Astroverse.

Guru in Pisces, the Vernal Equinox and the Navratris

Jul 8, 2023 by Rishi Kumar Shukla

तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया |
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिन: || 34||

Gita says, learn the Truth by approaching a Guru. Inquire from him with reverence and render service unto him. Such an enlightened Teacher can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the Truth.

Blessed are those, who find a living Guru. For other lesser mortals, Guru Brihaspati, Jupiter sparkles with benevolent wisdom in the Pisces area of the sky   urging us to seek the inner truth.

Jupiter has been in Pisces for almost a year. For many who have had the focus on Guru Tattva earlier, particularly the entry in Meena Rashi, and  have observed the Guru midway through Pisces and its trinal connection with Sun, have  had sensed that the positive vibrant energy of Guru and Surya is enhanced. They have participated in this auspicious time for spiritual progress and meditation. For others, there is another opportunity at present.

Sun is transiting into Pisces. Here it is imaginative, visionary, psychically sensitive, broad-minded, and inclusive. It is getting connected to Guru. A Guru    guiding us through the vast infinite ocean of Pisces and the light of Jupiter in the shimmering illusions of Maya and the search for the final truth. Together Sun and Jupiter would traverse the Zodiac space of Pisces, with the conjunction of Sun and Jupiter on April 12, almost at the end of Zodiac, in the fourth pada of Revati Nakshatra. The authority of Surya and the wisdom of Guru together in Pisces after a dozen years. Together they are harmonizing and channelizing an intuitive guidance to open the gateway of mythical oceans   containing jnana.

A time of a month in the year, where the prayer,

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

Finds its most apt place.

 Each year, Sun in conjunction with Moon symbolizes the end of the Zodiac and the year. The same Moon as it moves forward brings the most auspicious Padwa in the form of Gudi Padwa. This, we all know, is the new beginning. Each end brings a new beginning and thus begins the Samvatsar, the traditional Indian New year, celebrated with the Navratri, an ode, a prayer to all the forms of ‘’Shakti’’ or Ma.

Shri Aurobindo had penned the most humble prayer to Ma…when he wrote:

ॐ आनन्दमयि चैतन्यमयि सत्यमयि परमे

Om - She, the Delight
She, the Consciousness
She, the Truth
She, the Supreme

This year, this lunar tithis of Amavasya and Padwa, representing the end of the old year and the new beginnings fall on March 21 and 22. The days in the year when the day and night are equal. A rare balance, the Vernal Equinox.

Again, a powerful combination of focusing on the ‘’shuddhikaran’’ or the purification of mind through meditation and merging seamlessly in   celebrating the new start.

We, in our efforts throughout the year, living through the maze of ‘’Leela” of Ma, often find ourselves straying because of Her “Maya” or perceptions even if we have most ‘’satwik’’ of intentions. It is this reality which we need to grasp and attempt to surrender to Her in this period where the old is coming to a seeming end. It is this surrender to nature in the infinity of the mystic Pisces in the presence of Sun denoting Shiva and Moon denoting Ma that one finds the energy and resources to move to the New Year with renewed hopes and a fresh vigor by seeking blessings in the Navratri through prayers. This is the special nature of this month and the Nine days!

This year there is a further addition to the ‘’specialness’’ of these days. Guru is considered along with Sun and the Moon, a ‘Satwik’ energy/graha in Jyotish. Every 12 years, it comes to Pisces and enhances the auspiciousness of Pisces, when Sun and the Moon traverse through this zodiac space... Presently, Sun has already joined Guru in Pisces. This Gudi Padwa, the blessings of Guru on the Vernal equinox are additionally increasing the spiritual significance of the day.

If this in itself, is not enough, there is a one in a century astrological event happening in the next few weeks. Jupiter and Sun get conjunct at the end of Zodiac at 358 Degrees, and then together, in a space of a few days, move into Aries, the new beginning. The last time, we had seen an event like this was in April 1940 and prior to this in March/April 1857. Interesting years, but that is another dimension.

If you have a Guru, then spend time with Guru. If you don’t have one, just meditate on Shiva. You can just spend some time with yourself focusing on Shiva. As Aadi Sankara guides,

चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम्

Even in the mundane, material world, wisdom, correct decisions and a sense of joy would prevail provided you pause and listen!

Rishi Shukla