Chapter 22: Kalachakra Dasa

The triad of stars reckoned from Aswini should be cast by quarters in the (Apasavya) or (Pradakhina) order from Mesha to Meena among the 12 Rasis to which the Navamsas composing the triad belong. Again, the 12 quarters of the triad reckoned from Rohini are to be assigned to the 12 Rasis counted from Vrischika to Dhanus in the (Savya-reverse, - Apradakhina or anti-clock wise) order.

Thus are the triads of stars reckoned in their order (from Aswini) to be distinguished as (Apasavya) and (Savya). The years assigned to a planet constitute the Dasa-period of the Rasi owned by that planet. This is the peculiarity in the (Kalachakra) system, say the wise.

5, 21, 7, 9, 10, 16 and 4 are the numbers representing the period in years respectively of the seven planets reckoned from the Sun, and are the means (sources) for feeling the good and bad effects.

In this Kalachakra system consisting of Dasas, Apaharas, etc., I shall now expound the formulas for the several Nakshatra padas from Aswini onwards. Every such formula consists of nine syllables indicating by their number (as per Katapayadi mnemonics) the particular Rasyapaharas composing the Dasa of the Nakshatrapada under consideration, and consequently the total life-period appertaining thereto by means of the years allotted to the several Rasi owners.

For those born in the first (Pada) of Aswini, the first sub-period belongs to Mesha-Mars ; the second to Vrishabha-Venus ; the third to Mithuna-Mercury ; the fourth to Kataka-Moon ; the fifth to Simha-Sun ; the sixth to Kanya-Mercury ; the seventh to Tula-Venus; the 8th to Vrischika-Mars ; and the 9th to Dhanur-Jupiter. For the 2nd (Pada) of Aswini, the sub-periods are owned by (1) Makara-Saturn (2) Kumbha-Saturn (3) Meena-Jupiter (4) Vrischika-Mars (5) Tula-Venus (6) Kanya-Mercury (7) Kataka-Moon (8) Simha-Sun and (9) Mithuna-Mercury. For the 3rd (Pada) of Aswini, the sub-periods belong to (1) Vrishabha-Sukra (2) Mesha-Kuja (3) Meena-Guru (4) Kumbha-Sani (5) Makara-Sani (6) Dhanur-Guru (7) Mesha-Kuja (8) Vrishabha-Sukra and (9) Mithuna-Budha. For the 4th (Pada) of Aswini, the sub-periods are owned by (1) Kataka-Chandra (2) Simha-Ravi (3) Kanya-Budha (4) Tula-Sukra (5) Vrischika-Kuja (6) Dhanur-Guru (7) Makara-Sani (8) Kumbha-Sani and (9) Meena-Guru.

For the 1st (Pada) of Bharani, the several sub-periods are (1) Vrischika-Kuja (2) Tula-Sukra (3) Kanya-Budha (4) Kataka-Chandra (5) Simha-Ravi (6) Mithuna-Budha (7) Vrishabha-Sukra (8) Mesha-Kuja and (9) Meena-Guru. For the 2nd (Pada) of Bharani, the sub-periods are (1) Kumbha-Sani (2) Makara-Sani (3) Dhanur-Guru (4) Mesha-Kuja (5) Vrishabha-Sukra (6) Mithuna-Budha (7) Kataka-Chandra (8) Simha-Ravi and (9) Kanya-Budha. For the 3rd (Pada) of Bharani, the sub-periods are (1) Tula-Sukra (2) Vrischika-Kuja (3) Dhanur-Guru (4) Makara-Sani (5) Kumbha-Sani (6) Meena-Guru (7) Vrischika-Kuja (8) Tula-Sukra and (9) Kanya-Budha. The sub-periods of the 4th (Pada) of Bharani are (1) Kataka-Chandra (2) Simha-Ravi (3) Mithuna-Budha (4) Vrishabha-Sukra (5) Mesha-Kuja (6) Meena-Guru (7) Kumbha-Sani (8) Makara-Sani and (9) Dhanur-Guru.

The formulas for Aswini and Bharani are as described above. The four formulas given for the four Padas of Aswini will also respectively apply to the four Padas of Krittika in the (Apasavya - Pradakhina) triad. The formulas for Rohini and Mrigasiras in the (Savya) triad are stated in the next two slokas and the four formulas given for the four Padas of Mrigasiras should also be used again for the four Padas of Ardra.

The sub-divisions for the 1st (Pada) of Rohini are (1) Dhanur-Guru (2) Makara-Sani (3) Kumbha-Sani (4) Meena-Guru (5) Mesha-Kuja (6) Vrishabha-Sukra (7) Mithuna-Budha (8) Simha-Ravi and (9) Kataka-Chandra. For the 2nd (Pada) of Rohini, the sub-periods are (1) Kanya-Budha (2) Tula-Sukra (3) Vrischika-Kuja (4) Meena-Guru (5) Kumbha-Sani (6) Makara-Sani (7) Dhanur-Guru (8) Vrischika-Kuja and (9) Tula-Sukra. For the 3rd (Pada) of Rohini, the sub-periods are (1) Kanya-Budha (2) Simha-Ravi (3) Kataka-Chandra (4) Mithuna-Budha (5) Vrishabha-Sukra (6) Mesha-Kuja (7) Dhanur-Guru (8) Makara-Sani and (9) Kumbha-Sani. The 4th (Pada) of Rohini has the following sub-periods (1) Meena-Guru (2) Mesha-Kuja (3) Vrishabha-Sukra (4) Mithuna-Budha (5) Simha-Ravi (6) Kataka-Chandra (7) Kanya-Budha (8) Tula-Sukra and (9) Vrischika-Kuja.

For the 1st (Pada) of (Mrigasiras) the sub-periods are (1) Meena-Guru (2) Kumbha-Sani (3) Makara-Sani (4) Dhanur-Guru (5) Vrischika-Kuja (6) Tula-Sukra (7) Kanya-Budha (8) Simha-Ravi and (9) Kataka-Chandra. The sub-periods for the 2nd (Pada) of (Mrigasiras) are (1) Mithuna-Budha (2) Vrishabha-Sukra (3) Mesha-Kuja (4) Dhanur-Guru (5) Makara-Sani (6) Kumbha-Sani (7) Meena-Guru (8) Mesha-Kuja and (9) Vrishabha-Sukra. The 3rd (Pada) of (Mrigasiras) has the following sub-periods (1) Mithuna-Budha (2) Simha-Ravi (3) Kataka-Chandra (4) Kanya-Budha (5) Tula-Sukra (6) Vrischika-Kuja (7) Meena-Guru (8) Kumbha-Sani and (9) Makara-Sani. The sub-periods for the 4th (Pada) of (Mrigasiras) are (1) Dhanur-Guru (2) Vrischika-Kuja (3) Tula-Sukra (4) Kanya-Budha (5) Simha-Ravi (6) Kataka-Chandra (7) Mithuna-Budha (8) Vrishabha-Sukra and (9) Mesha-Kuja.

The initial Mahadasa of a life belongs to the lord of the Rasi owning the Nakshatra Pada occupied by the Moon at the time of birth, being so much of the Rasi-Mahadasa as corresponds to the Ghatikas that yet remain of the Nakshatra pada and the order of Mahadasas follows the natural order of the Nakshatra padas reckoned from the aforesaid one. This is the opinion, say the sages, held by some (astrologers).

There are a number of formulas each composed of a number of mnemonic syllables referring to the several Nakshatra padas beginning with the first pada of Aswini and giving Rasis in a certain order. It is with reference to the order of Rasis in these formulas that the Rasi Mahadasas of which a life is to consist should be determined. The (Vakyakrama) men of one school say, should be adhered to,

In the order of Rasis (Vakyakrama), the junctions at the end of Kataka, Vrischika and Meena give rise to (1) (Manduka Gati) (2) (Aswa) or (Turaga gati), and (3) (Simhavalokana) respectively and the Dasas at these intervals cause woeful effects.

The Apahara or Bhukti of any of the planet constituting a Mahadasa is thus obtained. Find out the particular mnemonical syllable (out of the nine syllables) composing a formula whose Bhukti is wanted and find out the owner of the Rasi signified by that syllable. Multiply the number of years assigned to this planet by the number of years fixed for the planet whose Mahadasa is under consideration and divide the product by the total number of years constituting the entire Ayus of the formula or Chakra. The quotient in years, etc, will represent the sub period required.

The total number of years indicated by the sum of the nine mnemonical syllables of any formula represents the number (in years) of Parama Ayus for that formula. Thus, the Parama Ayus in years for the 12 Rasiamsas reckoned from Mesha in an (Apasavya Chakra) will be 100, 85, 83 and 86 repeated thrice, while those for the 12 Rasiamsas reckoned from Vrischika in a (Savya Chakra) will be the same but in the reverse order; that is, 86, 83, 85 and 100 repeated thrice.

Whatever effects have been declared before by me in the case of the several Mahadasas, the same should be stated by a wise astrologer in the case of these Dasas also.

Ascertain the 5th, the 8th as well as the 4th Star from (Janmarksha), i.e., the star occupied by the Moon at the time of a person's birth. Cycles of Dasas are calculated from every one of these as the starting point. The Dasa counted from the 5th is called (Utpanna) ; that from the 8th, (Adhana) ; that from the 4th, Mahadasa. If the Dasas in these cycles have their ends tallying with each other or with the end of the Dasa taken in the same order from (Janmarksha), i.e., giving the same number of years, months, etc., it is a sign that the life of the person concerned is to end with the Dasa. In the case of people endowed with short, long and medium lives, the demise will happen at the close of the Dasa of the 3rd, the 7th and the 5th stars respectively counted from the natal stars they being called

2, 9, 20, 18, 20 and 50 are the figures indicating the number of years prescribed respectively for the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, the Sun and Saturn in the (Naisargikadasa) system. The Dasas play their part in the order given here according to the natural strength of the planets concerned. The Yavanas are of opinion that the Lagna Dasa which is benefic comes after these Dasas. But others do not approve of this method.

The signs, degrees, minutes, etc., of a planet should be converted into minutes, and as many multiples of 2400 as may be found necessary should be subtracted from the same. The remainder represents the Ayushkalas of the planet. The same should be divided by 200 . The quotient gives the number of years, months and days in the (Amsayurdaya) contribution towards the span of life by a planet according to its Degree, etc., according to Satyacharya. If the planet be retrograde or in exaltation, this quotient has to be trebled. If the planet be in his own Rasi or Navamsa, decanate or Vargottama, the Ayurdaya has to be doubled ; if in depression, it has to be reduced by half. If the planet be eclipsed, then also the reduction is half. But this last reduction will not apply to Venus and Saturn.

When malefic planets occupy the 6 Bhavas counted backward from the 12th, the whole, a half, a third, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth respectively of their Ayurdaya is lost. When benefic planets occupy such positions, the loss is half of that incurred in the case of malefic ones. When several planets are in a Bhava, only the strongest of them causes a reduction in the Ayurdaya. All planets except Mars lose a third of their Ayurdaya when in inimical houses. The number of years contributed by the Lagna according to Satyacharya's view corresponds to the number of its Navamsas that have risen. Even if the Lagna be strong or of medium strength, the same rule holds.

The rule of Satyacharya is preferable (to that laid down by Maya or Jeevasarman). But some make the process inconsistent and unwarrantable by a series of multiplications. The dictum of the Acharyas (Satya and others) is the following: (1) When several multiplications crop up, only one and that the highest, is to be gone through. (2) Again, when there are several reductions applicable only one, and that, the greatest should be made.

The aggregate number of (Pindayurdaya) years assigned to the several planets from the Sun onwards (in their highest exaltation point) are respectively 19, 25, 15, 12, 15, 21 and 20. All the reductions should be gone through as before. When a malefic planet is present in the Lagna, take only the minutes, seconds, etc., indicating the Lagna leaving out the signs. Multiply the total Ayus by this and divide by 360. The whole Ayurdaya should be reduced by this result. If the Lagna be aspected by a benefic, the period to be subtracted will be only half of the above result, So say those well-versed in the Ayurdaya system.

In the (Pindayurdaya) system, when the Amsa (Lagna Navamsa) is strong, the Lagna Ayus for (Lagna Dasa) corresponds to the Lagna Navamsa. When the Lagna (Rasi) is strong, the number of years for Lagna Ayus corresponds to the number signified by the Rasi, etc., counted from Mesha, and not the Lagna Navamsa.

The years assigned to the several planets in Sloka 21 supra are to be adopted in full when they are in exaltation. When a planet is in its depression point, the period assigned to it is reduced by half ; when it occupies an intermediate position, the reduction is to be proportionate, say the wise.

The (Pindayurdaya) system is advocated as the best by Manittha, Chanakya, Maya and others. But Satyacharya has pronounced this method to be faulty and Varahamihira also has made similar pronouncement.

Jeevasarman lays down in accordance with his own doctrine that the maximum period of life given by each planet from the Sun onwards is [?]th of the maximum aggregate period (120 years and 5 days). In this Ayurdaya also all the reductions are enjoined. The Lagna Ayus also should be calculated in the same way as in the other systems.

The full period of life in the case of men has been declared as 120 years (12X10) by some. Others there are who have stated that the full life-period will be the time taken by Saturn to make 3 complete revolutions (in his orbit). There is a third school who say that the full life-period of a man is the time taken by the Moon for making 1000 revolutions. But we are of opinion that the full period of man's life in this Kaliyuga is only 100 years as stated in the Vedas.

Of the Lagna, the Sun and the Moon, whichever is strongest will have its Dasa first. Then will come the Dasa of the planets in its Kendra and other positions. When several occupy together any one of these positions the precedence will be given to the planet which predominates in strength. When they happen to be of equal strength, that which gives a longer period, in years, of (Ayurdaya) will have its turn first. When there is equality even in regard to the number of years the (Ayurdaya) of the planets, that which rises first after being eclipsed by the Sun gets its Dasa prior to its fellows.

(Amsayurdaya) is to be calculated upon the predominance in strength of the Lagna ; (Pindayurdaya) upon the Sun's superiority in strength and (Naisargikayurdaya) when the Moon's power is strongest. We shall now state what should be done when the three (Lagna, the Sun and the Moon) are of equal strength.

Add the three Ayurdayas and divide the sum by 3. The quotient will be the Ayurdaya required. If only two of them are strong, add the two Ayurdayas and take half the result. When the three planets are all weak, adopt the method advocated by Jeevasarman for finding out the Ayurdaya.

Kalachakra Dasa system has to be resorted to only when the lord of the Navamsa occupied by the Moon is strong. The Dasa calculation as per Nakshatra method is always considered as the best.

The full period of life in the case of men and elephants is given as 120 years and 5 days, while in that of horses it is 32 years. It is 25 in the case of asses and camels and 24 for bulls and buffaloes. Twelve years are allotted for dogs and 16 for sheep and the like.

This (Ayus) span of life has been declared by wise men with respect to only those who are engaged in the practice of virtuous actions, who keep their senses under control, who eat wholesome diet, who are devoted to the Brahmins and the Gods and who preserve the land-marks of character and conduct peculiar to their high families.