Gautama Buddha

[Jim Eshelman]

Like much of the astrological world, I've long wished I could have a horoscope of the birth of the historical Gautama Buddha; and, like most of the sensible astrological world, I've (just as long) assumed we weren't likely ever to have one.

The state of scholarship on the issue remains one of studied, committed uncertainty. There is simply no agreement on the matter except that there is agreement that the whole matter is quite uncertain. Historic (often mythologic) reports stretch across most of a millennium on possible times. Scholarship has now narrowed that down quite a bit (from the thousand year mark), but not nearly enough.

Here is how little we know: (0) There is agreement that, yes, this was an actual historic figure. (1) The most recent scholarly consensus I can find is that he died within about 20 years either side of 400 BCE. (2) Nearly all record or tradition [whichever you want to call it] says he lived 80 years. (3) Most scholars hold that he was born in Nepal, and most of those agree on what is today Kapilvastu District in Lumbini Province. The town of Kapilavastu, Nepal is certainly enough (considering all the other unknowns).

From this point on, everything I say about the birth is speculative. Think of it as me having a bit of fun. There was, however, a gratifying outcome. Unfortunately, I suspect we'll never be able to confirm or disprove this one way or the other, so it will remain in the 'fun' category.

All of the great avatars - of the scope of those who were foundations of worldwide religions enduring for vast periods of time - seem to have born near a Jupiter-Saturn conjunction. The constellation of the conjunction has coincided with primary themes of the religion, as Jesus likely born in 7 BC with the Pisces conjunction or Mohammed likely born in 571 with the Libra conjunction. I have long considered Buddhism to be primarily an expression of Taurus.

If Prince Gautama was indeed born near a Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, died within 20 years of 400 BCE, and lived around 80 years, we have three Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions with which to contend. They fall in Capricorn, Libra, and Taurus. I'm obviously drawn to the Taurus conjunction, which occurred one time in late May, 503 BC.

Buddha's birthday is celebrated worldwide every year, as has been done for millennia. There are small disagreements, most of which have to do with interpretations of the old lunar calendar; but, overall, they are about as consistent and agreeing as, say, the agreement of the date of Christmas (which diverges in two branches of Christianity, again due to a calendar issue). There is nearly universal agreement that he was born at a full Moon. The date celebrated each year varies a little by geography and from year to year, but basically falls around May, with some years as early as April and other years as late as early June.

That May, 503 BC Jupiter-Uranus conjunction looks more interesting all the time.

To get a starting point, I calculated the full Moon soon before the conjunction, using Kaplavastu. Nepal as the working location. Whoa! Wow! This chart by itself is pretty amazing! The full Moon chart itself could be that of a religious leader - or, at the very least, of a newborn local prince.

[Jim Eshelman]

As I zeroed in on the Full Moon (stepping backwards a day at a time in Solar Fire and then stepping through the hours), I saw that it was going to be roughly the day of Sun conjunct Jupiter. When I reached the actual time of the opposition - Whoa indeed! - I found that the Full Moon occurred almost the minute of local sunset. For what might well have been the birth of king's son, Sun and Jupiter were conjoined on Descendant in Taurus opposite Moon, just breaking the eastern horizon against the background of the spectacular stars of Scorpio. The chart took my breath away!

Even more breathtaking is imagining the sky that was exposed as Sun dropped below the horizon. Leo was stretched across the south, a further mark of royalty, with all the splendor that this portion of the sky unfurls. The many bright stars of Orion were just above the western horizon, Sirius scintillating 15° above the west Leo wrapped from Regulus to Denebola around the southern sky, Spica and Arcturus still high and bright toward the east. Surely there was a court poet on hand to record this great celestial pageantry, though, if so, not a line of it has survived to our time.

It is the chart of a great monarch, a world-scale ruler.

If someone had indeed recorded it, whatever the exact minute of birth, they likely would have written that it occurred at sunset and the rising of the Moon. I have slightly tweaked the time, therefore, to 6:30 PM LMT, just as the last rays of Sun disappeared in the west.

[Jim Eshelman]

Therefore, I offer the following for your entertainment and, perhaps, consideration. Chart by Solar Fire, analytic tables by TMSA.

Buddha.png

Code: Select all

Pl Longitude   Lat   Speed    RA    Decl    Azi     Alt     PVL    Ang G
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mo 20Sc02'17" 03S53 +14°32' 216°15' 18S42 111°17' + 0°11' 359°49' 100% F
Su 19Ta50'53" 00S00 + 0°57'  37°22' 14N57 287°30' - 1°03' 178°54' 100% F
Me 26Ar20'52" 03S09 + 1°10'  16°15' 03N36 288°33' -24°44' 154°05'   5%  
Ve 09Ta20'47" 00S55 + 1°13'  27°33' 10N31 288°28' -11°33' 167°50'  65%  
Ma 23Pi45'30" 01S33 + 0°44' 345°40' 07S54 300°05' -56°14' 120°03'  41%  
Ju 21Ta39'19" 00S40 + 0°14'  39°21' 14N54 286°32' + 0°36' 180°38' 100% F
Sa 23Ta28'13" 01S43 + 0°08'  41°28' 14N28 285°10' + 2°12' 182°17'  99% F
Ur 09Ar57'07" 00S40 + 0°03'   0°13' 00S38 295°14' -40°20' 136°49'  11%  
Ne 02Sc37'37" 02N02 - 0°02' 201°39' 07S01 108°34' +18°22' 340°42'  28%  
Pl 05Vi32'02" 16N29 - 0°00' 154°11' 28N35  82°02' +74°29' 285°23'  66%  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Class 1 Aspects          Class 2 Aspects         Class 3 Aspects     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mo op Su 00°11'100%       Mo tr Ma 03°43' 74%                           
Mo op Ju 00°49' 99%M      Su sx Ma 03°55' 71%                           
Mo op Sa 02°28' 91%M      Su co Sa 03°23' 84%M                          
Su co Ju 01°44' 96%M      Me op Ne 06°17' 58%                           
Ve oc Ma 00°35' 96%       Ve op Ne 06°43' 52%                           
Ma sx Ju 02°06' 91%       Ve tr Pl 03°49' 72%                           
Ma sx Sa 00°17'100%       Sa oc Ur 01°29' 74%                           
Ju co Sa 01°39' 96%M                                                    
Ne sx Pl 02°54' 84%

[Patrick Machado]

Weakest planet is Mercury. I wouldn't have expected that. But a lucid and (from my limited knowledge) fitting chart.

[Jim Eshelman]

Weakest planet is Mercury. I wouldn't have expected that. But a lucid and (from my limited knowledge) fitting chart.

If legendary history is to believe, he was kept from all knowledge of the outside world and religious writings until he left home and began to learn things on his own.