KEY FEATURES OF VEDIC ASTROLOGY – PART 2

Contents

• Bhavas or Houses  
• Special House Positions  
• Raises or Signs
• Lagna
• Moon Cycles
• Rashi Kundali
• Janma Nakshatra or Birth Star
• Jaimini Astrology 
• Reference

Bhavas or Houses   

Starting from the first house, the twelve sectors in the sky are measured and these are called Bhavas or Houses. Based on the time and location of an event, a Bhava is marked as per earth’s rotation on its axis. Each House or Bhava reflects a specific area of life.

Special House Positions

Equal House System: The 360 degrees of 12 houses are divided into 30 degrees each. Every two hours the spoke wheel rotates around the horizon line taking full 24 hours to rotate across 12 houses. 90 degree is marked at cusp of the 10^th house.

Bhava Chalita or Bhava Chart (Sri Pati system): Though each house is distributed into a span of 30 degrees, the latitude or width of all houses vary depending on how far or closer a person is born from the equator.

Karaka Planets For Each House Lagna: Sun; 2nd: Jupiter; 3rd: Mars; 4th: Moon and Mercury; 5th: Jupiter; 6th: Saturn and Mars; 7th: Venus; 8th: Saturn; 9th: Sun and Jupiter; 10th: Jupiter, Sun, Mercury and Saturn; 11th: Jupiter; 12th: Saturn

Saumya or Benefic Houses: Kendra or Angles (1, 4, 7, and 10), Trikona or Trines (5, 9). It should be noted that the 2^nd House is semi-benefic; the ruler of the house is maraka which is malefic or death-inflicting planet. The 11^th House is considered moderate though its ruler is malefic, anyone who is a benefic of the house will be affected by its positive outcomes.

Krura or Malefic Houses: Malefic Houses are known for having unpleasant side effects. The 6^th, 8^th, and 12^th Houses are Dushthanas or Triks. The 3^rd, 6^th, 10^th and 11^th Houses are known as Upachaya, in all these Houses one can come out of the malefic influences over a period of time. 

Raises or Signs

Houses can locate positions of the planets from the earth on the sky which is divided into 12 equal locations. The twelve zodiac signs are based on earth’s revolution each denoting a specific genre of life. The Sun stays in the spoke of each sign for around a month thus in a year it covers all the 12 spokes. The zodiac signs with their respective attributes are as follows –

Lagna

It is indicative of attachment. The Lagna is measured with a specific location on earth as a focal point. At the time of birth, the zodiac sign which rises from the eastern horizon is the one which is known as Lagna. It corresponds with the 1^st house in one’s horoscope and it is mainly used to determine the start of the event i.e. prasna or horary event. It is important for an astrologer to conceive the Vedic chart of the equal house convention. It bears the following points –

• Marks the ascendant’s point as the madhya (middle) bhava of the house or sign
• It adds 15 degrees to both sides
• Irrespective of the latitude shown in the chart, the houses fall in equal order
• Bhava Chalita or Bhava chart is developed for all those astrologers who align the divisions of the houses to variations led by latitudinal changes

Special Lagnas - Various types of the special Lagnas are Ghatika Lagna, Bhava Lagna, Atmakaraka Lagna, Vighatika Lagna, Upapada Lagna, Arudha Lagna, etc. Horary Astrology or Prasna Kundali, also known as Arudha Lagna is a type of prediction based on the sign rising during the time when a person raises a particular question to the astrologer. A special Parashara technique or Arudha Pada developed by Jaimini is a method to count the number of houses and the ruling planet moving forward from that particular house. The house being examined will be the arudha pada defining the destination sign or house.

Moon Cycles

A Waxing Moon

The Moon cycle which moves from the New Moon to the Full Moon is called Purnima and this waxing Moon which falls in the Shukla Paksha – the sub-cycle of the first 14 days of the month – is extremely benefic and strong. Around 72 degrees away from the New Moon position the moon starts getting stronger and more favorable. Thus, it slowly moves towards the Full Moon. It is quite known that the events that occur during the Full Moon period are more favorable than those which occur during the New Moon period.

A Waning Moon

The Moon cycle which moves from the Full Moon to the New Moon is called Amavasya and this waning Moon which falls in the Krishna Paksha – the sub-cycle of the first 14 days of the month – is extremely malefic and weak. Around 72 degrees away from the Full Moon position the moon starts getting weaker and less favorable. Thus, it slowly moves towards the New Moon and this weaken Moon is called Ksheena (emaciated). It is quite known that the events that occur during the New Moon period are less favorable than those which occur during the Full Moon period. The effect worsens when the Moon’s position is within the 24 degrees or less towards the Sun.

Nakshatras or Moon Signs 

The 27 sub-systems of the Moon, based on the 12 marker segments of the 12 zodiac signs created by the Sun are called Nakshatras. Each Nakshatra has its unique interpretation. These are as follows –

1. Aswini- Arietus-Stars-3

2. Bharani- Arielisa Mus-3

3. Krithika- Tauri Alcyoni-5

4. Rohini- Taiur Aldeboran-5

5. Mrigsrlra- Orionis-8

6. Arudra- Orionis-1

7. Punarvasu- Gemini Polux-5

8. Pushyami- Cancri-3

9. Ashtesha- Hydrac-6

10. Makha- Leonis Regulas-5

11. and 12. Pubba and Uttara Leonis-4

13. Hasta- Cofvl-5

14. Chitra- Virginis Spica-1

16. Swathi- Bootis Arcturus-1

16. Vishaka- Librae-3

17. Anuradha- Scorpionis-3

18. Jyesta- Scoipionis-6

20. and 21. Purvashada and Uttarashada-Sagittari-4

22. Sravana- Aquilate-3

23. Dhanishta- Delphini-4

24. Sathabisha- Aquari- l00

25. Purvabh»dra- Pegasi-4

26. Uttarabhadra- Pegasi and Andromedae-4

27. Revathi- Pisclum-3

Rashi Kundali

Janampatri or Janampatrika or Janamkundli is the birth chart of a person mainly as per the sidereal astrology based on the moon sign focusing on Nakshatra, Lagnas, etc. In Indian Jyotish system Janamkundli is the main chart based on which predictions about major opportunities and events in one’s life is made. The chart positioning starts from the eastern horizon, the time from which the Sun ascended on the time of the birth.  

Shodasa Vargas  

The 30 degree Janamkundli chart is subdivided into 15 extra formats. The strengths and weaknesses of the planets can be determined from this particular varga or divisional chart. The varga signs are either debilitated or exalted, friendly or adversary, etc.; and the positive or negative of the planet is based on this factor. The exact usage and judgment one should derive from a varga chart has not been mentioned. However, Karaka varga and Lagna of the varga both are important features to be considered while understanding a person’s Kundali. The vargas and their partitions into numbers are divided into a rashi chart in the following manner –  

Navamsa   

By dividing 30 degree rasi into nine sections, Navamsa is derived. Here ‘Nava’ means ‘nine’ and ‘amsa’ means sections. It is one of the Shodasa vargas, each of 3 and 1/3^rd degree each. A natural 12 zodiac sign orders are allocated to these Navamsas. To cover all the 12 signs in the 9 sections, the cycle is repeated. It is also said that this chart is beneficial in Kundali matching as it reflects important aspects of one’s personality. Navamsa forms a clear picture in front an astrologer and helps him understand the positive or negative effects of different planets.   

Bhutas or Elements

Four major elements determine behavior and psychology of a person as maintained by our ancient astrologers. These four elements are –

Qualities or Modalities

On the basis of qualities, personalities are divided into 3 types and these are defined as follows –

Gochara or Planetary transits

It helps in predicting the actual position of the planets in the sky at a particular period and this is generally referred in the birth chart. Gochara or Planetary transits are counted from the Chandra Lagna i.e. from the base point of the moon’s house position.

Varshaphal  

Based on the yearly progression in position of the Sun and is similar to a Natal chart. The subtle aspects of Dinavarsha Paddhati are considered here considering 1 degree = 1 year. This is similar to the concept of western system as applied on Tajaka system, Sayana chart, etc.

Janma Nakshatra or Birth Star

Janma Nakshatra is used to determine the starting point of the Dasas and thus it determines situations and helps making important judgments in initiating certain actions. Janma Nakshatra is the main ruler of the Moon’s Nakshatra.

Dasa or Planetary Periods

Each planet exerts special influence on one’s life. Determining the planetary positions on one’s birth chart at certain point of time and on specific intervals reveals many important facts about the person’s life. Each person is governed by his planetary positions where each planet bears special qualities, strengths and attributes. Specific timing of a planet during the time of one’s birth helps predicting onset of various events and other opportunities occurring over different time phase in his/her life. Not all ancient astrological texts or shastras elaborate specifically on Dasa Systems. Based on the Science of Astrology, Dasa Systems are basically based on the calculation considering Moon or Lagna whichever is stronger during that particular period.

Vimshottari Dasa

Ududasa is another name of Vimshottari Dasa where ‘Vim’ is ‘20’ and ‘Shati’ is ‘100’. The Moon’s position always indicates that one’s first dasa as calculated in the formulae is always shorter. For Vimshottari Dasa the time span in terms of years is as follows –  

The ruling planet of the native is determined by the Moon’s constellation during the time of the birth. The planet keeps on ruling for the fraction of the constellation after which other planets follow in a cyclic order.

Bhuktis: The subdivision and further division of Dasa is Bhuktis. Here, planetary periods are calculated as 1/9^th of the dasa cycle.

Antardasa: It is a sub-sub Dasa period where Bhukti is divided by 1/9^th to derive an Antaradasa.

Sukshma: It is derived by dividing Antardasa by 1/9^th cycle.

Pranadasa: It is derived by dividing Sukshma by 1/9^th cycle. 

Other Nakshatra Dasa Systems

There are various other Nakshatra Dasa systems such as Panchottari (105), Sashtidpani (60), Ashtottari (108) and Shatirimsati (36). Other important Nakshatra Dasa systems are Kalachakra Dasa, Yogini Dasa, Varnadi Dasa, Ashtakavarga Dasa or Pinda Amsha, Nisargika, Sandhya panchaka Dasa, Sudarshana chakra, Chara Dasa, Tanvadi Dasa, Yogindra Dasa, Tara Dasa, Sandhya Dasa, Panchaswara Dasa, and Sthira Dasa.

Ashatakavarga  

Seven grahas (planets) along with one lagna are collectively known as Ashtakavarga in which ‘Ashtaka’ is ‘8’ and ‘varga’ means division. It is needed in transit interpretation and is extremely important for assessing strength and weaknesses of grahas and bhavas (houses). It also implies natal reading and astrologers generally do away with Rahu and Ketu in the calculation of Ashatakavarga.

 Sarvashatakavarga

Here, each sign is assigned a bindu in the chart as Sarvashatakavarga is the collective value of Ashatakavarga of all the seven planets. The sign total falling under 20 = valuable, 20-25 = good, 25-30 = very good, and over 30 = most favorable. The planet position is considered either by birth or transit.

Muhurtha or Electional Astrology

Muhurtha Astrology, also known as Electional Astrology, helps one select auspicious day for starting and ending auspicious activities. Electional Astrology is based on suitable combination of ‘tithis’, ‘yogas’ and ‘nakshatras’. Auspicious dates of marriages or any other activities can be determined by finding star ruling or ‘nakshatra’. In addition to this, it also points out days of losses, gains, prosperity, fear and happiness relevant to and associated with us.

Jaimini Astrology  

It is said that Jaimini was an ardent disciple of Parashara and he further expounded the theories set by his guru. However, there are certain discrepancies in the ideology of both these astrologers, for instance in the usage of karakas Jaimini’s method doesn’t match with that of the Parashari system. In Parashari astrology, each house’s karakas are fixed. However, in Jaimini astrology, longitude of each planet is considered to determine karakas of each house or factor in the chart.

An example will throw clear light on the picture. Jaimini considers the planet with the highest longitudinal degrees, irrespective of its sign, as the atmakaraka for that particular chart. In Parashara astrology only Sun is considered as atmakaraka or ‘soul-indicator’, while in Jaimini astrology any planet can fall into this category. However, modern day astrologers consider both Jaimini and Parashari techniques while determining atmakaraka or ‘soul-indicator’.

Jaimini Karakas – Jaimini Karakas are the planet of highest degrees. The rank wise mention of these planets is as follows –

Atmakaraka is definitely regarded as of prime importance and the strength of the whole horoscope depends on the relative strength and weakness of the Atmakaraka. Additionally, if Atmakaraka is in a Amatyakaraka Kendra it is considered auspicious and it could be conjunct, square or opposed to. Now this system is considered more flexible than the Parashari karakas. Hence, this variable karaka system forms the major difference between Parashari astrology and Jaimini astrology.  

Jaimini Karakas – The second major difference between Jaimini astrology and Parashari astrology is the way their aspects are determined. In Parashari astrology, planets determine the aspects. An aspect is cast by the planet exactly on the seventh house from it. Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter are the three planets that cast special aspects. In Jaimini astrology, the signs determine aspects in the following manner –

The Western astrology, it is described in this manner –

• the Movable (Cardinal) and Fixed signs – each cast sextile –in conjunct, and a trine;  
• the Dual (Mutable) signs – all cast squares and oppositions.

The aspect cast by each sign of the zodiac is described in the following list –

A particular sign also holds the planetary aspects located within that sign. The point where it differs heavily from the Parashari astrology is that the aspects between the signs are mutual.

Parashara planets + aspects = raja yogas

Jaimini karakas + Jaimini aspects = Jaimini raja yogas

Thus, Jaimini astrology can replace Parashari astrology or else it can be set as its own separate system because it is a highly creative and flexible system.

Jaimini Chara Dasa – It is a sign-based dasa system for defining factor. Again, it differs from Parashari system where the planets determine the dasa sequence.