Practical

Ashtakavarga

Vinay Aditya
B.Tech, IIT/Kanpur
 Contents

Foreword by Dr. K S Charak v

Preface vii

List of Case Studies ix

1. Ashtakavarga Has Its Own Say 1

2. The Basic Calculations 2

3. General Principles 9

4. Different Strength of Planets 13

5. Comparison Between Bindus in Various Houses 16

6. Some Case Studies 20

7. Divisional Charts Part I 41

8. Divisional Charts Part II 60

9. Annual Charts 74

10. Horary Charts 89

11. Medical Astrology 103

12. Mundane Charts 117

13. Muhurta and Ashtakavarga 130

14. Profession and Ashtakavarga 145

15. Transit of Saturn 164

16. Other Transits 171

iv

17. Ashtakavarga of Rahu, Ketu and Lagna 175

18. Ashtakavarga in Matching 180

19. How is Your Day Today? 184

20. Miscellaneous 190

Gem Recommendation 190
Naming of a Child/Bride 191
Astrology or Cartography 192
Compatibilty in Friendship 194

21. Samudayashtakavarga Controversy 195

Bibliography 198

Index 199
 Foreword

Vedic astrology is an exalted tool not just for predicting events

but also for timing their occurrence. "Ihe two techniques
of timing events in use are the dashas (or planetary operational
periods) and the Gochara (or transits). Belonging to the latter
are: the simple transits of planets through various signs of the
zodiac as are available in the ephemerides, the Varshaphala (or
annual horoscope) and the Ashtakavarga. Ihe first of these three
methods, though useful and easy to apply, is rather gross and can
be used only to make rather generalised predictions. Varshaphala
and Ashtakavarga are more refined and more accurate. Between
them, Ashtakavarga is certainly more popular amongst the Vedic
astrologers because of its relative ease of application. If there were
any doubts about its easy applicability, Vinay Aditya's first book
on Ashtakavarga, viz., 'Dots of Destiny', lays them to rest. Such is
the clarity of his narration.
Ihe 'Practice of Ashtakavarga' is Vinay's second, and more ad-
vanced, book on Ahstakavarga. Its idea was conceived more than
a decade ago when it was felt that the Bhinnashtakavarga and Sar-
vashtakavarga applied to the lagna chart did not always reveal all
there was in the horoscopic chart. How could then this technique of
Vedic astrology be a reliable tool of prediction as claimed by none
other than sage Parashara, the father of Vedic astrology, himself?
Parashara could certainly not be wrong. So there must be some-
thing more to the routine method of application of Ashtakavarga.
It was necessary to experiment with this technique further, taking
care that the standard rules of Vedic astrology were always adhered
to and never violated. Application of the Ashtakavarga method to
the divisional charts was a natural next option in the search for
more. As this research was pursued more and more, the results
were found to be progressively revealing. The method was applied
to the navamsha, the dashamamsha as well as other vargas and the
vi

results were highly encouraging. Several articles pertaining to this

research were published in the bi-monthly Vedic Astrology. Vinay
Aditya further applied the Ashtakavarga principles to the Prashna
chart, the Varshaphala chart, the Muhurta, and so on. Every time
he got good results. The present work of his is a result of his toil
of over a decade in this field.
Since Ashtakavarga is a refined system of Gochara or transits, it
has to remain subservient to the natal chart and its finer divisions.
One has to keep the standard principles of Vedic astrology in mind
and then apply the Ashtakavarga only judiciously. The operation
and order of dashas has to be kept in mind during the assessment
of the horoscope. The great quality of Ashtakavarga is that there
are fewer contradictions and the analysis is more mathematical. But
the principles have to be applied carefully and intelligently. Sage
Parashara explained this method to his disciple sage Maitreya with
the intention that men of 'lesser intellect' in the Kaliyuga could also
make use of it; for them, the elaborate principles of Vedic astrol-
ogy could be apparently contradictory and, therefore, too daunting
to handle. Ashtakavarga, being mathematical, was supposed to be
more easy for them to manage. Vinay's treatment of this subject,
however, doesn't make it appear as if fools would handle it. The
technique involves a lot of mental exercise if good results are to
be obtained.
It is a pleasure going through this work, with the author han-
dling the subject with care and passion and intelligence. Vinay has
carefully stayed clear of the issues like the Trikona Shodhana, the
Ekadhipatya Shodhana and the Shodhya Pindas. He might choose to
pick them up later or, more likely, leave them to other researchers
to establish their veracity or otherwise.

March 31st, 2011 Dr. K S Charak

New Delhi M.S. Surgery, F.R.C.S. (U.K.)
 Preface

This book has been in the making for the last ten years. It con-
tains my experiments with Ashtakavarga over the period. My
earlier book, Dots of Destiny, was published in 1996 and ever since
I have been trying to figure out how one should make maximum
use of this technique that has not been so popular amongst the
rank and file of astrologers. This technique is not a stand alone
system, it is just another layer of information, albeit a very impor-
tant layer, about the chart that gives an idea of the strength of the
signs, houses and planets, bestowed upon them by the collective
action of the planets.
In the previous book, the idea was to cover the theoretical
aspects of Ashtakavarga, where as the stress in this book is on
using the fundamentals of Ashtakavarga on all kinds of horo-
scopic charts and in various situations. Those parts of Ashtakavarga
theory which did not yield encouraging results, such as Shodhya
Pinda, have not been elucidated in this book. I cannot claim
that Trikona Shodhana and Ekadhipatya Shodhana that give
rise to the Shodhya Pinda are not efficacious. I am only submit-
ting that the limited experiments, that I and my I CAS students
have conducted year after year, have not produced encouraging
results. It is but natural for the student and the teacher alike
that they would not pursue a subject to its logical or definitive
conclusion if they do not feel enthused with their initial forage
into the subject. We have no intention to take upon our fragile
shoulders the onerous task of either validating or refuting them
once for all.
Students of Ashtakavarga would find comprehending this book
easier if they are acquainted with 'Dots of Destiny'. Nevertheless, I
have tried to make this book self-sufficient so that the earlier one
does not become a pre-requisite.
Some of the chapters in this book were originally written for the
viii

bi-monthly Vedic Astrology edited by Dr K.S. Charak. With minor

modifications and editing they have been included here. They may
seem dated now at places but the principles that are being elucidated
through them are timeless.
I have been collecting hints and methodologies about application
of Ashtakavarga from many books, many astrologers with whom
I have had personal interaction during the last decade and more.
Though too numerous to recall here, I would like to thank them
all, for sharing their wisdom generously with me.
I thank Dr K.S. Charak to have undertaken the onerous task of
going through this book and making valuable suggestions at vari-
ous important junctures. I also thank him for graciously agreeing
to write the foreword.
Mr Yashwant Singh Rawat, my colleague for more than two
decades, also deserves a word of thanks for his patient and tireless
rounds of proof corrections.
If this book would persuade and inspire students of astrology
to use more and more of Ashtakavarga in their practice, to their
own advantage, the book would have served its intended purpose.
There are many unique features of Vedic astrology which are not
found in astrology of any other country. Ashtakavarga is certainly
one of them. Its preservation, embellishment and wide spread use
is the mission of this book.

April 3rd, 2011 VlNAY ADITYA

New Delhi
 List of Case Studies

M. K. Gandhi 20
Prince Charles 31
Bill Gates 35
Atal Bihari Vajpayee 38
Amitabh Bachchan 45
Jayalalitha J. 48
Monica Lewinsky 51
Barack Obama 53
Tiger Woods 57
An Indian Businessman 60
Indira Gandhi 64
(Becoming PM) 76
(Being defeated) 79
(Power regained) 82
A Suicide Case 86
Murder of a Cartoonist 90
Missing of an NGO Activist 93
Car Theft 95
Vote of Confidence by AB Vajpayee Govt. 97
Lost Computer 99
Amputation and Cancer 105
Intra-abdominal Malignancy and Leukaemia 112
Heart disease 114
New York on September 9/11, 2001 118
26/11, 2008 Mumbai Terror Attack 127
GSLV-D1 2nd Launch 132
GSLV-F01 134
GSLV-F02 135
Chandrayan-1 136
GSLV-D3 138
PSLV-C-15 139
GSLV-F06 142
Computer Software Engineer 154
An actress par excellence: Madhuri Dixit 155
Olympic Star: Michael Phelps 158
 CHAPTER 1

Ashtakavarga Has Its Own Say

There are numerous techniques in Vedic Astrology. By mastering

some of them one can become a competent astrologer. One
such technique which has remained dormant for a long time and is
not practised by run-of-the-mill astrologers, to their own disadvan-
tage, is the ancient technique of Ashtakavarga. Sages like Maharshi
Parashara and later astrological geniuses such as Varahamihira have
extolled the virtues of this technique in glowing terms.
What is interesting from the present day computer-age point of
view is that this system of Ashtakavarga is binary in character and
hence quite amenable to computerisation. It seems that our sages
were laying down the basic construct of computer functioning while
describing the Ashtakavarga system which is essentially based on ' 1
or 0'. Ashtakavarga system is based on 8 points of reference. Initially
computers were also based on 8 bit microprocessors.
Ashtakavarga is not a stand alone technique but it has a say in
almost every situation, provided we are willing to hear it. Just as
shadbala, avasthas, dasha, transit and scores of other Vedic astrol-
ogy techniques give important clues to decipher the complex web
of the horoscope, so does Ashtakavarga. For successful predictions
we must see the promise in the horoscope and the dasha/transit
in which the promise would fructify. Ashtakavarga has a say in all
three, in evaluating the promise properly, in deciphering the dasha
judiciously and pinpointing the transit accurately. In this book we
will see with practical illustrations the 'say' Ashtakavarga has in
myriad situations in life.
All this is done very holistically because the strength of the
planet is accrued to it by the support of other planets. A monarch
is successful only if he marches with his army. A monarch sans
the support of his army has no high place in the scheme of things
when it comes to Ashtakavarga.
 CHAPTER 2

The Basic Calculations

In the Ashtakavarga system each planet (excluding Rahu, Ketu

and the extra-Saturnian planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) is
considered to be casting a benefic influence on certain rashis
counted with respect to its own rashi position in the natal chart as
well as with respect to the position of other planets. Each benefic
influence is marked as '1' and the rest are marked as '0'.
This seemingly complex and laborious process is competently taken
care of by modern astrological computer programmes. One may,
however, need to check the correctness of the specific programme
in order to ensure accurate Ashtakavarga calculations.
Let us show as an exercise how the Ashtakavarga figures are ar-
rived at through the example of the horoscope of a giant of a man
known as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He has been termed by
many as the prophet of the 20th Century. The most well known
scientist of the 20th century, Albert Einstein, went on to say that,
"Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as Gandhi
ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth." His case study is
being presented in chapter 6 along with some others'.

\. Saturn Sun z7'

Jupiter
(R) \ 8 / Lagna \ 6 /
9 <
Mars
/ \ Mercury /V
MK Gandhi Moon Venus
October 2, 1869 Rahu \ 7 / Moon \
7:11:48 AM Q Ketu ioX4 Rahu /
Ketu
Porbandar / 1 \
India
Jupiter
1
^Lagna V\ (R) /V
Mars /l2\ / 2 \
Saturn Mercury Sun
Venus
 3

The Table-1 on page 4 has to be referred to as the standard

table, to mark the benefic positions for all horoscopes. The rationale
behind this table is lost in the dust of time.
We need to have the bare horoscope (rashi chart)1, the longitudes
of various planets are not necessary for casting the Ashtakavarga
figures, nor are the positions of Rahu and Ketu.
Firstly, a Prastarachakra is constructed for each of the 7 plan-
ets with the help of the standard table and then all benefic posi-
tions called bindus2 (i's)3 are added together, sign by sign, to give
rise to Bhinnashataka figures (Tables 2 to 8). By adding the
Bhinnashtaka figures, sign by sign, we arrive at the Sarvashtaka
figures (Table 9).
It is customary to present the Prastarachakra starting from
the sign where the respective planet is positioned in the rashi
chart. It is also customary to choose the sequence of the planets
in each Prastara starting from the farthest planet from the earth,
i.e., Saturn, and end up with the Moon and then the lagna.
But one can always start from Aries as the first sign horizontally,
and from the Sun vertically as the first planet in the natural
sequence of days, without losing any substance. The former makes
sense when one makes kakshya4 analyses, otherwise it is of no
consequence.
It is also customary to enter the planets in the sarvashtakavarga
table in the signs in which they are posited in the birth chart.

'Some authors, notably Mr C S Patel, has advocated, in his famous book

Ashtakavarga, that the positions of planets should be taken from thebhava chart rather than
the rashi chart, for the purpose of casting the Ashtakavarga bindus. A thorough discussion
on this issue was presented in the author's earlier book Dots of Destiny and the merits of
preferring the rashi chart were explained. On a chance meeting in USA, Mr RG Krishnan,
a disciple of Mr Patel, told me that in the last few years of his life, Mr Patel had also tome
round to the view that rashi chart should be used. Mr Krishnan has also written a book on
Ashtakavarga. The irony of the situation is that the man who presumably started the contro-
versy is no more amongst us to clear it in writing. So, the controversy might remain in the
minds of the students for ever though it has been withdrawn in private conversation. There
used to behot debates on this issue in theAstrologicalMagazine for many years. In the ancient
literature, the bhava position is considered the same as the rashi position.
z
In astrology Sanskrit literature and in north India, the convention is opposite. The benefic
point is called a Rekha (line) and the rest are called a bindu (dot).
3
A benefic influence (1) has been shown in the following tables by the tick mark/
'Please see p. 11 for explanation of kakshya.
 Table-1: Benefic places from each planet in their respective Bhinnashtakavargas

SUN MARS (g) JUPITER SATURN (g)

Sun 1 2 4 7 8 9 10 11 3 5 6 10 1 2 3 4 7 8 9 10 11 1 2 4 7 8 10 11
Mon 3 6 10 11 3 6 11 2 5 7 9 11 3 6 11
Mar 1 2 4 7 8 9 10 11 1 2 4 7 1 2 4 7 8 10 11 3 5 6 10 11 12
Mer 3 5 6 9 10 11 12 3 5 6 11 1 2 4 5 6 9 10 11 6 8 9 10 11 12
Jup 5 6 9 11 6 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 7 8 10 11 5 6 11 12
Ven 6 7 12 6 8 11 12 2 5 6 9 10 11 6 11 12
Sat 1 2 4 7 8 9 10 11 1 4 7 8 9 10 11 3 5 6 12 3 5 6 11
Lag 3 4 6 10 11 12 1 3 6 10 1 2 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 1 3 4 6 10 11

MOON (g) MERCURY (g) VENUS Note: 1. The numerals given in

these tables represent places from
Sun 3 6 7 8 10 11 569 11 12 8 11 12 the respective planets.
2. We have taken the 337 bindu
Mon 1 3 6 7 10 11 2 4 6 8 10 11 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 11 12 Ashtakavarga system which is
Mar 2 3 5 6 9 10 11 1 2 4 7 8 9 10 11 3 5 6 9 11 12 more widely accepted.
1 3 5 6 9 10 11 12 3 5 6 9 11 3. the total number of benefic
Mer l 3 4 5 7 8 10 11 bindus of each planet have been
Jup 1 4 7 8 10 11 12 6 8 11 12 589 10 11 encircled.
Ven 3 4 5 7 9 10 11 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 11 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 4. One may observe that benefic
places from Moon for each planet
Sat 3 5 6 11 1 2 4 7 8 9 10 11 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 are the same as are taken in ordi-
Lag 3 6 10 11 1 2 4 6 8 10 11 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 11 nary transit considerations.
 5

Table 2: Prastarakavarga of Sun

Sign -> 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 1 2 3 4 5

Saturn ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8

Jupiter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4

Mars ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8

Sun ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8

Venus ✓ ✓ ✓ 3

Mercury ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 7

Moon ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4

Lagna ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6

Totals 7 2 2 6 2 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 @
The Sun is in Virgo in the birth chart.

Table 3: Prastarakavarga of Moon

Sign -> 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3

Saturn ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4

Jupiter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 7

Mars ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 7

Sun ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6

Venus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 7

Mercury ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8

Moon ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6

Lagna ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4

Totals 7 4 2 2 3 5 5 5 5 6 2 3 @
The Moon is in Cancer in the birth chart.
6

Table 4: Prastarakavarga of Mars

Sign -y 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6

Saturn ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 7
Jupiter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4
Mars ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 7
Sun ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5
Venus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4
Mercury ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4
Moon ✓ ✓ ✓ 3
Lagna ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5
Totals 2 3 3 3 4 4 1 4 2 4 5 4 (39)

Table 5: Prastarakavarga of Mercury

Sign -y 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6

Saturn ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8
Jupiter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4
Mars ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8
Sun ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5
Venus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8
Mercury ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8
Moon ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6
Lagna ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 7
Totals 5 5 4 4 6 3 2 6 4 5 7 3 (54)
 7

Table 6: Prastarakavarga of Jupiter

Sign -y 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Saturn / / / / 4

Jupiter / / ✓ / / ✓ / / 8
Mars ✓ / / ✓ ✓ / / 7

Sun / ✓ ✓ ✓ / / ✓ / 9

Venus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ / 6

Mercury ✓ ✓ / / ✓ ✓ / / 8

Moon / / ✓ / ✓ 5

Lagna / ✓ / / ✓ / / / ✓ 9

Totals 5 4 5 6 5 1 6 7 1 6 4 6 (g)

Table 7: Prastarakavarga of Venus

Sign _► 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6

Saturn ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ / 7

Jupiter ✓ ✓ ✓ / ✓ 5

Mars / ✓ ✓ ✓ / / 6

Sun ✓ ✓ ✓ 3

Venus ✓ ✓ / / / / ✓ ✓ ✓ 9

Mercury ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ / 5

Moon / ✓ / ✓ / / ✓ ✓ ✓ 9

Lagna / ✓ ✓ / / ✓ ✓ ✓ 8
Totals 3 4 5 4 7 4 1 3 6 4 8 3 (52)
8

Table 8: Prastarakavarga of Saturn

Sign - >. 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Saturn ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4

Jupiter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4

Mars / ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6

Sun ✓ / ✓ ✓ / ✓ ✓ 7

Venus / ✓ ✓ 3

Mercury ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6

Moon ✓ ✓ ✓ 3

Lagna ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6

Totals 0 4 2 2 7 2 2 2 4 5 7 2

Table 9: Sarvashtakavarga

Sign 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Lagna 3 4 3 5 6 3 4* 4 6 4 4 3 49

Sun 4 4 4 5 5 1* 2 2 6 2 3 4 48
Moon 6 2 3 7* 4 2 2 3 5 5 5 5 49
Mars 1 4 2 4 5 4 2* 3 3 3 4 4 39
Mercury 2 6 4 5 7 3 5* 5 4 4 6 3 54
Jupiter 5* 4 5 6 5 1 6 7 1 6 4 6 56

Venus 1 3 6 4 8 3 3* 4 5 4 7 4 52
Saturn 2 2 2 4 5 7 2 0* 4 2 2 7 39
m

Totals 21 25 26 35 39 27 22 24 28 26 31 33
* Shows the rashi position of the planet and the lagna.
 CHAPTER 3

General Principles

rmed with the Ashtakavarga bindus one can make two forms
of analyses from the chart:
1. Static Analysis:
This gives results applicable over the entire life-span and are indica-
tive of the general pattern of life. It helps character-analysis and tells
about predispositions of a natives mental make-up and proclivities
of his destiny. 'Promise' is what is seen more clearly here.
2. Dynamic Analysis:
a. Dasha: While the static analysis indicates the promise in the
horoscope, dasha analysis gives the time of fructification of
that promise. Ashtakavarga bindus of the dasha lord have
strong bearing on the dasha results.
b. Transit Analysis: It is criminal neglect to analyse the transit
results purely from natal Moon or Lagna without taking re-
course to Ashtakavarga bindus.
General Principles applicable to Ashtakavarga figures:
1. The total of Sarvashtaka bindus is 337 distributed over all the
12 signs. Therefore, the average that a sign would have is 28
(337/12). The most important rule, thus, is that any house or
sign associated with bindus above 28 gives auspicious results.
Higher the bindus, better the results. In practice, however, houses
having 25 to 30 bindus are considered average. Positive results
pertaining to the house will manifest increasingly fuller if the
house is associated with more than 30 bindus and vice versa.
3. For the period a malefic transits over a house containing less
than 21 bindus the annihilation of the significations of that
house may be anticipated.
10

4. Conversely, whenever a house containing more than 30 bindus

is traversed by a planet, the favourable results pertaining to that
house may be predicted in accordance with the karakatwas of
the transiting planet.
5. When a house is being transited by many planets simultane-
ously and its Sarvashtaka bindu strength is significantly higher
than 28, the planets multiply the good effects of the house. The
nature of effects will be in accordance with where this house is
from lagna and the lordship of the transiting planets and their
karakatwas.
6. Quantum Jump: If one house has low bindus and the very next
house high bindus, the native may experience sudden rise. If
the difference is very sharp, the rise may be spectacular.When
the difference between maximum and minimum bindus in the
adjacent houses is moderate, the native leads more or less steady
and progressively prosperous life. If there are quantum jumps
up or down at several places, the life of the native is also full
of sharp ups and downs — now a king, then a pauper.
7. a. Planets associated with high bindus in the signs they own
and where they are posited give good results in their dasha and
antardasha. For a more accurate analysis, the Bhinnashtakavarga
of the dasha lord should be taken into consideration.
b. For the antardasha to be auspicious, its lord should command
good bindus in the Bhinnashtakavarga of the mahadasha lord,
in the sign it is posited. This, sort of, gives an idea of what
mahadasha lord 'thinks' of the antardasha lord.
c. Some thing interesting from the kakshya domain: If the dasha
lord enjoys a bindu by the kakshya lord in the natal chart in
its own Bhinnashataka, the planet acquires intrinsic support to
bestow favourable results in its dasha or antardasha.
8. For a happy marriage where there is good mental compatibility,
the Moon sign of the bride and groom should both have more
than 30 bindus in each others horoscopes. A similar rule can
be extended to the Moon's bhinnashtaka bindus too. More on
this in the relationship chapter.
9. Maximum Bhinnashtaka bindus a planet can have in a sign
are 8 and the minimum is 0. Therefore, 4 is the average, above
 11

which results are good and below which results are bad. When
a planet transits over a sign having the following number of
bindus in its own bhinnashtakavarga, the results in general can
be classified as:
8 binuds Magnificent
7 bindus Remarkable
6 bindus Fortunate
5 bindus Advantageous
4 bindus Average
3 bindus Tolerable
2 bindus Mediocre
1 bindus Adverse
0 bindus Calamitous
10. It is also of considerable importance as to which planets
have contributed the bindus. Are they malefics or benches;
are they friends or foes to the sign lord; are they debilitated
or combust etc.? So, while Ashtakavarga system is largely
digital yet it has a qualitative fervour to it when it comes to
subtler nuances.
11. To narrow down the time of fruition of a promise in the horo-
scope, one must closely watch the kakshya* in which the planet
is travelling. When a planet transits a sign in a kakshya where
there is a bindu in its own bhinnashtakavarga, it produces good
effects corresponding to:
a. karakatwa of the planet
b. house occupied by the planet at birth
c. house occupied by the kakshya lord (in the natal chart) which
has contributed the bindu and its relationship (friend, enemy
or neutral) with the transiting planet.

*A sign of 30 degrees is divided in 8 equal parts of 3045' each, called a

kakshya. In transit when a planet enters a new sign it starts its journey in the
1st kakshya whose lord is always Saturn. After the first 3045' minutes in the
sign it goes to the 2nd kakshya whose lord is Jupiter. "Ihe subsequent lords
are Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon and Lagna, in order of the increasing
speeds with which they move. For a detailed study of the subject please refer
to author's eariler book: Dots of Destiny.
12

When the kakshya lord does not provide a bindu in the kakshya
in its own bhinnashtakavarga, then the planet is considered to be
powerless to do good.
12. When a sign containing the least number of bindus in Sarvash-
taka is rising (on a particular day) one should consult the doctor
and begin treatment of ailments for quick recovery. Similarly,
that is also the time to take loan because it can then be paid
back soon.
Note: Richard Houck, the author of Digital Astrology raised a question
mark about validity of this principle as it seems contradictory to general
muhurta principles. Our answer to this question is (though Richard is
no more to hear this out) that a good muhurta should be found with
good bindus for auspicious activities. For 'dark' activities like war or
surgical operation or loan, the muhurta with least bindus is appropri-
ate. In the epic Mahabharata, Duryodhana goes to Sahadeva to find
the muhurta for beginning the war. Sahadeva, though belonging to the
opposite camp, told him that the amavasya, the new Moon day, would
be the best muhurta. Normally the new Moon day is avoided for auspi-
cious activities as the Moon has lowest pakshabala on that day.
 CHAPTER 4

Different Strengths of Planets

Aplanet is supposed to give results as per its characteristics but

in a measure as per its strength. As a general rule, though
exceptions exist, a weak planet gives unfavourable results and a
strong planet gives favourable results. Therefore, before pronouncing
the results, it is of paramount importance to ascertain the strength
of planets.
For this purpose, the ancient seers devised a mathematical model
with the help of which the strength of a planet could be calculated.
It was called Shadbala.
Shadbala: It is a fairly comprehensive index of strength of a
planet comprising of 6 different factors, hence the name shadbala
(six strengths).
1. Sthana bala ; Positional strength as per the sign placement
2. Dig bala ; Directional strength as per the house placement
3. Kaala bala : Temporal strength
4. Cheshta bala : Motional strength
5. Naisargik bala : Inherent strength
6. Drik bala : Aspectual strength
Each of these factors could by itself be a combination of several
factors*.
Ishta/Kashta phala: This is an index which is derived from cal-
culations that are part of shadbala calculations and is a measure of
whether a planet will be a helpful planet or cause troubles.
Vimshopak bala: This is a consideration born out of how a
planet fares in the divisional charts (shodashavargas). A planet is
considered strong if it is in exaltation, own sign, a friend's sign

*For a detailed description of these calculations the reader is referred to Elements of

Vedic Astrology, Vol. 1 by Dr K.S. Charak.
14

or in a benefic's sign in more number of divisional charts. Some

consideration of this kind is included in the shadbala calculations,
notably in the Sthana bala.
It must be mentioned here that planets that are in favourable
signs in different vargas have been given special names and they
are supposed to give superlative results. If a planet scores well in
two vargas it is said to be in Paarijaata amsha; if it is good in three
vargas it is considered in Uttamamsha; if in four vargas it is said
to be in Gopuramsha; if in five, it is in Simhasanamsha, if in six,
then it is in Paaravatamsha; and so on.
Then there is the concept that if a planet is in Pushkara navamsha
it is said to be capable of giving very auspicious results. A planet is
said to be in Pushkara navamsha if it is situated in the:
1. 7th or 9th navamsha in any of the fiery signs (1, 5, 9)
2. 3rd or 5th navamsha in the earthy signs (2, 6, 10)
3. 6th or 8th navamsha in the airy signs (3, 7, 11)
4. 1st and 3rd navamsha in the watery signs (4, 8, 12)
Jaimini Graha bala: It is the strength of a planet which is cal-
culated some what parallel to shadbala. Since the planets and signs
are handled differently in Jaimini astrology, the calculations have
to be obviously different from shadbala.

ASHTAKAVARGA STRENGTH
This is the strength of a planet born out of the Ashtakavarga
considerations. Each of the strengths mentioned above are garnered
by the planet on its own individual merit and it does not depend
on where the other planets are situated. But the fact of the matter
is that in practical terms no planet acts in a vacuum. Whether it
is dasha or a yoga or transit, the native experiences the result of
the combined action of planets. Ashtakavarga is the only system
in Vedic astrology, or any other astrology in the world, that gives
combined consideration to the position of planets with respect to
each other. In this sense, Ashtakavarga is the only system where the
strength of a planet is not autocratic but democratic. All the planets
vote individually to make up the Ashtakavarga strength. For this
reason, the actual strength is not vested in the planet, it belongs to
the sign or the house. The planet only basks in the reflected glory
 15

of the strength of the sign in which it is placed natally or while in

transit in a particular sign.
Moreover, the Ashtakavarga strength is always for auspicious
results. This may not be true of shadbala where strength simply
means that a more powerful planet is able to give its results fully,
auspicious or inauspicious, as the case may be. Since the bindus
imply a benefic influence, higher bindus are always auspicious and
lower bindus always inauspicious, which ever the house or sign,
though there is some difference of opinion on this point.
Even at the cost of repetition let us enumerate how to judge a
planet's Ashtakavarga strength.
1. The first and the foremost, the planet is supposed to have
strength as per the sarvashatakavarga bindus in the sign it is
placed in.
2. The second strength is the bindus a planet has in its own bhin-
nashtakavarga in the sign it is placed in.
3. The third strength comes from the bindus (in sarvashtaka as
well as bhinnashtaka) that the signs owned by the planet have.
The Sun and the Moon owning one sign each stand outside
this purview.
4. The fourth strength comes if the planet enjoys a bindu given by
the kakshya lord. (Please see note on kakshya on page 11.)
5. It would be an incomplete consideration if we do not factor
in the Ashtakavarga strengths of the planet in the divisional
charts.
6. All these strengths are mandatory to consider both for the natal
position of the planet as well as for the sign it is transiting.
Bhava bala: A standard principle of Vedic astrology is to check
the bhava, bhavesha and the bhava karaka. Therefore, whether a
house is powerful or not, as far as Ashtakavarga is concerned, we
should see by:
1. The sarvashtaka bindus earned by the sign falling in the house.
2. The sarvashtaka and the bhinnashtaka bindus of the lord of
the house where it is placed.
3. The sarvashtaka and the bhinnashtaka bindus of the karaka of
the house.
 CHAPTER 5

Comparison Between Bindus

in Various Houses

Comparisons are odious yet they are inevitable. It is quite a

sport amongst astrologers, whether they are students or they are
examiners, to ask questions comparing the bindus in two houses.
1. If the 11th house has more bindus than the 10th house; 12th
house has less than 11th; Lagna has more than 12th and 2nd has
more than 12th, the native enjoys all material happiness. Out of
these comparisons the most popular is the comparison between
the bindus of the 10th and the 11th houses.
Needless to mention that if 11th house has more bindus than
the 10th house, it denotes 'less effort, more gains'. If 10th is higher,
the gains are not considered commensurate with the effort put in.
But in our opinion, a more appropriate meaning of 10th house
having high bindus is that the native may get a 'large canvass to
paint on' as far as his profession goes. Such people feel less re-
stricted in their job situations and have higher degrees of freedom
and opportunity to exercise greater creativity and influence. They
generally get a lot of free hand to do as they please in their profes-
sion and consequently derive greater job satisfaction. They always
have a lot to do.
Here, an all important question props up, '11th from where?'.
The important reference points:
a. From the lagna (allround self effort)
b. From the Moon lagna (mental effort)
c. From the Sun lagna (godfather support)
d. From Saturn (public support, due to merit)
e. From dasha/antardasha lord (time specific)
 17

f. From Pada/Karakamsha/Upapada lagna (Jaimini astrology:

nature of source of gains)
g. From Indu Lagna (material prosperity)
h. From any Karaka planet (to look into the event specifically
related to the Karaka).
The results from different reference points will obviously have
different shades of meanings. Rudimentary hints have been given
in the brackets.
2. The next in popularity is the comparison between the bindus
in the 1st and the 7th house. If the 7th house bindus are higher,
the spouse is supposed to dominate. Therefore, every one ap-
preciates lower bindus in the 7th. However it has been observed
extensively that if the bindus in the 7th are low, generally there is
a marital problem. In our opinion the general rule must always
be kept in mind that the significations of only those houses get
fulfilled fully that have high bindus. Low bindus in the 7th would
mean some diminution in the marital felicity, spouse dominating
or otherwise notwithstanding. One should also remember that 7th
house is marriage as experienced by the native; spouse is 7th lord.
So a comparison between the bindus of the lagna lord and the 7th
lord may speak louder about who might dominate. In this connec-
tion the best is that the bindus are nearly equal in the 1st and the
7th houses. Needless to add that this matter has to be seen in the
navamsha chart also.
Moreover, the 7th house does not represent marriage only. It has
many other significations; which one would suffer due to lack of
bindus would be determined by the karaka and the relevant varga.
For example one of the prominent significations of the 7th house is
the profession and business partnership. The relevant karaka would
be Saturn and the varga would be the dashamamsha.
3. The bindus in the 1st house should be high as the strong
lagna is admired in all situations. They should also be higher than
the bindus in the 8th house. 1st house is life and the 8th is death,
yet for good longevity the 8th house bindus should not be too low.
If they are too low, it may pose a problem with ayu, inheritance,
and the spouse's wealth. With too low bindus the sudden gains
get converted to sudden losses, both being the significations of
the 8th house.
18

4. Bindus in the 12th should be lower than the 2nd and 11th
otherwise one may get into debts. This does not require much ex-
planation as the 2nd and 11th houses are for earning wealth and
the 12th is for expenditures.
5. Normally it is said that the bindus in the trika houses (6th,
8th and 12th) should be low (Phaladeepika by Mantreshwara and
many others). This is right as well as wrong. This is right because
if the bindus in these three bad houses are low, the bindus in the
good houses can be more because the total is fixed, 337. It is wrong
because when the bindus are low, the positive significations of these
houses get weakened, and some of those significations are very
important. The 6th house denotes one's ability to fight the odds
of life, victory over enemies, winning the competition, resistance
against disease. 6th is also an upachaya house; high bindus in the
upachaya houses should hurt no one. Afterall the 6th is the 9th
from the 10th house. Besides the 6th, the other upachaya houses
are 3rd, 10th and the 11th. High bindus in the 10th and 11th have
always been appreciated.
The virtues of 8th house have already been described; moreover
it happens to be the 11th from the 10th and 10th from the 11th,
an upachaya from these important houses. It has been observed
extensively that in the charts of politicians or public figures, the
6th house has high bindus. After all they have to fight many battles
on the way to success.
For a similar reason, the 12th house also should not be too
low. It signifies bed pleasures, sound sleep, spending on one's own
pleasures and charity, loan, travel abroad and earning from foreign
sources etc. What is the use of earning money if you can't spend
it on your enjoyments. It also enjoys the distinction of being the
2nd from the 11th and 11th from the 2nd.
6. The 5th house bindus should be less as compared to the 10th
house for professional advancement. However queer it may look
one can see some rationale behind it. The 5th house is the 8th from
the 10th. Since the 8th house from any house causes obstructions
to the significations of that house, therefore, it should be weak as
compared to the house in question. However, very low bindus in
the 5th damage the cause of education or children, whether or not
they promote the cause of the 10th house. The idea seems a bit
 19

hard to digest (and it does not find mention in the classics) but
the chart of Bill Gates, the wealthiest man in the world is the most
brilliant example of this phenomenon. His 5th house from Lagna
has only 19 bindus and the 10th has 27. In his case, the 5th house
is also the 8th from the Moon. He did drop out of college without
completing education.
Let us now take a few case studies to illustrate the applicability
of the principles of Ashtakavarga.

There are several other ways of comparing the bindus in various houses, individually and
collectively, within the same chart and between two charts. What is given in the classics
has been recounted in the author's earlier book Dots of Destiny.
 CHAPTER 6

Some Case Studies

Case Study 1
MK Gandhi
Let us apply the principles of Ashtakavarga analysis along with
the general principles of Vedic astrology on our example horo-
scope of Mahatma Gandhi.
The horoscope of Mahatma Gandhi at first glance does not look
so special until we dig deeper and see how Ashtakavarga bindus
modify the subtle nuances of the planets.
1. General analysis first: There are some wonderful rajayogas forming
in the lagna. The lagna lord on one hand is conjunct with the 9th
lord Mercury, and on the other, it is conjunct with the 7th lord Mars.
This powerful combination is being aspected by a retrograde Jupiter
from the 7th house. According to Mantreshwaras Phaladeepika,
Jupiter here can be treated as exalted due to retrogression.

24) Saturn y/Trv Sun (27)

@ Jupiter © Lagna
(R) Mars
Mercury
MK Gandhi Venus
Moon
October 2, 1869 Rahu
7:11:48 Ketu Moon
@ Porbandar Rahu
Ketu India ® Jupiter
fLagna (R)
@ Mars Mer
Venus @
Saturn Sun
(22)
Lagna 04o35l Mars 260021' Venus 24023',
Sun 16°54' Mercury 11 45' Saturn 20°19
Moon 27056' Jupiter (R) 28o08, Rahu ISMO'
Dasha beginnings
Ketu Venus Sun Moon Mars Rahu Jupiter
May 1872 May 1879 May 1899 May 1905 May 1915 May 1922 May 1940
 21

Moon Mars Sun gjjupto

Ven Ketu
® 0
(g)
Mercury Lagna 6 32
Saturn Rahu
® 0

Mercury Navamsha
Saturn 0 Mars
Moon Venus
Jupiter ^ Lagna Ketu
(R) Rahu @ 0
® 0 Sun

The rajayogas in the lagna are not without blemishes as these

very planets are also bringing in the influence of the 6th, 8th and
the 12th lordships. He has a very special horoscope involving several
opposites in his lagna:
a. Venus and Mars: They are not only the 1st and the 7th lords
they also represent the male-female polarity, on their own.
b. Mars and Mercury: They are dire malefics for each other's
lagnas. But they are considered very good for legal profession. Time
and again Gandhi silenced his critics by putting forth incisive argu-
ments. Mercury has 7 bindus in the 11th house of gains, but it is
also the 12th lord of losses.
c. Venus and Jupiter: They are opposing each other in the chart.
They are the gurus of the asuras and the devatas respectively, who
do not see each other eye to eye. Moreover if Venus is the lord of
the lagna, Jupiter is the 6th lord of enemies. If Venus is the lagna
lord, Jupiter is the Attmakaraka, both representing self.
d. Jupiter and Mercury: They are in opposition. Though they
are the father and son duo but Mercury does not like the overbear-
ing, self righteous and disciplining presence of Jupiter around as is
evident from its sign of debilitation, Pisces.
e. Venus is both the lagna lord of birth as well as the 8th lord
of death. It is conjunct with the 12th lord of losses and the double
maraka Mars.
All these opposites made him internalise the dichotomy in nature.
The great beauty of Gandhian methods was that he could carry the
opposites with him and create harmony between contradictory im-
pulses. His Satyagraha, and non-violent civil disobedience (Dandi
march) exemplify that he had a special gift of harmonising seemingly
22

paradoxical ideas. Gandhi was a great man and was called Mahatma
because all his life he struggled against discrimination, injustice and
prejudice. But struggle it was — against the mightiest in the world at
that time. He was a short 5'4" frail man by the body but had a giant
stature and steely determination. Check his Moon and the Sun.
The other significant yoga in the chart is the powerful Gajakesari
yoga formed by Jupiter being in a kendra from the Moon. The Moon
is in the 10th house and Jupiter is in the 10th from the Moon.
This also gives rise to the Amala-Kirti yoga. The Gajakesari yoga
is rendered very strong because the Moon is in its own house in
the rashi chart and Jupiter's sign, Pisces in navamsha. Jupiter being
in its own sign Sagittarius is forming a very powerful Gajakesari
yoga in the navamsha also.
The chart has many other powerful, though less known, yogas,
such as Bheri yoga, Shankha yoga, Parvata yoga and Rajju yoga.
2. Both the luminaries, the Sun and the Moon have 7 bindus in
their respective Bhinnashtakas. Please see Table-9 in chapter 2. The
Moon is in the nakshatra of the 9th lord Mercury and the Sun is in
the nakshatra of the 10th lord Moon. And the lagna lord is forming
the Pancha Mahapurusha yoga called Malavya yoga. Thus we see
that all the three lagnas are very strong, one way or the other.
Another very interesting feature of this chart is that almost all
the planets are under the influence of Mercury, the 9th lord of
dharma. Venus, Mars and Jupiter are either conjunct with or as-
pected by Mercury. The Moon and Saturn are in its nakshatras
and the Sun is in its sign. For Rahu and Ketu it is the nakshatra lord
of their dispositors, Saturn and Moon respectively. Moreover Mercury
also influences Rahu by being in its nakshatra Swati. Dharma, the
essence of spirituality in its highest form, was the guiding force of
everything Gandhi did and stood for. Mercury, which also stands
for logic, has comfortable 5 bindus where it is posited. The edge of
his cutting logic was always superior to other's though they often
did not understand and therefore approve of it.
3. Rahu is accentuating the properties of such a powerful Moon.
Rahu in Cancer, that too in the 10th house, is considered a very
powerful augury for a public figure. Rahu is in Pushya nakshatra
owned by Saturn, the yoga karaka planet for this Libra lagna chart.
The presiding deity of Pushya is Brihaspati, the chief advisor of the
 23

gods, and this nakshatra is known for its great nurturing qualities.
Such a Moon-Rahu combination with a Sarvashtaka score of 35
bindus is highly admirable. Ketu in the 4th house, the first of the
Moksha trines is also in the nakshatra of the Moon, thus lending its
support to the Moon (his resolve) in the 30 odd fasts that Gandhi
undertook on various occasions to cleanse his own as well as the
collective conscience of the nation. To many, it might seem eccen-
tric Ketu at its best. Moon-Rahu combination made him the most
unorthodox mass leader. His vision was futuristic (Rahu) though
some people consider it to be regressive.
4. All this is very positive. But Saturn, the planet of karma has
zero bindus in it own bhinnashatakavarga in the 2nd house where
it is posited. This Saturn in Jyeshtha, in the nakshatra of the 9th
lord Mercury again, being in trine to the Moon, is influencing it
strongly. Besides, Saturn from the 2nd house is aspecting the 11th
house also. Thus both the houses that indicate wealth are under
the influence of the zero bindu Saturn. Though the famous money
bags of his time were always at the beck and call of Gandhi but he
himself lived a simple and spartan life. The sarvashtaka support of
24 bindus to Saturn is also deficient. There was a time in Gandhi's
life when he was earning 5000 Pound Sterling per month in South
Africa, a huge sum of money for late 19th century. That happened
during the dasha of Venus, the lagna lord, from where the 10th
house has 35 bindus and the 11th has 39 bindus. But he donated
all that to the ashram he built in the dasha of the Sun, placed in
the 12th.
What is interesting here is to note that Saturn has the high-
est shadbala strength in the chart (1.62) but it has the lowest
Ashtakavarga strength1. But for this poor strength Gandhi's eldest
son, Hiralal would not have become estranged with his father and
would not have done every thing at his command to humiliate his
famous father. He even converted to Islam and died a penniless,
uncared for recluse. Saturn is the 5th lord from the lagna, is in the
5th house from the Moon lagna and is aspecting the 5th from the
karaka Jupiter. The fact remains that none of his children did any

'Ashtakavarga strength should be taken more seriously as it is the measure of confidence

reposed by all the planets in the planet under consideration. It is not a measure of indi-
vidual strength of a planet. In fact one must learn to use different strengths in different
ways just as one should do in the case of avasthas of planets.
24

thing significant to make a mark on the time and society they lived
in. From the 5th house, the 10th house has Saturn, in it but with
zero Ashtakavarga strength. The BAY strength of the 5th house from
lagna is only 2. Gandhi may not have had 4 sons if the strength of
the 5th from Jupiter was not 5B/39S2. The high shadbala strength
of Saturn however did not fail to give him vairagya of the highest
order. His vairagya was real and not just for public consumption,
(not that any one has ever questioned it), is clear from the fact that
Saturn is in its own house in the navamsha in the 3rd aspecting
the 12th house.
He may have had difficulty related with other children too but
Jupiter has given 7 bindus where Saturn, the 5th lord is posited.
This means that Jupiter was fully supporting his 5th lord.
Although Saturn is aspecting the 4th house, its own, yet its poor
score and the presence of Ketu in the 4th aspected by Mars, never
allowed him to live at his own place. In keeping with the auster-
ity professed by Saturn he established various ashrams and lived a
frugal and self-sufficient life. Saturn is aspecting the 4th house, but
there also it has only 2 bindus. His penchant for ashram building
started from his South Africa days where he established Phoenix
settlement at Natal, and an ashram he named Tolstoy Farm near
Johannesburg; and then in India he established Sabarmati ash-
ram near Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and later, Sevagram at Vardha, in
Maharashtra. The 4th from the Moon is also afflicted and is in a
paapkartari yoga.
5. Mars is conjunct with the lagna lord which also happens to be
the 8th lord of death. Mars is a double maraka for Libra lagna be-
ing the 2nd and the 7th lord. Mars is also the dispositor of Saturn,
the karaka of death. Mars is also aspecting the 8th house. Saturn is
not only the yogakaraka but also a maraka planet for his chart be-
ing in the 2nd house. Thus a violent death was inevitable for him.
He himself had made that prophecy several times that he would
die through a bullet. One would never know whether he was as-
sisted by some astrologer in making that prophecy. He died on
2
It is customary to mention the bindus as B/S, B Stands for BAV, the short form of bhin-
nashtakavarga and after oblique S stands for SAV, the short form of sarvashtakavarga.
Some times B and S are dropped but the meanings remain the same. The important thing
is that the first figure has to be between '0' and '8'. The second figure has a usual range
of 15 to 50 though the lower and upper limits cannot be strictly defined.
 25

January 30,1948 in Jupiter-Ketu-Saturn through thebulletofaHindu

fundamentalist. The Sarvashtakabindus in all the three houses where
thedashalordsarepositedhavelowbindus,21,26 and 24 respectively.
In transit Ketu was in the lagna exactly on the same degree as Mars,
and Saturn was on the natal Moon just a degree apart.
6. It is not that Saturn has uniformly low bindus. A strong score
in the 6th is always helpful in fighting any kind of battle. The SAV
score is 33, Saturn and Jupiter have contributed 7and 6 bindus each
respectively. Fight is all that he did throughout his life — against
injustice in every form, be it racism, casteism, communalism, dis-
crimination, poverty or the foreign rule and the exploitation that
goes with it.
7. Saturn has 7 bindus in the 12th house also. His fight against
prejudice started in a foreign country and sowed the seeds of
Satyagraha and Ahimsa that he followed so fervently all his
life. The 5th lord having high bindus in the 12th house also in-
dicates significant education in a foreign land. His popularity
never remained confined to India, it had spread all over the world
in his own life time and many Britishers, including the judges who
often sentenced him to jail, were amongst his admirers.
8. The 5th house is known for authorship. Gandhi produced as much
written word in one life time as 10 other prolific writers put together
would have done in 10 life times. He would start writing with the
left hand when his right hand would get tired. He is known to begin
writing at 3 a.m. and would answer all letters that came to him from
the world over. The 3rd house of communications and writing from
the Moon has 7 bindus each contributed by Sun & Saturn.
9. In Gandhi's case sometimes it becomes difficult to ascertain
whether it is the Moon lagna that is dominant or the actual lagna.
Both are fortified with their own lords. The difference lies in the
Ashtakavarga strengths. The lagna has 3B/22S where as the Moon
lagna has 7B/35S. Rahu is only accentuating the Moon where as the
same can't be said about Mars supporting Venus. Mars is almost in
grahayuddha} with the lagna lord being only 2 degrees away from

'Technically speaking the grahayuddha (planetary war) is supposed to take place when
the two planets are in the same sign within a degree of each other longitudinally and
latitude-wise. Most astrologers believe that the planet that has lesser longitude wins the
planetary war and prevails over the other.
26

Venus. As a result Gandhi was consumed by the conflict between

violence and the nonviolence as a means to fight injustice. This alone
took the centre stage in the ideological churning that went on in
his mind since the South Africa days. As far as the grahayuddha is
concerned, Venus having lesser longitude became the winner and
Gandhi taught the lessons to the world of nonviolence and love for
all beings throughout his life. After all Mars and Venus both are in
Vishakha, the nakshatra of Jupiter; Indra, the king of the gods and
Agni, the purifying form of energy, are its deities.
May I propose another consideration for deciding the winner
planet in a grahayuddha. This would be to give credence to what
the Ashtakavarga has to say about the two planets. In this case
Venus has 3 bhinnashataka bindus and Mars has 2, where they are
posited. Venus has garnered higher support from all the planets
(and the lagna) and therefore must be declared the winner. After
all Ashtakavarga is a democratic system.
The case of Adolf Hitler is just the opposite. He also had the
grahayuddha between Mars and Venus, the longitudinal difference
being only 19' (minutes), Mars was the winner by being younger.
The sign in which they both are posited is Aries, the Martian sign
and the house is 7th. Gandhi's chart where the conjunction is
taking place is Libra, the sign of Venus and the house is 1st. This
difference alone brings out the contrast between the personalities
of these two historical figures. Hitler chose the path of violence
where as Gandhi fought with the weapon of nonviolence. Both
wanted the world order to change. Gandhi had the turmoil inside
his own self which he made public and fought for a worthy cause;
Hitler inflicted his inner turmoil upon others and tried to enforce
an unjust cause.
10. Let us examine the bindus in the 10th and the 11th houses
from some important reference points.

From 10th house 11th house

Lagna 5/35 6/39
The Moon 6/21 2/25
The Sun 4/26 5/35
Saturn 5/39 7/27
AK (Jupiter) 6/26 4/31
 27

From the Lagna: 5/35 and 6/39; Both the scores are very high
indicating that his field of work was very large and the gains he
got were even larger. He worked throughout the length and the
breadth of India amongst the masses. He had given himself the most
formidable task of liberating India from the British rule. He did
gain that objective, and paved the way for freedom of many other
countries that were under the colonial rule at that time. The con-
tribution of all the planets in the 11th house is average or above
average, but the notable contribution of 8 bindus is that of lagna
lord Venus, and 7 bindus of 9th lord Mercury. This fortifies the
11th house with very good bindus and by very good planets. The
11th house need not be considered as the house of financial gains
always, it is actually a house of rewards of work done.
From the Moon: 6/21 and 2/25: Both the SAV scores are poor,
however the BAY of 6 bindus in the 10th indicates that he put in
a lot of mental energy in his work. His voluminous writings and
ideological framework still impress the whole world after nearly a
century, but his followers forsook his ideologies as soon as he de-
parted from the scene. We cannot overlook the fact that the Moon
itself is very strong and in the 10th from it is a strong Jupiter having
5 bindus in its own BAY colouring his entire work with Jupiterian
(spiritually charged) energy. Jupiter has contributed 6 bindus and
the Moon 7, where the Moon is placed.
Gandhi was in Calcutta on the eve of independence of India.
When asked by some friends to send a telegram of congratulation
to Delhi, Gandhi had shot back, "A telegram of congratulation or
condolence?" He was extremely unhappy the way India got its
independence with the partition. He had said that this was not
his idea of Swaraj (self rule). A poor score in the 11th from the
Moon means that he was not satisfied mentally from the biggest
victory of his life. His immediate lieutenants had not consulted
him before agreeing to the terms laid down for independence.
His 3rd house of followers has only 28 bindus where the lord Jupiter
has given only 1 bindu. Jupiter itself has only 21 bindus where it
is placed. His followers let him down terribly around the time of
independence and more so after independence.
From the Sun: 4/26 and 5/35: The 11th house is obviously far
stronger than the 10th. He was the uncrowned king of his people.
28

The British found it much easier to deal with him as compared to

the other freedom fighters, like Bhagat Singh and Subhash Chandra
Bose, who did not hesitate to take recourse to violence in order
to achieve their desired goal. In the midst of insane and mindless
violent oppression the British had unleashed during their rule (like
Jalianwala Bagh massacre), it was not unthinkable for them to bump
off Gandhi too. In this sense the British rulers can be considered
as his godfather (Sun signifies father). Here again we cannot over-
look the fact that the Sun is very strong with 7 BAY bindus and
in the 11th from it is the strong Moon. This situation also means
that Gandhi had tremendous mental and spiritual (aatmic) strength
and tenacity.
From Saturn: 5/39 and 7/27: The SAY comparison is the worst and
the BAY comparison is quite favourable. In a case like this the BAY
bindus should be given preference over the SAY. Moreover, the BAY
bindus are pretty good in both houses and even if the SAY in the
11th is lower than the 10th, it is not low as it is. By no stretch of
imagination can it be said that he flourished due to his godfathers.
He was truly a man of the masses (Saturn). He lived like them, ate
like them, dressed like them, worked for them and was amongst
them all the time. He was the Bapu (father) of the masses. He still
retains that place in the collective memory of the people of India
even after 60 years of his death.
From Jupiter, the Atmakaraka: 6/26 and 4/31: In the 10th house
it is the BAY that is higher and in the 11th the SAY, as compared
to the average. AK is supposed to throw some light on the nature
of profession. Jupiter is the one planet that can summarise what-
ever Gandhi professed and stood for. Jupiter is also the nakshatra
lord of the two planets posited in the lagna, Mars and Venus, as
mentioned earlier.
11. The second house is considered as the house of speech and the
karaka of speech is Mercury. Therefore the second from Mercury
is also speech. In this chart Mercury being in the lagna both the
seconds' coincide. The planet posited in the 2nd house has 0B/24S
which is rather low. Any one who has heard the tapes of Gandhis
speeches would have realized that Gandhi spoke in a tone that was
not very clear and easy to understand. This was due to the poor
score of Saturn. He was no orator of great repute but we also know
 29

that Gandhi's spoken and written word had a complete sway on the
masses of India. How did this happen? The two wise and erudite
planets Jupiter and Mercury, in mutual aspect have given 7 and 5
bindus respectively in the 2nd house. In navamsha the second house
is occupied by Jupiter in its own house. People gave importance to
the content' of his speech rather than the 'form'.
12. The 2nd house is also known to indicate food habits. Poor
score in the 2nd house explains the reason why Gandhi went on
hunger strikes so often. He used upavaasa (fast) as an instrument
of cleansing the conscience of self and the others around him. Of
this he made use as a weapon to bring other people round to ac-
cept his opinions and judgments in order to maintain communal
harmony. He was the advocate of consuming food of all different
tastes for balanced diet including the much shunned bitter taste. He
would make a paste of Neem leaves and use it as a chutney in his
food. This kind of austerity is possible if we look at the binduless
planet that too the ascetic Saturn in the 2nd house.
13. It is important to check the bindus in the 10th and 11th from
the dasha lords. Gandhi's social activism had started from his Venus
mahadasha itself (1879 to 1899) during which time he established
the Natal India Congress at Phoenix ashram at Natal in South Africa
(1894). We have already seen that the bindus in the 10th and 11th
from the lagna where Venus is posited are high. He was married
off in Venus-Venus (1882) at the age of 13 to Kasturba who was
then 14 years of age. Jupiter in the 7th and the close conjunction
of Venus and Mars in the lagna (also the lords of lagna and the
7th house respectively) was mainly responsible for the early mar-
riage which in any case was the norm at that time rather than the
exception. Venus has given 7 bindus in the 5th house, the house
of fascination with opposite sex. In The Story of My Experiments
with Truth, his autobiography, there is significant reference to his
experiments with sex and celibacy. It had to be as Venus and Mars
are together in his chart that too in lagna.
His father died in Venus-Mars (1885). Mars is with the 9th lord
Mercury, in the 2nd from the Sun, karaka of father, with only 2
bindus in the 9th house as well as where it is posited.
14. His most important contribution to mankind came on 9/11 of
1906 when the non-violent, non-cooperation movement, Satyagraha
30

was born. It is nothing but an irony of history that 9/11 became

famous exactly 95 years later for entirely the opposite reason. On
9/11 of 2001 the twin towers called World Trade Center were
blown off by suicide planes of Islamic terrorists in New York, leav-
ing about 3000 people dead. Gandhis Satyagraha came during his
Moon-Mars. We have seen above the 10th and 11th house bindus
both from the lagna, where Mars is posited and the super powerful
10th house where Moon is posited. Mars is the yoga karaka planet
for Cancer Moon.
In 1908, during the Moon-Jupiter came his most important book
called Hind Swaraj in which he gave the ideological framework of
what he meant by freedom for India. The principles of self reliance
and village autonomy enunciated in this small book are valid and
applicable even today, a century later.
In Venus-Rahu he went to England to study law. In 1893 he went
to South Africa where that famous incident took place which made
him determined to fight against racial discrimination and injustice.
He was thrown out of a railway compartment by an English ticket
checker. This happened in Venus-Saturn. Association of Saturn with
zero bindu was responsible for the hurt pride which changed the
history of freedom struggles in countries around the world. Venus
was not too innocent either. It is the 8th lord with only 3 bindus.
15. In 1915 Gandhi came back to India. This was the beginning of
Mars' mahadasha. The 7th lord Mars in conjunction with the 9th
lord Mercury made him travel across India to know and understand
India first hand. At the end of Mars he was jailed for 6 years but
was let off in Rahu-Rahu for he needed an operation of appendi-
citis. Rahu not only behaves as per Saturn in general, it is also in
the nakshatra of Saturn, the 5th lord. The 5th house in medical
astrology represents appendicitis.
In March 1930 he undertook the famous Dandi March. This
was known as Namak Satyagraha and awakened the masses in an
unprecedented manner and exhorted them not to pay the tax on
salt production. In the views of many around the world he had
challenged the might of the British in the most unorthodox way.
He was running Rahu-Mercury. Rahu gave him the audacity to
try a new non-violent weapon against the British. Mercury being
in Swati, the most intense, intellectual and innovative nakshatra of
Rahu, was an able supporter as the antardasha lord.
 31

He was jailed again in 1942 for two years after he gave the final
call, Karenge ya Marenge (Do or Die), to overthrow the British
rule. He was running Jupiter-Saturn. We have already seen in how
many different ways Saturn without Ashtakavarga strength troubled
him throughout his life despite being the yogakaraka planet for
the Libra lagna. In Jupiter-Mercury a translation of his writings
on Bhagvad Gita was published. Mercury being the 9th lord and
having 5 bindus where it is posited, and being under the tutelage
of Jupiter (9th lord from the Moon) had to bring out his life long
engagement with truth and justice which were not different from
dharma for him. Jupiter and Mercury are aspecting each other in
the birth chart and are together in the dashamamsha.
The events in Gandhis life are of momentous importance and
are too numerous to recount here. The important thing is that he
received a sequence of dashas that continued to keep him in the
centre stage of the freedom movement of India. Whether one liked
him or not or whether one agreed with his ideologies or not, he
could not be ignored. And that turned out to be the bete noire for
his opponents. His influence over the masses continued to escalate
through Moon, Mars, Rahu and Jupiter dashas. Due to his unfailing
faith, God saved him from disgrace and disaster by not letting him
see the mahadasha of the lowest scorer Saturn.
We have seen, in one context or the other, how the Ashtakavarga
bindus participate at every stage in analyzing the chart and under-
standing the events of a natives life in a better light.

Case Study 2
Prince Charles
The lagna should be strong to harness the best that the destiny offers.
The Prince has 32 S AV in lagna. The strength of the lagna is well above
the average of 28. The lagna lord has 5 BAY in lagna.
The chart of the Prince has the highest bindus 33 in each of
the 11th and the 2nd. These houses indicate gains and the accu-
mulated wealth respectively. The second highest 30 are in each of
the 3rd and the 6th houses and both are upachaya houses which
again stand for expansion and gains. It is a known fact that the
British Royalty is one of the wealthiest families in the world. The
Prince has 29 in the 8th, the house of inheritance, which is again
above average. The 8th lord Saturn has 4B/33S in 2nd house
32

Moon Saturn
Rahu
® ®
® Venus agna
'f.
Prince Charles Lagna
Birth Chart 0 Sun Moon
Nov. 14. 1948 Ketu Rahu
21:14 hr Saturn g\ Mercury
® London 0 Mars
12 23
Jupiter Mars Sun (29) Venus
Ketu w
® ® Mercury 0 Jupiter
Lagna 23°03 ,
Mars o
27 50 l
Venus 23017'
Sun 29° 19' Mercury 13052' Saturn 12°07'
Moon 07'>49' Jupiter (R) OeMS' Rahu 11049'

Sign > 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 4 5 6 3 6 5 3* 3 3 2 5 3
Moon 5* 4 4 5 3 4 4 2 7 5 2 4
Mars 3 4 3 3 5 4 1 3* 4 0 6 3
Mercury 3 6 4 6 5 6 4* 5 4 2 6 3
Jupiter 2 5 5 6 5 2 7 4 6* 6 5 3
Venus 5 5 4 5 5 5* 5 4 4 2 3 5
Saturn 4 4 3 4 4* 4 5 2 2 3 2 2
Total 26 33 29 32 33 30 29 23 30 20 29 23

aspecting its own house. This Saturn is being aspected by the

9th lord Jupiter from the 6th house having 6B/30S. Saturn and
Jupiter, both are posited in artha-trikonas, 2nd and 6th respectively,
with good bindu strengths. No doubt, that the Prince is in for a big
inheritance, even bigger than the Monarchy, itself.
The Prince has higher bindus in the 11th as compared to the
1 Oth, from at least 3 importance reference points, namely, the Lagna,
the Moon and the Sun, shown in the table below:
From 10th 11th Difference
Lagna 26 33 7
Moon 20 29 9
Sun 32 33 1
Saturn 33 29 -4
 33

Having secured such a favourable position for 'less effort, more

gain', he has never had any problems regarding his progressive
prosperity.
From Saturn, the 10th has 33 while the 11th has 29. Though
both the figures are above average (28), yet this comparison is an
index of his 'popularity?' amongst his future subjects and how they
view his 'merit'.
We have discussed the high points (bindus) of the Prince's
life. Now let us look at the low ones. His lowest SAV is in the
7th house at 20. The estranged marital life culminating into
separation and eventual death of his wife, Princess Diana, is not
difficult to explain from such a poor aggregate in the 7th house.
From this example, can we formulate that any one who has
20 or less SAV in his/her 7th house will lose the spouse by
separation or death? No, this alone is not sufficient. We have
to look for more corroboration from Ashtakavarga consider-
ations as well as from general principles of astrology applicable to
the chart.
To begin with, there are no benefic aspects on the 7th house.
The 7th lord Saturn is in an inimical sign (Leo) in the 8th from
the house of marriage. It is also the 8th lord of the Prince. It is
aspected by the 6th lord Jupiter which is also the 9th lord. But for
this benefic aspect, the marital differences would have come to
surface almost immediately after marriage.
The other important reference point for marriage is 7th from the
Moon, which is heavily afflicted by Rahu-Ketu axis, a debilitated
Sun, and Mercury. For Cancer Lagna and for Aries Lagna both,
Mercury is a malefic. This malefic trio is aspected by Saturn. In
itself, a debilitated Venus, the karaka of marriage, is an unfavour-
able factor for a normal marriage.
Ashtakavarga is also telling nearly the same story, thus aggravat-
ing rather than alleviating the marital misery. The bindus in the 7th
from all the important reference points are below average:

Lagna Moon Sun Venus

20 29* 26 23

4
The bindus are fine but the affliction to the 7th from the Moon is over whelming.
34

Mars, the lord of the 7th house, in navamsha chart too (not
shown here), is associated with low bindus 3B/23S, both in Aries
and in Scorpio. Scorpio is also where Mars is posited.
Did the Prince at any time find Diana to be mentally compatible
with him? The Prince has only 2 bindus in Aquarius, the Moon
sign of Diana (Scorpio lagna). Moreover, Mars, the 5th lord of
fascination with the opposite sex has contributed '0' bindus in the
7th house. This means that the Prince was mentally incompatible
with Diana completely.
This was all by way of static analysis. The dynamic analysis makes
use of dasha and transit at the time of an event.
Princess Diana died in a car accident on the night of 31st August,
1997. The Prince was running Rahu-Rahu-Mars at that time. Rahu
was transiting over his 7th lord Saturn, in Leo, the 8th house from
the house of marriage. Mars was transiting his 4th house Libra
with 1B/29S. It was aspecting his 7th house Capricorn where it
has 0B/20S. No wonder, the dasha and transit proved fatal for his
wife—that was.
Mars contributing '0' in Capricorn, the 7th house, is specially
significant because it is the 7th lord of his navamsha chart. Mars'
transit is also an example of quantum decline from Virgo 4B/30S
to Libra 1B/23S. The 7th lord Saturn, the representative of Yama,
the god of death, was transiting Pisces, the 7th from Venus, with
2B/23S.
The other major planet Jupiter was travelling in debilitation with
the lowest 20 SAV. It had come to Capricorn 20 from Sagittarius
30, another case of quantum decline. Jupiter is the 12th lord of the
Princes spouse, hence it was not expected to save her, though it is
a natural benefic.
The Prince was rumoured to have been going around with Ca-
milla even when he was married to Diana. Venus in a dual sign
and Mercury, the lord of dual signs, in mutural exchange, sowed
the seeds of marital disharmony between the Prince and Diana.
For second marriage, it is best to consider the dasha lord and
the 7th therefrom. The Prince married Camilla in Rahu-Ketu on
April 8, 2005. The lord of the 7th from Rahu is Venus which is
forming a neechabhanga rajayoga due to the exchange between
Venus and Mercury. The second marriage came about so late in
life, and that too to a divorcee, that it cannot be considered as a
 35

normal marriage. Venus has 5/30 and the 7th house from dasha lord
has 5/29. To this house Jupiter, the 9th lord and Saturn, the 11th
lord have contributed 7 and 5 respectively. 5 from Saturn are to
be looked at with enhanced respect because the average for Saturn
is close to 3.
Case Study 3
Bill Gates

For any successful person lagna should be strong. Gemini, the lagna,
has the highest bindus 36. The lagna lord Mercury has contributed
8 bindus to the lagna besides being exalted in the 4th house. It is
forming a powerful Bhadra yoga, both from the lagna and from
the Moon. The fact that Mercury is in a shubha kartari yoga, being
surrounded by Jupiter on one side and Venus on the other, makes
the lagna lord particularly strong. It is a rare phenomenon that the
lagna lord contributes full 8 bindus to the lagna which was touching

0 0 31) Ketu
Moon 0 Ketu Lagna
Jupiter Lagna
@ Bill Gates 0
Birth Chart
October 28. 1955 Mars
Mercury Moon
21:15 hrs @
@ Seattle, USA Sun
Jupiter Venus
Saturn 11 124
0 @ 0
@ Rahu Sun Ven Mars Kahu
Saturn Mercury

Sign ->■ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 6 6 5 4 5 3 3" 4 3 5 1 3
Moon 4 4 4 5 6 2 1 4 5 4 4 6*
Mars 3 4 4 5 5 2* 2 2 2 4 2 4
Mercury 4 4 8 5 5 4* 4 4 3 6 3 4
Jupiter 4 3 6 6 3* 6 5 5 5 3 5 5
Venus 3 7 5 6 5 2 3* 4 3 6 6 2
Saturn 3 3 4 4 7 2 1* 3 2 4 3 3
Total 27 31 36 35 36 21 19 26 23 32 24 27
36

the average mark of 28 even without this contribution. Mercury is

a planet of communications as well as business acumen and it is
aspecting the 10th house (and the natal Moon). The 10th lord Ju-
piter is in the 3rd house, the house of communications. The whole
world acknowledges the extra ordinary contribution made by Bill
Gates in the field of communications.

Strong Moon in 10th house

Not only the birth lagna is strong, the Moon lagna is also quite strong
as Moon has strong pakshabala and also 6 bindus in Pisces where it
is posited. Jupiter the lord of the Moon Lagna has also contributed
5 bindus in Pisces. The tenth lord from Moon is again Jupiter where
it has the same high bindus as in lagna - 36 bindus.
Bindus in 10th and 11th houses
Most astrologers love to make a comparison between 10th and 11th
house bindus from some important reference points Wealthier the
person, the stronger should the 11th be. If both, 10th & 11th are
strong, the man works very hard and also earns very well.

From 10th nth Difference

Lagna 27 27 0
Moon 23 32 9
Sun 35 36 1
Saturn 35 36 1
Dasha lord Venus 35 36 1

The meanings attached to different reference points are interest-

ing as described elsewhere also. If 11th is higher than 10th from
lagna it is due to hard labour, often physical; from Moon lagna it
is due to mental effort more than physical; from the Sun it is due
to the blessings of a godfather or connivance of State, and if it is
from Saturn it is due to diligence and personal merit which causes
popularity amongst people, specially employees, as Saturn is the
karaka of employees and one's own hard work.

Comparison between 5th and 10th

Most authors on Ashtakavarga have written variously about the
comparison of bindus between different houses. The comparison
 37

between 10th and 5th houses throws up an interesting conclusion

- if bindus in the 10th are higher than the 5th, the profession
prospers very well since the 8th house of obstruction is weak (5th
is 8th from 10th).

From 10th 5th Difference

Lagna 27 19 8
Sun 35 24 11
Moon 23 35 -12
Jupiter, 10th lord 31 23 8
Dasha lord, Venus 35 24 11

Bill Gates has had to exhibit tremendous tenacity at the mental

plane in achieving the stupendous success that he has. On every
other count his success has met with little obstruction.
The comparison between 10th and 5th is a bit queer in that 5th
should be low in order to promote success. One way to explain this
may be: when 5th is low, the man develops a single track mind so es-
sential for success. High bindus in 5th normally give a man too many
varied interests and the man loses focus and persistence towards his
profession. One of the significations of the 5th house is 'fascination
with opposite sex'. With low bindus in the 5th a man may be expected
to devote less energy in chasing girls and more on his work.
In Bill Gates case though 5th house has as low as 19 bindus
but this is compensated to a great extent by the presence of an
exalted Saturn there, in close conjunction with Venus, its friend
and dispositor. The presence of debilitated Sun should be cause for
no great concern as far as material gains are concerned as Sun is
getting the neechabhanga by both, Saturn and Venus.
In the Moon's dasha, Bill Gates has practically withdrawn from
Microsoft and is devoting time to his philanthropic Foundation.
From the Moon, the 5th house is stronger by 12 bindus than the
10th house, so fascination with charity only. The longevity of his
professional life was certainly short as he quit working for Microsoft
of his own volition.

Dasha sequence
The 20 year dasha period of Venus started in 1983 when Bill Gates was
around 28 years of age. Before that he was running Ketu mahadasha,
38

the period in which he received education. Ketu being in 6-12 axis

made him a competent competitor. Ketu acts like Mars which is with
lagna lord Mercury. As is well known, Bill Gates basic professional
strategy was to strangulate or preempt the competition.
In the dasha of Venus-Mercury, he lost a case due to which he
had to divide his company into two. The State disfavoured him as
was to be expected due to Sun's debilitation. The legal case came
up during the antardasha of Mercury which is in conjunction with
6th lord Mars. Mercury, though a friend of Venus, is in 12th posi-
tion from Venus and does not have adequate bindu strength, 4/21.
His Venus-Jupiter started in 1993. Jupiter is in 11th from Venus
and carries 3/36 bindus. This was the period when Windows 95,
the landmark software was launched. The communication world is
not the same ever since. Bill Gates reaped the fruits of this launch
in Venus-Saturn from where 10th & 11th both have very good
bindus.
The fact that a strong Venus is being supported by an exalted
9th lord Saturn has surely contributed to his unprecedented success.
Chandra-Mangal Yoga and Adhiyoga (benefics in 6th & 8th from
Moon) and Laxmi yoga are the other yogas that have contributed
significantly to the coffers of this richest man in the world. To har-
ness the good effects of the yogas one needs a strong lagna and that
is a very special feature of this horoscope. But for Ashtakavarga, the
remarkable strength of lagna would not be apparent.
The most outstanding feature of this horoscope is that all the
nine planets directly or indirectly are influencing the 11th house. 5
planets are directly aspecting the 11th house; Mercury and Moon are
conveying their cooperation with the 11th house through Mars, the
lord of 11th, aspecting 11th. Rahu and Ketu convey their influence
through their dispositors - Venus and Mars respectively, which are
aspecting the 11 th house directly.

Case Study 4
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
This is a case study of India's only non-Congress prime minister who
had the long enough tenure to make some impact on the nation.
His horoscope has a rare distinction of having three houses with 8
bindus in the Bhinnashtakavarga of Jupiter. Jupiter has full 8 bin-
 39

Sun Mer(R)
0 0 127) lup/ CJi
Mars Lagna
Moon
Atal Bihari 0 Venus
0 Vajyapee
Dec. 25. 1924 Rahu
25 31
05:15 hrs
@ Gwalior 0
Ketu India
25
@ ® 0
Sun Moon 0
Vler(R)Jup Venus Saturn (34)

Sign * 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12
Sun 7 4 3 2 6 5 7 3 2* 5 2 2
Moon 4 4 3 5 5 6 3 3* 4 4 4 4
Mars 7 4 3 1 2 6 6 2 1 4 2 1*
Mercury 6 4 5 3 5 5 5 7 5* 3 4 2
Jupiter 4 3 3 5 4 (D 4 1 © 4 4 ®
Venus 2 3 4 7 5 4 4 5* 4 5 6 3
Saturn 4 3 1 3 4 5 4* 3 3 4 3 2
Total 34 25 22 26 31 39 33 24 27 29 25 22

dus in the 2nd house in Sagittarius where it is posited; Pisces, the

other house of Jupiter also has 8 and the 11th house Virgo has 8. The
bindu distribution in Jupiter's BAY itself is equivalent to some kind
of arajayoga, specially when we consider that the Sun being 10th lord
is conjunct Jupiter. The first time he became the prime minister in
1996, Jupiter was traversing Sagittarius. The second time when
he became the PM in 1998, Jupiter was traversing in Pisces; both
signs have 8 bindus. During the last three years of his tenure he was
enjoying the dasha of Jupiter. In 1977 he had become the External
Affairs Minister when he was running Mars-Jupiter; Jupiter is in the
10th from Mars.
Vajpayee had risen from the ranks, unlike some other prime
ministers of India whose sole qualification was a certain dynasty
in which they were born or associated with. The main strength
behind his rise was his oratorical skill. Jupiter is in the 2nd
house of speech with 8 bindus and the karaka of speech Mercury which
has donated 5 bindus in the 2nd house is conjunct with it.
40

Although he never married yet he is rumoured to have a daughter.

Jupiter has 8 bindus in the 5th house. 5th from itself, Jupiter has
4/34 bindus. Mars, the 6th lord posited in the 5th house, has only
1/22 which may explain a daughter without legal marriage.

Some of the usual aphorisms of ashtakavarga can be verified in

his horoscope. The comparison of bindus in the 10 and 11th shows
that both the houses have very good bindus:

From 10th nth Difference

Lagna 31 39 8
Moon 31 39 8
Sun 39 33 -6
Jupiter 39 33 -6
dasha lord

The 6th house of a politician must have high bindus because

he climbs the ladders of success by continuous competition and
winning elections repeatedly, first against his own party men and
later against the opposition. Mars, the lord of the 6th house has
7/34 in the 6th house.
The 5th house has 22 bindus whereas the 10th has 31. The 5th
being 8th from the 10th is preferred to have lower bindus, as dis-
cussed elsewhere also.
 CHAPTER 7

Divisional Charts Part I

The concept of divisional charts was formulated by the sages to

bring events from different spheres of life of the native into
sharper focus. For example, the dashamsha is meant for looking
into the details of the professional life of the native, saptamsha
for his progeny, dwadashamsha for his parents, and so on. To
derive a divisional chart from the rashi chart there is a special
technique, specific to that divisional chart only. The rationale of
these techniques is obscured in the antiquity of astrology. Therefore,
the extent and the manner in which the divisional charts can be
used is also obscure. There are few specific principles given in the
classical texts to guide the practitioner to the exact, correct and
complete use of the divisional charts.
In some ancient texts it is possible to find references to the
meaning attached to an individual planet going from one rashi
position in the natal chart to another in the divisional chart, but
there is hardly any mention of how to treat the divisional chart as
a whole. There is no mention whether aspects of different planets
can be applied in the divisional chart in the same manner as is
done in the rashi chart. Nor is there a mention whether one can
apply aspects at all in the divisional charts. After all, it is only the
rashi chart which takes reference from the actual astronomical posi-
tions of planets in the zodiac, and not the divisional charts. Some
science-inebriated astrologers have in the past tried to explain the
rationale of aspects through angular distance between planets in
the zodiac. Therefore, any inferences drawn from the divisional
charts would have no basis in the actual positions of the planets
in the skies. Astronomy goes for a six as far as divisional charts
are concerned.
Yet, practitioners of astrology using divisional charts have ad-
opted nearly the same methods of analysis as are applied on the
42

rashi chart independently. They are not content just with aspects,1
the innovative and the experimental amongst them apply the same
dashas and the same transits too on the divisional charts, with ac-
curate and sometimes stunning results.
This preamble leads us to the question: 'Can we apply Ashtaka-
varga to the divisional charts?' Again, the rationale behind the
method of casting the Ashtakavarga charts being unknown, one
cannot take up a deductive or logical stand. One can only adopt a
commonsensical, extrapolative and experimental stance. Nowhere
in the shastra has the use of Ashtakavarga been mentioned as for-
bidden for divisional charts.
Some eminent astrologers have grappled with this question in the
past. They have advocated using the same Ashtakavarga figures for
the divisional charts (they illustrated it only for navamsha), sign by
sign, as are calculated for the rashi chart. If a house gets better in
the divisional chart by way of a sign with having higher sarvashtaka
bindus (after the reshuffle inherent in the process of casting the
divisional chart) the house is supposed to have become better. Thus,
improved results could be pronounced in respect of that house in
the domain ruled over by the specific divisional chart.
If we follow their system and suppose there is a sign which has
very low bindus, say 17, then some house in the divisional chart is
bound to have 17 bindus and its significations would be considered
as spoiled. And if this method is to be adopted for all the divisional
charts, it would mean that the native is doomed in respect of some
house or the other in the domain governed by the divisional chart.
This approach may have its own proponents and adherents, but it
does not seem rational.
The reason for it has to be sought in the fundamentals of
Ashtakavarga computations. The system is based on the premise
that each planet casts benefic influences with respect to its own
position in the chart as well as with respect to the position of the
other planets in the chart. Thus, it can be seen that the outcome of
the computations is solely based on the position of planets in the
chart. In a divisional chart, these positions undergo a sea-change

'Some daring and bold astrologers are using the nakshatra (and kakshya) considerations
too on the divisional charts, this is possible by extrapolating the position of the planet
within the divisional chart arc and by programming the computers for this task. But this
approach has to be tested extensively before it can be adopted for every day use.
 43

(not all planets are likely to be vargottama in a chart along with

the lagna) since planets change their rashis in accordance with the
rules of casting the specific divisional chart. Therefore, Ashtakavarga
calculated on a set of planetary positions should not be applied on
another chart having a different set of planetary positions.
Hence, logically a fresh Ashtakavarga should be calculated for
each divisional chart if one intends to stick to the letter and spirit
of the Ashtakavarga computations. Earlier scholars, if not suffering
from a mental block in this connection, surely suffered from lack of
computational aids. In modern times, astrology programmers have
written new programmes to calculate fresh Ashtakavarga for any
chart. Despite the rationale and availability of these aids we must
recognise that in trying to apply Ashtakavarga to divisional charts
we are entering into a totally unchartered territory.

General Principles for divisional charts

Before going into the actual case studies, it would be worth one's
while to recapitulate the commonly applied methodology on the
divisional charts vis-a-vis the rashi charts.
1. Sage Parashara has described 16 divisional charts. They are called
Shodashavargas. All of them have not been given equal status. If
only the seven more commonly used vargas are chosen, their rela-
tive value is given in the table below:

Relative values of Saptavargas and what they deal with:

1. Rashi 5 Physical well-being
2. Hora 2 Wealth and prosperity
3. Drekkana 3 Well being of coborns, medical and
horary astrology
4. Saptamsha 2.5 Progeny
5. Navamsha 4.5 Spouse and all things combined
6. Dwadashamsha 2 Parents of the native
7. Trimshamsha Miseries and troubles
Total; 20

One can see that the navamsha has been accorded a very high
importance, next only to the rashi chart. A section of astrolo-
gers believes that the planets give their results according to their
44

disposition in the navamsha in preference to their indications in the

rashi chart. This preoccupation with navamsha is obviously not shared
by the majority of astrologers who consider it beneath their dignity
to refer to any chart other than the rashi chart, for pronouncement
of the result of their strenuous astrological deliberations.
2. The rashi chart is given the highest importance and reference from
it is imperative while judging the divisional chart For example, if
we have to critically examine the results pertaining to the seventh
house we should examine the influence on the:
a. Seventh house in the rashi chart and navamsha chart.
b. Seventh lord in the rashi chart and navamsha chart.
c. Karaka of the 7th house (Venus) in the rashi chart and navamsha.
For women Jupiter may be taken as the karaka of marriage.
In addition to these, there are some cross-references also that
should be made:
d. How is the 7th lord (of rashi chart) faring in the navamsha chart?
e. How is the 7th lord (of navamsha) faring in the rashi chart?
The last two factors serve as indicative of the treatment that
should be meted out to all the bhavas and cross-reference to the
relevant divisional chart.
3. Lagna and lagna lord are always important and their pre-eminent
role in deciphering the charts should be taken cognisance of.
One may note:
a. Is the lagna of the divisional chart 6th, 8th or 12th house of
the rashi chart. This would be extremely adverse.
b. How is the lagna lord (of rashi chart) faring in the concerned
divisional chart (specially in navamsha and to some extent in
drekkana)?
c. How is the lagna lord (of the divisional chart) faring in rashi
chart?
d. Are the two lagna lords friends?
e. Are there benefic influences on them or malefic?
f. Are they in the rashi of a malefic or a benefic?
4. While it is true that the planets give results as per their char-
acteristics, they undergo vast modifications in accordance with the
signs they occupy in the rashi and divisional charts. If a planet goes
 45

into its exaltation, moolatrikona or friendly rashi in the divisional

chart, the results are expected to improve. If the planet happens to
go into its inimical rashi in the divisional chart, the results, at least
pertaining to that divisional chart, will suffer.
5. If a planet does not own 6th, 8th, or 12th houses in the rashi
chart and is unafflicted in the respective divisional chart, it gives
excellent results.
6. A malefic, normally gives adverse results. But if it associates with
the navamsha lagna lord or its rashi, it ceases to give adverse results
in its dasha, specially if any benefic influences are associated.
There are very many specific results attributed to a planet in the
classics as it goes into the signs of different planets in divisional
charts. In the previous paragraphs we have only given general and
prominent principles.

Case Study 1
Amitabh Bachchan
Now, let us take up, some case studies and see how Ashtakavarga
can be applied on divisional charts for better insight.
The horoscope of Amitabh Bachchan, adjudged the best Indian
actor of 20th century in a popularity poll, lends itself to many
research topics admirably.

@ ®
(27) Saturn
(K)
Lagna
Amitabh @ Ketu
Bachchan Jupiter
Ketu Oct. 11. 1942
16:03 Saturn
(24) War time ® R)
Allahabad Rahu Rahu
Ven Mar Moon
@ @ Mer(R)
Moon (20) Sun Yen Mar
Jupiter Mer(R) Sun

The relevant Ashtakavarga data is presented for comparison

(BAV/SAV) for both, rashi and navamsha charts (Table 3).
The Ashtakavarga data of rashi chart as well as the facts that 7th
lord is in the 8th and Venus is debilitated with two malefics, do
46

0 0
Venus Saturn
(R) Sun
@ Lagna Mer(R)
Mars W^24)
@ Rahu
Jupiter Mars
Navamsha Moon Rahu
Sun Ketu Jupiter
Moon Mer{R)
Ketu @ @
23 11 Saturn
@ (R
@ 0 0
Venus

Table 1: Sarvashtakavarga of Rashi Chart

Sign 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 3 6 4 5 4 2* 2 4 6 3 3 6
Moon 5 3 5 8 I 2 4* 5 4 4 3 5
Mars 4 2 3 5 3 r 1 4 5 3 5 3
Mercury 2 8 4 6 4 4* 2 5 5 5 5 4
Jupiter 5 5 6 T 3 5 7 3 4 3 5 3
Venus 4 6 3 5 4 4* 3 5 4 5 6 3
Saturn 3 3* 4 6 4 2 2 3 4 1 4 3
Total 26 33 29 42 23 0 21 29 32 24 31 27

Table 2: Sarvashtakavarga of Navamsha Chart

Sign -» 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 5 4 4 4 3* 3 4 4 4 4 3 6
Moon 3 4 4 4 5 2 5 5 3 4* 4 6
Mars 4 3 5 2* 2 1 5 1 6 4 2 4
Mercury 5 5 6 6 5* 2 4 2 5 6 4 4
Jupiter 5 6 4 4* 6 5 6 5 1 5 6 3
Venus 4 5* 5 2 4 4 3 4 5 5 5 6
Saturn 4 4 5* 2 3 2 3 5 3 2 1 5
Total 30 31 33 24 28 30 26 27 30 25 34
 47

not fit the description of Amitabh Bachchan's famous and talented

actress wife, Jaya Bachchan. But when we critically examine the
navamsha chart, where the 7th lord of rashi has become vargot-
tama, Venus has become swagrihi (own house) and most of the
Ashtakavarga pointers have undergone dramatic metamorphosis,
one is forced to accept the supremacy of navamsha in the matters
concerning marriage.
The only factor in the rashi chart that gives a glimpse of extraor-
dinary success and fame to Amitabh Bachchan's wife is the fact that
7th lord from the Sun (fame) is exalted (Jupiter) with a superlative
Ashtakavarga strength of 7B/42S as mentioned in Table 3. Sun is
also the 7th lord of birth chart. 7th house is considered alternative
house of profession being 10th from 10th.
Table 3; Comparison of Ashtakavarga data
In D1 In D9 Remarks
1. 7th house from lagna 23S 30S Better in navamsha
2. 7th lord from lagna 2B/20S 2B/24S Better in navamsha
3. Karaka of marriage, Venus 4B/20S 5B/31S Better in navamsha
4. 7th house from the Moon 26S 24S Nearly equal
5. 7th lord from the Moon 1B/20S 4B/30S Much better in
navamsha
6. 7th house from the Sun 27S 25S Nearly equal
7. 7th lord from the Sun 7B/42S 5B/33S Both quite good
8. 7 th lord of rashi from — 3B/28S OK
lagna in navamsha chart
9. 7 th lord of navamsha 1B/20S — Very poor
(from lagna) in rashi chart

Please note that the 9th house of rashi chart (indicating destiny)
has become the lagna in the navamsha with 30 bindus and the lag-
nesha Venus has 31 bindus. At one point of time Jaya was a bigger
film star than Amitabh. This was before their marriage. The meteoric
rise of Amitabh Bachchan happened after his marriage.
It is distressful to observe that the sign Virgo which represents in-
testines has a poor score of 20 and 19 in D1 and D9 respectively.
In July 1982 during the shooting of the film 'Coolie', when he
was running Saturn-Sun, Amitabh received a near fatal blow in his
abdomen and had to remain in the hospital for a long time. At that
48

time Saturn was transitting Virgo with 2/20 and Mars with 1/20 in
the rashi chart. At that very time, in navamsha, Saturn had 2/19 and
Mars 1/19 in Virgo. This is a double confirmation of the event from
Ashtakavarga point of view. In the rashi chart Virgo is 8th from
lagna, 12th from the Moon and 6th house of the Kaalapurusha. In
navamsha it is 12 th from the lagna. At the time of writing the book
Saturn is again in Virgo in its next cycle and Amitabh is running
the dasha of Ketu Rahu in 2011.

Case Study 2
J. Jayalalitha

Let us take another example — J. Jayalalitha's, several times Chief

Minister of Tamil Nadu. The relevant Ashtakavarga data is presented
for comparison in Table 6.
Jayalalitha's marital status is a bit enigmatic. She was the com-
panion of the most charismatic actor and political leader of his
f Saturn (R)
Venus Rahu 128)
0 0 (26)
0 0 33)
Sun Lagna
Mer (R) 0
| Jayalalitha Saturn
(R) Venus
Feb. 24. 1948
Madras 0
© Mar (R) Sun
Moon Ketu
Jupiter [j Mer
lupiter
0
0 Ketu 0
0

0 Ketu Moon Ketu (24)

/
0 Jupiter 0\
Mars(R) 0 © \12//
Lagna
Jupiter /\ Si
0 Moon
Mars(R) ,
Saturn 0 \l / Sun
(R) Navamsha 4 10 Venus
>K
0 / 7\ (26)
Sun 0
Venus Mercury
@ (R)
Rahu Mer(R) 6
0 0 63)
0 0 (29) Rahu (33)
 49

Table-4; Sarvashtakavarga of Rashi Chart

Sign -> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 5 6 3 2 6 4 5 4 2 3 4* 4
Moon 4 5 5 3 4* 6 3 6 6 3 2 2
Mars 4 3 5 3 3* 2 4 4 2 3 3 3
Mercury 5 5 6 6 2 3 5 6 2 6 3* 5
Jupiter 4 3 6 4 3 6 4 6 T 2 6 5
Venus 7 2 5 6 3 5 7 3 5 4 2 3*
Saturn 2 4 3 2* 3 4 4 5 4 4 2 2
Total 31 28 33 26 24 30 32 34 28 25 22 24

Table-5 : Sarvashatakavarga of Navamsha Chart

Sign + 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 3 2 3 5 5 5 3 4 5 3* 6 4
Moon 5 3 5* 5 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 4
Mars 3* 3 3 1 4 3 3 5 3 3 5 3
Mercury 4 5 2 4 3 7 3* 7 4 4 6 5
Jupiter 6* 4 4 7 3 3 7 5 2 6 7 2
Venus 4 4 5 2 7 4 3 5 6 3* 6 3
Saturn 4 1 5 4 5 4 1 3 2 3 4* 3
Total 29 22 27 28 31 29 24 33 26 26 38 24

time — MG Ramachandran. This is exemplified by the fact that

she has swagrihi Jupiter in the 7th house and karaka of marriage,
Venus, in her rashi chart, is exalted in the 10th house. This is an
extraordinary planetary position in connection with the 7th house.
Yet she was never officially married. The reason probably is that the
support from Ashtakavarga is poor. It gets poorer in the navamsha
chart, as indicated in the comparative Table 6. That, the companion
was a famous person, is indicated by a still better score in navamsha,
judged from the Sun.
Navamsha again presents a better picture of marital story in
vivid details in both, the navamsha chart and the ashtakvarga of the
navamsha chart. In the navamsha chart the 7th house is afflicted
by 6th, 8th and 12th lords. The 7th lord of rashi chart, Jupiter, is
also afflicted by 6th & 7th retrograde lords. In addition, Jupiter
50

itself is the 12th lord, aspected by retrograde Saturn. The karaka,

Venus, is associated with the cruel planet, Sun. The whole scenario
is antithetical to a proper and long married life.
Table-6: Comparison of Ashtakavarga data
In D1 In D9 Remarks
1. 7th house from lagna 28S 24S Worse in navamsha
2. 7th lord from lagna 7B/28S 3B/26S Worse in navamsha
3. Karaka of marriage, Venus 3B/24S 3B/26S Nearly equal
4. 7th house from the Moon 22S 26S Poor in both
5. 7th lord from the Moon 2B/26S 6B/29S Much better in navamsha
6. 7th house from the Sun 24S 28S Nearly equal
7. 7th lord from the Sun 4B/22S 5B/27S Much better in navamsha
8. 7th lord of rashi from — 6B/29S Good
lagna in navamsha chart
9. 7th lord of navamsha 3B/24S — Poor but exalted Venus
(from lagna) in rashi chart

MGR died in the year 1987. Jupiter, the 7th lord of rashi of
Jayalalitha was transiting over Pisces in which it has 5B/24S in
the rashi chart and 2B/24S in the navamsha chart. Pisces is also
the 12th house of navamsha chart. It is clear again, the navamsha
and its Ashtakavarga data is giving a better idea of the event than
the rashi chart. The fact that Jupiter was transiting over Pisces in
which it has 5B/24S in the rashi chart is indicative of the associ-
ated professional rise of the native at the same time. Jayalalitha
has been in and out of the Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister's chair for
the last two decades. Her birth chart is strong but the navamsha is
stronger. Her locus standii in the states politics began only due to
her relationship with MGR. The 11th house has become the lagna
of the navamsha. A great rajayoga is formed in the lagna by the
lagna lord Mars and the 9th lord Jupiter. Sun and Venus in the 10th
house are also forming a rajayoga. A very strong swagrihi Saturn is
in the 11th house. Its bindu strength is superlative, 38. The 10th/11th
comparison of bind us in the navamsha chart is - from lagna 26/38;
from the Moon 24/29; and most importantly from the Sun: 24/33;
they are all excellent.
 51

Case Study 3
Monica Lewinsky
Let us take yet another example. Monica Lewinsky was in news for
sometime due to her intimacy with the then US President, Bill Clin-
ton. Her relevant Ashtakavarga data is presented in Tables 7 & 8.
The fact that 7th from the Sun is very good in both the charts and
7th from the lagna and the Moon is poor in both the charts indicates
that her companion is a powerful and famous person but she, herself
will be subjected to a lot of mental anguish due to this involvement.
Another observation is noteworhty. Her Moon in the rashi chart
has 0B/22S in the 7th house and 7B/31S in the 8th house, where
it is also posited. This gives her a propensity towards fluctuating
moods, and predisposes her to adopt a shocking and scandalous
behaviour. As if this was not enough, her 8th lord Mars has 0B/20S
in the 12th house of bed-pleasures. The scandal could not have been
avoided as it was ordained by her stars (not Starr.)

Mars Moon Saturn Venus (20

(29) Ketu
0 Sun
Lagna Mer(R)
@
Monica Lewinsky Sun Saturn
July 23, 1973 Mer (R) Ketu
lup(R) San Francisco Rahu
®
(27) Venus fupiter
(R Mars
Rahu (27)
@ 0
Moon

0 Rahu
Vi) Moon ® /
® 0 Venus 0
Jup(R) Sun\.5/ @\ I®®
Lagna S/2 Venus
Ketu Mer (R) Mercury (R)/ \jup{R)
Mars
@ 0 \ 4/
Navamsha 0 7
/\1 ® y
Rahu
Moon / 10 \
®
® Saturn^
X)2 0
@
Saturn Sun (Sy uX
0 0 @ 0 Ketu\
0
\/® Mars \
52

Table 7: Sarvashtakavarga of Rashi Chart

Sign -> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 4 3 6 4* 2 5 2 4 4 5 5 4
Moon 1* 4 3 4 3 3 5 6 4 5 5 0
Mars 3 2 6 2 0 6 2 4 5 3 3 3'
Mercury 5 3 7 4* 2 6 3 6 7 3 3 5
Jupiter 5 6 3 4 5 4 7 3 5 5' 4 5
Venus 4 7 3 3 5* 5 4 6 4 3 4 4
Saturn 3 4 5* 4 3 2 2 3 4 3 5 1
Total 31 29 33 25 20 31 25 32 33 27 29 22

Table 8: Sarvashtakavarga of Navamsha Chart

Sign -» 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 4 6 5 2 2 6* 6 4 5 2 2 4
Moon 6 4 3 4 3' 4 3 5 3 4 5 5
Mars 3 4 3 3 2 4 3 4 4 2 4* 3
Mercury 3 7 4 5* 5 5 3 4 6 3 4 5
Jupiter 5 5* 4 4 4 4 5 5 6 3 4 7
Venus 3 3' 4 6 5 6 3 3 5 4 4 6
Saturn 7 2 4 3 0 4 5 I* 4 3 1 5
Total 31 31 27 27 21 33 28 26 33 21 24 35

Table 9: Comparison of Ashtakavarga data

D1 D9 Remarks
7th house from lagna 22S 21S Poor in both
7th lord from lagna 5B/27S 1B/26S Poor in both
Karaka Venus 5B/20S 3B/31S Poor in both
7th house from the Moon 25S 24 S Poor in both
7th lord from the Moon 5B/20S 1B/26S Poor in both
7th house from the Sun 27S 35S Better in the navamsha
7th lord from the Sun 5B/33S 5B/31S Good in both
7th lord of rashi — 5B/31S Quite good
(from lagna) in navamsha chart
7th lord of navamsha 5B/33S — Very good
(from lagna) in rashi chart
 53

Nevertheless, she stands to make a lot of money, one way or the

other, as a direct offshoot of her celebrity status due to involvement
with the President.
Her 7th lord of rashi chart, Jupiter has been transiting2 Aquarius
and Pisces where it has 4B/29S and 5B/22S respectively, in rashi
chart and 4B/24S and 7B/35S respectively, in the navamsha chart.
What is specially noteworthy is that her 7th lord of navamsha, Saturn
has been transiting in Pisces and Aries during all this tumultuous
period where it has 1B/22S and 3B/31S respectively, in rashi chart
(in 7th and 8th house of sexual scandal and intrigue) and 5B/35S
& 7B/31S respectively, in the navamsha chart (in the 9th house of
great luck and 10th house of profession). This data in its bosom
contains the story of Monica's rise from an ordinary intern to an
extraordinary and much talked-about celebrity, with the promise
of great wealth in the offing, by virtue of her 7th house activities.
Again, the navamsha chart and its Ashtakavarga data throw inter-
esting light on the events of the native's life.

Case Study 4
Barack Obama

Barack Obama was the most unlikely person to fight for the presi-
dency of United States. But not only he fought he also won. Let us
examine how he was supported in this fight by Ashtakavarga. His
lagna has only 23 bindus but the lagna lord Saturn is in the lagna
itself to give it the essential support. The fact that the lagna lord
is vargottama (in the same sign in the navamsha as in the birth
chart), speaks volumes for the strength of his lagna. The individual
contribution of Saturn in the lagna is 3 which is an average. Saturn
is in the nakshatra of Uttarashadha, the last nakshatra of the Sun.
The very meaning of Uttarashadha is the 'invincible one' which
leads to the 'final victory'. Saturn is retrograde which means that
it is equivalent to being exalted. A debilitated Jupiter in the lagna
enjoying an excellent neechabhanga rajayoga has given no mean
support to the lagna. From the Moon, Saturn is the 9th & 10th lord
and Jupiter is the 11th lord. Both being retrograde have formed
extraordinary dhanayoga from the Moon.

2
This piece was written around 1999
54

Moon Venus Ketu

0 0 Lagna
(5) 12 Sat(R) 8 138
Sun

1®
Barack Obama Mercury )up(R)
August 4. 1961 ®
19:24 Mars
Honolulu Rahu
Sat (R) USA
Jup(R) 0 Moon Sun
Mercury 6 126
@ ® 0 Mars
Venus Rahu

lup(R) Moon Rahu \^l) Mercury/^ \ ®

0 0 0 (29)
0
(36) 7 Lagna ^ (32)
® 0
Navamsha (27) Ketu 8X2 ^hu (29)
Sat(R) a
0 {2^
® Sun
Mars y* (29)
Sun Ketu Mercury
Mars Ven Venus
0
0 0 /®S(R)rn /W

Table 10: Sarvashtakavarga of Birth Chart

Sign -> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 5 5 4 3* 3 4 4 6 3 2 4 5
Moon 5 5* 3 3 2 4 6 5 4 4 4 4
Mars 3 4 3 2 2* 4 4 7 3 3 1 3
Mercury 5 3 7 3* 6 4 4 6 4 3 5 4
Jupiter 5 5 4 5 4 4 5 6 2 4* 5 7
Venus 5 6 4* 3 5 6 4 4 3 4 3 5
Saturn 4 6 5 3 1 0 4 4 3 3* 2 4
Total 32 34 30 22 23 26 31 38 22 23 24 32

His Moon is exalted in the 5th house with 34 bindus in which

the Moons own contribution is 5. The Moon is in its own nakshatra
Rohini and is aspected by Jupiter. These are the additional quali-
fications of the Moon. Even the Sun is aspected by Jupiter. When
 55

Table 11: Sarvashtakavarga of Navamsha Chart

Sign -> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 1 3 6 6 5 4 4 5 2* 7 3 2
Moon 4* 4 7 2 2 6 6 2 2 5 5 4
Mars 2 3 3 4 3 4 5 3 2* 5 4 1
Mercury 3 4 3 5 7 5* 5 5 2 7 5 3
Jupiter 3 6 6 3 4 6 6 1 7 6 4 4*
Venus 5 4 2 5 3 3 6 7 4* 3 4 4
Saturn 2 5 5 3 5 3 4 4 1 3* 4 2
Total 20 29 32 28 29 31 36 27 20 36 29 20

Lagna, the Moon and the Sun are aspected by Jupiter, it becomes
the horoscope of some royalty.
What is very interesting to note is that he was running Jupiter-
Moon during elections. From Jupiter the 11th house has the highest
bindus 38, and from the Moon which is 5th from Jupiter, it has
32. This means that both the dasha and the antaradasha lords were
supposed to 'deliver' at that time.
In general also we can look at the comparison between bindus
in the 10th and the 11th houses from important reference points.

In rashi In navamsha
From 10th 11th 10th 11th
1. Lagna 31 38 29 32
2, Moon 24 32 36 29
3. Sun 32 34 31 36
4. MD Jupiter 31 38 20 36
5. Atmakaraka Mars 34 30 31 36

In most cases the comparison is favouring the 11 th house and

the 10th house is not very weak from any reference point.
The apparent power of this chart is in the navamsha. The lagna
belongs to the royal sign Leo. The lagna lord is in the 5th house
with the 9th and 10th lords Mars and Venus. All the planets are
either exalted, in their own sign or in friendly signs. They are also
all positioned at strategic points. An exalted Mercury, aspected by
56

Jupiter, in the 2nd house explains extraordinary oratorical powers

of Obama. The 5th house of dignity and honours is studded with
several rajayogas involving the lagna lord too. A vargottama Saturn
is in the 6th house of competition and has 36 bindus. Jupiter has
shed its debilitation and is in its own benevolent sign in Pisces. The
Moon has gone to the 9th house in the friendly sign Aries. Rahu
and Ketu are in the kendras and, according to some, exalted. The
Sun, the Moon, Mars, Venus and Jupiter have only 20 bindus each.
This only shows some chinks in the otherwise strong armour. This
may also indicate that the facade is superficial. The foundation of
the rajayogas is weak. The people around the world who thought
of Obamas presidency as a revolutionary event in history, as if a
messiah had been sent to the earth by God, would be thoroughly
disappointed. Bad transit can take its toll at the time of an unfa-
vourable dasha.
Obama may not become the saviour of US since he has only 22
bindus in Sagittarius, the lagna of US chart as believed by some
astrologers. He is also not likely to succeed in bringing US out of
the economic recession because he has only 23 bindus in Capricorn,
the 2nd house of US chart. In navamsha, Obama has even poorer
score in Sagittarius, only 20, though fortified with planets forming
rajayogas. Those who consider Gemini as the lagna of USA also do
not have much to rejoice about, as Capricorn, the lagna of Obama
falls in the 8th house of the chart. Not a positive augury.
The day Obama won the election, Ketu was exactly on the de-
grees of his natal Sun. It is of great significance, probably of some
tragic inevitability.
Saturn on that day was transiting Leo with 1/23 bindus, soon to
go over to his 9th house in Virgo where it has a grand score of zero
bhinnashtaka bindus. Most of the earlier Presidents of US won with
good scores of transiting Saturn and Jupiter in their charts.
Obama got support from the navamsha again in which Saturn in
Leo has 5/29 and 3/31 in Virgo. Obama has not been able to make
any significant impact on the domestic or the international scene
till after two years of assuming office. Unfortunately, he has been
running the dasha of Jupiter-Rahu for much of his first tenure, both
planets having 23 bindus only where they are posited.
In his second tenure, in case he manages to get there somehow,
he would have crossed over to Saturn's mahadasha which is likely
 57

to be much better since his Saturn has many qualifications including

the fact that Saturn will be in Libra, its exalted sign, having 4/31
bindus initially and later 4/38 bindus in Scorpio, a clear quantum
jump from 0 to 4 as compared to the present position. The houses
involved will be the 10th and the 11th.

Case Study 5
Tiger Woods
In December 2009 Tiger Woods, the famous Golf superstar was
slammed by his wife for cheating on her. Slowly the skeletons from his
cupboard started tumbling out and it became known to the whole world
that he had liaison with many different women for a long time.
On the face of it, the 7th house of Tiger Woods seems to be
well fortified. An own house Jupiter is protecting it and it also has 6/28
bindus which cannot be called deficient. But there is strong mismatch
between the bindus in the lagna and the seventh as the lagna is strong
with a superlative strength of 37 bindus. For a sports person such high
bindus may be very good but for a good marital match the bindus in
these two houses should be nearly equal. But this Jupiter suffers from
kendradhipati dosha as well as it is the badhakadhipati for his dual
sign lagna. Jupiter in the seventh, especially in a dual sign, made avail-
ability of women easy and plenteous.
The karaka Venus conjoined with a debilitated 11th lord Moon is
not a satisfactory augury. Venus is not only in mutual aspect with Mars,
it is also in rashi parivartana. Venus is in Anuradha, the nakshatra of
Saturn. Thus the flames of passion are stoked by Mars and Saturn,
both retrograde. The classical writings are replete with references that

Jupiter Ketu Mars Rahu

(R) ®
@ @ Moon Saturn
Saturn Venus Lagna
(R)
Tiger Woods (R)
® @
Dec. 30, 1975
22:25 Sun
Mercury Long Beach,
California @
®
Mercury Jupiter Mars
Moon f R)
Sun Rahu
Venus
@ @
@ ® Ketu
58

Table 12: Sarvashtakavarga of Birth Chart

Sign -> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 3 4 4 4 6 3 4 4 4* 5 3 4
Moon 2 5 4 5 3 6 4 4* 2 5 5 4
Mars 4 4* 4 2 2 4 3 3 2 3 5 3
Mercury 4 4 5 3 5 4 5 4 5 5* 6 4
Jupiter 3 5 6 4 3 7 4 3 7 4 4 6*
Venus 3 3 3 6 1 6 6 T 4 5 3 5
Saturn 3 1 3 4* 2 7 4 3 4 3 3 2
Total 22 26 29 28 22 37 30 28 28 30 29 28

Moon Rahu /\(S) Ketu /

(27) (§) ® /
n / Lagna
Moon Mercury
12 Jupiter X®
/ \10 z7
Navamsha / 1X7 (§) \
Mercury Sun Mars
Ven(R) / 4\
Jupiter \ / 5
d) \X Saturn
Saturn @ 2 ^ (R)
Ketu 3
\ / SunX (25)
(37) @ (R)
(24) X?NMars(R) X-7
/® Rahu \\/vrz' Venus \

Table 13: Sarvashtakavarga of Navamsha Chart

Sign 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 4 6 6 2 3* 5 3 5 4 2 3 5
Moon 4 5 4 3 3 2 6 5 4 6 3 4*
Mars 1 5 7 2 2* 2 3 4 3 4 1 5
Mercury 6 3 8 2 5 4 5 5 6 4* 2 4
Jupiter 6 5 5 3 4 6 \ 7 1 6' 6 3
Venus 5 6 6 4 3* 4 4 6 3 4 2 5
Saturn 1 4 6 3 3 1* 3 5 3 5 2 2
Total 27 34 42 23 25 28 37 24 31 19 28
 59

throw light on the lascivious character Venus gives if it associates with

Mars and Saturn. The 11th lord Moon is the catalytic agent involved in
the whole affair that gives desire for and access to multiple partners.
Venus has 7 bindus in its own bhinnashtakavarga.
The Ashtakavarga has its own story to tell in the navamsha since
the matter on hand pertains to marriage and its side effects. The
7th house has only 19 bindus and the 7th from Venus has 19 too.
The 7th lord of birth chart Jupiter that promised cover up of his
clandestine moves has gone in debilitation in the navamsha. Venus
is in the 8th house with Mars and the Sun with only 23 bindus.
The 7th from the Moon has only 25 bindus and Saturn in it. Thus
the story told by navamsha is that of a very afflicted seventh, a
sea change from the birth chart. Ashtakavarga bindus add a strong
weight to this analysis.
The whole episode came to surface during the dasha of Sun-
Venus-Rahu. Sun is the 12th lord of losses; Venus is in the 12th
from the Sun, and Rahu is in the 12th from Venus. Rahu is not
altogether innocent because it is in the 7th sign Libra, which is the
7th house of the kaalapurusha chart. In transit the Sun and Venus
were visiting the house of natal Venus and the Moon. The 8th lord
Mars was in the 11th house aspecting the 2nd house, both houses
denoting money. It carried 2/28 bindus indicating loss of money.
He had to shell out a hefty chunk of money in settling divorce.
The same horoscope can also be seen from the point of view of
profession. The lagna lord Mercury, also the 10th lord, is aspected
by the 6th lord Saturn. This gives him a profession in which he
needs to compete all the time. Mercury besides giving a calculative
mind also gives an athletic body. The 3rd house, often considered
as the house of sports or extra curricular activities, contains two
soft planets Venus and the Moon, giving him a talent for a soft
sport. Golf is certainly a soft sport as compared to say football or
basketball. Mars, the planet of stamina and competitive sports is
aspecting the Sun as well as the Moon besides the 3rd house and its
occupants, in the rashi as well as the navamsha chart. Mercury and
Saturn have exhanged houses in the navamsha thus giving rise to a
wonderful rajayoga. The 6th house of competition has a whopping
42 bindus in the navamsha with Rahu posited in there as an extra
bonus. Rahu is aspected by the lagna lord Saturn. Lagna has high
bindus in both the rashi and the navamsha.
 CHAPTER 8

Divisional Charts Part II

In the previous chapter the applicability of Ashtakavarga was

demonstrated on the most important of divisional charts, namely
the navamsha. The applicability of Ashtakavarga is being demon-
strated in this chapter in not only the navamsha but also in the
other divisional charts.

Case Study 1
An Indian Businessman
This in fact is the first case study which drew my attention to the
applicability of Ashtakavarga in the divisional charts for specific
events pertaining to the relevant divisional chart by casting a fresh
ashtakavarga of the chart rather than depending solely on the Ash-
takavarga figures of the rashi chart. The results were amazing.
Case Study 1 belongs to a businessman who was running Vim-
shottari dasha of Jup-Mar-Sat at the time when a theft took place
in his office. For a Leo lagna, Jupiter is the 5th lord and Mars is
the yogakaraka planet being the 4th and 9th lord. Jupiter and Mars
are placed in the 5th house along with the lagna lord Sun, and
2nd and 11th lord Mercury. The results from such a dasha were
expected to be excellent. But the dashamsha and its Ashtakavarga
had another story to unfold. Mars in the 8th house, as the 10th
lord of dashamsha, is in mutual aspect with retrograde Saturn, the
12th lord of losses.
Again in navamsha, Mars as the 8th lord is aspecting the 10th
house, and the 6th lord Saturn situated in the 11th house of gains
with Rahu. The dasha lord Jupiter is itself the 8th lord in the rashi
chart, situated in the 12th house in the navamsha and is aspecting the
8th house and 8th lord Mars in the dashamsha (for Aquarius lagna,
Jupiter is considered malefic, being the 2nd and 11th lord).
 61

@
(23) (§) Moon
Rahu
Lagna
Ketu Saturn (R)
Case Study 1
Rashi Chart (27) Venus
Dec. 23, 1948
Delhi ®
@ Sat (R) Sun
Mer (g)
Sun (23) Mars Rahu
(27) ® ® Jup
Mer
Mars Jup Venus Ketu Moon

(29) / \ Mercury(23)y
® @ © , Venus
Moon Sun
23 3^
©
Sat (R)
Navamsha Rahu (30) Mars ^un
X
© 12
® Mercury
Jupiter
E.v" ® v271
\ / l\Moon
® ® ®
Mars Venus © (26)

Ketu
© @ © ©
Mercury Jupiter
Mercury Lagna
Sun Saturn
® © (R)
Sun Rahu
Dashamsha Jupiter
@ ®
Ketu Yen
25) 3
@ Moon
© ©
Saturn © Venus Mars 29) Rahu
Moon Mars
(R)

Thus the stage was set for an adverse happening as far as the
mahadasha, antardasha and pratyantar dasha lords were concerned
- most notably in the dashamsha. Now let us look at the transit
position on the day of the theft of the major players in this drama,
some of which happen to be the dasha lords too. The theft took
62

place on Feb. 20, 1993. The comparison is presented in Table 4 for

which the data has been taken from Tables 1, 2 & 3.

Table 1: Sarvashtakavarga of Rashi Chart

Sign -» 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 4 5 5 4 5 4 6 4 2* 3 3 3
Moon 2 4 6 5 2 6* 6 2 3 4 5 4
Mars 4 5 4 2 2 4 6 3 1* 2 4 2
Mercury 4 5 5 4 5 5 5 6 4* 3 4 4
Jupiter 3 3 4 6 4 6 6 1 7* 7 3 6
Venus 6 4 3 4 6 4 7 6* 4 2 3 3
Saturn 3 4 3 3 2* 4 7 5 2 3 2 1
Total 26 30 30 28 26 33 43 27 23 24 24 23

Table 2: Sarvashtakavarga of Navamsha

Sign ->• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 5 2 5* 6 3 3 4 1 5 5 4 5
Moon 3 5* 4 4 5 2 3 6 4 3 6 4
Mars 2 3 4 5 2 3 5 2 2* 4 2 5
Mercury 4 4 6 5 5* 2 7 2 5 5 5 4
Jupiter 2 3 8 4 4* 7 3 5 5 5 4 6
Venus 7 7 4 3 3 3 S* 4 5 5 3 3
Saturn 3 3 4 5* 1 5 2 3 4 3 2 4
Total 26 27 35 32 23 25 29 23 30 30 26 31

Table 3; Sarvashtakavarga of Dashamsha

Sign 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 3 3 3 4 4 6 4 2 6 4 2* 7
Moon 7 3 3 6 5 I 4* 5 5 3 5 2
Mars 4 I 4 4 4 4* 3 2 5 0 3 5
Mercury S* 4 5 5 4 4 5 3 7 5 3 6
Jupiter 5 5* 5 5 6 3 3 6 5 1 7 5
Venus 2 4 4 3 5 6 4* 3 6 5 7 3
Saturn 3 3 1 2 4 4 2 4 4* 2 5 5
Total 27 23 25 29 32 28 25 25 38 32 33
 63

Table 4: Comparison of Ashtakavarga data (theft)

1. Jupiter was in Vigro
2. Mars was in Gemini
3. Saturn was in Capricorn
4. Rahu was in Scorpio
(Shanivat Rahu)
(As its dispositor. Mars)
5. Moon was in
Capricorn
In D1 In D9 In D10 Remarks
6/33 7/25 3/28 Jupiter was in 8th
house of dashamsha
4/30 4/35 4/25 Transit Mars was
aspecting Mars and
Saturn of dashamsha
3/24 3/30 2/20 Saturn was in 12th
hosue of dashamsha
5/27 3/23 4/25 Bad in dashamsha
3/27 2/23 2/25 Bad in dashamsha
4/24 3/30 3/20 Moon is 6th lord of
dashamsha and 12th
lord of rashi chart

It is obvious from Table 4 that the event is reflected only in

the Ashtakavarga of dashamsha. The figures in the other charts
are quite healthy (except for Rahu in navamsha), whereas the fig-
ures in the dashamsha are mostly poor. Saturn, scoring the lowest
(2/20), unleashed its punitive action in full measure in the domain
ruled by the dashamsha. The effect of the theft was felt primarily
in the professional life by the native. The other areas remained almost
unaffected as indicated by the healthy Ashtakavarga figures in the
rashi chart and navamsha. It is noteworthy that Saturn is the 6th
lord of rashi and navamsha both and 12th lord of dashamsha.
Note: 1. Navamsha has been included here for comparison to
indicate that the event gets reflected in the 'appropriate' divisional
chart, mainly. Moreover, navamsha is given just a trifle lower impor-
tance than the rashi chart and it is recommended to be studied for
'all' events and not just the ones related to the spouse or partner.
2. Rahu does not have its own bhinnashtakavarga normally.
Therefore, the technique to make use of transit of Rahu is to treat
Rahu equivalent to Saturn (as per the dictum Shanivat Rahu) and/
or its dispositor, in this case Mars; Mars being the lord of Scorpio,
the rashi being transited by Rahu at the time of the event. Also
please note that Rahu is in the 6th house of dashamsha chart. Ketus
transit can also be used likewise, wherever necessary. (Please see
chapter on Ashtakavarga of Rahu and Ketu).
64

3. In dashamsha, the bhinnashtakavarga of Mars has '0' in Capri-

corn where Saturn was transiting. This is a special observation that
Mars and Saturn while visiting the house in which the 'other one'
in its own BAY has '0', cause special havoc. This observation is in
contravention to the general rule that the figure to be considered is
the one that belongs to its own bhinnashtakavarga. Cross-references
are recommended specially between Mars and Saturn due to their
special propensity to cause trouble and they often collaborate in
causing destruction. Cross-referencing between Sun & Jupiter is
some times used for auspicious results.

Case Study 2
Indira Gandhi

Let us take the example of the late prime minister of India, Mrs.
Indira Gandhi. She had an eventful and well documented life.
Indira Gandhis horoscope has been discussed by many astrologers
from many angles quite competently. Here, we are employing her
charts from the point of view of Ashtakavarga using Vimshottari
dasha and transits of major planets at different events in her life.
First of all, a few general observations in the realm of Ashtaka-
varga:

Force of Personality
A person as resolute as Indira Gandhi had to have a strong lagna.
It does not look like to be true Ashtakavarga-wise till one sees
the lagna of the navamsha chart where the lagna lord Jupiter has
garnered 8/38 bindus - a real stupendous score. In comparison,
Moon, the lagna lord of rashi chart has managed only 1/24 in the
lagna. Dashamsha has a score of 5/25, but it is no match to the
navamsha. This speaks of the immense reserves of energy which
Indira Gandhi displayed, whenever she was pushed to the wall by
her opponents, time and again in her illustrious career. Her fighting
capacity is also best displayed in the 6th house of navamsha chart
with 5/34 bindus as compared to 5/23 of rashi chart and 4/31 of
dashamsha. Presence of the Sun in its own house along with the
friendly Mars (in the 6th house of navamsha) made her practi-
cally invincible throughout her history-making career except for a
short spell of 3 years when she was thrown out of power by the
 65

democratic people of India for her promulgation of emergency and

excesses committed during it.
No Younger Coborns
Indira Gandhi did not have any younger brothers or sisters. Let us
examine which chart gives the most decisive pronouncement in this
regard Ashtakavarga-wise.
Mars 24 Ketu
® ® Ketu
)up(R) (32)
// Lagna Jupiter
Saturn (R)
@ Case Study-2
Indira Gandhi Saturn
Nov. 19,1917 (27)
@ Allahabad
Moon Mars
Sun 8 Moon
@ Mer
Rahu Sun (§) Rahu
Venus Mercury Venus

r
(§) @ Moon
(38) @ Jupiter
(R) Rahu
Jupiter Lag n.i Saturn
(27) @ @)
Moon
Navamsha Rahu Ketu
Saturn Sun
Mars 23 4 8 124
®
Ketu Venus ® Sun Venus
Mercury Mars 23) Mercury

20
Saturn @ @
Mercury Ketu Lagna
Saturn Moon
(g) Mercury
@
Drekkana Ketu Mars
Rahu
Moon Venus
Jupiter (R) Sun
(3) (27) ®
Mars @ Jupiter
Sun Venus
Rahu (R)
66

@ Mars Mercury
@ © Jupiter
Rahu Moon
(R) 27 1 Lagna Saturn
0 @
Venus
Bashamsha
Rahu Ketu
© ©
Mars Sun
30 1 Jupiter (R)
V Sun
© © ©
0
Mercury Moon Ketu Venus
Saturn

It is evident from Table 9 (the data for which is contained in

Tables 5, 6 & 7) that Ashtakavarga of drekkana, as expected, is the
one that is giving a clear picture of the fact that the native did not
have younger co-borns.
Table 5 : Sarvashtakavarga of Rashi Chart
Sign ->• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 4 5 5 3 4 5 5 4' 2 3 3 5
Moon 5 6 5 1 4 6 3 4 4 4* 3 4
Mars 5 4 2 3 1* 4 3 3 1 3 3 6
Mercury 8 3 2 5 6 3 7 3* 3 3 5 6
Jupiter 3 6* 4 5 6 6 2 7 5 3 5 4
Venus 5 3 2 4 3 7 5 3 4* 5 5 6
Saturn 3 5 4 3* 2 5 5 4 4 1 1 2
Total 33 32 24 24 27 36 30 28 23 22 25 33

Table 6: Sarvashtakavarga of Navamsha

Sign ->• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 5 3 4 3 5* 6 2 4 3 3 5 5
Moon 5 6 4 3 5 1 3 3 6 5 5* 3
Mars 3 4 2 2 5* 3 3 2 4 3 3 5
Mercury 5 3 5 4 5 4 5* 4 6 4 4 5
Jupiter 2 4* 8 4 7 3 3 6 4 2 5 8
Venus 4 4 6 4 3 3 5* 3 5 5 4 6
Saturn 2 5 5 3 4 4 2 2 3 2' 1 6
Total 26 29 34 23 34 24 23 24 31 24 27 38
 67

Table 7: Sarvashtakavarga of Drekkana

Sign -♦ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 It 12
Sun I 4 5 5 4 3 3 4* 5 6 5 3
Moon 4 6 5 4 5 4 4 2 4 6* 2 3
Mars I 2 5 4 4 3 2 2 3* 6 I 6
Mercury 6 I 5 4 6 4 6 4 5 4 3 6*
Jupiter 4 4 6 7 4 6* 2 5 6 5 3 4
Venus 5 7 5 4 4* 3 5 6 3 5 2 3
Saturn I 4 4 3 5 2 2 4 3 5 4 2*
Total 22 28 35 31 32 25 24 27 29 37 20 27

Table 8: Comparison of Ashtakavarga data (No Younder co-borns)

In D1 In D9 In D3 Remarks
1. 3rd house from 36 29 28 Worst in drekkana
Lagna
2. 3rd lord from Lagna 3/28 5/23 4/32 —
3. 3rd house from 33 26 27 Navamsha and
Moon drekkana nearly equal
4. 3rd lord from Moon 6/32 5/34 6/25 Worst in drekkana
5. 3rd house from Mars 30 23 20 Really bad in drekkana
6. 3rd lord from Mars 4/23 5/23 2/27 Worst in drekkana

Note: In drekkana, not only the 3rd house from Mars has only 20
bindus, this house happens to be the 12th house of drekkana and
has only 1 bindu in Mars' BAY (see Table 7). Mars is the karaka
for younger coborns.

Hie Qualifications to Rule

The 4th house of a horoscopic chart is the throne. The 4th house
is quite strong in the 3 relevant charts. The 4th house of rashi has
30 bindus, that of navamsha has 34 and the dashamsha has the
maximum 35. Another rule of Ashtakavarga that is applicable in
the rashi chart, in good measure, is native having high bindus in
9th, 10th and 11th houses (33, 33, 32 respectively) leads a high class
life. The luminaries should be aspected by Jupiter in the birth chart
and preferably in navamsha and dashamsha too. Jupiter is aspecting
68

Mercury
Sat Mon Mercury 0 0
Rahu Saturn
26 4 Lagna 12 Moon
@ Rahu
Mars 0
Venus Mars
0
Venus Jupiter
R) 10 30
Ketu
0 0
Sun Jupiter 0
(R) Ketu Sun

the Sun and the Moon in Dl. In D9, Jupiter is aspecting the Sun
if we take the retrograde Jupiter acting from the previous house in
D10, Jupiter is again aspecting the Moon. No wonder this is the
horoscope of a person who ruled the country for nearly 16 years.

Table 9; Sarvashtakavarga of Dwadashamsha

Sign -► 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 3 2 3 4 5* 5 4 2 5 5 4 6
Moon 3 5 5 5 4 3 6* 4 3 3 5 3
Mars 2 4 3 2 4 5 4 2 2 S* 4 4
Mercury 6 3 6 0 6 5 7 4* 6 3 3 5
Jupiter 3 6 4* 4 6 7 2 4 5 6 6 3
Venus 3 4 7 6* 4 4 5 4 5 4 2 4
Saturn 2 3 3 5 3 3 3* 2 3 6 2 4
Total 22 27 31 26 32 32 31 22 29 30 26 29

Table 10: Comparison of Ashtakavarga data (Father became PM)

In Dl In D9 In D12 Remarks
1. Sat was in Cancer 3/24 3/23 5/26 Sat is the 9th lord of
dwadashamsha
2. Rahu was in Taurus Rahu is in 10th from
(Shanivat Rahu) the 9th house of
(As dispositor, 5/32 5/29 5/27 father in rashi chart
Venus) 3/22 4/29 4/27
3. Sun was in 4/24 3/23 4/26 Sun is the karaka for
Cancer father
4. Jupiter was in 7/28 6/24 4/22 Jupiter is the 9th lord
Scorpio of rashi chart
 69

Let us now look at some of the specific events in the life of Indira
Gandhi and check out the relevant divisional charts.

Mother's Death
The native lost her mother on February 1936 when she was only
19 years of age. Her Moon, in almost all the relevant charts, is
afflicted by Saturn. The dasha running at the time was Mars-Sun-
Saturn. Mars and Sun are maraka for mother in the rashi and na-
vamsha. In the dwadashamsha, Mars is again a maraka reckoned
from the karaka, Moon, and Sun is the 6th lord. It is placed in the
8th house from the lagna. When it comes to death, Saturn is an
unqualified maraka.
Saturn was in Aquarius in transit at the time of death of her
mother.
• In rashi chart it had 1/25 in the 8th house, 2nd to the Moon.
• In navamsha chart it had 1/27 in the 12th house on the Moon.
• In dwadashamsha chart it had 2/26 in the 10th house aspect-
ing the 4th.
The bindus in all the 3 charts are very low and this event had
caused her a lot of trauma at that time.
Note: The 5th house of dwadashamsha has the highest bindus,
32, an indication of the progeny (Indira Gandhi herself) acquiring
high status later in life.

Father became the Prime Minister

This was the most important event in Indira Gandhis life because
the subsequent events were made possible by this single event.
She was running Rahu-Ketu-Sun on that eventful night, Aug. 15,
1947. The transit position and the associated bindus are given in
Table 10 which has its genesis in Tables 5, 6 8c 9. The results are
self explanatory.

Herself became the Prime Minister

Then came January 1966 and she herself became the prime minister
of India. She was running Jupiter-Sun. The transit of relevant planets
and their bindus are given in Table 12. The data is contained in
Tables 5, 6 8c 11.
70

Table 11: Sarvashtakavarga of Dashamsha

Sign -► 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 5 3 3 4 5 4 5 5 2* 4 4 4
Moon 3 6 4 1 3 5 5 3 3 4 5 7*
Mars 4 5 3 2 3 2 4 2 4 4 3* 3
Mercury 5* 5 2 7 5 4 5 6 2 7 2 4
Jupiter 7 3 4 3 7 5 3 5* 5 3 5 6
Venus 4 4 4 5 4* 4 4 3 4 5 5 6
Saturn 2 5 4 1 4 3 4 3 5 0 3 5*
Total 30 31 24 23 31 27 30 27 25 27 27 35

Table 12: Comparison of Ashtakavarga data (Herself became PM)

In D1 In D9 In D10 Remarks
1. Saturn was in 1/25 1/27 3/27 Saturn is the planet of
Aquarius democratic power
2. Jupiter was in 4/24 8/34 4/24 Jupiter is the mahadasha
Gemini lord
3. Mercury was 3/22 4/24 7/27 Mercury is the 10th lord
in Capricorn of dashamsha

In any democratic set up Saturn plays the most important part

in giving power, and Jupiter in giving dignity, that may be as-
sociated with power. Therefore, in examining an event related to
elevation to a high post Ashtakavargas of at least these two planets
must be scrutinised closely As we can see clearly from Table 12,
Saturn showed poor results in rashi and navamsha but improved
in dashamsha. This indicates that though she had the power but it
was limited and shaky. The old Congress organisation had a strong
hold and she did not feel the freedom to act on her own. Later she
scuttled the organisation and kept usurping more and more power
in her own hands. Jupiter is her 9th lord in rashi, lagna and 10th
lord in navamsha, and lagna and 4th lord (of throne) in dasham-
sha. Its participation was most necessary. Mercury, with superlative
strength of 7 bindus in dashamsha, was transiting over Mars. Mars
is the 10th lord of rashi chart.
 71

Fall from Power

In March 1977 she lost power. The opposition parties gathered under
one banner and had a landslide victory. She was running Saturn-
Ketu-Jupiter. Ketu is posited in 12th house of loss in rashi, 10th
house of profession in navamsha and dashamsha both. The rashi
chart indicated loss; but loss of what? The divisional charts answered
that the loss would be of authority and power. Let us examine in
Table 13 (generated out of Tables 5, 6 and 11). The story revealed
by the Ashtakavarga figures of the important players.
Saturn was clearly in doldrums in dashamsha. It is the 8th lord
of rashi transiting the lagna. It is the 12th lord of navamsha visit-
ing 5th house (mental trauma). It was transiting the 8th house of
dashamsha. Jupiter and Ketu have not fared so badly. This was the
indication that she was not finished yet.

Power Regained
In January 1980, she regained power by manipulating and divid-
ing the opposition. She was running Saturn-Venus-Saturn. Let us
see in Table 14, what the two best of friends Saturn and Venus
were doing to her charts in transit along with the great restorer of
dignity, Jupiter.
Saturn with better bindus was transiting the 10th house of
dashamsha. Jupiter which is in exchange of houses with Venus in
rashi chart was truly in a celebrating mood in royal style with 6 s
and 7 s all over. Venus is in exchange of houses with Moon and is
also in Vipareeta rajayoga in the dashamsha A good dasha with
sufficient support from transit and its Ashtakavarga bindus can
restore the greatest loss and humiliation.

Table 13: Comparison of Ashtakavarga data (Power Lost)

In D1 In D9 In D10 Remarks
1. Saturn was in 3/24 3/23 1/23 Saturn transited its
Cancer natal position in rashi
chart
2. Jupiter in Taurus 6/32 4/29 3/31 Jupiter also likewise
transited its natal posi-
tion in rashi chart
3. Ketu in Aries 5/33 3/26 4/30 Ketu was in the 10th
(Kujavat Ketu) house of rashi chart
72

Table 14: Comparison of Ashtakavarga data (Power Regained)

In D1 In D9 In DID Remarks
1. Saturn (R) was 5/36 4/24 3/27 All three figures have
in Virgo improved
2. Jupiter(R) was 6/27 7/34 7/31 Jupiter improved
in Leo considereahly
3. Venus was in 5/25 4/27 5/27 Venus is the 4th lord
Aquarius (throne) of rashi

The Native Herself Meets a Violent End

On 31st October 1984 Indira Gandhi was shot dead by one of
her guards. She was running Saturn-Rahu-Rahu. Both Saturn and
Rahu are unqualified marakas for any one, but for her, Saturn was
specially so being the 7th and 8th lord of rashi chart.
Mars is a maraka for her in all the 3 charts, but its impact had to
be felt in the rashi chart, obviously. Mars in transit was aspecting the
lagna of rashi, of navamsha and in lagna itself in dashamsha. With a
poor score of 1/23 in rashi, it proved violently fatal. See Table 16, the
data for which has been taken from Tables 5, 6 8c 11.

Elder Son became Prime Minister

It was a quirk of fate that Rajiv Gandhi, the elder son of Mrs.
Indira Gandhi, was sworn in as the next Prime Minister of India,
soon after her death. Please see Table 16 again, and this time focus
on the saptamsha (data taken from Table 15). While Jupiter, the
karaka of progeny had a powerful 7/38, Mars the 5th lord of rashi
and saptamsha both, had 5/38 in transit. They were both travers-
ing Sagittarius, the 11th house of gains from karaka Jupiter and
antar, pratyantar dasha lord Rahu. It also happens to be the 2nd
house from the 5th in rashi as well as saptamsha charts. Jupiter was
aspecting the 10th house and Saturn (from Virgo) with 30 bindus
was aspecting the 10th lord of the saptamsha.
It is a common question whether a chart ceases to exert its influence
after the death of the native. Let us examine this for Rajiv Gandhi's
violent death on 21st May 1991 in the saptamsha of Indira Gandhi by
way of transit of the day. Mars (in Cancer) and Saturn (retrograde in
Capricorn) were in 1-7 axis with 3/25 and 4/29 respectively. Jupiter,
normally the saviour, was also in the lagna simultaneously. But Jupiter
had one problem, as the 6th lord it was transiting the lagna with 2/25
 73

bindus, rather low for Jupiter. Jupiter was degreecally in opposition

to Saturn, the 8th lord of saptamsha.
Table 15: Saptamsha Bhinnashtakavarga
Sign + 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 3 5* 7 4 2 4 5 2 6 4 3 3
Moon 3 4 3 3 6* 3 5 4 6 4 5 3
Mars 2 2 4 3 1 5 3 3* 5 4 4 3
Mercury 5 5 5 6 4* 5 3 3 6 5 4 3
Jupiter 4 7 4 2 7 5 2 6 7 4 5* 3
Venus 6* 2 4 4 4 5 6 4 5 4 3 5
Saturn 4 3 4* 3 3 3 4 2 3 4 2 4
Total 27 28 31 25 27 30 28 24 38 29 26 24

.27 , Mer Ketu

Moony
Venus Sun Saturn 5 {25)
30)
@ Lagna
Rahu
Jup(R)
Saptamsha 28
' KT Venus
@
Mer Ket
Moon C24)
29
Mars
/ \
(as) (28) (3°)
Mars 38 1"P(R) (26^

Table 16: Comparison of Ashtakavarga data

(Death of Self and Son as PM)
In D1 In D9 In D12 In D7
1. Saturn was in Libra 5/30 2/23 4/30 4/28
2. Jupiter was in Sag-ittarius 5/23 4/31 5/25 7/38
3. Mars was in Sagittarius 1/23 4/31 4/25 5/38

Conclusion
The inter connectivity of destinies continues, death is but an incident
in the intricate web of life-after-life.
The validity of Ashtakavarga applied on divisional charts could
not possibly be demonstrated more accurately, splendidly and
amazingly.
 CHAPTER 9

Annual Charts

In this chapter we propose to test whether Ashtakavarga figures

apply on Varshaphala charts or not. Our proposition in this book
has been that fresh Ashtakavarga figures be calculated for each
chart in question.
But before we set out to do an actual test, we should acquaint
our readers with the rules of the game. Varshaphala or annual
horoscopy belongs to the Tajika system of astrology whereas Ash-
takavarga belongs to the Parashari system, but that need not deter
us from our endeavour.
Let us first see the special features of the Tajika system as distinct
from Parashari.
1. Solar return: The Varshaphala chart is a record of the planets
in transit at the time when the Sun returns to the same longitude,
in the year in question, as it was at the time of birth.
2. Dasha; The timing of an event within the year is done through
dasha systems which are specially calculated for the Varshakundali.
In this article we will use only Vimshottari Mudda dasha which is
calculated by taking the reference from the Moon's nakshatra at the
time of birth. This dasha is quite similar to Vimshottari dasha of 120
years and is actually a condensed (to one year) version of the same.
3. Aspects: In Tajika system planets do not have any characteristic
aspects of their own. They always have mutual aspects, if they are
located in a certain house from one another.
(a) Friendly aspect: Two planets will be in a mutual friendly aspect
if they are either 5-9 from each other (Pratyaksha Mitra) or
3-11 from each other (Gupta Mitra).
(b) Inimical aspect: Two planets are said to be in iniminal aspect
if they are either in 1-7 position from each other (Pratyaksha
Shatru) or in 4-10 position from each other (Gupta Shatru).
 75

(c) Neutral or no aspect: If planets are in 2-12 or 6-8 position from

each other, they have no aspect on each other.
4. Muntha: The Muntha is a very special feature of the annual
chart. At the time of birth, the Muntha is in the lagna. Every year
it progresses by one rashi.
The results accruing from the location of Muntha are nearly the
same as they are for the location of the Munthesha. Briefly they are:
(a) Muntha/Munthesha are particularly auspicious when they are
placed in the houses 9, 10 and 11.
(b) In houses 1, 2, 3 and 5 they yield good results through the
native's personal efforts.
(c) They are inauspicious in not only 6, 8 and 12, they also give
bad results in the houses 4 and 7, which is quite unexpected as
seen through the practice of Parashari system where location
of benefics in kendras is generally considered auspicious.
5. Varshesha (Year lord); This is a unique concept of annual horos-
copy. Varshesha is supposed to significantly influence the events
that take place during the year according to its own nature and its
strength. A strong Varshesha ensures success, prosperity and good
health throughout the year in question, while a weak one indicates
the reverse. The varshesha is selected out of the five panchadhikaris
which hold special significance during the year.
6. Tajika Yogas; These yogas are quite different from the Parashari
yogas. They form essentially due to
(i) placement of planets in relation to each other and
(ii) mutual Tajika aspects between planets and their special orbs of
influence.
These yogas are common to what are applied in Horary chart
(Prashna kundali). The names of most commonly used yogas are:
Ithesal, Ishraafa, Nakta, Yamaya, Kamboola etc.
7. Sahams; These are certain sensitive points peculiar to the Tajika
system. Each Saham refers to some specific aspect of life during
the year in question.
We have briefly mentioned in preceding paragraphs the elements
of the Varshaphala chart. For a detailed description of these elements,
the reader is referred to 'A Textbook of Varshaphala' and 'Predictive
Techniques in Varshaphala' by Dr. K.S. Charak.
76

Case Study 1
Indira Gandhi (Becoming PM)
Let us take the case of Mrs. Indira Gandhi becoming the Prime
Minister of India for the first time, on January 24, 1966. Her chart
(1) is famous amongst astrologers as it has 3 powerful parivartana
yogas along with the mahabhagya yoga. She was running Jupiter-Sun
vimshottari at the time. Jupiter-Sun occupy the highly favourable
5-11 axis, aspecting each other. This combination alone is enough
to give rise in status.
Jupiter Ketu 27 Mars Ketu
(R)
(24) 24
if Lagna 2 Jupiter
(24) Saturn (R)
@ Chart 1
Birth Chart Saturn
Indira Gandhi 30
Moon Nov. 19, 1917 Mars
Allahabad (27)
@ Moon
12 I33
Rahu Sun 22
Venus Mercury @ "-V 1? OVM 1
@
Lagna 27°22• Mars Venus 21o00■
0
Sun 4°08' Mercury 13 14' Saturn 21047'
Moon 5035' Jupiter (R) 15°00' Rahu 9012'
Annual Chart: The annual chart cast at the completion of forty-
eight years of life of the native is given as Chart-la along with the
Sarvashtakavarga of the chart.
The important features of the chart;
1. Muntha: The Muntha falls in the most fortunate 9th house and the
Munthesha lord Moon falls in another fortunate house, the 11th, where
it has a strength of 7/38 bindus-a superlative strength in a superlative
house ensuring gains due to bhagya. The Muntha lord falls in Virgo
which has high Sarvashtaka strength of 36 even in the birth chart.
2. Birth lagna: The birth lagna, Cancer also falls in the 9th house
coinciding with the Muntha, thus giving it a double strength. The
birth lagna lord, Moon has exceedingly high Sarvashtaka strength of
7/38 as indicated above. The 5th house of birth chart (dignity) has
become the lagna of the Annual chart with 29 bindus. Sun, Mars
and Saturn have contributed 5 or more bindus to the lagna.
 77

Rahu Jupiter \ (23) Mars

0 (R) ^ Venus/©x
0 0 0 ^ 10X9/' Lagna ^ 7 /
0 X Sun Ketu ,\/ Moon
Saturn Muntha Mercury \0
0 Chart la 0 / ® \8
Annual Chart ' Saturn iiS/s 0 y
Nov. 20, 1965 / 2 X
@ 0 y/ 4
Rahu /X Muntha
Mars Sun 0 0^
Moon (23) /Z 3
Venus Ketu Mer 0 / ' \ \0
0 JupiterX
0 0 / © \/® (R) \
Lagna 04o55' Mars o
10 58' Venus 21011'
Sun 04o07' Mercury 25o00' Saturn 17o08'
Moon 2503r Jupiter (R) o
06 21' Rahu 11018'

Table I: Sarvashtakavarga of (Chart la) Annual Chart

Sign > 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 5* 3 3 5 3
Moon 6 4 6 2 5 V 2 2 2 5 4 4
Mars 4 3 1 3 3 5 3 5 2* 4 2 4
Mercury 6 2 3 5 5 5 6 4* 5 4 4 5
Jupiter 5 4 4* 7 5 6 3 3 5 6 3 5
Venus 6 3 3 4 3 6 6 4 4* 5 4 4
Saturn 5 4 3 3 3 4 4 6 2 1 4* 0
Total 35 23 24 28 29 38 29 29 23 28 26 25

3. Year lord: The year lord is also the Moon except that normally the
Moon is not given the year lordship. It goes to its dispositor or the
planet that has Ithesala with the Moon. Mercury in this chart is not
only the dispositor of the Moon it is also in Poorna Ithesala with it
being within a degree of the Moon. Mercury is in the lagna with Sun
and Ketu. Sun is the 10th lord. Thus Mercury, the 11th lord is having
an Ithesal with the 9th lord Moon and conjunction with the 10th lord
Sun. This is a very potent combination. Their strengths in Ashtaka-
varga are also above average, Sun has 5/29 and Mercury has 4/29. For
a powerful combination of planets to give appropriate results, it is
necessary that they do not have ashtakararga deficiency.
4. Sun in lagna: Sun, the planet of power and authority, also the
10th lord, is in the lagna. The Sun and ascendant have their Ion-
78

Table la; Salient features and their Ashtakavarga from Chart la

Feature Planet/ Remarks
Rashi
1. Muntha Cancer 28 Average
2. Muntha pad Moon 7/38 Superlative
3. Janma lagna pati Moon 7/38 Superlative
4. Varsha lagna pati Mars 2/23 Poor
5. Varshesha Mer 4/29 Average
6. 10th lord of Annual Chart Sun 5/29 Above average
7. 10th house from Muntha Aries 35 Excellent
8. Varsha lagna Scorpio 29 Above average
9. Dasha lord Saturn 4/26 Above average
10. Raja Saham lord Sun 5/29 Above average

gitudes within a degree of each other. This implies that this year
was to be the year of recognition, power and authority for the
native. As mentioned earlier, the Sun is associated with the 11th
lord Mercury, thus granting fulfilment of desire. Eighth lordship
of Mercury indicates involvement of unexpectedness and possible
fatality. Ketu's association gives credence to this mystery. Her pre-
decessor, Lai Bahadur Shastri, died in mysterious circumstances in
a foreign country.
5. From the Muntha: From the Muntha, 10th house has 35 bindus
and the lord Mars has contributed 4 out of them. Mars is conjunct
with Venus, the 4th and the 11th lord. Fourth house represents a
seat in Parliament and its lord Venus has 6/29 bindus.
6. Mudda Dasha: Within 2 days of assuming office, the dasha of
Saturn, the 4th lord, started. Saturn is occupying the 4th house and
is in friendly aspect with lagna lord Mars. Saturn has 4/26 where
it is posited and has contributed 6 out of 29 bindus to the lagna
on its own.
7. Raja Saham: The Saham for kingship or royal dignity for a night
Varsha-pravesha is Sun-Saturn+Ascendant. For this chart it falls
in Cancer.
Cancer is the 9th house of the annual chart and its lord Moon
is in the 11th house with adequate Ashtakavarga strength of 7/38
 79

where it is placed. Cancer is where Muntha for this year is, the
9th house.
8. Ithesala: There are two prominent Ithesala yogas operating in
this chart. The Ithesala between Mercury and Moon has been
discussed. Mars and Saturn are also in Ithesala involving the
lagna and the 4th house. The other lordship of Mars (6th house)
and Saturn (3rd house) indicate struggles against the opponents,
specially as Mars the 6th lord has only 2/23 in Sagittarius where
it is placed.
From Table-la and the preceding discussion it is clear that most
of the important indicators are with very good bindu strength.

Case Study 2
Indira Gandhi (Got defeated)
Mrs. Indira Gandhi was finally defeated and had to give up the top
job of India's prime ministership on March 24, 1977. The relevant
annual chart is shown as Chart lb.

Ketu Jupiter
Muntha 26 Moon
(R) Rahu
@ bun
Lagna Saturn
Saturn Mars
Mer
Chart lb ®
Annual Chart Muntha
Venus
Nov. 20, 1976
@
Jupiter
Venus Sun Moon (R)
Mars Mer Rahu @
@ Ketu
o
Lagna o
07 36' Mars 05 39' Venus 12059'
Sun oToy Mercury iris1 Saturn 23017
Moon og-oT Jupiter (R) 02o2y Rahu 09o55

Natal Chart
She was running the dasha of Saturn-Ketu-Jupiter. Saturn as the
8th lord in lagna surely can severe her from office specially when
the antardasha lord is in the 12th from Saturn and lagna both.
Jupiter, the retrograde 6th lord, is again 12th from Ketu. Thus, it
was clearly an adverse period.
80

Sarvashtakavargas of Chart lb Annual Chart

Sign * I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 2 4 4 6 6 4 3 4* 4 3 4 4
Moon 5 4 4 3 6 5 2* 4 4 3 4 5
Mars 4 3 2 3 3 4 3 3* 2 3 4 5
Mercury 6 3 2 7 5 4 6 3* 4 4 4 6
Jupiter 3 5* 6 4 6 6 2 6 6 3 6 3
Venus 5 3 2 4 2 8 6 3 4* 6 4 5
Saturn 3 3 3 2* 4 6 4 4 4 1 2 3
Total 28 25 23 29 32 37 26 27 28 23 28 31

Table lb: Salient features and their Ashtakavarga figures of Chart lb

Feature Planet/ BAV/SAV Remarks
Rashi
1. Muntha and 10th Gemini 2/23 BAV is that of
house Mercury
2. Munthapati Mercury 3/27 Adverse associa-
tions
3. Janma Lagnapati Moon 2/26 In degree con-
junction with
Rahu
4. Varsha Lagnapati Mercury 3/27 Below average
5. Varshesha Venus 4/28 Average
6. 10th lord of Annual Mercury 3/27 Below average
Chart
7. 10th house from Pisces 3/31 BAV is that of
Muntha Jupiter
8. Varsha lagna Virgo 4/37 BAV is that of
Mercury
9. Mudda Dasha lord Venus 4/28 In Sagittarius
where it is
posited
10. Raja Saham Sagittarius 6/28 BAV is that of
Jupiter
11. Raja Saham lord Jupiter 5/25 In Tarus where
it is posited
 81

Annual Chart lb
1. Varsha Lagna: The Varsha lagna has 37 bindus which indicates
a high Ashtakavarga strength. Yet she lost during the year. In fact
she lost because she thought she was very strong and invincible.
Otherwise she would perhaps not have declared the elections. But
her thinking was not correct. She was under the inescapable influ-
ence of her son, Sanjay, who she thought was her strength. But the
annual chart shows otherwise. The 5th house that indicates her
thinking and her son both, has only 1/23. The 5th lord, Saturn has
only 2/29. The atrocities and excesses committed by Sanjay under
her patronage had to boomerang.
2. Muntha: The Muntha in the 10th house and the Muntha lord in
the 3rd house, both are quite favourable factors. But Muntha has
only 23 bindus and the Munthesha has 3/27. Thus, the support
from Ashtakavarga is missing. Moreover, the Munthesha is in as-
sociation with the 8th lord Mars and the 12th lord Sun in the 6th
house from the Muntha. Also, the Muntha falls in Gemini which
is the 12th house of the birth chart where it commands only 24
bindus. No wonder the native had to suffer the humiliation of get-
ting jailed this year.
3. Birth Lagna: Birth lagna Cancer is in the favourable 11th house
but it is occupied by the 6th lord Saturn. Moreover, Saturn has
only 2/29 in Cancer, thus it cannot be a case of gains from
opponents. The lord of the birth lagna Moon has only 2/26 in the
2nd house. Also, the Moon is in degree conjunction with Rahu. It
was a forewarning of a year of miscalculation and great mental
anguish to the native.
4. Year lord: For this annual chart, the Varshesha, or the Year lord,
is Venus with 4/28. From the Year lord the lagnesha is retrograde
Jupiter placed in the 6th house with 5/25. The 10th lord Mercury is
in the 12th house with the 12th lord Mars. This constitutes another
factor for imprisonment, however temporary.
5. Dasha lord: The Mudda dasha of Venus was running at the
time she had to lay down office. Venus is also the Year lord.
Therefore analysis of this annual chart from Venus acquires
special importance. From Venus, the 10th house has 37 bindus
in which Venus itself has contributed full 8 bindus. But the 10th
82

lord Mercury is associated with 12th lord Mars and has only
3/27. Mercury and Mars are also involved in Ishrafa yoga. In
fact, 4th lord from the lagna, 4th lord from the Muntha and the
4th lord from the Year lord are all adversely affected as they are
involved in Ishrafa yogas; they involve the 6/12 axis from the
Muntha as well as from the Year lord. Such a potently adverse
situation in the annual chart removed all chances of her winning
a parliamentary seat.
6. Raja-Saham: For this annual chart the Raja-Saham falls in
Sagittarius, the 4th house of the annual chart, and carries 28
bindus with it. Its lord Jupiter is retrograde and has 5/25 only.
Sagittarius is also the 6th house of the birth chart carrying only
23 bindus.
As can be seen from Table-lb the majority of the features have
poor Ashtalcvarga strength besides having other defects.

Case Study 3
Indira Gandhi (Power regained)

Having tasted defeat in 1977, Mrs. Indira Gandhi was in a hurry

to get the power back. She withdrew support to her predecessor,
Ch. Charan Singh and manipulated the fall of his government.
She became the Prime Minister of India on January 14, 1980
yet again. She regained power within three years of a humiliating

'/
2'-)
0 0 0
Mars 5
Rahu , Lagna
Ketu |up
@ Chart 1c 0 Muntha
Annual Chart Saturn
Nov. 20, 1979 0
® Mars
Rahu Jup Ketu
0 Sun Muntha
Mer(R) Saturn /
V_y Sun \ 29
Mon Ven ® er(R) Mon Ven
Lagna 24° 19' Mars 06°45, Venus 26°31'
Sun 04°07' Mercury (R) 03o05' Saturn 0r30'
Moon 14045' Jupiter 14o40' Rahu 10° 55'
 83

defeat. Many of her critics had virtually written her off for good.
They had probably not had a peak into the Ashtakavarga figures of
Varshakundali of her 60th year. As shown in the Case Study no. 2,
her Varsha lagna Virgo had 37 Sarvashtaka strength. Though she
had lost that year yet she was far from finished.
Natal Chart
She was running the Vimshottari dasha of Saturn-Venus-Saturn
at the time of resuming office. Saturn the lord of the alternative
house of professional rise (7th house is 10th from 10th house)
is involved in a parivartana Raja-yoga with the lagna lord Moon.
The antardasha lord Venus is in the 6th house involved in another
parivartana yoga with Jupiter in the 11th house. Venus as the 4th
lord indicated her return to power.

Sarvashtakavarga of (Chart 1c) Annual Chart

Sign -♦ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 7 5 4 3 5 6 3 3* 3 3 2 4
Moon 4 6 4 3 6 5 1 5* 1 6 4 4
Mars 6 3 5 2 3* 6 1 2 1 4 1 5
Mercury 6 2 6 6 3 7 3 4* 3 4 3 7
Jupiter 3 4 4 5 6* 7 2 6 5 2 6 6
Venus 5 2 7 6 2 5 4 3* 5 6 3 4
Saturn 4 2 5 4 3 5* 3 3 3 4 2 1
Total 35 24 35 29 28 41 17 26 21 29 21 31

Annual Chart 1c
Chart 1c is the annual chart for the year commencing on November
20,1979. The lagna has very good strength with 35 bindus. The 10th
8c 11th houses from the lagna have 31 and 35 respectively, which
is a very comfortable situation.
1. Muntha: The Muntha in the 4th house and the Muntha lord
Mercury in the 6th house are both quite adverse. But the Muntha
has 41 bindus and the 9th lord Saturn is posited in it with 5 bindus.
The eighth lordship of Saturn adds an element of conspiratorial
moves on her part.
84

Table 1c; Salient features and their Ashtakavarga Strengths

Feature Planet/ Remarks
Rashi
1. Muntha Virgo 7/41 BAV is that of
Mercury. Excellent
2. Munthapati Mercury 4/26 Average
3. Janma lagnapati and Moon 5/26 Average
Mudda dasha lord
4. 10th house of annual Pisces 6/31 BAV is that of
chart Jupiter
5. 11th house of annual Aries 6/35 BAV is that of
chart Mars. God
6. 10th house from Mun- Gemini 6/35 BAV is that of
tha (also Varsha lagna) Mercury. God

7. 9th lord of annual chart Saturn 5/41 Exceedingly good

8. Raja-Saham Virgo 7/41 Superlative
9. 5th house (progeny) Libra 17 Indicates possible
fatality to progeny
10. 7th house (2nd child) Sagittarius 21 Indicates possible
fatality to 2nd son
From Munthesha there is a parivartan yoga between Mars and
Sun, the lagna lord and the 10th lord. This exchange is the same
exchange that is present in the birth chart also except that the
houses involved are different. For power and authority, this yoga
is of immense value.
The Muntha coincides with Virgo which has the highest score
of 36 in the birth chart.
2. Year lord: All the five office bearers are relatively weak. Therefore
the Munthesha Mercury may have to be taken as the Year lord
though it is not aspecting the lagna.
3. Ithesala: (i) There is a Poorna Ithesala between Moon and Jupiter.
They are also forming the Parashari Gaja-Kesari yoga which grants
status and dignity to the native. Jupiter has 6/28 and the Moon has
5/26. They are lords of the 2nd, 7th and the 10th houses.
(ii) There is an Ithesala between Sun, Mars and Jupiter. They
are not only friends amongst themselves, they are also the planets
 85

of power and dignity. Since the Moon is in ithesal with Jupiter, a

highly auspicious yoga is being formed here — Kamboola yoga.
Moon has 5 bindus.
4. Dasha: The Vimshottari Mudda dasha at the time Mrs. Gan-
dhi regained power was that of the Moon. If we reckon the chart
from the Moon we can see that the 11th house has 41 whereas
the 10th house has 28 bindus. This is a highly favourable position
for 'less effort more gain'. The ithesal of Moon and Jupiter is the
ithesal of 5th and 9th lords in the 10th house as reckoned from
the Moon.
Moons debilitation in the 6th house can also be considered a
favourable situation.
5. Raja-Saham: For this annual chart the Raja Saham falls in Leo,
the royal sign, which coincides with the placement of Jupiter the
10th lord and Mars the 11th lord. The house has 28 bindus and is
being potentised by the presence of Rahu.
6. Fifth house: We have been discussing the fortunate factors of
this annual chart, quite oblivious of the fact that this was also one
of the most tragic year of Mrs. Gandhis life. She lost her younger
son, Sanjay Gandhi in an air-crash, whom she was grooming as the
heir apparent. Both her sons died a violent death. An indication
of this is there in her natal chart itself. The 5th lord Mars is in a
parivartana yoga with the 2nd lord Sun. Moreover, Mars is aspecting
the 5th house. In the annual chart Mars is a double marakesha as
it is the 2nd and 7th lord both, from the 5th house.
The 7th house is indicative of the second child being 3rd from
the 5th. It has only 21 bindus. The 7th lord Jupiter (as also the
karaka for progeny) is associated with Mars and Rahu. Mars is the
12th lord from the 7th house.
The same parivartana yoga as in the natal chart is present in
this annual chart also. This time, Mars the 6th lord of accidents
is aspecting the 5th lord Venus which is occupying the 6th house
along with Sun, Mercury and debilitated Moon. Venus is also being
aspected by the 8th lord Saturn which is posited in the 12th from
the 5th. The Vimshottari Mudda dasha was that of Saturn on June
23, 1980 when Sanjays plane crashed.
This was the most crushing blow to Mrs. Gandhi. The 5th house
has only 17 bindus in the Varshakundali.
86

Case Study 4
A Suicide Case

This is the case of a young girl who committed suicide at the ten-
der young age of 20 years. At a cursory glance, her chart does not
reveal that she could be a case for suicide. The lagna has 32 bindus
and the lagna lord Sun is posited in the 10th house with the 9th
lord Mars and exalted Moon having 25 bindus. The Sun is quite
strong in the shadbala as it has the directional strength. But, on
closer look one finds that Mars and Saturn both are aspecting the
lagna as well as the lagna lord. The Moon and the Sun both are

Venus Mercury Sun Men 26 24

Rahu Mars @
32
Ketu
Lagna
Suicide Case
Birth Chart 2 ® Sun
Saturn Moon
May 20, 1985 (R)
Jupiter 12:20
@ Rewa, MP, India
27 30 ercury
Saturn Ketu 10
@ (R) (§)

Lagna 10o43' Mars 22046, Venus 22027,

Sun OS^S' Mercury le^S' Saturn (R) OCSO'
Moon 09o45' Jupiter 22055' Rahu 24034,

Table 2: Sarvashtakavarga of Birth Chart

Sign -» 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Lagna 6 5 3 6 2* 3 6 4 0 4 6 4
Sun 0 5* 6 3 5 4 2 5 4 4 6 4
Moon 3 3* 4 6 2 3 6 5 3 6 4 4
Mars 0 3* 5 3 5 3 5 3 2 2 5 3
Mercury 3* 4 7 2 6 4 3 5 5 5 4 6
Jupiter 5 4 4 4 6 3 2 6 5 T 5 5
Venus 5 3 5 4 5 6 4 3 5 4 2 6*
Saturn 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 4* 3 4 4 5
Total 18 25 34 24 32 26 25 31 27 32 30 33
 87

also afflicted likewise. Due to proximity with the Sun, the Moon
has no pakshabala. In matters of suicide generally it is the Moon
which is found weak and afflicted. The Sun and Moon both are
also afflicted by the aspect of 8th lord Jupiter. Debilitated Jupiter
cannot provide the so badly needed security to the Moon, himself
the I2th lord (and also the 22nd drekkana lord). Jupiter is also the
Atmakaraka of this chart and is in the 6th house aspected by Saturn.
She got married in Rahu-Rahu and committed suicide soon after
Rahu-Jupiter began. Rahu or Ketu generally have a role to play in
the cases of suicide. The tone of the chart is set by the lagna which
is in Magha, the nakshatra of Ketu placed in 3rd house of alternative

Rahu Mercury Sun Saturn

Venus
® 0 @ Lagna
Moon
Mars Iup{R)
Chart 2a ® Ketu
® Varsha Kundali Saturn
at 20 years (30)
® completed 0
25 10 Rahu Sun
Venus
Mon@)
® 0 0 lup(R)
Ketu Mars Mercury
Lagna 22° 12' Mars 19°60' Venus 18°39'
Sun 05°33' Mercury 19° 12' Saturn 29°27'
Moon 2r45' Jupiter (R) 15°23' Rahu 28024'
Table 2a: Sarvashtakavarga of (Chart 2a) Annual Chart

Sign - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 2 3* 5 4 4 3 2 5 5 4 7 4
Moon 4 0 5 7 4 3* 4 7 3 2 5 5
Mars 2 1 4 4 3 5 2 3 3 1 7* 4
Mercury 6* 2 5 5 4 6 4 1 6 4 6 5
Jupiter 2 6 4 5 4 5* 5 4 5 5 5 6
Venus 6 4* 4 5 4 5 4 2 6 6 3 3
Saturn 3 1 3* 4 3 2 2 6 4 3 5 3
Total 25 17 30 34 26 29 23 28 32 25 38 30
88

longevity. Ketu is in Vishakha, the nakshatra of the 8th lord. The

Sun and the Moon are in Krittika, the nakshatra of the lagna lord.
Krittika translate simply into 'the one who cuts' (the ties of life).
Rahu and Mercury that play a very important role in this chart are
in Bharani, the nakshatra of Venus, posited in the 8th house. The
deity of Bharani is Yama, the lord of death.
Here Rahu is the main culprit since it has only 18 bindus, way
below 28. Rahus dispositor Mars and the lagna lord Sun have
contributed '0' bindus in this grand total of 18. Mars also happens
to be the 8th lord from the dasha lord Rahu. Rahu was in Pisces
at the time of her death which means that it had visited its natal
position Aries just some time back. Importance of weakness of
Aries, the lagna of the Kaalapurusha cannot be underestimated in
such cases.
Let us now look at the Varshakundali applicable to this episode
The lagna is Virgo and the lagna lord Mercury is in the 8th house.
The lagna is afflicted by the Rahu-Ketu axis and the 8th lord Mars
by the Parashari 8th aspect. The natal lagna is in the 12th house
of the varshakundali. The lagna has 29 bindus and the lagna lord
25. The year lord is Venus with the 12th lord Sun. Though the year
lord is sitting pretty in the 9th house it has only 17 bindus. In these
17 bindus the contribution of the Moon is '0' and Saturn and Mars
have contributed 1 bindu each. The 9th house of any chart should
never be so weak in bindus. If destiny is weak, strengths elsewhere
would be of no consequence.
Moreover, Venus is in close ithesal with Mars, the 8th lord. The
lagna lord Mercury is also in Poorna ithesal with Mars. The Moon
and 6th lord Saturn are also in ithesal. An afflicted retrograde Jupiter
in the lagna would not be very helpful in such situations.
Muntha is in Aries in the 8th house and Munthesha Mars is in
the 6th house. Both are extremely inauspicious houses.
The Mudda dasha at the time of suicide was that of Mars. Mars
having 38 bindus in the 6th house probably gave the girl enough cour-
age to hang herself. Mars is a dire malefic for the Virgo lagna.
Normally speaking one would expect auspicious results with a
dasha lord having 38 bindus. May be committing suicide successfully
was considered auspicious by the native herself. Who are we to sit
in judgement and call an event auspicious or otherwise.
 CHAPTER 10

Horary Charts

As is well known, a horary chart is drawn as per the time a

querist asks a question to the astrologer. Hence, it is essentially
a transit chart. Here, we propose to make use of Ashtakavarga
on the horary chart. A horary chart is usually employed
without taking recourse to the natal chart and is often found
useful when the birth data of the native is not available or when
the accuracy of birth time cannot be ascertained. The results of
analysis of the horary chart are generally limited to the scope of
the question and they are not extended to envelop large sections of
life, though some authors differ. There are many timely questions
that are better answered by the horary chart as compared to the
natal chart as would be clear from the nature of examples taken
in this chapter.

The Parameters of a Horary Chart

The usual significations of the planets, houses and signs in horary
chart remain the same as are used for natal astrology. But the way
a horary chart is analysed is significantly different from the natal
chart analysis. Depending on the nature of question, the houses ac-
quire a different meaning. This will become apparent when we take
up individual case studies. Similarly, the characteristics of different
signs, viz., chara, sthira, dwiswabhava or sheershodaya, prishthodaya,
ubhayodaya etc. have greater significance in a horary chart, specially
of the rising sign*. The aspects and the yogas applied are generally
the Tajika ones though some astrologers use Parashari aspects and
yogas too. Parashari system predates the Tajika system by several
centuries.

'The chara sign indicates change in status quo and sheershodaya signs yield favourable re-
sults. Sheershodaya signs are 3, 5, 6, 7 and 11. Prishthodaya signs are 1, 2, 4, 9 and 10.
90

Case Study 1
Murder of a Cartoonist
The capital, New Delhi was shocked to learn that a cartoon-
ist of an English periodical was found murdered on the 3rd
or 4th day of him being reported missing by his wife. A well
wisher of the cartoonist asked us about his well-being, a day
before it was splashed all over the front page of the newspapers that
his body was found badly injured by stab wounds. A chart erected
for the time of the query is reproduced here.

(22)Ven Saturn Jupiter Rahu

Jup (24)
Mer (R) (24) (24)
Saturn
Lagna
Sun Chart 1 Rahu
Missing 0
@ Cartoonist \ 3 / Venus \
12
12 March, 1999 v\
/ x!,upiter (22);
9\ Mercury
Ketu 13:10
@ @ \ (R) 29
New Delhi Mars Moon \ xi/1 C )
Sun
Moon Mars (29) /10\
@ @
@ Ketu ®\
Lagna 19°54' Mars 18°08' Venus 28°46'
Sun 27°26' Mercury (R) 09o56' Saturn 07o19'
Moon 19°21' Jupiter 12026' Rahu 27058'

Table 1: Sarvashtakavarga of Chart 1

Sign -» 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 3 6 1 4 6 4 4 6 3 4 5* 2
Moon 2 3 6 4 4 6 3 4 6* 3 4 4
Mars 4 3 2 4* 5 0 4 4 3 5 4 I
Mercury 4 5 4 7 3 2 6 5 3 8 3 4*
Jupiter 7 3 5 4 6 4 5 5 5 5 2 5*
Venus 3 2 4 6 5 3 4 5 6 7 4 3*
Saturn 1* 2 2 2 7 4 2 3 3 3 7 3
Total 24 24 24 31 36 23 28 32 29 35 29 22
 91

In the case of a missing person, the lagna stands for the missing
person, the 4th house stands for the well-being of the native, 7th
for the path of return and 10th for absence from home.
Let us examine the favourable and unfavourable factors in the
chart:
Favourable:
1. The rising sign is Gemini which is a sheershodaya sign. It is also
a dwiswabhava sign but being more than 15°, it is closer to the
chara sign. A chara sign for such a query is favourable because
when a person is reported missing, some new development is
normally welcome rather than the status quo, which would be
represented by a sthira sign.
2. The lagna lord is Mercury which is well placed in a kendra
with 2 benefics, one in its own house and the other exalted.
3. Placement of malefics in 3, 6 and 11th houses is considered
good; here Saturn is in the 11th house.
Unfavourable:
1. The lagna lord Mercury is debilitated and retrograde. But
the biggest trouble is that the Sarvashtaka bindus associated
are only 22. Therefore, even the association with benefics has
been rendered very weak. Even otherwise, association with an
exalted 12th lord Venus cannot be considered a favourable feature,
though it is causing a neechabhanga rajayoga to Mercury.
2. Saturn, the 8th lord is aspecting the lagna. This aspect is most
virulent since Saturn is being aspected by the 6th lord Mars
and is carrying only 1/24 bindus in its sign of debilitation. One
may consider as if Saturn is transferring the 6th lord's influence
to the lagna.
3. One of the significations of Saturn is captivity'. If Saturn is in
a malefic sign and aspected by a malefic, it is a sure indicator
that the missing person is in captivity.
4. The 4th house indicates the well-being of the person. It has
only 23 bindus; the lord Mercury has contributed only 2 and
Mars (6th lord) has contributed zero. The 4th lord Mercury,
as mentioned earlier and is debilitated has only 22 where it is
placed.
92

5. Eighth, the house of longevity, is under serious affliction due

to the aspect of Saturn and Mars both. Presence of Ketu adds
an angle of intrigue. The case has never been solved.
6. The kendras and trikonas have either average or below average
bindus, whereas the high bindus are all at wrong places - 3rd,
6th and the 8th. Thus strength has been denied where it was
required.
7. The lagna lord Mercury is in a paapa-kartari yoga as it is sur-
rounded by Saturn and the Sun on either side with 29 and 24
bindus respectively.
8. The presence of the Moon in the 7th house could have meant
that the person is on the return journey provided it did not
have an Ishraf yoga with the 6th lord Mars. Ishraf yoga with
a malefic is a highly unfavourable yoga. It is said to be caused
when the two planets forming the yoga are in mutual aspect
(Tajika aspect) and the faster planet has gone ahead beyond
1° of the slower planet. Here, the Moon is at 1902r where as
Mars is at 18o07'. In any case, the Moon and Mars both are
incapable of doing any good since they have only 20 and 28
bindus respectively, where they are posited. Ishraf yoga often
indicates that the event has already taken place before the
question was put.
9. The fact that lagna lord Mercury is in the nakshatra of Saturn;
Saturn is in the nakshatra of Ketu; Ketu is in the nakshatra of
Mars and Mars in the nakshatra of Rahu, all malefics, adds a
certain tinge of inevitability to the case.
10. Last but not the least - the bindus in the lagna are only 24,
way below the average. Thus lagna too was rendered weak.
In the face of such overwhelming unfavourable factors, the na-
tive could not save himself and was brutally murdered before being
dumped in some bushes in a relatively deserted area.
 93

Case Study 2
Missing NGO Activist
This is the case of Mr. Sanjay Ghosh who was picked up by the
ULFA activitsts from his residence. He has neither returned nor
been found dead till today. Having done exemplary NGO work
in Rajasthan, he went to Assam to initiate developmental work
where he was facing stiff opposition from the resurgents.
The question about his well-being and when would he return
was asked by a well-wisher of Mr. Ghosh, after several weeks of
the incident.
Favourable factors: There are hardly any favourable factors in this
chart except that the sign rising as ascendant is a sheershodaya
sign and the dual sign is nearer to the chara sign. Besides this, the
benefics are in kendra and trikona houses.
Unfavourable Factors: There are many unfavourable factors in the
chart.
1. Though the benefics are posited appropriately but they are both
debilitated. Venus is with 23 bindus and Jupiter is with 30.
Besides this, there are 3 retrograde planets giving false hope
of natives return some time in future.
2. The lagna lord Mercury is with two malefics, Sun and Rahu
in the 12th house carrying only 26 bindus. Rahu has added a
touch of mystery to the situation.

Mars Rahu
® @ Mer(R)
Saturn Moon @
(R) agna
Chart 2 Venus
@ Missing NGO 0
Ketu Activist
24 August, 1997 40
@ 9.07 @Sun
Jupiter Mer(R)
New Delhi Rahu Saturn
(R) 2®
(R)
Jupiter
0 @ @ (R)/
®
Mars Venus Ketu Moon (23

Lagna 18026' Mars 12017' Venus 13056'

Sun 07° 12' Mercury 20o3T Saturn (R) 26o06'
Moon 25° 14' Jupiter 21019' Rahu 26o03,
94

Table 2: Sarvashtakavarga of Chart 2

Sign - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 4 4 7 3 4* 4 3 5 3 4 4 3
Moon T 4 6 5 4 1 4 5 4 5 5 4
Mars 2 2 6 3 2 3 5* 4 4 4 3 1
Mercury 6 4 6 6 S* 4 5 5 6 6 2 1
Jupiter 4 7 4 5 6 3 6 4 3 5* 6 3
Venus 4 5 6 5 3 4 5 5 6 4 2 3
Saturn 1 4 5 5 4 4 0 3 3 2 5 S*
Total 23 30 40 32 26 23 28 31 29 30 27 18

3. Sixth lord Saturn is aspecting the lagna. Saturn is carrying only

18 bindus in the 7th house. 7th house is the significator of path
of return journey. Such a poor score of Ashtakavarga bindus
forecloses possibilities of a safe return.
4. There is an exchange between the 4th 8c 7th lord Jupiter and
5th 8c 6th lord Saturn. This exchange of houses could have
been considered favourable if Jupiter was not debilitated plus
retrograde and Saturn was not 6th lord plus retrograde.
5. The Moon is in the 8th house, aspected by the 8th lord Mars.
Moreover, Moon is carrying only 2/23 bindus.
6. There is an Ithesal between the Sun and Mars. An Ithesal is
generally a favourable factor but the lordship of Sun is 12th
and that of Mars is 8th. Moreover, bindus carried by Sun are
26 and by Mars 28. Such an Ithesal, that too between malefks
cannot be productive of desirable results.
7. Mars has only 1/18 in Pisces where Saturn is posited. Saturn
has only 0/28 where Mars is posited. This kind of a 'reverse
situation is considered extremely adverse.
8. The highest bindus 40, are in the 10th house which represents
'absence from home'. Thus Ashtakavarga bindus indicate strength
at the wrong place. If the same 40 bindus were in the 4th house,
they could have ensured well-being of the missing person.
In the face of such overwhelmingly unfavourable factors, safe
return of the native is highly improbable. No news about the in-
cident till after 12 years, was confirmed by Sanjay's father to me.
Mystery continues.
 95

Case Study 3
Car Theft
This question was asked when a friend found in the evening that
his car had been stolen from outside his office.
A horary chart erected for a theft case can give more accurate
information as compared to the natal chart. In the theft case, the
1st house signifies the person who has lost the article, the 7th house
indicates the thief, the 4th house indicates the stolen property and
the 10th house indicates police or authority.

® (24) Sun Rahu

Venus @ ®
Saturn Moon
Ketu Mercury
agna Mars
(R)
Chart 3 ®
Theft
Jupiter
April 14, 1997 0
Mars Sun
Jupiter Venus
(R)
m Mercury Moon
0 ® @ Saturn
Rahu Ketu @\
Lagna 22055, Mars (R) 24o02, Venus (C) 03o58'
Sun ocra' Mercury I5o50' Saturn (C) 18016'
Moon 29055, Jupiter 23028' Rahu 04o37l

Table 3: Sarvashtakavarga of Chart 3

Sign ► 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 4* 3 4 2 4 6 3 5 4 4 3 6
Moon 4 2 5* 5 6 2 5 4 5 6 3 2
Mars I 1 5 1 5* 5 3 5 3 2 4 4
Mercury 5" 3 5 3 6 5 2 6 5 4 4 6
lupiter 5 5 3 6 6 3 4 4 4 5* 8 3
Venus 3* 5 6 4 5 3 5 5 5 5 5 1
Saturn 2 4 2 4 3 2 3 4 4 5 3 3*
Total 24 23 30 25 35 26 25 33 30 31 30 25
96

Favourable factors:
1. The lagna is a sheershodaya and chara sign (Libra). This it-
self augurs well for a favourable outcome. In addition, the
lagna is being aspected by its own lord Venus in conjunction
with the 9th lord Mercury and 11th lord Mars. The lagna has
5/25 bindus.
2. The 7th house has 1/24 bindus. Thus it is significantly weaker
than the lagna. Ihe 7th lord Mars however is strong having
5/35 bindus, but it falls in the 11th house from the lagna, thus
it is gainful to the native more than the thief.
3. The 4th house has 3/31 bindus indicating its strong position.
Yet its lord Saturn has gone into the 6th house and is being
aspected by Mars, the 7th lord. There is also an exchange of
houses between the 4th lord Saturn and 6th lord Jupiter. The
4th house is occupied by the debilitated 6th lord. Thus, all is
not well with the 4th house, the house of the stolen property.
This situation indicates that the car may get involved in an
accident and may get physically damaged.
4. The 2nd lord Mars is in the 11th house and is also aspecting
the 2nd house. Both houses are strong having 5/33 and 5/35
bindus. This shows inherent strength of the chart and is an
extremely favourable factor for recovery of the stolen article.
5. The 10th house has 5/25 bindus and its lord is in the 9th house
carrying 5/30 bindus. Thus, the role of the police is likely to be
constructive and favourable.

What actually happened

After 4-5 days of the theft, the police informed that the car could
be collected from a market place (lagna is Libra) where it was found
abandoned. The thiefts) met with an accident and ran away leaving
the car in a damaged condition. The same car was stolen again in
about a month's time. The 7th lord Mars is retrograde causing a
repeat action. The car was not recovered the second time for a very
long period. In the mean time insurance was claimed and received
which paved the way for purchase of a new car which was definitely
a gain. The old car could not have fetched more money than the
insurance received.
 97

Case Study 4
Vote of Confidence by AB Vajpayee Government

A question was asked exactly at 1.30 p.m. on the 17 April, 1999 when
the voting started in the Lok Sahha to decide the fate of the confi-
dence motion forced by the President on the Vajpayee government.
The horary chart erected for the time of the question is chart 4.
Concerning the vote of confidence in the Parliament the 1 st house
is the querist (BJP govt. in this case), 7th house is the opposition,
10th house is the authority (the President) and the 4th is the lower
house (Lok Sabha) and its judgement.

@ ®S.n (27) (24) 31 24

Jupiter Moon Venus (32) 27
Mercury Saturn
25 6. Lagna
Chart 4 Rahu .Venus
0 Confidence 0
Motion Rahu Moon
17 April, 1999 Saturn
0 13:30 (R) 10 Sun
Ketu New Delhi © (20)
27) Ketu .12 lup
0 35 Mer
0 0 Mars © 30 35
(R)
Lagna 24°31' Mars (R) 12°56' Venus 11045'
Sun Mercury 05°33' Saturn(c) 11037'
Moon 1902r Jupiter 21o06' Rahu 25o50'

Principles of analysis
1. Generally, a malefic in the lagna and a benefic in the 7th house
is good for the querist, as a malefic indicates good fighting
spirit on the part of the querist. Here, lagna and 7th house
both being in Rahu-Ketu axis have one malefic each. This
gives them an even balance, the wayward behaviour of one
being matched with thorough confusion of the other. But one
look at the Ashtakavarga clarifies the position. The 7th house
of opposition has 35 bindus as against 32 of the lagna. Thus,
the opposition is marginally stronger.
98

Table 4: Sarvashtakavarga of Chart 4

Sign > 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 5* 5 3 5 3 2 5 6 4 6 4 0
Moon T 2 6 3 3 7 4 3 4 5 6 4
Mars 4 3 2 4 4 3 3* 2 4 5 3 1
Mercury 3 6 2 6 6 3 4 4 5 6 6 3*
Jupiter 5 5 5 4 5 3 6 4 5 6 3 5*
Venus 1 4* 4 6 6 3 2 6 5 4 6 5
Saturn 3* 2 2 4 4 4 4 2 3 3 6 2
Total 23 27 24 32 31 25 28 27 30 35 35 20

2. The stronger of the lagna lord or the 7th lord wins. Here, the
lagna lord Moon and the 7th lord Saturn both are in the 10th
house. Though Saturn is debilitated and the Moon is in a friendly
sign yet Saturn turns out to be stronger since it has 3/23 and
the Moon has 2/23, the difference of 1 bindu only.
3. While comparing the strength of lagna lord and the 7th lord
it should be remembered that the planet with lesser longitude
is considered the winner. Saturn is at 3o01' and the Moon is at
19°21'. By this yardstick Saturn is the winner.
4. Presence of exalted Sun in the 10th house only indicates that
the position of the President was beyond challenge.
5. Saturn in a kendra aspected by Mars leads to a judgement
which is likely to be flawed. A neecha (debilitated) Saturn is
more likely to give rise to such a situation. The permission to
vote granted by the speaker to the chief minister of Orissa was,
to say the least, questionable.
6. The strongest negative factor was the bhagya (9th house) of the
querist which has 20 bindus as opposed to 25 of the bhagya of
the opponent (3rd house). While 7th house is the open enemy,
6th house is the hidden enemy. The presence of 6th lord Jupiter
in the 9th house in association with a debilitated Mercury is a
perfect explanation of Ms Mayawatis action—voting against the
motion. The Ithesal between Mercury and Venus (the 4th lord
of judgement), both female planets, made a decisive impact on
the judgement. The fact that the planets of power and author-
 99

ity, namely Sun and Mars have contributed '0' and '1' in the
20 of the bhagyasthana have their own story to tell. Jupiter, the
planet of dignity though is with 5 bindus in the bhagyasthana,
but the score of 20 is indicative that it could not garner sup-
port from the other planets. It is interesting to note that 10th
lord Mars(R) is aspecting the 4th lord Venus. The astrologers
of BJP should have warned them of the possible volte face of
the likes of Mayawati. Venus is a female planet.

What actually happened

There are enough hints in this chart of the events that followed
after the defeat of the BJPs government by one vote. The
difficulties that the opposition would face in forming the alternate
government are writ large all over this horary chart. The 7th lord
Saturn is weak since it has only 3/23 bindus. The bhagyasthana of
the opposition has only 3/25 and the lord Mercury is debilitated
with only 3/20.
Moreover, Saturn, the planet representing opposition, is
combust and is in the nakshatra of Ketu, a situation of extreme
discomfiture and intrigue for the opposition. Is there a chance
of reversal of the judgement, now or some time later, since
a retrograde Mars is in the 4th house and it is aspecting the
7th house, its lord Saturn, 10th house and the 4th lord Ve-
nus. Mars himself is the 10th lord. As the 5th lord it is
indicative of the inner thinking. As the Opposition was unable
to come up with the numbers to form the new government, the
country returned to elections with Vajpayee remaining the "care-
taker Prime Minister". His party came back to power and Vajpayee
was prime Minister till 2004 elections.

Case Study 5
Lost Computer
The prashna was asked by a friend whether he would get back the
Netbook he had forgotten to pick up from his berth before disem-
barking from the train. A Netbook is a small computer of the size
of a book. It seemed almost impossible to get it back as whoever
would lay his hands on the computer will be tempted to keep the
item or sell it.
100

@ Moon 62) Mars(R)

@ 0 Saturn
Mercury Ketu
36 Lag na Ketu
@ Chart 5 0
Jupiter Lost computer Mars
January 7, 2010 (R) 29 34
22:25 V
0 New Delhi, India @
Sun Jupiter
Mer(R) 9 @
(26) 0 Venus
Sun 0 Moon Rah
Mer(R)
Yen Rahu Saturn
Lagna 25<'31' Mars (R) Venus 22° 17'
Sun 23°16' Mercury (R) Saturn (c) 10°37'
Moon 26°3r Jupiter Rahu 27°07'

Table 5: Sarvashtakavarga of Chart 5

Sign -> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 3 5 6 6 3 3 6 4 3* 3 3 3
Moon 3 4 5 4 3 6* 4 4 3 3 6 4
Mars 4 6 2 5* 2 2 5 3 2 3 4 1
Mercury 6 5 3 5 5 4 6 3 5* 4 4 4
Jupiter 5 6 2 3 7 5 5 3 4 7 5* 4
Venus 5 4 4 4 4 3 6 6 6* 3 2 3
Saturn 1 4 4 5 2 5* 4 6 3 4 2 1
Total 27 34 26 32 26 28 36 29 26 27 26 20

In the cases of theft or missing article the 1st house denotes the
querist, the 4th house denotes the missing article, the 7th house
the thief and the 10th house denotes authority, as mentioned ear-
lier also.
Unfavourable factors:
1. The lagna is Leo, a fixed sign that means no change in status-
quo.
2. The 4th lord is in the 12th house indicating that the stolen
article has been taken far away.
3. The Moon has joined the 7th lord Saturn in the 2nd house.
 101

The favourable factors:

1. The lagna is rising with a sheershodaya sign.
2. The lagna is aspected by a benefic Jupiter (though it is the 8th
lord also). Jupiter has 5/26 bindus in the 7th house indicating
that wise counsel will prevail. Jupiter also commands 7 bindus
in the lagna making the inferences drawn on the basis of a
strong lagna more feasible. Moreover Jupiter is in the navamsha
lagna and the lagna lord Mars is in the 4th house, aspected by
the Moon and Mercury, the 9th and 11th lords respectively.
(Navamsha chart not shown here)
3. The lagna lord is placed in the 5th house forming almost a
poorna ithesaal with the 10th and the 3rd lord Venus. This
indicates that the recovery may happen with the help of the
authority.
4. The 2nd and 11th lord Mercury is conjunct the lagna lord Sun
and has 5/26 bindus.
5. The 4th lord is in the 12th house but has 5/32 bindus. This
indicates that the missing article is in good condition or is in
safe hands.
6. Presence of a debilitated planet in the 12th house is not det-
rimental. Moreover, Mars is in Ashlesha, the nakshatra of the
2nd and the 11th lord Mercury.
7. The bindus in the 8th house are very low, only 20. This indicates
that the thief is not likely to enjoy the property by making it
his own.
8. The Moon has 6/28 bindus in the 2nd house. This makes the
probability of recovery of the missing article stronger.
9. The bindus in the 11th from lagna are the highest in the chart.
They are 6/36 in the BAY of Sun and 6/36 in the BAY of Venus.
Taurus, the other sign of Venus falling in the 10th house also
has a good score of 4/34. Venus where placed has 6/26 bindus.
This indicates that Venus is quite strong every which way you
look at it except that it is completely combust.
10. The 7th lord Saturn representing the thief is aspecting the 4th
house of missing article. This could be an adverse factor but
for the fact that Saturn has 6/29 bindus in the 4th house.
102

What actually happened

The owner of the Netbook contacted some officials of the Railways.
But the likely person denied having seen it. So, no result. The 10th
lord Venus being combust, the authority was of no help.
The Netbook was picked up by the passenger of the same berth
when the train made the return journey. He checked the contents
of the computer and wrote an email to the owner. He asked the
owner some questions to verify what was inside the computer. On
ascertaining and getting convinced about the rightful owner, through
a series of people, the computer came back to the owner in safe and
sound condition in a week's time. In the meanwhile, the computer
had had a joy ride from Kanpur to Delhi and back to Kanpur and
then Delhi without ticket. What accompanied the computer was a
lot of honesty and integrity of the common people.
One would almost forget that Venus is also the 3rd lord in
ithesaal with the lagna lord. The third lordship indicates the short
journey and the passenger. Venus is strong Ashtakavarga-wise.
No standard principles of recovery of missing articles are applicable
on this chart. Common experience of people would also suggest that
the possibility of the recovery was minimal in the actual scenario.
But the prediction made on the basis of using Ashtakavarga bindus
turned out to be correct.
The major classical principle of recovery is that the lagna lord
should be in the 7th house and the 7th lord in the lagna.
Though it is not customary to apply Jaimini principles to prashna
analysis, the only recovery formula, if it can be said so, working
here is that the Jaimini Padlagna and the 7th Pada are together
falling in the 9th house along with the 5th Pada, altogether a very
auspicious combination.
 CHAPTER 11

Medical Astrology

In this chapter we will examine the role of Ashtakavarga in medical

astrology as applied on the natal chart. What is so special about
Ashtakavarga is that it gives, at a glance, the strength or weakness
of various houses, signs and planets on a numerical basis. Thus, it
draws attention of the astrologer and prompts him to investigate
more closely the areas that are connected with very low bindus, in
the beginning itself. This saves time and avoids inadvertent mistakes.
Of course, the mere presence of low bindus does not guarantee a
problem area, it should also have the confirmatory malefic influ-
ences. In practice, however, we find that wherever there are very
low bindus (20±3), other malefic influences are also present, more
often than not. Use of dashas and transits in conjunction with
Ashtakavarga bindus can give very high degree of accuracy in the
medical analysis of horoscopic charts.
Before we proceed with the actual case studies, let us first enu-
merate the indications for ill health. Each of the factors mentioned
below should be seen in the light of Ashtakavarga bindus associated
with these factors.

Factors that indicate ill health

1. Weak lagna: The lagna becomes weak:
(a) If it is occupied by malefics or aspected by malefics, both
natural as well as the lords of trika houses (6th, 8th,
12 th).
(b) If a debilitated or a retrograde planet occupies the lagna.
Even a benefic retrograde planet does not help save a person
from disease.
(c) If adverse yogas are present in the lagna.
(d) If the lagna has low sarvashtakavarga bindus.
104

2. Weak lagna lord: The lagna lord becomes weak if:

(a) It is debilitated or in an inimical sign.
(b) It is placed in adverse houses such as 6th, 8th or 12th.
(c) It is associated or aspected by malefics.
(d) It is associated with low sarvashtaka and/or bhinnashtaka
bindus.
3. Paapa-kartari yoga forming around the lagna or lagna lord.
4. The Moon is afflicted.
5. Absence of malefics in houses 3, 6 and 11: The malefics in
these otherwise adverse houses bestow physical strength and
resistance against disease.
6. Malefics in the trines: It is the benefics that are best suited in
trines for good health.
7. Malefics in the quadrants: Retrogression of malefics in the
quadrants is something to be specially feared as far as sound
health is concerned.
8. Weak eighth lord: (a) For good health the eighth lord should
be strong. A weak and afflicted eighth lord is adverse for lon-
gevity. (b) Eighth lord and eighth house should not have low
bindus.
9. Adversely placed Mandi: Mandi is good for sound health only
in the houses 3, 6 or 11. Even in these houses it should steer
clear of the lagna lord, the Sun and the Moon.
10. Dasha lords with low bindus: If there is a promise of disease
in the chart as indicated by factors above, then association of
dasha lords with low bindus is sure to cause disease.
11. Transit of malefics over low bindu signs, at the time of adverse
dashas, can precipitate disease.
12. Planets representing 22nd drekkana, 64th navamsha, sarpa
drekkana, etc., cause disease in their dasha and transits over
sensitive points of the chart.
13. Planets in Mrityubhaaga and/or Arishtamsha can prove fatal in
their dasha. Transit of a malefic over such planets can also be
very adverse for health.
 105

Case Study 1
Amputation and Cancer

In Chart no. 1 it is clear at one glance that the sign having 17

bindus, the lowest, is Capricorn coincident with the 7th house.
The next lowest is Aquarius with 20 bindus, and the next is Leo
with 24 bindus.

Rahu Moon 24 Saturn

(R)
® ®
®
29 6 Lagna 2 Moon
Mars
@ Chart No. 1 ®
February 8, 1949 Ketu Rahu
Venus Saturn
Mer(R) 17:00, Kota (R)
@?un Venus
@ (R)
38) 8V X*2 X
Jupiter Ketu
@ ® @ Jupiter Mars
Lagna 10°36' Mars 04° 15' Venus 09°29'
Sun 26°15' Mercury (R) 14°08' Saturn 10o42'
Moon 21°16' Jupiter 25057' Rahu 05° 17'

Table 1: Sarvashtakavarga of Chart 1

Sign -► 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 4 5 4 3 4 5 6 4 4 1* 4 4
Moon 4 4* 4 6 2 3 7 6 4 2 1 6
Mars 2 6 4 2 3 3 3 6 3 0 2* 5
Mercury 3 7 4 2 5 5 5 6 5 2 5 5
Jupiter 3 4 4 4 3 6 6 6 4* 6 5 5
Venus 5 5 4 4 5 5 5 5 4 3* 2 5
Saturn 4 2 4 4 2* 2 6 5 5 3 1 1
Total 25 33 28 25 24 29 38 38 29 © 31

Let us first check what are the factors indicative of ill-health and
the Ashtakavarga bindus associated with them in this chart.
1. The lagna is weak as it has only 25 bindus. It is aspected by the
Sun which is a maraka planet being the 2nd lord for Cancer
lagna. The lagna is also aspected by Mercury, the 12th and the
106

Mars Jupiter 8
Venus @ Ketu
Mercury (23)
Rahu Sun
(26) l.agna
(28)
@ Saturn Saturn
Moon Moon
Navamsha
Sun
(28)
0
26 11
Mars Jup
(26) Ketu
@ Mercury
Venus (§) Rahu

Table 2; Sarvashtakavarga of Navamsha Chart 1

Sign -> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 5 4 2 5 5* 7 2 2 3 3 5 5
Moon 2 6 3 5* 4 6 2 4 6 4 3 4
Mars 2 4 2 3 4 4 6 1* 4 3 3 3
Mercury 6 6" 4 6 4 3 6 3 3 5 4 4
Jupiter 3 5 6 2 7 5 3 7* 4 5 5 4
Venus 3 4 5 6 3 5 6 4 2 4 3 7*
Saturn 3 3 1 1* 4 5 4 2 4 4 3 5
Total 24 32 23 28 31 35 29 23 26 28 26 32

3rd lord. The Sun and Mercury are carrying 1/17 and 2/17
bindus respectively.
2. Lagna lord Moon is quite strong because it is exalted and has
4/33 bindus in the 11th house where it is posited. But it is heavily
afflicted since it is being aspected by the 8th lord Saturn, and
also Mars from the 8th house. Its dispositor Venus is conjunct
with the Sun.
3. Absence of malefics in the 3rd, 6th and 11th houses has caused
low resistance to disease. Also, malefics in the kendras, rather
than benefics, have increased susceptibility to disease.
4. Eighth house is weak due to presence of Mars carrying only 2/20
bindus. Eighth lord is also weak because of not only the aspect
of Mars but also because it has only 2/24 bindus in the 2nd
house identical with Leo, an inimical rashi. Moreover, Saturn is
retrograde. Retrograde planets in their dashas cause disease.
 107

5. Saturn is a double maraka in this chart by being the 7th lord

and by occupying the 2nd house. Similarly, the Sun is also a
double maraka by being the 2nd lord and by occupying the
7th house. In fact, the adversity of these two planets is further
compounded as they have exchanged their houses. This exchange
of two marakas, both dire malefics, made recovery very difficult
for the native of this chart.
Both the marakas have very low Ashtakavarga bindus. Saturn
has 2/24 where it is posited and Sun has 1/17 where it is posited.
Saturn's two houses, Capricorn and Aquarius have devastatingly low,
17 and 20, bindus respectively. The Suns house Leo has only 24.
Saturn's involvement (specially as the 8th lord) causes proneness to
chronic diseases which are difficult or impossible to cure.
The house having lowest bindus is the 7th. Besides the Sun, it
also has Venus and Mercury. Venus is the lord of the 64th navam-
sha (see 4th from the Moon in the navamsha chart). And Mercury,
besides being the 12th and the 3rd lord, is also the lord of the 22nd
drekkana (the 8th house of the drekkana chart, not shown here).
Both these planets are extremely evil from medical point of view
and are involved most often with the disease producing planets. As
is evident, Venus and Mercury both are associated with very low
bindus, 3/17 and 2/17 respectively.
House versus Sign
Since the lowest bindus are in the 7th house, most astrologers are
likely to pronounce marital problems for the native. But a closer
look at the navamsha chart almost rules that out. Venus is exalted
there and is aspected by Jupiter. Though Jupiter is not blemishless
being the 6th lord, associated with Mars and in Rahu-Ketu axis,
yet Jupiter, the great benefic, has not allowed marital disharmony.
It is noteworthy that Jupiter is not only aspecting Venus, it is also
associated with Mars, the 7th lord of navamsha. Saturn, the 7th lord
of rashi chart is also aspected by Jupiter in the navamsha. Venus is
associated with 7/32 bindus, besides being exalted, in the navmasha.
Such a high bindu strength compensates for any blemishes otherwise.
The native himself was a doctor and so is his wife.
Note: Whenever one of the partners in marriage suffers from physical ail-
ments, the spouse invariably suffers. Iherefore, some a ffliction to the karaka
of marriage is to be expected.
108

Figure 1: Signs of the zodiac and parts of the body*

Mesha

vnsha <

Mithuna

Karka <
Simha

Kanya

Tula

vnshchika
ir

Dhanu

Makara

Kumbha ^

Meena
 109

Figure 2: The Nakshatra as related to parts of the body

Ardra (Hair) Bharani

Chitra
Mrigashira
Shravana Magha
Jyeshtha (Tongue)
Swati (Teeth) Pushya (Mouth)
Shatabhishaj

♦ Revati
Dhanishtha * Anuradha
(Back)
P. Bhadrapada &
Vishakha U. Bhadrapada
Krittika

_ P. Phatguni &
*U. Phalguni
\
-♦ Hasta
Punarvasu
Ashlesha
P. Ashadha &
U. Ashadha

Ashwini

Rohini

Moola

'Illustrations taken from Essentials of Medical Astrology by Dr K S Charak

110

If the significations of the house (7th in this case) do not

suffer (due to karaka being relatively clean in the relevant varga)
then significations of the sign must suffer as ordained by low
bindus and other malefic connections. For this, we must examine
the body parts signified by various signs and nakshatras (see Figs.
1 and 2).
As indicated in Fig. 1, Capricorn represents the knee. Just as the
10th sign is afflicted, so is the 10th house. Rahu is posited in the 10th
house with 25 bindus and is aspected by a strong 6th lord Jupiter.
Rahu's dispositor. Mars is combust and is aspected by retrograde
Saturn. Mars has 1/20 where it is posited. Similarly, 10th from the
Moon is Aquarius which is occupied by Mars and its lord Saturn
is aspected by Mars. Thus Aquarius also gets sufficiently afflicted
and bindus are low.

Nakshatras and dasha lords

The problem to the native started in March 1987 in Jupiter-Moon.
Jupiter is the 6th lord. Therefore, it was natural for it to cause
disease. The lagna is 8th from Jupiter and the lagna lord Moon is
6th from Jupiter. The antardasha lord Moon is afflicted by Saturn
and Mars. Ihe native complained of swelling and pain in the knee
joint (Capricorn). It was diagnosed as non-Hodgekins lymphoma, a
malignant tumour, involving the upper left leg and it was treated by
chemotherapy. Jupiter can cause 'growth', malignant or benign will
depend on afflictions. Jupiter is in the nakshatra of Poorvashadha,
which represents 'thighs' (Fig. 2). Ihe Moon is in Rohini Nakshatra
which represents legs. Venus, the lord of Poorvashadha is itself in
Uttarashadha, which again represents 'thighs'. Rahu, the planet in
the 10th house is in Ashwini nakshatra which represents 'knees'.
In December 1989 in Jupiter-Rahu, there was reccurrence of the
growth and the pain. This time it was called neuro-ectodermal
tumour and the tumour was excised.

Saturn, the epitome of chronicity

Saturn's mahadasha ensued in August 1991 and brought in its wake
recurrence of swelling and further problems. Saturn is the slowest
moving planet and the diseases caused by it are either incurable
or chronic. Moreover, it is also the eighth lord and is associated
with low bindus. Saturn is the karaka for legs and feet knees and
 Ill

lymphatics, glandular diseases, tumours and cancers. Both the signs

of Saturn are occupied by malefics.
A coin-size lesion was found in the right lung in June '92. It was
decided that to stop the problem from spreading, the source of the
problem must be removed. So, in Saturn-Saturn-Mercury, the left
leg was amputated just above the knee. Mercury is the 12th lord
indicating possibility of loss of limb and Saturn/Mercury are sha-
dashtaka (6/8) from each other. Saturn is also the 64th navamsha
lord from the lagna.

Bad Transit
Besides the dasha, the transit was also very bad. Jupiter was in
Leo with 3/24, Saturn in Capricorn with 3/17, Mars in Aries (over
natal Rahu in 10th house) with 2/25. It is noteworthy that Mars
has contributed '0' in Capricorn, the virtual seat of all problems
in this chart.

Another weak sign

In November '98 when Saturn-Venus had started, the site of the
problems shifted to duodenum which developed a mass suspected
to be a tumour. In December 1998, there was yet another operation
when the mass was found to be irremovable. The biopsy could not
confirm malignancy. In transit, Rahu was on natal Saturn in Leo,
and Saturn was on Rahu in Aries. Jupiter was on Mars in Aquarius
and Mars was aspecting Jupiter from Virgo. Even after the opera-
tion, the native did not regain health. Saturn and Venus are in 6-8
position and are inimical to the lagna lord Moon.
Duodenum is the first section of the intestines and is represented
by Virgo, the sixth sign of the zodiac. Virgo is afflicted by Mars. Its
lord Mercury is afflicted by the association of the double maraka
Sun which makes Mercury also a maraka. Though Virgo is not bad
having 5/29, but the lord, Mercury is poor having only 2/17. The
6th house is Sagittarius which has 4/29.

The fifth sign

Though the 5th house has 6/38, its lord has gone to the 8th house
with 2/20. The 5th sign Leo is occupied by Saturn(R) with 2/24
and aspected by Mars. Fifth from the Moon is Virgo which is also
afflicted. The coin lesion did not vanish from the lungs. The fifth
112

sign lord, the Sun, is in exchange with Saturn and has only 1/17.
The 5th sign Leo is held to represent the chest, upper abdomen,
stomach and duodenum by some experts. The native died in the
year 2000 while running Saturn-Venus-Jupiter. In transit Saturn and
Mars were nearly conjunct in Aries, the 12th house from the Moon.
The 6th lord Jupiter was also in Aries to increase the maleficence of
the malefics in the lagna of the Kaalapurusha, that is Aries.

Case Study 2
Intra Abdominal Malignancy and Leukaemia

Placement of planets or lagna in Gandanta is an important adverse

factor when it comes to the health considerations. Gandanta is the
junctional region, particularly the junctions of Pisces-Aries, Cancer-
Leo and Scorpio-Sagittarius. In Chart 2, the Moon and Mars are
in Gandantas and the lagna is at the beginning of the sign. The
Moon in 8th is causing a typical Balarishta. Moreover, it is aspected
by a Saturn which is conjunct Rahu and aspected by Mars. Thus
the Moon is particularly vulnerable. It is in the 5th sign Leo. A
cursory glance at the sarvashtaka bindus reveals that the 5th from
the Moon has the lowest bindus, 18, and the 5th sign from Lagna
has 3/27 and Ketu is posited there. Its lord Venus has gone to the
12th house with 4/18, associated with the 6th lord Mercury(R).
Mercury is in exchange with the 12th lord Jupiter. The exchange

Mer(R)
0 0 Venus
® Mars 0
Ketu Saturn
Lagna Rahu
Sun
0 0
Chart 2
Mars
0u„ January 18, 1957
0
0 Moon
Ketu Jup (R)
@ 0 0
MerCR) Saturn © Jupiter
Venus Rahu (R) Moon
o o ,
Lagna 00 30' Mars 00 24 Venus 13° 16'
Sun 04o28' Mercury (R) 19o02' Saturn 17046'
Moon 00° 18' Jupiter (R) 08°32, Rahu
 113

Table 3: Sarvashtakavarga of Chart 2

Sign ► 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 4 6 4 4 3 3 5 6 3 4* 5 1
Moon 4 2 7 3 5* 5 5 2 3 3 4 6
Mars 1* 5 5 4 2 1 6 5 0 3 4 2
Mercury 5 5 4 4 5 4 4 6 5* 4 6 2
Jupiter 8 4 3 4 3 6* 7 4 3 6 4 4
Venus 5 3 4 4 7 5 3 3 4* 4 5 5
Saturn 3 2 3 3 4 3 5 4* 0 6 3 3
Total 31 27 30 26 29 27 35 30 18 30 31 23

\ Ketu Saturn /
Jupiter Moon 12\ Sun /
Mars \ll/ \9 /
Jupiter yf Lagna
/V
Ketu Venus
Sun \10 .
/ Moon 1
Navamsha \ Mars /\ 7
Lagna 6
Rahu /
2X' Venus XMercury
/5 \
Saturn Mercury
\/ Rahu

between 6th and 12th lord portends great danger to health specially
when bindus are low. Moreover, the Moon is the 64th navamsha
lord also occupying the 22nd drekkana. The Moon is also a maraka
for Capricorn lagna.
In Feb. 1995 when Moon-Sat-Moon started, the native sufterred
from intra-abdominal malignancy, a non-Hodgekins type of lym-
phoma. The Sun, significator for abdomen, is the eighth lord in lagna
aspected by Saturn. The Sun is also the 22nd drekkana lord.
Thus not only the 5th sign but its lord is also afflicted. Though
the Sun is aspected by Jupiter but Jupiter is a functional malefic for
Capricorn lagna. Jupiter is particularly weak because its mooltrikona
sign is very weak having only 3/18 bindus.
The disease despite treatment took a turn for the worse as the
dashas, following one after the other did not indicate any recov-
ery. The native developed leukaemia and died in Moon-Mercury-
114

Mercury. Mercury, the 6th lord in the 12th house is occupying the
sign having the lowest bindus and it is retrograde. At the time of
death in Sept. 95, Saturn was in Aquarius with 3/31 aspecting the
natal Moon and natal Saturn. Jupiter and Mars were also on the
natal Saturn (the lagna lord). It is noteworthy that Mars and Saturn
both haven't contributed a single bindu in Sagittarius, the primary
seat of problem. It houses Venus, the 5th lord from lagna which
is also an occupant of 64th navamsha, and the 6th lord Mercury.
It is the 5th house from the much troubled Moon and in a paapa
kartari yoga formed by Saturn-Rahu combine on one side and the
eighth lord Sun on the other side.

Conclusion
Many astrologers overlook the Ashtakavarga bindus while making
judgements on medical aspects of the natal chart. Ashtakavarga is
actually of great help in Medical Astrology since the weak areas of
the body stare at your face digitally.

Case Study 3
Heart Disease

Ibis case is another study that shows how Ashtakavarga bindus

have a tell-tale characteristic. The native, himself an astrologer of
substantial repute, generally enjoying good health, suffered from a
sudden heart condition and had to be hospitalized for two weeks. He
was diagnosed LV dysfunction-LVEF 20-25%; acute left ventricular
failure (recovered). The 5th house is the seat of heart problems. It
has only 19 bindus.
He was running Mercury-Venus-Sun, all pertinent to the heart
problem. Mercury is the lagna lord and also 4th lord (some as-
trologers take the 4th house as the heart). It is debilitated in the
10th house with Venus, the 5th lord and Sun, the karaka for the
heart ailments. While Mercury is in Revati, its own nakshatra, Ve-
nus and the Sun are in Uttarabhadrapad, the nakshatra of the 8th
lord Saturn. Mercury is the 5th lord from the Moon. Mercury is
also the 22nd drekkana lord and the 64th navamsha lord (from
lagna). Therefore, Mercury had in its bosom some sinister plans
to trouble his body; and as soon as it got the company of the 5th lord
and the 5th karaka in the dasha scheme, it unleashed the havoc.
 115

(30) (28) /2y; Mars /

@ \ @ ,

(§)
Sun Ketu Mars (28)
Mer Ven \ 4/ \2 -
@ y\ Lagna y<A Ketu
@ Chart 3 (34) / \@
Moon March 28. 1957 \ 3 12 Sun
12:45 6y\ Mercury \
<© '"sr 9 Venus /
Bulandshahr / \
(34) India @
®\ / \®/
Rahu 7)>^ N/ Moon
(25) @ 10
8
\ / \(26)
(29) Saturn Jupiter s Saturn v
Rahu @\
(R) (R) /® (R)
Lagna 29° 18' Mars 13° 16' Venus 09o39'
Sun H'OS' Mercury 2 rso' Saturn (R) 21o01'
Moon 09°50^ lupiter (R) 02o16, Rahu 27° 16'

(27) 0
@ 0
Mars Rahu
Lagna 1 Mars
Rahu
(25) 0
Navamsha Venus
Mer®
JupCR) @
Sat(R)
Moon II 25
@ 0 0 Ketu
Moon 0 Mer
Sun Venus Sun
Ketu Jup(R)

Table 4: Sarvashtakavarga of Chart 3

Sign -♦ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 3 5 3 4 5 4 1 6 5 4 5 3*
Moon 4 3 4 5 4 6 3 3 5 5 2* 5
Mars 2 4* 4 5 7 1 1 3 3 3 4 2
Mercury 3 5 4 7 5 3 1 7 4 5 5 5*
Jupiter 6 2 6 4 4 3* 5 6 7 4 2 7
Venus 5 4 5 6 3 4 5 2 2 8 4 4*
Saturn 5 0 2 3 4 4 3 2* 3 5 4 4
Total 28 23 28 34 32 25 (g) 29 29 34 26 30
116

It is interesting to note that Saturn, the 8th lord is in the nakshatra

of Mercury and is afflicting it by full degree-wise trinal aspect.
The 5th house is afflicted by Rahu by placement. The 5th sign,
Leo is aspected by Mars and Saturn both, the 6th and the 8th lords
respectively.
The navamsha reveals the weakness of the 5th house more vividly.
The lagna is vargottama but the lagna lord, Mercury which is the
mahadasha lord, is in the 8th house in the company of the 8th lord
Saturn and debilitated Jupiter. The 5th house is aspected by both Mars
and Saturn, the 6th and 8th lords. The 5th lord that was exalted in the
birth chart is debilitated in the navamsha and aspected by a debilitated
Jupiter from the 8th house. The 5th house from the Moon has Mars
which is afflicting the karaka Sun. The Sarvashtakavarga figures in
navamsha are generally healthy. Hence, the recovery was quick.
At the time of the sickness, Ketu was degree-wise on the ascen-
dant, a situation most lethal and dreadful. Mars, the 6th lord was
aspecting the 5th house, Saturn was in the 4th house aspecting
lagna and the lagna lord. Jupiter and Mars both were debilitated
in the 2-8 axis.
The more dramatic involvement of Ashtakavarga is revealed when
one checks the transit during the days of suffering. Mercury, Venus
and the Sun, all three dasha constituents were in Libra, the debilita-
tion sign for the karaka Sun. The 7 planets were with the following
scores when the problem was detected (5th November 2009):
Mercury 0/1/19
Venus 0/5/19
Sun 0/1/19
Moon 0/3/23
Mars 0/5/24
Jupiter 0/4/34
Saturn 0/4/25
The first figure denotes whether the kakshya lord has given a bindu
(1) or not (0). The bindus clearly indicate that all the 7 planets were
in transit without the support of their kakshya lords, a rare situation
in a man's life. The fast moving planets like the Moon and Mercury
went back to binduless kakshyas often during the entire period of
hospitalization. Recovery became possible when the Sun moved in the
next sign where it has 6 bindus. Except for Jupiter, the other 6 planets
were deficient in Sarvashtaka strengths.
 CHAPTER 12

Mundane Charts

"Saturn takes approximately thirty years to complete one round of

the zodiac. Iherefore, roughly every thirty years, it would transit the
Rohini nakshatra. Each such transit heralds significant events which
result in an alteration in general outlook and a realignment in the
existing socio-political circumstances as if to reach a new balance. All
this generally happens through turmoil and suffering as is the nature
of Saturn. Ihis great regulator of destiny teaches through suffering so
that the one who survives the torment of Saturn emerges out a wiser
and maturer individual."
Dr K.S. Charak wrote the above prophetic words in the
May-June 2001 issue of the bi-monthly journal Vedic Astrology.

Significance of Rohini
Rohini is the nakshatra of Brahma, the Creator. Lord Brahma is
the lord of all existence, the Prajapati. Of all the grahas ('planets'),
Saturn is the most malefic. "When Saturn 'pierces' this nakshatra,
how can the Praja (the living beings) remain in peace?" ponders
sage Vasishtha according to the Padma Purana. Ancient Indian
scriptures like the Mahabharata and the Puranas carry numerous
astrological references which, though enunciated over five thousand
years ago, still appear relevant in modern times."
Saturn was in Rohini when the war of Mahabharata took place
5000 years ago. Saturn was in Rohini when the first world war broke
out and ended after eight million people had perished. Saturn was
in Rohini when the second world war started which ended after fifty
million people died. Numerous other examples of Saturn in Rohini
accompanied by turmoil and new world order can be given.

The article was written in October 2001

118

Case Study 1
9/11, 2001
Saturn is again in Rohini since May 21, 2001 and will stay there
for nearly one year. Till before the ghastly event in New York on
the 11th September 2001, the astrological fraternity was wondering
what Saturn was doing in Rohini this time round. People around
the world have been accustomed to talking of history as pre-war
and post-war history. Later, they began talking of pre and post cold-
war history. Now onwards the socio-political circumstances will be
discussed as pre-September 11 and post-September 11, 2001. The
history has been given a new reference point. The old alignments
and outlooks are undergoing paradigm shift. The situation is get-
ting murkier every day. The line between who is the 'problem' and
who has the 'solution is getting blurred. It seems that humanity has
not learnt the lessons history tries to teach — but then Saturn, the
greatest teacher, teaches through 'suffering' and 'humiliation'.
It is often asked what was so ominous in that moment in which
the twin towers of WTC were destroyed. If we make a chart of the
moment; September 11, 2001, 8.55 a.m., New York we get Chart 1.
Though lagna lord Mercury is in the lagna itself but it is within
one degree of sixth lord Saturn which is transiting Rohini. Saturn
afflicts not only what it aspects, but it also afflicts any planet or
house which is in trine from it degree-wise — this is an important
principle of transit Saturn particularly made use of in Ashtakavarga.

© © © Sun
© © Saturn JupMon ,7 / ©
/ N
\5/;
Rahu Lagna
© y\
Mercury
Chart 1 ®
© Venus © \ fi / ©
Sept. 11, 2001 Mars 9 >: 3 Jupiter
8.55 a.m. Ketu Rahu
® / 12 \ , Moon
© New York
Sun
(0)10 © Saturn
© 11
Mars © "© v®
® Mercury
Ketu ©
Lagna 22015' Mars 07°34' Venus 24032'
Sun 24058' Mercury 20o25' Saturn 20o52'
Moon 04o17' Jupiter 17043' Rahu 09o13'
 119

Mars
Jupiter Mars Ketu
Ketu Lagna
7 Mercury
Saturn
Venus Mercury
Saturn
Navamsha
10"

Moon
Sun
Rahu Moon
Sun Rahu Venus

r \ Moon
Moon Sun
Venus Sun Mercury Rahu y 12
Rahu \ 3 / Lagna \1 //
4 Mercury NC Venus

\ 2 /
Drekkana sN/11
Saturn /iib
NT
9
Saturn
Mars yT 7\ / \
m \
Ketu Jupiter Mars \
/ (is) Jupiter Ketu \

Ven Mer /
Ketu Sun v Jupiter /
10 \ 8 /
Mars \ '/ Lagna
/\7
Moon ®)/
Mars Saturn
\
12
9 / Rahu
Dashamsha Ketu V, 6
/ 3\ @ /

7 Sun 1/\ X 5
Venus ®
®
/ 2\ /■"' ■ S
4
Lagna Mercury Moon \
Jupiter Rahu Saturn \

The disciplined way the whole city of New York behaved during
the attack and after it, shows the essential strength of the lagna.
Sixth lord in ninth house is a definite affliction to the bhagya of
the city.
120

Mars and Ketu are within two degrees of each other. Both the
fiery planets are in the fiery sign of Sagittarius aspecting Gemini —
believed to be the lagna sign of USA, although this is a subject of
controversy and some consider Sagittarius as the lagna. Capricorn, the
8th house of USA has only '0' bindus in Saturn's Bhinnashtakavarga.
Jupiter which could have been a saviour is badly afflicted by Rahu
and the aspect of Mars. Mars is not only a natural malefic, it is the
most malefic planet for Virgo lagna being both the 8th and the 3rd
lord. Mars is not only aspecting Jupiter it is also afflicting both the
signs of Jupiter — Sagittarius by position and Pisces by aspect. It is
no less important that Jupiter, who is supposed to protect, is itself
the 22nd drekkana lord. Thus, Mars the lord of longevity is being
afflicted by Jupiter, Rahu and Ketu in the 4th house of domestic
happiness. Fourth house affliction also means damage to home and
land. The planets in the 4-10 axis clearly show the involvement of
religious fundamentalism.

Drekkana Chart
For ascertaining the physical characteristics, astrologers often
resort to the drekkana chart. In the drekkana chart Mars and
Ketu are posited in Sagittarius which falls in the 22nd drekkana
and Moon and Rahu in Gemini are aspected by 22nd drekkana
lord Jupiter too.
Gemini is an airy sign and Jupiter represents space; Rahu rep-
resents terrorists. The picture is nearly complete when we see that
Gemini was already afflicted by the presence of Jupiter and Rahu,
the spark was provided by Ketu to the fiery Mars. The Moon had
to join the 10th house to make the destruction of World 'Trade'
Centre picture-perfect, afterall, it is the 11th lord. The affliction is
highest to the 10th house, the karmasthana.

Kutumba and Bhagya

We also notice that Venus, the 2nd lord of kutumba and the 9th
lord of bhagya in D1 is not only itself associated with the 64th
navamsha, it is also aspected both by Mars and Saturn. Venus is at
the same degree as the twelfth lord Sun. That makes Venus afflicted
by 6th lord of accidents (Saturn), 8th lord of conspiracies (Mars)
and 12th lord of losses (Sun).
The indications provided by the rashi chart are confirmed in the
 121

navamsha chart with no less ferocity. The lagna lord is debilitated

and is afflicted by the Sun and the aspect of 6th lord Jupiter. La-
gna itself has housed 8th lord Saturn and 12th lord Mercury and
it is aspected by the 6th lord Jupiter. In navamsha, Mars and Ketu
are in Gemini itself, the lagna of USA. Venus, the kutumba and
bhagya lord of rashi chart is in the 8th house in navamsha owned
by Saturn.
The Gemini sign is afflicted not only in navamsha but also in
dashamsha. It has abysmally low bindus in it — only 18. Saturn is
afflicting both the luminaries, the Sun and the Moon. The 10th house
of dashamsha has Rahu in it afflicted by Mars and Saturn both. The
lords of houses connected with business and trade are all in the
12th house Scorpio. These are — lagna lord Jupiter, 7th and 10th
lord Mercury, 6th and 11th lord Venus. Their combined dispositor
Mars has only 1/25 bindus in Scorpio. The high bindus, 42—in the
10th house and bhagya lord Sun exalted in the 5th house, indicate
the basic strength of the country in the sector represented by the
dashamsha, which did not get derailed due to the terror attack.

Chart of USA
Let us take a quick look at the chart of USA (Gemini lagna). On
the day of the terrorist attack on WTC, the 1-7 axis was terribly
afflicted (see chart 1 8c 2). Four planets in the lagna are aspected
by 6th lord Mars, and Ketu. Lagna lord Mercury is aspected not
only by Mars but also by 8th lord Saturn (in Rohini). The natal

\(29) Mer(R) /\ gS /
@ Mar Ven Rahu/ (S)\ ^ /
@ @
Jup Sun ^ \4/ Lagna \2 / _
Ly vK Mars Venus /V yjk)
0 / \ Jup Sun / \
® Mer(R)
Moon Chart 2 Rahu (27)2 \3 /
July 4, 1776 .V-
•aturn 6x® Qv
Pennsylvania
® ® /n
Ketu
(20) 7/\ @ /( Moon
0 / 8\ / \0
® 0 @ / /—\
Saturn / 0 Ketu 0\
Lagna 24055' Mars 00o22' Venus 11°53
Sun ll0!!1 Mercury (R) 03°38' Saturn 24°03
Moon 00o35' Jupiter 15°07' Rahu 16°53
122

Moon is also aspected by the same Saturn. Thus, all the three la-
gnas, viz. lagna, Moon lagna and Sun lagna are afflicted. Sun, the
representative of the Government of the land was passing over 19
bindus in Sarvashtaka (encircled figures in chart 2) and 1 bindu
in the Bhinnashtaka of the Sun — the weakest house in the chart,
having lowest bindus. The dictum in Ashtakavarga is — when a
malefic transits a house with low bindus, it annihilates the signi-
fications of that house. In contrast to this, the 6th lord of enemy,
Mars is quite strong — it has 7/48 in Aries, 5/33 in Scorpio and
4/30 in Sagittarius where Mars was transiting. In the chart of US,
the strongest houses are 6th and 11th which have 33 and 48 bindus
respectively. Both these houses are owned by Mars. No wonder US
always benefits from conflicts (even 11th is 6th from 6th house)
and arms manufacturing is its largest industry. (10th house has 35
bindus which is an added advantage).
US needs to realize that its lagna lord Mercury is itself the 22nd
drekkana lord, posited in the 6th house of drekkana, aspected by
12th lord Saturn which is itself afflicted by Rahu-Ketu axis. Saturn
is also the lagna lord of drekkana chart (not shown here).
If Vimshottari can be applied on such charts, the US was run-
ning Sun-Ketu in the 2nd cycle of the 120 year dasha at the time
of the WTC attack. Sun as 3rd lord is in lagna and Ketu is in the
eighth house. The houses and the planets involved are all malefic
and are shdashtaka from each other. The dasha was certainly very
vicious. The transit of Saturn in Rohini was trine to the natal Sat-
urn. Saturn is not only the natural karaka but also the eighth lord
of longevity for this chart.
In the navamsha chart Taurus is rising. Lagna is afflicted by the
aspect of Saturn and Mars Mars is also aspecting the lagna lord
Venus, the Sun and is conjunct Moon. In the Sun-Ketu dasha, Ketu
was acting like Mars. In transit the malefic Saturn (in Rohini) is
bang on the lagna and Mars is in the 8th house. Rahu and Ketu
are visiting the natal Rahu-Ketu axis (in navamsha). Transit applied
on navamsha often gives surprisingly accurate results.

Chaitra Shukla Pratipada Chart of USA for 2001

The seeds of the 11th September attack were visible to any one
who would care to see the Chaitra Shukla Pratipada (CSP) chart
of USA carefully, (see chart 3). The lagna lord Venus is in the 6th
 123

house along with the two luminaries the Sun and the Moon which
normally form the other two lagnas. The lagna lord is exalted but 6th
house is not an auspicious position for exalted planets in any chart.
Mars is also aggressively inciting lupiter, the 6th lord, representing
enemy. By the time this lupiter went ahead and joined Rahu that
represents religious fanaticism, Mars had joined Ketu and hit the
the original lagna of USA. Ketu is known to act as a spark causing
the most unexpected fires.
This chart suffers from very specific weakness. The two first rate
malefics, Saturn and Mars, have poor bindus where they are posited
in their respective Bhinnashtakavargas. Saturn has only 1 in Taurus
and Mars has 2 in Scorpio.
The CSP for India and Pakistan is the same as the lagna is Pisces
for both the countries. The navamsha lagna for USA and Pakistan is
same — Scorpio. Therefore, though there is an apparent joining of
hands between USA and Pakistan, let us not forget that essentially
their lagnas are in 6-8 position from each other in this years CSPs.
Though USA's lagna lord is in the sixth house in an inimical sign, it
is exalted. Also, it is fortified with the 11th and 10th lords, the Sun
and the Moon, the two luminaries. As opposed to this, Pakistan's
lagna lord is Jupiter in 3rd house in an inimical sign and afflicted
by Saturn and Mars. Who gains and who loses in this unequal
partnership is not difficult to fathom.
It can only be Saturn's handiwork - jffe - that
US has made the same country, Pakistan, partner in fighting

Sun Mon Mars

Jupiter Rahu
Venus(R) Saturn \ 8 / \6/
Ketu 9y<r Lagna
/V
Chart 3
Mercury Chaitra Shukla
\7/
10
Pratipada X 4
March 24, 2001 / 1 \
1
Washington DC \ /
MercuryX yO Rahu
12 2
Ketu Mars Lagna / \ / \
//Sun Moir Jupiter
Venus(R) \/ Saturn \
0
Lagna 04o53' Mars 0
24 11' Venus (R) 18 43'
Sun 10°43' Mercury 16048' Saturn 03° 14'
Moon 12° 17' Jupiter 12035' Rahu 17042'
124

terrorism, as originally, and even now, is the fountainhead of ter-

rorism. From all apparent indications there seems to be no change
of heart on Pakistan's part. US does not realize that love and
loyalty cannot be bought however high a price one agrees to pay.
The obvious irony of the situation is well reflected in the CSP of
US. There is an exchange of houses between Venus and Jupiter,
the 6th and 8th lords. Venus happens to be the lagna lord and
8th lord simultaneously. One is forced to have a sambandha (a
relationship or a partnership) with the enemy and reap the fruits
of this vipareeta rajayoga. Let us make no mistake about it, that
mythologically Venus and Jupiter are great gurus. Jupiter is the
guru of the devas (gods) and Venus is the guru of the asuras
(devils). This great, grand mix-up of who is who reminds one of
the Mahabharata where Bhishma, the grand old patriarch, though
sympathises with the Pandavas but is the Commander-in-Chief of
the Kauravas. Karna, the half brother of Pandavas is the chief war-
rior on the side of Kauravas. Saturn was in Rohini at the time of
Mahabharata and so it is now. An entire clan (Kuruvamsha) was
eliminataed then in 18 days. We have to wait and see how long it
takes this time.

Chart of President George Bush vs Chart of USA

The destinies of the King and the nation are inextricably intertwined.
In this light let us examine the charts of Bush and USA.
Gemini, the lagna of USA, is in the 12th house of rashi chart
of Bush, in the 8th house of navamsha and in the 12th house of
dashamsha (Chart 4). The two Moons are 6-8 from each other.
This should be contrasted with Gemini in the 10th house of Bush's
predecessor, Bill Clinton, in whose times US looked invincible. John
F. Kennedy also had Gemini in his 10th house.

Comparisons
For USA, the 6th lord Mars is in the lagna, whereas for Bush, 6th
lord Jupiter is with the lagna lord Moon. For USA, 8th lord Saturn
is aspecting the lagna whereas for Bush, 8th lord is in the lagna
and aspecting the lagna lord.
Ketu is bound to act as Mars for Bush on 3 counts - Kujavat
Ketu, as dispositor of Ketu and due to Mars influence on Ketu by
aspect. Mars' complete capture of Ketu is indicated also in navamsha
 125

and dashamsha where Mars has full aspect on Ketu. After Bush
became the President, no wonder, on the very first available chance
Ketu exploded smack in the face of USA as Mars approached near
it. Please note that Ketu at 9° 13' and Mars at were advanc-
ing towards each other with open arms like old buddies whose
idea of joy and mirth is playing with fire. All this was happening
in Sagittarius, a fiery sign. Mars has '0' bindus in Sagittarius in
Bush's navamsha. In transit, Mars and Ketu were aspecting the natal
Sun of Bush and the natal Sun of USA (in Gemini) representa-
tive of the highest seat of authority in the land. How completely
Mars dominates the horoscope (and, therefore, the character) of
Bush should not be judged merely from his utterances such as —
Osama bin Laden Wanted: Dead or Alive or We Will Smoke Them
Out. (Mars is in the 2nd house of speech from his lagna as well as

(25) Sun
(35) Rahu Sun
Saturn 3
Mercury
Chart 4 Venus
@ George Bush Sat Mer
Venus v4/ 1 (35)
July 6, 1946 7
K
6.26 a.m. ■ KT
0
New Haven, CT Mars
Ketu g ' 20 12 (28)
@
@ 0 (29)/ 9
Moon
Ketu Jupiter
Lagna 14°U' Mars 16012' Venus 28023'
Sun 20o40' Mercury 16043' Saturn 03o23'
Moon 23036' Jupiter 25o02' Rahu 27028'

\ Mercury 6
Ketu Sun
Venus \ 9 / \ 7/
ioV Lagna XX Rahu

\ 8 / Sat Moon \
Navamsha Saturn H V" 5 Jup Mars /
2
Moon j / \
Jupiter
Mars Ketu \/
Venus /\ X4
Mercury Lagna Rahu 0/ \
yX gun
\/
126

Saturn \ Mercury
/\
Ketu \ 5 / \ 3
Lagna y/i.
'/ V\
Lagna
\4 /' Saturn \
Dashamsha ^ Rahu VV
Mars / io\ Ketu /
Mercury
Jupiter
8 Mars \\
Sun 9
Jupiter
/ \ / ll\
Moon Rahu /Sun Morr
Venus / Venus

Mercury). Mars is Bush's yogakaraka in rashi chart (in Leo, a fiery

rashi), lagna lord and aspecting lagna in navamsha (again from
Leo) and yogakaraka again in dashamsha (this time it is exalted
and in the company of debilitated Jupiter and both aspecting lagna).
What is also noteworthy is that in navamsha Mars has exchanged
signs with exalted Sun and in dashamsha exalted Mars has not
only exchanged signs with debilitated Saturn it has also exchanged
aspects with Saturn.
As per Jaimini Karakas, Mars is the GK of Bush.
Mars is the key planet in his chart but it has only 3/21 where it
is posited. It has 1/20 in Capricorn, the 8th house of USA which
means that Mars is not supported by other planets. A strong Mars
is a necessity in the horoscope of a chief of army, not the president
of a democracy. Bush who is the President and therefore also the
chief of armed forces is likely to operate from the deeply ingrained
Martian psychology and not that of a statesman who can steer his
people into safety from a situation of crisis.

Resonance with USA chart

The people of USA are backing President Bush in this hour of crisis
because there is a strong resonance between these two horoscopes.
Please see the chart of USA given earlier.
USA lagna has 6th lord Mars and 12th lord Venus posited in it
and 8th lord aspecting the lagna. Bush has a similar situation —
8th lord Saturn and 12th lord Mercury are posited in the lagna
and 6th lord Jupiter is conjunct lagna lord Moon. This means that
both find comfort in confrontation, conspiracy and conflict, the
properties of 6, 8, 12 houses.
 127

The 22nd drekkana of Bush falls in Gemini, the lagna of USA.1

Dasha of President Bush

Bush is running Saturn-Rahu upto November 1, 2003. The eupho-
ria of war will continue upto that time. The next dasha is that of
Saturn-Jupiter, which on one hand is the dasha of 8th and 6th lords
(both mooltrikona rashis), and on the other hand, the dasha of 7th
and 9th lords. Saturn is aspecting Jupiter and the lagna lord Moon.
This will force the inevitable introspection and reassessment of the
activities of the prior period. Saturn is with 32 bindus and Rahu is
with 38 in the 11th house. Good bindus will create a make-believe
scenario of success and winning. But real impact will be felt only
later. Rahu is past-master at causing illusions. Once the illusions
are over, the stark reality will stare in the face.2

Transit for Bush

Eighth lord Saturn is transiting in Rohini over his AD lord Rahu
and aspecting his MD lord Saturn from the 11th house in birth
chart. Transit Saturn is also aspecting his navamsha lagna and
dashamsha lagna. Saturn will move out of Taurus on July 23, 2002,
will be in his 12th house transiting over his natal Sun and aspecting
his natal Mars. Certainly, not a good period for him. Saturn is not
only Bush's 8th lord it is also the 8th lord of USA. Saturn's transit
seems to advocate maximum caution.

Case Study 2
26/11, 2008 Mumbai Terrorist Attack

Let us see the chart of the moment the Mumbai terror attack began
in 2008. The time was 9.30 pm. Cancer, the sign of home & hearth
and comfort had just risen at the time and was afflicted by Ketu.
1. All the planets being on one side of the Rahu-Ketu axis, a
kaalasarpa yoga was in session. Let us also recall that Cancer is
the third house of neighbours in the Indian independence chart
which has five planets in that sign including the Sun, the Moon

'The coming events have cast their shadow in the beginning. George Bush proved to be
the only "Weapon of Mass Destruction" in Iraq War that he perpetrated several years
later, whose wounds are still festering.
2
The economic recession is the legacy that Bush left before departing.
128

rX
\ (35) Saturn
0 0 0
Lagna
Chart 5 @ Ketu
@
Mumbai 26/11 Ketu
Terror Attack
26 Nov., 2008 0 Moon
@
Rahu 21:30 hrs Saturn Sun
Mercury
@ @ Mars Rahu
0 0
Jupiter Sun lupiter
Venus Mer Mars Moon ^25) Venus
Lagna ooo3r Mars 13026' Venus 22043,
Sun 10o47' Mercury 11019' Saturn 26o40'
Moon 290 23' lupiter 27019' Rahu 17°46'

Moon X
Moon Rahu x
Rahu \, 5 / \ 3 X
Lagna \ 2
r 6>
Lagna
y' Sun 4
Navamsha , Mercury \
7Xl
/
\. Venus /io\

Mars 8X /V2
Jupiter Sun @
Saturn Mars Mercury / 9 \ / \
/ Jupiter \
Ketu Venus / Saturn Ketu

Table 4: Sarvashtakavarga of Chart 5

Sign 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 4 6 5 4 6 5 3 4* 4 1 3 3
Moon 5 4 5 3 5 6 4* 2 5 4 2 5
Mars 4 5 2 2 4 5 2 4* 3 2 2 4
Mercury 5 5 2 7 6 4 5 5* 3 3 4 5
Jupiter 4 4 4 5 6 5 4 5 6* 5 5 3
Venus 5 3 3 5 4 7 7 3 3* 4 3 5
Saturn 4 4 3 2 4* 4 6 3 4 2 1 2
Total 31 30 24 28 35 36 31 26 28 21 20 27
 129

and the lagna lord Venus. Saturn was in Leo the sign of Sun and
in Uttaraphalguni, the nakshatra of the Sun. Saturn is the nakshatra
dispositor of the Sun, Mars and Mercury. That means Saturn and
Sun have exchanged nakshatras. It is clear that the might of gov-
ernment of India was directly challenged. India was also running
the last leg of saadhe sati.
2. It is also worth recalling that the standard lagna of India is
Capricorn as fixed by Varahmihira. This lagna is also seen afflicted
by Rahu-Ketu axis and the lagna lord Saturn is in the 8th house from
the Capricorn lagna. Capricorn has a very poor score of 2/21.
3. The kendras and the trikonas are all bereft of benefics. The
Moon is avarohi with little pakshabala. The Moon in the 4th house
in Libra indicates a business place where people transact business
and have a comfortable time. The Moon is under aspect from Saturn.
Saturn itself is under the aspect of 6th lord Jupiter from the 6th
house, which being in close company of Venus can be considered
as acting more like a fundamentalist rather than the spiritual guru.
The difference is less than a degree between Saturn and Jupiter.
4. The 8th house has only 1/20 bindus and it is being aspected by
Saturn and Mars together. We observe the same Saturn and Mars's
simultaneous aspect on the 8th house in the Moon chart as well as
the navamsha chart. If this was not the sure recipe of violence what
else could be. As many as 166 people were killed by the terrorists
in the Taj, a premier hotel in Mumbai.
5. The navamsha is even more unequivocal in this matter. The
lagna lord Moon in the 12th house is under the aspect of all the
malefics one can think of— Mars, the 8th lord Saturn, the 6th lord
Jupiter and of course the Rahu-Ketu axis. Even in the drekkana
chart the Moon in the 12th house is under the aspect of Saturn
and Mars. Saturn is the 22nd drekkana lord.
6. The Sun has gone debilitated— a clear indication of adminis-
trative and intelligence failure and weak governance.
7. The Sun, the Moon, the lagna and lagna lord, all are under
affliction. What are strong are only Mars and Jupiter which are both
in their own sign and vargottama. Mars and Jupiter also have good
bindus 4/26 and 6/28 respectively.
Finally the terrorists were killed by the commando forces and one
was caught alive after much violence, bloodshed and loss of life.
 CHAPTER 13

Muhurta and Ashtakavarga

A special study of satellite launches by ISRO

Let us take some case studies to understand the application of

Ashtakavarga in Muhurta. It is said that Maharshi Parashara
actually preferred a muhurta based on Ashtakavarga more than
any other method. The principles that can be formulated for
checking the muhurta, from the poit of view of Ashtakavarga, are
mentioned here.
1. The lagna should be conducive to the nature of the activity
for which the muhurta is to be found. It should have high
sarvashtaka as well as bhinnashtaka bindus.
2. For any auspicious activity the luminaries (the Sun and the
Moon) should be well placed and should have high bindus.
3. The lagna lord's placement should be good and its bindus
should also be high.
4. The karaka planet should be well placed and should have high
bindus.
5. The 11th house should always be examined as it indicates the
fulfillment of desire. It should have high bindus.
6. The standard principles of muhurta have to be applied as usual.
Since it may be difficult to pronounce accurate judgement on
activities such as marriage or business (success or failure being
relative terms) for which a muhurta was used, we will examine the
muhurtas for which the result comes quickly and unequivocally.
Let us check the muhurta of some of the space activity that
ISRO, the Indian Space Reasearch Organisation has been under-
taking in the past. ISRO was formed to enable India to launch its
INSAT-type satellites into geo-stationary orbit and to make India
less dependent on foreign rockets.
 131

Case Study 1
GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle)

The first GSLV carrying payload of GSAT-1 was fired from Satish
Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India on 28th
march 2001 at 1ST 15.47. Let us examine this muhurta.

® @ 30
Sun Jupiter 0
Ven (R) Moon Saturn Rahu
aana Rahu
® GSLV 1st
0
Mercury Launch Muhurta Mars Jupiter
March 28, 2001 r Saturn
15:47 hr
Sriharikota, India 0
Ketu Mercury Moon
® Sun
Ketu 0
Mars Ven R)

Sarvashtakavarga of GSLV 1st Launch

Sign 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 2 3 6 3 3 5 4 5 4 6 4 3*
Moon 4* 5 4 3 4 6 4 3 5 5 3 3
Mars 2 4 4 2 5 2 3 2* 4 4 5 2
Mercury 3 5 5 5 4 3 3 7 4 6 5* 4
Jupiter 4 6* 5 4 5 4 4 6 7 3 5 3
Venus 5 2 4 5 3 4 5 3 6 5 4 6*
Saturn 3 1* 3 2 3 6 6 2 2 5 2 4
Total 23 26 31 24 27 30 29 28 32 34 28 25

1. The Lagna is Leo. In as much as it is a fiery sign it is OK, but

a fixed lagna is not quite appropriate for launching a satellite.
A movable lagna would have been more appropriate. The lagna
has 3/27 bindus which is barely passable.
2. The lagna lord Sun is in the 8th house in a watery sign with
a retrograde planet. Wholly inappropriate. It has only 3/25
bindus.
132

3. The Moon is in the 9th house with 4/23 with very low paksha-
bala. It is in Aries, the sign of Mars which is good but being
in Bharani whose diety is Yama is not quite appropriate. It
carries the effect of the 12th lordship with it. In the navamsha
the Moon is debilitated (not shown here).
4. Karakas: Since every satellite is involved in some kind of com-
munication we can take Mercury as the karaka planet for the
event. Since the launch involves massive use of energy and
movement, we could also consider Mars as another karaka. The
3rd house (communication) and the 10th (business of the state)
house and their lords could also be examined for the specific
chart.
5. Mercury is under the aspect of Saturn and Mars. Mars is under
the aspect of 6th and 8th lords Saturn and Jupiter respectively.
Though the 3rd lord, Venus, is exalted but it is in the 8th house
and it is retrograde. It is also the 10th lord.
Thus we see practically nothing is OK with this muhurta. The
satellite failed to take off.

Case Study 2
GSLV-D1 2nd Launch

Soon after this failure another date and time was announced
for its launch. Normally the public comes to know of the timing
of the launch after it has been done. But this time they an-
nounced it in advance. We discussed the new muhurta in ICAS
astrology classes with our students and predicted that this
would be a success but only partial. The new timing was 18th
April 2001, at 15.43 from Sriharikota. Let us examine this
muhurta also.
1. The lagna is Leo again with 4/29. Same comments apply to this
as to the choice of a fixed lagna being counter-productive.
2. The lagna lord is the Sun which is in the 9th house and it is
exalted. In addition, it is in Ashwini, an excellent nakshatra for
beginnings and movements of any kind. So, on the face of it, it
seemed that the most major problem was solved as compared
to the previous muhurta. But our prediction was mainly based
 133

@ (24) 28
Mercury @ Jupiter 0 (24)
6 (29)
Ven (R) Sun Saturn Rahu
Lagna (3 Rahu
@ GSLV 2nd
Launch 0 S (27
Moon
April 18, 2001 f Jupiter
15:43 hr ai Saturn
0 Sriharikota, India (22.
Moon ' 1 Sun
0 (27) 12
Mars 0 0 (24) Mercury
Ketu Venus

Sarvashtakavarga of GSLV 2nd Lanuch

Sign ->• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 2* 4 3 5 4 3 4 5 5 6 4 3
Moon 3 5 4 4 3 5 5 4 4 5 4* 3
Mars 2 3 3 3 5 2 4 1 3* 6 4 3
Mercury 2 5 4 4 5 4 3 5 6 5 3 8*
Jupiter 5 3* 6 6 5 3 4 5 7 5 3 4
Venus 4 4 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 6'
Saturn 4 3* 1 3 3 3 6 4 2 4 4 2
Total 22 27 24 28 29 24 30 29 32 36 27 29

on the fact that the bindus of the Sun, 2/22, were very low and
thus its exaltation and placement come to naught.
3. The Moon again has low pakshabala, is aspected by Saturn and
has 4/27 bindus.
4. Karakas: Mars has improved because it is in a fiery and
friendly sign with its protege Ketu. But Mercury, the
11th lord has become debilitated and has low bindus too,
only 24.
Initially proclaimed successful, with the satellite reaching a
lower than planned orbit, but managing to raise itself into
the correct transfer orbit. However because this manoeuvre
consumed extra fuel, the satellite was unable to reach its final orbit
or become operational, and the launch was ultimately considered
a failure.
134

Case Study 3
GSLV-F01

On 20th September 2004, at 16.01 a.m. from Sriharikota another

satellite was launched with EDUSAT as the payload. It was a suc-
cessful operation. Let us examine this muhurta.
1. The lagna is Capricorn, a moveable sign. It is in Dhanishtha, a
nakshatra of Mars. Both these factors are acceptable for a good
muhurta. The lagna is being aspected by its own lord Saturn
and Venus the yogakaraka planet for Capricorn. It also has
an aspect from Jupiter. The lagna has 29 bindus and the lord
Saturn and Venus have contributed 5 bindus each. Saturn is
vargottama. All this is excellent.
2. The lagna lord Saturn is placed in the 7th house with 4/32
bindus, ably assisted by Venus with 5/32 bindus.

\ (23) \® X
0 0 0 0
Rahu \n/ 0 X9/
\ / Moon
012/\ Lagna
GSLV-F01 0
0 Launch Venus X^xp)
Sept. 20, 2004 Saturn / Rahu \ 1° /7
tX 0 )
15:47 hr X4 \ Ketu X
Sriharikota, AP ©
0 Mercury /Sun
India 0 Mars
Venus Jupiter
0 0 0 Saturn X 5
0 Sun
Moon Ketu Mars Jup / 0 (0 Mercur©^

Sign -» 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 6 5 5 5 2 3* 5 1 5 5 2 4
Moon 4 5 5 3 3 4 4 7* 3 3 3 5
Mars 3 2 6 4 1 2* 4 2 3 5 4 3
Mercury 6 5 4 6 7* 3 5 2 3 4 6 3
Jupiter 6 5 6 5 2 7* 4 6 7 2 1 5
Venus 6 5 3 5* 4 4 4 5 2 5 5 4
Saturn 4 3 5 4* 2 3 2 3 3 5 2 3
Total 35 30 34 32 21 26 28 26 26 29 23 27
 135

3. Karakas: Mars is in the 9th house with two of its best friends,
the Sun and Jupiter. Mercury is situated in the 8th house with
excellent 7/21 and is in exchange of signs with the Sun. Jupiter
the 3rd lord (for communications) is in the 9th house with its
friends and has 7/26 bindus. It is also aspecting the 3rd house.
The 11th lord has the debilitated Moon but its bhinnashtaka
score of 7 washes off the debilitation stigma.
4. Thus we see some excellent Ashtakavarga support where it is needed
most in this muhurta chart. In fact, this support overcame some
of the apparent deficiencies. So, a good muhurta sees the day off
favourably, whether it is chosen deliberately or it just happens.

Case Study 4
GSLV-F02
There was yet another satellite launched on July 10, 2006 at 17.38.
It was carrying a payload of INSAT-4C. It turned out to be a
miserable failure.
1. The lagna Sagittarius is a dual and fiery sign. This is better
than a fixed sign for a satellite launch. The lagna is in Ketu's
nakshatra Moola which stands for rootedness not for a launch.
It has the 8th lord Moon placed in it with 4/27, a very average
kind of score. The Moon has high pakshabala, but a strong 8th
lord in the lagna cannot be appreciated.
2. The 9th lord Sun is aspecting the lagna and the Moon, a
positive factor except that the Sun has 3/17, a rather low score
for a luminary. Such a score takes away the beneficence of
the 9th lord.

® 0 ©
Rahu 0 Venus Sun
Lagna Jupiter
0 Moon
GSLV-F02 Mars
Launch Mer(R Sat
July 10, 2006
17:38 hr Rahu Ketu
0 0
India

0 Sun
@ 0
0 Jupiter Ketu Mars Sat
Moon Venus Mer (R)
136

Sign > 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 5 5 3 3 3 4 5 3 2 3 6 6
Moon 4 6 1 3 4 7 4 5 4 4 4 3
Mars 4 5 0 3 3 3 6 2 3 2 4 4
Mercury 4 8 2 6 4 5 5 2 3 5 3 7
Jupiter 6 4 5 4 6 4 6 3 5 6 3 4
Venus 4 6 3 4 4 4 3 4 5 4 5 6
Saturn 4 5 3 1 1 5 3 2 5 1 4 5
Total 31 39 17 24 25 32 32 21 27 25 29 35

3. The lagna lord Jupiter is in the 11th house but it is in an in-

imical sign Libra though the bindus 6/32 are not bad.
4. Karakas: Mars is debilitated and is in the 8th house with 3/24.
Mercury, the lord of both the 7th and the 10th house is also
in the 8th house afflicted by two malefics Mars and Saturn. It
has 6/24 which should not have been a cause of concern ex-
cept that Mercury is retrograde too. Saturn as the 3rd lord has
gone to the 8th and has 1/24. Venus is the only good planet
in this chart Ashtakavarga-wise. It is the 11th lord and has a
superlative strength of 6/39 but it is in the 6th house.
What actually happened: Both rocket and satellite had to be
destroyed over the Bay of Bengal after the rocket's trajectory veered
outside of permitted limits. With all the major karakas in the 8th
and the lagna afflicted by 8th lord, the success was a far cry.

Case Study 5
Chandrayan-1

Chandrayaan-1 was India's first unmanned lunar probe. It was

launched on 22nd October 2008, at 6.22 a.m. The mission was a major
boost to India's space program, as India researched and developed
its own technology in order to explore the Moon. The vehicle was
successfully inserted into lunar orbit on 8 November 2008.
1. The lagna is a chara sign and the lagna lord Venus is in rashi
parivartana forming a rajayoga with Mars. Sun and Mars,
the two fiery planets, are situated in the lagna. The bindus
 137

(28) Venusy/\fa5) Mercury/

® 0 0 0 (29)
Lagna s,5 Saturn
Sun
Chandrayan-l 0 Mars
Launch Moon (35)
(27) 7
Oct. 22, 2008 Ketu I0V4 Moon
06:22 hrs Rahu 1 Ketu
0 Sriharikota 0
Rahu Saturn
(22) liy (25) 26)
12
0 0 ^0 0
Jupiter Venus Sun Mercury 25
Mars

Sarvashtakavarga of Chandrayan-1 Launch

Sign 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 6 7 4 4 6 3 4* 4 2 4 2 2
Moon 3 3 4 7* 4 4 2 3 7 4 2 6
Mars 3 4 2 4 4 3 4* 4 3 2 3 3
Mercury 3 6 5 5 6 4* 4 6 2 4 5 4
Jupiter 4 4 4 7 5 3 6 4 5* 7 3 4
Venus 2 5 5 4 6 5 4 5* 4 3 5 4
Saturn 4 4 2 4 4* 3 5 2 4 3 2 2
Total 25 33 26 35 35 25 29 28 27 27 22 25

associated are average or better. Thus, no deficiency of bindus.

Lagna is also in a shubha kartari yoga.
2. The yogakaraka Saturn is aspecting the lagna from the 11th
house having 4/35 bindus. The Saturn is being aspected by
Jupiter. The lagna lord Venus in Anuradha is in nakshatra-
parivartana with the yogakaraka Sautrn in Poorva Phalguni.
It is a rajayoga.
3. Karakas: Mars is in lagna with 4/29. The 9th lord Mercury is
exalted in the 12th house indicating that the vehicle was going
to a 'foreign' land. The 3rd house is well fortified with its own
lord Jupiter having 5/27 bindus.
4. The icing on the cake came with Moon in the 10th house, its
own, with superlative strength of 7/35 bindus. The Muhurta
could not have been more befitting for the Chandrayan. More-
over, the Moon is in a highly auspicious nakshatra, Pushya.
138

What actually happened: On 14 November 2008, the Moon

Impact Probe separated from the Chandrayaan orbiter and struck
the south pole in a controlled manner, making India the fourth
country to place its flag on the Moon. The estimated cost for the
project was Rs. 386 crore.
The remote sensing lunar satellite had a mass of 1,380 kilograms at
launch and 675 kilograms in lunar orbit. Over a two-year period, it
was intended to survey the lunar surface to produce a complete map
of its chemical characteristics and three-dimensional topography.
Chandrayaan operated for 312 days as opposed to the intended
two years but the mission achieved 95 percent of its planned ob-
jectives. Among its many achievements was the discovery of the
widespread presence of water molecules in lunar soil.
So, now even the scientists have to agree to what the astrologers
have always been saying - that the Moon is a watery planet.

Case Study 6
GSLV-D3

Let us take the case of GSLV-D3 carrying the payload of GSAT-4.

It was launched on April 15, 2010 at 16.27 pm 1ST. ISRO, never
to learn from its mistakes in this department, had another mas-
sive failure.
1. The lagna is Virgo with a retrograde Saturn placed in it. Nothing
can be worse than this. Even 5/33 at Saturn's command are not
enough. No good aspects either. The 6th house of the rashi chart
becomes the lagna and the retrograde Saturn does not budge from
the lagna in the navamsha chart too (not shown here).
2. The lagna lord Mercury is in the 8th house at 5/23. The lumi-
naries and the 9th lord Venus are also in the 8th house giving
it company. To rub salt in the wound, the dispositor of these 4
worthies, Mars, is debilitated in the 11th house. Where is the
question of fulfillment of desire.
3. Karakas: Mars, an independent karaka too, as explained ear-
lier, and also the 3rd lord in this chart, is debilitated. Ketu in
the 10th is also not quite conducive to a successful operation.
Mercury as the karaka is more directly involved in this as the
lagna and the 10th lord.
 139

3un Moon \
Mercury Ketu /4
Venus \ 7 / Lagna \ 5 /
8 /\ Saturn (R) by Mars
GSLV-D3
Jupiter Launch Mars
/
April 15, 2010 ( Rahu \6 /3 Ketu \
16:27 hr 9X
\ /\l\
Sriharikota,
India
toV x?
/ii\ X1 \
Rahu Saturn
(R) Sun Mon
/ Jupiter Mer Ven

Sign > 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 3* 3 5 5 3 4 5 2 5 4 5 4
Moon 3* 2 5 4 4 4 4 6 3 6 7 1
Mars 2 2 5 4* 3 6 1 3 2 3 6 2
Mercury 5* 4 4 6 4 6 3 2 6 4 6 4
Jupiter 4 7 2 4 6 4 4 3 6 6 8* 2
Venus 4* 5 6 4 3 4 2 7 7 3 4 3
Saturn 2 2 4 4 0 5* 1 5 4 4 6 2
Total 23 25 31 31 23 33 20 28 33 30 42 18
What actually happened: India's GSLV-D3, powered by home-
grown cryogenic engine for the first time, failed in its mission as the
rocket carrying a communication satellite deviated from its path and
went out of control shortly after its lift-off from the spaceport.
An expense of Rs 330 crore went down the drain in a jiffy. The
Sanskrit name for the 8th house is randhra, which literally means
a 'hole' and that is where the lagna lord is placed and that is where
all the money and effort went. No estimates as to the monetary
value of the effort are available.

Case Study 7
PSLV-C-15
Here is another case study, that of PSLV C-15, launched on 12th
July 2010 at 9.22 a.m. from Sriharikota, India.
1. The lagna is Leo again. Though it is not one of the best signs
for launching satellites, but this time there is some significant
140

\ Saturn Moon /
Jupiter Sun ■ Mercury/3
Ketu \6 / Lagna \ 4//,Sun
7 Mars
Venus /k Ketu
PSLVC-1S Moon
July 12, 2010 Mercury \5 /
09:22 hr sVz
Sriharikota, Mars Ai\
India 9\
Venus
Rahu V'1
/io\ /iiN
Rahu Saturn
Jupiter

\ Jupiter Moon
/
Kteu Sun Venus 7 n. Rahu / 3
N.6 / \ 4 /
Mercury/ Lagna - Venus
Saturn Moon
\5 /
Navamsha Mars 8V2 Sun ^
/1 iX
Lagna
9 Saturn
/\ /V
Jupiter / \ /12\
Mars Mercury Rahu
Kteu

Sign > 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 5 5 5* 5 2 5 2 4 4 4 3 4
Moon 5 5 4 3* 1 4 5 4 5 7 4 2
Mars 2 5 4 2 4* 4 2 3 4 3 2 4
Mercury 6 6 5 2* 5 5 5 5 4 2 4 5
Jupiter 5 6 5 2 6 5 2 5 5 6 4 5*
Venus 5 5 5 4 3* 4 5 6 6 4 1 4
Saturn 2 4 5 5 2 2* 2 2 4 6 3 2
Total 30 36 33 23 23 29 23 29 32 32 21 26

amendments. The lagna has Venus and Mars posited in it — a

great rajayoga by itself in the lagna. Venus is a great natural
benefic. Here it is also the 10th lord, which is very good for
this activity. It is placed in Magha, the 10th nakshatra whose
 141

symbol is the 'throne', the epitome of all achievement, power

and prestige. Venus has gone to Gemini in the 11th house in
the navamsha.
2. Mars is the yoga karaka planet for Leo lagna. Its presence in the
lagna of the muhurta chart for launching the satellite is extremely
auspicious. It is in Purvaphalguni, a nakshatra of the 10th lord
and considered very auspicious. The fact that this launch vehicle
was carrying 5 satellites in its womb for establishing them in
their respective space orbits, may point towards the shakti that
Purvaphalguni has for having multiple progeny.
3. The lagna being vargottama overcomes its shortcoming of being
a fixed sign. Though the lagna has only 2/23 bindus but it is being
ably supported by Jupiter and Mercury which have contributed
5 bindus each. The navamsha lagna, Leo has 34 bindus.
4. The lagna lord Sun is in the 11th house in company with
Ketu. Though Ketu is not exactly an outright benefic but it is
a member of the friendly club of Sun. Ketu in Gemini can be
considered as good for technical purposes like communica-
tions or surveillance. Saturn is aspecting the Sun but it is in
Uttaraphalguni, the nakshatra of Sun itself. The tone and tenor
of Saturn is also much muted because it is in a friendly sign
and is receiving aspect from Jupiter.
5. The Sun has gone to the 10th house in the navamsha and is
under the aspect of Jupiter. Mars-Sun opposition in the 4-10
axis is a very powerful raja yoga between the lagna lord and
the 9th lord. The 9th lord Mars is aspecting not only the 10th
house but also the 10th lord Venus.
6. The Sun has 5/33 bindus in the 11th house. Four other planets
Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn have contributed 5 each.
The Ashtakavarga weakness of lagna is well compensated by
the lagna lord.
7. The Moon is vargottama too like the lagna, and is under the
aspect of Jupiter. Though the pakshabala is weak but it is form-
ing an excellent yoga called Harshana (happiness). Though the
lagna is a sthira lagna but it is being augmented because the
Moon is in Punarvasu and if this combines with a Monday then
it forms a chara nakshatra suitable for launching activity.
142

8. Karakas: The karakas are fairly comfortable. Mercury as the

11th lord conjoining the Moon is excellent. In the navamsha
it has gone to Libra and exchanged signs with Venus.
9. Mars has already been described. That it is in Poorna Ithesal
with the Sun is an observation not normally made while muhurta
is analysed. The importance of this ithesaal lies in the fact that
the Sun is the lagna lord and Mars is the 9th lord and both
are fiery planets.
The 9th, 10th and 11th houses in the birth chart have 30, 36
and 33 bindus respectively.
What actually happened: The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV
C-15) had a flawless launch of 5 satellites, including the advanced high
resolution cartography satellite Cartoset-2B. The PSLV C-15 carried
3 satellites for other countries (Canada, Algiers and Switzerland) and
one student satellite. After 20 minutes of the blast off all the 5 satel-
lites were injected precisely and smoothly. Its cost was nearly Rs 260
crore and the combined weight of the satellites was 694 kg.
Thus we see that not only the rashi chart but also the navamsha
is very powerful. It looks like a 'Designer Muhurta'. Whether it was
actually worked out by an astrologer (as we have been recommend-
ing time and again) or it just happened providentially, will never
be brought to light given the deep seated bias amongst scientists
against astrology.

Case Study 8
GSLV-F06
On the Christmas day, December 25, 2010, another satellite was
launched at 16.04 carrying the payload of GSAT 5P communication
satellite. It was in the air for less than a minute before exploding
in the Bay of Bengal, as was to be expected from its muhurta. The
primary cause of the failure was 'the untimely and inadvertent'
snapping of a group of 10 connectors located at the base of the
Russian Cryogenic stage.
1. The lagna is Taurus, a fixed, earthy sign. Both attributes of
the lagna are bad. It has 4/23 bindus. The lagna is vargottama
meaning that it is doubly immovable.
2. The lagna lord Venus is in in Libra, its own and a moveable
sign, which is fine but it is in the 6th house, aspected by Ketu.
 143

\ Ketu
Jupiter Mars Ketu
Venus \3/ x
\x /
4 Lagna Jxf Jupiter
GSLV-F06
Muhurta \2 V
Dec., 25, 2010 ' Moon 5 v
16:04 hr yV1
8 \
Sriharikota Moon 6
\ V x/
India
Saturn x Mercury VlQ
Sun Mercury / 7 \ (R) / 9 \
Mars Venus Saturn Sun
Rahu (R) / Venus Mars Rahu \
\/

Sign > 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 4 2 4 6 5 5 6 1 3* 5 1 6
Moon 2 4 5 4 4* 4 5 2 2 6 8 3
Mars 3 4 3 3 2 5 4 0 3* 4 3 5
Mercury 3 5 5 3 6 5 7 4* 4 5 3 5
Jupiter 3 2 6 4 5 6 4 4 5 5 6 6*
Venus 4 4 4 7 4 3 5* 6 5 5 2 3
Saturn 2 2 3 5 4 4* 5 2 1 4 4 3
Total 21 23 30 32 30 31 36 19 23 34 27 31

It has 5/36 bindus which should have been pretty good except
that Venus is in the nakshatra of the 8th lord Jupiter. Venus
is in the navamsha lagna which means that it was in the 8th
navamsha, not an auspicious navamsha.
3. Jupiter, the 8th lord is posited in the 11th house of fructifica-
tion of desires. It is aspected by the 12th lord Mars from the
8th house. Jupiter is also aspected by Saturn.
4. Mars has 3/21 in Aries and 0/19 in Scorpio. It is a rather poor
score for one of the karakas for this kind of activity. Mars
is itself the 22nd drekkana lord and is posited with the 64th
navamsha lord Sun, in the Rahu-Ketu axis. So this karaka is
terribly afflicted. By being in the nakshatra of Venus, Mars is
afflicting Venus also.
5. The other karaka for communication satellites, Mercury, is
in an inimical sign, Scorpio in the rashi chart with 4/19 and
144

is debilitated in the navamsha in the 11th house, aspected by

Mars and 8th lord Jupiter. Mercury is not only retrograde and
combust it is also aspected by Saturn. Even Mars is combust.
Thus we see that the lagna, lagnesh and the karakas are all af-
flicted. How could the launch be successful?

A FERVENT PLEA

Muhurta, the best time to start a new activity, is an ancient tech-

nique of Vedic Astrology That has been in practice in India since
times immemorial. Should the scientists involved in space research
activity ignore this ancient Indian Vidya in preference to their so
called modern approach? A large number of scientists involved in
ISRO come from south India where use of Muhurta for auspicious
activities is very common and is almost a must. When the scientist
wants to marry his daughter he is very particular about finding and
following the right muhurta. But the same criterion he does not
apply in his professional domain.
The scientists have yet to catch up with the idea that TIME has a
quality and it does not have a uniform, linear or laminar flow. This
aspect of TIME having a certain 'quality' is understood and practiced
by the astrologers, the modalities of which the scientists have no
clue about. It is a widespread tendency amongst the scientists to
negate (or call unscientific) what they do not understand.
It has been clearly shown in the above analysis that a good
muhurta results into success and a bad muhurta into failure. This
does not undermine the effort of the scientists in putting things
together intelligently using their best knowledge. We are also not
proposing that merely a good muhurta will result into success. It is
our humble submission that by consulting a battery of comeptent
muhurta pundits, a good muhurta should be found to launch the
satellites. If it is done, we are sure that, all other things being equal,
the failure rate will come down drastically, if not eliminated alto-
gether. Following a good muhurta will not harm anyone, it can only
benefit the nation by saving hard earned money of the tax payers.
But a million Rupee question is — Will the scientists shed their bias
against astrology publicly? They do consult astrologers when they
are in trouble, in their private lives. This can be ascertained with 'n'
number of astrologers whom these scientists go to surreptitiously.
 CHAPTER 14

Profession and Ashtakavarga

The subject of profession* can be studied under several heads:

1. Profession indicated by the horoscope
2. Ups and downs in the profession
3. Promotion or financial rewards
4. Transfers, change of place
5. Change in profession
6. Extent of professional success
In this chapter we will discuss only the first, i.e., profession as in-
dicated by the horoscope and the role of Ashtakavarga in it. The
study of this subject is of immense value because it can be used
in career counselling to the young generation. Since the past when
there were very few kinds of professions, the scene has changed
dramatically. It would be the ingenuity of the astrologer coupled
with his analytical ability and knowledge of the job scenario that
would help him/her become a good career counsellor.
The significators to be studied for identification of profession are
the usual building blocks of any horoscope:
1. Signs and Houses that have a role to play
2. Planet/s that have a role to play
3. Nakshatras that have a role to play
4. Yogas (dhana yogas and the raja yogas) present in the chart
5. Dasha and Transit at the time under scrutiny
The signs that come into play for determination of profession
should be judged for their elements (fiery, earthy, airy, watery) and

^Ihis paper was first presented at a DGVA (German) Conference in 2009 and later at
Arsha Vidya Gurukulam (USA)
146

whether they are moveable, fixed or dual. This has influence over
nature of profession.
A. The Signs that come into play:
1. The signs of the lagna, the Moon and the Sun
2. Sign in the 10th house, (from lagna, the Moon, and the Sun)
3. Nature of signs occupied by majority of planets
4. Nature of sign/s in which the Yogas are being formed
B. The Houses and their lords that come into play:
1. 1st House
2. 10th house (Karma) (watch the bindus and their contributors;
high contributors have a strong say)
3. 9th house (Bhagya)
4. 11th house (nature and source of earning)
5. 2nd house (accumulation of wealth)
6. 5th house (education and emotional quotient)
7. 7th house (the alternative house of profession since it is the
10th from the 10th)
8. 8th house (11th from 10th) money gained without the sweat
of one's brow
9. 10th and 11th from the dasha or antardasha lord
Houses should be counted from:
1. The lagna (and the Moon)
2. The 10th house from Lagna
3. The dasha and antardasha lord at the time
4. The Karaka viz. Sun, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury, but most promi-
nently from Saturn.
Characteristics of houses from the point of view of profession:
The Artha trikona houses
1. The 2nd, 6th and the 10th are the Artha (money) houses.
They are 5/9 from each other and have their signs belonging
to the same element viz. fiery, earthy etc. This element throws
important light on the nature of profession. Planets placed in
 147

these houses reveal important clues to profession. They also

have the same nakshatra lord mostly which again becomes an
important clue to the profession.
2. Planets in trikona houses influence each other strongly with or
without full aspect. 5/9 position of planets entails fifty percent
aspect for all planets except Jupiter which has hundred percent.
Therefore, besides the 10th house one must check the 2nd and
the 6th house also.
Houses counted from the 10th house as lagna
1. 11th house is the 2nd from it. This becomes the fructification
of the effort put in the professional work.
2. 12th house is the 3rd from it. This becomes the house of valour
and courage besides the extra curricular activities. Makes you
work harder.
3. 1st house is the 4th from it. This becomes the inner self
and the peace and pleasure derived from profession (job
satisfaction).
4. 2nd house is the 5th from it. This becomes the house of emo-
tional energy invested in the job and the Poorva Punya (the
professional merits from the previous life).
5. 3rd house is the 6th from it. Therefore, it is adverse to the pro-
fession, unhappiness and obstruction in profession is indicated.
It is an Upachaya house both from the lagna as well as the
10th house, hence it can also indicate heavy work load due to
expansion. Mars in the 3rd house is important since it aspects
the 10th house from here. However, in general a malefic in the
6th (also 8th and 12th) from any house spoils the significations
of that house.
6. 4th house is the 7th from it. All the planets aspect the 10th
house from this house. It is an important kendra from the
10 th house.
7. 5th house is the 8th from it. Afflictions to this house cause
obstructions to the profession. Some one has proclaimed that
high Ashatakavarga bindus in the 5th house cause impediments
to the 10th house significations. But this proclamation must
be tested widely. A malefic here is not conducive to great
148

professional progress. This house can also be treated as the

house of longevity of profession.
8. 6th house is the 9th from it. Hence it becomes the Bhagya
Sthan (destiny) for the profession. This is the more important
trine from the 10th. Jupiter in the 6th house gives teaching/
preaching/healing or other Jupiterian kind of jobs because from
here it aspects the 10th house.
9. 7th house being the 10th from 10th is considered the alterna-
tive house of profession. In the case of politicians it becomes
an important house just as the 6th house.
10. 8th house is the 11th house from it. Thus it shows the gains
from the profession specially the sudden, unearned, inherited,
out of proportion, and mysterious type. People having big
money have an involvement of the 8th house or its lord in their
chart with their earnings. 8th also indicates other's, partner's
or spousal money
11. 9th house is the 12th from it. This some times shows change
in the job, specially relocation. Of course the association of
the lords of the 9th and the 10th houses forms a very power-
ful Rajayoga, called the Dharma-Karmadhipati Rajayoga, and
the native succeeds in a significant way. A malefic in the 9th
house detrimental to professional success.

C. The Vargas that play important role:

1. Navamsha lord of the 10th lord of the birth chart, is said to
be very important
2. Lord of the 10th house of the navamsha chart
3. Lagna lord and the 10th lord of the dashamsha chart
4. The dispositor of the 10th lord of the birth chart

D. The Planets that play important role:

(Watch which signs and houses these planets represent):
1. Planet/s in the 10th house, and their lordship
2. 10th lord, which sign and house it occupies
3. Planet/s in the lagna (their lordship)
 149

4. Lagna lord: which sign and house it occupies

5. Saturn, the lord of the 10th house of Kaal Purusha and 10th
from Saturn
6. Moon's nakshatra and its lord
7. Lord of the Janma lagna nakshatra
8. Atma Karaka and the 10th from it
9. Ketu and Ketu's dispositor (Karmic suction control planet)
10. Rahu and Rahu's dispositor (Karmic distribution control
planet)
Each of the 9 planets has been traditionally associated with cer-
tain kind of professions. Their range given here is by no means
exhaustive.
1. Sun
• State service, government official
• Position of authority in large organisations (MNCs)
• Administration, revenue collection
• Ambassador, diplomat
• Medicine, aromatic herbs
• Repetition of mantras
Gold, fine wines, expensive wood, coarse cloth
Jobs in forest and mountainous places
• Gambling, frauds
2. Moon
• Public domain, public commodities
Navy, merchant navy
• White clothes or other white substances
• Pearls and corals, silver
• Related to women or elderly ladies
• Travel, travel industry, hospitality industry
• Trade, specially in white, watery items
• Agriculture and livestock
150

3. Mars
• Metals and machinery
Vocations involving heat, energy, electricity, fire-fighting
• Fighting and confrontation, arms and ammunition
• Argumentation, disputes
• Cutting professions such as butchers and surgeons
• Real estate, building, construction
• Adventure sports, dangerous or courageous acts
Association with wicked people, spies and thieves
• Commander of men, leader, administrator

4. Mercury
• Communications of all kinds, eloquence, lawyers, diplomats
• Teaching, journalism, interpreters, linguists, poets, plagiarists
Trade, commission agents, representatives, salesmen,
Secretaries, clerical work, librarian, accountants, auditors,
• Travel writers, fiction writers, translators, publishers, printing
press, paper
• Sacred knowledge, adept at mantra shastra, priest
• Manual dexterity, mental dexterity, athletics
• Plurality, duality, convertibility, versatility, changeability
Mathematics and science, research work,
Astrologers, counselors, conmen, fraudsters

5. Jupiter
• Religion or religious instruction, teaching and preaching, study
of scriptures, chanting of hymns, orthodox people
• Advisors, counsellors, philosophers, grammarians, gurus
• Law and justice, judges, advocates
Money lending, banking, collecting rent, significator of wealth
• Educationist, philanthropist,-working in children's home
• Management, expansion, large animals, optimistic projections
 151

6. Venus
• Diamonds, gems, ornaments, perfumery, precious stones
• Women's clothing, dress designing, association with young
women
Matters pertaining to marriages
• Fine Arts, literature, poetry, music, painting, designing,
• Dance, drama, cinema, acting, direction, set designing
Sophisticated machinery or gadgets
• Conveyances, vehicles, transport, shipping, navy,
Watery substances, milk, paints

7. Saturn
Lowly and despicable professions
• Employee rather than employer, bondage rather than freedom
Service/service industry rather than entrepreneurship
• Agriculturists, masons, sweepers, plumbers, underground items,
hidden or secret items, stones, factory workers, jail workers
• Iron, lead, dead things, hides, skins, leather goods
Hard labour, acts of torture (on others; or even self torture)
• Renunciation

8. Rahu
Gets affected by its association and dispositor and is like Saturn
• Unorthodox, futuristic professions, inventions, technical work
Politics, psychology, metaphysical studies, clouded or unclear
thinking
Science, sorcery, magic, knowledge of poisons, snakes, drugs
Professions connected with bad habits like drinking, gambling,
treachery, theft, violence, accidents
Outcastes, wicked people, degraded acts, cruel acts
• Profession connected with paternal grand father
• Master at creating illusion, ignorance
Rahu's navamsha dispositor has a particular say in profession
152

9. Ketu
• Gets affected by its association and dispositor and is like
Mars
Wisdom, spiritual studies, spiritual initiation
• Religious knowledge, language studies
Works from either higher plane or lower
• Pride, religious fundamentalism, intrigues, quarrels, cruel,
irrational, mysterious work, revengeful
Application, creativity, intense concentration
• Separative, renunciate
• Ketu's navamsha dispositor has a say in indicating personal
talents acquired in the past life.

E. Nakshatras
Nakshatras have a world of their own, distinct from the signs they
are part of. Their personality is not confined to their planetary lords.
They should be studied under the following heads:
1. Sanskrit name of the nakshatra and its meaning
2. Symbol of the nakshatra
3. Deity of the nakshatra
4. Mythological story of the nakshatra
Each of them would colour the nature of profession in its own
special manner and give important clues.
The nakshatras and their planetary lords that must be taken into
account for profession are:
• Lagna's Nakshatra
• Moon's Nakshatra
• Nakshatra of the 10th lord
• Nakshatra of the mid-heaven (bhava madhya of 10th house)
• Nakshatra of the planet/s in the 10th house
 153

• Nakshatra of the dasha and antardasha lord

• Nakshatra in which Saturn, the 10th lord of the natural
zodiac, is placed.

F. Relationship of Lagna lord with the 10th lord:

a. Some lagna lords are inherently friendly with the 10th lords,
some are not. For Virgo and Pisces lagnas, the 10th lords are identi-
cal with the lagna lords. Amongst the rest, the even lagnas (Taurus,
Cancer, Scorpio & Capricorn) have friendly 10th lords.
b. If they are placed in 1/1, 7/7, 5/9, or 3/11 positions from each
other they are favourable. Placements such as 4/10, 2/12 and 6/8
are progressively adverse.
c. This criterion should be applied from the mahadasha lord and
the 10th therefrom too to obtain dasha specific results.
d. Besides the above one should also note the benefic or malefic
influences on the lagna lord and 10th lord.
e. The principles enumerated above can be extended to the vargas
also.
G. Ashtakavarga
Ashtakavarga plays a very important role in deciphering the
nature of profession. The factors one should keep in mind for
this are:
1. Amongst the houses and the planets whichever have higher
bindus will have greater say in the choice of profession.
2. The planets that have contributed the bindus in the 10th house
and their strength should be noted. Combust, debilitated,
or otherwise weak planets, even if they have contributed a
bindu will not have the same influence as the strong planets'
bindus.
3. If the bindus in the 11th house from the dasha lord are high,
this would be the time for greater success. The planets posited
in that house and the lord of that house give a clue to what
kind of items or profession will bring success in that dasha.
Let us now present a few case studies from different professional
fields and see how Ashtakavarga influences them.
154

Case Study 1
Computer Software Engineer

1. Mercury is playing the most important role in determination of

this native's profession. Mercury is almost on the same degree
as the lagna. This means that Mercury is in the lagna of most
of the divisional charts, including the dashamamsha.
2. Mercury is the 10th lord from lagna as well as the Moon.
Mercury is also the Atma Karaka (AK) and it is also the lord
of the 10th house therefrom.
3. Mercury is conjunct Ketu and aspected by Saturn. Both help a
keen mind and persistence respectively, the attribute so neces-
sary for being a successful software engineer.
4. The Moon is in the 10th house indicating involvement of public
domain in his profession. Even Bill Gates has Moon in the 10th
house aspected by Mercury. A software is created for use by
the massses.
5. Rahu, the karmic distribution planet, is in the sign of Mercury,
Gemini. Rahu normally does have a special say in the matters
of profession. Rahu and Ketu have made very firm contribu-
tions in this chart because they are in their own nakshatras.
A total of 4 planets Rahu, Saturn, Venus and Mars, are in the
nakshatras of Rahu whose dispositor is Mercury. So, the buck
stops at Mercury.

Rahu 29) Jupaer

® ® Mars\ 10
® Lagna Saturn
Venus
Mars Mercury
Venus Software Ketu
Engineer ®
@ Moon
Feb 2, 1983
Sun 5:40 AM
Delhi, India ®
26 1 Rahu
Mercury Jupiter Saturn Moon
Ketu
@ @
®
Lagna 23T7' Mars 18°30' Venus 10°28'
Sun 18°58' Mercury 24°35' Saturn 10o44'
Moon 14°48' Jupiter 13°0S' Rahu 09°56'
 155

Sarvashtakavarga of case study 1

Sign 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 4 4 2 5 5 5 5 6 1 3* 5 3
Moon 3 3 6 4 4 4* 6 5 4 0 5 5
Mars 3 5 2 3 3 4 5 3 3 2 4* 2
Mercury 5 6 5 3 3 6 7 4 6* 2 4 3
Jupiter 3 5 3 3 5 6 5 4* 6 5 4 7
Venus 5 4 4 5 6 3 5 3 6 4 4* 3
Saturn 3 2 1 5 3 3 4* 4 4 3 4 3
Total 26 29 23 28 29 31 37 29 30 19 30 26

6. All these factors clearly indicate a Mercury dominated profes-

sion. The Ashtakavarga figures also support the same conclusion:
Mercury has given 6 bindus in the 10th house (Virgo) and 7
bindus in the 11th. Mercury has 5 bindus in the 10th from
the Moon (Gemini). Thus we see that the maximum contri-
bution in the 10th house is that of Mercury. The fact that
the lagna lord Jupiter also has got 6 in the 10th house does
not take away the overall dominance of Mercury in relation
to the profession.

Case Study 2
An Actress Par Excellence: Madhuri Dixit

This is a case study of a famous and extraordinarily successful

yesteryear actress of Bollywood, Madhuri Dixit. Let us see why she
chose acting as her profession.
She was born Libra rising in the janma nakshatra of Vishakha.
The lord of Vishakha is Jupiter which is exalted in the 10th
house. The lagna lord has 5/31 bindus in the lagna. The lagna lord
Venus is in a friendly sign in the 9th house. All this makes the
lagna very strong.
Venus is in Rahu's nakshatra Ardra and Rahu is in Venus'
nakshatra Bharani. This exchange forms the main plank of her
choice of acting career. Rahu and Venus association is famous for a
film career.
Venus is in yet another exchange. This time it is the rashi
parivartana between Venus and Mercury which happen to be the
156

\ @ (2?) Mars 0
Sun @
Saturn Rahu Mercury Venus \ 8 / 0 X6 /
0 9X Lagna
® Ketu
@ Madhuri Dikshit Moon
May 15, 1967 Jupiter \7 / Moon \
18:20 IOV4 Jupiter /
Bombay, India (24) / 1 v
@ 3
0
@ irx( Venus

\
/
Rahu

§)
N)
(24) ® /12 \ Sun \
Ketu Mars (R) Saturn (33)Mercury\,
Lagna 2 I'll' Mars(R) 22°22' Venus 12°34'
Sun 00°36' Mercury 05°16' Saturn 15°ir
Moon 09°22' Jupiter 05°24' Rahu 13"24'

Sarvashtakavarga of Case Study 2

Sign -> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 4 5* 3 3 2 5 3 4 7 4 2 6
Moon 3 5 2 T 4 3 4 3 5 4 5 4
Mars 3 3 3 4 1 5* 5 2 5 2 1 5
Mercury 6 5*" 4 4 3 5 7 2 4 5 4 5
Jupiter 4 5 4 6* 6 3 5 4 2 5 6 6
Venus 3 5 4* 5 4 3 5 5 3 5 5 5
Saturn 2 5 3 3 4 1 2 4 5 4 3 3*
Total 25 33 23 32 24 25 31 24 31 29 26 34

lagna lord and the 9th lord respectively. This is not only a power
ful rajayoga, it is forming in the 11th house from the Moon and
in the Sun lagna. Venus has 4/23, Mercury has 5/33 and the Sun
has 5/33 in their respective BAVs and SAVs.
Her creative pursuit was admired across the seas and she
found a permanent place in the history and hearts of Indian
people.
The icing on the cake comes in the 10th house where a phenom-
enal but rare Gajakesari yoga is forming between Jupiter and the
Moon. Jupiter is exalted and the Moon is in its own house. Jupiter
has 6/32 and the Moon has the superlative strength of 7/32. Venus
has 5 in the 10th house.
 157

While Jupiter is in 'Brahma' the Moon is in 'Kuber' dasham-

sha.* Normally it is the Moon that is creative and Jupiter is the
dhana karaka. Here the roles seem to have reversed to her great
advantage.
In the navamsha Venus is in the 10th house, aspected by the
lagna lord Mars. In the dashmamsha, Venus is not only the lagna
lord it is in Libra in the 6th house (9th from the 10th) aspected by
the 10th lord Saturn and 11th lord Jupiter. Venus is well fortified
here with 32 bindus.
Madhuri Dixit started her film career when she was only 17.
She was running Mercury-Moon, the dasha of the 9th and 10th
lords. She went on from strength to strength thereafter and
worked in some of the most memorable and immensely
successful films. She continued to receive cinematic awards for
her acting and dancing prowess year after year. In the year 2008
she was awarded Padmashree, a great civilian award for her
contribution to contemporary cinema. She was running Venus-
Mars at that time. Venus is the lagna lord and Mars the 7th lord of
public recognition. From Venus, Mars is the 11th lord of awards
aspecting the 11th house. Mars is in the nakshatra of the 10th
lord Moon.
Not only this, she was the inspiration behind Gajagamini, a film
made by the famous painter MF Hussain because she epitomized
the quintessential Indian womanhood. One wouldn't be sure
whether Hussain knew about her extraordinary Gajakesari yoga
before naming his film.
She married an NRI, (7th lord in 12th), migrated to USA and
quit films almost altogether in 1999 in Ketu-Saturn, two years
before her Venus mahadasha was to start. This happened because
in the birth chart Venus is the 8th lord, in navamsha aspected
by Saturn from the 8th house; and in the dashamamsha it is the
6th lord aspected by the 8th lord Jupiter. Saturn, the antardasha
lord at that time is also connected with the 8th in the birth chart,
navamsha and dashamsha. Nevertheless she may have forays into
films or television during her long Venus dasha.

* Each dashamsha has a ruling deity and the planet is supposed to give results as per
its characteristics. The odd signs have the order Indra, Agni, Yama, Rakshasa, Varuna,
Vaayu, Kubera, Ishaana, Brahma and Ananta. The even signs have the reverse order.
158

Case Study 3
Olympic Star: Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps has created Olympic history by winning 8 golds

in one Olympic. With 6 from the previous Olympics he stands
towering over all the other athletes with a tally of 14 medals. He
is the most decorated swimmer in world history with 20 medals
including 17 golds. He was born on 30th June 1985 in Baltimore,
Maryland in USA. His birth time is not known to the astrological
fraternity. So we will work mainly with his Moon chart. This author
believes that his Moon and ascendant coincide, as is the case with
many high achievers, since all the details of his personal life can
be explained with the Moon ascendant.
Let us first list out the major biographical facts of his life, though
he is all of 23 years only (in 2008), and his best has yet to come.
• Michael was larger than life from birth itself. He was 9 pounds,
6 ounces and 23 inches when born and he grew like crazy. His
ears looked huge and arms swung below his knees. His mother
was a school teacher and his father worked in the transport
department. His parents divorced when he was 7 years old.
• He was diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHAD) when in 5th grade. A piqued teacher once remarked
famously that he will never be able to focus on anything. If only
the teachers knew his stars! At 9 he was put on Ritalin, a drug
to treat hyperactivity. Many young children who suffer from
ADHAD carry it into adulthood and never get cured.
• He has two older sisters and he is the youngest. He followed
his sister to the swimming pool who had almost made it to the
US national team but a back injury cut her career short. At 10,
Michael himself was ranked as a national swimmer for his age
group. At 11 his coach Bob Bowman, still his coach, predicted
that he would set world records in Beijing Olympic.
• When he was 19, Michael was arrested for drunken driving
and fined. He was to say later, that he had let down a lot of
people.
• Phelps is 6'4" tall with an arm span of 67". His disproportionately
long torso allows him to generate force from the body's core.
 159

Sat R
@ ® Ketu
Sun
Venus Mars Jup(R) Lagna
Michael Phelps Moon
@ @
June 30, 1985 Mercury
19:20
® Baltimore MD,
USA ®
)up (R)
7 30 12 Mercury
Venus
® Saturn (R) ® Sun
Moon Ketu Rahu Mars
Lagna Mars 20o35' Venus 00o39'
0
Sun 15 25' Mercury 08o07' Saturn(R) 28018'
Moon 24056' Jupiter(R) 22015' Rahu 23026'

V Mars Sun X
Lagna Mars Ketu Saturn /\ Moon /10
(R) Xi/ \ll/
Ketu i®. Lagna /f Venus
Sun Jupiter
Moon (R) \ 12/
Navamsha ( Saturn (R) 3X 9
Venus 4\ / 6\ //8
Jup (R)X Mercury Rahu
Mercury // 5 \ / 7
\
Rahu

Sarvashtakavarga of Case Study 3

Sign * 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun 7 3 5* 3 3 6 3 4 3 5 3 3
Moon 6 2 0 4 7 4 3 6* 3 6 4 4
Mars 6 2 3* 2 3 4 4 4 4 4 0 3
Mercury 6 4 7 4* 5 5 2 5 6 3 4 3
Jupiter 5 3 3 6 4 6 3 3 6 4* 5 8
Venus 2 6* 4 4 4 5 3 5 5 5 5 4
Saturn 6 3 3 1 3 3 2* 3 4 3 3 5
Total 38 23 25 24 29 33 20 30 31 30 24 30
160

An Indian scientist has described his body to be closest to that

of dolphins.
• His body produces far less lactic acid than other athletes. Thus
he exhibits far more stamina and for far longer durations than
other athletes.
• He is a self confessed foodie and consumes a large quantity of
food at every meal time.
• He has bought a 4,080 sq. ft. house in his hometown for $1.69
million, which has facilities like a pool and a jacuzzi. He has
shown interest in Aston Martins, the old school James Bond
cars. He has also bought the Meadow Brook Swim Club and
Northwest Ice Rink in Baltimore which he and his coach Bob
Bowman want to turn into an elite Olympic training centre.
/
Let us assume the birth time as 19.20 which brings the Moon
to the 1st house and discuss his horoscope.
1. The sign Scorpio falling in the lagna is very well justified as it
is a sign of tall stature. (The other tall stature signs besides Scorpio
are Leo, Virgo and Libra.) Michael was born tall and as an adult
is tall even by US standards. Scorpio is a watery sign with Moon
in it. For the best swimmer of Olympic history there can be no
better choice of the ascendant.
2. The lagna lord Mars is posited in the 8th house. The 8th house
represents underground activity. Most swimming pools are made
below the surface level. Swimming is a game of power and stamina,
therefore Scorpio takes precedence over the two other watery signs,
since its lord is Mars. Mars is in the dual sign of Mercury, which is
the most important planet for athleticism — quick, nimble, intel-
ligent. Among the Mercury's two signs Gemini is more suitable as
Virgo is rather earthy. In turn Mercury is in a chara and watery
sign Cancer. It being in the 9th house suggests that the native's
destiny was connected with watery sports.
Moreover, the lagna and Moon both are in Mercury's naksha-
tra, lyeshtha. No need to re-emphasise that Mercury, the lord of
Jyeshtha, is in a watery sign in the 9th house.
3. In addition, the 9th lord Moon in lagna is a very strong au-
gury for the same.
 161

4. Venus is aspecting this Moon. Venus is not only a benefic,

it is also considered a watery planet. Together they are forming
an excellent Parashari (7th and 9th lords) as well as a Jaimini
rajayoga. Together they represent the sthira characteristic of the
native so essential for pursuing one's career with focus and dogged
determination. All the chara signs (1, 4, 7 and 10) are occupied by
planets which gives the native the essential characteristic of speed
needed by this sport.
Jupiter the 5th lord is conveying its blessings to the Moon via its
aspect on Venus and on Mercury, the nakshatra lord of Moon.
5. Let us look at the Ashtakavarga bindus for this chart and
how it supports our analysis. The lagna has 1/6/30 bindus. The first
number 1, denotes the bindu contributed by the Moon in the lagna
in the bhinnashtakavarga of Moon; the second number 6 denotes
the contribution of the Moon's bhinnashtaka in the lagna; and
the third number 30, denotes the sarvashtaka bindus in the lagna.
The other contributors in the lagna are Mercury 5 and Venus 5
through their respective bhinnashtakas. Mercury has contributed
7 bindus in Gemini where the lagna lord Mars and 10th lord Sun
are posited. We can see that Mercury is consistently pushing the
lagna or lagna lord to athletics.
6. The Moon has contributed 7 bindus to the 10th house in a
total of 29 bindus. The ascendant has also contributed 7 bindus in
the 10th house; and that is over and above the 29 as the contribu-
tion of the Lagnashtaka is not counted in he sarvashtaka total in
the 337 bindu scheme. Ibis clearly shows that the profession of
the native is under strong influence of Moon, the watery planet.
Ascendant, the epitome of physicality, is equally involved in the
professional choice. Mercury with 5 bindus is the next highest
contributor to the 10th house. A quick look at the navamsha tells
that Mercury is exalted there aspecting the lagna. The navamsha
lagna is Pisces, a watery sign and the lagna lord Jupiter is in Cancer,
another watery sign. Jupiter, also the 10th lord, is being aspected
by Venus, another watery planet. The picture of a history making
water sportsman is complete.
In dashamsha, the Moon is again in a watery sign and so is the
10th lord of rashi chart Sun. The 10th house has a watery planet
Venus aspected by the 10th lord Saturn which is also in the watery
162

sign. The 10th, 11th and the 6th houses have the highest bindus, 35,
33 and 39 respectively, making the profession related to competi-
tions. An exchange of signs between the lagna lord Mars and the
9th lord Jupiter is a very potent rajayoga to support the excellent
Ashtakavarga strength.
7. The 10th lord Sun is with the 6th lord of competitions Mars.
The Sun is with the watery Moon in the navamsha. Rahu in the 6th
house is also good for competitions, moreover it enjoys the highest
bindus, 38, in the 6th house which brings the killer instinct to his
competitive demeanour
8. Michael is the youngest amongst siblings: There is a debilitated
planet Jupiter in the third house of younger siblings. Moreover the
3rd house is aspected by the 8th lord Mercury and 6th lord Mars.
The 3rd lord is in the 12th house afflicted by Rahu-Ketu axis. The
karaka of the 3rd house Mars is in the 8th house afflicted by Sun.
Third from Mars is with Mars itself. Thus bhava, bhavesha and the
bhava karaka, all the three parameters have conspired to deny him
the jeeva sukha pertaining to the third house.
9. He has two older sisters, interested in the same sport: The 11th
house of elder brothers/sisters is vacant. The 11th lord Mercury is
well posited in the 9th house in a watery sign Cancer. The house
as well as the lord are aspected by the 5th lord Jupiter. 11th from
the karaka, Jupiter again has a watery planet Moon in the house.
The sisters missed a national career in swimming because of the
debilitation of Jupiter and Moon. The back injury to the sister is
indicated by Mars aspecting the 5th house from the 11th. The back
is indicated by the 5th house.
10. When he was 7 his parents divorced; The 9th house of father
is afflicted by the 8th lord mercury which in turn is being aspected
by Saturn (R) and Jupiter (R). Sun the karaka for father is in the
8th house with the 6th lord Mars. The 9th lord Moon is debilitated.
So, in general he was not to benefit from the father. The 4th lord
of mother, Saturn has gone to the 12th house, afflicted by Ketu.
Moon, the karaka of mother is debilitated though under benefic
aspect from Venus. Since the Moon is in the lagna, the native is
likely to be close to the mother rather than father. The Sun and the
Moon being shadashtaka from each other indicate that the parents
 163

do not get along well with each other. In Dwadashamsha, the lagna
is Libra (the 12th house of the birth chart) and the lagna lords in
the 8th house. Though the Sun and the Moon here are 9/5 from
each other, the Moon is afflicted by Mars, and the Sun's dispositor
Jupiter is afflicted by Saturn and Mars both. Michael was running
Ketu mahadasha and Venus/Sun/Moon's antardasha when his par-
ents divorced. Ketu in the birth chart is carrying only 20 bindus.
All three antardashas indicate trouble in the Dwadashamsha.
11. Now for his ADHAD: To determine any mental problems
the factors that should be examined are: Lagna, Moon, 5th house,
Mercury, Jupiter and Aries, the 1st house of Kaalapurusha. First
of all, the lagna is a watery sign and a debilitated Moon in the 1st
house can't be too conducive to a well focused mind. Lagna lord
Mars in the double quick sign Gemini, with another explosive fi-
ery planet Sun in the 8th house is certainly not helpful. Moon has
given '0' bindus where lagna lord Mars is posited and Mars has
reciprocated the compliment by giving '0' bindus in the 4th house
of which Moon is the karaka. Aries is placed in the 6th house as-
pected by Saturn (R) which has a poor score of 20 only.Mars is in
the nakshatra of Jupiter which is debilitated. Jupiter's debilitation is
creating many fold problems since it is also the 5th lord, aspecting
Mercury. Besides, Mercury being in the most fluid sign of Cancer,
is causing attention deficit in the childhood.
He was running Mercury mahadahsha for the first 6.5 years of
his life. And then came Ketu's mahadasha when he started taking
keen interest in the sport. Ketu associated with any exalted planet
(within an orb of 5 degrees) enhances its strength exponentially.
Saturn by nature is restrictive and discipline loving planet. So, in
Ketu's period Michael's ADHAD came under control and he began
to focus on the sport. Saturn too was aspecting Mercury but the
child was too small during the mercury period.
All the chara signs (1, 4, 7 and 10) have planets in them. Focus-
sing his mind on one thing surely was difficult for him.
 CHAPTER 15

Transit of Saturn

Saturn is the slowest planet. Therefore, the effect of its transit

is felt for the longest periods of time. Saturn being the most
malefic causes events which leave a scar behind. The effect may be
felt all one's life.

40 D's that Saturn is known for;

Delay, Denial, Disappointment, Discord, Demotion, Discredit, Dis-
continuation, Disgrace, Disgust, Dismay, Distress, Dispute, Distrust,
Depression, Delusion, Disease, Degeneration, Disability, Death,
Divorce, Desertion, Dejection, Disconnection, Defiance, Defilement,
Devastation, Disaster, Deprivation, Decadence, Destitution, Desola-
tion, Despair, Distraction, Democracy, Defection, Deception, Drudg-
ery, Detachment, Discipline, Dispensation of Justice, and Dharma.
Saturn's handiwork cannot be contained in just one alphabet 'D'.

Saturn is also known to have 34 other significations:

Servility, punishment, incarceration, illiteracy, insanity, idiocy,
exhaustion, skill in law and judiciary, philosophical attitude, sepa-
ration, renunciation, means of livelihood, agriculture, benefit from
inferiors, oil, wood, black metal, iron, lead, black grains, precious
stones, sexual indulgence, multitudes, servant class, chronic or
incurable disease, legs, feet, lameness, amputation, mutilation of
limbs, an outcaste, maid servant, eunuch, longevity.
Does Saturn always cause all the above? It is the principles of
Ashtakavarga that give a clue to whether a particular transit of
Saturn will be good or bad.
The simple principles of Ashtakavarga suggest that if the planet
is transiting a house (or sign) that has high Sarvashtaka bindus and
high Bhinnashtaka (Saturn's) bindus, the transit results will be good.
Here higher weightage has to be given to the Bhinnashtaka bindus.
 165

It should also be remembered that the overall distribution of bindus

by Saturn (also by Mars) is only 39, therefore, the average is closer
to 3 bindus rather than 4, unlike the case with other 5 planets.
While it is true that a transiting planet gives its maximum result
about the significations of the house it is transiting, but it also
affects the houses it is aspecting. Saturn has three aspects besides
the house it transits. Therefore, at any given time it is giving results
for 4 houses. Thus one may need to expand the basic rule to say
that Saturn in transit will give auspicious results for those houses
where it has high bindus and inauspicious for those where it has
low bindus.
All planets influence not just the house they transit, they also
influence the other two houses that are trinal. This is particularly
useful for slow moving planets such as Saturn and Jupiter. There-
fore, the above explanation has to apply to the trinal houses also,
namely that bindu strength will determine whether the trinal house
receives good result or bad.

Sadhe Sati
A similar consideration has to be applied for the delineation of sadhe
sati. Sadhe sati is the most dreaded transit of Saturn. It starts when
Saturn enters the previous sign to the natal Moon's and ends when
it goes out of the succeeding sign from the natal Moon.1 This takes
nearly seven and a half years taking two and a half years in each of
the three houses. The simple Ashtakavarga principle is that those
two and a half year period/s will be good in which the bindus are
high in the bhinnashtakavarga of Saturn (say, 5, 6 or 7), and those
will be bad that have low bindus (0, 1 or 2). 3 bindus are near to
average and will give mixed results. To have a more pinpointed
result one resorts to the Kakshya consideration.2 This consideration
divides the entire period of seven and a half years, into 24 parts of
3 degrees 45 minutes each. Those parts give auspicious results where
the Kakshya lord has given a bindu in Saturn's prastaraka.

1
It would be worth remembering that in Vedic astrology, the transit and its aspects are taken
from sign to sign and the house and the sign are taken identical for most purposes.
2
lhis has been explained in details in the author's previous book Dots of Destiny.
166

Besides the bindus in the three houses, one must watch:

1. When is Saturn becoming retrograde (inauspicious results
abound) and when is it coming out of retrogression? A direct-
Saturn is much better than the retrograde one.
2. When is Saturn becoming combust and when is it coming out of
combustion? A combust Saturn does not give auspicious results
in transit.
3. When is Saturn moving into a new nakshatra? Whether the
nakshatra lord is a friend or foe to Saturn and whether that
nakshatra lord is well placed having high bindus or not. This
will give nearly 7 divisions of the whole sadhe sati since Saturn
takes nearly one year to complete the transit of a nakshatra.
4. One should also check whether Saturn is transiting 3rd, 5th
or 7th Tara (nakshatra) from Janma nakshatra. These are pro-
gressively adverse.
5. When is Saturn going into the next navamsha and whether
the navamsha lord is a friend or foe to Saturn? This will give
(9x3) 27 divisions of the entire seven and a half year period.

In the ancient Nadi literature of Vedic astrology, there are many

principles given for understanding far more sophisticated and
detailed aspects of Saturn's transit.

Saturn's transit through natal Moon

Here is a principle, similar to sadhe sati, from Chandrakala Nadi.
Whenever Saturn passes through the sign occupied by the Moon
in rashi chart or the sign occupied by the Moon in the navamsha
chart (Chandra Navamsha Rashi), the native suffers from enemies,
mental anguish and humiliation from secret blemish or shortcom-
ing. In this maxim, the principle of sadhe sati has been partially
extended to the navamsha also. Needless to add if the associated
bindus are high, the damage may be limited or may not show up
at all. It may even give good results.
Example; On 30th January 1948, when Mahatma Gandhi was
assassinated, retrograde Saturn was within 5 degrees of the natal
Moon in the rashi chart, Cancer. Though the bindus in Cancer were
4/35 but other adverse factors were overwhelming. The dasha was
 167

\ Jupiter Moon /
Rahu /5
\ S // Lagna 6
Xyf/ Mars
9/c Ketu
Mercury Death of Saturn /xR)
Venus Mahatama Gandhi (R) \ 7

Transit Chart , Sun loV'4 Saturn \

January 30, 1948 Mars /1\ (R) y
Sun ll\ , /
Delhi, India (R)
MercuryN/ Rahu <3
Venuy^X /2\
Jupiter Ketu Moon

Transit Natal
Sun 16.22 in Capricorn 16.53 in Virgo
Moon 14.15 in Virgo P-- "27.56 in Cancer
Mars(R) 11.19 in Leo 26.21 in Libra
Mercury 3.22 in Aquarius 11.44 in Libra
Jupiter 27.56 in Scorpio p28.08 (R) in Aries
Venus 22.01 in Aquarius 24.23 in Libra
Saturn(R) 26.53 in Cancer 20.19 in Scorpio

Ketu 26.30 in Libra 13.39 in Capricorn

that of Jupiter-Ketu and transit Ketu was degree-wise exactly on the

natal Mars in the ascendant. It had only 22 bindus in the sarvashtaka
and 2 bindus in the BAV of Mars. Transit Rahu had taken control
of natal Jupiter and transit Jupiter the 6th lord, was aspecting natal
Moon degree-wise.
Saturn's transit through Chandra Navamsha Rashi
When Saturn transits through the sign occupied by the Moon in the
navamsha chart, the native may suffer from great calamity because
of cessation of some benefic results that had been accumulating till
then {now yogabhanga), if simultaneously Rahu's dasha is running. It
is obvious that such a transit would be greatly adverse only if Rahu
dasha is running. Rahu dasha runs for 18 years and Saturn covers
all the signs in 30 years therefore, there are 60 percent chances that
this adverse transit will come during the Rahu dasha. Even without
the involvement of Rahu dasha this transit can be very adverse for
the mental health of the native and the physical health of the spouse.
Ashtakavarga bindus should be factored in as usual.
168

Saturn's degree-wise transit

When Saturn transits over the natal position of a planet or its trines
degree-wise it is likely to render adverse results related to;
1. the natural significations including ihejeeva significations, e.g.,
father from the Sun and mother from the Moon etc.;
2. the signification of the house tenanted by the planet; and
3. the significations of the house/s owned by that planet.
The adverse results likely to be experienced by the native when
Saturn transits the same degrees or the trines of the planet:
Sun: Sickeness or death of a paternal figure, other troubles such as
disapproval or admonishment from paternal or authority figures,
loss of face or prestige, demotion or transfer
Moon: Sickness or death of a maternal figure, mental agony, depres-
sion, loss of wealth and mental peace, shame and stigma
Mars: Sickness or death of a sibling, troubles to or from brothers,
humiliation, blood related diseases, quarrels for landed property,
fear of accident or injury, legal hassles
Mercury: Sickness or death of maternal uncle or aunt, setback in
business, obstruction in education, lassitude and mental apathy,
mental imbalance, skin diseases
Jupiter: Sickness or death of a child, anxiety due to children, hin-
drance in education, condemnation by the guru, loss of wealth
Venus: Sickness or death of wife, quarrel with or separation from
wife, venereal disease
Saturn: Sickness or death of the native, chronic disease, disputes within
the family, loss of wealth, sorrows and miseries, rheumatic pains
Rahu: Physical and mental agony, confusion and irrational think-
ing, humiliation or loss of face, setback in business or profession,
fruitless travel, food poisoning, unusual and untoward happenings
in the family
Ketu: Health affected, acute mental anguish, surgical operation,
hospitalization.
In the above listing, the transit of Saturn on (or in trine to) natal
position of Saturn, Rahu and Ketu is very significant because it
causes major problems to the native himself.
 169

Transit Saturn in a sign

As mentioned above Saturn in a sign will be influencing the sign it
is transiting, and it will activate the signs it is aspecting. The worst
results will be experienced by the significations of those houses
from which these signs are in the 8th.
Let us understand this by an example. The day Gandhi was killed,
Saturn in transit on 30.1.1948, was influencing Gandhi's following
houses (see chart given earlier):
a. the 10th house by position, which is 8th from the 3rd house
(of longevity)
b. the 12th house by third aspect, which is 8th from the 5th house
(ofpoorva puny a )
c. the 4th house by 7th aspect, which is 8th from the 9th house
(of destiny) and
d. the 7th house by 10th aspect, which is 8th from the 12th house
(of loss of body)
Thus whenever Saturn transits the 10th house in a nativity,
the houses that are worst affected are 3rd, 5th, 9th and 12th. The
10th, 12th, 4th and 7th are affected by position or aspect. Amongst
these 8 houses the most important house is 3rd because Saturn is
transiting in the 8th from the 3rd. The second most important is
the 12th because it is occurring twice in the above analysis. Both
houses are detrimental to longevity.
In addition to this, Saturn will also affect the houses that are
trinal to its position namely the 2nd and the 6th. The 2nd is a
maraka house having natal Saturn posited there with 0 bindus.
The transit Saturn activates the natal Saturn (the significator of
ayu) into action. A '0' bindu planet will only get activated to
cause harm, one can't expect benevolence from it. The 6th is the
house of enmity and adversity having 7 bindus (and so does the
12th). The transiting Saturn brought the worst out of these two
houses. The 6th house is Pisces and that is where the Moon is
placed in the navamsha. Thus this transit of Saturn in Cancer
is also to be taken as the trinal transit to the navamsha rashi of
the Moon.
Even otherwise, one can see that Gandhi had a formidable ad-
versary in the British rule. High bindus in the 6th caused him to
170

tackle the mighty enemy in his own inimitable style. The highest
contribution to the 33 bindus in the 6th house is by Saturn 7 and
Jupiter 6. Saturn is the planet of masses and Jupiter is the planet
of persuasion. Put together they gave him the nonviolent weapon
of Satyagraha.

Transit of Saturn over house lords degree-wise

As per Bhrigu Nadi, when transit Saturn coincides identically with
the natal position of the lord of 1st house, the native gets into
troubles with his enemies or the maternal relatives get affected.
1st house is the 8th from the 6th house, therefore, Saturn is going
to obstruct, delay or deny the good results of the 6th house. The
adverse results may peak when Saturn is within 1 degree orb of
the 1st house lord.
This rule can be applied for all the house lords. For example,
when transit Saturn coincides identically with the natal position
of the second house lord, the native may expect trouble to or from
the spouse. The 2nd house is the 8th from the 7th. Similarly, when
Saturn is transiting over the 5th house lord degree-wise then trouble
to profession may be expected because the 5th house is the 8th from
the 10th house. Trouble to father and/or mother-in-law may also be
anticipated. Likewise, one can go over all the twelve house lords.
 CHAPTER 16

Other Transits

As per Chandrakala Nadi, there are some aphorisms that in-

dicate that for judgement of the results of a transiting planet
while one must look at the Bhinnashtakavarga of the concerned
planet primarily, but some other reference points should also be
considered. Some such aphorisms are being given here:
1. Find out that sign in which the lagna lord has no bindu (or
very low bindus, 1 or 2). When Jupiter transits such a sign at
the degrees of the lagna lord in the natal chart, one cannot
expect any happiness.
2. When Saturn transits the same sign and degrees as above, the
native may suffer great physical or mental agony
Note: Jupiter being a benefic does not normally contribute to misery
actively during its transit where as Saturn causes misery proactively
being the great malefic. These general rules may be extended to
other benefics as well as other malefics.
3. As opposed to the above when a benefic transits a sign that has
high bindus (6, 7 or 8) in lagna lord's Bhinnashtakavarga, there
will be all kinds of progress, happiness and earning of wealth.
4. Even a malefic's transit through a bindu rich house (in the BAY
of lagna lord) gives good results provided the dasha running
is that of a yoga causing planet.

Degree-wise transit over good or poor bindus

This time we will be considering the BAY of the transiting planet
itself.
1. Find out the signs that have very low bindus. When the lord
of that sign transits this sign at the degrees that it has in the
172

natal chart, very bad results can be expected. The same is true
when simultaneous to planet's transit in the poor bindu house,
the Moon also transits the trines of such a sign. The results are
in accordance with the general characteristics of the planet.
2. The converse of this is equally true. If the bindus are high in
the transited sign, the best results will be experienced when the
planet transits its own natal degrees. Obviously the sign is to
be ignored: only the degrees have to be watched.
Note: The first part of the aphorism is simple in as much as poor
bindus give poor results during the transit of its lord. It is the
second part, that places importance on the natal degrees of the
planet, that is new.

Unfruitful transits
Not taking into account other factors, some ancient texts have
indicated that some transits are never fruitful.
Jaatak Paarijaat mentions that when the following planets transit
in specified houses from their natal positions, they acquire death-
inflicting properties.
Sun 12th ....(5th position as per Phaladeepika)
Moon 8th
Mars 7th
Mercury 7th . ...(4th position as per Phaladeepika)
Moon 8th
Jupiter 3rd
Venus 6th
Saturn 1st
Rahu 9th . ...(1st position as per Prashna Marga)
Ketu 2nd ....(1st position as per Prashna Marga)
Phaladeepika mentions some thing very similar to this but has fixed
5th position for the Sun and 4th position for Mercury.
Prashna Marga the same positions as Jaataka Paarijaat but fixes
the 1st position for Saturn, Rahu and Ketu, the three malefics.

Modifications and implications of the above:

1. The Ashtakavarga may add a modifying effect to the above
considerations. If the concerned house has high bindus then
 173

the result may not be as bad as indicated. Poor bindus will

certainly cause misery of one form or the other.
2. These signs become very vulnerable if malefks occupy them or
aspect them. Also if these fall in the sign of enemy or depression
the transit of the relevant planet may bring the native to grief.
3. The bad results get compounded if simultaneously several planets
transit the above mentioned houses. The situation may become
fatal.
4. The slow moving planets provide the background and the fast
moving planets trigger the untoward incidents
5. The 'death-inflicting' result may manifest in any one of the fol-
lowing manners: Sickness to self or concerned relative, physical
injury, surgical operation, extreme humiliation, quarrel with near
ones or authorities, demotion or transfer as punishment, losses
in business, loss of wealth or theft, debt, legal wrangles etc.
6. When the afflicting planet in transit becomes strong by way
of position or retrogression, the undesirable effects are hard to
overcome. This may leave behind some permanent damage.
7. When another malefic joins forces with the afflicting planet in
close degrees, the evil results are surer to happen.
8. When the planet crosses over to the next sign in transit, the
evil effects come to an end.
9. An interesting corollary to the above theorem;
a. Suppose a child is born with Saturn at 1 degree. The child is
likely to suffer for nearly two and a half years till Saturn goes to
the next sign. Now, suppose Jupiter is at 1 degree in the birth
chart. It will reach the 3rd from its occupied place in nearly
3 years. So, the child will almost continue to suffer delicate
health till 4 years of age. During these 4 years Mercury will
be in the 4th from itself 3-4 times, the Sun will be 5th from
himself 3 times, Venus in the 6th from itself 3-4 times, Mars
in the 7th from itself at least 2 times. Thus these 4 years would
continue to make the child suffer off" and on.
b. As a contrast to this, suppose the child is born with Saturn
at 29 degrees. He is likely to suffer only one month or so
because the transit Saturn would move to the 2nd from its
natal position. If Jupiter is at 29 degrees the child is likely
to suffer for a year only, after 2 years of his birth.
174

It would not be impertinent to mention another dictum that old

astrologers used to follow, albeit in a slightly different context;
Mars in the 2nd house, Mercury in the 4th house, Venus in the
6th house, Saturn in the 7th house and Jupiter in the 5th house
are rendered incapable of producing good results. These positions
are to be seen from lagna in the natal chart; they are not to be
judged in transit.

As per Jyotisha Tattvam of Mukunda Daivagna, the following

transits from their natal positions are considered very good:
1. Mars(R) in the 4th (in matters of land and property)
2. Jupiter in the 5th (birth of a child)
3. Mercury in the 4th (happiness)
4. Venus in 7th (conjugal bliss)
5. Saturn in the 7th (bhagyodaya)
6. Moon in the 2nd (wealth)
In the above listing, the Sun, Rahu and Ketu have not been
mentioned. Also, other authorities consider Mercury in the 4th
from itself to be inauspicious. Prashna Marg suggests 7th from
Mercury as the auspicious transit.

A verse in Vidya Madhaveeyam indicates what can be considered

a good muhurta for marriage;
If in the chart of the bridegroom, transit Mercury is in the 4th,
Mars or Saturn in the 3rd, Venus in the 8th, Moon in the 7th or
Sun in the 6th from their natal positions, the marriage will be an
auspicious one. If Jupiter in the ascendant is added (as per Sage
Vasishtha) to the above, the couple will lead their lives in accor-
dance with Dharma, Artha and Kaama and will enjoy life with their
children and grand children. The more planets in the right places
the better the muhurta.
 CHAPTER 17

Ashtakavarga of Rahu and Ketu

Rahu and Ketu have been treated like outcastes in Ashtaka-

varga. They are not included in the scheme of Ashtaka (8)
which comprises of the 7 planets and the lagna, but no Rahu/Ketu.
So they do not contribute any bindus in any places from themselves
or from any of the other planets or lagna.
This is general theory. But then how does one interpret the
dasha and transit results of Rahu and Ketu from the point of view
of Ashtakavarga?
The general answer is, since Rahu is called Shanivat we can take
the Ashtakavarga figures pertaining to Saturn; Ketu being Kujavat
can be studied through the bindus of Mars. Since Rahu and Ketu
both act as per their dispositors, one could take the bindus of their
dispositors also into consideration while deciphering their dasha
and transit results.
The special theory is that one can cast the Bhinnashtakavarga
(BAY) of Rahu. This has been given in Shri B V Raman's book on
Ashtakavarga and also mine— Dots of Destiny, and some others.
However, how to cast the BAY of Ketu has been eluding from
all the books on Ashtakavarga that I have had the occasion to go
through.
Very recently I came across a reference wherein Ketu's benefic
bindus had been described. The reference is an old Hindi Book
named Ashtakavarga Rahasya (Secrets of Ashtakavarga). The figures
are the same as used by a Mangalorean astrologer half a century
ago, as confirmed by a client of his.
We give here the benefic positions for casting the BAV of
Ketu. We are also showing the Prastarachakra for Ketu having
used these benefic positions. To bring it all together we are
also showing the benefic positions and calculations for Rahu and
Lagnashtakavarga, the least used bhinnashtakavargas.
176

Table 1: Ketu's Benefic Places <§)

Sun 3 6 8 11
Moon 3 9 11
Mars 3 4 8 9 11 12
Mercury 1 2 4 7 8 9 11 12
Jupiter 6 8 11 12
Venus 6 8 11 12
Saturn 2 5 6 11 12
Lagna 3 6 10 11 12

Table 2: Rahu's Benefic Places (§)

Sun 1 2 3 5 7 8 10
Moon 1 3 5 7 8 9 10
Mars 2 3 5 12
Mercury 2 4 7 8 12
Jupiter 1 3 4 6 8
Venus 6 7 11 12
Saturn 3 5 7 10 11 12
Lagna 3 4 5 9 12

Table 3: Lagnashtaka Benefic Places

Sun 3 4 6 10 11 12
Moon 3 6 10 11 12
Mars 1 3 6 10 11
Mercury 1 2 4 6 8 10 11
Jupiter 1 2 4 5 6 7 9 10 11
Venus 1 2 3 4 5 8 9
Saturn 1 3 4 6 10 11
Lagna 3 6 10 11
 177

Ketu's Prastarakavarga for MK Gandhi

Sign 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Moon ✓ ✓ ✓
Mars ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Mercury ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Jupiter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Venus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Saturn ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Lagna ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Total 3 4 2 2 4 7 2 3 3 2 2 5

Rahu' s Prastarakavarga for MK Gandhi (§)

Sign 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Moon ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Mars ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Mercury ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Jupiter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Venus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Saturn ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Lagna ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Total 5 2 3 2 2 8 2 5 2 5 3 4

Lagnashtakavarga for MK Gandhi

Sign 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Sun ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Moon ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Mars ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Mercury ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Jupiter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Venus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Saturn ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Lagna ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Total 3 4 3 5 6 3 4 4 6 4 4 3
178

Note: As can be seen from the above tables, there is no reference

from the actual placement of Rahu or Ketu in the chart in preparing
their BAVs. This does not happen for other planets nor the lagna.
Clearly, Rahu/Ketu have a different place in Ashtakavarga scheme
of things, as in many other astrological considerations. After all they
are not exactly planets. Mythologically, they have been bestowed the
status of planets by Brahma, the Creator, as a special case.

How to interpret Rahu/Ketu's bindus:

Armed with the bindus of Rahu/Ketu, the transit and dasha
results for Rahu and Ketu can be interpreted as is done for other
planets. It would be good to factor-in the dispositor effect and
Rahu/Ketu being equivalent to Saturn and Mars respectively.
• If Ketu has high bindus where it is placed in its own B AV, it means
that the native has brought strong merit from the past life/s.
If the dispositor of Ketu has high bindus in its Sarvashataka
and Bhinnashtaka vargas, it means this merit will have a strong
bearing in shaping the native's present life.
If Rahu has high bindus, there are great chances of putting the
past life merit to good use in this life.
• If Rahu's dispositor has high bindus, it means that you will
certainly be able to make best use of your talents and realize full
potential in this life. In short, success is all yours for the asking.
• The general rules of astrology, e.g., sign and house placement,
association and aspects etc. to Rahu-Ketu and their dispositors
will modify the above.
• The high bindus as described above acquire a very strong signifi-
cance if the dispositors of Rahu and Ketu are aligned auspiciously
with respect to each other and are placed in good houses.
Our research shows that if the dispositors of Rahu and Ketu
are in conjunction, 1/7, 5/9, or 3/11 alignments with respect to
each other, then the rise in professional life is much higher and
easier. If they are aligned, 6/8, 2/12 or 4/10 to each other, then
the life does not have a clear-cut direction and the professional
rise is difficult and late.
Rahu or Ketu when conjunct within 5 degree orb with the la-
gna, lagna lord or exalted planets, make the other planet very
 179

powerful. Strong results thus can be expected to manifest in

the dasha of such planets, or in the dasha of Rahu/Ketu.
The more erudite astrologers take transit not only from the Moon
but also from the lagna. I have asked many an astrologer which
positions of different planets do they consider auspicious from the
lagna. The answer has been unanimous that they take same posi-
tions to be auspicious from the lagna as have been prescribed to
be auspicious from the Moon. In fact my question caught them
unawares because they had never thought about it.
This automatic and reflexive transfer ofauspicious positions from
the Moon to the lagna, as reference point, is not wholly acceptable
because sage Parashara has given the benefic positions of different
planets from the Moon and the lagna as shown in Table 1, chapter
2, reproduced below in table 4:
Table 4: Benefic positions of planets

Planets From the Moon (36) From the Lagna (45)

Sun 3 6 10 11 3 4 6 10 11 12
Moon 1 3 6 7 10 11 3 6 10 11
Mars 3 6 11 1 3 6 10 11
Mercury 2 4 6 8 10 11 1 2 4 6 8 10 11
Jupiter 2 5 7 9 11 1 2 4 5 6 7 9 10 11
Venus 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 11
Saturn 3 6 11 1 3 4 6 10 11

One can see clearly that the lagna is much more liberal in offer-
ing benefic positions, totaling 45, as compared to the Moon which
offers only 36.
It would be pertinent to point out two minor discrepancies in
Table 3 given in this chapter and the benefic positions of planets
from Lagna given in Table 1 of chapter 2. Out of a total of 49 benefic
positions, 47 are the same. Only for Moon — 12th position is extra
and for Venus — 12th position is dropped in the Lagnashtakavarga.
In any case the implication of two sets of benefic positions are en-
tirely different from each other and do not amount to duplication
since in Lagnashtaka the bindus are contributed by the planets in
auspcious places from themselves (rather than from Lagna which
is the case in bhinnashtakavargas of other planets.)
 CHAPTER 18

Ashtakavarga in Matching

It has been the experience of many an astrologer that the maxi-

mum enquiries for astrological consultations come for matching
the horoscope for marriage purposes, at least in India. To get one
daughter married, the father may show the astrologer scores of
horoscopes of prospective boys before the marriage is finalized.
The westerners might find it amusing but it is true that in India
the process may go on for a span of few months or sometimes a
few years.
In conventional match making the astrologers mostly resort
to Mangal-dosha matching and ashtakoota matching (dashakoota
in south India). These two are easily done even by lay people
with the help of plethora of astrology softwares available in the mar-
ket these days. Ihe expertise of the astrologer is not needed at this
level. Unfortunately, most of the astrologers themselves do not
go beyond scrutinizing these two parameters thus making them-
selves virtually redundant. Ashtakoota matching is also known as
Guna matching. Maximum being 36, a score of 18 is considered
passable simply.
It should be brought under scrutiny whether these two param-
eters have sufficient basis or there has to be much more supportive
evidence to pronounce judgement about the horoscopes matching
or otherwise.

The shortcomings of ashtakoota system of horoscope matching

as the lone parameter:
a. The entire exercise of ashtakoota is based on the rashi and na-
kshatra of the Moon alone, as if the rest of the horoscope has
no say in matching. The attributes of the Moon as expounded
by the sages must have a lot of depth and wisdom behind them,
but the reasoning is mostly obscure. It beats the commonsense
 181

of the modern man as to how the ancient authors came to a

conclusion, that as far as Yoni goes Chitra nakshatra would be
a vyaghra (tiger) and Jyeshtha would be a mriga (deer), and
therefore incompatible. In absence of any objective research on
this as well as other aspects of ashatakoota, one has to only ac-
cept what has been handed down over the ages. Granted that the
understanding of the nakshatra characteristics as propounded by
the sages is unparalleled in the annals of astrology, the question
still remains whether it can be given so much of, and almost
exclusive, importance for matching the horoscopes.
b. However well matched the Moons may be but if it is under
association or aspect of Saturn, Mars or Rahu/Ketu in one
partner's chart, how can it be conducive to peaceful marriage.
The Moon gets modified in so many different ways. An aspect
of Jupiter or even a gajakesari yoga can modify the Moon be-
yond recognition. The aspects of trika lords or trikona lords will
modify the situation dramatically. But the ashtakoota method
does not take cognizance of all that.
c. The Moon can also get strongly modified by its navamsha posi-
tion. The two Moons may develop a new positive relationship
in the navamsha though they may not have had it in the rashi
chart. The new position of the Moons will affect Grahamaitri
and Bhakoot doshas worth 5 and 7 important gunas respectively.
For marriage purposes the navamsha has to prevail. Again this
modification of the Moon is not taken into account in ashtakoot
consideration.
d. No one need deny the importance of the Moon in marriage
but can we relegate lagnas into background? Lagna is also not
thought of in ashtakoota matching.
e. The 7th lords have a major say in marriage but their condition
is not a part of regular ashtakoota matching.
f. The Moon is not the karaka of marriage. Venus is. But Venus
also does not find place of honour in the ashtakoota system.
This clearly shows that the ashtakoota system of matching horo-
scopes, on which such an overwhelming importance is placed by
most astrologers, is hopelessly inadequate to go by in matching of
horoscopes.
182

Mangalik dosha:
a. Even though it may be accepted without argument that Mars is
the chief villain in disrupting a marriage, but the antics of other
malefic planets are no less villainous. Experienced astrologers
would tell you that even a functionally malefic, badly placed
Jupiter can cause harm to the marriage due to displaced vanity
or an issueless union.
b. Mars is not necessarily or uniformly bad planet for all lagnas.
It is the lagna lord for Aries and Scorpio and a yogakaraka for
Cancer and Leo lagnas. So it cannot be too bad for them. For
this and some other reasons there are supposed to be many
exceptions for the mangalik dosha. It requires the expertise of
a learned astrologer to exercise the exceptions judiciously. The
matter cannot be tackled by computer softwares alone.
c. The similar modifiers as discussed for the Moon would also
affect Mars in rashi as well as navamsha charts.
Let us see how Ashtakavarga can help throw better light on the
issue at hand:
1. Check the bindus in the 7th house. If they are low, say less than
23, the Ashtakavarga indication is that the native is not likely
to enjoy bliss in married life. Caution must be exercised here
that the 7th house has other significations too which might get
disturbed due to low bindus instead of marriage.
2. The above must be seen in navamsha also, after casting a fresh
Ashtakavarga table for the navamsha chart. In case there is a
discrepancy in bindus in the rashi and navamsha charts, the
indication from the navamsha will prevail.
3. Venus should have more than 4-5 bindus in the 7th house
from lagna in rashi and navamsha charts.
4. 7th lord should be well placed and well fortified with bindus
in both, the rashi and the navamsha.
7th from where?
• Lagna • Karakamsha lagna
• The Moon • Pada lagna and
• The Sun • Upa-pada lagna
• Venus and Darakaraka
 183

If at majority of places bindus are higher than 28, then the na-
tive's experience of marriage will be excellent.
5. If the lagna lord and the 7th lord of a native have a relationship
of 1-1, 7-7, 3-11 or 5-9 from each other in their own chart and
have good bindus, then the marital relationship is likely to be
enjoyable. In contrast to this if the placement is 6-8, 2-12 or
4-10 from each other and the bindus are low, the probability
of enjoyment in marriage diminishes drastically, whoever they
happen to marry eventually.
6. It is not good to have a strong discrepancy between the bindus
in the lagna and the 7th house, as it indicates an imbalance.
The points mentioned above are to be seen in an individual's
chart as they would give an indication about the marital happi-
ness a person is likely to enjoy. After all you would not like your
daughter to marry a man whose horoscope indicates lack of marital
felicity, even if the mangalik dosha and ashtakoota matching are
satisfactory.
Progeny being an important issue for matching, saptamsha should
also be seen like the navamsha.
Now, we present the rules for cross-checking in the two charts:
7. The Moon sign of the girl in question should be one of those
signs that has high bindus in the groom's chart. As an example,
suppose, in the bhinnashtaka of the Moon, the groom has 5
bindus in Gemini, 6 bindus in Aquarius and 7 in Pisces. The
other signs have low bindus. Thus the girl who would suit the
groom best, as far as this consideration goes, is the one whose
Moon is in Pisces. The girls having their Moons in Aquarius
and Gemini may also be considered. But the girls having their
Moons in signs other than these three are not worth consider-
ing. A good match is pronounced when a similar method is
followed for the girl's chart and the groom fits the bill.
8. For a more thorough job, a similar exercise should be done
for Venus as well as the lagna lords in the rashi and navamsha
charts of the groom and the girl.
 CHAPTER 19

How is Your Day Today?

The astrologers who prepare the daily, weekly or monthly re-

ports for different Sun signs or Moon signs, essentially have to
depend on the transiting planets. These reports, even if they have
some technical basis, are too generalized and draw ridicule from
the public at large. The reader as well as the writer, both know the
frivolity of this exercise. Yet they are popular just for the heck of
it. That is why almost all the newspapers and magazines have a
column devoted to 'How is your day today' or the 'Week ahead',
even if the editor professes and wears his love for scientific acumen
on his sleeve. To lay people an unwarranted message goes that this
is astrology, and look, how ridiculous it is. So, these columns do a
great disservice to the cause of serious astrology.
Here we give a simple method to find out 'How is the day today'
based on the individual's horoscope for which Sarvashataka figures
have been calculated. The method is simple enough and can also
be inbuilt in the astrology softwares.
How is your day today:
1. Place the transiting planets (except Rahu and Ketu) in the
respective signs in the sarvashtaka chart of the native as per
the ephemeris of the prevailing time.
2. Add up the bindus from the houses being transited.
3. If the total is above 196 (28 x 7), the day is above average.
Higher the figure, better the day. Lower the figure, more mis-
erable the day*.
One can stop at this if a rudimentary idea of the day or month
is required. For a more sophisticated approach one should use
weighted planetary strength.

*1116 same method can be applied to the Sun Sankrati time, the moment the Sun shifts
to a new sign, to find out how the month will be in general.
 185

Weighted Planetary Strength:

4. Multiply the sarvashtaka bindus in the houses being transited
by the weighted factor given in the table below. This will give
the weighted planetary strength.
5. Add up the figures in the houses which are being transited by a
planet on that day. 196 would be the average figure for an aver-
age day. Though more complex, this model gives a more refined
matrix for day-to-day strength of planets in the native's chart.

Factor: SAV Bindus to be Multiplied by

Ari Tau Gem Can Leo Vir Lib Sco Sag Cap Aqu Pis
Sun 1.5 0.5 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.0 0.4 1.2 1.2 0.4 0.5 1.2
Mon 1.0 1.5 1.2 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.0 0.8 1.0 1.0 0.8 1.0
Mar 1.4 1.0 0.5 0.8 1.2 0.5 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.5 0.8 1.2
Mer 0.5 1.2 1.4 0.5 1.2 1.6 1.2 0.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.8
Jup 1.2 0.5 0.8 1.5 1.2 0.8 0.5 1.2 1.4 0.4 0.8 1.4
Yen 1.0 1.2 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.8 1.4 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.5
Sat 0.4 1.2 1.2 0.5 0.5 1.2 1.5 0.5 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.0

Let us take an example to understand the calculations. Let the day

be today, 15th August, 2010 and let us apply it on India's chart.
The Sun is in Cancer which has 27 bindus. It should be multiplied
by a factor of 1.2 since it is in a friend's house. Mercury is in Leo,
in a friend's house which has 27 bindus again. Mars is in Virgo
with 30 bindus. But it is in an unfriendly sign drawing a factor of
0.5. Like this we will go over all the 7 planets. The calculations are
being shown below;
Sun in Cancer 27 x 1.2 = 32. 4
Moon in Libra 25 x 1.0 = 25.0
Mars in Virgo 30 x 0.5 = 15.0
Mercury in Leo 27 x 1.2 = 32. 4
Jupiter in Pisces 35 x 1.4 = 49.0
Venus in Virgo 30 x 0.8 = 24.0
Saturn in Virgo 30 x 1.2 = 36.0
Total 213.8
186

Mars
@ ®
® Rahu Sun
Mars
Mon Me Lagna
(27) Rahu
(29) India's Sun
Independence Mon Mer
Chart Yen Sat
August 15, 1947
New Delhi (27)
Ketu

@ (30)
(§)
Ketu Jupiter Jupiter

The total being marginally higher than 196, the day was mar-
ginally above average. Despite terrorists threats nothing untoward
happened in the country and the Independence Day was celebrated
with joy and enthusiasm.
Interested readers can make another index of this kind for their
use taking into account the bhinnashtaka figures with or without
the weight factors. The average in that case will be 28 (4x7).

Transit chart without the natal chart

The above technique can also be tailor made for any lagna, Sun
sign or Moon sign. All that one has to do is draw the transit chart
of the day and choose a particular sign as the first house. A total
of 12 such charts will have to be necessarily made, one for each
sign as the lagna. Calculate the Sarvashtakavarga bindus and post
them in the respective houses.
In this method one does not talk about the individual's natal
chart, only the transit chart. One may apply the weighted factors
also for higher sophistication, but, essentially, this method can only
be general. The strength of this chart lies in the fact that this is a
purely digital work and each digit includes the contribution of all
the seven planets plus the lagna.
If there are high bindus in the right places then the day will be
good. The right places means, 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th and most
importantly the 11th house. The bindu pattern in various houses can
give some hints to the astrologer what to write about each lagna.
If it is used for the Sun sign predictions, which are the most
popular, it may only be fair to use the tropical zodiac (using zero
ayanamsha).
 187

Natal chart and transit with kakshya consideration

One can assess 'How is the Day Today' by considering which kak-
shyas the 7 planets are going through and whether the respective
kakshya lords have given a bindu in the kakshya or not. To find
this out the prastarakavarga is used. At any given time a planet
would be transiting one of the eight kakshyas. For the first 3045'
minutes in a sign Saturn is the lord of the kakshya. The subsequent
kakshya lords are in the order of speed of the planets, i.e., Jupiter,
Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon and the lagna.
If the total no. of 'ayes' are 3 or more, the day is good. Higher
the figure, the maximum being 7, the better the day. The theory
part is that when a planet moves in a kakshya whose lord has given
a bindu in its own prastarakavarga in that sign, then the time is
aupicious. If the kakshya lord has not given a bindu then the time
is inauspicious.
Let us take the example of 15th August 2010, 10 a.m.
a. The Sun in Cancer at 28.15 was in the kakshya (8th) of the
ascendant and has a bindu contributed by the ascendant in
Cancer in the BAV of the Sun.
b. The Moon in Libra at 8.21 was in the kakshya (3rd) of Mars
and has a bindu contributed by Mars in Libra in Mars' BAV
c. Mars at 16.01 in Virgo was in the kakshya (5th) of Venus which
has not contributed a bindu
d. Mercury at 23.40 in Leo was in the kakshya (7th) of Moon
which has contributed a bindu
e. Jupiter at 8.33 in Pisces was in the kakshya (3rd) of Mars which
has contributed a bindu
f. Venus at 14.07 in Virgo was in the kakshya (4th) of the Sun
which has not given a bindu
g. Saturn at 8.15 in Virgo was again in the kakshya (3rd) of Mars
which has not given a bindu
Thus we see that out of the 7 planets 4 planets (Sun, Moon,
Mercury and Jupiter) have garnered support from their respective
kakshya lords, hence the day is above average. Rahu and Ketu stay
out of the Ashtakavarga considerations for most purposes.
188

Moon's Nakshatra
Perhaps the best method for finding 'How is Your Day Today' is
to note the nakshatra in which the Moon is transiting today. The
day will be according to the placement of the nakshatra lord (as per
the Vimshottari system) and its lordship in the natal chart. Several
layers of sophistication can be added to this basic principle to add
more substance to the prediction.
1. Check the SAV and BAY bindus of the Moon in the sign it
is traveling. If the bindus are high the results would be aus-
picious. This is a general principle and can be applied to all
the planets at any time. In the above example of 15th August,
2010, the Moon was transiting in Libra with 1/5/25 bindus.
The kakshya and the BAY are indicating good results but the
SAV is mediocre.
2. The Moon was in Swati nakshatra whose lord Rahu is in the
lagna of the Indian nativity. Rahu is with 44 SAV bindus (nor-
mally Rahu and Ketu's BAV's are not included in the discus-
sion) which takes care of any negativity that may be associated
with the malefic Rahu. The country was in a celebratory mood
despite the terrorist threats. The Moon in the 6th house was
also indicative of perceived threat. Rahu is typically indica-
tive of terrorist activity. It being in the lagnanatally, India has
continually faced terrorists menace ever since independence.
3. Rahu is not supposed to own any house therefore, for the sake of
explanation, let us take a day earlier. A day earlier the nakshatra
of the transiting Moon was Chitra, and the lord was Mars. We
would treat Mars as the lord of the 7th and 12th houses posited
in the 2nd house for this nativity. The day's events would reflect
the significations of the houses involved along with the natural
significations of the planet. The bindus where Mars is posited
are only 2/19, which are rather low and cannot be considered
to give auspicious results for the 2nd house at all. Jupiter's
aspect on Mars can also be factored in. The houses owned by
Mars have 3/30 in Aries and 2/23 in Scorpio. Therefore, this
day would give almost average results for the significations of
the 12th house (Aries) and below average for the 7th house
(Scorpio). It needs a lot of expertise and imagination to zero-in
 189

on the activities of the day in advance. Analysis of some past

data about the native can give good clues. This method can
also be used for informal or impromptu muhurta for fixing
important meetings.
4. The nakshatra lord of the transiting Moon can also be checked
in the transit as to which house it is traversing. For the example
above, Mars was transiting Virgo in the 5th house with 5/30
bindus which is quite auspicious.
5. If the nakshatra lord is friendly with the day lord, it is good. On
14th August, 2010 it was Saturday. For Mars, Saturn is neutral
and for Saturn, Mars is enemy. The day would be ordinary.
6. The time of the day when the Moon changes its nakshatra
indicates a significant shift in the fortunes of the day. May be
the coming nakshatra lord is placed better! The activities of the
day where you have some degree of freedom may be planned
accordingly.
7. This method can give stunning pre-warnings when watched
around the times when other significant malefic conjunctions
are taking place, e.g., Saturn-Mercury, Saturn-Mars, Saturn-
Rahu, Saturn-Ketu, Mars-Mercury, Mars-Rahu or Mars-Ketu
etc.
8. To have a better idea of the day, one must resort to all the five
limbs of the panchanga, namely, Tithi, Vaar, Nakshatra, Yoga
and Karana, according to the standard principles.
 CHAPTER 20

Miscellaneous

Gem Recommendation

Amongst the various astrological remedies gem recommenda-

tion is the most popular remedy. In today's hectic life nobody
seems to have time to recite appropriate mantras even though that
is supposed to be the most powerful remedy.
A wrongly prescribed gem may cause harm. Therefore, the
recommendation of a gem has to be done very carefully. It is not
our purpose to chalk out all the considerations behind gem rec-
ommendation here, but we surely want to mention the help that
Ashtakavarga can give in determination of the right kind of gem.
Ashtakavarga considerations may strengthen your choice of the gem
arrived at otherwise, or it may place before you other warnings and
dangers of wrong prescription.
Generally, for the selection of the right gem one resorts to the
lords of the auspicious houses such as 1st, 5 th and 9th reckoned from
the Lagna or the Moon. The care taken is that the gem belonging
to the lords of the trika (6th, 8th or 12th) houses should not be
prescribed. What has been mentioned here is accepted by all but
there are many other layers that are superimposed over these basic
rules. For example, people would say that the gem of an exalted or
debilitated planet, a retrograde or combust planet should not be
prescribed. Some people do not prescribe the gems belonging to
malefic planets or the planets that are afflicted by malefics. Some
people would recommend the gem of the dasha or the antardasha
lord because those are the planets that are active at the time.
Some astrologers place a lot of importance on the dispositor of
Gulika in rashi and navamsha charts. The gem that belongs to the
dispositing planet/s should never be prescribed as it would have
the most malefic effect.
 191

Ashtakavarga considerations for gem recommendation:

1. If the bindus of a planet where it is posited are poor, do not
prescribe the gem of that planet whatever the provocation. It does
not have the mandate or power to give good results.
2. The gem will give good results for the houses in which the
planet associated with the gem has high bindus. It can give detri-
mental results for those houses in which the planet concerned has
low bindus in its own BAV.
3. The gem will harm the jeeva significations of the house for
which the bindus are poor. For example, if you have recommended
Red Coral (to strengthen Mars) to someone and the natal chart has
poor bindus in the 4th house (0 or 1) in Mars' BAV, the health
of the mother of the native may suffer after the native wears the
gem, even though it may promote the significations for which it
was recommended.
4. It will be a good idea to select the gem belonging to the
Daivanukoola nakshatra. For example, if a person is born in
Hasta nakshatra, the 6th nakshatra will be Jyeshtha, called the
Daivanukoola. (According to Tara Vichar, 1. Janma, 2. Sampat, 3.
Vipat, 4. Kshema, 5. Pratyari, 6. Daivanukoola, 7. Naidhan, 8. Mitra,
9. Param Mitra) Some call the 6th nakshatra as the Sadhaka also.
Iherefore, the gem recommended to this person should be that of
Mercury, the nakshatra lord of Jyeshtha. The other non-gem re-
medial measures focused on Mercury could also be recommended.
If Mercury in his horoscope is suitable from other considerations
too, then the gem that suits him is definitely emerald. If it is not
so, then a very careful study of the chart should be undertaken by
the astrologer.
5. If the gem otherwise selected is not suitable due to paucity of
Ashtakavarga bindus, one may prescribe the gem belonging to the
lord of the Sampat nakshatra for prosperity, of Kshema nakshatra
for general well being and health, of Param Mitra nakshatra for
getting the best out of the planetary situation.

Naming the Child

Different cultures have different ways for naming a child.

In India, the tradition is to name the child beginning with
the alphabet indicated by the natal Moon's nakshatra charan.
192

The related alphabet can be seen from the ephemeris or

the astrology softwares. But here also Ashtakavarga has its
own say.
If the bindus (in SAV and Moon's BAY) are low in the Moon
sign of the child it would be inappropriate to follow this general
principle.
The correct principle to follow would be to use that sign where
the bindus are high. One sign will have 9 nakshatra charans and
therefore 9 corresponding alphabets will come into picture. One
can select any of them. The best would be a nakshatra that is in
trine to the natal Moon's nakshatra or whose lord is a friend of
the original Nakshatra.
One can also fine tune it with kakshya consideration by translat-
ing the kakshya degrees into nakshatra charan. Use that kakshya
whose lord has given a bindu in that sign.
There are many reasons people want to change their names. This
procedure can be adopted to find a more conducive name in all
such cases. Some times a child begins to perform better in studies
when renamed according to the above method.
The same can be done for renaming the new bride as is the
custom in many communities in India. It can also be used for
naming an organisation.

Relocation Astrology or Cartography

Moving to a different location for business or other pur-

poses was probably never on the mental horizon of the
ancient authors on Vedic astrology. Therefore, this subject never
formed an integral part of Vedic astrology. In the present
times when man has become a global citizen, he moves freely
anywhere in the world and would like to receive assistance
from astrology about places that would be more fortunate for
him. There are few, if any, specific hints in the classical literature
for this purpose, though this topic is hot property in the
western world and a lot of good literature on the topic is available
these days.
Ashtakavarga has a say in this matter unlike any in the western
literature. Some guidelines may be enumerated here;
 193

Directions associated with planets, signs and bhavas

Directions i Planets Signs Bhavas/Houses
East Sun 1, 5, 9 Fiery 1, 12, 11
South Mars 2, 6, 10 Earthy 10, 9, 8
West Saturn 3. 7, 11 Airy 7, 6, 5
North Mercury 4, 8, 12 Watery 4, 3, 2
South-East Venus
North-East Jupiter
South-West Rahu
North-West Moon

1. It is best to live at a place in the direction of the sign that has

the highest bindus in the Sarvashtakavarga. Ihe direction has
to be reckoned from the birth place. Ihe same rule would ap-
ply to the direction of the bhava in which the bindus are the
highest. Please see the table indicating directions associated
with the planets, signs and bhavas.
2. If there is a planet in such a sign then one should follow the
direction indicated by that planet in preference over the direc-
tion indicated by the sign or the bhava.
Note: Some one who has 43 bindus in Libra in the 3rd house from
lagna has always benefitted whenever he has travelled to the North
West. Libra indicates West and the 3rd house indicates North. Ketu,
that is posited in the 3rd house, is not to be given priority here as it
cannot be considered as a strong benefic.
3. Make a relocation chart (or use a software for this purpose)
using the longitude and latitude of the new prospective place
retaining the date and time of the original chart. If the bindus
are high in the 10th and 11th places in this chart, the place is
good to shift to for professional rise. If the bindus are high in
the 7th house then the place is good for romance and mar-
riage. If the bindus are high in the 4th house, the place will
be good for domestic happiness, raising a family and general
peace and well being. If the best bindus are in the lagna it is
good for one's health and overall advancement in life.
4. In the relocation chart, let the strong planets of your natal
chart come in the 10th or 11th houses. Ihe strength of the
194

planet may preferably be ashtakavarga strength or any other

type. Benches are naturally to be preferred.
5. In the relocation chart, let the dasha lord fall in good houses
such as 1st, 9th, 10th or 11th houses. High bindus in the 11th
house from the dasha lord are always preferred but it is better
if they are not falling in the trika houses. So, the dasha lord as
well as the 11th from it should not fall in the trika houses.

COMPATIBILTY IN FRIENDSHIP

One of the popular sports amongst the youngsters is to find com-

patibility through their Sun signs according to the tropical zodiac.
But that is hopelessly inadequate. The Moon has been singled out
in Vedic astrology for mental compatibility and for this one must
resort to the sidereal chart. Unlike tropical astrology where the
Sun sign is more or less fixed according to the date of the month,
the Moon sign is clear only when the chart is made. But that is no
great deal as innumerable free softwares are available on the net
for this purpose these days. In our opinion where as the Sun-sign
gives an apparent and superficial characteristics of a person, the
Moon sign gives an insight into the deeper psychological ocean
churning inside of a person.
The underlying principle is: Find out the signs in which the Moon
of one person has maximum bindus (6, 7 or 8) in the Bhinashtaka
of Moon. The other person should have one of these signs as his/
her lagna or Moon rashi, for good mental compatibility. A similar
consideration with Venus as the focal planet will give an idea about
the sexual compatibility between two individuals. Mercury may be
looked at likewise for intellectual compatibility.
This rule offers a more substantive alternative to those lay people
who try to figure out compatibilities through matching Sun-signs
or matching birth numbers numerologically.
 CHAPTER 21

Samudayashtakavarga Controversy

Most of the Vedic astrology classical books are written in

Sanskrit language. They are not in prose, they are in poetry
form. A line has to fit into the metre chosen by the author. For
this reason several words are used at different places which have
the same meaning. For example, Jupiter is known by several names,
e.g., Brihaspati, Guru, Jeeva etc., and it is used interchangeably
every where. So is the case with other planets and other entities or
concepts, they are known by many different names.
Same is true about Sarvashtakavarga (SAV for short). It is known
by several names such as;
a. Samudayashtakavarga
b. Vyuh ashtakavarga
c. Akhilashtakavarga 3Tf^n^pf
d. Pindashtakvarga
e. Sakalashtakavarga
f. Mahashtakavarga
SAV is the name given to the total of bindus in a rashi in
the 7 Bhinnashtakavargas when bindus are added rashi by rashi.
Lagnashtakavarga is not included in the scheme of 337 SAV
bindus. As shown above Samudayashtakavarga is just another
name for SAV.
An author of a book on Transit' has proclaimed that Sarva and
Samudayashtakavarga are different things. The use of Samudayash-
takavarga and its merit as described by him* is not the matter of

*This concept, to the best of our knowledge, was first discussed by Dr AK Agarwal in
a compilation called Advanced Techniques of Astrological Predictions, Vol.1 published
around 1994 by Bharatiya Prachya Vidya Sansthan. Even he desisted from giving his
technique the name of Samudayashtakavarga. We had given a hint of this technique in
our earlier book, Dots of Destiny.
196

discussion here. Given the fact that Ashtakavarga as a subject is

riddled with several unresolved controversies already, we express
our concern about an avoidable controversy which is of recent
origin.
Let us examine whether the proclamation by the said author
stands the test of classics. In the 73rd chapter titled as Atha Samu-
dayashtakavarga of Brihatparashara Hora Shastra (translation by
Pt. Sitaram Jha) the first two stanzas are as follows;

II I II

3^: 4,^ vHMMi ftiNlft ^TIH ! II 2 II

Translation: Make a horoscope having 12 compart-
ments and enter the lagna and the other rashis therein.
In each rashi write down the benefic points as they
come in the different Bhinnashtakavargas after adding
them up. This is called Samudayashtakavarga. From
this the good and bad results about the native should
be figured out.
From this it is clear that Samudayashtakavarga is the same thing
as Sarvashtakavarga. There has been no name given to what the
said author calls Samudayashtakavarga. In the second line of the
first stanza Sarvashtakavarga word is also being used indicating that
the two things are one and the same thing.
If the author of the book on Transit wishes to propagate a tech-
nique he admires, he would be free to do so. What is inappropriate
is to give an old, well accepted nomenclature to a different thing
and create a needless controversy. To impute it to the sages of the
yore is sacrilege.
This is a new sport amongst some question paper setters to ask
the students their opinion on what is the difference between Sarva
and Samudaya Ashtakavarga, where there is none. It is indeed
misleading the students of astrology. But for this, we would not
have bothered to clear the air.
 197

What the said author calls as Samudayashtakavarga has been

given in several earlier books, (without any name assigned to it.)
e.g., Phaladeepika (trasnslation by Gopesh Kumar Ojha), Dots of
Destiny (1995) etc. It was born out of a desire to have a short
method of casting SAY and in the process it sacrifices the invaluable
information contained in Bhinnashtakavargas. If some one uses only
SAY for spot predictions, and does not use the Bhinnashtakavargas,
this is a quick method to get to SAY much faster. SAY is the main
name of it and finds itself mentioned in all the classics. In today's
computer age, this quick method has lost its relevance as most
astrology softwares give the total SAY calculations in a jiffy. To
our knowledge, no astrology software constructs the table allegedly
called Samudayashtakavarga as different form Sarvashtakavarga.
The use of this table as described by the said author goes against
the letter and spirit of Ashatakavarga. Ashtakavarga strength is always
a cumulative strength bestowed upon a planet by the 7 planets and
the lagna. To use it as individualized response of a planet in transit
is going against the grain of basic tenets of Ashtakavarga.
 Bibliography

1. Advanced Techniques of Astrological Predictions edited

by K.N. Rao, 1991

2. Ashtakavarga by Chandulal S. Patel & CAS Iyer, 1955

3. Ashtakavarga System of Prediction by B. V. Raman

4. Ashtakavarga Made Simple for the Western Astrologer

by R.G. Krishnan

5. Ashtkavarga Mahanibandah (Hindi) by Dr S.C. Mishra, 1985

6. Astrological Magazine, many articles from various issues

7. A Textbook of Varshaphala by Dr K.S. Charak, 1993

8. Brihatparasharahorashastra (Hindi) translation by Sitaram Jha

9. Digital Astrology by Richard Houck, 1998

10. Dots of Destiny by Vinay Aditya, 1996

11. Elements of Vedic Astrology Vol. 1 & 2 by Dr K. S. Charak, 1995

12. Essentials of Medical Astrology by Dr K.S. Charak, 1994

13. Navamsha and Nadi Astrology by C. S. Patel, 1996

14. Shambhu Hora Prakash translated by S. Santhanam, 1994

15. 7he Celestial Delivery Boy by: Transit Col. A. K. Gaur, 2003

16. Vastu Mimamsa (Hindi) by Dr S. C. Mishra, 2007

 Index

A Chandrayan-1 136,137,211
Actress 47, 155, 211 Chief Minister 48,50
ADHAD 158, 163 communication 38, 132, 139, 142, 143
Adolf Hitler 26 comparison 16, 36, 47, 50, 52, 63, 67,
Arishtamsha 104 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 205
Ashtakavarga calculations 2 computer- age 1
BAV 24,27,28,31,39,45,64,80, controversy 3, 120, 196
67, 84, 101, 167, 171, 175, 178, 187, Coolie 47
188, 191, 192 counted from 146, 147
benefic places 4, 176 cross-checking 183
bhinnashtaka(varga) 3, 4, 10, 11, 14, C S Patel 3
15, 22, 24, 38, 56, 59, 63, 64, 73,
104,120,122,123, 130,135,161, D
164, 165,171,175, 179, 184, 195-197 Deity 152
B/S 24 Digital Astrology 12, 198
kakshya 3,10,11,12,15,42,116, Directions 193
187,188,192 divisional charts 13, 14, 15, 41, 42, 43,
Prastaraka(varga) 3, 5-8,175, 177, 187 44, 45, 60, 69, 71, 73, 154, 207
SAV 24,25,27,28,31,33,34,45, Dots of Destiny 3, 11, 19, 165, 175,
80, 185, 188, 192, 195, 197 195, 197, 198, 207, 209
Ashtakavarga Rahasya 175 Dynamic Analysis 9
Ashtakavarga strength 14, 15, 24, 31,
47, 78, 81, 162, 197 E
Bhava bala 15
Jaimini Graha bala 14 EDUSAT 134
Vimshopak bala 13 External Affairs Minister 39
ashtakoota 180, 181, 183
Astrological Magazine 3, 198 F
avasthas 1, 23 foodie 160
from where 16, 23, 38, 182
B
Barack Obama 53, 54 G
Bhadra yoga 35
bhava madhya 152 Gajakesari 22, 156, 157
Bheri yoga 22 grahayuddha 25, 26
bindus (8) 11, 27, 35, 38, 39, 40, 81 GSLV 131-135, 138, 139, 142, 143, 211
building blocks 145 Gulika 190

c H
Chandra-Mangal Yoga 38 happy marriage 10
Chandra Navamsha Kashi 166, 167 horoscope matching 180
200

Mudda Dasha 78, 80

Muntha 75-84, 88
Indira Gandhi 64, 65, 69, 72, 76, 79, Mythological story 152
82, 211
Indu Lagna 17
ISRO 130, 138, 144 N
name 13, 139, 152, 191, 192, 195-197
neechabhanga 34, 37, 53. 91
J
Netbook 99, 102
Jayalalitha 48,50,211
Jyeshtha 23, 109, 160, 181, 191 o
Olympic 158
K oratorical skill 39
karmic distribution planet 154 orbit 130, 133, 136, 138
karmic suction planet 154
P
L Pada 17, 102, 182
luminaries 22, 67, 121, 123, 130, 138 Padma Purana 117
Parashara 1, 43, 130, 179, 207, 208
M Parvata yoga 22
Prajapati 117
Mahabharata 12, 117, 124 Prime Minister 69, 72. 76. 82, 99
mantra 150 Prishthodaya 89
Mayawati 98, 99
MK Gandhi 2, 20. 177
ahimsa 25 Q
civil disobedience 21 Quantum Jump 10
dandi March 30
dichotomy 21
R
Gandhi 2, 20-31, 64, 65, 69, 72,
76. 79. 82, 85. 166, 169, 177, 211 Raja Saham 78, 80, 85
Hind Swaraj 30 Rajju yoga 22
Natal 24 Resonance 126
9/11 29,30,211 Rohini 54, 109, 110, 117, 118, 121,
paradoxical 22 122, 124, 127
Phoenix 24. 29
Prophet 2 s
satyagraha 21, 25, 29, 30, 170
Sevagram 24 Sadhe Sati 165
Swaraj 27. 30 Sahams 75
The Story of My Experiments Satellite 131, 142
with Truth 29 Saturn
Tolstoy 24 40 D's 164
upavaasa 29 34 other significations 164
Moon's Nakshatra 152, 188 shadbala 1, 13-15, 23, 24, 86,
Mrityubhaaga 104 Shankha yoga 22
sheershodaya 89, 91, 93, 96, 101 u
Sriharikota 131-134, 137, 139, 140, 143 Upapada lagna 17
Starr 51
Static Analysis 9 V
Suicide 86, 211 vairagya 24
Symbol 152 Varahamihira
Vargas 148
T Vidya Madhaveeyam 174
Tajika Yogas 75 Vipareeta rajayoga 71
Tara Vichar 191
Tiger Woods 57,211 w
Transit Analysis 9 Weapon of Mass Destruction 127
trinal 116, 165, 169 weighted planetary strength 184,
 Author's previous publication

• First ever book on Ashtakavarga which leads the student

step-by-step to its application for everyday predictions.
• Calculations of Ashtakavarga explained and worked out
with an example horoscope.
• Principles of Sarvashtakavarga applied extensively and
explained through several horoscopes.
• Ashtakavarga principles applied on the horoscopes of
Prime Ministers, Presidents and other celebrities.
• Reveals the decisive role of Ashtakavarga in analysing the
dreaded period of sadhe-sati.
• Periods of prosperity illustrated in a novel way by fusing
Ashtakavarga with the Indu Lagna.
• Controversies of Ashtakavarga handled squarely, head-on.
• Opens new vistas for research-minded astrologers.
• Profusely illustrated by example horoscopes from diverse
fields.