Jaimini on Chara Karakas -- To Visti and Narasimha

[Guest guest]

Om Namah Sivaya

 

Namaste Sri Visti, Sri Narasimha and others,

 

I have been closely following the discussion on Chara Karakas and the

article by Narasimha. I observed in one of your (Visti¡¦s) earlier

mails, that you referred Sri Iranganti Rangacharya opines that

Jaimini Sutras are complete and nothing is missing. Since, you

referred to Rangacharya. I am interfering as I do have some

interaction with him. Hence, I want to put forth the views of Sri

Rangacharya, regarding the issue as I understood from him. But, I

want to state that I am neither a spokesperson for Sri Rangacharya,

nor a Jyotisha scholar nor a Sanskrit scholar. The following lines

are purely my understanding regarding the issue.

 

1. Though, Sri Rangacharya never indicated that any sutra is

missing from the first two adhyayas, but he always says that 3rd and

4th adhyayas available now are merely the interpolated versions.

That¡¦s the reason why he didn¡¦t attempt to translate them, even after

being persuaded by Sri B.V.Raman.

2. He always reiterates that to understand Jaimini Sage, Vriddha

Karikas are the authority. He claims that he always followed the

vriddha karakas and never contradicted or transgressed those slokas

in his commentary.

3. He considers Jaimini sutras are much earlier to Parasara Hora

since the Sutra Vangmaya is much earlier to Sloka Vangmaya. He

considers Parasara Hora is a compendium of all the astrological

principles available, that is a compilation work.

4. Regarding the Chara Karaka issue, he works out the way

Narasimha worked out, excepting Rahu becoming Atma Karaka. He has

shown how Rahu can be other Chara Karaka vide his Jaimini Sutramritam

Sanskrit ¡V English Commentary. He has not resolved the case with Rahu

becoming higher longitude planet after deducting from 30 degrees, out

of eight planets.

5. What he told me was different from what he explained in his

book. But, I can¡¦t pressurize him keeping his age in mind. He, now,

concentrates more on his spiritual sadhana than Astrology. That¡¦s the

precise reason why he gave away all his collection of Jaimini works

to one of his disciples.

6. He tells that Rahu can¡¦t become Atma Karaka since Jaimini

himself says that ¡§ Sa Ishte Bandha Mokshayoh¡¨, meaning that AK can

give either Bandhana or Moksha. But, since Rahu is karaka for

Bandhana, he can never be considered for chara atma karaka. I want to

reiterate that he has not shown as how to consider Rahu when he

becomes highest longitude planet.

 

As I said earlier I am not a spokesperson for him and the above

points can be taken worth of their salt. But, one thing I can

honestly say that Sri Rangacharya is fighting through out his life

for the cause of Jaimini Astrology. In his commentary, we don¡¦t find

pitri karaka after Matri Karaka. According to him, the karakas are

AK,Amk,BK,MK,PK,GK and DK only. But, I admit that Pitri Karaka was

mentioned in one of the manuscript (palm leave) I happened to see.

Again, in the manuscript referred to by Sri Vadrevu Suryanarayana

Murthy, he doesn¡¦t find Pitri Karaka. By the way, I think, he is the

first person to interpret Saturn as karaka for elder brother for the

sutra ¡§Mando Jyayan Graheshu¡¨. Hence, it can be debated

whether ¡§Tasya Pitah¡¨ ever existed. In fact this debate is there for

the ages. Hence, we have to resolve this not only with scientific

approach but also with practical examples. Sri Narasimha was right in

that direction.

 

Sri Rangacharya opines that ¡§Eke¡¨ word in ¡§Mata Saha ¡K¡¨ sutra means

that Sage Jaimini does not endorse combining MK and PK. He tells that

interpreting Sutra Vangmaya is different from the case with sloka

Vangmaya.

 

Somebody argued that Jaimini didn¡¦t mention the special condition of

including Rahu only when two planets occupy the same degree. Well, if

you look in at the calculation of 8th house given by Sanjay ji is

also not mentioned by Jaimini. That method is deduced from Vriddha

Karika. Hence it should be kept in mind that to understand Jaimini,

Vriddha Karikas are the authority. By the way, how many of us know

that Raghava Bhatta and Nrisimha Suri extensively used calculation of

8th house according to vriddha karika? How many of us know there are

special ayurdasas called ¡§Jaya Bhava Pamsa, Atmano Bhava Pamsa Dasas

extensively dealt by Raghava Bhatta and Nrisimha Suri ? I request all

to read ¡§Jaimini Sutramritam¡¨ by Sri Rangacharya, since he is the

only commentator who dared to give Vriddha Karika slokas in his

commentary. Why I say Parasara is not the final authority on Jamini

Sutras is the fact that no astrological classic said to be Parasari,

never dealt the concepts like Padas, Rasi Drishti and argala. Of

course, Uttara Kalamrita and brihaspata samhita are exceptions.

Jataka Tatwa by Mahadeva Pathak is very recent scholar and he never

dealt any of Rasi dasas. Yes, BPHS can be taken as one of the vriddha

karika, since Parasara is the only rishi who could compile so

beautifully all the astrological principles available. Hence, HE can

be treated as one of the authority but not the final. Even if we look

at the verses given by Narasimha in his Chara Karaka article look

like merely inspired / interpolated verses from Vriddha Karika. This

is my humble view. The other way is also possible.

 

Sorry for deviating from the issue. I write below my humble

understanding regarding chara karaka.

 

Jaimini is always specific in his sutras. In fact all sutra vangmaya

is specific and cryptic as well. When he says ¡§Eke¡¨, it means that it

is not his opinion. Taking 8 CK for living beings and 7 CK for

Mundane is not given either in any Jaimini work or Vriddha karika or

in BPHS.

 

When Jaimini Speaks ¡§Saptanam AshtanamVa¡¨

a. If he considers 8 CK then, he would never say ¡§ Saptanam¡¨

b. He doesn¡¦t endorse the opinion of MK and PK same. So he

treats MK and PK different. Combining above two proves that only 7 CK

and MK, PK different and they are AK, AmK, BK, MK, PK, GK, and DK.

Vriddha Karika is again very specific

c. If he considers only 7 planets, he would never say Asthtanaam

Va¡¨, hence he asks us to consider 8 planets. He didn¡¦t spell out the

condition as when to consider 7 or 8 planets. Now, Vriddha Karika

comes to rescue. Sri Narasimha already gave that sloka in his earlier

mail.

d. Now, out of 7 CK, it is to be decided whether to include Pik

or PK. Since sage himself spaks that MK and PK are different, PK must

be included.

e. If you closely look at the Sutras we don¡¦t find specific

sthira Karaka for Mata and Pita. Hence, one may doubt the inclusion

of MK since no sthira karaka is mentioned. But Sage himself mentions

MK vide sutra ¡§Mata Saha Putra¡K.¡¨. Now, only Pitri Karaka inclusion

in Chara Karaka scheme is doubtful and since it is there in some

manuscripts and not in some, we must resolve it with research,

experiments and sadhana. But, we can understand Venus is Karaka for

Parents vide sutra ¡§ Patni Pitarau ¡K..¡¨.

f. Sage only states 4 sthira karakas

1. BK ----„³ Mars

2. PK -----„³ Jupiter

3. GK ----„³ Mercury

4. DK -----„³ Venus

g. We can get the karaka for Mother and Father as the stronger

of Moon and Mars, and the stronger of Sun and Venus respectively from

other adhyayas.

h. Interpreting 3rd house from Mars etc. is not new to Jaimini

system. Its well known to the commentators like Sri Raghava Bhatta

and Nrisimha Suri and they have even given the karakas for parents,

brothers etc., apart from chara karakas.

i. Now, how to include 8 planets for 7 CK scheme? If two planets

are at the same degree, then Rahu comes in. If three planets are at

the same degree, then one chara karaka will be omitted and will be

filled up by corresponding sthira karaka.

For example

1. If each planet at different degrees „³ No Rahu coming in.

2. If AK and AmK at same degree „³ No Rahu coming in,

Nasargika Bala considered

3. If AK, AmK, BK same degree „³ Rahu comes in and one planet omitted

 

Now other than AK

1. If two Planets „³ one planet, No karaka

1. If three planets „³ two planets, one Karaka omitted

3. If four planets „³ three planets, two karakas

4. If five planets „³ 4 planets, three karakas

5. If six planets „³ 5 planets, 4 karakas

6. If seven planets „³ -do-

 

The above is found in Rangacharya¡¦s Jaimini Sutramritam and he has

been following it since 30-40 years. I know the above explanation is

not clear and logical but it shows the way vriddha karikas instructed

to do. It shall be born in mind that we must move further keeping and

continually referring to vriddha karikas to understand Jaimini

Sutras. So, whatever Narasimha wrote in his article is not new and

well practiced by Jaimini scholars excepting Rahu becoming AK, and

taking PiK in place of PK in 7 CK scheme.

j. Now, comes how to use karaka lopa. Vriddha Karika shows two

ways of Ommission of Antya Karaka and Agrima Karaka. It must be

researched and applied to know the accuracy of each scheme, not just

debating on it, since it is vriddha showing the beacon of light. I

request all to understand vriddha karka slokas well. Alas, most

English Jaimini commentaries never mention these slokas.

k. Vriddha karika again mentions that Atma Karaka never gets

omitted in Antya karak lopa scheme. That¡¦s the precise reason why you

don¡¦t find sthira karaka for Atma and Amatya karaka. Sri Narasimha

considers Agrima Karaka lopa, if so then, when Ak and Amk are at the

same degree, then AK must be taken over by sthira karaka. But he

doesn¡¦t apply this to AK, where in he takes the DMS again to find the

AK. Here Vriddha karika is very specific that AK cannot be omitted.

So, if Narsimha considers AK can¡¦t be taken over, then he must

consider Antya Karaka Lopa scheme. I am giving below the relevant

Vriddha Karika sloka.

¡§Amsa Samye Grahau Dwau Chet Jayetam Yasya Janmani

Swa Karakam Vina Lupyati Chantya Karakaha Nischayam¡¨

 

l. So, Sri Rangacharya¡¦s method of taking Naisargika strong

Graha for AK when AK and AmK are at the Same Degree seems logical and

in accordance with Vriddha Karika.

m. Well, Karaka dasa given by Narasimha, is different in Jaimini

Astrology. It is called AtmaKaraka Dasa and start from the Rasi

occupied by AK and proceeds Kendras, Panapharas and Apoklimas. The

duration calculation is very peculiar, based on the ¡§Satallabhayo ¡K.¡¨

Sutra.

 

If anyone gets the feeling that I am saying there shall not be any

independent interpretation of sutras, my answer is NO. I want to say

that whatever the interpretation, it must not contradict the vriddha

karika slokas. Now, new sort of distorting knowledge is happening.

Some learned scholars even wrote article on Lagnamsaka dasa as

phalita dasa. But, Krishna Mishra in his Jyotish Phala Ratanamaala,

mentions Lagnamsaka dasa as Ayur dasa. This is like the other scholar

writing book on Manduka dasa without understanding what Vriddha

karika says about Manduka dasa. New Commentator may contradict with

other ancient commentators like Neelakantha, Raghava Bhatta, but not

with Vriddha Karikas. They are like sritis. As it is said if you have

a doubt and Sriti and Purana differing on the issue, preference must

be given to Sriti only. Similarly if commentator contradicts with

Vriddha Karika, we must follow vriddha only. It is proven time and

again and Narasimha finds the same. Vriddha Karika method of

including Rahu when two planets are at the same degree, works well.

 

I have been contemplating to write this mail, but finally I decided

to write, let whatever may happen. I hope I could put my points

straight. Thanks for reading along, and I request readers to study

vriddha karikas, not merely asking to explain every thing under the

sky with chara karakas. Well, I have not touched how to use chara

karakas for interpretation, sincerely; I don¡¦t know how to use. This

is my beginning in understanding CK scheme.

 

Let the knowledge come everywhere.

Warm Regards,

Shanmukha.