1. Uttaraphalguni-Hasta Citra Naksatras - Moon in Virgo

Astrology manifested in the inner vision of the ancient sages and Rsis of Bharat. These yogis and enlightened beings were able to see beyond the realm of names and forms. They could feel and express the subtle reality that exists behind cosmic phenomena. As such, they perceived the primal powers of cosmic intelligence in the planets and stars (the macrocosm), and worshipped the cosmic powers within themselves (the microcosm) as powers of their being.

By concentrating intensely on the Sun and other planets, they understood the movement of the life force in their body, and by meditating on the life force, they also came to understand the movement of the Sun and the planets in the heavens. Through this technique called samyama, they could unravel the secrets of the universe. They brought down their understanding into a system of Vedic science, which became known as Jyotiṣa: the science of light.

Parāśara was one such sage. He is known for being

the father of Jyotisa. He wrote the magnum opus Brhat Parāšara Hora Sāstra, which systematically explains the theory of

predictive astrology. According to history, he is the grandson of Vasisṭa and also father of Veda Vyāsa, who wrote the great epic Māhābhārata. The depth of his astrological knowledge was so great that one evening while crossing a river in a boat, he casually looked at his favorite stars in heaven and suddenly realized it was an exceptionally auspicious moment. He concluded that if a child were conceived at that moment, he would be an expert in the scriptures. So he told this to the lady rowing the boat and requested that she marry him. She agreed and the son born out of their spiritual union was Veda Vyāsa!

By observing the movements of the celestial bodies through time and space, the science of Vedic Astrology can be applied to each human incarnation to encourage the soul to develop to its fullest potential.

'The moment the consciousness enters the body, the energy level of the cosmos at the time of birth gets printed in that consciousness. Your inner space gets a print of the cosmic energy level and the position of the nine major energy centers of the solar system.

The astrological planets are not only astronomical, they are energies. A particular energy of push and pull exists between them. The different energy positions clearly decide the cosmic energy level during the time of birth. Based on that, Jyotisa will be able to predict the course of life. Understand, not exact incidences because you have freedom. You have freedom to decide whether to sit here or not, to read this or not.

The major course of life- if you will get enlightened or not can be predicted. Principles can be predicted, not policies! Having an idea about your horoscope will give you intelligence and acceptance in your life: intelligence to take decisions and the acceptance to bear the inevitable things. According to me, a seeker should have a basic knowledge about his horoscope.'

Jyotisa can help one to read his destiny. But what is actually destiny?

There are only two types of destinies:

The first one is destiny as defined by a dictionary: destiny lived within the boundaries of the ego, with its own expectations, hopes, desires, successes and failures. It is constantly changing. Because it evolves under mind's law, it is mechanical, accidental and coincidental. This 'destiny' is lived in the dimension of the mind, so it has no existential reality in itself. It is nothing more than a reproduction of one's past in the

present, which conditions the future in a mechanical way.

The other destiny is existential and ultimate; it is the flowering of consciousness into enlightenment. Understand: the only thing predestined in the scheme of life is that man is meant to evolve to reach enlightenment. The rest is just incidental; it happens for no other reason than to teach and mold the being towards seeking enlightenment. Living enlightenment is all about making conscious choices, free from the unconscious push and pull of the samskāras.

The further you wander from your center, the more you lose yourself in your periphery, the more you are subjected to incidents and accidents. Whereas, when you live enlightenment, you are centered, you are within your boundaries, you are aware. You become predestined, because your predestination is to reach enlightenment; your destiny is to become more and more aware. Then you become the agent of your fate,

and you move beyond grahas' influences. This is how you come to terms with your karmas.

For that to happen, a simple understanding of the forces at work in you can help clarity manifest in your daily routine. In addition to this, you can follow a couple of guidelines to keep your body healthy with the science of Ayurveda and raise your energy level with yoga, the use of gemstones, rudrāksa beads, mantra chanting, and a basic knowledge of your psychological tendencies coupled with the ancient Vedic wisdom expressed by the great enlightened Masters.

All these remedies will bring lucidity about your mental set-up and support for eventually dropping your conditionings, unclutching from your mind and emotions and fostering your intelligence and energy to Live Enlightenment.

The grahas are energy centers, energy fields that planets exert in the universe. Each of the nine main grahas in Vedic astrology has a specific energy field that creates specific effects on our planet Earth. For example, the moon has a strong impact on the movements of the sea and on plant growth; it even influences the mind of human beings. In the same way, the major energy centers produce an effect on living beings and influence their potential at birth, their mental set-up and, therefore, the course of their destiny. In Jyotiṣa, grahas are often referred as the agents of the karmas for which the soul took birth. Human personality and life have their counterparts in the structure of the cosmic physiology, represented by the grahas and the naksatras.

There are nine grahas (nine influences or 'planets') in our solar system: the Sun (Surya), the Moon (Candra), Mars (Mangal), Mercury (Budha), Jupiter (Guru), Venus (Śukra), Saturn (Śani) and two nodes called Rāhu (ascending lunar node) and Ketu (descending lunar

node). These represent archetypes. Sūrya, for example, represents consciousness; Candra represents the cosmic mind; Budha represents the cosmic intellect, etc.

Most of the calendars of the world have been set by the Sun's and Moon's movements (measuring the day, month and year) and were of great importance for agriculture, because the harvest depended on planting at the correct time of the year. But the Vedic tradition uses a system of 27 nakṣatras to calculate months. The nakṣatra is the constellation in which the moon sits in the heaven at a particular time. In each month, the full moon sits in a particular constellation, and the Vedic month will have this naksatra's name.

Each nakṣatra falls under the rule of one, sometimes two grahas. Each graha is assigned three naksatras. For example, if the child is born when the moon sits in Aśvini nakṣatra, his birth star will be Aśvini, and his sign will be Aries (called mesha in Sanskrit), ruled by planet Mars (Mangala). Bharaṇi and Kṛttika, the two next nakṣatras, also fall under the lordship of Aries sign.

All three will therefore have similar characteristics and will influence the child's mind and consciousness at the time of birth, shaping his destiny.

'I worship Mercury, dark like the priyangu flower, who has an unequalled form, the intelligent son of the Moon, endowed with a qentle nature.'

• Veda Vyāsa

Dynamic: How we understand, how we express ourselves

Keywords: Intelligence, wit, cleverness, skill, eloquence, communication, agility, versatility, adaptability, detachment, spirituality

Sign: Virgo, Gemini

Color: Green

Cakra: Viśuddhi

Temperament: Sattva

Governing deity: Viṣṇu

Mercury is the eternal youth. He is depicted with four arms; one carries a swor, another a shield and a

third a mace. The fourth hand is held in a gesture of blessings.

He wears green garments, his vehicle is a lion. He rides on a white chariot illuminated by light and drawn by ten horses that are as fast as the wind and as fast as thought.

His father is Soma, the Moon, his mother is Tārā, the consort of Brhaspati, the Guru of the Gods. Brahma the creator gave him the name Budha meaning 'intelligent' and 'wise', because of his quick mind.

He is said to be adept in all the Vedic scriptures, auspicious but sensitive, and if disturbed, he can trigger natural disasters such as droughts, floods, and according to some... earthquakes.

'Mercury is endowed with an attractive physique and the capacity to make puns and use words with double meaning. He has a sense of humor and is fond of jokes.'

• Parāšara

Symbol: The virgin

Element: Earth

Ruling Planet: Mercury /Budha

Gender: Feminine

Ayurvedic constitution: Vata

Healing stone: Green Jade

Virgo represents the eternal virgin, whose symbolism appears in many world religions. Vedic scriptures describes the celestial virgin as representative of the earth, Aditi (earth) and Pārvati (the consort of Lord Śiva) are some of her symbols. No less significant Sītā, the consort of Rāma, the hero of the Rāmāyaṇaand incarnation of Visnu. She was born fully grown to King Janaka while he was performing his yearly ritual ploughing of a field.

All represent Divine knowledge and the personification of the wisdom hidden in nature; and they incarnate its pristine aspect, untouched by other influences. Here, Mercury manifests itself through its purest form of intelligence, with practicality, discrimination and dignity.

Virgo natives possess good intellect, a good ability to project themselves and a nervous sensitivity. They can elaborate facts easily, and are gifted teachers driving their point home methodically and technically. Natural healers, they may show interests in healthcare or in

restoring health. They are also gifted for the practice of yoga and Ayurveda.

Helpful, they do serve others altruistically, without seeking much recognition. They are able to work with minute details, and appreciate cleanliness more than any other sign.

Uttaraphālguni nakṣatra can bring great opportunities for inner and outer growth and expansion in the native's existence. Here, one can overcome its limitations, be they physical, material, mental or spiritual. The star may also confer yogic abilities and a deep spiritual quest.

Courage, endurance and ambition are turned towards fighting for a righteous cause in a chosen field.

As an Uttaraphālguni born, you can display great friendliness, compassion and kindness towards others and specifically the socially or physically unprivileged ones. You deeply feel for the people in need, you are eager to stretch a helping hand towards them. You are a humanitarian at heart.

This naksatra influences leaders in their field. Naturally independent, you take up responsibilities and accomplish the work at hand perfectly well.

You have a religious bent of mind, obedient and strong. Research subjects, literature, engineering, mathematics, astronomy or astrology are the main focuses in your life, and you will succeed in careers such as social work, writer, media industry, healing arts, health sector or business.

You may feel lonely sometimes, especially when you cannot be in a deep and meaningful relationship. lt creates negativities which do not help you to attract friends.

Remember always to express gratitude towards your loved ones, and never take their presence for granted. This will expand your being on all levels.

Hasta's symbol is a closed hand or fist. It is therefore connected to activities related to hands, dexterity and gives the ability to achieve goals quickly.

Born under Hasta's auspices, you will be religiously minded, respectful of sages and the learned. You are often tall and thin in physical appearance. Full of resources, you are dynamic, and able to grasp and hold on to all sorts of things.Hasta prefers daily repetitive work such as arts and crafts, rather than leadership.

Your sense of industry is pronounced here, and you can be hard working, innovative and service oriented. You are good at organizing and managing things. You can also excel at jobs which involve a lot of travelling.

You are a natural counselor and adviser, and like to share your wisdom and great sense of humor. This brings you a good notoriety and an entertaining attitude in your community. But generally, you don't make yourself dependent, and you discourage others from being attached to you. Be aware of your unnecessarily critical nature, which can be used for the wrong reasons at times; learn to be patient with people.

You could be an author, educator, artisan, teacher, salesman, handcrafter, painter, stage magician, comedian, and palm reader, working in the travel industry or in hospitals.

Money comes and goes; you may encounter financially difficult periods, until you turn towards spirituality, which can help you to transform yourself and attract fortune by changing your consciousness. You can understand knowledge and philosophy very well, and minutely work on meditating and following the teachings of the masters, as well as studying ancient spiritual sciences like pūjas, homas, Vāstu, etc.

This ability can lead you to transform your life completely and for the better.

Citra is 'the star of opportunity'. It is of bright and transparent appearance.

This nakṣatra reflects the world of māya and delusion, which the native is to overcome. It allows the person to gain the fruit of his good past actions that come through righteousness and sincerity. It has a highly spiritual energy and effect, and is one of the most mystical of the twenty seven nakṣatras.

Citra stands for the spiritual initiation that gives direct insight into the truth. It gives a life of challenges that precedes the seeking for enlightenment. Citra confers a great desire to achieve and reach a greater consciousness, as it holds a great idealism and purity. The native feels he must glimpse enlightenment, and work in some way or other to live and radiate it.

You will be an efficient leader when you are born

under Citra. You have elegance and charisma, you are bright, popular, extremely honest and a soft person, fond of the latest invention on the market. You usually stand out in a crowd and like to shine.

Your desire of knowledge can incite you to study a whole life time, without ever feeling you have mastered your passion thoroughly. This is the reason why you constantly work on improving yourself. You also have artistic talents and the ability to arrange things creatively. You may be good at dance, music or drama; you have the intelligence to be an architect, a lawyer, jeweler, detective, teacher or a person learned in the Vedas, a mystic.

You are also blessed with business skills and can be a genius in your field; you may be involved in medicinal science and particularly the science of herbs and plants in Ayurveda medicine.

Take especially care of your kidneys and bladder and keep your nerves soothed and relaxed always.

There are 7 major energy centers in our body, called cakras in Sanskrit. They are directly connected to our emotions and impact different aspects of our personality and the way we relate to ourselves, others, and to Existence.

Each planet resonates with a particular energy center in the body. Mercury is connected to visuddhi cakralocated in the throat region. Viśuddhi flowers when you stop comparing yourself to others, and express your own uniqueness.

We are always looking to achieve in the outer world. This is the root cause of comparison and the jealousy we feel as a consequence. People respect us only if we have achieved something tangible in the outer world. Educational degrees, beauty titles, company designations, published papers, bank balances, are all scales that society uses to grade us.

First of all, you don't need to be graded by anyone. Placing your trust in your own intelligence first and then grading yourself next is much wiser. There is a lot you can achieve in the outer world.

But understand that there is a lot to be achieved in the inner world also. The outer world achievements are all incidental. They will get you instant name and fame and money. The real achievement is in the inner world.

Center yourself well with awareness and simply take part in the outer world activities like a lotus untouched in a pond. Let the work in the periphery go on undisturbed, but center yourself in your Being. Automatically, you will stop swaying in accordance with the outer world achievements and feel stability and joy in the center of your own Being. Finding your center is the only way out of this whole cycle of comparison with others that does not allow you to express your uniqueness as easily as it could.

Generally, the Ayurved dośa (body constitution) related to Virgo is vata.

Vata influences the movement of thoughts, feelings, prana flow, nerve impulse, and fluids in the body.

lf you experience symptoms such as anxiety, worry, shyness, a tendency to insomnia, chronic tiredness, mental and emotional depression, physical tension, stress, a weak immune system, headaches, underweight, constipation, dryness of skin, mental confusion, inability to take decisions, fast speech, too many fantasies, then there is a good possibility you are suffering from vata imbalance.

If you have good mental alertness, abundant creative energy, a good elimination system of waste matters, sound sleep, strong immune system, enthusiasm, emotional balance and stability, then the vata principle is balanced in your body.

Here are some of the common characteristics of people who have a predominantly vata body constitution:

• O Quick to learn and grasp new knowledge
• O Slim body
• Talk and walk quickly O
• Cold hands and feet, O
• Excitable, lively, O
• Changeable moods O
• Respond to stress with fear and worry and anxiety O
• O Variable appetite and digestion
• Tendency to be tired easily
• ా Full of enthusiasm and joy
• O Impulsive
• Generally good management and leadership ability
• Dry skin, dry hair, don't perspire much O
• Headache, hypertension, sore throat, anxiety, muscle spasm, irregular heartbeat, constipation, winds, diarrhea, arthritis, neurological disorder.

Factors that can balance vata are warm and soothing food with added oil and fat, as well as sweet tastes. Cold items should be avoided and caffeine should be stopped, as it strains vata's nervous system. Mental and emotional peace and lifestyle routines are important to restore and maintain balance. Vata can be corrected by using warm sesame oil for self-massage. lf you can't massage the whole body, at least apply warm oil on the feet and scalp. Maintaining a regular routine in terms of eating, sleeping and other activities will also help you to unclutch the mind.

Warm and cooked food with added oil and fat is good for pacifying vata.

Warm milk, cream, butter, vegetable soups, hot cereals, freshly baked bread, potatoes, cheese and nourishing food are good for stabilizing vata.

On the other hand, food such as salads, iced drinks and ice creams, raw vegetables and greens are not very good for persons with vata imbalance. One should avoid drinks with high caffeine as vata finds it disturbing. As a snack, it is better to prefer nuts that are heavy and oily, as opposed to dry and salty.

All sweet fruits are good for vata. One should avoid unripe fruit that are too astringent. Cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, ginger and cloves should be favored.

Mercury natives can be benefitted through techniques which enhance their natural devotion and ability to perceive higher principles of life. For them, meditations that foster the unclutched state (the state of deep inner peace) are a must!

Step 1-Duration: 10 minutes - Sit in vajrāsana(kneel down and sit with your bottom resting on your heels). Place your hands on your hips. By doing this, you are establishing a connection between the upper and lower parts of your body. Chant 'hoo' for as long as possible with each exhale. Begin again with each inhale, holding the chant as long as possible as you exhale.

Step 2-Duration: 21 minutes - Continue sitting in vajrāsana. With the hands on the hips, bend down at the hip to touch the forehead to the ground. Continue to chant the 'hoo' sound in this position.

This meditation will make your whole body to vibrate, contributing to lowering your inner chatter.

Nithya Dhyaan is a formula and technique that works on all the components of your being. Whatever your birth sign may be, it awakens the cosmic powers within you and makes them available to your being to excel in all spheres of life.

This is a five-step technique. Allow seven minutes for each step. Keep your eyes closed throughout the meditation.

Sit in vajrāsana (kneel and sit on your heels). Place your hands on your hips and breathe chaotically, without a repetitive rhythm. Just focus on your breathing; let your entire being become the breathing.

Continue to sit in vajrāsana, form cin mudra with your fingers (with the thumb and forefinger forming a circle and other three fingers outstretched), and place your hands on your knees, palms facing upwards. In this posture, with your mouth closed, produce the sound 'Mmmm...' from inside

your body, as loudly and lengthily as possible.

You may continue to sit in vajrāsana or sit crossed legged if you wish. Keep your fingers in cin mudra position. Now, bring your awareness to each cakra one after the other, from mūlādhāra cakra (root center) to sahasrāra cakra (crown center).

Feel each cakra completely as if your whole being has become that energy center.

In this step, carry the understanding with you that your thoughts are unconnected, irrational and unclutched. Don't try to create thoughts, don't try to maintain thoughts, don't try to destroy thoughts or react to them. Just sit and watch them. Understand,

by your very nature, you are pure being and bliss.

Now, connect, relax and rest into the universal energy. Just sit in a very deep and passive way, feeling one with the whole, God,

or your Master. Listen to the Guru Puja mantras and feel their vibration in you. Express your gratitude with reverence.

You will find further details on the benefits of Nithya Dhyaan; along with the meditation instructions, in the comprehensive booklet and audio CD called Nithya Dhyaan- Experience bliss.

Yoga is one of the most suitable practices to stabilize Virgo's mind. Yoga postures should be done slowly and consciously. Virgos should be physical in their practice. Also, developing devotion towards the divine will help the native to pacify and bring serenity to his life. Sūrya Namaskār (the ancient Sun salutation), can be practiced by all natives!

To blissfully enjoy the benefits of any āsanas, make sure your body is warmed up, the spine loosened up and stretched out before entering the postures.

• Start the posture by lying on your back. O
• Bend you knees with feet on the floor. O
• Place your hands at your lower back. O
• On an inhale, use momentum to swing your legs 0 upward above your head with your knees bent.
• With the knees still bent, your shoulder blades closer . together, bring the elbows closer.
• Straighten your legs up into the air. Have the feet 0 flexed or toes slightly pointed.
• Continue to support your back with your hands. C
• Look up toward your feet and breathe here for 6 to O 12 breaths.

• On the final exhale in shoulder stand, keeping your O legs straight, lower your feet to the floor behind the back of your head.
• Continue to support your lower back with your ● hands.
• Breathe here for 6 to 12 times. O
• After the last inhale, exhale and slowly roll your back O onto the floor, bending the knees halfway and allow the legs to be on the mat.

These two postures work on stretching your shoulders and spine, and relax the region of the thyroid gland. Headaches are very much related to tightness in the shoulder region. This tightness does not allow the blood to flow freely in the head, causing fatigue and lack of mental clarity. By relaxing the whole spine and neck, one gains instant relaxation and well-being, and therefore an ease to express oneself.

Sūrya Namaskār (the Sun salutation) is called the king of asanas. It is a sequence of 12 postures, each symbolizing a sign of the zodiac. This sequence of asanas has the amazing ability to activate the best characteristics of your birth chart by bringing energy to your body, a clearer thinking through emotional balancing, and a restored health, thereby enabling you to express your intelligence and uniqueness. It is a technique to experience a conflict-free life, fulfillment and eternal bliss.

lts practice awakens the body's innate intelligence to produce energy from the sun. It is designed to access the etheric energy all around you. When performed facing the East in the first rays of the morning sun, along with the appropriate breathing technique and the mantra, the effect on the individual mind, body and spirit is incomparable.

It is said that the daily practice of Sūrya Namaskār

is enough to work on the whole body organs, cakras and mind for the whole day.

A mantra is a composition of syllables, words or sentences that, when repeated with awareness and visualization, has a powerful and penetrating influence on the mind. Before each repetition of Surya Namaskār, one chants the corresponding mantra, which is a glorification of the Sun. This simple method leads us to the experience that the outer Sun symbolizes the shining intelligence in our inner sky. We come to understand our connectivity to the cosmic energy that pervades all the grahas. The characteristics of our sign get activated to unfold its inherent potential.

• Aum hrām mitrāya namaḥ Salutations to the friend of all
• Aum hrīm ravaye namaḥ Salutations to the shining one

Salutations to the one who induces activity

• Aum hraim bhanave namah Salutations to the one who illumines
• Aum hraum khagaa namah Salutations to the one who moves swiftly
• Aum hrah pūsņe namaḥ Salutations to the giver of strength
• Aum hrām hiraṇyagarbhāya namaḥ Salutations to the golden Cosmic Self
• Aum hrim maricaye namaḥ Salutations to the Lord of dawn
• Aum hrūm ādityāya namaḥ Salutations to the son of Aditi, the infinite Cosmic mother
• Aum hraim savitre namah Salutations to the eternal benevolent mother
• Aum hraum arkāya namaḥ Salutations to the one who is praiseworthy
• Aum hrah bhaskaraya namah Salutations to the one who leads to enlightenment

To blissfully enjoy the benefits of any āsana, make sure your body is warmed up, the spine limber and stretched out before entering the postures.

• Stand with feet slightly apart. Bring hands together into prayer position in front of your chest. Keep your eyes open during the practice of the asanas. Chant the corresponding mantra loudly.
• Inhaling, gracefully sweep the arms up over your head and gently arch the spine backwards.
• Exhaling and bending from the hips, sweep the arms forward and down so the hands touch the floor close to the feet and the forehead comes in close to the knees. Bend the knees to allow for greater ease in doing this.
• Step the right foot back as far as you can and as you inhale, lift your heart center up.
• Step the left foot back and assume the plank position with spine, neck, and head in a straight line, hands placed directly under your shoulders.
• On the exhale, lower the knees, chest and chin to the floor assuming aṣṭānga namaskār. Point the toes.
• Inhale, raise the head and chest off the floor by engaging the lower back and gently pushing with your hands. Keeping the elbows bent at a 90-degree angle, come into bhujangāsana.
• Exhaling, push with your hands, raise your hips into the air and back and assume the downward dog pose. Push your heels towards the floor.
• Gently look forward at your hands and step the left foot forward as far as you can, close to the hands. Inhale, lift your heart.
• Step the right foot forward to meet the right hand. Bend your knees if you need, exhale, and bring the head in close to the legs.
• On an inhale, sweep your arms up over your head and gently arch the spine, saluting the Sun.
• Exhale, bring your arms down and your hands back into prayer position in front of your chest.

Nithya Yoga is THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM's unique offering to the world, helping the practitioner to be in the state of yoga every moment. You will find further details on the benefits of Sūrya Namaskār in the book titled: Nithya Yoga - The Ultimate Practice for Body Mind and Being.

This book comes with a unique energy bead bracelet which beautifully combines semi-precious stones with Rudrākṣa beads- enhancing and radiating the properties of the stones. This bracelet attunes you to the Universe and contributes to destroy sufferings related to negative karmas. It is specially blessed by THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM, the enlightened Master of our times for the fortunate ones who wish to receive the blessings of the Universe! Enlightened Masters are said to be the manifestation of the Cosmic Energy, which radiates through the 9 planets. It empowers you to expand your inner intelligence into Living Enlightenment!

Jyotiṣa uses different gemstones (also called birthstones) to strengthen the planets energies.

Gemstones are the finest and purest consolidation of minerals that exists, formed under extreme heat and pressure inside the earth. Stones are crystals of clear

and purified minerals that are also found in the human body.

Because of their mineral quality, they are agents of electromagnetic energy, which influences the electromechanical nature of the human body. When a stone is in contact with the skin, it starts working on the physiology and the energy level of the body, as well as the pranic layer of energy.

Green jade represents planet Mercury in the natal chart. It rules over concentration, memory and peace of mind. It influences:

• Concentration
• Calm and balance
• Short and long term memory
• Learning and analytical abilities
• Studies
• Children
• New initiatives
• Gains and maintenances of resources
• Marital bliss
• Provide relief from Intestinal problems, constipation
• Skin or respiratory problems
• Hysteria
• Neurological and nerves disorders, impotency, Parkinson disease
• Poisoning of blood
• Retarded mental or physical growth

Today, scientific experiments have verified the intrinsic properties of the rudrākṣa. These are: dynamic polarity, bioelectricity, and paramagnetic and diamagnetic propertiesall of which effectively control

Part 2: Uttaraphalguni-Hasta Citra Naksatras - Moon in Virgo_English_part_2.md

hyperactivity, eliminate stress and bring beneficial effects on body and mind.

Rudrākṣa beads are emblems of Lord Śiva, who is believed to be at the very core of the centrifugal force of the universe, representing Brahman or the cosmic Sun: the aspect of creation which continually dissolves to begin a new cycle of creation, preservation, dissolution and recreation of the Universe. Therefore, wearing rudrākṣa attunes one with the cosmic energy that destroys karmas and confers spiritual liberation. It cannot have an adverse effect on the wearer because of its auspicious signification and can be worn by anyone, irrespective of his or her moon sign. Rudrāksa beads have immense benefits:

• They protect against negative planetary positions and enforce the positive effects of the birthstone which you wear
• They keep, foster and protect one's own energy
• They can tap into energy fields to restore energy in the wearer.
• They stimulate an individual's consciousness and sub-consciousness
• They stimulate the mind, sharpens the intellect, gives power and opens the third eye
• They ensure peace of mind and harmony of relationships
• They help to cure dangerous diseases and heal poisonous wounds
• They actualize Master's blessings into your life

The Navagraha pūja is a Vedic prayer which tremendous positive energy, and helps everyone to gain courage to face any situation in life.

This t r a d i t i o n a l l y performed for the nine planets, brings solace to the person's

mind, and dilutes any negative influences which can be felt during certain period called 'Navagraha dośa'; when the planets are not in proper alignment, influencing the person negatively. Due to these, people fall into depression and certain low moods. This period may last for some time, depending on the power of the planet.

However this can be averted with intelligence. Navagraha pūja is conducted to connect oneself to the cosmic intelligence, to avert any hindrances and to bestow tremendous peace and contentment in life. This pūja is a collection of prayers and rituals performed to the planets in the form of deities.

With the blessing of these nine planets, the person is helped to attain good health, prosperity, knowledge and enlightenment.

Homa is a fire ritual, and an intense spiritual practice which becomes a powerful meditation technique when performed with devotion. During homa, one invokes the cosmic energy and visualizes it in the fire. Offerings to the planet deity through the fire are made at the same time.

Through the mantra chanted and the purification effect of the fire; the body, the space in which the ritual happens and the people attending the prayer are benefited, and the planetary effect decreased.

When this homa is done as a personal spiritual practice, the energy is brought from the nirvanic to the physical layer of the body through all subtle energy layers, healing the person and raising his level of energyallowing him to transform his destiny.

Navagraha pūja and homa services are available in all THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM Vedic Temples throughout USA, and THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM Dhyanapeetam ashrams throughout Bharat.

In this mantra, Aum is the primordial sound and is the representation of Śiva's energy, the male aspect of the universe. Actually, Aum is the cosmic sound that pervades the grahas, their movements and their effects on us.

The Bija mantra(seed sound), Hrīm, has no linguistic meaning but encloses a powerful vibration which attunes you to the primordial energy from which the grahas originate: the female energy, Śakti.

Nithyananda means Eternal Bliss and invokes the truth which is our true nature, and the nature of our own intelligence. It is the pūrņa mūla mantra (the complete mantra) because it represents a straight path to both Śakti (success in this world) and to Śiva (success in the cosmic world) which is 'enlightenment'.

Namaha means 'I surrender' my ego to Existence, to the Master. Thus this sacred mantra awakens the completeness and fulfillment inside us and balances the male and female energies which exist inside every one of us.

The repetition of this mantra is a powerful technique which can be performed throughout the day as you go about your daily routine. It can also be uttered aloud 108 times every morning. The number 108, which is a multiple of 9, has been sacred since time immemorial. That is because the number 9 is the limit of all numbers: 0 to 9 is all one needs to make up an infinite amount of numbers. Therefore, 108 symbolizes and connects you to infinity.

lts beautiful sound should be pronounced clearly and as loudly as possible and from the navel region.

Eventually, this mantra will replace your inner chatter and create silence in your mind. Your whole being integrates itself towards enlightenment which leads you out of the dynamic of karma and planetary effects.

There is in you a natural urge to do something, to flood your energy into some activity, to work on one project or another. You are like a pool. Whenever water flows through, you remain a vibrant source of life for yourself and others, but when it stagnates, you become depressed. Don't do things casually. Anything half done leaves an engraved memory in you. Anything not lived fully leaves an imprint or samskara in your being, which time and again pulls you, attracts you to travel the same path and to fulfill it. Focus on being complete in what you do.

Existence is calling you to its bigger meaning. Never think life has nothing else to offer than what you perceive with your eyes, because life cannot be reduced to a simple material manifestation. When you conceive life as just matter, you can never meet God. It will be

difficult to come to terms with any meaning in your life. Meaning can only be found in the invisible, and it is scary to the mind. It tends to think whatever it cannot see is not under its control. Observe how its tendency is to focus on outward things: money, comforts, relationships and misses the greater purpose of existence that is to be found in the inner world.

Very often, our inner chatter does not allow us to be confident about what we achieve. Many times, we realize great things, but are not able to enjoy why we realized it. It is like preparing a delicious meal with much meticulousness and not allowing oneself to partake of it! Low self-esteem will never allow you to assess your work objectively. It can only precipitate you in a depression that won't let you work correctly! Enjoying the fruits of your work is a sure guardian of your confidence and inspiration to grow in your field of activity, in your responsibilities and energy too!

You often feel: 'Every time I think I want to do something, the complete opposite happens.' It will happen... it is your doing. Allow things to happen their own way and move with them. Don't bring your will and ego into it. Only once you drop your ego and merge with the whole, will what you want to happen really happen. It will not happen till you stop waiting. This is the whole dilemma: if you go on waiting, your very want will create a situation in which it is not going to happen. Better learn to do things without expecting results, leaving yourself open to the Master's grace in your life. Often, you ignore how much your 'desired results' would have damaged your life if they had happened! Be ever grateful, what life brings you is what you need.

Express your love, sense of humor and wisdom towards your community! You are a joyful communicator whose trust that life is good makes you

expand the responsibilities you take up. When that expansion happens, just hold on and have patience during the transformation. This patience during the process is what is called tapas or penance. Why don't we allow big breakthroughs in our life? Because we don't trust life to lead us into a new space. Have trust and patience. When you take more responsibility, you just expand and more energy starts expressing through you. When you feel responsible for whatever is happening around you, you suddenly become a leader and transform your life and others' lives. Responsibility is a way to consciously grow.

Budha (Mercury god) as represented in Tiruvannamalai Ashram (Bharat). Around Mercury stand the other 8 Navagraha deities (deities associated with the nine planets), along with their Navagrahatrees (trees associated with the nine planets), to bless all with abundance. The circle of placed around the main deities of the temple, Sri Anandeshwara and Anandeshwari; located near a powerful energy field of 1008 Śiva lingas radiating Śiva's cosmic energy in an extremely auspicious atmosphere.

Naksatra: the constellation in which the moon sits in the heaven at a particular time, commonly called as 'birth Star'

Vedic sciences: refer to a number of disciplines found in the Vedas, a large body of texts originating in ancient Bharat, among the oldest sacred texts

Rg Veda: an ancient Hindu sacred collection of hymns, counted among the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism known as the Vedas

Āryabhaṭa : one of the first astronomer and great mathematician of Bharat, born in 476

Copernicus: (1473-1543) the first astronomer to formulate a heliocentric cosmology, which displaced the Earth from the center of the Universe

Galileo: (1564-1642) Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher. His achievements include improvements to the telescope and important astronomical observations

Yojanas: a Vedic measure of distance used in ancient Bharat, between 6 to 15 km (4 and 9 miles)

rşi : a sage through whom the Vedic hymns flowed, a "seer" able to reach states of higher consciousness.

Yogi: a practitioner of various forms of spiritual discipline, as yoga

Parāśara: author of many ancient Hindu texts and important astrological texts, known as a traveling Master

Brhat Parāśara Hora Śāstra: a prominent astrological scientific text. It is written as a recorded dialogue between Parāśara and his disciple Maitreya.

Vaśiṣṭa: Rāma's guru, a great ṛiṣi and had complete knowledge of the whole cosmos and the gods

Veda Vyāsa: a sage of ancient Bharat, compiler of the Vedas and great epics like the Māhābhārata

Māhābhārata: one of the major Sanskrit epic of Bharat

and philosophical scripture, depicting a great war that happened in Bharat, written in 250 000 verses

Samskāra: engraved memories, memories stored in the subconscious part of the mind. They are continually interfering with our decision making process

Grahas: energy centers, energy fields that planets exert in the universe. They are generally assimilated to 'planets'

Karmas: the collection of unfulfilled experiences and actions that stay in us and constantly pull us to fulfill them

Āyurveda: a system of traditional medicine native to the Hindu Subcontinent; ayus, meaning 'life', and veda, meaning 'related to knowledgne' or 'science'

Yoga: literally union, union of the individual self and the divine Self, often taken to mean Hatha yoga, which is one of the components of yogasana, relating to body postures

Rudrākṣa: a large broad-leaved tree whose seed is traditionally revered and used for prayer beads, or mala, mainly growing in foothills of the Himalayas up to South-East Asia

Sanskrit: the Indo-Aryan language, language of the Rg Veda and of many scriptures, as well as mantras

Mantra: a sound, a formula, sometimes a word or set of words, which because of their inherent sounds, have energizing properties, an approach to spiritual evolution

Unclutching: understanding that each thought is completely independent, unconnected to the precedent; which leads to disengage oneself from the mind, resulting in experiencing the no-mind state

Sanskrit: the language of the Rg Veda and of many scriptures, as well as mantras

Priyanguflower: priyanguliterally means that which is lovable or charming, herb mentioned in all ancient scriptures of Āyurveda

Cakra: literally a 'wheel': refers to energy centers in the mind-body system

Viśuddhi cakra: the fifth cakra, or subtle energy center located in the throat region, locked by comparing ourselves with other

Visnu: the preserver in the trinity, His incarnations include Krsņa, Rāma, etc. in ten incarnations; also means 'all encompassing'

Guru: master, literally one who leads from gu (darkness) to ru (light)

Brahma: the creator; one of the Hindu trinity of supreme gods, the other two being Viṣṇu and Śwa

Pārvati: consort of Lord Śiva, mother to Ganeśa

Lord Śiva: rejuvenator in the trinity also means 'causeless auspiciousness'

Sītā: consort of Rāma, revered as an incarnation of Goddess Laksmi

Rama: hero of the Ramayana epic, one of the two most popular incarnation of Visnu, along with Krsna

Rāmāyaṇa: Famous Hindu epic

King Janaka : a noble and benevolent king who ruled Mithila; father of princess Sītā in the epic Rāmāyaṇa

Vata: one of the three humors (body constitution) of Ayurveda, related to the principle of movement in the mind and body; air element

Yogic: a quality developed through spiritual and yoga practices.

Pūjas: worship performed in home, temple or shrine to a deity; purifies the atmosphere and connect to the inner world

Homas: fire offering, a sacred ceremony through which gods are offered oblation through fire in a sanctified pit

Vāstu: science of construction, a traditional Vedic system of design based on directional alignments

Viśuddhi cakra: the fifth cakra, or subtle energy center located in the throat region, locked by comparing ourselves with other

Dośa: in Ayurvedic medicine, one of the three biological humors or energies (kapha, pitta, vata) which combine in various proportions to determine individual constitution, mental and physical disorders

Vajrāsana: common yoga and meditation posture, where the person sits on his heels

Cin mudra: palms upraised with thumb and forefinger forming a circle and other three fingers outstretched

Guru Pūja: form of worship offered to the master

Asana: body postures performed in yoga, literally means 'seat'

Aṣṭānga namaskār: prostrating to a deity or master

by lying on the floor with all eight limbs of the body touching the earth

Bhujangāsana: 'cobra posture' in yoga, in which the head and chest are raised while lying down

Pranic layer: the second layer of energy of the body, related to prana or life energy

Lord Śiva: rejuvenator in the trinity also means 'causeless auspiciousness'

Brahman: the unchanging, infinite, immanent, and transcendent reality, the Divine Ground of all matter, energy, time, space, being, and everything beyond in this Universe

Bija mantra: refers to the single syllable mantra used to invoke certain deities

Pūja: a ritual made of different offerings related to the deity propitiated

Navagraha dośa: literally means 'planetary defects' or inauspicious alignment of planets

Homa: ancestral Vedic fire ritual

Nirvanic layer: seventh subtle body that we have and last layer of energy which is the space where one experiences intense bliss

Physical layer: the gross body made of flesh and bones

Aum: the primordial cosmic sound from which the whole Universe emerged

Śakti: energy, intelligent energy, considered feminine aspect of Śiva

Jīvan Mukti: the state of achieving liberation from the cycle of birth and death during one's lifetime

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