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CHAPTER XIII :: LUNAR NODES AND JYOTISH
(Originally published in RISING STAR, the Newsletter of the Mensa SIG)
Conspicuous by its absence from the vedic astrological repertoire, is the significance that is generally attributed to the sun- sign in tropical astrology that is practiced in many parts of the world. Some perhaps carry it too far, at times causing genuine unease in serious astrologers who detest being 'cornered' by ill-informed individuals and unfairly expected to defend what is known as "Newspaper" astrology that is based on the sun-sign; It goes without saying that that represents just a mere glimpse into the potential importance of the sun-sign.
Why did the sun-worshipping Aryans, who propounded the vedic system of astrology, choose to stay away from a more extensive consideration of sun-signs has always struck me as being a mystery. They decided, instead, to hold the moon in prominence! The moon-sign has a similar status in Indian astrology as does the sun-sign in western astrology. The indian newspaper astrology is based on the moon-sign and it is considered as a personal sign of great importance there just as the sun-sign is in the west. Incidentally, the ascending sign has the highest significance in 'serious' vedic astrology, even more than the moon sign. Obviously, because the vedic astrologers of yore thought that since the ascendant changes more frequently (hours) than the moon (days), on a given day, there would be fewer individuals who would share the ascendant than the moon-sign, and hence the ascending sign was probably considered as more 'personal' and "individualistic".
The ascending- and moon-signs also play a significant part in the delineation of planetary combinations or yogas. Transit influences are primarily considered from the moon sign for timing of events. The lunar chart is the major one that is utilized in "horoscope matching" (synastry). The popularly used vimshottary dasha system is, of course, a system of lunar progression and is utilized for timing by most vedic astrologers (there are other dasha systems of lower frequency of usage, many based on the moon, some not). Since the major system of assignment of planetary periods that cover different parts of life of an individual, it makes sense to use the lunar horoscope for ascertaining transit effects.
Hindu mythology describes that at the beginning of creation, the 'divine' and the 'demons' decided to join hands and churn the "ocean of milk" (milky-way??) and while they were doing that came across many treasures and other 'goodies'. Towards the end, the jug of nectar that could immortalize anyone, emerged. The gods started did some quick and rapid thinking as they did not want to let the demons drink any of the nectar. It is interesting that in hindu mythology, gods are generally depicted as intelligent, scheming and often manipulative, whereas the demons are usually the intense, single- minded, somewhat stupid kind (tamasa or dark qualities!). Anyway, cashing in on the weakness in demons, Vishnu (one of the divine trinity that stands for the good things in life and is responsible for nurturing and maintaining the creation; the other two being Brahma the creator and Shiva the destroyer. One notable quality of Vishnu is his ability to change shape and form at the drop of a leaf!), changed into a beautiful enchantress (mohini murti, one which entices, distracts, causes an illusion and hypnotizes!) who distracted the demons while the gods lined up quickly to get their fill of the nectar.
Now, the sun and the moon noticed that one demon had sneaked into the queue (displaying an almost godlike behavior!) and they tattled. The demon was beheaded, but having received the nectar already, the head and the body continued to live. The head is known as Rahu while the rest of the body became ketu. These continue to roam around the universe and try to eat (eclipse) the two snitches (sun and moon) who told on them (him? Aha!! I see the 'nodal' ambiguity and confusion is beginning to attack the author!).
Though they are primarily out to get the sun and moon, the nodes do not miss any trick to get the rest of the planets as well. When all the planets (sun to saturn) are flanked between rahu and ketu, it generates what is known as the Kala-sarpa (The deadly snake! Kala has many meanings including black, deadly and TIME) yoga, which brings about confinements, limitations and other troubles and is not a coveted thing to have!
Another combination is the Chandala yoga which is formed when the nodes are conjoined with jupiter, essentially robbing jupiter of its propensity to do good and to bring about expansion. This combination, like any other, must not be taken too literally. The strength, location and rulership of jupiter have a major say in deciding the final outcome. This point has not been emphasized enough in most texts, and can lead to major discrepancies and even misinterpretations in a reading. There are also some exceptions (aren't there always?) such as ketu being in the 12th house with jupiter, particularly for aries, leo and capricorn ascendants when the combination is desirable for matters pertaining to spiritual progress.
Though they presumably emerged from the same body, rahu and ketu seem to have developed independently in different ways! Rahu is more of the nature of saturn, meticulous and rigorous, sneaky, manipulative, vicious and vindictive, with sharp eyes and indolence befitting a twenty pound feline! These qualities seem to tie in nicely with the fact that rahu is the head of the beheaded demon! Ketu on the other hand is more like mars, explosive, energetic, aimlessly rushing about, bumping into things (poor headless thing!), interfering, fast, religious, fanatic etc. Both nodes have a common propensity to pull veils over one's eyes. They are not called shadowy or foggy planets for nothing. They also tend to bring about very sudden turn of events and can cause a very rapid ascent followed by a matching fall, and vice versa.
Another peculiarity of the nodes is their "black-hole" effect! Any planet that is conjunct with nodes gets its qualities and energies sucked out of it. The "empty-shell" effect is particularly seen during the dasha periods of the planet. The lack of energy and the disinclination and amotivation are unmistakable. This is often seen in combust (conjunction with sun) planets as well. However, while the sun takes care of things pertaining to the conjoined planet, generally, during its own dasha, the nodes do not show such benevolence. Not only does the individual suffer during the dasha of the conjoined planet, but also during the dasha of the node. The nodes assume the character and lordship over the house they are located in. There have been specific signs that have been described in texts, attributing certain lordships of the nodes over signs and depicting the signs they are strong or weak in, but many astrologers, including myself, do not consider nodes to have any favorite (or otherwise) signs!
During the dasha of the nodes some degree of helplessness and lack of control over people and events can be noticed. Things happen suddenly, unexpectedly and in some such a situation leads to a sense of a "free-floating anxiety". In a few, the nervous energy practically "buzzes" and a certain element of paranoia, a certain subtle to not so subtle "difference" in interpreting normal cues becomes very visible. Sudden turns of events, failure of communications at several levels is marked. In some there is also the feeling of the element of "time" playing a major role. There maybe a "connection" established with events and persons from another time! Obviously, not everyone faces these effects to the same degree, but for some it could be a cherished person or object lost for years, for others it might feel as if events from a different lifetime are involved or are being reactivated. Indeed, this brings up a very interesting point of the nodes representing "karmic debts". Nodal positions give an interesting window into the karmic ledger of an individual and must be thoroughly examined by astrologers interested in this very interesting and unique area. Particularly so, in charts where the ascendant, ascendant lord and moon are related to the nodes, by conjunction or asterismal/dispositor associations.
One occasionally comes across references to certain houses in a horoscope being of more 'karmic' significance than others, however, if we think about the issues a bit, it would appear that practically any house could have karmic ties or repercussions. The wealth in the second house, the courage in the third house, the mother and happiness in the fourth etc., all could be what they are in the current life due to karmic influences. However, two houses, the fifth and ninth are sometimes referred to as the key houses for karma, the ninth showing the karma that is ready for the picking, while the fifth indicates the karmic actions that need to be handled now to avoid paying the piper later.
The fifth (from the ascendant and the moon) then is the house that must be studied for designing an efficient karmic game plan, the planets therein and the lord of fifth and its dispositors and associates could tell a lot about this matter. Since nodes have a tendency to bring in karmic influences into play (other planets do too, but nodes mobilize things unexpectedly and so the impact can be tremendous and is generally hard to miss!). If nodes are associated with the fifth house, with the fifth lord or dispositor of the fifth lord, then situations would arise in the life of the individual when she would be forced to take actions and decide on the spur of the moment, that would have future implications and repercussions! The periods, when this sort of situation could occur, would be of the nodes or related planets and could help in indicating the time when such an eventuality might arise. As they say, to be forewarned is to be prepared. My impression is that in the here and now, we are exposed to opportunities that are a mixed bag of events, some of which are predestined while others are amenable to free- will. The nodes can thus be regarded as our enemies, or as teachers, depending on our perspective and the distance from the scene of events!
©Copyrighted by Crystal Pages (1995)
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