Understanding Dasa Effects From Brihat Jataka by Saaji Kulangara Bhaskaran

Article by Saaji Kulangara Bhaskaran

Varaha mihira’s position in Indian astrology is that of the Sun for this World. Having gained boon from Sun God, he gained unparalleled mastery on the subject and could write texts in all three branches of astrology namely, In Ganita – pancha siddhantika, In Samhita – sama samhita & brihat samhita and in Hora –  svalpa jatakam, brihat jatakam, yoga yatra, maha yatra & vivaha patalam. Thus as the Sun’s brilliant rays reach every corner of this world, his writings touched every aspect of this divine science.

His most popular work, Brihat Jataka has 284 shlokas in 25 chapters. The word ‘brihat’ in Sanskrit means large, wide, vast, clear, loud etc; He himself wrote in brihat samhita that if one wants to cross the sea, he may achieve it, but those except rishis no one can even think of crossing the vast ocean of astrology. Then how does a small text with just 284 shlokas become a Brihat Jataka? It was bhattotpala’s commentary on the hidden meanings of each shlokas, which brought to light the brilliance of this text. Since then there have been many commentaries for this text in all corners of India.

Prashna Marga, the divine text,  stanza 27, chapter 1 says: “Brihat Jataka by Varahamihira, though short, is a very suggestive treatise pregnant with ideas. Though difficult to be comprehended by even intelligent persons, yet with the aid of the commentaries of Bhattotpala and others, it is possible to understand the book”

“One wearing the garland of Varahamihira in his neck along with the necklace of Krishneeya can win laurels in any astrological assembly” Stanza 28.

(translation by Dr BV Raman)

Brihat Jataka, Krishneeya and Prashna Marga are the important texts for the astrologers in the southern state of Kerala. Among them Brihat Jataka saw more commentaries, the most famous being the ‘hridaya patha’ commentary of the legendary Kaikulangara Rama Varrier (1). Sarvasri Konath Varieth Sankara Varier (2) wrote another famous commentary, which have been my favourite astrological text since long. This I write to introduce the readers to some of the points which help in delineation of dasha effects :

Dashasu vakshyami yathopayogam (P133) , Acharya says that to correctly deduce dasha results one has to see many factors. One has to consider, the significations of the planets, the karma indications of planets, bhava results, the results owing to the placements, modifications by aspects, and also raja yoga combinations, nabhasa yogas whose results one can feel through out life, and other combinations with other planets and also one should consider the place, age and time periods for predictions. (P143)

Dasha results also affected by the position of dasha lord and Moon at the time of commencement of the dasha. We have to cast a chart at the time of commencement of the dasha and in that chart, the following combinations increase the benefic result of the dasha: (a) In the entry chart ascendant is occupied by this dasha lord  (b) Any friend of the dasha lord in the Ascendant (c) Any benefic is situated in the Ascendant (d) Any of the shadvargas has Ascendant in the houses ruled by Dasha lord (e) Dasha lord situated in the 3,6,10 or 11^th houses from the Ascendant.   Moon also influences the dasha results: In the entry chart, if the Moon is situated in the exaltation or friendly signs of the dasha lord or from the Dasha lord if Moon is situated in the 3,6,10,11 rasis, then also the dasha results’ can be more of benefic nature. The same also applicable to antar dashas but in that case we have to see antar dasha lords.

Acharya says that “Chandrah salphala bodhanani kuruthe” whichever lord’s dasa is there, the good results are informed by the Moon. (P 136) while the dasha results are given by Sun. “savitaa dashaphalaanaam paachayitaa, chandramaah prabhodhayitaa”. Therefore the strength of Ascendant, Moon and Sun are important in a horoscope.

Now depending on the position of Moon in various houses, the following can be  predicted. In the entry chart, if the Moon is situated in the Cancer, then happiness, increase in wealth and position are the results. If the Moon is in Aries or Scorpio, then difficulties to wife, Virgo or Gemini, gain in education and wealth and support of relatives, if in Leo the residence being shifted to remote places,  in Taurus or Libra enjoyment of rich food, in Capricorn or Aquarius, intimacy with lower class women and finally if the Moon is Sagittarius or Pisces then the results are increase in happiness, wealth and position. The same can be applied for antar dasha or pratyantardasha results as well.

Evenif the dasha is bad, if the dasha is that of a natural benefic, then the evil effects will be reduced to a good extent because the natural benefic nature of planets can reduce the evil. Likewise, even if dasha is good, but the dasha is of a natural malefic, then the good effects will be reduced to some extent. (P142)

If the planet is in a Prushtodaya rasi(3) the dasha effects will be more effectively felt in the 3^rd or last part of dasa while for Ubhayodaya rashi planet, the results will be more effective in the  2^nd or middle part of the dasha and for a Shirshodaya rasi occupied planet the dahsa effects will be more effective in the first part of the dasha. (P253)

In a benefic’s dasha or antar dashas, the native’s mind will be confident and interested in good deeds, much happiness and increase in wealth will be the results, while in a malefic’s dasha or antardashas fear and distress, interest in base deeds, decrease in wealth and illness and many dangers one might experience.

If the dasa antardasha lords are strong only the corresponding results one will experience. If not strong, then it will be seen in dreams or the native will only think or plan about it. Since dasha results are dridha karma results, then the results of such should be felt atleast in dreams is the point to be noted. (P145)

In most cases a planet will be the lord of a good result and also it may stand for the just opposite results as well.  For example, for Libra Ascendant, if Venus is in the 2^nd house, Scorpio. Since this Venus is Lagna lord, it supports wealth and family but being lord of 8^th house, Venus stands for destruction of the same results. In this case both result combined, the results should just stand neutralised. However, this may not be the case. A planet’s strength to give results depdends on many matters like, being a benefic, combined or aspected by benefics or occupying the shadvargas of benefics, being strong, being placed in good houses like Lagna, 9^th etc; will boost its strength to give good results and just opposite to this will increase its strength to give bad results.

Now if two of them occupies a house, suppose one supports good results and the other one destroys the same. Suppose for Sagittarius ascendant, Jupiter and Moon are in Aries. Here being Ascendant lord, Jupiter will support the 5^th house significations like intellect, influence, learning, issue etc; and being 8^th lord Moon will destroy these things. In this case Jupiter will not obstruct the results of Moon or Moon, Jupiter’s results. What will happen is in Jupiter’s period, these significations will increase, while in Moon, it will reduce the strength of 5^th house indications.

Notes:

1. Kaikulangara Rama Varier ( 1832 – 1894 ) was the legendary Scholar of Sanskrit, Ayurveda & Astrology. He with rigorous prayers, believed to have propitiated dhenu saraswati who resides in the middle of Surya mandala, there are many incidents vouched for his brilliance, said to possess the power to memorize anything just once heard. He was able to throw a handfull of Manchadis up and count them before they reached the ground. He wrote more than 40 texts which stand unparallel in their category!
2. Konath Varieth Sankara Varier was one of the reputed scholars of his time. His commentary on Brihat Jataka first published in the year 1940.
3. Prushtodaya rasis are Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Sagittarius & Capricorn and Shirshodya rashis are Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio & Aquarius while Ppisces is a ubhayodaya rashi.