The literal translation of the word Shravana is ‘the ability to hear’ or ‘the process of hearing’. An alternate meaning is also associated with this word which translates into ‘the limping one’. According to Vedic astrology, both these meanings have a lot to do in deciding the traits of Shravana. Shravana is associated with more than one symbol. A sequence of three uneven footsteps is taken as a symbol of Shravana. These are considered to be the three steps taken by Lord Narayana during one of his incarnations known as Vaaman Avatar.
Once upon a time, there was a powerful demon king Bali who conquered the three worlds known as Prithvi (earth), Swarg (heaven) and Paataal Loka (the underworld). Indra the ruler of heaven requested Lord Narayana to put end to Bali’s misdeeds. Lord Narayana incarnated on earth as a dwarf Brahman. Accordingly, this Avatar of Lord Narayana is known as Vaaman Avatar in Indian mythology, where Vaaman means dwarf.
Bali was known as a person true to his word and Lord Narayana decided to take advantage of this good trait of Bali. The demon king was getting a Yagya performed. One of the rituals demanded that upon completion of Yagya, Bali should offer donations to Brahmans. Upon completion of Yagya, Bali asked Brahmans what they wanted as offerings. Vaaman stood up and asked for land which could be measured with three steps.
Bali made promise to grant Vaaman’s wish. Hearing this, Vaaman grew so big that his head vanished in the sky. He measured earth and the underworld in the first step and he measured heaven in the second step. Vaaman asked Bali as to what he should claim with his third step since he had already claimed everything Bali had, with his first two steps. To keep his word, Bali bowed before Vaaman and asked him to claim his head with the third step; as it was the only thing left in his possession. Vaaman blessed Bali for making donation to the Lord himself. He then sent Bali to another world.
This incident is very meaningful. It indicates the cleverness of Lord Narayana, which enabled him to get his job done without any violence. This clever and tricky side of Lord Narayana is relayed through Shravana. Accordingly, people under strong influence of Shravana are considered among the cleverest type of people. Whether this trait of cleverness exhibited by Shravana is used positively or negatively; depends on the overall horoscope of the native under consideration.
In order to get his wish granted, Lord Narayana had to ask for donation. The Lord, who is supposed to give only, had to ask. This shows the determination and dedication of Lord Narayana, as he was willing to go to any lengths in order to get his job done. Hence traits like determination, dedication and flexibility are relayed through Shravana. In fact, Shravana is considered as one of the most determined and fixed nakshatra. It means once it sets a goal, it may go to any lengths in order to achieve such goal.
It should be noted that Shravana represents non-violent and clever side of Lord Narayana. Hence Shravana people may not engage in direct physical violence to achieve their goals, unlike the people belonging to some other nakshatras. Shravana people may achieve their goals with the help of traits like cleverness, skillfulness, flexibility, diplomacy, determination and dedication.
Hence even if a native is under strong malefic influence of Shravana and he wishes to work for selfish motives, he may not directly engage in violence. Such Shravana native may find diplomatic ways of getting his job done. For this reason, most criminals under strong malefic influence of Shravana are likely to be white collar criminals. Apart from that, Shravana type criminals are more likely to engage in financial crimes, scams and other such crimes, which generally do not involve the element of violence.
Most such crimes are committed through tricks, cleverness and skills. Hence placements of malefic planets in Shravana may produce some of the best con artists, master thieves, professionals dealing in financial crimes like fake currency, smuggling of various items and other such crimes. It means a master thief who steals a piece of art or another valuable item from a highly secured place, with perfect planning and leaving no trace; may very well be a Shravana type native. As mentioned many times, any energy can be used positively or negatively; and it has no wish of its own.
Looking at the Vaaman incident, Bali was deceived because he underestimated Vaaman. He might have thought how much land a Vaaman could measure with three steps. It means there is often much more to Shravana than meets the eye. Hence people under strong influence of Shravana may hold much more wealth, power, skill or knowledge than they seem to possess. It means one should not underestimate a native under strong influence of Shravana since he may hold many secret weapons.
Criminal heads under strong influence of Shravana may often have hidden connections with government officers and politicians. They may not disclose such connections and they may use these connections to kill the competition as well as to stay protected.
Looking at this fact from another angle, government officers under strong influence of Shravana may have strong and hidden connections with people in high places. Such officers may use these connections to stay protected as well as to stay ahead in the competition. Whatever field Shravana people may engage in, they may hold much more power or resources, than they may seem to hold.
A symbol of ‘ear’ is also associated with this nakshatra. This symbol renders many traits to Shravana. An ear represents the ability to hear and accordingly the ability to learn and preserve. It should be noted that in ancient times, knowledge was transferred by means of oral teaching, which means through ears. Students listened to their teachers or gurus carefully and they preserved what they heard. Therefore, Shravana is directly related to the ability to learn and preserve.
Vedic astrology assigns Lord Narayana as the ruling deity of Shravana. Much has already been mentioned about influence of Lord Narayana on Shravana. Traits of Lord Narayana like cleverness, organizing skills, determination, dedication, flexibility, patience, perseverance, diplomacy and communication skills are relayed through Shravana. These traits make Shravana one of the most organized and cleverest among 27 nakshatras.
Vedic astrology also assigns goddess Saraswati as the ruling deity of Shravana. The influence of goddess Saraswati adds traits like the ability to gain knowledge, good listening abilities, good speech abilities and good sense of music and other arts, to Shravana.
Vedic astrology assigns Moon as the planetary ruler of Shravana. Influence of Moon brings traits like gentleness, receptiveness and the ability to connect to masses and influence them, to Shravana. All four quarters of Shravana fall in Capricorn ruled by Saturn. The Influences of Saturn and Capricorn add traits like organizational skills, management skills, administrative skills, analytical ability, discipline, patience, practicality and perseverance to Shravana. As a result, Shravana people may achieve success through a wide variety of professional spheres.
Shravana people are generally very patient and persevering. They may keep moving towards their goals until they achieve them. Since Shravana people may be clever and practical, they may not fall for unrealistic goals unlike some other nakshatra type people. Shravana is a persevering nakshatra and people under strong influence of this nakshatra may try their best to reach their goals.
Shravana people may be good at gaining knowledge and then applying such knowledge to produce results. Shravana people are generally social in nature and they may have good networks of friends and colleagues. Such networks may be used by Shravana people in various organizational activities in order to achieve bigger goals. Shravana people may be good at influencing and charming people and then using them to get benefits from them or through them.
Shravana people may be good listeners and they may also be good speakers. Which one of these sides may be dominant in one such native, depends on placements of various planets in this nakshatra, as well as on his overall horoscope. Taking an example, if benefic Saturn is placed in the first or second house of a horoscope in Capricorn in Shravana, the native may listen more or much more than he may speak. The combination of Saturn with Shravana may put more focus on listening and preserving than on speaking and preaching.
Taking another example, if Mercury is placed in the second house of a horoscope in Capricorn in Shravana, the native may speak more than he may listen. Mercury is the general signifier of speech and the second house represents speech among other things. Hence such combination of Mercury with Shravana may put more focus on speaking, though the native may have his fair share of listening also. One such native may engage in a profession where verbal abilities may be valued a lot. This is because Mercury rules the tenth house in this horoscope; since Virgo falls in the tenth house. Hence the native may use his verbal abilities along with other abilities to achieve success in profession.
Shravana exhibits a number of traits. However, different people may embrace different traits, depending on placements of various planets in this nakshatra, as well as depending on their overall horoscopes. Looking at planets among navagraha; Moon, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu may perform well in Shravana. Sun may perform well in Shravana, when supported by overall horoscope. Jupiter may not be much comfortable with the energy of Shravana.
Though most planets among navagraha may channelize the energy of Shravana, they may produce different effects. Placement of benefic Moon in the first house of a horoscope in Capricorn in Shravana may bless the native with a post of authority in government or in a private organization; depending on his overall horoscope. The native under strong influence of such Moon in Shravana may also achieve success as a professional dealing in telecom sector, real estate sector, event management industry, legal sector, entertainment industry, hospitality industry; and some other types of professional, depending on the rest of his horoscope.
Placement of benefic Mars in the first house of a horoscope in Capricorn in Shravana forms Ruchaka Yoga in the horoscope. The native under strong influence of such Ruchaka Yoga in Shravana may achieve authority in government as an officer or as a politician. Formation of Ruchaka Yoga in a horoscope is generally considered to bless the native with success in defence services. However in this case, such Ruchaka Yoga may bend the native towards administrative services, revenue services, telecommunication, broadcast and other such services.
This is because Ruchaka Yoga formed in Shravana may not favour engagement in direct physical aggression of extreme types. Such Ruchaka Yoga may instead make the native interested in professional spheres represented by Shravana. However, the native may serve for defense services in different ways. For example, such native having Ruchaka Yoga in Shravana may become an administrative officer and later in his career, he may serve as defence secretary.
This type of Ruchaka Yoga may also bless the native with power and authority through politics. In such case, the native may become home minister, finance minister, telecom minister or the minster for commerce. Such Ruchaka Yoga in Shravana may also bless the native through various types of sports; though the native may not engage in extreme physical sports like boxing and wrestling.
Looking at another variation, if benefic Saturn is placed in the first house of a horoscope in Capricorn in Shravana, Shasha Yoga is formed. The native under strong influence of such Shasha Yoga in Shravana may achieve success through financial sector, real estate sector, telecom sector, frozen food industry or education sector. This type of Shasha Yoga may also bless the native with authority in the house of government through job or through politics, depending on his overall horoscope.
If the native achieves authority as an officer, he may become an administrative officer, a revenue officer or a judge. If such Shasha Yoga blesses him with authority through politics, the native may serve as telecom minister, finance minister, information and broadcast minister or education minister. If the overall horoscope is strong, such Sasha Yoga in Shravana may bless the native with the post of chief minister, governor, prime minster or president. In case the native becomes a judge, such Shasha Yoga may bless him with the post of chief justice of Supreme Court or Apex court; when supported by his overall horoscope.
Placements of malefic planets in Shravana may weaken or corrupt its traits. As a result, the native may suffer from a wide variety of problems, depending on his overall horoscope. Some people under strong influence of malefic planets in Shravana may engage in various types of crimes. Since Shravana is good at the art of disguise, it may become very difficult to deal with such criminals.
Most criminals under strong malefic influence of Shravana may be white collar criminals. Such people may be shrewd and they may successfully run their illegal businesses for many years without getting caught or without even getting recognized as criminals. It means for many years, they may not have any criminal records and they may keep operating under the radar.
Let’s look at performances of various planets in various navamshas of Shravana. Starting with Aries navamsha; Mars may perform very well in this navamsha; since it is exalted in Capricorn and it is strong in Aries. Saturn, Mercury, Venus and Rahu may perform well but not very well here. Saturn is debilitated in Aries whereas Venus, Mercury and Rahu are not as strong in Capricorn as Saturn and Mars. Apart from that, they are not strong in Aries.
Moon may perform on overage or above average here; since it has decent strength in Capricorn as well as Aries; and it is very comfortable in Shravana. Sun may perform above average here whereas Ketu may perform on average or above average in this navamsha. Jupiter may perform below average or on average but not poorly in this navamsha, since it is strong in Aries. Among navagraha; Mars may be the strongest in this navamsha. No planet may be significantly weak in this navamsha.
Looking at Taurus navamsha; Mars, Venus, Rahu and Saturn may perform very well in this navamsha whereas Mercury may perform well or very well here. Saturn may do its best work in this navamsha; among all 4 navamshas of Shravana. Rahu is exalted in Taurus and within the sign of Capricorn; it may deliver second best results in this navamsha. Rahu may produce best results in Virgo navamsha of Dhanishtha; within the sign of Capricorn. Though Rahu is exalted in Taurus as well as Virgo navamsha; it is more comfortable in Dhanishtha.
Moon may perform well in this navamsha; since it has decent strength in Capricorn, it is exalted in Taurus and it is very comfortable in Shravana. Within Capricorn; Moon may deliver its best performance in this navamsha. Sun may perform on average here; since it is not strong in Capricorn as well as Taurus. Ketu may perform below average in this navamsha since it is debilitated in Taurus and not strong in Capricorn. Jupiter may perform poorly in this navamsha. Among navagraha; Saturn may be the strongest in this navamsha whereas Jupiter may be the weakest.
Moving on to Gemini navamsha; Mars, Venus, Mercury, Saturn and Rahu may perform well or very well here. Mercury is not as strong as Saturn and Mars in Capricorn but is stronger than them in Gemini and it is very comfortable in Shravana. Moon may perform above average here; since it is not strong in Capricorn as well as Gemini but it is very comfortable in Shravana.
Sun may perform on average or below average here whereas Ketu may perform below average in this navamsha. Sun is not strong in Gemini though it has decent strength in this sign whereas Ketu is weak in Gemini. Jupiter may perform poorly in this navamsha; since it is debilitated in Capricorn and it doesn’t have much strength in Gemini. Among navagraha; Saturn may be the strongest in this navamsha whereas Jupiter may be the weakest.
Considering Cancer navamsha; Saturn may perform well or very well in this navamsha whereas Venus may perform well here. Rahu and Mercury may perform above average or well in this navamsha. Mercury is weak in Cancer but it is very comfortable in Shravana and it is strong in Capricorn. Rahu is not strong in Cancer but it is also very comfortable in Shravana. Mars may perform well but not very well in this navamsha, since it is debilitated in Cancer.
Moon may perform above average or well in this navamsha; since it is strong in Cancer. Sun may perform below average in this navamsha; since it has decent strength in Capricorn and it is weak in Cancer. Ketu may perform on average here and Jupiter may also perform on average but not above average in this navamsha. Though Jupiter is exalted in Cancer, it is debilitated in Capricorn and it is not much comfortable in Shravana. Among navagraha; Saturn may be the strongest in this navamsha. No planet may be significantly weak in this navamsha.
Himanshu Shangari