11 tatwa and graha

© SJVC 2000 Rath’s Lectures Lesson#11 1

© SJVC Jai Jagannath! For students only

RATH’S LECTURES

LESSON # 11: TATWA AND GRAHA

WRITTEN AND EDITED BY: J. SARAT CHANDER The pictures, tables etc., are not to be copied or distributed. The material given in the lesson is copyright SJVC. www.sjvc.net

PANCHA TATWA We had studied in lesson # 1 about creation and the importance/relevance of the three Guna’s – Satwa, Rajas and Tamas – in the process of creation. The three guna comprise the five elements or the ‘Panch Tatwa’, which, together for the cosmic ego or the intelligence, the disturbance of which causes them to combine, split and recombine in various ways to create different levels of lives with different levels of intelligence, ego and tatwa. This is the basis of creation. The ‘Paramatma’ or the supreme Lord, who possesses in him all the three guna, thus possesses all the five tatwa too. However, Jeeva/life on Earth (Prithvi Loka) comprises only 4 of the 5 tatwa in physical manifestation viz., the Prithvi, Jala, Vayu and Agni tatwa while the 5th tatwa viz., Akash, is in the abstract form. It is this tatwa, which is the supreme Satwa energy that not only encompasses all the other four tatwa, thus, containing within itself the entire Brahmanda (Universe), but also is the supreme protective force.

TABLE OF TATWAS S.No. Tatwa Physical

State Planetary Lord (Tatwa rulership)

Mahapurush Yoga

Rasi’s/Signs owned

1. Akash Vacuum Jupiter/Brihaspati/ Guru

Hamsa Pervades all signs and hence represents Omnipresent God (Vishnu)

2. Agni Fire/Energy Mars/Mangal/Kuja Ruchaka Aries, Leo and Sagittarius

3. Prithvi Solid Mercury/Buddha Bhadra Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn

4. Vayu Gaseous Saturn/Shani Sasa Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.

5. Jala Liquid Venus/Sukra Malavya Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces


IMPORTANCE OF SUN & MOON In the above table and paragraph, we have seen the Panch Tatwa and the five planets. In that event, what will be the relevance of Sun and Moon? Sun and Moon are the primary source of Agni and Jala tatwa respectively. No life form can ever be born without these two elements – Agni and Jala. In fact, all life forms are born in or with the help of water (Moon) and the Atma, which gives the life or Prana, is Agni tatwa (Sun). Therefore, Sun and Moon become very important planets in the life of a person. Hence Sun and Moon are also said to represent father and mother. Surya (Atma) and Chandra (Mana/mind) along with the Lagna (Deha/body) make an individual or a living being and, they (Sun, Moon & Lagna), thus, form the “tripod of life” .

TATWAS AND RASIS The first relativity of the tatwa to the Rasi or the zodiac is, thus, formed by the relativity of Sun and Moon. Thus Surya and Chandra have the ownership of a sign each viz., Leo/Simha and Cancer/Karka in the hora chakra and their respective horas of rulership are called the Surya Hora and Chandra Hora. The hora chakra will, besides Surya and Chandra, be lorded by the rest of the planets ruling the Pancha Tatwa owning a rasi on each side of the hora (Surya and Moon). Figure 2 in Lesson # 3 explains this clearly. Thus, from the Sun and Moon is born the first relativity of the tatwa, which is:

Sun Leo/Simha Agni Tatwa

Moon Karka/Cancer Jala Tatwa

First Principle – the Principle of Opposites: From the above relativity of Surya and Chandra (Agni & Jala), we get the first principle – the principle of opposites (1 st and 7 th) i.e., the tatwa that sustains the other, which balances the other for healthy living (see fig. 2 in Lesson # 3). Thus, we get the following groups of opposite relativity:

Table of opposite or sustaining Tatwa Rasi & Tatwa Opposite Rasi & Tatwa Aries (Mesh) - Agni Libra (Thula) – Vayu Taurus (Vrishabh)- Prithvi Scorpio (Vrishchik) - Jala Gemini (Mithun) - Vayu Sagittarius (Dhanu) - Agni Cancer (Kark) - Jala Capricorn(Makar) – Prithvi Leo (Simha) - Agni Aquarius(Kumbha) - Vayu Virgo (Kanya) - Prithvi Pisces (Meena) – Jala From the above we see that the Agni Tatwa is sustained by Vayu Tatwa (as fire needs air/oxygen to burn) and the Jala Tatwa is sustained by Prithvi Tatwa (water/liquid has no form or shape and needs hard objects (Prithvi Tatwa) to sustain it). Thus all Agni rasis have Vayu rasis, while the Jala rasis have Prithvi rasis in their opposites to sustain them.


Second Principle – The Principle of Trines or Trikona Based on the above principle of opposites (1st and 7th), we get the second principle of the ‘TRIKON’ or ‘TRINES’ (1st, 5th and 9 th) – also known as “DREKKANA” or “DRESHKANA” in Sanskrit. The following diagram explains vividly the principle of Trikona:

From the above, we get four trines i.e., Agni, Jala, Vayu and Prithvi. From the principle of trines we derive the Trinity – Brahma (1st – Self – Vartaman/Present ), Shiv (5th – Future ) and Vishnu (9th – Past) – wherein, Brahma being Moveable or ‘Chara’ in nature he represents Rajas Guna with high energy levels and he therefore rules creation; Shiv being Fixed or ‘Sthir’ in nature he represents Tamas Guna with least energy levels (inert) and he therefore rules destruction or death; while Vishnu being Dual or Dwisabhava (Chara + Sthir) in nature he represents Satwa Guna with mixed energy levels (some times Chara and some times Sthira) he rules sustenance

or preservation of life. [Note: 1st, 5th and 9th of the Navamsa reflect the nature of a person.]

Third Principle – The Principle of Kendra or Quadrants

From the above principle of trikona, we derive the 3rd principle – The Principle of QUADRANTS or SQUARES OR KENDRAS , which form the stable structure of the chart. There are three such Kedras. They are: Kendra formed by Chara Rasi’s Kendra formed by Sthira Rasi’s, and Kendra formed by Dwiswabhava Rasi’s Note : Chanakya, in his Chanakya Niti, had equated these four quadrants as four Ayana – (1) Dharma (1st or Lagna); (2) Moksha (4th house); (3) Kama (7th house); and (4) Artha (10th house). And, a person had to have at least one of the four Ayana at any point of time of life,

without which this journey of life is meaningless.


G R A H A ’S Graha’s, loosely translated in English as Planets, can be defined as heavenly objects or points, which influence life on the Earth. Graha’s are the variables as they keep moving or changing constellations due to their rotation and revolution. As learnt in lesson # 3, we have nine Graha’s known as the ‘Navagraha’ .

Nature of Graha The following are the natures of the graha. Additional details can be gathered from standard texts such as Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra, Saravali, Brihat Jataka, Phaladeepika etc. 1. Sun: ♠ Rules Simha Rasi, Satwik guna, Fiery (Agni tatwa), Significator of Atma, Father, King

of the Cabinet of planets, Evil or Kroora, Blood-red in colour, wheatish complexion, Male, Luminary, honey coloured eyes, square body, clean habits, Bilious, Intelligent, Courageous, scarce hair, Bones, Temple, rules the Ayana (for fructification of results in dasha periods), Pungent, strong in South and during the day, lords over the East direction, rules strong trees, red silken robes, Greeshma Ritu (along with Mars), Moola’s (roots and vegetables),

♠ Deity: Agni. Higher form: Shiva; Dasavatar: Sri Ram

♠ Rules the Nakshatras: Krittika, Uttara Phalguni and Uttarashadha.

♠ Governs the 12 vowels/alphabets (a to au).

♠ Exalted in 10 deg., Mesh and Debilitated in 10 deg., Thula. Moolatrikona from 0 –20 deg., in Simha.

2. Moon: Rules Kark, Female, Satwa guna, Jala tatwa, cold, significator of Mind, Mother, blood, White colour, Luminary, Queen of the cabinet of planets, Varsha ritu (monsoon), white silken clothes, rules milky trees (such as rubber tree etc.), North-West direction, strong in the North, Rivers, watery places, Vaisya varna (others attribute Brahmana Varna), windy and phlegmatic, learned, round body, auspicious looks, sweet speech, fickle-minded, determines Muhurtha, Saline.


♠ Deity: Varuna; higher form: Parvati/Gauri; Dasavatar: Krishna

♠ Rules the Nakshatras: Rohini, Hastha and Sravana,

♠ Exalted in 3 deg., in Rishabha, Debilitated in 3 deg., in Vrischik and Moolatrikona in Rishabha after 3 deg.

♠ Moon is benefic from the 8th day (Ashtami) of waxing period – Shukla Paksha – to the 8th day (Ashtami) of waning period – Krishna Paksha, as explained in diagram.

3. Mars: ♠ Rules Mesh and Vrischik, Fiery, cruel or kroor, red colour, Tamas guna, physical

strength, marrow, Commander-in-Chief, fickle-minded, liberal, bilious, given to anger, guttural syllables (ka, kha, ga, gha, nga), thin waist, thin physique, reddish complexion, place of fire, bitter taste, strong in the South, bitter trees (like lemon), red cloth, burnt cloth, Greeshma ritu,

♠ Deity: Agni; higher deity: Subrahmanya/Kartikeya; Dasavatar: Narasimha.

♠ Rules the Nakshatras: Mrigasira, Chitra and Dhanishta.

♠ Exalted in 28 deg., in Capricorn, Debilitated in 28 deg., Cancer and Mooltrikona in 12 deg., Aries.

4. Mercury: ♠ Rules Mithun and Kanya, Neutral gender (Male with female characters), cruel or

kroor with like company, benefic with like company, child, Prince, Speech, skin, dark colour, cerebral letters (ta, tha, da, dha, na), Rajasik guna, attractive physique, jocular, mix of all humours, sports grounds, mixed taste, strong in the East, rules North, governs fruitless trees, dark silken cloth, Sharad ritu.

♠ Deity: Krishna; higher form: Vishnu; Dasavatar: Buddha.

♠ Rules the Nakshatras: Aslesha, Jyeshta and Revati,

♠ Exalted in 15 deg., Kanya and Debilitated in 15 deg., Meen and Mooltrikona in 15 – 20 deg., in Kanya Rasi.

5. Jupiter: ♠ Rules Dhanur and Meen, Male, Satwa guna, Brahmin, benefic, Ethereal (Aakash),

Hemanta ritu, Saffron cloth, fruitful trees, North – Eastern direction, strong in East, strong during the day, sweet, treasure house, fat in the body, big body, phlegmatic, learned in all sastras, intelligent, governs dental syllables (tha, thha, dha, dhha and na), fair complexioned,

♠ Deity: Indra/Brahma; higher form: Maha Vishnu; Dasavatar: Vaman.

♠ Rules the Nakshatras: Punarvasu, Visakha and Poorvabhadra.

♠ Exalted in 5 deg., Cancer, Debilitated in 5 deg., Capricorn and Mooltrikona in 0 to 30 deg., in Dhanur.

6. Venus: ♠ Rules Rishabha and Thula, female, benefic, Rajasik guna, Jala tatwa, semen

(seeds), Brahmin, normal complexion, Vasanta ritu, rules South-East, strong in North, aciduous, strong during the day, rules bed-rooms, charming and splendorous physique, poetic, silken cloth, phlegmatic and windy, curly hair, karaka of wife.


♠ Deity: Sachi; higher form: Lakshmi; Dasavatar: Parasuram.

♠ Rules the Nakshatras: Bharani, Poorva Phalguni and Poorvashadha.

♠ Exalted in 27 deg., Meena, Debilitated in 27 deg., Kanya and Mooltrikona in 0 to 15 deg., in Thula.

7.Saturn: ♠ Rules Makar and Kumbh, Tamo guna, Vayu tatwa, cruel or kroor, neutral gender

(female with male characteristics), very dark complexioned, multi-coloured cloth, barren, Sisira ritu, governs useless trees, grief and death, astringent taste, filthy grounds, muscles, emaciated and long body, windy temperament, big teeth, lame, coarse hair, strong in West, rules West, strong during day and night,

♠ Deity: Brahma/Narayana; also represents Kali; Dasavatar: Kurma.

♠ Rules the Nakshatras: Pushyami, Anuradha and Uttarabhadra.

♠ Exalted in 20 deg., in Thula, Debilitated in 20 deg., in Mesh and Mooltrikona in 0 to 20 deg., in Kumbh.

8. Rahu: ♠ Rules Kumbh, male, cruel or kroor, multi-coloured clothes, aparaksha planet, takes

the role of the company of planets, rules South-West direction, Chandala, denotes 8 months, smoky appearance, windy temperament, intelligent,

♠ Deity: Chinnamastha; Higher form: Durga; Dasavatar: Varaha.

♠ Rules the Nakshatras: Arudra, Swati and Satabhishak.

♠ Exalted in Rishabha (for Ayur matters) and Mithun (for Phalita matters) and similarly debility in Scorpio and Sagittarius, respectively. Moolatrikona-Virgo & Swakshetra-Aquarius.

9. Ketu: ♠ Rules Vrischik, female, cruel or kroor, akin to Rahu in nature, torn cloth (rags),

denotes 3 months, benefic for Moksha matters, benefic in Narayana dasa significations, malefic otherwise, malefic in Saptamsa as Ketu is Mukti karaka.

♠ Deity: Dhoomavati; Higher form: Ganapati; Dasavatar: Matsya.

♠ Rules the Nakshatras: Aswini, Makha and Moola.

♠ Exalted in Sagittarius and debilitated in Gemini; Mooltrikona-Pisces & Swakshetra- Scorpio.

ASSIGNMENT Q1: Determine the predominating Tatwa in the Lagna of your chart. Q2: What is implied by the exaltation and debility of Rahu in Taurus & Scorpio respectively? Why is Ketu not exalted for matters of Longevity? Q3: What do you understand by the terms Moolatrikona and Swakhetra of each of the planets? Explain with illustrations.

OM TAT SAT

11 tatwa and graha

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