Hayanaratna: The Jewel of Annual Astrology
by Martin Gansten | 2020 | 195,046 words
This page relates ‘The Judgement of Dreams (svapna-vicara)’ of the English translation of Balabhadra’s Hayaratna—a significant work within the realm of Indian astrology, particularly focused on the Tajika tradition, which adeptly intertwines ancient Indian and Perso-Arabic astrological knowledge. The Hayaratna acts as both an analytical commentary and a guidebook for practitioners keen on exploring horoscopic astrology, particularly the art of predicting annual occurrences (in Sanskrit known as Varshaphala) based on astrological calculations.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
14. The Judgement of Dreams (svapna-vicāra)
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Next, the judgement of dreams (svapna-vicāra) in the daily revolution (dina-praveśa); [and it is said] in Varṣatantra [18.48–50]:
If the sun occupies the [ninth]-part of the ascendant or the first house one will dream of bad things, such as the disc of the sun, red garments[1] or fire; if it is the moon, of white horses, jewels, garments, flowers, diamonds and the forms of women; if Mars, of gold, red garments and garlands, cattle and corals; if Mercury, [there are] horses, journeys to heaven and accounts of piety; if Jupiter, lovemaking, pious tales, visions of gods and the company of good kinsmen; if Venus, crossing the waters, love of the gods and delights; if Saturn, forest and mountain journeys and the company of low men; if Rāhu or Ketu, the same.
[And] Caṇḍeśvara [says]:
If [planets are] mixed, one should declare the dream to be mixed; if [a planet][2] is joined to its ruler, [the dream] derives from a cause;[3] if it is fallen, in an inimical sign, vanquished, in another’s domicile or [heliacally] set, the dream should be said to cause unhappiness; if the reverse, one should declare it to give happiness. If the sun is in the ascendant aspected by benefics, [or if] the sign of the sun is in the seventh house from those two,[4] then one should proclaim with certainty that the dream was about a dream. If there is an aspect between the sun, the moon and Venus, or if [the sign of the moon] is the seventh from those two,[5] then it is said by King Caṇḍeśvara[6] that the dream is of a king.
This concludes the judgement of dreams (svapna-vicāra).
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Or ‘a red-clad [man]’.
[2]:
Most likely the moon or the ruler of the ascendant, although the quoted text does not say.
[3]:
Presumably an easily discernible cause is meant, as opposed to the apparently random nature of many dreams.
[4]:
Presumably the two major benefics (Jupiter and Venus), although the preceding word ‘benefics’ is in the plural rather than the dual.
[5]:
Meaning somewhat tentative, as the stanza is syntactically defective.
[6]:
Or, possibly but less likely, ‘by Caṇḍeśvara’s king’.