Nakshatras and Raga Devathas/Astrology.

There has been much talk about raga therapy.It is a vast subject that needs deep scrutiny and understanding.As far as therapy is concerned,a raga chosen for a prescribed purpose is to be understood and implemented accordingly.The jeeva swaras(key notes that contain the pulse of the raga) should be rendered in a "japa-mode"(intense and focussed) to the point of attaining "siddhi" of the raga( state of "samyoga"-unity with the raga through soulful rendering.) Therefore the fructification of a raga happens only after intense sadhana and not by merely painting a vocal or instrumental sketch of the same.The researcher should take full control of the raga through flawless rendering in order to evoke the life of the raga by coaxing the jeeva swaras.Through detailed and perfect dileanation of the raga,the researcher awakens the life-force energy of the raga !By doing so,the researcher may not be aware of the manifestation of the raga swaroopa(shape of the raga) in the form of a celestial being,invisible to the naked eye.This celestial being is none other than the Raga-devatha (demi-Goddess representing a particular raga).The researcher thus attains special boons authorized by the demi Goddess of that particular raga.There are numerous ragas that yield innumerable benefits and even influences the qualities and traits of the researcher.Yin and yang("Prakrithi-Purusha") are qualities induced by the ragas Nayaki(yin) and Darbar(yang).The coy "dha-nee dha pa ma ri..." of Nayaki versus the assertive " gaa gaa ri sa " of Darbar is a significant example of the same.Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar,in his Nayaki Krithi,"Ranganayakam" has interpreted the extreme femininity of Thayar by stressing at "dha-ni.........."lingering there right through "Ranga NAYAKI"(second verse of the pallavi)At this juncture it has to be mentioned that in the opening line "Ranganayakam",the "nayakam" is composed in such a manner that the majesty and royal command of the Lord is emphasised in the prayoga-"ri pa ma paa ri" compared to the dainty prayoga of "ri-ma-pa-dha........dha ni..."(Ranganayaki...sametham).It is ideal to practice the raga Nayaki for increase of yin in oneself and the raga Darbar for the yang factor in oneself,also as a cure for hormonal imbalance in oneself.!In all the trinity compositions,the musical expression of the qualities conveyed in the sahithya are loud and clear!
Carnatic music plays a great role in the field of vedic astrology .The 72 melakartha ragas are interwoven with the nakshatras in the zodiac system.
What are nakshatras?They are also called lunar mansions or constellations.In jyothish or Indian astrology there are 27 nakshatras prescribed by the sage Parashara(the founder of astrology).
The first nakshatra Ashwini starts at Aries 0'00" and ends at Aries 13 degrees 20 minutes.The next nakshatra Bharani starts at Aries 13.20" and ends at Aries 26.40"Then Krittika starts at Aries 26.40" and ends at Taurus 10.00"Then Rohini from taurus 10.00" to23.20 and so on,until Ravathi,which extends from Pisces16.40" to Aries 0.00".
Two nakshatras take up26'40" which is 3 degrees 20 minutes short of one full sign(a full sign is 30'00").Therefore 3 degrees 20 minutes is 1/4th of a nakshatra,and is called a nakshatra pada,or simply a pada(step).As such,Aries contains Ashwini,Bharani,,and the first pada of KrittikaTaurus contains 3 padas of Krittika,Rohini and the first two padas of Mrigasira.Each zodiac sign therefore contains 9 padas (note that 3 degrees 20 minutes multiplied by 9 is 30 " or one full zodiac sign).
The 72 melakarthas spread over all the 108 nakshatra padas are corresponding ragas meant to enhance and strengthen the particualar nakashatra of the native (whose moon was in the nakashatra at he time of his birth).To cover the entire zodiac system,each melakartha raga spreads over 5.00 degrees of the zodiac system.Nazhigai maybe calculated for accuracy(especially in the constellations where two ragas are spread,i.e,the point at which a raga finishes and the point from where another raga starts.)
The following are the nakshatras and their corresponding ragas-(Each pada -3'20",melakartha raga evenly covering 5'00" through the zodiac).
IN ARIES (MESHA RASI):-
Ashwini 1st padam-Kanakangi
2nd padam-Kanakangi ,Rathnangi
3rd padam-Rathnangi
4th padam-Ganamurthi

Bharani 1st padam-Ganamurthi ,Vanaspathi

2nd padam-Vanaspathi

3rd padam-Manavathi

4th padam-Manavathi,Tanarupi

Krittika 1st padam-Tanarupi

TAURUS (VRISHABHA RASI)-

Krittika 2nd padam-Senavathi

3rd padam-Senavathi,Hanumathodi

4th padam-Hanumathodi

Rohini 1st padam-Dhenuka

2nd padam-Dhenuka,Natakapriya

3rd padam-Natakapriya

4th padam-Kokilapriya

Mrigasira 1st padam-Kokilapriya,Rupavathi

2nd padam-Rupavathi

GEMINI (MITHUNA RASI)-

Mrigasira - 3rd padam-Gayakapriya

4th padam-Gayakapriya,Vakula Bharanam

Ardra- 1st padam-Vakula Bharanam

2nd padam-Mayamalavagowla

3rd padam-Mayamalavagowla,Chakravakam

4th padam-Chakravakam

Punarvasu- 1st padam-Suryakantham

2nd padam-Suryakantham,Hatakambari

3rd padam-Hatakamabari

CANCER (KATAKA RASI)-

Punarvasu- 4th padam-Jhankaradhwani

Pushyami- 1st padam-Jhankaradhwani,Natabhairavi

2nd padam-Natabhairavi

3rd padam-Keeravani

4th padam-Keeravani,Kharaharapriya

Aslesha- 1st padam-Kharaharapriya

2nd padam-Gowrimanohari

3rd padam-Gowrimanohari,Varunapriya

4th padam-Varunapriya

LEO (SIMHA RASI)-

Makham- 1st padam-Mararanjani

2nd padam-Mararanjani,Charukesi

3rd padam-Charukesi

4th padam-Sarasangi

Poorva Phalguni- 1st padam-Sarasangi,Harikambodhi

2nd padam-Harikambodhi

3rd padam-Dheera Sankarabharanam

4th padam-Dheera Sankarabharanam,Naganandini

Uttara Phalguni- 1st padam-Naganandini

VIRGO (KANYA RASI)-

Uttara Phalguni- 2nd padam-Yagapriya

3rd padam-Yagapriya,Ragavardhini

4th padam-Ragavardhini

Hastha- 1st padam-Gangeyabhushani

2nd padam-Gangeybhushani,Vagadheeswari

3rd padam-Vagadheeswari

4th padam-Shoolini

Chittha- 1st padam-Shoolini,Chalanata

2nd padam-Chalanata

LIBRA (THULA RASI)-

Chittha- 3rd padam-Salagam

4th padam-Salagam, Jalarnavam

Swathi- 1st padam-Jalarnavam

2nd padam-Jhalavarali

3rd padam-Jhalavarali,Navaneetham

4th padam-Navaneetham

Visakha- 1st padam-Pavani

2nd padam-Pavani,Raghupriya

3rd padam-Raghupriya

SCORPIO (VRISCHIKA RASI)-

Visakha- 4th padam-Gavambodhi

Anuradha- 1st padam-Gavambodhi,Bhavapriya

2nd padam-Bhavapriya

3rd padam-Subhapantuvarali

4th padam-Subhapantuvarali,Shadvidamargini

Jyeshta- 1st padam-Shadvidamargini


2nd padam-Suvarnangi

3rd padam-Suvarnangi,Divyamani

4th padam-Divyamani

SAGITTARIUS (DHANUSH RASI)-

Moola- 1st padam-Dhavalambari

2nd padam-Dhavalambari,Namanarayani

3rd padam-Namanarayani

4th padam-Kamavardhini

Poorva Shadha- 1st padam-Kamavardhini,Ramapriya

2nd padam-Ramapriya

3rd padam-Gamanasrama

4th padam-Gamanasrama,Viswambari

Uttara Shadha- 1st padam-Viswambari

CAPRICORN (MAKARA RASI)-

2nd padam-Syamalangi

3rd padam-Syamalangi,Shanmukhapriya

4th padam-Shanmukhapriya

Sravanam- 1st padam-Simhendramadhyamam

2nd padam-Simhendramadhyamam,Hemavathi

3rd padam-Hemavathi

4th padam-Dharmavathi

Dhanishta- 1st padam-Dharmavathi,Neethimathi

2nd padam-Neethimathi

AQUARIUS (KUMBHA RASI)-

Dhanishta- 3rd padam-Kanthamani

4th padam-Kanthamani,Rishabhapriya

Satabhisha- 1st padam-Rishabhapriya

2nd padam-Lathangi

3rd padam-Lathangi,Vachaspathi

4th padam-Vachaspathi

Poorvabhadra- 1st padam-Mechakalyani

2nd padam-Mechakalyani,Chitrambari

3rd padam-Chitrambari

PISCES (MEENA RASI)-

Poorva Bhadra- 4th padam-Sucharitra

Uttara Bhadra- 1st padam-Sucharitra,Jyothi Swaroopini

2nd padam-Jyothi Swaroopin

3rd padam-Dhatuvardini

4th padam-Dhatuvardini,Nasikabhooshani

Revathi- 1st padam-Nasikabhooshani

2nd padam-Kosalam

3rd padam-Kosalam,Rasikapriya

4th padam-Rasikapriya

According to the tables given above,one should take up the practice of the raga corresponding to one's nakshatra or lagna(ascendant) placed in a particular constellation,or a specific constellation connected to one's dasa lord(by way of placement or ownership).Such a practice of the required raga according to the chart not only enhances,strengthens and energises that particular nakshatra,any dosha in case of the nakshatra's relationship to a malefic planet in the native's chart is also effectively nullified.The same may be applied to the principle of transit too!For the appeasement of sade sathi or seven and a half saturn, the researcher could render the corresponding raga of whichever nakshatra saturn is transiting or maybe placed in the natal chart,for the evil effects of saturn to be destroyed.