Jaimini: the Upadesha Sutras · Chapter 4 of 4

#Chara dasha

#Periods for signs

Jaimini's main period system, Chara dasha ("moving period"), gives periods to the twelve signs, not to the planets (JS 1.1.26–34).

#The years of a sign (JS 1.1.26–28)

A sign's years are the number of signs counted from the sign to the sign holding its lord (JS 1.1.28, in paraphrase).

• Direction: by Jaimini's sutra, count backward for even signs, with some exceptions the sutra leaves unspecified (JS 1.1.26–27). The BPHS instead divides the zodiac into four groups of three signs — Aries–Gemini, Cancer–Virgo, Libra–Sagittarius, Capricorn–Pisces — and counts forward for the first and third groups, backward for the second and fourth (BPHS 46.155–157).
• Counting: the worked examples in Rao and Santhanam count inclusively — a lord in the sign itself gives 1 year, a lord in the 7th gives 7. Some modern schools subtract one, reading a count of 0 (the lord in its own sign) as 12.
• Adjustments: add a year if the lord is exalted, subtract one if it is debilitated.
• Two lords: Scorpio has Mars and Ketu, Aquarius Saturn and Rahu; rules choose the stronger lord, or count to the other if one is in the sign itself (JS 1.1.28 with Rao's examples; BPHS 46.158–166).

#The order and the sub-periods

The periods run from the ascendant through the signs; the BPHS makes their direction, forward or backward, depend on the 9th sign (BPHS 46.167). Each period has twelve sub-periods, each one-twelfth of it (JS 1.1.34).

#An example

A Libra ascendant, with Venus (Libra's lord) in Cancer. Libra is in the third group (Libra–Sagittarius), so, by the BPHS's direction rule, count forward from Libra to Cancer: Libra 1, Scorpio 2, Sagittarius 3, Capricorn 4, Aquarius 5, Pisces 6, Aries 7, Taurus 8, Gemini 9, Cancer 10 — 10 years. The next periods follow from Scorpio, Sagittarius and so on, each computed the same way (for this chart: Scorpio 9, Sagittarius 9, Capricorn 2, Aquarius 3, Pisces 10 ...).

#The disputed points

The research behind this website found that the sources do not agree on:

1. the direction of counting (odd and even signs, as in the sutra, or groups of three, as in the BPHS);
2. inclusive or exclusive counting;
3. the rules for the double lords.

Different astrologers therefore give the same chart different Chara dasha dates. A careful reader states the rules used.

#Other Jaimini dashas

Rao's contents list shows that the second adhyaya also teaches Shula, Sthira, Navamsa and Yogardha dashas; the BPHS gives versions of several of them (46.168–190). They are not covered here.

#Summary

• Chara dasha gives periods to signs; a sign's years are the count from it to its lord (JS 1.1.26–28).
• Direction, inclusive counting and double lords are disputed between the sutra, Rao's examples and the BPHS.
• Twelve equal sub-periods (JS 1.1.34).

#Exercises

1. What is counted to find a sign's years in Chara dasha?
2. How long is each sub-period of a 6-year Chara period?
3. Give two reasons two astrologers might give different Chara dasha dates.

Answers: 1. The signs from the sign to the sign holding its lord. 2. Half a year. 3. Any two of: different direction rules, inclusive or exclusive counting, different handling of Scorpio's and Aquarius's two lords.