MS Subbulakshmi – A Tribute

Born on 16 September 1916, 09:41:13 rectified time [09:30 known]

Chandra Lagna 201047’

Guru®. Ravi 149032’
Sat. Chandra 24042’
Sukra Kuja 191033’
Sikhi Budha 175009’
Guru ® 11012’
R hu ukra 103036’
ani 94021’
R hu 272036’
ikhi 92036’

Ayan msa Used: Hari

Surya Lagna Sukra Guru ®

Kuja Sani Rahu
Budha Guru ® Surya
R six10 R six7
Career Children
Sikhi Budha
Lagna
Chandra Sukra Nodes Kuja Chandra
Sani

A life great indeed is a tribute to the great parents – it is said that a newborn child makes the first
cry in search of his or her great parents beyond the veil of Maya and Time. Siva and Sakti, then
takes care of the child through their earthly manifestations subject to the Karmic equations on
which the native had constrained himself. Looking at a birth and life so beautiful as the melody
sung by her and the ‘presence’ that received adoration like the goddess of Madurai, cannot
proceed without acknowledging the credit due to the great duo about whom Kalidasa wrote the
above immortal verse. In fact, every horoscope is a picture of Mahadeva and Mahakala Siva and
the life emanating from the same, both male and female, is manifestation, limbs of the great
Paraasakti in dazzling performance over the stage of time.
!" # $ !%
& ' ! ( ) *' + ( , ! (
Life of MS Subbulakshmi renders a reflection of the verse Kalidasa wrote on Parvati who day
by day, enriched her life with grace and charm as if the Moon rising with increased ‘kalas’ to be
the ‘shodasi’ on the full moon day.
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 1. Birth time Rectification:

Ayanamsa used is 43’35” more than Chitrapaksha, as per the Siddha Chakra or
Muladhara_Rahu_Sikhi Chakra. I have rectified the birth time relying on Navamsa, Dasamsa
and Kunda_kriya that defines the Karma_Kanda by the constraint that Kunda_Lagna has to be
the Janma or Linga_tara_sphuta. Published birth time given as 09:30 IST is rectified to 09:41:13
and renders a really beautiful depiction of her graceful life.

2. Life that is a synonym of the melodies…

(a) Kuja and Guru in Lagna and Saptama as 2nd and 3rd Lords in association with Karma_pati
while the kala_sangeeta_karaka and Lagna_pati Sukra in the Karma blended the great
Yoga of the natives’ life.
nd rd
• 2 lord Kuja contributed the proficiency in ragas and the use of Veena while 3 lord
Guru contributed physical vocalist threads in the Visuddhi chakra to make her the
nightingale she was. Musical proficiency is a Siddhi originating from the 8th house as the
manifestation of Kundalini and expression of the same depends on the 3rd house where
Visuddhi_chakra is located.
• Above involvement of Lagna, Karma, Third, Second houses also reflect her acting talents
and her brief involvement with a film career that brought abundant fame.
• Sixth house rules over Manipura – the solar plexus – the critical interlocutor between
Visuddhi and Muladharam. Libra as Lagna is special in having the finer spirits of Sukra
linked between the 1st and 8th houses, the Mandalas of Chandra & Prthvi_putra on the
microcosmic Meru. Guru’s ownership of Visuddhi and Manipura adds luster to the above
connection allowing a melodious functioning of Yoga_nadis to make the native a
repository of talents.
nd th
• Interesting in the above context is the link that Kuja provides between 2 and 7 houses
for Libra_lagna, in terms of Chakras – the Ajna and Svadhishthana.
• Viewed from the Moon, we have same Kendra occupation and remarkable Yoga mix of
Chandra_Guru_Kuja is visible.
• Surya and Chandra, mutually in trines rendered a mind in tune with her soul.

(b) Vargas – Navamsa, Dasamsa and Saptamsa

Navamsa as Rasi x 9
Given above are the Navamsa, Dasamsa and Saptamsa as true Vargas of Rasi, the
respective Meshadi_parivrttis in order.
Going by classical rules, in Navamsa we can find Kuja as Lagnamsa_pati while none
takes amsa in Lagna. Karma_pati is amsa_Lord is Kuja and is in 2nd house along with the
Lagna_lord Sukra who occupied 10th in Rasi.
3rd Lord had amsa in 10th and combined with the above features Navamsa fully illustrate
her life devoted to music.

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 7th lord in Lagna_rasi and Lagna taking amsa in 7th shows her love marriage and Nodes
show her marriage to a widower.
5th lord has amsa in the house of arch enemy Surya and no graha is in 5th rasi Kumbha.
Putrakaraka is afflicted in amsa by Nodes.
Considering Navamsa in terms of the Bhava_sphutas (equal house) and viewed as a chart
also illustrates her unique saintly partner and a spiritual life vis-à-vis observance of
Dharma.
Dasamsa as Rasi x 10
As with Navamsa, Dasamsa too is demonstrative of the wonderful life and achievements.
Lagna falls in 2nd along with Sukra and Sani while Budha took amsa in 5th house. Surya
in the 8th, Chandra in 3rd and Guru with Kuja in 10th. Absolute harmony between
Navamsa and Dasamsa is seen.
Considering the bhava_amsa configuration as a chart reflective of Karma, Budha and
Sukra are in Kendras along with Surya and demonstrates life that was truly a flow of
amazing talents bestowed by Sarasvati.
The 3nd Lord Guru (Rasi) was in mutual exchange with 10th lord Chandra and this
configuration made Guru serve her in music and acting career.
Saptamsa as Rasi x 7
Fifth lord Sani has affliction in Rasi of the Nodes.
Lagna takes amsa in 6th and the Vakri Guru becomes Lord.
Dire enemies Sani and Surya take amsa in the 5th rasi, Kumbha.
Chandra has taken amsa in 12th house.
She had as such only adopted kids as in the case of Parvati and was not lesser in her
motherly spirit.
(c) Unfolding of Destiny - Profile of Graha_dasas

• She was born in Bharani 4th Pada and had the DAB: 02 Y 11M13D of Sukra, followed by
6, 10, 7, 18, 16, 19 etc years of Surya, Chandra, Kuja, Budha, Guru, Sukra, Sani...
Periods of Dasas from Narasimha’s J.Hora with true ayanamsa are:

• Sun 1919-08-31 ∼ 1925-08-31

• Moon 1925-08-31 ∼ 1935-08-31
• Mars 1935-08-31 ∼ 1942-08-31
• Rah 1942-08-31 ∼ 1960-08-31
• Jup 1960-08-31 ∼ 1976-08-31
• Sat 1976-08-31 ∼ 1995-08-31
• Merc 1995-08-31 ∼
• Surya dasa covered age up to 9 and the first episode of singing as described her amply
illustrate Surya of 11th in Leo, taking amsa in 3rd:“My mother gave a concert… near our home. I was
building mud palaces in the backyard when my uncle, picked me up, dusted my skirt, washed my hands, and carried
me straight to the stage... My mother asked me to sing. At once, without the least hesitation, I sang one or two songs.
I was too young for the smiles and applause to mean much. In fact, I was wondering how soon I could get back to
making mud pies!” Music was part of her soul and for the first expression of the same Surya
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 and her uncle (11th lord = 6th to 6th) paved the way and she rose like Sun in the
Sangeetalokam.
• Chandra began in 1925 August to make her bloom and cast the myriad flowers of ragas in
the south Indian music. Her father died when she was 10 and the classical rule we meet
with is the marakatva of 2nd lord from Ninth for father and the 10th lord as Bhava_karaka
for Pitr_bali. During the same time her first disc was also released.
• In March 1933, recital at Mahamagham, Chandra_Ketu bhukti proved to be a turning
point.
• Her first major concert was at the age of 18, during dasa of Chandra_Sukra bhukti. “I was
18. I shivered and trembled before the event. Trying not to look at the listeners, I went up to the
stage, sat down, checked the tuning of the tambura, and began. Suddenly, my fears fell away. I
sang with joy. Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, a well-known singer, had been sitting at the
back. He got up and came to the front row, loudly expressing his That concert at the
Music Academy was a very big step for me - a step towards a lifetime of singing. And of devotion
and service through the pursuit of music”
• Of her debut at the Madras Music Academy, a connoisseur wrote: "When she, with her mother
by her side (who played the tambura for the daughter), as a winsome girl in her teens, ascended
the dais in 1934 and burst into classical songs, experienced musicians of the top rank vied with
one another in expressing their delight in this new find."
• Shift to Madras in 1936 and first meeting with Thyagarajan Sadasivam on 30th June 1936,
during Kuja dasa – Rahu bhukti that prevailed between 27 January 1936 and 13 February
1937. Her acting career also began with ‘Seva sadanam’ during this period.
• Marriage to T.Sadasivam on 10 July 1940. Kuja dasa – Ketu bhukti. Ketu is in the 28th
amsa which is Vargottama and whose lord is in the 7th house. Navamsa taken as chart,
has Ketu dominantly placed under the aspect of Kuja. In 1940, MS and Sadasivam were
married at Tiruneermalai in the presence of The Hindu Editor Kasturi Srinivasan and "Kalki"
Krishnamurti. For the next 57 years, until his demise in November 1997 at the age of 95, he was,
her "guide, philosopher and friend". Sadasivam was already married and had children.
Subbulakshmi surrendered her life to Sadasivam.It was total submission. Hers was a life of
sacrifice. She never had a child of her own.Her family now became Sadasivam's two daughters
Radha and Vijaya, his orphaned nephew and niece, an aged grandmother, and numerous
relatives.
• ‘Seva sadanam’ release on 2nd May 1938, in Sani bhukti of Kuja and thus Sani stood to
his fame as Yogakaraka for Tula_Lagna. Sani here was also in Dasamsa Lagna owned by
Kuja and thus extra-significant. She acted in the role of a concert singer and the first song
in the role had the praise of Karttikeya - Picture
was a turning point to Tamil Cinema.
• 12 December 1940, the home production co by Sadasivam released ‘Sakuntala’ – her
second movie. Kuja_Sukra bhukti. It is a coincidence that Sukra is exactly on the
constellation Pushya which is referred to as “Beehive” from the Sanskrit name of which
Sakuntala had received her name.
• Third movie ‘Savithri’ was released on 5th September 1941, at the fag end of Sukra
bhukti and thus Sukra bhukti contributed magnificently to her career by giving name and
fame.

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• Concerts for Kasturba Memorial Funds from 30th July 1944 to 24th September 1944,
during Rahu_Rahu_Venus: Philanthropic spirit that guided her may be understood from
the Dasamsa in which Rahu takes amsa in Lagna ruled by Venus while Venus had taken
amsa in 2nd along with Lagna.
• Musical classic ‘Meera’ got released on 3rd November 1945, during Rahu dasa _ Guru
bhukti and she was at the top of her acting career. The film was produced in Rajputana and
the villagers in the area saw Subbulakshmi as Meera. They sought occasions to hear her sing
and embarrassed her by lining the road to pay her homage when she walked the streets.
Maharana of Udaipur said to MS and T. Sadasivam: "In the old days I would have exchanged
my whole kingdom for this Kalyani raga. Now I shall give you whatever help you need by way of
horses and elephants in location shooting."
• Rahu_Guru bhukti, she withdrew from the film world and totally got involved in singing
and the rest of her life became wholly devoted to Karnatic music and devotional songs.
• In 1947 Subbulakshmi visited Mahatma Gandhi at his retreat in Nagpur. Period was same
as Rahu_Guru bhukti after the release of Meera and her recognition as a National figure.
Date is not available. Tears welled up in Mahatma Gandhi' s eyes as Subbulakshmi sang
Vaisnava janato tere kahiye, jo pir parayi jane re ' '
To sing a bhajan is one thing, but to
sing it by losing oneself in god is another,' 'Gandhi said. Subbulakshmi learned and
recorded the song "Hari Tuma Haro Janaki Bhir” the night of September 30th, (just a
week before the end of Guru_bhukti, who exchanges signs with Chandra in Dasamsa,
reinforcing the Yogas and features reflected in the Rasi) finishing at 2 a.m. The disc, sent
off by plane, was played on what was to be Gandhiji' s last birthday. Three months later
Mahatma was assassinated on January 30, 1948.
• November 29, 1953, during Rahu_Sikhi bhukti, Jawaharlal Nehru said, presenting a
silver tray to her: "Who am I, a mere Prime Minister, before the queen of song?" after she
concluded her concert in aid of the Ramakrishna Mission in New Delhi. Nodes had a
highly influential placement in her horoscope influencing Rasi, Navamsa and Dasamsa.
In Dasamsa, Nodes had their amsa in Rasi_Lagna which as 12th of Lagnamsa played a
role in her philanthropic aspirations.
• She received the National honour of Padmabhushan in 1954 during Rahu_Sukra bhukti
and President’s award for Karnataka_sangeet in 1956 during Sukra bhukti itself. Sukra
had formed the powerful Rajayoga in the 10th and so she had the highest honours of the
country for – as expressed by the President "her music is a gift of the gods which she has
placed at the service of the nation”.
• International exposure began with her programme at the Edinburgh International Festival
of Arts in 1963 and traveled to Europe for the first time in Guru dasa – Sani bhukti. Both
dasa lord and bhukti lord had caused wonderful yogas in her natal chart in movable signs.
The Times of London commented: "The vocal music of another culture is often felt to be
harder to understand than its instrumental music, but this feeling is not always justified,
and Subbulakshmi is an excellent introducer of the beauties and intricacies of Karnatic
song." She also had recordings done at London for BBC.
• 26th October 1966, concert at UN: Guru (d)_Budha (b)_Rahu (c) – Budha as 9th and 12th
lord exalted in 12th, gave her the great international recognition and fame. During the next
seven weeks she performed across the United States from Boston to San Francisco and
back – the cidrams of Rahu (foreign place) and Guru prevailed. She had a similar tour in
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 1977, during Sani_Sani, the year was covered by Budha, Ketu and Sukra (c) and thus
amply reflected in her chart.
• Ramon Magsaysay award in 1974 and Padmavihushan in 1975 during Guru_Rahu bhukti,
role of both Guru and Rahu in her chart has been already explained.
• In 1977, they sold off Kalki Gardens with the beginning of Sani dasa. Sani as 4th lord
facilitated payoff the debts which accrued as a result of their sacrifices and spiritualistic
and philanthropic attitudes. Sani’s role in evolving her as a Jivan_mukta made other
significations like yoga_karta to take backseat.
• Inaugural concert of the Festival of India in London in 1982 during Sani_Budha/Ketu and
at Moscow in 1987 during Sani_Chandra, all periods appropriate to the charts presented.
• 1988, Kalidas samman during Sani_Chandra, both excellently related to Karmasthana
and Yogakarakas.
• 1986, First woman artist to receive Sangeeta Kalanidhi award from Madras Music
Academy: Sani_Surya bhukti was from 22 Aug 1986. When she was presented with the title
she said, "My husband has been my friend, my guide and my philosopher. I lay all recognition I
have received as a musician at his feet."
• Widowhood in November 1997, during Budha_Budha, 9th lord causing widowhood is
strange and classical rules need to be searched as to what may mean the 12th house
placement.
• She received Bharata Ratna on 1 March 1998 during Budha_Ketu, 9th lord and Ketu in
10th together brought the highest civilian award of the Nation to her.
• 11December 2004, Budha_Kuja_Sukra caused the extinction of her mortal fame, Kuja
being the dire malefic as owner of 2nd and 7th and Sukra, the 8th lord – one of the
determinants of death.
• Sarojini Naidu spoke of her -"Whosoever comes under the enchantment of this singer' s
great gifts, will agree with me that she is not an interpreter of Meera, but Meera herself.
Take her into your hearts and cherish her. You will be proud that India in this generation
has produced such a supreme artist."

(d) Reference:
http://www.dhool.com, exhaustive outline of her biography in the article by Sathyakabali
and the quotes available in other Internet resources has been used in drafting this article.

(e) Astrological Notes

1. Birth time rectified may look odd for a first glance 09:30 to 09:41:13, i.e., 11 minutes. In
fact it is here an ingenuity of the astrologer must play the role. She was born in 1916 and
any reported birth time would have been only approximate and thus there exists ground
for a relook. Kunda method adopted on the assumption of Karma_kanda structure of
Space_Time defined by Kunda_Lagna = Moon ± 120, 0 [Janmatara_trikona] may also
not find favor with unless a diligent effort is made to crack the time of birth with fully
worked out Rasi_Varga examples.

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2. In any case study of horoscope we need to look at the whole string of events to
understand the true picture of Cosmic play involved in the unfolding of life. One or two
isolated events may stand verification for any parameters chosen like Ayanamsa, the time
scales like different dasas etc. Test of Jyotisha lay in the harmony with which the
astrological symbolism explains the whole life and when the right Zodiac or
Siddha_Chakra is used, we can really enjoy the music of the heavenly bodies in the lives
of the legends like MS.
3. In this case, when we consider her exit of the world of mortals, we can see that it is Kuja
& maraka bhukti, and the classical rules meet with 100% fulfillment. Even then one such
event is not a claim for the truth of the Zodiac used. It is the whole spectrum of events
with no mismatch at no point that renders validity for the ayanamsa used. No other
ayanamsa can make possible such a beautiful delineation as above.
4. It is easy to infer the demarcation existing on the Jeeva_Chakra or Siddha_Chakra
between the Yoga_Sareera that spans between the 00 to 2400, Dvadasantha to Muladhara
between which the human body is an earthly flute of “nava_dvaras” on which the
Paraa_sakti is eternally playing the ‘ajapa_gayatri’ (Ham_Sa) and the 2400 to 3600
covering the 9th to 12th houses that deals with the Karmic equations and account under
heads of Punya & Guru, Karma, Labha & Icha and Siddhi & Mukti. It is this demarcation
that renders paramount importance to Lagnas – each of which attains a specific signature
by the 12 lordships.
• Great spiritual personalities have taken birth when Sasi & Sani (fastest and the slowest)
held the reins of the 1st and 8th for Kataka_Lagna.
• Great soldiers like Subhash Bose was born when Kuja like the War God Kumara held the
reigns of 1st and 8th for Mesha_Lagna.
st th
• Greatly talented men amazed the world when Venus held the reins of 1 and 8 .
• Great scientists like Einstein evolved out of the Yoga of Budha & Sani with Mithuna and
Budha and Kuja in the case of Kanya.
• Meena and Vrshabha – Guru and Sukra
• Dhanu derives its yogasakti from Guru and Chandra.
rd th
• In terms of ‘expression of the siddhis’ one may study the 3 house in relation which is 8
to 8th and represents the subconscious.

(f) Request to Cross Check

Author is to request all Jyotishis to review the above analysis with other ayanamsas and
techniques to see whether a better astrological delineation of the destiny can be achieved.
In the mean time efforts will be made to make the study more robust by quoting the
classical rules in its Sanskrit original.

An extremely important aspect of the chart is that in the Chara_Karaka scheme,

Atmakaraka here is Sun placed in Leo, leading to Karakamsa of Dhanu, the 3rd House
which is unaspected by malefics in Rasi and Navamsa. With Chitrapaksha ayanamsa,
Budha becomes Atmakaraka and Karakamsa is aspected/joined by Sani, Kuja, Surya and
Ketu in Navamsa. A study appearing in an astrological journal gives navamsa_Lagna as

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 Meena as per the given birth time of 09:30 AM. For a comparison a few paragraphs are
extracted below:
“In the navamsha, the lagna is Meena and lagna and 10th lord Jupiter is exalted in the 5th,
aspected by 2nd 9th lord, again the knowledge of shastras and spirituality gains importance. The
aspect of the 6th lord Sun shows success after struggles. Fifth lord Moon is with Venus in the 9th
and aspected by Jupiter”. [Navamsa is read as the Rasi by simply quoting lordship…kindly
contrast with the classical rules] “The dasamsha lagna is Mesha with Saturn (10th and 11th lord)
and Ketu in lagna. Lagna lord is in the 11th house. Here the 2nd and 7th lord Venus is in the 4th
house with the exalted 9th and 12th lord, Jupiter and aspected by Mercury, the 3rd and 6th lord,
from the 10th house. The 10th house receives the aspect Venus and Jupiter, indicating a
successful career. The 3rd lord Mercury, aspected by Jupiter and Venus, gives a melodic and soft
voice”. [Note the conflict with the classical rules and the twisted interpretation to explain her
career with a Dasamsa_Lagna occupied by Neecha_Sani and Ketu]

Annual Horoscopy – A Note

Solar return for the 89th year may be noted.

Mudda Dasa
Rahu Lagna Merc: 2004-08-02 - 2004-09-24
Ket: 2004-09-24 - 2004-10-15
Sani Ven: 2004-10-15 - 2004-12-14
Muntha
Solar Return Sukra Sun: 2004-12-14 - 2005-01-01
16.09.2004 Moon: 2005-01-01 - 2005-01-30
Surya
22:53:32 Mars: 2005-01-30 - 2005-02-20
Kuja
Rah: 2005-02-20 - 2005-04-15
Budha
Jup: 2005-04-15 - 2005-06-04
Guru Sat: 2005-06-04 - 2005-08-03
Sikhi
Chandra

Given the maraca bhukti operating in the natal chart of Budha_Kuja_Sukra, simultaneous
operation of Mudda dasa from 11th December was the Sukra_Ketu which looks to be very
inauspicious given the above Lagna of solar return in natal 8th and Ketu in natal Lagna.

Acknowledgement

Narasimha Rao’s software with its provision to have different ayanamsas has made this kind
of studies easier than before and he certainly owes a word of ‘thank you’ for making it
available free of cost to the community of Jyotishis. Let Devi’s grace be upon him to serve
Jyotisha further.

K. Chandra Hari
chandra_hari18@yahoo.com