पुष्कर (Pushkara) - The Nourisher of Life

Etymology and Sanskrit Roots

Pushkara comes from two Sanskrit words. "Push" means to give life or nourish something. "Kara" means the person or thing that does the action. So together, Pushkara is "the one who nourishes life". In old Sanskrit books, Pushkara is not only used in astrology. It also refers to holy rivers and lakes. For example, Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan, India is a very sacred place. People go there to wash away their bad actions and get spiritual blessings. Pushkara is linked to gods like Shiva and Brahma in ancient stories. It shows the idea of divine nourishment and purification.

Astrological Significance

In Vedic astrology, Pushkara has two main important parts: Pushkara Navamsha and Pushkara Bhaga. First, Navamsha is the ninth divisional chart. It is very important for seeing how strong a planet is. Pushkara Navamsha are special parts in each zodiac sign. If a planet is in Pushkara Navamsha, it can make the planet's energy better. Even if the planet is weak or has bad influence, Pushkara can help it become stronger and bring good things. For example, if your career planet is in Pushkara Navamsha, you may get more success in your job.

Second, Pushkara Bhaga are more exact lucky degrees in each zodiac sign. These are small points that have very strong positive energy. Astrologers use Pushkara Bhaga to find the best time to do important things, like getting married, starting a business, or taking an exam. When you do something at Pushkara Bhaga time, you can get more support from the planets. People believe this can make their plans more successful.

Every zodiac sign has two Pushkara positions. This is because there are two Pushkara Muhurta (holy time) every day in the afternoon. A Muhurta is 48 minutes long. The exact positions are based on the element of the sign:

• Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): 20-23°20' (Libra Navamsha) and 26-30° (Sagittarius Navamsha)
• Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): 6°40'-10° (Pisces Navamsha) and 13°20'-16°40' (Taurus Navamsha)
• Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): 16°40'-20° (Pisces Navamsha) and 23°20'-26°40' (Taurus Navamsha)
• Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): 0-3°20' (Cancer Navamsha) and 6°40'-10° (Virgo Navamsha)

Pushkara is also used in choosing good time (Muhurta). Every hour a Pushkara Navamsha rises, and every two hours a Pushkara Bhaga rises. You can use these times for important actions to get good results.

Mythology of Pushkara

The story of Pushkara starts with a Brahmin named Tundila. He did very hard spiritual practice (tapas) to please Lord Shiva. Shiva was happy with him and gave him a special power. Tundila became Pushkara, a being who can purify rivers and give life to people.

Later, Lord Brahma wanted Pushkara to live in his kamandal (water pot) because he needed pure water for creation. But Jupiter (Brihaspati) also wanted Pushkara to be with him, because water is important for people and Pushkara's purification power is unique. Pushkara did not want to leave Brahma. Finally, they made an agreement: Pushkara would stay with Jupiter for 12 days when Jupiter enters a new zodiac sign, and 12 days when he leaves it. On a daily basis, Pushkara would stay with Brihaspati for two Muhurta (96 minutes) in the afternoon.

There are twelve holy rivers in ancient India. Each river is linked to a zodiac sign. When Jupiter moves into a sign, that river gets Pushkara's blessing. People bathe in the river during this time to wash away their bad karma. The temple town of Pushkar in Rajasthan is blessed, as its lake is the living kamandal of Brahma. There is a rare Brahma temple there as well.

Spiritual and Psychological Meaning

Pushkara has deep spiritual meaning. It represents purification and transformation. In Vedic thought, everyone has bad karma from past lives. Pushkara can help wash away this bad karma, just like how holy rivers clean people's sins. It gives people a chance to start fresh and grow spiritually.

Psychologically, Pushkara brings hope. When people face hard times, knowing that they have Pushkara energy in their chart can make them feel stronger. It helps them believe that even bad situations can turn into good ones. Pushkara is also about nourishing the soul. It encourages people to do things that help their spiritual growth, like meditation, prayers, or helping others.

What is important to remember is that the individuals in whose chart where the lagna or planets in the pushkara navamshas and bhagas should want to make the changes, to find the blessings. Otherwise these positions can just remain unrealized blessings.

Challenges and Afflictions

Even though Pushkara is mostly good, there are some challenges. First, Pushkara cannot fix all problems. If a planet is in a sign that does not have Pushkara, it needs to be self-motivated. For example, Aries, Gemini, Leo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Aquarius navamshas do not have Pushkara. These planets have to use up some of the positive energy saved from previous lives, and therefore pushkara does not nourish them. That may not be negative, just the way life is. Not everything can be saved up or nurtured. But by being aware of these qualities, we can make sure that we learn to nourish them through our actions.

Second, Ketu Nakshatras (Ashwini, Magha, Mula) and Mercury Nakshatras (Ashlesha, Jyeshta, Revati) do not have any pushkara navamsha. In Ketu nakshatras, the soul is taking a new step in its development, so it uses up some of its accumulated nourishment. It is like taking a loan for present development, which will bring future rewards. But the present will make them feel burdened. In Mercury nakshatras, the soul struggles to make changes, and the mind is active trying to make sense of their circumstances. The planets struggle to transcend, therefore there is no calmness and stillness provided by Pushkara.

Third, Pushkara is not a magic solution. You still need to work hard and do good actions to improve your situation. Also, some people may depend too much on Pushkara and not try their best. This is not right, because astrology is just a help, not a replacement for hard work.

Modern Relevance

In modern life, Pushkara is still very useful. Many people use Pushkara Muhurta to choose good times for important events. For example, they may pick a Pushkara time to start a new job, buy a house, or have a wedding. This helps them feel more confident that their plans will go well.

For students, Pushkara can be helpful during exam times. If they study or take exams during Pushkara Muhurta, they may feel more focused and get better results. For business people, starting a new project during Pushkara time may bring more success and profit.

Pushkara also reminds people to connect with their spiritual side. Even if you are very busy, taking a little time during Pushkara periods to do something spiritual can help you feel more balanced and happy.

In natal astrology, Pushkara can change how we analyze a chart. If a chart does not appear to have any great strength but it has ascendant in pushkara bhaga and 10th lord in pushkara degree, the quality of the chart changes. The chart is showing extraordinary strength with both the lagna and 10th lord fortified.

Conclusion

Pushkara is a wonderful concept in Vedic astrology and Sanskrit culture. It means "the nourisher of life". It helps people get good luck, improve their planets' energy, and transform bad karma. The myths behind Pushkara show how ancient people believed in divine nourishment and purification.

In modern times, Pushkara still has important meaning. It can help us choose good times for important things, feel more hopeful when we are in trouble, and grow spiritually. But we must remember that Pushkara is not a magic solution. We still need to work hard and do good actions, and we need to want to make changes in our life. When we combine Pushkara's blessings with our own effort, we can get the best results.

If you want to learn more about Pushkara, you can study Vedic astrology books or talk to an experienced astrologer. Understanding Pushkara can help you live a more balanced and blessed life.