Ashtaka Varg

1-4. Maitreya said: “O Venerable Sage! You have described many kinds of effects, relating to the Grahas and Bhavas, after incorporating the views of many sages and Acharyas, but it is not possible to say with certainty, if a particular effect is quite correct, after considering the contradictions in the effects by the movements of the various Grahas. As because of sinful deeds, committed by people in Kaliyuga, their minds have become blunt, be kind enough to describe a method, which would enable even the shallow minded persons to ascertain their happiness and sorrows and determine their longevity on the basis of the positions of the Grahas in transit.”

5-6. The sage replied: “O Brahmin! You have put a very intelligent question. I will now describe the Shastra for the benefit of all, the Shastra, in which there will be no contradictions in judging the effects of happiness and sorrows and for determination of the longevity. You now listen to me carefully.

7-11. If the 12 Bhavas, including Lagn, are occupied by, or aspected by benefic Grahas, they yield auspicious results, according to their characteristics, but this happens, where the Grahas concerned are in their exaltation Rashi, own Rashi, or posited in a benefic Bhava. There will be no good effects, if such Grahas are in depression, or posited in an inauspicious Bhava. Similarly the Bhavas, associated with, or aspected by malefics in depression, or posited in malefic Bhavas, yield adverse results, according to their characteristics. If such Grahas be in their exaltation Rashi, the effects will not be adverse. This is how the general effects have been described by the Daivajnas. I have only repeated those effects. The main purposes of this Jyotish Shastra are to determine the longevity and joys and sorrows of the people, but because the movements of the Grahas are so subtle, even sages, like Vashista and Brihaspati, have not been able to be quite definite in this respect. Then how can a common man, particularly in Kaliyuga, do so.

12. There are two divisions, or parts of the Jyotish Shastra, namely general and particular. I have already dealt with the general part. I now come to the other part, which deals with this subject in particular.

13-15. As the effects of the twelve Bhavas are judged from Lagn and Candr, effects of the twelve Bhavas and the various Grahas are judged in the same manner. Therefore the inauspicious places from the seven Grahas, named, as Karan, beginning from Surya and Lagn (total 8), should be marked by dots (Bindus) and auspicious places, named, as Sthan, by small vertical lines (Rekhas) and on the basis of their assessment should the judgment of the horoscope and predictions be made.”

Notes. The above arrangement is known, as AshtakaVarg. The meaning of AshtakaVarg is literally the group of eight things. In other words it is the combination of the good and bad positions of a Grah with reference to the seven Grahas and Lagn. So it is the combination of the benefic and malefic marks (the Rekhas and the Bindus) in a planet’s chart with reference to the position of the eight Grahas (here Lagn is to be treated, as a Grah).

16. Five Grahas in 1st, 2nd, 8th, 3rd and the 12th Bhavas from Surya are Karanprad (dot significators). Similarly four Grahas in the 7th and 4th, three Grahas in the 6th and 9th, six Grahas in the 5th, 2 Grahas in the 10th and one Grah in the 11th are dot significators.

17-19. Thus Lagn, Candr, Guru, Sukr and Budh in the 1st, 2nd and 8th from Surya; Surya, Mangal, Sani, Candr and Guru in the 12th; Budh, Candr, Sukr, Guru in the 4th; Lagn, Candr, Sukr in the 9th; Surya, Sani and Mangal in the 6th; Lagn, Budh, Guru and Candr in the 7th; Sukr in the 11th; Surya, Sani, Sukr, Guru and Mangal in the 3rd; Guru and Sukr in the 10th; Surya, Sani, Candr, Lagn Mangal and Sukr in the 5th are Karanprad, or dot indicators.

20-22. In Candr’s AshtakaVarg 6 Grahas in the 9th and the 2nd, 5 Grahas in the 4th, 8th and the 1st, one Grah in the 10th and the 3rd, 4 Grahas in the 5th, 3 Grahas in the 6th and the 7th and 1st, eight in the 12th are Karanprad. Thus Lagn, Surya, Mangal, Sani and Sukr, these five in the 1st; Lagn, Budh, Surya, Candr, Sani and Sukr, these 6 in the 2nd; Guru in the 3rd; Surya, Sani, Candr, Lagn and Mangal, these 5 in the 4th; Sukr, Budh, Guru, these 3 in the 6th; Mangal, Lagn and Sani, these 3 in the 7th; Mangal, Lagn, Sani, Sukr and Candr, these five in the 8th; Lagn, Surya, Mangal, Sani, Budh and Guru, these 6 in the 9th; Sani only in the 10th; none in the 11th; all the eight in the 12th from their own places are Karanprad. These Grahas in the other Bhavas are Rekhaprad (line significators).

23-27. In the AshtakaVarg of Mangal 6 Grahas in the 12th, 4th and 7th, 5 Grahas in the 5th, 6 Grahas in the 2nd, 7 Grahas in the 9th, 5 Grahas in the 1st and 8th, 4 Grahas in the 3rd, 3 Grahas in the 10th and 2 Grahas in the 6th are Karanprad. In the 11th no Grah is Karanprad. In other words all the Grahas in the 11th from their own places are Rekhaprad. Thus Surya, Candr, Budh, Guru and Sukr, these five in the 1st; Lagn, Surya, Candr, Budh, Guru and Sani, these 6 in the 2nd; Sukr, Mangal, Guru and Sani, these 4 in the 3rd; Surya, Candr, Budh, Guru, Sukr and Lagn, these 6 in the 4th; Candr, Mangal, Guru, Sukr and Lagn, these 5 in the 5th; Mangal and Sani, these 2 in the 6th; Budh, Candr, Surya, Sukr, Guru and Lagn, these 6 in the 7th; Budh, Candr, Surya, Lagn and Guru, these five in the 8th; Surya, Candr, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Sukr and Lagn, these 7 in the 9th; Sukr, Candr and Budh, these 3 in the 10th; none in the 11th; Surya, Sani, Budh, Candr, Lagn and Mangal, these 6 in the 12th from their own places are Karanprad.

28-30. In the AshtakaVarg of Budh 3 Grahas in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 10th, 6th and 9th, 2 Grahas in the 8th, 6 Grahas in the 3rd and the 7th, none in the 11th, 5 Grahas in the 5th and 12th are Karanprad. Thus Surya, Candr and Guru, these 3 in the 1st; Guru, Surya and Budh, these 3 in the 2nd; Lagn, Surya, Mangal, Sani, Candr and Guru, these 6 in the 3rd; Budh, Surya and Guru, these 3 in the 4th; Guru, Mangal, Candr, Sani and Lagn, these 5 in the 5th; Sukr, Sani and Mangal, these 3 in the 6th; Budh, Candr, Lagn, Surya, Sukr and Guru, these 6 in the 7th; Budh and Surya, these 2 in the 8th; Guru, Candr and Lagn, these 3 in the 9th; Surya, Guru and Sukr, these 3 in the 10th; none in the 11th; Lagn, Candr, Mangal, Sani and Sukr these 5 in the 12th from their own places are Karanprad.

31-34. In the AshtakaVarg of Guru one Grah in the 2nd and 11th, 2 Grahas in the 10th, 7 Grahas in the 12th, 4 Grahas in the 6th, 5 Grahas in the 8th and 3rd, 3 Grahas in the remaining Bhavas are Karanprad. Thus Sukr, Candr and Sani, these 3 in the 1st; Sani in the 2nd and 11th; Lagn, Mangal, Candr, Budh and Sukr, these 5 in the 3rd; Surya, Guru and Mangal, these 3 in the 5th; Sukr, Sani and Candr, these 3 in the 4th; Budh, Sukr and Sani, these 3 in the 7th; Guru, Mangal, Surya and Candr, these 4 in the 6th; all except Sani, these 7 in the 12th; Candr and Sani, these 2 in the 10th; Sani, Mangal and Guru, these 3 in the 9th; Lagn, Sani, Sukr, Candr and Budh, these 5 in the 8th from their own places are Karanprad.

35-38. In the AshtakaVarg of Sukr 2 Grahas in the 5th, 8th and 3rd, 5 Grahas in the 1st, 2nd, 12th, 10th, 8 Grahas in the 7th, 6 Grahas in the 6th, one in the 9th, 3 in the 4th, none in the 11th are Karanpradas. Thus Surya, Mangal, Budh, Guru and Sani, these 5 in the 1st and the 2nd; all the 8 Grahas in the 7th; Guru and Surya, these 2 in the 3rd; Surya and Mangal, these 2 in the 5th; Surya in 9th; Surya, Budh and Guru, these 3 in the 4th; Mangal and Budh, these 2 in the 8th; Sukr, Surya, Candr, Sani, Lagn and Guru, these 6 in the 6th; none in the 11th; Lagn, Sani, Budh, Sukr and Guru, these 5 in the 12th; Lagn, Mangal, Budh, Candr, Surya, these 5 in the 10th from their own places are Karanpradas.

39-42. In the AshtakaVarg of Sani 7 Grahas in the 2nd, 7th, 9th, 6 Grahas in the 8th, Lagn and 4th, 4 Grahas in the 10th, 3rd and 12th, one Grah in the 6th, 5 Grahas in the 5th, none in the 11th are Karanpradas. Thus Candr, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Sukr and Sani, these 6 in the 4th and the 1st; Candr, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Sukr, Sani and Lagn, these 7 in the 2nd and the 7th; Surya, Candr, Mangal, Guru, Sukr, Sani and Lagn, these 7 in the 9th; Candr, Guru, Sukr and Sani, these 4 in the 10th; Guru, Surya, Budh and Sukr, these 4 in the 3rd; Surya in the 6th; Lagn, Candr, Sani, Surya, these 4 in the 12th; Sukr, Surya, Candr, Budh and Lagn, these 5 in the 5th; Candr, Mangal, Guru, Sukr, Sani and Lagn, these 6 in the 8th; none in the 11th from their own places are Karanpradas. The remaining places are Rekhapradas and are auspicious.

43-45. The sage said. Now I will describe the auspicious Bhavas for the benefit of the Acharyas. In the AshtakaVarg of Surya: Sani, Mangal and Surya in the 2nd, 8th and 1st; Guru and Budh in the 5th; Budh, Candr and Lagn in the 3rd; Lagn, Surya, Sani and Mangal in the 4th; Lagn, Surya, Sani, Mangal, Budh and Candr in the 10th; Surya, Candr, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Sani and Lagn in the 11th; Lagn, Sukr and Budh in the 12th; Lagn, Sukr, Budh, Guru and Candr in the 6th; Surya, Mangal, Sani and Sukr in the 7th; Surya, Mangal, Sani, Budh and Guru in the 9th from their own places are Rekhapradas.

46-48. In the AshtakaVarg of Candr: Budh, Candr and Guru in the 1st; Guru and Mangal in the 2nd; Budh, Surya, Candr, Mangal, Sani, Sukr and Lagn in the 3rd; Guru, Sukr and Budh in the 4th; Mangal, Budh, Sukr and Sani in the 5th; Surya, Candr, Mangal, Sani and Lagn in the 6th; Surya, Candr, Guru, Budh and Sukr in the 7th; Surya, Budh and Guru in the 8th; Sukr and Candr in the 9th; Surya, Budh, Guru, Sukr, Candr, Lagn and Mangal in the 10th and all the 8 Grahas in the 11th from their own places are Rekhapradas. No Grah is Rekhaprad in the 12th.

49-50. In the AshtakaVarg of Mangal: Lagn, Sani and Mangal in the 1st; Mangal in the 2nd; Lagn, Budh, Candr and Surya in the 3rd; Sani and Mangal in the 4th; Budh and Surya in the 5th; Budh, Candr, Guru, Surya, Lagn and Sukr in the 6th; Sani and Mangal in the 7th; Sani, Mangal and Sukr in the 8th; Sani in the 9th; Mangal, Surya, Guru, Sani and Lagn in 10th; all in the 11th and Guru and Sukr in the 12th from their own places are Rekhapradas.

51-52. In the AshtakaVarg of Budh: Lagn, Sani, Mangal, Sukr and Budh in the 1st; Lagn, Mangal, Candr, Sukr and Sani in the 2nd; Sukr and Budh in the 3rd; Lagn, Candr, Sani, Sukr and Mangal in the 4th; Budh, Sani and Sukr in the 5th; Guru, Budh, Surya, Candr and Lagn in the 6th; Mangal and Sani in the 7th; Mangal, Sani, Lagn, Candr, Sukr and Guru in the 8th; Sani, Mangal, Surya, Budh and Sukr in the 9th; Lagn, Sani, Mangal, Budh and Candr in the 10th; all in the 11th and Guru, Budh and Surya in the 12th from their own places are Rekhapradas.

53-55. In the AshtakaVarg of Guru: Lagn, Mangal, Surya and Budh in the 1st and 4th; Guru, Lagn, Mangal, Surya, Budh, Candr and Sukr in the 2nd; Sani, Guru and Surya in the 3rd; Sukr, Candr, Lagn, Budh and Sani in the 5th; Sukr, Lagn, Budh and Sani in the 6th; Lagn, Mangal, Guru, Surya and Candr in the 7th; Guru, Surya and Mangal in the 8th; Sukr, Surya, Lagn, Candr and Budh in the 9th; Guru, Budh, Mangal, Surya, Sukr and Lagn in the 10th; all except Sani in the 11th and Sani in the 12th from their own places are Rekhapradas.

56-58. In the AshtakaVarg of Sukr: Lagn, Sukr and Candr in the 1st; Lagn, Sukr and Candr in the 2nd; Lagn, Sukr, Candr, Budh, Sani and Mangal in the 3rd; Lagn, Sukr, Candr, Sani and Mangal in the 4th; Lagn, Budh, Candr, Guru, Sani and Sukr in the 5th; Budh and Mangal in the 6th; none in the 7th; Sukr, Surya, Candr, Guru, Lagn and Sani in the 8th; all except Surya in the 9th; Sukr, Guru and Sani in the 10th; all in the 11th; Mangal, Candr and Surya in the 12th from their own places are Rekhapradas.

59-60. In the AshtakaVarg of Sani: Surya and Lagn in the 1st; Surya in the 2nd; Lagn, Candr, Mangal and Sani in the 3rd; Lagn and Surya in the 4th; Guru, Sani and Mangal in the 5th; all except Surya in the 6th; Surya in the 7th; Surya and Budh in the 8th; Budh in the 9th; Surya, Mangal, Lagn and Budh in the 10th; all in the 11th; Mangal, Budh, Guru and Sukr in the 12th from their own places are Rekhapradas.

61-64. In the AshtakaVarg of Lagn 3 Grahas in the 1st and 4th, 2 Grahas in the 3rd, 5 Grahas in the 2nd, 6 Grahas in the 5th, 8th, 9th and 12th, one Grah in the 10th, 11th and 6th and all except Guru in the 7th are Karanpradas. Thus Lagn, Surya and Candr in the 1st; Lagn, Mangal, Candr, Surya and Sani in the 2nd; Guru and Budh in the 3rd; Lagn, Candr, Mangal, Budh, Sani and Surya in the 5th; Lagn, Candr and Mangal in the 4th; Sukr in the 6th; all except Guru in the 7th; Lagn, Surya, Candr, Mangal, Guru and Sani in the 8th; Lagn, Surya, Candr, Mangal, Budh and Sani in the 9th; Sukr in the 10th and 11th; Lagn, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Sukr and Sani in the 12th from their own places are Karanpradas.

65-68. In the AshtakaVarg of Lagn: Sani, Budh, Sukr, Guru and Mangal in the 1st; Budh, Guru and Sukr in the 2nd; Lagn, Surya, Candr, Mangal, Sukr and Sani in 3rd; Surya, Budh, Guru, Sukr and Sani in the 4th; Guru and Sukr in the 5th; all except Sukr in the 6th; Guru in the 7th; Budh and Sukr in the 8th; Guru and Sukr in the 9th; all except Sukr in the 10th; all except Sukr in the 11th and Surya and Candr in the 12th from their own places are Rekhapradas.

69. In the charts of AshtakaVarg Karan is signified by a Bindu, or dot and Sthan by a Rekhapradas, or line. Karan is inauspicious, while Sthan is auspicious.

70-72. To identify the auspicious and inauspicious Bhavas in the AshtakaVarg a chart should be prepared with 14 horizontal lines and ten vertical lines. The form of the chart so prepared will consist of 117 apartments. In this chart in the first line incorporates the names of the seven Grahas and Lagn. In the first column write the numbers of all the 12 Bhavas. After this mark dots under the Grah and against the Karanprad Bhavas.

By doing so the Karanprad Bhavas of all the 8 Grahas, including Lagn, will become known clearly and whenever the AshtakaVarg Grah will pass in transit the dot-marked Bhavas, he will yield unfavourable results. In his transit to other Bhavas he would give favourable effects.The following table shows the dots in the AshtakaVarg of Surya.

Bhava	SU	MO	MA	ME	JU	VE	SA	ASC	Total
1									5
2									5
3									5
4									4
5									6
6									3
7									4
8									5
9									3
10									2
11									1
12									5

It will be seen that there are dots in the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 12th houses from the Sun. Therefore those four houses are inauspicious, that is, unfavourable results will be derived whenever the natal Sun transits those four houses from him. The transit results to other houses, namely 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 will not be unfavourable. Similarly the result of transit of the Sun in 3, 5, 6 and 12 from Mars and Saturn and in 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 12 from the Moon will be unfavourable. Similar assessment has to be made in case of dots under other planets in the above chart. Transit of the Sun to other places without dots will not produce unfavourable effects.