Ms. Seema

Acharya K.S.K. who is the founder of KP system proposed to follow only Lagna chart. Moon chart indicates the strength of planets only. As we need to know the matters like marriage, finance, job etc it is counted from lagna only. For marriage we take 7th house, education – 4th house and so on.

The lagna division should be in Placidus system, which are giving correct results. If you go for lagna chart based on Sripathi or other system, you have to invariably follow divisional charts. It is your interest.

Planets are rotating in elliptic path around the Sun. All the planets are rotating in the zodiac and the zodiac is divided into 12 equal parts which are called signs. Signs consists of stars, which have some space around them. Planets move in the stars to radiate their significations. So signs tell us the strength of the planets only.

Houses are imaginary divisions around the earth. The houses tell us the matters like marriage, education etc. The 1st house is known as Lagna which rises in the east on the earth for the time of birth. The rays of the planet pass from the signs and reach the native on the earth through the houses. Hence houses have importance in astrology. So it is better to read from the house chart only.

Good Luck

JVS Rao (KP system follower)

Hi,

In my humble opinion, all that matters is being “God-gifted and having innate knowledge”, pure heart, good intuition, exceptionally good analytical skills. Thereafter, having an ability to articulate well and having good observation/communication skills will contribute significantly. In my personal understanding, chanting mantras and attaining mantra Siddhi with God’s grace will enhance one’s ability/skills.

Take care…

Hi,

As an analogy (and perhaps an extension, highlighting the importance/role of a Guru/Teacher, who could act like a catalyst in getting the best out of his disciple) to my previous post, I’d like to share the story of Giri or one of the famous disciples ‘Totakacharya’ of Shri Ādi Śaṅkara.

The Mādhavīya Śaṅkaravijayam (I understand) states that when the great Shri Ādi Śaṅkara (who is credited with reviving Sanatana Dharma, with very insightful commentaries on the Vedas, Upanishads, Samhitas etc., a few centuries ago) was at Śṛṅgeri, he met a boy… a simpleton and a hill-belly named Giri. Shri Ādi Śaṅkara accepted the boy as his disciple.

Out of all the famous disciples of Shri Ādi Śaṅkara, the most ignorant (at this point in time) was Giri. Unlike the other learned and meritorious disciples, Giri did not know Sanskrit – let alone Vedas and Upanishads. It was well known Giri could hardly understand his master/guru’s discourses.

Throughout Shri Ādi Śaṅkara’s time in Sringeri, Giri served his master most diligently and accompanied him on his travels, remaining in his personal service. He was the most hard-working and loyal disciple of his Guru, who spent time washing his master’s cloths, cleaning his room, cooking his meals, pressing his legs etc. The only thing he cared about was ways to make his guru’s life cozy and comfortable – to the best of his ability.

“This is the greatest joy, Bhagavan,” Giri often told the great Acharya while pressing his legs after a long and tiring day. I don’t understand your discourses and my brain goes numb, if I try to learn Sanskrit. My life will be worthwhile only if my service can give you even a moment of rest, comfort and relief.” And, the great master would usually smile and bless by raising his hand in benediction. “May Ma Sharada bless you”.

In the wee hours of the morning, long before Shri Ādi Śaṅkara began his 4:00 AM discourse to his disciples Giri would have gone to the ghat of the river, washing his master’s cloths. Soon it was time to start the class and Shri Ādi Śaṅkara sat down to begin his discourse on Advaita Vedānta. However, Giri did not show up and the great Acharya refused to start the class without Giri, saying he would wait for Giri to come back from his chores.

A few minutes passed without any sign or trace of Giri. “Why wait for the dunce, Bhagavan?”, a learned strudent reasoned. “Your glorious words of wisdom are not going to get into his thick head anyway.” The master maintained his sombre look and ignored the question. “He doesn’t even know the frist letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, Guruji, ” another said impatiently. “Teaching him is like talking to a wall”, Padmapada, another learned disciple said, pointing to a wall in the compound and said that it would be the same if Shri Ādi Śaṅkara taught to this dumb object as he taught to Giri. “We’ll wait,” the guru said firmly…

A few moments later, the gathering heard someone singing. Everyone turned to see who was singing most melodiously. It was Giri. He entered singing a hymn in Sanskrit devoted and in praise of his guru. The perfect arrangement of words was created in a new format, that Shri Ādi Śaṅkara later called ‘Totaka’. Everyone was completely awe-struck. While they had been parroting verses from various tests, here was a lesser mortal with a original and highly meaningful composition.

Shri Ādi Śaṅkara listened to the entire hymn with great joy as Giri sang eight verses. Right there, the Jagadguru gave him the same ‘Totakacharya’. The hymn composed by Giri was titled Totakashtakam.

When an individual continues to walk the path with sincerity, diligence and purity, transformation is certain and happens automatically. From an aspirant, one becomes an adept over a period of time – if not miraculously, overnight.

One can very well debate (like most folk did) that Shri Ādi Śaṅkara wanted to reward Giri for his loyalty and devotion. Thus he mentally granted Giri the complete knowledge of all the śāstras (sciences). The enlightened Giri composed extempore the Toṭakāṣṭakam, a Sanskrit poem in the toṭaka metre, in praise of the Guru Shri Ādi Śaṅkara. Thus the humble disciple Giri became Toṭakācārya.

Take care…