Chapter LIX - Discourses on Astrology

Suta said:—Having learnt the solar system and the dimension of the earth Keshava communicated, unto Rudra, the essence of astronomy having four characteristic marks.

Hari said:—Krittika (Gemini)^[1] is the planet of the fire-god and Rohini (Cancer) is of Brahma. Illwala (stars in the Orion’s head) belonging to Soma and Ardra (Virgo) to Rudra Aditya (the sun) and Punarvasu (Libra) are the planets of the preceptor. Ashlesha (Sagita) is the planet of the serpents while Magha (Capri) is that of the departed manes. Purva-Phalguni (Aquari) is the planet of good luck as well as the sun, Uttara-Phalguna (Pisces), Savitra (sun) Hasta,^[2] Chitra^[3] and Tvasta (sun).

Shyati is known as the star of the wind-god and Vishakha, O bull-emblemed deity, is that of Indra and Fire-god. Maitram, Iksham, Anurudha and Jyestha are the stars of Shakra. Mulas is the star of Nirhriti. Ashada Purva is that of water-god and Uttara is that of Vishvadevatas. Abhijit is the star of Brahma, and Shravana is that of Vishnu. Riksham is the star of Vasava, and Dhanistha is that of Budha; while the star Shatabhisha is that of Varuna. Bhadrapada appears in the east, Ahivradhana in the north as well as Paushya, Revati, Riksham, Ashvajuk. Bharani appears in the north. These are called Riksha-devatas.

On the first and ninth day of the fortnight Brahmani is stationed in the east, on the second and tenth day of the fortnight, Maheshvari is stationed in the north, on the fifth, and the thirteenth days, Varahi appears in the south, on the sixth, and the fourteenth days, Indrani is stationed in the west on the seventh day and on the full-moon day, Chamunda appears in the north-west, on the eighth, and Amarvashya day, Mahalakshmi is stationed in the north-east, on the eleventh, and third days of the fortnight, Vaishnavi appears in the south-east, on the twelfth, and on the fourth day Kaumari appears in the south-east.

One should not leave his house for another place while Yogini^[4] is in front. Ashvini, Revati, Mrigamula, Punarvasu, Pushya, Hasta and Jyesta are the most auspicious stars under whose auspices one should leave his house. The five Rikshas, Hasta,^[5] the three Uttaras, Ashvini, Rohini, Pushya, Dhanistha, Punarvasu are the stats most favourable for putting on new raiments. Kirttika, Bharani, Ashlesha, Magha, which are known to have their faces directed downwards, are favourable for digging tanks, wells and reservoirs of water and for cultivating lands and laying, foundations of temples and dwelling houses. When these stars and others, O bull-emblemed deity, go down it is the best time to begin the study of Mathematics, Astronomy and enter into mines, ditches, etc. When Revati, Ashvini, Chitra, Shyati, Hasta, Punarvasu, Anurudha, Mriga, Jyestha, all these lie sideways it’is the the best time for taming elephants, camels, bulls and buffaloes, for sowing seeds and for paying visits. The cows should also be tamed under the influence of these stars. The wheels and machineries of cars should be constructed and boats should be floated. When Rohini, Ardra, Pushya, Dhanishtha, the three Uttaras, Varuna, Shravana,—these nine have their faces upwards it is the best time for installing a king in the kingdom, and putting on silk raiments. The most inauspicious days are the fourth, sixth, eigth, ninth and Amavashya. The full-moon, the twelfth, the fourteenth, and the first day of the dark fort-night, are most auspicious days as also the second day when presided over by the Moon’s son (Mercury), the third, by the Earth’s son (Mars), and the fourth, by Saturn. The fifth day of a fortnight is auspicious when it is presided over by Jupiter, the sixth day, when by Mars and Venus, the seventh day, when by Mercury, the eighth when, by Mars, the ninth day, when by the Moon, and the tenth, when by Jupiter. The Jupiter is auspicious and pure on the eleventh day of a fort-night, the Mercury, on the twelfth day, the Venus, on the thirteenth day, the Saturn on the fourteenth day, and Jupiter is the most auspicious both on the Amavashya and the full-moon day.

The Sun burns the twelfth day of a fort-night, the Moon, the eleventh day, the Mars, the tenth day, the Mercury, the ninth day, the Jiva,^[6] the eighth day, Bhargava (Venus), the seventh day, and the Sun’s son, the sixth. One should not leave his house on such a day. On the first, ninth, fourteenth, and eighth day of a fortnight, and on Wednesday one should postpone his departure for a distant country. The sixth day under the influence of Aries^[7] and Cancer, the eighth day of Virgo and Gemini, the fourth day of Taurus and Aquaris, the twelfth day of Capricornus and Libra, the tenth day of Libra and Scorpio and the fourteenth day of Sigatta-rius and Pisces are all inauspicious, and no man should leave his house on any these of days. When the three stars of Dhanistha are in conjunction with Mars, when the three stars of Revati are with Mercury, when the three stars of Vishaka are with the sun, when the moon is in the three stars of Purvashada, when the three stars of Rohini are in Pushya and when the three stars of Pushya are with Venus—[they always fore-bode evil.] One should avoid the three stars of Uttara Phalguna on Saturday. These conjunctions forebode calamities either ending in death or a fatal disease.

When the Sun is in conjunction with Mula, when the moon is with Shravana, when Mars is with Purva and Uttara Bhadrapada, when Mercury is with Kirttika, when Jupiter is with Punarvasu, when Venus is with Purva Phalguna, when Saturn is with Shyati—these conjunctions are called Amrita-yoga which yields success in all undertakings. Vishkumbha-yoga lasts for five hours. Shula-yoga lasts for seven hours. Ganda-, and Atiganda-, yogas, last for six hours, and Vyagha-tavajra, for nine hours. And Vyatipat-, and Parigha-, yogas, last for one whole day. These combinations may even bring on death and therefore a man should avoid then every work. The combination between Hasta and the Sun, Jupiter and Pushya, Mercury and Anuradha, Rohini and Saturn, Moon and Sauma, Venus and Revati and Mars and Ashivini is always auspicious. These combinations are called Siddhi-yogas and they avert every form of calamity. The combinations between the Sun and Bharani, the Moon and Chitra,. Mars, Uttara-Ashada, Mercury and Dhanistha, Saturn and Revati are called, O Shambhu, Visha-yogas (poisonous combinations.)

When the combination takes place between Pushya, Punarvasu, Revati, Chitra, Shravana, Dhanistha, Hasta_r Ashivini, Mriga, and Shatabhisa, a man should perform rites consequent upon the birth of a child. O Rudra, if a man leaves home for another place under the combination of any three planets of Vishakha, Uttara, Magha, Ardra, Bharani Ashlesha and Kirttika, he meets with death.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The third of the lunar mansions or constellation in the moon’s path, consisting of six stars and corresponding to Pleiades.

[2]:

The thirteenth lunar asterism designated by a hand and containing five stars.

[3]:

A star in the virgin’s spike.

[4]:

A female fiend or spirit attendant on and created by Durga. Here it refers to the star presiding over evil spirits.

[5]:

These groups of fixed stars or “constellations” can be identified on clear star-light nights by the following marks:—

1. Ashvini	3 stars resembling a horse’s face.
2. Bharani	3 stars in the shape of deep-laid triangle.
3. Kirttika	6 stars resembling a barber’s razor.
4. Rohini	5 stars resembling a cart.
5. Mrigasira	3 stars in the shape of a man’s head.
6. Adra	1 star bright as coral bead.
7. Punarvashu	5 stars in the form of a potter’s wheel.
8. Pushya	3 stars resembling a blood-sucker.
9. Ashlesha	6 stars like a serpent.
10. Magha	5 stars like a planquin.
11. Purva Phalgooni	2 stars resembling eyes.
12. Uttara Phalgooni	2 stars resembling eyes.
13. Hasta	5 stars like human fingers.
14. Chitra	1 star shining like a pearl.
15. Svati	1 star like a sapphire.
16. Vishakha	5 stars like a potter’s wheel.
17. Anuradha	3 stars resembling an umbrella.
18. Jaista	ditto                ditto
19. Mūla	5 stars like a crouching lion.
20. Purbashara	2 stars each resembling the points of a square.
21. Uttarasara	2       ditto                ditto
22. Shravana	3 stars like an arrow.
23. Dhanista	3 stars like a man’s head.
24. Shathabhisha	A hundred stars in the shape of a flower.
25. Purbabhadrapada	2 stars each forming the sides of a cot.
26. Uttarbhadrapada	2       ditto                ditto
27. Revati	3 stars in the shape of a fish.

 

[6]:

The constellation Pushya—the eighth lunar mansion (Scorpi) consisting of three stars.

[7]:

The following are the English equivalents of the Rashis or signs of the Zodiac under the influence of which men are born.

Mesha	... Aries	... 1st sign
Karkata	... Cancer	... 4th „
Kanya	... Virgo	... 6th,,
Mithuna	... Gemini	... 3rd,,
Vrisha	... Taurus	... 2nd „
Kumbha	... Aquaris	... 11th „
Makara	... Capricornus	... 10th,,
Tula	Libra	... 7th „
Vrishchika	... Scorpio	... 8th „
Sihha	... Leo	... 5th „
Dhanu	... Sagittarius	... 9th „
Mīna	... Pisces	... 12th „