ASHTAKAVARGA SYSTEM OF PREDICTION Part -21 By Dr. E.S.NEELAKANTAN Introduction We have now looked at the preliminary features of Venus at an Ashtakavarga level. We will now dwell on the same in greater detail. The number of wives a person will have will correspond to the number of bindus that remain in the following houses after the appropriate reduction is made according to Ashtakavarga rules. _ House occupied by lord of 7th from Venus. - House occupied by lord of 9th from Moon. - House occupied by lord of 9th from lagna. - The exaltation house of 7th lord. - Debilitation House of 7th lord. After understanding this rule the budding astrologer should not jump to conclusions. There is one corollary to the rule. If the 7th lord is strong, choose the maximum figure out of the six results we are going to get .If the 7th lord is weak, choose the least figure. Let us say we get four. The budding astrologer is going to tell the client, “You will have four wives”. Here restraint is required . These rules were coined at a time when polygamy was order of the day. Kings used to have a harem, where all his spouses used to reside in perfect harmony . But times have changed. Lord Rama set up a personal example by marrying Sita and being devoted to her alone all through his life. We are now following Rama’s example only. The need of the hour is to interpret astrology by using common sense rather than textbook knowledge. If Mercury occupies the 7th house, one cannot infer that the spouse will have a greenish appearance. One should say that the spouse under this condition will be a person with wide knowledge and speaking skills. That Mercury represents green colour would be immaterial in this context.

The order of the day is Monogamy and not polygamy . So the above rule cannot be applied verbatim ignoring the context. Please note that we are discussing this subject according to Indian conditions. Let us assume that the chart belongs to an American. The social norm in USA is quite different from that of India. So taking into consideration the person’s age, background etc. one has to furnish a reply after taking the Ashtakavarga factors into account. When we look at Astrology as a profession , one key area of consultancy is horoscope matching. While matching two horoscopes what does the astrologer do and what is he supposed to do? Given a set of horoscopes, he selects those charts which will benefit the couple by way of a mutually beneficial martial relationship. It is said that the power of a horoscope can be enhanced by bringing it together with another horoscope by way of partnership, marriage or alliance. Take the case of Triphala in Ayurveda . Triphala is a drug prepared by mixing Amalaki, Haritaki, and Vibhitaki. (Amalaki is nothing but Indian Gooseberry). What Triphala does these three cannot do when consumed individually. Horoscope matching produces harmonious families. Please note that the greatest strong point of Indian Culture is Family relationship. Nowhere else in the world you can find family ties as you see in India. Credit for this should go to our astrologers. Ashtakavarga comes to our rescue when we start looking out for a suitable match for a boy. First construct the Ashtakavarga table of Venus in the boy’s chart. Also construct the Moon’s Ashtakavarga chart and the Samudaya Ashtakavarga chart. 1) Boy’s Moon’s Ashtakavarga Identify the house which has maximum number of bindus. (a) 2) Boy’s Samudaya Ashtakavarga Identify the house which has maximum number of bindus(b) 3) Boy’s Venus Ashtakavarga From Venus identify the 7th lord and find out houses which have at least one bindu contributed by that planet.(c) Now check where the Moon is placed in the girl’s chart. If that house happens to be ( a), (b) or (c) then it is very auspicious. Now this brings us to another concept called “Rina raniya bhava” . This means that there should be same Karmic link between a boy and a girl to become husband and wife. The Sai baba of Shirdi used to say

“ Unless willed by the Almighty, even a dog will not cross your path.” I see a lot of Matrimonial advertisements containing various details such as height, weight, salary, preferences etc. It is very difficult to differentiate between a person furnishing the bio-data for a job and another one furnishing bio-data for marriage. If you don’t like a job you can resign, join another company. In marriage, if the relationship breaks, it is very difficult to find an alternative . My personal opinion is that in marriage, astrology should be accorded top priority and all other factors considered secondary. Venus is the Karaka planet for marriage. So it is very important to have an unblemished Venus in both the charts to ensure happy married life. Another good combination to have would be Venus aspected by Jupiter. Please note that when malefics like Saturn or Mars get the aspect of Jupiter, their evil tendencies are curbed and they become beneficial. Venus indicates matters such as love, romance ,happiness in marriage, friendship and sensual pleasures. When Venus gets aspected by Jupiter , whatever negative features might be there in Venus, is annulled and it becomes auspicious. I would like the reader to take note of the fact that inter se, Venus and Jupiter are enemies. But that enmity will not alter the results indicated above. Mantreswara in Phaladeepika gives one rule which might militate against common sense but is supposed to be true. The rule is this : If Mars and Saturn conjoin in the 7th house for a person in Capricorn Ascendant, the wife of that person will be chaste, fortunate and beautiful(vide Phaladeepika , chapter 10 verse 3). This rule is really bemusing . Mars is a malefic and becomes even more malefic when in conjunction with Saturn . Further Mars is in debilitation . Saturn is an enemy of Moon and therefore Saturn in Cancer is badly placed. Mars in 7 can generate Kuja dosha. So , with such rampant negative features coupled with the fact that MarsSaturn combination is inauspicious in general,what is the justification for the auspicious results mentioned by the author? . We will discuss this in our next article on Ashtakavaga . The End.