ASHTAKAVARGA SYSTEM OF PREDICTION PART – 18 BY DR. E.S.NEELAKANTAN In the previous article we saw the various points related to Jupiter’s Ashtakavarga and their impact on predictive astrology. Now we will proceed to discuss its intricacies in greater detail. Everybody in today’s world wants to lead a prestigious life. But what is the meaning of prestige in today’s life? False prestige. Before India’s independence, fighting for India’s freedom from British rule was a sign of prestige. Gandhiji, Nehruji and Subash Chandra Bose were icons. It was a matter of pride and prestige to be associated with them. Today’s prestige is nothing but watching the latest movies in the world class malls which have come up, dining in luxury hotels and beach resorts, watching IPL matches in stadium and driving latest cars. Before we discuss astrological connotations of “Prestige”, I thought we should get the meaning of “True Prestige” and “False Prestige” clarified. When the sign dispositor of the 5th lord conjoins Jupiter a son who will ennoble family prestige will be born provided the said plant obtains more than 4 bindus in the Ashtakavarga chart of Jupiter. If the said plant is in debilitation with 1 to 3 bindus, the son will prove treacherous to his father. This verse once again highlights the role of bindus in predictive Astrology. Take the above verse and interpret it without the application of bindus. The sign dispositor of 5th lord in conjunction with Putrakaraka will give rise to birth of children. But is there not a world of difference between a son who brings lasting fame to one’s own family and a worthless son? Actually the difference is equal to the difference between heaven and hell. This is why we need to reckon Ashtakavarga principles each time. .Without the aid of Ashtakavarga,predictive Astrology is nothing short of a gamble. The cutting edge of scientific Astrology will prove to be that of a blunt knife when predictions are made, without consideration of Ashtakavarga principles. Astrology as practised in India today, seldom takes into account the Ashtakavarga chart, which is why the likelihood of a prediction going the wrong way is very high. We now proceed to discuss the next rule. If the lord of 5th house is associated with a malefic and Jupiter associated with 3 bindus is hemmed between malefics, a son who is evil minded and also a disgrace to the family will be born. We need to understand the significance of a planet hemmed between malefics. How do planets give their effects? Through vibrations.
Take this example – Saturn is in Aries, Jupiter is in Taurus and Mars is in Gemini. This is a case of Jupiter getting hemmed between malefics. The benefic rays of Jupiter have no exit route. The malefic vibrations of Mars and Saturn in adjacent houses counteract the benefic influence of Jupiter and it gets choked. Such a planet has no power to do any good. I wish to cite one example here. There was a debate – if there is a fight between a crocodile and a rhinoceros, who would win? Prima facie, a rhinoceros is a powerful animal and it should win. But a little bit of introspection would yield newer and startling dimensions. Basically a rhinoceros is a mammal whereas a crocodile is a reptile. The correct answer to this query would depend on where the fight takes place? If it is on land, the rhinoceros would win. If it is in water, the crocodile would win. Please note that a crocodile in water is far more powerful than a crocodile in land. Applying this to our own discussion, Jupiter is the most powerful of all planets in warding off evil. When hemmed between malefics, it is comparable to a crocodile on land – utterly powerless. The three bindus of Jupiter is like rubbing salt on wounds – it aggravates its weakness. What is the result? Birth of a son, who is evil-minded and a scourge to the family. When Saturn passes through a sign, which in Jupiter’s Ashtakavarga, has the least number of bindus, the person may meet with afflictions, provided that house is not aspected by Jupiter in the natal chart. This is a very interesting rule and would merit a protracted discussion on the subject. Saturn is a dukka karaka. So it will adversely affect the fortunes of that house it occupies in chart. The trines are the 5th and 9th. Usually there is an invisible link between 1, 5 and 9. Lagna is the physical body as also the egoic self, 5th is Poorvapunya or merits of good deeds performed earlier, 9th is good fortune. So Saturn in a house in transit not only affects that particular house but also the trinal houses of that house. Now what is very important is the second limb of the rule which carries out the exception to the rule. The house which is aspected by Jupiter is immune to the adverse effects of Saturn in transit. Please note that a very important doctrine is established here, which is the link between Natal chart and Gochara chart. There is a link between a planet in a natal chart and another planet in Gochara. Let us say a person is 40 years old, who has Jupiter in 2nd house in birth chart. Let us say, Saturn is in the 8th in transit. What this rule says is that the effects of Saturn in 8th in transit are effectively neutralized by the aspect of Jupiter on the 8th house in the natal chart. No doubt, that was forty years back, whereas Saturn is in the 8th at present. Never mind, the cancellation rule will apply. Auspicious ceremonies are eagerly looked forward to in each and every house. Transits of Sun over houses, where the least number of bindus are obtained in
Jupiter’s Ashtakavarga are not suitable for celebration of such functions. This is a rule which has considerable value in today’s set-up where we need to plan at least six months in advance for functions such as marriage. Take the lords of 9th and 10th houses and Jupiter. Let us say they are associated with 8 or bindus. Consider their sign dispositors. If all of them are powerful, then the person will be exceptionally lucky and blessed with everything. In some cases the father of a person is luckier. (The other way of putting it is the son is unlucky compared to the father) a) Lord of lagna is in the 2nd or 9th house. b) Jupiter is in a quadrant from lagna with 5 bindus. If both (a) and (b) are cumulatively satisfied the father of the child is luckier. (a) Lord of the 9th house and Jupiter occupy quadrants or they are exalted or they occupy their own house. (b) Both the above mentioned planets are associated with 5 or more bindus in Jupiter’s Ashtakavarga. If both these conditions are cumulatively satisfied the person becomes either a king or a judge. Please note that in ancient times the king also dispensed with justice. In order to become a king one should have a very good knowledge of law and justice. When we say “either a king or a judge”, obviously we are stating the rule as it would appear in contemporary society. With these comments, I bring this edition of Ashtakavarga to a close. Incidentally this will be the final write-up on Jupiter’s Ashtakavarga. We have discussed rules relating to Jupiter in Ashtakavarga in detail. In our next write-up, we will take-up the Ashtakavarga of Venus for scrutiny. THE END
