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redpurusha
Registered User
(3/11/04 8:13 am)
Reply 		The Zodiac, Prana and Medicine
I never saw this connection until I read this article.

"Think of the medical insignia, which we have all seen many times, consisting of a staff with two entwined snakes and two wings on top. This is the caduceus, from a Greek word meaning “the symbolic staff of a herald.” In our society it symbolizes the physician. To understand the origin of this peculiar image and its association with the medical profession, it’s necessary to take a short excursion to ancient Greece.

The western medical tradition has its roots, like most western science and culture, in the ancient Greek civilization. In the medical history books for example, we find the Greek physician; Hippocrates (as in Hippocratic oath) regarded as the “Father of Medicine.” The representation of the medical profession by the caduceus dates back to this time. In the pantheon of gods and goddess of that civilization, Asclepius, the god of healing, and Hermes (known in the Roman mythology as Mercury) are both pictured holding the caduceus. However, any information about why the caduceus is associated with these gods, what the image represents, and what it has to do with healing, is difficult to find. While it seems only logical that the “messenger of the gods” be pictured holding a “herald's staff”, why the god of healing?

The connection becomes less obtuse when it is understood that the image of the caduceus represents the flow of psychic energy (prana) through the main channels (nadis) of the subtle body, and that the balanced flow of this energy was seen as being the basis of good health."

Here's a visual representation comparing the medical insignia and the flow of prana through the nadis.

The rest of this article can be found here: Man is a Microcosm and The External and Internal Zodiac

Edited by: redpurusha at: 5/31/05 5:13 pm
redpurusha
Registered User
(3/15/04 11:02 am)
Reply 		Re: The Zodiac, Prana and Medicine
I wonder if the newly discovered "10th planet" has any bearing on astrology or connection to the inner cosmos in man. This planet is smaller and colder than even Pluto, so its influence has to be minimal. From what I've read in the artlcle entitled "Outer and Inner Cosmos" only 5 planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) and the moon and sun are associated with all the 12 signs of the zodiac. These planets are connected with 2 signs each, while the sun and moon with only one sign each. The outer planets like Uranus, Neptune and Pluto have not been mentioned (in the article).

story.news.yahoo.com/news...etoid_dc_4

Edited by: redpurusha at: 5/31/05 5:14 pm
seekerseeking
Registered User
(3/20/04 8:21 am)
Reply 		Re: The Zodiac, Prana and Medicine
Thanks for posting this, redpurusha. It's very interesting.

One of the things I regret the most is that SRF put me off studying astrology. I found SRF and the AY and PY after coming across mentions to them in several astrology books I had been reading back then. But when I read the AY and Yogananda's negative take on astrology, and their basic attitude which is "don't waste your time time with astrology, rely only on Kriya Yoga" I did, but it was a miserable failure. God doesn't come to us regular folks the way He did to Yogananda, and the rest of us have to use whatever tools we can find on the way, and astrology (and ayurveda) are excellent tools for our daily lives and navigating our way through life in general.

I've since gone back and started studying Indian astrology again and found such a treasure there. No wonder it is called the eye of the veda. In vedic times it was the most important science, for good reason. Practicing Indian astrology can be a sadhana in itself.

Edited by: seekerseeking at: 3/20/04 8:56 am
redpurusha
Registered User
(3/30/04 1:33 pm)
Reply 		Re: The Zodiac, Prana and Medicine
seeker, can you tell me more about Indian astrology? or links to good sites? I know some basic western and chinese but have not spent time with Indian astrology. I get along (mix well) with certain sun signs (earth and water) much better than with others (fire and air). Water and Fire don't mix well. Western astro. goes by the month, while Chinese goes by the year (Year of the Monkey for example), but what does Indian astrology follow? or is it basically the whole spectrum of western and chinese and more?

Astrology explains why there exists (or has existed) prearranged marriages in India using the ancient science. It makes sense to utilize it if it can help us, as I have noticed certain truths with the compatiblity of some signs with others (in western astro. at least.)

Edited by: redpurusha at: 5/31/05 5:15 pm
seekerseeking
Registered User
(4/4/04 9:40 am)
Reply 		Re: The Zodiac, Prana and Medicine
I came to Indian astrology via Western astrology, like many Westerners. In fact, I come upon SRF and Yogananda because I kept running into his name in some astrology books that mentioned him. I migrated completely to Indian astrology after finding out via research that it is the original astrology that all others, including Western and Chinese astrology, are based on. And of course, if one follows SRF or any other Hindu-based system of religion or philosophy or lifestyle then it makes sense. Some people try to combine both, but that is not a practical approach in my view. Indian astrology is a complete system.

The main difference between Indian astrology and Western astrology is that Indian astrology is sidereal (based on the actual, observable constellations) and Western astrology is tropical (based on signs which have the same name as the constellations but no longer correspond due to precession of the equinoxes).

Also, Indian astrology places the greatest emphasis on the ascendant, rather than the sun sign. The ascendant is the most important, followed by the moon sign, then the sun sign. Being sidereal, one's sun sign usually jumps back one sign when compared to Western astrology.

For a Westerner there are a number of books on Indian astrology written by other Westerners. The best one IMO is David Frawley's Astrology of the Seers. It's widely available via Amazon, etc. David Frawley's website is www.vedanet.com. For a Westerner, it might ease the transition to Indian Astrology if one is introduced to it by other Western astrologers.

After I had eased myself into the topic, I decided to take the plunge and start reading books by Indian astrologers. The biggest names are BV Raman and KN Rao. BV Raman publishes the famous Astrological Magazine which is superb and read by everyone in the field, amateurs and professionals alike, and KN Rao's website has links to his magazine as well as his books www.journalofastrology.com/.

An excellent source for astrology books, both Western and Indian, is The Astrology Center of America. I've bought a ton of BV Raman's books there. He is considered the father of modern Indian Astrology.

Indian astrology is a vast subject and is a bit overwhelming for a Westerner at first, but I find it very rewarding.

Edited by: seekerseeking at: 4/4/04 11:02 am
WindChimes44
Registered User
(4/20/04 1:45 am)
Reply 		Re: The Zodiac, Prana and Medicine
My understanding of PY's position on astrology apparently differs from SRF. As I read AoY, PY was predicted at birth to marry, and this became, like all the family pressure on him to not become a swami, something his 'conqueror' bold spirit rejected utterly. He even later did things at the least lucky times, just to assert his freedom, even though he acknowledged that that WAS a more difficult course. In other words, a quirk left over from childhood, which in no way denies astrology. It merely points out the truth that how we play the cards we are dealt is what counts.

To me, thinking astrology is an affront to freedom makes about as much sense as thinking meteorology is an affront to freedom. 70% chance of rain! Plan that picnic! LOL!

But PY had no lack in the area of being gently amused at his own personal quirks. I treasure this in his teaching. Such a clear proof of being soundly anchored in love.

WindChimes44
Registered User
(4/21/04 4:58 am)
Reply 		Re: The Zodiac, Prana and Medicine
This charming site

www.astro.com/cgi/ahor.cgi?lang=e

will calculate many styles of charts free, including one they call 'hindu-lahiri geocentric sidereal'. Pretty spiffy. You click on something like 'extended chart types' on the page that links to in order get at the many options. I bumbled around a bit learning to navigate the site. The interpretations are only western I think. But then I am only familiar with western astrology myself, which I find useful, and may not have looked hard enough for other interpretations. They use Robert Hand interpretations a lot, which include considerable spirituality. I may not always agree with him, but overall I find his interpretations helpful.

I like the site so well I am going to sign up for some service I do not even need just to thank them for the online calculation service. My overpriced astrology software is incompatible with my new computer and I have become lazy and spoiled about hand calculations.

I did that with ezboard too. I do not need any of the upgraded features, but I enjoy this board so much I wanted to send ezboard some $ for providing this service.

Used Yogi
Registered User
(6/2/05 9:23 pm)
Reply 		Re: The Zodiac, Prana and Medicine
Sri Yukteswar used the Revati ayanamsa. Lahiri might sound cool because of the name (!) but it is different, using Spica in the middle of the zodiac instead of Revati at the end of the zodiac the way Sri Yukteswar calculated.

There's also free planet positions at
www.ephemeris.com/ephemeris.php but no astrological interpretations or Hindu ayanamsa.


Used Yogi

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