History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c82.613.1

v6.c82.613.1

In Indian Astrology the most important matters are the *rāśis*, the planets and the twelve *bhāvas* (or places). Take the *rāśis* first. What is the reason for naming certain groups of stars or constellations as Meṣa or Vṛṣabha &c.? There are no Rams and Bulls in the sky. Some observers on the earth imagined that certain constellations presented to the eye the appearance of certain animals, human figures and mythical beings. As shown above (p. 565) the Chinese and Japanese name them differently. Therefore, there is a great element of arbitrariness and imaginary analogies in naming the so-called *rāśis*. Once named, the *rāśis* are classified in various ways and predictions are based on the class to which a *rāśi* belongs. All these classifications are based on ideas of symmetrical sequence and fancy. Why should Meṣa and Mithuna (which is represented as 'twins' man and woman) be called male, while Vṛṣabha and Vṛścika be classed as female? There is no explanation except this that the twelve *rāśis* had to be classified in two groups, male and female, and symmetry required that they be alternately called male and female. For the same reason of symmetrical order Meṣa and Karka are grouped as *cara* (mobile), while Simha and Vṛścika are classified as *sthira* (firm immobile).