Destructive Constellations
There is a belief current amongst the public that girls born in certain constellations cause the death of certain relatives. For instance, a girl born in Visakha is said to bring about the destruction of her husband's younger brother so that parents generally try to find out a bridegroom who does not have a younger brother. Even when there are other merits in the horoscope, it is rejected on the simple ground that the girl is born in Visakha. This is entirely due to ignorance of the real astrological factors governing such considerations. Only certain Padas or quarters should be held inauspicious and not the entire constellation. Thus, in regard to Visakha, only the last quarter is evil and not the first three. Therefore a girl born in the first three quarters of Visakha should not be considered to bring misfortune to her husband's younger brother. Similarly, the boy or girl born in the first quarter of Moola is to be rejected as it is said to cause the death of the father-in-law. The last three quarters of Moola are beneficial. A girl born in Jyeshta is said to cause evil to her husband's elder brother. Almost all authors agree that (certain parts of) Moola, Astesha, Jyeshta and Visakha are destructive constellations - Moola (first quarter) for husband's father; Aslesha (first quarter) for husband's mother; Jyeshta (first quarter) for girl's husband's elder brother; and Visakha (last quarter) for husband's younger brother.*
*Mooladou swasuram hanti vyaladouca bhidhankanam
Jyeshtadou jyeshtajam hanti visakhantecha devaram
The So-called Kuja Dosha
The position of Venus and Mars is very important in judging marital relations. Mars whose element is fire rules marriage. Where he is badly situated or associated in the horoscope of a male or female, it follows that the sacerdotal fire gets extinguished soon. Such unfavourable situation goes under the name of Kuja Dosha.
It must be noted that in determining marriage adaptability between two parties, there are several elements of much more importance than Kuja Dosha. And the evil influences accuring from the bad position of Mars is only one of the several elements.
It is unfortunate that throughout South India especially in the Tamil areas, much is made of the so-called Kuja Dosham and this bugbear has been the means of destroying the happiness of many families by preventing marriages otherwise very eligible and anxiously wished for. So far as our humble experience goes it is only in the Kerala Sastra that mention is made of Kuja Dosha. The stanza runs thus: Dhana vyayecha pathale jamitre chashtame kuja; Strinam bharthru vinasamcha bharthunam strivinasanam. This means: - "If Mars is in the 2nd, 12th, 4th, 7th and 8th houses in the horoscope of the female, the death of the husband will occur; similar situation in the husband's horoscope causes the death of wife."
The Lagna represents body, the Moon, mind and Venus, sexual relations. Therefore, the houses have to be reckoned with reference to all the three, viz., Lagna, Moon and Venus. The dosha (evil) is considered weak when it exists from Lagna, a little stronger from the Moon and still more powerful from Venus.
The second house signifies family; the twelth represents comforts and pleasures of bed. The fourth rules sukha or happiness. The seventh indicates husband and eighth represents longevity of the wife or husband. Hence the position of Mars in these houses is supposed to produce this peculiar dosham or evil. If Kuja Dosham obtains in the horoscopes of both the bride and bridegroom, the dosham gets cancelled. There are, of course, many good combinations which assure marital felicity and much importance need not be given to Kuja Dosham.
Granting that Kuja Dosham is a factor whose occurrence should not be ignored, there are antidotes which are not generally known to the rank and file of Hindu astrologers. The exceptions are: Mars in the 2nd can be said to be bad provided such 2nd house is any other than Gemini and Virgo; in the 12th the dosha is produced when such 12th house is any other than Taurus and Libra in the 4th house Mars causes dosha provided the house falls in any sign other than Aries and Scorpio; when the 7th is other than Capricorn and Cancer, the dosha is given rise to; and Mars gives bad effects in the 8th, provided the 8th is any other than Sagittarius and Pisces. In Aquarius and Leo, Mars produces no dosha whatsoever. The dosha is counteracted by the conjunction of Mars and Jupiter or Mars and the Moon; or by the presence of Jupiter or Venus in the ascendant.
Thus, it will be seen that Kuja Dosha does not deserve that consideration which is now being paid to it. In the consideration of marriage adaptability there are various other factors which should be carefully examined.
We have dealt above fairly exhaustively with the question of marriage adaptability and have tried to avoid controversial issues as the book is intended for the common man who wishes to take advantage of the astrological rules to his benefit.
Electing a Time for Marriage
Ordinarily almost every Indian Panchanga gives important dates and times for celebrating marriages. The reader cannot rely on them as most of the dates given would not be free from important flaws. Moreover, the marriage dates selected would generally be in accordance with local usages. For instance, a Tamilian would not mind marriage being performed in lunar month of Ashadha (provided the Sun has not entered Cancer). But strong objection is taken to this by people living in Andhra and Karnataka. Apart from this, there is universal agreement all over India as regards the time, weekday, constellation and planetary positions to be obtained at the time of marriage.
I am giving below the most standard methods employed by scholars, warranted by experience and sanctioned by the ancient sages.
The lunar months of Magha, Phalguna, Vaisakha and Jyeshta are good. Kartika and Margasira are ordinary. The rest are not auspicious. Some sages opine that marriages can be celebrated in Pushya and Chaitra provided the Sun is in Capricorn and Aries respectively.
The following lunar days, viz., from the 11th day (dark half) to New Moon, Riktha Thithis, 8th, 12th and 6th should be rejected. The best lunar days are the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 11th and 13th (of the bright half).
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are the best. Sunday and Saturday are middling. And Tuesday should be invariably rejected.
The best asterisms are Rohini, Mrigasira, Makha, Uttara, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha, Moola, Uttarashadha, Uttarabhadra and Revati. The first quarter of Makha and Moola and the last quarter of Revati are inauspicious and they should be rejected. Constellations not mentioned here are unsuitable and they should be avoided.
The following yogas should be rejected: Vyatipata, Dhruva, Mrityu, Ganda, Vajra, Soola, Vishkambha, Atiganda, Vyaghata and Parigha.
Vishtikarana must invariably be discarded.
Among the zodiacal signs Gemini, Virgo and Libra are the best. Taurus, Cancer, Leo, Sagittarius and Aquarius are middling. The rest are inauspicious.
In the election of a Muhurtha for marriage, as many of the 21 doshas (already mentioned) as possible should be avoided. The most important considerations however are (a) The 7th house must be unoccupied by any planet, (b) Mars should not be in the 8th, (c) Venus should not be in the 6th, {d) the Lagna should not be hemmed in between malefics, (e) malefics should not occupy Lagna. and (f) the Moon in the election chart should have no association with any other planet.
Apart from the above, the usual Tarabala, Panchaka. etc., should be looked into. Elsewhere are given certain special combinations which are supposed to neutralise adverse influeces. As far as possible, such combinations should be applied to secure a really propitious moment. Jupiter, Mercury or Venus in Lagna, malefics in the 3rd or 11th, would constitute a formidable force in rendering the Lagna strong. The following are some of the special combinations which are supposed to fortify the marriage election chart: -
(1) Jupiter in the ascendant, Venus in the 8th and the Sun in the 11th - Mahendra Yoga.
(2) Venus in Lagna. Jupiter in the 10th and the Sun and Mercury in the 11th-Vishnu Priya Yoga.
(3) Venus in the 2nd, Jupiter in the 12th, the Sun in the 8th and Saturn in the 6th - Sreenatha Yoga.
(4) Venus in Lagna, Jupiter in the 4th, Mercury in the 2nd and Saturn in the 11th - Samudra Yoga.
(5) Mercury, Jupiter and Venus in Lagna - Vijaya Yoga.
(6) Venus and Jupiter in Lagna elevated or otherwise strong - Jaya Yoga.
(7) Saturn in the 3rd, Jupiter in the 6th, the Sun in the 10th and Mars in the 11th - Pushya Yoga.
(8) Mars in the 3rd, Saturn in the 6th, Venus in the 9th, Jupiter in the 12th - Maharshi Yoga.
(9) Venus in Lagna, Jupiter in the 11th - Ardhama Yoga.
Thus, it will be seen that the Hindus have devised an astrological means of judging marriage compatibility whereby the relations between the couple may stand the strain of maladjustment. If astrological advices are properly heeded to. there will be fewer tragedies than at present and less marital infidelity. Modern sexologists and sociologists will do well to study the theory behind the astrological rules bearing on marriage casting off their prejudices instead of criticising and condemning the system.
