Fundamentals of Vedic Astrology 2: Understanding Drishti Bheda: Rashi, Graha and Bhava

Written by Shubham Alock

Preamble - A few days back Shri Sunny Jain posted a question in a Facebook Group about aspects of the planet. Where he asked to suppose a planet is exalted. His aspect on a 7th house will be an exalted aspect, debilitated aspect or his effect will be according to beneficence or maleficence of planets.

My answer was only planets can become exalted or debilitated not their aspects. which means effects of aspects will be according to maleficence and beneficence of planets. [Will be dealt extensively of course]

There Shri Deepak Panchal Vishwakarma said to differentiate between Rashi Drishti, Graha Drishti, and Bhava Drishti.
Because it is to be taught in my Jyotish Prarambha course. I told that I will write a separate article on this.

This is that article.

Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra: There are many editions of this book, 10 I have in my library. 4 of them are original [written by authors] rest 6 just copied and paste from one book to another resulting in a new book.

4 Basic editions are by Shri Tarkachandra Shastri, Pandit Ganesh Dutt Pathak, Acharya Sitaram Jha and Pandit Devchandra Jha.
Shri Tarkachandra Shastri says he found this manuscript in the library of a king who is said to have most authentic manuscripts. That edition consists of maximum shlokas but chapters are less.

Pandit Ganesh Dutt Pathak gave no reference on how he found the book.

Acharya Sitaram Jha made a contradictory statement when in starting he said he got this manuscript from Pandit Jeevnath Jha and copied the whole manuscript by his hand and published whereas in end he writes he collected this and published after proof-reading and correcting the manuscript.

Pandit Devchandra Jha - mentions that he got this manuscript from various Pandit's of rural area and collected all of them and after proofreading and correcting them. Published his edition.

Keep in mind this information which will be useful later. Except for Tarkachandra Shastri edition, all editions have  98-99-100 chapters. But the number of shloka's are maximum in Tarkachandra Shatri edition.

When to refer to Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra: Many people think BPHS [Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra] to be gospel book of astrology authored by sage parashara.

But one must keep in mind that it is in form of conversation between Sage Parashara and Maitreya which means it was not written by Parashara himself. [See Jaimini Sutras is written by Jaimini Itself as it doesn't contain narrative verses]  It was written by someone else. That too not at that time but at later times. Mostly between 1400-1500's [I am taking about BPHS available now]

Mihira also mentions BPHS in his Brihat Jataka and mentions that it is large and extensive hence he is producing a condensed version of it. 

Then why he left many things like Graha Avasta [Many kinds are given in BPHS]. When one reads "Jataka Narayaneeyam and Yogavali Khandam" [ A superb book on Traditional Astrology and its secrets] one finds the author has mentioned parashara have dealt mainly with Raajyoga and Bhavaphala and have left Balarishta and Ayuryogas and only dealt with them in a condensed manner. 

But, now available BPHS deals extensively with them. This leads us to conclude that BPHS was never written. But was memorized in traditions [It was done with every Shastra of Hindu's] someone may have written it before Mihira's time which Mihira saw. but mainly it was a book which was memorized and not written.

After invasion people saw their knowledge being lost hence some of those traditions complied BPHS in written form. The real number of Shloka, Chapter, Index is not known to us. BPHS available nowadays is a result of greed of translators and their own superimposition of limited understanding of Jyotisha along with their ignorance of traditions and their orthodoxy over words of sages [will be seen in "Graha Drishti]

One will do well to go through article of "Shri Shyamsundara Dasa" "On the authenticity of the (Modern) Brhat Parashata Hora Shastra"

My advice is if you are to read BPHS Read all available versions one by one. Don't take any words as said by sage until you have read all editions and when you have read. try before you accept it as sage's word. When you find contradiction in opinion between principles of Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra and other classics of astrology stick to other classics until you are very sure of BPHS's principles [After rigorous testing]  

For an example regarding AshtakaVaraga there are two opinions one is of Mihira and other of Parashara. [Will be covered in course] people who have been very successful in using Ashtakavarga have used and tied to Mihira's method and not of Parashara's. 

Rashi Drishti

Well exposed without any confusion. The word used is Rashi aspect sign in front of them and two adjacent Rashi. It have to be practised on South Indian Horoscope. Adjacent Rashi means Rashi in 4-10 to Rashi in front. Many scholars have misinterpreted that adjacent "Parshbhave" means the sign juxtapose and shloka means Rashi does not aspect sign juxtapose. But this is incorrect. Why, It will be shown in our Jaimini Article. [Here, it will make the article way too long] One can refer to my article on Sangyan Tattwa for more information.


Movable sign  aspect the sign in 8th to them and their Parshava sign which is sign in 11th and 5th.

Fixed sign aspect the sign in 6th to them and their Parshava sign which is sign in 3rd and 9th.

Movable sign aspect the sign in 7th to them and their Parshava sign which is 4th and 10th.

In Short. Movable sign aspect all fixed sign except the one in 2nd to him, Fixed sign aspect all movable sign except the one in 12th to him, Dual sign aspects all other dual signs.

Refer the table given below.

Aspect Table
Rashi	Frontal Sign	Other Signs under Aspect
Aries	Scorpio	Aquarius and Leo
Taurus	Libra	Cancer and Capricorn
Gemini	Virgo	Sagittarius and Pisces
Cancer	Aquarius	Scorpio and Taurus
Leo	Capricorn	Libra and Aries
Virgo	Gemini	Pisces and Sagittarius
Libra	Taurus	Aquarius and Leo
Scorpio	Aries	Capricorn and Cancer
Sagittarius	Pisces	Gemini and Virgo
Capricorn	Leo	Taurus and Scorpio
Aquairus	Cancer	Aries and Libra
Pisces	Sagittarius	Virgo and Gemini

Planet's placed in the sign also aspect with Rashi Drishti.

Special with Rashi Drishti - Rashi Drishti is always full [Other's are not - will be seen in next sections] People are confused about aspect of planet's like Ketu or Upagraha like Mrityu or Aprakash Graha like Dhooma. Any thing in Rashi aspect with Rashi drishti. This is to say if you need to check aspect of Gulika see Rashi drishti of the Rashi where Gulika is placed and you will find aspect of Gulika. 

When one will read Jaimini one will find that Jaimini gave extreme importance to Rashi Drishti because even Arudha in a Bhava will aspect with Rashi Drishti only. That is to say anything in Rashi will aspect with Rashi Drishti.

It is mentioned that "Brahma" [Creator] told about Rashi Drishti, Which means any affliction arising out of Rashi Drishti shows a basic defect in creation or manifestation. Also how to approach this subject as there can be four differentiations here, aspect by malefic but who is a friend of a lord of the sign, aspect by malefic who is inimical to lord of sign.  the aspect of benefic inimical to Lord of sign, aspect of benefic friendly to lord of sign. All this will be explored in-depth in our course.

Graha Drishti

Here you will see when people superimpose their own understanding in name of editing and proof-reading what happens.

Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra clearly states that every planet have 1/4th aspect on 3-10 Houses from itself [It uses bhava which means house and not Rashi], 2/4th aspect on 5-9 houses from itself. 3/4th on 4-8 houses from itself and 4/4th aspect on 7th house from itself. Saturn, Jupiter and Mars have have special aspect as Saturn aspects 3-10 from itself by full 4/4 aspect, Mars aspect 4-8 from itself by full 4/4 and Jupiter aspects 5-9 fro itself by full 4/4 aspect.  

What the sage have intended to say was all planets except Saturn, Jupiter and Mars have a full aspect on 7th house and they Saturn, Jupiter and Mars have a special aspect on these houses as their full aspect and on 7th house, their aspect is not full, but partial.
But both authors with their claim of correcting the manuscript distorted it. But Pandit Ganesh Dutt Pathak and Pandit Tarkachandra Shastri [They never mentioned correcting the manuscripts gave original table of aspects which is as follows.

Graha Drishti
Planet	Trine [5-9]	Chaturastra [4-8]	Saptama [7]	Upachaya [3-10]
Saturn	1/4th	2/4th	3/4th	Full
Jupiter	Full	1/4th	2/4th	3/4th
Mars	3/4th	Full	1/4th	2/4th
Others	2/4th	3/4th	Full	1/4th

This, as can be seen above was the real method Sage wanted to propagate which was mutilated in name of correcting manuscripts.
One can also see that secret of Nadi Astrology lies here. Suppose two planets are in trine Sun and Moon then Sun cast 2/4th aspect on Moon and Moon cast 2/4th aspect on Moon - Now is it illogical to say in sense that they are in conjunction [Half+Half=Full] Due to this reason while defining Sambandha between planets Mantreshwara in his Phladeepika added Sambandha between Planets in Mutual Kendra and Kona.

Secrets in usage: We know sam-bandha between planets are made by four methods. By being in each other's sign, By being in mutual aspect, By being aspected by the depositor, by being in same sign [Together] But in practice, we find mutual aspect does not make a strong connection in many cases, Why? the answer to the same is only Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus have a full aspect on 7th to participate in mutual aspect sam-bandha other planets cast partial aspect on 7th house thus yoga may or may not be applicable.

What do I mean by "may and may not" will be defined here? 

Suppose few variations.

Jupiter and Mars in 1-7 Jupiter aspect Mars by 2/4th aspect and Mars by 1/4th aspect. it makes only 3/4th aspect. Unable to form Sambandha.

Jupiter and Saturn in 1-7. Jupiter aspect Saturn by 2/4th aspect and Saturn by 3/4th aspect making 5/4 which means a Sambandha.
This way one can clearly see the differences into considerations when we follow true spirit of Sage.

Difference between Graha and Bhava Drishti : Graha Drishti is basically for Sambandha between two Graha, Only when it is full it have to be taken into consideration. Bhava Drishti is sambandha between Bhava and Graha and all types of aspect can be considered here. which differentiates them on extent of their influence on Bhava.

Bhava Drishti 

Sitaram Jha and Devchandra Jha edition exposes this in a separate chapter named  "Grah Sphut Drishti Kahtanadhyaya" which can mean that this is only true aspect of planets. Whereas Devdutt Pathak and Tarkachandra Shatri edition exposes this in "Bhav Shad Bal Aadi Varnan Adhyayah" which clearly distinguishes between Graha Drishti and Bhava Drishti. Making clear that Bhava Drishti will take both full and partial aspect into consideration to judge the relationship between Bhava and Graha whereas Graha Drishti is only full between two Graha.

We need to calculate Drishti bala to know about Bhava Shadbala [Will be dealt in separate article] Two methods of calculations are given, I am giving the one given in Tarkachandra Shastri and Devdutt Pathak edition.

Calculations of Bhava Drishti: Aspecting planet is called "Drishta [A]" aspected planet/Bhava is called "Drishya [B]"
Take their longitude "Rashi-Degree-Minute" and A-B = If more than 6 then subtract from 10 Rashi and divide by 2.

If more than 5 then leave Rashi and double Degree and Minute
If more than 4 [But less than 5] then subtract it from 5 and remaining Degree and Minutes will give Drishti/Aspect
If more than 3, Subtract from 4, Divide by 2 and add 30.
If more than 2, Leave Rashi and add 15 in Degrees
If more than 1, leave Rashi and half the degrees. This gives quantum of aspects.

For Saturn, Mars and Jupiter : For Saturn add 45 more in aspect on 3rd and 10th house. For Jupiter add 30 more in aspect on 5th and 9th house. For Mars add 15 more in aspecton 4th and 8th houses.

These calculations can be tiring for beginners hence one is advised to take support of modern day software's. One such Software is Jagannath Hora which is free to download. [Check settings before usage] In the software open any chart [It is easy to use] Select the option "View" above in File Bar and then choose "Aspect Table with Relationship" Then right click on New Window anywhere over blank space and choose "Full Aspect Value" and then change it to be 100.

Secrets in Usage: Graha Drishti does not take into consideration degrees of planets. In planet in aforesaid Bhava/Rashi [They are same] comes under their aspect irrespective of their degrees. But in Bhava Drshti Degrees of Bhava [Similar to that of Lagna] needs to be taken into consideration. This is the reason why Mantreshwar in his Phala-Deepika have said that planets in any bhava equalling the degrees of Lagna will give the full effect of that bhava and in other places promotionally. This also applies with their aspect. being placed in a bhava is inclusive of aspect on other Bhava.

Examples 

September 3, 1993; 18:00:00; Moradabad - India

[An operation after her birth just around 12 hours of birth near waist due to some ulcer/eruption and doctors cut the spinal veins which control veins. Now by birth she can't be moved]

Creation Flaw: See Lagna with malefic and retrograde Saturn but in own sign [Longevity is not hampered] Rashi Drishti Venus, Indrachaap, Upaketu, and Kaal. All three of these Aprakash Graha are troublesome. It gave the problem in upbringing [health issues] abnormality is seen by Aprakash Graha. Venus being benefic and friendly makes sure that her physical growth and longevity doesn't get hampered.

October 28, 1955; 21:10:00; Seattle-Washington-USA

Horoscope of Bill Gates: See mutual aspect between Mercury and Moon 1st 2nd lords and 4th and 2nd lords which give a beautiful combination for making money and property.

If you consider mutual aspect between Mars and Moon it also becomes a combination between 6th and 2nd Lord which indicates debts. He is not in debt, he never was.

See Bhava Drishti for 11th house it is aspected by Sun [Authority leader in Computer operating systems] Mars [Engineering] Mercury [74 - more than 50 - For technology and 
computers/communication/email's/outlook] Jupiter [Donations and Bill and Melinda Foundation] Venus [Beautiful operating system from DOS to Windows XP] Saturn [Hard work and persistence with struggles to be at top] One can see more the planets aspects 11th house better the financial condition. 

[See house lordship of these planets and match it with his Wikipedia Biography] 11th lord is apecting 11th hosue along with 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, 5th, 9th lords. [What else one wants]

This is an extensive topic, which can't be taught in a single article. It has to be taught step by step distinguishing between Rashi and bhava, and their manifestation. Along with difference in Rashi and Graha Dasha. This article will provide an introduction to the subject. This article will be dealt extensively in "Jyotish Prarambha"

(C) Shubham Alock for Jyotish Prarambha

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