ACVA - Coming Attractions

Thursday, 11/21/24 – Monday 11/25/24 Maharishi Parasara Conference. Online.

Faculty for this event include ACVA’s Dr. Dennis Harness, Alan Annand and Charlotte Benson.

Friends of ACVA scheduled to appear: Sarbani and Pundit Sanjay Rath, Komilla Sutton, Dr. Andrew Foss, Ronnie Dreyer, Sam Geppi, and Simon Chokoisky – among many other luminaries. 

REGISTER: https://www.parasharaconference.com 

Use Discount Code: ACVA108 for a substantial discount for ACVA friends and alumni.

This will be the largest online Jyotish conference in recent years! Please join us online.

The Observatory

By Dr. Lynn Botes

ACVA Registrar and Dean of Students

The planetary war (occultation) of Mars and Jupiter is just past on August 14 at 22 degrees Taurus, which has seemingly been related to major shifts in plans and campaigns at all levels from individual to society to the Earth as a whole. The results of changes will become more evident with time, especially as this was an event in the fixed sign of Taurus. Through rulership, exaltation, debilitation and special aspects, the Mars/Jupiter combination casts influences on all the rashis or zodiac signs.

Enjoy the Guru Purnima Full Moon August 19. Read Juliana Swanson’s article and consider this is an ideal time to begin study under a guru.

Mercury continues retrograde until August 28, and goes back into Gemini briefly August 27- September 5, when it returns to Leo. Some popular astrologers exaggerate the influence of Mercury retrograde, while ignoring the Lunar cycles. Nonetheless, it plays a significant role in timing events in our digital world.

Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus will all come under the influence of the outer planet Neptune at 4-5 degrees Pisces as they pass through these degrees of Virgo and Pisces. 

Click here for more ...

The Mathematics of Yogas: Chandra-Mangala Yoga

By Alan Annand

ACVA Editor-in-Chief of Publications

As jyotishis, we routinely scan horoscopes for yogas. Some turn up frequently, while others are rare. Even for those which are relatively common, there are distinctions. Although the technical definition of the yoga may be fulfilled, the yoga may not deliver its promise unless its participants are robust. And therein lies the rarity…

With that in mind, let’s examine one of the simplest two-graha yogas. Chandra-Mangala yoga is formed when the Moon and Mars are either associated (in the same sign) or in mutual aspect (from opposite signs). What are the odds?

If we treat Mars as stationary, and allow the Moon to circle the zodiac, we’ll see that association and mutual aspect can happen only twice out of 12 signs. Therefore, the odds of finding a Chandra-Mangala yoga in any horoscope are 2/12 = 1/6, or 16.67%. In other words, one out of six people will have one.

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American College of Vedic Astrology



ACVA Leadership Team



• Prof. Charlotte Benson (Jyoti Devi) - ACVA President, External Relations Leader

• Dr. Sisira K. Amarasinghe, Ph.D. – ACVA Vice President, Executive Director of Corporate Strategy and Technology

• Prof. Juliana Swanson - ACVA Provost and Dean of Academics

• Dr. Lynn Bootes, M.D.- ACVA Registrar, and Dean of Students

• Julene Louis – ACVA Curriculum Leader

• Arjun Kodikannath – ACVA Corporate Communications Officer



• Alan Annand – ACVA Editor-in-Chief of Publications

ACVA Staff

• Dr. Arjuna de Silva, MBBS (ACVA LMS & IT Operations Manager)

• Sudath Mudalige (IT Administrator)



• Susheel Erramilli (Social Media and Digital Marketing Coordinator)

To contact any one of us



American College of Vedic Astrology Inc, 2675 W. S.R. 89A #190, Sedona, AZ 86336