Avatāra

Avatāra
The Sanskrit word avatāraḥ is derived from ava meaning ‘down’ or descent and tarati  meaning ‘crossing over or tiding over’ and refers to the deliberate descent of a deity, immortal being or the Supreme Being from heaven (normally Viṣṇu) for specific purpose(s).

Maha Mrtyunjaya Mantra

Introduction
Mṛtyuṅjaya literally means ‘Victory over Death’ and Mahā-mṛtyuṅjaya mantra is also called- Mahā-mokṣa mantra as it gives the ultimate enlightenment.

Karakamsa and Natural Zodiac

Kārakāṁśa
One of the important principles of our tradition is to treat the Kārakāṁśa as Aries and examine the planets in the houses from it. Reason being that the ātmakāraka is akin to the jīvātmā (or jaḍātmā in the case of inanimate beings) which is similar to the Paramātma in its basic nature but lacks the purity and energy of the latter. In a sense, the creature is like the creator, in almost every respect. The ātmā is a spark of light symbolized by agni tattva and the Sun as the naisargika ātmakāraka.

Zola Budd

Aśleṣā 3rd Pada: Zola Budd

South African-British athlete called the world’s fastest woman. A wisp of a girl at 5’2″ and 83 pounds, she proved herself a distance runner of world-class when she broke Mary Decker’s record.

However, the Moon is in Aśleṣā nakṣatra at 23°21’ in the 3rd pada. This is not Abhukta portion (last 0°50’) of the nakṣatra and danger to life may not exist. However, for a female nativity, this shows “Danger to Father, Patri-lineage” besides danger to “female in-laws”. Zola Budd became long estranged with her father who was later murdered.

Bruce Hammerslough

Aśleṣā 4th Pada: Bruce Hammerslough

Bruce Hammerslough was a noted American astrologer who co-founded of Greenlake Metaphysical Center with Dennis Flaherty. Formerly, he served as the President of the Atlanta and Washington State Astrological Societies. Jupiter as the 8th lord is well placed in the 8th bhāva (even though in Mūla 1st Pada) and will not be the cause of death. Moon as the 3rd lord in 3rd bhāva takes this role due to Bhavat-bhāvaṁ (i.e. count eight houses from eighth bhāva).