You help the wise sage…
November 30, 2008
“You help the wise sage to fight against the inexhaustible exploiter You destroy malice of the mental struggle. In conflicts you hold the wheel of the chariot of the Sun and drive away malignant spirits.”
- Rig Veda
Lord of the path…
November 28, 2008
“O nourisher, Lord of the path, we engage and bind you to our hymns, like a chariot yoked for bringing food.”
- Rig Veda
The fire enkindled…
November 27, 2008
“When the sacred grass is strewn, the fire enkindled, with hymns and with profound veneration, then O adorable divine powers, take joy in the offerings presented to you in this ceremonial congregation.”
#13 – East vs West; why isn’t my Sun in Aries?
November 25, 2008
Penny Farrow presents the differences between eastern and western approaches to astrology. Topics include the “ayanamsha” feature of Jyotish which takes into account the precession of the equinox, which comes from the wobble of the earth on its axis.
We also discuss the differences between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs and how that results in the lack of alignment between the signs in the systems of western astrology and jyotisha.
Penny practices and teaches Jyotisha full-time having been trained primarily under the expert tutelage of Hart deFouw. She is also a teacher and tutor for the American College of Vedic Astrology. Her website is www.vedicchart.com and she can be reached via email at info@vedicchart.com or pennyaf@comcast.net.
Agastya, Rig Veda Rishi – Podcast #80
November 25, 2008
Agastya Rishi contributed many hymns to the Rig Veda, compiled both Lalitha Sahasranam (1008 names) and Lalitha Trishati (300 names), wrote the Saraswati Suktam, and created systems of martial arts (Agastya Tekkan), medicine (Agastya Siddha) and astrology (Agastya Nadi).
He was a man of great humor and genuineness whose activities are told in a number of wonderful stories. Among other stories, he drank the oceans to help the gods, ate a demon, created the soul of his wife and their son, and carried his wife in a water pot when they traveled. He also helped both Rama and Arjuna in their quests.
The podcast concludes with chanting of Aditya Hridayam which he wrote for Rama to give him strength to kill Ravana, and then Lalitha Trishati; the 300 names of Lalitha, the playful form of the goddess.
The offsprings of cosmic vitality…
November 25, 2008
“May the offsprings of cosmic vitality, granters of dwellings, invincible, invoked on this occasion lovingly bend down to lift us up. Hence, we call upon the divine vital principles, so that they become our helpers in difficulty, great or small.”
- Rig Veda
Sweet be the song…
November 24, 2008
“Sweet be the song of mine to the cloud of the midspace, the mountains, the sun, floods, and lightning. Sweet be the plants to Nature’s bounties, which accept oblations. May the all-wise, gracious Lord propitious to us for the acquirement of riches.”
- Rig Veda
Like a flawless skin…
November 23, 2008
“May your friendship be unbroken, like a flawless skin lightly forming on a surface of curds (yogurt).”
- Rig Veda
No one else is like you…
November 22, 2008
“This is true, no one else is like you, O resplendent Lord, no divine power, nor any mortal is superior to you. You always destroy the dragon of dark forces who obstruct the flow of benefic thoughts and let free the streams of devotion to proceed to the ocean of bliss, the ultimate destination.
- Rig Veda
The lofty resplendent Lord…
November 21, 2008
“The lofty resplendent Lord is prompt to listen, decked with blue radiance, as if on his nose and chin, giver of wealth, whether coming or not coming to worship. May He with unparalleled might destroy all opposing evil forces and violent elements as soon as manifested.”
- Rig Veda