The Sun will enter the sign of sidereal Virgo on the 16th September and will remain in it till the early hours of October 17th. The Aditya blessing the sign is Vivasvān, the one who is brilliant and effulgent from the root word वस् (vas). As per the Samba Purana he dwells in the fire and is responsible for digestion of food in the body of creatures. The Sun being the soul of all resides in all beings invisibly, the meaning of Vivasvān is also derived from residing in everyone from the same root word वस् (vas).
The naga/sarpa that is traveling this month with Vivasvān harnessing the steed in the chariot is Śaṅkhapāla who is named amongst the eight principal ones. They reside in pātāla (the lowest of the lower worlds) and can assume different forms at will and move unobstructed in the all the worlds. The meaning of Śaṅkha is a conch which is considered sacred, carried by Vishnu, used as a trumpet and also for healing purposes to ward off negative energies. The meaning of Śaṅkhapāla is the lord of conches or keeper or nourisher of conches. The sarpas also represent the different forms of kala sarpa dosha in the horoscope in various houses (all planets hemmed between the nodes). Śaṅkhapāla is the kala sarpa dosha associated with having Rahu and Ketu in the 4/10 axis that can affect the stability of home and career. Naga affliction is often associated being caught up with the world in endless activity combined with a lack of gratitude while following base desires purely led by the senses. The same nagas when worshipped can help us in honing our senses and taking our wisdom beyond the senses.
Transits
Sun joins Ketu and Venus in Virgo away from the watchful eyes of a retrograde Saturn. This brings the eclipses into forefront this month. We start the month with a partial lunar eclipse in the nakṣatra of Pūrva Bhādrapadā on 18th September at 1.41 am BST. This will be followed by annular solar eclipse on the 2nd of October peaking at 18.46hrs. The solar eclipse will be in Hasta nakṣatra. This nakshatra is usually the favourite nakshatra of Sun used for propitiating for finances. For details, please read https://vijayajyoti.com/eye-on-the-sky-solar-eclipses-of-2024/. Eclipses are calls or opportunities for transformation. It is worthwhile to think about what planets and houses are eclipsed and what needs to change within us. There is always opportunity to transform when troubles knock on our doors. In the famous 6th verse of Dakṣiṇāmūrti stotram of Ādi Śaṁkara (Rahu grahasta divakara), this concept is brought to light that the consciousness is always ever present even in deep sleep like the rays of the Sun and the Moon that are only eclipsed momentarily. It is for us to wake up. It is said that to escape a dream which is a nightmare, we simply have to wake up.
Venus escapes to its own house Libra from the 18th September and will not be caught in the solar eclipse. Venus in Libra will confer a Mālavya mahāpuruṣa yoga that allows a sense of refinement and enjoyment for cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. Jupiter In Taurus carries a material blessing (Iśvara Yoga) as he is in the sign of Venus and is aspected by Venus from Libra. Venus should deliver the blessing of Jupiter, however, can suffer inaction due to the binding influence of a retrograde Saturn and Mars occupying the 5th and 9th house from Libra (dṛḍha argala bandhana). Venus will be on its own in Libra for three weeks until the 10th of October (as Mercury will enter the sign) with the exception of time it is joined by Moon between the 4th -6th of October forming an Annapūrṇa yoga of abundance.
Jupiter turns retrograde from the 9th of October in Taurus and will remain so until 5th of February. This movement can take us to resolving or fine-tuning matters unresolved from the middle of July earlier this year. The autumn equinox on the September 22nd marks the point when the daylight received by the northern and southern hemisphere is equal. After this day, the length of the nights will increase in the northern hemisphere. The retrograding of both slower moving planets Jupiter and Saturn and the arrival of autumn equinox signal an opportunity for pausing to reflect what we have achieved and what we can be grateful of, symbolising a process of inner harvest.
Festivals
The holy period of ancestors, pitru paksha starts on September 18th on the Purnima Tithi (Full Moon) and concludes on 2nd October on the Amavasya Tithi (New Moon). This a time to honour our ancestors and make food offerings. Navaratri, the 9 days of divine goddess starts on the 3rd of October and will end on 12th October with the celebration of Dusshera and Vijaya Dashami. These nine days are filled with special offerings, yagnas, fasting, meditations, singing and dancing and by the display of beautiful art and dolls to honour the Mother Divine and her entire creation.
May we implore Vivasvān Aditya to bless us with right fire so that we are able to digest our thoughts, emotions and actions properly, and embody gratitude with grace.
ॐ घृणिः विवस्वानादित्य
om ghṛṇiḥ vivasvānāditya 🙏🏼