The Brhajjatakam of Varaha Mihira

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

About the Book

The Jyotisa Sastra is counted as one of the six angas of the Vedas. All the religious rites and sacrifices of the Hindus are guided by Astronomy and Astrology, both of which are included in the Jyotisa Sastra. Indeed, Astrology is considered as the eye of the Vedas. Astrology gives us the know ledge of our past karmas, how to fight against it, as well as how to work out our fresh deeds, so that we can get rid of this wheel of karma and be free.

The Brhat Jataka of Varaha Mihira is generally considered all over India as one of the best and most authoritative treatises on the science of Hindu Horoscopy. In fact, Varaha Mihira is recognised as the greatest of the Indian Astrologers. There are four commentaries on this work. The well-known is that of Bhatta Utpala; another is known as Subodhini; the third is Mudraksari, and the fourth is known as Sripatiyam. The commentary of Bhatta Utpala is followed in this work.

The present edition of Brhajjataka includes original Sanskrit text and side by side English translation of Swami Vijnananand. The English translation is assisted and supported with various examples and notes at appropriate places. There is an Index of verses at the end of the book for ready reference of readers.

Foreword

The Jyotisa Sastra is counted as one of the six angas of the Vedas. All the religious rites and sacrifices of the Hindus are guided by Astronomy and Astrology, both of which are included in the Jyotisa Sastra, Indeed, Astrology is considered as the eye of the Vedas.

Astrology is the oldest of all sciences. Its history is traced back to the Vedas whose wise Rsis, by the expansion of their consciousness, could reach the Shining Ones. From India the belief in Astrology spread to China, Babylonia and Chaldea; whence it spread to Egypt, Greece, Rome, and throughout the whole world. Once it taught the people to lift their aspirations by faith, hope, and reverence, through the stars and the planetary spirits to the One and Universal Self.

The hoary saints of the ancient ages, fraught with wisdom, held that "an affinity existed between the stars and the souls of men; that the ethereal essence is Divine; that the souls of men are taken from this reservoir and return to it at death; and that the souls of the more eminent of mankind are converted into stars. "

When we come to consider that Astrology was the beginning of nearly all that we hold valuable in art, literature, religion and. science; that the asterisms and the constellations were our first pictures; and that Astronomy and Astrology sprang from India, we may judge of its value to humanity : nor shall we wonder at its survival amidst the fall of nations and the decline of mighty races.

There are two broad and rational principles on which Astrology is based.

The first principle upon which the science of Astrology rests is that of Vedanta, that the whole Universe is actually what the term implies - a unity; and that a law which is found in manifestation in one portion of the Universe must also be equally operative throughout the whole. While the Heavens form the macrocosm, man is the microcosm. Each man is a little world exactly representing the Universe. While all seem quiet without, there is an active world within. Such a world is visible to the inner sight of a Yogi. Those laws which are operative among the planetary bodies are also in force amongst ourselves.

The second principle is that, by a study of the motions and relative positions of the planets, the operations of these laws may be observed, measured and determined.

From these two principles, aided by observation and metaphysical mind, the whole science of Astrology herein expounded can be deduced. Failure in Astrological predictions arises from error in calculation. A well versed and conscientious astrologer is always to be consulted. Error in calculation is as sinful as the murder of the Brahmin. The best test that can be applied to Astrology, where first-hand knowledge is required, is that of experience.

In Hindu Astronomy the places of the planets and the other heavenly bodies are reckoned from the 1st point of the Naksatra AS-vim, which is constant; whereas in the Western method the places are reckoned from the variable Vernal Equinox, one of the two points where the Ecliptic cuts the Equator. This point is the Western first point of Aries. It has a retrograde motion at the rate of 50" a year.

Taking entire human life into consideration, the true , view is that a man is both a slave of the effects of his previous karma in his past incarnations and is a free agent as regards fresh independent deeds, deeds which are in no way directed to thwart, to arrest, to alter, or in any way to modify or remould the effects of his past karma. But if he wishes to move along with the natural course of things he may do so and the course will become more easy and more smooth. This view will account for three things: -(1) the many apparently unaccountable failures of attempts, even when the individual tries his best; (2) the easy success on many occasions, even when the individual does not try his best; (3) the success that attends on proportionate labour. In the first case, the attempt was one aimed at moving against the current of fate; in the second case, it was one of moving down with the current; and in the third case, it was an attempt where free human agency can display itself.

Astrology gives us the knowledge of our past karma, how to fight against it, as well as how to work out our fresh deeds, so that we can get rid of this wheel of karma and be free.

The Brhat Jataka of Varaha Mihira is generally considered all over India as one of the best and most authoritative treatises on the science of Hindu Horoscopy. In fact, Varaha Mihira is recognised as the greatest of the Indian Astrologers. There are four commentaries on this work. The well-known is that of Bhatta Utpala; another is known as Subodhini; the third is Mudraksari, and the fourth is known as Sripatiyam. The commentary of Bhatta Utpala is followed in this work.

The author has written a smaller work of Astrology known as Laghu Jataka. Horoscopy is one of the three sections of Jyotisa Sastra; and Sri Varaha Mihiracarya has treated of all the three branches. The other two branches are Samhita and Astronomy. On Samhita, the author's treatise is known as Brhat Samhita, and his Astronomical work is known as Panca Siddhantika. Varaha Mihira has also written a work on Yoga Yatra. Some say, he lived in the reign of Vikramaditya in the Court of Ujjain and is one of the nine gems (Navaratnas) of the Court. According to this, Varaha Mithira's age would be 24 Vikrama Samvat. Others hold that he lived about the time of 427 Saka Era, or, 507 A.D, i.e., in the sixth century.

In conclusion, it may be added that Truth can never be destroyed and when we recognise in Astrology the law of the Almighty, we need some courage, as well as mental ability, before we commence the task of learning the harmony of the law of the Almighty. Yet the same energy that is expanded in seeking to refute it would, if turned in the direction of learning its first principles, unbar the gate that leads to its understanding.

Preface

In Indian Astrology tradition, Acarya Varahamihira is remembered with utmost respect. There is no parallel of Varahamihira as far as his knowledge on Astronomy and Geography is concerned. The Brhat Samhita of Varahamihira deals primarily with the practical application of Indian Astrological science, while Brhajjatakam is a principal treatise that declares about various fruits during the entire life span from the birth of a human being. Varahamihira has been regarded as the primary author of Jataka treatises on Indian Astrology sciences. The "Laghujataka" and "Brhajjataka" are two treatises of Varahamihira that have strongly supported the Samhita part of Indian Astrology. Brhajjataka tells about the results of birth of a Jataka in a particular zodiac. It is also very popular among the astrologers as a treatise on Horatantra. Varaha has based this treatise on solid mathematical calculations and therefore, it is like a descriptive ocean on Indian Astrological science. Varahamihira has declared in his treatise :

I am preparing this Sastra on Hora for those who are very laborious and with matured intellect. For such scholars to know about Horaphala (various fruits during life span of a person starting from his birth lagna), I am compiling this treatise.

It is not so that Varaha has written this treatise for the first time on this subject. Before Varaha also, this knowledge was in tradition in India. Varaha Mihira has accepted the views of Yavanesvara many a times in his present work. The main Commentator on Varahamihira's work Bhatta Utpala has quoted the texts of Yavana in his commentary a number of times.

The subject matter of the Brhat Jataka is quiet elaborate and there are 28 chapters in this treatise. Each chapter respectively deals with- 1) On Zodiacal Signs, 2) On the Planets, 3) On the Manifold Births, 4) On Impregnation, 5) On Birth Matters, 6) On Early Death, 7) On the Length of Life of a Child, 8) On Dasas and Antardasas, 9) On Ast akavarga, 10) On Avocation, 11) On Raja Yoga, 12) On Nabhasa Yogas, 13) On Lunar Combinations, 14) On any two Planets in anyone Sign, 15) On Ascetic Yogas, 16) On the Moon and Stars, 17) On the Moon and the Zodiac, 18) On the Planets and the Zodiac, 19) On Aspects, 20) On the Planets in the Twelve Houses or Bhavas, 21) On Asraya Yoga, 22) On Miscellaneous Planetary Combinations, 23) On Evils, 24) On Female Horoscopes, 25) On Death, 26) On Lost Horoscopes, 27) On the Decanates, and 28) On Conclusion, in that order. In these chapters, Varaha has very earnestly tried to put the fruits of the birth. of a being in this world. This treatise has become so popular in the past that there are more than 100 latter works on Astrology such as Saravall etc. which are based on this treatise. This treatise was compiled somewhere during 505-587 A.D. At the end of this treatise, Varaha has given a brief introduction of himself in which he has mentioned himself to be a native of Kapitthapura near the modern city of Ujjain.

Every person in this world desires to know about the future of himself and his or her relatives. Varaha has successfully demonstrated the results of each zodiac sign on the life of a Jataka according to the planetary positions in his or her horoscope. This book is very important for the students and readers of astrological science.

It has been published presently with the Original Sanskrit Text and side by side English Translation of Swami Vijnananand. The English translation is assisted and supported with various examples, illustrations and notes at appropriate places. There is an Index of Verses at the end of the book for ready reference to readers. I hope this publication of the Brhat Jataka by Parimal Publications, Delhi will prove to very useful for the students and readers on Indian Astrological science.

Contents