Happy New Year, Happy Pongal and Makara Saṁkrānti to all!
Sun will be in Capricorn from 14th January until the 12th of February and the sign is blessed by Bhaga Aditya. Bhaga is a patron of good fortune, happiness, welfare and prosperity. From Bhaga the word Bhagavan – the adorable or divine one is derived. It denotes the one who has all the auspicious six attributes – jñāna (knowledge), shakti (energy), bala (strength), aishvarya (sovereignty or wealth), virya (vigour), and tejas (radiance or splendour). From the root word ‘bhuj’ – to consume or enjoy, Bhaga bestows our destiny that is rightfully deserved that we can enjoy. The word Bhaga is also said to be derived from the root bhaj (भज्) which means devoted to work. The 10th house Sun has directional strength and thus Bhaga is a great karma yogi with leadership qualities however can be unbending in nature and can be accused of having a tunnel vision as he goes about achieving his agenda.
The sarpa/naga in the chariot travelling with Bhaga Aditya this month is Karkoṭaka who is amongst the eight principal ones. Karkoṭaka once deceived Sage Nārada in a game of dice, hence the divine sage cursed him that he would remain immobile in the forest until he is saved by King Nala of Niṣadha. From the story of Mahābhārata, King Nala was roaming the forests having lost his kingdom and spouse as he was under the influence of the malevolent spirit Kali (from Kali Yuga). Karkoṭaka encountered King Nala and implored him to save him from the wildfire in the forest. Using the siddhi of anima, he made himself the size of a thumb and then King Nala was able to move him to a safer spot, thus freeing from Narada’s curse. In return, Karkoṭaka bit Nala causing him to turn ugly as an antidote to the malevolent Kali who had possessed him and cost him untold suffering. Later Nala was able to regain his form with a magical cloak that Karkoṭaka gave him along with kingdom and spouse.
In the current Kali Yuga, Kali has been given permission by King Parīkṣit at the end of Dvāpara age to reside where there is adharma (sinful activities) and specifically in five places – 1) gambling with dice- falsehood, 2) imbibing spirits- intoxication, 3) excessive or Illicit relationships- lust, 4) slaughter house – cruelty and 5) gold – the possession and craving of which can lead to enmity or animosity (SB 1.17.37/38). It is said in Skanda Purāṇa (Chapter 10, section 2) one who worships Karkoṭeśvara will be free from the sufferings of Kali. Karkoṭaka is best worshipped on the Naga Panchami day once a year and also on any Panchami, Chaturdashi or on a Sunday. Many of us have had the fortune of hiking up to the 1000-year-old Karkoṭaka temple situated atop a hill while studying Vedanga Jyotiṣa in Bhimtal, Uttarakhand.
Transits
The Sun moves into Capricorn, the natural 10th house where it gets directional strength. A difficult time for leaders in the coming months with the inevitability of hard conversations on the agenda as Sun transits through the Saturnian signs of Capricorn and Aquarius. Mercury will remain combust from 18th January and will join the Sun in Capricorn from 24th January to the 11th of February after which it will join Saturn in Aquarius.
Emotions are likely to be stirred up as Venus meets Saturn in Aquarius on the 28th December and gets into a war and wins as it crosses Saturn on the 18th January. This combination is aspected by a retrograde Mars which is in rashi sandhi ( at the beginning of the sign Cancer). Mars moves retrograde into Gemini on the 21st January creating binding circumstances through a sarpa yoga (more than 3 malefics in quadrants including Rahu and Ketu ) for dual signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. This sarpa yoga should last until 2nd of April, although will be tempered by the presence of benefics such as Venus and Mercury when they transit into Pisces. A retrograde Mars gives us the opportunity to reflect on our actions particularly those from October 2024.
The journey of Venus is not for the light hearted ones as it travels through its exaltation sign Pisces from 28th January and then gets to meet Rahu on the 4th of February at the first instance. The idealism and compassion of an exalted Venus can be very disturbed as it will meet Mercury, Sun, Saturn and Rahu repeatedly before it goes into Aries. Venus will remain in Pisces for a long time until 31th of May as it will also become retrograde before the upcoming eclipses. The move of Venus into Pisces should also moderate the sarpa yoga for dual signs, particularly so as it exchanges signs with Jupiter in Taurus.
Festivals
The three-day Tamil harvest festival of Pongal falls on this transit that marks the start of the journey of Sun northward (uttarayana) from the point of view of the sidereal calendar. The front porch of the house is decorated with kolam (rangoli) – elaborate drawing-art done with rice-powder to honour the Sun. Cows are decorated with elaborate art-work and bells and worshipped on this day. Birds and animals are fed. People in the community eat together with their families.
Let us pray to Bhaga for manifesting excellence in leadership and the way we all do our work.
ॐ घृणि: भगादित्य
om ghṛṇiḥ bhagāditya