The Intelligence of Deep Listening: Mauni Amāvasyā & The First New Moon of 2025 | Vedic Astrology

New Moon in Capricorn | JAN 29th | Śravaṇa Nakshatra | Vedic Astrology

Sanātana Dharma, the world’s oldest living civilisation, has withstood countless invasions, distortions, and attempts at destruction — yet it thrives to this day. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Maha Kumbha Mela, the grand spiritual gathering taking place right now at the sacred Triveni Sangam, the confluence of three holy rivers.

On this most auspicious New Moon of silence — Mauni Amāvasyā — yogis, sadhus, and seekers from across Bhārata and beyond immerse themselves in the sacred waters of Mā Ganga, undertaking snāna (ritual bathing) for inner purification and ātma-punarjanma (spiritual rebirth). For many, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dissolve past karmas, deepen their sādhanā, and align with the eternal flow of dharma.

Why has Sanātana Dharma preserved its sacred knowledge systems despite centuries of disruption? The answer lies in Śruti — divine, revealed wisdom — received by the Ṛṣis and passed down through an unbroken oral tradition, upheld by paramparā (lineage) for millennia. This sacred transmission continues even today, safeguarded by those who remain devoted to its authenticity.

Yogic wisdom, too, is not merely learned — it is received through this time-honoured methodology, which transforms consciousness at its core. Unlike the colonial mindset that reduces it to a mere commodity — stripped of depth and repackaged as transactional knowledge — true vidyā (spiritual wisdom) is an inner realisation (anubhava), not just intellectual information.

One may attempt to distort Sanskrit, our original vibrational language, but the essence of storytelling, carried through guru-śiṣya paramparā by those truly qualified, remains untouched by bias — timeless, inviolable, and beyond destruction. Indeed, this is what makes it Sanātana — eternal.

This sacred New Moon is a time of cultural remembrance and deep listening — to wisdom from higher minds. With the Moon conjunct Mercury, we are gifted with keen analytical ability and the discernment to sift through what must be released and which teachings are ready to be received. Wisdom herself is present in the form of Saraswatī Devī, who is associated with Śravaṇa — her earlier form being Vak Devī, the goddess of speech, sacred sound, and knowledge.

Śruti shares the same etymological root as Śravaṇam, the most essential quality a student or sādhaka must cultivate — the ability of deep, inner listening. And today, Capricorn sits in the nakshatra of Śravaṇa, symbolised by the ear, denoting the importance of hearing that which is beyond the material realm, beyond the daily external noise, and toward the true Self — the inner voice, whose form at the root is the sound Aum.

This is a day when divine messages can be heard — in silence, stillness, and the withdrawal of the senses. A question one might ask today is: What do I need to hear?

Capricorn is the Saturnian energy of hard work, personal responsibility, and self-discipline, and is related to purpose, goals, and vision. In this moon cycle, we are encouraged to take action that is guided by our soul’s desires. To know what they are, time alone in solitude, fasting from your regular behaviours, and listening deeper — beyond the inner critic to the true inner voice — is most important. How? Through Sanātana Dharma’s timeless teaching framework — Śravaṇam, Mananam, and Nidhidhyāsanam: Listen, reflect, and assimilate.

NEW MOON INTENTION

Create time to meditate, journal, study the Śāstras, or engage in meaningful work that aligns with your svadharma (personal duty and calling) and brings you closer to your inner truth. Above all, during this moon cycle, practice self-kindness, slow your thoughts, and plan your next action steps diligently. Do they align with the vision of your soul?

JOURNAL THIS:

⫸ What has been pulling me away from stillness and silence?

⫸ How do I feel when I don’t create time for solitude?

⫸ What brings me towards inner peace?

⫸ How can my environment support my need for sacred silence?

RISE UP,

Payal

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