THE SAMVATSARAS PanditDhundhiRaaj, the writer of JatakBharnam, having studied the Samhita Granthas has spoken of the effects

of every Samvatsara on an individual while their effects have greater importance in the context of all people. By generalising the effects of the Samvatsara (year), month, fortnight, tithi (lunar date) and day, much knowledge may be gained about the inclination or tendency, manner or way of life, economic condition, health, achievements and longevity etc. of every native. Samvatsara roughly means the period of one full year. The time in which the Planet Jupiter with his average speed crosses the journey of one sign is referred to as Samvatsara. There occur twelve (12) Samvatsaras when Jupiter completes one complete round of the Zodiac. While moving in the Zodiac, Jupiter happens to reach sometimes near the Earth and sometimes far away from it. Besides, it also comes in contact with auspicious or inauspicious rays during its journey. It is because of this fact that the effects of every Samvatsara become different. Sixty Samvatsaras repeat again and again in a cycle. At the beginning of creation Jupiter and Saturn were on the zero degree of Aries. The average daily motion of Saturn is two (2) Kalas (minutes). Therefore, it takes full thirty (30) years in revolving around the Zodiac. The average daily motion of Jupiter is five (5) Kalas, (minutes). Therefore it takes full twelve (12) years in completing its journey in the twelve (12) signs of the Zodiac. The L.C.M. (LOWEST COMMON MULTIPLE) of 30 and 12 is sixty (60). Therefore, at every sixty (60) years both the Planets reach the same zero degree (0) of the sign of Aries. In this journey the various angles that are formed between Jupiter and Saturn have their influence on the effects of the Samvatsaras. As a matter of fact no other relationship of the other Planets affects an individual, a place or a country so much as the mutual angular relationship of Saturn and Jupiter.

Major delineations of Bhrigusamhita seem to have been based on the relationship of these two Planets. In the books on SiddhantaJyotisha (Astronomy) the Samvatsaras have been counted 60 beginning from the Samvatsara named Vijaya and going down to, that named Nandana (the 60th Samvatsara). But Varahamihira in BrihatSamhita has regarded the beginning of the Samvatsara cycle, not from the Vijaya, but from the 35th Samvatsara of Prabhava. Since Varahamihiras times it is this sequence which has been accepted.