The earth rotates on its own axis and this rotation is done in one day or 24 hours Earth revolves round the sun and this takes one year for one complete revolution. The path of the earth round the sun is called the ecliptic and the zodiac is a belt in the neighborhood of celestial equator extending 8 degree on either side of the ecliptic and measuring 360 degrees.
The zodiac surrounding the earth is circular in shape and is divided in to 12 equal parts of 30 degrees each for the purpose of Astrology and each division is called sign (RASIS) and are named as under.
HINDU NAME CORRESPONDING ENGLISH NAME
1. Mesha Aries (0-30 deg)
2. Vrishaba Taurus (30-60 deg)
3. Mithuna Gemini (60-90 deg)
4. Karkataka (Kataka) Cancer (90-120 deg)
5. Simha Leo (120-150 deg)
6. Kanya Virgo (150-180 deg)
7. Thula Libra (180-210 deg)
8. Vrischika Scorpio (210-240 deg)
9. Dhanus Sagittarius (240-270 deg)
10. Makara Capricorn (270-300 deg)
11. Kumbha Aquarius (300-330 deg)
12. Meena Pisces (330-360 deg)
Each sign derived its name from its resemblance to the group of stars formed in each division.
THE CONSTELLATIONS
The Zodiac is divided in to 27 nakshatra zones (or) constellations of 13 deg 20’ min each for the purpose of Astrology. These Nakshatras are fixed stars and self-illuminated. They are named as under:
1. Aswini 10. Makha 19. Moola
2. Bharani 11. Pubha 20. Poorvashada
3. Krittika 12. Uttara 21. Utharashada
4. Rohini 13. Hasta 22. Sravana
5. Mrigasira 14. Chitta 23. Dhanishta
6. Aridra 15. Swathi 24. Sathabisha
7. Punarvasu 16. Vishaka 25. Poorva bhadra pada
8. Pushya 17. Anuradha 26. Uttara bhadra pada
9. Aslesha 18. Jyesta 27. Revathi
The nakshatras (or) constellations are divided into 4 equal parts and each part is called nakshatra pada. Rasi is equal to 9-nakshatra pada. The zodiacal sign and the division of constellations are shown below in a diagram .
THE PLANETS
HINDU NAME CORRESPONDING ENGLISH NAME
1. SURYA 1. SUN
2. CHANDRA 2. MOON
3. KUJA 3. MARS
4. BUDHA 4. MERCURY
5. GURU 5. JUPITER
6. SUKRA 6. VENUS
7. SANI 7. SATURN
8. RAHU 8. DRAGON’S HEAD
9. KETU 9. DRAGON’S TAIL
THE HOROSCOPE
A Horoscope is a map of the heavens for a given moment which may be the birth time of the child (or) the time of an event taking place (or) the time of the query. Horoscope will contain the details of planetary position, Rasi chart, Navamsa chart and Dasa Bhukti details. Horoscopes are prepared with the help of Almanacs (or) Ephemeris.
Rasi chart is a map of heaven which shows the planetary position at given moment of time of birth of child (or) time of inquiry.
Ex: (1)
Lagna means the rising Sign at the time of birth. Rasi means the sign occupied by the moon at the time of birth. In the above chart Lagna is Dhanus. Rasi is Simha (because Moon is in Simha). The rasis are also called Houses (or) Bhavas. The Lagna sign will represent the first house. When we count from Lagna clock-wise, the second sign is called second house. Like wise the twelve houses are considered while analyzing the horoscope.
Navamsa chart is a ready reckoner through which we can easily find-out the Nakshatra pada in which the planets are posited. Navamsa chart is also drawn in the similar manner of Rasi Chart .
Ex: (2)
NECESSITY OF CONVERSION OF RECORDED TIME OF BIRTH INTO LOCAL MEAN TIME:
All the births are recorded in Standard time. Standard time is a uniform clock time used throughout the country, based upon the local mean time of a certain geographical meridian passing through the country and arbitrarily chosen by law, for the sake of convenience and facility. All watches and clocks are accordingly set to show the time.
Countries with large land area and several meridians passing through that country will have different local mean time depending on the longitude of the place. Therefore, the time of birth recorded from the clock is not the actual time of birth.
Local mean time at any given meridian is the true mean time at all places which lie on that meridian, irrespective of the latitude. Therefore, it is necessary to convert the Standard time (clock time) into local mean time. To convert the Standard time into local mean time add (or) subtract 4 minutes to every degree of longitude according to the place is in East or West of Standard Meridian. In India the Standard meridian is 82 deg 30 min East of Greenwich.
CASTING OF HOROSCOPE
Details required for casting the horoscope:
Date of birth
Time of birth
Place of birth
I step: Convert the recorded time of birth into local mean time.
II step: Find out the date of birth in the Almanac in a particular year and note down all the details given for that day in the Almanac. In most of the Almanacs position of the planets are given in Nakshtra Padas and by copying them, Rasi and Navamsa chart can easily be drawn.
TO FIND OUT JANMA LAGNA OR ASCENDANT:
III step: In some almanac’s (Panchanga’s) every month, for every date the beginning or ending times of lagnas will be given in a table form. By observing those tables the lagna can be fixed for the time of birth of the child.
In some Panchanga’s the date-wise tables are not given for different lagnas. But either the balance portion of rising sign on every day of a month at sunrise will be given or the elapsed portion of rising sign at sunrise will be given. If the elapsed portion of rising sign at sunrise is given, from this balance portion of that lagna is to be found out by deducting the elapsed portion from the total duration of rising sign, then by adding the duration of subsequent lagnas, the lagna at the time of birth can be found out . From that we can find out the elapsed portion and balance portion of the lagna at the time of birth. This is explained in the next paragraph.
Note down the time of sunrise on the day of birth. Deduct sun rise time from birth time. So you will get the elapsed time from sunrise in hours. Convert the hours into Ghatikas (or) Nazhikas.
24 hours – 60 Ghatikas
24 minutes – 1 Ghatika
24 seconds – 1 Vighati
Example:
For instance the native was born at Chennai at 11-31 AM on 14th day of April 1997 corresponding to the cycle year Prabhava in Solar Month Mesha (Chaithirai) 1st Tuesday.
The Sun rise at Chennai on 14.4.1997 6-01 AM
The birth time of the native 11-31 AM
Deducting the sun rise time from the birth time we get 5 hours and 30 minutes.
5 hours is equal to 12 Ghatikas 30 Vighatikas
30 minutes is equal to 1 Ghatikas 15 Vighatikas
Total 13 Ghatikas 45 Vighatikas
Therefore, the birth has taken place at 13 Ghatikas 45 Vighatikas. (This is called Udhayadhi Nazhikas.
TO FIND OUT THE BALANCE OF RISING SIGN ON THE DAY OF BIRTH AT SUNRISE:
(i) If the Almanac is referred, you can find out the Ghatikas remaining to be covered (Balance portion of rising sign at sunrise) by the sun in the solar month when the child was born against solar date of birth.
(ii) Without referring to the Almanac, we ourselves can work out the balance portion of rising sign at sunrise. On the first day of Mesha (Solar month Chittirai) the first deg of Mesha rises in the Eastern horizon at sun rise and the remaining signs gradually ascend till the next day at sun rise, On the second day of mesha the sun rise will take place in the second degree of Mesha. The Sunrise takes place in the last degree of Zodiac on 30th day of Meena, when the solar year ends. Thus the Lagna (or) Ascendant is the particular point of ecliptic considered with reference to particular horizon. Certain period of time is allotted to each of the Zodiacal Signs to rise, the duration of such periods will vary depending upon the latitude of the place. This is called Rasimana.
The degree and the sign in which; the sun rises at the time of birth will be ascendant at that particular time. From the Almanac find out in which solar month the child is born. Note down the total duration of rising Sign (Rasimana) for the given solar date of that month for the given latitude of the birth place, calculate the balance of rising sign at sunrise on the day of birth and note down the total duration of subsequent signs also. Rasimana is given in Ghatikas and Vighakitas. Divide the total duration of rising sign (Rasimana) by the total number of days of solar month. You will get the movement of sun in one day. Multiply it by number of solar days crossed by sun (i.e. upto previous day of birth) till sun rise on the day of birth. Add the duration of next Signs rising with the Balance of rising sign on the day of birth (solar day) till you get the time of birth in Ghatikas. Find out in which sign the Lagna falls. Note down duration of Lagna sign. Divide 30 deg by total duration of the Lagna sign and Multiply it by the time of birth in Ghatikas after sun rise. You will get the degrees and minutes passed by Lagna. We know that each sign is composed of 30 deg and 9 Quarters of constellation. So one quarter of sign will measure 30/9=3 1/3 deg (3deg 20 minutes). By which we can easily find out in which Nakshatra pada the Lagna falls.
POSITION OF THE MOON
Examine the Almanac and find out the constellation (or) ruling star at the time and day of birth. Find out the total duration of the star. Divide it by 4, you will get duration of one Nakshatra pada. Calculate the balance portion of the Nakshatra at the time, and day of birth by deducting the elapsed portion of Nakshatra from total duration of the Nakshatra. Find out in which Nakshatra pada, the ruling star falls by working out number of Nakshatra pada elapsed at the time of birth.
DASA BHUKTI
Divide the total Dasa period by total duration of the ruling star and multiple it by balance portion of ruling star. You will get the balance of Dasa period in years, months, and days.
NAVAMSHA
Work out the total number of Nakshatra padas from Aswini 1st pada to the star pada in which the planet is posited. Divide the total no. of padas by 12. Count the reminder from Mesha you will get the Navamsa sign in which that planet is posited.
