The Sun will be transiting its exaltation sign of Aries from April 14th till the early hours of 15th May. It is a New Year for many who follow a solar calendar, I wish everyone new beginnings and a very happy new year.
The Aditya associated with Aries is Dhātṛ (धातृ) from the root word dha meaning to place or put or hold, thus a supporter of world. Another meaning of the word refers to the creator energy that is used to describe Brahmā. The sign Aries is bestowed with the creator energy. From the Vishnu Purana, there are a troop of seven in the chariot of the Sun every month comprising of the Aditya, a Sage that praises him, a Gandharva (celestial being) who sings, an Apsara (nymph) who dances, a Yakṣa (nature spirits) that trims the reigns, a Sarpa (serpent) harnessing the steed and a Rākṣasa (guardian) that attends to him on the steps.
The sage traveling with Dhātṛ Aditya is Pulatsya, one of the manas putra of Brahmā and mentioned as a saptarishi (by Varāhamihira). He is associated with planet Mercury. Sage Pulastya had two sons – Agastya and Viśravas. Sage Agatsya is known to have spread the Vedic practices in the south of India and is considered to be a ‘Siddha’ or accomplished person. He taught the hymn ‘Aditya Hridayam’ to Sri Rāma for defeating Rāvana and the Lalitā sahasranāma was revealed in the conversation between Hayagrīva and him. His other son, Viśravas had two wives- Kaikasī with who he had three sons, Rāvaṇa, Kumbhakarṇa, and Vibhīṣaṇa and a daughter named Śūrpaṇakhā; with Ilavida he had a son named Kubera, the god of wealth. Rāvaṇa was taught the secrets of Nakshatra by his grandfather Pulatsya about the secrets of Nakshatra (which became Rāvaṇa Samhita).
Sage Pulatsya received the knowledge of creation and dharma from Brahmā and passed the knowledge to Bhishma (the grandsire of Pandavas) at Gangadwar (Haridwar) which is now compiled as Padma Purāna. The study of Padma Purāna is beneficial if one is born with Jupiter in Taurus or a strong Sun in trine with a Taurus Ascendant. He also blessed Parāśara to write the Vishnu Purāna as he was pleased that Sage Parāśara had stopped his yagya for killing the Rākṣasa. Vishnu Purāna is associated with the sign Gemini. It is said in the Adi Parva of Māhabharata, that the Rākṣasas (demonic beings), Vānaras (monkeys), Kinnaras, Gandharvas and Yakṣas were all born from the intelligence of Pulastya. Vamana Purana is a conversation between the sages Nārada and Pulatsya, the Purāna is associated with Grishma ritu (summer season) and the planet Mars.
Transits
Sun joins Rahu and Mercury in Aries setting the stage for a hybrid solar eclipse at 4.17.55 GMT on the 20th April in Ashwini Nakshatra (2nd pada) which will be followed in two weeks by a lunar eclipse in the Nakshatra of Vishaka on the 5th of May. These are the final eclipses in the Aries/Libra axis. Read more about the impact of political implications of the final 6 months of Rahu in Aries and economic implications of Ketu in Libra on my eclipse article https://vijayajyoti.com/eye-on-the-sky-solar-eclipses-of-2023/
Mercury in Aries has been exchanging with the transit of Mars in Gemini adding the flavour of destruction to Aries as Saturn also aspects the sign. Business interests and communication can stall as Mercury becomes retrograde on the 21st April till the early hours of 15th May.
The pivotal emerging point for the next 6 months is the weakness of Jupiter, the preceptor of the righteous and the planet that represents the Akasa Tattva (Space) which is responsible for connectivity. At the time of eclipse, Jupiter is in gaṇḍānta position ( moving from a water to a fire sign) crossing from Revati to Aśvini as it moves into Aries on the 22nd. Jupiter’s gaṇḍānta position at the time of eclipse is not fortunate showing danger to life. Furthermore, the conjunction of Rahu and Sun is also said to weaken Jupiter considerably and the exact date of the conjunction is 24th of April when Jupiter is still gaṇḍānta (below one degree) as it enters Aries only on the 22nd April. Jupiter crosses the first degree on Aries on the 26th April.
The conjunction of Jupiter and Rahu is called the Guru chandala yoga which is said to weaken the Sun – meaning rulers or those in power. Saturn from Aquarius also aspects the sign Aries and the planets therein. The influence of Rahu and Saturn on Jupiter will allow for collusion or unsavoury collaborations amongst those who are in power and in advocacy. Truth will be veiled and illusions will gain strength as both Jupiter and Sun are weak. The exact conjunction of Jupiter and Rahu is on the 28th May and Jupiter and Rahu remain in Aries until Rahu leaves Aries on the 30th October. The nature of the conjunction is ‘bedha’ meaning tearing apart as the two planets will go in separate ways after that. Therefore, to save ourself from grief later, we should learn to avoid what this conjunction might bring to us w.r.t our own horoscopes. Worship of both Sun and Dakshinamurthy (the teaching form of Siva) is recommended.
The planet of action and logic Mars will be disturbed for the next couple of months till early July not only because of its upcoming debilitation in Cancer (from the 10th of May to the 1st of July) but also because of its association with Venus. Venus moves into Gemini on the 2nd of May to join Mars until the 10th of May. They are briefly separated until Venus follows Mars into the sign Cancer on 31st May. Though the two planets will be together in signs for nearly two months, and within the orb of a conjunction from the 16th June, there is never an actual meeting of them even though Venus is normally more than 4 times the speed of Mars. Mars breaks away on July 1st when it gains dignity and enters Leo whereas Venus follows into Leo hot on its heels at a significantly slower speed as it turns retrograde on 23rd July. This is again a ‘bedha’ or splitting form of conjunction. Caution is advised in the affairs of heart and it may prove to be beneficial to avoid hasty actions. This matter will be settled when the actual conjunction happens next year in February.
Saturn in Aquarius will receive the aspect of a debilitated Mars (both sign and planetary aspect) from Cancer. We can expect some damage to follow in Taurus, being 4th from Aquarius.
Let us invoke the blessings of Dhātṛ Aditya for support through these difficult transits.
ॐ घृणिः धातृ आदित्य
om ghṛṇiḥ dhātṛ āditya 🙏