ASHTAKAVARGA SYSTEM OF PREDICTION –PART 43 By Dr.E.S.Neelakantan

In our earlier part we discussed how yogas are formed and how Saturn gives results while performing its role as a functional benefic. We continue discussion in this part. Any disease of a chronic nature is ruled by Saturn. Please note that in medical parlance the word the word “chronic” is used in contradistinction to the word “acute”. Generally we tend to understand that a chronic disease is one which is incurable. This is incorrect. A chronic disease is one which though present in the body does not create any major problem or warrant immediate medical attention. Diseases of nerves, asthma, constipation, rheumatism and depression are some examples. In Ayurveda, three biological humors are vata(wind), pitta(fire) and kapha (water). Saturn denotes vata or the wind element. If we look at the diseases discussed above, you can determine some connection with the “vata” or wind element. Nerves are involved in communication of signals from brain to the other parts of the body. These are done by the wind element and an afflicted Saturn gives nerve – related problems. “Vata denotes chillness which causes asthma. “Vata” is drying in nature. Whenever you clean a room you put on the fan in order to make the floor dry. High Vata leads to drying of the intestinal tract which in turn leads to constipation. In bone joints, whenever

moisture is there, the element of friction will not be there. High vata tends to dry up the fluid in bone joints leading to arthrithis.If you analyse all the diseases , where Saturn is the cause ,the deranged vata element leads to various kinds of diseases. Take a case of a person for whom Saturn occupies Lagna or the first house. The first house in any chart denotes (1) Body (2) Complexion (3) Personal qualities (4) Fame (5) Courage (6) Determination or courage . Of course , courage can also come under third house but in general, the first house has wide ranging connotations. If Mars is in Lagna one will be courageous as Mars is Karaka of third and its presence in Lagna makes one courageous. When Saturn is in Lagna one suffers from skin diseases. The person will be selfish or self centered . However the results are drastically altered when Saturn occupies Libra, Sagittarius or Pisces. In that case the person is a matured decision maker who gets the support of people around him. It makes a person the head of a village or city. Scholars in Astrology attribute the following results to Saturn in lagna, when afflicted. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)

Argumentative disposition. The person is greedy despite being rich. The person suffers from worries and is jealous. Physical debility and lethargy. Displeasure of the king. Lack of children. The chart holder is ugly, miserly, sinful, wicked and crooked. The chart holder is haunted by evil spirits.

9) The chart holder has unusual thoughts about religion. 10)The chart holder suffers from helplessness and dejection. 11)When Saturn in the first house is aspected by Mars, one meets with untimely death, suffers imprisonment and false accusations and is poverty stricken. Ultimately it is the strength of the planet which determines what results the planet is supposed to give. Take the case of Saturn in Libra in Janma lagna. Here Saturn functions as Yogakaraka and is exalted in Lagna. Here Saturn functions as Yogakaraka and is exalted in lagna. Naturally it will yield beneficial results. Assuming Saturn is in lagna in Aries, it will yield undesirable results as a functional malefic- cum-badhaka lord in debilitation. The movements of Saturn are closely related to the fate of an individual. Many of us are aware of the fate vs freewill debate. Which is more powerful: fate or freewill? Can freewill overcome fate? Before we try to answer these questions let us understand what is freewill through an anecdote. A young disciple went to meet a Himalayan master. He requested the Guru to explain the meaning of Fate. The Guru said: I will answer your query but before that I need your cooperation. You need to keep standing on one leg. The disciple lifted his left leg shifting his entire body weight to his right leg. While he was thus standing on his right leg, the Guru said, “Lift your right leg”. The disciple was perplexed, “Oh! Master ! How I wish I could obey your order! I am now standing on my right leg – so it is now impossible for me to obey your command – How I can lift both legs? The Guru observed,” Now

you have understood what is the difference between fate and free will. When you met me you had freewill- you could lift either of the two legs. When I asked you to lift either of your two legs you had the choice but the moment you started standing on your right leg, your freewill is gone- you cannot lift that leg. The Guru further said, “When you were created by God, you had freewill. You had choices. Once you exercise your choice, you beget Karma. Once you are influenced by past Karma, your free will is gone. You become a slave. The intelligent way to live in this world is to do selfless acts so that you do not come under the yoke of Karma anytime.” Saturn especially in adverse transits is indicative of suffering attributable to past Karma. Those persons who have a good 5th house will fare during Saturn’s adverse transits without any problem. Once 5th house is auspicious, the inference to be drawn is that the person has a backlog of good Karma to his credit;only when bad Karma is there, can a person suffer for which the Time of Occurrence is indicated by Saturn transit. As far as Ashtakavarga is concerned passage of Saturn through through zero- bindu houses holds the key to activation of bad karmic balance. We will now try to understand the distinction in effects when Saturn happens to transit a Rasi with a bindu and when it transits a zero- bindu Rasi. The following effects are seen when Saturn transits a rasi with bindu. 1 . Conferment of wealth through legacy. 2 . Success in undertakings through a minister of a king.

3 . Contact with good people. 4 . Gain of land. 5 . Performance of sacred duties. 6 . Having good food. 7 . Obtaining boon from king. 8 . Increase in agricultural produce. Contrast all these effects with the passage of Saturn over a zerobindu rasi. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Misery. Fear of king. Increase of troubles from kith and kin. Accidents. Wounds through weapons. Loss of money. Mental agony. Loss of land. Quarrels.

10.Loss in travel. This rule also highlights one of the important areas in predictive Astrology – fructification of a bhava. We understand that for a bhava to fructify, it must be related to a dasha, bukti, Anthra or Sookshma. Ideally a bhava fructifies when the lord of the house happens to be dasha lord.

Let us now understand this concept on a negative way. When will that bhava not fructify? The answer can be understood from the above discussion. A bhava will not fructify if (a) The bhava has no bindus in Saturn’s BAV chart and (b) In transit Saturn transits that bhava. What we have now understood with reference to Saturn can be applied for all planets and all bhavas. Now, try to figure out which Rasi gets the maximum number of bindus in the SAV chart of Saturn. While passing through that sign, Saturn gives excellent results such as success in agricultural work, acquisition of servants and other beneficial results in those areas governed by Saturn. (to be continued).