History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c82.584

v6.c82.584

Owing to the almost universal belief in astrology, there was always the temptation to fasten fanciful horoscopes on renowned avatāras and heroes Some Mss. of the Rāmāyaṇa⁹⁷¹ contain a few details of the horoscope of Rāma, the principal ones being that the lagna was Karkaṭa, in which the Moon and Jupiter were in conjunction and that five planets were in exaltation (*ucca*) As the Moon was in Cancer, that planet was not in exaltation, since Taurus (Bull) is exaltation of the Moon. As Rāma was born on Caitra bright half 9th the Sun was in Meṣa (Aries, Ram), which is also the *ucca* of the Sun. Therefore, Mercury must be either in conjunction with the Sun or in Taurus or Pisces. None of these is the *ucca* of Mercury. Probably Mercury should be taken to be with Venus as they are friends, while if Mercury be placed in Vṛṣabha (Taurus or Bull) he would be in the house of an enemy. The Rāmāyaṇa does not mention Rāhu and Ketu at all. So the horoscope of Rāma would be as follows: ⁹⁷²