Chapter 13: The Length of Life

The first thing that ought to be done by the elders when a son is born is the determining of the longevity or otherwise, and then only of the other effects. If the nativity be found to possess also some merits, they ought to be investigated with the help of persons proficient in the science of Astrology.

As regards the correct determining of the Lagna of birth, some opine that it is the time of (Adhana) or impregnation ; others say that it is the time when the head (of the infant) emerges ; some others say that it is the time when the child (falls to) touches the ground ; while other experts in Astrology hold that it is the time when the child gets itself completely separated from the mother's womb.

In the case of viviparous creatures, it is not possible to determine the period of life within the first twelve years. In consequence of the sinful acts of the parents (whether in this or in a previous birth), the child meets with destruction being seized by demons called (Balagrahas).

If the child dies in the first four years, it is because of the mother's sins. If in the middle four years, it is owing to the accumulated sins of the father. If it comes by its death in the last four years, it must be due to its own sins (in a previous birth)

In order to ward off the evil effects enunciated above, the father should arrange for the performance of religious rites preceded by the incantations of Mantras and offerings of oblations by the pouring of ghee into consecrated fire on every birthday of the child till its 12th year; supplementing these with suitable medical treatments and the like, the life of the child must be promoted and the child protected.

The first eight years in men's lives is the period of (Balarishta)—ills that afflict children. Till the 20th year, they say, it is the (Yogarishta) period (evil brought on by planetary conjunctions). It is called (Alpayus) or short life when the period extends to 32. It is called (Madhyamayus) or middle age when the period of life extends to 70 years. It is (Purnayus) when the period of life extends to 100 years.

A hundred years are generally reckoned as the period of life for human beings. The division of this period into three portions constitute respectively the life period of a short-lived, middle-aged and long-lived person and is recognised universally.

If a birth occurs in any of the evil Yogas (Dinamrityu), (Dinaroga) or (Vishaghatikala), the child will die very soon. If there be a birth when the Moon is in the asterisms (Pushya), (Purvashadha), and (Chitra), the death of the father, the mother, the child or the maternal uncle respectively should be predicted according as the Moon is stationed in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th quarter of any of these stars at the time. If a birth occurs when the Moon is in (Moola) and if the Lagna should also have no connection with any of the benefic planets either by occupation or by aspect, the destruction respectively of the father, the mother or of the family itself should be expected according as the Moon is in the 1st, 2nd or the 3rd quarter. But if the birth be when the Moon is in the 4th quarter of Moola there will be prosperity and wealth. In the case of Aslesha, the result will be reverse.

If a birth happens at the extreme end of a Rasi which is (occupied by) associated with or aspected by a malefic planet, the child will surely meet with its death at once. If the birth be at a (Gandantha vide 1-4 supra), the father, the mother, or the child itself will die. Should However the child survive, he will become a king, If born at the junction of any one of the four corners identical with the conjunction of or aspect by a malefic, the death of the child will soon happen. The same result will occur if the Moon at birth attains the fateful degree in any sign (vide next sloka infra) and is at the same time posited in a Kendra or the 8th house.

If the degrees attained by the Moon in Mesha and the other signs be respectively 26, 12, 13, 25, 24, 11, 26, 14, 13, 25, 5 and 12, they indicate death. (Vide also stt. itt. P- 38).

The following are (also) respectively deemed (by some others) as (Mrityubhagas or fateful degrees) in the several signs from Mesha onwards : 8, 9, 22, 22, 25, 14, 4, 21, 18, 20, 21 and 10.

One may predict the death of the child to occur very soon in the following case : viz., (1) when malefics occupy (by themselves) the 8th and the Kendra houses, (2) when malefics are all placed in the 1st and the 8th houses (3) when they occupy the 1st and the 7th, (4) when the Moon or the Lagna is betwixt two malefics, (5) if the Moon being devoid of strength occupy the 6th, the 8th or the 12th, (6) if the waning Moon in conjunction with a malefic, is in the 1st, 5th, 7th, or 9th house (7) if the malefics be in the 8th and 7th and (8) when no benefic planets occupy or aspect a Kendra house.

When the lord of the Lagna or of the sign occupied by the Moon at birth is weak and badly placed (i. e., in the 6th, 8th or 12th house), the child will die within as many years as are represented by the said sign (when counted from Mesha). If the planet owning the Lagna-decanate or the decanate occupied by the Moon be weak and badly placed, the period of exit of the child will be as many months as are represented by the sign owning the decanate in question. The period of life will be so many days from birth as are signified by the Rasi owning the Navamsa Lagna or Chandra Navamsa when the planet owning this is weak and similarly badly-placed. After a careful examination as to which among the two or three possibilities predominates and what malefics are posited in the 5th and the 8th houses, one ought to divine about the ills of the child.

Consider the following 3 pairs (A) the decanate Rasis of the Lagna and the Moon ; (B) the Navamsa Rasis of the lord of the Lagna and the lord of the sign occupied by the Moon and (C) the Dwadasamsa Rasis of the lord of the Lagna and of the lord of the 8th house. The life of the child may be pronounced as (Deergha), (Madhya) and (Alpa) according as (a) when one of the Rasis in the said 3 pairs is a (Chara) sign the other is a (Chara), (Stthira) and (Ubhaya) sign, (b) when one of the Rasis is a (Stthira) sign, the other is a (Dwandwa), (Chara) and (Stthira) sign and (c) when one of the Rasis is a (Dwandwa) sign the other is in a (Stthira), (Dwandwa) and (Chara) sign respectively

The life of the native may be pronounced as long, medium and short according as the benefics and the lord of the Lagna are all posited in Kendra, Panaphara and Apoklima houses respectively. If the lord of the 8th house and the malefics occupy similar positions, the reverse should be predicted. Ascertain the friendship or otherwise of the following pairs; (1) the lord of the house occupied by the Moon and that of the 8th house from the Moon (2) lord of the Lagna and that of the 8th house from the Lagna and (3) the Sun and the lord of the Lagna. If they are friendly, the native will be long-lived ; if inimical, he will be short-lived ; if neutral, he will have medium life.

If the lord of the Lagna Rasi and the lord of the Lagna Navamsa be stronger than the lords of the 8th house reckoned from each, the native will be long-lived. The same remark holds good with respect to the lord of the Rasi occupied by the Moon or the lord of the Moon's Navamsa. If otherwise, the reverse will be the result.

If the lord of the 8th house possessing greater strength than that of the, lord of the Lagna occupy a Kendra, and if malefics be posited in the 8th and 12th houses, the life of the native will be short, or he may be of medium life, or even prolong his life to the full period with the vicissitudes of happiness and misery.

In the case of an (Alpayuryoga), the person meets with his death when Saturn during his transit reaches in his first cycle the particular portion of the zodiac signified by the sum-total of the figures (representing the position at nativity) of Saturn, Jupiter, the Sun and the Moon. If the native is found to be of medium life, the event will come off in the 2nd cycle. It will happen in the 3rd, if the native is pronounced to be a long-lived one. A clever astrologer will predict the event after also satisfying that the Dasa and Bhukti at the time is untoward.

If the lord of the Lagna be associated with a malefic and be eclipsed by the Sun's rays or be in depression or an inimical sign, the demise of the native will have to be predicted, when the same lord in his transit happens to occupy one of the Dusstthanas {6th, 8th or 12th) or the Lagna or be somehow connected with it. The same event may also be predicted from the Navamsa Lagna, the decanate Lagna or the Lagna Rasi occupied by the Moon.

If the following three planets, viz., the Moon, the lord of the sign occupied by the same and the lord of the Lagna be all well-placed by being associated with or aspected by good planets and possess many points of strength, that time must be declared as very auspicious and favourable to the native concerned.

The lord of the rising sign being possessed of great strength and unaspected by malefic planets but aspected by benefic ones and occupying a Kendra position, wards off death and secures to the child long life graced with numerous virtues and an illustrious or powerful sovereignty.

If Jupiter, the minister of the Gods, endowed with all surpassing strength and glittering with his full collection of rays, is posited in the Lagna, he can singly ward off many of the evils which would otherwise be difficult to be got over, just as a humble salutation placed with all sincerity before the lord Vishnu.

The waxing Moon if posited in a Trikona, the 11th house or a Kendra position with respect to the Lagna and at the same time in a sign or Navamsa belonging to the Sun, Moon or Jupiter, will conduce to the performance of meritorious deeds every day And ward off completely all ills.

If, in a nativity, there be no malefics in the 1st, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th houses, and if the lord of the Lagna and Jupiter occupy Kendra positions, the person concerned will perform many good acts, enjoy all kinds of comforts, and live for a hundred years free from disease.

Through the Dasas enunciated by Sripati, through Ashtakavarga, through Kalachakra Dasa and through the Ududasa system, a wise man ought to predict the Ayus of the native by the application of suitable rules after a correct calculation of the several planetary positions, careful working, and a minute scrutiny.