Month: October 2010

Saturn in Virgo has created a draught like situation, even in water rich Kerala. Green Kerala is beautiful because of the heavy rainfalls and looks gorgeous in June/July, when the Rain gods favour her.

It has not rained for the last two days. Rains are expected in the sidereal months of Taurus, Gemini, Cancer and Leo.

Here are the rainfall cycles of Kerala

Edavam – The sidereal month of Taurus, when rains start to come. After 15 th May. When the Sun enters sidereal Taurus

Edava Pathi – The second half of Taurus, after 01 June. Rains are here to stay.

Makiryam Jnattuvela – After 7th May. This period is characterised by fierce rains. When the Sun enters the constellation of Mrigasira.

Thiruvathira Jnattuvela – After 22 May, when Sun enters the constellation of Aridra. Rains continous.

Punartham Jnattuvela – Fierce but intermittent rains. When the Sun enters the constellation of Punarvasu.

The Vedic seers gave prime importance to rains. This is indicated by their prayer

May there be plenty of rains and may the earth become fertile.

( Kale Varshe thu parjanya Prithvi Shasya Shalinee ).

Dogmatic Theology and their followers are ignorant of the Laws of Nature. They maintain that the Creator and the Created are totally different. It is the Creator who has become the Created and Nature is He in Manifestation.

Cattle like people , devoid of scientifc and philosophic knowledge, have destroyed the holy groves and paid scant respect to Nature. Their ignorance, bigotry and hatred have destroyed the vast treasures of our race. Mass deforestation has been resorted to by them. ( Another set of dogmatists are responsible for increasing labour charges, which had led to owners abandoning their paddy fields, whch are not now viable. The paddy fields have now become parched and have a desert, semi arid look) . Now they are reaping for their misdeeds as they face a water deficient land !

Kerala lies close to the equator, compared to other Indian provinces. A pleasant and equitable climate characterise this Nature blessed land. This is because of the state’s proximity to the sea and the presence of the fort Western Ghats on the east. Kerala would have been an arid land, if not for the Western Ghats which prevent this wind from entering the land. Kerala used to get copious rain ( almost 3000 mm ) in a year. Earlier the temperature used to range from 28 degrees to 32 degrees ( Now it is 42 degrees ) on the plains and 20 degrees in the highlands. The Highlands of Kerala, tourist attraction centers, enjoy a cool and invigorating climate the year-round.

Now the time is ripe for the South West Monsoon, which begins from the end of May or early June, with the advent of the South West Monsoon Winds. Torrential rain characterise this phase. Being the first state to be hit by the monsoon winds and lying on the windward side of the mighty Western Ghats, Kerala receives immense rains.

85% of the rains received in Kerala are due to the monsoons. Monsoon Tourism will take off from June onwards. The slopes of the Western Ghats are amongst the regions in India which receive great rains. The South West Monsoon in Kerala lasts till the end of September.

We have said that Vishu 8 or the Sun’s entry into the eighth degree of sidereal Aries, is the time for the farmers to sow.

Vishu or the solar ingress into Aries, is celebrated all over Kerala. This is the dawn of a good era, as it marks the end of the hot seasons of Kumbha ( Aquarius ) and Meena ( Pisces ). Temperature touching 43 degrees is disconcerting. Vishu is the heralder of the two monsoons, the South West and the North East.

The Vedic Calender is astro-meteorological and the farmers know when to sow and when to reap. So the best time to sow is in Medam or Mesha or Aries. Anything planted after this date will fructify, as the Edava Pathi or the South West Moon takes over in June and the Thula Varsham or the North East Monsoon takes over in Oct-Nov.

In traditional farming, plants and trees need watering on alternative days. Now both monsoons ensure that plants and trees will be watered by Nature !. Hence the green landscape engineering done by Nature makes Kerala beauteous !

When the Sun reaches its maximum declination at 23 degrees 27 mins South, at the Tropic of Capricorn, ( the end of Dakshinayana ), the Indian Ocearn becomes hot & the northern places of the Indian subcontinent becomes cool. Cool winds ondense to form clouds, pick up moisture laden winds from the Bay of Bengal, sweeping down on the Himalayas and the Indo Gangetic plains and pouring over peninsular India. Kerala also gets these rains and hence the South West Monsoon which ends in September is replaced by the North East Monsoon and this rainy season or watering by Nature continues till Dhanus, the 15th of December ! Hence the tourists find Kerala enchanting, because of the greeen landscape architecture effectuated by Mother Nature !

India is an agrarian economy, dependent heavily on the monsoons. In 1895, the rains never came and India experienced drought and famine. The monsoons can also be destructive. Trees are uprooted, cables smashed, houses destroyed as a result of poor infrastructure. In 2008, our paddy fields were flooded due to heavy rains and the nearby inhabitants had to be evacuated. Despite its potential for destruction, monsoons are generally welcomed, as it liberate the natives from the blistering heat of Kumbha (Aquarius ) and Meena ( Pisces ).

Vishu marks the beginning of Vasanta Rithu, the first of the six seasons.

Farmers in Kerala say that

the seeds sown on Aswathi Jnattuvela ( the Sun’s transit of the first 13 degrees of Aries )
and mango seeds sown on Bharani Jnattuvela ( the Suns’s transit of the constellation of Bharani )

will fructify.

The best time for planting cocounut trees is on Patham Udayam, the Tenth Rising of the Sun, when Sun enters the tenth degree of Aries.

So Vishu is an agricultural festival, based on the Wisdom of the Heavens and not a religious festival !

Article by G Kumar, astrologer, writer & programmer of www.eastrovedica.com

He has 25 years psychic research experience in the
esoteric arts. He gives free tips at www.eastrovedica.net and stock market
investment advice can be got at www.stockmarketastrology.com

” Gracious Old houses imbued with timeless charm ” said Sir Edmund Hillary about Homestay places

Like B & B ( Bed and Breakfast ) in the UK, Kerala Heritage Homestays offer a lot to the traveller. The merits of Kerala Homestay are that guests can interact with the hosts, understand the local language and culture, customs and activities.

As Eco Tourism is tourism which does not damage the Ecology or the environment, guests are guaranteed that the same environment, the scenic beauty and the natural magnificence can be enjoyed in the future. Eco Tourism does not destroy biodiversity. Ecosystems will be preserved forever.

Kerala Heritage Homestays are soothing etourism destinations for couples on honeymoon, family and even singles who want peaceful private holidays. This is the main reason why Homestays are popular amongst those who visit God’s Own Country.

Kerala Homestays promote peaceful relaxation, privacy and memorable holidays to the guests within homely atmosphere. You can enjoy traditional home cooked Kerala cuisine like shrimps fry, shrimps curry, pearl spot roasted, pearl spot fried and grand veg dishes like sambar, olan, pudding etc. You can resort to Ayurveda and Yoga, as there are a lot of such centers in Kerala,.

Guests are hosted with great care and Kerala Culture and Philosophy is explained to them. Kerala is multi cultural and multi religious and have all sorts of places of worship. Great arts grace Kerala.

Why try for resorts, while Homestays can give you privacy, when in homestays you can get all facilities at homestay programs ?

Kumbalangi, the Model Tourism Village

The United Nations Development Programme cited Kumbalangi, a small fishing village in Kerala, as an Endogenous Tourism Center. Endogenous means that which is derived internally and that this place shows the inherent skills and traits of Kerala. The Govt declared Kumbalangi as a Model Tourism Village.

Biogas is the gas which accrues from animal waste. Kumbalangi, as an exemplar of Organic Farming, has 800 biogas plants, generating more than 3600 hours of cooking gas per day!

The backwaters of Venice, the green fields of Europe all combined is this beautiful village. The Lonely Planet called it the ” Paradise found on Earth”. Sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea in Peninsular India, is Kerala, the gift given by Nature to mankind !

Close to the port town of Kochi is Kumbalangi, an ideal tourist location. She possesses a vast stretch of backwaters and is rich with cuisines, fish farms, local boat building and coir looms. You will find its inhabitants in tune with Nature, depending on Nature for their survival. There is not too much rush of tourists ( this island gets only 5000 tourists per season ) and you will find her more or less a virgin landscape.

In 2005, the Govt came out with the Kumbalangi Integrated Tourism Village project, to transform this small island to a model tourism and fishing spot. The Chinese fishing nets which grace Fort Kochi and other places in Kochi can be seen here. Crores were invested in the project, as new roads were built, percolation tanks to store rain water were built ( thus solving the water problem ), fishes which had moved away were brought back and water drainage system was built.

Lack of rooms created Homestays. Now there are a lot of homestays in this village.

Kochi Airport is just 40 kms away and the nearest Rly Station is Ernakulam, 25 km away.

Yesterday I went to Thirunavaya, in Malappuram, to do shrardham for my mother. It was a great experience.

Thirunavaya is the abode of the gods and it impresses one with its breathtaking natural beauty. On the banks of Nila or Bharatapuzha, a 203 km long river, the second longest after Periyar, we have three glorious temples, dedicated to the Creative, Preservative and Destructive aspects of Time Eternal !

Hindus do srardham or bali ( rites to the departed ) , that is respect those who have gone to the astral plane.

We respected the dead ancestors and prayed for forgiveness for the offences, knowingly or unknowingly, done to them. I am my brother did it for almost forty minutes, on the banks of the sacred Bharatpuzha.

Bharatapuzha comes from the Western Ghats and flows through Kerala and drains itself into the Arabian Sea. It irrigates thousands of acres. Above is a video about the lotus cultivation in Thirunavaya. ( This temple deity, Lord Vishnu, was the Tutelary Deity of the Zamorin, who then was the ruler of Kerala. He was worried about the idols which were lost in the Bharatapuzha River. Astrologers advised him to garland Lord Vishnu with the lotus flower and hence lotus is cultivated on 250 acres. The lotus thus obtained goes not only to this Nava Mukunda temple but to temples like Guruvayur also).

Millions come here because of the natural beauty, the greenish landscape architecture done by Nature and the proximity of the three temples dedicated to Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.

Historical Background

Thirunavaya is a must see destination in Tourism Kerala. It lies 8 kms south of Tirur.

The famous Nava Mukunda Temple lies on the bank the of the second largest river in Kerala, the Bharatapuzha. It is believed to be 6000 years old. The sanctum sanctorum is adorned by great sculptures which defiy imagination. You can see the mythological Ten Incarnations of Vishnu along with the story of Lord Shiva in his tribal avatar, blessing Arjuna with the Pasupatha Arrow.

A place of immense historical importance, this is the ancient land of Mamankam, where the rulers used to assemble once, in every 12 years. One of them used to be elected as the Emperor of Kerala. There was a great Trade Fair held at this venue. Traders used to come in ships and barges and this festival was celebrated with great pomp and pageantry.

This temple has a ten day annual festival starting with Kodiyettam and ending in Arattu. Lakhs of people visit this temple during the festival.

The famous Vedic Othanmar Madhom, is on the bank of Bharatapuzha, near the Lord Shiva temple. This institute was a center of Aryanisation thorough Vedic Knowledge and Sanskrit and Thirunavaya is believed to be the main center, where Parasurama,one of the Ten Incarnations of Lord Vishnu, brought and settled Brahmin scholars.

How to reach Thirunavaya

It is well connected to all the districts of Kerala and can be reached

By Air

The Calicut Airport, one of the busiest and best designed, is just 26 kms from Thirunavaya

By Road

All districts of neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Kerala are connected to Tirunavaya by an efficient system of roads. The National Highway 17 is the most notable.

By Rail

Malappuram District, where Tirunavaya is posited, has two railway tracks running through it. The Mangalore-Madras and the Nilambur-Shornur tracks. Both are well connected to other cities.

After three days of dark clouds, lightning and rainfall, Kerala is back to normal.

Rains are expected to accelerate after Edava Pathi, which starts on May 29, when the Sun transits the 15th degree of Sidereal Taurus.

Jupiter in watery Pisces, Mars in Leo and Venus in Gemini should bring rains to Kerala.

Monsoons have been defined as sea breezes or wind systems. A wind system which reverses direction seasonally, blowing from the southwest for six months and from northeast for six months. Its extreme examples are in South Asia and Africa. Winds which influence climatic seasons, with concomitant rainfalls !

Annual temperature trends over sea and land are the causes of the monsoons. Monsoons normally blow from cold regions towards warmer regions. They blow from the sea towards land during summer and from land towards sea during winter.

Of all monsoons, the South West Monsoon is the largest. This Asian monsoon is the atmospheric response to the shift of the overhead Sun, from the Tropic of Capricorn in Dec to the Tropic of Cancer in June.

India lies exactly on the Tropic of Cancer, the apparent position of the Sun at the summer solstice. It is 23 degrees and 27 minutes ( which is the maximum declination of the Sun ) north of the Equator. India also lies on the equator. Pakistan lies north and is more drier than India. Pak does not get these monsoons.

Edava Pathi, the South West Monsoon

In June, Sun is almost at the Tropic of Cancer and northen part of the Indian subcontinent becomes very hot. During summer, the northern and central side of India and the Thar desert heat up considerably, causing a low pressure area over central and northern Indian subcontinent. The Indian Ocean sends moisture laden winds, to fill this void. These moisture rich winds move towards mighty Himalayas, creating wind blowing storm clouds towards the subcontinent. Himalayas block these winds from entering Central Asia, thus propelling them to rise. The clouds gain immense altitude, temperature drops sharply and thus precipitation occurs !

Thula Varsham, the North East Monsoon

In Dec, Sun is almost at the Tropic of Capricorn ( 23 degrees 27 minutes south of the Equator ) and the Indian Ocean becomes hot and the northern land mass of India becomes cool. Hence winds rush from the cold North to the South . The cold winds blow from the northen subcontinent, sweeping down on the Himalayas and the Indo- Gangetic plains, towards the comparitively hot Indian Ocean. This is known as the North East Monsoon or rather the Retreating Monsoon and this causes Thula Varsham, the rains caused by the Sun’s ingress into sidereal Libra. These cold winds from the North pick up some moisture from the Bay of Bengal and rains hit Sri Lanka & India. Madras receives rains and 60% of the rains received by Tamil Nadu is from this monsoon.

The eastern parts of the Western Ghats do not get the SW Monsoon and hence places like Madras do not get its blessings. Madras gets the North East Monsoon in Oct-Nov, after Karkyadi ( when the Sun enters the first degree of Cancer ), when the Sun retreats South ( Dakshinayana ), when the northern side of the Indian subcontinent becomes cool and the cool winds precipitate the North East Monsoon.

Physiologists like Dr Walter Cannon ( The Wisdom of the Body ) talked about self regulating mechanisms or homeostatic control systems in the body physiologic. Arent these monsoons the homeostatic or self regulating control systems of Divine Nature ?

One is reminded of a verse from Longfellow

Nothing that is shall perish utterly
But shall revive again
As clouds restore through rain
The exhalations of the land and the sea !

Article by G Kumar, astrologer, writer & programmer of www.eastrovedica.com. He has 25 years psychic research experience in the
esoteric arts. He gives free tips at www.eastrovedica.net and stock market investment advice can be got at www.stockmarketastrology.com

Yesterday, rains hit the southern districts of Kerala. But no rain in Trichur or adjoining areas.

The truth of Global Warming has hit me. Also Climate Change. Also the World Water Crisis !

Rains are rare, even in Kerala, a state fashioned by the rains, where the landscape architecture is done by Nature Herself !

Venus, the watery planet, moves over to Gemini, to the 12th in India’s horoscope. It augurs rains, but how much ?

The hot sidereal months of Kumbham( Aquarius ) and Meenam ( Pisces ) are normal in Kerala. Now we are facing Meda choodu ( the heat waves of Aries ) and there will some reduction of heat when Edavam ( Taurus ) takes over, from 15th May.

Astrologically, Edava Pathi, the last 15 days of the Sun traversing Taurus, is full of rains. Last years, rains were less even in Edava Pathi.

Kerala, normally, is blessed by two rainy seasons, Edava Pathi ( the last half of Taurus ) and Thula Varsham ( when the Sun traverses the 30 degrees of Libra ). Kerala receives rains thrice the national average.

Fierce rains characterise Thiruvathira Jnattuvela, when the Sun traverses the constellation of Aridra, for 14 days and Punartham Jnattuvela, when the Sun traverses the constellation of Punarvasu, for 14 days. Also Makiryam Jnattuvela, when the Sun traverses the constellation of Mrigasira.

Now Kerala has more or less a semi arid, parched look. The rains can change all that. But Global Warming has affected Kerala. Climate Change has already occurred. Water Crisis is here to stay !

The Vedic seers gave prime importance to rains. This is indicated by their prayer

May there be plenty of rains and may the earth become fertile.

( Kale Varshe thu parjanya Prithvi Shasya Shalinee ).

Tomorrow ( 15/05/2010), the Sun moves over to Taurus, thus ending the summer season of Kerala. The summer season is more or less from Dhanus ( Sagittarius ) to Mesha ( Aries ). These five months are reasonably hot. Kumbham ( Aquarius ) and Meenam ( Pisces ) are very hot. Now Mesha ( Aries ) has also become very hot due to Global Warming and Climate Change.

From Edavam ( Taurus ) to Vrischika ( Scorpio ), we have relatively less hot months. Rains are severe during Edava ( Taurus ), Mithuna ( Gemini ) and Kataka ( Cancer ). Then rains become less during the months of Simha ( Leo ) and Kanya ( Virgo ), but still there will be intermittent rains. Rains peak again during Thula ( Libra ) and moderate rains will be there during Vrischika ( Scorpio ) till the summer season takes over.

There are the seasonal cycles of Kerala but then Global Warming and Climate Change are changing all seasons !

Indian Farmers do the planting basing on the Vedic Astronomical Calender. The knowledge of sowing and reaping. Such a subject is Bio Dynamics, which is part of Organic Farming and Anthroposophy.

Here is the Vedic Astrologic Calender

Date Month ( Malayalam ) Sanskrit English

14 Apr – 14 May Medam Mesha Aries
15 May – 14 Jun Edavam Vrishabha Taurus
15 Jun – 16 Jul Mithunam Mithuna Gemini
17 Jul- 16 Aug Karkatakam Kataka Cancer
17 Aug – 16 Sep Chingam Simha Leo
17 Sep – 17 Oct Kanni Kanya Virgo
18 Oct – 16 Nov Thulam Thula Libra
17 Nov – 15 Dec Vrischikam Vrischika Scorpio
16 Dec – 13 Jan Dhanu Dhanus Sagittarius
14 Jan – 12 Feb Makaram Makara Capricorn
13 Feb – 14 Mar

Kumbham Kumbha Aquarius
15 Mar- 13 Apr Meenam Meena Pisces

There can be a one day variation, because of Leap Year.

The banking sector has recorded good corporate performance. While the State Bank of Mysore post a growth in net of 13%, Indian Bank recorded 11.8% net rise and Vijaya Bank 33% !

Biocon, the blue chip BT co, recorded 20% growth in Q2. Wipro, the IT major, recorded a 10% rise in net profit !

There are some negative factors, like FDI falling, slipping down to 1.33 billion USD in August, from 3.28 b ! Overall, there is a slump in FDI.

Jupiter, the financial planet, moves over to the adverse 8th for India and this indicates some financial stringency. This is only a temporarary phase, as Indian stock market will go upto 50 K Sensex, within a decade. Let us not be bothered by temporary setbacks. Ultimately the victory will be India’s !

Indians have mastered web designing skills, programming skills and English language skills, with the result India is the largest English speaking nation in the world. More engineering and medical graduates are produced nowadays and India will be the third largest economy in the world in 2020, after China and the US !

Housing units shortage is estimated at 20 to 70 million units and this is a huge opportunity for Housing Finance. Residential space price is rising in all urban and rural ares. Also commercial space, as India industrialises !

Now the stock market has fallen as expected, after companies mopped up 4800 crores as IPOs. From a long term perpective, this is only a temporary lull !

The banking sector has recorded good corporate performance. While the State Bank of Mysore post a growth in net of 13%, Indian Bank recorded 11.8% net rise and Vijaya Bank 33% !

Biocon, the blue chip BT co, recorded 20% growth in Q2. Wipro, the IT major, recorded a 10% rise in net profit !

There are some negative factors, like FDI falling, slipping down to 1.33 billion USD in August, from 3.28 b ! Overall, there is a slump in FDI.

Jupiter, the financial planet, moves over to the adverse 8th for India and this indicates some financial stringency. This is only a temporarary phase, as Indian stock market will go upto 50 K Sensex, within a decade. Let us not be bothered by temporary setbacks. Ultimately the victory will be India’s !

Indians have mastered web designing skills, programming skills and English language skills, with the result India is the largest English speaking nation in the world. More engineering and medical graduates are produced nowadays and India will be the third largest economy in the world in 2020, after China and the US !

Housing units shortage is estimated at 20 to 70 million units and this is a huge opportunity for Housing Finance. Residential space price is rising in all urban and rural ares. Also commercial space, as India industrialises !

Now the stock market has fallen as expected, after companies mopped up 4800 crores as IPOs. From a long term perpective, this is only a temporary lull !

The banking sector has recorded good corporate performance. While the State Bank of Mysore post a growth in net of 13%, Indian Bank recorded 11.8% net rise and Vijaya Bank 33% !

Biocon, the blue chip BT co, recorded 20% growth in Q2. Wipro, the IT major, recorded a 10% rise in net profit !

There are some negative factors, like FDI falling, slipping down to 1.33 billion USD in August, from 3.28 b ! Overall, there is a slump in FDI.

Jupiter, the financial planet, moves over to the adverse 8th for India and this indicates some financial stringency. This is only a temporarary phase, as Indian stock market will go upto 50 K Sensex, within a decade. Let us not be bothered by temporary setbacks. Ultimately the victory will be India’s !

Indians have mastered web designing skills, programming skills and English language skills, with the result India is the largest English speaking nation in the world. More engineering and medical graduates are produced nowadays and India will be the third largest economy in the world in 2020, after China and the US !

Housing units shortage is estimated at 20 to 70 million units and this is a huge opportunity for Housing Finance. Residential space price is rising in all urban and rural ares. Also commercial space, as India industrialises !

Now the stock market has fallen as expected, after companies mopped up 4800 crores as IPOs. From a long term perpective, this is only a temporary lull !

The Sun entered the first degree of Sidereal Libra, thus heralding the North East Monsoon or Thula Varsham, as per Astro Meteorology.

This is the Retreating Monsoon. Coming as a depression from the Bay of Bengal, it takes the moisture laden winds and then sweep down on the Himalayas and Indo Gangetic plains, and then pours over peninsular India ! Mainly caused by the heat generated by the overhead Sun on the Tropic of Capricorn. The places of the Indian Ocean becomes hot and the northern parts of India become cool. Cool winds from the Bay of Bengal cause this and the result is Thula Varsham !

Expected to rain till the end of the sidereal month of Vrischika or Scorpio, NEM is a boon to states like Tamil Nadu. Kerala gets both SWM and NEM !