Jaimini’s Sthira Dasa Fundamentals, Concepts, & Practical Illustrations By Robert A. Koch, USA. s time goes on, and as a new generation of Jyotishis evolves, A the systems of timing in Jaimini astrology are likely to come more and more into practice. With the aid of computer technology, and due to the obert A. Koch is a professional Vedic R dedicated efforts of some seasoned and astrologer with over 20 years’ experience in advanced astrologers,1 necessary research the field. His articles have appeared in numerous Vedic astrology journals, and he is thus being conducted on Rashi dashas, is a popular speaker at Vedic astrology or dasha periods based on the conferences and seminars. He has an progressions of signs initiated from a international clientele and student base specific starting point. The following is from all walks of life. Robert released his an independent research on a particular first book in 2005 entitled, The Spiritual approach to the calculation of and Dimensions of Vedic Astrology, which has implementation of Sthira dasa, and, as earned world-wide acclaim among scholars the example charts illustrate, this dasa and astrologers alike. (See system is exquisitely accurate as a http://robertkoch.com/book.html.) consistent predictive tool in Jyotish. 1 Sri K.N. Rao, and his team of advanced Jyotishis under the auspices of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, deserve global recognition here. Smt. Akhila Kumar of New Delhi should be acknowledged here specifically, as many of the approaches utilized in this article were inspired by her first ever research on Jaimini’s Sthira dasa. Sri PVR Narasimha Rao of Maryland, USA also deserves credit for his research on the method and illustration of Sthira dasa. 1 Rashi dashas, like all dasha systems, may be classified into two categories: Phalita, for timing the fruition of Raja and Dhana yogas; and Ayur, for the timing of fatality or other dangerous periods in life. Sthira dasa is an Ayur dasa and as the word “Sthira” implies, the lengths of the dasas are fixed, showing that longevity and the number of breaths that an individual will take in life is numbered. Sthira dasa, however, functions very well in both roles, i.e. Phalita and Ayur, thus making it unique among many dasha systems being practiced today. The Brahma Graha he critical point to be seen with Sthira dasa is that the rashi dashas begin from the sign of the Brahma graha, a planet which needs to be carefully considered T and evaluated by consistent and applicable rules. Among the three primal Deities mentioned in Vedic shastras, Vishnu, Brahma, and Mahesvara (Shiva), Brahma is the creator, being empowered by Sri Vishnu with Srishti-shakti, the power of generating universes and life forms from his supreme intelligence. Brahma plays a pivotal role within the expansive pantheon of Devatas, in that due to the function of creation over which he presides, the Raja-guna, or material mode of passion is set forth compelling all living beings to act in certain ways according to their desires. Raja-guna binds the living being to physical forms and repetitive incarnations due to the pursuit of this desire. Thus within the context of Jyotish, the Brahma planet indicates the cause of creation of the living being and what types of samskaras follow him into this life and thus for which he is accountable. Whatever planet qualifies to be Brahma in the horoscope will show where the strongest desire of the living being may be found and in which areas of his incarnation this desire may be sought and fulfilled. The Sthira dasa thus starts from the sign of the Brahma graha. Fixed Karmas and Lifespan, and Fixed dasha periods ith Sthira dasa, cardinal signs universally last for seven years; fixed signs are of eight year duration; and dual signs are of nine year duration. In the W modern times, life-extension experts promote the theory that lifespan is variable and can be extended due to the adoption of certain habits, lifestyle, and mental orientation. What emerges from the conceptual side of Jyotish, however, is that lifespan itself is fixed and thus only great saints or persons on the highest levels of spiritual realization have a choice as to when and how they will leave the physical body. Thus considering that life span is pre-determined, several systems use a similar fixed length of time for dasha periods. Niryana-shoola dasha, an important Ayur dasa, for example, also uses the same fixed lengths of dashas as is used in Sthira dasa. So let us begin with the 2 calculations of Sthira dasa, and then proceed to give some very interesting illustrations as to how this dasha works and how accurate it is in practice. Controversies in the Determination of the Brahma Planet erhaps one of the reasons Sthira dasa thus far is not regularly used by the average Jyotishi, is that various scholars put forward differing theories as to the P calculation of Brahma thus bringing confusion to the minds of students. At the onset, we may offer the following basic rules for the determination of Brahma, and then address the controversies: Steps for determining the Brahma Graha 1. Find the stronger of the 1st and 7th houses of the horoscope; 2. Then find the stronger of the lords of the 6th, 8th, and 12th houses from the stronger of 1 and 7. Excluding Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu, the stronger planet is Brahma. 3. Once Brahma has been determined, all the Sthira dashas run consecutively from his position. Cardinal signs = 7 years; Fixed signs = 8 years; and dual signs = 9 years. We will cover the strengths of houses and planets shortly, but let us just say that some scholars tend to differ with the above simple calculations, saying that Parasara said certain things, or another scholar put forth a separate conclusion, etc. One of these controversies stems from the point of view that the Brahma planet can only be in an odd sign, and also can only be in the visible side of the horoscope. However, if such rules were adopted, then at least two-thirds of horoscopes would not have Brahma. Proponents of the above theories, however, say that if such strict conditions are not met, then one should find the stronger lord from the weaker of 1st and 7th and see if such planet meets these conditions. Even then, you will still find many horoscopes without Brahma. So the problem arises that if Sthira dasa is a universally applicable dasha, then it becomes a conditional dasha if we were to apply the above exceptions. In other words, Brahma, the creator, must be present in all horoscopes without exception. Rudra and Mahesvara aimini as well as Parasara are also of the opinion that if the lord of the 8th from the Atmakaraka planet is in the 8th, then that planet becomes Brahma. However, the lord J th 2 of the 8 from AK is also taken as Mahesvara. Then it is instructed that if the lord 2 Rudra and Mahesvara are very important in Jaimini astrology especially where longevity calculations are concerned. Rudra is said to destroy the five tattvas (states of energy and matter) which are the constituents of material 3 of the 8th is in the 8th, or if it is exalted, then the lord of the 12th from AK becomes Mahesvara. But what if the 12th lord is also in own sign or exalted, then the determination of Mahesvara becomes muddy at best. This creates doubt as to which planet then becomes Brahma, and which one is Mahesvara where the lord of the 8th from AK is concerned. Thus the simplified method works best in practice, and that is that Brahma is the stronger among 6th, 8th, and 12th lords from the stronger of the 1st and 7th houses, excepting Saturn, Rahu and Ketu; and Mahesvara is the lord of the 8th from the Atmakaraka. Rudra is the stronger lord of the 2nd and 8th houses. However, some say that if the weaker lord of the 2nd or 8th is aspected by many malefics, then it can become Rudra. The former is called Prani Rudra – the Rudra with strength - while the latter is called Aprani Rudra, or the one without strength. Again, for the purposes of simplicity, especially where studies in longevity are concerned, we shall take only the stronger lord of the 2nd and 8th (Prani Rudra) as the Rudra graha. Finally, there is also the theory that if Saturn, Rahu, or Ketu becomes Brahma (by strength determination), then one should take the 6th planet from them instead. However, does the 6th planet mean the sixth planet in order of weekdays, or the lord of the 6th house from them? All of this discussion thus becomes murky and speculative when considering that the entire system of Sthira dasa fails if the Brahma planet is not identified correctly. We can put all these ambiguous theories to rest by simply adopting the aforementioned rules, and also a straightforward and balanced approach to determining graha and bhava balas, using guidelines given in the Jaimini sutram. Rules for Determining Strengths of Planets and Houses Graha (planet) Balas: Planets are strong based on three criteria: 1. Mulatrikona bala, or strengths based on exaltation, mulatrikona, own sign position, etc. forms, and also separates the Atma from the material body at death. “Rud” means crying or tears, and thus Rudra represents the grief of the native’s relatives at death. Mahesvara is said to separate the Atma from the Manas, or mind, and thus helps the Atma in a very pure state of consciousness to attain Moksa (liberation).