MANTRESWARA'S PHALA DEEPIKA English Translation, Commentary and annotation by Dr. G. S. Kapoor Preface Shri Mantreswara's 'Phaladeeplka' holds a most distinguished position amongst the great ancient astrological classics alongwith Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra, Varahmihira's Brihat Jataka and Vaidya Natha's Jataka Parijata. It deals in a most comprehensive and authoritative manner with almost all the astrological aspects of human life. There can be said to be nothing that this great work has omitted from its purview. Some of the important subjects dealt with in a lucid manner in the book are: description and characteristic features of the various signs, planets and bhavas (houses), the various kinds of strengths of planets and their awasthas with their effects, sources of livelihood, yogas or planetary combinations leading to affluence and poverty, effects of planets in different houses, effects of different Ascendants, Female horoscopy, matters relating to matrimony and progeny determination of longevity, judgment of houses, various kinds of Dasas and their effects, Ashtakavarga and its importance in the judging of effects of transit of planets, transit effects of planets and constellations, and description and influence of upagrahas. The author of this book Shri Mantreswara is believed to have lived in the 13th century when this valuable work must have been compiled. It is said that he belonged to a family of Namboodari Brahmins and he was born in tirinevelley District of the erstwhile Madras Presidency (now known as Tamil Nadu). He was a devotee of Sukuntlambki Devi. As a young man his name was Markandeya Bhattadri. To attain knowledge he is said to have travelled to far off places like Badrika Ashram in Himalayas and Mithila Pradesh - By sheer dint of hard work and devotion, he became well versed in the Vedanta philosophy and in the knowledge of other sastras, and by severe observance of fast, penance and meditation, he became gifted with divine knowledge and assumed the name of Mantreswara. His knowledge of Astrology was profound and the reference in his book to Parasara, Varahamihira and other learned astrologers indicates that he had 2 made a deep study of all the ancient astrological works existing in his time. The present book is so instructive that beginners as well as advanced students of Astrology can obtain very useful guidance from its study. New Delhi G.S. Kapoor 3 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Description of characteristic Jeatures of signs and houses Parts of the body of Kalapurusha, Abdoes of signs -- Lords of the signs -- Moolatrtkona signs, exaltation and debilitation points, own signs of planets- Biped, centiped, watery and quadruped, Shlrshodaya -Nocturnal and diurnal signs - Moveable, fixed and common signs -- Dwara, Bahis and Oarbha signs - Dhatu, Mula and Jeeva signs -- Krura, Saumya, odd. even, male, female signs - Twelve houses and subjects with which they are concerned. 1- 11 Chapter 2: Characteristic features of the planets and the matters Jailing under their Jurisdiction Subjects to be determined from the Sun and other planets-temperament, form, colour, dress, appearance, etc., of the planets, places belonging to the planets Gunas, Satwa, Rajas and Tamas of planets -relations signified by them-Grains, gems and substances ruled by the planets-Ages indicated by the planets. 12-27 Chapter 3: Divisions of a sign Rasi, Hora, Drekkana, Panchamsa, Saptamsa, Navamsa, Dasmainsa, Dwadasauisa, Shodasamsa and Shastyamsa -- Saptavargas consisting of vargas after omitting Dasmamsa, Shastyamsa and Shodasamsa -- Shadvargas - Matters to be considered from various vargas and their significance -- meaning and significance of Vargottama -Parljatamsa, Uttamamsa, Gopuramsa, Slmhasanamsa, Parvatamsa, Devalokamsa, Alravatamsa and Suralokamsa -- Awasthas of planets - Pradeepta, Sukhita, Swastha, Mudita, Shanta, Shakta; Vlkala, Nlpldlta, Khala and Atibhjeeta -- Effects of Planets In various conditions. 28-36 Chapter 4: The strength of planets and houses Kalaja, Chesta, Uchchaja - Dik -Ayan -Sthana. The method of working out Chandra krlyas, Chandra Awastha and Chandra Vela -Effects of 60 Chandra krlyas, 12 Chandra Awasthas and 36 Chandravelas -- Tables for guidance. 37-56 Chapter 5: Source of livelihood 4 The indication of the sources of livelihood or profession by the Sun and other planets. 56-60 Chapter 6: Yogas Panchamahapurusha yogas viz., Ruchaka, Bhadra, Hansa, Malavya and Sasa. — Sunapha, Anapha and Durudhara -Kemadruma - Papavasl and Papakartarl - Amala - Mahabhagya » Kesari - Sakata - Adhama, Satna and Varlshta -- Vasumatl — Pushkala -- Shubhamala and Ashubhamala -- Lakshml -- Gouri -- Saraswatl -- Srikanta - Srinatha -- Varunchi — Parivartana, Kahala — Raja yoga — Sankhya yogas viz. Veena, Dama, Pasa, Kedara, Sula, Yoga, and Gola — Adhiyoga -- Chamar, Dhenu, Saurya, Jaladhi. Chhatra, Astra, Kama, Asura, Bhagya, Khyatl, Partjata and Musala yogas -- Avayoga, Nisswayoga. Mriti yoga, Kuhu yoga, Sarla yoga, Nlrbhagya yoga, Duryoga, Dartdrayoga and Vimala yoga. 61-89 Chapter 7: Raja yogas Description of various planetary combinations. 90-100 Chapter 8: Effect of the Sun and other planets In the twelve houses. 101-116 Chapter 9: Effect of different Ascendants Effects of planets posited in exaltation, own, friend's, Inimical and debilitation 117- 122 Chapter 10: Matters relating to the 7th house Planetary dispositions for loss of wife,. issuelessness, possessing a chaste, fortunate and beautiful wife, a crippled wife, liasion with other people's wives, wlfelessness, having two wives, time of marriage. 123-127 Chapter 11: Female Horoscopy Peculiarities of female's horoscope -- planetary combination for a good husband and sons, masculine featured and sons, masculine featured and uncontrollable woman — planetary combination for widowhood, diseased womb, lack of chastity, becoming a prostitute, being chaste, happiness - Effects of Trimsamsa occupied by the Moon at birth-untoward effects of the birth, a female in 5 certain Nakshatras — Circumstances favourable for conception. 128-134 Chapter 12: Birth of children (the 5th house) Planetary combinations for acquisition of children issuelessness, loss of children, limited progeny, having a child late In life, having a son from the second wife, extinction of family, having a son by adoption, male and female children, number of Issues and having children with great efforts -- Inauspicious Tithis for births and their adverse effects and remedial measures for the same -- Method for finding out the Dasa and Antardasa — Effects of transit of planets on the birth of children. 135-145 Chapter 13: Determination of longevity Essentials at the time of birth Early death due to own signs or those of father and mother and remedial measures Balarishta, yogarishta, Alpayus (short life), Madhyamayus, circumstances In which father or mother or both will die after the birth of a child -- Evil yogas viz. Dinamrityu, Dinaroga or Vlshaghatlka, death soon after birth -- fateful degrees of the Moon which cause early death. The decanate Rasls of the Lagna and the Moon, Navamsa Rasls of the lord of the Lagna and lord of the sign occupied by the Moon and the Dwadasamsa Rasls of the lord of Lagna and the lord of 8th house -- Planetary combinations of long, medium and short life -- Evil effects by a strong Jupiter posited In the Lagna, happy long life If Jupiter and lord of the Lagna are posited In Kendra. 146-156 Chapter 14: Diseases, death and past and future births Description of diseases by the various planets - Planetary combinations for occurrence of different kinds of diseases - Manner In which a person meets with his death -Description of planets and Rasis and the diseases caused by them. Planetary combinations for happy and troublesome deaths and going to heaven or hell -- Planets which give information about past and future births. 157-166 Chapter 15: Assessment of houses Circumstances in which the various houses are strong and when they are weak -circumstances causing total destruction of a house-Description of planets causing destruction of the house during their Dasa period -- Good effects of lord of 6 the Lagna occupying a house even if he be a malefic -- Effect on the house when a planet owns two houses -- Effect of a planet in Bhava -- Sandhi -- Description of subjects falling under the Jurisdiction of the various planets -- Karakas -- a method of judging each house -- Circumstances under which the planets are Inter- connected. 167-177 Chapter 16: General effects of the twelve houses The planets effecting the appearance of the native and his body and limbs -- Effects of the good and had disposition of the lords of the Lagna and other houses -- Effects of the lord of Lagna being stronger than the lord of the 6th house -- Time when the good and bad effects of a house will be realised. 178-188 Chapter 17: Exit from the world Destruction of a house during transit of Saturn through certain positions - Occurence of death during the transit of Saturn through certain positions - Occurence of death during transit of Jupiter, the Sun and the Moon In certain positions - The time of death of the native. 189-196 Chapter 18: Effects of conjunction of two planets General effects of conjunction of two planets - Effects of Moon in different signs being aspected by different planets - Effects of the Moon being in Navamsa of different planets and being aspected by them. 197-202 Chapter 19: Dasas (major periods) of planets and their effects The span of Dasa (Vlmshottari Dasa) of various planets — How to work