A Little Desert Apartment

Guest Blogger: Author Michelle Moran on Janam Kundli (Plus a REBEL QUEEN giveaway!)

Disclaimer: this post may contain affiliate links

I am so excited to host bestselling author, Michelle Moran, on my blog today.  She is an incredibly talented writer and historian and she has brought many historical figures to life in her wildly popular historical fiction novels.  She gives a voice to those who have long since left their mark and passed on.  I was first introduced to her when I read Nefertiti many years ago and have read each and every book she has published since then.  I am not exaggerating when I say she is one of my favorite authors.  Each of her books draw me into the lives of the people whose story she tells. I can't wait for Rebel Queen!

Please give the amazing Michelle Moran a warm welcome!

With every book I write, I discover something about the culture I’m researching which completely blows me away, often because it’s so unusual and something I’ve never encountered before. In the case of my book, REBEL QUEEN, set in India during the British invasion, the concept of Janam Kundlis struck a chord with me, particularly since Janam Kundlis very nearly played a role in my own life and my marriage to my husband, who is Indian. 

Also known as an astrological chart, a Janam Kundli is made by a priest for each child in India. No one is sure when the concept of a Janam Kundli came to be, but as Vedic astrology is several thousand years old, it’s not surprising that my protagonist’s Janam Kundli would have looked similar to my husband’s,­ even though they were born more than a hundred years apart. A person’s Janam Kundli includes the details of their birth–time, date, planetary alignments. It also includes other things which aren’t so common in the West, such as that person’s probable future career and who they were in their most recent past life (in my husband’s case, a yogi!). 

Reading a person’s natal chart is serious business. Once a person’s Janam Kundli is created, they will keep that document with them for life, producing it when it’s time for marriage. Even today, Janam Kundlis are used to make prospective matches between brides and grooms throughout India, where the majority of marriages are arranged. And woe betide anyone whose Janam Kundli declares them to be a manglik, or a bad­luck person. If that’s the case, as it was for the famous Bollywood actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai, one of two options are available. You can either marry another manglik, thus canceling out your bad- luck status, or you can hire a priest to conduct a variety of ceremonies that will make it possible to marry someone who isn’t a manglik like yourself. This last option, however, is only available if the non­manglik person’s family finds the risk acceptable. In Aishwarya Rai’s case, her in­laws obviously felt the “risk” was worth it, and in 2007 she married a tree before she married her husband, thereby canceling out her bad­luck in this way. 

Why a tree? Well, this was something I very nearly discovered myself when my own Janam Kundli was made. Apparently, like Aishwarya Rai, I too am probably a manglik, meaning marriage for me would most likely end in the divorce or death of my spouse. I say probably because my Janam Kundli was done online. The effect, however, was very nearly the same. Major discussions took place as to whether I would need to marry a tree before the wedding could proceed, or whether my Janam Kundli should be discounted since I am not, after all, Indian, and my Janam Kundli hadn’t “officially” been made by a priest. 

In the end, it was decided that my husband should take the risk and go for it. I never had to marry a tree or even choose among a variety of clay urns for my groom. Either option, apparently, is acceptable, as it’s believed that a person’s manglik dosh can be canceled out if the manglik person’s bad luck is spent on the first marriage. Thus, the bride first marries a clay urn or a tree, then either breaks the clay urn or chops down her tree­husband in order to become a “widow” (in some places, the tree is allowed to survive). After this, the second marriage is ready to proceed without a hitch. 

There are varying interpretations of this ceremony, and even though it didn’t end up affecting me, a person’s Janam Kundli can alter their destiny, just as I describe in the beginning of REBEL QUEEN. It’s cultural gems like these which make researching historical fiction such a pleasure, and it’s these type of details which I try to include in each of my books. As a writer, my hope is that they pique the reader’s interest along the way, and as a reader, they are the sort of facts which help ground me in another place and time.

Jaime here!

Absolutely fascinating! When I was in college, I took a class on world religions and cultures.  It was one semester long but I remember learning about the various religions and cultures of India.  It was absolutely fascinating and complex and there wasn't enough time to learn about it all! India's historical figures aren't as well known as some European, Egyptian, and American figures.  The Asian continent's historical is rich and I am so excited to learn about Queen Lakshmi of India who rebelled against the British invasion of India in Michelle's new book, Rebel Queen.  The book releases on March 3 BUT you can enter to win a copy here! 

Not only can you win a copy of Rebel Queen, it's SIGNED by Michelle herself.  Also, Michelle is absolutely sweet and generous and she is offering an extra special gift to my readers... authentic bangles she purchased in India.  

The picture above represents one your may or may not receive as she has multiple, beautiful pieces that she will pick and choose from but they are absolutely gorgeous.

Now... for the giveaway.

This is open internationally.
ONE winner will receive a signed copy of Rebel Queen AND a pair of bangles.  Lucky ducky!

How to enter:

Leave a comment:
If you could go back in time, what time period would you like to live in? OR what historical figure would you love to meet? 

Please make sure if you are MOBILE, switch to desktop view to comment and please leave an email address for me to reach you!

Want extra entries? 

Michelle just had a baby girl- visit her on Facebook.  Would be extra sweet if you congratulated her on the birth of her beautiful baby girl here.  

Tweet this contest and tag me, @JaneLovesStuff
Visit me on Facebook 

Come back and let me know of your entries!

Contest ends February 28th!