Janma
- Type
- Concepts
- Section
- Tara Bala
Janma is birth tara: a day of inner alignment.
Janma Tara (Janma-tāra) — the first of the nine taras in the Tara Bala system, falling on the birth nakshatra and then every ninth nakshatra after it. The name comes from the Sanskrit "janma" (birth) + "tara" (star). The reading of Janma Tara is school-dependent: in muhurta (choosing a time for a matter) tradition holds it problematic and advises against new undertakings, whereas in Tara Kuta, when checking compatibility, it counts as favourable.
Place in the system
Tara Bala divides the circle of 27 nakshatras into three circles of nine taras. Janma Tara is the first position of the cycle: the birth nakshatra itself, and also the tenth and nineteenth from it, counting inclusively of the birth nakshatra.
The birth nakshatra itself recurs once every 27.3 days — that is how long the Moon takes to go around the zodiac. But Janma Tara is any nakshatra giving a remainder of 1 when counted modulo nine from the birth nakshatra — that is, the 1st, 10th, and 19th — and it comes around three times as often: about every 9 days.
Practical meaning
Janma Tara is a day of particular sensitivity. In muhurta, tradition advises against new undertakings on this day, but that doesn't stop it from being a day on which inner instinct can sharpen. It's good on this day to listen to yourself, meditate, notice subtle signs.
The Janma Tara background works through return. It is a day on which you are "in your own place," and there is a particular strength in that precision.
In Indian folk practice, Janma Tara is a day on which devout Hindus often give thanks for their fortune, perform a blessing rite for the coming cycle, make offerings.
In daily practice
Janma Tara is a day for attention to yourself. Notice what comes up — thoughts, feelings, signs. On this day the inner voice can be especially clear.
Janma Tara also suits charity: a gift to those in need, an offering at a temple. Gratitude here is a natural state.
Janma Tara also suits rest and turning inward: spending time in quiet, away from noisy affairs.
The previous position of the cycle is Ati-Mitra Tara, the next is Sampat Tara.