PranapadaLagnaBWFinal

7/30/2019 PranapadaLagnaBWFinal

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He was introduced to jyotish by his

Kulguru at the age of eight. After theinitial trigger early in life, he has pursuedthe study of jyotish with utmost passionever since. He writes with the pen nameAbhishekha and is the Editor/Publisher ofAIAC Times, Chicago.

rihat Parasara Hora Shastra is

undoubtedly the Bible of Vedic

Astrology and followed by

numerous jyotishis across the globe. As I

had stated in some of my previous articles,the book has undergone modifications over

ages and on that fact, I completely agree.

In fact I am rather thankful that seers

through various ages incorporated timeless

jyotish methodologies in one book and

presented it in a form that is now readily

available.

However, it is a completely different story

that the text is cryptic and just gives the

rules without exposing the underlying

principles. Deciphering those principles is

the biggest challenge to the learners of this

fabulous science.

Pranapada is one such area in the book that

requires more explanation than that isreadily available in the verses of Parasaras

classic.

In Graha-Guna-Swaroopa Adhyay

[Chapter 3 in most BPHS editions], the

text introduces Grahas and details on the

Grahas. Nearing its end, the text

introduces Upa-grahas and at the very end

of the text, four verses [71 to 74] are

present which exposes the reader to the

concept of Pranapada. The injection of

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Pranapada with Upa-grahas cannot be considered timely. It could have rather been

introduced with Vishesha Lagna chapter. However, as will be detailed in this article, even

that has a problem because Pranapada Lagna is very different from the other Vishesha

Lagnas even though there are some major areas of similarity between them.

Later on, the book introduces the result of Pranapada in various Bhavas from the Lagna inthe Aprakasha-Graha-Phala Adhyay [Chapter 25 in most BPHS editions]

Let us visit these verses one by one. Transliteration is provided for each of the relevant

verses. For the translation of the verses, I have used the translation by Pandit Sitaram Jha of

Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra.

Bhamsa-pada-samau pranaishcharah-adhya-arka-trikona-bhat

Udya-ishtkal-antam yadbham pranapadam hi tat - 71

Bhamsa pada [360/4] is 90 Prana. That Lagna which rises in trines to the Sun placed in a

Movable sign around the Zodiac from Sunrise to Birthtime at the rate of 90 Prana is called

Pranapada Lagna.

Swe-Ishta-Kalam palikritya tithantanam bhadikam cha yat

Char-aga-dwibhasansthe-arke bhanau yung navame sute - 72

The difference between Birth time and Sunrise (also called Ishtagati) should be calculated inVighatikas and then divided by 15.

If at the time of birth Sun is in a Movable Sign consider the same sign and longitude, if in a

fixed sign, consider the 9th sign with the same longitude and if in a dual sign consider the 5th

sign from it with the same longitude.

Sphutam pranapadakhyam tatlagnam gyeyam dwijottama


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Lagnad dwi- kone turye cha rajye pranapadam tada - 73

The resultant degrees obtained earlier should be added to get the Pranapada Lagna, O best of

the twice born! From the Lagna, if Pranapada falls on the 2, 5, 9, 4, or 10 Bhavas then

Shubham janma vijaniyat tatha eva ekadashe api cha

Anya-sthane stitham cheta syatat tada janmashubham vadet - 74

Such a birth is considered auspicious. Also 11th House placement of Pranapada should also beconsidered for auspicious birth.

If Pranapada is placed in other Bhavas from Lagna, the birth is not considered auspicious.

he above verses are extremely cryptic and so we shall decipher them one by one.

There is one empirical rule in all Vishesha Lagna studies. They are built on the

model of Tropical Equinox of the Earth.

However, let us understand deeper the difference in model of Pranapada Lagna versus the

other Vishesha Lagnas. All Vishesha Lagnas can fit into one simple [yeah!] equation

Vishesha Lagna = Ishta Gati X Rate of Vishesha Lagna + Longitude of Sun

Since in the 21st century, we measure time in minutes and have gone away from the

observable measurements in nature, I shall make calculations simple for everyone usingminutes and the modern clock. Just as a side note, the Vishesha Lagna time units were all

observable natural time units and if we ever come to a day when we have to live without

electricity, we may find those units of time coming back to us.

Rate of Vishesha Lagna holds the most important key in naming the Vishesha Lagna. Hora

Lagna is named so because the Lagna moves at a rate of 1 rasi per hora. Ghatika Lagna is

named so because it moves at a rate of 1 rasi per ghatika. Thus, Pranapada Lagna should be

named so because it moves at a rate of 1 rasi per 90 Prana.

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Another striking difference between other Vishesha Lagnas and Pranapada Lagna is the

correction of the Suns longitude. For Pranapada Lagna, Parasara specifically mentions to use

the Suns longitude after a correction and the Suns sphuta should be in Chara Rasi.

The answer to both questions is related. They always are related, arent they?

rana is a Unit of Time in ancient Times. 1 Prana = 1/360 of Ghatika= 4 seconds. Thiswas said to be interval between blinking of eyes or the time period between inhaling

and exhaling.

Now, 90 Prana is the denominator for the rate of movement of Pranapada Lagna. 90 Prana is

6 minutes.

What is so special about 6 minutes that the Pranapada moves at the rate of 1 rasi every 6

minutes?

To understand the answer to this question, we will have to study a little bit of human

anatomy, specially a very interesting organ called the Heart.

The Heart Beat in a healthy adult is a range between 60 100 BPM [Beats per minute]. The

average figure accepted as a norm is 72 BPM.

For Vishesha Lagna models, the ideal or average values are to be taken. Again the question

may come out as to Why we are taking the average or ideal values for these calculations.

If in 1 minute, the heart beats 72 times, in 6 minutes, the heart will beat 432 times.

This number 432 is a very interesting number.

A person is considered living till his brain functions. During the days when beheading was

popular, even after the head was cut from the body, the persons head was alive for a few

seconds before it died out.

The human brain contains 10 billion nerve cells or neurons. The blood from the heart is

pumped into the brain 432 times in 6 minutes and it reaches every cell.The highest chakra in the body is on the top of the head and is called Sahasra-ra. It is

depicted by 1000 petalled or 10,000 petalled lotus.

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