PRASNA 2

Arrival of the querist

When the astrologer sights a questioner coming to him, he must be circumspect and observe keenly at that time the following points.

1.the time of query, 2.place of query. 3.breath of the astrologer 4.own mental disposition and moods. 5.the limbs touched by the querist.

6.the direction occupied by the querist, 7.the word said by the querist to

the astrologer, 8.the posture of querist, 9.movements and gestures of the

querist. 10. his dress and other relevant features. 11. Omens seen at that

time. This keen observation of omens will help the astrologer for correct

and unerring prognostication of the 9uej.z

The method and para meters of observing the above items are described hereunder.

Time of query

A queryis to be asked in an auspicious time only which is devoid

of blemishes stipulated in election astrology. A query asked in an auspi-

cious time gives good results whereas the query asked in an inauspicious

time gives bad results. Such main blemishes are given nine in election

&stiology(muhoortha.

Blemishes - 1.Asterisms except feeding asterisms. viz.

I.Bharanee,2.Krutthika. 3.Aardraa. 4.Aaslaesha. 5.Maka. 6.Poorvaphal

gunee. 7.Visaakha. S.Jyaeshttaa. 9.Moola. IO.Poorvaashaadta.

II.Poorvabhaodrapada. The feeding asterisms are -Aswathi, Roahinee,

Mrugasiras, Punarvasa, Pushya, Uttharaphaalgunee, Hastha, Chithra,

Ashtamangula Prasna                                     25

Swafhi, Anuraaclhaa, Uttharaashaata, Sravana, Sravishta, Satha hhishak, utthara bhoadrapada. Raevathi.

I.Gandantha (junction points of signs, lunar days, asterisms.l.

Junction points of signs are- Cancer-leo: Scorpio-Sagittarius: Pisces-

Aries; 2.Junction points of lunar days are- 5” and 6* days: 10~ and 11 *

days: 15* and I “ day: 3 .Junction points ofasterisms are- Aaslaesha and

Maka: Jyaeshta and Moola; Raevathy andAswathi.

3 .The ushnaghatee. vishaghatee in asterisms .These are particu-lar timings in asterisms.

4.Bad lunar days.(in both fort nights- lunar days- 4””, 8”, 9th. 14*.

S.Gulikoudaya - the rising time ofGulika a sensitive point of the

Zodiac.

6dshramee, 8* linar day. (except the 8* lunar day in the dark half in the month sravana)

7. Vishti karana

S.Stthiru karana

9.Lcrata and Vaidhrutha both blemishes ofasterisms which can be known from panchaanga only.

IO.Eclipse day

  Certain week days combined with certain asterisms cause mruthyuyoaga viz. Sunday with maka;Monday with Visaakha:Tuesday with Aardraa;Wednesday with moola:Thursday with Sathabhishak;Friday with Roahinee; Saturday with uttharaphaalgunee.

}2.Dcigdhayoaga,certa.m week days combined with certain lunar

days cause dagdhayoaga-Vn. Sunday with 12” lunar day;Monday with

11~ :Tuesday with S”;Wednesday with2nd;Thursday with 6*:Friday with

8’h;Saturday with 9*.

13. A malefic posited in ascendant.

14.Malefic aspect to the ascendant.

I S.Saarpasiras- When the combined longitudes of Sun and Moon

fall in between 220 degrees and 226 degrees and 40 minutes in the asterism

Anuraadhaa.(this is also called Ahimasthak)

 

 

 

\6.Aekaargcttla- The asterism indicated by the longitude of Sun at the time of query deducted from 360 degrees is called aekaargala.The asterisms 2”’,7th, I ()”•, 11 , 16, I SV~ from original aekaargala are also called Aekaargala.

17..ingress of Sun from one sign to another sigft(Samkraanthi)

18.The 3’d,5~,7” asterism from the birth star of the querist(vipath,

prathyara, vadha).

19.The eighth sign of the birth ascendant and Moon ascendant.

20.Moon occupying the 8* sign of the election ascendant.

The following are the favourable timings for a query.

I .Balaannathaara- (asterisms good for first feeding of child) viz,

Aswathi, Roahinee, Mrugasiras, Punarvasu, Pushya, Uttharaphalgunee.  Hastha, Chithra, Swathi, Anuraadhaa, Uttharaashacldta, Sravana, Sravishta, Uthrabhaadrapada, Raevathi.

IAmruthaghatikaa in asterism

3.Benefics in ascendants

4.Benefic aspect for ascendant

5.Siddhayoaga- Certain week days combined with certain asterisms

cause siddha yoaga which is auspicious for all functions.viz. Sunday

with Uttharaphalgunee, Utthraashaadta, Uttharabhaadrapada, Poorvaashaadia, Raevathi, Sravana-, Monday with Punarvasu, Swathi, Sravishta, Sathabhishak-, Tuesday withAnuroadha, Bharanee, Raevathi:

Wednesday with Mrugasiras, Anuraadhaa, Uttharaphalgunee, Uttharaashaadta, Roahinee: Thursday with Anuraadhaa.  Aswathi, Swathi, Punarvasu, Pushya-, Friday with Uttharaphalgunee, Hastha, Chithra, Moola. Raevathee. Aswalhi, Saturday with Roahinee, krutthika, Swathi, Visaakha, Anuraadha, Sathabhishak.

Suitable place for query

Since query is a divine process the environment for query also

should be serene, pleasing , clean and soothening to mind. The place of

query should have flowering trees, the whole atmosphere and environ-

ment should be appeasing to five sense organs. The ground should be

plain and purified by sprinkling cowdung water. Auspicious functions

 

should have been performed there. The damsels and other people of the

place should be hail and healthy. If horary is conducted in such a place

the ambitions of the querist will be fructified.3

Place unsuitable for prasna.

The place for the conduct of prasna should be chosen carefully.

The following kinds of places are unsuitable for the conduct of prasna;

huge jungles, cemetery, ups and downs, deserted houses, the house where

ghost eradication functions are performed, water clogged houses, places

subjected to wild fire. Query conducted in such places will not yield

favourable results. It is to be noted that in such fearfill and haunted

places, the mind of astrologer will be upset and he may not get concen-

tration. This is why the query in such places is prohibited.4

The formalities to be observed by the querist while meeting

the astrologer

The querist should, go to the astrologer only on an auspicious day,

asterism and other auspicious timings. Auspicious days are Sunday,

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Auspicious asterisms are

Aswathi, Roahinee, Mrugasiras. Punarvasu, Pushya, Uttharaphalgunee,

Hastha, Chithra, Swathi, Anuraadhaa, Uthraashaadta, Sravana,

Sravishta. Sathabhishak. Utthara bhaodrapada, Raevathi’, good lunar

days are days except 4*, 8*, 9~ 14* and 15* lunar days. And as far as possible all inauspicious timings enumerated earlier should be avoided.  The querist should not meet the astrologer empty-handed and some pleas-ant things should be offered to the astrologer to please him. He can present flowers, fruits, betel leaves with areca nut, gold coins etc. Though not mentioned in classics, the practice is to offer dakshina as cash.

 

The Examination of the
Breath (Swara) of Astrologer

After ascertaining the nature of the time and place ofprasna when

the astrologer starts the formalities of prasna. At the out set he should

examine the flow of his breath at the time of query. This breath of as-

trologer is called Swara or Swaasa. In Malayalam language it is called

Sara. Swara is the breath of the astrologer which passes either through

his left or right nostril during the question asked to him by the querist or

his messenger. Though in human physiology the breath is considered as

only a  bodily feature to enliven the body mechanism. But in Yoaga

saasthra ‘swara’ is connected with every activity of man and his envi-

ronment. It indicates even the slightest fluctuation in the balance of the

cosmic force that guides the destiny of human beings. As a barometer

denotes even the slightest change in the atmosphere around us, the breath

indicates to the adept astrologer the cosmic changes taking place in the

atmosphere at the time of query. There is an invisible reciprocative rela-

tion between the environment and the breath of the astrologer. Breath has

 been studied in depth in Yoagasaasthra. Sivaswaroadaya and Swara rathnaavali are the two famous books in this field. For an astrologer and physician particularly treating poison the knowledge of the swara saasthra (science of breath) is essential.

It is said that there are three kinds of breaths in man; }.idaa,

2-Pingalaa; S.Sushumnaa,

The breath passing through the left nostril is idaa, through the right nostril is pingalaa and passing through the middle is sushumnaa.  Idaa is related to Moon, Pingalaa to Sun and sushumnaa to fire (agui).  For an ordinary man these three kinds of breath do not make much dif-ference but for a yogic person who practises Pranaayaama (breathing exercises) daily, the subtle differences are felt and many informations about the cosmic environment are furnished. So at the beginning of every action the astrologer should examine the flow of his breath.(swara).

Examination of the breath (swara)

When the querist or messenger approaches the astrologer and asks

a question to him the astrologer examines the nature and other qualities

of his breath; it is ordained that not only at the time of the meeting the

querist but every day at the morning as soon as he gets up from bed

astrologer should examine the flow of breath. Examination of breath is

done in two ways. I. Through which nostril the breath passes. 2.to which

primordial element the breath is connected. ( the primordial elements are

five -prudhweei (earth principle), 2,Jala (watery principle) 3,Agni (fire

principle) 4.vaayu (air principle) 5-Aakaasa (ethery principle). The

first is known by feeling the breath by placing the palm with fingers up under the nose and the seond is felt by measuring the length of the breath emanating from nose by putting his palm below the navel. The earthy breath has a length of 16 angulas, the watery has 12 angulas. the firy has 8 angulas, the airy has 6 angulas, and ethery has 3 angulas.

Results of different kinds of breath

1.On the days ofbenefic planets i.e. Monday, Wednesday, Thurs-day, Friday if the breath is passing through the left nostril it indicates good results. If on these days the breath is passing through the right nostril it forbodes bad results.

 2.0n the days of malefic planets i.e.Sunday, Tuesday and Satur-day. if the breath passes through the right nostril it indicates goc  re-sults; on the contrary if it passes through left nostril it indicates bad results.ln any day at the time of waking up if the breath’s passing is found favourable the experience of astrologer for the whole day will be good. If it is not favourable there will be quarrel,loss of sleep and even difficulty in attending nature’s call. According to swara sassthra  The breath is so intimately connected with the day to day experience of a man.

3. So also along with the passage of the breath through left or right nostril its connection with the primordial elements also should be ascer-tained ny camming its length and the effect be decided accordingly. The following table explains the result of the relaiion of the breath with pri-mordial elements.

________________________Table________________________

Primordial element                           nostril                           Results

Connected to breath

 

Pmdhvee (earth)

Jala(water)

Agni(fire)

Vaayu(air)

Aakaasa(ether)

 

left

right

left, right-

right, left

 

entry into tall

buildings, coronation.

good results

digging wells, marriage

fear from fire

fear from thief.leavmg

home,mounting vehicle

initiation to manthras,

installation of deities,

Beginning of disease.

 

physical indisposition

4.1ndications about the messenger from the breath of the astrolo-

ger. If the messenger occupies the side of the nostril through which the breath passes and if the breath is connected with earth or water the querist will be long-lived, virtuous, and blessed with wife and children and wealthy.On the contrary if the breath is related to Fire, Air and Ether and the messenger occupies the breathless side of the astrologer the messen-ger will suffer loss ofwife,children and wealth.

Other indications froms breath

In snort the breath of the astrologer at the time of query acts as a

meter of the planetary vibrations for the time.This can be explained in

this way. When the querist comes into contact with the astrologer there is

 

an interaction between the cosmic forces of both and the astrologer be-comes able to gauge the experiences of the querist. The identities of both merge together and a third force is created there which gives the clue about the result of the query. That force is coming through the nostril of the astrologer and gives an indication of the charged atmosphere.ln this way astrologer is enabled to make the correct prediction. The astrologer becomes the medium or carrier of the cosmic force.

So also in a query’ regarding a lost article the flow of breath helps to predict whether the lost article will be got back or not. If breath of astrologer is seen passing through the left nostril on Monday, Wednes-day, Thursday, and Friday- the days of benefic planets- favourable re-sults will be experienced. The results will be bad on the contrary if the breath is seen passing through the right nostril on Sunday, Tuesday, and Saturday- the days of malefic planets. But the passing of breath through the right nostril on days of good planets, and through the left nostrils on the days of bad planets it is not favourable.

If the breath is found to be favourable as stated above the total experiences of the day will be good. He will gain money, sumptuous food and other favourable things. If breath is seen unfavourable as stated above the whole experience of the day also will be unfavourable, he will not get good food, he will quarrel with everybody, will not get sound sleep, and feel discomfort in answering the calls of nature.breath not favourable on week-days- Sunday=pain all over the body; Monday= quarrel: Tuesday=death for himself or relatives; Wednesday=trips to dis-tant places. Thursday=calamities:Friday=failure in undertakings;

Saturday==loss of money,valour, crops, litigation regarding land. Unfa-vourable Result of breath through particular nostril for eight consecu-tive days. Sundays- If breath passes through left nostril-Death or death like calamity for preceptor or senior relative. Mondays-If breath passes through right nostril III luck to children or relatives. Tuesdays- if breath passes through the left nostril imprisonment at the hands of enemies.

Wednesdays- if breath passes through right nostril severe illness or even

death.Thlirsdays- if breath passes through the right nostril danger to

preceptor.Fridays- if breath passes through right nostril loss of money,

Saturdays- if breath passes through the left nostril ruin of house or death

of wife. The breath is related to five premordial elements also namely-

Earth. Water. Fire. Wind. F.ther.-This is to he assessed hv measiiriiw the-

 length of breath. Coming through the nostril.-Earthy= 16 angulas,Wateiy= 12 angulas.Firy=8 angulas.Airy= 6 angulas., Etheiy= 3 angulas.The breath should be long and continuous. Broken breath is unfavourable.

Results of primordial breath

Earthy= if on the first lunar day in the bright half the breath is seen earthy and passes through the left nostril good results like loftey houses and coronation can be predicted. Watery breath= he will dig tanks, wells and celebrate marriage. Firy breath-troule from enemies, will have wounds from weapons.and ulcers.house will be burnt down, will fall down from height, children will be injured by fire. Airy breath-fear from thieves, leaving one’s native place, riding horses and elephants.  Ethery breath- he will be initiated to chanting manthrasaasthra, spend money on building temples, take manthradeeksha, but his health will dwindle..In a horary regarding theft the earthy breath indicates that the article is hidden under the earth, the watery breath indicates it will be under water.Firy breath indicates that it is kept on ground. Airy breath indicates that it is-In a smoky comer.Eherial breath indicates that it is kept somewhere up.

Other indications from breath - sw»ra

If the astrologer meets the querist on the same side as his breath of the earthy or watery type, he will be endowed with long life, wife and children and wealth. If she is a woman she will have a good husband. If on the other hand, the querist is placed on the opposite side or if the breath is of other type the effect also will be opposite.ida nadee is good at the starting time and Pingalaanadee is favourable for entering a place.

Sushumnaa is favourable only for yoagic practice.ln a query about sick-

ness , if the query comes from the right ,when the breath passes through

the same side, then prediction is to be made that sickness will be cured.lf

the query comes from the left, when the breath passes through the same

side, prediction should be made that the sickness will be aggravated.lf

the sick person happens to be a women,it should be from the left side.for

relief and from the right side for aggravation of the disease. When the

query is put from the left and the breath flows through the right or vice

versa, then the sick man will get relief only with great difficulty. If the

query is made from the side the astrologer inhales, then there will be

relief. When this happens when he exhales it is not favourable for the

sickness.At the time of query if there is no indication of death, inauspi-

cious sight, talk or thought and if the messenger and the breath are on the same side, the sick person be cured otherwise not. If the query is made when the Moon is waxing, the messenger or querist standing in front of or in a a raised place or on the left side and the astrologer’s breath is governed by the Moon, then the querist will have all his desires fillfilled-lf when the Moon is wainirig, the messenger stands below or on the right side and the breath is governed by the Sun ,then also prediction of good results can be made. At the time of query, as the astrologer feels comfort-able or otherwise , when doing his daily routine work such as sleep, bathe, eating, so will be the effect of the queryst. irrespective of position of the querist or the flow of breath. If after putting the query the person stands still and unwavering ,it can be predicted that the sick man will not die. In benefic days when the Moon is waxing and the breath flows in the left it indicates good . On malefic days when the Moon is waning if the breath flows in the right it indicates good. In a query regarding battle if the person starts when breath passes through his left nostril and reaches the battle ground when the breath passes through the right nostril and if the enemy stands on the side where there is no breath the person will defeat the opponent. The reverse will be the result in the reverse condi-tion. Right breath is favourable at the time of eating, bathing, business transaction, debating, gambling, fighting and mating. It is also good when the person is afraid or disappointed. Left side breath is good for travel, dressing, wearing ornaments, marriage, talk of reconciliation, gifting, or entering a house, while seeing a pregnant lady if breath passes through right nostril it can be said that the child is male. If through left nostril the child will be female. When a pregnant lady asks about the sex of the child in womb if she stands on the side of the breath it is male child. If not it will be a female child. When somebody wants to win any undertaking in life he should start when the breath is in the left and enter the destina-tion when the breath is in right. When a question is asked regarding the invasion by an army if the breath passes through the left the prediction can be made that there will be no invasion. If through the right there will be an attack. In a question pertaining to birth if the astrologer’s breath is etherial the child will die in the womb. If the question is asked from the side where there is breath and passes to the side where there is no breath it can be predicted that a still child will be born.

Similarities in the experiences of the querist and astrologer

It is a coincidence in horary that the astrologer feels  the same

 

experience as those of the querist. If at the time of query the astrologer is bathing, eating, sleeping, or doing any other thing it can be said that the querist also feels the same experiences. Suppose at the time the querist reaches the astrologer is searching for some lost articles it can be said that the query is about some stolen article.

 

MATERIAL FOR BA PART 1 PAPER 4