History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c82.613.3

v6.c82.613.3

five must be given two *rāśis* as *svagṛhas* and the other two only one *rāśi* each as *svagṛha*. The Br J. assigns only one *rāśi* as *svagṛha* to the Sun and Moon, *viz.* Simha (Lion) and Karka (Crab) respectively, while two *rāśis* are assigned to each of the other five planets. There is absolutely no logical or satisfactory explanation of this. Moreover, in assigning two *rāśis* as *svagṛhas* the only principle that seems to have been followed is that of sequence, *viz.* one *rāśi* beyond Simha and one beyond Karka i. e. Kanyā and Mithuna to Mercury and in the same way to the remaining planets in the order of distance. The result is that Vṛṣabha and Tulā (Scales) are the *svagṛhas* of the beautiful and brilliant planet Venus and Dhanus (Archer) and Mīna (Fishes) are the *svagṛhas* of Jupiter. If one turns to the doctrine of exaltation, no rational or astronomical explanation is given why Aja (goat), Vṛṣabha (Bull), Makara, Kanyā, Karka, Mīna and Tulā should be the *uccas* of the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn respectively. The naming and arrangement of the twelve *bhāvas* hardly follows any rational basis. One may at the most concede that the first *bhāva* in which the sign rising at a person's birth is placed is plausibly called *tanu* (body) and that regarding the 7th *bhāva* therefrom as the one on which love and marriage may be considered has also some plausibility. Birth and death are the two ends of a person's life.