Chapter 56.34 - Description of Marriage (Vivāha or Pāṇipīḍana)

[Full title: Natural Astrology (34) Marriage (vivāha / pāṇipīḍana)]

415. It is desirable to conduct the marriage (pāṇipīḍana) of girls in the even years of their birth, and that of boys in the odd years (of their birth). Otherwise, it would be destructive of both.

416. The months of Māgha, Phālguna, Vaiśākha and Jyeṣṭha are auspicious; Kārttika and Mārgaśīrṣa are middling; the rest are censurable.

417. Never should marriage (vivāha), installation of deities and upanayana be performed in ten asterisms from the time that the Sun enters the asterism Ārdrā.

418. Marriage should not be performed when Jupiter or Venus have set or when they are in the stages of childhood and old age (i.e., just after they have risen or when they are about to set). Neither when Jupiter is in the sign Leo or in a Leo-part (in any other sign).

419. For thirteen days after its rise in the west or in the east^[1] Venus would be in the ‘child’s stage’ and for five days before setting, in the stage of ‘old age’. In the case of Jupiter both stages would be of 15 days duration.

420. So long as God Viṣṇu (Hṛṣīkeśa) is asleep, it is not auspicious. There is nothing more auspicious than the festival day of Viṣṇu (Vāsudeva).

421. The marriage of the firstborn, whether boy or girl, should not be conducted in the month of their birth, nor in the asterisms of their birth, nor in the week-day of their birth.

422. In the month of Jyeṣṭha the marriage of both the Jyeṣṭhaputrī and Jyeṣṭhaputra (eldest daughter and the eldest son) should not be performed. It is best to have one ‘Jyeṣṭha’ at a time, not otherwise.^[2]

423. A marriage should not be performed for a week after a natural visitation (utpāta) (like the appearance of a comet, earthquake etc.) nor a complete eclipse. If the eclipse is partial (the prohibition is) for three days. (Similarly, prohibited are the intercalary lunar day) which touches three civil days (tridyuspṛk) and the expunged lunar day.^[3]

424. (In the case of planetary obscuration), three days after their setting and three days before their rise should be eschewed. So far as their dusks are concerned, three days before setting and seven days before rising should be eschewed. (?)

425. Five days towards the close of the (lunar) month should be eschewed. So also the 8th and the riktā days, (viz., 4th, 9th and 14th). The yogas Vyatipāta and Vaidhṛti, in their entirety, and half of Parigha are also to be eschewed.^[4]

426. Marriage is recommended in the following asterisms: Revatī (Pauṣṇa), Uttaraphalgunī, Uttarāṣāḍha and Uttarabhādrapada (tryuttara), Anurādhā (Maitra), Svātī (Marut). Mṛgaśīrṣa (Candra) Hasta (Arka), Maghā (Pitrya) and Mūla, when these are not in vedha, i.e., not mutually afflicted,^[5]

427. If, in a marriage (vivāha), the potencies of Jupiter and the Sun^[6] are required for the couple, effort should be made to worship those two weak planets.

428. The strengths of gocara,^[7] vedha^[8] and aṣṭavarga^[9] reckoned in rūpa^[10] are higher in the ascending order. The strength gocara is of a general nature (compared to the others).

429-30a. The potencies of the Moon and the asterisms should be considered and then the strength of the five constituents of the pañcāṅga. (Of the latter, if) the strength of the tithi is one, that of the weekday is two-fold, that of the asterism is threefold, that of yoga is fourfold and that of karaṇa (tithyardha) is fivefold.

430b-31. The (prognostication as reckoned in the) muhūrta is more strong and lagna is still stronger. Horā^[11] is stronger and Drekkāṇa^[12] is still more so. Navāṃśa^[13] is more strong and Dvādaśāṃśa^[14] stronger than that.

432. Triṃśāṃśa^[15] is stronger than the previous, The combined strength of the above has to be duly considered. All the signs which are beneficently aspected are commended in fixing a marriage.

433-34a. The signs occupied by the five planets Moon, Sun, Jupiter, (Mercury and Venus) are acceptable. That is an auspicious lagna where all the four (Moon, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus) are in strength and which is devoid of the blemish of Jāmitra^[16] or the twenty-one great faults (mentioned below).

Twenty-one Major blemishes (Ekaviṃśati-mahādoṣa).

434b-35a. O Nārada! Listen now, to the names and effects of the twenty-one ‘Major blemishes’, being set out below.

435b-36. (i). Pañcāṅgaśuddhi-rāhitya is declared as the first blemish, (ii) The second is Udayāstaśuddhi-hīna-Sūryasaṅkrama, (iii) The third is Pāpaṣaḍvarga. (Then follow): (iv) Bhṛgu-ṣaṣṭha (v) Kujāṣṭama;

437-39a. (vi) Gaṇḍānta; (vii) Kartarī, (viii-ix) Rippha-ṣaḍaṣṭendu, (x) Sagraha, (xi-xii) Aṣṭama-lagna and Aṣṭamarāśi of the couple, (xiii) Viṣaghaṭī, (xiv) Muhūrtadoṣa (Durmuhūrta), (xv) Vāradoṣa, (xvi) Ekārgala (Kharjūrikā-samāṅghribha), (xvii) Grahaṇotpātabha, (xviii) Krūraviddharkṣa, (xix) Krūrasaṃyutarkṣa (xx) Kuṇavāṃśa, and (xxi) Mahāpāta-Vaidhṛti.^[17]

(i) Non-purity of Pañcāṅga.

439b-440. Pañcāṅga is constituted by Tithi, Vāra, Nakṣatra, Yoga and Karaṇa. The purity (of the five items) constitutes the purity of pañcāṅga. When there is a blemish in the pañcāṅga, mere merit in lagna would not bring the desired result.

441a. Discard Pañceṣika (‘Five arrows’, īṣikā-bāṇa)^[18] as if it is milk mixed with poison.

441b-42. If (at the selected moment, muhūrta) the lagna and lagnāṃśaka are not aspected by or are together with their respective lords or by their mutual lords or auspicious friends, (such a muhūrta should be rejected). If the lagna be the 7 th or the 7th section, the bridegroom will meet with death.

443a. If they (the lagna and the lagnāṃśaka) are not aspected or are together, as indicated above, the death of the bride will result at the time of the marriage.

(ii). Saṅkrama.

443b-44a. In marriage etc. (vivāha-ādi) sixteen nāḍi-kās each have to be eschewed before and after the transit of the Sun into a sign.

(iii). Pāpa-Ṣaḍvarga.^[19]

444b. In fixing a marriage etc. (vivāha-sthāpana-ādi) the auspicious (findings as read off from) Ṣaḍvarga are greatly commended (and, so, the inauspicious times as reckoned by the ṣaḍvarga reckonings should be avoided.

(iv). Venus in the sixth house.

445. The blemish of Bhṛgu. ṣaṣṭha occurs when Venus occupies the sixth house. Even if Venus is in exaltation and occupies the lagna with an auspicious planet, such a lagna should always be rejected.

(v). Mars in (he eighth house.

446. The great blemish Kujāṣṭama will occur when Mars occupies the eighth house from the lagna. Reject the lagna even if it is occupied by three benefic planets if there is alongside Mars in exaltation.

(vi). Gaṇḍānta.

447. Gaṇḍānta (relating to tithi or lunar days) occurs for two nāḍikās each at the junctures of the (three) Pūrṇā tithis with the (three) Nandā tithis, (i.e., between the 5th and the 6th, 10th and 11th, and 15th and 1st).^[20] This time is deadly in the matter of birth, travel, marriage etc.

448. Gaṇḍānta (relating to lagna) occurs for half a nāḍikā each at the junctures of Cancer and Leo, Scorpio and Sagittarius and Pisces and Aries; this time is deadly.

449. Gaṇḍānta relating to asterisms occurs at the junctures of the ending sixteen nāḍikās of the three asterisms Āśleṣā (Sarpa), Indra (Jyeṣṭhā) and Revatī (Pauṣṇa) with the first quarters of the respective succeeding asterisms (viz., Maghā, Mūla and Aśvinī).

450a. The said three tapes of junctures form three different types of Gaṇḍāntas, which are all highly harmful.

(vii). Kartarī.

450b-51a. The crossing, (in their motion), of two evil planets, one in regular motion and the other in retrograde motion, while facing the lagna, is known as Kartarī; it will cut the throats of couple (like a pair of scissors).

451b-52a. Discard the lagna which is tainted by the blemish of Kartarī even if it be occupied by auspicious planets endowed with all good qualities.

(viii-ix). Ripphaṣaḍaṣṭendu.

452b. When Moon occupies the 6th, 8th and 12th (Rippha) houses, the blemish of that name is caused.

453-54a. Discard, even with effort, the abovesaid lagna, even if it be occupied by Jupiter and Venus. For a lagna within an enemy house even if occupied by friendly planets, either in exaltation or debilitation, and even if invested with all qualities, is deathly to couples.

(x) Sagraha.

454b-55a. When the Moon is in conjunction with some other planets, the ‘blemish’ by name Sagraha occurs. Do not perform marriages (at a muhūrta) when the said blemish prevails.

455b-57. When Sun is in conjunction with the Moon, to be sure, poverty will result; with Mars, disease; with Mercury, childlessness; with Jupiter, misfortune; with Venus, having a cowife; with Saturn, turning a recluse; with Rāhu, destruction of family base; and if the Moon is in conjunction with Ketu continued suffering and poverty will result.

458-59a. If the Moon is in conjunction with evil planets the death of the couple will result. However, if the Moon, in exaltation, is in conjunction with beneficent planets in friendly signs, the lagna does not turn evil but always tends to their welfare.

459b-60a. On the other hand, Moon, in exaltation or in its asterism or in a friendly house, if it is in conjunction with an evil planet will cause their death.

(xi-xii). Aṣṭama-lagna and Aṣṭama rāśi.

460b-61a.The eighth lagna or the eighth sign (of birth) of the couple, if it occupies the lagna (of the time of the marriage) that too would cause the death of the couple.

461b-62a. Even if the said sign or the lagna is occupied by a benevolent planet, discard that lagna, and its divisions and also other houses governed by the lords (of the eighth houses of the couple).

462b-63a. The twelfth lagna or sign (of birth of the couple, occupying the lagna (of the marriage) will result in their loss of wealth. Hence discard the lord of that division of the lagna.

463b-64a. The rise of the birth sign and the rise of the birth lagna are auspicious. If the lagna (of the muhūrta) is in the upacayas^[21] of the above two, it is extremely auspicious.

(xiii). Viṣaghaṭi.

464b-68. Four ghaṭikās each in continuation of the undermentioned ghaṭikās, respectively, in the twentyseven asterisms are called Viṣaghaṭikās. They should be eschewed in fixing times of marriages etc., even if endowed with other qualities. They are, in order from the asterism Aśvinī: (1. Aśvinī): 50, (2. Bharaṇī): 24; (3. Kṛttikā): 30; (4. Rohiṇī): 40; (5. Mṛgaśiras): 13; (6. Ārdrā): 21; (7. Punarvasu): 30; (8. Puṣya); 20; 9. Āśleṣā); 32; (10. Maghā): 30; (11. Purvaphalgunī): 20; (12 Uttaraphālgunī): 18; (13. Hasta): 20; (14. Citrā 20; (15. Svātī); 14; (16. Viśākhā): 14; (17. Anurādhā): 10; (18. Jyeṣṭhā): 14; (19. Mūla): 56; (20. Pūrvāṣāḍha); 24; (21. Uttarāṣāḍha): 20; (22. Śravaṇa): 10; (23. Śraviṣṭhā): 10; (24. Śatabhiṣak): 18; (25. Pūrvabhādrapadā); 16; (26. Uttarabhādrapadā): 24; (27. Revatī): 30.

(xiv). Muhūrtadoṣa.

469. Such muhūrtas in the week-day from Sunday, as are censured (for other auspicious rites) are to be censured also for marriage etc., even if invested with good qualities.^[22]

(xv) Vāradoṣa.

470. Such days of the week for which blemishes have been indicated, in order, beginning with Sunday, are to be eschewed also for (marriage, which is) the most auspicious rite, even if the days are endowed with all qualifications.^[23]

(xvi). Ekārgala.

471. Discard a lagna which encompasses even a fourth part of (an asterism having) the blemish of Ekārgala, as if it is milk mixed with poison, even if (the lagna is) occupied by Venus and Bṛhaspati.^[24]

(xvii). Grahaṇotpātabha.

472. (In an auspicious rite, like marriage), the asterism in which an eclipse or an Utpāta (like the fall of a meteor or occurrence of an earthquake) occurs should be discarded for three succeeding seasons {i.e. six months), thereafter as charred firewood, except when they are occupied by the moon and left (bhuktvā muktam bham).

(xviii-xix). Krūraviddharkṣa and Krūrasaṃyuta.

473. In auspicious rites (like marriage) discard all asterisms which are afflicted (viddha)^[25] or in conjunction with violent planets, as pañcagavya^[26] to which a drop of wine has been added.

474. If the asterism in question had been afflicted only by its fourth part and that, too, by benefic planets, the whole asterism is not rendered inauspicious. However, if the affliction or being in conjunction is by cruel planets, the whole asterism has to be discarded.

(xx). Kunavāṃśaka.

475-77a. The navāṃśas Libra, Gemini and Virgo and the Second half of Sagittarius are auspicious except the ending in each. The ending will also be auspicious if they are of the vargottama category.^[27] The other navāṃśakas are not to be selected since they are Kunavāṃśakas (‘Evil navāṃśakas’). A lagna in which there is a Kunavāṃśaka is to be rejected even if endowed with all other qualifications.

(xxi). Mahāpāta Vaidhṛti.^[28]

477b-78a. The day on whicḥ the mahāpāta Vaidhṛti occurs should be eschewed in auspicious rites (like marriage), even if endowed with all qualities, for it would cause the death of the couple.

Minor blemishes (Svalpadoṣa).

478b-79. Minor blemishes, not mentioned (above) also exist, like for instance, lightning and hailstorm; mock-sun, halo round the Sun and the Moon, rainbow, and thunder of clouds: Lattā; minor tremours etc., lunar days called ‘burnt month’ (dagdhamāsa).

479. Dagdha-lagna (burnt lagna), and the lagnas with the appellation ‘blind’, ‘deaf’ and ‘lame’. Now, the explanation of these is given below.

Lightning and hailstorm.

480. Lightning and hailstorm, which occur at unexpected times, will indeed, be injurious to auspicious rites, though, in course of time, they will become non-injurious.

481. There is, however, no doubt that anyone of Jupiter, Venus or Mercury will obviate the effect of these groups of blemishes if it is in a quadrant (kendra)^[29].

Vedha (Piercing Affliction).

482-84a. (Draw a diagram with) five vertical lines, five across, and two each diagonally. Mark the asterism Kṛttikā (Agnidhiṣṇya) at the end of the second diagonal in the north-east and the other asterisms, including Abhijit (in order, in a clockwise direction). The mutually ‘pierced’ asterisms are those at the ends of the lines.^[30]

Lattā.

484b-85a. The Sun and other planets affect, for a day, an asterism, ahead of or behind it, (alternately). Thus, the Sun affects the 12th asterism (ahead of it); Moon, the 22nd (behind it); Mars, the 3rd (ahead of it); Mercury, the 7th (behind it); Jupiter, the 6th (ahead of it); Venus, the 5th (behind it); Saturn the 8th (ahead of it); and Rāhu, the 9th behind it. (These days are to be scrupulously avoided in fixing muhūrtas.)

Pātabha (Malignant asterism).

485b-86a. Count from Hasta (Sūryabha) the asterism Āśleṣā (Sarpa), Maghā (Pitrya), Revatī (Antyā), Citra (Tvāṣṭra), Anurādhā (Mitra) and Śravaṇa (Viṣṇubha) and count off those numbers from Aśvinī. The asterisms got would be malignant asterisms (pātabha) (?)

486b. In Saurāṣṭra and the Sālva country the blemish of Lattā is not taken note of.

487. Pātita (Minor tremour) is not considered auspicious in Kaliṅga (Orissa) and Vaṅga (Bengal) countries. In Bālhīka, Kuru country and certain other regions, however, it is not a blemish at all.

Dagdha-tithi and Dagdha-lagna.

488. The ‘burnt’ lunar days and the ‘burnt’ lagnas are eschewed in Madhyadeśa (Madhya Pradesh) but not considered inauspicious in other areas.

489. The ‘lame’, ‘blind’ and ‘deaf’ lagnas^[31] and the signs which do not contain the ending of a lunar month are rejected in the Gauḍa and Mālava regions, but not censured in other areas.

490. Every moment is infested with some blemish or other, and it would be impossible even for the creator to wipe off the blemishes completely. Hence one should opt for the maximum of auspiciousness and the minimum of blemishes.

Marriage altar.

491a. In an auspicious lagna, (decided upon) in consideration of the above, should be arranged the mutual viewing of one another by the couple.

491b-95. The couple should then be made to ascend an auspicious altar on which holy fire is kept—an altar which is one cubit high, a square of four cubits on all sides; supported by four polished pillars; slightly slanting to the left; with a pavilion around, beautified by steps on the four sides; elongated on the east and the north; beautified by the planting of plantain trunks; ornamented by (replicas of) swans and parrots, painted pots, and shoots placed on the arches; decked with heaps of love-inciting flowers and colours; sanctified by the benedictions of brāhmaṇas and pleasing with auspicious and divinely beautiful ladies; and making the heart merry with musical instruments, dance and songs.

Mutual horoscopical agreement of the couple^[32].

496. Eight are the mutual compatabilities which conduce to sons and grandsons: (i) Rāśi, (ii) Strīdūra, (iii) Gaṇa, (iv) Rāśīśa, (v) Yoni (vi) Varṇa, (vii) Rajju and (viii) Vaśya.

Agreement of Rāśi.

497-98a. Different asterism for the couple in the same rāśi is excellent. Middling is to have different rāśis, but the same asterism. The marriage of a couple born in the same asterism in the same rāśi results in death.

498b-99a. Strīdūra. A distance within the first nine asterisms for the male horoscope from the asterism of the female is highly inauspicious, the second nine is middling and the third nine is excellent.

Agreement in Gaṇa^[33].

499b-500a. The asterisms in the human group (martya-gaṇa) are: The three pūrvas and uttaras, (viz., Pūrvaphalgunī, Pūrvāṣāḍha, Purvabhādrapada, Uttaraphalgunī, Uttarāṣāḍha and Uttarabhādrapada), Rohiṇī (Dhātṛ), Bharaṇī. (Yāmya), Ārdrā (Maheśa).

500. Those of the divine group are: Śravaṇa (Hari), Vasu (Āditya), Hasta (Arka), Svātī (VāyuĀ), Revatī (Antya), Anurādhā (Mitra), Aśvinī, Puṣya (Ijya) and Mṛgaśīrṣa (Indu).

501. Asterisms of the demonic gaṇa (Ṛakṣogaṇa) are: Maghā (Pitṛ), Citrā (Tvāṣṭra), Viśākhā (Dvidaivatya), Kṛttikā (Agni), Jyeṣṭhā (Indra), Dhaniṣṭhā (Vasu) Śatabhiṣak (Vārīśa),. Mūla, and Āśleṣā (Ahi).

502. If the birth-asterism of the couple is the same, it would be pleasing in many ways. It is middling if one is human and the other divine. Death will result (if the human and the divine are united) with the demonic.

503. Agreement between the lords of the rāśi: If the lords of the rāśis of the couple are one in the 6th house and the other in the 8th, death will result. If it be fifth and ninth, there would be childlessness. Second and twelfth houses, too, are not desirable. In the others, there will be excellent mutual attraction between the couple.

504. If the said lords are identical or friendly, the marriage will be happy. It might be so even in the case of two and twelve and the trines (trikoṇā), but never in the case of six and eight.

Agreement of Yoni.^[34]

505-6. The animals relating to the asterisms Aśvinī etc. are in order: (1. Aśvinī): Horse; (2. Bharaṇī): Elephant; (3. Kṛttikā): Goat; (4. Rohiṇī): Serpent; (5. Mṛgaśiras): Snake; (6. Ārdrā): Dog; (7. Punarvasu): Cat; (8. Puṣya): Goat; (9. Āśleṣā): Cat; (10. Maghā): Rat; (11. Pūrvaphalgunī): Mouse; (12. Uttaraphalgunī): Cow; (13. Hasta): Buffalo; (14. Citrā): Tiger; (15. Svātī): Buffalo; (16. Viśākhā): Tiger; (17. Anurādhā); Deer; (18. Jyeṣṭhā): Deer; (19. Mūla): Dog; (20. Pūrvāṣāḍha): Monkey; (21. Uttarāṣāḍha): Ox; (22. Śravaṇa): Monkey; (23. Śraviṣṭhā); Lion; (24. Śatabhiṣak): Horse; (25. Pūrvabhādrapadā): Lion; (26. Uttarabhādrapadā): Cow; (27. Revatī): Elephant.

507. The pairs Dog and deer, Mongoose and serpent. Goat and monkey, Lion and elephant, Cow and tiger, Rat anḍ cat, and Buffalo and horse are inimical.

Varṇa (caste)^[35].

508. Pisces, Scorpio and Cancer are brāhmaṇas; the further ones belong to the other castes.^[36] If the male’s rāśi is lower than that of the female in caste, it is inauspicious^[37].

Rajju or Nāḍī.

509-10a. (The 27 asterisms are in the form of a zigzag rope, each loop carrying 3 asterisms, thus forming three columns (nāḍīs) of 9 asterisms each, (If the asterisms of the boy and the girl fall) in the same column, it indicates death and not so in adjacent columns.)^[38]

510b-11a. Different types if marriages. (The three types of marriages) Prājāpatya, Brāhma and Daiva are approved by the sage, and if performed at the said (auspicious) times, would be extremely beneficial.

511b. (The Āsura marriage is achieved through the payment of money and Paiśāca by kidnapping the bride. The Rākṣasa marriage is done by winning over the bride in battle anḍ Gāndharva is made by mutual understanding.)^[39]

Abhijit and Godhūlikā.^[40]

512-13a. The fourth lagna from the lagna at sunrise is called Abhijit and the seventh is called Godhūlikā. Both these are auspicious for marriage and (will bless the couple) with sons and grandsons. For the Easterners (belonging to Bengal, Assam etc.) and the people of Kaliṅga (Orissa), Godhūlikā is important.

513b-14. Abhijit is considered as important in all regions as a destroyer of blemishes. The muhūrta (of two nāḍikās) when the Sun is at the zenith is called Abhijit. It wipes off all blemishes as the Pināka-bowed (Śiva) wiped out the Tripuras.^[41]

Prohibitions in marriages.

515. A daughter’s marriage should not be conducted for three seasons after a son’s marriage, neither should be performed the sacrament (for the change to married life, vrata). When there has been an auspicious event, there shall not be another auspicious event closely following.

516. If the marriages of two sisters are conducted within six months of each other, one of them will surely become a widow within three years.

517. Mutual marriages should not be performed nor should two daughters be married to the same groom, nor two daughters born of the same parents to two brothers born of the same parents.

518a. Nor should two marriages be conducted at the same time, nor two tonsures.

518b-19a. If a marriage is performed during Gaṇḍa^[42], the child if born during day-time will kill his father, if during night, his mother, and if during the (morning and evening) twilights, himself. There is no exception to Gaṇḍa.

519b. A son and a daughter born in the asterism Mūla will positively kill the father-in-law, but not one born in the ending quarter of that asterism.

520a-20b. A boy, but not the girl, born in the first quarter of Āśleṣā and the latter two quarters of Jyeṣṭhā will also (kill the father-in-law).

521. A girl born in Mūla or Pūrvāṣāḍha will not harm the father or the mother, but the one born in Jyeṣṭhā will kill the elder brother of the husband, and one born in Viśākhā (Dvidaiva) the younger brother.

Vadhūpraveśa.

521-23. For the auspicious entry of the bride into her husband’s household, the sixth, eighth, tenth or seventh day counted from the day of marriage is recommended. (If it is delayed), the marriage journey should be made leaving out the second (and other even) years and eschewing the bride’s birth asterism, birth-lagna, and birth-day, and also avoiding position to Venus.^[43]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

It may be noted that Venus rises in the west after its invisibility in its right motion (krama-mauḍhya) and in the east after its invisibility in its retrograde motion (vakra-mauḍhya). It may also be noted that since Jupiter moves outside the orbit of the Earth, it becomes invisible only in its right motion, and not in its retrograde motion.

[2]:

The idea is this: The grouping of the Jyeṣṭha month, Jyeṣṭha daughter and Jyeṣṭha son (jyeṣṭha-traya) [jyeṣṭhatrayam], is not auspicious in marriage. To marry off a jyeṣṭhā daughter or a jyeṣṭha son in the jyeṣṭha month, in which case a group of two jyeṣṭhas is formed, is middling. What is auspicious is to have only one jyeṣṭha at a time. In other words, it would be auspicious to marry off the eldest daughter and an eldest son separately and in months other than jyeṣṭha.

[3]:

On these days, see above verses 153b-54a and the notes thereon.

[4]:

On Vyatīpāta and Vaidhṛti and Parigha, being the 17th, 19th and 23rd of the 27 yogas, see above, chapter 54 verse 124.

[5]:

Vedha (lit. ‘piercing’, viddha ‘pierced’) refers to the mutual affliction between pairs of asterisms that happen to be at the ends of the lines in the Pañca-śalākā-cakra (five-spike-diagram) and Sapta-śalākā-Cakra (‘seven-spike-diagram’) which might be represented as follows:—

In the first diagram, asterisms such as Aśvinī and Pūrvāṣādhā and Bharaṇī and Anurādhā, and in the second diagram Bharaṇī and Maghā, and Kṛttikā, and Śravaṇa are mutually afflicted. The former ‘affliction’ is to be considered for the entrance of the bride into the groom’s house, offer and acceptance of the bride and marriage, and the latter for other allied rituals.

[6]:

The planets, on account of certain positions in the heavens, and the ‘houses’ (bhāvas) on account of their being occupied or aspected by certain planets acquire certain sources of strength and weakness, called graha-bala ‘planetary potency’ and bhāva-bala, ‘potency of the house’.

[7]:

Gocara See above, under verses 271-82. for prediction based on Gocara see Ch. 34, ‘Gocara or Results of transits’ in B. V. Raman, Hindu Predictive Astrology, Bangalore, 7th edition, 1054.

[8]:

Vedha, see above, verse 426.

[9]:

Aṣṭavarga or Aṣṭakavarga refers to the eight sources of energy which each of the seven planets and the ascendent (lagna) as the eighth attain as a result of its own transit from rāśi to rāśi and its being aspected by the other seven. For details see Ch. 18. The Aṣṭakavarga system: Strength for transiting’ planets, in B. V. Raman, Hindu Predictive Astrology, (Bangalore, 7th edition, 1959).

[10]:

Rūpa forms the unit of measuring the potency of planets and houses.

[11]:

By Horā is meant the strength of the ‘planetary hour’. Each hour of a week-day is governed by a different planet in a certain order, the first hour being governed by the lord of the day. On ‘Planetary hours’ and a table thereof, see B. V. Raman, Muhūrta or Electional Astrology, Bangalore, 2nd edition, 1954, pages 215-16.

[12]:

Drekkāṇa (decanate)). The zodiac of 360° is divided into 36 drekkāṇas, each extending the 10°. Thus, each sign will contain three drekkāṇas. On this see Ch. 36. ‘Drekkāṇas and stellar influences’, in B. V. Raman, Hindu Predictive Astrology, Bangalore, 7th edition 1959.

[13]:

Navāṃśa is the division of the sign (30°) into 9 parts, each extending to 31/3°. This corresponds to one-fourth of an asterism (13½°). Thus the total number of navāṃśas in the zodiac or 27 asterisms, would be 108.

[14]:

When a sign (30°) is divided into 12 parts, each part is called a dvādaśāṃśa ś (2½°).

[15]:

Triṃśāṃśa is the division of the sign when it is divided by thirty, each division being 1°.

[16]:

The Jāmitra-doṣa occurs when the seventh house from lagna or the Moon is occupied by any planet. For marriage the house should be vacant.

[17]:

For an account of these blemishes, see B. V. Raman, Muhūrta or Electional Astrology, (Bangalore, 2nd Edn., 1954) Ch. 5 ‘Special adverse Togas and their neutralisation’.

[18]:

The reference is to the Pañcaka, being five sources of energy pertaining to a particular moment, known as Agni, Roga, Cora, Mṛtyu and Rāja. The numbers of the tithi, vāra, nakṣatra and lagna prevailing at the moment under consideration are added up and divided by 9. If the remainder is 1, it is Mṛtyu-Pañcaka, indicative of danger; if 2. Agni, indicative of risk of fire; if 4. Rāja, bad results; if 6. Cora, evil happenings; and if 8. disease. Remainders 0, 3, 5 and 7 are niṣpañcakas, free from the blemish of Pañcaka, and so such moments are auspicious.

[19]:

The Ṣaḍvarga is group of six independent divisions of the zodiac and the day, each being used differently to read the future. The six vargas are : Rāśi, Horā, Drekkāṇa, Navāṃśa, Dvādaśāṃśa and Triṃśāṃśa, the second being a division of the day and the others of the Zodiac, prognostications being made in a different way for each. (For details, see B. V. Raman, Hindu Predictive Astrology, op. cit., pp. 92-97).

[20]:

On the classification of the lunar days into Nandā, Bhadrā, Jayā, Riktā and Pūrṇā, see above, under verse 136.

[21]:

Upacaya is a term for the 3rd, 6th, 10th and 11 th signs from the lagna.

[22]:

The muhūrta referred to here is the time-measure of 2 nāḍikās (48 minutes.). The muhūrtas to be rejected in the seven week-days are: On Sunday, the 14th; Monday 8th and 12th; Tuesday, 4th and 11th; Wednesday (the muhūrta called Abhijit); Thursday, 12th and 13th; Friday, 4th and 8th and Saturday, 1st and 2nd, as reckoned from sunrise on the several days.

[23]:

Tuesdays and Saturdays are to be invariably avoided for marriages.

[24]:

On Ekārgala see above, under verses 214b-218a.

[25]:

On Vedha ‘Affliction’ add viddha’afflicted’, in relation to asterism, see above, note under verse 426.

[26]:

Pañcagavya (a mixture of five products of the cow, being milk, curd, ghee, urine and dung), is used as a holy liquid for the religious bathing of idols during worship.

[27]:

Vargottama-navāṃśakas. Of the navāṃśakas, the first navāṃśaka in a sthira-rāśi, the fifth in a cara-rāśi and the ninth in a dvisvabhāva-rāśi are especially benefic and so are called vargottama-navāṃśakas. On navāṃśaka, see above note under verse 430 and on the division of the rāśis as sthira etc., see above under verse 430b.

[28]:

On Vaidhṛti, see above, under ch. 64, verses 174ff.

[29]:

The kendra (quadrant) positions in a 12-member chart are the 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th.

[30]:

For the diagram, see above, under verse 426.

[31]:

‘Lame’: Kumbha (Aquarius) during day time and Mīna (Pisces) during night. ‘Blind’: Siṃha (Leo), Aja (Aries) and Vṛṣa (Taurus) during daytime and Kanyā (Virgo), Mithuna (Gemini) and Karkaṭa (Cancer) during night. ‘Deaf’: Tulā (Libra) and Vrścika (Scorpio) during day and Makara (Capricorn) and Dhanus (Sagittarius) during night.

[32]:

These are called kūṭas.

[33]:

The 27 asterisms are divided into three gaṇas (groups), called respectively, Daiva (divine), Mānuṣa (human) and Rākṣasa (demoniac), the persons born on the different asterisms possessing the innate qualities expressed by these terms. The agreement in gaṇa indicates compatability in temperament between the couple.

[34]:

Yoni-kūṭa indicates sexual compatibility.

[35]:

Varṇa (caste) is indicative of the spiritual and egoistic development in a person.

[36]:

This would mean that, Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are Kṣatriyas, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are Vaiśyas, and Gemini, Libra and Aquarius are Śūdras.

[37]:

Conversely if the caste of male’s rāśi is the same or higher than that of the female’s rāśi, it is auspicious.

[38]:

The translation here does not follow the textual verses. Rajju or Nāḍī Kūṭa is extremely important in matching horoscopes, for it indicates the compatibility in physiological and hereditory [hereditary] temperaments, the three columns, shown below, represent the three humours (nāḍīs), Vāta, Pitta and Kapha:

Vāta	Pitta	Kapha
Aśvinī	Bharaṇī	Kṛttikā
Ardrā	Mṛgaśiras	Rohiṇī
Punarvasu	Puṣya	Āśleṣā
Uttaraphalgunī	Pūrvaphalgunī	Magha
Hasta	Citrā	Svātī
Jyeṣṭhā	Anurādhā	Viśākhā
Mūla	Pūrvāṣāḍha	Uttarāṣāḍha
Satabhiṣak.	Dhaniṣṭhā	Śravaṇa
Pūrvabhādrapadā	Uttarabhādrapadā	Revatī

Persons of the same humour (nāḍī) would not be mutually compatible, especially those under the Pitta humour.

[39]:

Three lines are left out in the Venk. Press edition of the Nārada Purāṇa. Their rendering is added here from the corresponding verses in the Nārada-Saṃhitā, 27. 141-42.

[40]:

This muhūrta is called Godhūlikā because it occurs at dusk when cows return home from pasture, happy and expectant, running and raising a cloud of dust.

[41]:

The reference is to the complete uprooting by Śiva of the three demoniac cities (Tripura) with a single shot of His arrow. For the story and references, see Puranic Encyclopaedia, pp. 793-94.

[42]:

Gaṇḍa, Lit. ‘neck’ which is the junction of the head and the body, is of different kinds, e.g., the junction of the asterisms, tithis, lagna, yogas, karaṇas, years, cyanas, seasons, months, fortnights, days and nights. Some of these, specified in astrological texts, are extremely inauspicious and it is these that are referred to here. On Gaṇḍa see also above, verses 448-50a.

[43]:

Atiśukra (Pratiśukra) or ‘journey opposed to Venus’ will occur if Venus appears in the sky opposite or to the south of the direction in which the bridal party has to travel.