The Moon as a Goddess In Vedic Astrology
The Moon cycle is divided into three parts and the Tri-Devi are seen according to the Moon
phase. From Shukla Pratipad to Sukla Dashami the Moon is ruled by Durga. Dashami to
Krisna Panchami is ruled by Laksmi, and Panchami to Amavasya is ruled by Kali.
In determining the Devi (goddess) according to one’s natal Moon only two forms of the
Goddess are used (Durga and Kali). Laksmi is taken as the planet Venus. The Moon can be
either Kali or Durga in a specific chart depending on multiple factors. All these factors have
to be taken into account with the proper understanding of the factors influencing the Moon.
I.Prasna Marga
Prasna Marga says that if “the Moon is strong it is Durga and when weak the Moon is
Bhadrakali, if it is weak and in a Mars sign then the Moon is Chamunda with dark attributes.”
Mythology:
Durga is a benefic form of the goddess with multiple hands riding on a tiger. She has always
been and is all that is. Her physical manifestation took form when there was a demon that was
so powerful that all the gods could not defeat it. All the gods put there Shakti together and
gave manifestation to Durga. Shakti is a concept that cannot be translated into one word.
Sanskrit is a conceptual language (not like English). One level of shakti means the female
counterpart of a god, for example, the counterpart/shakti of Visnu (god of sustenance) is
Laksmi who is the goddess of wealth/money. Sustenance works through wealth. Shakti also
means the power/energy, and wealth is the power of sustenance. So the shakti of a god is
their power/energy which is represented by their female counterpart. The weapon a deity
holds is symbolic of the shakti/powers that the deity has; what it can do. So when all the gods
put their shakti together, it means that all goddesses merged into one, or the power of all the
gods merged into one. She has many arms and holds the weapons of all the gods, showing
she has the power/shakti of all the gods. She is all gods and goddesses in one form, called
Jagadambe (jagad-universe, ambe-mother = Mother of the Universe). Did She come from the
gods or did they come from Her? It is an interdependent universe and She is the Universal
Mother.
Kali came about when Durga became angry. Durga’s face turned black and the darkness
condensed in her third eye out of which jumped Kali. So Kali is a fierce, angry form of
Durga. Bhadra means auspicious, and Bhadrakali is an auspicious form of Kali.
Kali went to battle with the demons Chanda and Munda. They represent the minds state of
revolving between too little and too much, constantly discontent. Kali had to become
ferocious to kill these demons. When She bit their heads off, Durga said that since she had
killed Chanda and Munda She would then be called Chamunda. So Chamunda is the cruel
form and Kali who is a fierce form herself. She is often depicted with her ribs showing,
looking very intense.
More stories and information about Durga, Kali and Chamunda can be found in the Devi
Mahatmya, which is available in numerous translations.
II. Rasi
Form of the Mother when the Moon is placed in:
Aries-Chamunda- Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Vicche
Taurus- Durga (Rahu Mulatrikona)
Gemini- Durga (Rahu exaltation)
Cancer- Kali (natural house of Kali)
Leo- Kali
Virgo- Durga
Libra- Kali
Scorpio- Kali (Ketu own sign)
Sagittarius- Kali (Ketu exaltation)
Capricorn- Kali
Aquarius- Durga and Her alone (Rahu’s own sign)- darkest sign of the zodiac (where the
ghosts are)
Pisces- Kali (Mulatrikona of Ketu)
III. The Mother’s Mood
1) Moon going towards Ketu (Kali) or
Moon going towards Rahu (Durga)
2) Sukla Paksa- Durga
Krisna Paksa- Kali
3) Debilitated Moon- Kali
Exalted Moon- Durga
4) Conjunct day strong planets- Durga
Conjunct night strong planets- Kali
(except Mercury-strong day and night- Lalita=Lalita Sahasranam)
IV. Yogas
There are certain yogas that indicate specific goddesses. Mars with the Moon shows
Chamunda, Moon with Saturn is Kali, Moon with Rahu is Durga, Moon with Mercury is
Tripura/Lalita. Mars and Rahu together is called Vijaya yoga and with Moon is Vijaya Durga.
This is the form of Durga worshiped on the tenth day of Navratri. It is the celebration of the
goddess conquering the demon for which she was born to destroy. New Moon is associated
with Kali, Full Moon is associated with Tripura Sundari/ Sodasi (as well as Laksmi).
Analysis
Factors I to IV need to be analyzed, and the strongest indications taken. To pick the devi rupa
(form) for the Moon is very important, especially when the Moon is afflicted and needs to be
made stronger or propitiated.
All the Planets as the Goddess
From the Arudha Lagna, all planets can be seen as different forms of the Goddess. The
Arudha Lagna is Maya, which is Shakti. From Arudha there is only Kali or Durga (no bhu
shakti-laxmi). The two fold division is ruled by the Moon; Durga- Sukla paksa, Kali- Krisna
Paksa, (Three fold division is ruled by Jupiter). Shiva is worshipped from the lagna (Sun
karaka), Visnu is worshipped from the pakalagna (Jupiter karaka), and Shakti is worshipped
from Arudha Lagna (Moon karaka).
To use this system properly it is imperative that one understands the houses from the Arudha
Lagna (Maya). When this is fully understood then the planet can be either Nila Shakti (Kali)
or Sri Shakti (Durga).
Planets according to Sri Shakti: Navadurgas
Sun-Shaylaputra (daughter of the Mountains)
Moon- Mahagauri (The Great White Mountains)
Mars- Skandamata (Mother of Lord Skanda)
Mercury- Katyayani
Jupiter- Brahmacharini
Friday- Kushmandi
Saturn- Kalaratri
Rahu- Chandraganta (bell of the Moon)
Ketu- Siddhidatri (giver of siddhis)
Planets according to Nila Shakti: Mahavidyas
Sun- Matangi
Moon- Bhuvaneshvari
Mars- Bhagalamukhi
Mercury- Tripura Sundari
Jupiter- Tara
Venus- Kamala
Saturn- Kali
Rahu- Chinnamasta
Ketu- Dhoomavati
Lagna- Bhairavi
Remember, if you use the wrong goddess, it is dangerous. In western culture, everything
dangerous has been thrown out, so the westerner generally doubts that the goddess can be
harmful, but remember she is Shakti, Prakritti, she is Nature. If you play with Nature, it plays
with you. Play with it right and you will be well, play wrong and know that water drowns and
fire burns, Jai Mata.
Vimshottari dasa is connected to the Arudha Lagna (the Moon and perception). The
mahadasa is ruled by the Sun, and the Moon rules the antardasa. The antardasa is very
important to interpret from the Arudha Lagna, and it is the crucial place to apply Shaktis.
Determine where and how the antardasanath is placed from the Arudha Lagna. This is used to
indicate which goddess to use for which antar dasa (time period of the life).
For those that do not have the ability to understand the chart at a higher level. It is possible to
use the Divine Mother for psychological treatment purposes based on earlier life issues or
present life sufferings:
Saturn- represents neglect, deprivation, and loss. This is healed with a relationship to Kālī.
Mars- represents abuse, violence, and intensity. This is healed with a relationship to
Chamuṇḍa or Bagalamukhī.
Rāhu- represents trauma, distortion, and dissociation. This is healed by Varahī or
Chinamastā.
Conclusion:
The Goddess is very important in one’s life. She is that which gives us direction (gati) in life.
From the Moon, the Goddess guides the mind in the right direction. From the planets, the
Goddess is uplifting (Durga) or purifying (Kali) the planets and their effects. One should be
competent in reading a chart and understand the deities and what they will do before
recommending these goddesses as remedies. The worship of the Goddess is very powerful
and gives results quickly, relative to the indications of the chart.
This knowledge comes from the astrological traditions in the state of Orissa. In East India
(Orissa, Bengal, Assam), there are many ancient traditions of goddess worship still fully
alive.
Aum Guruve Namah
Jaya Jagannatha
List B: Shortlist of Vedic stars
Fixed Star Constellation Lahiri
Al Pherg Eta (η) Pisces 2°57’
Aśvinī Mesarthim Gamma (γ) Aries 9°19’
Aśvinī Sheratan Beta (β) Aries 10°06’
Kartita-kara Caph Beta (β) Cassiopeia 11°15’
Aśvinī Hamal Alpha (α) Aries 13°48’
Bharaṇī II 35 Arietis 23°5’1″
Bharaṇī Nair al Butain 41 Arietis 24°21’8″
Bharaṇī III Lilii Borea 39 Arietis 24°31’2″
Pretaśira Algol Beta (β) Perseus 2°18’
Kṛttikā Electra 17 Taurus 5°33’
Kṛttikā Taygeta 19 Taurus 5°42’
Kṛttikā Maia 20 Taurus 5°49’
Kṛttikā Alcyone Eta (η) Taurus 6°08’
Kṛttikā Atlas 27 Taurus 6°30’
Kṛttikā Pleione 28 Taurus 6°31’
Rohiṇī Prima Hyadum Gamma (γ) Taurus 11°57’
Rohiṇī Hyadum II Delta (δ) Taurus 13°01’
Rohiṇī Cleeia Delta (δ) 3 Taurus 13°21’
Rohiṇī Ain Epsilon (ε) Taurus 14°36’
Rohiṇī Aldebaran Alpha (α) Taurus 15°56’
Mithuna-vāmapāda Rigel Beta (β) Orion 22°58’
Mithuna-vāmahasta Bellatrix Gamma (γ) Orion 27°05’
Brahma-hṛdaya Capella Alpha (α) Auriga 28°00’
Chitralekha Mintaka Delta (δ) Orion 28°30’
Agni El Nath Beta (β) Taurus 28°43’
Aniruddha Alnilam Epsilon (ε) Orion 29°36’
Mṛgaśirā Heka phi 1 Orionis 29°45’ 15”
Mṛgaśirā Meissa Lambda (λ) Orion 29°51’
Mṛgaśirā phi 2 Orionis 0°16’ Gemini
Uṣā Alnitak Zeta (ζ) Orion 0°49’ Gemini
Kārtavīrya Saiph Kappa (κ) Orion 2°32’
Ārdrā Betelgeuse Alpha (α) Orion 4°54’
Lubdhaka Sirius Alpha (α) Canis Major 20°13’
Agastya Canopus Alpha (α) Carina 21°07’
Punarvasu Castor Alpha (α) Gemini 26°23’
Punarvasu Pollux Beta (β) Gemini 29°21’
1°55’
Lubdhaka-bandhu Procyon Alpha (α) Canis Minor
Cancer
Puṣya Theta (θ) Canver 11° 52′ 41”
Epsilon (ε) or
(Puṣya heart) Praesepe Cancer 13°21’
M44
Puṣya Asellus Boreali Gamma (γ) Cancer 13°41’
Puṣya Asellus Australis Delta (δ) Cancer 14°52’
Āśleṣa Minazal I Delta (δ) Hydrae 16°27’
Āśleṣa Minchir Sigma Hydrae 17°21’
Āśleṣa Minazal II Eta (η) Hydrae 18°27’
Ashlesha or Minazal
Āśleṣa Epsilon (ε) Hydrae 18°30’
III
Āśleṣa Minazal IV Rho Hydrae 19°04’
Āśleṣa Minazal V Zeta (ζ) Hydrae 20°43’
Kratu Dubhe Alpha (α) Ursa Major 21°20’
Pulaha Merak Beta (β) Ursa Major 25°35’
Maghā Ras Elased Australis Epsilon (ε) Leo 26°51’
Maghā Ras Elased Borealis Mu (μ) Leo 27°34’
Mahāpuruṣa Alphard Alpha (α) Hydra 3°25’
Maghā Adhafera Zeta (ζ) Leo 3°42’
Maghā Al Jabhah Eta (η) Leo 4°03’
Maghā Algieba Gamma (γ) Leo 5°45’
Maghā Regulus Alpha (α) Leo 5°58’
Pulastya Phecda Gamma (γ) Ursa Major 6°37’
Atri Megrez Delta (δ) Ursa Major 7°13’
Aṅgirā Alioth Epsilon (ε) Ursa Major 15°05’
Pūrvaphalgunī Zosma Delta (δ) Leo 17°27’
Pūrva-phalgunī Coxa Theta (θ) Leo 19°34’
Vasiṣṭa Mizar Zeta (ζ) Ursa Major 21°51’
Arundhatī+ Alcor 80 Ursa Major 22°01’
Uttaraphalgunī Denebola Beta (β) Leo 27°45’
Marīci Alkaid Eta (η) Ursa Major 3°04’
Hasta Gienah Corvi Gamma (γ) Corvus 16°52’
Hasta Minkar Epsilon (ε) Corvus 17°48’
Hasta Alchita Alpha (α) Corvus 18°23’
Hasta Algorab Delta (δ) Corvus 19°35’
Hasta Kraz Beta (β) Corvus 23°30’
Citrā Spica Alpha (α) Virgo 29°58’
Svāti Arcturus Alpha (α) Bootes 0°22’
Viśākhā-mātṛ- Corona
Alphecca Alpha (α) 18°26’
maṇḍala Borealis
Viśākhā Zuben Elgenubi Alpha (α) Libra 21°13’
Viśākhā Zuben Eschamali Beta (β) Libra 25°30’
Viśākhā Iota (ι) Libra 27°10’
Viśākhā Zuben Elakrab Gamma (γ) Libra 1°16’
Anurādhā Dschubba Delta (δ) Scorpius 8°42’
Anurādhā Nur Pi Scorpii 9°06’
Anurādhā Iklil Rho Scorpii 9°18’
Anurādhā Acrab Beta (β) Scorpius 9°19’
Jyeṣṭhā Sigma Scorpii 13°58’
Jyeṣṭhā Antares Alpha (α) Scorpius 15°54’
Jyeṣṭhā Tau (τ) Scorpii 17°37’
Mūla Larawag Epsilon (ε) Scorpio 21°30’
Mūla Xamidimura Mu Scorpii 22°18’
Mūla Zeta (ζ) Scorpii 23°17’
Mūla Eta (η) Scorpii 26°54’
Sarpagrīvā Unukalhai Alpha Serpentis 28°12’
Sarpa-dhārī-śira Ras Alhague Alpha (α) Ophiuchus 28°35’
Mūla Lesath Upsilon (υ) Scorpius 0°09’
Mūla Shaula Lambda (λ) Scorpius 0°43’
Mūla Sargas Theta (θ) Scorpius 1°44’
Mūla Girtab Kappa (κ) Scorpii 2°38’
Mūla Iota Scorpii 3°41’
Pūrva Āṣāḍhā Kaus Media Delta (δ) Sagittarius 10°43’
Pūrva Āṣāḍhā Kaus Australis Epsilon (ε) Sagittarius 11°12’
Uttara Āṣāḍhā Nunki Sigma (σ) Sagittarius 18°31’
Uttara Āṣāḍhā Ascella Zeta (ζ) Sagittarius 19°46’
Abhijit Vega Alpha (α) Lyra 21°26’
Śravaṇa Tarazed Gamma (γ) Aquila 7°04’
Śravaṇa Altair Alpha (α) Aquila 7°54’
Śravaṇa Alshain Beta (β) Aquila 8°33’
Dhaniṣṭhā Rotanev Beta (β) Delphinus 22°28’
Dhaniṣṭhā Sualocin Alpha (α) Delphinus 23°31’
Dhaniṣṭhā Alukud Delta (δ) Delphini 24°16’
Dhaniṣṭhā Alsalib Gamma (γ) Delphini 25°32’
Deneb Algedi Delta (δ) Capricornus 29°40’
Aśva-mukha Enif Epsilon (ε) Pegasus 8°01’
Kukkuṭa-puccha Deneb Adige Alpha (α) Cygnus 11°27’
Śatabhiṣā Hydor λ Aquarii Aquarii 17° 25′
Pūrva-bhādrapadā Markab Alpha (α) Pegasus 29°37’
Pūrva-bhādrapadā Scheat Beta (β) Pegasus 5°30’
Uttara-bhādrapada Algenib Gamma (γ) Pegasus 15°17’
Revati Delta (δ) Piscium 20°18′
Uttara-bhādrapada Alpheratz Alpha (α) Andromeda 20°27’
Revati Epsilon (ε) Piscium 23°41’
Revati Zeta Piscium 26°02’
