Pushkara: Navamsha and Bhaga Pushkara Part Two Komilla Sutton Pushkara navamshas are special navamshas that

enhance the quality of the planet. Pushkara bhagas are special degrees, which bring good luck and auspicious energ y to the chart. Push means to nourish and kara means who does or what causes. So pushkara navamsha nourishes the quality of the planet placed within it. This ca n take the quality of the planet from ordinary to extra-ordinary. Pushkara are n ot given in many texts. They form the secret part of Vedic astrology in which wh en you dig deep; you come up with gems of analysis. The secret part was essentia l to give serious astrologers insight where the amateurs could fail. Chandra Kal a Nadi, Jataka Parijata have a few shlokas that mention them. I read about Pushk ara in C S Patel s book Navamsha and Nadi Astrology, Jataka Parijata and Chandra K ala Nadi, but the final analysis is my own research and experience. Pushkara navamshas are special navamshas that enhance the quality of the planet. Pushkara bhagas are special degrees, which bring good luck and auspicious energ y to the chart. Push means to nourish and kara means who does or what causes. So pushkara navamsha nourishes the quality of the planet placed within it. This ca n take the quality of the planet from ordinary to extra-ordinary. Pushkara are n ot given in many texts. They form the secret part of Vedic astrology in which wh en you dig deep; you come up with gems of analysis. The secret part was essentia l to give serious astrologers insight where the amateurs could fail. Chandra Kal a Nadi, Jataka Parijata have a few shlokas that mention them. I read about Pushk ara in C S Patel s book Navamsha and Nadi Astrology, Jataka Parijata and Chandra K ala Nadi, but the final analysis is my own research and experience. Pushkara Navamsha Navamsha is the most important varga. Planet positions in their navamsha finally decide whether they are strong or weak in the chart. Do they feel supported or not. Therefore Pushkara navamshas become very important. They are specific areas in charts that nourish which give planets the capacity to heal and regenerate t hemselves. This special navamsha allow the personality to flourish. Regardless o f the situation of the planet, its qualities become replenished. It is always th e navamsha ruled by the same signs within the same elements that become pushkara . Study the table below for further clarification. Pushkara Navamsha Table by Signs and Elements Elements Signs a FIRE Aries, Leo, Sagittarius EARTH Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn AIR Gemini, Libra, Aquarius WATER Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces Pushkara Degrees Pushkara Navamsh

20 26 06 13 16 23 00 06

deg deg deg deg deg deg deg deg

to 23 deg20 to 30 deg 00 40 to 10 deg 00 20 to 16 deg 40 40 to 20 deg 00 20 to 26 deg 40 00to 03 deg 20 40 to 10 deg 00

Libra Sagitarius Pisces Taurus Pisces Taurus Cancer Virgo

While there are two Pushkara in each sign, they do not fall in Aries, Gemini, Le o, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Aquarius navamshas. These navamshas can be taken as p oints of personal development, where individual learns from their own mistakes. Aries, Gemini, Leo and Aquarius are male signs and their navamsha may use up all the energy available to them not try to regenerate the planetary qualities. Sco

rpio and Capricorn are female signs but these are complex areas within signs. Sc orpio creates sudden transformation and Capricorn makes planet feel very burdene d, even if they are well placed. As Capricorn makes us face up to our karmic res ponsibilities and therefore we are not able to nurture the soul. If planets are placed in these navamshas, it should not be taken as minus points . What needs to be understood that these planets have to be self-motivated, thei r job in this life uses up some of the positive energy saved from previous lives , and therefore pushkara does not nourish them. That may not be negative, just t he way life is. Not everything can be saved up or nurtured. But by being aware o f these qualities, we can make sure that we learn to nourish them through our ac tions. Pushkara navamsha can be classified through nakshatras padas as follows Ketu Nakshatras (Ashwini, Magha, and Mula) do not have any pushkara navamsha. 3rd pada (Libra) of Venus nakshatras- Bharani, Purva Phalguni, Purva Ashadha 1st pada, Sagittarius and 4th pada, Pisces of Sun nakshatras- Krittika, Uttara P halguni, Uttara Ashadha 2nd pada Taurus of Moon nakshatras- Rohini, Hasta, Shravana Mars (Mrigasira, Chitra, and Dhanishta) do not have any pushkara navamsha. 4th pada Pisces of Rahu nakshatra- Ardra, Swati and Shatabhishak 2nd pada (Taurus) and 4th pada (Cancer) of Jupiter nakshatras- Punarvasu, Vishak ha, Purva Bhadra 2nd pada (Virgo) of Saturn nakshatra- Pushya, Anuradha, Uttara Bhadra Mercury (Ashlesha, Jyeshta, and Revati) do not have any pushkara navamsha. Ketu nakshatra are beginning stages for the development for the soul. These stag es can be very intense and therefore personal effort and the struggle of the sou l to live a material life is there. In Ketu nakshatras, the soul is taking a new step in its development, so it uses up some of its accumulated nourishment. So while they are aspiring for moksha, their very action depletes their collected g ood karma and planets find it difficult to find nourishment in these circumstanc es. That does not make it wrong or bring weakness but pushkara cannot thrive. Th e soul cannot change the situation and in its pursuit for the next level of deve lopment, they have to use up some of their equity. It is like taking a loan for present development, which will bring future rewards. But the present will make them feel burdened. Ketu nakshatra are beginning stages for the development for the soul. These stag es can be very intense and therefore personal effort and the struggle of the sou l to live a material life is there. In Ketu nakshatras, the soul is taking a new step in its development, so it uses up some of its accumulated nourishment. So while they are aspiring for moksha, their very action depletes their collected g ood karma and planets find it difficult to find nourishment in these circumstanc es. That does not make it wrong or bring weakness but pushkara cannot thrive. Th e soul cannot change the situation and in its pursuit for the next level of deve lopment, they have to use up some of their equity. It is like taking a loan for present development, which will bring future rewards. But the present will make them feel burdened. Mercury nakshatras are areas of transformation where the debris of all soul s nega tivity gets collected, the soul struggles to make the changes, the mind is activ e trying to make sense of their circumstances. The planets struggle to transcend

, therefore there is no calmness and stillness provided by Pushkara. Planets use up their energy and do not always feel nourished. The pushkara navamshas throw up some interesting points. The rulerships of the n avamshas are by benefic planets. Jupiter and Venus ruler nine pushkara each, one in fire, earth and air elements, whereas Moon and Mercury rule one each in Wate r elements. Water signs are known as moksha houses as well. Moksha houses are ab out self-realisation and the rulership of Moon and Mercury- the two planets of t he mind should that we have to nourish our mind before we can aspire to realise ourselves. Another way of looking at it is that a nourished and quiet mind helps us to go towards self-realization. The planets that are not placed in pushkara need to be energized, as they do not have the capacity to nourish themselves. Pushkara Bhaga Pushkara bhaga are specific degrees where planets become especially auspicious t o do good. The exact degree is becomes very powerful agent for being positive, w hereas the navamsha is still powerful but not as intense as the degree. Pushkara degrees are used for Muhurta. Choosing the muhurta lagna on a pushkara bhaga ma kes that a very auspicious moment. Jataka Parijata- Adhyaya 1 Shloka 58 gives the following degrees: 21 Aries (Libra Navamsha) 19 Leo (Virgo navamsha) 23 Sagittarius (Libra Navamsha) These three in Venus nakshatras and Fire signs 14 Taurus (Taurus navamsha and vargotamma- Moon nakshatra), 9 Virgo (Pisces navamsha- Sun nakshatra), 14 Capricorn (Taurus Navamsha- Moon nakshatra) Above Three in Earth signs 18 Gemini (Pisces navamsha- Rahu nakshatra), 24 Libra (Taurus Navamsha- Jupiter nakshatra), 19 Aquarius (Pisces Navamsha- Rahu nakshatra) Above three in Air signs 8 Cancer (Virgo Navamsha) 11 Scorpio (Libra Navamsha), 9 Pisces (Virgo Navamsha) Above three in Saturn nakshatras and Water signs Pushkara degrees given by CS Patel in his book Nadi and Navamsha astrology are: 21 of Fire signs: 21 Aries, 21 Leo, and 21 Sagittarius (Venus nakshatras) 14 in Earth signs: 14 Taurus, 14 Virgo, and 14 Capricorn (Moon nakshatras) 24 in Air signs: 24 Gemini, 24 Libra, and 24 Aquarius (Jupiter Nakshatras) 7 in Water signs: 7 Cancer, 7 Scorpio, 7 Pisces (Saturn nakshatras) According to the CS Patel, Bhagas are not found in Ketu, Sun, Mars, Rahu and Mer cury nakshatras while Jataka Parijata has pushkara bhaga in Rahu and Sun nakshat ras but not in Ketu, Mars and Mercury nakshatras. Mostly the Jataka Parijata pushkara bhaga degrees are used. I am also using Jata ka Parijata bhagas as it gives these actual degrees in the text. Plus it resonat es with my research. I have been infomred by one of his students that CS Pate'ls information is from Purva Kalamrita. Do research both sets of degrees and come up with your own conc lusions.

How to use Pushkara Bhaga and Navamsha Jataka Parijata says that pushkara should be used in muhurta, natal and any othe r factor under consideration. Other factors under consideration are in prashna a nd maybe relationship compatibility. Muhurta: There are 24 pushkara navamsha and 12 pushkara therefore every hour a p ushkara navamsha rises and every two hours a pushkara degree rises. Therefore wh en you need to find an auspicious time in a hurry, you can chose a pushkara nava msha or a pushkara degree. Some degrees reflect both the navamsha and degree of pushkara. In Taurus, the pushkara navamsha and the degree are vargotamma; theref ore that particular position is extremely strong. Generally when planning a muhu rta, it would be good to choose a pushkara degree or navamsha rising. This prote cts the chart and gives it a benefic quality. To have the benefic planets, lagna lord, 9th lord, 5th lord as well as the lord of the house for which you are per forming the muhurta (10th career, 4th- home) to be in pushkara navamsha will fur ther fortify the chart. Natal: Remember pushkara is added on knowledge. You should analyse the chart by all traditional methods and then study the chart to see whether any planets are placed in pushkara bhaga or navamsha. If a chart does not appear to have any gre at strength but it has ascendant in pushkara bhaga and 10th lord in pushkara deg ree, the quality of the is chart changes and your analysis will be different. Th e chart is showing extra ordinary strength with both the lagna and 10th lord for tifies. Pushkara will bring strength to the chart, nourish it after it has used up some of its energy. The individual may not immediately gain the strength, but is guided through these auspicious degrees to work with their issues, accept th em and learn to overcome them. Planet in an exact degree is stronger than the bhaga so the quality will be more intense. If you have Sun exalted in 21 Aries, it is in pushkara navamsha and bha ga. But this is also the debilitated navamsha of the Sun. Sun debilitated by nav amsha shows hidden lack of confidence, need for support of others, and low self esteem. The weakness indicated by the Sun in its debilitated navamsha is being o ver-ridden by the fact that the Sun is pushkara both in navamsha and bhaga. Ther efore an individual may experience some weaknesses of this debilitation, but the y are quickly able to overcome it and make the Sun, its karakas, house rulership s etc positive. Low esteem will be there but the person learn confidence, pushka ra will make them feel strong instead of weak. All texts say lagna, lagna lord, and 10th lords in Pushkara gives great strength and good luck to the birth chart. In my experience, the more planets in pushkar a, the stronger the chart. The lagna is a pushkara degree or navamsha brings for tune and success. If the lord of a house is placed in pushkara or the bhava Madh ya of the house is placed in pushkara, this strengthens it and makes it a force to do good. Pushkara imparts sweetness to the chart that brings in higher qualit ies of goodness, spiritual aspirations and material success as. Those who have their rajayoga karaka in pushkara or their yogas taking place in pushkara, they are specially blessed. This enhances an already strong position t o something sublime. The experience of pushkara is during their dashas. If the dasha lord is in pushk ara or the lord of bhava Madhya that are pushkara, it will give special results in relationship to its signification s. Also watch when planets go into their pushkara positions by transit. In June 200 5, many planets, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, Sun while as I write thi s article (23 July2005) only Saturn and Sun are pushkara in 6 Cancer. But Saturn

is combust and Saturn is spoiling Sun. Therefore the ability of these planets to do good is limited. But their being in pushkara position, it suggests that desp ite their limitations and the pain that this conjunction has generated is there, but also there is hope and capacity for improvement. Prashna: If the prashna ascendant falls in pushkara or the karaka falls in pushk ara, there will be a good ending. Lets suppose the question was about buying a n ew home. 4th lord is Mercury and is placed in the 8th house in Taurus navamsha i n Libra. The immediate answer would be that there is difficulty in buying the ho use. But this is a pushkara navamsha; therefore there are some underlying factor s that will make this negative aspect positive. It may be that not buying the ho use saved you from a big loss or there may be a better property ahead so not buy ing this property will be for your good in the long run. Relationships: if Venus, the karaka of relationships is placed in 14 Virgo. Now V enus in Virgo would usually create problems with relationships but the pushkara aspect will nourish Venus, make it feel supported and that would have good effec t for relationships. Your lagna lord is pushkara in your partner s chart or vice versa means that you h ave the ability to nourish your partners. The karakas Venus and Jupiter in pushk ara degrees help make partnerships good. If a woman has Jupiter in pushkara, the n she will experience good partners and children. A pushkara Venus gives nourish ing relationships