1. According to Maya, Vavanacharya, Manittha and Parasara, the maximum number of the years (a) of the Sun, the Moon and other planets are respectively 19, 25, 15, 12, 15, 21 and 20 when the planets are in their exaltation degrees.

Notes

(a) That is, the Savana year - a year consisting of 360 Savana days. A Savana day counts from Sun-rise to Sun-rise.

A Soura or Solar year consists of 365.242264 days.

(b) In this chapter, several methods are given for, determining the length of human and other animal life from the planetary positions at the time of birth. The Author first proceeds to state what is known as Pinda-yurdaya.

The years given by the Sun when in his exaltation

The exaltation signs with the exaltation degrees of the several planets are given in Stanza 13, Ch. I.

Before the length of life can be ascertained, the years given above have to be subjected to various reductions.

2. If the planets are in their depression degrees, their years will be one-half of those stated above; if in any other places, the years shall be obtained by proportion (a). The number of years given by Lagna is the same as the number of Navamsas of the rising sign that may have risen above the horizon (b). According to some (c), the number of years given by Lagna is the number of signs between the first point of Aries and the Lagna (d). Again, if a planet be in an inimical sign, he loses a third of his period (e); if he be an Astangata (f) planet, he loses one half (g); but no reduction need be made in the case of Mars (h) occupying an inimical sign, or in the case of Saturn and Venus being Astangata planets.

Notes

(a) This reduction is known as Neechardhaharana. Suppose, for instance, the Sun to occupy the 21st degree of Sagittari. Required his years. The exaltation degree of the Sun is the 10th degree of Aries and his depression degree is the 10th degree of Libra. When in the latter degree, the number of years of the Sun will be one-half of what it is in the former degree, i.e., one-half of 19, or 9 1/2 years. From the 10th degree of Libra to the 10th degree of Aries is 180 degrees. So that, every degree gives us 9 1/2 /180 years. Now, from the 10th degree of Libra to the 21st degree of Sagittari is 2 signs and 11 degrees, i.e., 60 + 11 or 71 degrees. 71 degrees give us 71 x 9 1/2 /180years

= 3 years 8 months and 29 days. Adding this to 9 1/2 years, we get 13 years, 5 months and 29 days. The years of the other planets may be similarly ascertained. These years are subject to certain reductions as will be seen further on.

(d) The Author gives here what is known as Lagnayurdaya : that is, the rising sign gives a number of years in the same way as the planets do. A sign of Zodiac, consisting of nine Navamsas, gives us 9 years. So that, if the 10th degree of Leo be rising, the number of years given by Lagna is 10/30 x 9 years = 3 years.

(c) Some: Manittha and men of his school. In this view, the Commentator concurs.

(d) In other words, each sign of the Zodiac gives a year; so that, if the 10th degree of Leo - the 5th sign from Aries be rising, the number of years given by Lagna = 4 + 10/30 years = 4 years and 4months. The Commentator adds that according to Saravali, in the case of Lagnayurdaya, the rule given in note (b) should be followed if the lord of the rising Navamsa be powerful, and that given in this note should be followed if the lord of the rising sign be powerful.

(e) Planetary period ascertained as per note (a). In other words, 2/3 of his years shall be taken. This reduction is known as Satru-Kshetraharana.

(f) A planet is said to be an Astangata one when he disappears within a particular limit from the Sun, his light being then obscured by the light of the Sun. This limit varies with different planets. In direct course, disappearance and re-appearance take place as follow:

The reduction is known as Astangata-harana.

(y) In other words, half of his period shall be taken. But where both Satrukhetra and Astangata reductions have to be made, the greater reduction shall be made, (Garga).

(h) The word used in the text is Vakra; this is interpreted to mean " Mars " by some and " a planet of retrograde motion " by others. So that, according to the latter, no reduction for being in an inimical sign need be made from his years if the planet be retrograde in motion. In this view, Varaha Mihira concurs. But the other view has the support of Badarayana and Garga.

3. If malefic planets occupy the 12th, 11th, 10th, 9th, 8th, or the 7th house from the rising sign, a reduction in full, one of one-half, one-third, one-fourth, one-fifth and one-sixth, shall be made respectively in the years obtained (a). If the planets occupying the said houses be benefic ones, the reduction will only be one-half (b) of what was stated for each. But if several planets occupy a single sign, the reduction shall be made for the most powerful one. This is according to Satyacharya (c).

Notes

This reduction is known as Chakrapataharana and must always be made. Where two reductions have to be made, either may be done first and the other to the result. The final result will be the same.

(a) o, 1/2 2/3, 3/4, 4/5 and 5/6 of the years shall respectively be taken.

(b) Where the amount of reduction was stated to be full in the case of a malefic planet, it is only one-half in the case of a benefic planet; where it was stated to be one-half in the former case, it is only one-fourth in the latter case and so forth. In other words 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, of periods shall be taken.

(c) In this view, Varaha Mihira concurs.

4. If a malefic planet (a) occupy the rising sign, then multiply the total number of years already obtained by the number of Navainsas between the first point of Aries and the Lagna of the rising Navamsa and divide the product by 108. (b) The quotient will be the number of years to be subtracted (c) from the total number of years already obtained (d). But, if the malefic planet be aspected by a benefic one, the amount of reduction will only be one-half of what was stated above.