Contents
Foreword by Dr. K S Charak ...........................................
v
Preface . ...............................................................................
vii
List of Case Studies .............................................................
ix
1. Ashtakavarga Has Its Own Say ........................................
1
2. The Basic Calculations . .....................................................
2
3. General Principles ..............................................................
9
4. Different Strength of Planets ............................................
13
5. Comparison Between Bindus in Various Houses ........
16
6. Some Case Studies . ............................................................
20
7. Divisional Charts Part I ....................................................
41
8. Divisional Charts Part II . .................................................
60
9. Annual Charts .....................................................................
74
10. Horary Charts .....................................................................
89
11. Medical Astrology . ............................................................. 103 12. Mundane Charts ................................................................. 117 13. Muhurta and Ashtakavarga .............................................. 130 14. Profession and Ashtakavarga ............................................ 145 15. Transit of Saturn ................................................................. 164 16. Other Transits ..................................................................... 171
iv
17. Ashtakavarga of Rahu, Ketu and Lagna . ....................... 175 18. Ashtakavarga in Matching ................................................ 180 19. How is Your Day Today? .................................................. 184 20. Miscellaneous ...................................................................... 190
Gem Recommendation . .................................................... 190
Naming of a Child/Bride .................................................. 191
Astrology or Cartography ................................................. 192
Compatibilty in Friendship .............................................. 194
21. Samudayashtakavarga Controversy . ................................ 195 Bibliography ................................................................................ 198 Index . .......................................................................................... 199
Foreword
V
edic astrology is an exalted tool not just for predicting events but also for timing their occurrence. The two techniques of timing events in use are the dashas (or planetary operational periods) and the Gochara (or transits). Belonging to the latter are: the simple transits of planets through various signs of the zodiac as are available in the ephemerides, the Varshaphala (or annual horoscope) and the Ashtakavarga. The first of these three methods, though useful and easy to apply, is rather gross and can be used only to make rather generalised predictions. Varshaphala and Ashtakavarga are more refined and more accurate. Between them, Ashtakavarga is certainly more popular amongst the Vedic astrologers because of its relative ease of application. If there were any doubts about its easy applicability, Vinay Aditya’s first book on Ashtakavarga, viz., ‘Dots of Destiny’, lays them to rest. Such is the clarity of his narration. The ‘Practice of Ashtakavarga’ is Vinay’s second, and more advanced, book on Ahstakavarga. Its idea was conceived more than a decade ago when it was felt that the Bhinnashtakavarga and Sarvashtakavarga applied to the lagna chart did not always reveal all there was in the horoscopic chart. How could then this technique of Vedic astrology be a reliable tool of prediction as claimed by none other than sage Parashara, the father of Vedic astrology, himself? Parashara could certainly not be wrong. So there must be something more to the routine method of application of Ashtakavarga. It was necessary to experiment with this technique further, taking care that the standard rules of Vedic astrology were always adhered to and never violated. Application of the Ashtakavarga method to the divisional charts was a natural next option in the search for more. As this research was pursued more and more, the results were found to be progressively revealing. The method was applied to the navamsha, the dashamamsha as well as other vargas and the
vi results were highly encouraging. Several articles pertaining to this research were published in the bi-monthly Vedic Astrology. Vinay Aditya further applied the Ashtakavarga principles to the Prashna chart, the Varshaphala chart, the Muhurta, and so on. Every time he got good results. The present work of his is a result of his toil of over a decade in this field. Since Ashtakavarga is a refined system of Gochara or transits, it has to remain subservient to the natal chart and its finer divisions. One has to keep the standard principles of Vedic astrology in mind and then apply the Ashtakavarga only judiciously. The operation and order of dashas has to be kept in mind during the assessment of the horoscope. The great quality of Ashtakavarga is that there are fewer contradictions and the analysis is more mathematical. But the principles have to be applied carefully and intelligently. Sage Parashara explained this method to his disciple sage Maitreya with the intention that men of ‘lesser intellect’ in the Kaliyuga could also make use of it; for them, the elaborate principles of Vedic astrology could be apparently contradictory and, therefore, too daunting to handle. Ashtakavarga, being mathematical, was supposed to be more easy for them to manage. Vinay’s treatment of this subject, however, doesn’t make it appear as if fools would handle it. The technique involves a lot of mental exercise if good results are to be obtained. It is a pleasure going through this work, with the author handling the subject with care and passion and intelligence. Vinay has carefully stayed clear of the issues like the Trikona Shodhana, the Ekadhipatya Shodhana and the Shodhya Pindas. He might choose to pick them up later or, more likely, leave them to other researchers to establish their veracity or otherwise. March 31st, 2011 New Delhi
Dr. K S Charak M.S. Surgery, F.R.C.S. (U.K.)