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Not concerning ourselves with the inanimate world, let us focus on
the living beings, and that too the human being and spirituality.
The astadala padma (eight-petal lotus) is the foundation of Hindu
philosophy. It is based on the Kälacakra or the wheel of time, which
is composed of eight spokes and has the 28 constellations
distributed in these spokes. Each of these spokes is in one of the
cardinal (kendra) or intermediate (kona) directions and is reckoned
starting from the east and moving in the clockwise direction. Based
on this we have the astamangalam kriyä which is the ritual of
worshipping the deities and the planets inside the horoscope before
conducting a Prashna (Horary chart) or studying a horoscope.
Determination of deity
The determination of the deity is to be done in two stages. First is
to determine the guiding deities of the native. These are the three
of Ishta Devata or the deity guiding the individual soul towards
emancipation, the Pälana Devata or the deity guiding him in the
present life to improve his life and surroundings and the spiritual
master or Guru Devata. These three form the primary tripod of his
life and are akin to the Sun (natural significator of soul), Moon
(natural significator of mind and the well being in this life) and
Jupiter (natural significator of päka lagna and Guru) respectively.
Second is to determine the immediate problem and offer a solution.
The second would be a short-term remedy that is really not going to
help much in spiritual development, but is vital to establishing
faith in God. All Jyotisha are advised to tread very carefully in
this region of remedial measures as in our anxiety to help we should
not end up doing bad karma.
Ätma: Ishta & Dharma Devata
Mahärisi Jaimini advises us to examine the ninth & twelfth houses
from Kärakamsa to determine the worship. The ninth house rules
dharma whereas the twelfth house rules moksa or emancipation. As far
as the Ätmakäraka is concerned, its main objective is to attain
moksa and the Ishta Devata of a person is seen from the strongest
planetary influence on the twelfth house from Kärakamsa. Similarly,
the Dharma Devata is seen from strongest planetary influence on the
ninth house from Kärakamsa. Unlike the Ishta devata, the Dharma
Devata helps a person to attain the ideals and objectives that the
soul aspires for in this life, to achieve the desires of the present
incarnation.
Strongest planetary influence
Step 1: Planets placed in the sign: The strongest planetary
influence on the twelfth house is seen from the placement of planets
in it. If more than one planet is placed therein, then their
placement in Exaltation/own house etc should be considered failing
which, their longitude (in the rashi chart ignoring signs) is to be
considered and the one with the highest longitude is to be declared
the strongest, which shall determine the ishta devata.
Step 2: Planets aspecting the sign: If there are none in the twelfth
house, then the planetary aspects on the second house should be
determined. In this case, the aspects of the signs alone are to be
used, as the deities do not exist in a “human body”. If more than
one-planet aspects, then the strongest amongst them should be
considered. It maybe noted that planetary aspects indicate
directions to the deity and not the deity itself.
Step 3: Lord of the sign: The lord of the house should be
considered. If there are two lords, then the stronger of the two
shall determine the ishta devata.
Footnotes
1.The sign occupied by lagna lord
2.Jaimini's Upadesha Sutra: 2-1-68
3.Sign occupied by the Ätmakäraka in the Navamsa
Param padam of Visnu
Every part of this creation is a Guru, a teacher and the soul is
constantly learning new lessons and refining the knowledge of older
lessons in its constant interaction with the other souls or the
super soul. The Rig veda teaches that the penultimate objective of
every jivätma (living being – having a soul) is the param padam of
Visnu. The ishta devatä will finally be a Visnu avatära although
various deities could be guiding the native during this search for
the ultimate truth depending on the influences in the twelfth (moksa)
and ninth house (dharma) from kärakamsa.
Visnu means ‘sarva vyäpakeshvara devatä’ or He Who is
everywhere, in every being - big & small, animate & inanimate, in
every form or manner. He permeates every part of the creation and
the creation is a part of Him. This is the essence of the äkäsha
tatva that is present everywhere and has a tendency to bind or keep
things (parts) together. This is of satva guna and is not
differentiated. It is this äkäsha tatva that is present in all signs
and makes them work together in harmony. It keeps the parts of the
body together. It is the cause and controller of the buddhi.
Parasara explains that a predominance of this tatva is present in
people born in hamsa mahäpurusa yoga (Jupiter) and causes them to
worship Visnu. Thus, the ishta devatä & dharma devatä is Visnu.
The Ishta devatä mantra given below are based on my present level of
understanding of the Bhagavatam and others should consult their
Diksha Guru for their mantra. The Dharma mantras should be learnt
from bonafide Diksha Guru’s. I am qualified to give the Gayatri
mantra only and not the Yuga mantras. The latter are the foundation
(four legs of Dharma). These mantra are known as (a) Mahämantra for
kali yuga Rasi (b) Gopäla mantra for dvapara yuga rasi (c) Räma
täraka mantra for treta yuga rasi, and (d) Naräyana mantra for satya
yuga rasi.
Table 5: Visnu avatära (Paräsara) for Ishta devatä
Graha Visnu avatära Japa (dvädasäksari) mantra
Sun Räma
om namo bhagavate mahäräjäya
Moon Krisna
om namo bhagavate väsudeväya
Mars Nrisimha
om namo bhagavate narasimhäya
MercuryBuddha
om namo bhagavate
Jupiter Vämana
om namo bhagavate trivikramäya
Venus Parashuräma om namo bhagavate risikeshäya
Saturn Kürma
om namo bhagavate aküpäräya
Rahu Varäha
om namo bhagavate shrisükaräya
Ketu Matsya
om namo bhagavate mahämatsyäya
Jaimini adds that if Ketu the moksa käraka is in the ninth or
twelfth houses from kärakamsa, then the native aspires for final
emancipation. Further, if these signs are Pisces or Cancer (the
natural moksa trines), the indications of spirituality are a strong
influence.
Thus, the ninth house from the AK is the most vital deity who guides
him in achieving the objectives of his nature - this is the dharma
devatä. Yet, the real achievement is to lose the “self” identity of
the soul so that in can merge in the consciousness of godhead. This
is self-undoing and is seen from the twelfth house. From the
Kärakamsa, the deity seen in the twelfth house becomes the Ishta
devatä as it guides the soul towards the high spiritual ideal. This
deity should be favorable; else, the entire voyage of this life
could become meaningless.
Footnotes
4. Jaimini's Upadesha Sutra shloka: 2-1-69
5. Jaimini uses the terms "kriyä" and " cäpa" to refer to the signs, which by the katapayädi varga are Pisces and Cancer. Some translators have preferred "Aries" and "Sagittarius" as the direct translation of the terms instead. (Stanza 2-1-70)
Planets in trines
“Trikone päpa dvaye mäntrika ” implies that if two malefic planets
are in trines to kärakamsa the person is a mäntrika implying
knowledge of mantra shastra and/or powers of invoking the
supernatural by magical formulae.
The maximum number of malefic planets influencing the trines can be
four and give this 100% strength. This will decrease to 75% for
three, 50% for two and so on. The knowledge grades can be täntrika,
yäntrika and Mantrika respectively. Täntrika is derived from the
word “tan” or Body and “trai” to control. Thus, a täntrika can
control the bodies of others or influence then in a positive or
negative manner. Yäntrika is one who uses implements and drawings
(yantra). Mantrika is one who uses Mantra alone. These are also
grades of knowledge of the occult. The point to be noted is that
this only gives the extent of occult and spiritual knowledge. How is
this knowledge going to be used is the next question.
• “Päpadriste nigrahaka”: if malefic planets also aspect these
malefic planets in trines (or if at least three malefic planets are
in trines), then the native has the powers to summon spirits, grahas
etc by using magical formulae.
• “Subha driste anugrahakaù”: if benefic planets aspect, then this
knowledge shall be used for the welfare of all. It should be
carefully noted that the benefic in question is not in direct
conflict with a malefic involved in the yoga. Jaimini explains this
point with some examples. If Jupiter and Rahu conjoin/ aspect the
trine, then the native indulges in black magic or maybe subject to
the same. Dental problems show up in the latter case as a symptom.
If Saturn and Jupiter conjoin/aspect the trine, then both the native
and the enemy are destroyed i.e. the native could die fighting for
another person or self.
The noteworthy point is that whatever planets are in trines to the
kärakamsa, they will take the native towards spirituality. Natural
malefic planets are normally inclined to take the native away from
the higher spiritual truths, but if they are in trines to the
kärakamsa, they will follow the diktat of the ätmakäraka and steer
life towards realization of the spiritual self. Consider Mars in a
situation of extreme anger – if such a Mars is in trines to
kärakamsa, the native will never use violent methods, and will
instead look for magical formulae or other means like a coral ring
to counter the negative influences. If a natural benefic planet
aspects the ätmakäraka, the native uses this knowledge for the
welfare of others as well.
While giving the list of deities for planets from the Sun to Ketu,
Jaimini adds that if Saturn is ill placed in a malefic sign in the
ninth or twelfth house from the kärakamsa, the native worships
devils and indulges in other forbidden acts like black magic. Venus
similarly placed also makes the native indulge in black magic
involving the act of sexual intercourse etc.
Footnotes
6. Jaimini's Upadesha Sutra shloka: 2-1-83
7. A person adapt at Mantra shastra.
8. Jaimini's Upadesha Sutra: 2-1-80
Chart 4: Famous täntrika (Kärakamsa)
Lagnämsa is Scorpio, the secret sign showing abilities for occult studies with
Venus & Ketu in trines indicating the tapasvi (penance) yoga. However, the
absence of the aspect of Saturn on lagnämsa shows the lack of renunciation and
the tapasvi yoga is to that incomplete, but will give the ability of Venus for
penance and of Ketu for the occult studies.
With these abilities confirmed, examine the kärakamsa, which is Virgo (Mercury
is the ätmakäraka placed in vargottama in Virgo navamsha). Two malefic planets
Rahu & Sun (eclipse combination) are in trines to the kärakamsa indicating that
the native is a mäntrika. Jupiter is placed in debility (vargottama) in
Capricorn afflicted by these malefic planets. The Guru- candäla yoga indicates
that the knowledge could be used for evil purposes like killing enemies (human
beings). The aspect of Venus (natural benefic) on the kärakamsa tends to mollify
and make him use the knowledge for good purposes.
Not getting into the misuse of the knowledge, when in jail the native announced
that Ganesha would drink milk at all temples and urged people to offer milk. A
strange phenomenon occurred when on the 21 September 1995 millions of people all
over the world reported that they offered milk to various Ganesha idols and that
all of them drank the milk. There was some controversy, but it is noteworthy
that the native was under Saturn dasha, Ketu antardashas, Venus pratyantara
dasha, Rahu süksma dasha and Jupiter präna dasha. The involvement of the first
three planets Saturn, Venus & Ketu in the tapasvi yoga shows that the native
would have done some sort of a penance to achieve this miracle of sorts, and the
involvement of the Rahu & Jupiter combination shows the use of his powers as a
mäntrika.
Pälana Devatä
The Pälana Devatä is signified by the Moon and is responsible for guiding the
activities of the members of the family in their material life. He looks after
the individual during the present birth. Jaimini spells out the method of
locating the deity in the sixth from the Amatya Karaka (in the Navamsa) in the
same basis as the twelfth from the AK. It is for this reason that the profession
of the parent was advised to the natives in days of yore. However, in modern day
charts, this feature may not be present and the Pälana devatä will have to be
determined for each chart. This deity should be favorable for good livelihood
and financial success.
Footnotes
9. Amatya Karaka is the second among the Chara Karaka in the eight planet
scheme. Jaimini teaches ‘amatya däse caivam’.
Table 6: Planets & deities
Planet Paräsara
Jaimini Harihara
et.al.
Sun Agni
Shiva
All signs shiva
Dual sign: 1st dreskäna Ganapati
Dual sign: 2nd dreskäna Skanda
Moon Jala
Gauri
Strong Gauri
Weak Käli
Weak in Mars sign/amsa Camundä
Mars Skanda
Skanda Male signs Skanda &
Bhairava
Female signs Camundä, Bhadrakäli etc.
Mercury Visnu
Visnu
Movable & dual signs Visnu avatära
Fixed sign: 1st dreskäna Räma
Fixed sign: 2nd & 3rd dreskäna Krisna
Jupiter Indra
Sambashiva All signs Mahävisnu, Jagannath
Venus Saci
Laksmi Satva signs
Annapürna
Rajas signs Laksmi
Tamas signs Yaksi
Saturn Brahma
Visnu
All signs shästa & krita
Rahu
Durgä All
signs Sarpa (snake deity)
Ketu
Ganapati All signs Ganapati
Footnotes
10.Skanda is Kartikeya, the warrior son of Shiva.
11. The Satwik planets are the Sun (Leo), Moon (Cancer) and Jupiter (Pisces & Sagittarius). The Rajas Planets are Mercury (Virgo & Gemini) and Venus (Taurus & Libra). The Tamas Planets are Mars (Aries & Scorpio) and Saturn (Capricorn & Aquarius). This should not be mistaken with the natural nature of the signs on the basis of Movable (Rajas), Fixed (Tamas) and Dual (Satwik).
Guru Devatä
The navamsha sign of the bhrätrikäraka itself is seen for the Guru
devatä or spiritual guide & teacher of the chart. The Guru(s) are
indicated by the bhrätrikäraka as well as the planets conjoining and
aspecting it in the navamsha. These Guru(s) would be teaching
dharma, jyotisha and/or such subjects related to spirituality (Sun)
or vedäìga (Jupiter). Guru(s) in other areas are to be seen in other
divisional charts. The strength of planetary influence on the
concerned house should be seen on the basis or rules given above.
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