A humble Tribute to Mahamahopadhyaya and Jyotisha Vignyana Bhaskara Sri Madura Krishnamurthy Sastry

Dr. K. Guru Rajesh

It would not be an exaggeration to say that every student of hindu astrology in the world knows about or at least heard about Sri Madura Krishnamurthy Sastryji, a giant among the astrologers of India. In the telugu language circle of astrologers, most of them consider him as their guru and mentor. It is a great loss to the entire astrological fraternity that Sri Sastryji left for his heavenly abode on 6^th April 2016. He belonged to the last generation of the great traditional siddhantins and jyotishis who had tremendous command on all the three skandas of Jyotisha. This paper, in which I present the horoscopic analysis of Sastryji following my Nandi Nadi method, is a humble tribute to this great soul seeking his everlasting blessings. Readers may please refer to the introductory chapter of my book SARFAROSH for the information on the Nandi Nadi principles.

Sri Sastryji was born on 28^th February, 1928 at 4.41am at Mukkamala vikkage near Tanuku in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. His parents were Sri Venkayya Bhusura and Srimati Sachidevi.

Jeevakaraka Jupiter is placed in own sign Pisces having Sun and retrograde Mercury in the 12^th, and exalted Mars and Venus in the 11^th. Note the sign exchange between Mars and Saturn. In his movements Jupiter will first meet exalted Moon-Rahu in Taurus who are aspected by Saturn/Mars-Ketu. Thus, Jupiter having Sun-Mercury in the 12^th, exalted Mars in the 11^th and Saturn-Mercury in the 11^th indicates long span of life. The detailed longevity calculation as per my upcoming book ‘Longevity and Death’ is presented at the end of the article.

Vidyakaraka Mercury joins Sun and has Jupiter in the 2^nd and Venus-Mars/Saturn in the 12^th. Retrogression brings Mercury to Capricorn where he joins Venus/Mars-Saturn. Thus, Mercury hemmed between Jupiter and Venus indicates great intellect and learning in traditional subjects. Added to this, Mercury with Sun gives deep knowledge in astrology. However, Mercury is about to enter his debilitation sign and is placed in the middle of nodal axis. Further, he gets the influence of Mars. This should cause break in education, which really happened as Sastryji could not continue his formal education beyond 8^th standard. Nevertheless, it is more than compensated by the powerful influence of Sun, Jupiter and Venus, which made him an authority on astrology and allied subjects. It is to be noted that Mercury has Ketu in the 10^th and 11^th. Traditionally, Ketu is considered as the planet ruling over the Jaimini system of astrology. This explains the extensive study Sastryji made in this branch of Jyotisha.

Karmakaraka Saturn joins Ketu in Scorpio and receives the aspect of exalted Moon-Rahu from Taurus. Saturn is involved in sign exchange with exalted Mars thereby moving to Capricorn to join Venus and Mercury. From Capricorn, Saturn has Sun-Mercury in the 2^nd and Jupiter in the 3^rd. Saturn with Ketu aspected by exalted Moon indicates a religious and spiritual nature. Saturn with Venus and Mercury in Capricorn suggests establishment of institutions. Saturn having Sun-Mercury in the 2^nd and Jupiter in the 3^rd explains working for astrology and allied traditional subjects. The association of Ketu and Mercury with Saturn makes the native a celebrated author in his field. Strong influence of Mars ensures that the native works elaborately on vastu, the ancient science of architecture and construction. Saturn associated with exalted planets indicates that the native will reach to great heights in his life. Saturn having Sun in the 2^nd and Jupiter in the 3^rd suggests that the native will get recognition and awards from the government. The influence of Venus and Jupiter on Saturn will make him a great Guru, especially as Jupiter has Mars in the 11^th. Saturn having Moon in the 7^th and Jupiter meeting Moon first in his transits indicate that the native will make extensive travels. Further, Saturn joins Ketu also which suggests overseas travels for the native.

Though he continued the secular studies upto 8^th standard, concomitantly he also studied the Sanskrit Pancha Kavyas and Vyakarana from his guru Sri Pisupati Visweswara Sastry. During the period between 1944 and 48, he learnt Sanskrit Sahitya including natakas, Rigveda smartha, hora and Samhita skandas of jyotisha, Muhurtha, Prashna and Vasthu from his guru Sri Vajapeyula Venkata Subrahmanya Somayaji. Transit Jupiter was moving between Cancer and Scorpio in this period while Saturn was transiting between Taurus and Leo. Note that transit Saturn was moving in the 7^th to natal Saturn in Scorpio in 1944 while transit Jupiter was moving in the 7^th to natal Mercury-Saturn in Capricorn.

The period between 1954 and 1962 was an important turning point in his life. To get complete command over the siddhanta skanda of Jyotisha he sought the tutelage of guru Sri Sripada Venkataramana Daivagnya. In the course of his study he travelled along with his guru to various oriental manuscript centres to collect valuable and rare manuscripts. In this process he happened to stay in Benares between 1956 and 1960 where he got the opportunity to discuss and debate with various pandits on different topics of jyotisha. At this juncture he felt the need to do extensive research on ayanamsa. By the starting of year 1952 transit Jupiter was moving in Taurus in the 7^th to natal Saturn. Transit of Saturn in Scorpio, a watery sign, over natal Saturn-Ketu aspected by natal Moon-Rahu has seen Sastryji stay in Benares. By the year 1962 transit Saturn and Jupiter joined together in Capricorn, indicating the end of a phase and beginning of a new phase in Sastryji’s life.

It will not be out of context if I insert here a note about the way sastryji carried out his studies. Those days many texts were available as palm-leaf manuscripts only and even if published, those books were not easily accessible. He had to travel to distant places throughout India to collect these books. He wrote down the entire books by his own hand, including the errata tables. Hundreds of such books written in his own hand can be seen in his library. Such was his dedication and hard work.

Sastryji studied thousands of Jyotisha classics and presented their essence in the form of books. He translated Jatakalankaram into telugu and wrote Gruha Vastu Deepika in 1951 (transit Jupiter in Aquarius over natal Mercury); Adhika-Kshaya Masa Meemamsa, Panchanga Bedhamulu-Driksiddhanta Avashyakata and Vastu Sastra Vivekam part 1 in 1963 (transit Jupiter in Aquarius over natal Mercury and transit Saturn in Capricorn); translated Daivagnya Vallabha into telugu in 1966 (transit Saturn in Aquarius over natal Mercury); translated Bhavartha Ratnakaram in 1967 (transit Saturn over natal Jupiter in Pisces while transit Jupiter in Capricorn, in the 7^th to natal Saturn-Mercury); wrote Vastu Sastra Vivekam 2, 3 and 4 parts in 1970 (transit Jupiter in Libra having natal Saturn-Ketu in the 2^nd), 76 and 78 (transit Saturn in Cancer and Leo, in the 7^th to natal Mercury). Vastu Sastra Vivekam is said to be the essence of more than 200 classics and is considered as an encyclopaedia on the subject by the experts in Vastu. Between 1990 and 92 (transit Jupiter in Cancer and Leo, in the 7^th to natal Mercury while transit Saturn in Sagittarius and Capricorn), Sastryji undertook the great job of translating Brihat Parasara Hora, the standard text on Jyotisha, presenting all the available versions of the text and discussing the opinion of the savants, and could bring out 3 parts. He wrote Satayogamanjari in 1995 (transit Jupiter over natal Saturn-Ketu in Scorpio while transit Saturn over natal Mercury in Aquarius); Muhurta Chintamani in 2010 (transit Jupiter over natal Mercury in Aquarius while transit Saturn in Virgo in the 7^th to natal Jupiter) and the 4^th part of Brihat Parasara Hora in 2013 (transit Jupiter in Taurus in the 7^th to natal Saturn-Ketu). It is our misfortune that he could not complete the remaining two parts of Parasara Hora because of his work commitments. During the same period, he was also busy in editing many Sanskrit works for the Sanskrita Vidyapeetha of Tirupati. All the books written by Sri Sastryji, both his translations and original works, follow the method of astrological savants of bygone era. By reading a single book, one will come to know about the existence of many other classics on the same subject including their convergent and divergent views, and the logical conclusion given by Sastryji. It is indeed a great feast for ardent learners.

Sastryji established Jyotisha Vignyana Kendram in 1964 and started publishing a quarterly journal Jyotisha Vignyana Patrika and a driksiddhanta almanac. This journal completed 50 years of its existence in 2014 and is still in publication. This could be in the 2^nd part of the year 1964, when transit Jupiter was moving in Taurus in the 7^th to natal Saturn while transit Saturn was retrograde in Aquarius activating the natal Saturn-Venus-Mercury combination. With an intention to intensely analyse the classics of Jyotisha and Vastu to make them applicable to the present times, Satryji started another institution in 1989 named Viswa Vignyana Pratishthanam. Transit Jupiter was again in Taurus, in the 7^th to natal Saturn while transit Saturn was moving in Sagittarius having the natal planetary combinations ahead in the three signs. Through this organization he conducted meetings of experts of these subjects, organized seminars on various pressing topics, brought out small booklets for free of cost for the benefit of students. On the invitation of Sri Maharshi Mahesh Yogi, Sastryji visited their centres in Holland and Germany in 1995 to teach and deliver lectures on the subject of Vastu. Jupiter was transiting over natal Saturn-Ketu combination in Scorpio receiving the aspect of natal Moon, which explains this foreign travel. Sastryji was a recipient of many awards and accolades. Among them, the significant are the Mahamahopadhyaya title conferred by Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidya Peeth, Tirupati in 2012, conferred on him for his vast knowledge in Sanskrit and research work of about 70 years. Prior to this, he was also the recipient of the President’s award from the late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 2006 for his pioneering work in Sanskrit and astrology. In the year 2006 transit Saturn was moving in Cancer in the 7^th to natal Saturn-Venus-Mercury while transit Jupiter was in Libra having natal Saturn-Ketu in the 2^nd. By the end of 2006 transit Jupiter moved into Scorpio over natal Saturn-Ketu. In the year 2012 when Sastryji was conferred with the title of Mahamahopadhyaya on February 25^th, transit Saturn was retrograde in Libra having transit Jupiter in the 7^th in Aries. Retrogression of transit Saturn activates natal Jupiter in Pisces. Thus, transit Saturn gets the influence of both natal and transit Jupiter.

Sastryji was bestowed with many attributes of heart and mind. He had a great retention memory and could recollect many slokas which he read many years back. Mercury placed in a fixed sign Aquarius hemmed between Jupiter and Venus explains this. Though his old age forced him to withdraw from active organizational activities he was always available to sincere seekers to clarify their doubts. Throughout his long life he collected many invaluable classics facing many hardships and spending huge amounts. These books included all branches of ancient hindu learning like Jyotisha Siddhanta, Samhita, Hora, astronomy, dharma Sastra, Vastu, Purana, nighantu, Ayurveda, linguistics and so on. All books in his collection were donated to Sri Virinchi Trust Library for the benefit of the society. Though endowed with a giant intellect and learning he was humble enough to say that he knows very little. He dedicated his life for the study and propagation of Jyotisha till his last breath. His was a life to be emulated by every student of this divine science. I am fortunate to have communicated with him twice through letters and got his personal blessings once when I met him at Tirupati, which I cherish throughout my life.

The following is the longevity estimation of Sastryji’s horoscope as per the methods employed in my upcoming book.

As per the above table it can be seen that the position of Jupiter vis-à-vis other planets gives 19 cycles of Jupiter as positive and 11.5 cycles of Jupiter as negative. The effective longevity thus comes to be 7.5 cycles of Jupiter. This will be from the 85^th year to the 90^th year of the native. Within this period we need to find out when the death of the native can happen as per the methods of counting and transit of Jupiter and Saturn. Among the 12 signs for Jupiter’s movements, Taurus and Scorpio will act as killers as they have the influence of the nodes and Moon. Next, the signs Leo and Aquarius may act as killers as they are placed in the middle of nodal axis, especially when Jupiter becomes retrograde in them thereby getting the influence of natal Venus-Mercury from Capricorn. As far as Saturn’s movements are concerned, the signs Taurus and Scorpio will be the primary killers because of the influence of Moon, Mars and nodes in them in the natal chart. Given the age bracket from the calculations, Jupiter will be moving from Aries to Virgo while Saturn will be moving from Virgo to Scorpio. Going by the movements of Jupiter, Taurus will not kill the native as Saturn will be moving in Virgo by that time. Next, Jupiter’s transit in Leo happens in the 89^th year of the native which coincides with the movement of Saturn in Scorpio, the deadliest killer as per Saturn’s movement. Hence, the native may die in his 89^th year when Saturn moves in Scorpio over natal Ketu-Mars aspected by natal Moon while Jupiter becomes retrograde in Leo, a sign placed in the middle of nodal axis, getting the influence of natal Venus-Mercury from Capricorn. Coming to the reason behind death, as Jupiter is not associated with any debilitated planets or does not have malefic combinations in the 12^th house death due to serious diseases are ruled out. Jupiter meeting Moon-Rahu first in transits having Sun in the 12^th indicates death due to chest infections or heart related issues.

Sastryji attained to the divine abode on 6^th April 2016. It can be seen that transit Jupiter was retrograde in Leo joined with transit Rahu. Transit Saturn was retrograde in Scorpio joined with transit Mars. Transit Venus, Moon and Sun were moving in Pisces over natal Jupiter. This also explains the influence of fast-moving planets Mars, Venus, Sun and Moon in precipitating the event.

In the natal chart Saturn joins Ketu while Jupiter is placed in Pisces, the 12^th sign of the zodiac. This indicates higher realms for the soul after death and never returning to this land of mortals. This is also supported by the fact that Sastryji breathed his last in Uttarayana and day time, though the tithi was Krishna chaturdasi. Sri Madhura Krishnamurthy Sastryji was a real karma yogin who dedicated his life for the service of the almighty in the form of propagation of the divine knowledge of Jyotisha.

Acknowledgement: I am indebted to Sri Putcha Srinivasa Rao, a direct disciple of Sastryji, for providing me with the birth details and important milestones in life of Sastryji.

Link to SARFAROSH: https://notionpress.com/read/sarfarosh

Krishnarpanamastu