Astrological Correspondences for the Masters
I will attempt here to have a look at a few of the Masters, some facts about their lives and their astrology at significant moments. Of course much will be conjecture, particularly when attempting to ascertain which Initiations have been taken by these Masters. However, nothing ventured, nothing gained. It is the example set by these individuals at the tip of humanity's evolution that can give us some idea as to where our own futures lie, the ultimate reason for our current experiences and the light illuminating our way.
In no way is it possible for a scientific understanding to comprehend the mystery of a spiritual Master. My purpose here is to see if we can gain any understanding of the astrological energies at play during significant moments in their lives, and I'm well aware that any correspondences found are nevertheless still only scratching at the surface of an understanding which goes beyond human capability. I have also looked at statements made by the Masters and tried to tie these in with our understanding of the expansions of awareness associated with different initiations on the spiritual path. I do this with respect and gratitude for their lives and the teachings they have imparted. Please approach this with an open mind as I have no intention of imposing my understanding or beliefs onto anyone else. Neither is it my intention to limit any Master through my own limited understanding.
The four Masters I will discuss are Krishnamurti, Muktananda, Ramana Maharshi, and Sathya Sai Baba. It would appear that Krishnamurti and Muktananda attained at least the Fourth Initiation, while Ramana Maharshi and Sathya Sai Baba attained at least the Fifth although I suspect that Sathya Sai Baba may even have attained the Seventh. For some understanding of the initiations please see Expansions of Consciousness and the Ray Types.
Initiation
Ray
Chakra
Plane
First
7th
Sacral
Physical
Second
6th
Solar Plexus
Astral
Third
5th
Ajna
Mental
Fourth
4th
Heart
Buddhic
Fifth
1st
Base of Spine
Atmic
Sixth
3rd
Throat
Monadic
Seventh
2nd
Head
Logoic
Table 11.1 The Initiations and Corresponding Ray, Chakra and Plane
Source: The Rays and The Initiations, A. Bailey, 1982, p. 340.
Krishnamurti
According to Jayakar (1988) Krishnamurti was born in Madanapalle on 12th May, 1895 at 30 minutes after midnight. Krishnamurti supposedly undertook the first initiation on the night of 11th-12th January, 1910 at the age of 14. A look at his progressed chart for this date shows an exact conjunction of the IC with both the natal and progressed Pluto (within 3´ of the progressed Pluto). There were transits of Neptune trine natal Uranus and trine progressed North Node, and Uranus trine natal Sun and opposition progressed Mars. The North Node was also conjunct progressed Sun.
Table 11.2 Ray and Astrological Rulerships for Within Krishnamurti's
Birth Chart
Ascendant Sign
Personality Ruler
Esoteric Ruler
Hierarchical Ruler
Aquarius
Saturn, Uranus
Jupiter
Moon
Ray 5
Rays 3 & 7
Ray 2
Ray 4
Sun Sign
Personality Ruler
Esoteric Ruler
Hierarchical Ruler
Taurus
Venus
Vulcan
Vulcan
Ray 4
Ray 5
Ray 1
Ray 1
Moon Sign
Personality Ruler
Esoteric Ruler
Hierarchical Ruler
Sagittarius
Jupiter
Earth
Mars
Ray 4, 5 & 6
Ray 2
Ray 3
Ray 6
In December 1911 Krishnamurti allegedly had the first quickening of spirit which coincides with the IC conjunct
the centre of the natal Neptune Pluto conjunction. If this is indeed fact this may have been about the time of
his second initiation.
Krishnamurti began to meditate regularly while the progressed Sun was conjunct Neptune. He was surprised how easily his mind responded to the practice.
In August 1922 Krishnamurti was plunged into an intense spiritual awakening that was to change the course of his life. The details of this awakening would indicate that it was his third initiation. This happened while he was in Ojai, California. It began on 17 August, when he felt acute pain at the nape of his neck. It reached a climax on 19 August and continued throughout September and into October. The symptoms were typical of those found during a kundalini awakening. Throughout the experience Krishnamurti was aware of being helped by a Great Being, whose presence could be felt by other members of his household. By 6 October the pain was so intense that Krishnamurti often lapsed into unconsciousness. He could now feel the intense pain in his scalp. Towards the end of the experience he saw visions of Buddha, Maitreya, and the other Masters of the occult hierarchy.
Krishnamurti's Solar Return for the time of his third initiation shows the Sun exactly on the IC. The Solar Return Ascendant is Aquarius, the same as the natal Ascendant, and the MC is Scorpio for both. Progressed Sun is still conjunct Neptune, progressed Mercury is exactly conjunct progressed Jupiter, progressed Venus is closely conjunct progressed Mars while the progressed Moon is conjunct the progressed MC. By transit, Uranus is trine natal Mars and square natal Pluto. Also by transit Pluto is conjunct progressed Jupiter, Neptune is square progressed Uranus and Uranus is square progressed Pluto.
On one occasion it seemed that Krishnamurti's consciousness became overshadowed by that of the coming World Teacher, or Maitreya, as his conversation changed mid sentence. He was talking about the world teacher referring to Him saying "He comes only to those who want, who desire, who long...." and then he said "I come for those who want sympathy, who want happiness, who are longing to find happiness in all things. I come to reform and not to tear down, I come not to destroy, but to build" (as quoted in Jayakar, 1988, p.73). Annie Besant said this was the consecration of the chosen vehicle. Reference to being overshadowed by the World Teacher also sounds very much like ray two but possibly now at the Monadic level. It seems unlikely that the World Teacher would use Krishnamurti as a vehicle but rather Krishnamurti's consciousness and the Lord Maitreya's consciousness would merge. A similar occurrence to that which probably took place between Jesus and the Christ.
On 9 February, 1927 Krishnamurti seemed to confirm this overshadowing when he wrote in a letter to Leadbeater:
"I know my destiny and my work. I know with certainty that I am blending into the consciousness of the one Teacher and that he will completely fill me. I feel and I know also that my cup is nearly full to the brim and that it will overflow soon. Till then I must abide quietly and with eager patience. I long to make and will make everybody happy" (as quoted in Jayakar, 1988, p.76).
Later on Krishnamurti referred to himself as the 'embodiment of truth.' Krishnamurti was becoming regarded as a secular philosopher, hostile to any form of religious belief. In 1930 he resigned from the Theosophical Society. Krishnamurti later said that his full awakening came while he was in India in 1947-48. At that time he had an exact Grand Trine of progressed Uranus, progressed North Node and progressed IC conjunct Jupiter. He also had transiting Neptune trine natal Pluto throughout the whole period. This may well have been the fourth initiation. I would suspect that for the World Teacher (ray two) to overshadow Krishnamurti would indicate a rayological compatibility of Krishnamurti for ray two. It is likely that his soul ray is also ray two.
Muktananda
Table 11.3 Ray and Astrological Rulerships for Within Muktananda's Birth
Chart
Ascendant Sign
Personality Ruler
Esoteric Ruler
Hierarchical Ruler
Taurus
Venus
Vulcan
Vulcan
Ray 4
Ray 5
Ray 1
Ray 1
Sun Sign
Personality Ruler
Esoteric Ruler
Hierarchical Ruler
Taurus
Venus
Vulcan
Vulcan
Ray 4
Ray 5
Ray 1
Ray 1
Moon Sign
Personality Ruler
Esoteric Ruler
Hierarchical Ruler
Scorpio
Mars & Pluto
Mars
Mercury
Ray 4
Rays 6 & 1
Ray 6
Ray 4
Swami Muktananda was born at around 5.00am on 16 May, 1908 in Bangalore in south India.
While Swami Muktananda was staying at the ashram of his guru Nityananda in Ganeshpuri, near Bombay, he received an initiation which he referred to as "the happiest and most auspicious day of my life, the great day of many births and ages" (Muktananda, 1994, p.71). He gave this day as 15th August, 1947, and said "The sun had risen slightly in the sky, and the atmosphere was tranquil." At that time progressed Moon was conjunct his natal Ascendant, progressed Mercury was opposite his natal Uranus and progressed Mars was trine natal Moon. By mutual progression the Moon was sextile the MC, while Venus was conjunct Mars. By transit Neptune was square natal Venus while Pluto and Saturn were conjunct progressed Jupiter.
In his solar return Muktananda had a close Sun conjunct Mercury, Venus conjunct Mars, Saturn sextile Ascendant and Saturn sextile North Node. Solar return Mercury was conjunct the natal Sun while Venus was sextile the natal Mars, Jupiter was conjunct the natal Moon and square natal Chiron. Neptune was square natal Venus and natal North Node, and the Ascendant was trine natal Mercury.
What seems particularly significant is the fact that by solar arc progressions Pluto is exactly in opposition to natal MC (within 3' of orb), while to a lesser extent the MC is trine natal Venus.
Ramana Maharshi
Table 11.4 Ray and Astrological Rulerships for Within Ramana Maharshi's Birth Chart
|
Ascendant Sign |
Personality Ruler |
Esoteric Ruler |
Hierarchical Ruler |
|
Libra |
Venus |
Uranus |
Saturn |
|
Ray 3 |
Ray 5 |
Ray 7 |
Ray 3 |
|
Sun Sign |
Personality Ruler |
Esoteric Ruler |
Hierarchical Ruler |
|
Capricorn |
Saturn |
Saturn |
Venus |
|
Rays 1, 3 & 7 |
Ray 3 |
Ray 3 |
Ray 5 |
|
Moon Sign |
Personality Ruler |
Esoteric Ruler |
Hierarchical Ruler |
|
Cancer |
Moon |
Neptune |
Neptune |
|
Rays 3 & 7 |
Ray 4 |
Ray 6 |
Ray 6 |
Bhagavan Sri Ramana was born on 30th December, 1879 in Tiruchuzhi in south India. His given name was Venkataramen. The time given by Raman (1991) is 01.00am. On 11th July 1896 he went through a death experience that is described in Sri Sadhu Om (p.4):
"Venkataramen was sitting alone in a small room upstairs. Though there was no sickness in the body, a great fear arose in Him that He was going to die. It happened not merely as an imaginary or superficial fear, but as an actual experience of death. He was not perturbed by this. He did not even inform anyone of it. He boldly welcomed the forthcoming death and ventured to scrutinize it and find the result of this scrutiny for Himself. "Yes, death has come; let it come. What is death? To whom does it come? To me. Who am I? What is it that is dying? Yes, it is this body that is dying; let it die": deciding thus, He lay down stretching His arms and legs. Closing His lips tightly and remaining without speech or breath, He turned His attention very keenly towards Himself. Death was experienced! What did He come to know at that time?
"All right, this body is dead. Now it will be taken to the cremation ground and burnt. It will become ashes. But with the destruction of this body, am I also destroyed? Am I really this body? Untouched by this death which has turned the body into a corpse, here and now I am still existing and shining! Then I am not this perishable body. I and it are different. I am the indestructible 'I' (Self). Of all things, I, unbound by the body, alone am real. The body and world are meant only for destruction, but I, who transcend the body am the eternal Supreme Thing!""
At the time of this experience Ramana Maharshi had an exact progressed Moon trine progressed Ascendant (within 1´). The progressed Moon was also opposition natal and progressed Uranus, sextile natal and progressed Neptune and natal and progressed Chiron. Progressed Venus was exactly square progressed Jupiter (within 1´). Transiting Uranus was exactly trine natal Moon (within 1´).
Ramana Maharshi's solar return for this time showed an exact Mars conjunct the IC (within 8´), Pluto conjunct the MC (within 2°) and the Moon conjunct the MC (just over 2°). Neptune was within 4° of the MC in the10th house. All of these were square the Ascendant.
Sathya Sai Baba
Table 11.5 Ray and Astrological Rulerships for Within Sathya Sai Baba's
Birth Chart
Ascendant Sign
Personality Ruler
Esoteric Ruler
Hierarchical Ruler
Capricorn
Saturn
Saturn
Venus
Rays 1, 3 & 7
Ray 3
Ray 3
Ray 5
Sun Sign
Personality Ruler
Esoteric Ruler
Hierarchical Ruler
Sagittarius
Jupiter
Earth
Mars
Ray 4, 5 & 6
Ray 2
Ray 3
Ray 6
Moon Sign
Personality Ruler
Esoteric Ruler
Hierarchical Ruler
Cancer
Moon
Neptune
Neptune
Rays 3 & 7
Ray 4
Ray 6
Ray 6
According to Ruhela (1994) Sai Baba was born in Puttaparthi on 23rd November, 1926 at 9.06am. This time was given to Kasturi who was Sai Baba's closest aid for many years. It is interesting to note that Sri Aurobindo is quoted in Sarin as saying "24th November, 1926, was the descent of Krishna into the physical…. A power infallible shall lead the thought. In earthly hearts kindle the Immortal Fire, even the multitudes shall hear the voice" (1993, p.37).
On 8th March, 1940 at 7.00pm Sathya is supposed to have been stung by a scorpion. Sathya supposedly became unconscious and went stiff. Sathya recovered and started to act very strange, singing songs and giving discourses. On a later occasion Sai Baba, as he became known, said that he had initiated this transformation. Sai Baba declared his name as Sai Baba on 23rd May, 1940. At that time he had progressed Mercury trine natal and progressed Uranus, progressed Neptune trine natal and progressed Chiron, progressed Moon tine natal and progressed Chiron and progressed Saturn conjunct natal Venus. By transit on the 8th March he had Jupiter square Moon and Jupiter trine progressed Sun.
In his solar return Sai Baba had Mercury within 2´ of the Midheaven in Sagittarius and a grand trine between the Sun in the 9th in Sagittarius, Jupiter in the 1st in Pisces and Pluto in the 5th conjunct the 6th in Leo. Also Uranus was sextile within 23´ of Chiron, and Jupiter was exactly trine, within 2´, natal Saturn, which is itself conjunct his natal Sun, Mercury and Venus.
On 20th October, 1940 while at his brother's house Baba said to his sister-in-law:
"I am no longer your Sathya. I am Sai. I am going. I don't belong to you. Maya (Illusion) has gone. My devotees are calling Me. I have my work. Give up all your efforts to cure Me. I am Sai. I do not consider myself related to you" (as quoted in Ruhela, 1994, p.73-4)
Sai Baba had renounced all worldly ties and was not yet 14 years old. Sai Baba has indicated in a poem he wrote that the 20th October was the day of transformation (quoted in Ruhela, 1994, p.73). Astrologically he had progressed Mercury trine natal and progressed Uranus and progressed Mars opposition progressed MC. He also had progressed Saturn conjunct natal Sun and exactly conjunct natal Venus. Transiting Uranus was sextile natal and progressed Uranus and opposition progressed Mercury while still within orb was transiting Pluto square progressed MC.
On 25th May, 1947 at the age of 20 Baba wrote in a letter to his brother:
"I have a Task: To foster all mankind and ensure for all of them lives full of ananda (bliss). I have a Vow: To lead all who stray away from the straight path, again into godness [sic] and save them. I am attached to a 'work' that I love: To remove the sufferings of the poor and grant them what they lack. I have a reason to be proud, for I rescue all who worship and adore Me, aright.
I will not give up my mission, nor my determination. I know I will carry them out. I treat the honour and dishonour, the fame and blame that may be the consequence with equanimity.
No one can comprehend My glory, whoever he is, whatever his method of inquiry, however long his attempt.
You can see yourself the full Glory in the coming years. Devotees must have patience and forbearance" (as quoted in Ruhela, 1994, p.75-6).
Sai Baba has said:
"No Avatar is born flesh and blood, including this Avatar. The body of the Avatar is chit substance; it is not jada like other materials. The embryo of ordinary mortals is 'jalodakasayi' enveloped in watery stuff; the embryo of the Avatar is encased in 'Kshirodakasayi,' the pure white milk of holiness. That is why in the make up of the Avatar, there is no blemish, there is no trace of Guna (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. IV, p.15 as quoted in Murty, 1985, p.29).
As it is not until one has attained the Fourth Initiation that complete mastery of the physical body is attained. At the fourth initiation the causal body dies and if the person persists in physical form a new physical body is created. By the fifth initiation a complete atomic transformation has been achieved. The above quote would indicate that Sai Baba is at least a Fifth Degree Initiate.
On Gurupurnima day, 6th July, 1963, Sai Baba declared that he was the combined incarnation of Shiva and Shakti. He said that his previous incarnation as Shirdi Sai Baba was Shiva's incarnation, while his next incarnation as Prema Sai Baba would be pure Shakti's incarnation (Ruhela, 1994, p.78). It is difficult to know at what level of awareness Sai Baba was speaking when he uttered these words. However, a more definite understanding can be obtained when looking at statements made by Sai Baba to Ron Laing as quoted in the book 'The Embodiment of Love' which he co-authored with his wife Peggy Mason:
On Christmas Day 1972, Baba referred to Jesus's statement: "He who sent me will come again," and then made the astonishing claim that Jesus was referring to himself, Baba. Although expunged from the Bible, Baba claims that Jesus's words were: "His name will be Truth. He will wear a red robe. He will be short, with a crown of hair." Sathya means truth. Baba wears a red robe, is short, and has a crown of hair (Mason & Laing, 1982, p.159).
Ron Laing then asked Baba, "Swami, does this omission in the Bible mean that it was You who sent Jesus of Nazareth into incarnation?" to which Baba replied "Yes" (Mason & Laing, 1982, p.160).
Finally, when Ron Laing asked the question, "In that case, are You what the Western Christians call the Cosmic Christ?" He replied "Yes" (Mason & Laing, 1982, p.160). Here is a clear reference to Christ awareness which is indicative of the Seventh Initiation (First Cosmic Initiation).
Copyright © Charles Attfield, 1999 - 2002