Sun transits into Pisces on the 14th March close to midnight until the early hours of the 15th of April. The sign is blessed by Viṣṇu Aditya. The word Viṣṇu is from the root word viṣ (विष्) means to be all-pervasive, therefore the name Viṣṇu is equated with the Universe, the Cosmic Mind and the Spirit of the Consciousness, the Puruṣa. These terms are used interchangeably in the scriptures. The first amongst the 1000 names attributed to Viṣṇu in the sacred chant of Viṣṇu Sahasranāma strotra is Visvam meaning the Universe, derived from the same root word viṣ (विष्). The Universe is equated to puruṣa from the phrase “puruṣa evedaṃ viśva” from the verse 2.1.10 of Mundaka Upanishad. Visva is also used to denote the Cosmic Mind, meaning the whole world is nothing but the projection of the mind from the phrase “hṛdayaṃ viśvamasya” from the same Upanishad.
The Viṣṇu Sahasranāma was revealed by Bhīṣma, the grand-sire of the Kuru dynasty on his deathbed to Yudhiṣṭhra, the eldest of the Pāndava princes. It is a part of the anuśānikā parva (chapter relating to rules to be observed by the kings) of Mahabharata. Yudhiṣṭhra humbly asks Bhīṣma, “Who is the unified Lord of the universe? Which is the ultimate refuge? By worshipping whom, the humanity attains auspiciousness? Which is the highest of all dharmas? Having born, what is the way to liberate oneself from birth and death?”
किमेकंदैवतंलोकेकिंवाप्येकंपरायणम्।
स्तुवन्तःकंकमर्चन्तःप्राप्नुयुर्मानवाःशुभम्॥८॥
को धर्मः सर्वधर्माणां भवतः परमो मतः ।
किं जपन्मुच्यते जन्तुर्जन्मसंसारबन्धनात् ॥ ९॥
kimekaṁ daivataṁ lōke kiṁ vāpyekaṁ parāyaṇaṁ,
stuvaṁtaḥ kaṁ kamarcaṁtaḥ prāpnuyurmānavāḥ śubham. (8)
ko dharmaḥ sarvadharmāṇāṃ bhavataḥ paramo mataḥ |
kiṃ japanmucyate janturjanmasaṃsārabandhanāt || 9||
Bhīṣma replies in many verses giving the 1000 names of Viṣṇu and saying, that the purest (पवित्राणां पवित्रं), the most auspicious, the chief among the gods and the father of all the beings is Supreme and worshiping him one can transcend all grief in this world. Viṣṇu is loka pradhana, more like the CEO of the world and by chanting the 1000 names of Viṣṇu one can get rid of all sins (read ṣaḍripu) and fear.
Pisces is the natural 12th house that brings enlightenment and liberation. We seek to purify and resolve the affairs of the 12th house as planets placed in this house represent the imprints and deep desires that we carry, being the 9th house from the 4th house of mind the planets. This is why we are advised to chant the 12-syllable mantra of the avatarā of Viṣṇu of the planet in the 12th house to seek the right path.
Viṣṇu (विष्णु) from Rig Veda, verse 1.28.18 is said to uphold dharma – righteousness in three steps.
त्रीणि पदा वि चक्रमे विष्णुर्गोपा अदाभ्यः । अतो धर्माणि धारयन् ॥
trīṇi padā vi cakrame viṣṇur gopā adābhyaḥ | ato dharmāṇi dhārayan ||
In this verse, the description of Viṣṇu is akin to a solar god (Aditya) as he traverses the Universe in in three strides referring to the earth (bhūr), sky (bhuvaḥ)and the heavens (svaḥ) and also perhaps referring to three stages of rising, culminating and setting of the sun. This form of Viṣṇu- Aditya can be closely related to the story of Trivikrama or Vāmana, the dwarf Brahmin who conquered the three worlds and the demon king Bali by placing his third step on the head of King Bali. Viṣṇu is the deity for the feet (pada) from Tattva Bodha, the 12th house indicates the gati or direction. The one who has all his senses and mind under control with his pure intellect leading is said to reach the abode of Viṣṇu which is the highest from the phrase “तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् – tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam” from the Ṛg Veda and Kaṭhopaṇiṣad.
Viṣṇu is also the lord of Śravaṇa nakshatra which has the symbol of three steps and also of an ear. Shravana means to hear and is the first of the three steps or phases associated for gaining wisdom – śravaṇa – to hear; manana to reflect and nidhidhyāsana -to be spontaneous in the knowledge.
Transits for the month
Sun joins Jupiter in Pisces forming an auspicious Gopala yoga as well as Tirtha (pilgrimage) Yoga. Mercury enters Pisces a day later on the 16th March after which we will experience the positive effects of the conjunctions of Jupiter, Sun and Mercury in Pisces until the 31st of March, till Mercury moves on to Aries. The conjunction of these three planets is fortuitous for writing and publishing, particularly if it is in the 3rd house. This is the last month when one can enjoy the beneficence of Jupiter in Pisces before it moves into Aries to be with Rahu until the end of October.
Affairs of the heart can be a bit twisted with Venus is in Aries with Rahu till 6th of April, the exact conjunction of the two planets is on the 21st of March just a day after the Spring Equinox. Rahu in Aries is not a good position for authority as it weakens the Sun, who is the karaka for the 1st house. Rahu will get help from Venus, who happens to be the preceptor for asuras (demon like beings).
The planetary alignment feels very stressful as they are clustered between Aquarius and Gemini and getting squeezed just in time for the solar eclipse in April. The sign Pisces enjoys the comfort of the presence of benefic planets in the sign, however is in ‘papa bandhana’ being hugged by the malefics Rahu in Aries and Saturn in Aquarius. Whereas the sign Aries, although housing Rahu will enjoy the positive effect of being flanked by Jupiter/ Sun combination in Pisces and Mercury and Venus after the 6th of April in Taurus. Caution is in the air for the signs of Gemini, Libra and Aquarius as Mars, Ketu and Saturn (all fire planets) will be in trines influencing their decisions until the 10th of May.
Festivals
We celebrate Ugadi (new year for some) on the first day of the lunar month of Chitra in some parts of India on the 22st March. We observe the birthday of Śrī Rāma on the Navami tithi of the same month on the 30th of March followed by the birthday of Śrī Hanumān on 5th April. The recitation of Śrī Rāma rakṣa strotram is advised for 9 days from the Shukla pratipada of Chaitra month on the 22nd March till Rama Navami on the 30th March for protection and for dispelling all our fears and obstacles in our path. Read more about it at https://vijayajyoti.com/rama-raksha-stotram/
Lastly but not the least, the 2023 online Bava conference is on Rahu/Ketu from 9 days from: 22-24 April, 28-30 April/1 May, and 7-8 May. The complete conference program and the speaker list is on the website https://www.bava.org/2023-bava-26th-international…/
ॐ घृणि: विष्णु आदित्य
om ghṛṇi viṣṇu āditya
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