Monday 16 February 2009

Alnilam: The Fabulous Star of Discipline, Standard & Honour

You are fascinated by the star Alnilam located in the buckle of the Belt of Orion. Looking overhead in early night you see without even a telescope the blue-white star in its splendid glory. “I am honoured; what a great star“you muse to yourself. A sense of elation runs through your spine. “I hope, I have something to do with this star” mulling this thought you turn your head once again to see Alnilam. Now you see the star and the surrounding nebulae bathed in blue-white colour. You remain spellbound. In this blog post, I give you a brief of Alnilam: its Legend, Astronomy and Cosmics along with a Sketch of this great star in your chart.
Legend
Alnilam is located in the middle of three stars that form the Belt of Orion. From west to east, these stars are Mintaka, Alnilam and Alnitak. Out of the three stars Alnilam is most brilliant. It was called the buckle of the belt, something that tightens and at the same time gives an aura of iron discipline. Though loosely translated as “string of pearls” the word Alnilam comes from Arabic “nilam” which means order, arrangement, discipline, honour, being exalted. It is also used to imply authority. The Turks used it to mean governor or vizier. In India the erstwhile rulers of Hyderabad are Nizams. So much is that a person who receives honour in any undertaking is generally described as Nizam. Our star Alnilam had another name given by Arabs; “Alnasak” which means “the line”, referring to the celestial line drawn through the star that links Aldebaran to the north- west and Sirius to the south-east. This line was also considered as authority and standard. Traditions state that many kings wore their jewels in the centre of their crown or following the steps of Alnilam in the centre of their belt.
The belt of Orion consisting the three stars is an asterism itself that is a sub-group within a constellation. Different cultures had different names for this asterism: in Latin America it is “three Marys” reflecting on the trinity of Holy Mary; in the middle-east it is “three magi” who were the first to bless Infant Jesus; Chinese meant it as a beam while Arabs took it as a scale or standard.
The constellation Orion is called Hunter or Giant. The latter was chosen by Al-Sufi, 10th century Persian-Arab astronomer when he drew the constellation and the star Alnilam. Orion was so tall that he can wade through the oceans. Blinded by his father, Orion looked at the Sun and regained this eye-sight. He fell in love with Aurora, the goddess of Dawn and eventually was killed by Scorpio. Orion marks all four seasons in the sky. Orion also said to mitigate the coldness of winter.
Astronomy
Alnilam is astronomically referred to as epsilon Orionis; it is classified as B01a spectral class, which means blue-white very bright supergiant. It is a star of second magnitude in brightness with 1.7 visual magnitude. Alnilam is 30th brightest star in the sky and 4th brightest in the Orion constellation. It is located in Right Ascension 5.60 hrs and Declination of 1.20 degree south. It is seen throughout the year. A solitary star with surface temperature of 25,000 kelvin, its intense radiation makes the surrounding molecular nebulae (NGC 1990) glow in bright blue bath.
Alnilam is 1,300 light years away and about 37,500 times luminous than the Sun and about 40 times the size of the Sun. The star is just below the celestial equator and both luminaries Sun & Moon have occasions to come in straight line perpendicular to the star. On June 19 every year Sun gets into Orion constellation within 2 to 3 degrees and forms a straight line to Alnilam towards the southern direction. Alnilam is moving away from us at a speed of 16.5 miles per second. Like all super giants Alnilam is shedding its mass mostly due to the stellar winds lashing the star at 1,250 miles per second, much more than the speed of the solar winds. Time to come, Alnilam would transform into a red supergiant, in that case, it would be brighter than Betelgeuse, and thus become the number 1 brightest star in Orion Constellation.
Alnilam’s features as solitary star with simple structure and its central position in the belt of Orion and the Orion constellation as a whole has made it a standard in astronomy. Alnilam is used for celestial navigation and to mark position of other stars. Moreover, its brilliant blue colour has made the star an object of study among many astronomers and occultists.
Cosmics
Cosmically Alnilam means three things woven together. Discipline, Standard and Honour; no wonder the phrase “string of pearls“was applied to Alnilam. On the positive side Alnilam gives you unshakable confidence in what you do; makes you an orderly and methodical person; showers you with prosperity and pleasant life; grants you honour in every undertaking you do; finally transforms you as a dignified and exalted person in the eye of friends and enemies alike. Equally important are the negative comics: with success and honour you lose your head; throw away the standard; you are now an arrogant zealot; your piety has taken the back seat. This is how you fall. Not only that you can be caught in a web of deceit or conspiracy like Julius Caesar; sometimes you may be poisoned like Hamlet’s father. Take care. Alnilam is all about discipline, standard and honour; if you take one pearl out the string breaks and you go down the sink.
Symbology equates Alnilam as a line drawn west to east slanting down; it is well supported by the Hebrew letter Aleph implying upright and exaltation; standard and honour. In meteorology Alnilam is for all seasons; if the star and the surrounding nebulae becomes duller in brightness it signifies rain and wind. All blue colour gems & crystals are recommended generally; specific colour tone depends on the star’s position in your chart. Alnilam has positive resonant with the numbers 1, 2 & 3.
Sketch in your chart
Birth Star- You have all three qualities of the star and would do well in anything you touch; call it Midas touch
Sighted by Sun- Military & political honour
Sighted by Jupiter- Excellence in trade, professions such as legal, religion & education
Sighted by Saturn- Political high office or exalted position in priesthood
Sighted by Mercury- Education, writing, research, accounting & IT
Sighted by Venus- Entertainment, leisure, hospitality & show business
Sighted by Mars- Military commanding office, corporate high office,
If these planets are in houses 1,3,5,7,9 & 11 the effect is high, in houses 4 & 10 the effect is moderate except for Jupiter in 4 and Sun in 10; in houses 2,6,8 & 12 the effect is less except for Saturn in 8.
If you are born in June 18, 19 & 20: you have a life ladled with standard & honour with excellent inter-personal relationship.

Muthu Ashraff
Cosmic Adviser
Mobile:   +94 777 265677
E-mail:    cosmicgems@gmail.com

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