Author: Sanjay Rath

Sanskrit prosody or Chandas refers to one of the six Vedanga, or limbs of Vedic studies. It is also an important part of the mantra – sitting in the mouth. It is the poetic metre and verse as well as its study, the latter becomes the vedanga while the former is a mantra-part. This field of study was central to the composition of the Vedas, the scriptural canons of Vedic texts.

The Chandas, as developed by the Vedic schools, included both linear and non-linear systems.

Among the three approaches of longevity Nitya (mathematical), Anitya (logical) and Yoga (combination) it is Yoga āyus which is accepted as supreme and dominates over the others.  Even if Nitya āyus shows great longevity through the mathematical calculation, if Yoga āyus shows dangerous ariṣṭa yogas then premature death can happen. Yet yoga āyus is neither adequate nor precise enough to make longevity estimates. It needs to be supported by the other two approaches for a sufficiently accurate prediction.
Common Sense
The astrologer needs to be wise to use this approach.

We have seen three illustrations of aṁśaka āyurdaya of Rajiv Gandhi, Adolf Hitler and Mahatma Gandhi where (a) the lagneśa was in Lagna or 7th bhāva rendering the lagna extremely strong and (b) lagneśa is associated with a lord of trine (5th Lord Jup for Rajiv Gandhi, 9th Lord Mercury for Adolf Hitler and Mahatma Gandhi) and (c) lagneśa is also in kendra or koṇa from Moon

If standard rules of strength apply, then both Rajiv Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi have very powerful lagna conjoined three or four graha (as per second source of strength and further rules of democracy

Illustration #3: Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi; 2nd October 1869; 7.30 AM;

Illustration: Adolf Hitler

Bharaṇa (increase)

Sun is exalted, and Venus is retrograde showing tripling of longevity [multiply by3].
Mars in Aries rāśi, Rāhu in Aquarius drekkāṇa show doubling of longevity [multiply by 2].

Haraṇa (decrease)

CAH: Saturn a natural malefic in 10th house suffers 1/3 loss of longevity while Rāhu in 9th house suffers 1/4 loss of longevity. Four planets are in 7th house and we choose ātmakāraka Venus as the strongest, just as we did in the case of Rajiv Gandhi when we choose Mercury over Venus as it was ātmakāraka.

Illustration: Rajiv Gandhi

Rajiv Gandh1, 20th August 1944; 7.11′.28″ AM; Mumbai, India

Lagna 4s 14°41′ 58″ = 138.6994 degrees = 138.6994×60 min = 8081.967 … [A]
Divide by 200′ (nakṣatra span) = A ÷ 200 = 8081.967 ÷ 200 = 40.4098 … [B]
Expunge multiples of 12 = 40.4098 – (12 x 3) = 40.4098 – 36 = 4.4098 …

There are two primary calculation methods (1) Sāmānya-anugata and (2) Prākrama-anugata. Further, the basic calculation gets modified by reductions (haraṇa) and increase (bharaṇa) which is either (a) kṛta vṛddhikā (allowed modifications) or (b) ākṛta vṛddhikā (modifications disallowed). In this manner we can have four separate results. Maharṣi Parāśara uses the kṛta vṛddhikā and allows both reduction and increase called haraṇa bharaṇa respectively.

We shall discuss the first of the three primary ariṣṭa namely gaṇḍa ariṣṭa. As mentioned in previous lesson on “Longevity Approach”, Ariṣṭa Yogas are combinations that cause sudden or premature death. The Primary Ariṣṭa is classified as

Gaṇḍa ariṣṭa
Graha arista and
Patāki Vedha ariṣṭa

Gaṇḍānta Understanding
There are three gaṇḍa points in the zodiac at the intersection of the water-fire signs. These are at 0°, 120° and 240° of the zodiac.

Scorpio (Jyeṣṭhā nakṣatra) 30° and Sagittarius (Mūlā nakṣatra) 0°, that ends the four day-sign regions of bhuva-loka (antarikṣa) from Leo-Scorpio.

There are three approaches to longevity – Nitya, Anitya and Yoga Āyus approaches. These approaches are based on the longevity as granted by Brahma, Viṣṇu and Śiva through their काल (kāla) manifestations as Prajāpati, Vāsudeva and Rudra respectively.

Praśna Mārga defines six classes of longevity namely (i) Sadyoriṣṭa (immediate death), (ii) Ariṣṭa or Bālāriṣṭa Yoga, (iii) Yogariṣṭa (death within 20 years or 32 years), (iv) Madhya Āyus (32-64, 36-72 or 40-48 years), (v) Dīrgha Āyus (long life) and (vi) Amita Āyus (living beyond death). There are some gaps in this classification. For example, (a) Sadyoriṣṭa is not clearly defined and should be taken as either 1 year or 4 years being the natural years of Moon and Mars. (b) Yogariṣṭa is clubbed with Alpa āyus yoga whereas these are different both in longevity extent and implication.