Time of Birth etc.

Sloka – 1: I bow to the elephant-faced God, the son of the Goddess Bhavani, who is adored at the commencement of any undertaking by Brahma, Vishnu, Hara, Indra and the Devas, and in whose four hands, the weapons (Pasa) and the like, and a sweet cake are gleaming and who is the principal Deity of king Vikramarka of the Solar race.

Sloka – 2: I bow to the great Goddess, Sri Kali, who has reserved a snug corner in her left side of the body for the residence of Cupid, who confers on her devotees all the they desire, who holds in her hands (Sankha), (Chakra), the power of protection and granting boons, who is mounted on a lion, who is sporting with the Moon crested God, who is shining brilliantly with her three eyes and who takes a keen interest in the welfare and protection of king Vikrama of the Solar race.

By the reference to King Vikramarka in the above two Slokas, it may be surmised that Kalidasa, the author of this work was under the patronage of that King.

Sloka – 3: In the first half of this work every thing has already been said in detail regarding Definitions and the like, and the same may be conveniently perused. I no describe in this latter half of Kalamrita, for the delectation of the wise, the treatment of horoscopes, about queries, the true and very minute details of effects about past, present and future, couched in verses of (Sardulavikriditae) metre, and which is capable of attracting wealth in multifarious ways.

The reference here by the author relates to the work – generally known in South India as Kalamritae. That book will have to be called in future as (Purva Kalamrita) to distinguish it from the present one. It contains seven Chapters or Bindus and consists of more than 320 Slokas, all in Sardula Vikridita metre.

Sloka – 4: The exact time of birth in terms of Ghatikas, etc., that have elapsed since Sunrise, and the gnomonic shadow indicated by the instruments and other appliances should first be ascertained. Then the duration of Day and Night on the day of birth in question. From the correct position of the Sun with respect to the First Point of Aries ®, the Lagna should be calculated. Next, should be ascertained through the Guru’s blessings the exact positions of the several planets in the zodiac at the time as revealed by the ‘Drink) system of calculations. Then the Bhavas with their Sandhis. All these should be determined with a clear intellect by the intelligent Astrologer.

Sloka – 5: Multiply the Ghatikas and Vigha tikas that have elapsed since Sunrise by 4 and divide the product by 9. The remainder will prepresent the number of the asterism (of birth) reckoned from the groups of nine beginning with Aswini, Magha or Moola as the case may be.

Suppose there was a birth at 53 ¾ ghatikas after Sunrise on the night of Friday, the 23rd July 1875. Then according to the method above enunciated, we have to multiply 53 ¾ by 4 and divide the product by 9; we get a remainder 8 which shows the star at the time to be Pushya, its Anujanma, Anuradha, or its Trijanma, Uttarabhandra. The natal star of the native was actually Uttarabhadra.

Or, the ghatikas, etc., that have elapsed since Sunrise at the time of birth should be converted into Vighatikas and then divided by 225 (Tatva=25 and Aswin=2). Divide the remainder into the following groups of vighatikas as may be found possible: viz., 15-30-45-60-75.

According to this method, we have to multiply the 53 ¾ ghatikas by 60 to convert them to vightikas, thus: 53 ¾ x 60 or 215 x 15. This has to be divided by 225. Thus 215 x 15 225 = 14 1/3. This falls within the 1st group of 15, which shows hat the sex is male Vide next Sloka.

Sloka – 6: These five groups represent, in their order, male, female, male, female and male respectively.

i.e., any remainder from 0 to 15 will indicate the birth of a male; while that exceeding 15 and below 45, a female; any remainder above 45 and below 90 will denote a male; while that over 90 will denote a male; while that over 90 and below 150, a female. A remainder exceeding 150 and less than 225 will signify the native to be of the male sex.

Again, find out the Rasi and Navamsa occupied by Mandi as well as the Moon. The Lagna of birth will correspond to the sign occupied by Mandi or the Moon, whichever of them is stronger. Or, it may be the 7th, the 5th or the 9th from either of the above two signs. Should the Navamsa Rasis occupied by these two (viz., Mandi and the Moon) be found to possess greater strength than their corresponding Rasis, the Lagna will correspond to any of the aforesaid houses reckoned from the stronger of the two Navamsa Rasis.

The method advocated above by the author to deduce the Lagna at birth through the position of Mandi or the Moon at the time of birth does not appear to agree with the one given by Mantreswara in his Phaladeepika cf. III-16. Mantreswara says “Note the Rasi occupied by Mandi at a birth and note also where the lord of that Rasi is posited. The Lagna at birth will be a position triangular to that of the aforesaid lord or one triangular to the Navamsa occupied by the owner of the sign representing the Navamsa occupied by (Gulika). When the Moon is strong, the Lagna should be deduced similarly through the Moon alone instead of through Mandi.” Mantreswara’s view appears as correct.

Sloka – 7: The duration of the day in terms of Ghatikas multiplied by 26,22,18,14,10,6 and 2 respectively and divided by 30 will indicate (during the day) the time (in ghatikas elapsed since sunrise) of the exact position of (Mandi, son of Saturn), in the seven week-days counted from Sunday onwards. The period of Day or Night when divided by 8 will indicate the length of a part presided over by each of the planets. In day time, the lords of the first seven parts are the seven planets reckoned from the lord of the week day chosen in the order – Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn.

Sloka – 8: The 8th or last portion is lordless Saturn’s portion in each day is called Gulika. In the night, the lords of the first seven portions or Muhurtas are the seven planets counted (in the same order as aforesaid) from the lord of the 5th week-day from the day chosen. Here again, Saturn’s muhurta is Gulika. His exact position corresponds to the Lagna at the very end of that muhurta. These two sons of Saturn – Mandi and Gulika-are declared by sage Mandavya as two villains, and they cause a lot of injury in the house dwelt or tenanted by them.

The distinction between Mandi and Gulika should be carefully noted. Their exact positions on any week-day are not the same. Take for instance a Saturday. Supposing that the length of the day to be 30 ghatikas, we have Mandi’s position to correspond with the Lagna at 2 ghatikas after Sunrise, while Gulika’s position will correspond to the Lagna at 3 ¾ ghatikas after Sunrise.

Sloka – 9: If at the birth of a child the Lagna be Kataka, Mesha, Vrischika, Tula or Kumbha, the lying-in-chamber will be in the eastern portion of the house. If ti be Simha or Makara, the chamber will be located in the southern portion of the house. If it be Vrishabha, the lying-in-chamber will be in the western portion of the house. If the birth be in Kanya, Dhanus, Mithuna, or Meena, the lying-in-chamber is in the north of the house. The place of birth or a child will usually be that corresponding to the Lagna or its Navamsa whichever of them is stronger. Cf. V-20; V-13.

Sloka – 10: When the Moon does not aspect the Lagna, the birth of the child will take place when the father is absent in another village, is in his own village, or is on his way home, according as the Sun is in a moveable, immoveable or in a dual sign, and at the same time be also posited either in the 9th or the 8th house, and not otherwise. If the Moon be in conjunction with malefic planets, much distress has to be endured by the mother during the delivery. Cf. V-1, 17.

Sloka – 11: The females attending on the woman in child-bed are as many as there are planets between the rising sign and the Moon. Those that are without the lying-in-chamber will be denoted by the number of planets that are away from these two limits. The quantity of oil in the lamp will vary with the portion to be traversed by the Moon in the sign entered upon, while the wick has to be guessed from the Lagna, i.e., will vary with the portion of the rising sign still below the horizon. The character of the lamp is to be guessed from the character of the sign occupied by the Sun ; i.e., whether the light is moveable, fixed or both, is to be declared from the nature of the Rasi in which the Sun is. The Sun, Venus, Mars, Rahu, Saturn the Moon Mercury and Jupiter are respectively the lords of the quarters – East, Southeast, South, Southwest, West, Northwest, North and Northeast. The door of the lying-in-chamber is to be guessed by means of the planets occupying the Kendra position, or rather by means of those that are possessed of strength; i.e., when more than one planet occupy the Kendra position, the door must be guessed by the strongest of them; when there are no planets in the Kendras, find which of the Kendras is trongest, and the direction foaced by the door is guessed accordingly.