Technical Terms
for Houses
Spiritual qualities of Planets
The Memory Table given before
is P.A.C. The memory table will be expanded now to
make it a complete scheme. But before learning them,
it is necessary to understand some technical terms
of astrology which are used more commonly.
1. Kendras (Quadrants)
— The Lagna, the fourth, seventh and the tenth houses
of the lagna are called kendras and the lords of those
houses are called lords of kendras, wherever they
may be placed in a horoscope.
2. Trikonas (Trines) —
The lagna and the fifth and the ninth houses from
the lagna are trines. The lords of the fifth and ninth
houses have been described as trikonas which is a
fallacy. The word 'tri' in Sanskrit means 'three'.
In what is known as the ashtakvarga, in trikona shodhana
, the lagna, the fifth and the ninth houses are taken.
Thus lagna lord is both a kendra lord and also the
trikona lord.
3. Panapharas (Cadent)
— The second, fifth, the eighth and the eleventh houses
are known as panapharas. Then a special term used
is Upachaya house which are the third, sixth, tenth
and eleventh houses and their lords.
4. Apoklimas (Succudent)
— The third, sixth, ninth and the twelfth houses are
known as apolklima. But since the ninth house is trikona,
it is generally omitted from this category.
Points to Remember
In understanding the meaning
of P.A.C. the combinations of the lords of these houses,
or the aspect of one of them on a house or a planet
or the mutual aspects of the lords of these houses
reveal the secrets of horoscope. It is an area of
ever-expanding research, very simple apparently, but
very complex.
In the example horoscope:
Kendras are Kanya, Dhanu,
Meena and Mithuna.
Trikonas are Kanya, Makar,
Vrisha.
Panapharas are Tula, Makar,
Mesha, Karka.
Apoklimas are Vrishchika,
Kumbha, Vrisha (Omit it) and Simha.
It will be good if a reader gets
used to these terms after understanding how these
terms come into a writer’s articles in so natural
a way that the writer does not know that they may
appear foreign to many.
The permutations and combinations
of these, lords of kendras, trikonas, panapahars,
apoklimas and upachayas are used for predictions.
Spiritual Qualities
of Planets
India which is the land of the
origin of four of the seven world religions, Hinduism,
Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism and has the most efficacious
and numerous sadhanas (spiritual practices), has also
given to the world the yoga system which is popular
all over the world. Very few astrologers know
that Hindu astrology is the most developed spiritual
astrology which is somehow, till now, kept as a great
secret with the saints of India.
Yet in some books of astrology,
which is a different branch of astrology than the
one being discussed here, there are many more hints
about the spiritual side of human personality.
Yet rarely people in India go
to astrologer to ask questions about their spiritual
life for a very excellent reason. The people of India
have the supreme advantage of learning their spiritual
lessons, first at home from the elders in childhood,
later they seek the guidance of some spiritual person,
saints, yogis, gurus and other holy persons. Then
they have the supreme advantage of reading such rare
spiritual literatures, in the Ramayan, the Mahabharata
and the Puranas that they get most of the answers
to their spiritual questions from these books.
My experience in U.S.A. and with
people from the west coming to consult me in India
has been that they seek answers which are sometimes
quite ticklish because they have got interested in
spiritual practices and, have rarely been in so advantageous
position as Indianhas of getting spiritual guidance
form so many sources and so many persons.
To fulfill that need in discussing
the nature of planets it becomes necessary to start
with the spiritual qualities of planets. What is being
listed below is not exhaustive but is sound enough
for practical use by astrologer and lovers of astrology.
An exhaustive list has been added to the book at the
end.
What spiritual qualities each
planet (the nine we are using) represents is being
given briefly.
Sun
The Sun, lord of our solar system,
has been identified in some Sanskrit stotras as Lord
Vishnu but generally, it is with Lord Shiva that he
is identified. It does not matter which of the Trinity
he represents. The important point to remember is
that he awakens the thirst for spiritual life, blesses
one with divine knowledge, described as Gyana, which
is why he has been described as Atmakaraka also (not
Jaimini astrology where a planet with the highest
degree becomes the Atmakaraka). Therefore, Sun is
associated with philanthropic tendencies and has a
Sattwick nature.
Moon
If the Sun is the atma (soul),
the Moon is the Manas or the mind.Mental qualities
are represented by the Moon. It is the mind that creates
the feeling of happiness or unhappiness. A mind that
is under control is a mind that develops powers of
concentration and meditation. A Moon afflicted by
Saturn and Mars creates strong feelings of detachment
or vairagya. In the horoscopes of great yogis and
saints this combination is generally seen. I have
referred to many such horoscopes in my books, particularly,
in the Yogis, Destiny and the Wheel of Time.
Pure spiritual tendencies, love
to go to sacred places, worshipping Goddess, kindness,
soft and tender feelings born of Sattwick nature are
associated with the Moon. It is for this reason that
a strong, exalted or vargottama Moon has always been
praised.
Mars
"Bhoomi-suto", is a
well-known synomym for Mars meaning the child of the
earth. Also known as the commander in chief, Mars
represents the determination to do sadhana, if such
promises exist in any horoscope. He represents Lord
Vishnu and his various forms. Among the Vedas he has
been identified with the Sama Veda.
It is my experience that in the
case of any guru, where he (Mars) influences the 4th
or the 10th houses, he builds ashrams. In the 5th
house, Mars gives the drive to become the builder
of religious institution. Builders, estate agents
have to have a prominent Mars influencing their 4th
or 10th houses or their lords. Extend it to men in
religious and spiritual line and you will see builders
of ashrams, temples, mosques, churches, synagogues
and religious institutions, with a strong desire to
acquire land and building .
Mercury
Maharshi Parashara prescribes
recitation of the Vishnu Sahastranaama in the periods
of Mercury. The identification of Mercury with Lord
Vishnu being so clear, a strong and well-placed Mercury,
(in the spiritual houses, like 4, 8,12 or the Dharma
houses like 1, 5, 9 gives a deep yearning for the
study of scriptures and also astrology which is a
divine science, being the most prominent Vedanga.
Mercury generally causes the
undertaking of pilgrimages but not for a long stay.
To build temples of Lord Vishnu is a well-known quality
of Mercury. The manifestations of Lord Vishnu in all
forms being the identity of Mercury, he is a Vaishnava
par excellence. Mercury promotes a strong tendency
to acquire self-control. Mercury being a ritualist,
attraction for mantras and Yantras is a well known
tendency released by Mercury. He represents Atharva
Veda
Jupiter
In astrology, if Jupiter
and Mercury are not good, one will be a poor
predictor. The house of speech, the second house,
getting associated with Jupiter through position or
aspect shows gifts of prophecy, unless the second
house or the second lord are bad otherwise. It also
makes one a good preacher. A preacher has to have
knowledge of scriptures suppoted by personal spiritual
experience.
Jupiter represents the quintessence
of dharma. The finer aspects of divine knowledge and
spiritual practices like penances, worship of god,
doing of charity are commonly associated with Jupiter.
Varahamihira has praised the position of Jupiter in
the 10th house. Being a strict moralist, Jupiter motivates
one to be ethical in conduct. Since Jupiter represents
Lord Shiva, a Jupiter-dominated person does not mind
making sacrifices for true religious and spiritual
causes.
Venus
Traditionally, the Guru of Asuras,
Venus is a learned religious person. Venusian traits
can be showy. One may develop the tendency to turn
his religious zeal into piety. I have seen hundreds
of horoscopes of men and women with Venus in the 10th
house becoming more showy than sincere in spiritual
pursuits. Perhaps, distractions in their lives, caused
by Venus are many. Among Vedas, Venus represent Yajur-Veda.
The likeable and admirable side of Venus is love for
religious songs, love to decorate religious places
and compose music for, particularly female goddesses.
Saturn
Saturn described as the
planet of misery is a totally fallacious statement.
Without a favourable Saturn in the birth horoscope
and in transit one can never develop deep detachment.
Saturn represents self-abnegation, tyaga. It is tyaga
and Gyana that become real strong foundation for spiritual
life. A weak Saturn has been seen to attract a sadhak,
if there is also afflicted Moon, attraction towards
inferior deities.
Rahu
Rahu has been praised by Ramanujacharya
for dips in the Ganga Moon If the Sun is the atma
(soul), the Moon is the Manas or the mind. and going
to pilgrimages because he is an extrovert, unlike
Ketu, who makes one an introvert. Rahu impels one
to take to religious and spiritual practices many
times in a rather unconventional way and, can cause
attraction for non-conventional religious approach.
Ketu
It is difficult to decide who
between Jupiter and Ketu is a better salvation-giver.
Yet, Ketu has been called the salvation-giver because
he is the embodiment of subtlest divine secrets. Ketu
in the twelfth has been praised. Ketu always attracts
one towards seclusion, observance of mouna the vow
of silence. The Dasha Avatara There is one and only
one God as the great Narayana Kavacham in the Srimad
Bhagvatam emphsises. The Lord, being playful, assumes
many shapes, foms always. He adorns himself with various
weapons. The Brihat Parashara Shatra, world’s greatest
astrological classic, refers to the nine incarnations
of God about which we know and also refers to the
tenth Incarnation as God Kalki. Theyare:
