ASHTAKAVARGA SYSTEM OF PREDICTION PART-16 BY Dr. E.S NEELAKANTAN

In our previous write-up on Jupiter, we discussed some of the features such as Raja yoga, Sarala yoga, Gaja Kesari yoga and Raja yoga bhanga with special reference to the Ashtakavarga chart. We continue the discussion and in this article, we will proceed to understand its intricacies in greater detail.

We know that Jupiter and Venus are enemies even though both are benefics. Similarly Jupiter and Mercury are also enemies even though both are benefics. Please note that enmity between planets is not comparable to the concepts of friendship and enmity, as we all know in our day-to-day lives. As far as we are concerned, if we stand to benefit or profit through someone, automatically he is our friend, whether or not he is a good person.

In this context, I wish to cite an example from Ramayana. Lord Rama chose to have an alliance with Sugriva, who was being oppressed by his own brother Vali. Rama chose to kill Vali and joined hands with Sugriva in his search for Sita. When Vali was pierced by the arrow from Lord Rama, he was about to die but before that he had a long argument with Lord Rama. Vali had so much power that he could have easily retrieved Sita from Lanka,he being more powerful than the demon king Ravana.. Sugriva was weak compared to Vali. Then why did Rama choose to have an alliance with Sugriva rather than with Vali? Please recollect the words of Sri Krishna in Bhagwad Gita. “In order to protect Dharma and to annihilate Adharma, I am born from time to time”(…Sambhavami Yuge Yuge). Sri Rama was an

incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The very purpose of the Avatar was to uphold Dharma. So, Sri Rama for the sake of petty personal gains could have sided with Vali. But in order to uphold Dharma, he sided with the good-natured Sugriva and killed Vali, thus upholding the divine will of destroying Adharma.

Coming to our discussion, Jupiter is an enemy of Venus because their natures are in conflict. Jupiter stands for inner purity; Venus stands for sensual pleasures. Jupiter reflects happiness; Venus reflects pleasures. Jupiter indicates selflessness; Venus indicates selfishness. Jupiter is a Deva guru; Venus is an Asura guru.

Another paradox in astrology needs explanation here. We know that Sun and Saturn are enemies. So our immediate conclusion is this: Sun-Saturn conjunction is bad. Sun is Atmakaraka and Saturn is Dukkakaraka or giver of grief. So soul being represented by Sun is aggrieved by conjunction of Saturn with Sun. Now bring a contrary rule into the picture-conjunction of lord of 4 with lord of 9 is a Parasari Raja yoga. So the complexion changes totally here for Taurus Ascendant. Both Sun and Saturn forget their traditional rivalry when invested with their present portfolio and conjoin to bring about a Raja yoga. Not very different from what we read and hear about Indian politics. Two rival political parties fight an election and when there is a situation where no party gets an absolute majority, the rivals even come together to form a coalition government. It is important to note that what matters here is that eventhough Sun and Saturn are natural malefics, in a situation like what we discussed just now, they transform themselves into functional benefics. So each planet has two facets-one a natural one and

another a functional one. In the whole of predictive astrology, 80% of predictions are made taking into account the functional role of planets rather than their natural role. While judging the 5th house for progeny four features are relevant. 1. 5th house is occupied by malefics. 2. 5th house contains less than 25 bindus in Samudaya Ashtakavarga. 3. 5th house falls in an even sign. 4. Moon occupies an even sign.

Out of the four defects indicated above: (a) If one is present, reason for progeny is uterine problem. (b) If there are two defects, affliction to deity is the problem. (c) If there are three,both the causes, (a) as well as (b) are present. (d) If all four defects are present, one will have no issues at all, even if propitiatory rites are performed.

In a Horary chart, one must ascertain the position of Gulika as well as trinal signs of Gulika. Take the case of the three planets, Sun, Moon and Jupiter and ascertain which of the three has maximum number of bindus in this Gulika rasi. Whenever that planet transits Gulika rasi or its trines, a child will be born. Consider the Horary lagna, Horary navamsa lagna and its trines in order to find out which of these houses has the maximum number of bindus in Jupiter’s Ashtakavarga. Birth of a child takes place when Jupiter transits that sign.

In order to become a king, two rules have been suggested by the learned authors. (i)Venus should be in a quadrant from Jupiter and Jupiter should be in a quadrant from lagna. In other words, both Jupiter and Venus should be placed in quadrants from lagna. (ii)Venus and Jupiter should either be in a conjunction or in opposition.

Note that the second rule is subservient to the first rule. In other words, when the second rule is satisfied the first rule is automatically taken care of, while the converse is not true. For these conditions to generate Raja yoga, Jupiter should be associated with four or more bindus.

Some people are generally dull-witted and also unlucky. What is the reason? Ashtakavarga holds the clue. (a) Lagna occupied by a weak lagna lord. (b) Lagna associated with three or less bindus. (c) Jupiter in 6 or 8. If all these conditions are cumulatively satisfied, one is both a dullard and unlucky.

Some people suffer at the hands of children or grandchildren. How to know the root cause? Ashtakavarga comes to our rescue. If there is an interchange of houses between lords of 5 and 8, without the saving grace of Jupiter’s aspect, one will suffer at the hands of children and grandchildren

Now we will take a look at a couple of horoscopes to see how the rules apply in practice.

Chart 1 belongs to Late Shri Brahmananda Reddi who was a Cabinet minister under the former Prime Minister Late Smt Indira Gandhi.Both Venus and Jupiter join the 7th house,a quadrant thereby aspecting the lagna.Please note that Jupiter gets 5 bindus.This yoga elevated the status of the native to that of a cabinet minister.

Chart 2 belongs to V.Shantaram (18 November 1901 - 30 October 1990) the doyen of the tinselworld of yesteryears.The Jupiter- Venus conjunction in Lagna is prominent with Jupiter obtaining 4 bindus. He was praised by Charlie Chaplin for his Marathi film Manoos . Charlie Chaplin reportedly liked the film very much. He was awarded the Indian film industry's highest award, the Dadasaheb Phalke award in 1985 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1992.