SAVol7Dec09IndianCol.. - Saptarishis Astrology

on this mortal plane is immortal. They will die one day!! This creates fear in theminds of people. Since it is difficult to know what may happen after death when deeds committedduring lifetime are judged, people take a hint and restrict or change their lifestyles to live a life of selfrighteousnessand piety. Once people turn to religion for guidance, there is an overall purity of the souland mind. When mind becomes pure, automatically people gain knowledge of the universe or the why’sand how’s of this creation. Having gained such knowledge people may gain Salvation or Moksha.Hence, Sages considered this knowledge as part and parcel of Vedas or one of the limbs ofVedas (Vedang). Once this treatise gained the importance of being one of the limbs ofVedas, it automatically gained importance and people saw the need to know or gainknowledge of such treatises. It is said in Mahabharata that one who gains the knowledge ofall the limbs of the Vedas, becomes the all knower or the sum total knowledge that needs tobe gained. Hence this treatise is deemed important!!In the first chapter topics on techniques, karaka (significators), pad (arudha incommon language), Rajyoga (combination of planets promising prosperity or kingly status)are mentioned. In the second chapter topics on ascendant, karaka, longevity and their dasa(see notes below) periods and dasa calculations are mentioned. Third chapter has topics orrather descriptive analysis of Drekanna division. This is because knowledge aboutascendant, karaka etc. etc., is considered as Bahirrang Shastra or subjects which describe theOuter Manifestation Of A Native. Studying the Drekanna one gets to know what kind of effortsa native will put in, thus this involves studying the Innermost Efforts or rather the expressed fruits fora native. Hence the study of Drekanna is also known as Antarrang Shastra. Of theseAntarrang Shastra is of prime importance. Others have laid importance of the study of Amsas,so why is study of Drekanna given importance? This is because Daivagya’s like VarahaMihira too gave importance to Drekanna, hence it is importance for a student of astrology tostudy Drekanna. Drekanna is nothing but a house in a chart divided into three partsequaling ten degrees. Varaha Mihira gave the method to derive Drekanna divisions but didnot give methods to judge these divisions.Kalpalataa mentions three different interchangeable (Parivrutti) methods to arrive atDrekanna chart. These methods are Savya (direct), Apsavya (reverse order). For example,by Savya method house divisions for Aries (odd signs) are counted beginning with Ariesand then in the direct order. For Taurus (even signs) and in the Apsavya method, divisionswill begin from Pisces. Thus using three different interchangeable methods a student canarrive at 12 signs X 3 divisions – that is 36 drekanna’s.Now Amsa divisions are described, unlike other books, Kalpalataa mentions adifferent method to arrive at these Amsas.Navamsa DivisionsFor Aries, Leo and Sagittarius (trikona rasis or trines), navamsa divisions will be counted bythe Savya or direct method beginning with Aries. For Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn,navamsa divisions will be counted in the Apsavya or reverse order beginning with Virgo.For Gemini, Libra and Aquarius, navamsa divisions begin in the Savya or direct methodbeginning with Libra. For Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces, navamsa’s will be counted in theApsavya or reverse order beginning with Pisces.622