Rama Daivajna: the Muhurta Chintamani · Chapter 2 of 3

#The eight parts

#The eight and their weights (MC 6.21)

The Muhurta Chintamani names eight parts (kootas), each worth one point (guna) more than the last, for a total of 36 (MC 6.21 with the Pramitakshara):

The Muhurta Martanda adds that each is stronger than the one before (MM v.1).

#1. Varna (MC 6.22)

The Moon signs are classed: water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) Brahmin, fire signs Kshatriya, earth signs Vaishya, air signs Shudra. The groom's varna should be equal or higher: 1 point, else 0 (Pramitakshara) — a rule of its society.

#2. Vashya (MC 6.23)

Which sign is "amenable" to which: human signs dominate all except Leo, and water signs are their "food"; Leo dominates all except Scorpio; the rest "by worldly usage". The Pramitakshara scores: amenable 2, "food" 1, enmity 0. (The 5 × 5 tables with half-points used by software are first found in the 1939 Hindi commentary.)

#3. Tara (MC 6.24)

Count from each partner's nakshatra to the other's; remainders 3, 5 and 7 (vipat, pratyari, vadha) are bad. Both good: 3; one bad: 1½ (Pramitakshara). With inclusive counting, both cannot be bad at once.

#4. Yoni (MC 6.25–26)

Each nakshatra has an animal: horse (Ashvini, Shatabhisha), elephant (Bharani, Revati), sheep (Pushya, Krittika), serpent (Rohini, Mrigashira), dog (Mula, Ardra), cat (Ashlesha, Punarvasu), rat (Magha, Purva Phalguni), cow (Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Bhadrapada), buffalo (Swati, Hasta), tiger (Vishakha, Chitra), deer (Jyeshtha, Anuradha), monkey (Purva Ashadha, Shravana), lion (Purva Bhadrapada, Dhanishta), mongoose (Uttara Ashadha, with Abhijit). Each quarter-verse names a pair of great enemies: horse–buffalo, lion–elephant, sheep–monkey, mongoose–serpent, deer–dog, cat–rat, tiger–cow. The Pramitakshara's grades: same animal 4, friends 3, neutral 2, enemies 1, great enemies 0, with one example each — the rest "by worldly observation". (The full 14 × 14 table used by software is in no classical text read.)

#5. Graha maitri (MC 6.27–28)

The friendship of the two Moon-sign lords, by natural friendship (the same as the BPHS's). The Pramitakshara's points: same lord or mutual friends 5; friend and neutral 4; both neutral 3; friend and enemy 2; neutral and enemy 1; mutual enemies 0. (Software usually gives 1 and ½ where Rama gives 2 and 1.)

#6. Gana (MC 6.29–30)

The nakshatras' temperaments: deva (Ashvini, Mrigashira, Punarvasu, Pushya, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha, Shravana, Revati), manushya (Bharani, Rohini, Ardra, the Purvas and Uttaras), rakshasa (Krittika, Ashlesha, Magha, Chitra, Vishakha, Jyeshtha, Mula, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha) (6.29). The same gana is best; deva–manushya middling; rakshasa–manushya "death"; deva–rakshasa "enmity" (6.30). The Pramitakshara's points: same 6, deva–manushya 4, others 0 — symmetric. (Software uses an asymmetric table first printed in 1939.)

#7. Bhakoot (MC 6.31)

The distance between the two Moon signs: 6th/8th "death", 9th/5th "loss of children", 2nd/12th "poverty"; all others good. Good 7; bad 0; bad but cancelled 4 (Pramitakshara).

#8. Nadi (MC 6.34)

Three groups of nine nakshatras: adi, madhya, antya. The same nadi is inauspicious; the middle nadi "death". Different 8; same 0. The commentary quotes variant schemes of four and five nadis for particular regions, and remedies.

#The threshold

The Muhurta Chintamani states no threshold. The Muhurta Martanda says a total above 18 is auspicious (MM v.1). The modern bands (18–24, 24–32, above 32) are found in no text read.

#Summary

• Eight parts, 1 to 8 points, total 36 (MC 6.21); each stronger than the last (MM v.1).
• Rama's own points (Pramitakshara) differ from modern software for vashya, yoni, graha maitri and gana.
• The Martanda's threshold: above 18.

#Exercises

1. What does each partner's tara score if both counts are good? If one is bad?
2. Name the seven pairs of great-enemy animals.
3. What does Rama score for friend–enemy sign lords, and what does software usually give?
4. What does a cancelled bhakoot score?

Answers: 1. 3; 1½. 2. Horse–buffalo, lion–elephant, sheep–monkey, mongoose–serpent, deer–dog, cat–rat, tiger–cow. 3. 2; usually 1. 4. 4 (Pramitakshara).