Chapter 66: AshtakaVarg

Maitreya said: “O Venerable Sage! You have described many kinds of effects, relating to the Grahas and Bhavas, after incorporating the views of many sages and Acharyas, but it is not possible to say with certainty, if a particular effect is quite correct, after considering the contradictions in the effects by the movements of the various Grahas. As because of sinful deeds, committed by people in Kaliyuga, their minds have become blunt, be kind enough to describe a method, which would enable even the shallow minded persons to ascertain their happiness and sorrows and determine their longevity on the basis of the positions of the Grahas in transit.”

The sage replied: “O Brahmin! You have put a very intelligent question. I will now describe the Shastra for the benefit of all, the Shastra, in which there will be no contradictions in judging the effects of happiness and sorrows and for determination of the longevity. You now listen to me carefully.

If the 12 Bhavas, including Lagn, are occupied by, or aspected by benefic Grahas, they yield auspicious results, according to their characteristics, but this happens, where the Grahas concerned are in their exaltation Rāśi, own Rāśi, or posited in a benefic Bhava. There will be no good effects, if such Grahas are in depression, or posited in an inauspicious Bhava. Similarly the Bhavas, associated with, or aspected by malefics in depression, or posited in malefic Bhavas, yield adverse results, according to their characteristics. If such Grahas be in their exaltation Rāśi, the effects will not be adverse. This is how the general effects have been described by the Daivajnas. I have only repeated those effects. The main purposes of this Jyotish Shastra are to determine the longevity and joys and sorrows of the people, but because the movements of the Grahas are so subtle, even sages, like Vashista and Brihaspati, have not been able to be quite definite in this respect. Then how can a common man, particularly in Kaliyuga, do so.

There are two divisions, or parts of the Jyotish Shastra, namely general and particular. I have already dealt with the general part. I now come to the other part, which deals with this subject in particular.

As the effects of the twelve Bhavas are judged from Lagn and Candr, effects of the twelve Bhavas and the various Grahas are judged in the same manner. Therefore the inauspicious places from the seven Grahas, named, as Karan, beginning from Sūrya and Lagn (total 8), should be marked by dots (Bindus) and auspicious places, named, as Sthan, by small vertical lines (Rekhas) and on the basis of their assessment should the judgment of the horoscope and predictions be made.” Notes. The above arrangement is known, as AshtakaVarg. The meaning of AshtakaVarg is literally the group of eight things. In other words it is the combination of the good and bad positions of a Grah with reference to the seven Grahas and Lagn. So it is the combination of the benefic and malefic marks (the Rekhas and the Bindus) in a planet's chart with reference to the position of the eight Grahas (here Lagn is to be treated, as a Grah).

Five Grahas in 1 , 2 , 8 , 3 and the 12 Bhavas from Sūrya are Karanprad (dot significators). Similarly four Grahas in the 7 and 4 , three Grahas in the 6 and 9 , six Grahas in the 5 , 2 Grahas in the 10 and one Grah in the 11 are dot significators.

Thus Lagn, Candr, Guru, Śukr and Budh in the 1 , 2 and 8 from Sūrya; Sūrya, Mangal, Śani, Candr and Guru in the 12 ; Budh, Candr, Śukr, Guru in the 4 ; Lagn, Candr, Śukr in the 9 ; Sūrya, Śani and Mangal in the 6 ; Lagn, Budh, Guru and Candr in the 7 ; Śukr in the 11 ; Sūrya, Śani, Śukr, Guru and Mangal in the 3 ; Guru and Śukr in the 10 ; Sūrya, Śani, Candr, Lagn Mangal and Śukr in the 5 are Karanprad, or dot indicators.

In Candr's AshtakaVarg 6 Grahas in the 9 and the 2 , 5 Grahas in the 4 , 8 and the 1 , one Grah in the 10 and the 3 , 4 Grahas in the 5 , 3 Grahas in the 6 and the 7 and 1 , eight in the 12 are Karanprad. Thus Lagn, Sūrya, Mangal, Śani and Śukr, these five in the 1 ; Lagn, Budh, Sūrya, Candr, Śani and Śukr, these 6 in the 2 ; Guru in the 3 ; Sūrya, Śani, Candr, Lagn and Mangal, these 5 in the 4 ; Śukr, Budh, Guru, these 3 in the 6 ; Mangal, Lagn and Śani, these 3 in the 7 ; Mangal, Lagn, Śani, Śukr and Candr, these five in the 8 ; Lagn, Sūrya, Mangal, Śani, Budh and Guru, these 6 in the 9 ; Śani only in the 10 ; none in the 11 ; all the eight in the 12 from their own places are Karanprad. These Grahas in the other Bhavas are Rekhaprad (line significators).

In the AshtakaVarg of Mangal 6 Grahas in the 12 , 4 and 7 , 5 Grahas in the 5 , 6 Grahas in the 2 , 7 Grahas in the 9 , 5 Grahas in the 1 and 8 , 4 Grahas in the 3 , 3 Grahas in the 10 and 2 Grahas in the 6 are Karanprad. In the 11 no Grah is Karanprad. In other words all the Grahas in the 11 from their own places are Rekhaprad. Thus Sūrya, Candr, Budh, Guru and Śukr, these five in the 1 ; Lagn, Sūrya, Candr, Budh, Guru and Śani, these 6 in the 2 ; Śukr, Mangal, Guru and Śani, these 4 in the 3 ; Sūrya, Candr, Budh, Guru, Śukr and Lagn, these 6 in the 4 ; Candr, Mangal, Guru, Śukr and Lagn, these 5 in the 5 ; Mangal and Śani, these 2 in the 6 ; Budh, Candr, Sūrya, Śukr, Guru and Lagn, these 6 in the 7 ; Budh, Candr, Sūrya, Lagn and Guru, these five in the 8 ; Sūrya, Candr, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Śukr and Lagn, these 7 in the 9 ; Śukr, Candr and Budh, these 3 in the 10 ; none in the 11 ; Sūrya, Śani, Budh, Candr, Lagn and Mangal, these 6 in the 12 from their own places are Karanprad.

In the AshtakaVarg of Budh 3 Grahas in the 1 , 2 , 4 , 10 , 6 and 9 , 2 Grahas in the 8 , 6 Grahas in the 3 and the 7 , none in the 11 , 5 Grahas in the 5 and 12 are Karanprad. Thus Sūrya, Candr and Guru, these 3 in the 1 ; Guru, Sūrya and Budh, these 3 in the 2 ; Lagn, Sūrya, Mangal, Śani, Candr and Guru, these 6 in the 3 ; Budh, Sūrya and Guru, these 3 in the 4 ; Guru, Mangal, Candr, Śani and Lagn, these 5 in the 5 ; Śukr, Śani and Mangal, these 3 in the 6 ; Budh, Candr, Lagn, Sūrya, Śukr and Guru, these 6 in the 7 ; Budh and Sūrya, these 2 in the 8 ; Guru, Candr and Lagn, these 3 in the 9 ; Sūrya, Guru and Śukr, these 3 in the 10 ; none in the 11 ; Lagn, Candr, Mangal, Śani and Śukr these 5 in the 12 from their own places are Karanprad.

In the AshtakaVarg of Guru one Grah in the 2 and 11 , 2 Grahas in the 10 , 7 Grahas in the 12 , 4 Grahas in the 6 , 5 Grahas in the 8 and 3 , 3 Grahas in the remaining Bhavas are Karanprad. Thus Śukr, Candr and Śani, these 3 in the 1 ; Śani in the 2 and 11 ; Lagn, Mangal, Candr, Budh and Śukr, these 5 in the 3 ; Sūrya, Guru and Mangal, these 3 in the 5 ; Śukr, Śani and Candr, these 3 in the 4 ; Budh, Śukr and Śani, these 3 in the 7 ; Guru, Mangal, Sūrya and Candr, these 4 in the 6 ; all except Śani, these 7 in the 12 ; Candr and Śani, these 2 in the 10 ; Śani, Mangal and Guru, these 3 in the 9 ; Lagn, Śani, Śukr, Candr and Budh, these 5 in the 8 from their own places are Karanprad.

In the AshtakaVarg of Śukr 2 Grahas in the 5 , 8 and 3 , 5 Grahas in the 1 , 2 , 12 , 10 , 8 Grahas in the 7 , 6 Grahas in the 6 , one in the 9 , 3 in the 4 , none in the 11 are Karanpradas. Thus Sūrya, Mangal, Budh, Guru and Śani, these 5 in the 1 and the 2 ; all the 8 Grahas in the 7 ; Guru and Sūrya, these 2 in the 3 ; Sūrya and Mangal, these 2 in the 5 ; Sūrya in 9 ; Sūrya, Budh and Guru, these 3 in the 4 ; Mangal and Budh, these 2 in the 8 ; Śukr, Sūrya, Candr, Śani, Lagn and Guru, these 6 in the 6 ; none in the 11 ; Lagn, Śani, Budh, Śukr and Guru, these 5 in the 12 ; Lagn, Mangal, Budh, Candr, Sūrya, these 5 in the 10 from their own places are Karanpradas.

In the AshtakaVarg of Śani 7 Grahas in the 2 , 7 , 9 , 6 Grahas in the 8 , Lagn and 4 , 4 Grahas in the 10 , 3 and 12 , one Grah in the 6 , 5 Grahas in the 5 , none in the 11 are Karanpradas. Thus Candr, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Śukr and Śani, these 6 in the 4 and the 1 ; Candr, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Śukr, Śani and Lagn, these 7 in the 2 and the 7 ; Sūrya, Candr, Mangal, Guru, Śukr, Śani and Lagn, these 7 in the 9 ; Candr, Guru, Śukr and Śani, these 4 in the 10 ; Guru, Sūrya, Budh and Śukr, these 4 in the 3 ; Sūrya in the 6 ; Lagn, Candr, Śani, Sūrya, these 4 in the 12 ; Śukr, Sūrya, Candr, Budh and Lagn, these 5 in the 5 ; Candr, Mangal, Guru, Śukr, Śani and Lagn, these 6 in the 8 ; none in the 11 from their own places are Karanpradas. The remaining places are Rekhapradas and are auspicious.

The sage said. Now I will describe the auspicious Bhavas for the benefit of the Acharyas. In the AshtakaVarg of Sūrya: Śani, Mangal and Sūrya in the 2 , 8 and 1 ; Guru and Budh in the 5 ; Budh, Candr and Lagn in the 3 ; Lagn, Sūrya, Śani and Mangal in the 4 ; Lagn, Sūrya, Śani, Mangal, Budh and Candr in the 10 ; Sūrya, Candr, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Śani and Lagn in the 11 ; Lagn, Śukr and Budh in the 12 ; Lagn, Śukr, Budh, Guru and Candr in the 6 ; Sūrya, Mangal, Śani and Śukr in the 7 ; Sūrya, Mangal, Śani, Budh and Guru in the 9 from their own places are Rekhapradas.

In the AshtakaVarg of Candr: Budh, Candr and Guru in the 1 ; Guru and Mangal in the 2 ; Budh, Sūrya, Candr, Mangal, Śani, Śukr and Lagn in the 3 ; Guru, Śukr and Budh in the 4 ; Mangal, Budh, Śukr and Śani in the 5 ; Sūrya, Candr, Mangal, Śani and Lagn in the 6 ; Sūrya, Candr, Guru, Budh and Śukr in the 7 ; Sūrya, Budh and Guru in the 8 ; Śukr and Candr in the 9 ; Sūrya, Budh, Guru, Śukr, Candr, Lagn and Mangal in the 10 and all the 8 Grahas in the 11 from their own places are Rekhapradas. No Grah is Rekhaprad in the 12 .

In the AshtakaVarg of Mangal: Lagn, Śani and Mangal in the 1 ; Mangal in the 2 ; Lagn, Budh, Candr and Sūrya in the 3 ; Śani and Mangal in the 4 ; Budh and Sūrya in the 5 ; Budh, Candr, Guru, Sūrya, Lagn and Śukr in the 6 ; Śani and Mangal in the 7 ; Śani, Mangal and Śukr in the 8 ; Śani in the 9 ; Mangal, Sūrya, Guru, Śani and Lagn in 10 ; all in the 11 and Guru and Śukr in the 12 from their own places are Rekhapradas.

In the AshtakaVarg of Budh: Lagn, Śani, Mangal, Śukr and Budh in the 1 ; Lagn, Mangal, Candr, Śukr and Śani in the 2 ; Śukr and Budh in the 3 ; Lagn, Candr, Śani, Śukr and Mangal in the 4 ; Budh, Śani and Śukr in the 5 ; Guru, Budh, Sūrya, Candr and Lagn in the 6 ; Mangal and Śani in the 7 ; Mangal, Śani, Lagn, Candr, Śukr and Guru in the 8 ; Śani, Mangal, Sūrya, Budh and Śukr in the 9 ; Lagn, Śani, Mangal, Budh and Candr in the 10 ; all in the 11 and Guru, Budh and Sūrya in the 12 from their own places are Rekhapradas.

In the AshtakaVarg of Guru: Lagn, Mangal, Sūrya and Budh in the 1 and 4 ; Guru, Lagn, Mangal, Sūrya, Budh, Candr and Śukr in the 2 ; Śani, Guru and Sūrya in the 3 ; Śukr, Candr, Lagn, Budh and Śani in the 5 ; Śukr, Lagn, Budh and Śani in the 6 ; Lagn, Mangal, Guru, Sūrya and Candr in the 7 ; Guru, Sūrya and Mangal in the 8 ; Śukr, Sūrya, Lagn, Candr and Budh in the 9 ; Guru, Budh, Mangal, Sūrya, Śukr and Lagn in the 10 ; all except Śani in the 11 and Śani in the 12 from their own places are Rekhapradas.

In the AshtakaVarg of Śukr: Lagn, Śukr and Candr in the 1 ; Lagn, Śukr and Candr in the 2 ; Lagn, Śukr, Candr, Budh, Śani and Mangal in the 3 ; Lagn, Śukr, Candr, Śani and Mangal in the 4 ; Lagn, Budh, Candr, Guru, Śani and Śukr in the 5 ; Budh and Mangal in the 6 ; none in the 7 ; Śukr, Sūrya, Candr, Guru, Lagn and Śani in the 8 ; all except Sūrya in the 9 ; Śukr, Guru and Śani in the 10 ; all in the 11 ; Mangal, Candr and Sūrya in the 12 from their own places are Rekhapradas.

In the AshtakaVarg of Śani: Sūrya and Lagn in the 1 ; Sūrya in the 2 ; Lagn, Candr, Mangal and Śani in the 3 ; Lagn and Sūrya in the 4 ; Guru, Śani and Mangal in the 5 ; all except Sūrya in the 6 ; Sūrya in the 7 ; Sūrya and Budh in the 8 ; Budh in the 9 ; Sūrya, Mangal, Lagn and Budh in the 10 ; all in the 11 ; Mangal, Budh, Guru and Śukr in the 12 from their own places are Rekhapradas.

In the AshtakaVarg of Lagn 3 Grahas in the 1 and 4 , 2 Grahas in the 3 , 5 Grahas in the 2 , 6 Grahas in the 5 , 8 , 9 and 12 , one Grah in the 10 , 11 and 6 and all except Guru in the 7 are Karanpradas. Thus Lagn, Sūrya and Candr in the 1 ; Lagn, Mangal, Candr, Sūrya and Śani in the 2 ; Guru and Budh in the 3 ; Lagn, Candr, Mangal, Budh, Śani and Sūrya in the 5 ; Lagn, Candr and Mangal in the 4 ; Śukr in the 6 ; all except Guru in the 7 ; Lagn, Sūrya, Candr, Mangal, Guru and Śani in the 8 ; Lagn, Sūrya, Candr, Mangal, Budh and Śani in the 9 ; Śukr in the 10 and 11 ; Lagn, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Śukr and Śani in the 12 from their own places are Karanpradas.

In the AshtakaVarg of Lagn: Śani, Budh, Śukr, Guru and Mangal in the 1 ; Budh, Guru and Śukr in the 2 ; Lagn, Sūrya, Candr, Mangal, Śukr and Śani in 3 ; Sūrya, Budh, Guru, Śukr and Śani in the 4 ; Guru and Śukr in the 5 ; all except Śukr in the 6 ; Guru in the 7 ; Budh and Śukr in the 8 ; Guru and Śukr in the 9 ; all except Śukr in the 10 ; all except Śukr in the 11 and Sūrya and Candr in the 12 from their own places are Rekhapradas.

In the charts of AshtakaVarg Karan is signified by a Bindu, or dot (0) and Sthan by a Rekhapradas, or line (1). Karan is inauspicious, while Sthan is auspicious.

To identify the auspicious and inauspicious Bhavas in the AshtakaVarg a chart should be prepared with 14 horizontal lines and ten vertical lines. The form of the chart so prepared will consist of 117 apartments. In this chart in the first line incorporates the names of the seven Grahas and Lagn. In the first column write the numbers of all the 12 Bhavas. After this mark dots under the Grah and against the Karanprad Bhavas. By doing so the Karanprad Bhavas of all the 8 Grahas, including Lagn, will become known clearly and whenever the AshtakaVarg Grah will pass in transit the dot-marked Bhavas, he will yield unfavourable results. In his transit to other Bhavas he would give favourable effects.The following table shows the dots in the AshtakaVarg of Sūrya.