Nakṣatra Gaṇḍānta

Gaṇḍa has been clearly defined by Nārada as the period of a prahara (3 hours) covering the junction of agni and jala rāśi. These junctions are (1) Jyeṣṭha-Mūla (in Scorpio-Sagittarius) , (2) Aśleṣā-Maghā (in Cancer-Leo) and (3) Revatī-Aśvinī (in Pisces-Aries).

Maharṣi Vasiṣṭha defines a flaw called ‘Abhukta Mūla’ for these three junctions and any child born during the 180 minutes when the Moon is at these junctions. Period of 90 minutes is one Kāla (as in kālachakra) at the end of Aśleṣā, Jyeṣṭha and Revatī and 90 minutes at the start of Maghā, Mūla and Aśvinī is to be treated as Abhukta Mūla doṣa. The word Abhukta implies (a) uneaten as in fasting or being denied food for sustenance, (b) unenjoyed or unused as in abstinence indicating one who is neither a source of joy nor of any use to the world (society). It shows one who is like an unexpended unannounced guest disturbing and shocking the existing structure. The conjunction of the water and fire signs is treated as the conjunction between the Moon (water) and Sun (fire) which is like amāvāsya and Soma (nectar of life and immortality) is not available for the animal kingdom as the Moon hides in plant kingdom.

The exact lunar transit in one kāla (90min) is 0°50’ arc. The Abhukta Mūla doṣa portion of water signs is at 29°10’ to 30°00’ while in the fire signs it is in the beginning at 0°00’ to 0°50’.

This view of the Abhukta Mūla as defined by Nārada and Vasiṣṭha is supported by the seers Brahma, Saunaka, while Maharṣi Kaśyapa gives a higher prominence to the gaṇḍānta in Aśleṣā-Maghā and Jyeṣṭha-Mūla as producing serious Abhukta Mūla doṣa while underplaying Revatī-Aśvinī.

Nakṣatra ṣoḍaśāṁśa

Brahma defines this Abhukta Mūla in terms of space instead of time. The span of a nakṣatra is 13°20’ (800’) and this portion of 50’ is one-sixteenth (1/16^th) portion of the Nakṣatra. In essence, every nakṣatra is divided into four pada of 3°20’ each which in turn are divided into four parts of 0°50’ each. The gaṇḍānta is in the first 1/16^th portion of the nakṣatra in fire/odd signs while it is in the last 1/16^th portion of the nakṣatra in the water/even signs. These sixteen portions of the nakṣatra are like the sixteen tithī called ṣoḍaśī where 15 tithī manifest and the 16^th is śūnya (void).

Other views

Confusions exist about the definition of the Abhukta Mūla in the definitions based on tie and space. The word Prahara (प्रहर) is defined in jyotiṣa as a fixed period of 3 hours reckoned from sunrise. There are eight prahara in a day of 24 hours and the junctions of these prahara are fixed. In North India these are also referred to as ghaḍī (घडी) meaning ‘the watch’. The first prahara or a day is ruled by the lord of the day and the subsequent follow the order of the kālachakra. Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Moon and Rāhu is the regular order of planets in the Kālachakra.

If sunrise is at 6:00’am on Sunday then the starting time for the prahara of that Sunday are – Sun (6am), Mars (9am), Jupiter (Noon), Mercury (3pm), Venus (6pm), Saturn (9pm), Moon (Midnight) and Rāhu (3am). Now, if on that day the Moon was to enter Sagittarius at 5:15’pm, then we can say that it entered Sagittarius in Mercury prahara. Since this prahara extends from 3-6 pm, then according to some views, the Abhukta Mūla of Mūla nakṣatra is merely 45 minutes from 5:15’ to 6:00’pm as the Mercury prahara ends at 6:00’pm.

We believe that this is a distortion of the definition of Abhukta Mūla. Brahma has done well to define this in space terms as 50’arc else this unnecessary controversy could have left us with doubts. In the above example, using Nārada and other sages definition, the Abhukta Mūla portion would be in two parts – (a) Jyeṣṭha Abhukta: 3:45’pm-5:15’pm (90 minutes before transit) and (b) Mūla Abhukta: 5:15’pm-6:45’pm (90 minutes after transit).

Blemish of Abhukta

Abhukta means that which cannot be enjoyed or adored. All the sages are unanimous in the opinion that a child born in any of the six Abhukta portions should be given away (for adoption) and taken back after 8 years have been completed. The 8 years refers to the 8 prahara portions that need to be completed [karma results of Moon manifest @ 1 prahara per year]. What is implied is that if this is not done then the separation with the child shall be very painful and severe suffering is indicated.

Maharṣi Saunaka concurs and advises that the propitiatory rituals for taking the child back should be conducted on the day of Janma Nakṣatra (which is the gaṇḍānta nakṣatra) when 9^th year of the child commences.

Vasiṣṭha Riders

In the case of Mūla gaṇḍānta (nakṣatra), the first pada birth does not cause evil to father if the birth is in the night. This is because agni tattva doṣa is absent at night just as maṅgalika doṣa (caused by Mars, the ruler of agni tattva) is negligible at night. Similarly, for one born in the daytime, the second pada doṣa of death of mother will not occur as jala tattva doṣa does not manifest strongly for day birth. If the remedial measures are done within one year, then the Abhukta mūla doṣa does not afflict father whereas if it is done within 3 years then mother is safeguarded.

Kerala Tithī-aṁśa

The nakṣatra is divided into 15 parts each called tithī-aṁśa and various results are attributed for each part.

Pada Doṣa

The effect of the Abhukta spreads to the drekkāṇa (10°) of the gaṇḍānta nakṣatra. Each nakṣatra is 13°20’ span comprising four pada of 3°20’ each. According to most authorities, the effect of the gaṇḍānta junction spreads on either side to 10° (= 1 drekkāṇa or 3 pada). The first three pada of agni rāśi (Aśvinī, Maghā and Mūla) and the last three pada of jala rāśi (Aśleṣā, Jyeṣṭha and Revatī) have flaws.

Pada Doṣa – Male Nativity

Table 1: Janma Nakṣatra: Aśvinī, Maghā and Mūla

Table 2: Aśleṣā, Jyeṣṭha and Revatī [Reverse of previous]

Pada Doṣa – Female Nativity

Table 3: Janma Nakṣatra: Aśvinī, Maghā and Mūla

Table 4: Aśleṣā, Jyeṣṭha and Revatī [Reverse of previous]

Additional Blemish

Sage Nārada adds that birth in Mūla nakṣatra will destroy (very evil) the father-in-law while birth in Aśleṣā will destroy Mother-in-Law. Jyeṣṭha is evil for Elder Brother-in-Law while Maghā is deadly for Younger Brother-in-Law. But this blemish does not apply to the last quarter of Mūla (and Maghā) and 1^st quarter of Aśleṣā (Jyeṣṭha) which are actually auspicious being beyond the 10° range of Abhukta blemish.

Mūla Nakṣatra Birth

Mūla 1^st Pada: Charles Farrar Browne

Artemus Ward was the pen name of Charles Farrar Browne, who started at 13 as an apprentice to a printer. He set type for several newspapers in New England before a Boston printshop hired him in 1851 in Venus daśā Jupiter antardaśā. His first humorous sketches, signed ‘Chub’ appeared in the Boston Carpet-bag. During the next 2 years he was a printer in several Ohio towns. In 1853 (Saturn antardaśā) he became an editor on the Toledo Commercial. Between 1857 (Venus-Mercury) and 1861 (Sun-Mars) he was an editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

With the advent of Sun daśā his fortune turned as in 1860, he became editor of Vanity Fair, a humorous New York weekly, which proved a failure. His Janma Nakṣatra is Mūla and although he is not in the very dangerous Abhukta (0°50’) portion, his birth is still in the first pada which shows affliction to agni tattva. Although prima facie exalted, the Sun actually becomes very malefic for Mūla gaṇḍānta born natives. In addition, it combusts the lagneśa Jupiter[1]. His pen named character “Artemus Ward” was the favorite author of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Before presenting ‘The Emancipation Proclamation’ to his Cabinet, Lincoln read to them the latest episode, ‘Outrage in Utiky’. Mark Twain was also very inspired by “Artemus Ward”.

Moon is the lord of the 8^th bhāva and according to Jaimini, the manner of death is to be known from the sign in the 4^th bhāva from its navāṁśa position. Moon is in Aries navāṁśa making Cancer, the chest region, as the area of disease which can bring death (gaṇḍānta). As 8^th lord in Lagna conjoining the 12^th lord Ketu it shows foreign residence. Moon in lagna also promises fame and popularity. With the advent of Moon daśā in 1866, Charles went to England. He became exceedingly popular both as a lecturer and as a contributor to Punch, as promised by the Moon in Lagna.

In the spring of the following year, his health gave way and he died of tuberculosis (lung/chest disease as indicated by 4H from navāṁśa Moon) at Southampton on March 6, 1867 in Moon daśā Mars antardaśā. Moon is the 8^th lord whereas Mars is in the 3^rd bhāva, which is 8^th from 8^th bhāva. It is also the dispositor of lagneśa and is stationed in malefic sign. In navāṁśa it conjoins Ketu forming piśāca yoga and will carry out the mūla gaṇḍānta ‘agni flaw’ of first pada as it is the significator of agni tattva. The Moon transited over natal Mars in Aquarius on the date of death. Tithī was śukla pratipada ruled by the Sun (agni) in 5^th house. It is evident that Moon in gaṇḍānta did give premature and sudden death by disease based on 64^th navāṁśa[2] and Moon is the 8^th lord.