JOURNAL
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Shakti Yoga and the Triumph of Good Over Evil
By Robert A. Koch
In the Vedic literatures, in fact everywhere in creation, the dichotomy between light and dark, good and evil, and the divine and the demoniac, are seen. The Puranas and corollary Vedic histories such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, abound in descriptions of how the forces representing truth and goodness come into conflict with powers of destruction or evil. Dharma may be considered that which promotes the cause of good (enlightenment, God and self-realization), whereas Adharma promotes the opposite effects, which mostly start to gain the upper hand with the progress of the Kali-yuga. Nevertheless, whenever there is a decline in that which promotes Dharmic principles, Sri Krishna guarantees in the Bhagavad-gita that He descends millennium after millennium, directly as well as through His various incarnations (avataras), to re-establish the principles of Dharma (Bhagavad-gita 4.7-8).
In spite of this fact, it is still evident from the statements of Sri Krishna Himself, that both the forces of good and evil are manifestations of His shakti, and thus it is found that some entities have great powers of destruction, and their influences become evident from time to time throughout history. In effect, such powerful entities may be considered incarnations of one feature of the Absolute, i.e. that which brings about the destruction of creation. In support of this premise, the Vedic scripture teaches that the functions of creation (Brahma), sustenance (Vishnu), and ultimate annihilation (Shiva), are ultimately features of God Who preserves the continuum of material existence and its ultimate destruction. This awareness brings one to the realization that, even though Sri Krishna appears with the intention to protect the pious and annihilate those who inflict harm on others, destruction, or evil itself, is but another of His avatäras as well. In this regard, we can take note of the following statements in the Bhagavad-gita:
“rudranam shankaras casmi” (Bhagavad-gita, 10.23) “Of all the Rudras (destroyers), I am Lord Shiva”. And,
“Kalo ’smi loka-ksaya-krt pravrddho, lokän samahartum iha pravrttah” (Bhagavad-gita, 11.32) “Time I am, the great destroyer of the worlds, and I have come to engage all people.”
Thus, in the final analysis, the conflict of good vs. evil, or dharma vs. adharma, is but one feature of the Lila or pastimes of God, Who achieves His purpose through the participants on either side of the argument. If it were not possible for the forces of evil to become so powerful, then how would it be possible for someone like the great demonic king Ravana in the Ramayana to kidnap the wife and consort of the incarnation of God, Lord Sri Ramacandra? Or, how would it be possible that the great Vaishnava kings, known as the Pandavas in the Mahabharata, could be defeated by the machinations of their enemies and be exiled to the forest? Thus, in spite of the determination of Supreme Will to bring protection to the pious and annihilation to their adversaries, the destructive forces of Kala (Time) and Rudra (annihilation) will also serve His Will in order to preserve the opposing principles of duality in the realm of Maya or illusion.
Now, in Vedic astrology, Maharshi Jaimini in his Upadesha Sutras describes the Shakti yoga, which is an indicator of the great power of destruction. As the above discussion indicates, destruction is the determination of God in the form of Rudra, Lord Shiva. Yet whether or not good or evil is that which becomes destroyed through the Shakti-yoga deserves some analysis from the astrological point of view. As the following study observes, Shakti-yoga will be found in the charts of great sinners as well as in the charts of great saints and holy persons, as they have the power, through their words and activities, to destroy good and evil respectively. In defining the Shakti-yoga, sage Jaimini instructs as follows:
MJUS Chapter 4.1.54: “If the Moon and Rahu conjoin in or aspect the fifth or ninth houses from the ascendant or Atmakaraka, the native assumes the nature of the destroyer of all creation (Rudra).”
Thus, in determining whether or not good or evil will be destroyed through the yoga, the following further observations may be made:
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If benefics, especially Jupiter only, are involved in the yoga without any malefic intervention (besides Rahu), then all that which represents goodness is destroyed. In other words, the native is a greatly powerful entity who incarnates for the purpose of perpetuating evil in the world. On the other hand, if only malefics join in the combination, then the opposite is the case, i.e. the destruction of evil occurs through the yoga. Thus, the native is a powerful force to destroy darkness or evil; in other words, a great saint is born.
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Further, if Jupiter joins the 5th or 9th from the lagna or Atmakaraka, then the person is of high moral orientation and at the soul level wishes to bring his efforts into the cause of promoting spiritual consciousness in the world. This is an important fact to keep in mind, as in the charts of greatly powerful persons, Raja-yogas (yogas for power, fame, and influence) will invariably occur. So does the power and influence resulting from the Raja-yoga protect or destroy the masses of people? Jupiter’s position thus has to be noted carefully, either as a participant in the Shakti yoga (where goodness is destroyed) or in the 5th and 9th houses from the lagna, wherein he is a strong force to promote goodness.
4.1.55: “If Cancer aspects Moon/Rahu or if the Moon and Rahu are in Cancer, then the evil resulting from the yoga becomes contained” (or in other words, greatly diminished).
Naturally, Cancer is the exaltation sign of Jupiter, and thus the mere rasi drishti of Cancer onto the Moon/Rähu can help to nullify the negative effects of the yoga. If this does not occur in the chart, however, it may be that a planet aspecting key positions from the sign of Cancer can play a major role in the nullification of the purposes of destruction, whether of good or of evil. In this connection, the sage makes the following comment:
4.1.56: “Jupiter aspecting the 2nd, 11th, or 7th houses from the lagna or Atmakaraka, gives good longevity” (in others words, is protective of the native and thus his cause, whether it be that of destroying good or evil).
The logic of this is simple: the 2nd and the 11th are the primary positions of Argala or benefic intervention; and thus the benefic or re-enforcing effect of Jupiter on these positions from the lagna or Atmakaraka will be very helpful and productive of well-being and longevity for the native. On the other hand, if Saturn or other natural malefics aspect such positions, then the opposite result is achieved, namely the destruction of life; and thus the potential to achieve life’s mission may be defeated.
Just how the Shakti-yoga demonstrates such power of destruction (for good or evil) is best seen through some graphic illustrations. The charts of the individuals shown as follows represent some of the most powerful human beings ever to appear in recent history. The empowerment of each of the following to promote their respective missions will be easy to see from the Shakti-yogas which apply in their charts:
Chart #1: Adolph Hitler
April 20, 1889
18:30 CET (zone –1)
Braunau am Inn, Austria
13E02 48N15
Ruchaka yoga occurs in this chart, with Mars in Mulatrikona in the 7th house. Mars in tandem with exalted Sun, as well as the inter-joining effects of Mercury, Venus, and Saturn forming Raja-yoga, indicate that the individual has tremendous power and influence over the public, able to draw public passion and support for his mission. The positioning of planets in the sign of Aries, and with Yogakaraka Saturn aspecting that sign (his debilitation sign), indicate military power and Hitler’s cause to vanquish the control of a perceived weak or ineffective German government. However, behind the veil of a military leader, a very insidious Shakti-yoga is found, which shows that what starts with the desire to create a stronger German government becomes an evil force to destroy Europe and to promote an ideology of oppression.
Shakti-yoga: The Moon, Rahu, and Jupiter all aspect the 9th house of the chart, as well as the 9th from the Atmakaraka, and thus Shakti-yoga applies verbatim. Given that only Jupiter is involved in the yoga with no interference from malefics, it is evident that Hitler’s purpose for incarnation was to destroy the forces of light and to promote an evil force never seen before in recent history. It is clear from this example alone that the Moon/Rahu combination with the 9th house, whether from lagna or Atmakaraka, gives the person the destructive power of Rudra. If Jupiter is the only planet joining in the yoga, then all that Jupiter represents will be vanquished by the native’s efforts.
Still, Saturn plays a role, evidently, in bringing the curtain down for Hitler, as the 2nd from the ascendant as well as the 2nd from the Ätmakäraka are aspected by him, and from the sign of Cancer as well. So the chart of Hitler practically fits the Shakti-yoga, as well as its counteraction, verbatim, as per the instructions of sage Jaimini. The 11th from the Atmakaraka is also aspected by Saturn, while Saturn is additionally in the 2nd from Rahu; thus showing that the intervention from the West, i.e. the USA and UK, would bring down the efforts of the Third Reich to destroy Europe and the rest of the world eventually. It is additionally interesting that Saturn also indicates the US president at that time, i.e. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was physically lame, a function of Saturn. So, the ability of the sign of Cancer (Jupiter’s exaltation sign and thus the ultimate intervention of God) to foil the purposes of the Shakti-yog were achieved through Yogakaraka Saturn, and thus western intervention in World War 2 prevented the destruction of the world.
Chart #2: Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
September 1, 1896
15:24 LMT (zone –05:53:20)
Calcutta, India
88E22 22N32
Prabhupada carried the mantel of the Gaudiya Vaishnava Parampara, whose purpose was to bring the mission of pure love of God to the entire world. Among many auspicious features of this chart, lagna lord Jupiter joins Mokshakaraka Ketu in the 9th house with 9th lord Sun. This combination, including the aspect of 5th lord Mars, generates a Dharma-karmadhipati Raja yoga, through which he would gain strength in his mission to teach and promote the principles of dharma. This combination is further emphasized with Atmakaraka Rahu occupying the 3rd, Atmakaraka lagna lord Saturn exalted in the 11th, and all receiving the aspects of the Jupiter/Sun/Ketu combination in the 9th from the ascendant. Further to this, Prabhupada was a sannyasi, or renunciate, who detached himself form the world of Maya and sense gratification, and this tendency can be easily seen through the Moon’s position in a Drekkana of Saturn, aspected (rasi aspects) by Mars and Saturn, a Parivrajya yoga (yoga for asceticism).
Shakti-yoga: Yet the great achievements of spreading Krishna (God) Consciousness all over the world, establishing hundreds of temples for the establishment of Vaishnava dharma, and the initiation of thousands of disciples, may be more easily seen through the Shakti-yoga in his chart. The Shakti, or empowerment to bring about the destruction of the forces of evil, are seen in the following manner: From the Atmakaraka Rahu, the Moon and Rähu aspect the 9th house, thus forming the yoga verbatim. Malefics Saturn and Mars respectively occupy and aspect the 9th, thus showing that Prabhupada had great power to bring about the destruction of darkness by his preaching against atheistic and impersonalist, or Mayavada philosophies. Lagna lord Jupiter’s position in the 9th house and aspect to the 2nd from lagna ensures that Prabhupada, as well as his efforts, would be protected and that he would live to a full term of longevity (Purnayu).
The extent to which this effect might take place may further be enhanced by the Vipareet Raja-yoga formed by the 8th lord Moon and 12th lord Mars, both of whom also participate in the Shakti-yoga.
In Prabhupada case, the Shakti yoga is not foiled by intervening factors. Thus, whereas in Hitler’s case the Shakti yoga attempted the destruction of goodnessor the light, it was defeated by the intervening effects of Saturn as mentioned above. In Prabhupada’s case, Jupiter re-enforces the lagna, the 5th and 9th, as well as 2nd and 11th from the lagna (by rasi drishti), and thus his efforts to establish the true principles of Vedic dharma all over the world continue to grow to this day.
Chart #3: Albert Einstein
March 14, 1879
11:30 LMT (zone -00:36:44)
Ulm, Germany
10E00 48N24
The chart depicts an intellectual giant, with Sarasvati yoga being formed through Jupiter in the 9th, while Mercury/Venus/Saturn join in the 10th as part of a powerful Räja-yoga. Since the yoga involves the Neecha-bhanga of Mercury, Einstein did very poorly in his early education and was thought to be mentally deficient by his teachers. Later of course, the opposite became the reality. Not only was he highly advanced in terms of intellectual strength, he also gained world recognition and the Nobel Prize in 1922 for his ground-breaking discoveries in the field of theoretical physics. His name has been synonymous with genius, and the scientific definitions of the modern age--ranging from the Atom Bomb to space travel, electronics and quantum physics - all bear the stamp of his conceptualizations.
Further to his great intelligence and learning, the exchange of signs between 10th lord Jupiter, and 9th lord Saturn, are a Dharmakarmadhipati yoga, showing that Einstein stood for the principles of good and correct action/lifestyle, and thus he directly confronted and defied Hitler’s evil efforts during World War 2. Although German born, he refused to live in Hitler's Reich, and thus in 1933 moved permanently to Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, where he sponsored a steady stream of refugees from Nazism. So this kind of moral fiber, and the courage to defy the most powerful political figure of the day, would suggest that the Shakti yoga existing in this chart would underscore a lifetime meant to work against the forces of evil. Jupiter’s aspect to the 2nd from Ätmakäraka Venus, as well as 2nd and 11th from lagna, gave him protection from Hitler and the broader evil forces of the world. Further, benefics Moon and Jupiter, respectively in the 3rd and 6th from Arudha lagna show that he was a person of character, who was non-violent and who wished to bring his gifts to the betterment of the world in general.
Shakti-yoga: Debilitated Moon is in the 9th from Atmakaraka Venus, while the Moon and the 9th are aspected by Rahu and exalted 6th lord Mars. No benefics interconnect, and thus Shakti-yoga forms verbatim. Still, the power to improve the condition of the world through physics and scientific advancement may have backfired for Einstein, as the theory of relativity also led to the discovery of atomic weaponry, which ultimately could lead to the destruction of the world. Note now that exalted Mars is the 9th lord from the Atmakaraka, yet is also the 6th lord from lagna, placed in the 8th. While these positions are great for mathematics, research, and the development of scientific principles, they are also destructive; and thus Einstein may have regretted the discovery of atomic energy. Nevertheless, Shakti-yoga still applies for the empowerment to destroy evil, and thus Einstein finally appeared post mortem on the cover of Time Magazine in the year 2000 as the most influential person of the century.
Thus, good and evil are opposing forces in the world of Maya. The extent to which either may be destroyed through the incarnation of certain individuals, however, may be seen in the horoscope through the correct understanding of the Shakti-yoga, as per Maharshi Jaimini. Astrologically, we thus may understand the two most essential polarities in the dual existence of this world. However, the proportion to which man has the sraddha or faith that both good and bad are but different features of the Shakti of Krishna (God), then accordingly humanity can gain release from the grips of illusion. In the meantime, the principles of Jyotish help to gain perspectives as to who is an agent to perpetuate either end of the spectrum of dark or the light.
