Sun enters the sign of Leo late in the evening of 16th of August will stay in this sign till very later on 16th September. Sun in Leo carries the blessings of Indra Aditya. Indra is the King of Heavens is known for vanquishing his enemies. The highest amongst the enemies are usually our own internal ones – the Ṣaḍripu or vices (kāma,krōdha,lōbhā, mada, moha and mātsarya – lust, anger, greed, pride, delusion and envy). A strong mind is necessary to regulate ourselves to protect us from our inner enemies overtaking our senses. Indra has been designated as the Lord of the Heavens and the Lord of Mind as he has transcended his vices by mastering his mind and sense organs.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavat Gīta cautions that when the mind (sixth sense) is led by the 5 senses without objectivity in order to pursue self-serving agenda clouded by likes and dislikes, the intellect is lost (prajñāṁ harati), thus we are led astray from the true goal.
इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते |
तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि || 2.67||
Just as a strong wind sweeps a boat off its chartered course on the water, even one of the senses on which the mind focuses can lead the intellect astray.
In the chariot of Indra this month is the apsara Pramlocā known for her beauty and also for disturbing the penance of Sage Kandu who lived in a hermitage on the banks of the river Ganges. Indra always insecure about his title and position, hence worried that Sage Kandu might upstage him and sent Pramlocā to distract the sage. She approached him by adopting the nature of servitude and was able to succeed in her mission with the help of Kamadeva (Cupid) , Vasanta (Spring season) and Samira (breeze). The sage became so embroiled with his senses, that he took a total nine hundred, seven years, six months and three days to realise that he had neglected his daily rituals and austerities. He became desolate that his spiritual powers were exhausted and asked her to leave immediately. There was salvation for him as he was guided to reside in the Purushottama Kshetra (Puri) to redeem himself. Pramlocha’s story highlights the theme of the illusion of infallibility, the power of temptation, and the consequences of losing oneself in worldly desires which leads to hubris.
We should examine the 6th house in our horoscope – planets and lordship and placement in the horoscope to understand and be aware of what is lurking in the shadow egging us on. I am talking on the same subject titled “The Journey of the Spiritual Warrior: Transformation through Adversity” online on September 20th at the BAVA International conference. The talk shall explore with examples of key personalities how the 6th house in a horoscope reveals suffering through self-limiting behaviours shown by the internal weaknesses of the mind, the Ṣaḍripu and how they can be transformed. Please follow the link to register for the day https://www.bava.org/product/2025-bava-conference-september-20th-online/
Transits
Sun joins Ketu in Leo, the combination of the two planets can invoke Shiva, the auspicious one. However, Rahu is challenging the Sun from the 7th in Aquarius, the influence of Rahu on Sun weakens Jupiter or benevolence. Rahu from Aquarius also aspects Jupiter in Gemini creating a scenario for manipulation. Venus moves into Cancer on 20th August to join Mercury, leaving Jupiter alone in Gemini to deal with the two strong malefics in opposition – Mars in Virgo facing a retrograde Saturn in Pisces. The combination of Saturn and Mars carries with it the energy of yama or destruction. Caution is warranted as Saturn in Pisces and Mars in Virgo creates a “madness – Unmada” yoga for Pisces Ascendants and Moon signs. Note both positions are doubly strengthened as they are also the functional exaltation positions meaning indicating where the planets would be in navamsa at the degree of exaltation of the planet. Expect strong polarities and high resistance to play out as exaltation creates idealism.
One can experience deep frustration in inaction or stuckness as Mars the planet of action still feels restricted with the aspect of a retrograde Saturn. The feeling of impatience is more so as Mars has undergone a difficult and a long transit in Cancer followed by a battle with Ketu in Leo. Nevertheless, there is some wiggle room as Mars moved into Virgo which broke the kala sarpa yoga (planets hemmed between Rahu and Ketu) formed in February. Patience will be further stretched as Mars moves into Libra on the 13th of September and again receives an aspect from Rahu in Aquarius which shows danger of accidents and untimely events for the air signs particularly Gemini though mitigated by the presence of Jupiter.
The combination of Venus and Mercury in Cancer creates a possibility of abundance until Mercury moves into Leo to join Sun and Ketu on 30th of August. There is a lunar eclipse on the 7th September in the nakshatra of Purvabhadra in Aquarius and the exact conjunction of Sun and Ketu in Leo is on the 10th of September. Communication can be fractious as Mercury gets very close to Ketu and crosses it on 12th of September and moves into deep combustion while crossing Sun and moving into Virgo its exaltation sign on the 15th September. Venus moves into Leo to join Sun, Mercury and Ketu on the 14th of September two days before the transit of Sun into Virgo.
Festivals and events
Janmashtami, the birthday of Krishna will be observed on Friday night 15th August or 16th August morning on the Kṛṣṇa pakṣa of Aṣṭamī tithi of Śravaṇa. We celebrate Ganesha’s birthday on Śuklacaturthī of Bhādrapadā month on 26th of August. It is a powerful day to propitiate Lord Ganesha for removing the obstacles in life. The holy period of ancestors, pitru paksha starts on the 7th of September for two weeks. This is a good time to honour our ancestors and make food offerings.
The lunar eclipse in Pūrvabhādrapadā is in the sign of Aquarius on the September 7th. The eclipse starts at 19.30 hours and will be visible in London after the eclipse reaches it maximum magnitude at 19.33 hours when the Moon rises. The eclipse ends at 19.52 hours
The hybrid BAVA conference on “Global adversities and personal remedies” in London with the option of live with Pandit Sanjay Rath (September 4-7) and on-line for two further weekends is starting from 4th September through to 21st September. Follow the link to look at the agenda and list of eminent speakers and register https://www.bava.org/2025-bava-conference-global-adversities-and-personal-remedies/?doing_wp_cron=1754647993.5563929080963134765625
May we implore Indra to bless us with a strong mind with the capacity to discern so that our thoughts and actions create a strong foundation for a liberated being.
ॐ घृणिः इन्द्र आदित्य
om ghṛṇiḥ indra āditya