Jyotihshastra: Astral and Mathematical Literature c7.6

c7.6

YJ 1 describes the fundamental elements of genethlialogy—the zodiacal signs (rāśis) and their subdivisions (horās [ὥραι], drekāṇas [δεκανοί], saptāṃśas, navāṃśas,³ dvādaśāṃśas [δωδεκατημόρια], triṃśāṃśas [ὅρια], sauras, cūḍāpadas, and liptikas [λεπτά]); the astrological places (bhāvas), categorized as cardines (kendras; κέντρα), succeedent (pāṇapharas; ἐπαναφοραί), and cadents (āpoklimas; ἀποκλίματα); the planets’ exaltations (uccas); their triplicities (trikoṇas; τρίγωνα); their aspects (dṛṣṭi); the various strengths of the zodiacal signs and planets; and the characteristics, spheres of influence, and interrelationships of the planets. The next two adhyāyas (YJ 2–3) describe respectively the figures associated with each of the twenty-four horās and thirty-six decans. And adhyāya 4 lists the objects associated with the zodiacal signs and the planets. The next two chapters deal with conception and gestation (YJ 5), and the circumstances of birth (YJ 6). In adhyāya 7 Sphujidhvaja describes the effects on the natives of the planets being in their exaltations or dejections, in their triplicities, in their own, their friends’, or their enemies’ houses. Adhyāyas 8–9 are devoted to the astrological situations that lead to the birth of kings and other leaders. The four yogas of the Moon—sunaphā (συναφή), anapharā (ἀναφορά), daurudhara (δορυφορία), and kemadruma (κενοδρομία)—are discussed in adhyāya 10, the two of the Sun—veśi and vāśi (φάσις) in adhyāya 11. There follow seven chapters (YJ 12–18) on the native born when each of the planets (in the order Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Moon) is in each of the zodiacal signs. Adhyāya 19 is on the effect of each of the zodiacal signs in the ascendant, adhyāya 20 on that of each of the planets. There follows a section on conjunctions of planets: of two and three planets in YJ 21, of four planets (producing religious natives) in YJ 22, of five planets in YJ 23, and of six and seven planets in YJ 24. The next two chapters (YJ 25–26) enumerate the effects of each of the planets’ being in each of the places except the ascendant. In adhyāya 27 Sphujidhvaja describes three melothesias: of planets, of horās, and of decans. There follow four adhyāyas (YJ 28–31) on the native born when each horā, decan, saptāṃśa, and navāṃśa is in the ascendant. Adhyāyas 32 and 33 are on the Moon’s and all the other planets’ being in each others’ navāṃśas, and adhyāya 34 on each of the planets in a dvādaśāṃśa of each of the zodiacal signs. In YJ 35 Sphujidhvaja very obscurely deals with the theory of the prorogator (ἀφέτης)—a topic ignored by subsequent Indian astrologers until it was reintroduced as the *hillāja* (Arabic *haylāj*) in *tājika* texts. There is then inserted a chapter (YJ 36) on the planetary configurations known as *yogas*. *Adhyāyas* 37–43 are concerned with the computation of the length of the native's life (*āyurdāya*; YJ 37), with fatal configurations (*ariṣṭayoga*; YJ 38), with the periods (*daśās*) and subperiods (*antara-daśās*) of the native's life (YJ 39–41), with the cause of his death (YJ 42), and with his next incarnation (YJ 43). There follows a long section (YJ 44–51) on *aṣṭakavarga* or the transits of each of the planets (in the order Sun, Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Mercury, and Moon) through the astrological places counted from themselves, from each other, and from the ascendant; this is a fundamental method of continuous horoscopy. Sphujidhvaja's treatment of *jātaka* ends with a description of the ideal astrologer (YJ 51, 13–20).