DETECTING SWINE FLU OUTBREAK ASTROLOGICALLY

Written by
Jayasree Saranathan,
Published in the Astrological Magazine, October, 2009
Can also be read in the link http://www.astrologicalmagazine.com/

One of the sociological goals of astrology is to warn and prepare mankind well in
advance about the outbreak of a calamity or an epidemic of a killer variety. In this
modern world that is in the nature of a global village, many new types of calamities are
coming up every now and then. The impact and spread of these calamities are felt
globally throwing up new challenges to investigative astrology. The Wall Street impact
of a global financial melt down that started last year when Mercury went into
retrogression in Virgo is a classic example of how an event outside one’s country can
cascade into tsunamic proportions and drown other countries too, where the event
originally did not take place.

Today we in India are in the brink of braving another global calamity in the form of
swine flu epidemic. The tasks of astrology are therefore always there for us to be on the
alert all the time. Should astrology be a mute science unable to predict this outbreak
before hand? No it should not be and it cannot be. Maharishis have given us a vast
literature in Samhitas that cover everything under the sun. Thinking on the lines of
Medhini Jyothisha, we are not in paucity of tools of astrology to predict the kind of
epidemic that we are now faced with. This article precisely deals with such tools that are
helpful in predicting the calamities of the kind of swine flu outbreak.

To begin with, we have to see the current year globally when the sun entered zero
degrees Aries, the point where it was at the time the Chathur Mahayuga started. The
celestial map when sun entered Aries on 13-04-2009 (IST 12.47 am, 14-04-2009) is
given below.

+-----------------------------------------------+
|VeR |Su Me | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
|Ma | |Ke |
| | | |
| Neptune | 14-04-2009 | |
| 25-55 | | |
| | | |
|-----------| Rasi |-----------|
|Ju Ra | |SaR |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
| |Mo | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
+-----------------------------------------------+

Sun - 0 Ar 00' 20.99" Aswi 1

Moon - 18 Sc 55' 09.41" Jye 1
Mars - 29 Aq 12' 26.80" PBha 3
Mercury - 14 Ar 14' 02.72" Bhar 1
Jupiter - 27 Cp 22' 56.09" Dhan 2
Venus (R) - 5 Pi 31' 58.58" UBha 1
Saturn (R) - 21 Le 50' 40.30" PPha 3
Rahu - 11 Cp 31' 42.20" Srav 1
Ketu 11 Cn 31' 42.20" Push 3

As the sun stands for predicting events, we take Mesha as the Medhini lagna or the lagna
for the world. The 2nd and 7th lord Venus is a Maarak for Aries. But it is in the 12th
making it auspicious (Bhavartha Ratnakara 1-7). In this chart Venus is not auspicious
because it has gone into retrogression in the 12th. So its Maarak properties are retained.
Mars as lagna lord and lord of the 8th is in 11th aspected by the 10th and 11th lord Saturn
from an inimical sign.

Jupiter also turns a Maarak for Aries, for it is in the 10th from Aries (Bhavartha Ratnakara
1-3), in its sign of debility and conjoined with Rahu.

It is important to note here that Mercury, the lord of the 6th (diseases) is in the lagna with
the sun and is just relieved of combustion. Mercury, who has the lordship of the 3rd house
also, is in the asterism of the Maarak Venus (Bharani). The 6th house receives the aspect
of the 8th lord Mars and also aspect of Jupiter from the 10th. Thus it is seen that the 6th
house is considerably afflicted for the world as a whole. Had Mercury been combust at
the time of New Year solar chart, we can expect an eclipse of this affliction by the Sun.
But that is not to be so. The spread of some fatal disease is therefore indicated.

Identifying the disease.

Let us see the kind of disease the afflicted 6th house is capable of giving. We usually go
by the parts of the body indicated by Kala purusha for prediction of diseases for an
individual. Here the prediction is for the world as a whole. The Solar chart must therefore
cover all living things and not just man. We have two indicators in Astrology to
determine the other sources. One is the Dhaatu- Moola – Jeeva indicators of planets as
given in texts like Jinedramala and the other is the forms of animals associated with
different signs as given in the Ayadhi varga of the vaasthu shastra.

If we go by the Jeeva indicators, the planet Mars is the signifactor for pigs. The inimical
aspect of Mars on Virgo indicates an affliction connected to pigs. In this connection we
can find an interesting relevance from western astrology too. The planet Neptune plays an
important role in causing epidemics. It is seen that whenever Neptune joins Saturn in Leo
or opposes it from Aquarius, epidemics had broken out. In this year chart, the opposition
of Neptune and Saturn is there. In addition, the close encounter of Neptune with Mars
also has happened at the dawn of the Solar New Year. Neptune at 15-05 degrees
Aquarius was crossed by Mars a few days before the start of the New Year. Mars as
signifactor of the jeeva- pig has thus received an additional malfeasance from Neptune.

Coming to the Ayadhi vargas, the animal indicators of this system seems to be definitely
reliable.
Standard texts of vaasthu such as Samaaraangana soothradaara and Aparaajitha preecha
do indicate certain forms for the signs, as how the signs are indicated by the limbs of
kaalapurusha in general horoscopy.

The Ayadhi varga indicators can be depicted as below (this chart is used in prasna also)

SIGNS VARGA
Aries, Taurus Dwaja
Gemini Dhumra
Cancer, Leo Simha
Virgo Svana
Libra, Scorpio Vrishabha
Sagittarius Khara
Capricorn, Aquarius Gaja
Pisces Kaka

The form of Virgo is ‘svaana’ - the

dog. Virgo also stands for farm
animals such as pigs in the western astrology. Pigs go with dogs as farm animal and other
Virgo related significances. So it is logical to identify pigs with Virgo. The swine flu was
originally afflicting the pigs. It is the disease found in pigs only. Mercury as lord of
Gemini and Virgo, causes respiratory and stomach ailments respectively. The
combination of airy and earthy element (Mercury) in close quarters with hot sun in the
fiery sign points out to an outbreak of an ailment in the nature of fever or flu caught from
the pig (earthy) through the medium of air.

Virgo falls in the south west direction of the varga chart. Virgo also stands for countries
such as West Indies and Mexico in mundane reckoning. The swine flu disease first
originated in Mexico in the month of April when Mercury was in Aries (April) in
combustible degrees from the Sun.

To substantiate that we are indeed proceeding in the right direction in our investigative
astrology, let us look into the epidemic diseases in the past that originated from the
animals. Two such diseases ravaged the world in the past. One was the bird flu and
another one was the mad cow disease. Form the varga chart above, we can see Pisces as
the signifactor for crow or bird family. Pisces stands for northeastern direction. The bird
flu was virulent in the north east parts of the globe such as China, Indonesia, Thailand
etc.

Similarly the mad cow disease is connected to the cattle. We can locate it in the
Vrishabhaaya in the varga chart above since Vrishabha stands for bull or cattle family.
The signs occupied by Vrishabha indicate western direction. Mad cow disease originated
in the west (UK). If we analyze the Solar year charts when these diseases broke out we
can find a connection to the 6th house indicators in the yearly chart of the sun.

Outbreak of Mad cow disease.

Following is the chart of the Solar New year of 1995, the year when Mad cow disease
spread to humans as an epidemic.
+-----------------------------------------------+
|Me |Su Ke | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
|Ve Sa | |Ma |
| | | |
| | | |
| | 14-04-1995 | |
| | | |
|-----------| Rasi |-----------|
| | | |
| Neptune | | |
| 25-46 | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
| |JuR |Ra |Mo |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
+-----------------------------------------------+

Sun - 0 Ar 00' 05.36" Aswi 1

Moon - 12 Vi 27' 35.92" Hast 1
Mars - 21 Cn 42' 22.34" Asre 2
Mercury - 29 Pi 38' 48.25" Reva 4
Jupiter (R) -21 Sc 20' 14.89" Jye 2
Venus - 26 Aq 36' 43.49" PBha 2
Saturn - 25 Aq 50' 54.12" PBha 2
Rahu - 12 Li 30' 29.76" Swat 2
Ketu 12 Ar 30' 29.76" Aswi 4

The signs Libra and Scorpio signify the western direction. It stands for Vrishabha in the
Ayadhi varga. The affliction to these signs with reference to disease can be noted in the
solar year chart of 1995, the year when the disease spread among humans in epidemic
proportions. The disease originated in Britain signifying the western direction. The
affliction caused to these signs indicates the outbreak of cow / cattle related disease in the
western world.

The 6th lord Mercury is in Gandantha. The 8th (Scorpio) denotes the direction of west
occupied by the 12th lord in retrogression in the asterism of Mercury. The 2 signs Libra
and Scorpio signify the west and both are afflicted.

The 8th lord Mars is in debility casting its 4th aspect on Libra and Rahu who is posited
there. The other sign of the west, Scorpio is afflicted by Saturn. Moon, the signifactor of
Cows occupies the 6th opposed by Mercury.

Neptune is in opposition to Mars which is afflicting the western direction. The epidemic
spread from cattle to humans in the western world.

Outbreak of Avian flu.

This happened twice in the past, first time in 1996 and later in 2004. In 1996, the first
outbreak was in China while in 2004, it broke out in Indonesia and Vietnam and then
spread to other places.
The following is the Solar year chart of 1996, when the Avian Flu or the bird flu that
usually affects birds, spread to humans in epidemic proportions. The outbreak first started
in China.

+-----------------------------------------------+
|Ma Sa |Su Me |Ve | |
|Ke | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
|Mo | | |
| | | |
| | 13-04-1996 | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------| Rasi |-----------|
| | | |
| Neptune R | | |
| 27-41 | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
|Ju | | | Ra |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
+-----------------------------------------------+

Sun - 0 Ar 00' 01.13" Aswi 1

Moon - 2 Aq 43' 57.16" Dhan 3
Mars - 21 Pi 32' 22.59" Reva 2
Mercury - 16 Ar 09' 42.70" Bhar 1
Jupiter - 23 Sg 09' 24.20" PSha 3
Venus - 15 Ta 12' 25.39" Rohi 2
Saturn - 6 Pi 55' 34.54" UBha 2
Rahu - 23 Vi 09' 09.10" Hast 4
Ketu 23 Pi 09' 09.10" Reva 2

Note the 8th and 11th lords crowding the 12th house along with Ketu. The 6th house is
directly afflicted by them where Rahu is posited.
The 12th house of Pisces signifies Kakaaya in the Ayadhi varga. This indicates danger of
disease to or through birds. The direction of Pisces is Northeast. The disease that usually
affects birds started attacking humans in epidemic proportions. This started in China in
the North east. Neptune is in retrogression in the Martian constellation.
The Avian Flu in the name SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) broke out again
in epidemic proportions in the year 2004.

+-----------------------------------------------+
| |Su MeR |Ma Ve |Sa |
| |Ra | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
| | | |
| Neptune | | |
| 15-05 | 13-04- 2004 | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------| Rasi |-----------|
|Mo | |JuR |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
| | |Ke | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
+-----------------------------------------------+

Sun - 0 Ar 00' 02.42" Aswi 1 Ar

Moon - 17 Cp 30' 07.75" Srav 3 Cp
Mars - 20 Ta 55' 32.13" Rohi 4 Ta
Mercury (R) 5 Ar 48' 57.55" Aswi 2 Ar
Jupiter (R) 15 Le 42' 41.81" PPha 1 Le
Venus - 14 Ta 56' 48.65" Rohi 2 Ta
Saturn - 13 Ge 36' 07.53" Ardr 3 Ge
Rahu - 18 Ar 18' 25.04" Bhar 2 Ar
Ketu 18 Li 18' 25.04" Swat 4 Li

In this Solar year chart of 2004, both Mercury and the sign Pisces are afflicted. Mercury,
the 6th lord is combust. Mercury and Rahu are closing towards each other. Rahu is the
asterism of the Maarak, Venus who has joined the 8th lord Mars in the 2nd. The 12th house
Piseces receives the 10th aspect of Saturn who also aspects its lord Jupiter. Jupiter is in
retrogression in the asterism of the Maarak Venus. Note that the retro Jupiter is in exact
opposition to Neptune. It is also receiving the 4th aspect of the 8th lord Mars from the
maarakasthan. Thus affliction to the sign of Kakaya is evident thereby signifying a
danger to or through birds. Thousands of birds also were killed to control the epidemic.
The epidemic started in the North eastern part of the globe.
Thus it is possible to predict the outbreak of an epidemic of the nature of Swine flu from
the Solar New year chart.

Swine-flu in India.

Having identified the kind of the disease and the origin of the disease astrologically, let
us now proceed further to analyze the disease in the Indian scenario. In the Indian
scenario we can analyze these form three angles.

1. Mundane lagna of India – Capricorn.

2. The yearly prediction based on Navanayaks
3. The prediction based on Tajaka annual progressive chart of the Indian
independence chart.

Mundane lagna:

+-----------------------------------------------+
|VeR |Su Me | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
|Ma | |Ke |
| | | |
| Neptune | 14-04-2009 | |
| 25-55 | | |
| | | |
|-----------| Rasi |-----------|
|Ju Ra | |SaR |
| | | |
| Lagna | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
| |Mo | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
+-----------------------------------------------+

From Capricorn, Gemini becomes the 6th house. The 6th lord was in 4th at the time of
Sun’s entry into Aries this year. The disease broke out in India when Mercury, the 6th
lord entered the 8th house from Capricorn. The 8th lord Mars in the Solar year chart
was casting its 4th aspect on Mercury from Taurus when Mercury entered Leo, the 8th
house from the Mundane lagna of India.

The lagna lord Saturn was in the 8th house at the time of entry of the 6th lord Mercury.
The disease was noticed in India soon after mercury entered Leo on 30-07-2009.

How is it going to be from that time onwards?

Mercury also happens to be the 9th lord from Capricorn. So when he leaves Leo and
enters Virgo on 19-08-2009 he must be able to give some relief.
But Martian 4th aspect will see that the disease continues to be prevalent. However the
disease will be under control due to Mercury’s transit in the 9th house, in its sign of
exaltation.

When Mercury goes retrograde on 07-09-2009 we can expect a spurt in the epidemic
because retrogression of Mercury in its exalted sign in Virgo makes it
inauspicious. In addition, Saturn also joins Mercury in Virgo from 09-09-09 onwards.
The 8th lord and the 6th lord will be conjoined in the 9th house with the 11th lord casting
its 4th aspect on them. It is not a good time for the people of India with reference to
this disease. Mercury will be shuttling between the 8th house of Leo and the 9th house
in September and October 2009. Mercury leaves Virgo once for all on 24-10-2009.
Until then this disease will be afflicting Indians.

Seen from the perspective of the world as a whole, times are not yet better in October
too. Mercury will be in Libra, the 7th place in the Solar year chart. Here in Libra,
Mercury not only joins a debilitated sun, it is also aspected by Mars. Mercury
continues its onward journey to Scorpio on 12-11-2009. Once here, some misfortune
still continues in the form of Saturn’s aspect. By the time December dawns, Mercury
enters Sagittarius the 9th from the Solar lagna and there will be relief from this
epidemic globally. So my contention is in the next few months, till October the
impact of epidemic will be there. It will be on the decline only from December
onwards.

Navanayaks

Astrological tools are many that we have to crosscheck and confirm from the other
tools also. In this way let us look at the indications we get from Navanayaks for this
Solar year. We can see from two perspectives - one, from the Navanayaks for animals
and another for human beings. Since the swine flu originated from animal, let us take
animals also into consideration. Among the Navanayaks, Senaadhipathi is the ruler of
animals. The lord of the day of Simha-sankramana is the Senaadhipathi. For the
current year it is the Sun. The Sun conjoining the 6th lord Mercury is an indicator of
something bad for the animals connected with the 6th house significance namely
diseases.
Another Navanayak is the one who controls the fate of the people. He is
Sasyaadhipathi which is determined by the day of kataka-sankramana. This lord is
Jupiter for the current year who becomes the Maarak for the solar lagna in Aries.
Jupiter is debilitated at the beginning of the year. It was in retrogression in its sign of
debility in Capricorn when the epidemic broke out in India. Retrogression in debility
gives alternate effect by making Jupiter powerful. But Jupiter is a Maarak in the Solar
chart and is in transit in mundane lagna. These two issues make it inauspicious
despite the retrogression in debility. Moreover Mercury was in 8th from Jupiter
(Sasyaadhipathi) when the epidemic broke out. Thus from the point of view of the
Navanayaks also, the outbreak of this calamitous disease is indicated.

Yearly prediction from Tajaka Chart.

Tajaka progressive chart of India - 2008-09:

+-----------------------------------------------+
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
| | |Su Ke |
| | | |
| | Tajaka Annual | |
| | 14-08-2008 | |
| | | |
|-----------| Rasi |-----------|
|Ra | |Me Ve |
| | |Sa |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
|Mo JuR |Lagna | |Ma |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
+-----------------------------------------------+

The Roga sahama falls in Libra 27-25 degrees.

The lord of Roga sahama is in papa karthari in the 10th house. The 6th lord Mars
occupies Virgo, which is the 6th house in the Annual solar chart. The afflicted lord of
the 6th in the solar chart, namely Mercury (13-05 degrees in Tajaka) joins the Roga
sahama lord Venus (at 16-08 degrees). The Patyayini dasa of Mercury started on the
morning of 03-08-2009. First Swine flue death in India also happened on the same
 day. The Mercury and Mars affliction is thus seen to be manifest in the Annual chart
of India.

The Patyayini dasa of Mercury is followed by the last dasa of the year that of Mars,
the tormentor with reference to the disease factor in the Solar chart. So the disease
will continue across the country till the next birth year of India on 15-08-2009.

Let us now check the upcoming Annual Tajaka starting from August 2009.

+-----------------------------------------------+
|Lagna | |Mo Ma |Ve |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
| | |Su Ke |
| | Tajaka Annual | |
| | 2009-2010 | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------| Rasi |-----------|
|JuR Ra | |Me Sa |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|-----------+-----------------------+-----------|
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
+-----------------------------------------------+

The Roga sahama falls in Capricorn at 22-56 degrees. The lord of the sahama, Saturn
(26-51 degrees in Leo in Tajaka ) is in the 6th house from the year ascendant!
Mercury, the lord of the 6th in Solar chart follows Saturn in close encounters at 23-25
degrees. This shows that the new birth day for India (as per Independence chart)
begins with the disease.

Jupiter, the lagna lord is in inimical 8-6 axis with the Roga sahama lord. The 6th lord
Sun (in the Tajaka chart) is in Itthashala with the lagna lord. This is also not an
auspicious combination (1-7 axis). The saving grace is that the lagna lord is having a
favorable 3rd aspect on lagna. But the positive results of that aspect will start only
when Jupiter stops retrogression on 13-10-2009.

Earlier in the analysis of Mundane lagna we found the relief from 24-10-2009
onwards when Mercury leaves Virgo.
 The Tajaka reckoning also shows the same period for relief.
Therefore we can expect relief for India from this epidemic by October 2009.

Ashtakavarga indicators.

There is yet another perspective we have to see to determine the time of misfortunes such
as this epidemic.
The transit of malefics in specific stars indicated by Ashtakavarga is helpful in
identifying difficult times ahead.
Therefore some basic calculation is worked out from the Ashtakavarga table of the natal
chart of India.

The star identified from the calculation between Lagna to Saturn is Aslesha
Between Saturn to Lagna is U-Phalguni

Between Lagna to Mars is Aslesha.

Between Mars to Lagna is Magam.

Between Lagna to Rahu is P-Phalguni

Between Rahu to Lagna is Magam.

From Aslesha to U-Phalguni – for a continuous duration of 52 : 20 degrees in the zodiac,

time is not good for India. Malefics such as Saturn and Ketu have been transiting these
stars for the past few years. This explains the spurt in terrorism in the last few years, the
untold miseries in different fronts and now the outbreak of the epidemic.

The Dasa-chiddra at the current times also accentuates the miseries for the people of
India.

What is the remedy?

The Annual Solar chart always comes with Virgo as the 6th house and its lord Mercury in
close encounters with the Sun.
The Solar year will be born either with Mercury in debility or in combustion or else
without these two afflictions at times.
The whimsical play with Mercury, the 6th and 3rd lord is however there every year.

The Solar New year celebrated as Vishu is the time of Vishnu padam in the Heavens in
Vamana avatar (vernal equinox).
Worship of Vishnu on that day goes well with relief from diseases.
Gemini, the natural 3rd house stands for medicine and Virgo stands for Food which is
natural medicine.
Vishnu the lord of Mercury is Himself the Medicine.
It is Ved Vyasa’s triple promise that the chanting of the names of Vishnu, “Achyutha,
Anantha and Govinda” is the best medicine.

“Achyuthaananda govinda namOccharana Bheshajaath /

nasyanthi sakala rOgaath satyam satyam vadamyaham//”

Let everyone begin every Solar New year with a prayer to Vishnu that He protects the
world from diseases and that He heals as the Supreme medicine.
For the current epidemic, worship of Vishnu and performing Sudharshana homa for the
benefit of community can be done to get relief from this epidemic.

*****