The Sun will be transiting into its exaltation sign Aries late in the evening of April 13th and will be in the sign until the 14th of 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.
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 spirit) that trims the reigns, a Sarpa (serpent) harnessing the steed and a Rākṣasa (guardian) that attends to him on the steps. I have in previous years eulogised the Adityas from my learnings from my studies of Jyotish, Puranas and the Upanishads, while in the past 24 months, I have been highlighting the companions of the Aditya in his chariot.
The Gandharva (celestial musician) who accompanies Dhātṛ Aditya is Tuṃburu, who was the son of Sage Kashyapa renowned for his sweet and pleasant speech. Tuṃburu is associated with the Rambha (the apsara in the chariot of the Vishnu Aditya). The picture attached is of a painting of Tuṃburu from the collection of British Museum from 1816 where he is described as horse-headed and wears a magnificent angavastram (upper body garment) of scarlet silk decorated with a floral design. He is shown crowned, with two arms and holding a vina. The story goes that Tuṃburu performed severe austerities to please Shiva who granted him a horse-face, immortality, liberty to travel the universe, skill in music and singing and the ability to reside with him (samipya moksha). The Sun is exalted in Ashwini nakṣatra, whose symbol is a horse head representing swiftness and agility.
Transits
There will some relief as Sun moves from the eclipse energy in Pisces into Aries. Venus, Saturn and Rahu are clustered together in the fierce nakṣatra of Pūrva bhādrapadā in Pisces whilst the actual conjunction between Saturn and Rahu is on early hours of 14th April. Saturn and Rahu together can cause storms, however as the sign Pisces is benign, the result can be benign and positive for the society ultimately. Venus has two difficult conjunctions coming up with Rahu and Saturn. Rahu will have third consultation and final consultation with its advisor Venus in Pisces on 20th April. Venus also meets Saturn on the 25th April. It may be difficult to feel the beneficence of Venus in Pisces with the company it has been keeping (Saturn and Rahu), however as Venus moves away from orbs of with the planets in Pisces from May 6th, one can enjoy the effect of an exalted Venus till the 31st of May.
On the positive, the exaltation of Sun will be a position of leadership, courage and perhaps of idealism. Mercury has been speeding away from Saturn, Rahu and Venus and towards Sun. Business men should be wanting to align with statesmen and rulers. Mercury moves into Aries on 6th of May to join the exalted Sun. The combination of Sun and Mercury is often a show of intelligence and skill and I am hoping that there could be some compromise and understanding regarding the imposition of tariffs between the US and the businesses world-wide before Jupiter’s move into Gemini. Jupiter will move into Gemini just before the Sun transits into Taurus late in the evening of May 14th. Jupiter’s move into Gemini is good for significations of wealth. However, as Jupiter will be travelling at 2.75X its natural speed, discernment can be weak, one can overlook facts, more so before its combustion on 25th June. Decisions could unduly favour profit or the elite.
Jupiter will leave Gemini on October 18th for Cancer and re-enter Gemini in retrograde motion on the 6th of December and remain so until March 11th 2026. From then on, it will be direct until June 1st 2026. Mars remains debilitated in Cancer aspected by Rahu from Pisces, there could be some belligerence and frustration in action.
Festivals
Akshaya Tritiya, literally meaning unending prosperity falls on 30th April when the two sattvic planets Sun and Moon are exalted. It is a day to be charitable. Budha Purnima, the birthday of Gautama Buddha falls on 12th of May, the full moon day in the lunar month of Vaishakha
Let us invoke the blessings of Dhātṛ Aditya to uphold, sustain and support unity amongst human beings.
ॐ घृणिः धातृ आदित्य
om ghṛṇiḥ dhātṛ āditya