Upayas are simple specific actions that we do to neutralize negative karma. We perform them in accordance to dashas and transits at exactly the specified time. Their goal is to harmonize planetary influences. Within Jyotish analysis, jyotishi or jyotishini gives you instructions on what action you need to take to neutralize the negative impact of a particular planet that is active at the present moment.

Counseling for upayas consists of recommendations for:

• Actions you need to take on certain days
• Volunteering and donations for specific causes
• Proper use of color
• Post in certain days
• The choice of precious stones
• Planetary meditation,
• The choice of yagya
• The choice of yantra

In Vedic astrology, we make recommendations according to the natal chart. It is believed that carrying the recommended stones can help to overcome obstacles from the natal chart. Precious stones affect the subtle energy field, where we find our energy and emotional habits, patterns of thinking, and beliefs. Stone energy directly affects the emotional and mental energy of the individual and leads to a positive change.

When we wear a beautiful ring-shaped stone on our fingers, it continuously vibrates its power that is absorbed in the individual’s aura, strengthens it, and provides protection from negative vibrations that come from external influences.

The correct choice and the way of using stones is very important, otherwise, we can increase the negative effects of some planets. Always consult your jyotishi or jyotishini before choosing a stone for yourself, because in the case of wrong selection, negative effects can arise.

Since the beginning of civilization, gemstones have always been thought to possess mystical powers. All the main ancient cultures, Vedic, Egyptian, Mayan, and Greek, had used Gemstones for ritualistic, sacramental, and healing purposes. But it is only in Vedic Culture that Gemstones are prescribed after a complete and comprehensive analysis of Vedic Horoscope, which contains Nine Grahas (planets), in all and this methodology has evolved into full-blown empirical Science called Planetary Gemology.

Also, the stones have to be purified and blessed with specially individualized Vedic mantras that have a powerful positive influence. One has to begin to wear stone on a particular day, at a particular time, which is individually calculated according to your personal natal chart.

Yagyas are the best “tools” for neutralization the effects of negative karma, and creating a positive effect on life. Yagya is not only the most powerful remedy for karmic evolution, but it also eliminates past negative karma and helps make positive karma for future generations. When Yagya is performed in an authentic way, the whole process causes the reorganization of the vibrations of someone’s energy, aura, and life. They are the most ancient and effective tools for karmic evolution. It is a process that allows you to peek into the infinite spiritual dimension.

The Sanskrit word “yagya” is derived from the Sanskrit verb “YAJ” = create a sacrificial fire. Yagya is actually a combination of rituals recommended in Vedic writings (mostly Yajurveda). Yagya is performed by professionally trained Vedic Pandits (priests).

In old age, yagyas were part of the everyday life of sages and bhakti. Big sacrifices took place occasionally and everyone was involved. They were also often performed for kings and emperors for thousands of years, with the intention of achieving success.

Before ordering yagya, it is necessary to have an insight into the natal chart of the individual and determine what yagyas are needed. Sometimes we offer yagya to neutralize the negative karma, and sometimes to improve certain areas of life.

Yagyas can be performed for an individual, couple, family, state, and whole of humanity.

Parts of yagya anusthan:

Anusthan – is a powerful opportunity for spiritual progress.

Anu means strong (strong), Sthan means place or place of residence = the place of the Lord. When someone conducts the spiritual activity with firm belief, it is anusthan.

Sankalpa – intent with desire shaped at the level of Higher-self.

It is the individualized effect of yagya and mantras. Every sound that exists in this universe moves in and influences the person for whom yagya is performed. The action of the sankalpa is like seeds that will sprout when appropriate conditions for growth are created. In Sankalpa Pandit speaks the name of a person, Gotra, and other information, including birth details, to make it unique. In other words, Sankalpa is an address written on the letter and sent to God.

Puja – prayer rituals sung in Sanskrit, focusing on certain areas of action through the respect of the deity, the teacher, or the divine principle.

Aarti – is ritually performed with the help of Deepak (God’s lamp) symbolizing God in the form of light that removes obstacles. Pundits (priests) are praying to God as a friend, father, child, and teacher. In all these emotions, they care about His needs. Usually, they sing “Om Jay Jagadish Hare” prayer while performing Aarti, although there are many different Aarti songs or prayers.

Japa – is a silent recitation of the mantra. Mantra can be from the Vedas or from the Puranas and has specific results. One mantra has sometimes multiple uses, eg Mahamrityunjaya mantra has 7 uses Rananjaya (victory), Dhananjaya (wealth), Shatrunjaya (enemies), Murtunya (danger), Vyadhinjaya (illness), Aadhinjaya (counselors), Kalanjaya (shortness of life) and it is repeated from 51,000 to 125,000 times.

Fire Hawan – Pandit or client puts specific materials into the fire after the mantra is repeated thousands of times for a particular purpose. It creates cosmic energy of credibility that reaches both the person and the God who maintains his entire creation. Scientifically, hawan materials purify the atmosphere, just as they bring rain, which is why after the Fire Hawana rain starts. Fire Hawan works in small or big pujas and in yagyas where the number of homas increases. For example, in Puja pundit repeats the mantra 108 times while in Yagyas up to 125.000 times.

Stotra-Put – is a reading of God’s prayers for a particular purpose. Strotas contain several thousand Vedic verses and may take from 1 to 1000 minutes, depending on the ritual purpose. Normally Pandit reads them from the book, and some of the pundits have memorized. This is the prayer to a certain deity for a particular purpose. For example, Shiva has hundreds of prayers, some for prosperity, some for marriage, and some for life-saving.

Bhagavat Gita says, “Indeed, in this world, nothing more purifies than knowledge.”

Knowledge (vidya, jnana) is one of the best remedial measures for removing karma.

Only the light of knowledge can remove the darkness of ignorance, which lies in the root of all suffering.

Reading and studying sacred writings in combination with meditation (transcending) develops our cognitive knowledge based on wisdom and personal experience, as opposed to the information knowledge we gain by reading various information and learning data.

Mantra is words or groups of words that produce certain sounds whose vibrations have the ability to transform consciousness. The whole universe, microcosmos, and macro cosmos is made from sounds. In Jyotish, mantras are used for remedial or preventive remedies – planetary meditation, with the purpose of harmonizing the energies of grahas (planets) within us.

Planetary meditation is a meditation in which we use bija-matras or primordial planet sounds. We meditate so that we sit comfortably, close our eyes, calm down breathing, then we breathe in deeply and, with breathing out, we say aloud the mantra so that the last vibrating voice is slowly and long exhaled – for example, Ommmmmmmmmm. Mantra has to be repeated 3, 9, 27 or 108 times.

Planetary meditation is sometimes performed on a daily basis, sometimes only once a week, depending on the current needs in accordance to our natal chart. Therefore, it is best to consult jyotishi or jyotishini before the beginning of planetary meditation because he/she can best tell you which mantra to use, in what period, when the mantra changes, on which part of the body you have to focus during meditation, which yantra is used in meditation, with which colors you have to surrounder yourself while meditating, etc.

Planetary meditations reinforce planets whose influence is too weak and soothe the planets whose influence is too strong.

The root or primordial sounds, or mantras, for particular planets, are:

• Surya (Sun) – OM
• Chandra (Moon) – SOM
• Mangal (Mars) – AM
• Budh (Mercury) – BUM
• Guru (Jupiter) – GUM
• Shukra (Venus) – SHUM
• Shani (Saturn) – SHAM
• Rahu (north lunar node) – RAM
• Ketu (south lunar node) – KEM