Lessons in Jaimini Astrology – 7 by Iranganti Rangacharya

Article by Iranganti Rangacharya

In the previous lesson we have learned the conventional notation of four kinds of Chakras, viz. Udaya Chakra, Prakriti Chakra, Vikriti Chakra and Graha Chakra.  In this context readers would do well to remember the 25th, 26th and 27th aphorisms in the 1st Pada of the 1st Adhyaya of Jaimini Sutras.

  They are:

प्राचीवृत्तिर्विषमेषु।

prācīvṛttirviṣameṣu|

परावृत्त्योत्तरेषु

parāvṛttyottareṣu

न क्वचित्

na kvacit

The first two of these aphorisms mean the count or reckoning by Prakriti Chakra which I have explained in the previous lesson.  The 3rd aphorism na kwatchit means that the count mentioned above, sometimes need not be followed. Hence it is inferred that the count or reckoning at places by Udaya Chakra or Vikriti Chakra or Graha Chakra may be made use of.

This inference has the basis of  Vriddha Karikas too.

Now let me explain the 5th symbolic term “Padakrama”.  The count or reckoning of Bhavas or Dasa-signs according to the movable, fixed and dual signs is called Padakrama.  This is of two kinds viz. Prakriti Chakra Padakrama and Vikriti Chakra Padakrama.

Prakriti Chakra Padakrama for Movable Signs:

The count or reckoning is direct and regular for odd movable signs, reverse for even movable signs.  For example, we have to begin from Aries, which is an odd sign.  Then Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces are the twelve Dasa-signs.  Suppose we have to begin the count or reckoning from Cancer.  Then Cancer, Gemini, Taurus and so on are the twelve Dasa-signs in reverse from Cancer to Leo.  Similar is the case with Libra and Capricorn.

Prakriti Chakra Padakrama for Fixed Signs:

The count or reckoning is direct but 6th to 6th for odd fixed signs, but in reverse 6th to 6th for even fixed signs.

For example, let’s suppose we have to count or reckon from Leo which is an odd and fixed sign.  Then Leo, Capricorn, Gemini, Scorpio, Aries, Virgo, Aquarius, Cancer, Sagittarius, Taurus, Libra and Pisces are the Dasa-signs in direct order of 6th to 6th.  Suppose we have to count or reckon from Taurus, which is an even and fixed sign.  Then Taurus, Sagittarius, Cancer, Aquarius, Virgo, Aries, Scorpio, Gemini, Capricorn, Leo, Pisces, Libra are the Dasa-signs in the reverse order of 6th to 6th.  Similar is the case with Scorpio and Aquarius.

Prakriti Chakra Padakrama for Dual Signs:

The count or reckoning is direct in the order of 1, 5, 9 from odd and dual signs, but reverse, in the order of 1, 5, 9 from even and dual signs.  Suppose we have to begin with Gemini, which is an odd and dual sign.  Then Gemini, Libra, Aquarius, Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Leo, Sagittarius, Aries, Virgo, Capricorn, Taurus are the twelve Dasa-signs.  Suppose Virgo is the commencing sign.  Then Virgo, Taurus, Capricorn, Leo, Aries, Sagittarius, Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio, Gemini, Aquarius and Libra are the Dasa-signs in the order of 1, 5, 9 in reverse.  Similar is the case of Sagittarius and Pisces.  But in the case of dual signs, there lies another school of thought concerning the Prakriti Chakra Padakrama.  This is in the order of Kendras, next Panaporas and next Aplokimas.  For example, Gemini is the commencing sign.  Then Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn, Aries, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius, Taurus are the Dasa-signs.  Suppose Virgo is the commencing sign.  Then Virgo, Gemini, Pisces, Sagittarius, Leo, Taurus, Aquarius, Scorpio, Cancer, Aries, Capricorn, Libra are the Dasa-signs in reverse.

Vikriti Chakra Padakrama:

This is contrary to the above-mentioned Prakriti Chakra Padakrama.  The Padakrama is the same but its order is direct in the case of even signs, but reverse in the case of odd signs.

For example, we shall take Taurus which is an even and fixed sign.  Then by Vikriti Chakra Padakrama, the order is Taurus, Libra, Pisces, Leo, Capricorn, Gemini, Scorpio, Aries, Virgo, Aquarius, Sagittarius.  Thus the readers may understand the case of movable and dual signs too.

There is another view introduced by Neelakanta concerning the notation of Padakrama.  The twelve signs are classified into two groups.

1. Vishama Pada group
2. Sama Pada group

Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius come under Vishama Pada group.  Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces come under Sama Pada group.  The count or reckoning from the sign of Vishama Pada group should be direct.  The count or reckoning from the Sama Pada group should be reverse.  It means that the count from Taurus or Scorpio should be direct (though they are even signs) because they come under Vishama Pada group.  The count from Leo or Aquarius should be reverse (though they are the odd signs) since they come under Sama Pada group.  The Padakrama staqtue is deduced from the 8th, 9th, 10th sutras in the 4th Pada of the 2nd Adhyaya and has the support of Vriddhakarika.

A thorough understanding of this exposition of the five notations in the present and previous lessons can confer on one an easy and proper grasp of Jaimini system of Astrology.

These five conventional notations are useful for the count of not only Bhavas etc. but also for the reckoning of Dasa-signs of the various sign-Dasas.  It is also essential to know the years of each Dasa-sign of any Ayurdasa or of Phalita Dasa.  Readers with the knowledge of the exposition so far given will be in a position to understand the run of Dasa-signs of any ayurdasa or Phalita Dasa which I would be dealing with in the ensuing lessons.  To facilitate their easy grasp of the Dasa Varsha of the various Dasas whicdh I would deal with later, I would explain now the different methods of count of Dasa Varsha.

Count the number of signs from the Dasa-sign to the lord of the sign according to Prakriti Chakra.  This number is the number of years of the Dasa-sign.  If the lord of the Dasa-sign is exalted, add 1 year to the above number.  If the lord of the Dasa-sign is debilitated subtract one year from the above number.  The count should be according to Prakriti Chakra.

There are two methods of count from Dasa-sign to its lord. The count would be from Dasa-sign to its lord both inclusive.

The number by the above count minus one.

Dasa-sign occupied by its own lord gets 12 years.

Dasa-sign with its lord in its 7th gets 10 years.

According to another school of thought the count would be from the Dasa-sign lord to the Dasa-sign, by the use of Prayena in the aphorism Nadhantassamaha Prayena.

In some Dasas, each Dasa-sign carries 9 years and in some other Dasas, the cardinal Dasa-sign gets 7 years, the fixed Dasa-sign gets 8 years and the dual Dasa-sign gets 9 years.  Suppose you want to count the Dasa Varsha of Aries.  See where Mars, the lord of Aries, is posited.  If Mars occupies Aries, give 12 years to Aries Dasa-sign.  If Mars occupies Taurus, give 2 years to Aries Dasa-sign according to one school of thought or 1 year according to another school of thought.  Similarly if Mars occupies Gemini, give 3 or 2 years.  Suppose you want to count the Dasa Varsha of Cancer, an even sign.  See where the Moon, the lord of Cancer, is placed.  If the Moon occupies Cancer, give 12 years to Cancer Dasa-sign.  If the Moon occupies Leo, give 12 or 11 years to Cancer Dasa-sign by the reverse count from Cancer to Leo.  If the Moon occupies Gemini, give 2 or 1 year to Cancer Dasa-sign.  If the Moon occupies Taurus, give 3 years to Cancer Dasa-sign because the Moon is exalted.  If the Moon occupies Scorpio, give 7 years to Cancer Dasa-sign, because the Moon is debilitated.  If the Moon occupies Capricorn, give 10 years to Cancer Dasa-sign, according to one school of thought.  The readers would do well to understand the count of Dasa-signs and Dasa Varsha as it will facilitate the understanding of Ayurdasa and Phalita Dasas in due course.