Chapter 1: Definitions and Elementary Principles (Zodiacal)

May the Sun give us speech, who by his light illumines the Moon, who is the path of those who have no rebirth, who is the Atma of those who know the Atma, who is the Deva worshipped in sacrificial rites, who is the Lord of the Devas and of the Lights of the sky, who is the Author of the origin, growth and anni- hilation of the worlds, who is sung in the Vedas in various ways, who is possessed of many rays and who forms the Lamp of the three worlds.

Though various well written works on Astrology («) the productions of able men exist for the enlighten- ment of intelligent students (of horoscopy), I begin to construct (this) small boat (consisting) of stanzas (written) in various metres and of several meanings for (the benefit of) persons of broken attempts lo cross the vast ocean of horoscopy.

According to some, the word hora is a corruption of the tvord Ahoratri the first and last letters (syllables) being dropped. The science (of horoscopy) treats of the effects of the good and bad deeds (karma) of nun in their previous births.

The (twelve) signs of the Zodiac, commencing with the first point of Aries and of (the asterism of) Aswini, and consisting, each, of nine stellar quarters and forming a circle, are respectively the head, face, breast, heart, belly, navel, abdomen, genital organ, two thighs, two knees, two ankles and the two feet of Kalapurtisha. (The terms) Rasi, Kshetra, Graha, Riksha, Bhain, Bhavana, are synonymous terms.

Five, five, eight, seven and five parts (degrees) are respectively those of Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury and Venus in the odd signs. In the even signs their order is reversed. The ends (last Navamsas) of Kataka, Vrischika and Meena are known as Riksha sandhis.

The terms Kriya, Tavuri, Jituma, Kulira, Leva, Pathona, Juka, Kourpi, Toukshika, Akokera, Hridroga and Antyabha are other names for signs of Zodiac.

A planet is said to be in its Varga if it be in its Drekkana, Hora, Navamsa, Trimsamsa, Dwadasamsa and Kshetra. The term Hora means both the rising sign and one-half of a sign of the Zodiac.

The signs Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Sagit- tari and Capricorn are known as the night signs ; and, with the exception of Gemini, they rise with their feet (6). The other signs rise with their heads and are powerful by day ^d), The two fish rise by both (head and foot), (e}.

The signs (from Aries) are (by turns) malefic and benefic, masculine and feminine and movable, fixed and both (movable and fixed) (<$). The signs Aries, Taurus, Gemini and Cancer with their triangular signs denote each respectively the East, South, West and North. The two horas of the odd signs are respectively the Solar and Lunar horas, and the ttoo of the even signs are respectively the Lunar and Solar horas. Tbe lords of the Drekkanas, (of a particular sign) are respectively the lords of that sign, the 5th sign and the 9th sign.

According to some the lords of the two horas of a sign are respectively the lords of the sign and of the llth sign (b}\ and the lords of the three Drekkanas of a sign are respectively the lords of the sign, the 12th sign and the llth sign from it.

The signs Aries, Taurus, Capricorn, Virgo, Cancer, Pisces and Libra are respectively the Uccha (exaltation) signs of the Sun and other planets. The 10th, 3rd, 28th, 15th, 5th, 27th, and 20th are the degrees of main exaltation of the several planets. The 7th or opposite signs are the Neecha (depression) signs ; and the degrees of main depression are the same as given above.

In the movable and other signs («), the first, the central and the last Navamas are known as Vargottama positions. Planets in such positions will produce good effects. The signs Leo, Taurus, Aries, Virgo, Sagittari, Libra, and Aquarius are known as the Moola Trikona houses of the planets respectively. (&)

The significations of the 1.2 houses from the rising sign (ascendant) are respectively (a native's) body, family, brothers, relations, sons, enemies, wife, death, deed of virtue, avocation, gain and loss (<?). The 3rd, 6th, 10th and ] 1th houses from the ascendant are known as the Upachaya (improving) signs, but not so according to some (£).

The twelve signs of the Zodiac beginning from the ascendant are known technically as the signs of (1) Kalpa (power), (2) Sva (wealth), (3) Vikrama (prowess), (4) Graha (dwelling place), (5) Pratibha (intelligence), (6) Kshata (wound), (7) Manmatha (desire), (8) Randhra (hole), (9) Guru (father or preceptor), (10) Mana (respecta- bility), (ll)Bhava (acquisition), (12)Vyaya (loss). The 4th and 5th houses are known as Chaturasra signs. The 7th house is known as Dyuna and the 10th house is known as Agua.

The 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th houses are known as Kantaka or Kendra or Chatushtaya houses (quadrants or angles). If these four houses should happen to be biped, aquatic, centiped and quadruped respectively, they then possess strength.

The houses next to the angles are known as Panapara houses and those next to them are known as Apoklima houses. The 4th house is known as Hibuka, Ambu, Sukha and Vesma. The 7th house is known as Jamitra. The 5th house is known as Trikona. The 10th house is known as Meshoorana and Karma.

If the lord of the ascendant or Jupiter or Mer- cury should either occupy it or aspect it. the ascendant (Lagna) would become powerful and not by other planets. The Keudra signs are naturally powerful, The biped signs are powerful during the day, the quadruped signs at night, and the centiped signs at sunrise and at sunset. The Mana (measurement), (fr) of the first six signs from Aries are 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 40 respectively; and those of the next six signs are 40, 36, 32, 28, 24, and 20 respectively. The 3rd house is known as Duschikya and the 9th as Tapas and Tritrikona.

The twelve signs beginning from Aries are res- pectively (Aries) red, (Taurus) white, (Gemini) of the color of the parrot, (Cancer) of the color of Patali (trumpet flower), (Leo) black white, (Virgo) variegated in color, (Libra; black, (Scorpio) of gold color, (Sagittari) of the color of the husk of paddy, (Capricorn) white red, (Aquarius) of ihe color of Mongoose, and (Pisces) of the color offish. The signs are known asPlava (depressed) in the direction of their lords. The 2nd house to that occupied by the Sun is known as Vesi.