Table Of ContentARYAN
MISCELLANY,
ASTROLOGICAL SERIES.
THE
BR1HAT JATAKA
OF
VARAHA
MIHIRA.
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH
BY
CHIDAMBARAM
N. AIYAR, B.A.,
Fellow ofthe Theosoplfical Society and Founder ofthe
Tirnradi Jotistantra Sablm.
Second Edition-Revised and Enlarged.
1905.
MADRAS
:
PRINTED BY THOMPSON" & CO., IN THE "THEOSOPHIST'*
DEPARTMENT OF THE " MINERVA "
PRESS,
POPHAM'S BROADWAY.
33,
FOR SALE AT THE THEOSOPHIST
OFFICE,
ADYAR, MADRAS, INDIA.
[Registered Copyright.]
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
The First Edition was carefully revised and partly
re-\vritten and enlarged by my brother the Translator a
few years beforehisdeath, which occurredinJanuary 1892.
Since then, a new Edition was much in demand by the
Public, both Indian and Foreign, but owing to many
unforeseen difficulties I have not been able to bring out
the Edition earlier.
It was the intention ofmy late lamented brother to
incorporate in this Edition a supplementary chapter on
the great many varieties, curious and wonderful, of planet-
ary and other yogas from higher treatises on Horoscopy
and also to publish a key to this work which would have
enhanced the value ofthe book and facilitated the work
ofthe ordinary reader. But unfortunately his unexpected
death has made the fulfilment impossible.
My thanks are due to Col. H. S. Olcott, President
Founder ofthe Theosophical Society, Adyar, but forwhose
hearty co-operation I could not have now brought out this
book.
AKYAN MISCELLANY OFFICE,
i
MADURA, ^N. V1SVANATHA AIYAR.
2ltk November 1U05. J
2005793
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Introduction . I
Astrological Terms Indexed . 27
HAl'TKK.
I. Definitions and Elementary Principles
(Zodiacal) ... i
II. Do. do. (Planetary)... 15
I11. Animal and Vegetable Horoscopy 24
IV. Nishekakala or the Time of Conception 28
V. Matters connected with Birth Time 40
VI. Balarishta or Early Death
VII. Ayurdaya or the Determination of the Length
of Life 61
VIII. Planetary Divisions and Sub-Divisions of Life
known as Dasas and Antar-Dasas 80
IX. Ashtaka-Vargas ... ... ... 97
X. Avocation 114
XL Raja Yogas or the Birth of Kings ... 117
XII. Nabhasa Yogas 126
XIII. Chandra or Lunar Yogas ... ... ... 142
XIV. Double Planetary Yogas ... 149
XV. Ascetic Yogas 162
XVI. TheNakshatras orthe Moon in the Asterisms. 164
XVII. The Moon in the several signs ofthe Zodiac. J68
XVIII. The Sun, Mars, andother planetsin the several
signs ofthe Zodiac ... ... ... 172
XIX.
Planetary Aspects 183
XX. Planets in the Bhavas ... ... ... 189
XXI. Planets in several Vargas ... iP4
XXII. Miscellaneous Yogas 199
XXIII. Malefic Yogas 202
XXIV. Horoscopy of Women 210
XXV. Death
217
XXVI. Lost Horoscopes... ... 224
XXVII. Drekkana?
237
XXVI11. Conclusion 245
VI CONTENTS.
APPENDIX. PAGE.
Method of rinding Lagna Sphutam ... ... i
Do do Local Time (by Day)... ... ii
Do do do (at Night) ... iii
Table showing the Oblique Ascension of each sign
ofthe Zodiac ... iv
Do do from any one sign
to any other sign ofthe Zodiac ... vi
Do the Antardasa periods ofthe
Nakshatra Dasas ... vii
Do the Equation ofTime for India ... viii
Do the Time of the Culmination ofthe
Sun and the Vernal Equinox ... ix
Do theFriends, Enemies, etc.,ofPlanets. ix
Do theTimeoftheCulminationofStars, ix
PUBLICATIONS
OF THE
ARYAN MISCELLANY OFFICE.
IN ENGLISH.
I. The Brihat Samhita of Vamlia Miliira. A cyclopx-
dia ofinformation on Natural Astrology, containing inter-
pretations ofover i,000 phenomena of Nature and treating
of numerous other interesting subjects : Price Rs. 5
(India) : IDS. (Foreign).
A
II. The Brihat Jataka of Varalui Mihira. complete
system of Horoscopy providing for the solution of all ques-
tions of Nativity : Price Rs. 3 (India): 6s. (Foreign).
III. Shatpanchasika (with Sanskrit Text). A work on
Prasna or Horary Astrology by Prithuyasas, son of Varaha
Mihira, containing solutions of a number of important
Horary questions : Price 8 As. (India) : is. (Foreign).
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Astrology by Upendrachariar, providing for the solution o^
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Apply ivith remittance orper V.P.P, to
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Aryan Miscellany Office, Triplicate, Madras
INTRODUCTION.
THERE is probably not one subject which is so ill-
understood, which somanypeople pretend toknow,and on
which so many are prepared to express an opinion, as the
subject of Astrology. The Indian proverb trulysaysthat
there is no man who is not a bit ofa physician and an
astrologer ; and it is equally true that there is no subject
which is soill-understood as these two. The fact is that
the broad medical and astrological principles are so many
that everybody of necessity learns a few of these, but
experiences a difficulty in mastering all of them.
It would be interesting to note the various subjects
with which astrology is confounded. Persons with well-
developed intuitions are often found to make correct pre-
dictions ofevents. The Yogis are persons of thisdescrip-
tion. Their peculiar knowledge is certainly not the
We
result of any study of astrological works. also find
another class of men who imitate these men and also
make striking statements. Birmingham gold is often
taken for sterling gold ; German silverforpuresilver ;and
we have a variety of inferior stones, white, red and green
that are often mistaken for diamonds, rubies and emeralds
The world is full of this dual character of things. Every
department of true knowledge has its inferior counterpart
and so we have a number of men who, possessing no oc-
cult powers, but securing the help of a few elemental
spirits, practise imposition on the ignorantpublic. Butthe
world is not without a touchstone to detect the hollowness
oftheir pretensions : these men willgiveyou afewcorrect
particulars regarding remote past events, a great deal of
particulars regarding present events, one or two particu-
lars regarding theimmediate future, and noparticulars at
2 Introduction.
all about the distant future. I haveknown these men and
tested the truth oftheir statements. These men pretend
to be astrologers. Some of them carry no books at all and
make amazing statements touching past events in prose
and verse in an extempore sing-song fashion and without
the least effort, even though the questioner is a perfect
stranger ; while othersshewyou some hugeantiquecadjan
book and pretend to read from itspages. This was exact-
ly the way in which Col. Olcott's questions were recently
answeredby the Brahmin astrologer whopretended to read
from the pagesof the works oftheGreat Bheemakavi (vide
May, 1885,issue ofthe Theosophist}. I am sure that nei-
ther Col. Olcott nor his intelligent friends ever had a look
into the book to see whether what was read out wasreally
written there, and if so, whether the writing was not a
fresh one. In all these cases the astrologer, if he is one
at all, doggedly refuses to allow others to look into his
book ; for, he says, he is not permitted by the book deity
to do so ! There is a more wonderful man in Pondicherry
at present. He pretends to read from the works of
Nandikeswara. Such astrologers are making vast sums
of money. The statements they make are really puzzling
ones. But for these and the way in which they are made,
the utter want of preparation and the like, I should have
been inclined to discard the element of the help of the
elemental spirits. Let those who would object to this,
examine the matter and then pronounce an opinion.
Nothingcan be more funny than to find young men
especially, taking up astrology as their first subject of
attack in their public utterances. It is a subject towhich
they pay little or no attention except for purposes of ridi-
cule. To all your questions, how do you prove this state-
ment and how do you prove that : their one ready reply is
that their common sense tells them so. They forget
that common sense is a sense which changes in its nature
Introduction. 3
as one advances in his study, and it changes so much that
the common sense of one age is different from the
common sense of another age, the common sense of one
nation or of one individual is different from the common
sense ofanother nation or ofanother individual. Where
proof is advanced by a few, it is equally interestingto ex-
amine it. The proof is that such and such astrologers
made such and such predictions and that the predictions
have failed and ergo, astrology is no science ! It is evi-
dently taken for granted that the astrologer was really
learned in the science, and that there were not those
numerous errors of data tomislead him.
Another objection to thescienceis that astrologically
the fortunes of two persons born at the same moment of
time but in the opposite quarters of the globe, must bu
the same, but that they cannot be and are not the same.
Here is an ignorance betrayed regarding the elementary
principles of the science. It is true that the planetary
positions are nearly the sameexcept for the small matter
of parallax. But it is not the planets alone that go to
shape one's fortunes. Timeof birth, which is represent-
ed by the Lagna or the rising sign, has a great deal to do
with it. In other words, because the local times ofthe
two places are different, the L/agnas must be different ;
for when the aoth degree of Leo, for instance, is in
contact with the horizon here, the aoth degree ofAquaries
will be in contact with thehorizonof our justantipodesat
the same moment. Our rising sign is their setting sign,
and our setting sign is their rising sign; so that a
difference of longitude gives a difference of local time
and consequently a difference of Lagna. But suppose
the places to have the same longitude. Take two
places for instance on the same meridian and therefore
due north and south of each other. Now the question is
whether the Lagua is the same for both the places. No,
4 Introduction-
The Lagna is a point in the ecliptic which is inclined to
theequator. The planes ofthe horizon of the two places
are different and they cut different parts of the ecliptic.
It therefore follows that a difference of latitude gives a
difference in the Lagna. So that places with a differ-
ence of either longitude or latitudeor with both cannot
have the same Lagna at the same time. That Lagna or
mere time or space, irrespective ofthe planets, has a
great deal to do with shaping the fortunes of a native or
Jataki will be a new revelation to most people- We will
come to this subject presently. A horoscopic diagram or
figure of the heavens represents both local time or Lagna
and
planetary positions.
What then is Astrology or Horoscopy ? What is its
nature and what its bounds? Here is the author'sdefini-
tion of horoscopy
Horoscopy is stated to be the science of Ahoratri or
the science ofday and night these being the broadest
visible divisions oftime multiples of which give weeks,
months, years, &c., and divisions of which give hours,
minutes, seconds> &c. The first letter A, and the last
letter tri, having been dropped, the term has assumed
the shape of hora, and the authorsays that hora Shastra
treats of the effects of the good and bad deeds of an indi-
vidual in his previous birth so that the moment a per-
;
son is born, it becomes his lot to enjoyand suffer certain
pleasures and pains for his past good and bad deeds
seeds cast into the cosmic regionin one birth begin
to bear sweet and sour fruits in another birth according
to their quality,
Introduction. 5
In this connection we may say a few words touching
the longdisputed question of Fatalism versus Free-will.
Persons of the former school hold that even the minutest
events ofone's life arepre-ordained, and that man is com-
pletely a puppet in the hands of certain higher agencies.
This error has evidently been the result ofthe obser-
vation of a number of well projected efforts in particular
directions having been thoroughly discomfited. Again,
men of the other school hold that man is a free agent,
and that there is nothing impracticable for him if only
proper means are employed for the purpose. This error
again has been the result of the observation ofeven ill
projected efforts in particular directions, proving highly
successful the failures, if any, being accounted for
by the insufficiency of the means employed. In the
one case man becomesan irresponsible agent and in the
;
other he not only bootlessly grieves over his failures,
but repeats his attempts, thus putting himself to trouble,
expense and vexation only to fail again. Now, as regards
the former position, it is held that man's present deeds
are all the effects of his previous deeds. As free agency
ofany sort is discardedfrom the question, it would follow
that these previous deeds are the effects ofdeeds still
more previous, and so on, ad tttfinitum, or till we are
brought to a state of cosmic evolution when differences
ofstates and conditions were infused into human souls
by the Creator. Such a condition of irresponsibility is
opposed to reason, opposed to progress, and equally
opposed to divine and human law. It is a very pernicious
doctrine in the extreme.
As regards the latter view, ifman can wholly shape
his own fortunes, how are we to account for the pheno-
mena of suffering virtue and the enjoying vice in certain
cases for the former reaping no rewards and the latter
A
escaping punishment. satisfactory explanation would
