1. A person born when four or more (a) powerful (b) planets occupy a single sign of the Zodiac becomes an ascetic of the Sakya, Ajivika, Bhikshuka, Vriddhasravaka, Chakra, Nirgrandha or Vanyasana class according as the most powerful planet of the group is Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, the Moon, Venus, Saturn or the Sun. (c) If such powerful planet be one that has suffered defeat in conjunction at the time of birth, the ascetic will, after a time, revert to his previous condition of life.

Notes

(a) That is 5, 6 or 7 planets.

(b) If no planet be powerful, there will be no Pravra- jya (ascetic yoga).

(c) The ascetic life of the most powerful planet will be embraced by the person first, then that of the planet next in power and so on. The first change of life will occur in the Dasa and Antardasa period of the most powerful planet; the succeeding changes will occur in the Antardasa periods of the respective planets, If the yoga planet be a single powerful planet which does not suffer defeat in conjunction, the ascetic life assumed will continue till death. We shall now explain the terms referring to the several classes of ascetics.

(1) Sakya: - A Buddhist ascetic dressed in red robes.

(2) Ajivika: - A Jaina ascetic; the term includes Vaishnava ascetics as well.

(3) Bhikshuka: - A Brahman ascetic who abandons his house and family and subsists entirely on alms.

(4) Vriddhasravaka: - known as Kapalika, a follower of Siva,

(5) Chakra: - kuown as Chakradhara, an ascetic who wears a discus.

(6) Nirgrandha: - a naked ascetic.

(7) Vanyasana: - an ascetic who subsists on the roots and fruits of the forest and is engaged in Divine meditation.

2. If the most powerful yoga planet be an Astan- gata planet, (a) a person will not become a Deekshita (b) but will be attached to persons who are such. Again, if the powerful planet which suffers defeat in conjunction be aspected by other planets, a person will not become a Deekshita (c), but will possess a strong desire to become one.

Notes

(a) This has already been explained (vide Notes to Stanza 2, Ch. 7.)

(b) That is, one of the holy order of men.

(c) If not aspected, he will become one, and after a time, revert to his former condition of life as stated in the last Stanza.

N.B. - Stanzas 1 and 2 should be read together.

3. If the lord of the sign occupied by the Moon aspects Saturn and be not aspected by any other planet, (a) or if Saturn (b) aspect the lord of the sign occupied by the Moon when such lord is not powerful (c) a person will become an ascetic. Again, if the Moon occupy the Drek-kana of Saturn and the Navamsa of Saturn or Mars and be aspected by Saturn (d), a person will become an ascetic (c).

Notes

(a) The Pravrajya will be that of such lord or Saturn whichever is powerful.

(b) When powerful according to the Commentator.

(c) The Pravrajya will be that of Saturn.

(d) And not aspected by any other planet.

(e) The ascetic life will be that described for Saturn.

4. A person born when Jupiter, the Moon and the rising sign are aspected by Saturn, when Jupiter occupies the 9th house from the Ascendant and under one of the Raja yogas becomes a scientific Author (a). Again, a person born when Saturn occupies the 9th house from the Ascendant and is not aspected by other planets and under a Raja yoga will become both an emperor and an ascetic (b).

Notes

(a) If the horoscope contain a Raja yoga and an ascetic yoga, the former will not take effect, but the latter will, such for instance as the lives of Varaha Mihira, Kanada Buddha, Panchasikha, Brahma-Gupta and others. If the horoscope contain two Raja yogas and an ascetic yoga, the person will become a king as well as a scientific Author - such as Janaka, Kasiraja, Suchidhwaja and others.

(b) If the horoscope contain no Raja yogas but only the ascetic yogas described in the Text, the person will become an ascetic.

End Of Pooryabhaga (Part I.)