Astrology and Epidemics - guest post by Ashutosh Kulkarni

A good friend of mine who also studies the stellar system, did some work into the mundane astrology of epidemics. This is a topical subject and hence requested me to publish his work on this platform. Please do read his research, comment, and even improve upon it for those so inclined. I would also encourage readers to use the material on these blogs, and in my youtube videos to go about structurally and systematically understanding jyotisha, instead of taking up "party jyotisha" i.e. rote learning random statements from websites to be used in social gatherings. Ashutosh has done an admirable job in sticking to a systematic methodology of learning this art. The blog begins:

Given the uncertainty created by the Covid-19 epidemic, there has been a flood of upstart astrological predictions about the end of epidemic. This study tries to analyse the astrological combinations present during epidemics of 20th century and connect them to the current epidemic. 

Epidemics Under Consideration

Following are the epidemics considered in this article:

Pluto, the Devil

While traditional astrology doesn’t consider Uranus, Neptune and Pluto for predictions, these three planets have gathered considerable importance. The things that these planets signify are important 

● Uranus signifies sudden changes, revolution and challenge to existing norms

● Neptune is a deeply emotional planet

● Pluto signifies events that happen on mass scale. Often, these events are destructive (or we can say, creatively destructive) 

The most common thing found during all the epidemics is that Pluto is in some way connected to the disease. 

Pluto-Jupiter Conjunction, the basis of epidemic

Jupiter is the Guru of Devas, signifies highest wisdom and healing. But when it got conjunct with Pluto (means Pluto and Jupiter are in same Rashi), it led to some major epidemic. 

Pluto is a very slow planet. But Jupiter covers all Rashis in about 12-13 years. Thus, after roughly 12-13 years, Jupiter-Pluto get conjunct. This makes it roughly 8-9 times in a century.

Other planets when conjunct/aspect Pluto also intensify diseases-

1. Uranus

2. Saturn

3. Rahu-Ketu 

Analysis of Earlier Epidemics

1.Spanish Flu (Mid 1918 till early 1920)

Spanish Flu became a huge epidemic affecting about 50 crore people worldwide and killing about 5 crore people. 

The start happened in March 1918 but the deadliest time started after mid-1918. If we look at planetary positions in 15th June 1918, they look like this:

The chart shows start of the conjunction between Jupiter and Pluto in Gemini. The conjunction is aspected by Uranus. This conjunction continued till June 1919. This period between June 1918 till June 1919 was the deadliest phase of the epidemic if we believe the description on Wikipedia.

2.Asian Flu (1957-58)

The first few cases were found in 1956. Pluto and Jupiter were conjunct since June 1956 that led to genesis of this virus. But the pandemic hit in early 1957 with its peak from June 1957 to early 1958. 

The position of planets on 15th May 1957, the start of peak phase, was this:

The conjunction of Pluto-Jupiter is seen in Leo. It is aspected by Ketu and Saturn. Jupiter moved ahead into Virgo in next few months but Pluto continued to be aspected by Saturn and Ketu till February 1958. Thus, the important conjunction/aspect lasted during the peak phase of this pandemic.

3.World Cholera Epidemic (1963-1975)

This was the longest epidemic. Such an epidemic meant some really destructive combination was at play

The Cholera disease began in 1961 and soon became a global pandemic. 

This time, the combination was even worse. It was Uranus and Pluto conjunction. Imagine Uranus, a significator of sudden events and Pluto, a significator of mass level changes, coming together! 

Uranus was conjunct with Pluto since July 1961 in Leo. Both are slow moving planets. That’s why the conjunction lasted till August 1967. The chart shows position of planets on 15th August 1967. Uranus and Pluto can be seen conjunct in Leo. 

The moment Uranus moved ahead into Virgo in August 1967; Jupiter entered Leo to be conjunct with Pluto. One devil replaced by other!

In 1969, both Pluto and Jupiter crossed over to Virgo and again became conjunct with Jupiter. This meant that the epidemic was to continue. The chart shown below is the planetary position on 15th August 1969 showing Jupiter-Pluto-Uranus conjunct in Virgo.

Uranus and Pluto finally detached in June 1974. From their conjunction in 1961 till 1974, millions of people were infected. 

4.Hong Kong Flu (1968-69)

It began in July 1969 and lasted till end 1969. As clarified above, this time Jupiter-Pluto were conjunct in Leo and by early 1969, all crossed over to Virgo leading to Jupiter-Pluto-Uranus conjunction. 

This flu killed half a crore people.

5. HIV AIDS Pandemic (1980- till date)

This pandemic continues even today. The combinations must have something special

The cases of HIV began appearing in second half of 1980. If we look at the planetary position on 15th October 1980, it is like this:

Note the Pluto-Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Virgo. Saturn is a natural significator of diseases. When Saturn joined with Jupiter and Pluto, it was bound to upset the world dynamics. The deadly disease of HIV AIDS doesn’t have a viable cure even today

The decade of 1980s was the peak of HIV. The planetary positions were also unusual. 

● Pluto and Saturn were conjunct in Libra till 1985

● After 1985, Sat moved to Scorpio and got conjunct with Uranus. This conjunction lasted till 1988

● In 1988, both Saturn and Uranus moved to Sagittarius. The conjunction continued till end 1990. 

This makes entire decade of 1980s reel under the combination of Saturn, Jupiter, Pluto and Uranus. Not only we got the AIDS pandemic, but lots of upsetting events were also seen like:

● Khalistan Insurgency

● Killing of Indira Gandhi and anti-Sikh Riots

● Insurgencies in Assam leading to accord in 1985

● Kashmir insurgency and exodus of Kashmiri Pandits 

● Killing of Rajiv Gandhi

● Process of collapse of USSR began in late 1980s

● Gulf War

6. SARS Epidemic (2002-2003)

Which planets conjuncts with Pluto will decide on gravity of the pandemic. In November 2002, SARS spread. But the confirmed cases were barely a few thousand. This makes it a smaller epidemic. Does astrology confirm it?

Planetary position on 15th November 2002 shows Pluto conjunct with Ketu in Scorpio. This conjunction lasted till September 2003, the exact time when SARS peaked. 

Ketu, although malicious, is not as malicious as Saturn or Uranus. Neither it is as powerful as Jupiter-Pluto conjunction to upset things. This made SARS a smaller epidemic. 

7. Swine Flu (2009-2010)

This was a relatively smaller flu affecting about 2-5 lakh people. The combinations were equally less powerful. 

The virus began to make news since 2008 when it was first detected. This was the time when Jupiter and Pluto were conjunct in Sagittarius. 

But the epidemic began in early 2009 and peaked in late 2009. By this time, Jupiter had moved ahead. No destructive conjunction around Pluto was present. This meant the epidemic died down quickly and didn’t affect much. 

Comparison with Covid-19

With this knowledge of the special role of Pluto, Jupiter and others in spreading of pandemics, let us look at what combinations are present during Covid-19.

The first evidence of the virus began in late 2019. Let us see the planetary position on 15th November 2019

Jupiter crossed over to Sagittarius and became conjunct with Pluto and Saturn in November 2019. This tri-conjunction was also present during outbreak of HIV AIDS in 1980. This underlines why Covid-19 became a huge disease just like HIV AIDS.

This tri-conjunction shifted to Capricorn in early 2020 and continued till June 2020. Some planetary movement changed but Jupiter-Pluto conjunction continues even to this date. This proves why Covid-19 cases are increasing even today. 

Only relief will be a brief period of December 2020 when Jupiter and Pluto would be apart. But beginning January 2021 till April 2021, yet again Saturn-Pluto-Jupiter conjunction will happen. It will be only after April 2021 that Jupiter and Pluto would separate for well and good. Probably this is when Covid-19 cases will go down/ vaccine will be found. 

Not Always True

Jupiter-Pluto were conjunct in 1929-30 and 1941-42 too. But no major pandemic broke out in these years. The position of other major planets was also favourable. In 1929-30, the conjunction happened in Gemini just like it was in times of Spanish Flu 1918-1919. But pandemic broke out in case of latter but not in case of former. 

We must conclude that Jupiter-Pluto conjunction is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for break out of a pandemic. 

Summary of Conclusions:

1. Pluto is deeply involved in pandemics

2. Jupiter-Pluto conjunction is most frequently observed during pandemics

3. Introduction of Saturn, Uranus, Rahu and Ketu with Pluto can also trigger pandemics

4. Neither retrogression nor forward movement of planets affected any pandemic. 

5. The nature of the Rashi in which conjunction happened (fire, airy, earthy or watery) has no relation to the nature of disease.