Hi everyone, welcome to Vedic Astrology Study
Podcast. Through this medium, I cover a breadth
of some basic principles and analysis of the
beautiful ancient science of Jyotish. Gifted
to humanity by wise ancient seers of India, typically
there are playlists of different kinds with case
studies to have a practical grounding of those
principles. In this series which will become
a part of the Panchanga playlist, I am covering
the science of Muhurta or the timing of events,
activities, dietary control, tuning your attitude
to any given day of the month since this is a
lunar calendar. As per Vedic astrology, the human
being should regulate their daily activities
in alignment with the lunar cycle. and the corresponding
tithi of the day. You might say this is the beginning
of the use of science of Jyotish consciously,
with awareness and in full view of self and this
space -time reality we find ourselves in. Since
this deals with your everyday cycle of energies
that each of us deals with on a daily basis,
it's a good beginning point to start Jyotish
which Panchanga studied first, before you get
to the charts part. If you do not know what your
current tithi is, where you are on the planet,
you can download the Jyotish app, which is indicated
on the slide with its logo on android or iphone
store. Download it, set its location to wherever
you are on the planet. Then click on mahurta
and panchanga part as is shown on the slide,
and it will tell you the current panchanga aspects,
the tithi, the vara, the karada, yoga and nakshatra,
which is typically where moon is transiting over.
Then use these series as a study material to
guide your daily activities, diet, attitude for
any given day. The way I shall cover each tithi
here begins with the element and deity followed
by the energy of the day, what to do, what to
avoid, suggested mindset, elementary, dietary
consideration and the content is covered both
for Shukla paksha and Krishna paksha tithis.
For the basics of this, see the previous Tithi
videos in this playlist. Let's get started. Let
us begin the general discussion on Shashti now,
the sixth day of the lunar month. That is to
say, the sixth day after a full moon or a new
moon as it's marked in the pie chart there. This
is the generalities, then we'll discuss the specifics.
So this is the second of the Nanda tithis. That's
a beginning point. It's a joyous kind of beginning
point energy. The first one was Pratipada, if
you remember. Next one is Shashti, which we are
doing now. Last one will be Ekadashi. And so
going forward in the Krishna parts also. Nanda
tithis are a bunch of three. So there are totally
fifteen tithis, isn't it? It goes three, five
times. There are totally five types of rhythms
here. playing out as lunar illuminations. So
let's see what this Tithi brings us. First of
all, the energetic signature or the calibration
of this. Shashti is a Nanda Tithi. The second
cycle of Nanda after Pratipada associated with
joy, prosperity and positive energy. So it's
a positive cycle of moving forward after the
first five are finished. It is ruled by Venus,
the sixth tithi alliance with the Friday's Lord.
Friday's Lord is Venus and connected to the fire
element in the tithi classification. This day
is brimming with life force. Not surprisingly
Lord Kartikeya or Skanda or the warrior second
son of Lord Shiva, the commander of the divine
army was born in Shashti. Think even the 6000
Vedic astrology. Anything wrong with your 6000,
you got to go to this Lord and ask him for direction.
Agni, the fire god, is also linked with this
tithi. These influences make Shashti a day of
vitality, courage and constructive action. It
blesses immense happiness and prosperity according
to classical texts. There is also a maternal
protective aspect. In folk tradition, Devi Shasti
is worshipped as a guardian of children and fertility,
the feminine aspect, often depicted as mother
goddess who protects the infants. So Shasti's
energy is both boldly ambitious and productively
nurturing this particular day, sixth day after
the full moon or new moon. It's generally auspicious
with a few exceptions. So what are the recommended
activities? Ceremonies and beginnings. Shashti
is considered ideal for important beginnings,
especially those meant to bring happiness and
success. Investiture ceremonies, that is assuming
a new role or title. Inauguration of events.
Laying foundations for projects are favored.
If you are starting a job or a venture, you can
choose Shashti. It's a good omen. construction
and real estate. This tithi is explicitly auspicious
for construction related activities and vastu
karma that means everything that is used in terms
of house inauguration and so on so forth. Groundbreaking
ceremonies which is called as bhoomi puja in
Vedic tradition starting to build a house or
even finalizing a property purchase can be done
on this day. The energy supports the structure's
prosperity and longevity. Entering a new home,
what is called as Griha Pravesh. Griha means
home and Pravesh means entry. So entry into your
new home. In the Vedic lore, you celebrate everything
that is life. Understand this please. For all
those who are not familiar, Vedic tradition is
about honouring time, space, earth, all the elements.
It's not just about some planet sitting in some
orbit. Shashti is mentioned as a good day to
start residence in a new home. The joy element
blesses the home and family. If one's house warming
mahurta can be on Shashti, aligns with other
factors, it is highly promising. You want the
best possible outcome. That's what we humans
look for anyway, isn't it? Business deals and
investments. Initiating business deals, signing
contracts or investing money can be fortunate
on the sixth tithi. The influence of Venus and
Nanda's joy mean it is conducive to wealth growth
and enjoyment. Wearing new clothes and jewelry,
a delightful detail Shashti is noted for wearing
new garments and ornaments if you have bought
some. This is a nice day to try it out for the
first time. Boldly go out there and show your
beauty. On a broader level, it is symbolic of
prosperity and confidence. Festivals and worship.
Many communities observe Kandashashti, Vrata,
Vrata means fast, for six days, culminating in
Shukla Shashti, especially the month of Kartik
or Apipasi for Tamilians. You can go through
all this in the GPT if you want to detail this.
To honor Lord Murugan and Kartikeya. The second
son, the younger son of Lord Shiva, the first
one being Ganesha. So it's a spiritually charged
day for prayers, seeking victory and protection.
Worshipping Subramanya or Kartikeya or Agni,
the fire element, can amplify courage and destroy
negativity. Also child -related rituals like
Chatti in North India. His ceremonies celebrated
for the newborns are done on this day, invoking
the blessings of Shashti Devi for baby's health.
General tasks, overall Shashti's upbeat energy
makes it a fine day for most regular tasks, work,
studies, social gatherings and so on. Activities
to avoid on this day. Shashti is largely auspicious,
classical sources advise against marriages again
on this day, just like Pratipada. It is explicitly
mentioned that inauspicious tithi for marriages
despite its joyful nature. Why? There may be
some aggression factors involved, like sixth
house, warrior class. This may seem odd, but
astrologically it could be due to certain planetary
alignments. Shashti is ruled by Venus, which
normally favors marriage, but a combination of
Skandha's warlike energy. You must understand
that Skandha or the Pleiades or Lord Murugan
was an army commander. He knows aggression. He
can deal with fire and agni energies. That's
not very good for Venus. It'll burn out all the
life -giving energies. We can go deeper into
that rabbit hole, but let's stick to the topic.
Many Hindu panchangas avoid scheduled weddings
on 60 days. It's possible, choose a different
day for tying a knot. Avoid body oil massages,
sorry massage or oil therapies on Saturday. Again,
oil means again Saturn. Similar to Dhrithi and
Dvaadashi, oiling body on this day is traditionally
prohibited. It is believed to potentially cause
imbalances of bad health. Okay? Don't put oil
or bring Saturn into the picture on every day.
This is one thing that even Hindus need to note.
Also avoid woodwork on this day. Cutting timber
or heavy carpentry is not advised. If you're
building furniture or doing heavy woodworking,
reschedule if feasible. Avoid initiating conflicts
or confrontations unnecessarily. Shashti's deity
Skandhai is a warrior, that's why. So the energy
could escalate fights. Don't start a fight on
this day. People say it's a good deal to have
a fight. I mean, I come from the point of view,
why have a fight at all? Better to channel it
positively rather than argue with loved ones,
colleagues and so on. Suggested mindset now.
Confident, protective and duty focused. On Shashti,
cultivate a sense of joy and optimism. This tithi
boosts morale, gives you courage. Believe in
your ability to succeed. It's a day to step into
leadership. After all, Murugeshwar Skanda was
an army commander. Be proactive in pursuing goals
as things that have begun with an enthusiasm
today are likely to survive. At the same time,
embrace a positive, responsible attitude. If
you have family or subordinates, take care of
them, stand up for their well -being. This is
a great day to practice brahmacharya or austerity
in the sense of bachelorhood as discipline and
valor, not necessarily celibacy. but disciplined
harnessing of one's energy towards a goal. Be
enthusiastic, but not reckless. Shastri can sometimes
stoke fiery energy. You have to be careful with
this energy, alright? Should any adversity appear,
meet it with courage and a smile, trusting that
the day's inherent positivity will carry you
through. Be silent. It's not always about loud
mouth or being too expressive or too judgmental.
It's not about that. Also show appreciation.
Venus especially loves appreciation. Remember
this, second house, Venus, seventh house, Venus
loves appreciation. Venus does not do very well
without appreciation. So convert your anger into
something like gratitude and appreciation. Keep
your mind pure and focused on divine. You have
to embody it, not necessarily derive it from
something external. Be a happy warrior. Fight
the good fight with joy and protect what matters.
Share your happiness freely. Diet. Considering
Ayurvedic principles on Shashti, given its vibrant
and fiery association, it's a good balance to
have a proper diet. To have the fire element
with proper diet. People observe fast on this
day. often fast for six days leading to Shashti
on the Shukla side or the Krishna side. Because
Shashti is said to bless prosperity and it's
a Venus Rul'tithi, people often prepare delicious
food as a celebration of abundance. It is okay
to enjoy a good food today especially with your
family. Traditional offerings to Lord Kartikeya
might be including this sweet payasam or the
sweet pudding, milk pudding we make in India
or other sattvic treats which you can partake
of. Avoid heavy, greasy foods. Again, there's
the element of avoiding massage, oil massage
or to bringing too much oil into the pitcher.
This is a Martian kind of energy and it's never
a good idea to bring Saturn in, just so as an
astrological principle. Oil is a... guardianship
of Saturn. You don't want to bring it where there
is Mars. The two are pretty much opposed to each
other. So avoid heavy, greasy foods. Since oil
massage is avoided externally, likewise extremely
oily fried foods might not be ideal on this day.
They could dampen the high energy and cause lethargy.
Use moderation in everything. Spices are fine,
but if you have a pitta constitution, that is
to say, If there is too much Mars and Sun very
strong in your chart, you will have a pitta constitution
or too much fire, acidity in the stomach. So
if that's the case, monitor that. Don't have
very hot spices, especially Indians. We have
very spicy food by default. Incorporating cooling
elements like mint chutney or cucumber raita
or coconut water to keep you cool and hydrated.
If you exercise and worked hard, Replenished
with protein and mineral rich foods. Iron and
calcium are particularly good. Also you might
think green leafy vegetables. Lentils and milk.
Shashti Devi as a maternal figure suggests. Nourishing
comfort foods, wholesome grains, warm milk with
turmeric or homemade sweets in moderation. Importantly
if you did a partial fast or intensive work,
don't break it with a bench. Keep joyful moderation.
Celebrate food but don't over it to the point
of discomfort. Shastri diet can be festive yet
balanced. So you have to take a balanced check
on how you want to moderate your diet. These
are generalities. Listening to your body and
giving it fuel that makes you strong and cheerful
yet not dense and not able to move. This is the
energy of the Shastri day. In general, now let's
see the Krishna and the Shukla parts. Now as
always in the Krishna part of the Shashti or
Krishna part of any Tithi, the energy is directed
more inwards, isn't it? So energy of the day
is a fire turned inward, meaning inward purification,
meaning doing quietly inward and probably deeply
examining all your deeply held structures and
belief systems. A day for karmic battles, inner
purification and stand form in adversity. To
face your inner demons using your inner fire
of Agni and blessings of Lord Kartikeya, you
can do this. Strength gained through challenge
and restraint. What to do? Skanja Shasti, fasting
and vows. The reason fasting gives a big boost
to this is because your attention is not focused
on satisfying the food and hunger all the time.
So you can take your attention to other higher
aspects. Martial practices, protective rituals
and inner discipline. It goes inward, the fire
has gone inward. Facing karmic issues with courage
and steadiness. It's not easy to deal with shadow
until you have some degree of courage, isn't
it? Spiritual battle practices like mantra japa
and tapas. So whatever you do as meditation,
chanting mantras for example, you are invoking
fire. Remember, if you're doing mantra japa,
it invokes a lot of fire. I can tell you this
from experience. What to avoid? Wasteful aggression,
anger or harshness towards others. Why do you
need that anyway? Especially not on veining cycle.
Indulgence in luxury that weakens discipline.
Too much of venus going forward and greed for
money, lust and so on. It's not a good idea.
Escape is in... when karmic challenges arise
that also should avoid suggested mindset valor
expressed through patience and endurance courage
to confront karmic tests again it's time to go
inward agni is where the seeds of your akashic
karma is burned okay this is the depiction of
how karma is got rid of so this is a good day
to examine the shadow parts of yourself Courage
to confront karmic tests. Be a warrior of truth,
inwardly and outwardly. Diet simple energizing
meals like khichdi, lentils cooked with rice
in India, green vegetables and spiced lentils.
Support tapas or meditation with fresh light
cooked food. Keep it as light as possible is
my suggestion. Don't overburden the digestive
system. Avoid. Avoid heavy foods, avoid stimulants,
avoid meats, avoid alcohol, avoid oily foods,
avoid caffeine, strong spices, because the energy
is such. If you tune yourself with the energy,
very less you need to worry about these kinds
of things I feel. Next we shall take up Saptami,
the 7th dithi. Take care be safe.