Longevity through transit

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Introduction:

Longevity is a difficult subject to discuss. Even the best of the Astrologers cannot fathom the secrets lying behind the life span of an individual. Sage Parasara himself has stated that knowing the longevity is difficult even for the Gods. Many methods have been laid down by sages and it is believed that they are more than 80 in number. It will be worthwhile if one is to study all the methods and come to a definite conclusion. But the difficulties in studying all those methods are manifold.

Just as the transit of planets play a vital role in deciding the various facets of a man’s life, so also for longevity. Many principles are found in various classics which throw light on the planetary positions at the time of death. In this article, I analyse one such combination which is responsible for bringing about the death of the individuals concerned. These are not the final ones. It is only the tip of the iceberg.

Rule 1:

A person whose natal Moon is in the 1st_{part of Navamsa is likely to die when the}

Sun is in the southernly course (Dakshinayana). It will be in the bright-half of the month (Shukla Paksha).

Corollary to Rule 1:

If the Moon is in the 2nd_{part of the Navamsa, the person’s death is likely to be}

when the Sun traverses the northern region (Uttarayana). It will be in the dark-half of the month (Krishna Paksha).

To summarise we can say:

Birth in Uttara-Bhaga – death in Uttarayana period – dark half of the month. Birth in Purva-Bhaga – death in Dakshinayana period – bright half of the month.

Some basic explanations:

Here, before going into the verification of the above rule, it is necessary to understand some basic principles.

Dakshinayana – Uttarayana: #1. Drika Siddhanta:

Dakshinayana starts when sayana sun enters cancer, and uttaraayana starts when sayana surya enters Capricorn. We need to use sayana surya in order to observe surya's ayana gati.

Dakshinayana starts at June 21st

Uttarayana starts at December 22nd

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Dakshinaaya starts when nirayana surya enters cancer, and uttaraayana starts when nirayana surya enters Capricorn. Actual Ayanagati may not be observed exactly using this method.

Dakshinayana starts at July 16th

Uttarayana starts at January, 14th

So in order to apply the above principle to our rules, we have to be careful as to which one is applicable. In the Nadi system we always find the use of Vakya Panchangam.

To overcome this problem, I prepared a chart for the day of death and verify the position of Sun and Moon. If the Sun is between Capricorn and Gemini – I treated it as Uttarayana and if the Sun is between Cancer and Sagittarius, that will be dakshinayana. However, to prepare a chart for this date, you must be having the time as well as the place of death which is rather difficult to get.

Bright half (Sukla Paksha) and Dark half (Krishna Paksha) of a month:

The Paksha is based on the cycle of the Moon. We know the Moon takes 29.5 days to rotate on its axis. At the same time it takes 27.322 days to orbit the earth. Hence we get the phases of the Moon. The approximate period of the first 15 days when the Moon is waxing i.e. proportionately increasing in size (as it appears to our eyes) is the bright half or fortnight and is called Shukla Paksha. The next 15 days (again approximation) when the Moon is waning (appears to be decreasing in size), which is termed as dark half or fortnight and is called as Krishna Paksha.

In other words Shuklapaksha is from New Moon to Full Moon. Krishnapaksha is from Full Moon to New Moon.

From a given chart we can approximately decide that if the distance between the postion of Sun and Moon are less than 7 signs (i.e. 6 and less), it is the dark half of the month. If the distance is more than 1 sign upto 7 signs then it is the bright half of the month. As I said earlier it is only a crude way of finding the Paksha. Actual tithi has to be determined from Panchanga.

Purva-Bhaga – Uttara Bhaga

Moon’s orbital period is 27.322 days. Because of this motion Moon appears to move about 13° against the stars every day or about half a degree per hour. One Navamsa is 3° 20’ or 200’. If we take the movement of Moon as 30 minutes per hour then to cover 200 minutes the Moon will take around 6 hours 30 minutes. It has been actually calculated as 6hrs-40 minutes. During this period, three signs rise in the east – one movable, one fixed and one dual. It can be mathematically also proved. But that is not the point of discussion for us here. It is suffice to know that there is a definite relationship between the Ascendant and the Moon’s transit in Navamsa. This 200 minutes movement of the Moon (One Navamsa) is further divided into 2 parts – Purva-ardha or the first part of Navamsa (From 0’ to 100’) and Uttara-ardha or the 2nd_{part of Navamsa (From 101’ – 200’). In the}

Nadi scripts, we find the extensive use of this division of Navamsa into two parts normally referred to as Purva Bhaga and Uttara Bhaga.

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Some example calculations will make this concept clear:

If Moon is at 275° 37’ it will be in Uttarashada Nakshatra – 3rd_{pada and in}

Makara (Capricorn) Rasi. In other words, Moon will be in Capricorn (9th_{sign -}

270°) at a longitude of 5° 37’. The Navamsa will be Kumbha (Aquarius) 030_.20’–

060_{-40’. If we divide this duration of 3° 20’ or 200’ into two parts the first part}

will be from 3° 20’ to 5° 00’ and the 2nd_{part will be from 5° 00’ to 06}0_-40’.

In one of my earlier articles titled ‘Nakshatra and Navamsa’ published in the October-December 2007 issue, I have given the Navamsa table which can be used as a ready reckoner for this purpose.

I am giving another table here which will be more easy to fix the first part as well as the 2nd_{part of the Navamsa. This table has been taken from Navamsa in}

Astrology by Shri C.S. Patel and modified a little.

The signs shown in a vertical order refer to the planet’s position in Rasi Chart and the degree of signs refer to the degree of such a planet. The Navamsa rasi for a particular planet in a rasi can be found by going down the particular Rasi until you reach the range of the degree, the planet is placed in Rasi. For sake of space saving, only two letters of Navamsa rasi is given in the table. The Navamsa Rasis in bold indicate the Vargottama Navamsa.

How to find the Navamsa from the table ?

If in a horoscope say Ascendant is in 25° Sg 59’ Locate the Sagittarius rasi in the table and go down the column until the degree 25° 59’ range is found. This is found in the 16th_{row. We find the Sc meaning that the Navamsa Lagna is Scorpio}

and it isinthe 2nd_{part of this Navamsa. Like that for each of the planets you can}

find out the Navamsa rasi and its Bhaga.

Sl. No . Par t No Degrees Of signs Ari es T au ru s G em in i C an ce r Le o V ir g o Li b ra S co rp io S ag it ta ri u s C ap ri co rn A q u ar iu s Pi sc es 1 1st _{00°-00’ to 01°-40’} Ar Cp Li Cn Ar Cp Li Cn Ar Cp Li Cn 2 2nd _{01°-40’ to 03°-20’} 3 1st _{03°-20’ to 05°-00’} Ta Aq Sc Le Ta Aq Sc Le Ta Aq Sc Le 4 2nd _{05°-00’ to 06°-40’} 5 1st _{06°-40’ to 08°-20’} Ge Pi Sg Vi Ge Pi Sg Vi Ge Pi Sg Vi 6 2nd _{08°-20’ to 10°-00’} 7 1st _{10°-00’ to 11°-40’} Cn Ar Cp Li Cn Ar Cp Li Cn Ar Cp Li 8 2nd _{11°-40’ to 13°-20’} 9 1st _{13°-20’ to 15°-00’} Le Ta Aq Sc Le Ta Aq Sc Le Ta Aq Sc 10 2nd _{15°-00’ to 16°-40’} 11 1st _{16°-40’ to 18°-20’} Vi Ge Pi Sg Vi Ge Pi Sg Vi Ge Pi Sg 12 2nd _{18°-20’ to 20°-00’} 13 1st _{20°-00’ to 21°-40’} Li Cn Ar Cp Li Cn Ar Cp Li Cn Ar Cp 14 2nd _{21°-40’ to 23°-20’} 15 1st _{23°-20’ to 25°-00’} Sc Le Ta Aq Sc Le Ta Aq Sc Le Ta Aq 16 2nd _{25°-00’ to 26°-40’} 17 1st _{26°-40’ to 28°-20’} Sg Vi Ge Pi Sg Vi Ge Pi Sg Vi Ge Pi 18 2nd _{28°-20’ to 30°-00’}

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Application of Rules 1 and 1(a):

Now let us see whether the stated rules above apply to the horoscopes of departed personalitites.

We require the data in the following format: Name

Date of Birth Time of Birth Place of Birth

Position of Moon at birth

Navamsa Part (Take from the table)

Date of Death Time of Death Place of death

Position of Sun at death Position of Moon at death Death in Ayana

Death in Paksha

Expected results (as per rule):

Death to be in Ayana Death to be in Paksha Rule applicable

Conclusion

Since only the data as stated above are required, I am not giving the entire chart. Since the data regarding the death is also required, in many sample charts I took up for study, Icould not get the time of death and in some cases there is no data available regarding the place of death. The software I have used is Jhora and the Ayanamsa used is Lahiri (Chitra paksha).

1. Srinivasa Ramanujam:

Name Srinivasa Ramanujan

Date of Birth 22-12-1887

Time of Birth 18:20

Longitude/Latitude 77 E 44/11 N 21 Position of Moon at birth 10 Pi 50’ 27.06” Navamsa Part (Take from the

table) 1

st_Part

Date of Death 26-04-1920

Time of Death Not known

Longitude/Latitude 79 E 23/10 N 58 Position of Sun at death Ar

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Position of Moon at death Sukla Navami

Death in Ayana Uttarayana

Death in Paksha Bright half

Death to be in Ayana Dakshinayana Death to be in Paksha Bright half

Conclusion Rule partially satisfied

2. Dr. B.V. Raman:

Name B.V.Raman

Time of Birth 19:43

Longitude/Latitude 77 E 35/12 N 59 Position of Moon at birth 23 Ta 41’ 05.23” Navamsa Part (Take from the

table) 1

st_Part

Longitude/Latitude 77 E 35/12 N 59 Position of Sun at death Sg

Position of Moon at death Sukla Dwitiya

Death in Ayana Dakshinayana

Death in Paksha Shukla paksha

Death to be in Ayana Dakshinayana

Death to be in Paksha Bright Half Conclusion Rules apply

3. Sanjay Gandhi:

Name Sanjay Gandhi

Time of Birth 9:27

Longitude/Latitude 72 E 50/18 N 58 Position of Moon at birth 12 Le 30’ 01.12” Navamsa Part (Take from the

table) 2

nd_part

Longitude/Latitude 77 E 12/28 N 36 Position of Sun at death Ge

Position of Moon at death Sukla Ekadasi

Death in Ayana Uttarayana

Death in Paksha Shukla Paksha

Death to be in Ayana Uttarayana

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Conclusion Partially satisfied

Here the paksha is opposite. Will it be because of the unnatural death of the native? I tested it with such charts like Mahatma Gandhi as well as Indira Gandhi. In both the cases also it failed. To come to a definite conclusion that this rule is not applicable to unnatural deaths like accident, homicide etc. we have to verify with more charts.

4. Rabindranath Tagore:

Name Rabindranath Tagore

Time of Birth 04:02

Longitude/Latitude 88 E 22/22 N 32 Position of Moon at birth 21 Pi 07’ 26.13” Navamsa Part (Take from the

table) 1

st_Part

Longitude/Latitude Not known Position of Sun at death Cn

Position of Moon at death Poornima

Death in Ayana Dakshinayana

Death in Paksha Poornima-Bright Half Expected results (as per rule):

Death to be in Ayana Dakshinayana

Death to be in Paksha Bright Half

Conclusion Rule fully applies 6. Rudyard Kipling:

Name Rudyard Kipling

Time of Birth 16:53

Longitude/Latitude 72 E 50/18 N 58 Position of Moon at birth 23 Ta 09

Navamsa Part (Take from the

table) 2

nd_part

Longitude/Latitude 0 W 07/51 N 30 Position of Sun at death Cp

Position of Moon at death Krishna dasami (Dark half)

Death in Ayana Uttarayana

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Death to be in Ayana Uttarayana

Death to be in Paksha Dark Half

Conclusion Rule fully applies

Here as an example I have given only 6 persons data. I tested this rule in about 52 charts and the result was that the rule was applicable only in 28 charts and in about 5 charts they were in marginal position that is to say a few days earlier or later and the rest of the cases there was total difference.

Basis of the rule given above:

Deva Keralm: Verses 3779 - 3780:

Late R. Santhanam translates these verses as:

There is another authority to state that one born in the 2nd_{half of Visva}

Nadiamsa, Scorpio ascendant, will live in a cave in the region of Sambhu hills. He will quit the world in his 65th_{year with the Sun’s northerly sojourn, in the sign}

Capricorn, in dark lunar half.

Further doubts and clarifications are also given by him in his book Deva Keralam about which we are not concentrating now.

The sloka is applicable only to Scorpio Lagna native with Visva Nadiamsa. The question is can we apply the rule to all persons? If we apply how far it is correct? That is what I have tried to establish here. The rest is left to the readers to examine and comment.

One last thing I want to mention here is that, I have given the title of the article as ‘Longevity through transit’ and also given a single rule. That is because of want of space. I am continuing my research on this subject and have many more rules to decide on this subject. I shall definitely come back to you, after sometime with my findings.

I am also giving the results of some of the charts wherein the rule did not apply.

Name Mahatma Gandhi

Time of Birth 07:20

Longitude/Latitude 69 E 49/21 N 37 Position of Moon at birth 28 Cn 00’ 48.54” Navamsa Part (Take from the

table)

1st_{Part – Pi}

Time of Death 17:41

Longitude/Latitude 77 E 12/28 N 36 Position of Sun at death 16 Cp 24’ 02.80” Position of Moon at death 15 Vi 00’ 17.81”

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Expected results:

Death to be in Ayana Dakshinayana Death to be in Paksha Bright half

Conclusion Rule does not fit in.

As stated earlier the rule did not apply in the case of Mahatamji probably because death was by Homicide.

Similar is the case with yogis who have the power to depart from this world as they wish. I tested it with the charts of Ramana Maharishi, Swami Sivananda, Sri Aurobindo where also the rule failed either totally or partially.

Swami Vivekananda

Time of Birth 6:33

Longitude/Latitude 88 E 22/22 N 32 Position of Moon at birth 17 Vi 26’ 30.24 Navamsa Part (Take from the

table) 1

st_{Part - Ge}

Longitude/Latitude 88 E 18/22 N 38 Position of Sun at death In Gemni

Position of Moon at death On Krishna Chaturdasi

Death in Paksha Dark half

Conclusion Rule does not fit in.

Name Chitaranjan Das

Time of Birth 6:48

Longitude/Latitude 88 E 30/22 N 40 Position of Moon at birth 14 Pi 44’ 58.91 Navamsa Part (Take from the

table) 1

st_{Part - Sc}

Longitude/Latitude Not known Position of Sun at death Must be In Ge Position of Moon at death Krishna Ekadasi

Death in Paksha Dark half

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