An Important Announcement

Dear Friends,

I have an important announcement to make. Before that let me tell you another important information.

Mahamahopadhyaya Sri Iranganti Rangacharya, the living legend of Jaimini Astrology released another important  book on Jaimini System. The book is a commentary on Jyotisha Phalaratnamala of Krishna Mishra. This work was first rescued by painstaking efforts of the editors of the Madras Oriental Library and was brought out in print by them 1960's. They consulted more than five manuscripts in preparing the final version.  Of course, this translation is now in Telugu only, but Sri Rangacharya has already completed the translation and commentary on this important work in English. Unfortunately, that is not still published due to unavoidable (avoidable, perhaps) circumstances. Nevertheless, it is published for the benefit of Jaimini students, who can understand Telugu language. It is the first time, this Jyotisha Phalaratnmala of Krishna Mishra is in print form with perfect translation. I know, there was a Telugu translation, probably in manuscript form, but it might not be as authoritative as this Sri Rangacharya's translation. Remember, Sri Rangacharya is having a rich research oriented experience in Jaimini since the last 5 decades.

Now, the important announcement I am to make.

I have been a disciple of Sri Rangacharya, but I couldn't keep up the promise I made to him. I failed a couple of times in the past, though. But, this promise always lingers in my mind. Now, I am sure that I am unfit for being a disciple of Sri Rangacharya. 

The name of this blog was also inspired by Sri Rangacharya's book Jaimini Sutramritam. As I have not been a faithful disciple of Sri Rangacharya, I am morally not justified to run a blog like this quoting him as my Guru. Hence, I decided to stop this blog indefinitely. 

If I could clear myself from this guilty feeling or obtained his blessings to continue, I would continue to write blogs. I thank one and all for encouraging me by writing their views. I must specifically thank the Editor, Saptarishis Astrology Free Online Global Magazine for backing me all the time.

I sincerely, hope the Jaimini Astrology would find its deserving place in the world of Astrology and I will continue to do my studies further, of course, I have been very busy from the last year in my professional front.

Sarve Janah Sukhinoh Bhavantu.

Regards,

Shanmukha

Argala – The Linchpin

Argala – The Linchpin

Dedication: This small write up is reverentially dedicated to Sri Krishna Mishra who brought out the correct interpretation of Argala among the ancient commentators and Sri Iranganti Rangacharya for his beautiful explanation of the concept.


Note: Some of the Sanskrit verses below couldn't be given in Devanagari due to my computer problem, which I will correct later.

Om Namah Sivaya

“There is much to be discussed about Argala” – so say the experts on Jaimini System. Yet, we never find a clear cut explanation of this concept. Of course, never did I. Am I going to clear the confusion regarding Argala  in this blog? No, then what is the purpose of this post?

Well, the purpose of this post is to write a very small introduction of this concept.  While I was going to archives of some of the yahoo groups, I found that even the experienced teachers like Sri PVR Narasimha Rao writing a natural malefic in 2nd house gives a malefic Argala. Yet, there are some silly argument that a planet in Virodha Argala sign do harm even if no planet in Argala sign. Some scholars write, planets in 2^nd, 4^th, 11^th houses from any house give Argala for that house.These are very much contrast to the basic concept of Argala. Then, I decided to introduce the Argala concept in a step by step basis, with reference to the commentaries.

Sage Jaimini stated his divine science with the word “Upadesam”. The letter “U” refers to Lord Shiva. Hence Sage invocating Lord Shiva’s feet started his description of the science. According to Yadava Kosa, the letter “U” refers to Lord Vishnu. So, it can be understood that the Sage invocated Lord Vishnu also. Now, Updesam is a imparting the knowledge in a very mythological and secretive way.  Thus, became this Jaimini System is a very secret branch of divination and has been kept for centuries.

The very next sutra deals with aspects.

अभिपश्यन्ति ऋक्षाणि १-१-२

abhipaśyanti ṛkṣāṇi 1-1-2

पार्श्वभे च १-१-३

pārśvabhe ca 1-1-3

तन्निष्टाश्च तद्वत् १-१-४

tanniṣṭāśca tadvat 1-1-4

Translation: The above three sutras explain that Signs do aspect the frontal signs, signs in both sides and the planets there in aspect as the signs do. Here it is to be understood that Sage Jaimini gave importance to the frontal aspect. So, it is very important to first look at the frontal sign aspect, and then go from lateral aspect.

So, what Sage is instructing us? He first explained how Drishti to be reckoned from signs in contrast to the Graha Drishti. It is just like telling this another type of aspect. Then, he instructs us which does have aspect. That is, explaining planet in these signs have aspect. As a sign always have aspect on the opposite and beside signs, which is permanent doesn’t add the dynamism that translates the horoscope unless there is a planet. The planet in aparticular sign having aspect in Rasi Drishti will add the dynamic influence.

Let me state another Vriddha Karika explains that aspects be calculated only for planets, not for the signs, though we use the misnomer term Rasi Drishti.

चरस्थः स्थिरगं पश्येत् स्थिरस्थः चरराशिगम्।

उभयस्थं तूभयगो निकटस्थं विनाग्रहम्॥

carasthaḥ sthiragaṁ paśyet sthirasthaḥ cararāśigam |

ubhayasthaṁ tūbhayago nikaṭasthaṁ vināgraham ||

Then,  comes the very important sutra as follows.

दारभाग्य शूलस्थार्गळा निध्यातुः १-१-५

dārabhāgya śūlasthārgaḻā nidhyātuḥ 1-1-5

As most of the students know, दार = 4, भाग्य = 2 शूल= 11.

Translation: So, the planets in 4th, 2nd, 11th from the ******, give Argala. What do the ****** doing there. This is where the confusion comes in. Most scholars interpret the above word as sign. Is it correct interpretation? This question needs to asked by every student as my guru puts it Argala is the linchpin of the Jaimini Astrology. Without understanding this Jaimini will ever be hardnut to crack.

The keyword here Jaimini puts in is निध्यातुः

What’s that? It’s literal meaning is the one which has sight. So, the 4th, 2nd and 11th houses from the aspecting one provide the Argala. Which is the Aspecting one? Is it the sign, or all signs, or Lagna, or all the bhavas?

As Sage Jaimini mentioned all signs do aspect, then is there a need of the word Nidhyatuh in the above Argala sutra? Even without the word, the meaning suffices to say that 4^th, 2^nd, and 11^th are the Argala places.

Another point as mentioned a couple of paragraphs above, Sage mentioned above only another drishti in contrast to longitudinal based Graha Drishti. So, here aspecting ones in the above Argala sutra are only the planets and NOT the signs. If Sage wanted to mention that signs without occupancy of a planet do aspect, then there is no meaning of specific word Nidhyatu as all signs become Nidhyata.

So, it is evident from the discussion above that only we need to calculate Argala for aspecting planet. This aspecting planet is also called Drashta which is an equivalent term of Nidhyata.

कामस्था तु भूयसा पापानाम् १-१-६

kāmasthā tu bhūyasā pāpānām 1-1-6

Translation:This next sutra talks about the more than two malefic planets constitute Argala. Why more than two, why not only two? The key word here is भूयसा, which is plural. In Sanskrit we have sigular, dual, and plural in contrast to many other languages. So, only more than two malefic planets in 3^rd house constitute Argala.

riḥphanīca kāmasthā virodhinaḥ 1-1-7

Translation: The planets in 10^th, 12^th and 3^rd respectively provide obstruction (virodha) to the Argala formed by the planets in 4^th, 2^nd and 11^th houses.

na nyūnāvibalāsca 1-1-8

Translation: The planets in the Virodha Argala signs do not obstruct when they are small in number or weaker than the planets in Argala signs.

This is very important rider as the smaller in number don’t obstruct the Argala is fine, but if they are equal in number, then we need to ascertain the relative strength of the both parties and then decide the result. This is often overlooked, for the planets equal in number in both Argala and Virodha signs is not very common.

prāgvat trikoṇe 1-1-9

Translation: Similarly, the trinal signs (5^th, 9^th signs) Argala may be understood in the above lines.

Most commentators seems to understand that 5^th sign is Argala sign and the 9^th sign is Virodha Argala sign. Here, it is to be noted that the Sage used plural word “TrikoNe”, which means that both trines are Argala signs. The, which are the Virodha Argala signs? The riddle can be solved by taking an alternative argument that if planets are in 5^th house cause Argala, then planets in 9^th cause Virodha Argala and vice versa.

viparītam ketoḥ 1-1-10

Translation: The Argala shall be reckoned in reverse manner for the sign occupied by Ketu.

It clearly indicate that for the signs occupied by Ketu 10^th, 12^th, and 3^rd are the Argala signs and 4^th, 2^nd and 11^th are respectively the Virodha Argala signs. Why, we need to calculate in reverse manner for Ketu? As Ketu moves in reverse, so do the Argala calculation. If that is the case, then we need to calculate reverse manner to Rahu as well.

To support this argument, we have some classical references “viparītam rāhuketvoḥ” as an alternative text. This needs to be probed further. Nevertheless, it clearly proves the concept of Argala be calculated only for planets, not to the signs.

Thus far, we have three types of Argala. Is there any difference between them, or they are same? For example is a planet in 4^th is equivant to the planet in 5^th? The answer is NO. There is a clear cut classification between these Argala, which I introduce below.

The Argala can be divided into three main concepts.

1. Primary Argala
2. Visesha Argala
3. Trikona Argala

Primary Argala: The planets in 4^th, 2^nd and 11^th places form primary argala. Any planet either natural benefic or malefic in these primary Argala place constitute Subha (Benefic)  Argala. So, the believed notion of a natural malefic in 2^nd house is bad is not acceptable in Jaimini System. Any planet will have a benefic bearing on the aspecting planet, if it is placed in the respective Argala houses. Similarly, we need to ascertain the strength of the planets Virodha Argala signs.

Visesha Argala: Only more than two malefic planets in 3^rd house provide a benefic Argala and this Argala never be obstructed. This is a special case of Argala, which is rare and we can observe this type of Argala in the charts of Queen Victoria etc.

Trikona Argala: In this Argala, only benefic planets in 5^th or 9^th house constitute benefic Argala. For example, any natural benefic or an exalted planet in 5^th house from aspecting planet results in benefic Argala, which is basically results in Dhana Yoga. Similarly, natural malefic or debilitated planet in 5^th house doesn’t provide Argala at all. Further Rahu in Trine definitely spoils many positive Yogas in the chart.

Well, why do you need to believe this classification, while this is not explicitely stated in Jaimini Sutras? The answer lies in the following indispensable Vriddha Karika.

bhaya puṇya vinā bhāvādraṣṭurāhuḥ śubhārgaḻam sphuṭago jñeya bhāvāttu viparītārgalaṁ viduḥ

yasya pāpaḥ śubho vā pi grahastiṣṭhet śubhārgale

tena draṣṭe (yukte) kṣitaṁ lagnaṁ prābalyāyopakalpate yadi tasmātgrahastatra viparītārgaḻa sthitaḥ

tena draṣṭe (yukte) kṣitaṁlagnaṁ daurbalyāyopakalpate

Translation: Bhaya = 2, Punya = 11, vina = 4 houses from the aspecting planet are subha Argala places. Sphuta = 12, ga = 3, jneya = 10 houses are the virodhargala places. Either benefic or malefic planets in the above said Argala places results in Subha Argala. The planet aspecting Ascendant having Argala will strengthen the Lagna. If at all, planet aspecting the ascendant is having Argala obstructed by planets in Virodha Argala places, will results in weakness of the Ascendant.

As you can see from the above Vriddha Karika, it is very clear that any planet either malefic or benefic in the Argala places results in Subha (Benefic Argala) only and if the aspecting planet without being obstructed by Virodha Argala will result in strength to the bhava. So, we have an authentic information about Primary Argala. What about the other two? To be frank, we can’t find much description or usage of this Vishesha Argala involving only malefic planets in the available ancient commentaries, but for its mention in the Jaiminmi Sutras. The Trikona Argala was mentioned in Jyotisha Phalaratnamala 5^th chapter as “Kone Paadamiti Brivanti”. Sri Krishna Mishra mentions a variety of Argala in quantifying the strength of Argala and allots one quarter strength to the benefic planets in Trikona places. Remember he mentions only benefic planets in the trines and any planet in other Primary Argala places.

In the above Karika, it was mentioned only about the Ascendant only. Why only Ascendant? The answer is that it is the planet which aspects the Lagna with unobstructed Argala gives the Rajayoga to the native. We will go into Argala Rajayogas, may be, in Part 2 of this write up.

Let me know how do you like this article.

Wish You All A Happy Sankranti.

Best Wishes,
Shanmukha