Jaimini: the Upadesha Sutras · Chapter 2 of 4

#Sign aspects and significators

#Aspects between signs (JS 1.1.2–4)

In Jaimini's system, signs aspect signs, and every planet aspects what its sign aspects:

• each movable sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) aspects the three fixed signs except the one next to it;
• each fixed sign (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) aspects the three movable signs except the one next to it;
• each dual sign (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) aspects the other three duals.

These aspects are always mutual. They differ from the aspects of Varahamihira and Parashara: for example, Aries and Taurus, being adjacent, never aspect each other by sign.

Example. Libra (movable) aspects Aquarius, Taurus and Leo — not Scorpio, which is next to it. So planets in Taurus and Leo aspect a Libra ascendant.

#The movable significators (JS 1.1.11–19)

Jaimini's most distinctive idea is a set of significators that change from chart to chart, the chara karakas:

1. Take the planets from the Sun to Saturn (seven), or include Rahu (eight) — the sutra allows either (JS 1.1.11).
2. Rank them by how far each has travelled in its sign, ignoring which sign (degrees, then minutes, then seconds). For Rahu, which moves backwards, use 30° minus its degrees.
3. The highest is the atmakaraka, the significator of the self; then the others in order (JS 1.1.13–19):

With seven planets, the mother's and children's significators are merged (JS 1.1.13–19). Jaimini also remarks that Saturn is the weakest planet (JS 1.1.24).

Example. A chart has the planets at these degrees within their signs: Sun 28°23′, Mars 27°29′, Saturn 26°08′, Mercury 25°26′, Moon 18°56′, Venus 7°50′, Jupiter 5°36′. With seven karakas: atmakaraka Sun, amatyakaraka Mars, then Saturn, Mercury, Moon, Venus, and darakaraka Jupiter (the lowest).

#The karakamsa

The navamsa sign occupied by the atmakaraka is the karakamsa. It is read as a second ascendant, especially for a person's inner nature, spiritual life and calling; planets in it and in the houses from it are judged as from the ascendant.

Example. If the atmakaraka Sun is in the navamsa of Pisces, the karakamsa is Pisces.

#Summary

• Signs aspect signs: movable–fixed and fixed–movable except the adjacent, dual–dual (JS 1.1.2–4).
• The movable significators rank the planets by degree within their signs; the highest is the atmakaraka, the lowest the darakaraka (JS 1.1.11–19); seven or eight karakas.
• The karakamsa is the atmakaraka's navamsa sign.

#Exercises

1. Which signs does Leo aspect?
2. Does Gemini aspect Cancer by Jaimini's rule?
3. Planets' degrees: Sun 3°, Moon 27°, Mars 15°, Mercury 9°, Jupiter 22°, Venus 18°, Saturn 11°. Name the atmakaraka, amatyakaraka and darakaraka (seven karakas).

Answers: 1. Leo (fixed) aspects the movable signs except Cancer (adjacent): Aries, Libra and Capricorn. 2. No: Gemini is dual and aspects only the other duals. 3. Atmakaraka Moon (27°), amatyakaraka Jupiter (22°), darakaraka Sun (3°).