Using Astrology To Find Your Personal Jyotirlinga Temple

Jyotirlinga for worship, your Atma Linga and general methods for propitiating planetary energies and alleviating planetary "curses" in your rasi chart.

There are three methods that I know of for finding your personal jyotirlinga:

Method 1: This involves finding the tithi for the time in which you were born. By noting which percentage of the lunar cycle is already completed, you can determine which Jyotirlinga is your personal one. I have a spreadsheet that calculates this. Please contact me privately if you would like to receive it.

Method 2: 1) find out the rasis in the Kendra from the moon. 2) find out the rasis in the trikona from the arudha lagna. 3) find out the common rasi in both the above groups. 4)the jyotirlinga denoted by that rasi will be your jyotirlinga.

For example if moon is in Virgo then the kendras from Virgo will be Gemini, Sagitarius and Pisces. If the Arudha Lagna is in Libra, the trines will be Aquarius and Gemini. So the common sign will be Gemini, making Nageshwar the appropriate jyotirlinga. This method is used specifically for considering which mantra to use for your Jyotirlnga. You can find the mantras at my blog post.

Method 3: Find the 12th house from the position of the Atmakaraka in the Navamsa. Any planet found there will represent the Jyotirlinga Temple that is your Ishta Devata. To use Jyotirlingas to propititate/worship a planet, use the temple that represents the exaltation sign of that planet. For instance, if my AK is Mercury and Saturn is in the 12th, then Mahakaleshwar (Libra) will be the Jyotirlinga temple that should be worshiped. If there is no planet in 12th from AK, use any planet aspecting or the sign of the house that is 12th from AK. Some, including myself, recommend using 12th from AK in Vimsamsa.

Astrologer's India: Venus and SriRangam Temple

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, also known as SriRangam, is notable for many reasons. It is the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world, covering an area on 156 acres. It is first and foremost among the 108 temples known as "Divya Desams", temples visited and glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil literature canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It also boasts the largest gopuram (temple tower) at 237 feet.

It also happens that SriRangam has special astrological significance, and is known as "Sukrasthalam." Prayers to Lord Ranganathar on Fridays can alleviate problems with one's natal Venus, also known as "Venus Dosha."

From the Sri Vaishavam Practices site:

Sukran is the planet which denotes all decorative items known as Alangara such as cosmetics, dresses, ornaments, sandals used in our life. Srirangam is the only temple where one could see the sandals (padhukas) of lord Sri Ranganathar in a storage place known as Kottaram nearby Dhanyalakshmi sannathi inside the temple. It is believed that Lord Sri Ranganatha regularly uses these sandals made by a cobbler, who makes it with due prayers for 48 days penance while observing strict viradam in the banks of river Kaveri, after the Lord himself gives them the measurement in the sands on the river bed. One could notice that those sandals undergoes wear and tear after some time, to prove that Sri Ranganather wear and use these sandals (divine padukas), walking inside the temple. These sandals are replaced every year by devotees. It is noteworthy to mention that Sri Desikan rendered versues known as slokams of 'Sri Ranganathar sahasram' in 1000 versues in praise the divinity of sacred sandals (divine padhukas) of Sri Ranganathar.

Here are some other ways in which SriRangam corresponds to Venus or Sukran, as per Kundandaiamudhan:

SriRangam is also associated with Revati Nakshatra. Lord Ranganathar's birth star is Revathi in Meena rasi (Moon sign as Pisces) in which Sukran is exalted.

Srirangam is also known as "boga mandapam." Venus is known ss the "boga karakan," or cause of enjoyment.

Srirangam has the biggest and tallest Garudan, and the bird Garudan represents Sukra. While Sukran's bird is given as Garuda, his animal is given as crocodile(makara.

The main idol, known as Moolavar, Sri Ranganathar put his feets on a lotus flower while reclining on the spiraling coils of Adisesha. The Lotus flower is the identified with and is a favorite of Venus.

Below is a recording of the Sri Ranganathar Stotram sung by P.B Srinivas:

You can find the text to this stotram here and with english translation here.

Churches and Convents of Goa: UNESCO World Heritage Sites

When one thinks of Goa, one usually thinks of beaches overrun by hippies and other foreign tourists. But the area known as Old Goa is the center of what was a more than 400 year Portuguese stronghold and the bearer of its Catholic traditions and architecture.

Old Goa is now mainly an archaeological site and open air museum. It is hard to imagine that this once was a city of 200,000 inhabitants. A clutter of churches, chapels and convents in different European architectural styles have survived. The churches and convents of Goa, the former capital of the Portuguese Indies, illustrate the evangelization of Asia. These monuments were influential in spreading forms of Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art in all the countries of Asia where missions were established.

The main buildings are:

St. Catherine’s Chapel

Church and Convent of Francis of Assisi

Sé Cathedral

Basilica of Bom Jesus

Church of Saint Cajetan including the seminary ,li>Church of Our Lady of the Rosary

St. Augustine Tower

The Basilica of Bom Jesus holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier who traveled across Asia as a missionary and died in 1552. In 1542 the Jesuits, who were driven by the ardour of medieval crusaders, arrived in the city and Francis Xavier, one of the founders of the Society of Jesus, rapidly became the patron saint of Goa. The churches in Old Goa aimed to awe the local population into conversion and to impress upon them the superiority of the foreign religion. The facades were accordingly made tall and lofty and the interiors were magnificent, with twisted Bernini columns, decorated pediments, profusely carved and gilded altars, and colourful wall paintings and frescoes. Once every decade his body is taken down for veneration and public viewing.

The Portuguese explorer Alfonso de Albuquerque conquered Goa in 1510 and the Portuguese ruled the territory until 1961. The current churches in Goa date mainly from the Seventeenth century having taken a long time to establish or having replaced earlier structures. The tomb of St Francis Xavier in Bom Jesus was even sculpted in Italy by Foggini and shipped out to Goa in 1698.The main exception is the fortress-like Church of Our Lady of the Rosary which was completed in 1549 on the spot where Alphonse de Albuquerque masterminded his second and successful attempt to capture Goa after his defeat of the Muslim rulers.

If you travel to Goa, be sure to explore these artifacts of India's Portuguese colonial heritage.

Kerala Backwaters: Paradise At Your Fingertips

The Kerala Backwaters are a network of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes and inlets forming a labyrinthine system of waterways. In the midst of this landscape there are a number of towns and cities, which serve as the starting and end points of backwater cruises.

The backwaters have a unique ecosystem - freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea. But what I find most fascinating about the Backwaters is that it is a major form of public transportation from village to village in this region.

Indeed, traversing many of these canals is akin to riding a motorbike through narrow streets in rural neighborhoods. Many homes bank onto the waterways and one can witness the rhythm of daily life - feeding goats, milking cows, etc - in the same manner as when walking down a road in any residential area.

An important feature of the Backwaters experience is the kettuvallams, or the Kerala houseboats, which are prominent tourist attractions in Kerala. The kettuvallams were traditionally used as grain barges, to transport the rice harvested in the fertile fields along the backwaters.

Thatched roof covers over wooden hulls, 100 feet (30 m) in length, provided protection from the elements. At some point in time the boats were used as living quarters by the royalty. Converted to accommodate tourists who generally spend the night, the houseboats have become floating cottages having a sleeping area, with western-style toilets, a dining area and a sitting area on the deck. Food is cooked on board by the accompanying staff .

Kerala has been placed among the '50 Destinations of a lifetime' by National Geographic Traveler. The Backwaters experience is an essential part of any South Indian itinerary.

Dwadasa Jyotirlingas and Astrology: An Astrologer's Pilgrimage

I interpret my first journey to India as an astrological pilgrimage that would confirm my cosmic identity as an astrologer through ritual, and expand my knowledge through study with revered masters. It was also a whirlwind introduction to some of the most important temples in India.

I had decided to go to South India first, specifically to request an audience master of Jaimini Astrology, Sri Iranganti Rangacharya in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, do Giri Valam at Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai and to do the yatra of the Nava Graha Temples near Kumbakonam.

There seems to be a pretty ancient, but not well known astrological aspect to the temples and you can even use the chart to find your Ishta Devata or personal Jyotirlinga. You may already know about these techniques. I became a Shiva bhakta, and specifically Jyotirlinga worshiper, during that same journey to the Nava Graha Sthanams.

What brought about my first journey to India was the fact that I didn't like my Solar Return for Thailand, where I was living at the time. I decided to go to India for a month. My birthday would fall within that month. I started in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, as I wanted to have an audience with Smt. Iranganti Rangacharya, one of the leading scholars on Jaimini Astrology. After Hyderabad I was going to start my temple pilgrimage with Srisailam and then move south to Kumbakonam. However, there was a general strike in Andhra so it was suggested that I go to Tamil Nadu first. I wasn't sure where to go, but the maid at the house where I was staying was a virtual encyclopedia regarding temples. She knew all of them! Even the small ones in tiny villages! She was amazing! I had told her that I was interested in Shakti Peethams - I had been to Kalighat already since I had flown into Kolkata. She suggested Kanchipuram, "Many temples, too big, too beautiful....Shakti Peet!" I decided to take her suggestion and took the train to Chennai and a bus to Kanchipuram. My birthday is January 1, and I arrived in Kanchi on the night of the 31st. On the morning of my birthday I received darshan of Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Devi, Sri Varadaraja Perumal and, most importantly Lord Shiva as Ekambareshwarar at Ekambaranathar Temple. Something happened to me on regarding the lingam that I still can't put into words, but an exchange of some sort happened. I then went to Tiruvannamalai. I was looking for temples where I could propitiate Sani to help my 2nd house - Dhanus Lagna, and found information about Arunachala Hill and how it is a manifestation of Lord Shiva. I wanted to do Giri Pradakshina there around the hill and also receive Darshan of Lord Annamailayar. Ekambaranthar and Annamailayar temples were the two most impressive temples that I had ever seen or experienced, and I soon found out that these temples were two of the five Pancha Bhootha Sthanams, where Shiva is worshipped as the five elements. I arrived on the evening of my birthday and had darshan of Lord Shiva. Annamailayar temple is where Lord Shiva is worshiped as fire, and in the garbagraha there is space for about 15 people to sit and revere lord Shiva up close. That little room was intensely hot, like a sauna, and I assure you that there is nothing in that room to heat it except the presence of the Lingam itself. I did Giri Pradakshina around Arunachala the next day and left for Kumbakonam the day after, at which time I embarked on the yatra that about which I have written previously.

From Kumbakonam I went back to Hyderabad, and then to SriSailam, which is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples. It is usually placed second on the list of importance, after Somnath in Gujarat. The mystical energy was palpable there, especially at night - I arrived at 2am. I stayed for 3 days and had many darshans. Booklets are always sold telling the myths and legends connected with the temples, and I found myself ruminating on the fact that there were 12 of them. Of course, my next thought, as an astrologer, was "I wonder if they correspond to the Rasis?" Which of course they do.

I have included a listing of the Rasis that correspond to each Jyotirlinga Temple along with the mantra for worship. To worship or propitiate a planet, use the temple that represents the planet's exaltation rasi:

Aries (exaltation of sun) rameshwaram “om namah shivaya namah rameshwaraya”

Taurus: (exaltation of moon) : somnath “om namah shivaya namah somnathaya”

Gemeni: (exaltation of rahu) : nageshwar “om namah shivaya namah nageshwaraya”

Cancer: (exaltation of jupiter) : omkareshwar “om namah shivaya namah omkareshwaraya”

Leo: ( ) : vaidynath “om namah shivaya namah vaidyanathaya”

Virgo: (exaltation of mercury) : mallikarjun “om namah shivaya namah mallikarjunaya”

Libra: (exaltation of Saturn ) : mahakaleshwar “om namah shivaya namah mahakaleshwaraya”

Scorpio: ( ) : ghashanesha “om namah shivaya namah ghrashaneshwaraya”

Sagitarius: (exaltation of ketu) : vishwanath “om namah shivaya namah vishwanathaya”

Capricorn: (exaltation of mars) : bhimshankara “om namah shivaya namah bhimshankaraya”

Aquarius: ( ) : kedarnath “om namah shivaya namah kedarnathaya”

Pisces: (exaltation of Venus) : tryambakeshwar “om namah shivaya namah tryambakeshwaraya”

It turned out that SriSailam represented the sign Virgo, which is my Arudha Lagna and Lord Buddha is my Atmakaraka. Of course, Buddha is exalted in Virgo so it turned out that I was worshiping my own Atma Linga! This began my love/obsession for Lord Shiva and the quest to find and visit my personal Jyotirlinga.

Thanjavur Big Temple: The "MUST-SEE" Monument of South India

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As you may have noticed, In this blog I try to steer away from India's well known monuments and sights. India has so much to offer in the realm of architectural monuments and historical edifices, that I tend to focus on the lesser known offerings.

I consider the Peruvudaiyar Koil, or Brihadeeswara Temple of Thanajavur to be a well known monument. A british TV documentary has even been done on it. So why am I featuring it in this blog? I had a dream that I was on a journey to Thanjavur, and the name Brihadeeswara kept repeating over and over again throughout the dream until I woke up.

The Brihadeeswara Temple was conceived by Emperor Raja Raja I (985-1013 AD) as the first of a series of great Tamil Chola building projects, and its foundations were laid in 1002 AD. The temple is the first building fully built by granite, the nearest sources of which are close to Tiruchchirapalli, about 60 km to the west of Thanjavur, and finished within 5yrs(1004AD – 1009 AD). The vimana or (temple tower) is 216 ft (66 m) high and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. The Kumbam (Kalasha or Chikharam) (apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is carved out of a single stone and weighs more than 80 tons.

This temple was the tallest building in the world at the time that it was built.

It is not my intention to make this the "go-to" article on the Brihadeeswara Temple, for that go to the Brihadeeswara Temple Site.

An excellent route by which to see this temple is from Tiruchirappalli. One could do a three to five day exploration of SriRangam, The Rock Fort and other sites in Trichy, the Chola Temples in Thanjavur, Kumbakonam for Nava Graha Yatra, and on to Chidambaram to see the Nataraj Temple there.

Mumbai Surprises: Maneckji Sett Agiary and The Elephanta Caves

I have to admit that Mumbai is probably my least favorite city in India. I find it too expensive and way too modern. Indeed, except for the fact that it is full of Indians it feels like it could be any other modern city in any other part of the world.

So imagine my surprise on finding just south of the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminal a real Zoroastrian Fire Temple! The Maneckji Sett Agiary or Fire Temple was built by the Parsi community in 1735. Except for the very interesting sculptures that flank the outside, the building itself is quite unremarkable.

While catching up with my correspondence in an email cafe, I became engaged with a Slovakian tourist who was experiencing extreme gastrointestinal discomfort. I am an avid proponent of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs, and had brought a boatload of Po Chai pills to combat just such a problem if I encountered it myself. As I offered him two vials of the pills I saw fascinating photos of caves with beautiful sculptures. I asked if he had just visited Ajanta or Ellora. He replied that he hadn't visited those sites yet, but had just returned from the Elephanta Caves. I asked where they were located, and practically fell off my chair when he told me they were "in Mumbai." I knew I had to see them.

The Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometers east of the city of Mumbai. The island, located on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves—the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the second, a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures dedicated to the god Shiva.

The rock cut architecture of the caves has been dated to between the 5th and 8th centuries. All the caves were also originally painted in the past, but now only traces remain.

The island was called Gharapuri (literally "the city of caves"), and was a Hindu place of worship until Portuguese rule began in 1534. The Portuguese called the island Elephanta on seeing its huge gigantic statue of an Elephant at the entrance.

To get to the Elephanta Caves, go to the counter at the Gateway of India and buy a round trip ticket. There is a fee to get into the caves as well as another small fee that you pay on arriving on the island. It is very important that you do not take food or drinks because the place is crawling with monkeys. I've seen families on the boat who've packed lunches and expect to have a picnic there. The monkeys end up with the food!