His quest for a 5th green jacket had hit a bunker when he had to withdraw from the WGC-Cadillac Championship on Sunday, March 11th, because of a troublesome left Achilles tendon. “I’ll be there. Don’t worry about that”, he was reported as saying after his doctors ruled his injury as just a mild strain.

Will the limping Tiger be out of the Woods this time? His stars tell a different story. His Moon sign is Scorpio, which is ruled by the sporty Mars. The planet Mars is in retrograde motion in the 10th House (indicates career).

Moreover, he is also undergoing the Sade Sati period (the 7 and a half year period of Saturn’s influence). The planet Saturn (governs career) is placed in the 12th House (brings disappointments) from his Moon sign. Interestingly, Saturn is considered a slow-moving planet and is associated with legs.

These planetary indicators are sort of a ‘double bogey’ for Woods. There is a possibility that Woods would need more time to get fully fit before he wields the club for the Masters 2012 tournament.

The former World No. 1 has not won an official tournament in the last 2 years, and his last Masters title came way back in 2005.

Lunar eclipse, as per astronomy, occurs when the Earth casts a shadow on the Moon. This phenomenon is referred to by many of the ancient scriptures – starting from the Vedas. ‘Brihat Samhita’ (the oldest among the classical astrology texts) and ‘Chandra Graha Ganitha’ (a classical astronomy text) emphasize that Rahu (one of the lunar nodes) hides the Moon owing to its position on Earth. The Puranic scriptures too narrate this in the form of a story.

It is considered as event of significance because even modern science accepts that all animate and inanimate things do get influenced by the invisible rays that are emitted during the eclipse. During the Full Moon days, high tidal waves are witnessed in the seas, whereas the entire surface of the sea is known to be relatively calm during the eclipses. Some studies have claimed that people who suffer from epilepsy get affected more on such days. Pregnant women are also asked to be cautious, as certain research findings have indicated that the radiations can possibly affect the baby in the womb.

The human body is said to experience a sudden dip in energy levels during this time. Therefore, Dharma Shastra (Vedic conduct) prescribes in detail the appropriate activities to be done for the optimal utilization of this celestial time period.

Instead of activities that require more of physical involvement, focus is given to those activities that relax the entire body and result in peace of mind. One such recommended activity is to have a shower during the start of the eclipse. This can soothe the body, calm the mind and conserve one’s energy levels. Another activity that anyone can do is to mentally contemplate on the chosen form/symbol of a higher power or a personal deity, and chant their mantra or sacred sound.

It is also advised not to consume food during the eclipse time, due to a marked decline in the digestive power during this period. However, patients, pregnant women, aged persons, babies and children, who cannot remain without food for a long time or whose bodily functions will get disrupted without intake of food, are exempted.

One can safely have food at least 4 hours before the start of the lunar eclipse. This is so because the digestive juices start secreting as soon as the food is taken in and thereafter, it takes 4 hours for complete digestion to take place. After the eclipse is over, one should take bath again and can consume food immediately.

Due to the effect of the invisible rays, it becomes important to safeguard items of daily use (such as milk, curd, and so on) from these radiations. For this reason, a piece of Darbha grass (renowned for high spiritual energy and anti-radiation properties) should be placed on each of these items 3 hours before the eclipse starts and can be removed after the eclipse is over. Also, watching the eclipse with naked eyes is not advised.

Since the impact of the eclipse on the Moon remains up to 3 days after the eclipse, therefore any ceremony for worldly pleasures or benefits should be conducted only after 3 days. If death anniversary (as per the lunar month) falls on the lunar eclipse day, it should be observed only on the next day.

On the lunar eclipse day, acts of charity are encouraged so that they bestow contentment to the donor, bring happiness to the receiver and also enhance one’s good karma (merit). It is a very auspicious time, as per Vedic Astrology, to start any spiritual practice. Propitiating one’s ancestors yields the best results when one performs the ancestral ritual called Tarpanam during the peak of the eclipse (when the Moon enters its waning phase).

In India, this lunar eclipse starts at 11:52 pm on June 15th, reaches its peak at 1:45 am on June 16th and concludes at 3:32 am on June 16th. Astrologically, this can impact persons born under specific stars and suitable Vedic remedies are prescribed for these stars. Moreover, the eclipse might have sudden, erratic and widespread effect on flora, fauna and the atmosphere.

Therefore, it is important to utilize this unique time to channelize our minds towards those activities and rituals that that concur on scientific and spiritual lines, and bring only positive benefits for everyone.

—————————————————————————————————————————————

The author serves as Member, Advisory Board, Astrology and Vedic Services, AstroVed.com. He is a distinguished Astrologer, eminent Ayurvedic Doctor, and former Principal of Sanskrit College, Madras.

“An important day to perform this Pooja is June 6th, when Rahu and Ketu move into the signs Scorpio and Taurus respectively. This transit can spell favorable or unfavorable times for you depending on how these 2 Nodes of the Moon are positioned in your astrological chart”, says Maya Benkovich, Director, AstroVed (www.astroved.com), an online service provider in the area of Vedic Sciences.

Rahu is often shown as head of a demon without a body and represents obsession with material desires. On the other hand, Ketu is denoted as the demon’s headless body and signifies withdrawal from the world. Together, they represent the push and pull of 2 opposing forces that allow human beings to experience life in its entirety. No wonder, sudden and unpredictable changes in life are usually attributed to Rahu and Ketu.

To bring relief from the so-called ‘dreaded bite’ of these planets, special ceremonies have been commissioned on June 6th by AstroVed. Two back-to-back fire rituals for Rahu and Ketu will be webcast LIVE on www.astroved.com for those who wish to participate in these rituals.

Apart from these, Vedic rituals will be organized on June 6th at important powerspots in South India – Thirunageswaram, Keelaperumpallam and Thirupamburam (here Rahu and Ketu are present as a single physical form resembling very much the human DNA strand).

Interestingly, mythology presents a great remedy to take the sting out of the Rahu-Ketu effect. “As per scriptures, Vishnu had used his Sudarshana Chakra (divine discus) to cut the demon into halves, which then became Rahu and Ketu. Therefore, Sudarshana Yantra is considered an effective safeguard against the malefic influence of the snake planets”, informs Ram Kumar, Vedic Astrologer, AstroVed.

A lesser-known scientific rationale explains the phenomenon of Rahu and Ketu. The seven colors in the visible spectrum of light are known to correspond to the energy vibration of the planets in Astrology. The Infra-red rays and Ultaviolet light, which fall at the extremes of the visible spectrum, actually represent Rahu and Ketu respectively.

Like these invisible rays, Rahu and Ketu too signify their hidden impact on human affairs and warn us of the changes that lie ahead. Perhaps, it is their ‘hiss’ rather than the ‘bite’ that people should be wary of during the upcoming transit on June 6th.

“We will be performing the Victory Ritual few hours before the toss, followed by a non-stop chanting of success-granting Vedic mantras until the end of the match. Such a ceremony has never been attempted before, and any cricket lover will be able to see the ritual LIVE and offer their prayers from the comforts of their home”, says Jyoti Benkovich, Director, Astroved. The company is reported to have conducted a Cricket Homa (fire ritual) before the start of the World Cup, and has been doing a special Pooja (Vedic ritual) on the eve of every India match, to wish good luck to Dhoni’s Men in Blue.

The specialty of this Victory Ritual, as per the Vedic experts, is that it will invoke powerful energies of 6 popular Hindu Gods of Victory, each one bringing a unique and special quality that can help Team India conquer the final frontier. Hanuman, the monkey-faced God, is known to make the ‘impossible’ possible and can impart Indian bowlers with immense confidence before the big match. Veerabhadra, the ferocious commander-in-chief of Shiva’s army, can help the Indian batsmen instill fear in the opposition’s mind.

Karuppasamy, the dark God riding on a horse, is said to bring fast results and help the Indian captain make the right decisions at the right time. Muruga rules over Mars, which governs competitive sports; he can lend stamina to the Indian fielders to put in their best to save runs on the ground. Trivikrama is the form of Vishnu who decimated the demon king Bali, and can inspire the whole team to mentally dominate their Sinhalese rivals. Goddess Durga has the power to remove obstacles of every kind and can help India successfully overcome the challenge offered by Sri Lanka.

“Fire ritual is a divine technology that does not require your belief in order for it to be effective. Fire rituals are elemental invocations of archetypal energies. Such archetypes represent a particular energy that vibrates within us. This ancient ritual brings those energies alive in our conscious and allows them to flourish into our lives”, says Dr. Baskaran Pillai, an international Vedic expert and scholar-mystic.

Fire rituals create a powerful electromagnetic field, with favorable biological and environmental impact. Chanting Vedic mantras with the correct tone produce sound waves and sonic vibrations of high potential, while the special herbs offered in the fire produce strong bio-magnetic energy. Use of cow dung in fire rituals is a proven technology to counter even the nuclear radiations. The positive energy so released is known to traverse and benefit people across any barriers of space.

“Before any Vedic ritual, normally a ‘sankalpam’ is done where the priest declares the intention of performing the ritual. This is important for the outcome of the ritual. However, only a right Vedic ceremony done at the right time using the right ingredients by the right priest with the right intention is known to bring in the desired results”, shared Ram Kumar, a Vedic expert.

People can participate in the prayers for the Indian team by watching the LIVE webcast of the Victory Ritual on www.astroved.com from 12 Noon to 1:30 PM (IST) on April 2nd. They will also be encouraged to help the Real India win by raising a billion prayers for the homeless millions. HoPE Town, the company’s non-profit initiative, will build the communities of tomorrow where the Real India will live.

The collective wishes of the fans along with the goodwill towards the underprivileged might actually see Dhoni’s Men in Blue bring home the World Cup at Tendulkar’s home ground.

Flashback to 2007 when Bangladesh left the Indian Cricket Fans gasping when they sneaked an unexpected win and sent Team India packing from the World Cup. Will the Asian Lions do an encore and surprise the Men in Blue? Or, will Dhoni’s Devils stamp their supremacy over the minnows?
Whatever is your guess, now you can share it with the world! Sharpen your cricketing ‘sixth sense’ and let your fellow Indian supporters know what you feel will be the outcome.

‘CricketAstrology.in’ – a new, unique platform is being launched today to coincide with the opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. This new initiative is powered by AstroVed (www.Astroved.com), a leading service provider to individuals and corporates in the area of Vedic Sciences and Vedic Astrology.

“This website will be an absolute treat for everyone die-hard follower of Indian Cricket. It enables every Indian Cricket Fan to do what they like the best – predict their team’s chances of winning matches”, says R. Ganapathy, who conceptualized this website.

For every India match, you can predict the winner and the outcome of the match. Not only that, you can find out what others are predicting as well. “In a cricket match, you cannot be sure about the winner until the last ball is bowled. Still, it will be fun to know what my friends and colleagues are guessing. It doesn’t matter who wins as long as its India”, says Pradeep, an ardent cricket fan.

The most interesting part of this platform is the presence of 3 Predictions Pundits known for their forecasting powers – Parrot Mani, Amazing Angel, and Cricket Astrologer. Each Pundit brings their own skills and intuition to the table, and you have the perfect opportunity to match your wits against theirs.
If you want to start predicting for the next India match, it is very easy to do so. Just visit ‘CricketAstrology.in’, see what the Prediction Pundits are saying, and then give your vote to the Team you think will win the match. So, are you game?

“A Cricket Homa (fire ritual) is being organized on February 10th to boost the chances of the Indian cricket team winning their second World Cup and the first one on Indian soil. This ritual is unprecedented because it will be performed during a very auspicious period”, says Mr. BA Reddy, General Manager of Astroved, a leading service provider to individuals and corporates in the area of Vedic Sciences.

But, can the performance of fire rituals win India the World Cup? Rewind to IPL 3 finals last year; Chennai Super Kings had just won a tight final against Mumbai Indians. It was reported that the owners of the team performed several esoteric rituals to please the Heavens and ensure their team’s success despite a turbulent run during the league matches.

The positive impact of fire rituals on environment and on human health has already been scientifically established. A fire ritual involves a confluence of various kinds of energies – sound energy is generated through the use of mantras, heat energy through lighting of the fire, and the special herbs offered in the fire release their own bio-magnetic energy.

Before any Vedic ritual such as Puja or Homa, normally a ‘sankalpam’ is done where the priest declares the intention of performing the ritual. This is important for the outcome of the ritual. However, only a right Vedic ceremony done at the right time using the right ingredients by the right priest with the right intention is known to bring in the desired results.

“Fire ritual is a divine technology that does not require your belief in order for it to be effective. Fire rituals are elemental invocations of archetypal energies. Such archetypes represent a particular energy that vibrates within us. This ancient ritual brings those energies alive in our conscious and allows them to flourish into our lives”, says Dr. Baskaran Pillai, an international Vedic expert and scholar-mystic.

Who is then archetype or God of Honor for the Cricket Homa? The fiery, red Mars governs the domain of games and competitive sports. “Mars signifies the energies of confidence and leadership. It grants the physical and mental strength needed by sportspersons for excellent performance. On February 10th, Mars is extremely empowered to grant favorable result in sports”, says Mr. Ram Kumar, the Vedic Astrologer from AstroVed who has designed this ritual.

Though such rituals do generate positive energy; still nobody can predict the manner and extent of divine help. However, if the collective wishes of six billion Cricket Devotees pour in together, we might actually see the Men in Blue lift the Cup on April 2nd.

This research study is being performed by AstroVed ( http://AstroVed.com ), a service provider to individuals and corporations in the field of Vedic Sciences and Vedic Astrology. Qualified researchers in AstroVed’s R&D wing in Kancheepuram, India, will study the influence of planets on the academic performance of at least 50,000 students.

“For instance, if the planet Mercury is weak in a student’s chart, then this will affect his scores in science and mathematics. We are going to go planet by planet, and see if the conventional astrological wisdom is true or not. Once we show this relationship using empirical evidence, we can find out which planet makes a student to achieve ‘A’ Grade versus the lowest grade. Then, we can provide them tools to change the planet’s influence energetically”, said Dr. S. Chelvi, who is leading the research project.

In the midst of the uncertainty of economy, jobs and housing, for millions of people worldwide, there was comfort in knowing one’s birth sign. With the introduction of a 13th sign, Ophiuchus, this comfort seemed to be undermined, as many people felt that astrology was ‘debunked’ somehow. After all, for many, this meant their sign had changed and with that, predictions based on their sign.

AstroVed’s astrologers follow a branch of astrology called Stellar Astrology. In this branch of astrology, the discovery of a 13th sign does not affect which star you are born under. You can rediscover yourself under an entirely new light by knowing which one of the 27 Nakshatras (birth stars) you were born under and how your birth star affects your life. Also, Stellar Astrology employs remedies to offset the bad influence a planet may have on a person’s life. According to AstroVed, one can remedy predicted outcomes with prescribed planetary remedies and one’s destiny can be changed, even if it is written in the stars.

Touted as ‘Delhi’s Lifeline’, the river is fast approaching 206 meters, the danger mark beyond which it will put everyone’s life on the line. Delhiites still remember the 1978 floods where several low-lying areas and settlements along the Yamuna river bank were flooded.

One cute, little guy is unfazed though – Ganesha. On his upcoming Birthday celebrations on Ganesha Chaturthi (September 11), Ganesha offers a miraculous solution. It involves offering prayers to his protective form known as Pralayam Katha Vinayakar, which can be found in an energy vortex in South India.

“In ancient times, Lord Siva asked Ganesha to save the world from the Pralaya (Great Deluge) caused during the growing power of the shadow planet Rahu. Lord Ganesha created a well and channeled all over-flowing seas into it, thus controlling the floods and saving the world. At the site of the well, Lord Varuna, the water God, created and erected a statue of Ganesha made from Sea Shells”, shares Ramkumar, a Vedic expert.

This Ganesha statue receives only one Abishekam (ritual anointation) a year, and that day is on his Birthday (September 11). Amazingly, this 3-feet high idol sucks in hundreds of gallons of honey poured over it on this day. No milk is ever used on this Ganesha.

Perhaps Delhi CM Shiela Dikshit might be interested in getting Ganesha’s divine help, not only to tide over the impending floods, but also to sail smoothly through the flood of public criticism over the upcoming Commonwealth Games!

But, why was the midnight hour chosen for the transfer of power? It is said that astrologers were consulted who felt August 15 was an inauspicious day, and as per the Hindu calendar, midnight was considered a part of August 14 and so was auspicious.

“Mountbatten had forgotten to consult the astrologers, who had great clout in India, and they were furious. Fridays were bad days in general, and this one was so bad, they warned, that rather than accept it, the people of India should accept British rule. Under some calculations, August 15th lay under the Zodiac sign for Capricorn. That sign was known for its hostility to all centrifugal – ‘pulling apart’ forces. Therefore, it was the worst possible day to do a partition. And on that day, India would be passing through the influence of Saturn, a very unlucky and unfriendly planet”, reveals a passage from the book ‘Freedom at Midnight’.

Renowned as the cradle of the Vedas, it is but fitting that India taps into its Vedic wisdom. As Indian marches into the 64th year of independence, it can utilize Vedic Astrology to create a powerful tryst with destiny, one which will catapult it as the beacon of spirituality and the lighthouse of modern science.

The Vedic experts in Chennai predict, “Currently, India is undergoing the major period of Sun till July 2015, and the minor period of Rahu from September 2010 until August 2011. The placement of Sun in the House of Neighbors (3rd house) and of Rahu in the House of Enmity (6th house) indicates troubles for India in the coming year from the neighboring countries”.

Interestingly, Vedic Astrology enables us to draw Mother India’s chart which shows Taurus as the Ascendant and Cancer as the Moon Sign. Moreover, the Snake Yoga is formed in India’s chart as 7 planets are placed between the snake planets Rahu and Ketu. Overall, this signifies difficulties, yet sustained growth.

However, the year ahead is set to be a favorable one for the tricolor nation. “Real estate will get a boost, educational institutions will prosper, and tourism sector will get a respite. The economy will look up again. Though the government will be stable, it will lack diplomatic skills and could come in for public criticism. There will be an inclination towards spirituality among people”, says an expert forecaster.

This is a wonderful sign of HoPE for the billion-strong population, a majority of which still lives in villages. They would only be keen to join another freedom movement – freedom from poverty and hunger.

Ganesha, the presiding deity of a Sangli-based religious trust, was not allowed to open a demat account for trading in shares. “Gods and goddesses are meant to be worshipped in temples, not dragged into commercial activities like share trading”, judges P.B. Majumdar and Rajendra Sawant reported to have said.

The religious trust said that since Ganesha had been given a PAN card, he could get a demat account as well. However, the division Bench wondered whether the deity could be taken to task if case of any illegal transaction. The court further stated that it was not mandatory for NSDL (National Securities Depository Ltd.) to provide a demat account for every PAN card holder.

Interestingly, the Supreme Court of India has already given the right to deities to acquire property. In India, where people worship millions of deities and treat them as living persons, this case could be seen as man mocking his own faith in God.

“What might help this religious trust is Clay Ganesha, an ancient technology where a mud idol of Ganesha is energized in a special ritual. The idol takes on the troubles and difficulties upon itself. It is then dissolved in a water body, and with it the problems too are washed away”, say the remedial astrologers in Chennai.

For now, Ganesha might have been kept out of business, but he is sure to be back in business in a big way during Ganesha Chaturthi.