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Jyotish Star of the Month |
A Conversation with Pt. Sanjay Rath
Juliana: In addition to your family�s parampara, have there been other teachers and mentors who influenced you? Sanjay: Sri Bhagavan Mishra taught me the Mahavidyas, particularly Bagala tantra, as this was necessary to understand the need for purity. Sri Ramchandan Harichandan was great at birth time rectification and had the largest library � where I learnt that people outside India also knew Jyotisa � how wonderful! He showed me Raphael�s ephemeris which was so accurate for calculations. Although very feeble with age, he was kind enough to see me during evenings to answer my questions. Dukhishyam Pattanaik with an exalted Jupiter was the best in predictions and finally renounced (sannyasa). My daily morning puja was exactly as per his book. Thus, many great gurus have guided me, and in all of them, I see the light of Lord Shiva. I have been truly blessed in this regard. Finally, the list of gurus ended on February 2006 at the feet of Pravrajika Sharddhaprana Mataji of Sri Sarada Math. Juliana: Can you please share more about Pravrajika Sharddhaprana Mataji of Sri Sarada Math? Sanjay: In her last days on this planet, as she lay on her bed and I stood there gazing at her frail body, her eyes turned towards me. They still had the great fire, the tejas seen in those who embody the Divine Mother. She said, �You have been associated with us from your previous incarnation.� That was exactly what I had been pondering over the past week � about rebirth and links. She always had this power to read me like an open book. I never asked anything but always received exact precise answers for everything. Juliana: You certainly have been spiritually blessed with Lord Shiva�s light and the omnipresent wisdom and love of the Divine Mother. In addition, are there certain astrological books that have inspired your learning in astrology? Sanjay: My foundation is based purely on ancient Vedic literature and I read the works of other astrologers, mentioned hereunder, only much later in life. The principal books were Brhat Parasara Hora Sastra, Jaimini Upadesa Sutra and the Bhagavat Gita. Vedic classical literature like Brhat Jataka, Jataka Parijata, Sarvartha Chintamani and Saravali, which formed the supplementary texts to understand the ancient vedic books, actually ended up as the real inspiration. In them I saw how the classical astrologers like Kalyanaverma or Varahamihira struggled to weigh the various teachings of the maharsis and arrive at their conclusions. One thing was definite � with the advent of Kali Yuga, somewhere down the line we had lost some golden keys. Absence of these keys made these latter day astrologers struggle with the subject while the ancient maharsis were so comfortable and in almost constant agreement all the time. Juliana: Any others? Sanjay: Dr. B. V. Raman was the best source for all beginners� books. Prof. P. S. Sastri has made invaluable contributions. Santanam�s translation of BPHS and Saravali, Sarvartha Chintamani by Jagannath Bhasin, Shastri-ji�s Jataka Parijata are some of the great books that formed the backbone of my learning outside Oriya language books and direct teachings. Pt. Ramesh Chandra Bhattacharya was the best for learning dream analysis and omens, whereas R. G. Rao teaches how to read thumb impressions. I learnt to confirm the janma naksatra from the thumb. However, I did not take this further as it was not of much use except for lost horoscopy. L.R. Chawdhri was great for astro-palmistry. This list is endless and there are so many great contributors in the field of Jyotish that it would not be possible to mention everyone here. The recent trend in compiling Jyotisa knowledge in specific topics is going to be of great value to the future generations. Juliana: You studied engineering at university, and worked as an engineer for some time. At what point in your life did you realize that you would ultimately devote your professional life to astrology rather than engineering? Sanjay: After graduating as a mechanical engineer in 1987, I worked as an engineer for just about a year when I felt that my real desire of being able to help people was not going to materialize through this job. I appeared for the Indian Civil Services examination and joined the Government of India in the year 1991. After nine years in government service (mostly during the last part of Saturn dasa), I was quite unhappy as it did not afford me enough time for my Jyotisa activities. With the advent of Mercury dasa, I realized that I could not sail through life with legs in two boats. I let go of the government job and became a full time Jyotisi. Juliana: And no doubt, the world of Vedic astrology is certainly much better off now because of your decision! I am curious about your comment that in Mercury dasa, you couldn�t have two professions. Usually we think of Mercury as dual-natured, and I have noticed that many natives in Mercury periods will have two distinctly separate occupations at the same time. Yet you are saying the opposite. Why is that? Because Mercury is in a sthira rasi? Sanjay: Mercury is my Ista devata being in the 12th house from my karakamsa (Saturn AK is in Virgo amsa). I had to choose the spiritual path of Mercury. Juliana: What in your own natal chart indicates a career in engineering, and also what in your horoscope signifies that you would become the next Jyotisi in your family lineage? In my chart, Mars is the lord of the 9th bhava (college studies), indicating engineering � �ignis� (Latin, fire) is the root for engineering, which is ruled by Mars. I graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Guindy Engineering of Anna University, the oldest college of India. The placement of Mars in the 7th house (ksaya bhava) shows that what is learnt in college shall be useless in life. This is bound to happen as its dispositor Mercury, the badhakesa, is placed in the 6th house (dusthana). Parasara talks about parampara yoga caused by Jupiter (Vedavyasa) and Ketu (Ganesa), as all the scriptures including the Veda, veda�ga and vedanta (puranas, upanisads) are attributed to the scribes associated with the knowledge pouring out from Vedavyasa. I have Ketu, the co-lord of 9th house (informal higher Jyotisa studies) exalted in the 10th house (profession) in Sagittarius (Jup lord) in mutual rasi drsti with Jupiter in Pisces forming the parampara yoga. Jupiter is also lagnesa in this parampara yoga confirming that this incarnation is a direction of the paramesthi guru to carry out the work of the parampara. It is a direction because both Jupiter and Ketu are in digbala (directional strength). I started this work from the age of 32 years (naisargika Jupiter dasa). Juliana: Could you tell us a little bit more about your family? Do you have siblings who are also astrologers? Sanjay: I have two brothers, Sukant and Sumant, none of whom are astrologers. Sukant is a businessman residing in the US, while Sumant is in service and lives in India with his wife and daughter. My father is a brilliant engineer and businessman. He chose to move away from the Jyotish lineage to pursue a more �modern� lifestyle. However, he is well versed in the basics of Jyotish and calculates Vimshottari dasha on his fingers for fun! Juliana: Your father sounds delightful. Is your wife an astrologer, too?
Juliana: Now that sounds like a match �made in heaven.� Do you have children, and if so, are any of them following in your footsteps? Sanjay: My daughter Aditi has started taking interest in Jyotisa and I await the birth of her son who shall hopefully learn Jyotisa. I am blessed to have so many brilliant sisyas (Jyotisa students) of all ages and nationalities who will carry this knowledge forward. Anyone who has inherited what you have to give is a child � both putra and sisya have the right to inheritance of knowledge, and unlike wealth and property, this inheritance only grows when distributed. Juliana: Well said, Sanjay, and best wishes for your daughter and her impending birth of your grandson. Speaking of sisyas, over a decade ago you were instrumental in starting the Sri Jagannath Center (SJC), which has created a revival of astrologers working to understand classical Indian astrology. Please update us on the work SJC is doing now and tell us please, from which different countries do your student-members come? Sanjay: I started Sri Jagannath Center (SJC) in 1997, a non-profit organization which provided a forum for astrologers, students and jyotish aspirants across the globe, to come together to discuss, teach and learn jyotish. A virtual meeting place is the SoHamsa yahoogroup, the internet being instrumental in bringing together such large number of people located disparately. They are present in all countries: USA, UK, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Zambia, Malta, Singapore, Russia, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Bosnia, Poland, Denmark, France, Austria, Switzerland, Sri Lanka, Canada and of course India. Many of these countries have a large number of students and have been united by a SJC teacher to form regional SJC centres. At one point of time, regular conferences and meetings were organized by them. SJC is a movement rather than an organization � a movement to spread the light of Jyotish through primary classical texts and knowledge handed down through the oral traditions. Simultaneously, it seeks to dispel the ignorance and misnomer about astrology which a few modern day astrologers have created, and to reinstate Jyotish to its former glory as a vedanga. It seeks to bring back the shastric knowledge of the rishis back to the astrologers. Those who are serious then join my courses which are taught through the Devaguru Brhaspati Centre. Juliana: How many students do you have now? Sanjay: I stopped counting the number of students after 7,000! Juliana: That is quite an accomplishment, which begets another important question: which classical works on Jyotisha will you recommend for students of Vedic astrology, both the beginners and the more advanced? Sanjay: Dr. B. V. Raman is the best source for all beginners� books. Prof. P. S. Sastri has made invaluable contributions. Santanam�s translation of BPHS and Saravali, Sarvartha Chintamani by Jagannath Bhasin, Shastri-ji�s Jataka Parijata, as mentioned earlier, are some of the great books. Pt. Ramesh Chandra Bhattacharya is the best for learning dream analysis and omens while R. G. Rao teaches how to read thumb impressions L.R. Chawdhri is great for astro-palmistry. This list is endless and there are so many great contributors in the field of Jyotish that it would not be possible to mention everyone here. Juliana: Please tell us a little bit about your own publications. Any new books in the works? Sanjay: I have published nine books so far and the forthcoming books that I have planned are based on the teachings in my courses on Parasara�s and Jaimini�s works. Of the nine books, the Crux of Vedic Astrology deals with the principles of Jyotisha; Vedic Remedies in Astrology elaborates on the different types of mantras prescribed in Jyotisha; Narayana Dasha gives a succinct introduction to rashi dashas; Vimshottari and Udu Dashas summarize the gamut of nakshatra dashas as given by Parasara; Varga Chakras cover papers on the different vargas presented in the 2nd Annual SJC Conference in Puri, 2004; and, Jaimini Maharishi�s Upadesa Sutra is my translation of Jaimini�s work. These six books are published by Sagar Publications, Delhi. The translation work on Jaimini has been taken further in the A Coursebook on Jaimini Maharishi�s Upadesha Sutras. This book contains translations, meanings, commentaries, analysis and teachings of the parampara on Jaimini�s Upadesha Sutras. It forms part of the course material for the Course on Jaimini Sutras which I taught in the Himalayas. The first volume deals with the First Adhyaya of the Jaimini Sutras and explores concepts such as Language of the Rishis, Kalachakra, Chhandas, Sri Achyutananda, Brahma Vidya, Vedic Numerology, Katapayadi Varga, Drishti, Dasha, Charakaraka, Sthirakaraka, Argala, Arudha Pada, Special Ascendants, Varnada Lagna, Pranapada, etc. Collected Papers in Vedic Astrology Volume I contains detailed papers presented at various conferences across the world on specialized topics such as the concepts of Badhaka, Ghataka, Hora Lagna, Sarvatobhadra Chakra, etc. Brhat Naksatra is an exhaustive work on the Vedic naksatra system. It attempts to cover everything taught in the tradition about the naksatras. It starts with the sapta-loka mandala and the tri-loka mandala which brings out the first clear difference between the 28 and 27 nakshatra systems. Concepts such as Tri-nadi chakra, nakshatra tattva, Pushkara nakshatra and Gandanta nakshatra, Nakshatra Devatas, Nakshatra Guna, Nakshatra Purusha, Nakshatra Yoga and Sula Chakra are the topics discussed. These three books have been published by Sagittarius Publications. I also edit the quarterly journal The Jyotish Digest (http://thejyotishdigest.com). Juliana: As a consulting astrologer, do you notice a big difference between the concerns of clients in the West versus those in the East? Sanjay: People are the same everywhere in the world and there is no such East-West divide anymore, perhaps thanks to the world of Internet. Young people have the same concerns about career and love, whereas middle aged ones have a deeper quest for spirituality and sometimes concerns about parents. Elders are mostly interested in spirituality and health issues. My clients need to fill a detailed three-page questionnaire � a process which enables them to start thinking about their life and bring a focus on the areas they wish to discuss. They are able to articulate their questions and I always use a prasna chart along with the birth chart, like most traditional astrologers. However before this, the birth data is checked with some events of life and finally the questions and remedies. Here is the focus box of the questionnaire I use, so you can see the areas of concern for all my clients:
Juliana: Clearly, this questionnaire helps you focus the intent and scope of your client consultations. I am sure this is the kind of tool that many of our readers who are professional astrologers will also want to incorporate. In addition, what would be your recommendation to our readers who would like to learn the teachings of your parampara? Should they look into classes with your advanced students through SJC, or can they learn directly from you or a correspondence course? Sanjay: My courses are being taught through the Devaguru Brhaspati Centre, which is an auxiliary body of SJC, serving as learning center. These are paid, structured courses, and are a mixture of online and contact classes. The contact classes are held for a month each year in the Himalayas. You can know more about these courses at http://sohamsa.com. At present there are three main 5 year programmes: the Jaimini Scholar Programme; the Parasara Jyotish Course and the Mantra Shastra Foundation (http://mantrashastra.com). The Jaimini Scholar Programme was completed from 2007 through 2011, wherein 23 scholars were certified. This is an exclusive course designed for advanced Jyotishis, where the esoteric knowledge of Jaimini�s Upadesha Sutras was taught threadbare. It was for the first time that I taught and revealed the esoteric and secret knowledge of my parampara. The certified scholars are now offering the same course in their respective countries. Anyone wishing to study this programme can approach them and upon completion of the course will receive a certificate from the Devaguru Brhaspati Centre. The Parasara Jyotish Course first started in 2010 and we now have a new batch commencing in 2013. This creates a solid foundation of Jyotisha based on the astrological philosophy of the great master himself. I would recommend this course for all those who wish to further their knowledge of Jyotish and those who wish to pursue it seriously. Attendance of contact classes is not compulsory and the course can be conducted online. We have just announced Mantra Foundation (www.MantraShastra.com) which is the start of the Mantra Sastra series. Juliana: And last but not least, you mentioned to me a few years ago that you have a passionate interest for the works of Sri Adi Shankaracharya, who is arguably the most important philosopher in the history of Advaita Vedanta. Can you share something about your interest and explain how his teachings have been inspiration to you both personally as well as in your professional role as a Jyotishi? Sanjay: It�s too complicated to say it in a few words. The fact is that Adi Shankara has been the inspiration of many generations of people in India and continues to inspire us in the spiritual path, and I am no exception. One could spend a lifetime pondering on the Daksinamurti stotra even with the Manasallosa which clearly confirms that rebirth is like an eclipse (�rahu-grasta-divakara sadrisham� gives the imagery of the eclipse). And eclipses are called �grahana,� from which we have the word �graha.� The navagraha would imply nine types of eclipses on the individual symbolised by the Lagna. Then, among the trinity � Brahma, Visnu and Rudra � that aspect of God who delivers us from this world of untruth and deceit, from this eclipse, must receive our constant undivided attention. He alone signifies the absolute truth, which is auspicious and beautiful � Satyam Shivam Sundaram. How would we progress towards this ultimate truth? We can choose a very powerful sadhana-path for spiritual evolution with complete confidence of not being led astray � Adi Shankara gives us the Prapanchasara Tantra. Vidyaranya, the 12th pontiff of the Sringeri Mutt, guided the destiny of South India and saved Hinduism from being obliterated by the might of his Bhuvanesvari sadhana. Juliana: Is there any further advice you can offer for the sadhana-path? Sanjay: I find a major difference between the West and the East in the practise of Hinduism. The Westerners draw lines and treat either Shiva or Vishnu or some other deity as the ultimate reality, and by doing so, they are only replacing the name of Christ or Allah with another name. Their understanding of spirituality has not changed much from where they started. In India, we place the monosyllable �AUM� right at the top and know that every name we use to refer to God is a derivation of this. There can be no conflict between Vishnu and Shiva as they are two parts of the Trimurti � the mighty �AUM.� Conflict is only in the minds of the believers who have a conflict with others having faith in a different name and are begging �their god� to intervene. Juliana: Thank you, Sanjay. This has been illuminating and you have given us much to contemplate. Sanjay Rath Biography and Works Sanjay Rath (born August 7, 1963 at Sambalpur, Orissa) is an Indian astrologer. He comes from a traditional family of astrologers from Bira Balabhadrapur Sasan village in Puri, Orissa, which trace their lineage back to Shri Achyuta Das (Sri Acyutananda). Sanjay Rath studied under his uncle, the late Pandit Kasinath Rath. His grandfather, the late Pandit Jagannath Rath, was the Jyotish Ratna of Orissa and authored many books on Jyotisha. Sanjay Rath has a paid astrological study course offered through SoHamsa and various workshops available through the Devaguru Brihaspati Center. The courses are at different levels and are a study of the classical Jyotish literature or mantra shastra. Online courses are taught directly by Sanjay Rath, as per the tradition, through narrated power points and other audio tools. In addition, courses have individual classrooms and assistant teachers for guidance as well as discussion forums. For more information please visit the website at www.sohamsa.com Sanjay Rath is presently working on translating the ancient Jyotish scriptures relative to his understanding of their meaning according to his East Indian background. In addition, here is a list of books he has written.
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