Shraadh... and their importance

In India, Shraadhs are celebrated as a 'day of remembrance' of the ancestors. During Shraadhs people pay homage to their ancestors (known as Pitras) and express their gratitude towards them for having them in their life and making them responsible & what they are now. It is a way of expressing that they are still a part of their life. It is performed on the death anniversary or the day they died. 'Shraadh' is a Sanskrit word, which means an 'act performed with all the sincerity and faith'. On this day, people invite Brahmans to their home, serve them food/ pinda, and dakshina (fees) when they are about to leave. In some places crows are believed to be the ancestors, therefore pinda-daan is done to them, i.e. food is given to the crows. The period when Shraadhs are performed is called the 'Pitru Paksh'. The last day of the Shraadh is known as the 'Sarva Pitru Amavasya Shraadh' because on this day one can perform Shraadh of anyone.

It is very important to understand the meaning of this ritual because only then it means something and the reason for which it is being done is satisfied, otherwise it is just an act being done just for the sake of being done.

Answers through 'I- Ching'

I-Ching (pronounced as Yijing) is a traditional Chinese divination method. ‘I’ or ‘Yi’ here means ‘easy or simple’ when used as an adjective and ‘Change’ when used as a verb, whereas ‘Jing’ means ‘Classic’. Thus, I-Ching is the classic book of changes. It is one of the most ancient oracles in the world. The answer to a particular question is indicated by a hexagram by tossing three identical coins at the same time. On tossing the coins, 64 different types of situations can be formed, which can be broken or unbroken. Events occurring at a particular time are inter-related by horizontal and vertical lines. Using these patterns, the answer to a particular question is given to the seeker. It is strongly believed that it is often easier to ask a question with a ‘please’ when looking for an advice or insight.

Looking for an advice/answer to a particular question? Try our ‘Feng Shui` I-Ching’ reading today.

Rhea takes her revenge on ex Aditya Roy Kapoor

Rhea Chakraborty has been rethinking about the no kissing clause and has reportedly said yes to kissing on screen. If reports are to be believed, this is an after effect of the breakup that happened recently. Aditya Roy Kapoor was believed to be getting closer to Shraddha Kapoor during the filming of Aashiqui 2 and now, Rhea and Aditya are no longer a couple. Rhea is a Cancer born on July 1 and Aditya is a Scorpio born on November 16. How well do they fare astrologically? This is a great combination. For Scorpio, Cancer women are a match made in paradise. But, the twist in this story is the presence of a Pisces woman. Shraddha is a Pisces born on March 3rd. This again is one of the best matches for the Scorpio male. If the guy finds himself sandwiched between two highly compatible females, it's only a matter of time before he makes a decision about who's the one for him.

For more on love compatibility and finding your perfect love match, try astroyogi.com's Love Compatibility reading today.

Quick Facts About Palm Reading

Palm reading has been practiced in India since ancient times as a science to predict future events. It has its roots in Indian astrology. The lines etched on the palm are studied in order to understand the native’s personality traits and future and past events. A lot can be understood about the person based on the shape of his thumb, fingers, hands and even the nails! There is a meaning attached to each unique hand shape. 

The major lines which are studied in palm reading are the heart line, head line, life line, fate line, child line, marriage line and travel lines, etc. Mounts too play an important role in palm reading. Each mount takes its name after a planet and signifies a different personality feature. In females, the right hand is used to study what a woman is born with and the left hand signifies what she has accumulated throughout her life. In males, the left hand is used to study what a person is born with and the right hand signifies what the man has accumulated through his experiences in life. This thought differs across schools of astrology. Palm Reading practice in Egypt is a lot different from the beliefs in India. There is no right or wrong way when it comes to understanding this science.  

Check Online Palm Reading Click Link  Palm Reading

What Makes Gemini Venkaiah Naidu a go-getter?

While recalling the fanfare that was the swearing-in ceremony of central ministers just the last month, this middle aged man who came in a lungi stands out in the memory; The Union Minister with a receding hairline and expanding waistline, who had been given too many ministries-Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty alleviation and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Yes, the minister in focus is Mr. Venkaiah Naidu. His plate seems too full so it might be a good idea to examine how much of workload he might actually have, i.e. the real challenges that his ministries have to tackle.

First, urban planning. As was thrown in sharp contrast by the recent accidental demise of Gopinath Munde, road planning and designing need attention. Residents of the fabled urban areas of India know the issues with sewage disposal, residential properties’ planning, unplanned flyovers, etc. and a traveler only needs to be asked hoe precisely mapped our cities are. All these issues relate to the security and ease of life for the people and directly affect the productivity of the nation’s workforce.

Second, urban poverty is seen each citizen of this great country and yet remains unseen. Sensitizing people to this misfortune of others, finding homes for the homeless and most important of all, plugging the inflow of migrant workers from rural areas and ensuring that the existing ones get their due rights-all of these remain important tasks to quell the discomfort in people due to income inequalities. These tasks will require co-ordination between various ministries-HRD, Home, Rural Development, Women and Child Development to name a few. Most ministers holding this portfolio in the past have been gross failures when it came to handling these sensitive issues-not to mention these are sentimental issues for the populace and require delicate handling. Thus, Mr. Naidu has his task cut out for him.

Last, this old hand of BJP would have to ensure that the government manages the affairs of the house well. In layman’s language it means that the house works at least some of the days and no tables/chairs/footwear are exchanged between the honorable members.

Gemini’s are famous for being indecisive and having a poor focus, so this Gemini male might be of little help with small issues requiring a closer view of things, like erecting mirrors on sharp road turns or covering manholes but since this sun sign is affable and a convincing speaker, it may be assumed that issues like urban poverty alleviation that require inter-ministry co-ordination will be handled quite well. The rulingnumber 1 and luck number 4 make Mr. Naidu someone who is always ready to do something new and make him a go-getter. This means that the minister may be able to find innovative ways of attracting MPs to the parliament and pay attention! All in all interesting times are expected ahead in these ministries, since the old, tough challenges have met an equally seasoned, tough politician with an interesting astrological and numerological profile.

From the nation’s Bahu to the nation’s Educator!

Human Resource, economics says, is the most important of all things required for an economy to 

grow. India, a joke says, is country where it is easier to find God than to find a place where there are no people. So huge is our ‘Human Resource; that we account for close to 17% of the world’s population and as per an estimate, every third child born in the world is born in India. In such a situation, the role of the HRD ministry becomes extremely important. With the news doing round that HRD ministry will not intervene in the tussle between UGC and DU, it becomes imperative to find out what exactly is this ministry going to intervene in, i.e. what are the major concerns facing our brand-new HRD minister, Ms. Smriti Irani.

The biggest concern is literacy expansion. Although the census estimates put literacy rate in India at around 75%, independent observers argue that the definition of literacy that the government employs (a person who has attained skill in reading and writing simple text) is quite rudimentary and thus inflates the actual figure.

Another concern is the plight of Polytechnic institutions. There are about 1244 polytechnics in India with an intake of 1,33,880 students annually. This situation in a country where an estimated 700 million people will join the workforce by 2020 is worrisome. Given the severe handicaps of our regular educational system, it is imperative that alternate skill development via polytechnics is encouraged.

This engenders the next issue, i.e. the plight of our conventional educational system. It is no secret that the infrastructure in terms of furniture, classrooms, teachers and even washrooms is conspicuous by its absence in most government-run schools; in a low income country like India-where the masses cannot afford expensive private education- government education provisions become extremely important for the children and to secure the future of the nation. After all, if our children aren’t properly educated they become a drag, not a resource.

A unique concern is education in conflict areas. Close to a half of the nation’s land area is currently marred by conflict (including Kashmir, the north-east and Naxal afflicted areas) and education and skill development of the populace take a back seat there.

Clearly, issues abound and the lady at the helm, Ms. Smriti Irani has all eyes on her that want to know how these issues will be handled. With a birthdate of March 24, 1976 the ruling number for the HRD minister is 6, luck number 5 and Sun Sign Pisces. Her numerological and astrological profile present a person who is quick to think and act in independent capacity and is extremely determined in implementing decisions. While these qualities indicate quick action on the aforementioned issues, her sun sign gives an idealistic touch to her ideas and such idealism has little place in politics. With the two seemingly contrasting traits at work here, it would be interesting to see where the ministry goes on these issues in the future!

Wedding bells for Aftab Shivadasani

Weddings in India are the biggest productions ever. There is the bride, the bridegroom, the tons of money spent and the flashiness, enough to turn someone blind. Now who in India is allowed to keep a wedding secret? A certain type of extremely asocial, loners (who sum up to zero) maybe allowed to do so; not someone like Aftab Shivadasani who stole hearts and made the audience laugh loads in Grand Masti.

 A flying sparrow had mellifluously sung about a week back that Aftab has married his long-time girlfriend Nin Dussanj, the younger sister of Kabir Bedi’s girlfriend (what a gene pool!). Now that he has come out and accepted that he is indeed married and has done so in a very hush-hush manner, most of the neighborhood aunties are too upset! But not to worry, Aftab has also revealed that he would be hosting a grand reception once he is back from his honeymoon.

Due to his longtime presence in Bollywood, a lot is known about this dimpled heartthrob but the lady is albeit an unknown entity. As per sources, Nin has been working for the past six years in Hong King as a consultant. They apparently met each other via a common friend and hit it off at the first meeting itself. Though Nin has been spotted with Aftab at various points in time, both the parties had kept their lips totally sealed about their plans for the future. Unsurprisingly, the nuptial were a surprise.

Also, the dreamy-eyed boy has set numerous tongues wagging with the secrecy that is being maintained about the honeymoon destination. Is it somewhere in the Caribbean? Bora Bora Islands? The city of Love, Paris? Or some entirely new and exotic location altogether? Well, one can only guess! There is no clarity on where the couple has decided to settle down post their honeymoon, or whether they have decided on any one location yet or not.

While one guesses, it is worth finding out, why such secrecy? Aftab’s birthdate of June 25, 1978 makes his sun sign Cancer with ruling number 7 and luck number 2. The moody, protective and suspicious Cancer when coupled with the fierce sense of privacy that comes with ruling number 7, gives rise to a person who protects his privacy at all costs. So far, Aftab seems to be fitting the description. His profile is quite telling when it comes to his wedded life ahead. Cancerians are emotional and loving while the ruling number makes them loyal too-all in all good signs! But enough Bollywood marriages have been seen going the wrong way, so it is advisable to not put any money on it! Although it would have been great to find out about Nin, her personality and the chances of this marriage working out if her birthdate was known, but this fact is as guarded as American state secrets! Having said this, wishing this comedian-cum-actor the best ahead; both for his personal as well as professional life 

Vaastu Tips for Your New Home

Whenever we look for a house/flat, we prefer its architecture to be such that it attracts maximum positive vibes. You would certainly not desire to stay at a place, where affording a peaceful sleep after the day’s long hard labour is practically a Herculean task! The process of transforming a flat into a home requires a lot of efforts and nothing can be better than adopting the concept of Vaastu Shastra. Following Vaastu tips does not make us superstitious or “not so modern”; in fact, Vaastu multiplies all the healthy and affirmative forces into our paradise. Nobody wants unnecessary disturbance and chaos because of the wrong inflow of energies.

Mostly for selling purposes, some builders and property dealers assert the house of your choice to be totally in accordance to Vaastu Shashtra. But, it need not be necessary that the stated claim always holds true everywhere. Before purchasing or renting a place, we must enquire about the Vaastu of any house. The correct Vaastu prevents all sorts of negativity or evil powers like black-magic away from your place. If you are not very thorough with the ancient Indian doctrine of Vaastu Shashtra, then read this article which aims at providing you the essential tips that will help you bring peace and prosperity into your abode.

Some basic tips to brush up your knowledge regarding this age old Vedic practice are:

1.     Start with the ritual of griha pravesh puja once you have purchased the flat. This ceremony marks an auspicious beginning, as it removes all the negative, harmful forces.

2. The primary thing is the entrance point, from where the positive energies will be directed into your home. It should be in the east, the direction from where the Sun rises, thereby, emitting light and positivity in your house. If the house that you like is not exactly in the east, then you can even opt for north, northeast or simply put a Hanuman tile outside the main door.

3. South-East direction is ideally considered good for the kitchen. This location is also apt for placing gas-stove and other electronic gadgets. However, ensure that the kitchen is not directly opposite to the front door.

4. The puja room should be in the northeastern part. And the study room adjoining the puja room is considered to be very good.

5. The master bedroom should be in the south west as per Vaastu principles. This promotes trouble-free sleep.  Also, prefer it be rectangular or square in shape. In case you have a duplex flat, make the master bedroom on the topmost floor. 

6. If you are confused regarding allotting rooms, then prefer the guest room as well as the children’s room in the north-west, store-room in the south and the living room in south, west or northwest direction for good luck and fortune.

7. Lastly, toilets should be either in the north-west or south east direction. A small reminder (which you are very well aware of) is that it should not be next to the prayer room, study room or kitchen.

Follow the above guidelines, and you are all set to make a new start into your happy home…

A Soul Mate Relationship

What are the signs that give away a soul mate relationship? Read more..  http://www.astroyogi.com/articles/astrologyarticles/signs-you-have-met-your-soulmate.aspx

Celebrating International Astrology Day

 Astrology as a field is vast and is not limited to Horoscopes. This mystic science has helped numerous people in resolving various difficulties in their day to day life and Astrologers have guided and healed people based on the study of planetary transits and positions for centuries. The Association for Astrological Networking (AFAN) has been celebrating International Astrology Day to cherish the progressive phase of astrology in our lives. Various programmes are hosted by eminent astrological schools and astrologers to celebrate this day. 

International Astrology day is marked as the first day of the astrological year, beginning with the day on which the Sun moves into Aries. This day generally falls on the 20^th or 21^st of March and this year it is on 21^st March, 2014. An Astrological year begins with the onset of Spring Equinox and this year, it’s slated for 21^st March. This day commemorates the celebration of our bond with the stars and planets, which play a significant role in shaping our life. We are all interconnected and the cosmos plays a much bigger role in shaping our life, choices and destiny than we are aware. Only the spiritually enlightened realize how different life can be by recognizing these forces that impact our life in myriad ways.

Each movement of the nine planets in various Zodiac signs influences your life in a certain predestined way. The astrological cycle starts with Aries and ends with Pisces. The Sun and the Moon have major effect on each sign apart from other planets, and deciding the course of the future events. Since the transit of the Sun in Aries marks renewal, hence this is the time to bring about a lot of changes in your life. Let us go back and understand the origin as well as importance of astrology in one’s life. 

Referring to the origin of astrology, it is not a modern day phenomenon and goes back to the ancient times of Ptolemy, where the astrologers were treated more like doctors and men of knowledge due to their profound knowledge. Modern day idea of astrology changed with the addition of the three planets - Uranus, Neptune and Pluto in the eighteenth century. 

Over the years, Astrology has evolved as a medium of predicting the future events along with discovering suitable remedies to lessen or resolve various problems. Astrology has reached beyond the domestic sphere into the global arena of business, health and even weather forecasting. Further, it has been used to predict various events that are considered lucky for you. The cultural impact cannot be ignored in comprehending the relevance of astrology, where famous personalities have consulted astrologers every now and then, especially the politicians and other celebrities. If a change in your name can change the course of your life, wouldn’t you want to give it a try? Many celebs have gained immensely by following Numerology principles to guide their decisions. Ekta Kapoor’s obsession with the letter K is known to all and all her shows have done tremendous business.

Astrology is totally about belief, it is neither connected to any religion nor surmounts in propagating any such things. It is just an insight into the functioning of the life on the basis of the planetary influence. Since ancient times, there have been conflicting views about the acceptance of astrology as a Science and has been included in the metaphysical category.

Research studies are still being conducted all around the world to understand astrology to improve lives and just like other spheres that are rapidly evolving due to innovation in technology, astrology too has progressed a great deal and has now been made more accessible, and there’s awareness about the basics in the masses. 

astroYogi.com wishes all astrology enthusiasts an exhilarating International Astrology Day!