sage Vasistha Vidyashram

V asistha in Hindu mythology was one of the Saptarishis (Seven Great Sages Rishi) in the
seventh, i.e. the present Manvantara, and the Rajpurohit / Rajguru of the Suryavamsha or
Solar Dynasty. He was the manasaputra of Brahma. The star Mizar of the stellar constellation
Ursa Major is thought of as Vashisht and the small one beside it, Alcor, as Arundhati his wife. Vashisht
is credited as the chief author of Mandala 7 of the Rigveda. Vashisht and his family are glorified in RV
7.33, extolling their role in the Battle of the Ten Kings, making him the only mortal besides Bhavayavya
to have a Rigvedic hymn dedicated to him. Another treatise attributed by him is "Vashisht Samhita" - a
book on Vedic system of electional astrology.

Guru: Shri Dr. Suresh Chandra Mishra

D r. Suresh Chandra Mishra is one of the most popular names in Hindi Jyotish having translated
the highest number of classics ever done by any modern author along with exhaustive
commentary. Apart from his mastery over sanskrit he has studied all branches of astrology and
his book in English titled ‘Panchadhayee’ has been considered
the rarest book in last 100 years containing not to be found
techniques along with applications. He was also a regular
contributor in the English magazine Vedic Astro.

Q1. What is Graha Kaal and how to use it in a day to day

practice? Query by Adya Tripathi, California.

Shri Suresh Mishra:

For obtaining Graha Kaal, divide the day or night,
as the case may be, into (sunrise to sunset or sunset to
next sunrise) eight equal segments. First seven segments
are assigned to seven planets respectively in their
weekday order.

For day time, we reckon ownership of seven subsequent segments from the week day
lord, while the same for night time from the fifth of the week day lord in question. The
eighth segment is without ruler or Nireesh (Ni- without, eesh- lord). Parashara, in
accordance with their ruler, ascribes specific names to some segments as shown in below
table.

Seg. Sun Moon Mars Mercury Jupiter Venus Saturn

Lord
Name & Kaal or -- Mrityu Yamardha Yamghant -- Gulika
Meaning Time or 1:5 hour or Bell of
Death almost Yama

Yamardh is mainly considered for Muhurtha, while Kaal, Mrityu, Yamghant and
Gulika are important for analyzing a chart. (For clear cut rules on this you can refer to my
Panchadhyayee)

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Q2. What is Tithi Yogini and Dig Yogini?

Shri Suresh Mishra:

For entire duration of a Tithi, Dig Yogini (better known as Yogini) rests in eight
directions as follows. In the classics, these are cited in order of directions, but here for
convenience in retaining in mind, we describe respectively in order of Tithi or Lunar day.

Tithi 1,9 2,10 3,11 4,12 5,13 6,14 7,15 8,30

Dik Purva Uttara Agneya Nairitya Dakshin Pashchim Vayavya Ishaan
Diksha or or or SE or SW or or West or NW or NE
or East North South
Direction

Within 1/16th part of a Tithi, Yogini remain in current progressively in order of a

Tithi. In the table above consider Tithi as the serial number of 1/16 segment where no.30 is
considered as 16. This sort is popularly labeled as Tatkal Yogini or Yamardha Yogini.

1/16th 1,9 2,10 3,11 4,12 5,13 6,14 7,15 8,16

Tithi
Direction East North SE SW South West NW NE

Q3. What is Graha Arudh, how is their motion and how to use in Prashna? Question by
R.C.Srivastava, Agra.

Shri Suresh Mishra:

Parashara advocates Arudh or Padha of a house as well as of a planet, for reading a

chart, is a must to consider. All rules for fixation of Bhava or Graha Arudha are similar in
their application. (Elucidated in our book Panchadhyayee)

Arudha of a Graha is located as many houses away from its own rashi, as the own
rashi itself is from the rashi lord.

If a planet owns two rashis, it is mainly applicable to the stronger rashi, states
Parashara. But in Prashna, it is to apply to seven planets and all twelve houses.

Considering the Sun in Makara, the rashi Simha happens to be eighth from the Sun.
Hence Sun’s Arudha rests in Meena falling eighth from Simha.

A planet or house responsible for the content of Prashna is auspicious, fructifying in

favour and disbursing desired effects when it is in a Kendra, Trikona or Labha at the time of
Prashna.

Q4. How Digbal is used in astrological guidance? Question by R.C.Srivastava, Agra.

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Shri Suresh Mishra:

Digbal or directional strength of planets bases upon their Kendra position. A Sthanbal
planet is more potent when it gains digbal too. For example, the Sun in its own rashi,
Multrikon or Uccha, etc., having Sthanbal, becomes more effective and result oriented in
tenth house (Full Digbal) and least in the fourth (Least Digbal).

A planet gains fullest Digbal when its degrees in Longitude coincide with the degrees
of a Kendra.

We can easily obtain longitude of all four kendras by adding 90 degrees to the Lagna.
A planet with full Digbal is satisfactorily strong and disbursing good effects even if it is in
its Neecha. However a combust planet having sufficient Shadbal, becomes of mixed nature.

Q5. What is Nisheka in astrological terms? Question by R.C.Srivastava, Agra.

The word Nisheka is used for conception, ejaculation and cohabitation of couple
primarily aimed for successful conception resulting in progeny. Adhaan, Garbhadhaan,
Shukra Nirvaap are synonyms.

Q6. What is difference between Garhaa Kaal and Kala Graham? Question by
R.C.Srivastava, Agra.

Shri Suresh Mishra:

For Graha Kaal please refer Q1. above. Kala Graham means the longitude of a planet
converted in to Kala or minutes of arch of zodiac. This is better termed as Kalatmaka Graha.

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