ASTROLOGY SIMPLIFIED

BEPIN BEHARI What Can It Do For You? * Provides a nosegay of 1001 terms and concepts with annotations to make your study of Indian (Vedic) Astrology interesting and meaningful. * Describes the basic features of the 9 planets, 12 signs of the Zodiac, 12 house divisions of a Natal Chart, 27 Nakshatras beside Abhijit, 125 planetary combinations, 155 planetary deities and nature spirits, ancient rishis and mythological personalities, 155 metaphysical and religious concepts, 415 abstruse and technical astrological terms, besides a large number of miscellaneous astrological principles. * Explains Dasa Systems, Kala Chakra Dasa, Muntha, Gulika, Hadda System, Annual Horoscope, Kala Purusha, Periodicity of Manifestation, Vedic Concept ofTime, Nishekha Lagan, and several other complicated terms. * Concretise important astrological concepts with 5 illustrations and 10 diagrams. * Guides student of yoga and astrology by elucidating concepts frequently used in occult literature. * Synthesises astrological, mythological and spiritual approaches to various astrological principles so as to give a deeper understanding of this ancient knowledge highly useful for self- awareness. Bepin Behari is a noted authority on Vedic Astrology. Primarily an economist, the author in his perceptive approach to Eastern Science has brought into the light of day the aspects of Vedic Astrology wh ich were hitherto thought to be lost. Author of many books and articles, Bepin Behari has also given lectures and talks on the subject so close to his heart.

1357 v f~C\ A CONTENTS

Symbols and Abbreviations Used vi List of Tables vii List of Figures viii Terms and Concepts 1 Suggested References 213

Index 214 SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED

SIGNS OFTHE ZODIAC T Aries V Taums n Gemini G Cancer 4 Leo Tfl Virgo =Q= Libra m Scorpio Sagittarius Capricorn sW Aquarius H Pisces Signs of the Planets O The Sun c The Moon 0 Mercury 9 Venus cr Mars 4 Jupiter h Saturn n Rahu o Abbreviations BPH Brihat Parashar Hora Shastra BS Brihat Samhita G&BB Graha and Bhava Balas (RV. Raman) ItEA Introduction to Esoteric Astrology IU Isis Unveiled (H.P. Blavatsky) JR Jyotish Ratnakar ML Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett MSVA Myths and Symbols of Vedic Astrology (B. Behari) RiW The Revelations in the Wilderness (G.H. Mees) SD The Secret Doctrine (H.P. Blavatsky) Sk SoV The Secret of the Veda (Sri Aurobindo) SoY The Science ofYoga (I.K. Taimini) TG The Theosophical Glossary (H.P. Blavatsky) LIST OF TABLES

1. Aspects of Different Planets 22 2. Aspects According to Jaimini System of Astrology 23 3. Asterisms and Planetary Rulership under Ashtottri Dasa System 24 4. Inherent Friendship between Planets 68 5. Planetary Rulership over Different Hadda Divisions of the Signs 76 6. Hala Chakra 77 7. Relationship between /ttdn'yflS, Tanmatras and Bhutas 85 8. Table of Mandi Indices 132 9. Astronomical Details of Planets 155 10, Basic Astrological Details of Seven Vedic Astrological Planets 156 11 Main Characteristics of the Zodiacal Signs 168 12, List of the 60-year Cycle of Samvatsaras 175 LIST OF FIGURES

1. Bhachnkra 32 2. Significance of the Houses 45 3. The Ecliptic 65 4. Methods of Representing the Birth Chart 82 5. Kala Purusha, Zodiacal Signs and Asterisms 101 6. Relationship between I'aiicli Maha I'unisha Yogas, Yogic Energy-Centres and Zodiacal Signs 128 7. Parallex (Geocentric) of Moon 150 8. Puranic Representation of Planetary Deities 153 9. Seven Planetary Impulses for Human Progress and Unfoldment 157 10 The Phenomenon of Equinoctial Precession 159 11 Quadruplicity and Triplicity of Zodiacal Signs 162 12 Retrogression; An Observational Illusion 171 13 Significance of the Signs 210 A

Amiijn ADHI The asterism occupying 270° 40' to As a prefix it means the chief or the 280° 54' 13" of the zodiac. It is repre- presiding deity. sented by three stars, which includes ADIll Vega, the brightest star of the north- Very close friend. (See Planetary ern hemisphere. A name of , Friendship) Krishna acknowledges it to represent him. presides over the star. It ADHI YOGA is important in Muhurtha (q.v.) deter- An auspicious planetary combination mination. formed by benefices in the 6th, 7th and 8th houses from the Moon sign ABIIIMANI while Mercury is not combust (q.v.) Meaning dignified, proud; also and Jupiter does not form Sakata yoga personifies , fire, who is said to (q.v.). It makes an individual polite, be the eldest son of Brahma. He has trustworthy, affluent and capable of three sons, viz., Pavaka, Pavamana, defeating his adversaries. and Suchi from his wife Swaha (q.v.). ADHOMUKHA Abhimani also means a planet in The sign occupied by the Sun in a strength and moving towards its natal chart. exaltation sign. ADI ACHARYA Meaning Beginning. The Original A spiritual teacher. One who invests Cause; the parent-source of the nomi- a boy with the sacred thread and nal impersonal self. The initial phase instructs him in the Veda\. When affixed of illusory manifestation produced to proper names (as in Sankaracharya) by Avidya (ignorance). H.P. Blavatsky it means learned and venerable. stated Adi to stand for the one on the ACHCHADANA unreachable plane of absoluteness Meaning cover, concealment. Special and infinity, on which no speculation aspect (q.v.) of Jupiter and Venus. is possible, while (q.v.) stands Kapii Nadi, a classical text on astrol- for the one on the plane of emana- ogy suggested Jupiter to have 3rd tion. Ac'/ is eternal, absolute, and and 11th aspects as Achchadana, while immutable while Aditi is a reflection Venus gets it as its 5th aspect. of Adi. The Vedas used Adi in the sense Brahma was used in subse- quent scriptures. Buddhists refer to Meaning firm, imperishable; often Siddhartha Gautam as Adi Buddha refers to Vishnu. to imply him as the first or the ADANA LAGNA Supreme Being. Also known as Nisheka Lagna. Ascen- In astrology, Adi represents the dant at the moment of impregnation. Sun being the primeval cause of the solar system. Among the zodiacal The describes Aditi, signs, it stands for Aries, and among the daughter of and the wife the Lunar Mansions (q.v.) Ashwini is of Kashyapa, to be the mother of 8 considered Adi, while in a natal chart, Adityas (q.v.), including Vishnu and Adi stands for the ascendant. other shining ones. ADI BHUTA According to the Purana, The first-born; Brahma, the primeval gave to Aditi a pair of earrings element. that were produced by the churning of the ocean. Several Puranic stories ADI BUDDHA refer to these earrings being stolen The chief deity of Southern Buddhists. and taken to the city of Prag Jyotish The abstract principle of all Buddhas. by the king , from Siddhartha Gautam is also referred where they were brought back and as Adi Buddha to imply him as the restored to Aditi by Krishna. first or the Supreme Being. Occult tradition establishes a close ADI BUDDHI resemblance between Krishna, Aditi Original perception. Pure Conscious- and the Cosmic Mother principle. ness. Aditi gave birth to 8 Adityas (q.v.), ADI NIDANA of whom the 8th one, Martand, the [(Adi = first) + {Nidana = rope that present Sun of the present solar binds, cause)]. The original cause. system, was cast away as a 'dead eggL In the there is a ADI reference to who bore eight Primeval divine fire. The female foetuses, of which seven were creative power. An aspect of every destroyed by while the eighth male deity. one, which was Krishna, was trans- ADITI ported to Gokula by her husband, Meaning Fres, unbound. Boundless Vasudeva. In such legends, Devaki, heaven as compared with the finite the mother of Krishna, is represented earth. A Vedic goddess representing as a new birth, or manifestation of the primeval generatrix of all that Aditi, and Krishna of the Sun emanated. The eternal space of connected with the origin and nour- boundless whole, the unfathomable ishment of the earth. depth signifying the veil over the Aditi is variously represented in unknown. Indian occult literature. Besides being The Rig Veda describes it as the the goddess who mothered 8 Sun father and mother of all gods; it is gods, she even represents , the named Devamatri, mother of all gods, mother earth, Vach, the goddess of or Swabhavat, that which exists by speech who articulates noumenon itself. She is frequently implored for into creative impulse, and in south- blessing children and cattle, for ern Buddhist schools, she is identi- protection and forgiveness. fied with Akasha, the all- pervading In the Yajur Veda, Aditi is substratum of all manifestation, and addressed as the support of the sky, with Nirvana, liberation. She repre- the sustainer of the earth, the sents the Great Deep, the primeval sovereign of this world, and the wife waters of space, the chaos, and the of Vishnu. celestial Virgin Mother of all the visible and invisible universes, and the beginning of every Kalpa (q.v.). the primordial light which provides They are also called Ajitas, Tushitas, life and substance to every form of Satyas, Haris, Vaikunthas, Sadhyas, creation. Aditi is symbolised as the and Adityas on different occasions. central point in the Sun symbol O . Aditi is said to have given birth to Aditi presides over the 7th 8 Adityas, 7 of whom she gave to the asterism, Punarvasu. Mees states that gods, and they became different Aditi has six or seven forms as apply- planets. The eighth one, named ing to six or seven spheres, or twelve Martand, was thought dead and was forms referring to the stages of spiri- cast away. It became the Sun of the tual path connected with the twelve present solar system. The Puranic signs of the zodiac. Blavatsky refers stories mention the Sun (Vivaswan) to it as the Vedic name for to be married to Tvastri (), Mulaprakriti (q.v.). She even considers daughter of the celestial architect Aditi as the mother of gods, or Sheik- Tvastra or Vishwakarma. But she inah, the eternal light; in the world of was unable to bear his effulgence, so spirit, the great deep and chaos, or having left her shadow, Chhaya, to the primordial substance in its first look after him, she went to her father, remove from the unknown in the who sheared much of the Sun's manifested cosmos. Aurobindo states radiance. From the fragments thus that Aditi is 'both the cow and the chipped off, the discus of Vishnu, the general Mother; she is the Supreme trident of , the weapons of Light and all radiances proceed from , the lance of Kartikeya and her. Psychologically, Aditi is the such other deadly weapons of several supreme and infinite consciousness, other gods were formed. represented as mother of the gods.' The Sun, or the Aditya, is ADITYA supposed to have a large family. He Meaning, born of Aditi. Born as has three wives, viz., Sanjna, Ragyi, Vivaswan, a son of Kashyapa and and Prabha, besides Chhaya, formed Aditi, Adityas are divine intelli- from the shadow of Sanjna. A king gences supervising and maintaining named Raivat was born of Ragyi, the cosmic evolutionary process. Prabhat was born of Prabha. From They are also known as Suryas, Sanjna the Sun had two sons, viz., , and by several other names. Vaivasvata and , and a The root number 33 in Hindu daughter called Yamuna. Yama and occultism stands for the 12 Adityas, Yamuna are said to be twins. From 8 Vasus, 11 , and 2 Ashwinis, Chhaya, the Sun begot Savarni all presenting different aspects of the Manu, Sani (Saturn) and Vishti. The same primeval impulse. two Mantis are related with racial Adityas represent the creative evolution and social reorganisation expression of the primordial efful- of different human races during the gence of life. Brahma is said to have different periods of manifestation or created them for assisting him in his Manvanlara. evolutionary task but they refused to Yama became the god of death, do so considering it to be an impure and Sani is the planet related with involvement. An infuriated Brahma death. Yama presides over the planet cursed them to be born repeatedly at Saturn. Yamuna and Tapti are two important rivers of north and south Space, Son of Dark Space, who India. Vishti is a very fierce-looking emerges from the Depths of the great demoness, connected with Time. Dark Waters . . . He shines forth as Away from her husband, Sanjna the Sun, he is the Blazing Divine assumed the form of a mare and Dragon of Wisdom . . . Behold him began wandering in the universe. lifting the Veil, and unfurling it from When the Sun became aware of the East to West. He shuts out the Above, deception, he assumed the form of a and leaves the Below to be seen as horse and, having found her in her the Great Illusion. He marks the new form, produced the two places for the Shining Ones, and Ashwini Kumars (q.v.). turns the Upper into a Shoreless Sea There are many stories of the of Fire, and the One Manifested into Sun's seductions. The Sun begot the Great Waters." {S.D. I. p. 138) Karna from Kunti before she was ADVAITA married to . It was supposed to [{A = not) + (Dvaita = duality)]. The be an immaculate birth, without non-dualistic school of Vedantic phil- destroying her virginity. Karna osophy founded by Sankaracharya became a hero of the Mahabharata and stressing the Supreme as one and the in many ways excelled Arjuna in only one causeless cause of all. A bravery and military skill. It was philosophical system of absolute difficult to vanquish him until he monotheism. removed his armour on his own voli- tion. The Sun also fathered Sugriva, AFFLICTION the monkey chief who helped Rama Adverse planetary effect. It arises in trace and retrieve his abducted wife, many ways, e.g. (1) placement of , from the clutches of Ravana, the planets in the 6th, 8th, and/or 12th demon king of Lanka. Sugriva also houses or their rulership of these provided the necessary monkey houses; (2) association of a house or a army to Rama in his fight with planet with malefic Saturn, Mars, or Ravana. It is said that Aditya gave Rahu; (3) occupation of Bflrf/wfal (q.v.) the jewel to Satrajit, the planets in a house or their association father of Krishna's wife, . with any other planet; (4) Combustion As Martand, Aditya received from (q.v.) of a planet; or (5) association of his mother the earrings obtained Sun with Saturn, Rahu or Ketu. from the churning of the ocean, Affliction is also caused to a planet if which enabled him to maintain it occupies an inauspicious asterism. stability during his constant strife AGASTYA with his brothers. In the form of a [(Aga = the immovable, a mountain) + horse, Aditya communicated Sweta (Asti = thrower); (Aga = pitcher) + Yajura Veda to Yajnavalka. Blavatsky (Asti = to exist)]. An ancient patron describes Aditya as "neither Sun, nor saint of Vedic astrology associated Moon, nor stars, but the eternal with the star Canopus. Tradition sustainer of the luminous life which claims him to be still living in the exists as it were behind all the South Indian hills where he went to phenomena." She further says: ". . . teach science and literature and to the Radiant Child of the Two, the revive occult teachings. Some spiritu- unparalleled refulgent Glory—Bright alists believe him to be middle-aged