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DIRECTIONS:
FOR USE IN HORARY AND OTHER APPLICATIONS OF ASTROLOGY
(Gemini = North-East, Lib and Sco = West)
EAST
--------------
N.E. S.E.
3 ========= 2 ========== 1 ========= 12
GEM TAU ARI PIS
| | | |
| | | |
| 4 ================================== 11 |
| CAN | | AQU |
NORTH | | | | | | SOUTH
| | | | | |
| 5 ================================== 10 |
LEO | | CAP
| | | |
VIR LIB SCO SAG
6 ========= 7 ========== 8 ========== 9
N.W. S.W.
--------------
WEST
East: mercury and jupiter are strong in east
South: sun and mars are strong in south
North: moon and venus are strong in north
West: saturn is strong in west
PRIMORDIAL ELEMENTS:
FIRE: MARS (ALSO SUN) LIGHT ILLUMINATION METABOLIC FIRE
EARTH: MERCURY SMELL (PERFUME) HEAVY
ETHER: JUPITER (AKASHA) SOUND SPEECH
WATER: VENUS (ALSO MOON) RASA TASTE WETNESS
AIR: SATURN TOUCH DRYNESS
PRIMORDIAL PREDISPOSITION (DHATUS OR DOSHAS AS KNOWN IN AYURVEDA):
ARIES LEO SAGITTARIUS = PITTA OR HEAT AND CHEMISTRY
TAURUS VIRGO CAPRICORN = VATA OR MOTION INITIATION ENTHUSIASM
GEMINI LIBRA AQUARIUS = TRIDHATU OR MIX OF PITTA VATA AND KAPHA
CANCER SCORPIO PISCES = KAPHA OR JOINTS COHESION INTEGRATION ORGANIZATION
If one sifts through 'contemporary' literature it is not unusual to find a different schema of classification for the doshas. The one presented here is taken from the Magnum opus of hindu astrology, namely, Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (G.C. Sharma/Sagar edition). Planets have also been ascribed association with the dhatus, however, the predominant dhatu can be seen by examining the ascendant, the sign which holds the atmakarak, sign which holds the strongest planet or the strongest personal planet in the chart. A mixture of dhatus is possible. Imbalances can be seen from the sixth house, as well as adverse dashas and transits. G.C. Sharma has given a very clear exposition of the terms vata, pitta and shleshma and how they should not be simplistically equated with bile, air and phlegm. It must be studied by those seriously interested in the interconnection of jyotish and ayurveda. For even more details regarding the ayurvedic, treatment and health aspects, one should consult one of the many books of ayurveda available, such as those by Dr. Deepak Chopra, Vasant Lad, etc. ONE MUST NOT DABBLE IN HEALTH SCIENCES OR GIVE OUT ADVICE WITHOUT PROPER AND SYSTEMATIC STUDY, SOME OF THE TREATMENTS IN AYURVEDA CAN BE QUITE STRONG AND MUST BE TREATED WITH SIMILAR CARE AS IS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL FOR MODERN MEDICINAL REMEDIES.
VARGAS OR DIVISIONAL (SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO 'HARMONIC') CHARTS AND THEIR USES:
There are several 'units' in the zodiac, signs and asterisms are important ones; however, there are other subdivisions used which divide a 30 degree sign into finer divisions. The largest of these is called hora and divides each sign into two segments, of 15 degrees each. A sign can also be divided into three divisions, named drekkana or dreshkana (decanate) of 10 degrees each, and so on. A planet can then be in a certain sign and also in a hora, drekkana, dasamsha, navamsha, each of which can then be drawn as a horoscope and the different areas in life viewed in these chart just as in a rashi horoscope. Many of the varga charts are of specific significance as listed under, and can be studied along with the rashi chart for finer details. Instructions regarding the exact procedure of using the divisional or varga charts is not laid out very clearly in the 'classics' but generally speaking it is recommended to study the lagna and the house in the relevant varga chart that deals with the specific matter in the rashi chart. For instance, navamsha is recommended for examining ones spousal and other relationships which is studied from the 7th house in rashi horoscope. So, we would examine the lagna and 7th house in the navamsha for more details. One need not stop there and focus only on the 7th house in the navamsha as there is a lot more other information that can be obtained from this chart, but it is a good start:
DIVISION ALSO CALLED AREAS IN LIFE ======== =========== ============= Rashi D-1 or V1 Physical body, everything else in general Hora D-2 or V2 Wealth, acquisitions, 2nd house matters Dreshkana D-3 or V3 Happiness from siblings and coborns, travels, 3rd house Chaturthamsha D-4 or V4 Fortunes, physical luxuries and pleasures Saptamamsha D-7 or V7 Sons and grandsons, 5th house Navamamsha D-9 or V9 Wife (spouse), 7th house Dasamamsha D-10 or V10 Effects of importance, influence on government, ones profession Dwadashamsha D-12 or V12 Parents Shodashamsha D-16 or V16 Vehicles and pleasures or troubles therefrom Vimshamsha D-20 or V20 Worship and spiritual inclinations Chaturvimshamsha D-24 or V24 Learning, education and knowledge Bhamsha D-27 or V27 Strength and weaknesses (nakshatramasha) Trimshamsha D-30 or V30 Evil effects, misfortunes Khavedamsha D-40 or V40 Auspicious and inauspicious effects Akshavedamsha D-45 or V45 General indications Shastiamsha D-60 or V60 General indications These are also used for quantifying planetary strengths in the shadbal and vimshopak procedures.
Varg-classification: Vargas are grouped in sets
of six, seven, ten or sixteen. These are known as Shad, Sapt,
Dasha or Shodasha-vargas. SHAD (SIX): Rashi, hora, dreshkana,
navamsha, dwadashamsha and trishamsha. If planet is in 2,3,4,5 or
6 good vargas (exaltation, moolatrikona, own, friendly signs, or
a sign that is owned by a planet ruling an angle (1,4,7,10) from
the arudha, then it is called kimshuka, vyanjana, chaamara,
chatra, kundala.
SAPTA (SEVEN): Add saptamamsha to the above six. Planets in good
vargas in 2 to 6 vargas are called the same as above. If in good
vargas in all seven, it is called Mukuta.
DASHA (TEN): To the above seven, add shodashamsha (khalamsha),
dashamsha and shastiamsha. Planets in good vargas in this
classification are from 2 to 10 vargas: Parijaat, uttam, gopur,
simhasan, parvat, devlok, brahmalok, shakravahan, shridham.
SHODASHA (SIXTEEN): To the above ten, add chaturthamsha,
vimshamsha, chaturvimshamsha, bhamsha, khavedamsha and
akshavedamsha. Planets in 2 to 16 good vargas: (according to
BPHS) Bhedaka, kusum, naga pushpa, kanduka, kerala, Kalpavriksh,
chandanvan, poornachandra, uchcheshrav, dhanvantari, suryakaant,
vidrum, shakra simhasana, gaulok and shrivallabh.
Signs are increasingly stronger in this order, movable -- Fixed -- COMMON
Planets in common signs cast a stronger aspect than those in fixed and those in movable signs.
STRENGTH OF EFFECTS OF PLANETS
In Drekkanas of Movable Sign of Fixed Sign of Common Sign
===========================================================================
First Drekkana FULL weak Average
Second Drekkana Average FULL weak
Third Drekkana weak Average FULL
===========================================================================
(A helpful mnemonic is to remember that the set of movable signs starts with the 1st sign and the 1st drekkana is the strongest in a movable sign, the set of fixed signs starts with the 2nd sign and the 2nd drekkana is the strongest in fixed signs, while the common signs start with the 3rd sign, gemini, and the strongest drekkana is the third one in a common sign. The next drekkana (2nd in movable, third in fixed and first in common) is average while the next or remaining drekkana in these signs is weak). +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A lot of information can be derived from the rashi chart or radix, which is the primary 'divisional' chart, unlike the way many are conditioned into thinking, namely, rashi is on one side while all other vargas or divisional charts form another cohort (NOT!). An interesting method of deriving more information out of the 12 houses is the consideration of secondary houses in a chart (rashi as well as divisional charts). These have been described by Parashara, Jaimini and Kalidasa as the arudhas or padas of houses. There are some variant opinions, though, as is true for other areas of jyotish. The pada or secondary house in a chart is as far removed from the lord of a house, as the lord is removed from its own house. Simply stated, if aries is rising and mars its lord is in gemini, then leo is the arudha or pada for lagna or first house, because mars the lord is 1-2-3 signs away from aries and gemini-cancer-leo is three signs away from mars in the chart. One can derive the padas for all houses but Kalidas recommends looking at the first, second, fourth, fifth, seventh, ninth, tenth and twelfth houses (notice the absence of padas for the 3, 6, 8 and 11 -- why?) and see how they and their houses interact with the primary houses and their lords and karakas or significators.
Example: Vrischik rising. *********************************************************** * * _ _ * ^ * _ me ra _ * * * * _ 9 _ * sun * _ 7 _ * * * 10 _ * _ _ * _ 6 ve * * _ * * _ _ * * _ * * _ * * _ 8 _ * * _ * * * _ 11_ * _ 5 _ * * * * _ _ * 2 * _ _ * * * * _ _ * * _ _ * * * ju (r) 12_ * _ moon _ * _ 4 sa(r) * * _ * 1 * _ _ * 3 * _ * * _ * ke * _ * ma * _* *********************************************************** PADAS (I = pada of 1st house, II = pada of second ...) *********************************************************** * * _ IV _ * ^ * _ _ * * * I * _ 5 _ * * _ _ * * * _ * _ 10 _ * _ * * VII _ * * _ _ * * _ * * _ * * _ _ * * _ * * * _ X _ * _ XII _ * * * * _ _ * * _ _ * * * V * _ _ * * _ _ * * * IX _ * _ _ * _ * * 2 _ * * _ _ * * _ * * _ * * _ * II * _* ***********************************************************
The numbers 2, 5, 10 represent a dominant variant view (BPHS) for calculating padas or arudhas. This variation is based on the premise that padas cannot fall in the same or 7th house from the house for which the pada is being sought, and must be placed in the 10th from the normally-derived pada position. Note that '5' is in 10th from V, '2' is in 10th from II and '10' is in 10th from X.
It is always more useful to study charts as a whole. Often, due to constraints in time and space, in articles, books and emails, astrologers tend to focus on a given factor or factors in trying to explain a particular attribute or event in a chart. One may find different viewpoints all seemingly explaining the bottom line, sometimes using different variables (ayanamshas, house divisions, use of vargas) and yet seem to come to the same conclusions. This is not confusing really but indicative of the importance of the 'weight of indicators' approach. Each of these different explanations probably represent the factors that additively increase the probability of a certain attribute/event taking place in actual experience. This is specially important when one is reading 'cold' or pre-dicting, as opposed to retrofitting or trying to find the astral indications to match something that already happened or is known. In the latter situation, any one factor could explain the event, however, question arises, would seeing the same factor or pattern of factors in another chart enable one to clinch the same 'diagnosis'? However, if several factors seem to point in the same direction, this would probably represent a better 'finger' of Brahma, astrologically speaking! One swallow does not make summer in astrology.
It is very important (and very difficult) to
determine the life-span or longevity in a given horoscope under
scrutiny. True! Of what use is spending a lot of time over a
chart that has a limited allocation of prana or breaths! Mr. K.N.
Rao who is one of the most prominent jyotishis of contemporary
times has shared a method that (like all methods) must be applied
with caution and never as an absolute, one and only technique. It
provides a simple way or first approximation for those who are
beginning to make their way into the ocean of jyotish. It is
based on classifying longevity into three cadres, Alpa (short)
ayu (longevity) is 32 years or less, Madhya (medium) ayu is 32 to
64 years and Purna (full) ayu is greater than 64 years. All of
these are 'give or take' a few years, of course. The method is
based on the presence of significant indicators of longevity,
namely lagna, hora lagna, moon and 8th lord in cardinal, mutable
or fixed signs.
a) If lagna and moon are in chara/movable/cardinal (aries,
cancer, libra, capricorn), then this signifies a Poornaayu (long
life).
b) If lagna and moon are in fixed (taurus, leo, scorpio,
aquarius) signs, the life is short.
c) If lagna and moon are in common (gemini, virgo, Sagittarius,
pisces) signs, the life-span is medium.
1) The same is next done with lagna lord and lord of 8th house
A) The above is repeated for lagna and hora lagna. Please note that this is not the hora-varga lagna but the one that is described in Brihat Parashar Hora Shastra and Jaimini system which changes approximately every 2.5 ghatis or each hour (hora!) after sunrise (30 degrees [or fractions] added to the longitude of sun at sunrise, per hour [or fraction] until the epoch of birth). Some software such as Geovision's Parashara's Light will calculate it for you and this is highly recommended to avoid confusion, cramps in the forehead and other anguish!
One may find that two sets of indicators (a-c, 1 or A from above) are leaning towards one class of longevity, then this would be taken as the predominant one. All sorts of combinations are possible.
Whether the method is applicable and in what proportion of charts is for one to try and examine and through this, build a level of certainty or confidence in the technique. There is certainly no easier technique, that I have seen, than this one!
WHEN examining a chart for a jyotish reading,
there are many considerations that can possibly be considered. To
the beginner, all of these can seem quite daunting and at times,
unfortunately, the complexity proves to be a deterrent. There are
many texts, ancient and modern, that list an entire plethora of
factors, not necessarily clearly indicating what the 'weight' of
these must be or how that must be determined in a practical
manner. Superimposed on all of this are the many variances in
opinion about the interpretation of what the ancients said or
intended to state. There have also been many attempts towards
either simplifying or further complicating the scheme of things
-- all springing from the personal experience of jyotish of the
proponents. Anyone who has experimented with jyotish and explored
different orientations and approaches within its wide framework
are often (perplexed), impressed and amazed by how different
approaches seem to work well. It is much less frustrating for
beginners to accept this as possible and suspend judgment for the
time being while adopting a relatively narrow path (for
convenience' sake) for now. Things will fall in place eventually.
So how does the neophyte deal and reconcile with the occupants,
lords, karakas (of many kinds!), padas, vargas, dispositors and
so on ad infinitum and where does s/he begin from?
Students of western astrology typically tend to look at a chart
from the perspective of broad pictures and tendencies and then
learn to fill in details and build on the picture in layers and
richness. The typical jyotish student is encouraged to jump into
the details (vargas and so on) and to start predicting, because
what else is the purpose of astrology! Such baptism by fire is
fine as long as the apprentice emerges victorious and confident.
More often, though, and particularly when there had not been any
earlier astrological experience (such as moving from western to
jyotish) or background, the end result can be patchy and painful.
There is no reason why this should be so. Unless there is some
kind of urgency to learn jyotish, yesterday (!), or to begin a
professional practice (!), it is a good idea to build up strength
gradually and in a balanced manner.
The basic general method is to look at the ascendant and its trine houses. The 1st, 5th and 9th constitute the gifts and potential that we bring with us to this lifetime. If these are strong, and benefically disposed, then life is smooth and accomplishments are many. Strong and beneficially disposed are very important qualifiers that must apply to all astrological considerations and even though not repeated often enough, these must be kept in mind when reading any chart (and not just for a given yoga, house etc. but for every consideration in a chart).
The kendras, 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th are houses that define our surroundings and those that surround us in a protective and supportive manner (or not -- depending on the strength and beneficence of planets involved!).
Before drifting into any other area, these houses must be studied carefully and their interrelationships and connections with each other must be paid heed to. Together, these form the strength of the horoscope and of the nativity that has ushered itself into this realm of existence.
When examining a house, we must note the three kinds of influences that it receives. These three factors are inherent and constant (from chart to chart), and variable as well as incidental. The karakas or executors of a house are constant and stay the same for all charts. The variable influences are the lord of sign that a house holds. This varies from chart to chart and essentially has 12 variations, one for each sign. The incidental factor is the planet that is occupying the house or aspecting it. In sudarshan chakra (Parashar), this is indicated as the strongest factor. Sudarshan chakra is based on aligning the solar, lunar and rising chart together and then studying the 3 sets of each of the 12 houses/areas for the effects (so if the third house in each of the three charts for an individual is strong and benefic, then this house will play a prominent part in the nativity's life). Even in a natal chart alone, if the occupant is strongly placed, it could override the lord of the house or the karaka. If it is weak, the significance should be reduced accordingly.
A set of secondary influences can be studied, as well. These comprise the sign dispositor of the karaka and lord of a house. The dispositor is the ruler of the sign in which a house lord is placed. In a cancer rising chart (ascendant lord = moon), if moon is placed in gemini, then the dispositor of moon or 1st house lord is mercury (mercury rules over gemini). There can also be nakshatra dispositors that some utilize (lord of nakshatra or asterism in which the house lord is placed); however, these must be dealt with somewhat differently, since nakshatras though superficially similar must not be treated as a rashi or sign segment in the zodiac. It has other implications and significances.
The planets and houses that the ascendant lord connects with, by placement, aspects (with the houses and lords thereof) indicate significant areas that one would need to focus on in this lifetime. Since each house represents a lot of things, one would need to examine a number of factors and narrow down the areas, through a judicious study of significators or karakas and finer divisions, vargas etc.; however, for the new student a primary focus on the sign chart would be quite useful. The navamsha chart is also often considered to be of great importance, as well as the moon chart. Through a systematic use of these few charts, many indications can be studied quite well by most students. It helps for some to write down the different factors and a way of weighting the factors so that one can study the 'weight of evidence' of a certain trait or event being judged more likely.
There are many ways of determining strengths of
planets (and houses) and fairly elaborate methods are available
in most of the computer programs, these days. These reduce the
enormous tedium and time that used to be required to calculate
all the different factors by hand (Whew!). For a snapshot, quick
glance judging of planetary strengths, one can utilize a
simplified system that I teach my students. This was first
described by me in articles that I wrote for The Astrological
Magazine in late 70s and in NCGR publications later on. The basic
premise of this system is to study a planet on two scales that
are based on signs and two based on houses. A planet is strong or
weak in certain signs and a planet has a positive or negative,
strong or weak resonance with certain signs. This is the basis of
exaltation, debilitation, ownerships and friendships. Likewise, a
planet is stronger in certain houses which represent certain
directions, also, a planet is stronger in certain classes of
houses, angles, for instance. An examination of these leads to
delineation of four scales of strength for each planet, namely,
the exaltation, directional, angular and friendship-based
strengths. Each of these four can be assigned an equal weight,
so, if we assign 25 to each of these, the sum of the four sources
of strength would attain a maximum of 100. The strength can now
be used as a percent value which is a lot easier for most of us
to visualize. Or one could use a range of 0-6 for each strength,
since this is easier to use it with the 12 signs (for exaltation
strength, for instance, by going from 0 = debilitation to 6 =
exaltation, one unit of strength per sign and then going down one
unit per sign. The four are described below, briefly:
Exaltation: Each planet gets a 0 when it is in its sign of
debility and gains one unit per sign till it attains a score of 6
in its exaltation sign and then goes down one unit per sign. In
some cases, it would be a bit off, where the maximum exaltation
degree is very early in a sign, as is true for moon and jupiter.
One can adjust for it by paying attention to the degrees. Or,
since this is a cyclical strength, one can use the exact degrees
to calculate the exact strength.
Direction: Mars and sun in the 10th house, saturn in the 7th,
jupiter and mercury in first, moon and venus in fourth house (use
whole sign as house) get 6 units of strength. If they are in 9th,
6th, 12th or 3rd house respectively, they get 5 units of
strength, losing one unit per sign, until they get a zero when
mars or sun is in 4th, saturn is in 1st ... and so on.
Kendra or angular: Planets in 1,4,7 or 10th (angles) get 6 units
of strength, those in 2nd, 5th, 8th or 11th get 4 units and 2
units of strength in the remaining houses.
Residential: This is a bit involved and requires that you know
about the moolatrikona position and ownerships of planets. From
the moolatrikona and exaltation signs, you can determine which
planet is friendly to another and based on the different
combinations, a planet could be in the sign that is moolatrikona,
own, belonging to great friend, friend, neutral, enemy or stark
enemy and the scores would be again 0 to 6. In essence, one is
scoring the relationship between a planet and its sign dispositor
in this strength.
Together, these four can address the important areas of strength
that a planet can be attributed with and although a bit
onerous-sounding, now, with practice, one can attain such
familiarity that the assessment of these strengths becomes
natural and almost second nature. This is a useful skill to
acquire!
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