Ch. 3. Rāśi Description
1-2. At the time of Pralaya (Destruction) the Universe plunged into darkness and was flooded with water, when all of a sudden the Sun-God with his brilliant rays appeared in the Universe. He created all the planets and the 12 months.
3-4. Description of the 12 Rāśis. The names of the 12 Rāśis are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. The Sign Aquarius resembles a man holding a pot, while Gemini is compared to a couple holding Veena and mace. A pair of fish is the imagination about Pisces. Sagittarius is compared to a man having a hip, like that of a horse and holding an arch in his hands. Deer-faced Sign is Capricorn. Virgo resembles a virgin sitting in a boat with a lamp in her hands. A male holding Scales in his hand represents Libra. The other Signs are identical with their names.
5-6. The Limbs of KalaPurusha and their Use. The Signs Aries etc. represent the limbs of Kalapurusha, as under: Aries head, Taurus face, Gemini arms, Cancer heart, Leo stomach, Virgo hip, Libra space below navel and private parts, Scorpio private parts, Sagittarius thighs, Capricorn knees, Aquarius ankles, Pisces feet. If at birth one has benefic planet in a particular Sign, the particular limb will be strong. A malefic makes such a limb weak.
7. Synonyms of Rāśis. Kriya, Tavuru, Jutuma, Kulira, Leya, Pathona, Jook, Kaurpika, Tauksha, Akokera, Hridaya Roga and Anthya are the other names given, respectively, to Rāśis from Aries onwards.
8. Synonyms for Houses. Riksha, Rāśi, Kshetra, Bha and Bhavana are identical names given to a House by the sages.
9-10. Zodiacal Halves, their Lords and Effects. The Rāśi Chakra with 12 Rāśis is called Bhagana. Six Signs counted from Leo to Capricorn consist of Solar Half and the Sun rules this Half-Zodiac. Six Signs in the reverse order from Cancer to Aquarius are Lunar Half and ruled by the Moon. Barring Cancer and Leo, planets from Mars to Saturn get one Rāśi each in each Half. If at birth more planets occupy the Solar Half, the native is brilliant and, if more planets are in Lunar Half, he is soft, good and lucky.
11. The Rulers of Rāśis and Navāńśas. Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Saturn and Jupiter are the Lords, respectively, of Aries to Pisces. The Navāńśas for these Rāśis are calculated from Aries, Capricorn, Libra and Cancer in their order.
12. Sub-Divisions Essential. The effects of a horoscope should be predicted according to the divisions of Houses. Without knowing the strength of such Lords, one cannot lay even a step forward in the direction of astrology.
13. Vargothamamsa. The first Navāńśa of a Movable Rāśi, the 5th one in a Fixed Rāśi and the 9th one in a Common (Dual) Rāśi are called Vargothamamsa. Should the natal Lagna be in such Vargothama Navāńśa, the native becomes an important person in his circle. The rulers of Dwadasamasas start from that Rāśi itself.
14. Lords of Decanates and Horas. The Lords of decanates are first Lord of the same Rāśi, second Lord of the 5th Rāśi therefrom and third Lord of the 9th from the Rāśi in question. The first Hora of an odd Rāśi belongs to the Sun, while the second one is ruled by the Moon. In the case of an even Rāśi the first Hora is ruled by the Moon and the second by the Sun.
15. Lords of Trimsamsas. In odd Signs 5, 5, 8, 7 and 5 degrees are Trimsamsas of Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury and Venus, respectively, while the arrangement is reverse in even Signs.
16. Lords of Sapthamsas. The Sapthamsas for the 12 Rāśis from Aries onwards are, respectively, counted from Aries, Scorpio, Gemini, Capricorn, Leo, Pisces, Libra, Taurus, Sagittarius, Cancer, Aquarius and Virgo. The Lords thereof are those, in whose Rāśis they fall.
l7. The total of the number of Horas and that of decanates is sixty (24+36) in the entire Zodiac. The figure is increased by 72, if the total of Horas + Navāńśas is required, i.e. 60+72=24+108=132. Each Rāśi has 1800 Kalas (30°, each of 60').
18. Different Vargas. To know any kind of Varga (Hora, Navāńśa, Drekkana etc.) adopt the following method. Convert the longitude into minutes of arc and multiply by the Varga figure concerned. Divide the product by 1800. The resultant figure will reveal the required Varga.
19. The malefic and benefic effects of such Vargas are explained in detail in the Nashta Jataka chapters (at the end).
20-21. Rāśis Benefic and Malefic, Gandanta and its Effects. From Aries onwards alternatively the Rāśis are known, as malefic and benefic on the one hand and male and female on the other hand. These are also classified, as Chara (Movable), Sthira (Fixed, Immovable) and DvisvaBhava (Ubhaya, Dual, Common) Rāśis. The ending portions of Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are called Gandanta. It is said, that one born in Gandanta will not survive. He will either lose his mother, or he will end the dynasty, i.e. he is the last of his descent and will not have any children. If, however, he survives, he becomes a king with many elephants and horses.
22. Directions of Rāśis. The four Rāśis from Aries onwards indicate East, South, West and North, while the remaining Rāśis repeat in the same way. A journey undertaken by a person towards the direction indicated by the Lagna, or the Moon (at the commencement of journey) yields fruitful results.
23. DigBala and KalaBala. Human Signs, quadruped Signs, Scorpio and watery Signs are, respectively, strong in the directions commencing from the East. Further during night-time quadruped Signs, day-time human, or biped Signs and the second half of Capricorn, Scorpio, Cancer and Pisces are strong at the time of daybreak and of nightfall.
24. Gemini, Cancer, Capricorn Aries, Taurus and Sagittarius are night Signs. Leo, Libra, Scorpio, Aquarius, Pisces and Virgo are day Signs. The Signs Cancer, Capricorn, Aries, Sagittarius and Taurus are called Prishtodaya, which rise with hind part. Sīrshodaya Signs (rising with head) are Leo, Libra, Scorpio, Virgo, Aquarius and Gemini. The Sign Pisces is Ubhayodaya (rises with both head and hind part).
25. Strength of Rāśi. If a Rāśi is aspected by its Lord, or by a planet, that is friendly to its Lord, or by Mercury, or by Jupiter, it is said to be strong. Planets other than the above do not lend strength by aspect.
26-27. Synonyms of 12 Bhavas. Lagna Thanu and Sakthi, Second Artha and Dhana, Third Sahaja and Parakrama, Fourth Bandhava and Griha, Fifth Putra and Pratibha, Sixth Ari and Vrana, Seventh Stri and Kama, Eighth Vinasa and Dehavivara, Ninth Punya and Guru, Tenth Karma and Mana, Eleventh Aya and Bhava, Twelfth Vyaya.
28-31. Additional Synonyms. The 4th (Veśma) and the 8th are called, as Caturaśra Houses. The 9th is known, as Tapa, i.e. penance. The 4th has names, like耠Sukha (happiness), Jala (water), Patala (nether-world), Bandhu (relatives) and Hibuka. The other names given to the 10th House are Karma (deed), Agna (command), Gagana (sky, zenith) and Meshurana. The 5th and 9th are Trines. The 5th is the only House connected with Dhī, while the 9th is Tritrikona, the Trine of Trine. The 7th House is called Dyuna, Astha (setting), Jāya and Jamitra. The 6th is Shatkona, 3rd is Duschikya and 12th Rippha. Kutumba is the 2nd.
32. Kendra, Apoklima and Panaphara, Effects thereof. The adjoining Houses with reference to Angles (Kendras) are Panaphara. The Houses next to Panapharas are Apoklimas. The planets in Angles give effects in one's boyhood. The effects of planets in Panapharas are felt in the middle age, while the planets in Apoklima give result at the conclusion of the native's life.
33. Upachaya and Anupachaya. The 6th, 10th 11th and 3rd are called Upachaya Houses, while the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 12th are Anupachayas.
34. Moolatrikonas of Planets. Leo, Taurus, Aries, Virgo, Sagittarius, Libra and Aquarius are the respective Moolatrikonas for the planets from the Sun onwards.
35-36. Exaltation and Fall. Aries, Taurus, Capricorn, Virgo, Cancer, Pisces and Libra, respectively, are the Signs of exaltation for the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. These are deeply exalted at 10, 3, 28, 15, 5, 27 and 20 Degrees in the respective Rāśis. The Rāśis opposite exaltation are the places of debilitation for the planets concerned. And the respective degrees are of deep fall.
37-38. Long, Medium and Short Ascensions of Signs. Pisces, Taurus, Aries and Aquarius are Signs Of short ascension. Gemini, Sagittarius, Cancer and Capricorn are of medium ascension. The long ascension Signs are Scorpio, Virgo, Leo and Libra. The head and other organs of the native will be similar to the Sign ascending at birth and other relative Signs. The planets occupying such Houses will also influence the form and shape of the various organs.
39. Favourable Directions for Journeys. The direction ruled by the Lord of a Rāśi becomes Plava direction for that Rāśi. This is Yavana's school of thought. If the king undertakes his journey towards such direction, indicated by the Rāśi concerned, he attains quick success.
40-4l. Colours of Rāśis. From Aries onwards the following 12 colours are allotted to the various Rāśis, respectively, red, white, green, pink, brown, gray, variegated, black, golden, yellow, deep-brown and white. If an idol of the Lord of the Ascendant is made in the colour allotted and is worshipped, the native will destroy his enemies, just as Lord Indra destroyed the demons.
Thus ends the 3rd Ch. Rāśi Description of Kalyana Varma's Saravali
