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Singer of 60’s musical group ”The Doors”, Jim Morrison, has his Chandr in Ashvini. If we ignore his outbursts in public appearances, description fits him perfectly.
Bharani, heralder of venusian energy, is represented in celestial firmament by a group of three faint stars forming a triangle in constellation of Mesha. Ancient Vedic Seers saw these stars as forming female sexual organ. These stars are known in modern astronomy as 35 Arietes, 39 Arietes & 41 Arietes. 41 Arietes is brightest among those three, with a visual magnitude of 3.62, which explains faintness of stars of this asterism. It is only through being privy to some direct universal (galactic, in this case) knowledge, that ancient Seers were able to attach such importance to these relatively faint group of stars. In order to locate these stars in night sky, one has to focus in region between bright star Alpha Arietes (belonging to previous asterism, Ashvini) and bright group of stars of Pleiades star cluster (belonging to next asterism, Krittika). It is easier to locate 41 Arietes, while other two can be seen lying in a straight line on its right hand side.
Name
”Bharani” can be roughly translated into either ”bearing” or ”she who bears”. It must be noted, however, that it doesn’t necessarily mean bearing a child as in case of pregnancy, even though we would discover later how this asterism is directly related to womb. Name, which conveys a major part of this asterism’s energy, relates primarily to feminine side of nature and its capacity to receive, hold, nurture and destroy.
Symbol
Main symbol of this asterism is a ”vagina”, female sexual organ. In effect, all female reproductive organs can be seen as symbols of this Nakshatra. In all ancient cultures these organs, as symbols, were seen to represent fertile aspect of nature. In Egyptian civilization, vagina is symbolically represented as ”buckle of Isis” and is seen as doorway between different worlds. Vedic point of view also ascribes birth, death, transformation and regeneration to feminine reproductive symbols. They are also seen to represent restraint, caution, jealousy, secrecy, forbearance, struggle, sacrifice, catharsis, sexuality, nurturing and maternal love. Bharani therefore carries all above mentioned attributes.
Since a soul finds its entry from astral plane to physical world of living through female sex organ, it is not very hard to see ”doorway” connotation associated with this symbolism. As we shall discover later, Yama, Lord of death and one of eight door keepers between physical and other worlds, is ruling deity of this Nakshatra. Womb, as we know, carries new life in form of a fetus for several months, before it finally finds itself manifested in world. In same way, Bharani allows things to brew on subtle planes, before they suddenly take outer material forms. In case of childbirths, it is usually very hard to predict which day water is going to break. Same is case with revolutions, which usually brew within hearts and minds of people for a while before suddenly erupting. Same is applicable to death as well. This makes Bharani an unpredictable Nakshatra, which operates in hidden ways and revels in secrecy.
A ”boat” is alternative symbol of this Nakshatra. It again symbolizes transportation between different planes and realms of existence. Bharani is thus a Nakshatra directly related to process of birth, death and regeneration, at least on earthly plane of existence.
Deity
Yama, Lord of death, is considered main presiding deity of this asterism. He is supposed to be one of eight celestial gatekeepers, who guard eight directional doorways or exits through which souls travel from earthly plane to other planes of existence. In Vedic texts, he is mostly seen as Lord of Dharma. This apparent mixing of deities of death and Dharma may not be instantly clear to western reader. However when seen in light of fact that it is Yama’s duty to assign life paths for souls who have left their earthly bodies, it becomes clear that he has to be well versed in laws of Karma and Dharma.
Yama, despite being Lord of death, is a very jovial deity. His lightheartedness finds expression through Bharani’s playfulness and joyousness. It is up to Yama to weigh our actions in present life so that we can be assigned an appropriate new life. He is thus a benevolent deity and should not be feared. Yama is only feared by those who fear death and those whose Karmas are not good. Yama is privy to many of secret functioning of Maya. Bharani also holds within itself complete understanding of process of life, birth and death.
Kali, dark and destructive form of Parvati, is one of three main feminine deities upholding our Universe. Just like Yama, Kali is also considered a deity to be feared. Kali’s function however is just to kill demons within and without. Her form has to be terrifying because entities she deals with are themselves cruel and fierce. Her involvement with this Nakshatra implies that Bharani is a sort of battlefield between opposing qualities of nature. It is here where distinction between right and wrong, good and bad, godly and demonic is made. Process of uprooting negative side begins. Bharani deals with extremes and in process becomes most extreme amongst Nakshatras.
Nature & functioning
”Extreme” is one word which sums up Bharani’s essential nature and functioning. It swings between polar opposites like puritanism and bohemia, naiveté and wisdom, maturity and immaturity and life and death. Bharani is representative of desire aspect of nature. It is thus in a way a lust for life and a fear of death. Bharani is a 16 years old girl on verge of deflowering, a baby in womb or a person facing Yamadutas (celestial angels whose task is to guide souls through afterlife process) after one’s death. Because of its childlike quality, Bharani is one of most eager Nakshatras. Just like a child wants to experience all of its surroundings, Bharani natives have a desire to experience their surroundings to fullest. There is a primeval innocence in how they experience things, people and places. They might go through instinct rather than reason. Most of their feelings and desires are so overwhelming that very little can be done to restrain or placate them. Once again evolutionary status of soul in question comes into picture.
Evolved Bharani types would channel their immense primeval energy into positive and wholesome universal pursuits, while less evolved types will be akin to a moth madly hopping from one light source to another. In present day and age, where confusion and chaos reign supreme, Bharani can be a very difficult energy to handle. This can be easily understood through mental dilemmas and naivetés which young girls and boys go through after puberty. Without proper guidance and understanding, Bharani natives are ready to jump into anything and everything without caution or consideration.
Bharani natives are often strong characters who can withstand many turbulences which life has to offer. They do get down and moan and cry like infants sometimes, but nothing holds them down for too long. They are often seen to undergo huge transformations and radical changes throughout their lives. This comes about due to their longing for extremes. When they get set on a path, they want to experience every aspect of it until they have exhausted all possibilities and have no option left but to tip over to something completely new. There’s no set boundary in ”Bharani Universe”.
All Bharani natives have a creative urge inside them. Feminine sex usually expresses this creativity through bearing children, while male sex tries to be creative on other levels. Bharani is a Nakshatra where interplay between male and female takes place. This makes it one of most sexual Nakshatras of zodiac. Bharani is representative of nature’s force which creates attraction between opposites. Bharani natives experience, indulge in, fall prey to and try to understand this force. Sigmund Freud, famous psychoanalyst, had prominent Bharani placements and it was no wonder then that he reduced every activity on earthly plane to sexuality. However, more evolved Bharani types realize that this force of attraction has more to do with love, harmony and conscious unity. Sexuality is just one of its many expressions.
Bharani natives usually have large, expressive eyes, a prominent head, medium sized lips and a spooky deathly smile. Their smile is their most distinguishable feature. It encapsulates all their sexuality, mystery and processes of life and death itself. Just like sunset emanates a stillness over nature, Bharani natives have ability to put up a calm countenance, even if their insides are a raging torment. Their childlikeness is quite helpful when it comes to exploration and learning, but it makes for a distinct type of cruelty and morbidity. Everyone knows how children can be more cruel than grownups on many different levels. Bharani’s cruelty comes from a lack of responsibility for one’s own actions. It is very easy for Bharani natives to move from one action to next, without caring about long-term implications.
Bharani types are usually enthusiastic and energetic in their approach to life. They have a strong sense of adventure in fields they pursue. It is seen that they can only achieve their goals if they are under constant guidance from a more mature and wiser source.
Mode of functioning
Bharani is considered to be a balanced Nakshatra. Bharani is in actuality an extreme Nakshatra, but it is classified as ”balanced” because of its tendency to balance opposing extremes, like birth and death. Bharani natives often lead double lives, touching two different extremes. Thus on a whole, their lives can be seen as balanced. Sunrise (conveying a sense of birth) or sunset (conveying a sense of death), which forms a part of this Nakshatra’s symbolism (as seen in its image), is time when nature’s energies are very delicately balanced. This is reason why these times are seen as best time for occult / spiritual practices. Bharani, as we shall discover, carries a lot of occult potential due to its relationship with Graha Sukr.
Caste
It belongs to Mleccha (outcaste) Nakshatras. It is Bharani’s tendency to go towards extremes, which probably made ancient Vedic Seers classify it as an outcaste. Bharani almost always tries to break social norms or taboos, one way or other. It is a highly explosive energy, which cannot usually be controlled within any societal structure.
Gender
It is a female Nakshatra. This comes as absolutely no surprise, as Bharani stands for all that is feminine. It is second Nakshatra and first feminine Nakshatra. Just like number 2 in numerology, it is initiator of feminine principle on all levels of existence. It is beginning of duality and Maya, and within it lies essence of complex functioning of feminine principle.
Body parts & humor (Ayurvedic constitution)
Head and bottom parts of feet are body parts related to this Nakshatra. It is interesting to note that in childbirth (a Bharani activity), it is either head or feet which come out of womb first.
It is a primarily ”Pitta” (fiery) Nakshatra. Since Bharani lies within Pitta Rasi of Mesha, this classification comes as no surprise. Bharani represents original creative fire, which produces world of matter. It is its Pitta quality which makes it very active on material plane, despite its earthy bulkiness.
Direction
It is related primarily to arc covering directions East, South-East and South.
Padas
First Pada of this asterism (13° 20’ - 16° 40’ Mesha) falls in Simha Navamsa ruled by Surya. Focus here is on creativity and self-immersion. Grahas here can be extremely self-centric and can often offend others without meaning to. Drive and will-power inherent in this Pada can be used for positive ends, if nativity as a whole allows for it. Surya, Mangal & Guru are especially strong in this Pada.
Second Pada of this asterism (16° 40’ - 20° 00’ Mesha) falls in Kanya Navamsa ruled by Budh. Emphasis here is on service and hard work. Grahas here function in an altruistic way. A certain degree of organization is seen even in typically extreme and chaotic Bharani mode. Budh, Mangal and Rahu are better suited for giving good results here.
Third Pada of this asterism (20° 00’ - 23° 20’ Mesha) falls in Tula Navamsa ruled by Sukr. Ability to relate and harmonize opposites characterizes this Pada. There is however no sense of any limits here when it comes to sex and relationships, which can be either a good thing or a bad thing, depending upon evolutionary level of nativity in question. Being a Pushkara Navamsa Pada, it allows for fulfillment of one’s desires. Budh, Sukr & Rahu are best suited for utilizing energies of this Pada.
Fourth Pada of this asterism (23° 20’ - 26° 40’ Mesha) falls in Mesha Navamsa ruled by Mangal. Energy here is extreme in every sense of word. Grahas here work in an uninhibited primeval fashion. It can be a highly inventive and original Pada, if its explosive energy can be channeled properly. Surya, Mangal & Ketu are strong here, but may not always give beneficial results. Only natural benefics, Guru and Sukr, are suited for utilizing energies of this Pada in a wise, non self-destructive way.
Professions
Babysitters, nannies, nursery school teachers; all professions involving children; professions connected with amusement, theme parks; children’s toys industry; gynecologists; midwives; all professions connected with birth & death; professions related to fertility clinics; morticians; all those connected with morgues and funerals; coffin makers; obituary writers; officials handling birth / death records; homicide detectives; dancers from all schools and styles; tobacco, coffee and tea industry; cooks, caterers, hoteliers; professions connected to slaughterhouses; veterinarians; fire fighters; automobile industry; motor sports; stuntmen; coal & petroleum industry; heavy industries; surgeons; film & entertainment industry; photographers; models; all professions involving use of sex and glamour; exotic professions; striptease artists; pornography industry; prostitution; occultists & Tantrics using sexual energies; judges; those in elite positions requiring extreme secrecy; volcanic & earthquake experts; geophysicists; biologists & microbiologists; seed & fertilizer industry.
Places
Extreme exotic landscapes; volcanoes; areas with volcanic soil; volcanic tropical islands like Hawaii and Polynesian islands; farmlands; kindergartens, nurseries, nursery schools; children parks; amusement parks; morgues; cemeteries; funeral homes; maternity & child wards in hospitals; intensive care units; gynecology hospitals; film & photography studios; exotic nightclubs; high courts; fertility clinics; streets and roads with busy traffic; all places connected with above mentioned professions.
Guna & Tatva
It is supposed to be a Rajasic Nakshatra. This can be easily assessed from Sukr’s rulership of Bharani. Sukr is seen as most Rajasic among Grahas. Its relation to terrestrial life processes is very strong. In a way, it can be said that it is only Sukr which makes life worth living. Since Bharani heralds venusian energy, its expression here is primal, highly charged and explosive (all Rajasic expressions).
It belongs to earth element. Bharani can be said to represent point in creation where fire element (spewed forth by Aswini) transmutes into earth element. Bharani has everything to do with process of materialization. It is force which puts a material sheath around astral body, so that it can experience terrestrial plane. Earthy quality of Bharani can be easily understood by fact that its representative animal, elephant, is largest and heaviest land animal.
Gana (type)
It is considered a Manusha or human Nakshatra. Bharani relates to 2nd and 7th Bhava in a chart. These are Bhavas which sum up what human life is about for most people. One’s partner, family and resources are all what common man cares about. These are Bhavas of both life and death (2nd and 7th are Maraka (killer) Bhavas). Sukr is Karaka for both these Bhavas and together they convey Bharani’s intense involvement in human affairs, whether it be life or death.
Orientation & disposition
It is downward looking Nakshatra. This classification relates to hidden aspect of Bharani. As we have discussed earlier, events brewing up under Bharani’s influence don’t come to surface until very last moment. Just like act of sex or a fetus developing in a womb, Bharani likes to keep its activities hidden from view of others.
It is a fierce or severe Nakshatra. Intent behind this classification is clear from Bharani’s ruling deities. Yama and Kali are both fierce deities interested in jobs requiring fierce actions like cutting life-force of life forms against their will. Even process of childbirth (ruled by Bharani) is a painful process. In fact it is considered to be most painful experience amongst all natural processes on earthly plane.
Lunar month & Tithi
It relates to second half of lunar month of Ashwin. This period usually falls in October in solar calendar.
Bharani is also related to Chaturthi (4th Tithi) of waxing and waning phases of Chandr’s monthly cycle.
Auspicious activities
All creative activities are favored; good for severe, cruel, destructive, competitive or warlike activities; sexual, amorous & procreative activity; fertility rites & agricultural activities; beginnings & endings; gardening; all type of activities which require use of fire; good for taking care of postponed or neglected activities; all activities requiring spontaneity; ascetic activities requiring self-discipline; fasting & other purificatory rites; dealing with children.
Inauspicious activities
Most unfavorable for travel (Bharani relates to traffic jams and accidents); not good for slow & gentle activities requiring calmness or serenity; not good for initiations; in present day and age, it is better for endings than beginnings.
Main Grahas connected with this Nakshatra are Mangal and Sukr. Mangal is ruler of Mesha, and Sukr is main planetary ruler of this Nakshatra. Sukr can be said to be born in Bharani. As discussed in esoteric section, Sukr is a Graha strongly connected with birth and renewal. Sukr in Bharani acts as a ”bringer of life”. In combination with Mangal, which being Lord of Vrischika, signifies death, Sukr signifies universal cyclic process of life and death on all levels of existence, especially biological.
According to one school of thought, both Mangal & Sukr are connected to outer Graha Pluto. Pluto has always been seen as hidden, creative source and is equated with Shiva. In Greek legends, it is supposed to hide in underbelly of earth and is responsible for fertility of earth. Mangal & Sukr are two Grahas most concerned with fertility and interplay with sexes. Nowadays, it has become fashionable to associate men with Mangal and women with Sukr, but truth is that it is male who creates sperm (Sukr), while it is women who create and Bhava (Mangal) newborn.
Conjunctions of Mangal and Sukr in a nativity carries an energy similar to that of Bharani. Sani reaches its maximum debilitation in this Nakshatra. Bharani is warm place of creativity and fertility, while Sani is a cold Graha of obstruction and delay. It is easy to see how they don’t go together. Other Grahas usually do well in Bharani, as long as Sukr has a refined placement in chart.
Vowels & alphabets
First Pada of this asterism (13° 20’ - 16° 40’ Mesha) corresponds to ”Lee” as in Liam.
Second Pada of this asterism (16° 40’ - 20° 00’ Mesha) corresponds to ”Lu” as in Lulu.
Third Pada of this asterism (20° 00’ - 23° 20’ Mesha) corresponds to ”Lay” as in Layla.
Fourth Pada of this asterism (23° 20’ - 26° 40’ Mesha) corresponds to ”Lo” as in Logan.
In Sanskrit alphabet, Bharani corresponds to ”Eem” and consequently its Mantra is ”Om Eem”.
Sexual type & compatibility
Its sexual animal is an elephant. Elephants are slow moving and somewhat sensual creatures. Elephant as a sexual animal represents elephantine appetites in sex. It is very hard for other Nakshatras, with exception of Revati (other elephant), to satisfy Bharani. Bharani is most sexual amongst Nakshatras and promotes sex in all its different forms. However in its extreme aspect it can shun sex completely or immerse itself in it to point of perversion.
For sexual & marital compatibility with other Nakshatras, please refer to tables at end of this document.
Most of Bharani’s esoteric understanding can be arrived at from study of Graha Sukr. Besides Surya (which is a star and thus cannot be seen as a Graha), Sukr is only Graha which periodically undergoes a process of birth and death.
Mayan calendar was based on Sukr’s 584 days cycle, which it makes from being ”morning star” to being ”evening star”. Sukr illumines skies as morning star for a 236 days period. After that Sukr disappears for 90 days. It reappears as evening star for 250 days, and then there is second relatively brief disappearance of 8 days before it reappears in East. This makes a total of 584 days.
We can see that just like Surya, Sukr too rises in East, to disappear in West, to one day reappear in East. Because it dies and is born again, all ancient cultures saw Sukr as representing rejuvenative principle. Its connection with well spring of life is reason why Sukr is considered an occult Graha.
In Vedic texts Shukracharya, preceptor of Daityas (celestial demonic beings) and presiding deity of Sukr, is supposed to be an adept at Sanjivini Vidya, knowledge to raise dead to life. Even Brihaspati, preceptor of Devas (celestial godly beings), doesn’t have this knowledge, a fact which renders Devas weaker in comparison to Daityas.
All goddesses, especially fertility goddesses, are connected with Sukr. May Day celebration on 1st of May forms an integral part of Celtic traditions. Interesting thing to note is that Surya is transiting through Bharani on 1st of May every year. This is why Celts saw this as an opportune time to practice fertility rites, just like Mayans chose to do it in 8 day disappearance of Sukr. One must realize that all cultures, which placed strong importance on Sukr above all else, had roots in celestial Daitya lineages. Harsh and cruel behavior of Daitya race in Puranic legends can also be understood from cruel and severe nature of Bharani.
Birth and death are complementary processes, in sense that every death is a beginning and every birth is an ending. When a balance is achieved between birth and death, soul finds easy evolutionary progress. However if soul finds it hard to confront one or other, severe situations and turmoil are result. Bharani is Nakshatra of Karma and reincarnation, one of least understood concepts in modern times, especially in western world. Bharani is name for stage where masculine and feminine, which have come out of a single genderless source, copulate, and in doing so, carry forward process of creation. Gotra (celestial lineage)
This Nakshatra is related to Sage Vashishta, one of seven celestial Sages looking after affairs of our galaxy. Name of this Sage translates into ”possessor of wealth”, which is in keeping with this asterism. Bharani has a tendency to be financially well off, as implied by Sage’s name. On other hand, we can infer that this particular Sage has a lot to do with life and death processes within our galaxy.
Remedial
One good way of getting in touch with energies of this Nakshatra is to meditate on death. Worship of Yama, god of death and Dharma, is also helpful. However best way to master energies of Bharani is through worship of Kali, dark goddess. Worship of any feminine deity, especially fertility goddesses, is also auspicious (especially for material gains).
Repetition of root Mantra of this Nakshatra - ”Om Eem” 108 times when Chandr transits this Nakshatra and in its corresponding lunar month, is sure to reduce suffering and bring enlightenment into a person’s life.
Persons who are benefiting from positive energy of this Nakshatra can also increase good effects through above mentioned ways. It is helpful for them to wear mixtures of white, red and black and generally dark shades. They should use its directions, lunar month and days when Chandr transits Bharani to undertake all important actions.
Example
Imelda Marcos, one of richest women in Asia, has her Chandr placed in Bharani. Bharani’s tendency to give material extremes is exemplified in her life. She became well-known for her massive shoe collection, whose number ran into thousands. She has also had her share of harsh transformative events, which Bharani brings into lives of those it affects strongly.
Miscellaneous
According to Varahamihira, Chandr in Bharani natives are ”resolute, resourceful, honest, healthy and happy”. Bob Dylan, famous singer and songwriter, also has his Chandr placed in Bharani, and Varahamihira’s dictates seem to apply more in his case.
