Sripati's Special Lagnas

October 7, 2007

Lagna and Four points of Sripati

The first point of reference in the horoscope is usually the Janma Lagna, or the natal ascendant, which is the point of the zodiac arising on the eastern horizon at the time of the native's birth. The degree of the Lagna depends on the latitude, longitude of the place, and the time and date of the solar year. This point is the basis of the chart, and we number the houses usually from here.

The sign occupied by the Lagna is considered to be the first house (Tanu Bhava), which will indicate, the physique, basic nature, intelligence and karma of the native.

The degree occupied by the Lagna also becomes the Bhava Sphuta (house cusp) of the first house. The exact opposite point of the zodiac is called the Astha Lagna. This is the house cusp of the 7th house, which will be the strongest and most influential point of this house. Usually we take the house cusps to be at the same degree in every sign as the Lagna is in his Rasi. The general method of house division is to consider the signs to be equal with the houses, with the above mentioned Bhava Sphutas. However, Parasara also mentions another method for house division, which is usually called Vedic Equal Houses.

Here the Bhava Sphutas are the same as above, but they are always in the middle of the houses, therefore in most charts the Bhava Sandhis (junctions of houses) will not coincide with the Rasi Sandhis (junctions of signs). But this chart called the Bhava Chakra is used for specific purposes as determination of Sphuta Bala (residential strength) of a planet which will proportionally increase according to its proximity to the Bhava Sphuta. It is also used to judge the effects of the Bhava Lagna .

The significance of the Astha Lagna as the cusp of the 7th house lies in the following:

it will indicate our basic paradigms in relationships, especially marriage, but not excluding business contacts as well. The 7th sign from lagna is always supplementary to it, and will indicate those things or qualities that are missing from the native or that are attractive to him in others, for the very same reason. It indicates the way to balance out our personality traits, and also the direction of one's desires. As the Lagna indicates the entrance into the stage of this lifetime and this body, Astha Lagna will indicate the exit or death and the next destination of the soul. The Nakshatras and Vargas occupied by the two Lagnas may be also taken into consideration while judging them. If the two lagnas are in dual signs and thus aspect each other, especially if their lords also aspect or conjoin, then the significance of relationships increases very much in the life of the native. This is also a case when the lords of Lagna and 7th exchange places or conjoin.

Another method of house divisions was introduced by Sripati. This is also called the Porphyrii or Unequal House System. Here another two Lagans are also mentioned. According to some interpretations, Maharishi Parashara himself introduced this method in his great classic, but this theory is not yet proven. Anyway, the two points themselves stand as astronomical facts, so we might accept them as having some significance. One point is the Midheaven or Madhya Lagna, also called Medium Coeli or Zenith in western astrology. This is the point occupied by the Sun when he crosses the meridian of the place of nativity, in other words the highest point of the Sun's path, occupied by him at the time of local noon. This will usually fall into the 10th sign from Lagna, although its exact degree may differ from the cusp of the 10th house as determined above, if the nativity is not at the equator. So the position of Madhya Lagna with respect to Lagna differs depending on the latitude where the nativity is.

The exact opposite point of the zodiac from Madhya Lagna is called Patala Lagna or Imum Coeli, or Nadir as well. This point usually falls into the 4th house. As I mentioned, in most of the places with the exception of the equator, these four points will not make up 90º angles between themselves.

So Sripati based a house system on this, considering the Madhya and Patala Lagnas as the cusps for the 10th and 4th houses.

Even though we would not consider this system to be of much practical importance, it might be worthwhile to make notice of these two points in the horoscope. The Sun reaches its highest point in the Madhya Lagna. Therefore he shines the brightest there and gives the greatest influence.

Also this point of the chart, if is strong and auspicious, and has the close conjunction of some important planets or Sahams, will bring much success, influence and progress in career. Again the Madhya Lagna may be seen in the divisional charts and the transits over it may also produce significant results regarding career and influence. The Patala Lagna however will bear significance in the area of the 4th house (mother, home, happiness, heart and other related things).

It is the most hidden point of the chart. Again malefics closely conjoining the Patala Lagna may make the person negative or ill intentioned and may spoil his emotional happiness to a great extent. A few divisional charts

which have relative importance to the above mentioned Lagnas:

Janma Lagna: D-1 (physique), D-6 (health), D-60 (previous life), D-24 (study and intelligence)

Astha Lagna: D-9 (marriage and spirituality), D-20 (dharma and devotion) Madhya Lagna: D-10 (career), D-5 (power and authority), D-11 D-27 (strengths and weaknesses)

Patala Lagna: D-4 (residence), D-12 (parents), D-16 (happiness), D-40 (maternal relatives)