Phaladīpikā: Saraswati Yoga

The Saraswati Yoga is regarded as one of the most significant Yogas present in the horoscopes of poets, authors, writers, Nobel laureates, philosophers, and intellectuals. Its esoteric meaning extends far beyond the mere display of artistic talent or intellectual capability. Devi Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and arts, symbolizes the transmission of divine wisdom from the cosmic consciousness into individual awareness. The presence of this yoga indicates that the soul has attained the privilege to convey higher knowledge through creative expression. The scribe has observed this Yoga functioning reliably, despite arguments suggesting its occurrence in numerous horoscopes. The essential points are elaborated in the subsequent article, accompanied by quotations from classical texts.

शंकर पुजिते शारदे शर्वसहोदरि शारदे ।

अभिष्टवरदे शारदे अद्भुतचरिते शारदे ।

श्रृंगगिरिस्थे शारदे श्रुतिप्रतिपाद्ये शारदे ।

मंगलदायिनि शारदे संगीतप्रिये शारदे ।

कामितवरदे शारदे कोमलचरणे शारदे ॥

1. Description —

शुक्रवाक्पतिसुधाकरात्मजै केन्द्रकोणसहितैः द्वितीयगैः । 

स्वोच्चमित्नभवनेषु वाक्पतौ वीर्यगे सति सरस्वतीरिता ॥ (Rf. Phaladīpikā)

śukravākpatisudhākarātmajai kendrakoṇasahitaiḥ dvitīyagaiḥ | svoccamitnabhavaneṣu vākpatau vīryage sati sarasvatīritā ||

[If Sukra, Bṛhaspati and Budha occupy a Kendra or Trikona or 2nd Bhāva and Bṛhaspati endowed with strength is in ucca, swa or mitra rāśi, the resulting yoga is termed as Saraswati Yoga.]

2. Results —

धीमान् नाटकगद्यपद्यगणना-अलकारशास्त्रेष्वय 

निष्णातः कविताप्रबन्धरचनाशास्त्रार्थ पारगतः । 

कीर्त्याक्रान्तजगत्त्र योऽतिधनिको दारात्मजैरन्वित

स्यात् सारस्वतयोगजो नृपवरैः सपूजितो भाग्यवान् ॥ (Rf. Phaladīpikā)

dhīmān nāṭakagadyapadyagaṇanā-alakāraśāstreṣvaya niṣṇātaḥ kavitāprabandharacanāśāstrārtha pāragataḥ | kīrtyākrāntajagattra yo'tidhaniko dārātmajairanvita syāt sārasvatayogajo nṛpavaraiḥ sapūjito bhāgyavān ||

[One born in Saraswati Yoga is highly intelligent, clever in dramaturgy, in prose composition, versifying, accounts and poetics. He is skilled in poetry, in narrative composition and exposition of sacred texts. His fame spreads over the three worlds. He is exceedingly wealthy, endowed with wife and children, is fortunate and receives respect from the best of kings.]

Notes: The presence of Saraswati Yoga in a horoscope distinguishes individuals in the realms of education, literature, philosophy, poetry, and music. The planets involved in the creation of this Yoga are Bṛhaspati (Dhī), Sukra (Kalā), and Budha (Vidyā), resulting in a blend of intelligence, artistic talent, and wisdom. It is noted that such individuals have a deep appreciation for the arts and literature from a very young age. If this combination appears in the horoscope, the child should be encouraged to explore any art form they desire, rather than being compelled to follow a career path that does not align with their interests.

3. Illustrations —

Chart A. Sri Aurobindo Ghose was a philosopher, poet and also a journalist. He later became a spiritual reformer and founded Sri Aurobindo Ashram. He was nominated for Nobel Prize twice in 1943 as well as 1950.

Chart B. Sri Rabindranath Tagore was a writer, poet, philosopher, playwright, composer and first non-European to receive Nobel Prize in Literature.

Chart C. Pandit Ravi Shankar was a sitarist and composer. He was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1999.

Chart D. Dr. B. V. Raman was a prominent Jyotishi who wrote numerous books that remain influential for many students of the discipline. He played a significant role in the global dissemination of Jyotiṣa.