Varahamihira: the Brihat Jataka, the Brihat Samhita and the Panchasiddhantika · Chapter 10 of 22 · Part Two · The Brihat Jataka
The shapes of the sky
Brihat Jataka, chapter XII — "On Nabhasa Yogas"
A riddle to count them (XII.1)
Nine, ten and eight, multiplied respectively by three, three and four, give the sums of the numbers of the first two, the first three, and all the four groups of Nabhasa yogas. The Yavanas treat extensively of one thousand and eight hundred of such yogas. We shall here summarise them (XII.1).
9 × 3 = 27, 10 × 3 = 30, 8 × 4 = 32: so the first two groups have 27 yogas, the first three 30, all four 32 — and the groups contain 20, 7, 3 and 2 (Aiyar's note). Aiyar shows at the end of the chapter how the Yavanas' 1,800 arise: they split some of these yogas into many sub-cases (127 by number of signs, 23 by shape) and multiply by the twelve ascendants: 150 × 12 = 1,800. Varahamihira's 32 contain them all.
The Nabhasa yogas use all seven planets together, and their effects "are felt throughout a man's life" (XII.19).
The three support yogas (ashraya, XII.2)
If all the planets are in movable signs: Rajju (rope); in fixed signs: Musala (pestle); in dual signs: Nala (reed) — according to Satyacharya (XII.2).
The two petal yogas (dala, XII.2)
According to Parashara: benefics in the kendras, Srik or Mala (garland); malefics in the kendras, Sarpa (serpent) (XII.2). Aiyar's notes record that Garga requires three kendras, and Badarayana that the other kind of planet be absent from all of them.
Varahamihira explains why some authors omit these five: they coincide with other yogas, or with the general effects of planets in the angles; he includes them so that it is known they are Nabhasa yogas, whose effects last all life (XII.3, with notes).
The twenty shape yogas (akriti, XII.4–9)
| Yoga | All seven planets in | Verse |
|---|---|---|
| Gada (club) | two adjacent kendras | XII.4 |
| Sakata (cart) | the 1st and 7th | XII.4 |
| Vihaga (bird) | the 4th and 10th | XII.4 |
| Sringataka (crossroads) | the 1st, 5th and 9th | XII.4 |
| Hala (plough) | another triangle: 2–6–10, 3–7–11 or 4–8–12 | XII.4 |
| Vajra (thunderbolt) | benefics in the 1st and 7th, malefics in the 4th and 10th | XII.5 |
| Yava (barley) | the reverse | XII.5 |
| Kamala (lotus) | the four kendras | XII.5 |
| Vapi (well) | the four panapharas or the four apoklimas | XII.5 |
| Yupa (sacrificial post) | the 1st to the 4th | XII.7 |
| Ishu (arrow) | the 4th to the 7th | XII.7 |
| Shakti (spear) | the 7th to the 10th | XII.7 |
| Danda (staff) | the 10th to the 1st | XII.7 |
| Nau (boat) | the 1st to the 7th | XII.8 |
| Kuta (peak) | the 4th to the 10th | XII.8 |
| Chhatra (umbrella) | the 7th to the 1st | XII.8 |
| Chapa (bow) | the 10th to the 4th | XII.8 |
| Ardha-chandra (half moon) | seven houses from a panaphara or apoklima | XII.8 |
| Samudra (ocean) | the six even houses from the 2nd | XII.9 |
| Chakra (wheel) | the six odd houses from the 1st | XII.9 |
Varahamihira's objection (XII.6)
I have described the Vajra and other yogas adopting the view of former writers. How can Mercury and Venus occupy the 4th sign from the Sun? (XII.6)
Vajra and Yava need Mercury and Venus three signs from the Sun, which their small distances from the Sun make impossible. Aiyar's note records a later defence — that the houses should be the unequal bhavas, in which at high latitudes the yoga becomes possible — and gives a long explanation of how the bhavas are computed.
The seven number yogas (sankhya, XII.10)
If no other yoga applies, the chart is named by the number of signs the planets occupy: seven Vallaki (lute), six Damini (garland), five Pasha (noose), four Kedara (field), three Shula (spike), two Yuga (yoke), one Gola (ball) (XII.10).
Precedence (XII.10, 12)
When a number yoga is also another Nabhasa yoga, it is treated as the other (XII.10); when a support yoga is also a shape yoga, it is treated as the shape yoga (XII.12). So planets in only the 1st and 7th make Sakata, not Yuga.
The results (XII.11, 13–19)
Varahamihira gives a result for each (in summary):
- Rajju: envious of others' wealth, fond of travel; Musala: respected, rich, with many undertakings; Nala: firm, rich, skilled (XII.11).
- Srik: comfort and luxury; Sarpa: many miseries (XII.11).
- Gada: performs rites, always acquiring wealth; Sakata: lives by carts, with troubles; Vihaga: a messenger and traveller; Sringataka: happy later in life; Hala: a farmer (XII.13).
- Vajra: happy at the beginning and end of life, bold; Yava: happy in the middle of life; Kamala: famous, very happy, of many attainments; Vapi: long but modest comfort, a hoarder (XII.14).
- Yupa: generous, a performer of high rites; Ishu, Shakti, Danda: hard lives (XII.15).
- Nau: famous but happy only at times; Kuta: deceitful; Chhatra: makes others happy, comfortable late in life; Chapa: likes contest, comfortable early and late (XII.16).
- Ardha-chandra: liked and respected; Samudra: prosperous as a king; Chakra: honoured by kings; Vallaki: intelligent, delighting in music and dance (XII.17).
- Damini: generous, helpful; Pasha: earns wealth by proper means with servants and kin; Kedara: a farmer useful to many; Shula: bold but poor (XII.18).
- Yuga and Gola: poverty (XII.19).
These results are in the idiom of sixth-century India; they are images of a life's shape rather than predictions.
Summary
- 32 Nabhasa yogas in four groups (20 shape, 7 number, 3 support, 2 petal), containing the Yavanas' 1,800 (XII.1).
- Support: Rajju, Musala, Nala (XII.2); petal: Srik and Sarpa (XII.2).
- Twenty shape yogas by the houses occupied (XII.4–9); Varahamihira objects that Vajra and Yava are impossible (XII.6).
- Seven number yogas by signs occupied (XII.10); precedence rules (XII.10, 12); results (XII.11, 13–19), lasting all life.
Exercises
- Solve Varahamihira's riddle: how many yogas in each group?
- How did the Yavanas get 1,800?
- What is the difference between Kamala and Vapi?
- The planets occupy exactly four signs, which are the four kendras. Which yoga is it?
- Why did Varahamihira doubt Vajra?
Answers: 1. 27 in the first two, 30 in the first three, 32 in all: 20 shape, 7 number, 3 support, 2 petal. 2. 150 sub-cases for each ascendant × 12 ascendants. 3. Kamala: all planets in the four kendras; Vapi: all in the four panapharas or four apoklimas. 4. Kamala (a shape yoga takes precedence over the number yoga Kedara). 5. Because it needs Mercury and Venus three signs from the Sun, which is impossible.