The Essence Of Dharma Devata In Vedic Astrology
The Dharma Devata is a special concept in Vedic tradition, indicating a personal association with a particular God - The Deva, responsible for our guidance towards truthfulness, righteousness, The Dharma itself
There are many complex and profound standpoints, concepts and philosophies in a Vedic tradition and system of knowledge. Dharma Devata, being one of those concepts, stands firmly as the representation of dharma, our personal association to a guide towards our dharma, leading us to display moral, righteousness and being correct towards our environment, ourselves and worshipping the higher forces in a proper way.
As the deity of righteousness and duty, it represents the divine principle that guides individuals toward their highest of purpose, the reason being born and incarnated, amongst many. Rooted in the rich traditions of Vedanta and the Jyotish astrology, this concept embodies morality, ethics, spiritual practice and progress, an alignment with one’s dharma - the Sanskrit term that encapsulates the essence of righteous living, duty, and cosmic order.
Worshipping or connecting with one’s Dharma Devata is known, from ancient times, to help individuals overcome obstacles, fulfill their soul’s duty on this material plane and align their actions with the highest of benevolent cosmic forces. The Dharma Devata is a spiritual guide and protector who assists individuals in their journey of self-realization, discovering their true spiritual nature burried deep inside of the barriers of the mind and the body, and the fulfillment of this lifetime's objectives. This divine figure symbolizes:
- Spiritual Progress: Helping individuals gain insights into their true purpose and attain purification, to head towards being truly enlightened and pure from earthly distractions.
- Moral Strength: Cultivating ethics and values to lead a virtuous life in a corrupted, deeply degenerated society, such as in Kali Yuga time like we are living in today's times.
- Fortune and Learning: Enhancing one’s learning abilities, attracting true, lasting prosperity, where the wealth is carried deep inside of us and projected across our entire existence.
- Protection and Guidance: Offering support against adversities, negative forces, providing us with the exceptional and neccessary strength, and guiding seekers toward their righteous path.
Dharma is a multifaceted term that encompasses "righteousness," "duty," and "law," signifying the moral and ethical principles that govern human society. Dharma Deva is often depicted as a man with four arms, each holding a symbol of dharma: a lotus flower, a book, a sword, and a mace. While may not worshipped in the same way as other Vedic gods, Dharma Deva serves as a philosophical, transcendental, yet real figure, reminding humanity of its responsibility to live in accordance with dharma as the highest of priority, which is easily forgotten in today's civilization. Invoked in prayers and meditations, Dharma Deva emphasizes the importance of aligning with righteousness to creat a just and harmonious world, both inner and outer, as they are one.
Through devotion and practices, the Dharma Devata facilitates the alignment of personal efforts with universal principles, enabling a harmonious, dharmic life.
Lord Hanuman, one of the Devatas
Worshipping Dharma Devata has numerous benefits; by connecting with the deity, individuals receive clarity on their life’s purpose and direction, gain protection, colossal knowledge from the within, adherence to the highes moral postulates and attraction of abundance in satwic thoughts, intentions and deeds.
Through prayers, rituals, and meditations, the blessings of the Dharma Devata can infuse one’s life with light, strength, and alignment.
The process of identifying one’s Dharma Devata is trademark aspect of Vedic astrology. It involves analyzing the Navamsa chart (D9), which is a divisional chart focused on the soul’s journey and spiritual evolution:
- Find the Atmakaraka: The Atmakaraka is the planet with the highest degree in the natal chart (D1). It represents the soul’s significator and is crucial in determining spiritual priorities.
- Locate the Atmakaraka in the D9 Chart: Identify the house and sign where the Atmakaraka is placed in the Navamsa chart.
- Count Nine Houses from the Atmakaraka’s Position: The ninth house from the Atmakaraka’s placement in the D9 chart indicates the Dharma Devata’s domain. The planet located here (excluding Ketu) is the Dharma Devata.
- Consider Scenarios with Multiple or No Planets:
- If one planet occupies the ninth house, it becomes the Dharma Devata.
- If multiple planets are present, the one with the highest degree (excluding Ketu) is the Dharma Devata.
- If the house is unoccupied, the lord of the sign occupying the ninth house is identified as the Dharma Devata.
For instance, if the Atmakaraka is in the 10th house of the D9 chart, count nine houses from the 10th—arriving at the 6th house. If a planet occupies the 6th house, it signifies the Dharma Devata. If not, the lord of the 6th house’s sign becomes the determining factor.
There are multiple Devatas, Gods, associated with the grahas, the planets, upon which our personal association with the the particular Deva is determined:
Sun (Surya, Ravi) : God Shiva / शिव, Sri Rama / राम , Narayana / नारायण
Moon (Chandra): Goddess Gauri /गौरी , Goddess Lalita / ललिता , God Shiva / शिव
Mars (Mangal) : God Hanuman / हनुमान , Rudra Deva / रुद्र , God Kartikeya (Subrahmanya) / कार्तिकेय , God Narasimha / नरसिंह
Mercury (Budha) : God Ganesha / गणेश ,God Vishnu / विष्णु , Goddess Saraswati / सरस्वती
Jupiter (Brihaspati, Guru) : God Hayagreeva /हयग्रीव , God Vishnu / विष्णु, God Dattatrey /दत्तात्रेय
Venus (Shukra) : Goddess Lakshmi / लक्ष्मी, Goddess Parvati / पार्वती , God Indra / इन्द्र
Saturn (Shani) : God Hanuman / हनुमान , God Vishnu / विष्णु, God Brahma / ब्रह्मा ,Goddess Kali / काली
Rahu : Goddess Durga / दुर्गा , God Narasimha / नरसिंह
Ketu : God Ganesha / गणेश
The Dharma Devata is not just a conceptual deity but a profound guiding force that influences our life in a tangible manner, aids individuals in their quest for righteousness and fulfillment, guides us to the right path, with each human being having its own unique path, yet, leading to the same ultimate goal.
By incorporating daily spiritual practices dedicated to the Dharma Devata, individuals seek the highest of guidance which will definitely appear. Through prayers, mantras and meditations associated with a particular Devata, one can receive intuitive insights and solutions. Support will bi there on the each step we take and we will feel that energy in our dealings. Rituals and mantras invoke the deity’s blessings for overcoming obstacles, and what we expected to be a great difficulty, could resolve in a miraculous way, if it is truly meant to be for us. Regular worship of our Dharma Devata creates an utterly strong commitment to moral principles in our everyday's matters and attitude.
Mantras, rituals, and meditative practices connected to our Dharma Devata are not only powerful tools to establish a sacred connection with the Djarma Deva itself, which is assigned to us by birth as the guide to our Dharma, but this connection will be present throughout our entire lifetime, guiding us for the highest good.
Summary
Vedas, as the foundation of the highest of knowledge human beings could attain, stands as the lighthouse of the God on Earth, the forgotten true nature of the soul, the spirit, incorporated in the human existence, an Vedic astrology, the Jyotish, stands as the ultimately complex science and philosophy of interpreting this God's will for each being, or an event particularly. Having said so, the Dharma Devata is crucial in terms of understanding the aligment with the dharma, the righteousness we all carry inside of us as a spakr, an order of cosmic principles correlated with individual destiny. By discovering and worshipping the Dharma Devata, one is aligned with their spiritual path, adversities are being transcended, and ultimate understanding and knowledge are being attained, leading our soul to purification. This mystical, profound connection offers insights into life’s deeper meaning and empowers individuals to live virtuously, fulfilling their dharma, as a platform to achieve our karmic assigments, leading to a true freedom.
Through the lens of the Jyotish, which itself stands for "seeing the Light" the Dharma Devata stands as uniqe fortress of hope, wisdom, understanding and righteousness, guiding humanity toward a life of purpose and harmony.
