On the System of Bhrigu by Pandit Asutosh Ghosh

In connection with the reading of houses, it must be borne in mind that each one of the three systems of Bhrigu, Parasara and Jaimini refers to the periods in dasas formulated by them only, and not by others for the purpose of fruition.

The results of reading   houses according to Jaimini have been announced by the learned Saint to be fruitful only during the periods of Chara and Sthira dasas framed by him alone. So does Parasara say, with reference to his mode of house readings and his own dasas. The learned Bhrigu, however, does not so much in so many clear words, but at the time of enunciating the results of planets remaining in different houses (bhavas) in 44 per cent cases, he refers to different ages of the native when the results come out to be true according to him.

For example, he says, if Ravi remains in the 10^th then at the age of 18^th, the native becomes famous through his learning and becomes able to acquire good for his own personal needs.

“अष्टादशवर्षे विद्याधिकारेण प्रसिद्धो भवति द्रव्यार्जनः समर्थश्च

aṣṭādaśavarṣe vidyādhikāreṇa prasiddho bhavati dravyārjanaḥ samarthaśca”

Similarly, if Budha remains in lagna, the native will have to undertake pilgrimage at the age of 27.

“सप्त विम्शतिवर्षे तीर्थयात्रायोगः बहु लाभवान् बहु विद्यावान्

sapta vimśativarṣe tīrthayātrāyogaḥ bahu lābhavān bahu vidyāvān “

Now, according to Parasara, we find a simpler mode of reading houses than that of Jaimini, and that is this : —

If the lords of particular houses remain in kendras or konas from lagna, then take it that those lords will be fruitful, work out well and be active, whereas if they remain in the 6^th, 8^th and 12^th houses frorn lagna from their own houses, then take it for granted that the house of which they are lords cease Io function.

केन्द्रे कोणे कारका भावप्राप्ति दुःस्थिता भावहत्यैः।

kendre koṇe kārakā bhāvaprāpti duḥsthitā bhāvahatyaiḥ |

Brihat Parasari Purva Khanda, Adhyaya 36, Sutra 153

In the same sutra, it is further said that if the lords of bhavas remaining in the 2^nd, 3^rd or 11^th therefrom those bhavas will be well developed and be appreciable effective on the native’s life.

अर्थे लाभे विक्रमा वा यदा ते भावात्सर्वे सानृ पित्रादितुलयाः

arthe lābhe vikramā vā yadā te bhāvātsarve sānṛ pitrāditulayāḥ

Fruitful are those bhava lords, If they see or remain in their own bhavas or see the lagna.

भावं पश्यति भावेशो भावस्थे लग्नगोपिवा।

bhāvaṁ paśyati bhāveśo bhāvasthe lagnagopivā |

In the same sutra, it is further said that if the house-lords remain in exaltation or become nourished by benefics (meaning seen or conjoined with by them), then those bhavas will be effective (strong), and give good results.

बलिनः स्वोच्चगे वाऽपि तद्भावतू इष्ट पुष्टया

balinaḥ svoccage vā’pi tadbhāvatū iṣṭa puṣṭayā

If the lord of a house goes to its enemy’s house or remains in a rasi of its fall, and yet does not see its own bhava, then the bhava it represents becomes weak and does not work satisfactorily.

For example, in a question whether a native will ever be able to amass wealth however small or big may it be, or in a ques­tion, whether he will have children or not, according to Parasara, it is to be seen, whether the lord of the 2nd house is in lagna or in the 2^nd, 3^rd or 11^th place from its own house (i.e., the 2^nd ) or whether it sees the lagna or its own house or is in exaltation.  If it so remains, then tell the native that he will always save something out of his earnings. Whereas if it is found that the 2^nd bhava lord has gone to the 6^th, 8^th or 12^th place from lagna or from its own bhava (own house ), then tell him unhesitatingly that, however big the amount he may earn he wilt never be able to save anything.

Similarly, if the lord of the 5^th  is ­in the 2^nd, 3^rd  or 11^th place therefrom or if it remains in lagna or sees it or remains in exaltation, then the native will have issues.  On the contrary, if the 5^th lord goes to the 6^th, 8^th or 12^th from Lagna or from own

bhava (the 5th house), then the native will never have any children; and if per chance, he gets any, they will not survive during his lifetime.  This is one of the methods for examin­ing bhavas according to Parasara.

But, in Bhrigu, different principles are adopted. No doubt, Bhrigu’s mode is the simplest of all, but, un­fortunately, there is no comprehensive literature dealing with illustrations.

The First Principle.—The learned Bhrigu, first of all classifies all the 9 planets into two groups,—(1) natural benefics and (2) natural malefics. The natural benefics according to this system are: (a)Guru, (b)Sukra, (c)Moon, and (d) The natural malefics are : {a)Ravi, (b) Kuja, (c) Sani, (d)Rahu, and (e)Kethu.  In bhava readings, Rahu and Kethu, ac­cording to him produce the same and identical results.

The Second Principle. — Over and above this, he follows strictly the Natural co-significatorships (Karakatwas) of planets. According to him, Ravi represents father; Moon mother; Mars brothers, land, boils, blood-poisoning, etc.; Budha boyish­ness and learning; Guru riches, reli­gion, sons and learning; Sukra wife or concubines; Sani longevity, afflictions and slavery; and Rahu or Kethu afflictions and suffering. Then Bhrigu enumerates the results of different planets occupying different bhavas, etc. For example, Ravi re­maining in the 12^th produces: diseases of the bowels, abdomen, , at the age of 36, expends money for the wrong person, gets a downfall, and loses money. Owing to killing cows in a previous life, he lives in a foreign place.  If the lord of the house where it is posited, i.e. if the 12th lord get strength, the native will succeed in his prayers for his deity.  If a malefic is conjoined with Ravi in the 12th house, then he will be bereft of good beddings.  If the 6th lord conjoins with Ravi there, then he will have leprosy.  If a benefic in addition sees or conjoins it, then he will have no leprosy.  This is the general result on Ravi remaining in the 12th.

The Third Principle.- When­ever a planet is found to reside in a house, see of what strength is its That is the way how a planet is to be judged according to Bhrigu to give diametrically opposite results under two different circumstances created by the disposition of the house occupied a planet.  This is the reason why prayersincluding salvation which are judged from the 12th house become full, when the 12th house lord becomes strong.  How to judge the planet has been discussed under the heading of a separate prin­cipal No VI.

Thus, we find here the broad distinc­tion between Parasara and Bhrigu. While Parasara deals directly with the bhava, its lord and its position from lagna or from own house, Bhrigu deals indirectly with the bhava thro­ugh the planet residing therein under the principle of disposttor planet, viz.

भावाधिपे बलयुते वा बलहीने शुभयुते वा पापयुते शुभक्षेत्रा  वा  पापक्षेत्रा

bhāvādhipe balayute vā balahīne śubhayute vā pāpayute śubhakṣetrā  vā  pāpakṣetrā

The Fourth Principle—The fourth principle that has been abundantly used by Bhrigu is that evil results are often minimised through
the conjunction or aspect of a benefic planet, viz., Sukra, Guru, Moon or
Budha. There is no question of a weak or strong Moon or a Budha conjoined with a malefic or not. Evils are aggravated on the aspect or conjunction of a planet inimical to the planet remaining in the house, this is also a principle, but in fact it can at best be said to be a corollary of the
above 4th principle.

Now, let us discuss the results of the Moon remaining in the 12th house for the purpose of illustrating Bhrigu’s principles. The native having Moon in the 12th house gets bad food, spends money on wrong persons, gets himself or herself entangled in a quarrel out of anger, and gains through gambling, hunt, plays, dancing’s, music, wine or women. If a malefic planet or a planet inimical to the Moon conjoins with it, then he will get hell after death, whereas if a benefic or a planet friendly to the Moon sees or conjoins with it, then the native will get heaven after death.

Have you noted that Bhrigu con­ceives of an enemy planet of the Moon, which other systems do not acknowledge?

The Fifth Principle.—In connection with the above kind of
queries, a question may arise,—which are the friends or foes of a planet?
Let the answer be embodied in the form of the fifth principle, viz.:

Ravi’s friends are Moon, Mars, Budha, Guru and Kethu; Ravi’s foes are Sukra, Sani and Rahu; Moon’s friends are Ravi, Mars, Budha, Guru and Kethu; Moon’s foes are Sukra, Sani and Rahu; Mars’s friends are Ravi, Moon, Guru and Kethu ; Mars’s foes are Budha, Sani and Rahu; Budha’s friends are Ravi, Sukra, Sani and Rahu ; Budha’s foes are Moon, Mars. Guru and Kethu; Guru’s friends are Ravi, Moon, Mars, Sani and Kethu ; Guru’s foes are Budha, Sukra and Rahu; Sukra’s friends are Budha, Sani and Rahu ; Sukra’s foes are Moon, Mars, Sun and Guru; Rahu’s friends are Budha, Sukra, Sani and Guru; Rahu’s foes are Ravi, Moon, Mars and Kethu; Kethu’s friends are Ravi, Moon, Mars and Guru; Kethu’s foes are Budha, Sukra, Sani and Rahu.

According to Bhrigu, when Mars is in the 12^th native will feet the keen want of articles of daily use and bile and wind predominate the body.  If conjoined with or “aspected by a malefic”, the native will be arrogant.

Budha in the 12^th, makes one w?? and charitable and confers changeableness and boyishness consistent with his Karakatwa. Guru in the 12^th deprives one of wealth and learning, indications due to his Karakatwa. If exalted or aspected by benefics, the evil is neutralised.  The expenditure of money would be for righteous cause (धर्म मूलेन धनव्ययः dharma mūlena dhanavyayaḥ )

When Sukra is in the 12th, afflicted, one becomes poor and inclined to sensual things. When beneficially disposed, there will be wealth.

Note.—A planet remaining in the same place can produce diametrically opposite results under two differs conditions, according to Bhrigu, viz., poverty in one man’s horoscope and much richness in another’s. This is the peculiarity in Bhrigu’s reading When Sani is in the 12th, one becomes a patita or a fallen man and deformed. When well aspected or conjoined, the native goes to heaven after death; when afflicted, goes to hell.

From all the above, it will appear that benefics remaining on such a
evil place, as the 12th house or seeing it produce better results than ordinarily expected, whereas malefic remaining there or seeing it produce
or aggravate evil ones.    .

In order to show the predominance of the principle of distinction between malefics and benefics in the house readings, all the planets remaining in one particular bhava especially in an evil one, the 12th have been quoted above.

The Sixth Principle.-The principle involved is (भावाधिपते बलयुते bhāvādhipate balayute ) the lord of bhava being strong.

As regards the use of the word Bhavadhipathibalayuthe which occurs abundantly in the Bhrigu Sutra, for the purpose of determining the quite opposite and yet good results, the learned Saint’s prescription of strength has not been found anywhere.

The following few instances will show astoundingly what diametrically opposite results follow on Bhavadhipathi being strong.

If Ravi remains in the 8ih house (house of longevity), gets the home.