This was probably my first article published in the January 2003 issue of the now defunct "The Astrological Magazine". I am thankful to Mrs Gayatridevi Vasudev for permitting me to share this on social media. It is natural that ideas and concepts keep on evolving and changing with the gaining of knowledge and experience. Though I am sharing these articles in the same form as they were earlier published, I may not totally agree with what I have written a decade back.

This article is about the dreaded Guru Chandala Yoga and its effects demonstrating real life cases. I hope you will enjoy....

Guru Chandala Yoga and Religiousness

Dr. K. Guru Rajesh

GURU CHANDALA YOGA is one of those Yogas whose causative factors and effects are quite ambiguous. The following lines can be noted.

जीवे सराहौ यदि वा सकेतौ

छन्डालता पापनिरीक्षितौ चेत्

- Sarvartha Chintamani

जीवे राहुयुते Sथवा शिखियुते पापेक्षिते नीचकृत्

- Jataka Parijata

Both texts mean that when Jupiter is with Rahu or Ketu and aspected by a malefic, it results in Chandala Yoga. Most of the later writers, including DR. B.V. RAMAN, have recognised the Yoga even if the combination does not receive any malefic aspect. Further, DR. B.V. RAMAN has considered even the presence of Jupiter in the constellation of Rahu as Guru Chandala Yoga while interpreting some of the horoscopes in his book Notable Horoscopes.

ध्वजाहिमन्दैस्सहितेन्द्रपूज्ये शुक्रेक्षिते वा शशिसूनु द्रुष्टे।

शूद्रोपिचेत विप्रसमत्वमेति विद्यां च सर्वां अधिगम्य जातः॥

- Sarvartha Chintamani

मन्दाराहि समन्वितेS मरगुरौ शुक्रेन्दुपुत्रेक्षिते

जातस्सूद्र कलेबरोपि निखिलां विद्यामुपैति श्रियम्॥

- Jataka Parijata

According to Sarvartha Chintamani, even though Jupiter is associated with Ketu or Rahu or Saturn but is aspected by either Venus or Mercury; then the native, even though a low born, will become well versed in all the Sastras. Jataka Parijata includes Mars also in the list and eliminates Ketu. Thus it is obvious that Guru Chandala Yoga will result when Jupiter is associated with Ketu or Rahu or Saturn. The combination of Jupiter with Mars cannot be included in the Chandala Yoga as most of the texts praise the result of such a combination. We may further conclude that the aspect of malefics on Guru Chandala Yoga further aggravates the malefic effects.

The results of Guru Chandala Yoga are given in most texts. The name of the Yoga itself suggests that the native will be a Chandala or a Neechakrit which mean that he will be an outcaste and will do very mean acts. In my experience, Guru Chandala Yoga is found to show the following results :

1. The native may became an agnostic or an atheist denying the existence of God.

2. The native may become a religious bigot hating other religions and extremely orthodox as far as his own religion is concerned.

3. The native may become interested in Kshudra Mantras and thereby earn money by black magic and other unorthodox means.

4. The native may be well versed in Vedas and Mantra Sastra and also religiously inclined, but he may be addicted to smoking, alcohol and other vices.

Let us now observe the effects of the combination of Jupiter with Saturn, Rahu and Ketu separately.

Jupiter and Saturn

ज्ञेयः श्मश्रुकरोSसितेन घटकृज्जातोन्नकारोपिवा

- Brihat Jataka

The combination of Jupiter and Saturn makes a person a barber or potter or cook. This result should not be applied verbatim. The Rasi in which the association takes place, the strength of Jupiter, disposition of these planets from Lagna and their lordships etc. should be duly considered.

Jupiter and Rahu

Every planet has both positive and negative traits. Here the positive traits of Rahu when combined with Jupiter may make a person interested in ancient philosophical lore, occultism etc. and may make him follow all the external religious customs and duties. The negative traits may make him a Kshudra Mantrika or he may become addicted to vices. The native may become even a Naastika (atheist).

Jupiter and Ketu

This combination is not as formidable as that of Rahu and Jupiter. Ketu being the Mokshakaraka and Jupiter being the Karaka for religion make the native inclined towards Self-Realization and selfless Karma Yoga shunning all external show of religiousness. It may also make the native an agnostic but with faith in humanitarian and moral values, if the conjunction is very close and afflicted by malefic aspects.

But there is the other side of the coin also. Guru Chandala Yoga manifests itself in constructive channels and makes a person highly religious in its truer sense and gives him higher spiritual knowledge under the following conditions :

1. When Jupiter is powerful (in his own or exaltation sign).

2. When Jupiter is powerful and there is considerable distance between the causative planet and Jupiter.

3. When Jupiter and the causative planet are powerfully aspected by Venus and/or Mercury.

4. When these planets are in the constellations of natural benefics who are powerful.

5. When the 9th house and the 9th lord are powerful.

6. When there is a powerful Dharmakarrnadhipati Yoga.

7. When Jupiter is with Ketu and connected with the 12th house.

8. When there are highly benefic influences on the Lagna and/or 10th house.

Let us study some practical horoscopes to confirm the above observations.

Chart 1 : Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa : Born 18-2-1836 at about 6-23 a.m. LMT at 22 N 53, 87 E 44.

Jupiter is in the 5^th, in the constellation of Rahu causing Guru Chandala Yoga .in Chart 1. But note the exaltation of Lagna lord in the 9^th, the house of Dharma and the exaltation of 9^th lord Venus. Also note the exaltation of 10^th lord Mars in the Mokshastana. These combinations along with other Parivraja Yogas made the native one of the greatest saints India has ever produced. The Guru Chandala Yoga expressed itself in a constructive channel making the native follow the disciplines of other religions like Islam and Christianity to understand the universal truth preached by all religions.

Chart 2 : Balagangadhar Tilak : Born 23-7-1856 at 6-24 a.m. LMT at 18 N 32, 73 E 53

The native of Chart 2 was a profile writer, subtle lucid thinker and a reviver of religious festivals like Ganapati, Navaratri Mahotsavas.

About the Guru Chandala Yoga in this chart let us quote DR. B.V. RAMAN himself: "It may be asked whether Jupiter - Rahu association has not caused Guru Chandala Yoga. The answer would be that the Yoga stands neutralized by the fact that Rahu is in the constellation of Mercury and is removed from Jupiter by 10 degrees. Rahu's situation in the Nakshatra of Mercury who is Mokshastanadhipati and the entire combination receiving the aspect of Saturn from Mokshastana gave him living faith in God."

Chart 3 : Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee : Born 29-6-1864 at about 3-55 a.m. LMT at 22 N 35. 88 E

The native of Chart 3 was a famous judge and jurist. He had great zeal for the ancient Hindu Sastras. He persistently adhered to the Indian dress and to the orthodox Hindu methods of living and performed pujas in the old orthodox style. Here the Guru Chandala Yoga occurring in Libra manifested constructively making him a balanced judge as Jupiter and Rahu are both placed in the asterism of Jupiter. Note the combination occurring in the Mokshastana receiving the aspect of Jupiter and also note the Vargottama position of 12^th lord Mars in the 12^th house. From Chandra Lagna, Jupiter as 9^th lord aspects Mars who is the lord of Chandra Lagna showing his religious inclinations. The 9^th lord from Lagna Saturn is also well placed in the 5^th house.

Chart 4 : Adolf Hitler: Born 20-4-1889 at 6-30 p.m. LMT at 48 N, 13 E

Adolf Hitler (Chart 4) had great hatred for the Jews and took delight in human suffering and harvest of death. He was extremely aggressive. Here Guru Chandala Yoga expressed itself destructively even though occurring in a benefic sign and a benefic constellation. Here Jupiter becomes a functional malefic. Further, the 9^th house is afflicted by Rahu and the 9^th lord along with the Lagna lord is afflicted by all the three natural malefics Sun, Saturn and Mars in the 7^th house. The 10^th house or Karmastana is also afflicted by natural malefics.

Chart 5 : Jawaharlal Nehru : Born 14-11-1889 at 11-03 p.m. LMT at 25 N 25, 82 E.

Nehru (Chart 5) was an agnostic and made no pretensions to an insight into the mysteries of the Infinite. He vehemently criticized ancient Hindu Sastras. These results are due to the very near conjunction of Jupiter and Ketu aspected by Mars. But the positive traits of this combination due to the Dharmakarmadhipati Yoga, influence of Jupiter and Ketu on the 12^th house and the presence of Jupiter in his own sign made him, deeply religious in the sense that faith in a cause, in ideals, in human goodness and human destiny is closely allied to faith in Providence.

Chart 6 : Male: Born 13/14-1-1915 at 2-30 p.m. LMT at 17 N 58, 79 E 40.

The native of Chart 6 is a religious head who initiated hundreds of people into Srivaishnavism and is devotedly worshipped by them. Note the very near conjunction of Jupiter with Rahu which should not give these results. There is a very significant Yoga in the 2^nd containing 9^th lord Moon, with 10^th lord Sun and the Lagna lord Mars forming a powerful Dharmakarmadhipati Yoga which made the native a religious head. The Guru Chandala Yoga manifested in the form that he criticizes and hates other philosophies of Hindu religion like Advaita etc.

Chart 7 : Male: Born 26-12-1921 at 6-42 a.m. LMT at 15 N 38, 77 E 19.

Note the conjunction of Lagna lord Jupiter in the 10^th with Saturn and Rahu in Chart 7. Contrary to the results expected, the native is a purohit or priest well versed in Vedic and follows all the daily rituals like Sandhya and devatarchana strictly. He has trained all his sons and grandsons in the Vedas and they are all purohits by profession. The powerful Dharmakardhipati Yoga occurring in the Lagna explains the reason for these contradictory results.

Chart 8 : Male: Born 5-3-1944 at 10-30 p.m. IST at 16 N 19, 80 E 26.

Chart 8 is of a spiritual preceptor to hundreds of disciples in Andhra Pradesh. Note the exaltation of Jupiter in the 10^th with Rahu and the 10^th lord Moon. There is a distance of 14° between Jupiter and Rahu. Also note the position of Jupiter in own Navamsa. Futher Venus, the Lagna lord, aspects the combination fulfiling the conditions prescribed in the classical works.

Chart 9 : Male: Born 15-9-1947 at 2-35 p.m. IST at 17 N, 81 E 46.

The native of Chart 9 gives discourses on Puranas in the Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams. He is also a competent astrologer and an Upasaka of Sri Hayagreeva. Note the presence of Jupiter in own constellation and in exaltation Navamsa. Also note the significant Dharma- karmadhipati Yoga in the 9^th house and in Chandra Lagna.

Chart 10 : Male: Born 4-10-1947 at 7-30 p.m. IST at 15 N 42, 77 E 35

The native of Chart 10 is a drill master in a government school and also a competent astrologer. During the Dasas of the Moon and Rahu the native was very rude in behaviour. But the commencement of Jupiter Dasa brought considerable change in his life turning him towards astrology and spirituality. The conjunction of Jupiter and Ketu in the 8th house, the house of occultism, brought about this change. Though born as a Brahmin, he does not do Sandhyavandana or Devatarchana etc. But he is a God-fearing person. The presence of Mars and Saturn in the 4^th house influencing all the Kendras and the debilitation of the 2^nd lord aspected by Saturn made his words and deeds harsh in nature.

Chart 11: Male: Born 13-3-1969 at 8-11 p.m. IST at 13 N 04, 80 E 17.

Chart 11 belongs to a young sanyasin, the pontiff of a famous mutt in South India. Note the conjunction of Jupiter - Ketu in the Lagna aspected by the 12^th lord. In Bhava, Jupiter and Ketu fall in Mokshastana (12^th) aspected by the Mokshastanadhipati Sun. The Moon in Saturn's Rasi and Amsa aspected by Saturn is an important Parivraja Yoga to be noted.

Chart 12: Male: Born 21/22-11-1979 at 1-03.48a.m. LMT at 16 N 04, 78 E 51.

The native of Chart 12 is well versed in Vedic Mantras and Agamas. He is a purohit performing Homas and Yagnas, Prathishtas etc. He is sincere, honest, truthful and God fearing and always helpful to the needy. Here, the Guru Chandala Yoga is expressed in constructive terms as the powerful 4^th and 9th lord Mars is conjoined with 5^th (and 8^th) lord Jupiter in the Lagna. Mars aspects the 10^th lord Venus. From Chandra note the Dhannakarmadhipati Yoga in the Mokshastana and also the combination of 5^th and 12^th lord Mars with the 1^st and 4^th lord Jupiter in the 9^th, the house of Dharma. Jupiter is in the constellation of Venus.

Thus it can be noted that Guru Chandala Yoga is a boon in disguise under appropriate conditions making the native highly religious and inclined towards spirituality and occultism.