Sapta Loka & Tala

SJC USA Annual Conference, 2003

Venue: West Coast, San Jose, CA, USA
Date: August 20, 2003
Presented by: Pt.Sanjay Rath
Note that all the charts given here have only been discussed at the conference, so if you wish to
study them in detail, get the conference CDs from Lakshmi Kary

Definitions
Kāla means time and the word puruśa refers to the personification of God. Any personification
needs the definition of space that is to be occupied by the body. The body of Kālapuruśa is called
Virāť (literally meaning huge) and refers to the entire manifested universe. Thus, Kālapuruśa
refers to the personification of God (Viśnu) in the fourth dimension (time) using the three
dimensions of space where the body is the entire manifested universe. The personification of
God in the twelve sign zodiac is the Kālapuruśa whereas the personification of God in the 27
constellations is called the nakśatra puruśa. The complete definition of the Kālapuruśa is given in
the Bhagavat gita, Bhāgavata Purāna and various other literatures. The next step would be to
define time. Time has been defined as (a) a linear progression of the state of being and (b) a
cycle that repeats infinitely and comprises various sub-cycles. This will be discussed in greater
detail in the paper on Time to be presented in the SJC Workshop (7 September 2003) in the east
coast. Suffice is to say that time is defined for this planet earth as a Samvatsara which is the
period of sidereal progression of the Sun around the zodiac. The period from the spring equinox
to the fall equinox, adjusted to the revolution of the solar system (ayanāmśa) represents on half
of the zodiac from Aries to Virgo and defines the upper body of the Kālapuruśa called the loka
(spiritual planes of increasing purity and bliss and understood as the heavens). The period from
the fall equinox to the spring equinox (adjusted using ayanāmśa) represents the lower limbs of
the Kālapuruśa called the tala (spiritual planes of decreasing purity and increasing suffering).
The word tala literally means lower and refers to a fall or decrease in spiritual strength.

Loka & tala

The Sun is the soul (ātma) of the Kālapuruśa and is exalted at 10 degrees of Aries and
debilitated in 10 degrees of Libra. The space from Aries 100 to Libra 100 represents the seven
lokas while the space from Libra 100 to Aries 100 represents the seven talas. The body parts are
based on the Bhāgavata purāna. Here, the first and seventh sign has both a loka and a tala in it
thereby accommodating the fourteen planes within the twelve signs of the zodiac.

Table 1: Kālapuruśa: Extent of loka/tala & body

Loka Extent Body center Tala Extent Body center

1 Satya Aries 100- Crown of head Atala Libra 100-300 Hips or Upper
300 thigh

2 Tapas Taurus Forehead Vitala Scorpio Lower thigh

3 Janas Gemini Mouth Sutala Sagittarius Knees

4 Mahar Cancer Neck Talātala Capricorn Shanks

5 Svar Leo Mahātala Aquarius Ankles

6 Bhuva Virgo Rasātala Pisces Foot (heels to

toes)

7 Bhu Libra 00-100 Pātala Aries 00-100 Under foot

Since the animate beings are made in the mould of the Kālapuruśa, they will have these very
spiritual planes reflected within their astral bodies. The entire universe is within us and to seek
God we need to look within ourselves and not without.

Seven Cakra

There are seven cakra in every being that are a reflection of the spiritual planes.

The illusion

We see the Sun ushering the day in the east at dawn, rising to the
heavens by noon and setting in the west every evening. What we
behold is the Sun moving in a retrograde (anti-zodiacal) manner
from the first house at sunrise to the tenth house at midday and
finally to the seventh house at sunset. Yet we know that the Sun
can never retrograde and the real truth is that the lagna moves in
a zodiacal direction as the Sun is relatively stationery. This
apparent truth of the visible movement of the Sun (akin to that of
Rāhu) is called māya or the illusion and is the principle of the
Sūrya-Candra-Rāhu cakra. What we see is not the truth but the
apparent truth, reflecting on which, the intelligent man can realize
the truth.

The effect of this illusion has been illustrated in the Sūrya-Candra-

Rahu cakra (Praśna Mārga) where the Sun moves in a retrograde manner starting with
Sagittarius and covering one sign per hour and the Moon is always placed in the seventh house
from the Sun. This Moons constant placement in the seventh house from the Sun is based on the
full Moon principle defining the Vedic month (starting and nomenclature as well).

The illusion or apparent truth is a mirror image of the real truth. When the Sun rises, the
apparent truth and truth are the same i.e. both are in the first house. However, as the day
passes the illusion increases until sunset when again the truth and illusion are together. These
points of sunrise and sunset are equated symbolically to the birth and death because it is only at
this point that the illusion ceases. This has been explained well in the Dakśināmurti stotra.

rāhugrastadivākarendusadŕśo māyāsamācchādanāt
sanmātraħ karanopasamharanato yo'bhūtsuśuptaħ pumān |
prāgasvāpsamiti prabodhasamaye yaħ pratyabhijnāyate
tasmai śrigurumūrtaye nama idam śridakśināmūrtaye || 6||

The Sun (ātma) is eclipsed when the Moon (Mana) conjoins it and the Moon is in the latitude as
the orbital plane of the earth where the intersection points are the nodes (Rahu & Ketu). It is
this Rahu that is said to cause the eclipse. Similarly, the Rahu of our lives is our own desires and
since Rahu is a node of the Moon (mana), the desires are the creation of the mind. It is the
coming together or conjunction of the ātma (Sun), mana (Moon) and desires (Rahu) that causes
an eclipse or birth itself. Just as the brilliance of the Sun is really not diminished during an
eclipse, but not visible from the viewpoint of this earth due to the shadow, similarly the power of
true cognition remains suspended during the course of life just as it does when a person is
asleep and is unaware of what transpires during his sleeping state. It is only when one awakens
that he realizes the world around. In a similar way, the ātma (self) exists in all purity even
though unseen due to the veil of the māyā. Moreover, just as a person after awakening realizes
that he was asleep and dreaming, similarly, spiritual awakening causes the person to recognize
his true self (ātma) and this is self-realization. Simultaneously he realizes that the previous state
was that of ignorance and was untrue in all respects. Obeisance's to Sri Dakśināmurti (Siva the
teacher), Who (in real life) is the form of the Guru enabling us to cross over these myriad
dreamy states and finally awaken and realize our true nature, the eternal truth. That we are
spiritual beings (called Ātma) having a material (śarira) experience (mana).

Effect of the illusion

The effect of such an apparent motion of the sun causes the spiritual planes to be reflected like a
mirror image. It is for this reason that the spiritualists advise the use of the internal loka for
meditation and suggest that the lokas and tala are present inside the body and we need not look
for god outside.
What we see is not the truth but the apparent truth, reflecting on which, the intelligent man can
realize the truth. This difference is indicated in Fig-2 where the internal loka are used for
spirituality and the external loka with the planets in it are used for horoscopy.
[Fig-2 to be discussed in detail]
Figure 1: Internal & external loka

Table 2: Sapta loka in the body (Internal)

House Cakra Near body Loka Planet Deity Lotus Alphabets (Sŕśťi-creation
part (Acyuta das) petals principle)

1 Sahasra Head Satya Jupiter Guru & Gurvi 1000 0 ॐ

om

2 Ājnā Forehead Tapas Saturn Ādi & Ānādi 2 vertical 2 ह॑

aspirate

Ākāśa tatva Śabda (sound) – 1 tanmātrā ha kśa

3 Visuddha Throat Janaħ Moon Sadāśiva & 16 16 अआइईउऊऋ

Pārvati vowels ॠ
ऌ ॡ ए ऐ ओ औ ॑ं ॑ः
Vāyu tatva Śabda (sound) sparśa (touch) - 2 tanmātrā a ā i i u ū ŕ è lŕ lè e ai
o au am aħ

4 Anāhata Heart Mahar Mercury Viśnu & 12* 12 कखगघङचछज

Lakśmi झञटठ
Agni tatva Śabda (sound) sparśa (touch) rūpa (sight) – 3 tanmātrā ka kha ga gha na ca
cha ja jha na ťa ťha

5 Manipura Navel Svarga Venus Brahma & 10 10 डढणतथदधनप

Sarasvati फ
 Jala tatva Śabda (sound) sparśa (touch) rūpa (sight) rasa (taste) da dha na ta tha da
– 4 tanmātrā dha na pa pha

6 Svādhiśťhana Private Bhuva Sun Kāma & Rati 6 6 बभमयरल

parts

Pŕthvi tatva Śabda (sound) sparśa (touch) rūpa (sight) rasa (taste) ba bha ma ya ra la
gandha (smell) - 5 tanmātrā

7 Mūladhāra Base of Bhu Mars Ganeśa & 4 4 वशषस

the spine Siddi

* 12 external but 8 internal petals for the carakäraka va śa śa sa

Notes
o The table of planetary lordship given in Vedic Remedies in Astrology had been borrowed from
another source and its authenticity is doubted. The planetary lordship for the seven loka is based
on the order of the Hora starting with Mars for Bhū loka and progressing in the reverse. We are
unaware of planetary lordship for the cakra and perhaps the lordship of the loka can be extended
to the cakra as well.
o The Anāhata cakra has an external 12 petal lotus for which the deity is Sūrya (& Sanjna). The
twelve Āditya sit in the 12 petals with the Jivātma. The internal eight petal lotus has the Iśťa
devatā (paramātma).
o The mantra “hamsaħ” (हस ं ः) is the movement of the kundalini from the topmost manifested
petal (ha) of the Ājnā cakra to the lowest petal (sa) of the Mūladhāra cakra. Such a movement
causes creation (through procreation). The reversed mantra “so'ham” (सोहं)causes the kundalini
to rise from the lowest petal (s) of the Mūladhāra cakra to the topmost petal (h) of the Ājnā
cakra. It is said Ganeśa woships the Sun god (ātma) with the mantra “so'hamsaħ” (सोहस ं ः) so
that the kundalini moves upwards and then downwards.

Punya Cakra principles (discussed at conference)

1. Initial refuge of the departed soul
o 6th house drekkana (16th drekkana) – Śadripu (punishment due to weaknesses)
o 7th house (rebirth occurs soon)
o 8th house drekkana (Khāra or 22nd drekkana – punishment due to sins)
o Jupiter’s power to veto negative indications and bless
2. Intermediate movement of the ātma after death
o Planets in Lagna
o Three fold division – Bhu, Bhūva & Svarga loka
3. Final abode
o Twelfth house & importance of Jupiter
o śaśťiāmśa – dharma & mokśa
o Brahma loka & mokśa
o Param padam of Viśnu
Case studies (to be discussed)
Politicians
Chart 1: Mahatma Gandhi Punya (death) chart
Date: January 30, 1948
Time: 17:00:00
Time Zone: 5:30:00 (East of GMT)
Place: 77 E 12' 00", 28 N 36' 00"
Chart 2: Indira Gandhi Punya (death) chart
Date: October 31, 1984
Time: 11:00:00
Time Zone: 5:30:00 (East of GMT)
Place: 77 E 13' 00", 28 N 40' 00"
Delhi, India
Chart 3: Rajiv Gandhi Punya
Date: May 21, 1991
Time: 20:00:00
Time Zone: 5:30:00 (East of GMT)
Place: 79 E 58' 00", 12 N 58' 00"
Sriperumbudur, India

Spiritualists

Chart 4: Suicide case –Punya (death) chart

Date: June 29, 2002
Time: 19:50:00
Time Zone: 4:00:00 (West of GMT)
Place: 77 W 12' 32", 39 N 01' 05"
Potomac, Maryland, USA
Chart 5: Sridhar Goswami Maharaj Punya
Date: August 12, 1988
Time: 18:45:39
Time Zone: 5:30:00 (East of GMT)
Place: 88 E 22' 00", 23 N 25' 00"
Navadwip, India

Filmstars

Chart 6: Gregory Peck Punya (death)

Date: June 12, 2003
Time: 9:00:00
Time Zone: 7:00:00 (West of GMT)
Place: 118 W 14' 34", 34 N 03' 08"
Los Angeles, California, USA
General

Chart 7: C.B. Willis Mother Punya

Date: May 9, 1998
Time: 7:34:00 pm
Time Zone: 7:00:00 (West of GMT)
Place: 121 W 53' 38", 37 N 20' 22"
San Jose, California, USA
Chart 8: Quinn, Bill Punya
Date: August 20, 1997
Time: 8:00:00 am
Time Zone: 4:00:00 (West of GMT)
Place: 73 W 18' 24", 40 N 42' 22"
West Islip, New York, USA

Mass deaths

Chart 9: World Trade Center bombing

Date: September 11, 2001
Time: 8:25:00 am
Time Zone: 4:00:00 (West of GMT)
Place: 74 W 00' 23", 40 N 42' 51"
New York, New York, USA
Chart 10: Columbia Shuttle
Date: February 1, 2003
Time: 9:00:00 am
Time Zone: 5:00:00 (West of GMT)
Place: 80 W 36' 18", 28 N 24' 20"
Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA

Died and returned!

Chart 11: Hansadutta death experience

Date: June 25, 2003
Time: 7:20:00 am
Time Zone: 7:00:00 (West of GMT)
Place: 123 W 12' 24", 39 N 09' 01"
Ukiah, California, USA

[1] BG. Chapter-11: The universal form

[2] Although various literature have expressly confirmed that the seven lower planes (tala) are
Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talätala, Mahätala, Rasätala and Pätala, as is also confirmed by the
commentary of Sri Prabhupäda under SB 2.1.26, yet we find that the name Mahitala has been
used to describe the first lower plane (Hip region/upper thigh) and Atala and Vitala are then
combined into one plane.

[3] Paräsara uses the name Gabhastiman for this lower plane in the Viñëu puräëa
[4] Paräsara uses the name Nitala in the Viñëu puräëa

[5] Prasna Märga