The Sun will enter the sign of Leo on the 17th August will stay in this sign till the early hours of 17th September. Sun in Leo carries the blessings of Indra Aditya. Leo is the 5th house of the zodiac that is associated with learning and Indra is also said to be a great teacher. Sun is the ruler of the 5th house while Jupiter is the natural significator for the 5th house.
The sage travelling with Indra Aditya in the chariot this month is Aṅgiras, and he along with sage Atharvan is considered the author of the Atharva Veda. The meaning of Aṅgiras implies that he is descendant of Agni (Fire god) and luminous. It is the fire element through which one can learn, assimilate and digest knowledge. Sage Aṅgiras is represented by the wisest of the planets – Jupiter. Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad from Atharva Veda is a conversation between Śaunaka, a great householder and Aṅgiras, where Śaunaka approached the Sage with an existential question –
“What is that which being known, all this becomes known?”
The sage answers that there are two forms of knowledge – the lower mundane one (apara) and the higher one which is eternal (para). He classifies the four Vedas, and its six parts – śikṣā (phonetics); vyākaraṇa (grammar); nirukta (lexicon, etymology); kalpa (manual of rituals); chandas (prosody); jyotiṣa (astronomy-astrology) as mundane knowledge and the Brahma vidya – path of gaining self -knowledge by introspection, study and mediation as eternal. He then proceeds to elaborate this path and teaches him the secret of Oṃkāra.
The title of Indra is a generic one, he is appointed as the lord of the heavens as he has mastered his senses as an example to all. As we are all aware, the role of a leader is just not about their competency and capability but also about behaviour, as a title or position can be lost in hubris. We have watched the spectacular falls in the recent months in the UK – of powerful hedge fund magnate (who I once worked for), a veteran BBC presenter and a first woman British Bank CEO being led astray by their senses only to find their nemesis. Saturn in Aquarius facilitates this process with its aspect on Aries, the throne. Śrī Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad Gītā explains the concept of responsible leadership and encourages Arjuna, the Pāṇḍava prince to lead by good conduct so that others can learn and benefit by following him.
कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादय: |
लोकसंग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि || 3.20||
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जन: |
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते || 3.21||
karmaṇaiva hi sansiddhim āsthitā janakādayaḥ
loka-saṅgraham evāpi sampaśhyan kartum arhasi
yad yad ācharati śhreṣhṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ
sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate
By performing their prescribed duties, King Janaka and others attained perfection. You should also perform your duties to set an example for the good of the world. Whatever actions great persons perform, common people follow. Whatever standards they set, all the world pursues.
In astrological terms we can construe that while a good placement of Sun can confer leadership, it is quite beneficial to have an association of the Sun with Jupiter for responsible leadership. The association can be direct through an aspect or conjunction or subtle through the nakshatras. The conjunction of Jupiter and Sun is called Gopālā Yoga, where one is benefitted from the charisma and leadership qualities like that of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, if placed well in the horoscope. The story where Indra with the help of Sage Aṅgiras is said to have released the cows and the Surya (sun) from the clasp of demon Vala is a perfect example of the beneficence of a Jupiter-Sun combination from the Vedas.
The 5th house is the future as it is the 9th from the 9th house of past life; children, subordinates and students are to be in this house. Malefics in the 5th house impede the felicity in the relationships with them and more importantly they can also cause obstruction in proper assimilation and digestion of knowledge by casting a bad influence (argala) on the 4th house.
Transits
Sun joins Mercury, Mars and Moon in Leo, making it a packed house. The Amavasya energy lingers even though the tithi would have crossed the first half of pratama (first day of after the new moon). Moon will be in Magha which is a fierce nakshatra signifying the throne. Leo ascendants will enjoy the intelligence of Buddha Aditya yoga (bringing intelligence). Mars leaves for Virgo the very next day on the 18th, eager for some action after a brief consultation with Sun. Sun is strong in Leo as it tends to business particularly when it is in the first 20 degrees of Leo (mulatrikona – office of Leo). Again, expect tenuous circumstances for leadership as Sun will receive the aspect of a retrograde Saturn in Aquarius and Rahu from Aries. The exact opposition of Sun and Saturn happens in the 9th degree late on the 26 August. Expect a tug of war. However, leaders can expect some support with a formidable Mars in Virgo which is its sign in navaṁsa when in exaltation. Mars will protect Sagittarius (battlefield) and Aries (throne) from Virgo being its the 4th and 8th aspect.
We can expect some harmony in the matters of heart as Venus stays in Cancer for the month but retrograde until the 4th September. Mercury becomes retrograde on the 23rd of August and goes direct on the 15th September. Though the month starts with a high expectation of activity, expect a lull as three planets will be retrograde between August 23rd and September 4th.
Festivals
We have a plethora of festivals and ceremonies to observe this month. Nag Panchami is observed on the 21st August to fast and pray to be relieved from bondages and curses of nodes. Married women fast and pray for prosperity and longevity of married life to Vara Lakshmi on the 25th in the South of India. Harmony between siblings is celebrated as Raksha Bandhan on the 30th August . The same day is auspicious for Yajur Veda Brahmins families from the South of India as they recite the Gayatri mantra and change the sacred thread worn by them.
The Leeds Theosophical Society (Paul Barker) will be running an in-person annual International Vedic Astrology Conference at the Leeds Lodge on 20-22 October 2023 (3 days). The theme this year is: Moon, the Self & Its Extremes Through the Nodes. Full programme & registration details can be found at: www.vedicconferences.com
Let us pray to Indra Aditya for manifesting responsible leadership and excellence in the world.
ॐ घृणिः इन्द्र आदित्य
om ghṛṇiḥ indra āditya
The photos of paintings are from the collection in British Museum.