Learned pandits may argue about who said what and express their attachments to different sides of the issue, but the planets in the chart also speak.

The Debate Over Srila Prabhupada's Rising Sign

This article is a response to a debate inaugurated by readers of a recent article on Dandavats.com.

If there are two opposing points on one issue, both sides should be presented rationally. In a debate, different reasoning and different sides regarding a single issue may both have their validation. “So many sages, so many minds.” For one idea to triumph over another requires proof brought from different sources. In the discussion of whether the current Vaishnava Acharya, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, was born with Capricorn or Sagittarius rising, Makara or Dhanush lagna, we find the best evidence in the proposed charts themselves.

Srila Prabhupada has often said, “I was born about four o’clock.” Many countries like India adopted hourly time zones by the late 1920’s. Until then, the local time was calculated by the sunrise and sunset. Technically Calcutta is Time Zone 6, even though many astrological programs will give you Time Zone 5_. Srila Prabhupada was born after 3.30 pm, which might be technically 4 o’clock. It was accepted worldwide in the past to round the hour for convenience. Often it is the case that the birth time is noted later, when the mother and newborn calm down after labor. Because the time of birth is difficult to define, in the old Puranic texts three different times are noted as regards to recording birth time: (1) when the baby is conceived, (2) when the umbilical cord is severed and (3) when the baby has touched the ground.

The rising sign in Srila Prabhupada’s birth chart changes from Dhanush to Makara right in between 3:30 and 4:00 pm on September 1st, 1896 for Calcutta, India. This time is considered from our modern perspective of time calculation. There would always be arguments about the two possible rising signs, until the stars themselves are examined.

Let us begin with Capricorn rising. Capricorn is the 10th sign of the zodiac, which rules career, image, father, status. It is a solid, stable and Saturnine sign and containing within its portfolio everything that is hard to get. Saturn is the stern teacher of life, the one who either brings about hardships in order to strengthen a native and make him victorious. Or Saturn crushes him completely under the load of his own karma, if he is not worthy of the master’s teachings. In the Capricorn rising version of Srila Prabhupada’s chart Saturn, the rising sign lord, would be exalted in the 10th house. Considered an excellent position for Saturn, it foretells a splendid career. For Capricorn rising, Saturn also rules the second house, Aquarius, the house of speech and the immediate family. Certainly this exceptional placement of Saturn would have revealed Srila Prabhupada as a brilliant public orator, as well as one who can deal with the masses. With Saturn in the tenth, he would have been a hard-to-debate politician since Makara lagna places the outcaste Rahu in the second house (of speech). According to the Bhrigu system of horoscopy, Rahu in the second gives a harsh speech, and we know that Srila Prabhupada often was not light on his opponents.

But when we move to the 3rd house of courage, communication and publishing activities the stars of Makara lagna hit a weak spot. The third house for Capricorn rising is Pisces. This is the last sign of the zodiac, famous for its spirituality. The ruler of this 3rd house Pisces is Jupiter—which is fine, until we find Jupiter in the eighth house of the proposed Capricorn rising chart. The eighth house rules inheritance, death, sex, mystic practices like yoga, and karmic diseases. Jupiter is Brihaspati, the teacher of the demigods and, as lord of the third house for Makara lagna; he is the planet of courage. In Vedic astrology Jupiter, planet of dharma, is simply known as “Guru”.

Could the righteous Jupiter be found in this eighth house dustan (lit. “evil house”) of Srila Prabhupada’s chart? In the eighth, Jupiter would be joined by the Sun who is situated in his own house of Leo. The two planets are further conjoined by malefic Ketu. Ketu gives physical and mental anguish in the eighth, and tremendously shortens the life of the native. The eighth house does not rule religious activities by default. The combination of Sun, Jupiter and Ketu in the eighth may offer inheritance or support from others. But it does not show the pronounced courage of Srila Prabhupada. And where does the Capricorn lagna chart show the pronounced spirituality of the acharya destined to change the world?

Let us have an objective look at the chart with Sagittarius lagna. Sagittarius is the natural 9th house ruling over religion, travel and building a platform for the future. With Sagittarius rising, we see that the ruler of the 1st house of self has gone to the 9th house of dharma or Krishna consciousness. Here, the natural 9th lord is in the 9th house showing one who is a personification of true dharma. Moreover, Jupiter also rules the 4th house signifying buildings, vehicles, mother, land and heart. From Sagittarius rising, we see that the predictions of the astrologer who looked into Srila Prabhupada’s chart immediately after his birth were correct. This great pandit foresaw that His Divine Grace will go around the world and build 108 temples of Lord Sri Krishna. The lord of the 4th house of buildings is in the 9th house of travel and religion which declares the establishment of temples by a dharmatma, one who is the personification of Krishna consciousness. Jupiter is in Leo along with the Sun in his own house speaking volumes about Srila Prabhupada as the head of a religious organization. Being the moksha karaka or significator of liberation, Ketu in Leo in the ninth contributes a spiritual emphasis to the Sun/Jupiter combination which he cannot do in the eighth house. His Divine Grace is indeed capable of delivering his followers from the clutches of Maya and taking them back to the spiritual world. Could such a splendid combination be found in the Makara lagna chart?

Moreover, with Sagittarius rising, Saturn becomes the ruler of the 3rd house of courage. Saturn, being exalted in the 11th house of gains, shows a tremendous expansion of courage. Rahu as the atmakaraka (lit., “significator of the self”) adds to Saturn’s verdict. It is an astrological dictum that a malefic planet like Rahu in the 3rd house ruled by an exalted Saturn does wonders for courage. Srila Prabhupada was named Abhay Charan, “fearless at the feet of God.” Names are given at the time of birth in Vedic tradition, and they reveal or emphasize the qualities of the person indicated by the birth chart. We have already examined the 3rd house in the Makara lagna chart. The position of the 3rd lord in the 8th house in that chart is a weak notation to courage. Srila Prabhupada kept his initials “A.C.”, now Abhaya Charanaravinda, even after accepting the title Bhaktivedanta. It was his courage and determination that were crucial for the foundation of Krishna Consciousness movement in the western world. Only Saturn, the stern taskmaster presiding over Srila Prabhupada’s fearless nature, can bend one shape into another or a transform lower consciousness to a higher level. “Fearless Abhay Charan” is written all over in the chart of Dhanush lagna. Both the name and the life of Srila Prabhupada are reflected in his astrological chart, the janma kundali with Dhanush lagna.

Of course, one may argue about the other houses of the Capricorn lagna chart, such as the 9th house which would have exalted Mercury and debilitated Venus in Virgo. Certainly, this combination may indicate a sannyasi, but it cannot be the mark of a world acharya. Mercury is an intellectual planet, and cannot be compared to Jupiter, the significator of religion, in the 9th. Dhanush lagna makes for an extraordinary horoscope. Here the dharmastan or 9th house Guru conjoined swarashi (lit., “own sign”) Sun, along with the chart’s other perfect combinations reveal an empowered vibhuti or shaktyavesha avatar. The astrologer who had the first glimpse of Srila Prabhupada’s chart was right. He had never seen such stars.

The main focus of this article is not astrology. It is about honoring the true position of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. If we have the possibility of two charts, one which is ordinary and the other which is extraordinary, and which appears within fifteen minutes of each other, why should we pick the chart which minimizes the position of the most extraordinary personality in Vaishnava history? Learned pandits may argue about who said what and express their attachments to different sides of the issue, but the planets in the chart also speak. The demigods who rule the nava-grahas are powerful devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna. Their opinions were sealed in a verdict 113 years ago. An avatar cannot have an ordinary chart as seen by Makara lagna on the afternoon of Sept 1, 1896.

As we all know, Srila Prabhupada did not have much interest in astrology, although he naturally accepted it as a bona fide Vedic science. His main mission was to chant:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

www.vedicastrologers.org

Dear Patita das, Jaya Prabhupada.

In #14 you make the following statement:

Srila Prabhupada spoke of astrology as “lost.” Yet His Divine Grace also enjoyed the reading I prepared for him and to this day his servants in Vrindavan will show you that horoscope and tell you “Srila Prabhupad said that this is the correct one.” (Dhanush lagna).

In which you claim the chart that you made with Dhanur Lagna (Sagittarius Rising) was accepted by Srila Prabhupada as correct and supported by his servants in Vrndavana. However, that is not what the record states. The following quotation is from The Transcendental Horoscope of Srila Prabhupada: "Questions for the Governing Body Commission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness" written by Shyamasundara Prabhu in 1995 for Srila Prabhupada’s centennial (where were you when this was going on?) to resolve the debate about Srila Prabhupada’s rising sign. He conclusively proves that Prabhupada’s rising sign was Makara, that is, Capricorn. Whether or not you or anyone else accepts this conclusion is not the point of my quoting this text. The reason I quote it is because he shows documented evidence that Srila Prabhupada accepted the chart done by Ojha as being most accurate and for this reason Ojha became famous in ISKCON as an accurate astrologer (not you). This is significantly different from what you have stated.

[begin quote]
We should accept as very strong evidence what ever Srila Prabhupada has said regarding his birth time and horoscope. Srila Prabhupada has consistently used September 1, 1896 at 4:00 PM in Calcutta as his bio data. This is confirmed by Tamal Krishna Goswami, he states:

“Prabhupada became noticeably enthused and said: ‘Let us consult an astrologer—whether I should go? Whether I shall be cured? How long I shall live? I was born in the evening at 4:00 p. m. It was Nandotsava. You can consult an old panjika to see the day. It was a Tuesday.’” Section 6.1.

Srila Prabhupada also accepted the horoscope drawn up by Asutosh Ojha as accurate. Ojha used the 4:00 PM time and with that a Capricorn rising chart. That Prabhupada accepted Ojha is again confirmed by Tamal Krishna Goswami and also Nanda Kumar Prabhu. Tamal Krishna Goswami states:

“The 30th July entry: ‘Srila Prabhupada had asked for us to consult an astrologer regarding whether or not he should travel. This afternoon reports came from three different astrologers. These were presented by Yasodanandana Swami, Dr. Sharma, and Bhakti Prema Swami. I had each give their reports separately so that we could see how they agreed and how they differed. Bhakti Prema’s was useless, Dr. Sharma’s was fair, and Yasodanandana Swami’s most reliable.’” Section 6.1.

It should be noted that it was Yasodanandana Swami who was bringing the report from Ojha. TKG also stated:

“4th August entry: ‘After lunch Srila Prabhupada had me read again the astrologer’s report brought by Yasodanandana Maharaja. Prabhupada found it to be quite accurate regarding his past.’”

From various room conversations and the letter of Hari Sauri Prabhu (6.3) we see that Srila Prabhupada had Ojha’s report read to him on at least two occasions after the initial consultation and indeed Prabhupada personally sent Hari Sauri Prabhu to consult Ojha a second time. This clearly indicates as TKG has noted that Srila Prabhupada found the horoscope done by Ojha to be quite accurate. This became so well known and established that on this basis Ojha became a minor celebrity with ISKCON devotees. It became well known that Prabhupada clearly favored him as an accurate astrologer and thus others in the movement consulted him. Nanda Kumar Prabhu states:

Nanda Kumara: He had many charts done and I had heard that there was one astrologer that he worked with. He [SP] said that this man is the bona fide astrologer—Asutosh Ojha.

Shyamasundara Dasa: Oh, he said that? Prabhupada actually said that?

NK: Well, I didn’t hear it. I heard that he had said that.

SD: From who did you hear that?

NK: I don’t remember. It was, you know, back in that time. But, I remember that it was mentioned that out of all the astrologers. Because then, I remember right after that I went to see him in Delhi.

SD: Ahaa.

NK: And I have this [indistinct]. . . I remember the word that I heard, which was what sparked me to go to see him, was that he [SP] said this man [Ojha] is a bona fide astrologer.

I suggest that the way that the GBC should answer this question is to simply accept the answer that Srila Prabhupada has given to this question. This is the strongest evidence and should be accepted as the last word. He gave 4:00 PM as his birth time, and since he stated that Ojha was accurate we should also accept the horoscope that Ojha used. This was a chart drawn for 4:00PM with a Capricorn rising. Not any other sign rising. By doing this we accept what Srila Prabhupada has said about himself, avoid speculation caused by inexperience in astrology, and concur with Srila Prabhupada, who is the authority on himself, that the 4:00PM chart with Capricorn rising was “most reliable” and “quite accurate.” We should definitely not accept any horoscope with any rising sign other than Capricorn.

The complete and comprehensive text written by Shyamasundara Prabhu with many references can be found at

http://krishnascience.com/Vaisnava%20Library/Astrology/Horoscope%20of%20Srila%20Prabhupada.htm

or

http://tinyurl.com/225sy6.

In conclusion we find that you have wrongly stated as fact that:

• Srila Prabhupada accepted the chart that you did as most accurate.


• That the chart that you made had Dhanur Lagna (Sagittarius Rising) hence this is the accurate chart for Srila Prabhupada.

In reality it was the chart done by Ojha that was actually accepted by Srila Prabhupada as bona fide and this chart had a Makara Lagna (Capricorn rising).

Yours in the service of Hari, Guru and Vaishnavas
Somayaji das - Dec 17th, 2009

My dear Prabhus,

“An astrologer’s job is to point to planetary trends and cosmic influences as they act upon a native. Once having understood this, it is up to the individual to use that information to make his own intelligent choices. Eternal individuality of the jiva and each soul’s right to make personal decisions is a concomitant philosophical understanding that accompanies the science of jyotish shastra.”

This thread is going nowhere and frankly I have no time for such fruitless debate. I simply presented a situation of eclipses because of disturbances in the atmosphere that coincide with the traveling of thousands of devotees. This has caused quite a reaction. Some one wrote me that this is called "Dandavats", but I’m just getting the danda. As Newton said, “Sir I have studied the matter and you have not.”

If sadhu-sangha becomes a source of pain and insulting words, then we must return to the association of those who remind us of Sri Guru’s divine plan for World Krishna consciousness. Vaishnava devotees who respect one another should not be unkindly characterized as “flatterers” as one lady has written. Such demeaning comments have no place in sadhu-sangha, which is a “confidential” matter.

I have no time to nit pick details, there are few moments left in life. I am the elder member in this discussion yet I am treated as though I am obligated to provide extensive explanation on a variety of relative points which some of you do not agree with in advance. That is the definition of a kangaroo court and not sadhu-sangha.

As Srila Prabhupada said, “You can do any damn thing for Krishna.” But if our service becomes the focus rather than Krishna, then we must exchange it for some activity that stimulates the heart and soul on the way to the Lord’s lotus feet.

I consider Sri Ashutosh Ohja as a friend, and 35 years ago I knew his father. He has been to my house and I have been pleased to share his warm hospitality many times at his place. As gentlemen we have agreed to disagree on some points, but our discussions shall remain private.

The astrology of Sage Vyasadeva, Srila Parashara, Sri Bhrigu, and Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaja shall remain our focus in these matters, however. We can only marvel in awe of their sagacious understanding and beg for their blessings. Our learning is nothing by comparison.

I thank all of you for your input. Hare Krishna.

-Patita Pavana das Adhikary Dec 21st

Dear Prabhu,

Re Srila Prabhupada’s lagna, etc, I confess I have no opinion, as I have not reviewed astrology for many years.

I don’t remember any comment.

Today I leave town for several days, and may not have access to a computer.

Pradyumna

Tamal Krsna Gosvami DIARY AUG 23-4
One astrologer from Tirupati sent a horoscope. Dr. Arkasomayaji, the astrologer, made the following observation after preparing Prabhupada's horoscope: "Prabhupada is an avatara-purusha. He has the most righteous life that any mortal could have in these days of Kali. A jivan-mukta, he is highly powerful by dint of his spiritual stature, caring for no mortal, however great. Longevity shall be very high. The present illness shall be interpreted only as a sort of exhaustion after a strenuous over-work both of body and mind-of mind because of a yearning for fulfillment of certain plans. He is now towards the end of Ketu-dasa; and this dasa, which has started on January 19, 1971, and which lasts up to January 19, 1978, is just the dasa of consummation towards jivan-mukti. By January 19, 1978, Prabhupada shall have established a divine order, so to say, among men laboring under obscure physical mentality and subhuman tendencies. I see clearly and assert that he shall be able to overcome this illness by his strength of spirituality and shall have the opportunity of fulfilling his spiritual errand living up to January 19, 1984, i.e. the beginning of Shukra-kripa."

The astrologer, a Ph.D. who occupied a number of academic positions in astronomy as well as astrology, backed up all his statements by giving the planetary positions and astrological calculations. Hearing the reading, all of the devotees present were very satisfied and pleased. Srila Prabhupada confirmed, "The calculation is good. He is a learned scholar."

>My dear Hari Sauri das Prabhuji,
>
> Dandavats. I have been reading about Srila Prabhupada in the TKG Diary
> (Samadhi). Therein, there is a mention of a Delhi astrologer in many
> places, two of which are seen below. Is the karmi astrologer Srila
> Prabhupada refers to Asutosh Ohja?

Yes, this is Ojha. He was a very nice guy, from a long line of astrologers. His father, Gopesh Kumar Ojha, who was still alive at that time, but suffering debilitating effects of a stroke and not able to do readings himself anymore, was a very respected astrologer and author of "Predictive Astrology of the Hindus".

Ashu Tosh was a bit of a friend, he took initiation from Hansaduta in the early 80s. There may have been some material motivation but actually he also was genuinely interested in being a devotee. He was chanting, and not long before he died (about two years ago) I had given him a compilation of Srila Prabhupada bhajans on his request, which he kept playing almost continuously. I don't know the exact circumstances of his death but I do know he understood the efficacy of the Holy Names and was serious about it. He genuinely appreciated the devotees so I wouldn't call him a complete karmi by any means. Of course he wasn't a pure devotee either, but he will get a better birth for sure.

He had a website www.ojhabooks.com which you can check out.

> I have been seriously challenged in the Eclipse article now on Dandavats
> by one Arka Somayaji das. Do you know him?

Never heard of him. Could be a psuedonym.

> He says Prabhupada accepted
> Ohja, although I know Ohja is a complete karmi who received initiation
> from Hansadutta for getting clients only. His books use non-Vedic
> planets, Uranus, Neptuna and Pluto, so immediately we know he is not
> genuine.
>

See my comments above.

> Did Srila Prabhupada ever say that his lagna or Rising Sign was Capricorn
> (Makara) or Dhanush (the bowman or Sagittarius)

I was sent to Delhi to get his chart done by Ojha, and the time given to me by Srila Prabhupada was 4.00PM, so whatever the rising sign was at that time, that's the correct one.

>
> Some of the diary passages appear below.
>
> Your servant,
> Patit
>
>
> TKG DIARY OCT 6 1977
> When Srila Prabhupada was told that Hari-sauri had
> approached the Delhiastrologer for a more detailed
> report of Prabhupada's immediate future, he was not pleased. His Divine
> Grace said, "Do not pay the
> astrologer. It is useless. They are karmis. We don't associate with
> karmis." It was mentioned that the astrologer had given a special
> mantra to be chanted many thousands of times by ten brahmanas for
> twenty-one days. Srila Prabhupada responded,
> "We have the maha-mantra. There is
> no need of others. Better to arrange
> kirtan as much as possible. Kirtan is
> so sweet. I can hear twenty-four hour
> kirtan. Don't waste time and money any
> other way. This is the real
> business-twenty-four hour kirtan.
>

Yes, initially Srila Prabhupada's reaction was a little negative, but when he understood that Ojha had not charged anything, his mood changed a little. He called TKG in more than once to hear what Ojha had to say about the negative days, so he did take it seriously. However he was focused on chanting the maha-mantra as being the only remedy and thus did not attempt to implement Ojha's recommendations to counter the bad influences.

> TKD OCT 8
> This morning, I read to Srila Prabhupada the astrological
> report from Delhi. Although he had told us to disregard the astrologers
> because they had
> not charged anything, I felt the report to be accurate. Besides, the
> indications were so negative, I
> thought Srila Prabhupada should be informed in case he wished to prepare
> himself further.
> The report indicated that today (Ekadasi), tomorrow, and
> October 11 would be very negative. Other
> days cited as very difficult were October 24 and 25, November 20 to 22,
> and December 3 and 4. The entire period
> through April, 1978, was most inauspicious for Srila Prabhupada. The
> chart showed many planets and stars
> entering the eighth house (the house of death). The chart also forecast
> that Prabhupada was meant to live to seventy-five
> years of age but received a special dispensation from Krishna. The
> astrologer recommended the chanting of a
> mantra to Lord Shiva, who rules the planet giving the most trouble. Srila
> Prabhupada heard the report silently
> and remained unmoved. "We have the maha-mantra."

I don't have my own diary with me from that period. It is currently in Australia, but TKG's account above is accurate.

It's worth mentioning that Srila Prabhupada agreed to let Guru Kripa buy a blue saffire from Bangkok on the recommendation of Ojha, and he was wearing this ring until he departed. That ring was put into samadhi with him.

Your humble servant,
Hari-sauri das