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1
Upagraha m. (derived from graha with upa - implying inferiority), a minor planet or any heavenly body of a secondary kind, a comet,
meteor, falling star or a mathematical point like the nodes that does not have a physical body.
Båhat Paräsara horä çästra: Graha guëa svarüpa adhyäya Page 2 of 15
Author: Sanjay Rath, Singapore 2004
© Çré Jagannäth Center, 2004 (For internal circulation only)
(increases longitude) in the east. A study of the signs, asterisms and planets
(including their motions) with reference to the lagna divulges all information and
the fortunes of the native.
/day
0 0
Mars 0 31’27” 191 31’ 150 /month
Mercury 1040’ 1040’
Jupiter 00 5’ 00 5’ 300 /year
Venus 1036’ 1036’
Saturn 002’ 002’ 120/year
Rähu/Ketu 003’11” 19022’/year 003’ 200/year
1.4 Nodes
The lunar orbital plane is tilted by 50 9’ to the earths ecliptic. This causes the
Moon to have a latitudinal motion as well. The points of intersection of the lunar
orbit with the earth ecliptic are called the ascending node (Rähu) and descending
node (Ketu) because the Moon either gains or loses latitude after these nodal
conjunctions respectively.
Similarly, all other planets from Mercury to Saturn also have their orbits tilted
to the earth ecliptic and have latitudinal motion. Their points of orbital intersection
with the earth ecliptic are also called nodes of the planets. Thus each planet has its
own set of Rähu-Ketu. However, in Vedic astrology we are only concerned with the
nodes of the Moon. Although the true nodes have some direct and some
retrogradation motion, only the average motion called ‘mean nodes’ (which is
always in retrogradation) is used in Vedic astrology.
Båhat Paräsara horä çästra: Graha guëa svarüpa adhyäya Page 4 of 15
Author: Sanjay Rath, Singapore 2004
© Çré Jagannäth Center, 2004 (For internal circulation only)
2. Classification of Planets
2.1 Good & Evil planets
Paräsara
taträrkaçanibhüputräù kñéëendurähuketavaù |
krüräù çeñagrahä saumyäù krüraù krürayuto budhaù || 11||
Translation: The planets are classified as krüra (evil) and saumya (good) based on
their inherent nature. The Sun, Saturn, Mars, weak Moon, Rähu & Ketu are evil
planets. Venus, Jupiter, Mercury and Moon are good planets. Mercury is classified
as an evil planet if it conjoins evil planets; else it is a good planet. Mercury, when
conjoined more good planets or when placed alone in a sign is considered a good
planet.
The strength of the Moon is based on the moonlight. The Moon should have
more than half-light to be considered strong. In general, astrologers accept that the
Moon is strong from sukla pakña (waxing fortnight) añöami tithi2 to kåñëa pakña
(waning fortnight) añöami tithi.
TO DO
List the various
2.2 Names of planets
names of the
The planets are known by various names to bring out their planets and
nature and attributes. decipher their
meanings
2.3 Self signification
Paräsara
sarvätmä ca divänätho manaù kumudabändhavaù |
sattvaà kujo budhaiù prokto budho väëépradäyakaù || 12||
devejyo jïänasukhado bhågurvéryapradayakaù |
åñibhiù präktanaiù proktaçchäyäsünuçca duùkhadaù || 13||
Translation: Sun is the ätmä (soul) of the kälapuruña (time personified) and is the
natural significator of all souls. Moon signifies the mana (mind) and chitta
(consciousness)3. Mars signifies the sattva4 (strength) and Mercury signifies the
speech (and voice). Jupiter signifies jïäna (knowledge) and sukha (happiness) as
Venus signifies potency (semen/ procreative abilities)5.
Each of these planets represents an aspect of the individual of which, the
representative of the true spiritual self that is neither created nor destroyed, is the
2
8th day of the bright half where each lunar day (tithi) is equal to a 120 separation between the Sun and Moon. There are 30 tithi
in a month.
3
Paräsara (BPHS) mana; Kalyäëaverma (Särävali) cheta
4
sÅv (Sattva) is different from sTv (satva) – the latter means goodness.
5
Kalyäëaverma (Särävali) states ‘guruùsito jïäna sukhe’ which implies that knowledge is signified by Jupiter and happiness by
Venus. However, Paräsara mentions deveJyae }ansuodae É&guvIRyRàdayk> devejyo jïänasukhado bhågurvéryapradäyakaù. Thus what
Kalyäëaverma is emphasising is the fundamental difference between Jupiter and Venus as representing happiness in the
spiritual and material planes respectively.
Båhat Paräsara horä çästra: Graha guëa svarüpa adhyäya Page 5 of 15
Author: Sanjay Rath, Singapore 2004
© Çré Jagannäth Center, 2004 (For internal circulation only)
Sun. The word ätmä has various meanings which focus on the self. The moon
signifies the mana (mind) in its five levels of consciousness: -
that the ätmä is separated from the mana and the senses/organs as a part of
the process of death. This is the greatest gift of Maheçvara. How else could the
ätmä and mana reunite during the birth process (as explained by
Varähamihira above) if they were not separated beforehand? Secondly,
memory is a function of the ‘dhé’ (intellect) and not the mana (mind).
Thus, Supra consciousness refers to the fact that the mana is directed on a
path of worldly experiences based on karma of the individual in the past
incarnations that could neither be suffered nor forgiven called prarabdha dåòha
karma.
6
Paräsara uses the word ‘netä’ which means ‘one who leads’.
Båhat Paräsara horä çästra: Graha guëa svarüpa adhyäya Page 7 of 15
Author: Sanjay Rath, Singapore 2004
© Çré Jagannäth Center, 2004 (For internal circulation only)
7
Nyäya philosophy and should not be mistaken for the primary constituents of präkåti (saàkhya philosophy) which are satva,
rajas & tamas.
8
Some astrologers opine that Mercury gives a green complexion, but I have yet to come across any human being who is green
in complexion! Some astrologers feel that Mercury indicates the very dark complexion based on the word durväçyäma used by
Paräsara which refers to the colors of the durvä grass (dry grass is brownish) and çyäma means dark or black.
9
Reproductive ability is based on the sex of a person.
Båhat Paräsara horä çästra: Graha guëa svarüpa adhyäya Page 8 of 15
Author: Sanjay Rath, Singapore 2004
© Çré Jagannäth Center, 2004 (For internal circulation only)
Mars indicates a celibate male and represents boys till marriage whereas
Saturn signifies girls after puberty but before marriage. Mercury signifies little girls
before puberty. The adult male is signified by Jupiter while the female is signified by
Venus. These planets indicate the period when the people marry and procreate. In
the middle age, the Sun signifies the male as the head of the family while the Moon
signifies the female as the head of home. Old age sets in and Saturn signifies the
stage where sexual desire is dead or defunct. One of the partners dies and the male
widower is indicated by Rähu while Ketu indicates the widow.
Sexual preferences are another issue altogether and Mercury or Saturn
connected with matters of sexuality indicate homosexuality as they are eunuch
planets.
10
Paräsara (BPHS 3.34): kqu]arit´imïmxuraMlk;ayka>, ³me[ sveR iv}eya> sUyaRdIna< rsa #it. kaöukñäratiktamiçramadhurämlakañäyakäù|krameëa
sarve vijïeyäù süryädénäà rasä iti.
11
kaöu means pungent , acrid , sharp (one of the seven kinds of flavor , rasa) and that which increases the fire in the body.
12
n. sourness , acidity like the tamarind, Tamarindus Indica L.
Båhat Paräsara horä çästra: Graha guëa svarüpa adhyäya Page 9 of 15
Author: Sanjay Rath, Singapore 2004
© Çré Jagannäth Center, 2004 (For internal circulation only)
4. Things to do - Signification
Determine the following signification of each of the planets. Please leave the ‘lecture
notes’ space blank and bring this work book to the lecture where you can add your
lecture notes.
Caste
Abode
Body parts
Devatä
(deity)
Dig
(Direction)
Båhat Paräsara horä çästra: Graha guëa svarüpa adhyäya Page 12 of 15
Author: Sanjay Rath, Singapore 2004
© Çré Jagannäth Center, 2004 (For internal circulation only)
Strengths
Strength in
day or night
Strength in
pakça
Strength in
äyana
Tatva (State
of existence)
Metals etc.
Vedas
Spiritual
worlds
Båhat Paräsara horä çästra: Graha guëa svarüpa adhyäya Page 13 of 15
Author: Sanjay Rath, Singapore 2004
© Çré Jagannäth Center, 2004 (For internal circulation only)
Trees
Seasons
Periods
Body tissue
Båhat Paräsara horä çästra: Graha guëa svarüpa adhyäya Page 14 of 15
Author: Sanjay Rath, Singapore 2004
© Çré Jagannäth Center, 2004 (For internal circulation only)
5. Things to do – Description
viçäradaù
Venus sukhi käntavapu çreñöhaù sukhi
sulocano bhågoù sutaù | käntavapu
kävyakartä çreñöhaù
kaphädhikyo'nilätmä
sulocano
vakramürdhajaù || 28||
bhågoù
sutaù
kävyakartä
kaphädhikyo
anilätmä
vakramürdhajaù
Saturn kåçdérghatanuù çauriù kåçdérghatanuù
piìgadåñöyanilätmakaù | çauriù
sthüladanto'lasaù paìguù piìgadåñöya
khararomakaco dvija || 29||
anilätmakaù
sthüladanto
alasaù
paìguù
khara
romakaco
Rähu dhümräkäro dhümräkäro
nélatanurvanastho'pi nélatanu
bhayaìkaraù | vanastho
vätaprakåtiko dhémän
bhayaìkaraù |
svarbhänustatsamaù çikhé ||
Ketu vätaprakåti
30||
dhémän
svarbhänu
statsamaù
çikhé
6. Case studies
Various case studies will be taken up during the lecture. Please carry
additional paper for lecture notes.