Article by Iranganti Rangacharya

Varaha Mihira, renowned for his profound erudition of the three ramifications of Vedanga Jyotisha had a mastery of Sanskri construction in his versification giving scope to the different dimensions of interpretations. He proclaimed in the 2nd verse of the 1st Chapter, that he was going to begin the boat of Sastra (Brihat Jataka) replete with the epigrammatic verses of different metres which carry multiple meanings. Hence no other classical work of astrology has so many commentaries as Brihat Jathaka has. Besides Bha ttopala, the worth-mentioning were Govinda, Rudra, and Kannassa Panickar (commentator in Malayalam) who hailed from Kerala, where astrology has been the hereditary study in many families and castes. We have another superb Sanskrit commentary of Brihat Jataka, by name “Apurvardha Pradarsika” of Sri A.N. Srinivasa Raghava Ayyangar of Quilon. My aim in this article is to show as a piece of example, how a novel approach is made from Varaha’s epigrammatic verse, besides its literal interpretation.

The following is the 1st stanza of Nisheka chapter, which deals in a nutshell, about the item of menstruation that facilitates for the impregnation.

कुजेन्दु हेतु प्रतिमासमार्तवम् गते तो पीडर्क्षमानुषाण दीधितौ।

अतोन्यधास्थे शुभ पुंग्रहेक्षिते नरेण संयोगैनुपैति कामिनि॥

kujendu hetu pratimāsamārtavam gate to pīḍarkṣamānuṣāṇa dīdhitau |

atonyadhāsthe śubha puṁgrahekṣite nareṇa saṁyogainupaiti kāmini ||

The stanza literally means that the appearance of the monthly menstruation is by the reason of Mars and the Moon, when the Moon transits in the places, 1,2,4,5,7,8,9,12 and that the woman desires the union of the man, when the Moon, aspected by a masculine benefic, transits in the places, 3,6,10,11. It means that the menstruation of the woman, when the Moon aspected by Mars transits in the places, 1,2,4,5,7,8,9,12, facilitates for the impregnation. Conversely the menstruation of the woman, when the Moon aspected by Mars, transits in the places, 3,6,10,11 does not ensure impregnation. The transits of the Moon may be reckoned from the Moonsign or Janma Lagna of the woman. The meaning of the 2nd half of the verse is as follows. When the Moon transits in the places, 3,6,10,11, reckoned from the moon sign or Janma Lagna of the man, and aspected by a masculine benefic planet, the woman desires the union of the man.

Let us read between the lines of the verse. The 1st pada consists of a compound of four words viz. Kujenduhetu pratimasam + artavam. Now the entire pada can be taken as a compound of six words viz., Kuja + indu + hetu + pratima + Sama + artavam. According to the katapayadi pneumonics, the numerical value of pratima is 13 since pra = 2 + ti = 6 + ma = 5. The word samah means years. Thus it is elicited that the 1st appearance of menstruation may be anticipated in the 13th year of the girl due to the combination of Mars and the Moon. The last word of the verse is Kamini – ka = 1, Mi = 5, Ni = O. According to the rule of Ankanam vamato gatihim by the reversal it would be 051 which means 51. Thus it means that the monthly menstruation may continue till the age of 51 years, with her desire for the union. The same age range is mentioned in the following authentic verse..

मासै मासै रजः स्त्रीनां रजसं स्रवति त्रियहं।

वत्सरात् द्वदश दुर्ध्वमेक पंचशतः क्षयम्॥

māsai māsai rajaḥ strīnāṁ rajasaṁ sravati triyahaṁ |

vatsarāt dvadaśa durdhvameka paṁcaśataḥ kṣayam ||

Here one may question, why the same numerical method is not adopted in both pratima and Kamini. The answer would be that since the sastra is tantamount to sutra literature, different methods can be adopted to deduce the multiple meanings as we know the maxim, “Viakhyanato visesha pratipattihi na hi sandehat alakshanam”.

Basis and period of impregnation:

Mars represents fire in the form of bile and the Moon represents water in the form of blood. Menstruation is the result of the combination of the two. Again taking the three words, viz. Kuja, Indu, Hetu, the interpretation can be different. Mars represents fire, the Moon represents water. Then Hetu can represent earth in the order of the sruti, “Agnerapah, Abdhyah Pridhwee”, or in the word “Kuja” ku means the earth and Kuja means that which is born from the earth which is the drugs represented by the Moon. Hence, Kujendu means the drugs. The hetu or the source of the drugs is the earth. Thus three (3) days are implied by the mention of the three elements viz. fire, water and earth. And Pratima, as already deduced means 13. Hence thc, total number of days is 16. Hence the period of Ritu from the 1st day of menstrual excretion is sixteen nights.

रजोदर्शन मारभ्य स्त्रीणां ऋतुः षोडशरात्रम्

rajodarśana mārabhya strīṇāṁ ṛtuḥ ṣoḍaśarātram

But the impregnation cannot take place in the period of the 1st three days of the menstruation and this period is prohibited for the union of the man and woman. That is what Dharma sastras declared. Hence the number of eligible days for impregnation is 13. The woman becomes pure after her bath in the 4th day of the appearance of the menstrual exertion. It is said that the man should join the woman in the period of 13 nights from the 4th night, and it is declared “Ritaubharyam upeyat”. According to some, the 4th night also is prohibited for the union.

रजोदर्शन तो स्पृस्यः नार्यो दिवा चतुर्स्थायैन्

rajodarśana to spṛsyaḥ nāryo divā catursthāyain

If the man joins the woman in the night of even number beginning from the 4th night of the menstrual excretion within the period of 13 days, impregnation may take place for the birth of a son. If the union takes place in the night of odd number, impregnation is probable for the birth of a daughter. By the use of the compound, ”Kujendu Hetu” after Mars and the moon, Hetu can represent Jupiter as the third planet. This is elicited by the following factors.

The metre of the verse is Vamsastham under Jagati Chhanda, wherein every pada consists of 12 syllables. And Jupiter completes one revolution of the Zodiac in 12 years. Hence the menstruation occurring when the Moon is in anupachaya signs, aspected by Mars and Jupiter, ensures the impregnation.

The numerical value of Nara is 20 since Na = 0 and Ra = 2. The numerical value of Anyahasthe = 15 sinceAa=0,+ nya=1 + tha= 7, sthe = 7, Hence the girl who completes her 15 years of age deserves to join the boy of 20 years of age. Or the girl of 16 years of age as deduced from Kujendu hetu pratima, deserves to join the boy of 20 years of age. It is said:

पूर्ण षोडश वर्ष स्त्री पूर्ण विंशेन समागते

वीर्यवन्तं सुतम् सूते तयोर्न्युनाबयों पुनः

pūrṇa ṣoḍaśa varṣa strī pūrṇa viṁśena samāgate

vīryavantaṁ sutam sūte tayornyunābayoṁ punaḥ

So,the menstruation at the age of 16 years of the girl facilitates for the impregnation. In Kujendu, Kuja can be taken as Ketu due to the saying, Kujavat Ketu, besides Ketu being the form of the earth’s shadow. Then the hetu or the basis for jathaka, prasna and adhana etc. is Pratima 13/12 = 1, which means Lagna. Hence the impregnation may take place when the Moon and Ketu occupy adhana lagna or lagna or Prasnalagna. Now let us analyse the 3rd pada. The “Su” in subha Pumgraha means sukra. Bhapugraha means Ketu, becasue Bhapuman means the sun and bhapumgrah means the one who seizes the Sun. Nya means Lagna; tha = 7 and Sthe means 7 So the 7th of the 7th of Lagna is Lagna itself. Hence it means that the impregnation is probable if the adhana Lagna is occupied by Venus and Ketu.

To sum up, the following are the factors for the probability of the impregnation.

Occupancy of the Moon and Ketu in the adhana Lagna or Prasna lagna;
Occupancy of Venus and Ketu in the adhana Lagna or in Prasna lagna;
Occupancy of the Moon and Ketu in the adhana Lagna or Prasna Lagna, aspected by Venus or Jupiter or Mercury.

N.B. Mercury should be strong and unassociated with any malefic planet. The aspect or association of the weak Mercury, or Saturn spoils the chances of impregnation. The above yogas have the authenticity of Krishneeyam.

Varaha speaks again in the 3rd stanza of Nisheka chapter, about the yogas that ensure the impregnation.

रविन्दु शुक्रवणिजैः स्वभागगैः

गुरौ त्रिकोणोदय धर्मगेपि वा

भावत्यपात्यम् हि विबीजिनामिमे

कर हिमांशोः विदृसमिवाऽफलः

ravindu śukravaṇijaiḥ svabhāgagaiḥ

gurau trikoṇodaya dharmagepi vā

bhāvatyapātyam hi vibījināmime

kara himāṁśoḥ vidṛsamivā’phalaḥ

The stanza means that the impregnation is assured by

The occupancy of Jupiter in the adhana lagna or in its 5th house or 9th house.
By the association of the Sun, Moon, Venus and Mars in the same sign.
By their positing in their own navamsa.

Now, let us read between the lines of the stanza. The sun is the masculine planet and the moon is the feminine planet. The mention of these two planets side by side (Raveendu) implies the metnion of the adhana is the union of the man and woman. Next venus and mars (Sukravanijaihi) are mentioned side by side. Venus stands for suklam and mars stands for sonitam. The mention of these two implies the mention of the clearing of suklam and sonitam for the impregnation. The placement of Jupiter in the three trikonas indicates that the Jeeva, after having enjoyed the fruit of karma in swarga or suffered in Naraka, is towards taking its birth. The use of the word, “Swabhaga” may also mean the clasification (Vibhaga) among the four planets. The feminine planet, Moon is connected to mars, the significator of ‘Rajas’ and the masculine planet, Sun is connected with Venus the significator of suklam.

Hence the Moon and Mars relate to the woman while the Sun and Venus relate to the man. The impregnation takes place under any of the following principles:

The Sun and Venus in 3,6,10,11, signs from the adhana lagna or from the Moon sign.
The Sun and Venus in their own navamsas.
The Sun and Venus in 3,6,10,11 signs, from Janma Lagna of the man.
The Sun. and Venus in 3,6,10,11 signs from the Moon sign of the man.
The Moon and Mars in 3,6,10,11 signs from the adhana Lagna.
The Moon and Mars in their own Navamasa.
The Moon and Mars 3,6,10,11 signs from Janma Lagna of the woman.
The Moon and Mars in 3,6,10,11 signs from the Moon sign of the woman.
Occupancy of Jupiter in the adhana Lagna or its 5th house or 9th house.

The above principles are of no avail in the case of the impotent man and the barren woman, just as the moon light is of no use to the blind.

Illustration:

Ref. Editorial of the TOA, November 1986. The adhana chart erected therein by Mr. R. Santhanam is as follows:

In the above adhana chart, neither the adhana lagna nor the Moon is connected with Jupiter either by aspect or occupancy and none* of the nine principles is present to assure conception. On the other hand, the eunuch planets, Saturn and Mercury mutually aspecting are placed in Kendras (Saturn being exalted) receiving no aspect of the masculine planets. Hence the moon 29 ° 15′ 36″ should be pushed to Meena, by the increase of the adhana time, a little, such that the Moon enjoys her own navarmasa. Now four principles will be satisifed for the conception to take place.

They are:

The Moon in the upachaya (3rd) sign from the adhana lagna makara.
The Sun in the 3^rd upachaya sign from the Moon.
Mars in the 3rd from the Moon.
The Moon occupies her. own Kataka navamsa.

(*The mother of the child in question has the Moon in Sagittarius in Uttarashadha first quarter at her birth. Hence the Adhana Moon and Adhana Mars given in the editorial of The TOA, November 1986, were in 3rd and 6th in order from her natal Moon.

About Author: Iranganti Rangacharya is one of the oldest authorities on Jaimini alive today, born in 1927, he started astrology at the age of 25 in 1952. Later in 1960 he started meticulous study of Jaimini astrology & thus has 48 rich years of experience in Jaimini at this age of 81. Author of numerous articles since 4 decades, 9 books & an extremely humble soul who in spite of weak health contributes to the cause of Jaimini. His work Jaimini Sutramritam published by Sagar Publications, New Delhi is considered a classic by the serious student of Jaimini Astrology.

Impregnation – A Novel Astrological Approach by Iranganti Rangacharya