Sadhana
- Type
- Concepts
- Section
- Tara Bala
Sadhana is tara of accomplishment: effort bears fruit.
Sadhana Tara (Sādhana-tāra) — the sixth of the nine taras in the Tara Bala system. The name comes from the Sanskrit "sadhana" (accomplishment, attainment). Tradition places it among the favourable taras: a window in which what's begun reaches its result — effort bears fruit.
Place in the system
Tara Bala divides the circle of 27 nakshatras into three circles of nine taras. Sadhana Tara is the sixth position: the Moon stands five steps ahead of your birth nakshatra.
Sadhana Tara comes around three times per lunar circuit — about every 9 days.
Practical meaning
Sadhana Tara is a favourable window for bringing matters to a result — both worldly and spiritual. Tradition connects it with the completion of what's begun — effort on this day bears fruit. Spiritual practice is one case where this is especially noticeable: meditation goes deeper, mantras clearer.
The Sadhana Tara background works through accomplishment. It is a day on which effort applied to something already begun is more likely to reach its goal.
In Indian folk practice, Sadhana Tara is a day on which devout Hindus often bring started matters to completion and deepen their spiritual practice: a longer meditation, reading scripture, fasting.
In daily practice
Sadhana Tara is a day for bringing matters to a result. If you have something unfinished — worldly or spiritual — this day is good for seeing it through.
Sadhana Tara also suits fasting: light food or full abstinence. The fast here is a way of deepening, not a sacrifice.
Sadhana Tara also suits studying scripture: reading the Bhagavad Gita, the Shrimad Bhagavatam, the Yoga Sutras, or other texts. Understanding often comes more easily on this day.
Sadhana Tara follows right after Pratyak Tara — the day of resistance — and there is a logic to that order in the cycle: after the headwind comes a day when effort finally finds footing and reaches its result. This applies equally to worldly matters and to spiritual practice.
The previous position of the cycle is Pratyak Tara, the next is Naidhana Tara.