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Landmark Changes in Life and Vedic Astrology


Life-transition and change simpliciter:

In life, we often place great importance on times of landmark changes in life, or life-transitions, and since Vedic astrology is concerned with this life and everything connected with it, these life-transitions become an important area of focus and investigation in this spiritual art.

It is often that the individual asks, ‘when will things change and in what way’, and more infrequently in times of great fulfillment, ‘how long will this great streak continue, and what follows after this’.

A life-transition is a larger concept than that of mere change, as changes are implicit at smaller levels, in general life itself. They may be notable or may not be notable, but a life-transition is an alteration of the very framework in which existence continues. Needless to say then, it is a fundamental factor in life which alters directions, areas of focus, ways of thinking and being, goals and ambitions in any permutation and combination depending upon the placements in the various charts in the Vedic horoscope.

Life-transitions and Vedic astrology:

Since life-transitions, and all significant changes, are essentially dynamic concepts, the foremost tool with which to study these is also the dynamic facet of the various and numerous Dasha (periodicity) systems in Vedic Astrology. Since they capture these momentous changes, Dashas do so by changing themselves, and thus the frequent refrain ‘my Dasha has changed’. ‘Dasha’, the word means ‘state of being’ and it is self-evident that changes in the state of our being, and that of matters around us in our lives, are well reflected in the changing Dashas.

But this is not to say that these momentous changes are captured by the changing Dashas only; to be sure, there are numerous other factors in classical Jyotisha which are to be used to understand the unraveling of the Karmic fabric during this life. One such is the age of maturity of the Grahas (planets) and the Bhavas (houses). Others such as that age of maturity of planets in conspicuous Yogas such as the Kala-Sarpa Yoga and the Kala-Amrita Yoga are highly pertinent and can override Dashas in some cases.

It is also to be remembered that there are scores of Dasha systems in Vedic astrology and often we are to use more than one system to gauge the precise nature and tenor of the changes that are to manifest in life. It is true that Vimshottari Dasha is universally applicable to all charts in the Kaliyuga but the other systems can be at least equally, if not more efficacious, given the specifics of a particular horoscope.

Consider for a moment, the deterministic Padakrama Dasha or the Narayana Dasha which is a Dasha of signs, rather than planets. It brings changes in the environment itself within which we live and function. If life-transition appears to be at hand, the change in environment and its duration can be a very significant tool with which to understand such changes. The various other Nakshatra Dashas taught by Parashara and the other classical writers are no less important; some of these apply only in certain specified set of planetary placements and other features in the horoscope. They are also to be used for specific purposes and can majorly aid the understanding of deep changes in life. 

What this means, exactly:

The foregoing discussion means that with the change in Dasha, the influence of a particular planet or sign changes. That of one planet or sign may cease and another may begin to operate. Technically, in the Dashas, they do cease and commence, but the word ‘may’ is used to account for the varying levels in the strength of the planet and of the signs. As far as the planets are concerned, this aspect is covered by the subject of Bala (strength) and is one of the most major parts of traditional Jyotisha. 

There are deep secrets here, which is why elaboration was omitted from the otherwise exhaustive depictions of all the things that go on to comprise the Advanced Detailed Chart Analysis (http://planetarytransformation.blogspot.in/2016/08/antonin-scalia-research-paper-on-vedic.html). The reason for giving technical details in this paper is to indicate all the things which form this very deep study of the horoscope. While the Detailed Chart Analysis itself is an exhaustive and advanced study of the charts in the horoscope, at the Advanced level, the understanding of life through a still far deeper investigation of the Karma, rises exponentially as a construct of the various colours of Karma. This is of great value for contemporary life owing to its complexity and thus when we use practically all the knowledge available in the works of Parashara to embark on this ambitious project, for it is nothing less, then we are truly one with the Karmic code of our present existence.  

Still, the main takeaway from this paper thus far, for the reader is that if the lord of the Dasha of a period which is to commence or has just commenced is strong then its impact will be felt in full and if this planet should be concerned with matters quite different from the lord of the preceding Dasha, then very significant changes in life will follow.    

Nakshatra Dashas are concerned with how the mind interprets the stimuli coming from the society but if these are conditional Nakshatra Dashas then life-transitions have to be viewed through the prism of specific things that these Dashas are concerned with.

Similarly, the more fated and deterministic environmental aspects of the change are to be seen from the Rashi Dashas. If the Dasha Rashi is ruled by a strong planet or houses a strong planet and Bhava from the Lagna, and is different in inclination from the preceding Dasha of another sign, then too the focus of life shall change in the way situations present themselves, and the context in which they do so.

Just as a particular way of being is attaining culmination, and another is set to commence, we are in a time, the quality of which is termed Dasha Chhidra. This is like a strainer through which the current quality is seeping out and the new one is coming in. It is curious to see the way in which it manifests in horoscope. It works like the flipping of an electric switch and the environment changes. It is a delicate time and is to be navigated with knowledge and awareness for it lays the groundwork for a possible more extensive homogenous period. 

Many of you have experienced the great efficacy and utility of the Tithi Pravesha Cakra Analysis, which is highly relevant tool to understand and work with landmark changes in life. Tithi is comprised of the Jala Tattwa, the element of flow governing, flux, social interaction, finances, well-being, relationships and such crucial factors. A competent way to understand the working of this device is that even Antaradashas are quite long and the entire duration is not composed of identical themes and events. A more accurate portrayal of what is likely to come to pass is derived through the annual horoscope, especially in view of its core areas of operation. 

As we start thinking at deeper levels, we will unravel a myriad factors,  which are pertinent in context of life transitions. The transits, especially of the major outer planets, Jupiter and Saturn, the Karmic Nodes, Rahu and Ketu and of dominant Dasha planets cannot be overlooked. At this website, there are numerous works detailing the vast impact of the Saturn transits and the Jupiter transits.

Then there is the question of considering the correct fulcrum or reference point amongst the Sun, Moon and the Lagna. There is a whole system of Jyotisha which emanates simply from the luminaries and if not expressly in every work written, then inwardly and for proper insight into major components of life, such as wealth, purpose of life, health, contributions to the world, innate traits to fulfill destiny, opportunities and so on and so forth. In fact, when we use Yogas in higher works, they become crucially relevant when reckoned from the luminaries as they are the royalty amongst the cabinet of the Grahas and generally tend to hold overarching  sway over matters. When we speak of significant or landmark changes in life, we cannot overlook this aspect.

I have always emphasized the great role of the Arudha Padas in nativities simply because the great Parashara has given so much time and space to this topic. How could it be otherwise, for we learn that these are but the precipitates of the metaphysics inherent in the various Bhavas or houses from the Lagna. That which is risen and manifest is what is considered by the world and since we are in the world, the Arudhas are or primary importance. Some crucial facets pertaining to the Arudhas have advisedly not been released in the public domain, including in the paper cited above, and are being given privately in consulting either exclusively on this aspect, or expressly including this aspect.

The finer details and specifics in distinct areas of life come only through an independent as well as correlated study of the divisional charts or the Vargas Chakras. By definition, landmark changes or life-transitions must occur in given area (s) of life and if that be so then these must be unraveled through the relevant divisions in the Vedic horoscope.

One could go on and on if it were not for the usual constraints of time and space, the continuum which prescribes and circumscribes.

In one horoscope, a long Dasha for example, came to an end and as it usually happens, in the Dasha Chhidra, a latent dissatisfaction peaked and led to decision-making which tied in perfectly with the onset of the new Dasha. Since the very variables and the substratum which would go on to define the new reality were changing in various ways, this was a difficult time. The new realities were ostensibly better than the old but then Saturn was transiting crucial references in the horoscope, including the Arudha Padas. So, this tied in with the essential vulnerability of initial change. What decided the course of events in the interim, were challenging Tithi Pravesha Cakra in succession over three years. While the change was challenging, Karma sometimes has reasons for a particular design over a specific time-period. If things happen slowly, and with challenges, but lead to good or better things than before, then it is often to further smelt base metal into a precious one, and to prepare the recipient with humility for the blessings that are to unfold, or are unfolding even simultaneously with the slow burn. It is in this manner that life inflections are properly examined.

Onward,
Anurag Sharma

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