Gandanta
Gandanta is a spiritual or karmic knot or learnt as intersection in Jyotisha.
The whole zodiac is envisioned to have three nodes at zero degree - Aries, Leo and Sagittarius which are also called the Brahma Randhra (eye of Brahma, the creator) or Vishnu Nabhi (the navel of Vishnu, showing the beginning of creation). To understand why Gandanta is known to be karmic knot, we need to understand the creation process in the zodiac and the two elements Fire and Water.
In the zodiac, the whole creation process repeats thrice and starts from the three fiery signs - Aries, Leo and Sagittarius (nakshatras - Ashwini, Magha and Moola).
However, before every creation starts, the Water signs namely Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces show the dissolution of the creation. Thus, the juncture between the dissolution and creation represents the critical node. Hence the persons, who are born near to these nodes, are caught in the process of transition from dissolution and creation (plunging from the Water sign to the Fire sign) and suffer the burns of it. It is transition from watery sign to fiery sign and fire is dissolving in water. When you put water into fire, steam comes out. Fire and water both are evaporating. It shows something is transforming into something else and learnt as the transition point.
Thus, the start of creation begins from the 1st pada of first nakshatras in the fiery signs - Aswini(Aries), Magha(Leo) and Moola(Sagittarius) and the end of dissolution ends at the 4th pada of last nakshatras of watery signs - Ashlesha(Cancer), Jyeshtha(Scorpio) and Revati(Pisces).
This is also learnt as when the Moon is in the last 3degree 20mins of water
Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces) or the first 3degree 20mins of fiery signs (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) then it is called ‘Moon in Gandanta’.
Degrees, Rashi, Nakshatra and Amsha/Pada of Gandanta points :
Note: Not only Chandra, but any Graha (planet) when occupy the last Navamsa of Jala Rasis or the first Pada of the Agni Rasis suffer from the Gandanta Dosha. This causes serious troubles to the significations to the Bhavas owned by the Graha. The Moon is the most influential - it is the mind and is also the ruler of all the Nakshatras. It’s the giver of life and its Soma feeds the beings. Hence, Moon is considered more in Gandanta.
Moon’s motion in one Nakshatra is supposed to be 60 ghatikas (24 hours) and hence the duration of the Nakshatra which is affected by the Gandanta dosha is measured in terms of the Ghatikas. The exact degrees of Gandanta are 2 ghati(48') from the edge of the sign. So, the closer the planet is at the edge of the Rashi, the more it is tied in a spiritual knot and harder it is to unravel the knot.
The Gandanta occurs due to incompatibility of Jala and Agni Tattva. The coming together of Jala and Agni needs a delicate balance between these tattvas, to kick start the creation process. They represent the female and male principles respectively. Shukra is Jala while Mangal is Agni. Similarly, Chandra is Jala while Surya is Agni. Both of them must come together to create, but they must maintain a balance.
There are three kinds of Gandanta:
1. The Lagna Gandanta
2. The Nakshatra Gandanta
3. The Tithi Gandanta
The Lagna Gandanta is when the ascendant sign falls at Gandanta points.
Nakshatra Gandanta is the most common form of reckoning Gandanta Dosha, which arises when the Moon and other planets are positioned near the end of Budha’s Nakshatra i.e., Revati, Aslesha and Jyestha, or near the start of Ketu’s Nakshatra i.e., Ashwini, Magha and Moola. Specially, when Moon is in these Gandanta points then it is known as Rasi Gandanta.
Tithi is the lunar day and Tithi gandanta happens at the end of the present Tithi and beginning of another Tithi. The last 2 Ghatikas of Purna Tithi (5th, 10th, 15th) and the first 2 Ghatikas of Nanda Tithi (1st, 6th, 11th) are known as Tithi Gandanta.
The Lagna Gandanta, results in loss of intelligence where as Rasi Gandanta results in premature death or loss of longevity. The remedy lies in the worshipping of the Lord of the Lagna / Moon constellations depending on the type of Gandanta.
Birth in Gandanta is one of the many flaws that can happen at birth or an event. Depending on the nature of the Gandanta, different Shanti Remedies need to be performed; else, there could be danger to the life of the new born. People who can not afford these rituals should recite Mahamrityunjaya Mantra eight thousand times within 40 days from the 12th day from the birth of the child. It can not be performed for 11 days following birth.
Classification of Gandanta
Classification 1:
If birth is in the daytime it is called Pitru gandanta (danger to father), while Gandanta in night birth is called Matru gandanta (danger to mother).
Classification 2:
(1) Revati-Ashwini is called Swa-Gandanta (danger to self). (2) Ashlesha-Magha is called Matru gandanta (danger to mother) and (3) Jyeshtha-Moola is called Pitru gandanta (danger to father).
Phaladeepika says: If a birth happens at the extreme end of a Rasi which is occupied or aspected by a malefic planet, father, the mother, or the child itself will surely meet with death like situations. Should however the child survives, he/she will become a king. If born at the junction of any of the four quadrants/Kendras, identical with the conjunction of or aspect by a malefic, the death of the child will soon happen.
Blemish of Abhukta: Maharsi Vasistha defines a flaw called ‘Abhukta Mula’ for these three junctions. Abhukta means that which cannot be enjoyed or adore. Any child born during the 180 minutes when the Moon is at these Gandanta junctions will have to go through difficulties. Hence, there will more compromise with its material life. This explains that the person who is born at Gandanta point has some karmic debt to complete in this janma. The conjunction of the water and fire signs are treated as the conjunction between the Moon (water) and Sun (fire) which is like amavasya and absence of Soma (nectar of life and immortality).
All the sages are unanimous in the opinion that a child born in any of the six Abhukta portions should be given away (for adoption) and taken back after 8 years have been completed. Maharhi Saunaka concurs and advises that the propitiatory rituals for taking the child back should be conducted on the day of Janma Nakshatra (which is the gandanta nakshatra) when 9th year of the child commences.
As mentioned above, Gandanta means the knot at the end. It’s a well-tied knot that is very difficult to unravel. The more you try to untie the knot, the tighter it becomes. And it is a deep issue, which we are trying to reconcile with. When planets are placed in these positions, then they face uncertainty as they try to unravel the secret knot that will take them on to the next level. These issues make themselves felt in the life of the individual, through personal relationships, traumatic events or inner struggles.
You cannot deny the present, if you want to move on to the future. So, you have to reconcile with where you are at present in order to take next step in the journey of our soul .The positioning of planets in the Gandanta is particularly powerful. This indicates a very special purpose for this birth. There can be many difficulties to be faced, adjustments to be made in life as we move towards one level of spiritual growth into the second level.
Every Karmic knot at every Gandanta junction has unique explanation on soul’s journey. Let’s learn about it.
The Pisces/ Revati and Aries/ Ashwini Gandanta show ending one complete life cycle and then starting with new cycle of life where the person who is born at this junction has to face new set of issues. In the Aries/ Ashwini portion of Gandanta, here the soul is connected to the past life but knows that it is entering a new journey of life. This creates confusion between past life experiences and the new encounters in the current life. Moon’s position in this juncture reveals a past life connection, which is strong.
The Cancer/Ashlesha and Leo/ Magha Gandanta show full involvement into material life. The Cancer/ Ashlesha stage is where the search in the experience of life is complete. Psychological changes happen. The ruling deity of Ashlesha is Naga - the wise serpents, depicts shedding of the skin to grow another one. This transformation can be extremely painful but it is necessary for the soul to grow into another dimension. At the Magha/ Leo stage, the soul is finally getting ready to experience life at a material level. This is a junction point; therefore, the intellectual changes which it has already experienced at the Cancer/ Ashlesha level are still very strong. There is again the connection to the past life here.
The Scorpio/Jyeshta and Sagittarius/Moola Gandanta show final direction towards merging with the universal consciousness. This is the stage where the soul starts its journey from its material life and enters spiritual life. The material ties are being shattered. Thus churning of the inner emotions takes place.
At the Moola/ Sagittarius stage, the soul is connected to its past material needs but destiny will be directing towards spiritual path. That is, it still remains ties to its past life and earthly needs (which Moola (root) suggests) but current birth purpose is demanding to change towards leaving all materialistic needs. Even though the soul realizes its birth purpose is journey of spiritual path, the disconnections that take place from material life will make the soul to fight against it. So, it is a very difficult transformation. The enormous conflicts and blocks arise physically and psychologically which are has to be handled with great maturity and definitely with very good guidance. At the Scorpio/Jyeshtha stage, this is the immense churning of the inner emotions as it is shedding its material happiness to get prepared for its spiritual journey. If there is an opposition for the change then it makes person’s life miserable. On a material level this makes one to feel as very unfortunate whereas on a spiritual level it leads towards activating your Kundalini power.
In the entire chart, if you have specially, planets like Moon, Ketu Jupiter and Venus in Gandanta point, then it is understood as - Moon is mind and mind is being directed towards certain thing and Venus is your passion, your love, what is that you value, what you enjoy, is transforming into this Gandanta position. And Ketu the planet of Moksha represents nothingness when it is in Gandanta point and finally understands the creator of the universe. This strongly shows spiritual evolution. The planet Jupiter which is karaka of Dharma, your true path, spirituality, higher knowledge, guru, astrologers, counselors, advisors, when it is in Gandanta point, shows that the divine knowledge that you have brought here in this planet is towards its transformation. It is towards either receiving the transformation guide or you yourself are going to guide about transformation.
Whenever these Gandanta planets activates, it brings you to this knot and ask you to untie the knot. And while untangling it, people start feeling that whatever I have achieved and gained in this life is not giving me satisfaction and thus, their karmic energy makes them throw that behind and then guides them to go in this silent path i.e. spiritual path.
It is like untying your own karma. When you go through this process of untangling the knot, there will be heavy transformation. And that heaviness makes person to feel most negative. This happens in Gandanta planet’s Mahadasha time or major planets transits over the Gandantha point as they bring transformations. Whether this is positive or negative transformation, it is trying to show you – “who you truly are”. These are the people who revolutionize the world in terms of spiritual growth.
Tulasidas, the author of Ram Charita Manas and Hanuman Chalisa, was born in Moola Gandanta was abandoned as he lost his mother in child-birth and his father died in fire accident occurred within 12 days of his birth. Miraculously he survived the fire. He was brought up by monkeys (Hanumanji) in the outskirts of the village. He was very fortunate in his Guru. This example clearly supports the above explanation that Moola Gandanta is little more difficult and painful as it is very deep inner transformation. If you reconcile with that then there is a very good promising spiritual growth.
The Gandanta point is the point where the planet becomes extremely powerful to bring a change not only to them self but into the world.
Let us accept this Gandanta point as positive and let’s bring revolution in this world.