Jyotish Shastra

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Vimshottari Dasa--Some Pros & Cons---Part 1

The sages of yore in Astrology has gifted us with this mysterious tool for timing of events, in ones life--which is promised in ones horoscope/birth-chart/kundli, however, such promises can only take place, by the course of various planetary periods/sub-periods taking place, not over-riding transits in his/hers lifetime.
It may so happen, that one is having a number of auspicious yogas in his birth chart, however, it either passes during his childhood or else it occurs when he is about to die.Such timings can neither help him---as he misses them in appropriate time, like in the youth etc.
From various Parasari works & the works of Parasara has dealt with this most difficult topic known as Vimshottari Dasa--from Brihat Parasara
Hora Shastram to Jatak Tatwa & also in Nadi astrology works.
Texts like Jatak parijata gives an exclusive insight on this topic, while Nadi texts gives some subtle clues to us, which perhaps have been left untouched by many authors--perhaps they never wanted such things to be revealed to us.
Often I have been misled with my many methods of analysis--after reading several works, I have been confused with my own analysis, sometimes predictions taking place in the opposite way as I predicted before, else it clicked before. But we need to have some uniformity in our predictions & our predictions have to click, as we are dealing with a divine science-it needs a laboratory & cross-check with the theories that we are taught when we were doing our theoretical classes--& check how are they applicable to practical cases.

Its a humble attempt to unravel some of the puzzles on Vimshottari Dasa, which often confuses one--whether one is right or wrong. I am certainly a newbie in the world of astrology & grand masters are always there to guide me more in this field. I will try to bring out some essences from the Astrological works & also Nadi works, as little knowledge I have about them.
I will not get into the calculative part of Vimshottari Dasa, as one who uses a computer software for casting horoscopes, life is easier for him, or else one will be knowing how to calculate the balance of Vimshottari dasa at birth, if he knows manual casting of horoscopes.

I.Planets in Debility

Perhaps, all works eulogises that a planet who is in debility will certainly usher in misfortunes for the native, while the opposite is true for exalted planets.If astrology had been so easy, then even a kid of 5 years would have excelled & earned a lots of awards of excellence in astrology.
An exalted planet, means one who is strong by virtue of being posited in certain houses, degrees, nakshatras & also he adds this strength to the houses he own, with respect to a particular Lagna & gives result for those house(s) he owns. Similarly, this explanation is true for a debilitated planet. Further, our classics give us a conditional yoga for debilitated planets known as "Neechbhanga Rajyoga" or cancellation of debility.
Let me show you one example.

Here, you please note, Jupiter is in debility & is retrograde in nature, & is presently in the Jupiter Mahadasa. He is going through an excellent Jupiter period, since there is cancellation of debility. A retrograde planet is always strong--his results may be extremely good or bad in nature.

II.Rule of Tenancy

Late Shree J.N.Bhasin in his work "Art of prediction" has given instances, where the planets work on tenancy rule--in other words, a planet gives results-good or bad, according to the type of planets posited in his house. For example, Moon is in Taurus, in her sign of exaltation, for Cancer Lagna--perhaps it is bound to give something good in her Dasa/Bhukti, but whenever her dasa-bhukti operates, she gives only bad results. On further examination, we see that the sign cancer she owns, is occupied by Saturn, Mercury--we know for Cancer Lagna, these two planets are functional malefics. So due to this combination, Moon got traits of such inimical planets & gave bad results. For example look at this chart.

His Mercury-Moon was bad, in regards to his health & also studies. The 5H is occupied by Mars, Venus, Mercury--all these planets add trait to Moon, Venus being bad for the lord of 3H & 8H. He was diagnosed with Glandular TB, & also some problem in studies in the Mercury Dasa & Moon bhukti.

III.Dispositors--Owners or Lords of Planets

Perhaps this is one of the most important tool, to judge a planet's strength. Dispositors often have the final saying in the happening of an event, whether, benefic or malefic in nature. Dispositor of a planet, if be weak, the outcome of the event may not be fruitful or may be delayed, even if the concerned planet is strong in the horoscope & also strong in Vargas.The dispositor of a planet or the house, may be weak on several circumstances--like debilitated, combusted, retrograde, or subjected to severe afflictions, by conjunctions/ or evil aspects--then such attributes of the concerned houses & promised results to be given by planets may be damaged. Look at this horoscope.

Dispositor of Sun is in 5H--some kind of romance for sure, which might lead to marriage, however, Sun's house are being occupied by planets like Saturn, Mercury & Venus in 8H. Most of these planets are being inimical to Sun. Actually this native is in love with a woman who is already married & finding hardtime to get married to her.

IV.Dispositor of Saturn's Son--Gulika/Mandi
Pt.Vaidyanath Dikshit in his great classical work, said that dispositor of Gulika/Mandi in his/hers dasa will cause trouble always. However, before enunciating the final results we have to see, whether Gulika/Mandi falls in an auspicious house or not. It falls in an auspicious one, certainly the outcome, may not be beneficial, while if it falls in the inauspicious one, its result may be beneficial, as negative multiplied by negative is always positive.

V.Malefics & benefics

It is said that malefics in certain houses like that of Upachayas always do good,whilst benefics do good in good houses, like that Kendras, Konas, & also Upachayas. However, each house has many significations. Like a malefic in 6H may promote ones health, ability to fight with diseases or in other words, immunity, whilst it might damage certain significations like maternal relatives[FYI:6H stands for Maternal Uncle(s)] etc, more so, if severely afflicted. Similarly malefics in 3H, may make one courageous, whilst, it may damage his relations with brother, provided it has no positive influences. A malefic in 8H,specially planets Rahu, Ketu, Mars or Saturn may make one prone to diseases, whilst Saturn being in 8H,may make one live long. Mercury in 8H is said to bestow wealth, provided he is not afflicted or aspected by Moon/Mars.

VI.Bhava Sandhi

Classics like Jatak Parijata say that planets in Bhava Sandhi, may be strong,exalted, but fails to deliver its promising results.In real practise it has been true & can be one of the many supportive factors if it happens to be in Bhava Sandhi & fails to deliver its promising results.
For example take this chart
Apparently, Mercury is in 9H, an excellent combination for studies, specially with Devaguru Brihaspati, but Mercury is in Bhava sandhi--this native was forced to quit his education in mercury bhukti. Certainly other supportive factors are Mercury being combusted.

VII.64th Navamsha & 22nd Drekkana

Classics say that planets who are the lords of 22nd Drekkana & 64th Navamsha are not beneficial in nature--in words their Dasas/Bhuktis can be stressful, specially they are indicative of fallen health. Take example of the second chart given as example, when his Saturn Bhukti started, & throughout his Saturn Bhukti to Ketu dasa, he was suffering from arthritis, & tooth problems. Sani is both the lord of 64th Navamsha & 22nd Drekkana, whilst Ketu falls in 22nd Drekkana itself.

I wish to end my writing upto here for the time being. In the future, I will do an exhaustive discussion on how to judge Bhuktis, what is the say of Nadi Shastras, some practical applications of the *theories* & also the transits--how should it be applied.
I will try my best to provide some insight on using of Navataras for bad or good results. If my write up comes to anyone's work or helps anyone, the credit goes to the almighty, by whose permission I could write--else I dont have the ability to write a single letter.

Gaurav Ghosh
July7, 2009.
Vyasa Purnima

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