Sunil Gavaskar, the greatest opening batsman ever produced in Test cricket, turned 75 on July 10, 2024. While some may argue that Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest batsman overall, I still consider Gavaskar the greatest due to his exceptional technique and his courageous encounters with the fierce fast bowling of the West Indies during the 1970s and 1980s.
As an astrologer, I wish to explore Sunil Gavaskar's birth chart to understand the astrological influences that shaped his exceptional career as a test batsman, upon whom the entire Indian team relied.
In the chart of a sportsman, there often exists a significant connection between the 3rd Lord (representing self-efforts, valor, and talent) and the 10th house or its Lord (associated with occupation, recognition, and achievements. In his chart, Jupiter, the 3rd Lord representing self-efforts and talent, is debilitated and retrograde in the Lagna (1st House), but it receives an aspect from the 10th Lord Venus positioned in the 7th House.
Having two benefics (Jupiter and Venus) in Kendra (angles) in the Rashi Chart, and three benefics[Moon Venus,Mercury] in Kendra in the Navamsha Chart, provides considerable strength in his Chart . Jupiter in the constellation of Sun and Sun in the constellation of Jupiter, with an exchange of constellations (Nakshatras), forms a Rajlakshan Yoga in his birth chart. His birth chart indicates a strong Moon positioned in the 7th House from the Sun (Krishna PakshaPradipada), enhancing his overall strength. Furthermore, the presence of the 9th Lord (Sun) from the Moon and the 7th Lord (Mercury) from the Moon in the 7th House from the Moon forms an excellent Rajyoga. Additionally, Saturn, the 3rd Lord from the Moon, aspects the 3rd house in the birth chart.
But I am still not convinced why he was considered the greatest opening batsman based on his astrological chart.
After deeply focusing on his chart, I could see the real reason: the Nakshatra exchange between Mercury and Rahu. The Rahu Dasha began on August 11th, 1971, and continued until August 11th, 1989. Mercury, as the 9th Lord (luck, fortunes)from Lagna , resides in its own house (6th House)[ struggle, enemies, challenges] along with the 8th Lord Sun . However, Mercury functions as the 9th Lord from the Lagna and the 10th Lord from the Moon sign (Sagittarius).
Rahu is positioned in the 3rd house, which corresponds to self-efforts, in the Rashi Chart.
The entire Rahu Dasha functioned akin to Mercury Dasha, positioned in its own sign in the 6th House, strongly influenced by a powerful Moon (the 7th Lord). This configuration formed a potent Rajyoga involving the 7th Lord[Moon] and the 9th Lord[Mercury] in the house associated with competition[6th House]. This Mercury also participates in a Rajyoga from the Moon's perspective (Moon Lagna in Sagittarius), where Mercury (the 10th Lord) is conjoined with the 9th Lord Sun.
He made his debut against West Indies in West Indies in March 1971 during the Dasha of Mars (in Rajyoga), Moon (in Rajyoga), and Rahu in the 3rd house. This Dasha should also be interpreted as Mars-Moon-Mercury due to the constellation exchange, which signifies Mars (in Rajyoga), Moon (Rajyoga), and Mercury (Rajyoga). He accumulated 774 runs in that series with a average of 154.8 which is highest in a debut series by any batsman . India won the first overseas series 1-0 in the 5-test match played under the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar . Gavaskarmade 4 test centuries and a double century.
To justify his performance, let's consider other significant yogas that contributed to his success:
According to B.P.H.S. chapter 40, shloka 13, if Rashi, Hora, Dreshkone, Navmansha, Dwadshansha, and Trimshamsha are conjunct or aspected by the same planet, it constitutes a Rajyoga. Here, Venus is aspecting the Lagna of Rashi, Navmansha, Dreshkone, Dwadshamsha, and is in the Lagna of Hora and Trimshamsha. It is fulfills allthe conditions which is quiet rare.
Mercury, symbolizing the maternal uncle , and its placement in the 6th house in own sign —significant because it's the 3rd house[younger brother] from the 4th house (mother)—adds weight to his chart as a Rajyoga. This correlation is strengthened by the fact that his maternal uncle, Madhav Mantari, played for India against England in 1951.
Now let us analyze the other significant events of his life astrologically.
He got married on 23rd September 1974 during the Vimshottari Dasha of Rahu-Jupiter-Saturn. Jupiter, the antardasha lord, was aspecting the 7th House[marriage] and Venus (5th Lord). Jupiter also serves as the 7th Lord in the Navmansha chart. Saturn, the Pratyantar Dashalord, is the Lagna Lord and signifies the secondary house for marriage as it is 7th from the 7th house.
His son Rohan was born on 20th February 1976 during the Vimshottari Dasha of Rahu-Jupiter-Moon. Jupiter, the antardasha lord, was aspecting the 5th House (Progeny) in both the Rashi and Navmansha charts, as well as in the Saptamsha chart. In the Rashi Chart, Moon, the 7th Lord, is aspected by Mercury, the 9th Lord (which signifies progeny). In the NavmanshaChart, Moon is with Venus, the 5th Lord (also related to progeny).
He was a member of the team that won the 1983 Prudential World Cup under the leadership of Kapil Dev. Later in February 1985, he got the opportunity to lead the team in the Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket in Australia. The Dasha running was Rahu-Venus-Saturn, with Venus as the antardasha lord forming the rare Rajyoga as mentioned earlier. He led the team to victory in the championship, making the nation proud. However, he could not contribute much with the bat as Venus was in Mrityu Bhag degree. And Saturn is placed in the 8th House, although it forms a Rajyoga.
He scored a century in both innings in Karachi on 14th November 1978. The Vimshottari Dasharunning was Rahu-Saturn-Rahu. Due to the Nakshatra exchange of Rahu-Mercury, it should be read as Mercury-Saturn-Mercury. Mercury, the 9th Lord under Rajyoga due to mutual aspect with the Moon, the 7th Lord, and Saturn due to mutual aspect with Mars,the 4th Lord. Saturn in 8th House clealy hints towards the difficult circumstance .
The same feat was repeated in December 1978 against West Indies in Kolkata; the Dasharunning was Rahu-Saturn-Rahu.
He achieved this rare feet in first series on 13th April 1971 at Port of Spain in the VimshottariDasha of Mars-Moon-Saturn. Mars is in Rajyoga due to the aspect of Saturn the Lagna Lord ,Moon due to the mutual aspect with Mercury, the 9th Lord, and Saturn also in Rajyoga in the 8thHouse showing the difficult circumstances under which he made the centuries .
His first one-day match century came on 31st October 1987 in the Vimshottari Dasha of Rahu-Moon-Saturn. Later 5th November 1987 he played his last ODI agaist England and took retirement in the same Dasha with Moon in the 12th house, the house of retirement, and Saturn in the 8th house, the house of change. He was Sheriff of Mumbai on December 22, 1994 in the Dasha of Jupiter-Mercury-Venus , Jupiter in Nakshtra exchange with Sun , a Rajlakshan Yoga and Mercury the 9th Lord in Rajyoga and Venus forming the rare Rajyoga.
Soon he will enter the Mahadasha of Mercury, the 6th Lord and 9th Lord, very well placed in the 6th house under the Nakshatra exchange with Rahu in the 3rd House. So, this Dasha will be impactful, akin to the Dasha of Rahu. Rahu in the 3rd House, the house of communication, should enable him to regularly communicate about cricket matches. Rahu is well placed in the 10th house in the Navamsha Chart and in a Rajyoga in the Dashamansha Chart. He will continue to do the commentary as per the Dasha of Rahu in 3rd House[Communication] .
I personally salute this great sportsman and wish him a healthy, peaceful, and happy life ahead.
Published in Express Star Teller October 2024 .
Written and Researched by Sunil Dutt
Comments