Music is all around in nature and almost every human being likes music in one form or the other whether it be light music or classical or folk or any other genre. However everybody is not proficient in music, most of us like to hear good music or some may sing or play music just as a hobby and do not pursue it to take it to a professional level. There is a category of people who become professional artists and earn through music but do not get enough exposure or platform to get fame and success.
Classical texts of astrology have thrown enough light on this subject, to quote for example, Sage Ramanuja in Bhavartha Ratnakara observes in the following verses that Venus in the 4th house makes a person an excellent singer. If he is in the 2nd house he will be a poet adept in kavyas and alankara.
शुक्रः चतुर्धगो यस्य गानविद्या विशारदः
द्वितीयगो यदि भृगुः काव्यालंकार शाश्त्रवान्
द्वितीयगो यदि भृगुः कविता धर्ममश्नुते
So, the planet Venus which represents music and art, entertainment, media, creativity etc. and its signs Taurus and Libra are the main significators for music. 2nd house represents one’s speech or voice ( वाणी ), thus 2nd house and its lord are another significators for singing.
The Sun that represents the soul, or its sign Leo or the 5th house or its lord which represent one’s inclinations, creativity etc. need to be somehow touched with these significators for a native to have a feel for the music. It may be noted that Venus and the Sun always remain very close to each other and in any chart may remain within a span of at most two houses from each other, that’s why music is everybody’s liking. However, whenever there is some relationship between these significators, one is gifted with the musical talent, which is the first requirement to become a musician.
Another important input that is needed for musical talents are imagination and feelings. Moon and 12th house represent one’s imaginations. Thus, interconnection between the Moon, Sun Venus, 2nd house, 5th house, 12th house and 1st house (represents self) and the signs Taurus, Libra, Cancer and Leo if found in a chart then it is a sure-shot indication for such native to be musically talented. Again Venus and Moon should be well placed and strong in the chart.
Mercury and 3rd house in the chart represent communication skills and hobbies. It is also the 2nd from 2nd (Principle of Bhavat Bhavam). Singing in fact is an art to communicate to the audience by means of one’s melodious voice or his skills. Thus Mercury, 3rd house and its lord also need to be associated with the above mentioned significators to be a performer else even if the musical talent is shown in the chart, the native can’t be a good performer.
To become a successful musician one also needs to get education in the field of music, therefore Venus should also be connected to the 4th house or its lord. Again, music is a field that needs years of practice and perseverance, therefore connection of a benefic Saturn is also helpful. Mars signifies the energy, activity and precision, its connection with 3rd house or its lord is beneficial and needed for powerful performances.
To take the music to a professional level, 9th, 10th and 11th houses play a vital role. So, if these houses or their lords are also influenced by the significators related to music then the native will adopt music as his career. Again there are numerous other factors which determine the branch of music ( like whether one will be proficient in classical music, or sufi, or bhakti sangeet or in other forms of light music or will be going for playback singing or will be imparting musical training etc.) , that we would discuss in some other blog.
Now there are a few classical yogas, mentioned below, if found in one’s chart, makes one proficient in music.
Gandharva Yoga: When the 10th lord associated with Jupiter occupies Kama Trikona houses (1st, 5th, 9th from 7th house ie: 3rd house, 7th house, or 11th house), Sun is strongly placed and the Moon occupies 9th house then Gandharva yoga is formed. This yoga will make a person skillful in fine arts including Music.
Sangeeta Vidya Yoga : If the 2nd lord or 2nd house is connected with 5th house or 5th lord along with Venus then Sangeeta Vidya yoga is formed. This will give native skilled in music.
Kalanidhi Yoga: When Jupiter either conjoins or aspects Mercury and Venus is in 2nd or 5th house then Kalanidhi yoga is formed. The native will be highly skilled and attain great wisdom in many fields.
Let’s take up a few charts to understand these concepts.
Chart 1: Shrimant Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar
Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar was an Institution of Indian classical music in himself. Besides being an excellent and renowned vocalist, he strived to bring divine music to layman. He established Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and started a degree course in Indian classical music. Panditji compiled books on music. He devised his own notation system suitable to Indian classical music. He also composed notations for the national anthem of India ‘वन्दे मातरम्…’ and the famous patriotic song “सारे जहां से अच्छा...”. Very few people know that the popular Aarati ‘ॐ जय जगदीश हरे..’, the way it is sung in every hindu household and the temples everyday, was composed by Pandit Ji only. He composed and sang the original version of the bhajan ‘रघुपति राघव राजाराम, पतित पावन सीताराम’.
Venus, Mercury and Sun become the lords of 2nd , 3rd and 5th respectively and are conjoined in the 5th house in Leo. Moon, the lord of 4th house is placed in 11th house and aspecting the above conjunction in 5th house. Jupiter lord of the 9th house is exalted in the 4th house. It may be noted that Sangeet Vidya Yoga is also formed in the chart.
Chart 2: Swami Anand Swaroop (Original name: Shri Dattatreya Wadnerkar)
He was a true disciple of Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar who followed the instructions given by his Guru by popularising the dhun ‘रघुपति राघव राजाराम, ..’ in Mewar region of Rajasthan and the Bhakti Sangeet using his musical skills. Pandit Ji had instructed all his disciples to spread all over the country and popularise the Bhakti Sangeet. He compiled about 1300 songs of legendary saint Krishna bhakt Meera Bai and published with the title ‘मीरा सुधा सिन्धु’, that was re-published recently by मीरा स्मृति संस्थान, चित्तौड़ गढ़, राजस्थान.
The sign Taurus falls in the 3rd house and its lord Venus is exalted in Lagna. The Sun and Mercury (lord of 4th house) are conjunct in the 3rd house in Taurus (sign of Venus). 5th lord Moon is in Leo and is aspected by Ketu from the 2nd house that turned him towards the spiritual side. The 2nd house itself is strong, having Mars in its own sign. The 10th lord Jupiter is placed in the 11th house with its lord Saturn and is aspecting 5th house, 3rd house and the conjunction of Sun and Mercury.
Chart 3: Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Didi is an Indian playback singer and music director. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. She has recorded songs in over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional Indian languages and foreign languages, though primarily in Marathi, Hindi, Bengali and Assamese.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was bestowed on her in 1989 by the Government of India. In 2001, in recognition of her contributions to the nation, she was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour and is only the second vocalist, after M. S. Subbulakshmi, to receive this honour. France conferred on her its highest civilian award, the Officer of the Legion of Honour, in 2007 and many many such awards of repute were bestowed upon her.
Venus becomes the Lagna lord and is placed in 4th house in the sign Leo. Lord of 2nd house Mercury and 4th house Sun are conjunct in 5th house, where Mercury (2nd lord) is exalted. Moon is in its own 3rd house in Cancer. The 9th and 10th lord Saturn is aspecting its own 10th house and 11th lord Jupiter is placed in Lagna. All these combinations made her such a great singer.