{"id":2418,"date":"2015-04-27T15:34:49","date_gmt":"2015-04-27T20:34:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.navamsa.com\/?p=2418"},"modified":"2015-04-28T06:25:09","modified_gmt":"2015-04-28T11:25:09","slug":"swami-prabhupada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.navamsa.com\/?p=2418","title":{"rendered":"Swami Prabhupada: a choice of ascendants"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"prabhupada-1a\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Swami Prabhupada<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was a guru and the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), commonly known as the \u00e2\u0080\u009cHare Krishna Movement\u00e2\u0080\u009d. His mission was to propagate Gaudiya Vaishnavism, a school of Hinduism taught by his guru, throughout the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

A charismatic leader, he emerged as a major figure of the Western counter-culture, finding early acceptance in San Francisco of the Sixties. He translated into English over 60 volumes of classic Vedic scriptures, praised by academics and well-received by spiritual devotees world-wide. In subsequent translation into 80 other languages, over half a billion of his books have been distributed.<\/span><\/p>\n

After his death in 1977, ISKCON continued to grow and is respected in India, though there have been disputes about leadership among his followers. Over the years, there has been rumor-fueled speculation as to whether Prabhupada was poisoned in his later years, so as to facilitate a change of leadership.<\/span><\/p>\n

This past year, a devotee client of mine asked whether I might try to determine Prabhupada\u00e2\u0080\u0099s correct chart. He was especially interested to know if the chart would corroborate the poisoning theory. He provided me with certain information \u00e2\u0080\u0093 major events in Prabhupada\u00e2\u0080\u0099s life, anecdotes about the inner workings of ISKCON, and astrological analyses of two other devotee astrologers.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most vocal of these pundits says only a Sagittarius ascendant can explain Prabhupada\u00e2\u0080\u0099s mass appeal and prolific authorship. I suspect this is based in part on the notion that Sagittarius must be more “spiritual” than Capricorn. But certainly, a Dhanus lagna<\/em> is attractive, in that it puts lagnesh<\/em> Jupiter in the spiritual 9th with Ketu and a strong Sun in Leo. An exalted Mercury is in the 10th, an exalted Saturn in the 11th, and it\u00e2\u0080\u0099s these two strengths that the same pundit offers as prime evidence of Prabhupada the author.<\/span><\/p>\n

Interestingly, Parabhupada himself apparently identified with a Capricorn ascendant corresponding to the 4 PM time at which he believed he was born. Yet, half an hour earlier, Sagittarius was rising, and there began the speculation\u00e2\u0080\u00a6<\/span><\/p>\n

After examining the salient events in his life in light of dasas<\/em>, bhuktis<\/em> and transits, I\u00e2\u0080\u0099ve tentatively settled on a time of 15h54 (1 Sept 1896, Calcutta), which produces an ascendant of 06CP16. Although we can rarely make a chart account for an entire life, following are my arguments for a Capricorn ascendant.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"prabhupada_2xrasi_b\"<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Authorship<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The two houses most generally associated with authorship are the 2nd and the 5th, while the 3rd is execution of craft or trade, relating more to writing skill itself. The 2nd reflects someone who has \u00e2\u0080\u009csomething to say\u00e2\u0080\u009d, while the 5th reflects the work of the critical and\/or creative mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

2nd lord Saturn is exalted in the 10th. This suggests someone whose career is related to speaking, teaching and writing. Saturn is also lagnesh<\/em>, and being exalted in a kendra<\/em>, generates a Mahapurusha Yoga<\/em>. This Sasha Yoga<\/em> might be considered something of an archetypal renunciate, for such is Saturn\u00e2\u0080\u0099s nature.<\/span><\/p>\n

5th lord Venus is debilitated in the 9th, where debilitation is cancelled by the presence of the 9th lord Mercury. With Venus representing the critical\/creative mind, its field of play is the 9th of publishing. Furthermore, ME\/VE together generate Raja Yoga<\/em> (lords of 9th and 10th conjoined).<\/span><\/p>\n

The 5th is occupied by an exalted Moon with Mars. This constitutes a strong Chandra-Mangala Yoga<\/em>, one of the fundamental wealth yogas, and in the 5th reflects a high level of mental energy and productivity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fame<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Lagnesh<\/em> Saturn is exalted in the 10th and free of affliction. The Moon is exalted and forms yoga with Mars. The Sun is in its own sign with gurukaraka<\/em> Jupiter.<\/span><\/p>\n

And as we\u00e2\u0080\u0099ll see below, the back-to-back dasas<\/em> of two exalted planets \u00e2\u0080\u0093 Saturn and Mercury \u00e2\u0080\u0093 in his maturity gave Prabhupada the opportunity to make his mark in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spiritual signatures<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sasha Yoga<\/em> is alone sufficient cause for a renunciate and spiritual life. Prabhupada also has the makings of Srikanta Yoga<\/em> (lagnesh, Sun and Moon strong in good houses) but the Sun is badly placed. Likewise for Srinatha Yoga<\/em> (9th lord, Mercury and Venus strong in good houses) but Venus is debilitated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Betrayal by acolytes\/disciples\/staff<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For a Capricorn ascendant, Saturn is Prabhupada\u00e2\u0080\u0099s key significator. His acolytes\/disciples\/students are found via the 5th, their significator the 5th lord Venus. Note Venus lies in the 12th (place of secret enemies) from Saturn.<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, staff\/underlings are found via the 6th, so their significator is 6th lord Mercury. Mercury also lies in the 12th from Saturn.<\/span><\/p>\n

Poisoning<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Malefics in the 2nd reflect \u00e2\u0080\u009cbad food\u00e2\u0080\u009d. Rahu occupies the 2nd and is itself the karaka<\/em> for poisons. Rahu is aspected only by 8th lord Sun and 12th lord Jupiter, both trik<\/em> lords and therefore functionally malefic for Prabhupada.<\/span><\/p>\n

One could even make an argument that from the 7th, that strong Sun is now the food possessed (or administered) by the Other.<\/span><\/p>\n

Major periods\/events in life<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Prabhupada married in 1918, Rahu dasa<\/em> Mars bhukti<\/em>. Houses typically activated for marriage are 2nd (family), 7th (relationship), 11th (wishes fulfilled).<\/span><\/p>\n