The Divinity Emanating from the Nakshatras!🌟

                            

An ocean of information is hidden underneath the layers of Nakshatras. It's astounding to even fathom the amount of knowledge that is woven around the stars. Apart from Nakshatras being prominent in the South of India especially when it comes to performing Abhishek for God, even from an astrological parlance it opens the door to a whole new realm of data pointers that can be so evocative.

This article is largely focused on the divine element interspersed within the Nakshatras. The Nakshatras are basically a bunch of stars forming a pattern within the 360° zodiac and are said to be divided into 27 numbers beginning from Ashwini located in the first zodiac sign of Aries to Revathi which is placed in the twelfth and final zodiac sign of Pisces. There is however a view point also of the Nakshatra cycle beginning from Krithika which connotes the 'Head' till Bharani which signifies the 'end of life' as it's ruled by Lord 'Yama'. However for all practical purposes it makes sense to follow the order from Ashwini to Revathi for ease of use and counting purposes.

There is a lot of spiritual information intertwined within the stars. When it comes to the Nakshatras, it's the Nakshatra occupied by the Moon that is primary and considered sacrosanct. The whole 'Tara' sequence originates based on which Nakshatra the Moon is placed in one's birth horoscope. The planet Moon after all is the imprint and denotes the signification of the mind. It governs our thoughts, emotions and actions. Moon is the Body that nurtures us and instils a feeling of care, longing and sensitivity. It also has an element of freewill and there is a popular tamil saying that goes "விதியை மதியால் வெல்லலாம்" or "Vidhiyai Madhiyaal Vellalaam" which translates as what cannot be overcome by destiny can be won over by one's mind (Moon). Even from the tutelage of a Horoscope, two of the most important timing events viz Dasa Bukthi which expounds the sequence of important time periods and Transits which are the planets circulating signs currently in operation within the zodiac is reckoned mainly from the Moon. Having established this framework, let's go about seeing how it needs to be played out.

First up sharing all the divine enclosures incorporated within each Nakshatra such as the Deity, God to worship, birth star temples, Siddhar or Rishi to take obeisance, associated Bhairava, connected Mantra, offering (Dhanyam), type of Abhishekham etc. After the listing of this information, we will take a look at how best one can invoke the divine having been born in a particular Nakshatra with a specific illustration and also look at the Navatara sequence to understand the results provided by each of the 27 Tara's.

Divine Results for 27 Nakshatras

1) Ashwini

Devata: Ashwini Kumars - Physicians to the Gods

Adi Devata: Saraswati (Any God related to healing, learning can be considered)

Rishi: Marici
Siddhar: Kalanginathar
Bhairava: Nyana Bhairava

Temple: Piravi Marundeeswarar in Tiruthuraipoondi

Abhishekam: Sandhana Kappu (Sandalwood Paste)

Dhanyam: Manjal Sadham (Yellow Rice/Lemon Rice) 

Mantra: Om Am Am

2) Bharani

Devata: Yama - God of Death or Dharma

Adi Devata: Durga (Any God of justice like Kali, Amman can also be considered. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Rahu)

Rishi: Vasishta

Siddhar: Bhogar
Bhairava: Maha Bhairava

Temple: Agneeswarar in Nalladai

Abhishekam: Pachcha Arisi (Raw Rice)

Dhanyam: Nelli Oorga, Nelli Podi Sadham (Gooseberry Pickle/Gooseberry Powder Rice) 

Mantra: Om Im Im

3) Karthigai / Krithika

Devata: Agni - God of Fire

Adi Devata: Agni (Any God of Fire like Agneeshwarar or Annamalaiyar can be considered, Karthikeya worship is also auspicious for this Nakshatra) 

Rishi: Angiras

Siddhar: Romarishi
Bhairava: Swarna Bhairava

Temple: Gaathra Sundareswarar in Kanjanagaram

Abhishekam: Nelikkai Podi (Gooseberry Powder)

Dhanyam: Vazha Kuzhambu Sadham (Banana Flower Rice) 

Mantra: Om Um Um

4) Rohini

Devata: Brahma/Prajapati - The Creator  

Adi Devata: Sri Krishna (Any powerful Leela manifesting God or form of Krishna like Jagannath can also be considered)  

Rishi: Atri

Siddhar: Machamuni
Bhairava: Kala Bhairava

Temple: Sri Pandava Dhoodha Perumal in Kancheepuram

Abhishekam: Manjal Podi (Yellow Powder)

Dhanyam: Thayir Sadham (Curd Rice) 

Mantra: Om Rm Rm Rm Rm

5) Mrigaseerisham / Mrigashira

Devata: Soma/Chandra - The Moon God

Adi Devata: Chandran (Any Shiva God in Moon form like Chandra Sudeshwarar or Chandra Mouleeswar can be considered. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Moon (Chandran)) 

Rishi: Pulastya

Siddhar: Pambatti & Sattaimuni
Bhairava: Ksetrabala Bhairava

Temple: Aadhi Narayana Perumal in Enkan

Abhishekam: Vasanadhi Dravyangal (Perfumed Items Mixed Powder)

Dhanyam: Paruppu Sadham (Dal Rice) 

Mantra: Om Em

6) Thiruvadirai / Aarudra

Devata: Rudra - The Storm God

Adi Devata: Shiva (Any Shiva God in a hardcore form such as Nataraja Shiva, Rudra, Shiva Linga can be considered)

Rishi: Pulaha

Siddhar: Idaikadhar
Bhairava: Vaduga Bhairava

Temple: Abhaya Varadeeswarar in Athirampattinam

Abhishekam: Panja Kaviyam (Five Cow Derivatives)

Dhanyam: Kamangali Koozh (Porridge) 

Mantra: Om Aim

7) Punarpoosam / Punarvasu

Devata: Aditi - Mother of the Gods (12 Adityas)

Adi Devata: Sri Rama (Any God representing motherly love such as the Holy Mother can also be invoked)

Rishi: Kratu

Siddhar: Dhanvantri
Bhairava: Vijaya Bhairava

Temple: Athitheeswarar in Vaniyambadi

Abhishekam: Panjamritam (Five Food Mixture)

Dhanyam: Paal Sadham (Milk Rice) 

Mantra: Om Aum

8) Poosam / Pushya

Devata: Brihaspati - Priest of the Gods

Adi Devata: Guru (Any God in a Guru form like Dhakshinamurthy, Raghavendra, Guruvayurappa, Saibaba can also be considered. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Jupiter (Guru))  

Rishi: Marici

Siddhar: Kamalamuni
Bhairava: Aasina Bhairava

Temple: Akshayapureeswarar in Vilankulam

Abhishekam: Palamritam Maa Palaa Vazhai (Mango, Jackfruit, Banana)

Dhanyam: Sambar Sadham (Sambar Rice) 

Mantra: Om Kam

9) Aayilyam / Ashlesha

Devata: Nagas/Sarpa - The Snake God

Adi Devata: Adiseshan (Any God in snake form like Nagamman can also be considered. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Ketu))

Rishi: Vasishta

Siddhar: Agathiyar
Bhairava: Pathala Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Pasum Pal (Cows Milk)

Dhanyam: Mor Kuzhambu (Butter Gravy)

Mantra: Om Kham Gam

10) Magam / Magha

Devata: Pitris - The Forefathers and Ancestors

Adi Devata: Shukra (Any God invoking Kula Deiva or Pitrus such as visiting Rameshwaram temple can also be auspicious for this Nakshatra)

Rishi: Angiras

Siddhar: Sivavaakiyar
Bhairava: Naradhana Bhairava

Temple: Mahalingeswarar in Thavasimadai

Abhishekam: Pasu Neyi (Cows Ghee)

Dhanyam: Keerai Kuzhambu (Spinach Gravy)

Mantra: Om Gham Nam

11) Pooram / Poorva Phalguni

Devata: Aryaman - God Of Patronage And Favours

Adi Devata: Parvathi (God of favours such as Andal Devi can also be worshipped)

Rishi: Atri

Siddhar: Ramadevar
Bhairava: Kottai Bhairava

Temple: Hari Theertheswarar in Thiruvarangulam

Abhishekam: Pasum Pal Thayir (Cows Milk Yoghurt)

Dhanyam: Pazha Pazham Payasam (Jackfruit Kheer)

Mantra: Om Cam

12) Uthiram / Uttara Phalguni

Devata: Bhaga - God of Bliss and Prosperity

Adi Devata: Sastha (In similar lines, Ayyappa and Ayyanar can also be worshipped)

Rishi: Pulastya

Siddhar: Kagabujandar
Bhairava: Jadamandala Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Then Kalkandu (Honey, Sugar Crystals)

Dhanyam: Puliyogare (Tamarind Rice)

Mantra: Om Cham

13) Hastham / Hastha

Devata: Savitar - The Sun God

Adi Devata: Suriyan or Aadhavan (Any solar God like Surya Narayana can be worshipped, Gayatri Devi who is an aspect of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati is also taken into account for this Nakshatra. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Sun (Suriyan))

Rishi: Pulaha

Siddhar: Karuvurar
Bhairava: Yoga Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Then (Honey)

Dhanyam: Thengai Sadham (Coconut Rice)

Mantra: Om Jam Jham Nam

14) Chithirai / Chitra

Devata: Tvastar - The God of Creative Power

Adi Devata: Vishwakarma (The Sudarshan chakra embodying deity Chakrathalwar can be considered for worship and so is Ma Kamakshi)

Rishi: Kratu

Siddhar: Punnakeeshar
Bhairava: Chakra Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Karumbu Saaru (Sugarcane Juice)

Dhanyam: Chakra Pongal (Sweet Pongal)

Mantra: Om Tam Tham

15) Swathi

Devata: Vayu - The Wind God

Adi Devata: Mahalakshmi (It is said that invoking Lord Narasimha is also vital for this Nakshatra)

Rishi: Marici

Siddhar: Pulipani
Bhairava: Jadamuni Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Elumiccai Pala Saaru (Lime Juice)

Dhanyam: Paruppu Podi Sadham (Dal Powder Rice)

Mantra: Om Dam

16) Visagam / Vishakha

Devata: Indragni - The Chief of the Gods of Fire

Adi Devata: Subrahmanya (All forms of Subramanya be it Muruga, Karthikeya, Velavan, Kumaran etc can be considered)

Rishi: Vasishta

Siddhar: Nandeesar & Kudambai
Bhairava: Kottai Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Neyi Kalandha Porul (Items mixed with Ghee)

Dhanyam: Karugapillai Podi Sadham (Curry Leaves Powder Rice)

Mantra: Om Dham Nam

17) Anusham / Anuradha

Devata: Mitra - The God of Friendship

Adi Devata: Vayu (This Nakshatra represents the symbol of lotus, hence worshipping Lakshmi Narayan - the dual representation of Narayan & his consort Lakshmi seated on a lotus can be considered. This also happens to be the birth Nakshatra of Maha Periyava)

Rishi: Angiras

Siddhar: Valmiki
Bhairava: Swarna Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Elaneeru (Tender Coconut)

Dhanyam: Ven Pongal (Savoury Pongal)

Mantra: Om Tam Tham Dam

18) Kettai / Jyeshta

Devata: Indra  - Chief of the Gods

Adi Devata: Devendran (Varaha Peruman - the bow avatar of Vishnu or Varahi the feminine form with Shakti energy can also be worshipped)

Rishi: Atri

Siddhar: Vyasa
Bhairava: Kadayudha Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Pasum Saana Vibhudhi (Cow Dung Holy Ash)

Dhanyam: Manga Sadham (Mango Rice)

Mantra: Om Dham

19) Moolam / Moola

Devata: Nirriti - God of Dissolution

Adi Devata: Asura or Arakkan (Anjaneya can be worshipped for this Nakshatra)

Rishi: Pulastya

Siddhar: Patanjali
Bhairava: Sattainatha Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Sandhanam (Sandalwood)

Dhanyam: Adirasam (South Indian Sweet)

Mantra: Om Nam Pam Pham

20) Pooradam / Poorva Ashada

Devata: Jala/Apah - The God of Water

Adi Devata: Varunan (Jambukeshwarar representing the water element of Shiva can be worshipped for this Nakshatra. Though off Hinduism, the 'God of Water Jesus' too can be considered)

Rishi: Pulaha

Siddhar: Ramadevar
Bhairava: Veera Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Pasum Pal and Vilvam (Cows Milk and Bael Leaf)

Dhanyam: Poli (Indian Flatbread Sweet)

Mantra: Om Bam

21) Uthiradam / Uttara Ashada

Devata: Vishwadeva - Universal God 

Adi Devata: Vinayaka (Any form of Vinayak can be considered such as Bala, Taruna, Heramba etc. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Mars (Chevvai))

Rishi: Kratu

Siddhar: Konganar
Bhairava: Vaduga Nathar Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Thara Abhishekham in Sembu Pathram (Water dripping in Copper vessel)

Dhanyam: Kadala Maavu Porul (Peanut Flour Items)

Mantra: Om Bham

22) Tiruvonam / Shravana

Devata: Vishnu - Preserver of Universe

Adi Devata: Vishnu (Any form of Lord Maha Vishnu can be invoked for this Nakshatra with 'Pallikonda Perumal' which is Vishnu in a reclining posture and 'Hayagriva' being an avatar of Vishnu with horses head and human body being specifically mentioned)

Rishi: Vasishta

Siddhar: Dakshinamurthy
Bhairava: Marthanda Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Sembu Pathram Neer (Water in Copper vessel)

Dhanyam: Arasi Idly, Kesari (Rice cake, saffron sweet)

Mantra: Om Mam

23) Avittam / Dhanishta

Devata: Ashta Vasu - Deities of Earthly Abundance

Adi Devata: Indirani (Ananda Shayana Perumal, the sleeping form of Vishnu can be considered for this Nakshtra. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Mercury (Buddha))

Rishi: Angiras

Siddhar: Thirumoolar
Bhairava: Ashta Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Sangu Abhishekam (Conch Shell)

Dhanyam: Aval (Flattened Rice or Upma)

Mantra: Om Yam Ram

24) Sadayam / Satabhisha

Devata: Varuna - The God of Celestial Oceans

Adi Devata: Yaman (Mrityunjeshwarar the death defying form of Shiva can be considered for worship)

Rishi: Atri

Siddhar: Kowbalar
Bhairava: Sarpa Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Panneer (Rose Water)

Dhanyam: Idiyappam, Rava Semiya (String Hoppers, Vermicelli)

Mantra: Om Lam

25) Pooraratathi / Poorva Bhadrapada

Devata: Ajaikapada - Fire Dragon and the one legged Rudra

Adi Devata: Kuberan (Any wealth related God like Kubera Lakshmi can be considered. It is however a predominant Shiva related Nakshatra being ruled by Rudra with Eka Pada Shiva said to be invoked)

Rishi: Pulastya

Siddhar: Jothimuni

Bhairava: Kottai Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Thanga Pathram Neer (Water in Gold Vessel)

Dhanyam: Puttu (Steamed Rice Cake)

Mantra: Om Vam Sam

26) Uthiratathi / Uttara Bhadrapada

Devata: Ahir Budhanya - Cosmic Serpent and one of the Rudras

Adi Devata: Kamadhenu (Any God in calf form can be considered. As it is related to cows, energy of this Nakshatra is said to reside in Tirupathi Venkatachalapathi temple in Tirumala. It is however a predominant Shiva related Nakshatra being ruled by Rudra with Maha Eshwar being said to be invoked)

Rishi: Pulaha

Siddhar: Thamaragar

Bhairava: Vengala Osai Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Velli Pathram Neer (Water in Silver Vessel)

Dhanyam: Ulundhu Vadai, Ulundhu Paruppu Sadham (Urad Dal items)

Mantra: Om Sam Sam Ham

27) Revathi

Devata: Pooshan - The Nourishing and Protective God

Adi Devata: Shani (Aranganatha Perumal in Sri Ranganatha temple and also Madurai Meenakshi can be invoked for this Nakshatra. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Saturn (Shani))

Rishi: Kratu

Siddhar: Sundaranandar
Bhairava: Samharamurthy Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Snamanam Aivagai Theertham (Five types of holy water)

Dhanyam: Kothumalli Thogayal Sadham (Coriander Rice)

Mantra: Om Am Ah Lam Ksam

Concept of God as per Hinduism and the Associated Nakshatras

Some observations worth inferring is that when it comes to the Trimurti concept of Hinduism represented by the 3 Primary deities Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva that embody the functions of creation, preservation and destruction respectively, it is interesting to note that they tend to rule the following Nakshatras viz:

Brahma - Rohini

Vishnu - Tiruvonam (Shravana)

Shiva - Tiruvadirai (Arudra)

Though there are a number of Nakshatras ruled by forms of Shiva, Tiruvadirai reigns supreme on being the hardcore ruler of Rudra. Similar is the case with Tiruvonam which is the de facto Nakshatra invoking Maha Vishnu.

When it comes to the concept of Tridevi who are the respective consorts of the Trimurtis and known as Saraswathi (Brahma's consort), Lakshmi (Vishnu's consort) and Parvathi (Shiva's consort), they are also said to invoke certain Nakshatras. Saraswathi is known to be the Goddess of learning & education, Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth & prosperity and Parvathi - the goddess of love and devotion. Her highness Parvathi is also known for her fierce form of Durga & Kali representing power and protection. The Nakshatra's ruled by the Tridevi's are as under:

Saraswathi - Ashwini

Lakshmi - Swathi

Parvathi - Pooram (Poorva Phalguni)

Durga (Parvathi fierce form) - Bharani

Hinduism according to Vedic scriptures has this concept of classifying the deities into 33 types. The 33 Gods are further divided as 12 Adityas, 11 Rudras, 8 Vasus, and 2 Ashwins. There is however a slight variation in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad which classifies the 33 deities as 12 Adityas, 11 Rudras, 8 Vasus with the remaining 2 being made up by Indra and Prajapati. Based on this concept, we can classify these sub classification of deities to be ruling different Nakshatras

12 Adityas - Punarpoosam (Punarvasu)

11 Rudras - Tiruvadirai (Arudra)

8 Vasus - Avittam (Dhanishta)

2 Ashwins - Ashwini

With respect to the 12 Adityas, the deity of Punarpoosam (Punarvasu) is said to be 'Aditi' - the mother of the 12 Adityas. The 12 Adityas are characterised by the following names viz Dhata, Aryama, Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Vivasvan, Tvastha, Vishnu, Amshuman, Bhaga, Poosan and Parjanya. Many of these are themselves ruled by different Nakshatras such as Aryama - Pooram (Poorva Phalguni), Mitra - Anusham (Anuradha), Varuna - Sadayam (Satabhisha), Indra - Kettai (Jyeshta), Tvastha - Chithirai (Chitra), Vishnu - Tiruvonam (Shravana), Bhaga - Uthiram (Uttara Phalguni) and Poosan - Revathi

When it comes to the 11 Rudras, the ruler of Rudra is Tiruvadirai (Arudra). The 11 avatars of Rudras listed in the Shiva Purana include the names 1) Kapali 2) Pingal 3) Bheem 4) Virupaksha 5) Vilohita 6) Shastra 7) Aja Ekapaad 8) Ahir Budhanya 9) Shambhu 10) Chand and 11) Bhava. Out of this Aja Ekapaad is ruled by the Nakshatra Poorattathi (Poorva Bhadrapada) and Ahir Budhanya is ruled by the Nakshatra Uthirattathi (Uttara Bhadrapada)

The 8 Vasus describe the material elements of Agni (Fire), Prithvi (Earth), Vayu (Air), Apah (Water), Akash (Sky/Ether), Nakshatra (Stars) and the luminaries Aditya (Sun) and Soma (Moon). These are all collectively ruled by the star Avittam (Dhanishta). However individually some of these elements such as Fire can be linked to Karthigai (Krithika), Vayu to Swathi, Apah to Pooradam (Poorva Ashada), Sun to Hastham (Hastha) and Moon to Mrigasheerisham (Mrigashira).

The 2 Ashwins are collectively referred to as Ashwini Kumars and are said to be twin solar deities by names Nasatya and Dasra. The Ashwins are said to be sons of the Sun God Surya and his wife Sanjana. The Ashwins are especially known for their medicinal and healing abilities. The twin solar deities are associated with the Nakshatra Ashwini. Considering the alternate context of the final 2 Gods being mentioned as Indra & Prajapati, then in that case Indra is associated with the Nakshatra of Kettai (Jyeshya) and Prajapati is connected to the Nakshatra of Rohini.

Worshipping of the Nakshatras with Illustration

When it comes to worshipping the divine elements associated with the Nakshatra's there are some notions being fed currently that one should not inculcate the deities of the stars that are not in a favourable Tara (star progression). Also there is a view of only the Janma Nakshatra taking precedence when it comes to prayers. This is correct because offering prayers on your birth Nakshatra acts as a shield of protection but there are also other Nakshatras which attain prominence when invoking the divine. It should however be noted that the Janma Nakshatra holds forte and is the reckoning point when ascertaining the divinity with respect to the other Nakshatras.

Based on the Nakshatra in which the Moon is placed in one's birth horoscope, it would be beneficial and a blessing to take obeisance to the respective celestial entities. Lets take the illustration of one Nakshatra viz Tiruvonam aka Shravana and see how best the divine can be invoked. The ancient text 'Kumaraswamiyam' by Lord Muruga recognises a domicile or place of power for every Nakshatra and for Shravana "any place of worship" is considered as it's abode. Thus, just going to any temple by default activates the energy of Shravana Nakshatra. 

Seeing it from the lens of Tara Bala, first up one being born in the Janma Nakshatra of Shravana, that particular day in operation is supposed to infuse tension. Hence worshipping Vishnu by chanting Vishnu Sahasranam or praying to any form representing the Lord such as Perumal or Hayagriva for instance can give them protection. Taking the lineage name of their Rishi which in this case is Rishi Vasishta and obtaining the blessings of their Siddhar Dakshinamurthy can keep them preserved and in good stead. Also there is a general norm of stating one's Janma Nakshatra along with the respective Rasi, Gothra and other particulars provided to the priest to perform Archana in their name. Their Karma Nakshatra viz 10th from their natal Moon is where their past life connection lies. Hence anything related to Rohini Nakshatra can make them have a close initiation based on the Karmas of their past life. On personal observation, have witnessed that these natives have a strong connect with their Karma hence you may see an association with Brahma - the creator, Lord Krishna, Kala Bhairava etc. Rohini is said to represent "Chariot" which can be related to a "Car" in present day world and in fact it might be startling to believe but have actually come across many Tiruvonam (Shravana) natives stating that they absolutely love driving vehicles. It's like as if this trait has been ingrained right from their previous life and those with positive karma tend to be pro's at relevant significations pertaining to their Karma star. The 19th Nakshatra Adhana is the one denoting their "Praptha" and which they have a deep longing and feeling for. Hence for Shravana, the 19th Nakshatra happens to be Hastha and invoking Lord Surya Narayana or doing related stuff such as Yoga, Surya Namaskara, Gayathri chanting etc will help keep their destiny in order.

Other than the Janma/Anujanma/Trijanma Nakshatra, divinities of other Nakshatras can also be initiated such as for instance from the 6th Sadhaka (Achievements) Tara set, the 6th Nakshatra is said to be 'Deiva Anukoolam' translated as favours from God, hence worshipping Shani on Revathi Nakshatra or visiting Sri Rangam can be really beneficial. The 15th Nakshatra mentions about getting attachments from near and dear hence in this case being Ayilyam or Ashlesha, worshipping Snake God or Maharishi Agathiyar can help in forming an intimate connection. The 24th Nakshatra Kettai or Jyeshta mentions about unexpected victories and coming unscathed from any sort of problems - thus invoking Varahi can give them this power. 

From the 4th Nakshatra set known as Kshemam (comforts), invoking the 13th Nakshatra Punarpoosam/Punarvasu significations is said to be extremely beneficial and this also relates to Jeeva Samadhi. So worshipping Lord Rama/Holy Mother/Sage Dhanvantri etc can be very benevolent and comforting. Coming to the 9th Nakshatra set known as Parama Mitra (Extremely friendly), connecting to Agni Bhagwan and Krithika, their 9th Nakshatra by taking refuge at Tiruvannamalai can help enhance their fire energy and make it work very favourably. And then there is the 27th Nakshatra signalling a full completion cycle. This Nakshatra mentions about bowing your head in front of God for seeking favours and this one being Uthiradam or Uttara Ashada, taking obeisance of Lord Ganapathi will be of great support and getting benefits. 

For activating money & prosperity, they should touch upon their 2nd Nakshatra set Sampat (Wealth) especially their 2nd Nakshatra Avittam or Dhanishta and 20th Nakshatra Chithirai or Chitra. For Avittam, praying to Ananda Sayana Perumal can be helpful and since this Nakshatra is also known to be birth star of Mercury (Buddha) which is said to rule 64 Kalas (arts or skills), taking up any skilful activity can be fruitful to activate finance. Likewise their 20th Nakshatra is Chitra which is everything to do with creativity. Thus utilising their creative flair can yield rich dividends. This Nakshatra also talks about embroidered clothes. Thus Shravana individuals, if they do take an active interest with respect to the clothes they adorn, money may indirectly flow to them. With respect to the 8th Nakshatra set Mitra (Friendly), praying to their 8th Nakshatra Bharani and getting blessings of Durga/Kali/Amman can give them good clarity and thought process. Similarly 17th Nakshatra Pooram when they pray to Parvathi/Andal can help in their relationships soaring and bonding being strong. Lastly on this set, calling upon their 20th Nakshatra Pooradam which is predominantly connected to the water element and praying to Jambukeshwarar or taking the hand of Almighty Jesus can be very beneficial in getting support from the society and community. It doesn't mean that the divine pertaining to other Nakshatras cannot be invoked. However it should be noted that any Tara which comes as a negative one to their Janma Tara, it would probably be prudent to provide a Dhanyam (offering) and then take blessings and prayers. 

Results of Navatara Cycle - Janma, Anujanma and Trijanma

Listed below is a general gist of the results provided by the sequence order of Nakshatras. Nakshatra's are 27 in number and divided into 3 cycles viz Janma Nakshatra cycle, Anujanma Nakshatra cycle and the Trijanma Nakshatra cycle. The Janma indicates current birth, Anujanma rebirth or associated with the past and Trijanma future birth or that at the tertiary soul level. In each of these cycles, the Taras are divided into 9 and said to denote different significations. First let's look at the general significations for the 9 Taras followed by the specific significations for each of the 27 Taras as framed by the ancient holy text 'Kumaraswamiyam'

Janma Tara: (1,10,19)

This in essence is the birth Nakshatra and establishes one's individuality, existence and health. The default ruler of Janma Tara happens to be Sun.

Janma Cycle - Tara 1 - Janma (Mana Klesham, Padhattam, Prachana)
The Janma Nakshatra day is said to infuse plenty of tensions, cause anxiety, create problems and make the mind fickle. The mind always tends to be unsteady during days of Janma Nakshatras and it can be related to the prevailing environment when a child is about to take birth which is associated with a lot of difficulty and stress. This day especially requires protection and hence invoking God's blessings can be beneficial. This is one of the main reasons why in the temple we offer obeisance to the Lord on our Janma Nakshatra day.

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 10 - Karma (Karyam)
The Janma Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle is heavily dependent upon our past life karma. A lot of our actions in our present life plays out based on what we were in the past and hence the initiations in this birth tend to be related a lot to our previous existence. There is even a chance of getting cheated and hurt but on the other side can also lead to fulfilment. It is witnessed that the deity associated with the Karma Nakshatra has a strong hold on us.

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 19 - Aadhangam (Praptham)
The Janma Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle is associated with deep feelings, emotions and longing. We tend to receive results based upon our earlier destiny in the future periods. This is generally said to be the most auspicious Tara in this set of Janma Tara cycle.

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Sampat Tara: (2,11,20)

This denotes all things related with wealth, prosperity and happiness. The default ruler of Sampat Tara is Mercury.

Janma Cycle - Tara 2 - Sampat (Dhanam, Selvam, Sandosham)
The second Nakshatra in the Janma cycle is said to be highly propitious especially with money related matters and doesn't associate with any negative connotations

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 11 - Samudaya Pagai (Uravugal Thundippu)
The 11th Tara or the second Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle has a hitch because it mentions that this time can lead to problems with society and ties being severed with close members. Thus, though it is a favorable Nakshatra at large, it comes with its own issues.

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 20 - Subham (Subhiksham)
The 20th Tara or the second Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle is extremely favourable and is said to be highly auspicious, propitious and fortunate. Thus invoking 20th Nakshatra significations can be highly beneficial.

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Vipat Tara: (3,12,21)

As the name suggests, this translates to all sorts of dangers. It can be with regard to getting hurt, embroiled into issues and all such kind. Vipat Tara's default ruler is Rahu.

Janma Cycle - Tara 3 - Vipat (Ilappu)
The third Nakshatra in the Janma cycle is said to be highly dangerous and losses can take place when it is in operation

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 12 - Dharma Sangadam (Badhippu)
The 12th Tara or the third Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle is on similar lines to it's Janma counterpart and can indicate troubles, difficulty or embarrassment

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 21 - Maarupattu Soolnilai (Vendatha Velai)
The 21st Tara or the third Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle can indicate things taking place completely opposite to the direction expected and leads to needless efforts

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Kshema Tara: (4,13,22)

The word 'Kshemam' as such endorses about being in good health and a comfortable state of mind. Hence this is about the well being of the individual concerned by possessing the requisite vitality and being in good spirits. Kshema Tara is default ruled by Jupiter.

Janma Cycle - Tara 4 - Kshemam (Sowkiyam, Vaama Vedhai)
The fourth Nakshatra in the Janma cycle is said to denote comforts and safety but however there is a forewarning as this Tara also connotes 'Vaama Vedhai' which can create hostility or argument when any important work or meeting is said to take place eventually leading to issues, mind problems and mental pain. Thus, it advises the avoidance of something important taking place when the 4th Nakshatra is in transit.

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 13 - Adhigga Sirappu (Padhavi Uyarvu, Jeeva Samadhi)
The 13th Tara or the fourth Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle is excellent in every way possible. It is the Tara that can lift you up to great heights and this is also the Tara specifically mentioned to invoke Jeeva Samadhi for getting spiritual enlightenment

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 22 - Vainasika (Vadha Vainasikam)
The 22nd Tara or the fourth Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle on the contrary is said to be destructive of every kind. Counted from this Nakshatra to your Janma Nakshatra it will be 7 and counted from your Janma Nakshatra, this will be 22nd. 7th is inauspicious and 22nd is destruction so it can tend to be extremely unfavourable. However it is mentioned that only the 88th pada is very harmful which would be the 4th pada of the 22nd star if one were born in the 1st pada of Janma Nakshatra, For the other 3 padas, it will move to the 23rd star 1st, 2nd and 3rd pada. Irrespective it is expected to exercise caution when the 22nd Nakshatra is in operation.

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Pratyek Tara: (5,14,23)

This is a negative Tara and denotes all sorts of obstacles. It is said to cause plenty of confusions onto the mind in addition to being a stumbling block with regard to completion of tasks and activities. The ruler of this Tara is Ketu.

Janma Cycle - Tara 5 - Pratyek (Karya Naasam, Kolappam)
The fifth Nakshatra in the Janma cycle indicates that any task performed on this Tara can lead to loss and ruin. It is also associated with plenty of confusions when doing an activity

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 14 - Samanyam (Kashtam)
The 14th Tara or the fifth Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle can lead to issues of risk and needless difficulties. Hence it advocates being cautious when this is in operation

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 23 - Karya Vignam (Kettu Pogudhal)
The 23rd Tara or the fifth Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle leads to obstacles or impediment in the task being performed and leads to spoilage of work

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Sadhak Tara:(6,15,24)

This talks about all achievements and benefits which one is entitled to and is said to be the Tara which is said to especially invoke the support of the divine. The ruler of this Tara is Moon.

Janma Cycle - Tara 6 - Sadhak (Deiva Anukoolam)
The sixth Nakshatra in the Janma cycle is said to be the one in which God's blessings are said to arise. Hence worshipping and offering prayers with respect to the deities and articles denoted by the 6th Tara from Janma Nakshatra is essential to have the Almighty's support.

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 15 - Banda Sirippu (Uravugal Menpadum)
The 15th Tara or the sixth Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle mentions about getting very good support from near and dear one's with relationships blossoming. Catching hold of the deities of this Tara can prove to be really beneficial 

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 24 - Edhirpaaratha Vetri (Prachana Theervu, Idam)
The 24th Tara or the sixth Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle mentions about name & fame, unexpected victories especially in place of stay. It also talks about emerging successful despite whatever issues that may be prevalent. As its a problem solving Nakshatra, praying to the divinity can lead to benefits

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Vadha Tara:(7,16,25)

This is an inauspicious Tara and is of a killing nature. It is strewn with negativity and denotes all sorts of denials, ill-luck and misfortune. The ruler of this Tara is Saturn.

Janma Cycle - Tara 7 - Vadha (Vedhanai)
The seventh Nakshatra in the Janma cycle is said to bring disappointments and sufferings.

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 16 - Sangathiyam (Vambu Valakku Sandai)
The 16th Tara or the seventh Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle mentions about getting embroiled in needless issues and fights taking place.

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 25 - Manatham (Thanmana Sodhanai, Mudivu Eduka Mudiyadhu)
The 25th Tara or the seventh Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle mentions about tremendous turmoil in the mind making it very difficult to be steady or make any decision. It's ideal to avoid this Tara whenever something important needs to take place.

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Mitra Tara:(8,17,26)

This set in essence is supposed to be one of the most auspicious Tara sets in the Navatara sequence. As the name suggests it denotes friendliness and shows the way forward by providing good clarity

Janma Cycle - Tara 8 - Mitra (Natpu)
The eighth Nakshatra in the Janma cycle is said to be friendly and favourable

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 17 - Nanmai (Miga Arumai)
The 17th Tara or the eighth Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle mentions about auspicious and favourable things taking place. The 17th Nakshatra however could indicate 'Chandrashtama' - a concept where transit Moon moves to the 8th place from natal position but that is only expected to last for few hours and won't hamper the general good significations

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 26 - Jati (Amaippu)
The 26th Tara or the eighth Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle mentions about getting good name and appreciation from the community

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Paramamitra Tara:(9,18,27)

From the name, it indicates that it's very friendly. However there is a mention of too much of anything not being good and hence a slight caution needs to be exercised in order to ensure that any kind of friendship doesn't go overboard thus causing irritation and bitterness

Janma Cycle - Tara 9 - Parama Mitra (Adhiga Natpu)
The ninth Nakshatra in the Janma cycle is said to be extremely friendly but indicates that no friendship should be taken for granted which can cause bitterness

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 18 - Pana Pagai (Dekshina Vedai)
The 18th Tara or the ninth Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle mentions about this day being problematic especially with any money related transactions. It also mentions about unnecessary expenses taking place and some changing of hands

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 27 - Vanangum Nilai (Abhishekham, Mudivu)
The 27th Tara or the ninth Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle is the last Nakshatra from one's Janma Nakshatra. This specifically talks about invoking the blessings of God and is said to be very friendly towards auspicious happenings taking place

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Offerings when Negative Tara is in Operation

In general, it is witnessed that the Tara sets of 1 (Janma), 3 (Vipat), 5 (Pratyek), 7 (Vadha) are advised to be avoided especially for performing any activity as the Tara Bala is said to be weak on these days. However in cases where it is unavoidable, it can still be proceeded by donating the following items when these Tara's are in operation

Janma Tara: Kaigari - Vegetables

Vipat Tara: Vellam - Jaggery

Pratyek Tara: Uppu - Salt

Vadha Tara: Ellu - Sesame

Vedha Nakshatras - Enemy and Repellent to Each Other

Also irrespective of Tara being favourable or unfavourable, there is also a concept of Vedha Nakshatras where certain Nakshatras are said to repel one another. They may be in favourable Tara progression but if they happen to be Vedha (repel), it is better not to invoke the items related to that particular Nakshatra unless prior precaution is taken. The Nakshatra's that are Vedha to each other are as follows:

Ashwini X Kettai (Jyeshta)

Bharani X Anusham (Anuradha)

Karthigai (Krithika) X Visagam (Vishakha)

Rohini X Swathi

Mrigaseerisham (Mrigashira) X Chithirai (Chitra) X Avittam (Dhanishta)

Tiruvadirai (Arudra) X Tiruvonam (Shravana)

Punarpoosam (Punarvasu) X Uthiradam (Uttara Ashada)

Poosam (Pushya) X Pooradam (Poorva Ashada)

Ayilyam (Ashlesha) X Moolam (Moola)

Magam (Magha) X Revathi

Pooram (Poorva Phalguni) X Uthirattathi (Uttara Bhadrapada)

Uthiram (Uttara Phalguni) X Poorattathi (Poorva Bhadrapada)

Hastham (Hastha) X Sadayam (Satabhisha)

Reef - Igniting the Buffet Vibes!

It was our second visit to the Sheraton Grand Resort after having first gone there to experience their fine dining restaurant C Salt. This time we wanted to engage on the buffet in the restaurant titled "The Reef". It was an evening rendezvous with the restaurant being quiet and giving a peaceful yet inviting vibe. We were one of the first to arrive and were greeted to a sumptuous buffet spread.

This one ticks the box on almost all counts. Apart from having various multi cuisine options, there were also live counters ringing in the fray with respect to options such as Dosa, Chaat, Pizza and Pasta. Though it's set up at a distance away from the beach the blow of the breeze just outside the restaurant gives a comforting feel. The ambience inside is cozy and dim. It's quite a large enclosure with well spread out tables and the pastel shades of the seating ignites a comfortable vibe with the interiors being quite tastefully done up.

I've been to a bunch of buffets at star properties within the city as well to these resort type settings. It's quite a call as to where to place this one but this definitely can be said to be belonging in the top tier category. The first thing you look for at a buffet are the options at hand and this one was lavish virtually catering to all sections at hand. I enjoyed the Greek fare with variety of Hummus and pita bread. The salads had a large offering with plenty to choose from. The starters alone could have been a tad better. They had some nice cutlet tikki type entres but we missed the good old Panneer and Gobi which has kind of become a staple.

A few dishes stood out being on the unique side. The first one among that was the Hasselback potatoes with saffron sauce. The potatoes felt jocularly joyful when submerged in that yellow saffron gravy. Another item which stood out was the poached pears with ricotta and nuts. This looked pretty appealing with the pears engraved in red cut over and inserted with pieces of nuts and smudged ricotta. The apple & pear waldorf salad also passed the colours in fine fashion both on looks and taste.

On the main course side, I got myself a nicely done up podi dosai. They had various kinds of podis available. Apart from that went for a standard veg pizza and pink sauce pasta which tasted decent. Also had a small shot at a Dahi Papdi Chaat. On the North Indian front, got myself a cheesy garlic Naan and to accompany was Paneer Butter Masala, Dal Makhni and an Aloo Dum gravy. The dessert section did see it's share of finely curated pastries and sweets.

The service was par for the course. Just felt the replacement of plates & refilling of water could have been done a tad quicker. The pricing is definitely at the high end but we did get a flat discount yet we still ended up paying 2200 bucks per person.

Overall the experience is worth it. It's a lovely sea facing resort where you can relax and laze around. Also at the restaurant it infuses an insouciant vibe which makes it laidback, appealing and comforting. It's a lovely space to spend some quite time with family with a bristle of calmness around that you don't get in most of the city buffet restaurants. If you're heading over this neck of the woods and on the mood to gorge on a delectable spread, "Reef" can certainly satiate that to your heart's content.

Kadhal Kavithaigal - SPB's field territory!

Some compositions are just tailor made and feels like it's been composed exclusively for SPB to do full justice. And boy oh boy does he do a wondrous job of it by elevating the number a further notch through his energetic rendering. The song in question is Kadhal Kavidhaigal from the movie Gopura Vaasalile.

It's a love byte set to tune in Malayamalava Gowla ragam. The prelude begins with the lady conveying her excitement towards her lover through the words "I love this lovable idiot" and then gets taken over by a gush of violins galloping in a gorgeous gusto followed by the chiming in of the wind flute to add some chirpiness.

And when SPB begins singing Kadhal Kavithaigal Padithidum it's a chilling feeling with love abounding in breathtaking fashion. There is an extra zep in his soulful rendition that brings out the love pep brimming in full finesse. Chitra complements SPB beautifully but the out and out show-stealer of this riveting composition is the man with the golden vintage voice.

This song also touches upon the 'Thala' in a lovely manner. Normally when a melody starts with the beat, it's termed as 'Samam' but when it starts at a different point from the beat it's known as 'Vishamam'. When melody starts first followed by the beat it's called 'Athitha Eduppu' whereas if the melody starts after the beat it's known as 'Anaagatha Eduppu'. This song employs Athitha Eduppu by having the melody line starting ahead of the beat.

I attempted a small take on the veena beginning from the Charanam and then connecting it back to the Pallavi where SPB is in his true elements decisively lighting up and lilting the number to glory beyond uncharted territory. This is an evergreen love song for the ages that always leaves a smile on your face. Sharing this sizzling song as an ode to SPB as a remembrance on his birth month anniversary and on the occasion of World Music Day.

Kapi and Captivating!

Ilaiyaraaja is a magician when handling Carnatic Raga's as he knows how to bring out the inherent subtlety of it without diluting the essence one bit. Even if he adds an alien note or two, it just doesn't seem out of place at all. Prima-facie all this appears to be a mystery but the way he manages to do it is simply impossible to comprehend.

One of the Raga's where he has showcased his mastery time and again is 'Kapi'. Kapi is a derivative of the 22nd Melakarta Ragam Karaharapriya and uses a pentatonic scale on the ascendancy but on the descendancy it touches all 7 notes. It is a mood inducing raga known for it's twists and turns. Both the Nishadams (Ni2 and Ni3) are used judiciously and you'll see a leapfrogging texture that adds a distinctive unique quality to it. 

A majority of the compositions which Ilaiyaraaja has employed in Kapi ragam have been nothing short of astounding. He is literally seen toying with the ragam and since this is an experimental scale, you'll see pyrotechnics at play eventually resulting in an aural spectacle.

I have handpicked 2 masterful compositions of his in Kapi Raaga - one from Kannada (Sandalwood) and another from Malayalam (Mollywood) to showcase the prowess in using Kapi Ragam. 'Jeeva Hoovagidhe' has been a perennial favorite and is an evergreen iconic love composition sung by Dr Rajkumar & S Janaki. 'Thumbi Vaa' is a song which has been redone in multiple languages but nothing beats the original from the movie Olangal sung by S Janaki with chorus back up.

I've attempted a tiny lunge at both these songs trying to intersperse one onto another to show the delightful curvy flavour that is Kapi. Began with the middle portion of Jeeva Hoovagidhe which gets transported back to the starting portion. From there picked up on the Charanam of Thumbi Vaa and traversed along to the opening bits of the song finally ending with a touch of the famed 'I Love You' line from Jeeva Hoovagidhe.

Coffee comes in many different flavours and the decoction plays a role in determining the firmness of it. It can be light, medium, strong or whatever. Similarly Kapi ragam like it's drinking mate has a quality where the concoction that is thrown up decides the variety of the outcome. And IR is simply a kingmaker in knowing how to handle the mix as seen from these 2 captivating Kapi numbers.

Poongatru Pudhidhaanadhu - Entranced Trance!

There are some compositions which are very hard to decipher and "Poongatru Pudhidhaanadhu" from Moonram Pirai (1982) falls in that esteemed category. The song has always haunted me with the way it's been structured. It probably could be classified under the genre of 'Trance' but irrespective it's a number that has always entranced beyond imagination.

It gives the impression initially of being a hard hitting number with the fast paced beats opening up the prelude and then the actual Pallavi kind of takes a pause and goes in a slightly slower trajectory but the eeriness continues unabated. The second stanza slows down majorly and has a beautiful melody interlaced crooned by the incomparable KJ Yesudas. If you split the song in parts, you wouldn't think the pallavi and anupallavi are from the same number based on the construction. It becomes even more hard to fathom when the opening prelude bit is played.

In effect, the song follows a pattern and yet portions of it go on in it's own individual patterns but the unison generated is perfectly synchronised and falls in place nonchalantly. The composition appears to be largely set in the Sindhu Bhairavi ragam and can be described as a mystical composition transcending the magic across waves of intricate layers.

I just gave a stab at this masterful composition as I've always been fond of wanting to try that opening bit which tends to reach a crescendo with the beats gushing in full furore. Tried a portion of the opening portion and also the middle part which lowers the tempo of the melody and gets backed by the beats of the Tabla. It's just a basic try but more of an exploration unravelling the beauty of this musical wonder. The composition is over 40 years old but continues to enthral.

South Africa's redemption and date with destiny!

South Africa have perennially been the most unluckiest team when it comes to the sport of cricket. They have produced absolute genius cricketers across their rich history but when it came to world cricket tournaments, luck always deserted them. Due to apartheid, they were cut off from the cricketing fraternity for decades together deeming them not being able to participate in any of the first 4 ODI World Cups held in 1975, 1979, 1983 and 1987. Their casting away from the game also meant that few of their hallmark cricketers such as the Pollock brothers Peter & Graeme, opening batsman Barry Richards, all rounder Mike Procter and a slew of others got limited opportunities to represent the Rainbow nation and showcase their prowess on the global stage.

Once South Africa made their way back into the cricketing circle from 1991 onwards, ill luck has hit them constantly like a plague which just seemed unrelenting. It was almost a case of 'oh so near yet so far' every time that it felt like a farce with them repeatedly failing towards the final hurdle come what may. Also some of the consequences made it feel like as if there was an almighty's curse hanging on around this nation for eternity. This was however not resonated in the other sport which South Africa is passionate about viz Rugby where they were able to reel off 4 World Cup titles in which they always used to have that extra ammunition to win those major titles. The killer instinct and that lady luck was more prevalent with the Rugby team and an ample example of that was them winning the 2023 Rugby World Cup Quarter finals, Semi finals and Final all by a solitary point.

When it came to cricket, since their readmission, they have been one of the most consistent teams but without any result to show of. Apart from spells of bad luck, they've had a tough time dealing with their arch enemies from the Southern Hemisphere Australia especially and New Zealand to some extent when it came to knockout clashes. In every alternate ODI World Cup from the time they started participating viz 1992, 1999, 2007, 2015 and 2023, the Proteas were undone in the semifinals with luck also playing foil against them.

When it came to ODI World Cups, they had a sterling display in their very first major tournament viz the 1992 ODI World Cup held in Australia & New Zealand. In their semifinal encounter, they were robbed off against England when a despicable rain rule put paid to them going further in their frontier. With 22 required off 13 deliveries, rain intervention revised it to 22 off 7 and then finally 22 off 1 delivery which meant South Africa's stellar progress ended in a rather dubious and wretched way. This streak of bad luck that got implanted in 1992 just continued on and on across years and decades. In the 1996 ODI WC, they had an unblemished record winning all 5 games convincingly in the group stage only to play the lowest ranked side from the other group West Indies with Brian Lara scoring a brilliant century and knocking them out of the WC in the only match which they lost. 

1999 was the most hurting as they again had a seriously amazing campaign and went out on a tied encounter with the Aussies in the semifinals. They had the match in the grasp but unfortunate turn of events made them fall short in their progress yet again. The 2003 home ODI WC was a bitterly disappointing experience for them with rain again playing havoc and a wrong reading of the rules making them exit the tournament much to the chagrin of the home fans who were shattered no end. There was a misreading of the DLS par score which the Proteas thought was the winning score only to be later told that they ended up one run short marking a shocking exit from the tournament in the group stages.

The 2007 WC in the Caribbean again saw them through in their passage to the semifinals setting up a mouth watering clash with their hardcore rivals Aussies who were instrumental in knocking them out from the 1999 WC. It was a chance to avenge revenge but alas it was not meant to be as an invincible Australian side was just too strong on that day. In 2011 South Africa were the only side to defeat eventual World Cup champions India but came a cropper against the Kiwis in spin friendly conditions despite not having to chase a major total in the quarter final stage.

When it finally looked like the moment of reckoning was going to be fulfilled, South Africa were knocked out in the semifinals of the 2015 ODI WC in a clash of the ages against the hosts Kiwis. It was shell shocking to see their 2 marquee men Dale Steyn and AB Devilliers crestfallen no end. Here again it was a rain curtailed match which somehow played in the hands of the Kiwis. One would reckon that a full 50 over game could have had a different result but that's the way it is with luck and South Africa always going in polar directions. The 2019 ODI WC was a rebuilding phase with many of their senior pros not being part of the squad and it ended in a dismaying outcome where they couldn't qualify to the semifinals. This was probably the only ODI WC where South Africa were nowhere near coming close to being champions.

The 2023 ODI WC saw a familiar story unfolding. After a creditable run in the group stages, they set up a clash with the Aussies in the semifinals who they were facing for a third time at this phase. When questions were asked whether South Africa would be third time lucky, the same hoodoo transpired yet again. It was a double whammy as they not only lost to Australia their perennial rivals but also to rain with weather playing spoilsport as always is the case with them. Kolkata was in the midst of cold hazy climate with ball swinging in all directions and the Aussies exploited the early advantage by scalping quick wickets and putting the Saffers on the mat. Despite defending a low score, South Africa fought hard and made a meat of it but again it was the grit and resolve of Australia who are always known to be exceptional in such stages that managed to win a closely fought low scoring chase.

Apart from the ODI World Cup, this pandemic hex was evident in the T20 World Cup as well albeit not to the same extent in terms of foiled attempts. In the 2009 T20 WC, South Africa came in as firm favourites winning all their games setting up a semi final shootout with Pakistan. In a closely contested game, the Saffers lost out eventually falling short by 7 runs. The 2014 T20 WC semifinal saw them being gunned down by India courtesy largely a Virat Kohli chasing masterclass. The indisputable crowning choking moment was reserved for the T20 World Cup final of 2024. South Africa who were always vary when it came to knockouts and especially semifinals finally got a shot to play their first ever World cup final with their opponents being India. Chasing a target set of 176, South Africa were well on course and firmly placed to win with just a run a ball 30 to get off the last 5 overs which in general parlance of a T20 format or any version whatsoever is a walk in the park. But they bottled it up by choking at the most inopportune time with just 26 required off the last 4 overs. It was a fightback of epic proportions by India and South Africa's worst fears came compounding drastically as they lost this final title clash by a mere 7 runs. All those history of bad luck got accentuated and this almost felt like a God sent message that South Africa can just forever bid goodbye to winning a world title. It was just too hard to digest the pain for a South African supporter after all the years of extreme disappointments notwithstanding. South Africa's only triumph remained the title won in the inaugural ICC Champions trophy held 27 years back in 1998. At that time it was christened as the ICC Knockout. Since then 27 years have passed with no major world title of repute.

And then when it all felt lost, finally the moment of reckoning culminated and got conquered on 14th June 2025. It was the 3rd World Test Championship and it was the first time that the Proteas managed to reach the finals. The format of this test cycle has been questioned and debated a lot but South Africa did no wrong in managing to reach the final across 2 years of competing with 8 other teams in the competition. And guess what their final title rival was yet again Australia who have been their nemesis on multiple occasions across decades. This was seen as a David vs Goliath battle with Australia red hot favourites to lift the WTC title for a second time running. All of South Africa's heartbreaks with Australia have always come in the semifinals having lost the ODI WC of 1999, 2007 and 2023. In 2015 when an impending ODI WC final looked like looming large between Aus vs SA, the Kiwis came in the way and averted it. Thus for the first time, South Africa got to play Australia in a final but having known Australia's daunting record in finals and also their hegemony at Lords having hardly lost a test match there over the last century, it seemed too hard an ask to even expect for the Proteas to topple the men adorning the Baggy Green. Over the last 25 years dating back to 1999, Australia had won 9 of their 10 finals adding 5 ODI WCs (1999,2003,2007,2015,2023), 2 CT (2006,2009), a T20 WC (2021) and defending champions of WTC (2023). Their only defeat in the final over this period was to England in the 2010 T20 WC. 

South Africa however finally managed to have their slice of history which they had been waiting with bated breadth for 27 years. The Proteas eventually won a World cricket title after years of agony and pain. It came in the most purest form of Test cricket deeming it extra special. To add to the touch of magic was that it was against their greatest cricketing rivals Australia who have been one of the major adversaries in South Africa being traumatised down the years especially in global ICC events. Another tinge of icing was the fact that the weather for once actually saved them by enabling to bat on a Day 3 Lords pitch which had eased out with the sun shining leading to perfect batting conditions. It was however not all hunky dory as South Africa were shot out for a paltry score in the first innings conceding a good enough lead of 80 runs to the Aussies. In the second innings, with Australia reeling at 73/7, South Africa's perpetual woes of not closing out things came to haunt with the lower order contributing over 130 runs setting up a competitive target of 282 runs.

It was however South Africa's moment in the sun having gutted out and putting a performance of fine calibre shunting out the Aussie bowlers by having a remarkable Day 3. The resolute partnership between centurion Aiden Markram and captain Temba Bavuma blunted out the Aussies from making any sort of comeback. And when the final runs were scored, it sparked off a sea of celebration with an air of excitement that was palpable. South Africa had finally achieved their pinnacle moment of winning a World Championship for the first time ever in their storied cricketing legacy. It was also their first global ICC tournament victory which had come after 27 years in 1998.

South Africa's cricketing journey in the global stage is punctuated with acrimony aplenty with them being labelled as everlasting chokers. Two of their defining disheartening defeats came in the month of June, one being a year earlier to India in the 2024 T20 WC and the other being almost 26 years to the day in that epic semifinal showdown against Australia at Edgbaston in the ODI WC 1999. This victory ironically was also achieved in the meritorious month of June making the bitterness of the past deliciously extra sweet. This has been a long time coming and they deserve to cherish and celebrate every bit of this momentous occasion that will be etched in South African cricketing folklore. This win by South Africa is a story of redemption and hope for what the country has gone through all these years and it's befitting that they finally marked their date with destiny.

Alcaraz's Remarkable Roland Garros Conquest amidst Crazy Coincidences!

Carlos Alcaraz pulled off one of the greatest heists in ages to seal an improbable Roland Garros Championship. It was virtually gravity defying as just around an hour earlier in to the match, he was on the back-foot staving off 3 match points in the fourth set. To surmount a comeback from that stage by turning it around and winning an epic 5 set thriller caps off one of the most miraculous achievements ever witnessed in sport.

It almost looked like a foregone conclusion as it seemed impossible for Carlos to spot any aperture with his opponent Sinner literally unrelenting not giving any room whatsoever. What Alcaraz did to make a way back will be etched in sporting memorabilia and remembered as a history defining sporting moment. It also reinforced the important life lesson of  "nothing is impossible" , "never give up" and "it's never over till it's actually over".

Going into the final, both the challengers had an unblemished record in Grand Slam finals with Alcaraz winning all his 4 slam final prior and Sinner emerging victorious in all the 3 slam finals that he had participated in. So, it was a given that one record was on the line with a final defeat inevitable for either one of them. Also it was after a long time that the World #1 was going head to head in a clash with the World #2 with stakes being extremely high. Sinner was the man in a rich vein of form going into the final having won all of his 6 encounters without dropping a single set along the way. This also included a convincing victory over the all time leader in the Grand Slam pack viz Novak Djokovic thus preventing Nole from adding a 25th Grand Slam to his tally. Though Alcaraz didn't feel like he was at his real best in this tournament, he did have a one-up over Sinner having just recently coming out on top in the Rome Masters final which was a clay court event played a week before the French Open. This one seemed like a battle between a missile machine in the form of Sinner against a mercurial maverick in the presence of Alcaraz who's known for doing mind blowing things on the tennis court when on song.

It was not just the victory which was super savoury sweet but also the crazy coincidences at play with the universe probably egging Carlos Alcaraz on to recreate history and making sure there was a bizarre alignment with his fellow Spaniard and local childhood hero Rafael Nadal. When Rafa had won his 5th Grand Slam in 2008, he was 22 years, one month and 3 days old. The cosmic energies played a upending trick by making Alcaraz play his 5th Grand Slam final weirdly at the exact age of 22 years, one month and 3 days old in 2025. This seemed pretty outrageous to even apprehend. For a better part of the match it did look like it was only a hoodwink and that the result wouldn't go according to plan what with Sinner dominating the initial part of the match and setting up 3 match points and on course to win a pretty comfortable final. But remarkably from out of the blue, Alcaraz rose like a phoenix from the Ashes and staged a turnaround which was much beyond the realms of a fairy tale to script a win out of the extraordinary to match the feat of winning his 5th Grand Slam final at the exact ditto day, age and month of Rafa Nadal. I am still gushing for words as to how the almighty could write such a script for 2 spectacular Spanish super stars born 17 years apart from one another (Nadal 3rd Jun 1986 and Alcaraz 5th May 2003) and 2 Grand Slam tennis tournament finals held 17 years cut off from each other. (Wimbledon 6th July 2008 and French Open 8th June 2025) [The exact difference between both being 16 years 11 months and 2 days]

Apart from the age being exactly akin, there were few more similarities brought forth to the table. Both Nadal and Alcaraz won their respective matches outlasting their opponents in 5 set thrillers. The icing on the cake is that when Nadal prevailed over Federer in the dim evening light of Wimbledon in 2008, it was considered to be one of the greatest matches ever to be played in the hallowed turf of grass. He also in the process prevented Federer from winning his 6th straight Wimbledon title. Likewise with Alcaraz winning Sinner in a slug fest of a 5 setter by coming from 2 sets down, this marks as one of the greatest matches ever to be played on the red clay of Paris in a final. Both these encounters would arguably compete against each other in being the finest Grand Slam final ever to be played in tennis history. Also at that time in 2008, when Nadal finally overcame Federer it was the longest ever Championship match lasting 4 hours and 48 minutes. This was however overtaken in 2019 when Djokovic defeated Federer in the final lasting 4 hours and 57 minutes. Incidentally Djokovic also came back from match point down to win the final in another of Wimbledon's greatest finals. Alcaraz winning over Sinner incidentally happened to be the longest ever final in Roland Garros extending to 5 hours 29 minutes being even longer than the Nadal vs Federer clash in 2008. In both occasions it was the longest ever final at that particular moment in time. Another eerie similarity to take note is that in both the finals pertaining to 2008 and 2025, 2 of the sets were won by a scoreline of 6-4 and two of the sets were won in a tie break 7-6. However back in those days, the final set wasn't decided through a tie breaker and kept lingering on with Nadal prevailing 9-7 whereas in this case Alcaraz won the deciding 10 point tie breaker with scores level at 6-6 in the 5th set. To add to the murkiness, in 2008 Wimbledon Federer was seeded 1 and Nadal 2 with the latter becoming the victor and voila the same happened in 2025 French Open with Sinner being seeded 1 and Alcaraz 2 with the latter again coming out on top. To add to the spine chilling effect is the fact that both the opponents who lost were August month born and Leo Sun signs. (Federer 8th Aug 1981 and Sinner 16th Aug 2001)

One must be privileged to have even been witness to such breath taking borderline brilliance. It's a pity that one had to lose in this rivalry. Arguably this comeback by Alcaraz to win the French Open final of 2025 should rank in as one of the greatest comebacks in the history of sport. It was simply sheer spellbinding and master craftsmanship at it's zenith. It's really hard to choose whether this would usurp the Nadal win over Federer in 2008 as both had it's moments etched in unrivalled artistry. Both the 2008 Wimbledon Final and the 2025 French Open Final would be celebrated for eternity and remembered for eons to come. The mysterious coincidences making a wizardly symmetry just adds that extra bit of sparkle deeming this tennis match final extremely special and truly mind boggling.

RCB's IPL 2025 triumph and the divine interplay of #9!

It was 18 years in waiting for the Royal Challengers Bangalore as they finally managed to win the coveted IPL title that had been eluding them for all these years. It was a testimony to the fans who have stood by the team through thick and thin despite the disappointments repeating time and again. It was also the moment of reckoning for King Kohli who has been the face of this franchise right from it's inception in 2008. 

18 years is a long period of time and he has been the one cricketer who has solely believed in this franchise and been steadfast in support of this team not being veered away despite all the tribulations that have come by. As ex RCB player Ross Taylor aptly put it "No one deserves it more than him for carrying on the hopes of millions of fans with unmatched dedication and belief". It was pretty emotional to see him running towards his better half Anushka Sharma soaking in the jubilation of victory. Also it must have been special to have 2 of his ex mates AB Devilliers and Chris Gayle in the house cheering him on to finally achieve this dream come true moment for RCB.

The streets of Bangalore have been lit with fireworks ablaze amidst the city congregating in unparalleled joy in celebrating this win for the ages. It is a city known for it's partying and rest assured that the fun will be lasting for a long time to come. It's a drought that has been ended and there is no second guessing on what this means to them. As a cricket crazy city who've lived on hope since time immemorial for this moment to happen, this is what they were all waiting for and you can expect Bangalore to be buzzing with an insanely electrifying atmosphere.

Hard work plays a major role and in RCB's case it has been evident the way they have played this year especially at venues away from home. There have been good performances put up by the team in previous seasons as well but the luck was always faltering upon them. It almost seemed destined that RCB were just not cut out to win. They have also been a side who have choked on the all important encounters giving their fans heartbreak time and again. Efforts apart, there is also some divine intervention required and this time it seemed imminent that God was willing to grant his blessings onto them.

In relation to this, it was hard not to notice a strange synchronisation with #9 in RCB's triumph which seemed to kind of indicate that destiny was with them. As per Numerology, No.9 which also includes numbers that add up to 9 such as 18,27 etc is represented by the planet 'Mars' and from an Astrology standpoint, the 9th is indicative of 'Bhagya' which means Luck, Destiny, Fortune. There were so many coincidences of 9's at play converging together kind of symbolically conveying that a higher realisation was with RCB this time in their quest towards their maiden IPL triumph.

It seemed even more evident when the dates of the whole tournament got changed more than midway through on account of unforeseen incidents which indirectly paved the way for everything to nicely fall in place perfectly for RCB. Signs play a role in pointing things out and it was vividly clear that #9 was coming to their aid and telling them that this was the year they were waiting for. Let's briefly look at the all the events inter-playing with the number 9 connection.

- Season 18 (1+8 = 9)
This was the 18th edition of IPL which saw it's script implanted in 2008. No.18 adds up to 9. In seasons prior, RCB had come close to winning on 3 occasions but each of the finals ended up in heartbreak.

- Playoffs Reached 9
Despite not winning the actual tournament, RCB have been fairly consistent in reaching the playoffs but without having the luck to go through further. This was their 9th attempt in the playoffs and the dividends finally yielded fruit

- Years since Last Final 9
The last time RCB had reached the final was 9 years back in 2016. They were also playing the final at their home stadium of Chinnaswamy but it ended in bitter disappointment with RCB missing out on crossing the finishing line by a whisker much to the chagrin of the partisan home crowd who were rooting no end. After 9 years they reached the final again and voila finally the dream was conquered.

- Date of Final 3rd June (Date 3 + Month 6 = 9)
This was another strong indication of RCB winning this time. The final as per the original roster was scheduled for 25th May but later got changed to 3rd June due to the impending border tensions and 3rd June when adding up the date and month is 9 which again proved to be lucky for RCB. Adding up of the date and month is also termed as "Achievement Number". In fact even a multiplication of the date and month would result in 18 which again adds up to 9. 

- Year of IPL 2025 (2+0+2+5 = 9)
Adding up of the digits of the year of IPL results in 9 which again brought fortune RCBs way.

- Date Month and Year of IPL (3rd June 2025 = 3+6+2+0+2+5 = 18 = 9)
This is known as the destiny or life path number where the date, month and year are all summed up to denote a number which is again 9 mysteriously signalling signs of positiveness for RCB.

- Jersey Number 18 (1+8 = 9)
RCBs talisman and legend of the game Virat Kohli sports a #18 jersey which is representative of RCB's number. Here also 18 adds up to 9 denoting a divine significance.

- Jersey Colour Red (Red = Mars = 9)
RCB adorns a jersey largely comprising of the colour 'Red'. Here again, the final was played on a Tuesday which is reflective of Red colour and ruled by the planet Mars which is again assigned Red and denotes No.9

- Day of Final Tuesday (Tuesday is ruled by Mars which is assigned No.9)
Conventionally not just IPL but across most sporting events, the final invariable always gets played out on a Weekend. As per the initial set up, the final was expected to be held on Sunday. But due to external circumstances, the schedules at the end got tweaked resulting in the Final being played on Tuesday. This day is said to be ruled by Mars and represented by #9 again bringing luck to RCB. All the 3 finals which RCB had contested earlier all took place on Sunday.

- Tithi Lunar Day of Final Navami (Representative of 9)
A Tithi Lunar Day occurs based on the angular distance that is created between the Sun & Moon as they revolve around the zodiac belt of 360°. Every 12 degrees of movement by the Moon away from the Sun gives rise to a Tithi and hence there are 30 Tithis (360°/12) in total with 15 being part of the brighter half or what is known as Shukla Paksha and the latter 15 being part of the darker half or Krishna Paksha. At the commencement of the final, it was the 8th Tithi in operation viz Ashtami. RCB didn't start off that well and it appeared like they didn't set a par for the course total. However miraculously things changed with the emergence of Navami Tithi from approximately 10PM with RCB seizing the initiative and exerting the breaks on the opposition eventually winning the match and the title.

Additionally to add to the list of significance is the Nakshatra (star of moon) that was in operation during the match which was 'Poorva Phalguni'. Though as per modern convention 'Ashwini' is said to be the first Nakshatra, but as per Classic Vedic Astrology (Atharva Veda), 'Krithika' is said to be the first Nakshatra which symbolises ignition of fire and 'Bharani' is the last Nakshatra on account of being ruled by Lord Yama who is the God of Death emblematic of a completion of life. If Krithika is indeed considered as the first Nakshatra, then Poorva Phalguni (Pooram in Tamil) would be the 9th Nakshatra again bringing into light the #9 significance. Also RCB's star player Virat Kohli was born in Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra. As per the sacred text 'Kumaraswamiyam', the 27th Nakshatra that adds up to 9 which in this case is "Poorva Phalguni" indicates "Abhishekham" or coronation that translates to good and auspicious things tending to take place and that's exactly what happened with him being blessed and conferred with an IPL title after years and years of toil and hard work.

In essence, it can be said that RCB deserved to win the IPL 2025 which is also reinstated and reaffirmed by all the divine patterns at play pointing to No.9 denoting auspiciousness. Finally that wish of "Ee Sala Cup Namadu" has transpired into reality.