Rishi Vyasa
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The Vyasa SJC California study circle is based on the Jyotish teachings coming from the lineage of Sri Achyuta Dasa of Orrisa. Achyuta was a 15th century saint, whose teachings have been passed down to us through the Rath family.
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| Sri Achyuta Dasa was born a Sudra (low caste) and through knowledge and god realization achieved the position of a Brahmin (high caste). From the beginning, the Parampara guru proves that anyone can learn the Vedic sciences and evolve themselves to the highest spiritual potentials possible for a human being. |
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Achyutananda, as he is called, was born in Tilakona, Orissa in 1510 on Magha Sukla Ekadasi (January 10, 1510). His childless parents had prayed to Lord Jagannath and then one night his father had a vision that Garuda (the Eagle of Visnu) gave him a child.
Achyutananda was known as a sad child until he met his guru, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. His life changed when the guru whispered the Mahamantra in his ear. He became one of the panchasakha (the five friends) of Chaitanya. The five friends are known as Achyutananda Dasa, Ananta Dasa, Yasovanta Dasa, Jagannatha Dasa, and Balarama Das. These five friends are said to incarnate whenever Krsna takes incarnation. Achyutananda was the most prolific writers among the panchasakha. His books are still available in the ancient Oriya language, which is a mix of Sanskrit and modern Oriya.
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Sri Achyuta Dasa had 12 disciples from which his centers of teaching (gaddis) were spread from East India to Nepal. His bhakti filled teachings are a mix of yantra, mantra, tantra, svara çastra, yoga çastra, jyotiña, sämudrika çastra, lagäëa, bhajan, chaupadé, puräëa, upa puräëa, and more.
Mahapurusha Achyutananda lived to be 121 years of age and when he left this plane he left behind copper, silver and gold plates (patti) to guide his students. |
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Jagannath Rath (Sanjay’s Grandfather) was born in a time when Jyotisha was still supported by the Orissi Maharajas. He was a royal astrologer (Raja Jyotishi) who had learnt from his grandfather. The royal support of the Vedic sciences led to a high level of quality, as seen in other Vedic masters like T. Krisnamacharya who was supported by the Maharaja of Mysore. Orissa, with its great Sun temple at Konarak, has been famous for its astrologers and always supported the Science of astrology. Jagannath Rath was given the title of a Jyotish Ratna in Orrisa.
Jagannath Rath lived a very austere life. He had a powerful personality that put many shaking around him. He was known for his generosity but also for the personality of Durvasa. A room was kept at the Maharaja’s house for him to stay when he would read the royal family’s charts. These readings would sometimes last a week or two, and would go into great depth. |
Jagannath Rath wrote many books in his native language to try and make jyotish more accessible. He also wrote about the benefits of being vegetarian and other modern issues. Astrologers from south India and Varanasi would make pilgrimage to ask his advise and guidance.
Jagannath Rath insured that Guruji (Sanjay Rath) was well trained and performed the appropriate sadhanas needed to carry forth Jyotisha from this Sri Achyutananda Parampara. When Sanjay was born his parents were to name him Shushanta, but when grandfather came he did his calculations. Using the svara chakra and other methods he named our guru Sanjay. |
Only picture of Sri Jagannath Rath
(restored from water damage) |
| In Jagannath Rath’s later years, he would fast for long periods and sometimes disappear on long pilgrimages. He kept his sadhana secret and in the final stage of life he became a Saivite Sanyasin. |
Kasinath Rath (Sanjay’s Uncle) was the eldest born son. The tradition of Hora Shastra was passed through him. Sanjay’s father, U.K. Rath, learned advanced Ganita Shastra (science of astronomical mathmatics) and became an industrialist.
Kasinath Rath would hold traditional informal classes teaching Jyotisha. Sanjay spent much of his childhood learning from his uncle and was known as one of the best students. |
Sri Kasinath Rath |
Sri Kasinath Rath with his wife |
Gayatri Initiation of Pandit Sanjay Rath
by his Uncle Sri Kasinath Rath |
| Sanjay Rath was born into this traditional family of astrologers from Bira Balabhadrapur Sasan village of Puri, Orissa. Sanjay studied under his under his uncle, late Pundit Kasinath Rath and his grandfather, late Pandit Jaganath Rath. Sanjay began his studies at 8 years of age, and received the depth of Jyotisha only found among those who have been trained in the ancient traditional way of the parampara. He later became a graduate of mechanical engineering and worked for some time in government service in India. Leaving government service to devote himself completely to Jyotisha, he has the depth of the ancient knowledge with the ability to communicate it to the modern mind. |
He uses Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra, Jaimini Upadesa Sutras, Brihat Jataka and Saraveli as the foundations of Jyotisha. He teaches from various other Jyotish scripture and Nadi texts as well as sacred literature such as the Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavad Purana, Upanisads, Puranas, etc.
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Sanjay Rath teaching at Vyasa SJC California |
| Few are able to grasp Sanjay’s broad and deep approach, and only the advanced astrologer is truly able to appreciate it. His teachings show the underlying factors of why the principles of astrology work. Not holding to one school’s thought or creating his own brand of astrology, he teaches a wholistic approach to Jyotisha that gets to the heart of the ancient Jyotisha scriptures. |
| He gives his students the clarity of vision of the eye of the Vedas. His works are filling the void of advanced teachings and raising the standards in the astrological world. To promote the teachings of his parampara he has formed the Sri Jagannath Center where his advanced students are helping to spread Jyotisha in a way that keeps its spiritual roots. |
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Students learn not only about Jyotisha, but also mantra shastra, mudra, pranayama, meditation, and the Sanatana Dharma.
Sanjay Rath is the editor of the quarterly magazine Jyotish Digest. He travels and teaches though out the world to in the larger SJC groups found in India, Singapore, Serbia, Europe, and the USA. He has authored many advanced books and articles on Jyotisha, some of which are available free online. |
Freedom Cole is the guru at the Vyasa Sri Jagannath Center, California. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a BA in Psychology. At the same time, he graduated from the New England Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine and went to India for further studies in Ayurveda. He then returned to the states to complete the California College of Ayurveda’s second year course which integrates Ayurveda into the western medical framework.
Freedom studied astrology through various ACVA teachers until meeting Sanjay Rath in 2001. He has lived for extended periods in India studying with Pandit Sanjay Rath in Delhi, Bhubaneshwar and Puri. He has also spent extensive time in Varanasi and in the Kamoan Himalayas at Herakhan Ashram. His diksha Guru is Paramahamsa Hariharananda Giri of Puri. |
Freedom teaching Jyotisha at the SJC International Conference in Puri |
Freedom was born into a family that practices yoga. His mother runs the Yoga Healing Arts Center in Pittsgrove, New Jersey. Freedom teaches Hatha Yoga based on the classical Ashtanga Yoga of Baba Hari Dass, as well as Chaya Samyukta and Iyengar Styles. He teaches Yoga worshops and individual yoga therapy sessions. He is one of the main focalizers of the Yoga Healing Arts Camp.
The Vyasa SJC classes are a combination of the practical and spiritual applications of Jyotisha. Freedom shares the teachings he has received from his time studying and traveling with SJC Paramguru Sanjay Rath. |
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