Astrology India: An Astrologer’s Pilgrimage

I had decided to go to South India first, specifically to request an audience master of Jaimini Astrology, Sri Iranganti Rangacharya in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, do Giri Valam at Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai and to do the yatra of the Nava Graha Temples near Kumbakonam. I became a Shiva bhakta, and specifically Jyotirlinga worshiper, during that same journey to the Nava Graha Sthanams. Please read my article on my .

The Wonders of Kanchipuram and Tiruvannamalai

What brought about my first journey to India was the fact that I didn’t like my Solar Return for Thailand, where I was living at the time. I decided to go to India for a month. My birthday would fall within that month. I started in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, as I wanted to have an audience with Smt. Iranganti Rangacharya, one of the leading scholars on Jaimini Astrology. After Hyderabad I was going to start my temple pilgrimage with Srisailam and then move south to Kumbakonam. However, there was a general strike in Andhra Pradesh, so it was suggested that I go to Tamil Nadu first. I wasn’t sure where to go, but the maid at the house where I was staying is a virtual encyclopedia regarding temples. She knows all of them! Even the small ones in tiny villages! She is amazing! I told her that I was interested in Shakti Peethams – I had been to Kalighat already since I had flown into Kolkata – and  she suggested Kanchipuram; “Many temples, too big, too beautiful….Shakti Peet!” I decided to take her suggestion and took the train to Chennai and a bus to Kanchipuram. My birthday is January 1, and I arrived in Kanchipuram on the night of the 31st. On the morning of my birthday I received darshan of Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Devi, Sri Varadaraja Perumal and, most importantly Lord Shiva as Ekambareshwarar at Ekambaranathar Temple. Something happened to me on viewing the lingam that I still can’t put into words. An exchange of some sort happened. After visiting other temples in Kanchipuram, I went to Tiruvannamalai. Before my trip to India I was looking for temples where I could propitiate Sani to help my 2nd house – Dhanu Lagna –  and stumbled upon information about Arunachala, and how it is a manifestation of Lord Shiva. I wanted to do Giri Pradakshina there around the hill and also receive Darshan of Lord Annamailayar or Arunachaleswar.

Pancha Bhootha Sthanams

Ekambaranthar and Annamailayar temples were the two most impressive temples that I saw or experienced during my journey, and I soon found out that these temples were two of the five Pancha Bhootha Sthanams, where Shiva is worshipped as the five elements.

I arrived in Tiruvannamalai on the evening of my birthday and had darshan of Lord Shiva. Annamailayar temple is the largest Shiva temple complex in the world, and is where Lord Shiva is worshiped as fire. In the garbagraha there is space for about 15 people to sit and revere lord Shiva up close. That little room is intensely hot, like a sauna, and I assure you that there is nothing in that room to heat it except the presence of the Lingam itself. Indeed,all of the pujaris are covered in sweat as they go about their duties. I did Giri Pradakshina around Arunachala the next day and left for Kumbakonam the day after, at which time I embarked on the Nava Graha Yatra.

From Kumbakonam I went back to Hyderabad, and then to SriSailam, which is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples. It is usually placed second on the list of importance, after Somnath in Gujarat. The mystical energy was palpable there, especially at night – I arrived at 2am. I stayed for 3 days and had many darshans. Booklets are always sold telling the myths and legends connected with the temples, and I found myself ruminating on the fact that there were 12 of them. Of course, my next thought, as an astrologer, was “I wonder if they correspond to the Rasis?” They do.

Jyotirlinga Zodiac Correspondences

I have included a listing of the Rasis that correspond to each Jyotirlinga Temple along with the mantra for worship. To worship or propitiate a planet, use the temple that represents the planet’s exaltation rasi:

Aries (exaltation of sun) rameshwaram “om namah shivaya namah rameshwaraya”

Taurus: (exaltation of moon) : somnath “om namah shivaya namah somnathaya”

Gemeni: (exaltation of rahu) : nageshwar “om namah shivaya namah nageshwaraya”

Cancer: (exaltation of jupiter) : omkareshwar “om namah shivaya namah omkareshwaraya”

Leo: ( ) : vaidynath “om namah shivaya namah vaidyanathaya”

Virgo: (exaltation of mercury) : mallikarjun “om namah shivaya namah mallikarjunaya”

Libra: (exaltation of Saturn ) : mahakaleshwar “om namah shivaya namah mahakaleshwaraya”

Scorpio: ( ) : ghashanesha “om namah shivaya namah ghrashaneshwaraya”

Sagitarius: (exaltation of ketu) : vishwanath “om namah shivaya namah vishwanathaya”

Capricorn: (exaltation of mars) : bhimshankara “om namah shivaya namah bhimshankaraya”

Aquarius: ( ) : kedarnath “om namah shivaya namah kedarnathaya”

Pisces: (exaltation of Venus) : tryambakeshwar “om namah shivaya namah tryambakeshwaraya”

It turned out that SriSailam represented the sign Virgo, which is my Arudha Lagna and Lord Buddha is my Atmakaraka. Of course, Buddha is exalted in Virgo so it turned out that I was worshiping my own Atma Linga! This began my love/obsession for Lord Shiva and the quest to find and visit my personal Jyotirlinga.