an e magazine from ASSAM & NAGALAND      

planets. The evil or the beneficial aspect of the planet Mercury is supposed to get manifested depending upon its position and association. The Moon is accepted as beneficial during the fullmoon, and five days before and after the fullmoon. It is supposed to be malevolent for ten days nearest to newmoon, and rest of the days the Moon is expected to behave as intrinsically neutral. (Intrinsic 'good' or 'bad' is not supposed to prevent the planets from giving counter 'results' when their positions dictate.)

It can be examined whether electromagnetic forces as 'planetary influence', can sustain this widely accepted astrological classification of planetary nature.

1. Rahu and Ketu are the nodes where the solar wind and the magnetotail intersect the lunar dust laden lunar orbit. The electromagnetic and proton streams passing through these belts will suddenly generate charged particles as they collide with lunar dust and thereby their characters will get modified. One cardinal rule of Indian astrology is that everything normal is weal (Subha) and deviation from the normalcy is accepted as baleful (Ashubha), hence it is easy to understand why Rahu and Ketu are deemed to be malevolent planets.

If the generative capacity of electromagnetic impulses by a planet is considered as a plus point and the gravity as a negative point, basis of classification of the solar planets into benevolent and maleficent group can be understood on scientific terms.

2. Mercury: Because of small size, and slow speed of rotation, it is believed that Mercury does not generate any energy field of its own exept for a small field of permanent magnetism caused by solar wind and interplanetary energy. Being closest to the Sun, it is expected that the stength of solar wind, magnetosphere and resulting magnetotail will be strong.

In Indian astrology, influence of Mercury depends upon its angular relationship with the Sun, and deemed to be highly beneficial even when sighted within 5° of the Sun. That is Mercury is supposed to be the only planet who does not go 'combust' (bikala) in the vicinity of the Sun. Forming only a 'resonant field' naturally Mercury is beneficial in 'good' company and malevolent in 'evil' company.

3.Venus: Strength of the dipolar field of Venus is very weak and probably of only one thousandth part of the strenght of the Earth's magnetic field, but the Venus has got a very thick and rapidly rotating cloud cover which creates and discharges continuously millions of kilovolts of electricity into the space. The gravity of the Venus is quite feeble so its negative aspects are weak.

In Indian astrology, the Venus is considered to be a highly beneficial, 'watery planet'. Basis of such characterisation may be its strong electricity generative capacity and low gravity.

4. Mars: There is no unanimity among the prober of the 'space', whether Mars generates its own dipolar energy or not, but it has a definite energy field whose charecters are enigmatic. Solar winds reaction towards the planet Mars is not like that as it should have been to an inert body. It is believed that the Mars has got some 'frozen' spots of high magnetism related with ancient volcanic activities.

In Indian astrology, the Mars, Jupiter and the Sun are considered to be mutually friendly, 'high energy' planets. Mars is expected to behave like the Sun but it is less benevolent and more malefic, and influence of Mars is supposed to be of exactly opposite in nature to that of the Jupiter. Both the planets are considered to be bestower of wealth. Mars is described in Indian astrology as a dry and fiery planet, a description which coincides with our modern knowledge, but about its properties, the ancient astrologers were as confused as our present day astrophysicists. The Saturn is supposed to be exactly opposite in character to Mars. At the same time, Mars gets 'exalted' in the house of Saturn, where it is supposed to get cleansed of 'evil'.

5. Jupiter: Jupiter's magnetic field is the largest known feature in the solar system after field of the Sun. Jupiter is mostly formed of hydrogen and hydrogen compounds with a small liquid core and probably even smaller hard core. There is no hard crust on Jupiter but layers after layers of gaseous material revolving at tremendous speed generating millions and billions of kilovolts of electricity, and continuously crackling thunder bolts which are 10,000 times more powerful than Earthly lightning.

Though Jupiter is considered as an intrinsically beneficial planet, in actual practice of applied predictive astrology, 'excess' of Jupiter is supposed to be even more harmful than some malevolent planets. Statement of astrologers like, "the Sun is weak, but Jupiter being in strong position, you won't have to worry", indicate that the Jupiter is supposed to act as surrogate for the Sun. In scientific parlance, 'deficiency of solar energy will be compensated by the electromagnetic energy of the favourably placed Jupiter.

6. Saturn: Saturn has got a strong dipolar field and magnetosphere. It emits electromagnetic impulses, but the enermous gravity of the planet, plus the dust rings around it do not allow the energy to immerge and escape the immediate vicinity of the planet. Because of high gravity Saturn is known as the 'dustbin' of the solar system.

Saturn is described as an old, slow, lame and energy depleting, maleficient planet in the Indian astrology which conform to its 'low energy', and high gravity planet status given by the modern science.

7. Moon: There are some 'magnetic spots' described from the surface of the Moon, but the Moon primarily reflects the incoming solar wind to such an extent that they become measurable. It is not yet known whether any actual 'focusing' takes place, but it is definite that, "when the Moon is in the magnetotail of the Earth, then the lines of forces of the tail tend to bunch around those areas of the Moon where the magnetic field is particularly strong" (Cosmic Magnetism. P. Seymour. P. 86).

The Moon is supposed to be beneficial to earthlings only during the period when it reflects solar energy to the Earth. As the quantum of energy reflected decreases with the approaching newmoon, the maleficient 'effects' of garvity takes upper-hand and the Moon becomes a malevolent planet on and around the newmoon.

8. Sun : The Sun is the primary source of energy for the Earth's surface. In Indian astrology it is considered as the originator and sustainer of all lives on this Earth, at the same time it is classified as an intrinsically malevolent planet. In a sub-tropical country the Sun is considered to be "too strong" to be accepted as always beneficial, hence some school of Indian astrology (Katwe) consider that a 'weak Sun' is more beneficial than a 'strong Sun'.