SHRI MAHA GANAPATAYE NAMAH
Jaimini System
One of the oldest authorities on Jaimini
Astrology, he graced the Astrological
Magazine in 1960s under immense
persuasion of Late Dr Raman and gave us
some rare jewels in Jaimini Astrology. At
the age of 80, he lives in a small town in
Andhra Pradesh. Incidentally not many in
India & West know that Andhra Pradesh
has been the land of Jaimini Astrology after
Banaras. Revered Sastriji leads a strict
Brahminical life along with being very
open minded & extremely humble. His
humility only shows his supreme mastery
over astrology. He and Iranganti
Rangacharya are considered as the
foremost authorities alive today in Jaimini
Astrology. Mr Sastri has supported
Saptarishis Astrology right from its
inception stage.
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– A Revelation
By
Madhura Krishnamurthi Sastri,
India.
Translator: Sreeram Medapali
Copy Editor: Shanmukha
Article Submission: Aug, 2008
Readership Level: Very Advanced
1. Introduction
In the science of predictive astrology, there
are 3 famous systems – Parasara, Jaimini
and Yavana. Among them, Jamini School
gives remarkable and specific predictions
using distinctly different methods from
the other two. In this paper, an overview
of Jaimini system is discussed with the
help of Somanatha Mishra’s Kalpalatha a
commentary on Jaimini Sutras.
1.1 Parasara System:
In this system delineation of twelve
bhavas (houses) that is Tanu, Dhana etc.,
and Dasa and Antara dasa results occupy a
major role. In this system, results related
to the bhavas like Tanu, Dhana, Bhratri,
Matri bhava etc are determined by the
relationship between planets and bhavas
and fructification of results is determined
from the results of dasa – antardasa. The
dasa system in this school is planet based
and Vimsottari, Astottari, Shodashottai
etc. dasas are discussed. The application of
these dasas is decided by the time of birth
of the native i.e. specific combinations on
the horoscope, yet; in general, the results
are decided by Vimsottari dasa only.
1.2 Yavana System:

In this school of thought, the results are decided by the following six types of combinations
1 Grahaja: The results that planet give of its own, i.e. the signification
of planet
2 Bhavaja: The results by significations of the houses
3 Rashija: The results by the signification of signs Aries, Taurus etc.
4 Graha Bhavaja: The result of a planet in a particular house.
5 Graha Rasija: The results of planet in a particular sign
6 Graha Yogaja: The results of the combination planets, signs and houses

These six types of results are modified by the permutations and combinations of individual
significations of signs and planets, combinations of two, three planets etc. The dasa system
in this school depends on the longevity and then selecting the suitable dasa system.

1.3 Jaimini System:

Jaimini system while absorbing the topics from the above two systems, also mentions other
topics and distinct / peculiar topics / subject matters. The dasa system is mainly Rasi (Sign)
based and is drastically different from the above two systems. It is found that Jaimini
concepts are also dealt with in Parasara Hora Sastra (BPHS) by Sage Parasara. Due to non
availability of complete and unadulterated version of BPHS, it is difficult to understand the
Jaimini concepts with the available BPHS versions.

2.0 Kalpalatha1 – An Exposition of Jaimini

Somanatha Mishra, son of Krishna Mishra wrote Kalpalatha, his commentary on Jaimini
Sutras. He explained in the work about the concept introduced in the Jaimini Upadesa
Sutras chapter wise and indicated that Sage Jaimini wrote 8 Chapters (Adhyayas) in Sutra
form, 4 Chapters each on mathematical and predictive part. We explain in the following
lines the introductory chapter given by Somanatha Mishra for the benefit of readers.

अथ भगवानाचायर्ः कालपज्ञानाथ गिणत शां सूऽााय चतु यं िन तारा सवषां जूनामिप
ु ार्न परलोक ज्ञानाथ च कारक ल िेण नवंशकािदिभः
फलपिरज्ञानाथ ूभरंु जनाथ च आयज्ञ
उपदेशााय चतु यं ूकटीकरोित
atha bhagavānācāryaḥ kālapajñānārthaṁ gaṇita śāstraṁ sūtrādhyāya catuṣṭayaṁ nirūpya
taddvārā sarveṣāṁ jantūnāmapi phalaparijñānārthaṁ prabhuraṁjanārthaṁ ca āyurjñāna
paraloka jñānārthaṁ ca kāraka lagna drekkaṇa navaṁśakādibhiḥ upadeśādhyāya catuṣṭayaṁ
prakaṭīkaroti

1
Copy Editor’s Note: Kalpalatha is still in manuscript form. This author has done wonderful job in
procuring the manuscript from all available source and preserving it for the future generations.
288
Translation: Maharshi Jaimini, the divine incarnation, explained mathematical part (Ganita
Sastra) (theory related to calculation of planets, tithi etc) in four chapters and predictive part
in another four chapters. Through these four chapters on Predictive part He enumerated
means to predict good and bad results for all lives including animals, to determine the
longevity, the knowledge about netherworlds, predictions regarding the lives of kings,
using Karaka, lagna, drekkana and navamsa.

Somanatha mentioned the various topics discussed in the Jaimini Sutras chapter wise in the
following lines.

्
अिन शाे ूथमााये संज्ञा कारक पद राजयोगािद िनणयते।
asmin śāstre prathamādhyāye saṁjñā kāraka pada rājayogādi nirṇīyate |

Translation: In this Upadesa sasthra, Sage Jaimini explained the significations of signs,
karaka planets, Arudha Pada, Rajayoga and their respective results in the first chapter.

Explanation: There are four chapters each comprising four padas (quarter) and hence
resulting in total 16 padas.

First quarter contains 35 sutras and discusses

• Rasi Drishis
• Argala
• Chara karaka Æ Atma Karaka (AK) etc.
• Arudha Pada

Second quarter contains 121 sutras, discusses Karakamsa and houses from Karakamsa Lagna.
3rd quarter contains 45 sutras, explains various Dhana and Rajayogas from Arudha Lagna
(AL). Fourth quarter deals with the spouse, children, brothers and devotion from Upapada
lagna (UL) in 49 sutras. So, in total, the first Chapter contains 250 sutras.

This chapter lists 40 dasa systems in total.

ितीयाायेत ु ल कारक आयदु ार्य दशािवशेषािद।

dvitīyādhyāyetu lagna kāraka āyurdāya daśāviśeṣādi |

Translation: In second Adhyaya (Chapter), calculation of longevity from natal lagna and
Karaka lagna, determination of maraca planets, various dasa systems and their respective
calculation were discussed.

ितीयाये चािरंशशानयनं।
dvitīyādhyaye catvāriṁśaddaśānayanaṁ |

Translation: Forty sign dasas and their calculation were explained in 2nd chapter.

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Explanation: In Jaimini Sutras 1st quarter of 2nd chapter, Sage Jaimini explained calculation
of longevity of the native, Ayurdasas and respective Maraka planets, and calculation of
antara dasa in total 60 sutras. In 2nd quarter Sage explained the death inflicting periods for
Father, Mother, Spouse and the co-borns and the cause of their death in total 33 sutras. In 3rd
quarter, He mentioned variations of different dasas, strength of signs and planets, death
inflicting periods for Matri, Pitri bhavas etc. in total 30 sutras. In 4th quarter, He explained
variations of Chara Dasa, calculation of various other sign dasas and general results of Rasi
Dasas in 37 sutras.

Somanatha explained these 40 dasas, but didn’t explain the calculation of them. He directed
2
the readers to read the “Mula Sastra ” by Kalidasa. Somanatha mentioned the following
dasas in the 2nd chapter of Kalpalatha.

1. Atma Dasa
2. Chara Dasa
3. Varnada Dasa – 4 types
4. Nakshatra Dasa
5. Navamsa Dasa
6. Sthira Dasa
7. Shoola Dasa
8. Prakarantara Shoola Dasa (Another variation of Shoola Dasa)
9. Yoga Dasa also known as Yogartha Dasa
10. Prakarantara Chara Dasa (Another variation of Chara Dasa) – 3 Types
11. Karaka Dasa
12. Chara Paryaya Dasa
13. Sthira Paryaya Dasa – 2 Types
14. Nakshatra Bheda Dasa
15. Trikona Dasa
16. Drishti (Drik) Dasa
17. Kendra Dasa

Somanatha extensively dealt with the calculation of the longevity of the native,
detemination of Maraka (Daeth inflicting) planets, Maraka planets for Mother and Father
etc.

Raghava Bhatta, the author of “Jataka Sara Sangraha” explained the following 12 Ayur
(longevity) dasas in the Ayurdaya Part (Longevity Chapter).

1. Hora Dasa
2. Darpana Dasa
3. Soola Dasa
4. Maheswara Dasa

2
Copy Editor’s Note: Mula sastra means the main (root) science. It looks this Jaimini Sastra was more
exhaustive than that is available to us. Also one can note from the list of the dasas that today’s available
knowledge base have not even heard of these dasas hence we must be thankful to Madura Sastrigaru to
atleast mention these new dasas from Kalpalatha to increase our inquisitiveness to earn that knowledge.
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 5. Atma Nadi Dasa
6. Sthira Dasa
7. Varnada Dasa
8. Chara Paryaya Dasa
9. Atmanobhava Pamsa Dasa
10. Jaya Bhava Pamsa Dasa
11. Atmamsa Bhava Pamsa Dasa
12. Drekkana Dasa

Mostly the first and second chapters of Jaimini Sutras are popular. We have the following
commentaries for the 1st and 2nd chapters available and even in BPHS; there is an exposition
in verses of the concepts in 1st and 2nd chapter only.

3
1. Neelakantha , being most popular
2. Bala Krishnananda Swami
3. Venkateswara Vriiti
4. Guru Vritti
5. Kesava Daivajna Vriddha Karikas
6. Jaimini Sutrartha Prakasika
7. Jaimini Padyamritam
8. Achyutananda Jha Vyakhya
9. Sitaram Jha Vyakhya
10. Commentary by B.Suryanarain Rao, published by Dr. B.V.Raman

Somanatha writes the following, in the 2nd chapter of Kalpalatha.

तृतीयााये िेणवैषियक राजयोग आयदु ार्य अरंग षोडशदशा नयनं ीलक्षणिनच।

tṛtīyādhyāye drekkaṇavaiṣayika rājayoga āyurdāya antaraṁga ṣoḍaśadaśā nayanaṁ
strīlakṣaṇanica|

Translation: Sage Jaimini gave exposition of Rajayoga, calculation of longevity according to

Drekkana, 16 other dasas, female horoscopy in the 3rd chapter.

Explanation: Sage Jaimini explained Rajayogas from Drekkana chart in the first quarter,
determination of longevity according to Drekkena and 16 types of Rasi dasas according to
Antaranga Sashtra (explained later in this paper) in 2nd quarter, female horoscopy in 3rd quarter
and determination of Yoga Bhanga (Cancellation of Yogas), various dasas, Argala, Raja
Yoga according to Amsa (Navamsa) in the 4th quarter of 3rd chapter.

र् दशानयनम।्
ु ाये त ु मृित लक्षण नानादेशसंचार परलोक िवधायक चतदु श
चथधार्
इित म ूयोजनािन॥
cathurdhādhyāye tu mṛti lakṣaṇa nānādeśasaṁcāra paraloka vidhāyaka caturdaśa daśānayanam|

3
Publisher: Till date all English publications of Jaimini Sutras from rest of India except Andhra
Pradesh & Banaras have only followed Neelakantha’s commentary hence there is an urgent need to get
the other commentaries translated if one has to understand basics of Jaimini.
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iti grandhasya prayojanāni ||

Translation: Sage Jaimini gave exposition of nature of death, visiting other countries, life
after death and 14 types of dasas.

Explanation: In the commentary of Somanatha, Drekkana plays an important role. He

writes Drekkana is Antaranga sastra (which is an implied secret system). He writes

तृतीयााये ल कारक ूवृ शा बिहरंगात िे् ण शा अरंगात।्

अरंगबिहरयोररंगो बलीयान॥्
इित ायेन अरशा गाणरी ैव फलािधकं ूवृिमित ायेन गानाायः ूवृः॥
tṛtīyādhyāye lagna kāraka pravṛtta śāstrasya bahiraṁgatvāt drekkaṇa śāstrasya antaraṁgatvāt|
antaraṁgabahirangayorantaraṁgo balīyān ||
iti nyāyena antarangaśāstrasya dṛgāṇarītyaiva phalādhikaṁ pravṛttamiti nyāyena dṛgānādhyāyaḥ
pravṛttaḥ ||

Translation: In Somanatha’s interpretation, 3rd chapter of Jaimini Sutras deals with the
Antaranga system. The results described by the Lagna, Karaka, Karakamsa and Arudha are
called Bahiranga system (As apparent/ external system), where as 3rd chapter deals with
4
Antaranga system (An implied system) of Drekkana . And since the implied is more
powerful than the apparent, the 3rd chapter of Jaimini Sutras is very important and the
results ascribed shall be read from the Drekkana chart.

5
Explanation: We could fortunately get hold of the Neelakantha commentary on 3rd and 4th
chapters of Jaimini sutras which I could transcribe from the manuscript available with our
Gurudeva Sri Venkata Ramana Daivajna. We learnt that it was printed in Bombay decades
ago, but isn’t traceable. Sri B.V.Raman published English commentary by Sri S.K.Kar,
Calcutta on these 3rd and 4th chapters. But after studying the manuscript of Neelakantha
commentary, we could find that there is a lot of difference in Sutras between Neelakantha’s
commentary and Sri S.K.Kar’s commentary. Neelakantha commentary has 145 sutras in 4th
quarter of 3rd Chapter, where as these Sutras are no resemblance with the Sutras given by
Sri S.K.Kar. Yet, these sutras in Sri S.K.Kar’s commentary are in resemblance with the
manuscript No. 13727 of Madras Oriental Libray, Chennai. So it is doubtful whether the
manuscript available with us of Neelakantha commentary is original or not.

4
Copy Editor’s Note: In Jaimini system, Drekkana chart has an important role in determining
Rajayoga next only to Rasi chart. Though Parivriiti Drekkana chart is popular in this system, yet
Somanatha gave another Parivriiti Drekkana popularly known as Somanatha Drekkana. Readers do well
to learn it from Standard work like Jaimini Sutramritam by Rangacharya, 1st chapter.
5
Copy Editor’s Note: This is fantastic. It is not still available in print.
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 6
We couldn’t trace out the complete work of Somanatha’s Kalpalatha, but up to the
commentary for 1st quarter of 4th chapter only. And again, the Somanatha commentary on
3rd and 4th chapters differs distinctly with S.K.Khar’s commentary.

3.0 Important Parameters for Analysis of an Horoscope

Somanatha mentioned four important parameters for the analysis of a horoscope.

• Lagna
• Karaka
• Drekkana
• Amsaka (He interpreted Amsaka as Arudha Pada)

The following 5 lagnas useful for determination of Rajayoga on the horoscope

• Tripravana Lagna
• Sri Lagna
• Indu Lagna
• Vilagna
• Bhagadhikamsa Lagna (Karakamsa Lagna)

The following other lagnas can also be effectively used, but these are secondary7.
• Hora Lagna
• Ghati Lagna
• Chandra Lagna

Yogada and Kevala Grahas play an important role in determining the Raja Yoga and
Avayoga of the horoscope.

The planet aspecting lagna is called Drashta or Yogada planet and ‘Argala shall be calculated
only to Yogada planet only8’. The strength and influence on this planet shall decide the extent
of Raja Yoga of the horoscope.

6
Copy Editor’s Note: This author couldn’t get the commentary for 2nd, 3rd, 4th quarters of 4th chapter
even after consulting available manuscripts in Adyar Manuscript Library and Tanjavur (Tanjore)
Saraswati Mahal Library.
7
Publishers Note: One must note that here the word secondary has been used for Hora, Ghatika &
Moon Asc whereas till date all of us Jaimini aspirants have been using them as the main primary factor
to determine rajayogas; we remain indebted to our author for opening our eyes.
8
Publishers Note: This point on usage of Argala cannot be ignored and Maduraji, shows us that the
way generally Argala has been used for the last few decades is totally wrong & at the same time his
experience of differential application of Argala as brought out by Somanatha Mishra of Kalpalatha fame
might have made him change his stance of usage of Argala that he wrote in 1962. As is the true
parampara of scholars to always quote verse from relevant manuscript so as not to misguide students in
learning of shastra, here is the verse for Argala from Madurajis copy of Kalpalatha सवर्ऽािप िार मिधकृ  ैव
अगर्ल पिरज्ञानम।् न त ु िवल कारकयोः॥
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4.0 Applicability of Dasas – The Speciality

4.1 Raja Yoga Dasas

Out of dasas mentioned in 2nd Chapter of Jaimini Sutras only 11 dasas can be applied to
Rajayoga horoscopes. Out of them only 5 are useful for the horoscopes of Kings.
Below you would find 4 dasas which are equally applicable for any rajayoga horoscope and
the results gotten similar with any two dasas always come true.
• Yogartha Dasa
• Manduka Pluti Dasa (Pluti means Jump).
• Labhadhipastha Drekkana Dasa
9
• Bhava Rahasya Dasa

4.2 Ordinary Dasas

The following dasas are applicable for Kings with no Rajayoga or for the Kings with
Rajayoga Bhanga (Cancellation of Rajayoga) in the horoscope.10

• Nakshatra Bheda Dasa

• Nakshatra Raja Dasa
• Nisarga Dasa
• Chara Dasa
• Chara Paryaya Dasa
• Sthira Paryaya Dasa
• Gochara (Trikona) Dasa

4.3 Ayur Dasas for Longevity

Somanatha Mishra mentioned that Longevity should be calculated from lagna, lord of 8th,
Moon, Hora Lagna, Ghatika Lagna and Drekkana. The following dasas are useful for
longevity.

• Bramha Graha Dasa

• Varnada Dasa
• Chara Dasa
• Chara Paryaya Dasa

5.0 Conclusion:

sarvatrāpi draṣṭāra madhikṛtyaiva argala parijñānam |na tu vilagna kārakayoḥ ||

Literal Translation: Argala shall always be calculated ONLY from the apecting planet. Never from the
lagna (Vilagna) or from the Karaka (Presumably Atmakaraka planet).

9
Copy Editor’s Note: Readers can find the exposition of this dasa only in Jataka Sara Sangraha By
Raghava Bhatta, bhava means house, rahasya means secret.
10
Copy Editor’s Note: The heading says Oridinary dasas whereas the explanation given means it is for
Kings only, we are unable to ratify this contradiction from Maduraji due to his ill-health.
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Thus, Somanatha Mishra mentioned many parameters for the analysis of horoscope, which
are distinctly different from Parasara and Yavana systems. His father Krishna Mishra
mentioned much more details in his treatise “Phalaratnamala”. He claimed to have followed
Sarvajna Muni (Sage Sarvajna) in writing the book. It looks that the school of these two
great commentators of Jaimini system is very ancient and much more exhaustive in content
and drastically differs from the modern commentators. And since this wonderful Jaimini
Tradition is lost to us, it is difficult to understand this system comprehensively. It is learnt
that Jain Astrologers also have done excellent work on this system, if a massive hunt is
carried out in the manuscript libraries available across India, it is hoped that this system
could be revived to the maximum possible extent. We hope suitable steps should take place
in near future by eminent scholars.

In Bhaskara’s Bhava Deepika, it is said that a benefic in the 10th is

necessary to perform religious sacrifices leading to Moksha. Guru
in the 10th makes one a Gnani (knowledge man) but Ketu in 10th
can advance the native further after real knowledge, devotion and
yogik action leading to ultimate salvation, that is, while the
theoretical part of spiritualism is governed by Jupiter, the
practical side of spiritualism is dominated by Ketu. – From the
writings of Late D.V.Subba Rao, a giant of astrology

Kamadehenu Yoga is caused when the 11th lord occupies a kendra

and the native is revered by kings, own women and is intelligent –
Vasista Jataka.

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