bangalore)

There are some popular beliefs and adages connected to 4 stars in particular Moola, Aslesha, Jyeshta & Vishaka. All these beliefs talk unkindly on the nature and the future of the persons born in these stars. The disturbing part of it is that these are applied to women only. For instance, a popular adage on Moola star attributes kingship to the moola-born male, but destruction of lineage to the moola- born female. (In Tamil it reads like this:- "Aan moolam arasaalum, pen moolam nirmoolam") Similarly, girls born in any of the four stars Moola, Aslesha, Jyeshta & Vishaka are supposed to bring some kind of ill-luck to her husband's family. Even now, marriage prospects of girls born in these stars are a question mark, unless remedied which is done by the selective choice of the groom on respective issues. But this kind of stigma is not attached to men born in these stars. This article seeks to analyze these issues in a rational perspective. Before analyzing the issues raised above, it must be made clear that no star is bad. Every star has some attributes and significances. Those attributes and significances are supposed to be found in the person born in that star. For instance, the star Bharani is considered to be fortunate enough to make one a king. ("Bharani dharani aalum"). Two well known persons born in Bharani are Prof B.Suryanarain Rao and Ramalinga Raju of Satyam fame. The lives of these 2 personalities did have an element of kingship in their respective fields but, it did not work fully in the case of Ramalinga Raju. It is because the birth star is not all alone in determining a specific trait. But how did the adage with reference to Bharani come into being? This can be explained on the basis of the following reasons. The Ati-devatha of Bharani is Yama. Yama is known for exact justice. But that would make one a good judge, or a lawyer, not a ruler. Here we have to see other attributes also.

Bharani is lorded by Venus, the planet for comforts, riches, prosperity. So a Bharani born must be both a just person (having a good sense of discrimination of what is right and what is wrong) and also a rich person, having worldly riches in his command. But can these two make one a Ruler? It is here we have to see in which sign, Bharani is placed. It is in the Aries, ruled by Mars. Mars signifies warrior tendencies and prowess at fighting a war. A person with warring or fighting instincts will not see right or wrong. He would just plunge into his target and smash it mercilessly. But if such a person (who is capable of winning territories) is endowed with the sense of Justice like Yama and is in command of vast riches bestowed by Venus (Mars also gives him command over lands), then he will definitely be a king! That is how a Bharani-born person rules the world. The Ati-devatha of the star, the planetary lord of the star and the sign lord (Rasi lord) of the star along with the sign's attributes determine the primary nature of the person born in that star. This is like an advantage that the star is giving to a person. But this must be supported by the rest of the natal chart. If it does not, it must be understood that the person will not attain the attributes in full. He would anyway possess the primary attributes, but they can not help him in getting the maximum result even if they were to work at their maximum potential! That is why, not all those born in Bharani can rule the world. But they would exhibit the attributes of fighting against odds and being noticed wherever they are. It is with this rationale we must look into the working of any star. Apart from the three factors mentioned above (ati-devatha, planetary Lord and Sign lord) there are numerous other factors which make a star exhibit different profiles. With this background, let us examine the controversies related to the 4 stars. The sandhi-constellations! The General rule is that the 'sandhi' or the meeting point between any two major units denotes neither this nor that. It is a period of difficulty, as transition will be taking place there. There are 3 major places in the zodiac indicating Sandhi. These are called as 'Gandaantha' the end points of 'ganda' or trouble. It is there for stars (nakshthra gandaantha), for thithis (thithi gandaantha) and for lagans (lagna gandaantha). These areas do not give clarity. They indicate troubles and therefore are to be avoided. In the same way, Rasi gandaantha happens after every 4 signs (rasi). Starting from Aries, the stars keep entering the consecutive signs until Aslesha. In Aslesha or cancer, the stars end up and the next star begins in Leo. In this way, gandaantha occurs in Aslesha- Makha, Jyeshta Moola and Revathy- Ashwini. Usually if a woman is experiencing labour pain in these gandaanthas, there is a likely-hood of complications. The child in most cases will not survive the gandaanthas, that is, the child will not cross the sandhi and be born in the next star. If it does, it will be a "Bhoopathy" (ruler or / Great person), says 'Brahma Rishi vakhyam'.

Sandhi occurs everyday in sun's sojourn. Birth at morning or evening sandhi, or at noon or at mid-night will see complications or even death of the baby. But if the child survives, it would lead a great life. Popular examples are Sri Rama (born at noon) Sri Krishna ( at mid night) Ravana ( at evening sandhi). The related information is that the mothers of these persons had a terrible time! It is a known fact that Rama's and Krishna's mothers were not happy despite having the greatness of being mothers of Avataras of Vishnu! This is how the stigma comes to be attached to stars or births at sandhis!! The stigmas that hurt us in the present times are those connected with gandaantha stars. Let us examine them. Constellation of Moola. Moola is a star in the beginning of a group. It is better known for certain attributes. Moola is ruled by the ati-devatha called 'Nirriti'. Nirriti stands for dreadfulness and destruction. It is always associated with wars. Moola Man If Nirriti or the Moola star is in a favorable position for a person while going on a war, chances are that he would win. This star's utility is best exploited in waging wars! So a man who is born in this star is supposed to have the acumen and potential to go on war and become victorious too. Hence, a moola- male is supposed to be kingly. The man of the Moola star would reign the country as this star makes him capable of inflicting defeat on his opponents. Moola Woman. Suppose a woman is born in this star. Is such a woman cut-out for becoming a soldier? Would she go on a war? What would Nirriti do with her? If these questions are asked, we would understand why it was said a moola- female will bring destruction. The area of operation or reign of a woman is her family. The woman plays an important role in child-bearing and up-bringing. Her influence in the family can not be disputed. The family or home is her area of operation. If the Nirriti tendency rules a woman, her family itself would become a battle field. This means her family would have to bear the brunt of Nirriti. That is how she can bring destruction. But as said in the beginning, the tendency given by a star is just one of the many factors. Not all men born in Moola become rulers. Similarly, not all women born in Moola cause destruction. The natal chart also must support such tendencies. In the case of Moola, only the ati-devatha has negative connotations. The other factors are neutral or good.

Good fighters. In this regard, my opinion is that any one born in Moola will be good fighters. In this age of working women, Moola - woman has an advantage in outwitting her rivals. She would be an asset to the company if she is placed in fire-fighting areas of competitive business. The so-called stigma attached to Moola woman must be understood in the right perspective and applied in right contexts as to derive maximum advantage, to everyone's satisfaction. The family system in today's world is nuclear and not like the one of olden days. So there is no need to worry about a Moola woman.

Marriage afflictions. The stigma attached to the four stars, namely, Moola, Aslesha, Jyeshta and Vishaka continues to haunt parents of girls born in these stars. The disturbing part of it is that it is applied to girls only. Although most classical works connect ill-effects to the star of the girl, there are some which include boys also. Moola and Aslesha seem to have no gender bias. For instance sage Parashara says A boy, or girl, born in the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th quarter of Aslesha, destroys his/her mother-in-law and a boy, or a girl, born in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd quarter of Moola, becomes the destroyer of his/her father-in-law (BPHS 94-11) . Muhurtha Chinthamani also shares the same view. In the case of Jyeshta and Vishaka, the ill effects are said to arise with reference to girls only. The Jyeshta born is supposed to bring ill-luck to the elder brother of the husband whereas the Vishaka born is supposed to bring ill luck to the younger brother of the husband. There are pada differences and the most prevalent view is that the first pada of Moola, Aslesha and Jyeshta are a cause of concern while in the case of Vishaka, it is the 4th pada that brings the ill-effect. This kind of view about these four stars is marring the marriage prospects of many eligible brides. Love marriages also are not immune to the fear of these four stars. When the girl happens to be born in one of the four stars, it becomes difficult to convince the parents. Now let us see the 'Moola' stigma connected to woman in affecting marriage prospects. Moola as said earlier comes immediately after the sandhi. In the sky it is seen at the tail of the Scorpio. It is Lambda Scorpii of the constellation of Scorpio. It is known as "Shaula" in Arabic, which means 'the stinger' The first pada (3-2 degress) duration in the beginning is said to afflict the father-in-law. This is applicable to the girl only and not to the boy born in moola-1 According to Brahma Rishi vakhyam, if the 3rd house of the girl born in Moola-1 has benefic combination, there is no affliction. This is arrived by looking at the 9th house (for

father) for the husband. The 9th house for the 7th (kalathra) is the 3rd house. If the 3rd house has good connection, there will be no problem to husband's father. This prediction and remedy had been given by many olden texts. But the exception shows how this operates. The exception is that this is not applicable to boys. In the Indian system, boys do not come to live in the girls' house. If the boy comes to live in the girl's house or gets connected with the everyday life of the girl's family, his moola will afflict his wife's father!! That is the meaning of this affliction. So Moola -1 for anyone will afflict the father of the spouse. It is not just for the girl. In today's world of nuclear families, this affliction loses its relevance. The couples live separately from their parents. And in addition, if the 3rd house is looked into, in both the cases (boy or the girl born in moola -1), there is absolutely no need to worry. Jyeshta constellation. The same rationale applies to other stars also. The stigma attached to Jyeshta is that it would harm the elder brother of the husband. Jyeshta known as Antares (Alpha Scorpii) is by itself the oldest star, in its last period of star-life. It is a red giant seen in the middle of the Scorpion body. Antares means ' the rival of Mars'. The star seems to compete with Mars in its colour which is red. Mars stands for brothers. Jyeshta in Sanskrit means the elder brother. The Jyeshta is the last star of Scorpio while Vishaka pada-4 forms the first part of the Scorpio. These two are said to cause some trouble Jyeshta for the elder brother and Vishaka (Beta Librae) for younger brother. We can guess the remedies.11th sign is the house for elder brother and 3rd is for younger brother. The 11th from 7th is the sign for husband's (spouse's) elder brother. The 3rd from the 7th is for the younger brother of the spouse. This applies to both men and women born in Jyeshta -1 and Vishaka-4 While matching the horoscopes, the respective houses, that is, 5th house for Jyeshta -1 born and 9th house for Vishaka-4 born must be checked for benefic combination. Aslesha Aayilyam or Aslesha (Alpha Cancri) is known as "Acubens" in Arabic. It means 'the claws' of the crab. The atidevatha is 'sarpa'. The star is said to afflict the mother since it is placed in the natural 4th house of the zodiac, which signifies mother. One's own mother is also meant by this. But in the Indian system, the girl moves to her husband's house and treats the mother in law as mother. So the affliction is directed at her. This is applicable to both men and women and as said earlier, in today's nuclear families, this affliction has no relevance. However it is enough to just check the 4th house of the spouse (for benefic combination) which is the 10th house.

The injunction was laid to women, because women were married quite young in those days and they completely merged with the husband's family. Nothing could be done about the boy who was born in any of these stars, for, he had to continue in the family. So the affliction of these stars was not exaggerated in man's case. But when it comes to finding his wife, the people had a choice. That is why they made these injunctions for brides. In today's world, family means only the husband and wife. These injunctions pertaining to the relatives of the spouse have no relevance in these days. For traditionalists who refuse to accept the rationale of the dread behind these 4 stars, here is an injunction from Vruddha Narada which puts a time limit for the supposed ill effects. It gives a time limit of 1 year for father, 3 years for mother, 9 years for father in law, 5 years for brother, many years for brother in law and a maximum of 7 years in any case. It also says that the ill effects are applicable within the first 9 years from birth. This conveys that the so-called dread of these four stars is applicable to child marriages only. In the olden days when child marriages were in vogue, the horoscopic prospects of a girl child were deemed to be applicable to the relatives of the girls husband. That is why they have given excess emphasis on these four stars. Even then they sought to avert the ill effect by conducting shanthi poojas to the star. This shows that the dread of these stars is unfounded in todays conditions. Even otherwise the dread can be averted by proper matching of the horoscopes as explained above.