Ashtakavarga System of Prediction

Preface to the First Edition

In these days of superfluous journalism and book-publication, any reflective person who contemplates writing a book on astrology must know his motive for doing so. Otherwise, an infliction of oneself on the public calls for some apologetic explanation. For some time past there has been a persistent demand from a large section of my readers for a book that deals exclusively with Ashtakavarga, and the present work is intended to fulfil this demand.

I have been a student of astrology for nearly 35 years and have experimented in my own humble way with various methods of interpretation of horoscopes, mainly derived from ancient classical sources. The Ashtakavarga System, an exposition of which has been attempted in this book, has engaged my attention for a long time. It occupies an important place in the general scheme of Hindu astrology and offers considerable scope for an astrological student who has a scientific bent of mind for making further researches, especially in the matter of timing events. A large number of horoscopes taken out of my vast collections have been studied in the light of Ashtakavarga and a few important discoveries have also been made.

In regard to certain aspects of the system, such as whether the Ashtakavargas of Rahu and Lagna are to be considered, and whether the Ashtakavarga is to be reckoned on the basis of Rasis or Bhavas, there is difference of opinion even amongst ancient writers. Such controversial matters have been avoided so that the astrological student may not get confused in understanding the main principles of the system. It is my humble view, and I have the support of noted classical writers, that the Ashtakavarga reckoning has to be done on the basis of the Rasis and not Bhavas.

Consistent with recognisable limitations and deficiencies on my own part, I have endeavoured to present in this volume a clear and concise exposition of the Ashtakavarga method in the hope that the exposition will stimulate the readers to pursue the subject in greater detail. In the treatment of the subject there is no strict adherence to traditional methods. Some minor departures have been made in the light of experience gained all these years.

I hope that this book will receive, from the educated public, the same favourable reception that has been extended to my other writings all these years.

18-6-1962 B. V. RAMAN

Chapter 1

General Introduction

The uniqueness of Hindu astrology consists in the variety of methods employed for making predictions. Whether it is the Dasa system, Gochara or Ashtakavarga, there is a certain originality peculiar to Indian genius not to be found either in the Chaldean or the Ptolemaic or the modern western system. The Ashtakavarga method of prediction, an exposition of which is attempted in this treatise, has been quite popular with the rank and file of Hindu astrologers. But as usual, the method is so indiscriminately employed that its practical utility is often lost sight of. Most astrological practitioners of the traditional type in India generally wind up their horoscope readings by determining longevity (Ayurdaya) according to Ashtakavarga. Their confidence in the infallibility of the Ayurdaya system according to Ashtakavarga is so great that they hardly bother to verify the results.

In the interpretation of Dasas, a comprehensive knowledge of the various principles is no doubt essential, But a correct reading of the effects is always a matter of individual skill. Similarly in interpreting a horoscope according to Ashtakavarga, the astrologer, in addition to possessing a thorough knowledge of the rules should also be capable of interpretative skill which again is something purely individualistic.

As the famous work Horamakaranda says, as a result of the progression of the seven planets from their respective radical places and from Lagna, a collective factor sets in going under the name of Ashtakavarga. It is likely that a planet, say for instance the Sun, as a result of his horoscopic position in a particular sign, is capable of throwing out beams of influence on certain places declared as favourable, both from his position and from the positions of other planets, so that, such beams of influence contributed by different planets may act as a catalytic agent augmenting the good effects of radical as well as transit influences.

Ashtakavarga also takes into cognisance the actions and interactions of the transiting planets with regard to their radical situations (including the Lagna) and by a certain manipulation of the benefic and malefic influences given rise to by such movements and measured numerically as so many units—certain important events are determined.

When we say Sun’s Ashtakavarga, we mean the collective factor due to the projection of positive beams with reference to himself and the other six planets and the Lagna. It is not my intention to discuss in this book the rationale of the Ashtakavarga system. The sages seem to have devised a numerical scheme of interpretation and timing of events, which is at once unique and capable of further development. I only propose to give a clear picture of the method as understood by me. Readers with a scientific bent of mind can certainly probe into the significance of the theory. In my humble experience of nearly thirty years in this field, I have found Ashtakavarga to be highly useful in making predictions. But so far as the determination of longevity is concerned, the Ashtakavarga system, it occurs to me, cannot be solely relied upon for accuracy. Hundreds of horoscopes have been worked out by me and in the majority of cases, longevity obtained on this basis is quite at variance from the actual number of years lived by the natives. The causes for the failure of Ashtakavarga may be due to either an inadequate comprehension of the principles or the inadequacy of the number of examples worked out. Readers will do well to study the following principles carefully, work out as many examples as possible and test for themselves the soundness or otherwise of my own inferences.

In regard to the predictive utility of Ashtakavarga, classical authors have expressed different opinions. However, by a careful study of the various books bearing on this subject, we find that the Ashtakavarga is employed for:

(a) Predicting the general strength of planets and houses (Bhavas),

(b) anticipating certain important life events,

(c) forecasting transit results, and

(d) determining longevity or Ayurdaya.

Planets occupy Bhavas. The relative strengths of Bhavas can no doubt be found numerically according to Sripathi and Kesava Paddhati involving laborious calculations. The Ashtakavarga, on the other hand, dispenses with cumbersome methods and enables us to attempt some sort of a snap-shot assessment of the strength of a Bhava. Thus if Mars is in Lagna (ascendant) and the sign which has reference to the ascendant has obtained a certain optimum number of benefic points in the Ashtakavarga of Mars, the Lagna becomes strengthened and capable of producing good results. Ashtakavarga essentially aims at a generalised assessment of vitality of a horoscope and therefore has its own limitations. Thus if Venus is in the second house, which has reference to Taurus, and in the Ashtakavarga of Venus, the benefic points number 7, or 8, the Venus becomes fully capable of conferring the maximum results due to his location as well as lordship.

In order to explain the Ashtakavarga principles we shall take the horoscope of a person born on 16th October 1918 at 2 pm. (L.M.T.) at Bangalore, which for the sake of convenience, we shall call as the Standard Horoscope. The following are the planetary, Rasi and Navamsa positions :-

Chapter 2

Ashtakavarga Charts

In this chapter, we shall give the details of casting the various Ashtakavarga charts. Broadly they can be classified thus:-

(1) Bhinnashtakavarga or individual Ashtakavarga charts;

(2) Bhinnashtakavarga after reduction;

(3) Sarvashtakavarga or total Ashtakavarga chart; and

(4) Prasthara or spread-out Ashtakavarga chart.

Bhinnashtakavarga

The Sun:—The Sun’s benefic places are the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th from himself; the same places from Mars and Saturn the 5th, 6th, 9th and 11th from Jupiter; the 3rd, 6th, 10th and 11th from the Moon; the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th from Mercury; the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 10th, 11th and 12th from the Ascendant; and the 6th, 7th and 12th from Venus. Total 48 points.

The Moon:—The benefic places of the Moon are the 3rd, 6th, 10th and 11th houses from the Ascendant. The Moon is auspicious in the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th and 11th houses from Mars; the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th and 11th houses from the Moon herself; the 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th and 11th from the Sun; the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 11th from Saturn; the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 10th and 11th from Mercury; the 1st, 4th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th and 12th from Jupiter; and the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th and 11th from Venus. Total 49 points.

Mars:—The benefic places of Mars will be the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 10th and 11th houses from the Sun; the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 10th and 11th from the Ascendant; the 3rd, 6th and 11th from the Moon; the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 10th and 11th from himself; in 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 from Saturn; in 3, 5,.6 and 11 from Mercury; in 6, 8, 11 and 12 from Venus; and in 6, 10, 11 and 12 from Jupiter. Total 39 points.

Mercury:—Mercury produces good in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 11 from Venus; 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 from Mars and Saturn; in 6, 8, 11 and 12 from Jupiter; in 5, 6, 9, 11 and 12 from the Sun; in 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12 from himself; in 2, 4,