VEDANTA

Why should the teachings of Vedanta be trusted?

Because they are not the philosophy of an individual nor are they the contentions of a particular religion or a philosophical school of thought. Although they appeared in India, there is nothing ‘Indian’ about them. They are revealed truth. Revealed truth by definition is not authored by people nor does it belong to any particular religion. It comes directly from the Self. During revelation the individual's prejudices and personal views are suspended because he or she is 'ecstatic'...outside the small self. Even then the words that are used to convey the sense of the truth must be verified by many others over a long time before they can be accepted.

Revealed truth usually needs additional revelation because the people who hear it tend to interpret it according to their own tastes. The notion that there is a ‘my truth' is and a ‘your truth’ does not wash in the Vedanta world. The Self is one and the knowledge of it can only be one. Is it possible to simply read these texts and come away enlightened? It may be possible but it is unlikely because truth, like anything else, is only as good as one’s understanding of it. Therefore the teaching tradition of Vedanta has evolved. It requires a mature qualified mind seeking to know and a teacher established in non-duality who can skillfully wield the means of knowledge. It is hoped that if your study of Tattva Bodha awakens a desire to realize the Self you will approach someone established in non-duality and request teaching.

RISHI / GOTRA LINEAGE/ ABHIVADANAM

RISHI / GOTRA LINEAGE / ABHIVADANAM and its references

SHADBALA DEFINED IN ASTROLOGY (ANCIENT INDIAN ASTRONOMY)

-- T.E.Girish and C.Radhakrishnan Nair

Diseases / Defects / Ulcer on body parts as per Drekkana

Drekkanas represents three divisions of the body.  First Drekkana starts from head to mouth, the second one from neck to navel and the third one from pelvis to feet. Defects/illness/diseases/ulcer can be understood from malefic planets occupying a drekkana as per table below: -

House	1 Drekkana	2 Drekkana	3 Drekkana
1	Head	Neck	Pelvis
2	Right eye	Right shoulder	Organ of generation
3	Right ear	Right arm	Right testicle
4	Right nostril	Right side of body	Right thigh
5	Right cheek	Right side of heart	Right knee
6	Right jaw	Right lung & breast	Right calf
7	Mouth	Navel	Legs & feet
8	Left jaw	Left Lung &breast	Left calf
9	Left cheek	Left side of heart	Left knee
10	Left nostril	Left side of body	Left thigh
11	Left ear	Left arm	Left testicle
12	Left eye	Left shoulder	Anus

Benefits of Worshipping Devatas on Tithis

Day	Devata / Puja	Benefits / Results
Amavasi	Bhadra Kaali / Kaali	Fearless, Strength, Confidence and win over enemies
Pratipada / Prathama	Fire God followed by Havan	Unlimited grains and wealth
Dwitiya	Brahma and feeding the celibate Brahmin	Expertise in all kind of learning (knowledge)
Tritiya	Kubera (Kuber)	Mass wealth, gains and success in all commercial dealings (useful for businessmen & job seekers)
Chaturthi	Ganesha	Destroys all obstacles in life
Panchami	Nagas (Snake God)	Free from fear of poison , good spouse, sons, good health/recover from diseases/illness (for those who suffer from Sarpa Dosha, it is highly recommended)
Shashti	Subrahmanya/Kartikeya	Longevity, genius and fame/popularity
Saptami	Suryanarayana	Protection by the Lord and successful life
Ashtami	Shiva along with Nandi (bull)	Abundant knowledge, free from bonding and wins over death
Navami	Durga	Wilfully passes through all phases of the life, victory in wars and success in dealing with the people
Dasami	Yama	Free from all kinds of ailments, prevents hell and death sufferings
Ekadasi	Vishwadeva	Progeny, wealth and land
Dwadasi	Vishnu	Victory and one will be worshipped in his community the way Sun God is worshipped
Trayodasi	Shiva Kamadeva	Fulfilment of all desires; Handsome look, desired spouse
Chaturdasi	Sadashiva	All luxuries, plenty of wealth and sons
Pournami / Poornima	Durga & Moon	Rules the entire world

SUN'S ORBIT IN VEDAS / BRAHMANAS

By Subhash C Kak

MOON AND ITS ATTRIBUTES (KARAKATWAM)

Jyotisham/Astrology is a Pratyaksha Sastra.  Sun and Moon makes this Vedic Limb a Pratyaksha Sastra where results are demonstrable from actual happenings which are evident and obvious.

अप्रत्यक्षाणि शास्त्राणि विवादस्तेषु केवलं |

प्रत्यक्षं ज्योतिषं  शास्त्रं चन्द्रार्को यत्र साक्षिणो  ||

apratyakshaani sastraani vivaadasteshu kevalam

pratyaksham jyotisham sastram chandraarko yatra saakshino

Apratyaksha Sastra is only speculative, being provable only by theorizing and discussions. Jyotisham is a Pratyaksha Shastra as Surya and Chandra are its witness.

Why Sun and Moon are called visual proof for above?  It is a fact that a Tithi (a lunar day) is calculated from the relative distance between Chandra and Surya, as viewed on the celestial equator.  Anyone can see Sun and Moon from earth and their relative distance (in degrees) can be measured by Spherical Trigonometry.

Moon is given at par importance with Lagnam (Ascendant).  Moon’s strength plays important role in giving strength to all planets.

cändraà véryaà vérya béjaà grahäëäà||

Strength of Chandra is the strength of seed of all planets.

Chandra is Queen in the planetary cabinet (a female planet, denotes mother, fourth sign in the zodiac representing mother).

Karakatwam/Attributes of Moon

Own Sign/Rasi	Karkitaka/Cancer
Moola Trikona Sign	Karkitaka/Cancer (from 4 to 20°)
Exaltation Sign	Rishabha/Taurus.  Deep exaltation at 3°
Debilitation	Vrischika/Scorpio.  Deep debilitation at 3°
Directional Strength	4th position from Lagnam or North
Strengths (other)	During Uttarayana, Paksha Balam - Sukla Paksha Panchami to Krishna Paksha Panchami, At night, Also strong even during debilitation if Moon has Paksha Balam
Direction	North West
Rising	By Head
Season	Varsham (Rainy Season)
Places	Forests
Play Ground	Rivers and Lakes
Nature	Lusty, soft, fickle, Sowmya/auspicious when She has Paksha Balam, Papa/inauspicious when She has no Paksha Balam
Gem	Pearl
Metal	Silver
Colour	White
Clothes	Soft and new
Guna	Satva
Shape	Sthoola Sarira with small rounded body
Organ in Body	Left eye, fluids in body
Hair	Fine
Eyes	Bright shining
Caste	Vaisya (Businessman, Agriculturist)
Height	Proportionate to the body
Age	Kumaran (Youth) (70 years life span – Mantreswar)
Taste	Salty
Element	Water
Deity	Durga (during Paksha balam) Kaali (not during  Paksha balam)
Diseases	Sleeping disorders, lethargy, cough, cold, mucus diseases, fever with shivering, lack of appetite, loss of taste, jaundice, blood related problems, fear from water, tired mind, memory loss etc.
Trees and its parts	Roots/Moola, Milky trees like Rubber, Aloe Vera etc.
Tridosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha)	Kapha.  It provides bulk to body, lubrications, moistness, fertility, stability, strength and memory.  It supports in binding process wherever necessary.  Kapha mostly found in chest, neck, head, stomach, body fat, nose and tongue.
Other Karakatwams	Peace of Mind, Happiness, Memory, Body, Mother, Blood, Cultivation, Paddy, Agriculture, Animals having horns, animals live in water, Kinnar etc.

Astronomical Info about Moon

The distance between Moon and Earth is 238,840 miles. Moon completes one rotation around the earth, in 27 1/3^rd days approximately.  Circumference of Moon is 2163 miles. One Moon day is about 24 hours and 54 minutes (from moonrise to moonrise). One lunar month (from Shukla Pratipada to Amavasya) is 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2 seconds, whereas by the parameter of Nakshatra Month (constellation month), Moon completes a month in 27 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes and 12 seconds.

The recital of the below Moon mantra will eliminate (reduce) and any troubles in one’s life due to his inimical placement. It is always good to recite the Mantra 108 times, especially on Mondays.

 दधिशङ्क तुषाराभं क्षीरोदार्णव संभवम्
नमामि शशिनं सोमं शंभोर्मकुट भूषणम्

dadhishanka thushaaraabham ksheerordarnava sambhavam
namaani shashinam somam shambhormakuta bhushanam