PANCHANG (CALENDAR)

Although it is essential to have the knowledge of arithmetical calculations to understand Indian Astrology, but for the benefit of the common people, astrologers have devised a calendar (Panchang) with the help of which, and simple arithmetical calculations, one can have knowledge about planets, good or bad for him.

It is not necessary for a common man to be an astrologer in order to understand the Panchanga. But for a smooth and systematic running of life, one should know how to interpret 'Phalita'.

Panchang means five organs to understand the Phalita. These five things are –

1. Tithi (Date)
2. Nakshatra (Group of stars)
3. Yoga (an auspicious moment)
4. Karan (Half of the part of Tithi)
5. Vaar (days of the week)

TITHI

Tithi is considered as the first phase or portion (Kala) of the 16 phases of the Moon. The 15 days, commencing from Amavasya (the last day of the dark half of a lunar month) to Purnima (Full moon), are called the Tithis of the Shukla-Paksha (brighter phase) and the days commencing from Purnima to Amavasya are called Krishna Paksha (darker phase).

In Indian Astrology, the calculation of the Tithis starts from Pratipada (The first day in each half of the lunar month) of the Shukla-Paksha. They are:

1. Pratipada.
2. Dwitiya.
3. Tritiya.
4. Chaturthi.
5. Panchami.
6. Shashthi.
7. Saptami.
8. Ashtami.
9. Navami.
10. Dashami.
11. Ekadasi.
12. Dwadashi.
13. Trayodashi.
14. Chaturdashi.
15. Purnima.

Similarly, in the Krishna-Paksha, starting from Pratipada till Chaturdashi, all the dates are same; the only difference being the fifteenth day which is Amavasya (Moonless night)

These fifteen days have been given five names.

If the above mentioned days falls on the given Tithis it is considered as auspicious and the work taken in hand in successfully accomplished. For example (if, 1st, 6th 11th falls on Friday, 2nd, 7th, 12th falls on Wednesday etc.)

INAUSPICIOUS DAYS – The following days (Tithis) are considered to be inauspicious, and there is a fear of hurdles, obstructing the accomplishment of the work. The names of these auspicious days have been given as follows:

1. DAGDHA
2. VISHA
3. HUTASHAN

The dates are considered to be inauspicious if it falls on the following days

If 12th day and 4th day of the months falls on Sunday and 11th & 6th falls on Monday and 5th & 7th falls on Tuesday respectively, they are considered as inauspicious.

NAKSHATRA (CONSTELLATION) – A group of stars is called Nakshatra. Just as the units used for measuring the distance is miles or kilometers in the same way the space (Akash Mandal) is measured in terms of Nakshatras (group of stars). The whole space has been divided into 27 parts and each part has been given the name of Nakshatra. They are as follows

1. ASHWINI.
2. BHARANI.
3. KRITIKA.
4. ROHINI.
5. MRIGASHIRA.
6. AARDRA.
7. PUNARVASU.
8. PUSHYA.
9. AASLESHA.
10. MAGHA.
11. PURVA PHALGUNI.
12. UTTARA PHALGUNI.
13. HASTA.
14. CHITRA.
15. SWATI.
16. VISHAKHA.
17. ANURADHA.
18. JYESHTHA.
19. MOOLA.
20. POORVAASHADHA.
21. UTTARAASHADHA.
22. SHRAVANI.
23. DHANISTHA.
24. SHATABHISHA.
25. PURVA BHADRAPADA.
26. UTTARA BHADRAPADA.
27. REVATI.

The Indian astrologers believe that the combination of the last 15 Ghati of 'Uttarashadha Nakshatra' and the first 4 Ghati of the Shravani Nakshatra i.e. 19 Ghatis in all, constitute the 'Abhijeet Nakshatra' and this particular Nakshatra is considered to be very auspicious to begin a good work. (One Ghatika is equal to 24 minutes)

PANCHAKA NAKSHATRA: The following group of five Nakshatras are considered as having five defects (Panchakadosha). They are Dhanistha, Shatabhisha, Purvabhadrapada, Uttarabhadrapada and Revati.

MOOLA NAKSHATRA: A child taking birth in this Nakshatra, which consists of Jyestha, Aashlesha, Revati, Mool, Magha and Ashwini Nakshatra are not considered as auspicious. Therefore, for the pacification of this 'Moola Nakshatra', some specific rites are performed 27th days after the birth when the same Nakshatra returns. Out of these six Nakshatras, which constitute Moola Nakshatra, Jyeshtha and Moola are called 'Gandant Moola' and Aashlesha is called as 'Sarpa Moola'.

ADHOMUKHA NAKSHATRA: As the name of this Nakshatra implies, works like digging a well, or lying a foundation is considered as auspicious. This particular Nakshatra is itself constituted by Nakshatras. They are: Moola, Aashlesha, Vishakha, Kritika, Purvaphalguni, Purvashadha, Purvabhadrapada, Bharani and Magha

DAGDHA NAKSHATRA: For commencement of any work, this Nakshatra is considered as inauspicious. Therefore, commencing any work in this Nakshatra is prohibited if the days on which, this Nakshatra falls are as under-
Sunday - Bharani
Monday - Chitra
Tuesday - Uttarashadha
Wednesday - Dhanishtha
Thursday - Uttaraphalguni
Friday - Jyeshtha
Saturday - Revati


YOGA (COMBINATIONS)
There are 27 Yogas in all. They are as under
1) VISHAKUMBHA, 2) PREETI, 3) AAYUSHMAN, 4) SAUBHAGYA, 5) SHOBHANA, 6) ATIGANDA, 7) SUKARMA, 8) DHRITI, 9) SHOOLA, 10) GAND, 11) VRIDDHI, 12) DHRUVA, 13) VYAGHAATA, 14) HARSHANA, 15) VAJRA, 16) SIDDHI, 17) VYATIPAATA, 18) VARIYAANA, 19) PARIGHA, 20) SHIVA, 21) SIDDHA, 22) SADDHYA, 23) SHUBHA, 24) SHUKLA, 25) BRAHMA, 26) INDRA, 27) VAIDHRITI.

KARANA Half of the part of a Tithi is called a Karana i.e. There are two Karanas in a Tithi. There are 11 Karanas altogether. They are: 1) BALA, 2) BAALAVA, 3) KAULAVA, 4) TAITIL, 5) GARA, 6) VANIJA, 7) VISHTI, 8) SHAKUNI, 9) CHATUSHPADA, 10) NAAGA, 11) KINSTUGHNA The first 7 of these Karanas are movable (Chara) i.e. it cannot be predetermined as to on which dates, these are going to occur, but the last 4 Karanas are fixed (Sthira), and hence can be predetermined.

VISHTIKARANA is also called 'Bhadra' and commencing any work during this time is prohibited. Bhadra is marked very clearly in every panchanga.

VAAR (DAYS)
There are 7 days i.e. Sunday (Ravivaar), Monday (Somavaar), Tuesday (Mangalvaar), Wednesday (Budhvaar), Thursday (Brihaspativaar), Friday (Shukravaar) and Saturday (Shanivaar). The counting of days begins from the sunrise of the first day to the sunrise of the second day. In astrology, this system is known as 'AHORATRA', which means day and night taken together. Omitting the first letter 'A' and the last three letters 'T','R','A', the word 'HORA' is coined from which, the English word 'HOUR' originated. There are 24 HORAS in all.
Now the question arises, why is the day coming after Sunday is named Monday, Why not other day. To understand this, we will first have to understand the positions of the planets, in the space. In astrology, the respective position of the planets are given as under –

Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury and Moon.

Therefore, Saturn is the highest or the farthest planet. Below the Saturn is Jupiter, below Jupiter is Mars, below the Mars is Sun, below the Sun is Venus, below Venus is Mercury, and below Mercury is Moon. All the planets are revolving around the Sun in their respective orbits. Since there are 24 Horas in a day combined with night, therefore, each Hora consists of an hour. The ‘Lord’ of each Hora is a planet from the nearest lower orbit.
The Lord of the first HORA is the Sun. In the beginning of the creation, the Sun was visible first of all and for that very reason, it has been considered as the lord of the first Hora and also the first day has been named after it. The next Hora is named after 'Shukra' (Venus, which is the lord of the second HORA, and whose orbit is just below the Sun. The lord of the third Hora is 'Budha' (Mercury) whose orbit is just below that of Shukra (Venus). The lord of the fourth orbit is the Moon (Chandrama), whose orbit is below that of Venus and so on. In this way, the lord of the 24th HORA is again Mercury and the Moon (Chandrama). The following chart clearly shows the positions of the planets (horizontally) in order, and the days of the week (vertically) in order. From the Hora chart, it is quite clear that the Moon is the lord of the first Hora (Hour) of the second day(Monday), hence the next day after Sunday is called Monday. Similarly, the lord of the first Hora of the third day is Mars (Tuesday), the lord of the first Hora of the fourth day is Mercury (Wednesday), the lord of the first Hora of the fifth day is Jupiter (Thursday), the lord of the first Hora of the sixth day is Venus (Friday) and the lord of the first Hora of the Seventh day is Saturn (Saturday).
Therefore, the name of the days in order are Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

GENTLE DAYS: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are considered as the 'gentle' days. These days are considered auspicious for commencing any good work.

CRUEL DAYS: Tuesday, Sunday and Saturday are considered as 'cruel' days. Saturday is considered an auspicious day for undergoing operation. Thursday is considered auspicious for starting education. Wednesday is considered auspicious to start any business.

THE BIRTH CHART

(Kundali Or Janma Patree) Or The Horoscope

The BIRTH CHART (JANMA PATREE) personifies the accumulated Karmas (actions) of a man’s previous birth. Just as a huge Banyan tree is culminated in its roots, similarly, the birth chart shows the Karmas man has committed in his previous births. A man faces the consequences (Joys and Sorrows) of those accumulated Karmas and destiny in his present life, which can be compared with a boat, with the help of his actions of the present birth, which is like the helm of the boat.

So the BIRTH CHART gives information regarding fate and destiny. It is possible to make slight changes in the consequences of the unforeseen actions committed in one’s previous birth, by doing appropriate Karmas in the present birth. The chief use of the Birth Chart is to have knowledge of the unforeseen, and rectify the actions accordingly. We can change the course of the misfortune, if we have the prior knowledge of our destiny. But if the intensity of the unforeseen Karmas of the previous birth is stronger, one is sure to face its consequences, and one cannot change it. Similarly, if the Karmas of the present birth are stronger (Pious and good actions), the unforeseen accumulated Karmas of the previous birth, will not be able to have an effect on the present life.

While preparing the Birth Chart, three facts are required-
1) Birth time
2) Date of Birth
3) Place of Birth

Suppose, a child takes birth in Mumbai on 17/7/2000 at 2.20 afternoon. Now first of all, we find out the 'ISHTA GHANTA' (Desired-Hour). The method of finding out the ISHTA GHANTA is as follows:

Time of birth – Sunrise Time = ISHTA GHANTA

Time of Birth = 2.20 = 14.20

Time of Sunrise = 6.11
Ishta Ghanta = 8.9
By multiplying the Ishta Ghanta with 21/2 we get Ishta Ghati,
So Ishta Ghanta x 2 ˝ = Ishta Ghati
8.9 x 21/2 = 22.25

According to the 'Panchang', the position of the Sun in degrees was 3-00-51-48
Now if we look at the LAGNA CHART of Mumbai in front of the zodiac sign Cancer column and below 00 degree we get –
5-55
adding Ishta Ghanta to it
+ 8 – 09
14-04

Again, observing the MUMBAI PANCHANG in front of 14-04, we get it in LIBRA under 23 degree. Therefore our conclusion is that, the Lagna at the time of birth was Libra. The positions of the planets regarding zodiacs on that day were as under-

LAGNA - LIBRA
SUN - CANCER
MOON - CAPRICORN
MARS - GEMINI
MERCURY- GEMINI
JUPITER- TAURUS
VENUS - CANCER
SATURN- TAURUS
RAHU - CANCER
KETU - CAPRICORN
LAGNA CHART (ASCENDANT CHART)

The Birth Chart (Janma Patree) is divided into 12 parts (or houses) and each part is named as under
1. PRATHAMA BHAVA (1st House)
2. DWITIYA BHAVA (2nd House)
3. TRITIYA BHAVA (3rd House)
4. CHATURTHA BHAVA (4th House)
5. PANCHAMA BHAVA (5th House)
6. SHASHTHA BHAVA (6th House)
7. SAPTAMA BHAVA (7th House)
8. ASHTAM BHAVA (8th House)
9. NAVAM BHAVA (9th House)
10. DASHAM BHAVA (10th House)
11. EKADASH BHAVA (11th House)
12. DWADASH BHAVA (12th House)

In 'Phalit Astrology' (a branch of Astrology), they are given different names which are as under -

Again there are twelve different names given to each BHAVA they are shown below

The above mentioned twelve Bhavas give the following information:

1) PRATHAMA BHAVA (1st House) - This Bhava is associated with the body i.e. body’s colour, figure, quality, fame, place, joy, sorrow, tour, strength, weakness, beauty, characteristics or signs and aura of the person. The Sun effects this first Bhava.

2) DWITIYA BHAVA (2ND House) : This Bhava is called 'DHANA BHAVA' because it is connected with wealth. Jupiter is the planet having effect on this BHAVA. Wealth, eyes (especially the right eye), mouth, family, aunt, (Mother’s sister), maternal uncle, friendship, food items, matter, the right-hand side parts of the body, general education, and buying and selling are concerned with this BHAVA. Mars is ineffective if situated in this BHAVA.

3) TRITIYA BHAVA (3rd House): This BHAVA is also named as 'SAHAJA BHAVA'. It is concerned with the following things – younger brother, younger sister, bravery, valour, patience, sperm, bones, neck & throat, ears, clothes, servants, medicines etc. Mars is the main planet having effect on this BHAVA.

4) CHATURTHA BHAVA (4th House) : This is also called 'SUKHA BHAVA'. Things concerned with this BHAVA, are knowledge & learning, mother, property, pleasure of having vehicles, friends, fortune of receiving king's or ruler's favour, house, father’s wealth, fragrance, morality, religiousness and bravery.

The Moon is the main planet affecting this BHAVA. Mercury is ineffective in this BHAVA.

5) PANCHAMA BHAVA (5th House) : This is also called 'PUTRA (SON) BHAVA'. It is concerned with devotion to God, son, intelligence, virtuous actions, knowledge of the self, heart, stomach area, power of judgement etc. Jupiter is the main planet having effect on this Bhava. In some conditions, Jupiter is ineffective.

6) SHASHTHA BHAVA (6th House) : This Bhava has also been named as 'RIPU (Enemy) Bhava'. There are negative effects of this BHAVA. It is concerned with enemy, loss, quarrel, hurdles, debt, diseases, theft, wounds, maternal uncle, husband of mother’s sister, mother’s sister, navel and stomach areas. The main planets having effect on this BHAVA are Saturn and Mars while Venus is ineffective in this Bhava.

7) SAPTAMA BHAVA (7TH House) : This Bhava is also called 'PATNI (wife) Bhava'. It is concerned with wife, husband, marriage, brother, son, departure, regaining lost wealth, knowledge, authority, commerce etc.
Venus is the main planet affecting this Bhava. The Saturn is ineffective in this Bhava.

8) ASHTAMA BHAVA (8th House) : This Bhava has also been named 'MRITYU (Death) Bhava'. As the name implies, it is concerned with death i.e. age, life, death, the cause of death, place of death. It is also concerned with the pleasures of food, high rank, victory, defeat, eldest son of the sister, genitals and sense organs. Saturn effects this Bhava with full force.

9) NAVAM BHAVA (9th House) : This is called 'Dharma (Religion) Bhava'. This Bhava is concerned with religious ceremonies, penance, favour received from teacher, pilgrimage, finance, rheumatism, grandchildren, wealth, leadership qualities and the public. Sun is the main planet having effect on this Bhava. Jupiter also effects this Bhava.

10) DASHAMA BHAVA (10th House) : This Bhava is called 'Karma (Action) Bhava'. It is concerned with authority, respect, business, agriculture, awards, foreign tours, virtuous actions according to the ways described in the Vedas. Renouncement of worldly life, fame as a result of expertise in science, clothes, ornaments, sleep, knees and thighs. The planets affecting this Bhava are Jupiter, Sun, Mercury and Saturn.

11) EKADASH BHAVA (11th House) : This Bhava has also been named as 'AAY (Income) Bhava'. This is concerned with gains and profits of commodities, money, elder brother, elder sister, younger brother’s son, friends, left ear and ornaments worn in ears etc. Jupiter is the main planet having effect on this Bhava.

12) DWADASHA BHAVA (12th House) : Another name of this Bhava is 'Jaya (victory) Bhava'. It is concerned with travel, charity, expense, hell, fear of losing organs of the body, left eye, pleasure of sleep, royal punishment, fear of imprisonment, younger sister’s son, downfall etc.Saturn is the planet having effect on this Bhava.