The Study of Jyotisha · Chapter 38 of 54 · Part Seven · The Jaimini system

#The Jaimini system

#A second school

Almost everything in this course so far belongs to one broad tradition, running from Varahamihira through the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra to the later books. There is a second classical school with its own methods, named after the sage Jaimini: the Jaimini Sutras (also called the Upadesha Sutras).

The Jaimini Sutras are very short statements (sutras) in a compressed, almost coded style. Numbers are often hidden in words by a letter-to-number cipher (katapayadi), and the meaning of many sutras depends entirely on the commentaries. The text's date is unknown; it is certainly later than its legendary author. The standard English translation, by B. Suryanarain Rao, covers only the first two of the four chapters (adhyayas) that he saw (his introduction; others claim eight). Several of the Jaimini techniques also appear in the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, which suggests that the later recensions of that book absorbed them.

This chapter introduces the main Jaimini ideas and works each one for the example chart. Citations of the Jaimini Sutras give adhyaya, pada and sutra (JS 1.1.11 = adhyaya 1, pada 1, sutra 11), following Rao.

#1. Aspects between signs

In Jaimini astrology, signs aspect signs, and planets aspect whatever their sign aspects (JS 1.1.2–4; Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 8.1–5):

• each movable sign aspects the three fixed signs, except the one next to it;
• each fixed sign aspects the three movable signs, except the one next to it;
• each dual sign aspects the other three dual signs.

So Aries (movable) aspects Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, but not Taurus (next to it). Taurus (fixed) aspects Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, but not Aries. Gemini (dual) aspects Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.

These aspects are always mutual, and they differ from the Parashari aspects of Chapter 11. Aries and Taurus, for example, never aspect each other by sign.

Example. The ascendant Libra (movable) is aspected by the fixed signs Aquarius, Taurus and Leo (not Scorpio, next to it). So in Jaimini's system, the Moon (in Taurus) and Mercury (in Leo) aspect the ascendant. In Parashari aspects (Chapter 26), only Mars did. The two systems give quite different pictures, and should be kept apart.

#2. The movable significators (chara karakas)

In the Parashari system each planet has fixed significations (the Sun the father, Venus the spouse...). Jaimini adds a set of movable significators (chara karakas) that change from chart to chart.

The rule (JS 1.1.11–19; Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 32.1–17): rank the planets by how far they have travelled in their signs (degrees, then minutes, then seconds), ignoring which sign they are in. For Rahu, which moves backwards, use 30° minus its degrees. The planet with the highest degree is the atmakaraka, "significator of the self (soul)"; then the others in order:

The texts disagree on whether Rahu is included (eight karakas) or not (seven, with the mother and children merged) (JS 1.1.11; Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 32). Jaimini also notes that Saturn is the weakest planet (JS 1.1.24).

Example. Degrees within their signs: Sun 28°23′, Mars 27°29′, Saturn 26°08′, Mercury 25°26′, Moon 18°56′, Rahu (30° − 12°45′ =) 17°15′, Venus 7°50′, Jupiter 5°36′.

(With seven karakas, Rahu drops out and the list closes up from the fifth place.)

The Sun as atmakaraka: a self oriented to authority, purpose and visibility — and the Sun is in the 10th with full directional strength. Mars as amatyakaraka, the career significator, agrees with Chapter 35, where Mars was one of the planets of livelihood. Jupiter, exalted, as darakaraka, the spouse significator: by this measure the spouse is a strong, wise figure — a more favourable picture than Venus's debilitation in the navamsa (Chapter 32). Different methods, different emphases.

#3. The karakamsa

The navamsa sign of the atmakaraka is called the karakamsa. Jaimini reads it as a second ascendant, especially for the person's inner nature, spiritual life and the direction of their soul. The later books judge raja yogas from both the ascendant and the karakamsa (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 39, Chapter 19).

Example. The atmakaraka Sun is in Pisces navamsa (Chapter 12). The karakamsa is Pisces: a sign of compassion, spirituality and service, ruled by Jupiter — which is exalted in the birth chart.

#4. Arudha padas: the image of a house

The arudha pada of a house is the sign that shows how that house's matters appear to the world — the image, as distinct from the reality. The rule (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 29.2–3; JS 1.1.29–31): count from the house to its lord; then count the same number again from the lord. The sign you reach is the arudha.

The most important is the arudha of the 1st house, the arudha lagna: the person's public image.

An exception, and a disagreement. The Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra adds: if the count brings you back to the house itself, take the 10th from it instead; if it brings you to the 7th from the house, take the 4th from it (29.4–5). Rao's translation of the Jaimini Sutras states only the plain rule, and his worked examples do not use these exceptions.

Example. The ascendant is Libra; its lord Venus is in Cancer, the 10th sign from Libra. Count 10 signs again from Cancer: Aries. Aries is the 7th from Libra, so by Parashara's exception, take the 4th from Libra instead: Capricorn.

• By the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra: arudha lagna Capricorn.
• By Rao's literal Jaimini rule: arudha lagna Aries.

These give different public images (Capricorn: serious, ambitious, responsible; Aries: bold, independent, pioneering). A reader must choose a rule, and say which.

The arudha of the 12th house, the upapada, is read for marriage (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 30.1–6).

#5. Argala: intervention

Argala ("bolt" or "bar") describes how planets in certain houses intervene in the affairs of a house or planet (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 31.2–9; JS 1.1.5–10):

• planets in the 2nd, 4th and 11th from a house exert argala on it (they influence and support it);
• planets in the 12th, 10th and 3rd respectively obstruct that argala;
• the 5th is a secondary argala, obstructed by the 9th;
• three or more malefics in the 3rd give an argala that cannot be obstructed.

Example. On the ascendant (Libra): the 2nd (Scorpio) is empty; the 4th (Capricorn) holds Rahu, obstructed by the 10th (Cancer), which holds the Sun, Jupiter and Venus — a strong obstruction; the 11th (Leo) holds Mercury, obstructed by the 3rd (Sagittarius), which holds Saturn. One planet each way. A mixed argala on the self.

#6. Chara dasha

Jaimini's main dasha gives periods to signs, not planets (JS 1.1.26–34; Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 46.155–167).

The years of each sign = the number of signs counted from the sign to the sign holding its lord. The direction of counting depends on the sign: the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra divides the zodiac into four groups of three — Aries–Gemini, Cancer–Virgo, Libra–Sagittarius, Capricorn–Pisces — and counts forward for signs in the 1st and 3rd groups, backward for the 2nd and 4th. Add a year if the lord is exalted, subtract one if debilitated. Scorpio and Aquarius each have two lords (Mars and Ketu; Saturn and Rahu), with rules for choosing the stronger.

The order of the periods starts from the ascendant and runs forward or backward according to the 9th sign (46.167).

Sub-periods are each one-twelfth of the period (JS 1.1.34).

Two points are disputed. Santhanam's and Rao's worked examples count inclusively (a lord in the sign itself gives 1 year, in the 7th gives 7), but some modern schools subtract one. And Jaimini's own sutra (JS 1.1.26–27) gives the counting direction by odd and even signs, not by groups of three. This website follows the inclusive count and the groups, and says so.

Example. The ascendant Libra's lord Venus is in Cancer. Libra is in the third group, so count forward: Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer — 10 years. The 9th sign, Gemini, is in the first group, so the periods run forward from Libra:

In 2026 the Chara dasha of Pisces is running (2023–2033): the 6th house of service and problem-solving, and the karakamsa sign. Compare Vimshottari (Chapter 22): Jupiter's dasha, and Jupiter rules Pisces. Here the two systems point to the same planet.

#Evaluating Jaimini

The Jaimini system is ingenious, and many astrologers value it. A student should also know:

• the text is cryptic, incompletely translated, and heavily dependent on commentaries that differ;
• key rules (the number of karakas, the arudha exceptions, the counting in Chara dasha) are disputed between sources;
• it adds another set of independent methods, which multiplies the chances of a match after the event (Chapter 23).

Use it, if you use it, with a fixed set of rules chosen in advance.

#Summary

• The Jaimini Sutras are a second classical school, cryptic and partly translated (Rao: two of four adhyayas).
• Signs aspect signs: movable–fixed (not adjacent), dual–dual (JS 1.1.2–4).
• The chara karakas rank the planets by degree within their signs; the highest is the atmakaraka (JS 1.1.11–19; Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 32.1–17).
• The karakamsa is the atmakaraka's navamsa sign.
• The arudha pada shows the image of a house; Parashara's exceptions and Jaimini's plain rule disagree (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 29; JS 1.1.29–31).
• Argala: planets in the 2nd, 4th and 11th intervene; the 12th, 10th and 3rd obstruct (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 31).
• Chara dasha gives periods to signs (JS 1.1.26–34; Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 46.155–167).
• The example chart: atmakaraka Sun, amatyakaraka Mars, darakaraka Jupiter; karakamsa Pisces; arudha lagna Capricorn (or Aries); Chara dasha of Pisces in 2026.

#Exercises

1. Which signs does Cancer aspect in Jaimini's system? Which does Virgo aspect?
2. Planets' degrees in their signs: Sun 12°, Moon 29°, Mars 3°, Mercury 17°, Jupiter 22°, Venus 8°, Saturn 25°. Which planet is the atmakaraka? The darakaraka (seven karakas)?
3. The ascendant is Aries and Mars is in Cancer. Work out the arudha lagna by the plain rule, and by Parashara's exceptions.
4. Why might two Jaimini astrologers give the same chart different Chara dasha dates?
5. Explain argala in your own words.

Answers: 1. Cancer (movable) aspects the fixed signs except Leo (adjacent): Taurus, Scorpio, Aquarius. Virgo (dual) aspects Gemini, Sagittarius and Pisces. 2. Moon (29°) is the atmakaraka; the lowest, Mars (3°), is the darakaraka. 3. Mars is 4th from Aries; 4th from Cancer is Libra. Libra is the 7th from Aries, so by Parashara's exception take the 4th from Aries: Cancer. Plain rule: Libra; Parashara: Cancer. 4. Because of disputed rules: inclusive or exclusive counting; direction by groups of three or by odd and even signs; how to choose the stronger lord of Scorpio and Aquarius. 5. Planets in the 2nd, 4th and 11th from a house influence its affairs; planets in the 12th, 10th and 3rd can block that influence.