, Solar month, Sun
The Sun In Scorpio
The Sun will be in the sidereal sign of Scorpio on November 16th until December 17th. The Aditya for the solar month is Parjanya from the root word “pṛc” (पृच्) which means to satiate, fill or nourish. Parjanya aditya plays an important part in the sustenance of the life cycle by helping produce the rain for the food, highlighted in the Gita and Upanishads (verses I have shared before in my monthly write ups in previous years). Parjanya demonstrates the importance of collective responsibility and is sometimes regarded as a magician who catalyses transformation which is the domain of the 8th house. He is a rainmaker in modern terminology, representing a person who can bring fortune through associations. The need of this hour is indeed that of a magician.
Regions are at war and innocent lives are being lost at the expense of religious ideals or political causes. The affliction of Jupiter the significator of life – Jiva by Rahu, Saturn, Mars and Ketu has brought about this death and devastation. Scorpio, the natural 8th house is tamasic (dark) as both the rulers of the sign, Mars and Ketu are tamasic and the sign itself being a fixed in nature and hence designated tamasic. As no planet exalts in this sign, it is difficult to mediate issues that have a root in Scorpio. The primary cause of our illusions is ignorance which is labelled as darkness or tamas. Sri Kṛṣṇa in verse 5.16 in Bhagavad Gīta explains that just as sunrise illumines the world in an instant, jnana can destroy ignorance. Here, the term jnana does not merely mean knowledge, but awareness that has permeated into our beings. Thus, the only true way to dispel the darkness in our own lives seems to be to enhance awareness by removing our prejudices and defences. Defensive thinking is normally employed to avoid having an insight that can ruin ‘a particular agenda or narrative’ that we support.
The rishi accompanying Parjanya in the chariot this month is the illustrious Sage Bharadvāja who is associated with healing. He received the knowledge of ayurveda from Indra himself and authored some sections of Atharva veda. In contradiction to the saying “An apple does not fall far from the tree” is the story of his son, the expert warfare teacher Droṇācārya of the Kaurava and Pāṇḍava princes in the story of Mahābhārata. Droṇācārya was as one of the most invincible warriors in the battle of Mahābhārata in Kurukṣetra, yet his story was one of pride and deep revenge against King Drupada, his childhood friend. His undue attachment to his favourite pupil Arjuna, not only cost Ekalavya his finger but also festered the jealousy resulting in enmity between Karṇa and Arjuna that had unfortunate consequences in the war. His constant meditations on revenge and insult also resulted in his son Aśvatthāmā becoming an instrument of violence. The story of Droṇācārya serves us timely reminder of the irresponsibility of our thoughts and actions and the mitigating consequences it has on those that depend and learn from us – the next generation.
Transits
The eclipse season has ended for now and Rahu will stabilise from the 18th of November having crossed the last degree of Pisces. Extreme politics should subside as water does not stoke the air element. The Sun moves into Scorpio to join Mercury and Mars. Mars remain combust the entire month. The Mercury and Mars combination (boxing yoga) is a union of competition and strife, and in the sign of Scorpio can result in unhealthy or unpredictable consequences. Nevertheless, Scorpio will receive the sign aspect of Aries with a retrograde Jupiter. Jupiter in unencumbered by the presence of Rahu in Aries, yet it will receive a full planetary aspect from Rahu in Pisces as well as Saturn from Aquarius for its entire stay in Aries. Mercury flees the combination and crosses over the gandanta from Scorpio to Sagittarius on the 27th of the month. This transit may seem premature as Mercury turns retrograde on 13th December and will re-enter Scorpio two weeks later. Communication issues or decisions around business proposals may have to revisited at that time.
A debilitated Venus in Virgo will be moving towards Ketu and the exact conjunction will be on the 28th of November in Citra Nakṣatra – the eclipsed Nakṣatra from last month. A Venus conjunction with Ketu (fire water combination) is not favourable to the Moon, emotions, and wellbeing. Venus moves into Libra on the 29th November and will be in the sign until the 25th of December. The movable signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn will enjoy the presence of two benefics, Jupiter in Aries and Venus in Libra in their quadrants. A Mālavya Mahāpuruṣa yoga of enjoyment and well-being is formed by Venus being in its own sign. Enjoy without getting too attached to the bounties received as Mars is still combust, Jupiter has the aspect of Rahu and Saturn and Venus is receiving a pincer effect from Mars and Ketu.
Festivals
We celebrate the Kārtikai dīpaṁ festival in the South of India on November 26th on the full moon day of month of Kārtika. We do not get the tithi at sunrise in London, nevertheless the full Moon is in Kṛttikāon the 26th evening. The festival is to honour Lord śiva ho appeared as a column of fire and some honour his son Kārtikeya on that day. Lamps are lit in the evening with fireworks.
Let’s pray to Parjanya Aditya to show us the way to give up our prejudices and defensive thinking and unite us in harmony.
ॐ घॄणिः पर्जन्यादित्याय
om ghṝṇiḥ parjanyādityāya