Bhavartha Ratnakara Part 1: Aries Ascendant (Mesha Lagna) | VedAstro
A modern English guide to the classical Vedic astrology text by Sri Ramanujacharya, translated and annotated by B.V. Raman.
Part 1 of 28
Lagna Or First House
Mesha Lagna
For a person born in Mesha Lagna, Raja Yoga will undoubtedly result by the combination of the lords of the 4th and 5th houses.
Astrologers opine that for a person born in Mesha Lagna, Venus, lord of the 2nd and 7th, will become a Maraka.
For a Mesha Lagna person, Jupiter,lord of the 9thand 12th, becomes a Maraka if he occupies the10th house.
For a person born in Mesha Lagna, the mere combination of the lords of the 9th and 10th, viz., Jupiter and Saturn, does not result in Rajayoga: This is certain.
The author's treatment of the subject is quite comprehensive, interesting and unique. The first four stanzas make clear the following points in respect of persons born in Mesha Lagna:
- Raja Yoga is caused by the mere combination of the lords of the 4th and 5th, viz., the Moon and the Sun.
The nature of the Raja Yoga, the extent of its influence and other similar details are not elaborated by the author so that much skill and experience are necessary on the part of the reader who wishes to apply the principles to actual horoscopes.
- Venus,
lord of the 2ndand 7th, becomes a Maraka. Parashara says that because Venus happens to belord of the 2ndand 7th, he cannot himself become capable of inflicting death but can become a Maraka only when he is in conjunction with other Marakas such as Mercury and Saturn. Keraleya also gives expression to Parashara's view when it observes thus: "Sukrasahasthemanthasahaduktharak marayas," meaning that Sukra by himself cannot become a Maraka. In my humble experience I have been able to come across a number of cases in which persons born in Mesha Lagna have died in the course of Sukra Dasa. - Jupiter,
lord of the 9thand 12th, can become a Maraka if he occupies the10th house.
It is not clear as to why the author inclines to the view that Jupiter can become a Maraka only when he is in the 10th house. Probably the author feels that because Jupiter becomes neecha (debilitated) in the 10th from Mesha, he loses all benefic influences. Parashara, on the other hand, says that the Sun and Jupiter are benefics for Mesha Lagna. Keraleya says that Mercury and Saturn become Marakas for Mesha Lagna. It will be seen that an examination of a number of
Horoscopes reveal that Mercury is the determinant of death as he is lord of the 3rd and 6th.
In Chart No 1, death occurred in the 20th year of the native, in the sub period of Saturn in the major period of Mercury. Mercury's power to kill has been fortified by his conjunction with Venus.
4. The mere combination of Jupiter and Saturn, lords of 5th and 10th, does not result in a Raja Yoga.
This view is also supported by the great Parasara when he says that good will not be produced when Jupiter and Saturn are in conjunction:
Nasubham Yogamadhana Prabti and Samyutasosh
For Mesha Lagna, though Saturn is lord of the 10th, he stands blemished because he is also the 11th lord. The evil is strong enough to vitiate Jupiter, the 9th lord, when he happens to be associated with the 11th lord. Hence, the association of Saturn with Jupiter will not confer any yoga.
In Chart No 2, the native lost his appointment in Guru Dasa, Sani Bhukti, though both are placed in the 5th house aspected by exalted Mars. However, in Mercury's sub period, the position was regained while death also took place at the end of Mercury.
A person born when Mesha is rising will have fear from smallpox, weapons, and wounds. So say the learned (in astrology).
If Mars is in conjunction with the 6th and 8th lords, death occurs in the course of his Dasa and Bhukti, by diseases pertaining to the head.
For one born in Mesha, if the lord of the 2nd is in the 12th, he becomes good. For those born in other lagnas, the 2nd lord does not become good if he is placed in the 12th.
For one born in Mesha lagna, Kuja no doubt becomes a Maraka if he is in conjunction with Venus, but still he will be capable of causing Yoga also.
For a person born in Mesha lagna, Kuja will certainly become a Yoga Karaka (conferer of fame) if he occupies the 2nd house with Jupiter and Venus.
For one born in Mesha lagna, Kuja does not produce any Yoga if he occupies the 3rd house with Jupiter and Venus.
Kuja will surely become a Yogakaraka for one who takes his birth in Mesha lagna, if he is in the 4th house combined with Jupiter.
For a person born in Mesha lagna, Kuja in the 5th house surely causes yoga in the course of his own Dasa.
In the above 8 slokas the author explains the various combinations which render Mars the lord of lagna (a) capable of inflicting death and (b) capable of conferring yoga or fame. Summarising the above we find that:—
- Death occurs in the Mars Dasa by diseases pertaining to the head if Mars is associated with 6th and 8th lords. It is not clear as to what the author means when he refers to Mars being in association with 8th lord "SHASTHAMASHTAMAYUTHAS YUTTO BHRUHU SUTO YADI". Mars is himself the 8th lord for Mesha lagna. Consequently the 6th sloka should be taken to mean that when Mars occupies the 6th lord, death will be caused in his Dasa. This combination is perfectly understandable because, Mars though Lagna-dipathi can become a Maraka when he is in conjunction with the 6th lord (Mercury) who is also the
lord of the 3rd. - Sloka 8 says that Kuja becomes a Maraka, if he is in conjunction with Venus. But this does not prevent Kuja from conferring Yoga also. Chart No 2 given above reveals that Budha can not only give rise to good results during his bhukti, but inflicted death also. Similarly, as Lagna-dipathi, Kuja can confer beneficial results while as lord of 8th in the Dasa of the
lord of the 7thhe can cause death also. The ways in which various principles are enumerated clearly reveals the author's profound knowledge of the various technicalities of astrological science. - Sloka 9 says that Kuja can become Yogakaraka if he is in the 2nd with Jupiter and Venus, while the 10th sloka says that the above yoga gets cancelled if the combination occurs in the
3rd house. Venus islord of the 2nd, while Jupiter and Budha are lords of the 9th. Mars is lord of lagna. This combination of the lords of lagna, 2nd and 9th is certainly indicative of immense wealth and therefore Kuja becomes a Yogakaraka. When this combination occurs in the3rd housethe potency is lost. - When Kuja is in the 4th (Cancer) with Jupiter the former becomes quite capable of conferring Yoga.
When Kuja is in the 4th for a person born in Mesha, the planet becomes debilitated. If Jupiter is in Cancer, where he will be exalted, the Neecha effect of Kuja is cancelled with the result, Lagnaadhipathi is subject to a dushta Neechabhanga Raja Yoga.
In all these cases Kuja seems to confer more of fame than of maternal possession or wealth. Humble as my experience has been, I have always found Kuja making the native famous rather than rich.
5. According to stanza 12 Kuja confers fame in his Dasa if he is in the 5th.
The fifth is Leo or Simha—a friendly sign. Lagnaadhipathi in the 5th is always held to be good, though Parashara and Lomasa say that the native will not have much happiness from children and that the first child does not live.
"Lagesa Panchama Manee Suthaoshmikamcha Madhyamam Pradhanapattaina Aasvady Krodhi Rajpravesai"
Kuja may become a Yogakaraka but may render the native unhappy in respect of children.
6. Stanza 7 reveals that only in regard to Mesha lagna lord of 2nd in the 12th is good. For other lagnas such a disposition of the 2nd lord renders him evil.
This is an important principle worth noting and its rationale is perfectly understandable. Lord of the 2nd from Mesha is Sukra; when he is in the 12th or Meena, he gets exalted and thereby the 2nd lord becomes strong.
For a person born in Mesha, Guru, in the 11th house cannot give rise to any yoga during his dasa.
For one born in Mesha, Budha and Kuja in the 6th will give rise to wounds, shin.
eruptions, smallpox and the like during their Dasas.
A person born in Mesha Lagna will possess self-earned fortune and some wealth also, if Kuja and Venus are in the 7th house.
For one born in Mesha Lagna, Kuja in the 8th house does not produce yoga; he will, however, confer some fame if he is in conjunction with the Sun and Venus.
For a person born in Mesha Lagna, if the Sun and Kuja are in the 9th as also Guru and Venus, and Shani is in the 7th, then Kuja produces special yoga.
For a person born in Mesha Lagna, Venus becomes capable of giving rise to yoga provided he is in Lagna with the Sun, unaspected by Guru.
Venus aspected by Guru will not certainly confer any yoga. But the Sun aspected by Guru becomes a yogakaraka.
For a person born in Mesha Lagna, if the Sun, Budha and Venus are in the 11th, they will give rise to fortune during their respective Dasas.
For a person born in Mesha, Raja Yoga is caused if the Sun or Moon is in Cancer.
A person born in Mesha Lagna will have dips in the Ganges in the Dasas of Venus,
Jupiter and the Sun if the said planets are in the 10th.
NOTES.
The above stanzas are simple enough and do not call for any elaborate explanations. However, we may summarise the various principles enunciated therein so that the reader may understand them clearly:
(1) Jupiter does not produce any yoga in his dasa.
(2) Mars and Mercury give rise to wounds, skin eruptions, cuts and the like in their dasas.
(3) Mars cannot produce any yoga by himself when he is in the 8th in his own house, but can confer slight fame if he is with the Sun and Venus.
(4) The situation of Venus and Mars in the 7th is favourable for self-acquisition of fortune and wealth.
(5) Mars causes special yoga when the Sun and Mars and Jupiter and Venus are in Dhanas and Saturn is in the 6th.
(6) Venus confers some fame if he is in lagna with the Sun unattached by Jupiter, while the Sun confers fame when he receives Jupiter's aspect.
(8) The dasa of the Sun, Mercury and Venus will prove beneficial if the said planets are in the 11th and finally,
(9) The Sun or the Moon in Cancer is beneficial as causing a Raja yoga.
1125 Saturn Kethu In Chart No 3 the Moon is in the causing a Raja yoga. Venus is in lagna and is unaspected by Jupiter. The native has risen from humble beginnings to a fairly responsible position.