Pulippani Jothidam (300 Astrology Rules from an Ancient Tamil Work)

The time of Sage Pulippani is not clearly known. Some say he lived in 3000 BC before the start of KaliYuga. Siddha Pulippani and Pulippani are one and the same person. The importance of Pulippani Jothidam is the way in which, most of the astrological principles have been explained in just 300 verses. People in Tamil Nadu still refer to this great work when any such combinations as stated in the book are seen in a chart.

Some of the Yogas are very clearly explained such as Tharai Yoga which gives wealth and property like the summer rains that come with lightning and thunder. A very good explanation is available on the Raja yogas. The results arising out of conjunctions of planets have also been given elaborately, not found in most books. Next is the long list of Dhana Yogas which are worth following. There is a section on Duryogas too. Certain horoscopes are blessed with the grace of God, combinations for such charts have been provided. The results on account of transit are worth reading. The final part is the results for each Mahadasa and its Antardasas.

The 5, 7 aspects of Rahu and Ketu find mention in some works. Here Pulippani Jothidam is the only work which talks about the 3rd and I I th aspect of Rahu-Ketu. Over a period of 3 years we have found these 3, I I aspects of Rahu-Ketu working very subtly.

Sri Natarajan is now 94 years old and lives in Chennai. A proper introduction of him is essential for the readers to understand the author. Some of you would have heard about the name ‘Nakkirar’ one of the Tamil poets who argued with Lord Shiva and was burnt alive (and of course brought to life later by Lord Shiva). The story is available in Wikipedia and is reproduced here for the benefit if the readers:

“Tiruvilaiyadal Puranam relates an incident involving Nakkeerar’s confrontation with Lord Shiva. Once the Pandiyan King had a doubt as to whether the scent from a woman’s hair was natural or artificial. He announced a prize of 1000 gold coins for anyone to resolve his doubt. A poor poet named Tharumi prayed to Lord Shiva to make him get the award. The Lord gave a poem to the poet and asked him to take it to the King. When this poem was read in the court, Poet Nakkeerar found fault with it and stopped the Pandiyan King from giving the prize. Tharumi’s grief grew and he again appealed to the Lord. He said he was not worried for not receiving the prize but he could not bear anyone finding fault with the Lord’s poems.

Thereupon, Lord Shiva himself came to the court and challenged Nakkeerar. But Nakkeerar was not moved. Though Lord Shiva asked him if the hair of Ganapoongodai, the consort of Lord Kalathinathar, whom Nakkeerar worshipped, did not have a natural scent, the undaunted Nakkeerar asserted that it was so. Shiva opened the eye in his forehead (Netrikkan) which emitted fire and looked at Nakkeerar to show the poet who he was. Even then, Nakkeerar persisted in his statement. As he could not bear the scorching heat emanating from the divine eye he jumped into the water of the Golden Lotus Tank. Then at the request of the other poets, the Lord took Nakkeerar out of the tank, forgave him and made him study under Agasthiar’, the Tamil Sage. This story remains a popular myth.”

Another version is that on the opening of the third eye by Lord Shiva, it scorched Nakkeerar and he became a heap of ashes. And then when Shiva cooled down, he realised his mistake and upon the request of all others present in the court, he gave a new life to the poet.

So the story goes on like this for our Nakkeerar Natarajan. A big Astrological conference was being held in which stalwarts like Dr. B. V. Raman was present. It was a seminar like thing. One astrological principle was being discussed and Sri Natarajan was the only one who had a view which was exactly the opposite of all other Astrologers. So he challenged all those present that his views are correct. When he was asked to explain his views and after hearing his views, everybody totally agreed with him. Pleased with his explanations and his adamancy in sticking to his principles, in the same conference, he was praised that Natarajan has stood like the poet Nakkeerar in his views. Hence he should be given the title as Nakkeerar and the same was conferred on him in the same conference.

Sri Natarajan has also penned many books in Tamil and one book in English titled ‘Matching for Marriage by Kootas and Birth Charts’. He was kind enough to accept our request to translate the Great work of Pulippani Siddhar.

Some of his Tamil books are also under the process of being translated. We pray God that such a great person should live for many more years and guide us in the field of Astrology.

Tamil Astrology is a separate form of astrology since it is more ancient than Indian Astrology as some opine. The literature of astrological texts from the state of tamil nadu has not come out in the international world of astrology. Tamil astrological literature is a different world altogether and many in India know about it, yet none in the younger generation who know English take the effort to translate it in English and give it to our indian or international astrological bretheren. In olden days of Shri B V Raman, one could find some writers from his magazine translate few verses from tamil astrological literature into English, those were the days of Shri Vidwan Lakshman and Shri N Sundara Rajan. Then came the stalwart R Santhanam who did commentary of BPHS who in Part 1 gave many quotes from tamil astrological literature. Unfortunately not many in the younger generation know about the greatness of Late Santhanams commentary since they do not have anyone to guide them as to which commentary to read. In modern times Shri Yenbeeyes, Associate Editor of Saptarishis Astrology Magazine (www.saptarishisastrology. com) took the initiative to start translating many tamil works and he brought out Saptarishis Nadi, which is a unique work as for the first time in the history of astrology, one can find the predictions of the rishis who created this shastra. To think of it, we are studying astrology and predicting through it but the ones who created this science, the Rishis we have not asked the question how they used to predict and this can be found in Saptarishis Nadi which Shri Yenbeeyes and his team did.

Shri Yenbeeyes is also the student of the translator Shri Natarajan who even at the age of 94 translated this very ancient work of Sage Pullipani into English so that worldwide audiences could understand the greatness of Tamil Astrology. So far there has been no attempt by any person in translating this work and Shri Natarajan is the first one to do this. The contribution of Shri Yenbeeyes in serving his Guru Shri Natarajan cannot be mentioned in words, without him this work could not have seen the light of the day. Apart from the translation by Shri Natarajan, his notes are a delight for the scholars. We thank from our heart Bettina Brodbeck, from USA for further proofing this work.

Our Vedhas are our Treasures. Astrology is described as eyes of the Vedhas. Our ancient Rishis compiled this Divine Science. After about 500 B.C., many great Astrologers have written many classics on Astrology. They were mostly in Sanskrit language. Many great “SIDDHARS” who were yogis with Divine powers and with power of intuition lived in Tamil Nadu. Bogar was one of them. His disciple Pulippani Siddhar had great superhuman powers of intuition. He completed the great Astrology in just 300 verses or stanzas. He explained all the salient points very clearly and precisely. This book is written in chaste Tamil and in poems or slokas. While the works of Varahamihirar, Parasarar etc., which are in Sanskrit language, are translated into English and other languages, the Tamil classics were not translated into English. I have with the help of Tamil Pandits made an attempt.

Pulippani was born in China. He used to wander in the forests riding a tiger. So he was called Pulippani. “Puli” in Tamil means tiger. Bogar is one of the eighteen celebrated Siddhar. He was a South Indian and was born in the community of Viswakarma (Goldsmith). He attained siddhi and performed many miracles including flying by floating in air. He visited China to spread Siddha science. It was then Pulippani became an ardent disciple of Mahan Bogar Siddhar. Assisted by his disciple Pulippani returned and settled on the top of Palani Hills. He was a great Muruga Baktha. He made a statue of Lord Dhandapani with Nava Bhashanam (i.e.) nine herbal medicines. Pulippani helped by collecting the required herbs. He installed the statue on the top of the Palani hills where he did his meditation and worshipped. The present “Dhandayuthapani” navabhashana vigra is the one Bogar made and installed. Bogar entered into Jeeva Samadhi on the Palani hills, which are the side of the present temple. There is a separate mandapam for him. Bogar lived for 300 year 18 days spanning over the end of Dwapara Yuga and the beginning of Kali Yuga. After Bogar, Pulippani was carrying on the Holy Rituals done by Bogar. It is not known how many years he lived after Bogar and attained mukthi.

He authored “Pulippani Jothidam 300” - a book giving concise principles on Jyotish and another book “Pulippani Vaidhyam 500” a book on medicines and treatments.

This work of Pulippani Siddhar is complete with all the principles of Astrology. One who studies this book will be able to interpret the birth clearly and predict easily and very accurately. Readers are requested to take the salient points and condone any lapses.