The classical astrological texts of Hindus have discussed very less on the aspect of judging the purpose of one’s life. Most of the classical astrological treaties, except the discourses of Rishi’s, were written by the astrologers in the courts of kings. There is no surprise that these texts have deal mostly with the materialistic aspect of human life and paying less attention to astrological yogas for spirituality . Only some hints about the spiritual evolution of a native have been given here and there in some verses in the form of very few astrological combinations. These astrological text doesn’t give any specific methodology following which an astrologer may predict whether a native  have the potentials to develop his consciousness in his lifetime or his soul may fall below at  level at which it is in his present birth.

{ Note: This article of mine was published in the June 2018 issue of Express Star Teller Magazine. The same has been reproduce here for the readers of my blog }

Take an example of great Varahamihir’s Bhriat Jataka which is an exhaustive astrological work written in the 6^th century in Ujjain. The Varahamihir has deal with almost every aspect of predictive astrology but have  discuss the combinations of spirituality in only  4 stanza’s in a chapter ‘Pravajya Yoga Adhayaa’. This is the case with almost every classical text of Hindu astrology which gives more value to the worldly aspects of human life leaving or perhaps deliberately hiding the area of spiritual growth which is the most important part to judge in a horoscope. It could be for the reason that the combinations of spirituality in a horoscope would have been kept secret by the sages or may be it would have been taught to few deserving disciples only. Spiritual astrology has been the most neglected and secretive part of Hindu astrology which had remains only in the traditions not coming out in public domain. Before I go more into this subject let me give some of the classical combination of spirituality given by Sage Parashara and Acharya Varahamihira in their texts.

1. Four or more planets in a house create a yoga for renunciation (Sanyasa ). These planets should not be combust by Sun or involve in a planetary war. In this combination if the planet is combust then such person is interested in spirituality but do not take renunciation. If any planet is defeated in a planetary war then the person came back after taking the renunciation. As per some classical text if the 10^th lord from lagna is involve in this combination then the native become a famous monk or Sanyasi.
2. If the Rashi lord of Moon (depositor of Moon ) is not receiving the aspect of any planet and gives its aspect to the Saturn only or receives the aspect from Saturn only then also the renunciation take place.
3. If a weak Moon is in Dreshkkan of Saturn and receives the aspect of Saturn only and/ or it is in the Navamsha of Saturn or Mars receiving the aspect by Saturn only then also the renunciation take place.
4. In the Cancer, Sagittarius or Pisces lagna if Saturn aspect the ascendant and  Jupiter is in the 9^th house this also make a combination of renunciation. Similarly if Saturn aspect the lagna, Moon and Jupiter in case of Cancer, Sagittarius or Pisces lagna rising  then also the renunciation take place.
5. If the Saturn is in the 9^th house devoid of the aspect by any planet and there are some good Raja Yogas in the horoscope then the native even be a king can get initiated to be a monk or sanyasi.
6. In the Stri-Jataka Adhayaa a Sanyasa yoga has also been given which is applicable for both women and men. As per this yoga if a malefic is in the 7^th house and there is a planet in the 9^th house then the ‘Sanayasa’ or renunciation take place as per the nature of that planet.

Apart from the above mention yogas a classical text ‘Jamini Sutram’ also gives some astrological combination based on the position of planets from Karakamsha telling the type of deity a native may worship. Those yogas may also be taken into account using them liberally to judge the spiritual inclination in a horoscope. The ‘Pancha-Mahapurusha Yoga’ and ‘Muni Yoga’ are also found in the horoscope of many spiritually inclined persons. The ‘Pancha-Mahapurusha Yoga’ is formed when any planet except luminaries (Sun and Moon)  is in Kendra houses ( 1, 4, 7 or 10) in its sign of exaltation or in its own sign. The Mars, Mercury, Jupiter , Venus and Saturn form this yoga. The ‘Muni yoga’ is created when the lagna lord is in conjunction with the lord of Navamsha lagan in the lagan itself.  This yoga is rarely found in  horoscope.

My astrology teacher Shri K.N. Rao has ‘Muni Yoga’ in his horoscope of Tula (Libra) lagan. He has Venus in the ascendant along with Mars which is the lord of his Navamsha lagna which is Aries. Thus in his Libra lagna and the Aries Navamsha chart the ‘Muni yoga’ is formed due to conjunction of Venus and Mars in the ascendant. He also has two Mahapurusha Yoga’s in his horoscope. Venus in the lagan in its own sign Libra and Jupiter in Cancer in its sign of exaltation at the 10th house.   Now I will discuss some of the astrological combination which I have observed on the horoscopes of persons engaged in religious or spiritual practices.

• The connection of Dhrama trikona i.e. 1, 5 and 9 houses/lords with the Moksha trikona 4, 8 and 12 is a prominent combination which can take a native towards spiritual growth.
• The Ketu placed in the 12^th house from Moon can give good level of intuitive ability. If this Ketu receives the aspect of Jupiter then this yoga become more prominent and such a person can practice deep meditation.
• Ketu in the 12^th from Janma lagna and/or Karakamsha under the aspect of benefic planet also give spiritual inclination.
• The close conjunction of Ketu and Jupiter in Dharma trikona or Moksha Trikona also gives interest in spirituality. The Jupiter and the trine houses must be strong in this yoga.
• The conjunction of Sun and Jupiter gives one an inclination to serve at the places of worship or even construct a place of worship.
• A pure Jupiter in Pisces or Aquarius Rashi or in the Navamsha of Pisces or Aquarius if aspect the 5^th house, 9^th house or ascendant such person is spiritually inclined.
• In the maha dasha of 5^th lord or 9^th lord or planet associated with these houses lords especially if they are benefic planets makes one spiritually or religiously inclined during the operation of such dashas.
• The maha dasha of Rahu or Ketu associated with 5^th or 9^th lord and receiving the aspect of Jupiter is also helpful in spiritual growth.
• If the 5^th lord is not associated with any planet and gives aspect to the 9^th and/or 12^th house only then during the dasha of such 5^th lord a native may get inclined towards spirituality and follow a path of ‘Sadhana’ dedicatedly. If such 5^th lord is crowded with many planets or receives the aspect of many planets then the person practices the spiritual exercises of different traditions.
• A Kemadruma Moon is also helpful in spiritual growth as when Moon is not associated with any planet the mind of a person becomes introvert. But a Kemadruma Moon is only a supporting factor which should be backed with other combinations of spiritual growth.
• A pure Venus in the Rashi and Navamsha of Leo or Virgo gives freedom from materialistic attraction. If such Venus is combust then it is good for spiritual life. Venus in Leo or Virgo associated with Jupiter is also very helpful in spiritual life as it relieve a person from lustful thoughts.
• The dasha periods of Rahu-Venus or Venus-Rahu , Jupiter-Venus or Venus-Jupiter, Saturn-Venus or Venus-Saturn should be carefully observed in the horoscope of a spiritual persons as these dasha periods are well known to bring transformation in life.
• The Bhava Chalit Kundali should be seen to judge the mental inclination of a native. The yogas in the Rashi chart tell about a person’s outer personality. The Navamsha and Bhava Kundali give details about the inner being of the native. How a person is from inside is to be judge using the Navamsha and Bhava Chalit chart.
• The concentration of planets in Leo, Aquarius and Pisces rishi’s and/or Navamsha’s should be carefully marked. The Leo is the rashi of Bramacharya (celibacy ) , Aquarius signifies ‘Dharma and Charity’ and the Pisces is the Moksha karaka (salvation) rashi.
• Notice the planets in ‘Sarpa Drekkan’ for spiritual inclination. The 2^nd and 3^rd Drekkana of Cancer, 1^st and 2^nd Drekkana of Scorpio and 3^rd Drekkana of Pisces are Sarpa Drekkana.
• The retrograde planets in the trine ( 1,5 and 9) houses gives the practices of Tantra.
• The lagan lord in mutual aspect, conjunction or exchange with the Moon sign lord is a yoga making one highly focused towards a particular task or act. If this yoga is present in the chart of a spiritual person then he become highly attentive and sincere towards his Sadhana. Such person can also practice ‘Hatha Yoga’ because of high level of concentration develop in their personality.

Now I will discuss some cases of the persons whom I have personally known to be involve in spiritual practices.

Case 1. Male           

18 August 1968, 05:00 a.m. Delhi

Balance of Dasha in Vimshottari: 0 years 9 months 28 days

This Cancer lagna horoscope is of an OSHO’s Sanyasi who is practicing meditation since 1989. In his Rashi chart the conjunction of four planets ( Sun,Mercury,Venus and Jupiter) is a classical yoga for renunciation. In this yoga planets are not combust with Sun which is good. Moon is in the Dreshkkan of Saturn and receives the aspect of Saturn which is also a Sanyasa yoga. Venus in Leo Rashi and Virgo Navamsha is associated with Jupiter which makes a person’s mind free from lust and sexual thoughts to a large extent. The 5^th and 10^th lord Mars in the Sarpa Drekkana is also good for spiritual inclination.

The native  was born in the wealthy family of businessman in South Delhi. The concentration of four planets in the 2^nd house of wealth and an exalted lagna lord in the 11^th house of gains amply explain his birth in a rich family. He himself started doing business at a very young age of just 18 years. A turning point in his life came during Rahu-Venus period ( January 1988 to January 1991) when he read a book of OSHO  in 1990. For many days he was kept crying and become desperate to know the purpose of his life. He went to the Ashram of OSHO in Pune sometimes in the mid of 1991 which was about six months after the soul of Osho had left this world. The dasha of Rahu placed in the 9^th house and later the maha dasha of Jupiter ( from June 1994 to June 2010) enhanced his spiritual journey. He lived in Pune Ashram of OSHO for many years and also managed his business in Delhi by his visits there.

Now notice here that in Bhava Chalit the 2^nd lord Sun has moved into the ascendant joining the 10^th and 5^th lord yogakaraka Mars. The conjunction of Sun and Mars in the ascendant of Bhava Chalit didn’t give him mental inclination to leave the business though he had the ‘Sanyasa’ yoga in the birth chart. Later in 2007 during his Jupiter-Rahu dasha in Vimshottari he moved to USA. He is at present teaching meditation to people in USA through classes conducted at his sprawling home near New York. The 10^th lord Mars in the ascendant also gave him earnings from real estate in the USA and also from India. The planets in the 2^nd and 11^th house from his ascendant show his ‘karmic account’ deeply connected  with wealth. The native has his views about living his life by responding to the present moment and trying to remain conscious with every action he performs.

 

Case 2. Male born on 26 July 1950, 20:37 hours at Delhi

Balance of Dasha in Vimshottari: Ketu 3 years 10 months 23 days

 

The Aquarius lagna horoscope given here is of a retired class I officer who is into spiritual practices since his childhood. Born in a Brahmin family he was initiated into the knowledge of Geeta and Upanishada’s since the age of 6 years by his father who was in army then. The rising sign in the ascendant is Aquarius a rashi of Dharma fortified by strong Jupiter. The lagna lord Saturn is in Leo a sign of Bhramacharya. Notice here the depositor of Moon which is Jupiter  receiving the aspect of Saturn only which is a ‘Sanyasa’ yoga. Moon is in Kemadruma yoga and is in mutual aspect with 9^th lord Venus which gave him mental inclination towards religious learning’s since childhood.

During the dasha of 9^th lord Venus ( from June  1954 to June 1974) he was brilliant in his studies and remained religiously inclined. Venus here receives the aspect of Jupiter in Rashi chart and in Navamsha it is conjoined with Jupiter which gave him great knowledge of spiritual texts. In the maha dasha of Sun ( from June 1974 to June 1980) he got a government job in 1975 and later got married on 29^th of January 1977 during Sun-Jupiter dasha.  Saturn is in the 7^th house of Rashi chart which would have delayed his marriage but in Bhava Chalit it has moved into the 8^th house and Mercury has come in the 7^th house. A benefic coming in the 7^th house in Bhava Chalit shows mental inclination towards leading a happy married life. Though the malefic planets in the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th houses of Rashi chart gave him problems with his in-laws and also kept his wife ill.

The maha dasha of Moon ( June 1980 to June 1990) was the best period of his spiritual life. He met many Saints while travelling during his postings into different cities. Moon is in the sign of Jupiter in the Kemadruma yoga. Moon is in mutual aspect with the  9^th lord Venus from the 5^th house of ‘Mantra Siddhi’. The depositor of Moon is Jupiter which is in ‘Sanyasa’ yoga as it receives the aspect of Saturn only. In Navamsha the Moon is the 9^th lord in mutual aspect with Saturn which has to be good for spiritual progress. In 1986 he took an oath of speaking truth only. Because of this he had many clashes with his corrupt co-workers in the office. The 6^th lord Moon has to give him troubles with enemies and intrigues. In the dasha of Vargottama 10^th lord Mars in the 8^th house ( from June 1990 to June 1997) he become the class I officer. This period was also good for his ‘Sadhana’ as Mars in the 8^th house is the house of ‘Samadhi’ in spiritual astrology. Later the dasha of Rahu ( from June 1997 to June 2015) gave him some health issues related with eyes as Rahu in the 2^nd house shows. He is also a very good astrologer and now days spend time in his ‘Sadhana’ during his Jupiter maha dasha.

Now I will take some of the horoscopes of famous spiritual personalities briefly explaining the classical combinations which I had given in the beginning of the article.

 

Case 3. Horoscope  OSHO or Acharya Rajneesh

            11 December 1931, 17:13 hours at Kuchwada (Madhya Pradesh)            

Longitude: 78 E 33’ and Latitude: 23 N 04’

 Balance of Dasha in Vimshottari: Venus 6 years 6 months 1 days

In the Vrishabha lagna horoscope of OSHO or Acharya Rajneesh five planets are conjoined in the 8^th house making a ‘Sanyasa’ yoga. The 8^th house is the house of mystical subjects and from here all these planets aspects the 2^nd house of speech. OSHO had given his discourses on almost all the famous religious philosophies, enlightened personalities and modern psychologist of the world. His discourses were compiled in the form of more than 650 books. OSHO also had a positive outlook towards the spiritual aspects of astrology. According to him astrology should be taken as a science to judge the possibilities or potentials for the growth of consciousness in a human being rather than making predictions about materialistic matters in the life. Every astrologer must read or listen to the OSHO’s discourse “ Astrology: The science of cosmic oneness” which is available on the internet.

Now coming back to OSHO’s horoscope the five planets conjoined in his 8^th house includes the 10^th lord Saturn in a good Raja Yoga which made him world famous. When in a Sanyasa yoga the 10^th lord is included and a Raja Yoga is also there then the native become a famous Guru or religious teacher inspiring thousands of people towards the path of spiritual illumination. Among these planets none except Mars is combust which is also within a distance of about 13 degrees from the Sun. The Mars gets combust when it is within a longitude of 17 degrees from the Sun’s longitude. If we remove Mars from this yoga then also the four planets conjoined together, none of them being combust from Sun, makes a complete ‘Sanyasa Yoga’. In the maha dasha of Rahu ( June 1961 to June 1979) placed in the 11^th house OSHO travelled across India as a public speaker on spirituality and initiated thousands of people into various methods of meditation.

His criticism of socialism, Mahatama Gandhi and orthodoxy in religions gave him a lot of opposition from various sections of the society. He was labeled as ‘Sex Guru’ by the media because of his open attitude towards human sexuality. Ironically among his thousands of discourses only very few like ‘From sex to super consciousness’  is on the subject of transforming sexual energy towards spirituality. Even though he was defamed as ‘sex Guru’ ignoring his contribution in divulging some rare meditation techniques.  See the cluster of planets in the 10^th house from Rahu; its dasha has to put him in the limelight in the field of spirituality. Rahu receives the aspect of Jupiter in both Rashi and Navamsha charts. In the dasha of Rahu from June 1961 to June 1979 OSHO dare all the controversies and his movement was very successfully running. Rahu is also very strongly placed in the ascendant of Vimshamsha chart ( D-20) which is seen for spiritual growth.

But when the dasha of 8^th lord Jupiter came in June 1979 OSHO start getting into troubles due to intrigues among his followers and his own ill-health. Jupiter is though exalted in the 3^rd house but it is in ‘Sarpa Drekkan’ which gives bad health though consider good for spirituality. Jupiter is also in a bad exchange with 3^rd lord Moon which is in the 8^th house. The dasha of Jupiter from June 1979 to June 1995 has to be fatal for OSHO. In 1981 the increased tensions around the Poona Ashram forced OSHO to relocate himself in Oregon USA. But very soon OSHO’s commune ran into trouble with local residence, state government and authorities of USA. His followers were accused for bio-terror attack, assassination plots of a judge and breaking immigration rules. OSHO was arrested in 1985 and deported back. It happened during Jupiter-Mercury dasha in Vimshottari. OSHO later said that he was perhaps given a slow poison during the custody which caused him various health issues troubling him until he left his mortal coil. Notice here the cluster of 5 planets in the 6^th house from the dasha lord Jupiter which is the lord of 8^th house under the 8^th aspect of 7^th lord Mars a primary ‘Maraka’ for Vrishabha lagna.  Mercury is the lord of 2^nd house a ‘Maraka’ explains it astrologically. OSHO was denied entry by 21 countries and later he came back to Pune where he stayed until his last breath on 19 January 1990. OSHO left this world at the age of 58 during his Jupiter-Moon dasha in Vimshottari. Jupiter and Moon are in a bad exchange of 3^rd and 8^th houses.

Case 4: Horoscope of  Rama krishna Paramhamsa

18 February 1836 , 07:00 hours at Karmarpukar (West Bengal) Longitude: 85 E 07’ and Latitude: 25 N 36’ Time Zone: +05: 54 minutes (Calcutta Time)

Balance of Dasha in Vimshottari: Jupiter 13 years 1 months 26 days

The Kumbha (Aquarius) lagna horoscope of Rama Krishna Paramhamsa is a classic example of ‘Sanyasa’ yoga by Moon. In the Navamsha Moon is in the sign of Mars receiving the aspect of Saturn which is a yoga for renunciation. The Rashi chart of Rama Krishna is extraordinary with the presence of 3 exalted planets and untainted Jupiter and Venus. The strong Jupiter in the 5^th house gave him  disciples like Swami Vivekananda and Swami  Brahmananda who made Ramkrishna Mission grew worldwide. Notice here the pure  Venus in Pisces rashi and Virgo Navamsha; Rama Krishna Paramhamsha worshipped his wife Sarada Devi has ‘holy mother’ performing ‘Shodasi Puja’ where she was made to sit at the seat of ‘goddess Kali’.

The position of 9^th lord Venus in the horoscope of Rama Krishna Paramhamsa is very rare. In Vimshamsha (D-20) the Venus becomes the 5^th lord (Sadhana) in the 9^th house along with 2^nd (Samskar) lord Moon. The Rama Krishna Paramhamsa, born as Gadhadhar, was initiated into the knowledge of scriptures through spiritual discourses, plays, songs and from the family members  during the dasha of Jupiter till he turned 13 years of age ( in 1849). Later during the 19 years long dasha of Saturn, which is exalted in the 9^th house of Dharma, he performed  many “Sadhana’s” of different orientations. The retrograde planets in the trine also have him ‘tantra Sadhana’. Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn are retrograde in trine houses.

It has been observed that retrograde planets in the trine gives spiritual practices of  ‘tantra’. Also notice the Navamsha exchange between Moon and Mars which is a Parivartan yoga of 5^th and 8^th houses lords in Navamsha showing the practice of occult sciences. Ramkrishna performed  Gaudiya Vaishnavism Bhakti, Vamachara (left hand path or Tantra) , Kundalini Yoga, Advait Vedanta etc during the dasha of Saturn from 1849 to 1868. He also practiced some sufi Sadhana and Christian Sadhana for a brief period during the early part of Mercury dasha. Rama Krishna’s spiritual life was exceptional in the sense that he performed ‘Sadhana’s’ from different school of thoughts with unflinching devotion. In the dasha of 5^th lord Mercury from 1868 to 1885 he got some great disciples. In the dasha of Ketu-Venus he took ‘Samadhi’ on 16 August 1886. The depositor of Ketu is Mars which is in the 12^th house. The anter dasha lord Venus is 9^th lord in the 2^nd house a ‘Maraka Bhava’.

Case 5. Horoscope of Swami Prabhupad

            1 September 1896, 15:45 hours at Calcutta, West Bengal 

Balance of Dasha in Vimshottari: Mars 4 years 6 months 28 days

The horoscope of Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupad, founder of ISKON, has an excellent combination of Jupiter and Sun which is a yoga for ‘temple building’ or forming a religious institute. Ketu with Jupiter in the ‘Moksha trine’ is a yoga for spirituality. The exalted lagna lord Saturn in the 10^th house is a ‘Maha Purush’ yoga. The connection of lagna and 10^th house is also present in the Dashamsha chart where the 10^th lord Moon is in the ascendant. If in a horoscope of spiritual personality such connection of lagna and 10^th houses/lords is present in both Rashi and Dashamsha then he himself form an institution. During the dasha of Mercury ( from 1954to 1971) exalted in the 9^th house along with 5^th lord Venus (devotional Bhakti) he spread his message of ‘Radha Krishna Bhakti’ worldwide. He made translated ‘Gita’ and ‘Srimad Bhagwat’ into English and formed ISKON ( International Society for Krishna Consciousness). An exalted Moon in the 5^th house and Venus-Mercury conjunction in the 9^th shows his love for ‘Vaishnav Bhakti’. In the Dashamsha Mercury is the lord of 9^th and 12^th houses conjoined with Jupiter and Ketu showing his sublime spiritual message being spread worldwide through devotional means. Later he came back to Vrindavan and took Samadhi during his Ketu-Mercury dasha in Vimshottari on 14^th November 1977.