Thandavamalai – 2 by R.Ramanathan

(Source: Chart No.31 of Notable Horoscopes by Dr.B.V.Raman).

This is the chart of George Bernard Shaw. In this chart, Angular‐cum‐Trinal Lord is Saturn and thereby qualifies for perfect yogakaraka. He conjoins with Mercury another trinal lord. Their association is the major strength of the chart. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in Mercury Dasa. Most of his accomplishments were in the Mercury Dasa. That is why, Dr. B.V.Raman has rightly observed about the Mercury Dasa of Bernard Shaw as “Mercury Dasa commenced in 1923 and Shaw’s reputation reached a climax.” Thus, verse 19 of Thandavamalai has been testified.

20.“The Dharma‐Karmathipas will not confer their yoga results to the individual, if they are simultaneously owning 8 ^th or 11 ^th houses also”

We can come across some texts, which are saying that the Dharmakarmathipa Yoga is ineffective for the Aries and Gemini individuals. For Aries natives, Jupiter is the 9 ^th ‐cum‐ 12 ^th lord and Saturn is 10 ^th ‐cum‐11 ^th lord. ² Hence, their Dharmakarmathipa Yoga is not

effective. For Gemini natives, Jupiter is the 7^th‐cum‐10 ^th lord and Saturn is the 8 ^th‐cum‐9 ^th lord. Hence, their Dharmakarmathipa Yoga is also not effective.

Some astrologers used to say the same thing in a different manner. They mention that the association of Jupiter and Saturn is not conducive to produce any benefic results. They are assigning a peculiar reason also for this as below:

Jupiter and Saturn being the mega‐size planets by volume‐mass,

their association is denoting a strong graha yuddha (planetary war) and thereby depriving both the planets or atleast one as defeated or weak. Therefore, the yoga that can be caused by their association is also feeble. If we extend this principle, the Dharmakarmathipa Yoga of Taurus is also null and void, if Saturn associates with Jupiter.

Though this argument appears to be rational, this is not exhibiting the real astro‐ perspective with reference to the established tenets of astrology. This verse of Thandavamalai alleviates this deficiency, which can be understood as follows:

The houses are classified by the Thandavarayar as four major groups viz. (1,5,9), (1,4,7,10),(3,6,11),(2,12,8) in the initial verses themselves of this text. It was also established that the strengths are progressive in nature within every group. Therefore, 9 ^th is the strongest in the first group, 10 ^th in the second, 11 ^th in the third and 8 ^th in the fourth groups respectively. While the 9 ^th and 10 ^th lords are benefic in nature, 8 ^th and 11 ^th lords are malefic in nature. Therefore, the inter‐relationship between these strong benefic and malefic lords (as per prabhalaschothram) is conducive to nullify the beneficence of the Dharmakarmathipa Yoga.

Therefore, in consummate, the effective Dharmakarmathipa Yoga is not at all possible for Aries and Gemini ascendants and ineffective in respect of Taurus, if Saturn associates

Jupiter. For rest of the ascendants, it is ineffective, if 8 ^th or 11 ^th lord associates with 9 ^th or 10 ^th lords.

21.“The 8 ^th house and 8 ^th from the 8 ^th house (i.e. 3^rd house) are the houses of longevity. Twelfth from these two houses (i.e. 7^th and 2^nd) are Maraka houses”

In the preceding verses, Thandavarayar has explained the nature of various bhavas and modes for ascertaining strength of yogakarakas, and some prominent yogas like Dharmakarmathipa Yoga, etc.

After explaining yoga and yogabhavas, the author has attempted to narrate the ayurbhava from this verse onwards. In order to enjoy the yoga results, one must have sufficient life to live. Therefore, the author has now explained the Maraka effects, etc.

This verse is based on the principle of ‘Bhavat Bhavam’. As we know, 8 ^th house is the house for longevity and 8 ^th therefrom reckons to 3^rd house. Therefore, 8 ^th and 3^rd houses are the houses for longevity. Again extending this principle with reference to twelfth

from these houses for longevity, we get 7^th and 2 ^nd houses, which are known as Marakasthanas. Here, one natural question arises as to why with reference to twelfth alone taken for deciding Marakasthanas.

The 12 ^th bhava stands for spending of anything and thereby, 12 ^th to any bhava destructs the bhava concerned in slow pace. Therefore, 12 ^th to Ayushthanas are denoting spending of life or destruction of life and fully qualified to become marakas.

Thus, the individual’s longevity can be determined by the strengths of the Ayushthana Lords viz. 8 ^th and 3^rd Lords, whereas the risk of life i.e. maraka effects can be expected during the directional influences of 2 ^nd and 7 ^th Lords.

However, in our humble opinion death is a complicated knot. Nobody can untie it without divine will. Moreover, even a competent astrologer will get perplexed to delineate the period of death. That is why; there are umpteen numbers of rules prescribed for ascertaining the maraka period in various texts. This text is also not an exception. That we may see in the subsequent verses.

22.“Among these two Marakathipas (2 ^nd and 7 ^th Lords), comparatively 2^nd Lord is a powerful Maraka than the 7^th . The planets disposited in these Maraka houses as well as that are associated with the Marakathipas are also confer Marakaphal”

In the last verse, the author has defined the two Marakasthanas. Here, he explains further about their comparative strengths. Among the two Marakathipas, 2 ^nd Lord is stronger in conferring Marakaphal than 7^th Lord to any native. This is based on the fundamental nature of bhava lords explained in earlier verses.

Earlier we have seen that the 2 ^nd Lord is neutral by nature, and 7 ^th Lord (being a Kendra Lord) is benefic by nature. Therefore, while conferring Marakaphal, 2 ^nd Lord presides over 7^th Lord. Astro results are dependant not only on disposition, but also association. Therefore, the planets associating with 2 ^nd Lord/House are also holding the sway of Marakaphal.

The word ‘Marakaphal’ does not necessarily imply to ‘death’ alone. Because, for all natives, except Aries and Libra natives, both the Marakathipas (viz. 2 ^nd and 7^th Lords) may hold other rulerships also. Therefore, the marakaphal is subject to modification w.r.t. their other rulership as well as association.

Even if other factors are also supporting, the markathipas not necessarily exclusively imply death. Because, as stated earlier ‘death’ is undoubtedly a mystery. Of course umpteen numbers of methods are available in astro‐texts to assess the longevity of a person. They may point to an outline of a person’s longevity, that too approximately. That is the reason, there is availability of manifold methods in astro‐literature, to assess the longevity of a person.

23.“In the dasa of the planets, that are associated with the maraka houses, the native may face death (or death‐like danger). When the native has no chance to come across the dasa of those maraka planets, then death (or death‐like danger) may be predicted for the native during the 12^th Lord’s period”

In the earlier verses the marakathipas were defined. When the individual has no chance to come across dasas of such planets, which are associated with the 2 ^nd and 7^th houses, then the 12^th Lord will take hold of such maraka role during its main period.

As stated earlier, the 12 ^th (vyaya) bhava being the house of destruction of any bhava, destruction of self can be delineated through the 12 ^th to the Ascendant, i.e. 12^th Lord. Vyaya bhava to the Ayushthanas viz. 2 ^nd and 7 ^th houses have already been identified as marakasthanas. Next, vyaya bhava to the Ascendant (denoting self) has been qualified for maraka.

In the Vimshottari Dasa System, cyclically many dasas rule the destiny of the native. In that cycle, the dasas of planets associated with 2 ^nd, 7 ^th and 12 ^th houses are empowered to confer marakaphal.

24.“Death may be predicted during the dasas of these (2 ^nd / 7 ^th /12^th) Lords or during the dasas of the planets deposited in these (2^nd / 7^th / 12 ^th ) Houses. If these periods do not prove fatal, predict end during 8 ^th Lord’s dasa”.

25.“If there is no chance to come across the dasas of planets (that are associated with the 2 ^nd / 7 ^th /12 ^th /8 ^th houses by ownership or disposition), then the dasas of perfect malefics are dangerous to the life of the native”

26.“If Saturn is associated with Maraka planets (discussed in the preceding verses), he will take the sway presiding over the rest of the planets to cause death ”

From the verse 21 onwards, Thandavarayar has narrated the maraka dasas. They may be serialized as below according to their hierarchy to confer marakaphal:

• The Lords of 2 ^nd and 7 ^th
• The Planets deposited in 2^nd and 7^th
• The Lord of 12 ^th
• The Planets deposited in 12^th

In this list, by 24 ^th verse, the author has added 8 ^th house and the planets deposited in 8 ^th house also to confer marakaphal. Here, 8 ^th house is not only known as Ayushthana but also as Randhrasthana. Therefore, the planets associated with the 8 ^th house are also empowered to confer marakaphal.

By 25^th verse, the author has added the dasa of perfect malefics also in the list. If the native has no chance to come across all the above dasas, which is quite rare, then the perfect malefic of his ascendant will take the sway to give death during its dasa. The list of perfect malefics for each ascendant is presented in Table‐I under verse 17 supra.

In the 26 ^th verse, Thandavarayar has substantiated the role of Saturn in causing death. As he is the significator of death, when associated with any maraka planets discussed in the verses 21 to 25 supra, Saturn will automatically taking precedence over other planets to end the life of the native. Here, when Saturn doesn’t associate with any maraka planet then such Saturn is not empowered to cause death. There is a view among astrologers that any significator in the significatory house will destroy that bhava i.e. karako bhavanasthe. But, Saturn is an exception to this rule. That is Saturn will not kill the native, even though he is in the 8 ^th house. This is supported by the following shloka of Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra: