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Dasha in Brihat Jatak

The Brihaj-jataka of Varahamihira-Acharya was specifically recommended by the


greatest astrologer of the modern era, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Gosvami Prabhupada. His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada verifies
this in his writings. Varahamihira is also given importance by almost every sidereal
astrologer in both India and the rest of the world, but virtually none of them use his
system to determine benefics and malefics. Just as pronounced, none of them even
mentions Varahamihira's system for calculating duration of life. In a contrarian
presentation of Vedic astrology, the Brihaj-jataka's best English translation must be given
precedence over any and all current English renditions of the Brihat Parashara Hora.
There are three important reasons for this.
1)

2)
3)

The Brihaj-jataka is not nearly as old, and, therefore, it probably is more authentic
(without verses or extraneous information added and also with either all or most of
the original verses still intact);
The aforementioned recommendation by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati;
Original Sanskrit attributed to the Brihaj-jataka verses is still available, and there is
a Sanskrit, transliteration, text, and purport format available by a Hindu astrologer
and scholar (from 1912) that appears formidable.

There are many irreconcilable contradictions between the most authoritative rendition
into English of Brihaj-jataka and all of the English translations currently in vogue of the
(so-called) Brihat Parashara Hora. Only two of these contradictions will be discussed in
this article. Nevertheless, virtually all siderealists in the post-modern world today accept
the common teachings of this (so-called) Brihat Parashara Hora, even when they clearly
contradict the Brihaj-jataka's systems of calculations and interpretations.

The Brihaj-jataka resolves these contradictions, despite the fact that the calculations in it
are far more intricate and difficult. This is particularly the case when it comes to
calculations of the length of an individual's life. The dasha system of the Brihaj-jataka
entails many steps, all completely dependent upon the accuracy and both calculations and
interpretations of all previous steps. The most important calculation of any chart is the
length of life, and this is verified throughout the sidereal Vedic texts. However, there are
variations inherent in this calculation. The next most important calculation/interpretation
is to ascertain the means of livelihood. This is a far, far easier calculation, but there are
potential variations in this calculation, as well.

This article explains, in some detail, what these nine potential and definite variations are
and why they are there. There is only one variation for any astrologer who perfectly
knows the astronomical science of planetary calculations in exact accordance with the
methodology and mathematics revealed by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami in
his translation of the Surya-siddhanta. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's epicycles do not match any
of the epicycles in general use by the few Hindus in India who calculate the positions of
the planets via Surya-siddhanta techniques.

The majority of siderealists both here and abroad consult Western ephemerides to
calculate sidereal positions. They do so by subtracting the ayanamsha of their choice
from the Western positions. This is not the method of the Surya-siddhanta, as the
ayanamsha is only used for calculating the lagna in that text. However, to repeat, even if
a very rare and special sidereal astrologer calculates the positions of planets via the
complex (and only perfect) method of Surya-siddhanta--and he employs the epicycles
given by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati--there is still one potential variation to his final
results. This variation is presented initially in the next section.

NINE VARIATIONS TO DASHA CALCULATIONS

1)

The scheduled length of life may be increased or decreased by


transcendental intervention. If the Supreme Personality of Godhead wants
someone to live longer than he or she is destined to exist in a particular karmic
incarnation, that will not show up anywhere in any astrological calculations.
Conversely, if He decides to shorten someone's sojourn, that also will not be
evident in the calculations;

2)

The person who is receiving his or her chart is not qualified to have the
knowledge revealed. As such, the paramatma will arrange that something is not
correct either in the calculations or the interpretations or both. It is a very special
gift by the Lord for any conditioned soul to know his or her exact length of life,
i.e., exact time of death;

3)

The Western ephemerides are not exactly accurate. Over and above the fact
that the tropical sign placements for all of the planets is way off (over two-thirds
of a sign), there is also variation in their interrelationship. Close? Yes. Exact?
No. This is because the Western calculations (primarily based on the formulas of

Neugenbauer), although similar to the formulas used in the Surya-siddhanta, are


still are not exactly the same. Also, all Western ephemerides have small
astronomical idiosyncrasies (rooted in whether or not they are geocentric or
heliocentric calculations) between and amongst them and are not exact
accordance. The actual fact is that each and every planet, in order to be calculated
exactly to its true sidereal positon using the Western methodology, would have a
minutely close and similar--but still different--ayanamsha.

4)

There are many different ayanamshas conducting the post-modern sidereal


astrology in practice at this time. There is practically a three-degree difference
amongst these oft-used ayanamshas. A three-degree difference is huge. It will
change every dvadashamsa calculation and almost all navamsha calculations. It
will not infrequently change dreskana calculations, and it will even sometimes
change the position of the planet according to sign, as well as lagna. Accordingly,
all of these changes will change strength of positioning of each planet, and this
directly affects the dasha calculation of length of life. The renowned astrologer
B.V. Raman wrote that the ayanamsha controversy was "a particular kind of hell."

5)

The verses in Brihaj-jataka connected to calculation of length of life are not


all free from ambiguity. There is ambiguity as far as planets in particular amshas
are subject to receiving multiplication for a particular dasha. The Sanskrit alone in
some of these verses does not render itself to only one translation and
interpretation. This is not the case for all of the verses.

6)

Some extraneous verse may have been added to the text many centuries ago.
Similar, one or more verses may have been culled out or changed.

7)

The birth time may not be accurate. If a very minor error, it would only
throw off the calculation of the lagna dasha. That would still render the length of
life not completely accurate, of course. However, if the birth time was inaccurate
to the degree that the lagna itself changed signs, then length of life calculations
would be acutely inaccurate;

8)

The calculation of malefics and benefics has a (small) degree of potential


ambiguity. This is mostly in connection to exalted planets that are conjunct
malefics in the final six signs of the chart;

9)

Varahamihira delineates three different methods of dasha calculation. He


clearly favors one of them. The one he favors is the only one Varahamihira
considers legitimate, according to the commentary. Yet a verse (supposedly) in
the Brihat Parashara Hora states that, if the Sun is the strongest planet in the chart,
then one of these systems is used. If the Moon is the strongest, then another one
is employed. If the lagna is the strongest, then the third system is used.

Without having received the astronomical and astrological knowledge in an unbroken line
of disciplic succession--or without being a completely self-realized and God-realized
Vaishnava--some or all of the final eight variations could affect the length of life
calculations. The first variation would always be a potential variation even to perfect
calculations and interpretations of the Brihaj-jataka relating to length of life.

DIFFERENT SYSTEMS

In the post-modern world, sidereal astrologers invariably employ the vimshottari-dasha


system. The commentary to the Brihaj-jataka indicates that both the ashottari-dasha
system (almost never used nowadays) and the vimsottari-dasha system are concoctions.
Varahamihira never even mentions these systems. According to the commentary, they
came into vogue in Eastern Bengal only ninety years ago. However, they are very easy to
calculate and use. They are also insidiously advantageous, because they do not calculate
a fixed number of years for length of life. After utilizing some generic verses attributed
to Jaimini as to whether or not a person will have a long, mixed, or short duration of life,
they allow a fix-it-as-you-go method of interpretation. From there, the astrologer
determines which dashas, bhuktis, and antardashas are most likely to indicate time of
death. However, if one of these stages passes, then another can be employed. Of the
seven major planets, on average, at least three will be potential marakas. So, it is not
difficult to find some antardasha that could be a period where death might be interpreted
to take place. In other words, the vimshottari-dasha system is easy and convenient to
calculate and has immense and never-ending flexibility of interpretation.

As far as modern astronomical hand-calculations are concerned, most Western


siderealists do not engage in them. They simply interpret according to the positions their
computer gives them. Computer programs on sidereal astrology only use vimshottari

calculations. It would require literally thousands of data and formula entries to create a
program that would calculate length of life according to Varahamihira's system. Such a
program should certainly be written, as it would save a great deal of time. However, its
absence at the current time is another reason the text is ignored by today's sidereal
astrologers.

VERIFICATION PROCEDURES

There are two ways to verify the astronomical and interpretive calculations related to
length of life as per the Brihaj-jataka. Neither of them can be used for everyone. The
first one can only be used by the astrologer in relation to his (or her) own chart. The
second one has less limitation, but is still not applicable by or for anyone or everyone.

1)

If an individual is an older and knowledgeable sidereal astrologer, he can


determine the positions of his planets according to his past karmic category of
engagements and experiences. It is not necessary to position each and every
planet exactly to its perfect minute and second of sidereal arc. What must be done
is to obtain the correct positions of each and every planet in relation to navamsha
(primarily) and dvadashamsha. If this is obtained, then a person really has just
about everything he needs for genuine interpretation of length of life. This can be
accomplished by walking the cat back. In other words, an accomplished
astrologer clearly sees that a given planet could not possibly be in the previous
navamsha (because there was nothing in his life in that category indicating it) but
has all the qualities of the next navamsha. The ayanamsha (for that planet)
becomes apparent. Everything falls into place when all the interpretations
(relating to all seven navamshas placements) for the planets coincide accurately
with the ayanamsha determined for that one planet. There is still a small degree of
variation, since exactitude would be required to ascertain the actual day of antakale, but the general length of life will be revealed.

2)

If an astrologer has some detailed knowledge about the person whose chart
he is interpreting--and if that person is at least forty years old--then palmistry can
be combined with astrological interpretation. This will be a kind of astrological
crossfire that verifies the results. The complete palm print is not required. Only a
good print of the Mercury mound is needed for this method of verification.

FINE TUNING THE CALCULATIONS

The Brihaj-jataka presents the method of ashtaka-varga calculation accepted by all


siderealists. As long as the original positions of the planets are basically accurate, then
every astrologer will come up with the same ashtaka-varga calculations. When done by
hand, it is both cumbersome and time-consuming.

The ashtaka-varga positions can be compared to the big hand on a clock face. The basic
dasha calculation can be compared to the little hand on the clock face. The constantly
moving thin red hand (the minute hand) on the clock can be analogous to the daily
movements of the Moon through each of its nakshatras. So, if the basic dasha
calculations according to Varahamihira are done correctly, you will know the general
time frame (analogous to the hour in this example). If the ashtaka-varga is interpreted
correctly, you can fine-tune it even further. Then, to get the exact day, you would consult
the nakshatra movements of the Moon. Obviously, when the Moon is moving either
through a loss or, particularly, a danger nakshatra, the time of death would be most likely
on that day.

All of this requires a great deal of diligent astrological work. Astrological programs in
computers can be helpful but they can have glitches and are only advantageous if doublechecked for accuracy.

CONCLUSION

Anyone who sincerely and seriously desires to know his or her length of life has to be
willing to put in a great deal of effort to secure this knowledge. He or she has to become
an accomplished sidereal astrologer, unless first becoming fully self-realized in Krishna
consciousness. If not able or willing to become expert in astrological knowledge, then
the next best means is to be in contact with a trusted and accomplished sidereal
astrologer, who both knows and follows the methods and systems of interpretation
delineated in the Brihaj-jataka. When applicable, the verification methods discussed
in this article must be employed, despite whatever minor expenses, inconveniences,
or delays are required to do this. The motives must be sincere, and the efforts must be
diligent in order to obtain a serious and accurate result.

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