Happy Pongal and Makara Saṁkarānti to all! The Sun will be in Capricorn from 14th January until the early hours of 13th of February. The sign is blessed by Bhaga Aditya. Bhaga means dignified, majestic or possessing excellence and it is from this meaning that the word “Bhagavan” – the adorable or divine one has been derived. The Vishnu Purana (Verse 6.5.74) describes the word Bhaga as possessing the auspicious six attributes of aiśvarya (sovereignty or wealth), vīrya (courage), yaśa (fame), śri (wealth and prosperity), jñāna(knowledge) and vairagya (dispassion).
ऐश्वर्यस्य समग्रस्य वीर्यस्य यशसः श्रियः ।
ज्ञानवैराग्ययोश्चैव षण्णां भग इतीरणा ॥
aiśvaryasya samagrasya vīryasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ ।
jñānavairāgyayoścaiva ṣaṇṇāṃ bhaga itīraṇā ॥
The word Bhaga is also said to be derived from the root ‘bhaj’ (भज्) which means devoted. Therefore, he is a great karma yogi, however can be unbending in nature and can be accused of having a tunnel vision. It was said in Śivamahā Purana that he was blinded by Nandi, the mount and guard of Śiva for partaking the fruits of the yajña arranged by Daksha who was the father- in-law of Śiva, where Sati (wife of Śiva) immolated herself.
It is Bhaga who “portions” and delivers our destiny. Here is verse 5.82.1 from Rig Veda where we solicit Savitur Surya so that Bhaga may bestow our destiny – what is consumed or enjoyed by us. This can literally can mean food – “bhojanam” but the meaning can be expanded to include “to enjoy or the enjoyer” from the root word ‘bhuj.
त्स॑वि॒तुर्वृ॑णीमहे व॒यं दे॒वस्य॒ भोज॑नम् । श्रेष्ठं॑ सर्व॒धात॑मं॒ तुरं॒ भग॑स्य धीमहि ॥
तत्सवितुर्वृणीमहे वयं देवस्य भोजनम् । श्रेष्ठं सर्वधातमं तुरं भगस्य धीमहि ॥
tat savitur vṛṇīmahe vayaṃ devasya bhojanam | śreṣṭhaṃ sarvadhātamaṃ turam bhagasya dhīmahi ||
We ask of the divine Savitā (Surya) enjoyable (wealth, property, what is due to us) may be given by Bhaga that which is most excellent, all sustaining, destructive of foes.”
What is enjoyed by us is dependent on our innate nature (guṇā) and latent desires (vāsanas). The guṇās are not fixed but dynamic and can be changed by exercising free will and along with observance of appropriate daily action. For those who practice Yoga, observing Yama and Niyama become important like the ‘Ten Commandments’. If one is following the path of Uttaramīmāṃsā (Vedanta) then one has to observe sadhana catuṣṭaya. I write about these requirements on Guru Purnima every year. The regular practices such as introspection, reflection and meditation help in increasing awareness of self and find our true purpose. The path of a karma yogi that is described in verse 2.47 of Bhagavad Gīta is the alignment of our actions with purpose rather than reward. This inner alignment (yoga) between actions and purpose is in itself a reward which is immensely enjoyable as it brings harmony and peace.
Our inner alignment makes us better prepared for travel even after death. There are two paths mentioned for travel after death – the path of the Sun and the Moon. The path of the Sun is that of the ‘devas’ – of gods or those with knowledge and the path of the Moon is that of the ‘Pitris’ – ancestors (the ones who follow rituals only) which leads to return. The immortal path is the path of the Sun from which we never return, it is the path of the light called Devayāna and is described in Cāndogya upaniṣad. It is also said in Muṇḍaka upaniṣad (verse 3.1.6), that by following truth, Devayāna is more easily attained.
सत्यमेव जयते नानृतं सत्येन पन्था विततो देवयानः
satyameva jayate nānṛtaṃ satyena panthā vitato devayānaḥ.
Truth alone wins, not falsehood; by truth, the Devayāna (the path of the Devas) is widened
Inner alignment is akin to being true to oneself. Traditionally, it is assumed that anyone who dies in the period of six months from Uttarayāna (which commences technically on the winter solstice when the apparent direction of the Sun is northward and not necessarily with Makara saṁkarānti) as being able to travel in the path of Sun.
Looking at the verse 8.24 in Bhagavad Gīta below, it could be said that it is available to those who have mediated on truth with faith, who have sought inner alignment and are “brahma vid” or endowed with the wisdom of Brahman.
अग्निर्ज्योतिरह: शुक्ल: षण्मासा उत्तरायणम् |
तत्र प्रयाता गच्छन्ति ब्रह्म ब्रह्मविदो जना
agnir jyotir ahaḥ śhuklaḥ ṣhaṇ-māsā uttarāyaṇam
tatra prayātā gachchhanti brahma brahma-vido janāḥ
Those who know the Supreme Brahman and who depart from this world, during the six months of the sun’s northern course, the bright fortnight of the moon, and the bright part of the day, attain the supreme destination.
Sun joins Saturn and Venus in Capricorn for a few days before Saturn leaves Capricorn for good on the 17th January to enter Aquarius, its position of mulatrikona (office). Saturn remains strong the entire month as it occupies the exalted position (in Libra) in the amsa. Saturn in Aquarius forms a Saśa yoga for fixed signs of Aquarius, Taurus, Leo and Scorpio. This yoga can confer valour, wisdom and wandering in forests and mountains. This position can help in usurping wealth or position. Saturn from Aquarius aspects Aries, Leo and Scorpio. Saturn in Aquarius is considered equally powerful as Saturn in Cancer as both positions have a full aspect on Aries, the royal sign where power rests, this means that this aspect can topple power. Caution is warranted for those with Ascendants in the sign of Leo particularly and Scorpio as they are jointly aspected by Saturn and Mars until the 13th March (when Mars will transit into Gemini). The Yama Yoga (Saturn/Mars joint aspect) can invite trouble in the form of fights and wars, however is mitigated on Scorpio as it receives the benefic aspect of Jupiter from Pisces. The sign Pisces with Jupiter is now hemmed between two malefic planets Rahu and Saturn.
This movement also ends the sade-sathi (7.5 years of transit of Saturn) for those with the Moon in Sagittarius. Those with Moons in Pisces are now starting the sade-sathi period and they should worship the divine mother so that their personal affairs remain healthy. For those with Moon’s in Aquarius, this is a time to take care of your health and reputation. The worship of Sri Hanuman is prescribed in my tradition for a safe transit. Those with Moons in Capricorn are in the last 2.5 years of the sade-sathi period, the advice is to take care of their financial affairs.
The movement of Saturn to Aquarius also ends the challenge of Sarpa yoga (presence of three malefics in quadrants) for movable signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Venus leaves Capricorn to join Saturn in Aquarius on the 22nd. Communication and travel can become easier with Mercury becoming direct on the 18th January in Sagittarius and when it joins the Sun in Capricorn on the 7th of February.
Let us pray to Bhaga for achieving not only excellence in the way we do our work, but also for alignment between actions and true purpose.
ॐ घृणि: भगादित्य
om ghṛṇiḥ bhagāditya