Manubhai Shah’s Prediction Techniques – Part-1 by Jitendra Trivedi

Article by Jitendra Trivedi

Astrologers nowadays emphasize the use of divisional charts. But there was one exceptionally talented astrologer of a small village of India who did not use Vargas kundalis, not even Navamsa chart nor dasha system for making predictions.

Late Shri Manubhai S. Shah (23-12-1908 to 16-01-1985) of Gujarat was the astrologer who devised and used a system of astrological prediction based on birth chart only. He wrote that Navamsa and others Vargas kundalis were the tools through which astrologers try to justify their wrong predictions. He wrote a voluminous book called “Jyotish Shiromani’’ In which Shah has given simple rules and has substantiated it with 3,597 horoscopes. He also studied western astrology but found Indian Astrology more useful.

He considered astrology as a Science and stated that if you are able to predict 30 important events of one’s life with year and month then you are a good astrologer. He has demonstrated how to do it in his above mentioned book, which is available in Gujarati and English as well. Mr. Shah has written other 18 books which are sheer gems; he was very detailed and precise in its writings, defining each house results with clearly illustrations of benefic and malefic influences and presenting the astrological combinations and yoga’s in a crisp and accurate manner.

Late Manubhai Shah had once visited an astrologer who insulted him. This made him learn Astrology and, in the process, he learned Astronomy, Western and Indian Astrology, but found Indian Astrology more useful and declared it as the Gem of the Earth. He only used Rasi charts for making predictions. For timing of events he used Paribhraman Kal Paddhti (Hindu Theory of planetary progressions).

Although I believe in Dashas and Navamsa chart, I respect Mr. Shah`s techniques for their simplicity and effectiveness. His techniques give amazing results when put to a test on different horoscopes.

His most startling statement is that “Rahu & Ketu are mathematical points and not planets, hence they don’t have any role to play in predictions”. Therefore he has not given the positions of Rahu-Ketu in any of the 3,597 horoscopes of its collection.

The technique structure base of his predictions is founded on the following points:

Sthan Karakas

• Irrespective of the sign it is tenanting, planets in certain houses produce good results. Manubhai said that a planet in its karaka house should not be considered weak, but should be seen as if were in its own house. For example, Jupiter in 2^nd or 9^th house even in the sign of Capricorn is not weak.

Following are the karaka houses for each planet:

Planets Natural Friendship

• There are two categories of planets: Dev grahas (Sun, Moon, Mars and Jupiter) and Danav grahas (Saturn, Venus and Mercury). Dev grahas are winners. Danav grahas are defeated by Dev grahas. Danavas are enemies of Devas. Moon is loved by all planets. No planet is enemy of Jupiter since he is Ajatshru (one without enemies).

Strong, Weak and Failed Planets

• A debilitated planet is considered weak. Such planet will not give good or bad results as expected.
• Retrograde Mars and Saturn should be considered strong, retrograde Jupiter, Venus and Mercury should be considered weak.
• A planet in conjunction with Sun even though combust (Asta) gives the results of the Sun.

Houses

• Kendra houses (1^st, 4^th, 7^th and 10^th) are beneficial. Generally 10^th house is considered strong, but Shah considers 1^st, 5^th and 9^th houses as the strongest.

Sarak (benefic) and Marak (killer) Theory

Mr. Shah on the basis of the following three rules presents Sarak and Marak Theory.

1. Lords of the 6^th, 8^th and 12^th houses are Marakas (death inflictors) if they are not lords of Kendra houses.
2. Saturn is a Marak even if it owns a Kendra (angular) house.
3. Jupiter will not behave as Marak even if he owns the 6^th, 8^th or 12^th

According to the above rules, following are the Sarak, Marak and the strongest Marak planets for each Ascendant:

• If Mercury is in Deva rashi (1^st, 4^th, 5^th, 8^th, 9^th or 12^th signs) consider Mars as Sarak and Saturn as Marak. Consider Saturn as a Marak even if Mercury is weak i.e. in the 6^th, 8^th or 12^th If Mercury is in Danava rashi (2^nd, 3^rd, 6^th, 7^th, 10^th or 11^th houses) or between 29 and zero degrees consider Mars as a Marak and Saturn as a Sarak.
• It should be noted that Saturn is impotent hence it will not be able to give good results of 5^th and 7^th houses in spite of being Sarak for Gemini and Virgo Ascendants.
• Saturn is the strongest Marak for Cancer, Leo and Pisces Ascendants.

Now we will see how a weak planet becomes strong and a strong planet becomes weak or better saying: How a Marak planet turns into a Sarak planet and vice versa.

Nich bhanga yogas

• A neecha (debilitated) planet is considered weak, but does not lose the power of their aspect. Its power is weak, but if such planet is in its own karaka house, then it gets Sthan bala and gives good results of its houses. For example, Jupiter in 2^nd house for Sagittarius or Cancer Lagna, also Mars placed in 3^rd house for Taurus Lagna or in 6^th house for Aquarius Lagna.
• Any Sarak planet in neecha rashi if in yuti, prati-yuti or aspected by other Sarak planet also becomes strong.
• Any debilitated Marak planet or Saturn in 6^th, 8^th or 12^th houses should also be considered as being Neechbhanga.
• If a neecha Marak planet is connected to Saturn by yuti, prati-yuti or drishti then such planet should be considered strongest Maraka.

Important note: A Marak planet is not able to give results of its karaka houses, hence is considered malefic, but if such planet aspects its Karaka Sthan, then it will give benefic results of its karaka house. For example, in Gemini Lagna when Mars is situated in the 12^th house he aspects the 3^rd and 6^th houses, in this case Mars will give good results regarding 3^rd and 6^th house matters.

How Retrograde Planets become Strong

• Retrograde Sarak Mercury, Venus and Jupiter are considered weak. They are not able to give the results of their own houses or karaka houses as expected. But if they are placed in their karaka house in exaltation (except in 6^th, 8^th or 12^th houses) or related to the Sarak planet they become strong.

Important note: Any planet which is lord of a Kendra, 5^th or 9^th houses and is also lord of 6^th, 8^th or 12^th house is Sarak, but it will not work as a strong Sarak if it is aspected by Saturn, conjunct with Saturn, placed in Saturn’s sign or in 6^th, 8^th or 12^th houses.

Saturn is the karaka of 6^th, 8^th and 12^th houses meaning disease, enemy, death, loss, debt, interest and expenses. Saturn is Yama and therefore it’s not able to give good results. Saturn has one quality and that is its satanic power. Native will be able to use its satanic power only if it is aspected by a Sarak graha.

Planets and their Social Status

• Sun is the king and it dwells in palace and lives a royal life.
• Moon is the queen and dwells in artistic home with garden and fountains. Its home is full of gold, silver and jewels.
• Mars is the minister or the army chief. It lives in a bungalow as per its ministerial status.
• Mercury is a businessman, finance minister or a treasurer and lives in a house as per its status.
• Jupiter is the Dev Guru. It lives in the city in a house which has two or three rooms.
• Venus is the Danav Guru and lives in a two or three room house in a village.
• Saturn is the king of Danavas, he is a demon, uneducated, cruel, and hence it lives in a slum.

1. In every horoscope Ascendant is the spoke. All other planets give results of their houses according to the strength of lord of the first house. The native will attain the status of the lord of the sign in which lagnesh is situated (except when it’s placed in 6^th, 8^th or 12^th houses). For example, if Lagna is Taurus and Venus is in Cancer, the native will acquire the status of Moon. He will gain riches and acquire vehicles.

Native`s nature will be affected by any planet in the 1<sup>st</sup> house or aspecting the 1<sup>st</sup> house, but the native will not be able to reach the status of that planet. For example, if Sun is in Ascendant or aspecting it, native will have the nature of Sun but will not attain the status of Sun or for being in the Sun`s sign. However, if Ascendant lord is in a sign of a lower status planet, then such Sun will maintain the native’s position as per Lagna rashi.

Suppose for Sagittarius Ascendant, Jupiter being in Capricorn or Aquarius rashi with Sun placed in 1^st or 7^th house, in this way the native’s social status will not go below Jupiter’s status.

Same way, if Ascendant lord is placed in 6^th, 8^th or 12^th houses, the native will not attain the status of the lord of the sign in which it is placed. In such situation if any benefic planet is related to the Lagna then native’s position is maintained as per Lagna rashi. But if such related planet is of lower status then it will give lower status.

For example, in Cancer Ascendant if Moon is in 6^th, 8^th or 12^th house, the native will attain the status of Saturn. But if Ascendant (not its lord) is in aspect with Sun, then the native will get the status of the Moon (not of the Sun).

2. Any planet connected with 1^st house lord by yuti, prati-yuti or drishti will have an impact on the nature of 1^st house lord, but will not impact the status of 1^st house lord.
3. When 1^st house lord (except Saturn) is in its karaka house in a sign having better status, then lagnesh will attain the position of that planet. Suppose lagnesh Mars is in 11^th house with Jupiter in Aquarius rashi, in this case Mars will not attain the status of Aquarius rashi (Saturn’s status) but of Jupiter.
4. When 1^st house lord is in its karaka house in a sign having lower status, then lagnesh will be free from rashi dosha. In such a situation it is considered as if in their own rashi. Suppose in Sagittarius Lagna with lagnesh Jupiter in 2^nd house, native’s financial status will not be of Saturn but of Jupiter. In short, planet in its karaka house is said to be in its own house and free from rashi dosha.
5. When 1^st house lord aspects the first house, the native will attain the status of the sign in the first house or the status of the sign in which the 1^st house lord is placed, whichever is higher. For instance, in Taurus Ascendant when Venus is placed in the 7^th house in the sign of Mars. As Venus aspects its own sign the native will attain the status of either Venus or Mars. Since Mars status is higher than Venus then the native will reach up to the status of Mars.
6. If Dev lagnesh is in Danav rashi, then lagnesh will not accept the vices of Danav rashi. However he will accept the virtues of Danav rashi and will get the status of Danav rashi.
7. Danav lagnesh will get results of the sign in which it is placed (except 6^th, 8^th and 12^th houses). But such native will suffer when Saturn in transit connects with lagnesh by yuti, prati-yuti or drishti. Bad results will prevail even though Saturn is Sarak and worse if he happens to be Marak.
8. Dev lagnesh in debilitation is considered weak. If in the kundali of such native lagnesh is placed in a lower status sign, then the native will get lower status (Except for Moon and Mars).
9. If Danav lagnesh is in debilitation, then native will get the position of that sign, but if that sign is of a higher status rashi, the native will not be able to enjoy higher status. For example, when lagnesh Mercury is in Pisces rashi, Mercury will have to undergo the results of Pisces rashi. On other hand, when lagnesh Venus is in Virgo rashi, Venus will not be able to enjoy the results of Virgo rashi. Similarly, if lagnesh Saturn is in Aries rashi, the native will not enjoy the results of Aries rashi.

10. In Dev Lagna kundali (1^st, 4^th, 5^th, 8^th, 9^th and 12^th signs), Saturn being aspected by Mars 8^th drishti is said to be Sarak. Saturn could not harm because it is defeated by Mars. Such yoga is found in the horoscopes of Industrialists, these native’s can use Saturn’s satanic power to do mass production.
11. Devas planets do not take advantage of Danavas position, but Danavas planets take advantage of Devas

Now let us take one example to make above rules more clear:

Example chart:

This is Dhanu Lagna hence Moon, Venus, and Saturn are Marakas. Lagnesh Jupiter, Venus and Mercury are under Saturn’s special drishti (3^rd & 10^th aspects). Thus the native will have problems related to the 1^st, 4^th, 7^th, and 10^th houses. But Saturn turned Sarak because it is with Mars. Also Sun aspects Jupiter hence Marak power of Saturn is reduced considerably. Venus is strongest Marak as it is aspected by Saturn and not having drishti of any Sarak planet. Venus rules 6^th & 11^th houses and is the karaka of 7^th house, therefore native will not have good results of these three houses. Though Sun aspect Jupiter, the native will enjoy the social status of Jupiter only because it is under Saturn’s aspect.