Horoscope of Srila Prabhupada ji - Ascendant and Life Path

There was a request to write about the chart of Sri AC Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhapada. As most of us know that Srila Prabhupada was pioneer of Hare Krishna Movement in Western World plus the founder of ISKCON. His disciples see him as messenger of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

So, let’s try to understand Srila Prabhupada’s chart. I am told that there is a confusion or debate around his right ascendant, between Sagittarius and Capricorn. As I like to cover Celebrity Horoscopes on a particular, let’s try to find out right ascendant of Srila Prabhupada with the kind of life he had lived as Ascendant represents Life Path and direction of Life Path.

At the outset, I must put it on record that I am not much aware of ISKCON traditions and how they address Srila Prabhupada ji. I am addressing him as Srila Prabhupada as per my convenience. It shouldn’t be interpreted as disrespect towards Him as a person or ISKCON as an organization.

Birth Details and Chart Details – As per birth details available online, Srila Prabhupada ji was born on 1^st Sep, 1896, 15.30 pm at Calcutta, India. As per this birth details, he becomes a Capricorn ascendant with Rahu in 2^nd house/Aquarius, Moon-Mars in 5^th house/Taurus, Jupiter-Ketu-Sun in 8^th house/Leo, Mercury-Venus in 9^th house/Virgo and Saturn in 10^th house/Libra. I am told that reportedly, Sri Prabhupada ji also agreed that these are his birth details.

But then there are a few other people who are of the view that He was Sagittarius Ascendant person with Rahu in 3^rd house/Aquarius, Moon-Mars in 6^th house/Taurus, Jupiter-Ketu-Sun in 9^th house/Leo, Mercury-Venus in 10^th house/Virgo and Saturn in 11^th house/Libra.

Reason behind doubt on Birth Time – Even in this day and age, we can’t be 100% sure of our time of birth. There is always a doubt when ascendant is changing within 0-10 minutes of child birth. In such case, I am not inclined to rely on birth time recorded some 125 years ago. Hence, this doubt and analysis both are meaningful.

Ascendant – Ascendant remains the most important house of the chart as it represents the person himself, his overall life, his life path and direction of life path. So, if we analyze overall life, life path and direction of life path then we can find out if he was Capricorn Ascendant or Sagittarius Ascendant.

Overall Life – Let’s see what can be the difference in life path as per these 2 ascendants –

• Capricorn – It is ruled by Saturn. Saturn and Capricorn both are related with Law and Govt. With Capricorn as ascendant and ascendant lord Saturn exalted in 10^th house/Libra, I would feel that person will be more inclined towards following a path with Govt or Law. Someone can say that religion is divine law and hence he followed that path. I am not convinced especially when I have another option of Sagittarius ascendant and Jupiter in 9^th house/Leo where Sagittarius, Jupiter and 9^th house represent religion. Also, Ascendant lord Saturn is in Vishakha Nakshatra. Vishakha Nakshatra normally makes person follow completely different paths at different times. As little as I know about Srila Prabhupada, he was always inclined to follow the path of Religion and God. So, Vishakha’s natural split was missing here.
• Sagittarius – As I said, Sagittarius ascendant and Jupiter in 9^th house/Leo where Sagittarius, Jupiter and 9^th house represent religion, this looks more aligned with his path towards religion, philosophy and literature. Needless to say that he was very much about following scriptures and following the words of ancient texts, this also makes Sagittarius as more relevant to his path.

So, as per this point, it looks like he was Sagittarius Ascendant.

Jupiter MD and Guru – An important event which happened to him was that his Jupiter MD got started in 1919 and in 1922 he found his Guru BhaktiSidhantha Saraswati who directed Srila Prabhupada to spread the message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in English language. This event is more of Jupiter in 9^th house/Leo nature rather than Jupiter in 8^th house/Leo nature.

Jupiter and 9^th house both represent Guru. 9^th house is Religion, Preaching and Publishing Things. Sagittarius Ascendant Lord Jupiter represents Life Path. So, we can see that this event is getting aligned with Jupiter in 9^th house/Leo for Sagittarius Ascendant. With the beginning of Jupiter MD, he was into following his path of Religious Teacher.

If he was a Capricorn ascendant then Jupiter would have been in 8^th house/Leo along with Ketu and Sun. Here also, he would have got Guru but that Guru would have been more into mystical side of life and would have guided him in occult side of life.

Fame and Recognition – At least on this point, we can’t have any argument that Srila Prabhupada got his initial recognition and fame in foreign lands and among people of foreign ethnicity. 10^th house, Sun and Leo sign represent Fame and Recognition.

• Sagittarius – Ascendant lord Jupiter is in 9^th house/Leo of people of different ethnicity with Ketu and Sun. Sun is in own sign in Leo. 10^th house/Virgo is ruled by Mercury which is in own exaltation sign. This shows good fame coming to the person among people of different ethnicity.
• Capricorn – Here 10^th house/Libra lord is debilitated in 9^th house/Virgo and Sun also goes in 8^th house/Leo. Although Venus is getting Neech Bhang Raaj Yoga but quite clearly, fame and recognition is not that prominent here.

Feeling Vs Thinking – In spiritual world, there are broadly two paths. One path is of Feeling or Emotions and the other path is of Thinking or Intellect. Meera is a person of Feeling path whereas Buddha is a person of Thinking Path. In the end, they both reach same place. So, this discussion is futile that which path is correct. Buddha gets through Intellect what Meera gets through Devotion.

Looking at Srila Prabhupada life and his work in Literature, Books, Scriptures and Texts, it can be easily understood that he was person of Thinking/Intellect path. This is again more clearly visible through Jupiter-Ketu-Sun in 9^th house/Leo in Sagittarius ascendant chart rather than in Capricorn ascendant chart.

Conclusion – For the reasons mentioned above, I am inclined towards the view that Srila Prabhupada was a Sagittarius ascendant person. Dedicated to Srila Prabhupada on his 125^th birth anniversary.

Thanks,

Swami Premanand Bharti