The Much Misunderstood "gan"

The fun of language usage is that a word can have very many  meanings, surely at least two. The figure of speech called "pun'' depends on this fact. The silly examples all of us have loved as children (such as "why is a river rich?"  "Because it has two banks."!!!) depend on this linguistic capability. 

In Sanskrit and hence in Marathi, we have this word "gan". Look at the range of meanings it has in Marathi. Beginning with "gan-gawalan" that begins the folk form of entertainment called "tamasha", "gan" can also mean the followers of Lord Shiva. Look at the well-known names of our favourite most deity, "Ganesh, Ganadhipati,    Ganapati", and so on. Why, Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi choose to call our nation as "gana-rajya", of the people, for the people, by the people. 

Well, in astrology, too, there is this stuff called "gan". Like everything else in our philosophy (see, in the Bhagwad Geeta, there are three types, satvik, rajas, tamas of everything, food to personalities, for instance), there are three types in this context as well, "dev gan, manushya gan and rakshasa gan" ! 

Well, even if you belong to the third type, not to worry at all! In fact, such people are the best in many ways. They are highly imaginative, exceptionally creative, truly idealistic. They have a mind of their own, and they stick to their own principles, come what may. 

I suppose, it is the term "rakshasa" that is misunderstood, and confusing. Astrological references are mostly in Sanskrit, right? In Sanskrit, the word for the bad, the demonic is "asur", not "rakshasa". Read up Sanskrit, and you would know that the war is always between "sur" and "asur", never "rakshasa". 

I suppose, the confusion arises because of transporting the word for "demon" from Marathi in to Sanskrit, rather than the other way round. In Marathi, "rakshasa" has a negative connotation. Well, astrology hardly depends on Marathi for its basics, if my guess is right. 

In other words, if the "guruji" or an astrologer, or  some such person, tells you that your astrological "gan" is "rakshasa", please do not worry at all. You are one of the very few, almost the "chosen" one. Do not let the "asur" mockery by others minimise you!

Pratima@Astrology or no astrology, celebrate the creative, intelligent, idealistic spark in yourself. Be brilliant, be brave, be YOU!