The Eastern Window by Penny Farrow

Editor’s Note: Cross ventilation thoughtlessly places it on the head of intend to do whatever they can to steal produces a breath of fresh air. It is his . the amrita and thus gain mastery over desirable in a house and even in a Airavata is intoxicated with the fra- the devatas. magazine! In this spirit, we are featur- grance and picks it up with his trunk, A flurry of activity ensues. Milk, ing a series of short articles designed throws it around and, inevitably, it lands ghee, herbs, and offerings turn the to make some of the basic building on the ground — a significant trans- ocean into a magic concoction. blocks and ideas of Vedic astrology gression. is enraged by the Mt. Meru, an enormous mythical moun- more accessible to all. We anticipate disrespect shown to him and to his gift. tain, is balanced on the back of Lord that opening the Eastern Window can , realizing this might not end well, in his turtle incarnation (Korma clarify the complementarity between does what he should have done imme- Avatar). Vasuki serves as a rope and great astrological traditions. diately upon encountering the rishi. He wraps himself around Mt. Meru. Vishnu slides off the elephant and prostrates tells the devatas to stand at Vasuki’s tail, Enter the Dragon: himself before the sage, begging for for- thus avoiding the noxious breath, smoke, The Story of Rahu and Ketu giveness. Durvasa is unrelenting and and fire belched from the dragon’s Our world is enlivened and justi- pronounces a curse; Indra and all the de- mouth. The station themselves at fied by the recounting of myths. Robert vatas will suffer the same fate as his gift Vasuki’s head. Working together, they Svoboda, in his brilliant work The Great- — a great fall from their high position. begin churning the ocean, just as though ness of Saturn: A Therapeutic Myth, The curse quickly takes effect and they were churning butter. speaks of the potency of a living myth the devatas lose their vigor, luster, and The friction of the churning is that nourishes us and in turn, gets reju- youth. Ripples widen and dharma (ac- intense and the smoke and flames un- venated through its retelling.1 Storytellers tions in accordance with natural law bearable but all labour to restore what typically vary the details but the myth or universal values) retreats from the was lost in the curse. All sorts of won- remains a prism for focusing eternal world. Priests cease performing their drous, as well as horrific, creations realities. Such a tale is the great cre- rituals, crops fail, and the forces of ad- emerge as the churning continues, each ation myth called The Churning of the harma (actions that violate natural law) with its own subset of stories. One of Ocean, humbly rendered below. strengthen. Weakened, vulnerable, and For untold eternities the enmity badly frightened, Indra and the devatas between the devatas (gods, also known apply to Lord , the creator, for as suras) and the asuras (anti-gods, relief. He directs them to Lord Vishnu, enemies of the suras) rages on. The de- the maintainer of creation, who comes vatas are blessed with immortality, a up with a tricky and ingenious plan. status that the asuras covet above all Vishnu advocates enlisting the else. One particular , Rahu, is to- aid of the asuras, traditional enemies tally obsessed with this desire and his of the devatas, to help restore the cre- pursuit of that forbidden fruit is a pivotal ation by the arduous task of churning factor in the story’s intrigue. the Ocean of Milk, which will ultimately As with many other myths, our tale manifest amrita, the nectar of immor- begins with a flawed hero — the glorious tality. Vishnu will promise the asuras Indra, leader of the devatas. Powerful and their king Vasuki — an enormous and renowned, Indra is also prone to serpent-dragon — a portion of the pride and arrogance. On a fateful day, nectar. Naturally, the devatas are hor- Indra rides down a road on his favor- rified by the thought that the enemy ite mount, the magnificent Airavata, would gain immortality, but Vishnu as- king of . Approaching him is sures them that the asuras, in the end, the irascible sage, Durvasa, who has just will not partake in the drinking of the been given a heavenly wreath of flowers. precious amrita. Indra proposes the On impulse, Durvasa throws the magi- bargain to Vasuki and the asuras glee- cal garland to Indra who catches it and fully accept. True to their nature, they

16 THE MOUNTAIN ASTROLOGER STUDENT SECTION the most famous and fearful emanations honeyed words to them as she goes is a deadly poison that could potentially down the row of the seated devatas, destroy all creatures. Lord , the distributing only to them the nectar of destroyer, seeing the poison emerge, immortality. swallows it himself but blocks it from When it is Rahu’s turn to drink, entering his stomach. So potent is the he is so greedy and overwrought at the poison that his neck turns blue, his com- achievement of his heart’s desire that he passionate service earning him the name forgets to maintain his disguise. As he Nilakantha — the blue-throated one. drinks a few drops of amrita, the Moon Finally, after years of churning realizes he is an asura and cries out to — the great Dhanvantari, the god of the Sun. Together they shout to Mo- Ayur Veda (who is actually another hini who instantly reverts back to Lord form of Lord Vishnu) — emerges with Vishnu and, throwing the deadly sudar- the golden pot of amrita. Immediately, shana discus, decapitates Rahu. Alas, a fierce fight breaks out as the asuras Rahu is now immortal and does not die. struggle to grasp the vessel. This quickly The newly bifurcated creature, CLASSIFIEDS prompts Lord Vishnu to transform into Rahu–Ketu, hides in the heavens, invis- the alluring enchantress Mohini who ible, with his head (Rahu) and severed tail (Ketu) stretched across opposite JUDITH HILL’S TWO NEW BOOKS! sides of the zodiac. Rahu swears eter- “MEDICAL ASTROLOGY nal revenge on the Sun and Moon, and IN ACTION: THE TRANSITS The bifurcated indeed, his vow is eternally enacted. OF HEALTH” Should an unwary luminary come too 400 p. Includes: Field Notes, Herbal creature, Rahu–Ketu, close to his mouth, it is snatched up Tips, Surgical Notes, more! and swallowed. But as Rahu–Ketu has Companion to: “Medical Astrology: hides in the heavens, no midsection, the Sun and Moon pass A Guide to Planetary Pathology” invisible, with his safely out of his body and recover. “MEDICAL ASTROLOGY FOR And yes, this dance involving the HEALTH PRACTITIONERS” head (Rahu) and Sun, Moon, Rahu, and Ketu is the 166 pg. For laymen, beginners and severed tail (Ketu) teaching tale that accounts for the solar health professionals and lunar eclipses as told through the stretched across compelling voice of myth. It is a story awesome in its scope and moral mag- MEDICAL ASTROLOGY 101 opposite sides nificence. As with all great myths, much Learn with all six senses! of the zodiac. can be gleaned and inferred from its 12 modules for the independent memorable instruction. In the next col- student umn, we will explore some of these JudithHillAstrology.com implications as they apply to a chart. dances for the combatants. Completely bewitched by her beauty, the asuras 1. Robert Svoboda, The Greatness of Saturn: A dance lustily along with her. But the de- Therapeutic Myth, Lotus Press, 1997, pp. 18–21. SPIRITUAL ASTROLOGY. vatas swiftly realize she is actually Lord INTUITVE LIFE COACHING 24 years experience. Tune in to your Vishnu, so instead, they seat themselves © 2020 Penny Farrow – all rights reserved joy & true life path. 1-323-466-3684 respectfully in a silent row and watch AngelAstrologer.com Mohini hold aloft the amrita pot as she Penny Farrow has an M.S. degree from Cor- prepares to distribute it. nell University and has had an extensive career as a teacher, researcher, and businesswoman. She NEW - Live Webinar - Oct. 2020 Among the drunken asuras, Rahu has been involved in the Vedic tradition since Astro*Carto*Graphy Maps stands apart. His one-pointed devotion 1971. She has studied Jyotisha intensively since NEWMost -Under LIVE UtilizedWEBINAR Astrology - OCT. Tool 2020 to gaining immortality had previously 1991, primarily under the personal tutelage of ASTRO*CARTO*GRAPHYOften Misused Due to Lack MAPSof Train - propelled him to practice rigorous aus- Hart deFouw and taught Jyotisha and Mosting It’s Under All About Utilized the Astrology Orbs Tool Of- at Vedic Vidya Institute in San Rafael, Califor- terities through which he obtained the tenFor Misused those who Due prefer to Lack learning of Training from nia for eight years. She now resides in Florida, boon of being able to disguise himself. It’s All About the Orbs practicing and teaching Jyotisha and Sanskrit a teacher, and not from a book. For those who prefer learning from Rahu, not as subject to stupefaction as full time, including a new online option. Tele- Get EARLY, Early Bird Reg. before the others, notices the devatas organiz- phone: (415) 497-2014; e-mail: info@vedicchart. aAug. teacher, 1. go and to: not www.ElliotTanzer.com from a book. ing themselves, and disguising himself com; website: http://www.vedicchart.com Getor call EARLY, 310-281-6798 Early Bird forReg. more before info. as a devata, he sits between the Sun Aug. 1. Go to: www.ElliotTanzer.com and the Moon while his asura cohorts or call 310-281-6798 for more info. dance under Mohini’s spell. She speaks

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