Chapter 27: Ascetic Yogas

When the lord of the 10th house conjointly occupies a Kendra or Trikona position with four other planets, the person born will attain emancipation. If the end of a Rasi be rising and the same be owned by a benefic, and Jupiter occupy a Kendra or a Trikona, then also will the person born attain emancipation.

If at a birth four or more planets occupy a single house, the person born should be said to become an ascetic of the class signified by the strongest of them ; while others are of opinion that if the lord of the 10th house be one of the four or five planets conjoined in a house, the person born will belong to that class of ascetics indicated by the lord of the 10th Bhava.

The Moon posited in a decanate owned by Saturn and aspected by Mars and Saturn will make the person born an ascetic. If the Moon occupy a Navamsa owned by Mars and be aspected by Saturn, the person born will enter the class of asceticism signified by the planet Mars.

If at a birth the lord of the sign occupied by the Moon having no aspect of other planets on itself be aspected by Saturn, the person concerned surely becomes an ascetic of the particular class of signified by the [?]. The remarks made above apply here too.

The Sun will cause the native to become a chief or lord among contemplative saints or one who has taken initiation of asceticism ; the Moon will make him a traveller visiting places of pilgrimage ; Mars will make him an ascetic of the Buddhist class and an expert in base spells ; Mercury will enable the man to become a mendicant who does not know anything about the various philosophical schools ; Jupiter will make the man versed in Vedanta philosophy or an eminent ascetic ; Venus will make him a religious hypocrite, (i.e., one who assumes the dress, etc., of an ascetic to gain a livelihood), an outcast or a public dancer ; and Saturn will enable him to become an outcast or a heretic.

The Moon becomes exceedingly powerful in the bright half of the month. If the lord of the Lagna should aspect the Moon when he is devoid of strength (i.e., the waning Moon, say), the person born will become a miserable ascetic engaged in the practice of rigorous penance, distressed and wretched, without wealth or helpmate and getting his food and drink with great difficulty.

In the ascetic Yoga alluded to in the previous Sloka, if there should exist a Rajayoga, it will pull up by the roots all the bad effects and then make him a Lord of the earth initiated into asceticism and virtuously inclined, at whose feet other kings make salutations with their head bent.

If four planets with the lord of the 10th Bhava occupy a Kendra or Trikona; or if three planets endowed with strength be posited in a good house, the person born will seek admission into the holy order and become a successful ascetic. If the planets forming the group contain more benefics and occupy good houses, the holy order will be one that is respected by all and honoured by the great. If it be otherwise, the ascetic order will be one that does not command reverence.