Astrological significnce of junction points - Neelakantan

Introduction:
ASTROLOGICAL SIGNIFICNCE OF JUNCTION POINTS
By Dr. E.S. Neelakantan, FCA, Phd.
A ”junction” as we understand in a general sense is a “point of intersection”. It
can be precisely defined as “the place where two or more things come together .
“We see this term frequently used in railways. A railway station which lies in
between two cities in different directions is termed as a junction. Trains travel in
the same direction until they reach this junction and then move in different
directions towards their respective destinations. Trains leaving from Chennai
towards Trivandrum and Mumbai travel till Arakkonam Junction in the same track
but once they leave Arakkonam, the train which leaves for Mumbai proceeds on
the track towards Renigunta while the one which leaves for Trivandrum proceeds
towards Jolarpet. But railway stations which facilitate movement in one direction
only are not called as “junctions”.
In astrology these “junction points” assume enormous significance. In this article,
we will try and discuss these “junction points” in detail. But initially we will focus
our attention on a puranic story and learn its moral.
STORY OF HIRANYA KASHIPU:
The story of Hiranyakashipu is narrated In detail in Bhagavata Purana. Brahma’s
mind-born (Manasaputras) sons, Sanaka,Sanandana, Sanatana and
Sanatkumara appear to be mere children (even though they are very old in age)
and when they visit the abode of Vishnu (Vaikuntha) they are stopped at the gate
by the gatekeepers Jaya and Vijaya. The four boys curse Jaya and Vijaya to be
born on earth, (thus losing their divinity) and live as human beings. Vishnu,
knowing about the curse says that the curse cannot be lifted but gives two
options – to take seven births as devotees of Vishnu or to take three births as
Vishnu’s enemy. After serving either of these sentences, they will re-attain their
original stature and unite with Vishnu permanently in Vaikuntha. The thought of
staying away from Vishnu for seven births appeared too long a period for Jaya
and Vijaya (to remain separate from Vishnu )and they chose to exercise the
second option. In the first life they were born as demons Hiranyaksha and
Hiranyakashipu (in the second, they were Ravana and Kumbakarna and in the
third Sishupala and Dantavakra).
After obtaining a boon from Brahma Hiranyakashipu sought the gift of immortality
which the former refused. As an alternate plea, Hiranyakashipu sought that he
should not be killed at daytime or night, on the ground or in the sky, by a weapon,
by a human being or an animal or by a demigod or a demon or by a great snake
from lower planets. This boon was conferred by Brahma to Hiranyakashipu.

The form of Lord Narasimha was assumed by Vishnu to kill Hiranyakashipu
without upsetting the boon given by Brahma.
1. By killing him on the lap (which neither sky nor earth) in the threshold of
the building (which is neither indoor nor outdoors), the first condition
stood satisfied.
2. He was killed at Sandhya Kala (twilight) which is neither daytime nor night.
3. The demon was killed using nails and therefore the condition that no
weapons should be used stood satisfied.
4. Narasimha was partly a man and partly a lion meaning that the killing was
effected neither by a man nor by a beast.
The inner significance of time is brought out by the fact that Vishnu chose to
manifest as Narasimha - one of ten major incarnations – at twilight, a crucial
“Junction Point” in astrology. The “Sandhya Kala” is considered a favourable
time for meditation for those who seek union with divine.
Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu were born to Diti (daughter of Daksha
Prajapati) and sage Kashyapa. It is said that the Asuras (demons) were to them
as result of their union at the time of sunset, which is said to be inauspicious for
performance of such art. This is another astrological principle which emerges out
of this Puranic tale.The period around sunset should be earmarked solely for
spiritual activities and because Sage Kashyapa failed to follow this dictum the
demons were born.
BRAHMA MUHURTHA:
The word “Muhurtha” refers to a time interval lasting for about 48 minutes. A day
has 1440 minutes (24hours x 60 minutes per hour). Dividing 1440 by 48, we get
30 muhurthas in a day. The 29 th muhurtha which happens to be the penultimate
of the 30 muhurthas falls about an hour before Sunrise and it is termed as
“Brahma Muhurtha”. If Sunrise is exactly at 6 A.M., Brahma Muhurtha operates
between 4.24 A.M. and 5.12 A.M. According to the Ayurvedic treatise “Ashtanga
Hridhayam” one who is desirous of health and longevity should wake up during
Brahma Muhurtha and perform his daily duties. It is the time which is highly
conducive towards performance of spiritual activities. Visitors to Puttaparthi
might as well recall that the chanting of “Omkar” in the Poornachandra
Auditorium commences at around 4 A.M. and emphasis seems to have been laid
by His Holiness Sai Baba for awakening the spiritual powers by having the daily
schedule of his Ashram to commence at around the time Brahma Muhurtha
operates. A table of Muhurthas (table 1) is given here for reference.

Table1
No Time Name Quality
1 06:00 – 06:48 Rudra Bad
2 06:48 – 07:36 Ahi Bad
3 07:36 – 08:24 Mitra Good
4 08:24 – 09:12 Pitr Bad
5 09:12 – 10:00 vasu Good
6 10:00 – 10.48 varah Good
7 10:48 – 11:36 Visvadeva Good
8 11:36 – 12:24 Vidhi Good – except Monday & Friday
9 12:24 – 13:12 Satamukhi Good
10 13:12 – 14:00 Puruhuta Bad
11 14:00 – 14:48 Vahini Bad
12 14:48 – 15:36 Naktanakara Bad
13 15:36 – 16:24 Varuna Good
14 16:24 – 17:12 Aryama Good – except Sunday
15 17:12 – 18:00 Bhaga Bad
16 18:00 – 18:48 Girisa Bad
17 18:48 – 19:36 Ajapada Bad
18 19:36 – 20:24 Ahira
Good
Budhnya
19 20:24 – 21:12 Pushya Good
20 21:12 – 22:00 Asvini Good
21 22:00 – 22:48 Yama Bad
22 22:48 – 23:36 Agni Good
23 23:36 – 24:24 Vidhat Good
24 24:24 – 01:12 Kanda Good
25 01:12 – 02:00 Aditi Good
26 02:00 – 02:48 Jiva Good
27 02:48 – 03:36 Vishnu Good
28 03:36 – 04:24 Yumigadyuti Good
29 04:24 - 05:12 Brahma Very good
30 05:12 – 06:00 Samudram Good
Abhijit Muhurtha:
Just like junction point around Sunrise has the Brahma Muhurtha, the junction
point between fore-noon and after-noon gives rise to the Abhijit Muhurtha. Abhijit
muhurtha starts 24 minutes before local noon time and 24 minutes thereafter. An
example of how Abhijit Muhurtha operates is calculated is given as follows:
Sun rise (estimated time) 7 AM
Sun Set (estimated time) 6 PM
Duration of day time = 11 hours = 11 x 60 = 660 minutes

Duration of each Muhurtha = 660/15 = 44 minutes
Local Noon time = 7AM + 660/2
= 7AM + 5 1/2 hours
= 12.30 PM
Abhijit Muhurtha = (12:30PM – 22 mts) to (12.30 PM+22 mts)
= between 12.08 to 12.52 PM
Abhijit muhurtha is also used as an “Emergency Muhurtha” – some times when
auspicious days are not available and events have to happen at short-notice,
then this Muhurtha is usually recommended.
Godhuli Lagna:
The period 12 minutes prior to Sunset and 12 minues after Sunset is trmed as
Godhuli lagna and this period is considered to be extremely auspicious.
Gandanthams:
(a) Nakshatra Gandantham:
The last two ghatikas of Ashlesha and the first two ghatikas of Makha
constitutes Nakshtra Gandantham. So also Revathi – Aswini and Jyeshta
– Moola give rise to gandanthams. (Please note that 1 ghatika = 24
minutes)
(b) Thithi Gandantham:
The last two ghatikas of Panchami,Dasami, Full Moon and New Moon
constitute Thithi Gandanthams.
(c) The last navamsas of Cancer, Scorpio, Leo, and Saggittarius are Rasi
Gandanthams.
Nakshtra Gandanthams adversely affects the native, parents and brothers, while
Rasi Gandanthams affects the family. Thithi Gandanthams affects parents.
Solar Ingress:
While “Gandantham” is based on lunar ingress, “Sankranthis” are based on solar
ingress. The most important of them are the ingresses of Sun into Aries, Cancer,
Libra and Capricorn. The solar ingress into Cancer is termed “Dakshinayana
Punyakalam” while the ingress into Capricorn is celebrated as “Makara
Sankranthi”. It is said that Japa, Homa or Charity done on these days fetches
merit multiplied one crore times compared to a normal day.

We have heard of various lords such as lord of grain, lord of clouds, lord of paddy
crops in the reading of almanacs undertaken at the time of Ugadi. All these
portfolios are allocated to these planets on the basis of solar ingress into various
signs.
The planet which denotes the lord of the day on which sun enters into first point
of Aries is the King of the year. The day-lord on the day of solar ingress into
Taurus becomes Minister. The complete significations can be comprehended
from table 2 as follows.
Table 2
Auspicious Deaths:
Solar Ingress into sign Portfolio
1) Aries King
2) Taurus Minister
3) Gemini Fluids
4) Cancer Paddy Crops
5) Libra Fruits & vegetables
6) Sagittarius Corn
7) Capricorn Mineral Kingdom
Solar Ingress into Star Portfolio
1) Ardra Regent of Clouds.
In Hindu philosophy, Death is also considered as an auspicious occasion when a
person merges with the divine. There is an adage, “Ekadashi Maranam,
Dwadashi Dahanam” (Death on Ekadashi day and cremation on Dwadashi day).
This is considered highly auspicious for the welfare of the departed soul.
This is very rare but it would be beneficial to one and all if the phenomenon could
be described elaborately here. According to Shastras, the corpse has to be
cremated without time delay. So let us say a person departs on Monday (which
has Ekadashi thithi for the full day), then it is not permitted by the Shastras to
wait till Tuesday for cremation. Sometimes on a certain day Ekadashi may be
there till, say, 10 AM. Assuming the person departs at 8 AM. Then the funeral
rites are performed and by the time cremation starts (by say 11AM), Dwadashi
thithi would be operating. This according to Shastras is highly auspicious as
Ekadashi is a special day for worshiping Lord Vishnu. However it needs to be
emphasized here that the time of death will depend mainly on poorva janma
karma as well as merits of deeds committed in present birth.

BHAVA SANDHI AND DASA SANDHI:
The effect of a planet in Bhava Sandhi is said to be Nil. Malefics in Bhava sandhi
lose their power to do evil and benefics lose the power to do good. Let us take
the case of a girl in whose horoscope Mars occupies the 30 th degree of Mithuna
in the 7 th house. Now the evil attributable to Kuja dosha stands nullified as Mars
is in Bhava Sandhi.
“Dasa Sandhi” is a concept peculiar to horoscope matching. If the boy’s chart
shows, that he ends Rahu dasa and commences Jupiter dasa in august 2009,
and the girl’s chart shows a changeover from Sun dasa to Moon dasa in
September 2009, then the two charts should not be matched. Between a boy’s
chart and girl’s chart these dasa sandhis should not occur for both of them within
a six-month interval. This is to ensure that simultaneously both do not run into
adversities since it can also prove fatal. This example is intended to show that
the period when a particular dasha ends and another commences is also a
crucial junction. There are certain Homas like “ Rahu-Brihaspathi” Homam to
ward off the evil due to Dasa sandhi – the abovementioned Homam is done at
the fag end of Rahu dasa.
CONCLUSION:
Among astrologers, there are many who have strong reservations about
recommending girls born in Moola Nakshatra. As discussed earlier, the taboo
associated with Moola nakshatra is mainly due to the “Gandantha” concept. The
former Pontiff of Kanchi Mutt, fondly called as Paramacharya has exhorted all
astrologers not to perpetrate this taboo because it was leading to a situation
where lots of girls born in Ashlesha, Moola, Jyeshta and Visaka stars were
remaining unmarried giving anxious moments to parents. The evil yoga called
“Gandantham” stands nullified if Moon is in its own varga, in friendly sign or in
conjunction with benefics or aspected by benefics. Without assessing the
various factors influencing the Moon, lots of doomsday predictions are being
issued by Astrologers in a superficial manner and this was the reason for the
Paramacharya’s advice to all astrologers in general.Further the taboo associated
with “ Moola “ merely takes into account the asterism occupied by the moon and
ignores the strength of the chart as a whole which is based on the positions of all
the Nine planets.