Sachin Tendulkar - The Master of Indian Cricket

Sachin Tendulkar has become the face of Indian cricket who has taken Team India to soaring heights. The red caps achieved by him and the number of world records has only resulted in him becoming better as a player and much more sober as a human. To name a few records, he has the maximum number of runs ever achieved by a cricketer, he is the first person to have made 200 runs in an ODI, he has the maximum number of caught and bowled instances etc. One of the greatest cricketing legends, Sir Donald Bradman once described a situation in his house.

'I saw him playing on television and was struck by his technique, so I asked my wife to come look at him. I know I never saw myself play, but I feel that this player is playing much the same as I used to play, and she looked at him on Television and said yes, there is a similarity between the two...his compactness, technique, stroke production... it all seemed to gel! in reference to Sachin Tendulkar.'

Sachin, since he was 16 years old has been representing India and has pushed the team to stand strongly at number one in test cricket and number two in ODI's. But obviously Sachin hasn't been the only factor which has helped India reach this extravagant milestone. Captains like Azaruddin, Ganguly and now MS Dhoni are more like a backbone than just a name in the team. Ganguly once quoted in an interview:

"The captain has a big role. It is important to keep the boys' confidence high and to keep one's faith in them. I try to give my support to the youngsters because nobody comes in as a world beater. Okay, some rare cricketers score a century on debut, but that doesn't mean the rest are not good enough. We have to give them more opportunities, which was not there when I started out. Captaincy these days is more off the field than on the field."

Team India has come across a lot of ups and downs and fought many battles on the field in the past many decades, and today they are the most envied cricketing team across the globe. India, with the perfect combination of young blood, experience and not to forget the richest cricket board in the world has answered many a critics who raised fingers to every loss or decisions affecting the performance of the team.

Innovation Is the Key to Kill Inferiority!

'I could not achieve anything in this world, as I am not having money, name and fame. I am not having good health and could not pass in the examinations though I have attempted many times. Higher Education, well paid job have become stars for me, which I could not achieve. My family problems and circumstances are the main reason for my failure. I could not reach my goal as the goal itself is not good for me. It is not my mistake, if I could not achieve anything. I am not so handsome to mingle with people. I could not talk to people without fear. I am not so intelligent. Our family's financial position is not so good. My parents are illiterate. People look down at me because of these reasons. Those are more rich people than me. They may not agree to my love.' This kind of thought process always haunts people who suffered from failure. This kind of people always finds out some or other excuses for their failures. These reflect the personality of the people who do not believe in themselves. If you analyze a bit more, inferiority complex is the ultimate result of self-pity.

Falling prey to circumstances is the first result of inferiority complex. Abusing self is the second step and indulging in self defeating behavior is the third step. A person suffering with self pity is always ashamed of himself. 'I can only do' is arrogance; 'I can also do' is self confidence. 'What can I do' is inferiority complex. Whatever may be our trait in these three qualities, there will be a result and it may be positive or negative. If we belong to the inferior category, we dig our grave without fail. Self Pity is the highest hurdle for progress. 'I am not responsible for my self-pity' is the very seed of self-pity.

Successful Race horse will have two strong legs i.e. skill and innovation. Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar are great Batsmen. Michael Jackson and Lata Mangeshkar are great Singers. Ramanujan is a great Mathematician. There are many cricketers in the world. There are many Singers. There are many Mathematicians. We have accepted these as greats along with the world around us and they have achieved greatness in their chosen field. These people have become great more than others in their field of action. Yesterday's Greats like Thomas Alva Edison, Karl Marx, Mahatma Gandhi and latest Greats like Diego Maradona, Pete Sampras, A.R.Rahman, Bill Gates and Mukesh Ambani are having only one light house as their destination i.e. innovative thinking. They are not routine thinkers. They always tried different things with different perspective. They are not great just because they did different things; but they did many things differently and many times. You have to develop all kinds of skills to become successful in your field of interest. One should not allow his weaknesses to divert attention from the path of progress. If you can create some innovative idea based on your skill, you can reach your final goal of success.

You too can do these things to become successful and overcome your self-pity which kills your ability.

i. You should not pity yourself as it is a sign of shame and inferiority complex. Resist this feeling whenever it raises its ugly head in your mind.

ii. It is better to attract others accolades with our self respect rather than trying to attract their attention by projecting our nature of self pity.

iii. Always try to enhance your confidence and find out ways to motivate yourself, whenever you feel that you are over powered by the feelings of your inferiority complex.

iv. Never forget that you are living better than anybody else in this world and always try hard to strive for a better life every moment with your skills, innovative thinking and perseverance.

Finally, ideate, innovate, and create to become successful overpowering your inferiority.

The Roles of Third House and Mars in Sports-Related Career

Sports are an important way to stardom. Sometimes a good sportsman commands higher brand value compared to a cine star. Cricketers like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar have bigger brand values than some celebrities of Bollywood. To become a cine star, one should have proper connections in Bollywood. Talent, hard work and perseverance are required for becoming a sports star. People from average middle class have become celebrities through specialization in sports. Parents now encourage their children to look for career in sports.

The third house, the lord of the third house and planets placed in the third house are significant for analysis of sports-related career. Maharishi Parashara in his treatise "Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra" has emphasized that the third house stands for courage, valor and self-initiative. Sportsmen should remain endowed with all these qualities. The placement and condition of Mars is crucial because this planet denotes valor, courage and teaches acting from the front. Career in sports is awarded by strong and well-placed Mars. Strong third lord and malefic planets placed in the third house are good for success in sports.

We are taking the horoscope of Sachin Tendulkar who is a living legend and eminent cricketer of India. He was born on 21st April 1973 at 18:01:00 PM in Mumbai when Virgo "lagna" (ascendant) was rising (source K. N. Rao, Journal of Astrology).

The planetary position at the time of his birth was as follows:-

- The "lagna" rising is Virgo.
- Moon is placed in the 3rd house.
- "Rahu" is placed in the 4th house.
- Mars and Jupiter are placed in the 5th house.
- Mercury is placed in the 7th house.
- Sun and Venus are placed in the 8th house.
- Saturn is placed in the 9th house.
- "Ketu" is placed in the 10th house.

Mars is the third lord in the horoscope of Sachin Tendulkar. It is very strong as it is in exaltation. Hence, the criteria of strong third lord and strong Mars are both met in his case. The exaltation of Sun and Mars has given strength to the horoscope. According to Parashara two planets in exaltation give kingly status.

We can also examine the horoscope of Virendra Sehwag to illustrate the same point. Sehwag is one of the most daring openers in the modern day cricket. He was born on 20th October 1978 at 02:45 AM in Delhi when Leo "lagna" (ascendant) was rising (source K. N. Rao, Journal of Astrology)

The planetary position at the time of his birth was as follows:-

- The "lagna" rising is Leo.
- "Rahu" is placed in the 2nd house.
- Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars are in the 3rd house.
- "Ketu" is in the 8th house.
- Moon is in the 10th house.
- Jupiter is in the 12th house.

In his case also the third house is very strong. The placement of Mars and Sun in the third house makes him daring. Venus placed in its own sign in the third house is adding to the strength. Venus is both the lord of the tenth house and the third house and it is placed in the third house. This placement can be considered ideal for career in sports. The strength of the third house makes Virendra Sehwag dreadful for bowlers in cricket. On his day, he can be ruthless and merciless against any bowling attack. "Rajya yoga" is forming in the third house by the conjunction of "lagna" lord Sun with the ninth lord Mars.

The basic parameters of success remain the same for sportsmen. Exalted planets, "rajya yogas" and other benefic "yogas" in the horoscope help a genuine sportsman achieve stardom.