KALAPRAKASIKA The Standard Book on the Election (Mahoortha) System. WITH ORIGINAL TEXT IN DEVANAGARI AND ENGLISH TRANSLATION TO WHICH ARE ADDED AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF ASTROLOGY, EXPLANATORY NOTES, APPENDIX, ILLUSTRATIONS, ETC. N. P. SUBRAMANIA IYER ASIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES NEW DELHI 1982ASIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES C-2/15, SDA, P.B. No. 4534 New Delthi-110016 sri }3 3 OAB5Y NAGI K-71 L4486r— SMe VISIA Price: Rs.120 AES Reprint : 1982 First Published : 1917 7 Published by J. Jetley For ASIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES C-2/15, SDA, New Dethi- 110016 Printed at Gian Offset Printers, New Delhi- 110035.PURCHASED CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER. 1, FOREWORD:-- Pace. Study of the Panchangam. Il. JATHAK ARMA: ... a a we 3B General judgment on a_nati- vity, Bhava relating to son and wife, Points * relating to the life of the Native, Influence of asterisms, Birth under asterism Jycshta, Dhina-Mrithyu and Dhina-Rogam, Gandan- thams, Effect of Gandanthams, Birth on Cha- thurdhasi of the dark fortnight, Planets in exaltation, Sunabha, Anabha, Dhurudhura, Vaysi, Vah: 'bhachari and Gajakesai Yogas, Ilegitimacy, Sterility, Enlarged Testi- cles. Rising sign and planetary aspects.On the Moon in the several signs of the Zodiac. Remedial forces. Horoscopy of Woman. The + Ascendant. The:~ samsa, Planetary Thrims- amsas of Signs. TH. ORNAMENTATION: an see 2g ‘Namakarana Naming the child, Cradling. To feed on Milk. To take the Child out of the house. To feed on Rice. Abdhapoorthy. IV. BAR-BORING ae oa a 3s VV. CHOULAM--TONSURE oo a nn VI. TOLEARN THE ALPHARET... wee woe gt VI. UPANAYANAM™THREAD-MARRIAGE: — rey The in- fluence of the Zodiacal signs, Spoorjitham, Sputitham, Rudhitham, Rundhram, Ugram, Athi-Yoga.VIL. IX. XL XI. XII. XIV. CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE:— CONTENTS. : PAGE. EDUCATION :— wee on aoe wee Vidhya, Saaraswatha Yoga, Vidh- ya Yoga, Virgothama places. UPAKARMA:— see wee wee a Athimasam, Malaimasam, Srava- na-Poornima, Proshtapadha-Poornima, Andha- Poornima, Chinna-Poornima,the twelve lunar and the twelve solar months. INITIATION IN A MANTHRA:— ee jee ‘ Siddha Chakra, ‘The directions. The cages of the Squares~ Siddha, Swasiddha, Saddhya and Ari. THE STUDY OF THE VEDAS: — oe oe Munvadhi_ days, Yugadhi days. SAMA VARTHANAM:— DECISION OF MARRIAGE:- eee wee To determine the suitability of a match -The Ten Considera- tions, (1) Dhinam. Common Jenma-Naksha- thra, Jenma-Nakshathra belonging to two signs, (2) Ganam, (3) Mahendhra, (4) Sthree- Dheergham, (5) Yoni, (6) Rasi, (7) Rasyathi- pathi, (8) Vasyam, (9) Rajju, (10) Vedhai, Agreement. in respect of Dhinam, ‘Ganam etc, Female asterisms, Hermophrodite asterisms, Male asterisms, Nakshathra Gothram, Castes of the Signs, Abijith ; Will there be Marriage? Shall I find a Bride? How long will the couple live ? Utharayana and Dakshinayana, [Influence of Zodiacal signs at the time of marriage. Planets in the Zodiacal'signs. Judgment on Marriage. Plane- tary combinations for marriage. Mahendhra Yoga. Vishnu-Priyai, Ardha-Naari. Sreema- 53 57 65 67 68 79XV. XVI. XVII. XVII NIX. XX. XXI. CONTENTS, PAGE. thi, Samudhra. Mahavishnu, Vushya, Stha- vara, Jaya and Vijaya Yogas, Influence of the Month--Asterisms, Adverse Yogas. to be avoided, Adverse effects. ON ATTAINMENT OF PUBERTY: oe Influence of Months, Days, Stars, Thithis, Zodiacal signs, Lord of the Amsa, Planets in the Rising sign, and the 7th house, the days of the week, the Day and the Night. NISHEKAM:— oe oor vee wee Ruthu-Dhinam. Influence, of the Rising Sign. Hermophrodite, Dwarf, Hunch- back, Cripple, Leper, Blindness, Protuberant eyes, Defective Limbs, Scrag8y body, [-epro- sy, Diseases of the stomach or of the lungs, Adverse effect on the husband, Abortion. Scemantham MEN PUMSAVANAM: LYING-IN APAR’ AGRICULTURAL WORK: wee . Tillage, Influence of the Zodiacal signs, Sowing roots, flower and fruit seeds Fruitful stellar Yogas. Cocoanut, Pumpkins, Seeds “and their days. To deter- mine the day for sowing a field. MARVEST:— os see oe wee The In-gathering of Crops, Fortu- nate planetary Yogas’ Dhanya-Parvatha, Dhanya-Meru, Dhanyarnava. Expenditure of Corn. TO LAY UP TREASURKE:— wee “ Gold, grain, gems, To take on servants; Metals, Fragrant substan- ces. Library and Records. Silver. To take possession of land, To buy land and cattle, To buy sheep, Loan on pledge, Loan or Gift a7 96 99 - 100 105 + 109CONTENTS. PAGE. of gold, ‘The Saadharana, Vajra, Theekshana, Laghu, Mrudhu, Sthira and Chara asterisms, To buy or sell a Cow. XXL DINNER OF NEW GRAD se ee Tt Flowers, fruits, leaves. XXILL TO PUT ON NEW CLOTHES: - vee 11S Stellar influence, Influence of the Days of the Week and Zodia- cal Signs. XXIV. TO WEAR A NEW ORNAMENT: we we VET XXV, TO LAY FOUNDATION:— oa se IQ Vasthu- Purusha, To build in the East, South, West, North and in all quarters, ‘Town-planning. Military quarters, Granary, Restaurant, Dining Hall. Bed-chamber. Lamp, Oven, Dormitory, Wa- ter trough, The Design» Pillars, Beams, Interior door-ways, The door-frame, The doors, Outer pillars, Stalls for Cows, Buff- aloes. The Dairy - Lo Milk the Cow, To lathe articles, To melt butter. The Durability of a House. All about the house, To repair the roof, Raja Yoga, From the point of view of the Ascendants. The Entrance, The Indicator. XXVI. THE OPENING CEREMONY :— we see 130 Influence of the Zodiacal signs from the Jenma Rasi. XXVIT. CORONATION: - ae ne see 132 For audience. Riding, To put on Arms and Weapons etc. To receive Tribute Time for interview. Elephant and other ani- mals. -Stable, To buy a horse, To mount a horse, To buy'sheep, Village, town etc defin- ed. The quarters of a Nagaram. XXVIIE TOINSTALLADEITY:-—.., 7 we WBFXXIX. XXX. XXXI. XXXII. CONTENTS, PAGE, YATHRA-TRAVEL:-- i wee Influence of Signs and Planets, Pakshas, Phithis. Days, Stellar in- fluence. Significance of weather, Influence of Thithis and the days of the week, The Zodia- cal signs, Influence of signs from the Jenma- Rasi and the Ascendant. Oordhwa-mukha and other Rasis, Sulam, Prishtodhaya, Sirodhaya and Ubhayodhaya Rasis, Kandakam, Rasis and their Directions, ‘The Lord of the Ascen- dant at birth, Influence of planetary Amsas, Conveyances, Conjunction of planets, A very’ felicitous Time. Yogini, The ‘['raveller’s Zodiac, Planetary directions, Nakshathra-Purusha, Sulam for the days of the week. Chandra- Kandakam, Asterisms and their lucky direc- tions. Thithis and directions, Days and direc- tions, The three main Gunas of Time, ‘lable of Sathwa, Rajas and Thamas periods. Pan- chakam, The right Time for travel. Good days for starting, A general rule, Parasthanam, Good omens, Evil Omens. Influence of Zodia cal signs at home-coming, Cow. ‘To Invade a Country. CONCERNING DISEASK:— wee 3 Influence of asterisms at the commencement of a Disease. ‘The Criti- cal time. TO TAKE TREATMENT: Ugra Yoga; Venereal diseases, Kheumatism, Biliousness, Wind and phlegmatic complaints, Gonorrhoea, Leprosy, Ascites, Phthisis, Pyro: lepsy. Surg! cal and other Treatments. To prepare Medi- cines, Rasayanam. Sarvaroga Prasamana. (panacea) Bath, Qil-bath ... ‘TO PAY UP DEBTS... + 139 + 159 160 165XXXII. XXXIV. CONTENTS, PAGE. EXTERMINATORY YOGAS:— wee Pariyaya, Influ- ence of the ist. 2nd and 3rd Pariyayas, Vai- nasika, Chandrashtama, The 27th asterism, Unfavourable asterisms and Thithis. * and days, Dhina-Mrithyu. Dhina-Roga. Aseevi- sham. Ekargala. Shadaseethimukha. Blind asterisms, Thithis and Rasis, Deaf Rasis, Lame Rasis, Sakata Yoga. Karthari Yoga. Soonyam. Soonya Rasis for Thithis. Soolam, Graha Soolam, Malai and Visha Masas, Sam- sarpam, Sthoolam, Kantakam. Kantaka- Sthoolam, Jwalitham, Dhwajadhandam, San- karanthi, Gulika, Ardhapraharam, Yamaganda, Kalan, Ilora, Rahu-kalam, ‘lable of Planeta- ry Horas, Influence of the Hora, lords. The Shadvirgas. Dhrekkana, Hora ‘Thrimsamsa} Navamsa, Dhwadhasamsa, Kshethra, Saptha- mamsa, Dhasamsa, Shodasamsa, Shashty- amsa. Chara and Sthira Karanas. Paksha- Chidhra, Nandhai, Badhrai. Jayai, Rikthai, Poornai, Oordhwa-Mukha, Thiryag-Mukha and Atho-Mukha asterisms, Oordhwa-Mukha. Atho-Mukha and ‘Thiryag-Mukha Rasis, Siro- dhaya, Prishtodhaya and Siraprishtodhaya Rasis, Mridhaban, Stellar Thyajyam, ‘Thyaj- yam for the days of the week, Thithi and Rasi Thyajyam, Athimasam, Samahatham, Bhookampam. Ulkai, Bramha Dhandam. Dhwajam, Pdrigam, Apasatham, Vidhyuth, Soolam, Asani, Nirghatham, Dhoomam, Vya- theepatham, Parivesham, Indradhanus, Dhoo- makethu; The twenty one Adverse Elements, Sayana and Uthana Ekadhasis, Parivesha. Kuhov. NEUTRALIZATION OF ADVERSE YOGAS:— ... Against adverse asterisms, Chandrashtama, Gulika, Ekargala, Soolam, Aseevisham, Pak- sha - Chidhra, Shadaseethi-Mukha, Sakata + 166 189XXXV. XYXVIL XXXVII. XXXVIII XXXIX. XL. CONTENTS. Yoga, Kantakam, Kuhoo, Pradhosham, Badhi- ram, Thyajyam, Kuhoo, Pradhosham, Gan- dantham, Athimasam, Samsarpam, Amhas- pathy, Masa-dhosham, Samsarpam, Long and Short months, Concerning the first born, A general rule, Moudyam, Asthangatha, Sama- dhrishti, Comparative strength. THITIHI—VARA—NAKSHATHRA YOGAS:— Different Yogas for the days of the week. Combinations for powerful Yogas. Yogas formed by Combination of Thithis, Siddha Yoga, Nasa Yoga, Visha Yoga and Vinasa Yoga, Bad combination of Thithis and Asteri- sms, Bad combination of Days, Thithis and Asterisms, Mrithyu Yoga, Dhugtha Yoga. THE TRANSIT SYSTEM:— ... we vee Planetary Vedhai. Ta- ble of Vedhai Sigus from the house of the Moon. 7 NAKSHATHRA DHASA:— as ee Influence of Planetary Dhasas KALACHAKRA DHASA— ... on oe ane Dhasa periods of Savya asterisms. The Dhasa periods of Apasavya asterisms. Effects of the Dhasas. The Sub- Periods. Savya.and Apasavya asterisms. Kalachakra Tables. ON JENMA-NAKSHATHRA:—... wee ” " Signification of the Month,To choose your Good Day. Income and Expenditure. SANKRAMA OR SOLAR INGRESSES:— . The outfits of Sankaranthi-Devi- The Significations. . 199 207 aiz + 233 + 294CONTENTS. XLL THE ANNUAL HOROSCOPE-— wee wees nee 228 : The Lords of the Year, The Influence of the Ministers, Lords of Agricultural Growth, Fluids, Metals, Mine- rals ete, XLUL INTERPRETATION OF DREAMS.— on Sie 232 Happy Dreams. Bad dreams. XLUIL SREEJAYANTHI.—Viddhai and Suddhai ss 237 XLIV. TILK KRITHIKA FESTIVAL—_—... us vee 239 XLV. EKADHASI.— nee nee tee vee wee 241 APPENDIX. bee ee cee te wee 43 Errata: —Page XI: mainfest, should be manifest: Page XIII: pictorical- -pictorial, Page XIV: meteriological— meteorological. Page XV; whar---what, Page 64; ritualisic— ritualistic. Page 207: Chapter XXXVIE--XXXVI. Page 78: Puestion - Question. Page 158; equinoetical-—equinoctial. Page 249: Lordiac— Zorliac. Note, — Page 72 :-Utharashada, Utharapalguni, Purvashada, Purvabadhrapadha are also asterisins of Manushya Canam Fer eecnees eprener ner COP RPROT Ret beREEEeDr eee O64 YOUR HOROSCOPE. 4INTRODUCTION. Ye Stars which are the poetry of Heaven ! If, in your bright leaves we read the fate Of men and empires—'tis to be forgiven, ‘That in our aspirations to be great, Onr destinies o’erleap this mortal state And claim a kindred with you ; for ye are A beauty and a mystery and create In us such love and reverence from afar, That Life, Fame,Power and Fortune have named themselves a star *— The value and practice of the science of Astrology were well understood in India hy the ancient Aryans at a period of hoary antiquity. The question of the time at which the science arose is, probably, one in regard to whicn it is extremely difficult to arrive at a contident conclusion. It is, however, a well-known fact that in the earliest literature of the ancient Hindus, Astrology holds a prominent place. It'wasthe first sketch of science of the ancient Brahmanas to whom’ a knowledge of astronomital positions was indispensable in order to determine the proper time for commencing and ending their sacrifices, ‘‘principally, the so- called Sutras or sacrificial sessions” which “could not be known without an accurate knowledge of the time of the Sun’s northern or southern progress. The knowledge of the calendar forms such an essential part of the ritual that many important condi- tions of the latter could not be carried on without the former.” f ‘The brilliant views on the dome of the universe which they wit- nessed from night to night must have been a delightful study to the great sages who, having effected a deliverance and a separa- tion from the low cares of mortality, were absorbed in “ looking through Nature up to Nature’s God”. It must. he observed that a knowledge of the motions and influences of the heavenly bodies and the laws by which they are governed with such perfect order * Byron. + Introduction to Aitareya Brahmana by Dr. M. Haug. Aii Introduction. and harmony, though highly requisite for the Brahmand for the performance of sacrifices, instituted according to a certain ordez of time, was in fact: but a “ circumstance” in the serene ascent of intense meditation on divine wisdom and goodness, to render himself that pure and perfect image of -his Great Original. Our limited faculties cannot imagine that subtle communion with aature which guided their studies of “ mystical” subjects and by the help of which alone they had discovered the revolution of the earth and other planets round the Sun, the twelve Signs of the Zodiac, the nature and causes of Eclipses and the planetary posi- tions and conjunctions, centuries before Copernicus, Galileo, Tycho Brahe, Kepler and the illustrious Sir Isaac Newton were born..The vision of the ancient Brahmana was, then, the soil from which Astrology sprang. He alone could explain the theory of his basis, if any, and there is no tradition about it. The opinion prevailed for some time that the 12 Signs were discovered in Egypt at some remote period and that they had a roference to the division of the seasons and the agriculture of that country at the time. Sir William Jones ascribes the discovery to Anaximander about 560 B.C., affirming, at the same time, that they had been known to the Hindus from time immemorial. Now, Anaximan- der was one of Thales’ scholars, the other being Pythagoras who travelled through India, Egypt and Chaldea in pursuit of know- ledge. » In India we are told he learnt the theory of the, rotation of the earth and all the other planets round the Sun as their centre, a doctrine which was adopted by Copernicus and followed up by Sir Isaac Newton. It is reasonable to suppose that Pytha- goras, returning from his travels in the East, communicated, among other things, the doctrine, imparted to him by the Hindus about the 12 Signs of the Zodiac, to his contemporary, Anaximander. In tracing the evolution of astronomy of the Aryans one sees the grandeur and precision of the meditation of the ancient Brahmanas who were tHe first to cultivate it and through whom the science came to light. The frontiers of its province have been extended by the discoveries of modern science which has re- vealed the subtler powers of nature and the great reservoirs ofIntroduction. iii energy and their compositions. But, from those very early times, Astrology has been in high favour in India.’ The course of ages hascommunicated to it a fascination to which no other science has any pretension. The feasts and fasts of the Hindus, the allego- ries of Hindu mythology, the chief incidents of the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha are all connected with the configuration of planets. , The Mundaka Upanishad, one of the earliest. of the Upanishads, refers to Astrology as one of the six Vedangas. Students of Samskrit literature are aware of that earliest treatise on Astrouomy, the Vedanga Jyotisha, which treats of the regula- tion of time by astronomical positions. These remarks seem re- levant because, in the first place, they throw light upon the practice by the ancients, from the earliest times, of the science of Astronomy and of its Life-Side, Astrology, and, secondly, how the most enlightened of the earliest inhabitants of the earth derived their knowledge of the science which is still the most astounding- ly accurate and which is still carefully followed up and taught by men of superior intelligence of every nation from age to age. To ask or search I blame thee not; for heaven’ Is as the book of God before thee set, Wherein to read His wondrous works, and learn His seasons, hours, or days, or months, or years." By the help of telescopes, Western scientists have been able to discover, investigate and determine the positions and the com- positions of the heavenly bodies, their immense distance from one another, their diversity in magnitude and the phenomena they produce. Years of observation and experience supply them with the materials wherewith to build up a principle or a theory of scientific importance. The system of the ancient sage in India is different. That the Highest dwells with him is his working hypothesis. Disengaged from all worldly concerns and purified from every stain by the doctrine of austere devotion to Him, meditation was his key to unlock the marvels of Nature, “the * Milton,iv Introduction. perenniel miracle which the sonl worketh”. The science of ‘Astrology is a.signal illustration of the value and preciseness of his absorption of mind in the Divine. Well said the poet?-— © 8 * Celestial Light Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers Irradiate ; there plant cyes, all mist from thence Purge and disperse that I may see and tell Of things invisible to mortal sight. Verily, to use the words of a great poet, do His radiant Ministers proclaim to the sage “ the dust of your feet is the sphere of our orbit.” Verily, again, it is said that the universe is represented in adust, ina moment of time. Astrology demands purity of character and power of effective meditation, the master secrets of one and all the philosophers who flourished in the days of the childhood of our race. Qut of those two principles of man’s nature grow sound memory and the faculty of deductive judgment, much safer guides to the study of Astrology than tle presumptive rea- soning of man, for it is a science of the Life-Side of the heavenly bodies, while Astronomy treats of its Form-Side: and a knowledge of those things such as the influence, power, quality and tendency of the nature forces which do not admit of heing put into scien- tific moulds or of being established by mathematical calculations are only open to those who have faith and the power of right meditation which purifiy and strengthen the imagination and enable one to know the essence and nature ofall things by Intuition. Before proceeding to study the separate character of each” of the planets and its habitat, the student must acquire a * knowledge of the Ecliptic, the Zodiag, the planetary orbs and the stars recognised by the ancients. The Ecliptic is that great cir- cle of that eelestial sphere which is the apparent path of the Sun, among the. stars, or that of the earth, as seen from the Sun. It is ealled‘the Ecliptic because when any heavenly body is near the circle it-is liable to be eclipsed i.e., deprived of.the Sun's. light, by some intervening body. The Zodiac (Rasi-Mandslam) isaIntroduction. ¥ broad circle or belt, surrounding the heavens, about 16° wide, along the middle of which rars the ecliptic or the Sun's ‘path, It includes the paths of the Moon and all the principal planets and contains the, twelve Signs or Divisione reckoned in the order in which they are given below, from (Aries) the point of inter- section of the ecliptic and the equator:—Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. Since the Zodiac contains 360 degrees, each sign is 30 degrees. A degree is the daily step of the Sun on his.annual path round the sky, among the: s‘ars. It, is a unit of astronomical calculation. The six planets,—the Moon, (Satel- lite of the Earth) Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn— revolve round the Sun from West to East according to the_ order of the signs in the ecliptia:é.¢., from Aries to Taurus, then to Gemini and so on. Negrest to.the Sun is Mercury ; next to him is Venus ; then comes (the Earth and her Satellite) the .Moon, next to which .is Mars. Jupiter is next in order, and after him comes Saturn. The Mbdon is the nearest to the earth of all pldnets. Mercury is the smallest cf all. He and Venus revolve in orbits which are included within that of the earth. . They are* continually changing places among the fixed stars and are never seen in opposition to the Sun:¢.e., they do not appear in the Western horizon in the morning when he is in the east nor in the eastern when he appears in the west. By far the most brilliant of the planets is Venus, second in order of the solar system. She is an evening star (Hesperus) when she appears east of the Sun and a morning star (Phosphorus) when, she is seen west: of him, Next to her is the Moon, nearest to the earth’ of all planets. She revolves from one point of the heavens to the same. point again in 27 days 7 hours.43 minutes and 4-7 seconds. This is called her tropical revolution and forms the Tropical or Periodi- cal month. The mean-time of her revolution (with reference to the Sun) from the New-Moon to the New-Moon agair consists of 29 days 12 honrs 44 minutes and 2-7 seconds. This farms the Synodic month. _The-mean time of her rotation from: one star. back to the same star is 27 days 7 hours 43 minutes and 11-5 eeconds. ‘This is called the Siderial month. Another astronomi-vi Introduction. © cal month is the Solar Month, the 12th part of a Solar Year, the average time taken by the Sun to pass through a sign of the zodiac. A month, then, is the measure of time corresponding to the period of the Moon’s revolution. She is a body depend- ing like the earth on the Sun for her light and heat. The Moon rotates, while revolving, shining by light reflected from the Sun and passing through her phases every month. She is New when in conjunction with the Sun and no part of her enlightened side is visible. She is Full when the earth is between her and the Sun, when all the illiminated hemisphere’ is turned to the earth. The fortnight during which, as the Moon goe’ on in ‘her orbit, the énlightened part comes more and more into view till the Full-Moon when the whole of the illumined disk will be to- wards us is called Sukla Paksha. The next fortnight during which her enlightened side is turned more and more from us till she comes into conjunction with the Sun, forms Krishna Paksha. Each day of Sukla Paksha (bright fortnight) and of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) is called a Thithi and each of the Thithis from the Full-Moon or the New-Moon denotes a particu- lar phase of the Moon, a pro, x notion of which may be gathered from her appearance. It may not be out of place here to refer to the division of time into weeks. The period.of seven days is distinguished by the names of the seven planets beginning in the order of their distance from the Farth, from which origin their present names are derived. Sunday is the Sun’s day.and its lord is the Sun. Monday is the Moon’s day and the Moon is its lord. Tuesday (Tuesco’s day) is presided over by Mars. Wednesday (Woden's day) is presided over by Mercury. - The lord of Thursday (Thor’s day) is Jupiter. Venus governs Friday (Friga’s day). Saturday is Saterne’s day and Saturn is its lord. We now proceed to Mars which is known in the heavens by a dusky red appearance. He completes a revolution round the Sun in 1 year and 321 days. Of immense magnitude is Jupiter, the largest of a all plavets distinguished by his peculiar brilliancy. His term of revo~ lution’ round the Sun is 1] years 817 days 14 hours 9 minutes 8}Introduction. vii seconds.. ‘The most distant-of the solar system is Saturn shining with a pale dead light. He performs his journey through the Zodiac in about 294 years. ‘Then there are the Dragon’s Head (Rabu) and the Dragon’s Tail (Kethu). They are respectively the Ascending and the Descending Nodes or points where the ecliptic is crossed: by the Moon. The one points northward where. the Moon begins her north latitude and the other, where she begins her south latitude. “The deviation from the ecliptif’made by a planet in passing from one node to the other seems, according to the fancy of some, to make a figure like that of a Dragon whose belly is where there is the greatest latitude, the intersections representing the Head and Tail.” “The Dragon’s Head is dark and the Dragon’s Tail is of ruddy color. This sketch of the planets and the divisions of time, neces- sarily brief and, in the main, asummary of what may be found in various treatises, brings me to the mystical aspect of the heavenly bodies. , The conception of the sages does not step with a superficial view of the stars and the planets and the celestial areas covered by them., They realise that the planets are entrusted with the duty of declaring clear and well-balanted instructions. based on the laws of the First Cause in which we live and move and have our being and which are potent equally in every part.of His realm. Fire, air, earth, water, planets and animals, are all subjected to, ot, aided by the motions of the planets. They cannot be separated from anything that has life in it. To study the influence of the planets is to know what one is worth, what one can do and should do to prepare oneself, by purity, so as to reproduce His laws in all functions of life in pro- cess of evolution. Man is the being in whom the powers of truth and light and the powers of his own nature are at perpetial war, - the one struggling to root out the other. Inthe material body which the Supreme Self has evolved we have two systems in which Its manifestation as Cosmos is complete—the one, the Mental, and the other, the Material, each having its own law of * Encyc. | Brit.viii Introduction. existence and working. ‘These two systems constitute the Embo-— died Self: the one, the inner movement, and the other, the out- ward life, of the individual. Starting from this primary data, Astrology explains the past, present and future of these move- ments, their character and their capacity by the fundamental division of the planets into Benefics and Malefics. Jupiter,’ the largest of all planets, signifies the Universal Mind, the Divine within everything, possessed of its unity of all diversities, infinite in its seope but one in ifs works, in which these two movements are formed, the one creating and delivering currents of life and the other, using them, thus giving rise to the multitudinous activities of existence and all its inscrutable mysteries. Jupiter is a Full Benefic and his position in a horoscope indicates the measure of help which the individual will evoke from Above. Jupiter is therefore said to preside over the ‘‘ Store-House "—the Store-House in which all forms exist, oat of which all manifestations emanate, into which all tiese vanish. He is never a Malefic as he is beyond the sins of the Lower Self. He ix the {shwara of the Planetary Logos. His deity tis Indra, the King of the Gods. Next to Jupiter is Venus of overpowering lustre, the Jivatmi of the Planetary Logos, a fragment of Ishwara with name and form, wrapped up in the body and held captive by the instincts of animal life in the universe. The Jivatma may either be stirred by true devotion to Him, and, redeeming’his lower nature, evolve towards union with Ishwara, or, sense-struck, plunge into the ocean of desire and remain slave to Maya (Delusion). Venus proclaims the stage of evolution of the Jivatma. She is not full: Benefic. Asareflection of the splendour of Ishwara, she is all powerful, but hy identification with the animal kingdom, built by Ishwara for her dwelling, she becomes ignorant and helpless—as far from the God-idea as she is near, Therefore, she is.a Benefic and Malefio planet. Her Deity is Indrani, the wife of Indra, “$ Tdandra, changed into Indra, (Idam Pashyati, who sees This, who sees the not-Self) is the name of Ishwara.—T7he Adareya Upanishad.Introduction. ix She ig blind of one eye : and the products ef her activity on the lower plane are those of a game ofa blind man’s huff. Lower down the plane of Venus is the realm of abstract thought, crea- tive reasoning and serene intelligence.. Planet Mercury is bidden to reveal the nature and capacity of the individual on this-plane. Mercury is said to preside over the Play-Ground, for there, in his- plane, the twofold activities of the mind are set in play towards @ definite end—a perpetual game of see-saw between ‘the law of its own inward movement reflected from that which is beyond, on the one hand, and all forms of mental life on the other, . so as to obtain a result conformable to the Parent Will. Therefore, Mer- cury, as far from the God-idea as he is near, is a Benefic and Malefic planet. His Deity is Vishnu, the Preserver of the Laws of the world, the God who follows nature in all her forms to maintain them. The fourth is the plane of the Moon, the plane of Manas (mind), the receptacle of an endless diversity of forms, names, assumptions and sensations. The Moon declares its nature and capacity. The Moon—Manas—may either be a luminous God in the individual, inspiring him to happier ascents and conquest o/ worldly desires, embracing a knowledge of the (ne from whom she derives her light, or, her growing splendour may be enshrouded in ignorance, her ‘submission to the outer senses, to the animal man, may impede the bounty from the ‘‘Store-House” of the Plane- tary Logos. She'is said to preside over the Natural Waters of the Earth. Mind, like a stream, riins through myriads of different channels and takes the color of its contacts. Water is the soft- est and, at the same time, the most potential on earth. Hence, mind, divine in its essential nature and, for that reason, a Benejic, *is also a Malefic by union with the perishable. Her Deity is Varuna, the God of the Waters. These four entities constitute the Mental system. Wrapping up and obscuring: these entities is dense matter, the physical body, the seat of an unceasing lust for food and never-sated thirst, the eater and the self-nourisher. Mars is its God. He presides over the Fire-spot, for man is built up of a number of fire-atoms and is the sammation of an endless Bx Introduction. process of combustion and alimentation through and through. Mars shows physical valour, so essential for the acquisition of existing objects, and the establishment of fertile fields for mate-, rial pleasure. In the Vedas, Agni is described as the Son of Strength. Mars is a Malefic, because, eternally far fromthe Go:l- idea, he sustains and nourishes the transient and ‘perishable. He finds his salvation in the God Subramanya, the Ideal Child of Action, the Warrior God against the Asura (demoniacal qualities) in the battle field of the universe, the antagonism of the latter taking colossal forms. The two wives of the Deity emphasise His devotion to Matter. With terrible obstinacy the war is waged until the Asura grows into the recognition of his subsistence on the Deva. The eventual enthronement of the latter on the back of the former signifies the final adjustment between the two forces, the adaptation of the one to the other. Right activity consists in the harmonious combination of the material and the spiritual. United:to and preserved in the physical body of man is its ‘power of activity in the outer world—the scheme, “ungodly” in ifs nature, which descends into and drags, in the mire of degrading desires and superstitions of the. world, the lower mind of man. Planet Saturn, lame, and of pale-dead colour, represents this form of physical activity. Mars claims the service of Saturna, both equally removed from the God-idea. Saturn takes hold of the advantages of the external world, pulls by his hand, bites with his teeth and tries to maintain them. He tumbles down of his own weight, under his ballast of goods, and, as comprehension increases, limps along in the wake of events and improves by what he rejects. One experience of his is swept away by another. Therefore, Saturn is said to preside over the place where Sweepings are gathered. All physical experiences and sensations, so much needed for the training and development of the evolving Ego, proceed fromthe plane of Saturn. Saturn, in the Planetary Logos, governs the domain of activities in which is rooted the processes’ of other planets and which blossom into. ex- perience. Sturn is the ‘Creator’ of the Planetary Logos and with- out.him all other planets must go to sleep. Therefore, his Diety ia Brahma, the Creator. Where, in a horoscope, Saturn ‘is in-Introduction. ‘ a placed, weak and besieged, the individual will be tactless, intracte- ble and shallow-minded. Where he rises well-dignified, the indi- vidual is firm, considerate, austere, sympathetic and of an ésoteric turn of mind, Saturn and Mars are malefics and when, in a horos- cope, they rise powerful, in conjunction, the individual puffs with tage and folly and.a heated imagination. One more planet’ remains and, that is, the Sun, the centre of the Solar. System, round which the six Shining Ones revolve; for, the Sun in the Planetary Logos represents the Life-Energy of the universe—the Prana that sustains all inward and outward activities. The Upanishads tell us that without Prana, Atma itself cannot move. Its activity in man is sixfold. Proceeding upwards from the lowest plane. that we know of, we find, there, Prana grasping, oppressive, and selfish under the encumbrance of ignorance ; in the physical body Prana exists as hunger for food, thirst, lust, nourishment and strength ;in the mental, we realise its existerice as thought, impulse and sensation; in the plane of Mercury Prana is discrimination and contemplation; higher up, in the plane of the Jivatma, Prana is mainfest in Will-Power; in the highest of these, the plane of Jupiter, the activity of Prana‘is - the emanation of the teeming myriads pf world-systems and uni-" verses in endless space. Therefore, verily, it is said that the Sun (Prana) presides over the Place of Worship : the Shining Ones will have neither existence hor movement where Prana does not abide. It follows then that these two systems, the Mental and the Material, act on each other, the one representing the inward movement into the All,and the other, a multiplicity of forms constituted from it. The one thinks and the other works. Benefics on the Side of Thought and Malefics on the Side of Things. The one represents the God-idea and the other the Sense-idea. Malefics conduct the movements of the world and Benefics express the law of energy at work. Benejics furnish a solution of the world- problem, while Malefice render it more and more incompre- hensible. Malefics improve by denials, while Benefics are self- sustaining. Benefics progress by comprehension, while Maleficexii Introduction. - improve by sweeping away ignorance. Bensfics improve by what they take in and Maleyice by what they ignore. Benefics belong to the higher plane and Malefics to the lower. The mutual dependence of the two systems is functional. In the purification of thought and assumptions is the solution and ad- justment of the Side of Things. Malefics co-operate with and be- come Benefics by a process of dematerialisation—now receiving, now rejecting, now accepting, now denying. Both express the same law—the law of the timed operationsof Nature—the Material merging into the Mental and the Mental falling to rest into the bosom of the Eternal. Astrology, then, is the lamp of the law of the world-systems, aiming at the affirmation of the Reality which is the recognised theme of all religions. I have enlarged on this occult side of the subject at some length, because a knowledge of it gives a clue to the labyrinths of Astrology. Did I aim at completeness, I might pursue these studies and descrihe the relation-values of planets and the methods of applying these principles to exactitude. But it would be too long to be included in a brief introduction like this. I reserve it for another book. “T must also say a word on the Dragon’s Head and the Dragon’s Tail. Both are Malefics : where in a horoscope Rahu rises power- ful, the individual receives a -chequered career and learns the bitter lessons of life—by personal experience, experiment or speculation. Kethu, powerfully located, is less trying and pro- gress comes to the individual—throygh analogy, observation and faith, Astrological occultism teaches us that these seven Planets represent the seven Planes of Consciousness, from dense material body to the innermost shrine wherein dwells the Supreme. *** the great world’s altar-stairs 7 That slope through darkness up to God. Here, is a theory of life which Astrology uses for the pur- pose of instructing the progressive soul as to his prior and future state of existence, warning him of the one law at work, indicating the right track and the right method of activity, the nature of his faculties and their limitations, the penalties of. violations, the reward for merits on the great stage of the world’sIntroduction. xiii existence. Jt must be borne in-mind that the narratives given of each of these planets such as the residences, statures, colours, characteristics and other details, which to the ignorant may seem a curiosity of ‘antique literature, are all standpoints which the sages have adopted‘ ini order to teach us to determine the signification of the planets in respect of the several physical and mental qualities and enable us to purify activity, win merit and procure salvation. Let no man, then, beso simple as to suppose that the planets possess a jurisdiction similar to his own and that his own condition is perhaps as excellent as theirs. The attri- butes are merely cloaks. Common people, the barbarous and the uninstructed had no place in the scheme of the esoteric teaching of the Rishis. The true doctrine of the mysteries which was the mine of their intellectual wealth was divulged only to the “elect” candidates as a reward for their life-long practice of virtue and wisdom, That has been the rule with the sages of India from pre-Vedic ‘times, and in Greece, Egypt and everywhere else. Unto you is given to know the Mystery of the kingdom of God : but to them that are without all these things are done in parables» The same enigmatical manner we trace in the pictorical representations of the Zodiacal signs the names of which are already familiar to the reader. The following lines. will enable the reader to remember them and their order easily:— The Ram, the Bull, the heavenly Twins, And next the Crab, the Lion shines, The Virgin and the Scales, . The Scorpion, the Archer and the Sea-Goat, ‘The man who holds the Watering Pot, And Fish with glittering tails. The twelve signs of the Zodiac respectively represent, the head, face, breast, heart, belly, navel, abdomen, genita! organ, tooth, eyes, two knees, two ankles and the two feet of Kalapuru- sha. Astrology has thus given birth to Chiromancy, a branch of which is Palmistry in which the influence of the planets are indicated by the mounts, lines and marks onthe palm. Thatxiv Introduction. this system of astrology flourished in the olden days, and was enjoyed to a wonderful degree, is evident from the several exhaustive works on the subject in India. It may perhaps be useful to say a few words by way of defining the six systems which: constitute the Science of Astro- logy. They are (1) Mundane or National Astrology (2) Atmos- pherical Astrology or the Annual Horoscope, (3) Genethliacal or Natal Astrology (4) Transit System, (5) Horary Astrology (6) Election System. Mundane astrology deals with celestial phenomena such as Equinoxes, Solstices, New-Moons, Eclipses, Planetary Conjunctions and Comets. The time of their occur- rence is ascertained to the second by mathematical calculations. It also includes a study of the influerice of these phenomena upon countries, nations and peoples. The study is more or less mecha- nical and much easier than that of any of the other systems. Our Almanacs are based upon this branch. Atmospherical Astrology or the Annual Horoscope is the art of foretelling the condition of the weather, the nature of the season—a ‘function that is now attempted,.in a way, by the Meteriological Department of the Government. Forecasts of weather registered by this Department are often known to prove incorrect. I veuture to think that it would be well for the Government to encourage the study of at least this branch of the subject which, to be sure, will amply tepay investigation. The observations recorded by the Department may be considerably strengthened by @ study of this system. The results will then be far more satisfactory. Chapter 41 treats of the influence of the planets, under this system, on rainfall, agricultural growth, metals, fluid substances and seeds ete. Forecasts are made from the nature of the planet that presides over each of these during any givan year. The most interesting, and at the same time the most complicated, is the Natal branch which deals with the individual horoscope and foretells the character and destiny of the native from the Rising Sign and the positions, aspects and conjunctions etc of planets at the moment of his birth. Chapter II of this book is a study of the effects of the Rising Sign (Ascendant) and the position of planets at the momett, of a child’s birth by the ordinary rules of this branch.Introduction. xv The whole system turns upon the- actual moment of birth ; and the determination of that moment and the then Rising Sign are the most important. The figure, commonly known as a horoscope, contains the twelve Divisions of the Zodiac, described above’ as the twelve Signs. It is usually drawn in a square form, the one recommended by Jaimini and which is easily understood. The ‘zodiacal places of planets for the required time can be ascertained from the Dhrig-Ganitha almanac, or, The Indian Ephemeris. In Natal’ Astrology we realise that man has a sphere and a habitat in the system of the universe, that his individual power and fortune, in the course of his career, rest on universal law, the operation of which, before and behind him, is revealed by the celestial bodies, and that he is in the care of a Providence without whose knowledge no infant can cry. But the inner secret of the science, briefly outlined in the preceding pages, is only for those who, having realised that some light upon the problem of of existence is attainable, approach it, not in the spirit of satisfy- ing a low curiosity, such as, for instance, the determination of the date of a prospective promotion or a preferment merely, but to gain an insight into the actual nature and influence of the sublime forces at work, into the essence and nature of his origin, his powers of self-reliance which no humun thought can span, and the grand possibility, which is the right of every child that has come to birth, of raising his gwn conduct and vision to the loftiness and precision of natural agents, no matter whar prize he pays for it. It is then that he comprehends that his essential stature, as a physical and intellectual being, is such as no human legislation or propaganda can alter and that every confusion that besets his career can be converted into wholesome force. To the fool who thinks that he is perfect, that his mission on earth is a festival, horoscopy has no message. A brief outline of the Lunar Horoscope or Transit system is ‘given on page 206. The. Horary system deala with the art of foretelling the result of any under- taking or transaction. The Rising Sign and the zodiacal places oft he planets are determined, for the moment of asking the ques- tion for horary answer. The scope of this branch is limited to the prediction of events relating to the immediate future.