Tantric Symbolism as the Basis of Astrology

1. Synonymous Phraseology of Jyotisa and Tantra

Kundalini means both the horoscope and the Tntric power Mla is the “dhram” of Kundalini in both Jyotisa as well as Yoga Both Jyotisa and Tantra are based on the equivalence of Pindndam and Brhmndam (microcosm and macrocosm) Common terminology includes: Id, Pigal, Ndi, Sun, Moon, Yoga, Bhga, Bhukti, Meru, and Cakra etc.

Classification of Ris

The pictorial representation of the horoscope itself is reflective of the Tntric conceptions of Meru and Mldhram. In the picture given 1, 2, 3…marks the respective signs Mesa, Vrsabha, Mithuna etc., and the left boarder line of Ris 1 & 8 connecting the longitudes or positions of 00 and 2400 is the Merudanda or Mukti rekha over which the Kundalini ascends.

The path of the Kundalini is via signs 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 to reach the rsa at 00 covering 18 naksatras of 130.333 each which represented the 18 steps of Yogavidya. Further, 400 of longitude constitutes one navma cakra [400 * 9 = 3600] and as such the Kundalini sector is made up of six navma cakras which are representative of the Sadcakras.

Further the twelve signs are classified on the basis of the Trigunas and Caturbhtas as shown below:

Ris Tattva/ Bhta Guna Mesa Agni Tamas Vrsabha Prthv Rajas Mithuna Vyu Sattva Kataka Jala Tama Simha Agni Rajas Kany Prthv Sattva Tul Vyu Tama Vrcik Jala Rajas Dhanu Agni Sattva Makara Prthv Tama Kumbha Vyu Rajas Mn Jala Sattva

12 1 2 3 11 4 10 Ri 5 9 8 7 6

These basic attributes of Ris form the foundation over which astrological symbolism is built up. The planetary lordship over signs was also decided on the basis of Tntric esoteric wisdom. The eight houses from Mesa onwards up to Vrcik is ruled by planets Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon and Sun and forms the esoteric frame of Klapurusa, which manifest terrestrially as the power of delusion (My) inherent in Time. Ris 9th to 12th ruled by Jupiter and Saturn represent things that are independent of My viz., Jna and Karma that are contributive of liberation from the delusive spirit.

Similarly, classification of the naksatras is three fold in direct synchronism with the threefold Kundalin that splits into Trigunas, which we find personified in mythology as Trimrtis. 1

Secret of Kundalin

Controversy of definition of birth

In the very beginning of the astrological process of divination we encounter an unsolvable controversy as to what actually is the precise definition of birth? • Is it ‘the appearance of Head’ or ‘the first touch of ground’ or ‘the first cry’ or ‘the cutting of umbilical chord’? The recorded time obviously has a component of confusion attached to it howsoever we may care for accuracy in noting either of the above movements or even all of them. Classical texts

do prescribe certain methods for rectification of birth time but neither of them is consistent and reliable. In fact rather than time, we are more bothered about the longitude of lagna as diurnal rotation of the earth alters the value by 15 minutes of arc in one minute of time. i.e. Lagna can be accurate up to

the minutes, only if we can assure the accuracy of birth time up to seconds. This is an almost impossible task. • If Lagna cannot be fixed up to the minutes of arc with certainty confusion shall obviously spread to the divisional charts. In many Vargas we may fail to have the correct Lagna and astrology

shall be reduced to a bundle of confusion. Further, according to Satycrya the daas have to be derived from the stronger of the two factors viz., Lagna & Moon. Despite such importance of the birth time and accurate Lagna, astrological wisdom of the post – Varhamihira period is not explicit as to what exactly

is the astrological definition of birth time. What precisely is the birth time is a question as confusing as the controversy of ayanma or zodiac itself. The reason for this silence is that the astrological wisdom was a part of the occult knowledge of the Tntrics and as such many of the top secrets of the discipline were available only to the initiates and therefore with the degeneration of the cults such

1 Magical diagrams, referred to as Yantras too have the origin of their geometry traceable to planetary revolutions over the zodiac. The most magnificent of occult symbols, r Cakra in fact is an occult portrayal of the mystery of life using an ingeniously conceived astronomical script as is evident from the

description of Devi’s effulgence seated in r Cakra as constituted by the 360 rays – divided among Agni, Sun and Moon in the ratio 118:106:136 – which enlighten the macrocosm as well as microcosm and give rise to the calculation of time, Sun for the day, Moon for the month and Agni for the rtus or seasons. knowledge was lost for the posterity. Occult science got reduced to a pseudo science and it has remained so during the last two thousand years.

Tntric Definition of Birth Time

Tantra has no confusion as to the precise definition of birth time. A Tntric or astrological birth is marked by the first cry of the child with which the ‘new being’ reports to the ‘eternal being’ Mahkla. More than giving a precise definition, Tantra profess a mathematically conceivable pattern of destiny operating over the terrestrial existence based on the longitude of Moon as well as the ascendant or Lagna.

• Pda or Kunda Lagna

Pda or Kunda here in refers to 81 in ‘Katapaydi’ notation. According to classical instructions 81 times the Lagna must fall in either of the trikna ris of the Moon provided the Lagna is reasonably correct. This relationship can be modified mathematically to fix the point ascendant –in fact the above technique arose out of the Tntric definition of birth and the mathematical pattern of destiny under the rule: Lagna x 81 (Kunda Lagna) = Longitude of Moon ± 1200 or 00 Synchronization of Lagna and Moon implicit in the above is: Birth in naksatra beginning from Avini will correspond to successive arcs of 9.87654321 minutes ascending on the east:

Arc of Lagna S erial No: Beginning End Naksatra 1 00 0’0” 9’.87654321 Avini 2 009’.87654321 0019’ 45”.185 Bharani 3 0019’ 45”.185 0029’37”.77 Krttik …. …. 10 1028’ 53”.33 1038’45”.93 Magh …. …. 19 20 57’ 46”.66 30 07’45” Mla …. …. 27 4016’ 47”.4 4026’40” Revati

First cycle of Kunda Lagna ends and second begins again on Avini. In this manner there are a total of 81 cycles so that 81x 40.444 = 3600. i.e. a particular longitude of Moon shall correspond to 1/3rd of the above arc of 4026’.66 i.e. 1028’53”.33 or 88’.88 - roughly at intervals of 5min56sec in time. Alternatively, it can be said that the Tantra makes the sky to revolve 81 times faster (mathematically) and for every 9.87654321 minutes of arc of the ascendant Kunda covers one naksatra each and a birth manifests only when the Kunda coincides the triangular longitude of Moon. It is this mystic phenomenon that necessitated

the division of the ecliptic into 27 divisions of 800’ each (naksatras). 800/81 leads to the mystic number 9.87654320987654320987…on which the whole of astrological wisdom is founded.

It is therefore possible to fix the point ascendant if the birth time is known with a precision of + 3 minutes. The correction involved can be computed as either:

Kunda Lagna -Moon or [Moon + 1200] or = Moon or [Moon + 1200] - Kunda Lagna

Kunda_kriya thus deciphers the Karmic structure of the Space_Time correlations employed in astrology.

Human birth can occur only at these Karma_kandams linked to the moments which satisfy the equation that Kunda_Lagna = Triangular Longitude of Moon.

Any birth i.e. first cry, at times falling in between has to be shifted to the respective Karma_kanda and then only Vargas and Vimsottari shall give a perfect fit to the destiny of the native.

Tantric Theory Behind the Zodiac

Mathematically Hindu Zodiac is a division of the ecliptic into 12 Ris of 300 each and 27 naksatras of 13020’ each. It is generally believed that the first of the divisions is more universal and earlier in origin than the second. The Graeco, Arabic, Babylonian as well as Hindu nomenclatures of the signs are essentially the same and this universality suggests a common source of inheritance like the ancient civilizations of Babylon, India or Egypt. The Tantra literature on these occult secrets has not survived time to reach this modern age. Such lost wisdom has to be recreated by the grace of Kundalini as has happened in many past ages.

Rudiments of 12-fold as well as more complex divisions of the ecliptic are visible in the Rgveda. Hymns not only imply divisions arising from 12 and its fractions like 2,3,4 and 6 but also suggest some serious efforts to comprehend the natural phenomena mathematically. But almost all the interpreters of the Rgvedic hymns consider the number 360 as a simple day-count and attach no mathematical significance other than primitive thinking to such counts. In the words of Dr. M.N. Saha:

“Like other nations of antiquity early Egyptians has a year of 360 days divided into 12 months each of 30 days; but they found very early from the recurrence of the Nile flood, that the seasonal year consisted approximately of 365 days and that a month or lunation was nearly 29 1/2 days (real length 29.531 days). But they had already framed a calendar on the 30-day month and 360-day year, which had received religious sanction. Hence arose the first necessity for calendar reform recorded in ancient history....”

Here Saha’s reference is obviously to the imperfect knowledge length of the year that led to the year-frame of 360 days having 12 equal divisions. Prima-facie there is nothing wrong in this reasoning. But closer look raises a few pertinent questions:

Why should the imperfect knowledge lead to mathematical sense of perfection?

Formulation of the year took place under the guidance of the luni-solar phenomena. As such 12 lunations must have obviously ended at a count of 355 days. On the other hand, had the guidance been predominantly solar like the heliacal rising of Sirius the count would have been 365 or 366 days. In between these lunar and solar extremes, how could the primitive minds locate 360 had they been devoid of any numerical sense? Moreover 30 and 360 simultaneously became significant only with the radix of 10.

What better archaeological evidence can we get for the use of decimal/ sexagesimal systemother than the graduations of 720, 360,12 & 3 we see in the Vedic hymns?

For the sake of discussion it can be a reed that 360 are just a count of days only. But then how can we explain the evolution of the seven-day-week? A six-day week would have been more harmonious with the count of 360 and that had been the practice in Vedic India as may be understood from the works of Syma stry on Vedic Astronomy.

But as is well known the “seven-day week” is astrological in origin and the planetary lordship evolved out of the distribution of planets in their heliocentric order (Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, and Moon) over a division of the day in to 24 equal parts known as Hra or hour. According to the Calendar Reform Committee Report.

“Historical Scholarship has shown that unlike the year and month, the seven-day week is an artificial man-made cycle.... The seven-day week from the account of its origin it is clearly based on astrological ideology.... The weekdays are not found in earlier Hindu scriptures like Vedas or the classics like the great epic Mahbhrata. They occur in inscriptions only from AD 484 an unimportant part in the religious observances of the Hindus which are determined by the Moon’s phases....”

The logic at work and the inference drawn are typical of historical research - as one or two inscriptions of 300 AD haven’t mentioned the weekday its non-existence is concluded. Dr. Saha himself did record in his report that the idea of counting the heap of days elapsed from a specified epoch up to the given

date dawned upon the Hindu astronomers as early as in 500 AD, at the time of ryabhata. The computation of ahargana is one of the cornerstones of Siddhntic astronomy and ryabhata has not claimed any originality for the method. As such it is very clear that the method is traditional and has an antiquity that preceded ryabhata by centuries. Use of such a day count i.e. the computed Ahargana for astronomical purposes required verification in terms of the weekday and it is quite unlikely that method could have evolved in the absence of the weekday.

The correlation between the seven-day week and the 24 divisions of the day has no easy explanation other than a ‘piece of irrational thinking by the primitive minds’. The heliocentric planetary order could have been very well applied over the 12 divisions of a day as well. The progenitors of the concept have applied a scientific criterion – the time period relationship between planets or heliocentric order – in deciding the planetary sequence over the divisions. How can the latter half be irrational or arbitrarily chosen? Some logic must have certainly guided them. We shall revert to this aspect later.

Dividing the Ecliptic Into 27 Naksatras Far more complicated is the situation that we encounter with the naksatra zodiac of 27 divisions considered as arising out of the daily lunar motion. If the divisions of ecliptic evolved simply out of aboriginal practices and convenience and the astrological

formalism imaginary as well as irrational not only astrology but the Hindu religious citadel also will collapse - all that we describe as our culture and religion will become a bundle of non-sense having no scientific rationale. It is true that the 360 and 27 divisions do have a resemblance to the respective

arcs covered by the Sun and Moon in a day, but what about the subtler divisions of the Zodiac? Just as we have the 12 dityas, Mahbhrata ascribe 108 names to the Sun and obviously this is a reflection of the popular division known as navma a mention of which is also available in the Maitryana Upanisad and Nidna stras. Even if we accept the most posterior date for the Mahbhrata it will be difficult to explain the entry of such astrological factors –an irrational development from 12 divisions to 27 and then 108 – into the epic in a mythological form.

Zodiac whether it is a product of human or superhuman wisdom, various divisions along with the moving longitudes represent an abstraction of the mystery of life. In other words, astrology has credibility only if we can establish that the formalism is an expression of destiny in the language of mathematics. It

is not necessary to fully comprehend the underlying phenomena or physical reality but it must be possible to identify the sequence of logic employed in the process. In science we are aware of the instances like the Mendaliyef’s Periodic table or Bohr’s atom model, wherein the genius was guided by sheer logic and hypothetical computations like Bohr’s formula for the maximum occupancy of a shell (2n2), which were reflections of more complex natural laws that guided the physical processes. Similarly whether the zodiacal divisions be empirical or mathematical, if we are able to decipher a general logic or formula employed in the process, zodiac can very well claim the status of a theoretical construct emerging out of wisdom rather than primitive imagination.

Superimposition of the Space-divisions over the elliptical orbit

12 1 2 3 11 4 10

5 9 8 7 6

4 – fold division

The style of drawing the horoscope prevailing in South India since very early times is a Tntric squaring of the elliptical planetary orbit. The four vertical and horizontal lines that intercept the orbit leads to a four-fold division of space in two dimensions leading to a periphery of 12 columns or

houses and an inner quadrangular demarcation that depict a twofold division. The two-fold division is a representation of the four cardinal directions N-EW-S and in astronomy they signify the four cardinal points of the equator-ecliptic geometry viz., the equinoxes and solstices. Also this two-fold division generates the square aspect of Western astrology and the ‘Kendras’ of the Hindu system. The general features of this quite natural and fundamental division process can be understood by a glance over the corresponding sequence in geometry.

(1) A straight line divides the whole universe into two hemi-ellipsoids. Mathematically this is the linear dimension or a one-dimensional process. (2) The cross signifies a plane of two dimensions or as said above the N-E-W-S. This is one of the most popular mystic symbols. (3) The 3×3 division leads to a

periphery of 8 houses that signify in turn the 8 directions. Buddhism has a spiritual application of this division while in physics we can see Gellmann’s “Eight-fold way”. (4) The 4×4 division or the Zodiac with the 3 navels as reflected in the Vedic hymns quoted earlier represent in astrology the

classification of signs into 4 groups of 3 each i.e. Fire, Earth, Air and Water signs. Correspondingly in Physics it can be seen that all fundamental particles are constituted of a set of four quarks in their three modes so that 4×3 = 12 and in Genetic-code the basic configuration is of 4 acid bases in

their 3 forms. Also four are the dimensions of this universe perceivable to humans through their senses. In this way physical significance of the successive divisions can be searched out.

Mathematical features of the sequence of peripheral divisions can be understood by a glance over the 3-fold, 4-fold and 5-fold divisions. It is apparent that the super imposition of these space-divisions 2×2 to 7×7 onto a curvilinear path yields the divisions 4,8,12,16,20,24,28, i.e. in general 4(n-1) division of the periphery for an n-fold division of space.

Explanation of the Zodiacal Features:

Hindu Zodiac i.e. Ri and its different Vargas (harmonics) are now self-evident.

Varga N D = 4[N-1] Rasi 4-fold 12 Ri×2 7-fold 24 Ri×3 10-fold 36 Ri×4 13-fold 48 Ri×5 16 -fold 60 Ri×6 19 -fold 72 Ri×7 22 -fold 84 Ri×8 25 –fold 96 Ri×9 28 –fold 108 Ri×1 0 31 –fold 120 Ri×1 1 34 –fold 132 Ri×1 2 37 –fold 144

In terms of the serial order of the harmonics(R×Z, where Z is an integer), the theory can be expressed as:

• N = (1+3Z) where Z is an integer gives the sequential order (N) of space division. s • D = 4(N-1) gives the corresponding divisions of the curvilinear path.

On combing both, we get the definition of a Varga viz., D = 12 Z where Z is an integer. Accordingly it can be seen that the 9th harmonic or the navma chart correspond to the 28fold division of space that leads to 108 navmas each of extent 3020' . Four of these navmas together constitute 13020 or one naksatra division and hence the total number of 27 naksatras in 360 degrees. The 28-fold space division was perhaps wrongly construed as 28 ecliptic divisions

probably in some dark age when the mathematical aspect got relegated to the background. It is evident from the theory given that these divisions have nothing to do with yogatras except for the identification via nomenclature. It must be especially noted here that there exist no space divisions corresponding to a 27-divisional graduation of the curvilinear obit, the formula being D = 4(N -1), excludes all odd number graduations of the circular/elliptical path.

Explanation of Hora and Seven-day Work

The seven-fold division of space corresponds to and Orbital graduation of 24 and the sevenday week was commissioned accordingly. In fact no other logical explanation was ever forwarded by anyone for the correlation between the 7 days and 24 hours of a day. Distribution being in the heliocentric order Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun (Earth), Venus, Mercury, Moon, after the 24 hours of a Saturday the 25th hour or the next day will begin with Sun and the day therefore was Sunday.

The Hra divisions of time emerges from the Earth’s revolution about its axis and is therefore related to the successive rising points at the horizon i.e. the ascending degrees. This also explains the Varhamihira’s derivation of the term ‘Hra’ from ‘ahrtra’ meaning - one revolution of the Earth on its axis.

Further the successively rising degrees (i.e. Lagna or Hra) symbolize time and its lord Mahdeva therefore received the appellation Hara and the term ‘Hra’ most probably arose out of this appellation or the synonymous appellation Hari of Sun/ Visnu.

Planetary Years

The daa years credited to the planets viz., 6, 10, 7, 18, 16, 19, 17, 20 too had their origin out of the first four numerals 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Sum of the digits 1+2+3+4=10 = R was used as the radix.

Moon =10 (=R); Sun = R - 4 = 6; Mars, ikhi = R - 3 = 7; Mercury=2 R - 3 =17; Jupiter =2 R - 4 =16; Rhu = 2 R - 2 =18; Saturn = 2 R -1 =19; Venus = 2 R = 20.

Alternatively, R - 4 = 6, R - 3 = 7, R - 2 = 8, R - 1 = 9 and R =10 can give all daa years by addition to 10 or 0.

Implicit Tntric Rationales

In the theory outlined above we can’t miss the notice of the four spokes of Mldhra, the seat of Kundalin. Ricakra in fact is the most important of all Yantras employed in Tntric worship. It represents the most fundamental as well as the most sophisticated interrelationship between the microcosm and

macrocosm and as such in its design the sum total of Tntric wisdom must have played its role. The designs of the Sadcakras and the rcakra took shape out of the Klacakra as the Tntrics conceived it – Mldhra Rhu ikhi Cakra. We can find in the astrological literature the equivalence between the Sadcakras and Sadvargas as:2

“Drekkndikramena klapurusasya mladhradisaddhrh kramena scith I strasya mantratulyatvam prvamevam pradaritam I Atƒsyƒdhrdicintnyyyaiva I Tath cktam:

Mldhre drgnah syt pitrcint ravistath I Svdhistne tu hor synmtrcint tath a II Manipre navmaca bhrtrcint kujƒpi ca I Anhate ca trimm vncint budhastath II Viuddhou dvdamah syt putracint tath guru I jym ksetramuddistam jycint sitastath II Dvdante anaicr nacint ca krtit I Tatrasthoustadaica balbalavatphalam II “

2 ANS Iyengar, Varhamihira Horstram, pp.39 – 40.

These verses, which may be the remnants of a bigger volume of literature, illustrate the interrelationship between Tantra and Jyotisa. According to these verses the planetary lordship of the Sadcakras is different from what Hinze has brought out in his work: Mldhram Sun Drekknam Svdhisthnam Moon Hra Manipuram Mars Navma Anhata Mercury Trimmam Viuddhi Jupiter Dvdama ja Venus Ri

Despite the difference with the western conception the above correlation point towards the Jyotisa – Tantra interdependence. The terminology such as Sadvarga, Sadbala, Kunda etc and the religious significance of numbers such as 8 and 18, which represent Mldhram in terms of Ris and Naksatras, also suggests Tntric influence.

Over and above the similarities in theoretical conceptions/constructs the true practice of astrology to ascertain the good and evil propensities of time depend fundamentally on the Yga ndis Id of Moon and Pigal of Sun, which respectively represent the breaths passing through the left and right nostrils. In the words of John Woodroffe:

“They both indicate Time or Kla, and Susumna devours Kla. For on that path entry is made into timelessness. The three are also known as Gag (Id), Yamun (Pigal) and Sarasvat (Susumna), after the names of the three sacred rivers of India. The Mldhra is the meeting place of the three “rivers” and hence is called Yukta-triven. Proceeding from the dhra lotus, they alternate from right to left and left to right3, thus going round the lotuses”.

A prediction made without ascertaining the ‘aram’ i.e. benevolence indicated by Pigal or malevolence portended by Id is meaningless. Jvapurusa, itself is the most sophisticated Yantra and when it is properly conditioned by Yga the Id and Pigal signal the quality of time or auspiciousness of the moment.

A more detailed explanation is not attempted due to constraints of time and space.