People are scared to learn that their child has been borne in Ganda Mool. They feel some kind of calamity would befall, on the family in near future if shanti pooja is not done on 27th day of the birth. Therefore those who consult an astrologer for birth horoscope would invariably go for 'shanti'. In the past when parents were not so particular about horosocpe of the newly born, would obviously not perform Ganda Mool shanti. Astrologers, on their part, would always recommend for 'Mool Shanti' even if the nakshatra charan 'phala' is found to be positive. Even when examining the horoscope of an elder person, Ganda Mool nakshatra comes to the notice of the astrologer, generally the astrologer would blame the Ganda Mool nakshatra for all the problems faced by the native and recommend for Mool shanti.
Thus Ganda Mool nakshatra is treated at par with other doshas like Kaal Sarpa, Pitri, 'Dhaiyya' or 'Sadhesati' of shani, Manglik doshas etc. Ganda Mool Shanti should be performed upto 27 months or maximum 7 years age of the child, thereafter it is irrelevent. Birth Nakshatra is part of the Panchang In astrology five parameters of Panchang are applied to assess the auspiciousness or otherwise of any event. This is extensively used in forecasting of Muhurta time for any important event of life. The birth of a person is the most important happening of his life.
The configuration of planets at birth time form the horoscope from which we can decipher the quality of one's entire life, the good and bad periods of life, health, longevity, educational and professional field, financial position, family relations etc. In fact astrology enables us to reply to any query raised by the native about any aspect of life. The birth time horoscope is equivalent to the seed of a plant which contains all the information about the sprouting of the seed, the size and colours of its branches, leaves, flowers, fruits, the blooming time, its utilities as a gift of nature. The five parameters of Panchang are : 1. Tithi, 2. Vaar, 3. Nakshatra, 4. Yoga, 5. Karan Thus birth nakshatra is one of the five consttituents of Panchang. It is the nakshatra of the Moon at the time of birth. Every component of the Panchang is important.
There are good tithis and bad tithis. Apart from rikta tithis, chaturdashi and amavasyas are considered inauspicious in krishna paksha. Among the Vaars, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday are not auspicious. There are ten yogas, out of 27, which are supposed to be inauspicious. Among the Karans, Vishti Karan or Bhadra is highly inauspicious while sthir karans such as Shakuni, Chatuspada, Naag and Kinstughna are also not so auspicious. Similarly among the nakshatras, six nakshatras out of twenty seven, are supposed to be inauspicious. Three of these viz. Ashwini, Magha and Mool belong to Ketu and another three viz. Ashlesha, Jyeshtha and Revati belong to planet Mercury. These six nakshatras are referred to as Ganda Mool nakshatras. In our opinion, Birth Nakshatra is the most important constitutent of the birth time panchang.
Moon in astrology is as important as the ascendant. Moon's rashi is called the birth or Janma rashi of the native. Moon's nakshatra is the basis for calculating the dasha cycle of the native because the first Vimshottari dasha belongs to the lord of the Moon's nakshatra. In muhurta calculations, the Moon's rashi of the person is taken into consideration. Again for studying the impact of transiting planets, Moon's rashi is taken as the lagna and accordingly the auspicious houses of the planets are decided. In this way Moon's nakshatra is highly important factor to influence the life of the native. Gandanta time is inauspicious 'Ganda' in Sanskrit language is the 'Sandhi' time or the knot tied between two important parameters of time for connecting one to the other. As a knot, to tie two pieces of thread, is a weak spot, similarly Gandanta time is a weak link between two astrologically important factors.
Brihat parashar Horashashtra has mentioned three types of Gandanta in chapter 94 under "Gandanta Lakshan." Thus according to sage Parashar, Tithi, Nakshatra and Lagna are three types of Gandanta which are inauspicious like death at the time of birth, travel or marriage like ceremonies. The two ghati of end of Revati and beginning of Ashwini, Ashlesha end and beginning of Magha, Jyeshtha end and Mool's beginning, thus Nakshatra Gandanta is of 4 ghatis between three pairs of Ganda Mool nakshatras. Half a ghati each of Meena-Mesh, Karka-Singh, Vrishchika-Dhanu, thus one ghati of these three pairs of lagnas form Lagna Gandanta. We can find from the above that lagna Gandantas also specify the same nakshatra pair as contained in Nakshatra-Gandanta. The ghati represents 24 minutes of time. We also find that all kinds of Sandhi kaal or transitional periods are considered troublesome, confusing and destructive.
The concept of Gandanta is extended to Sun's sankranti (ingress into next rashi), Bhava-Sandhi, Dasha-Sandhi, Sandhya time in early morning and Sun's setting time in evening. These are supposed to be delicate and sensitive times. Any event happening at transition time can cause havoc in the life of the concerned person. We all know when one Ritu or season ends and the other begins e.g. summer-rainy, autumn-winter, winter-spring etc. the immune system is weak and is challenged by seasonal change. Ganda Mool Nakshatras The names of the six Ganda Mool nakshatras with their serial numbers are : 1 Ashwini, 27 Revati, 10 Magha, 9 Ashlesha, 19 Mool, 18 Jyeshtha While Ashwini, Magha and Mool belong to Ketu and fall at the beginning of Mesh, Simha and Dhanu rashis (all Agni tatwa rashis), Revati, Ashlesha and Jyeshtha belong to Mercury and fall at the end of Meena, Karka and Vrishchika rashis (all Jal tattwa rashis).
Thus we note that the sandhi or joining point of these three pairs of nakshatras also happens to be the joining point of two mutually contradictory elements of fire and water. The nakshatra lords Ketu and Mercury are Tamoguni and Rajoguni planets respectively. First pair s ° ' s ° ' ° ' 27. Revati 11s 16° 40' to 0s 0° 0' = 13° 20' 1. Ashwini 0s 0° 0' to 0s 13° 20' = 13° 20' 26° 40' Second Pair 9. Ashlesha 3s 16° 40' to 4s 0° 0' = 13° 20' 10. Magha 4s 0° 0' to 4s 13° 20' = 13° 20' 26° 40° Third Pair 18. Jyeshtha 7s 16° 40' to 8s 0° 0' = 13° 20' 10. Mool 8s 0° 0' to 8s 13° 20' = 13° 20' 26° 40° According to one classification Mool, Jyeshtha and Ashlesha are said to be superior or Bade Mool. The other three i.e. Ashwini, Revati and Magha are inferior or chhote Mool or we can say less harmful. Impact of Ganda Mool Nakshatras & Abhukt Mool According to Saravali The birth of a child in Gandanta Mool nakshatra is very critical, either the child does not survive or if it survives then achieves special name and fame in its life but still it is very troublesome for the parents.
According to Brihat Parashar Horashashtra The birth of a child in Gandanta Mool nakshatra is very critical, either the child does not survive or if it survives then achieves special name and fame in its life but still it is very troublesome for the parents. According to Brihat Parashar Horashashtra List of Celebrities born in Ganda Mool Nakshatra 1. Rabindra Nath Tagore - Great Poet 7.5.1861, 03:40 hr., Kolkata Gand Mool Nakshatra : Revati -2 Result : Minister like powerful and wealthy 2. Sachin Tendulkar - Great Cricketer 21.4.1973, 18:00 hrs., Mumbai Gand Mool Nakshatra : Jyeshtha - 2 Result : trouble for younger brother Nakshatra Charan wise Results 1. Revati Charan (i) : Child would be king like Wealthy (ii) : Like a minister, powerful and wealthy (iii) : Enjoys all comforts (iv) : Will undergo many serious problems 2. Ashwini Charan (i) : Problems to father, loss of wealth (ii) : Wasteful expenditure, losses (iii): Sudden travelling for father (iv) : Serious physical problems for self 3. Ashlesha Charan (i) : King like means of comforts (ii) : Loss of wealth (iii): Serious problems to mother and her parents (iv) : Death like troubles to father 4. Magha Charan (i) : Loss to mother or maternal relations (ii) : Serious problems for father (iii): All comforts luxury cars, wealth (iv) : Wealth, assets and well educated. 5. Jyeshtha Charan (i) : Detrimental to elder brother (ii) : Detrimental to younger brother (iii): Detrimental to mother and maternal relations (iv) : Detrimental to self / father Some scholars would divide the Jyeshtha nakshatra into 10 equal divisions of 6 ghati each and predict inauspicious time to relations indicated by each part namely to Nani, Nana, Mama, Mata, self, Gotra, Family, Elder brother, Father in law and finally to all concerned. 6. Mool Charan (i) : Trouble to father (ii) : Trouble to mother (iii): Loss of parental property (iv) : Gain of wealth Again some scholars have recommended Mool nakshatra's results in different manners e.g. dividing the 60 ghati period in 8 unequal parts ranging from 4 to 11 ghati denoting different parts of a tree, some have given results monthwise and some have used Tithis and vaars for Mool nakshatra's good or bad results.
Some scholars would prefer to categorise birth in Jyeshtha or Mool nakshatra as Abhukta Mool, as these two are supposed to be more deadly and fearsome. Father is advised not to see the face of the child till proper 'shanti' or propitiation of the nakshatra has been done on the 27th day after birth or when the day nakshatra is same. It may not be out of place to mention here about "Mansagari" granth which has been used extensively by astrologers to write the life long predictions of horoscope. To our knowledge, this is the only classical book which gives results of the birth in a Panchang/Avkahada specific manner citing yug, Samvatsar, Ayana, Ritu, Goal, Maas, Paksha, Tithi, Vaar, Nakshatra, Yog, Karan, Gana, Yoni etc. The treatise gives highly positive results of all Ganda Mool nakshatras except Ashlesha. 3. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat- Ex-Vice President Gand Mool Nakshatra : Revati - 1 Result : King like comforts, luxury 23.10.1923, 9:30 hrs, Sikar (Raj.) 4. Mohd. Azhruddin - Cricketer, Captain 9.2.1963, 22:25 hrs., Hyderabad Gand Mool Nakshatra : Magha - 3 Result : Good comforts, wealthy Purpose of the Research study • Whether the persons born in Ganda Mool nakshatra have experienced the same good or bad results as mentioned charan wise? • Whether those who went for Ganda Mool shanti escaped the bad results or their good results faced any hinderance if 'shanti pooja' was not done? • Whether Abhukt Mool cases sufferred extra ordinary, problems in life, if they did not perform 'Mool Shanti'?
For this purpose we scanned the horoscopes of nearly 150 known persons and could lay hands on 40 cases of Ganda Mool nakshatras. We prepared a format and asked for their confirmation of the nakshatra charan result (good or bad) and whether their parents had performed Mool shanti. We also identified 10 celebrities who were born in Ganda Mool nakshatras and made a guess about the good or bad results faced by them. We segregated the cases into Good (auspicious) or Bad (inauspicious) categories in accordance with the charan wise expected results. Results unfolded • Out of 50 cases, 14 cases were to experience good ressults (28%) while in 36 cases (72%) bad results were feared. • Good results were experienced in all the 14 cases (100%) out of which 8 were ordinary persons and 6 were celebrities. Out of 8 only in 3 cases 'shanti' had been performed i.e. 37.5%. Though regarding 'shanti' no information is available about these 6 cases of celebrities, one of them is Muslim and another Christian, rest are Hindus. • Bad results were to be experienced in 36 cases, comprising of 32 ordinary persons and 4 celebrities. Out of 32, only 5 persons experienced bad results while 27 did not experience any bad results. Out of these 32 ordinary persons 20 (62.5%) had performed Ganda Mool Shanti.
Out of 36, there were 4 celebrities, none of them experienced any bad results. Among them only one was, Hindu, 2 Muslims and one Christian. Therefore 'Shanti' could not have been done at least in 75% cases. All the 4 cases fall under Abhukt Mool category. Abhukt Mool nakshatras are supposed to give worst results but facts are different. Out of 12 ordinary persons 11 (91.67%) did not experience any bad results. Out of 4 celebrities, all of them or 100% experienced good results only. 5. Jay Lalitha - Politician, Actress, CM 24.2.1948, 15:00 hrs., Mysore Gand Mool Nakshatra : Magha - 3 Result : Good comforts, wealthy 6. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan - Ex- President 5.9.1888, 13:40 hrs., Tiritari (TN) Gand Mool Nakshatra : Magha - 3 Result : Good comforts, wealthy Only 8 (66.67%), out of 12 ordinary cases, had performed 'Shanti'. Among the 4 celebrity cases, only one was Hindu as stated above.
Conclusion From the above analysis of factual cases, it is apparent that in majority of the cases, the result experienced were opposite to expected bad results while good results were experienced in abundance. Abhukt Mool cases showed no different results. Out of 16 such cases, adversity was faced only in one case. Similarly role of Ganda Mool shanti is also suspect. Without shanti good results were experienced and with 'shanti' also bad results were 7. Dr. APJ Abdulkalam- Ex- President 15.10.1931, 11:55 hrs., Rameshwaram (TN) Gand Mool Nakshatra : Jyeshtha - 1 Result : Bad for elder brother 8. Albert Einstein- Great Scientist 14.3.1879, 11:30 hrs., Ulrichen (Switzerland) Gand Mool Nakshatra : Jyeshtha - 2 Result : Bad for younger brother faced. In nutshell we can say, Ganda Mool Nakshatra criterion, on its own, is not at all a reliable factor to decide the fate of a person.
There are many factors much more important and much more reliable for analysing a horoscope. We would also like to appeal to serious students of astrology to go for research with bigger sample size and test the Ganda Mool Nakshatra or similar conservative theories in real life experience so that we can discharge the role of a guide or a consultant more effectively for the benefit of the society. 9. Parvez Musharraf- Ex- President, Pakistan 11.08.1943, 06:45 hrs., Delhi Gand Mool Nakshatra : Jyeshtha - 1 Result : Bad for elder brother 10. Margret H. Thatcher- Ex- PM, Britain 13.10.1925, 13:06 hrs., London Gand Mool Nakshatra : Magha - 3 Result : Good comforts, wealthy