โหราศาสตร์พระเวท(ภารตะ)

Chapter 2

Information and Characteristic features of planets

Before we come to the verses of this chapter it is necessary to explain its objects. In the previous chapter it has been described what each house stands for. It is proposed to state in this chapter what purpose and what object each planet signifies.

If a house stands for a certain subject matter, the lord of the house will also be considered to be concerned with it. For example, the 6th house deals with enemies. Naturally the same subject will have to be examined from the lord of the 6th house. This is so because of his lordship of the 6th house. Here we have to consider also the natural or inherent characteristics and functions of that planet. Let us suppose that in ten birth charts, the Sun is lord of the ten different houses. There is doubt that as lord of the Ascendant Sun will function in that capacity and as lord of the 2nd. he will be concerned with wealth; but he will also, in course of its effects, will produce results of his inherent qualities and characteristics. This is what is intended to be explained in this chapter.

1. The Sun is the singnificator of the person's collection of copper and gold, and of father, patience, valour, victory in war, one's soul (Atman), auspiciousness, happiness, prowess, power, light, any work relating to Lord Shiva, travels in forests and mountains, havans or yajnas, Inclinations for work, temple, acuteness, enthusiasm. Wise men should act according to these significations.

2. The Moon is the signiflcator of the welfare of the mother, tranquilityof the mind, bathing in the sea, white chamar, umbrella, good fan, fruits, flowers, tender objects, farming grains, fame, pearls, silver, bell metal, beauty. In other words all about the above matters should be ascertained from the Moon.

3. All about one's strength (physical and mental), products produced from the earth, qualities of the brothers and sisters, cruelty, battle, courage, antagonism, the fire of the kitchen, gold, kinsmen, weapons, thieves, enemies, enthusiasm, sexual intercourse with another man's wife, falsehood, prowess, high thinking, sin, wounds, and acquisition of the position of a commander-in-chief should be ascertained from Mars.

In other words Mars is the signiflcator of these matters.

4. From Mercury is to be ascertained all about learning, eloquence, proficiency in arts, praise by learned people, maternal uncle, dexterity in speech, aptness for acquiring knowledge, expertise in ways of worship, intelligence, religious acts relating to Lord Shiva, truthfulness, oyster, spots of recreation and enjoyment, skill in mechanical arts, kinsmen, heir apparent, friends, sister's sons and daughters etc.

5. Jupiter is concerned with matters relating to knowledge, noble qualities, sons (progeny), minister, good behavior, imparting knowledge or teaching, magnanimity, knowledge of shruties, shastras, smrities, progress in every direction, beautitude, devotion towards gods and Brahmins, sacrifice, penance, religious faith, treasury, mastering the senses, honour, kindness and happiness of the husband.

Note — In a female's horoscope Jupiter should be taken as the significator of the husband. In a male's horoscope Jupiter, among other matters, is the significator for progeny (San tan Karaka).

6. All about one's wealth, conveyances, clothes, ornaments, treasures (including hidden treasures), amalgam of song, dance and instrumental music, scents, flowers, co-habitation, bed, house, richness, fondness for poetry, Indulgence in all kinds of comforts and luxuries, ministership, soft-spokenness, marriage and other holy deeds, celebrations, etc., should be ascertained through Venus.

Note — In a male's horoscope all about the happiness of wife and marital happiness should be considered through Venus. Venus is the significator for wife in such a chart.

Significator is of very great importance in assessing a birth chart. For example on a particular case of Aquarius Ascendant, the native was of about 22 years with the Dasa of Venus in operation. Some astrologers predicted that the marriage of the native would take place in his 24th years after the commencement of the Dasa of the Sun lord of the 7th house. The marriage actually took place in the Dasa of Venus.

7. The significations of Saturn are longevity, death, fear, downfall, disgrace, sickness, unhappiness and misery, poverty, humiliation, sins, labour, filth, censure, misfortune, impurity of mind, observance of certain formalities after death in the family, stability, taking shelter from menials, buffaloe, drowsiness, debts, articles of iron, service, slavery, confinement, getting arrested, agricultural implements etc.

Notes — In verses 8 to 14 we shall deal with the features and temperament of the planets and their utility in the judgement of a birth chart. A planet in the Ascendant of a nativity bestows his qualities and characteristics to the native. If in a person's chart Mars is in the Ascendant, the native will have an aggressive temperament. He will be courageous and fond of quarrels and fights. The sign in which Mars is posited in the Ascendant will also have its influence. If a Mars with strength is in the Ascendant, the native will fight wars with valour as a commander. If such Mars is weak, the native is likely to pick up petty and mean type of quarrels. If there is no planet in the Ascendant the native assumes the appearance and characteristics of the lord of the Ascendant. The planets who aspect the Ascendant also inject the Influence of their characteristics and temperament in the native. If a planet in any chart becomes the cause of any disease, the nature of the disease will be according to the temperament of that planet. For example, the Sun will cause bilious troubles and Saturn will give windy troubles.

8. The temperament of the Sun is bilious. He has strong bones in his body. He has scanty hair. He has a dark red form. His eyes are of reddish-brown color. He is dressed in red colored clothes. His body is square built. He is brave and possesses massive arms.

9. The body of the Moon is huge. She is young as well as old. She is lean and thin and white. Her eyes are attractive and her hair is black and thin. She has jurisdiction over blood. She is soft-spoken. She is dressed in white colored clothes and possesses fair complexion. She is mild in temperament and has wind and phlegm in her composition.

10. Mars has lean waist. His hair is curly and bright. There is cruelty (fierceness) in his look. He has a cruel nature and is bilious. He is dressed in red clothes and his body has a red hue. He is wrathful but exceedingly generous. He looks youthful and has jurisdiction over marrow in the body.

Notes — Mars is said to be youthful in appearance. The implication of this is if Mars is strong in the Ascendant or as lord of the Ascendant, the native will have a youthful appearance even if he is older in age.

11. Mercury is green like Durva (a kind of grass). There is mixture of wind, bile and phlegm in his composition. His body is full of veins. He is soft-spoken by nature. He has a balanced built (that is, his limbs are in even proportion). He is fond of fun and frolic. He governs the skin.

12. Jupiter has a body with a yellowish hue. His eyes and hair are brown. His chest is firm and elevated. He has a huge body. Phlegm is predominant in his composition. He is very intelligent. His voice is like that of a lion or the sound of a conch. He is always after wealth (Jupiter has therefore been considered as signiflcator of wealth).

13. Venus is dressed in clothes of various colors. He possesses curly hair. He has a huge body with similar limbs. Phlegm and wind are predominant in his composition. His body is of the color of Durva sprout. He has a very beautiful appearance. He has broad eyes. He has well maintained his virile power (Venus has jurisdiction over semen in the body).

14. Saturn is lame. His eyes are deepset. He has a large but lean body full of veins. He is lazy by nature. The color of his body is black. There is predominance of wind in his composition. He is hard hearted and backbiter. He is dull-headed. His teeth and nails are large. His hair and limbs are stiff. He is impure. He has a fierce appearance and is ill tempered by nature. He is dressed in black clothes. He looks old.

15. The places governed by the Sun are a Shiva temple, open spaces, places where there is light, regions where there is no water and the Eastern quarter.

The Moon has jurisdiction over the temple of Goddess Durga, places inhabited by women, places where water, medicinal herbs, honey and wine are available and the North-Western quarter.

The places concerned with Mars are the battle field, those where there is fire, those inhabited by thieves and low people and the Southern quarter.

The governance of Mercury extends to places where there is a temple of Lord Vishnu, those frequented by men of learning, those of recreation, those where Mathematics is practiced and the Northern quarter.

16. Jupiter has jurisdiction over treasury, peepal trees, places, inhabited by gods and Brahmins, and the North-Eastern quarter.

The places coming under the administration of Venus are abodes of courtesans, the harem, bed rooms, dining halls, and the South-Eastern quarter.

Saturn rules over places inhabited by low class people, temple of Shasta (a deity), those which are full of filth and the Western quarter.

The places belonging to Rahu and Ketu are the ant-hills, the dark holes of serpents and the South-Western quarter.

17-20. A worshipper of Lord Shiva, a physician (Vaidya), a king, one who performs yajna, a minister, tiger, deer and chako (the ruddy goose) are the significations of the Sun.

The Moon rules over worship of Shasta (a deity) females, a washerman, a cultivator, an animal living in water, a hare, an antelope crane, birds known as Bagula and Chakor.

Mars has jurisdiction over a cook (in the kitchen), an armed person, a goldsmith, a ram, a cock, a jackal, a monkey, a vulture and a thief.

Mercury is concerned with a milkman, a person of learning, an artisan, an expert accountant, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, Garuda, a Chataka, a parrot and a cat.

An astrologer, a minister, a Brahmin, a preceptor, a sanyasi, and important personage, a pigeon, a horse and swan belong to Jupiter.

A wealthy man, a songster, a Vaishya (businessman), a sensualist, a dancer, a weaver, a prostitute, a peacock, a cow, a buffaloe and a parrot are represented by Venus.

Saturn has influence over a seller or buyer of oil. servant, a mean person, a hunter, a blacksmith, an elephant, a crow and a cuckoo.

A Buddhist, a snake catcher, a donkey, a wolf, a camel, a serpent or snake, mosquitoes, a bug, insects, an owl and a place of darkness are signified by Rahu and Ketu.

21-22. In these verses has been described the friendship, enmity and neutrality of the various planets to each other. This is summarized in the table given below:

23. Planets are mutually friendly for the time being when they occupy the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th and 12th houses from one another. (This means that planets occupying the 1st, 5th, 6th 7th, 8th, and 9th from one another are mutually inimical). After taking into account the natural friendship and enmity, it should be deduced whether they are friendly, very friendly, neutral, inimical and very inimical to one another.

Note — Apart from the neutral or natural friendship and enmity amongst the planets, account is taken of the for the time being (Tatkalik) enmity and friendship amongst the planets as posited in a particular birth chart. The planets posited in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th and 12th from a particular planet are his friends for the time being. The 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th from him become his enemies for the time being. After taking into account the natural relationship, we come to know what their actual relationship is in a particular birth chart. This is done in the following manner :

All planets cast a quarter glance at the 3rd and 10th houses, half a glance at the 5th and 9th houses, three-quarters of a glance at the 4th and 8th houses and full glance at the 7th house. However, the aspects of Saturn on the 3rd and 10th houses from him, of Jupiter on the 5th and 9th houses from him and of Mars on the 4th and 8th houses are also treated as full aspects.

24. The following table shows the periods, castes, gunas (Satwa, Rajas, and Tamas) and the seasons governed by the various planets according to this verse.

25. The Sun is signiflcator of father if the birth is during the day time and uncle if the birth is during night time. He has special influence on the right eye.

The Moon is the indicator of mother if the birth is during night time and of maternal aunt if the birth is during day time. She has special influence on the left eye.

Mars is the signiflcator of younger brother. Mercury signifies adopted son. Jupiter represents elder brother.

Venus is the signiflcator of mother if the birth is during day time and of maternal aunt if the birth takes place at night.

Saturn represents the uncle if the birth takes place during the day and of father if the birth is during night time.

26. The Sun represents the soul and the Moon the body. Mars and the other four planets denote the five senses. The Sun and Mars govern Teja and have influence over eye sight. The Moon and Venus rule over the generative organs because they govern the watery element. Mercury governs smell (nose). Jupiter governs sound (the capacity to hear). Saturn, Rahu and Ketu govern the touch.

Rahu, Ketu and Gulik are enemies of the Sun and will cause distress to the body and the soul.

27. The waning Moon, the Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are classified as malefic planets. Mercury if associated with them becomes malefic.

Notes — The waxing Moon and Mercury not associated with malefics will be treated as benefic.

Mercury, Ketu and Saturn are eunuchs. The Moon, Rahu and Venus are females. The Sun, Mars and Jupiter are males. The Sun belongs to the fiery element and his ruling deity is Rudra. The Moon belongs to the watery element and her ruling deity is Amba (Parvati). The ruling deities of Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn Rahu and Ketu are Kartika, Vishnu, Brahma, Lakshmi and Yama. Serpent Adhishesha and Braham respectively.

Fire, water, fire, earth, ether, water and air are the constituents respectively of the planets from Sun to Saturn.

28. The grains ruled by various planets are as under :—

Sun - Wheat, Moon – rice, Mars - Dhal, Mercury - Green Gram, Jupiter - Bengal gram, Venus - Cow gram, Saturn – Sesamum, Rahu - Black gram, and Ketu - horse gram.

The countries related to the various planets are —

29. The gems allotted to the various planets are as under - Sun - Ruby, Moon - Pure spotless pearl. Mars - Coral, Mercury - Emerald shaped like Garuda, Jupiter - Yellow sapphire, Venus - Diamond, Saturn - stainless Sapphire, Rahu - Gomedha and Ketu - Cat's eye.

Notes — The purpose of indicating the gems ruled by the various planets is to use them for alleviating the miseries caused by their malevolence and to accelerate their good effects. For fuller details in this regard refer to our book "Gems and Astrology" published by Rajan Publications.

30-32. The substances assigned to the planets from the Sun to Saturn, articles of their apparel and their tastes are as follows. The clothes will be of the same color as belongs to the planets.

The clothes of Mars are slightly burnt and those of Saturn are like a rag (old and worn out).

Rahu is also to represent the age of 100 years.

Notes — The above information is generally useful in queries.

33. Rahu is blue colored. He has a huge body. He is of a low caste. He has got skin disease. He is irreligious. He suffers from hic-cough.

He speaks falsehood. He is cunning, a leper devoid of Intelligence and defames others.

34. The eyes of Ketu are reddish with a fierce look. He has a venomous tongue. His body is elevated. He wears arms and is an outcaste. His body is of smoky color. He is always inhaling smoke (smoking). He has a body marked with bruises. He is lean and brutal by nature.

35. The substance assigned to Rahu is lead and his clothes are old and worn out. An earthen pot and garments of variegated colors belong to Ketu.

Mercury, Saturn and Venus are the friends of Rahu and Ketu. Mars is neutral to them. The rest are enemies.

36. The planets should be considered adversely disposed, if they are eclipsed (by the rays of the Sun), debilitated (be in a sign of debilitation or Navamsa), if they are in any enemy's house or if they occupy the 6th, 8th or the 12th house from the Ascendant. If they occupy other places, they are said to be well disposed.

If there be a query whether the water in a reservoir (or in an irrigation project) will increase or decrease, increase in water should be predicted if the Moon be in the 12th 11th, 1st, 6th. 5th or the 7th house at the time of the query.

Notes — The Moon is said to be eclipsed if she is 12° away from the Sun. Mars is eclipsed when he is 17° away from the Sun. Mercury in direct motion is eclipsed when he is 14° away from the Sun. Retrograde Mercury is eclipsed when he is 12° away form the Sun. Jupiter, Venus and Saturn are said to be eclipsed if they are 11°, 10° and 15° respectively away from the Sun. A retrograde Venus is eclipsed if he is 8° away from the Sun.

37. The various kinds of trees and plants signified by the different planets are as follows :—

Sun - Strong and tall, Moon and Venus - Creeping plants, Rahu and Ketu - Clump of a tree or bush Mars and Saturn - Thorny trees, Jupiter - Fruit bearing trees. Mercury - Fruitless trees.

The trees which blossom and which supply some kind of juice belong to the Moon and Venus. The trees which are juiceless or weak come under the jurisdiction of Saturn. Saal trees are ruled by Rahu.

Thus ends the second chapter on "Planets and their Varieties" In Phaladeepika composed by Mantreswara.