Ṇaśtajatkam: Lost Horoscopy-using Thumb impression and Prashna

Ṇaśtajatkam: Lost Horoscopy-using Thumb impression and Prashna

Correction of horoscope timing has become a very booming business now a days. For some astrologers who really understand Jyotisha and nuances of Jyotisha timing in Jātaka is not important. A good astrologer can find out the ascendant from omens, Praśna, sharer vinyās etc. In Praśna, the timing of jātaka has no real value unless something has to be verified from it.

In the modern world, many astrologers make it a habit to charge hefty sums for correction of horoscopes and the best part is that nobody is sure what is the correct timing. They use it as a tool to often extract money from unsuspecting people.

However, correction of ascendant is not a big science and it is not even full proof. Most of the ancient granthas have special chapters on Ṇaśtajatkam. Prashna granthas also includes some chapters.

During our ICAS classes in 1997, this subject of ascendant aroused a lot of curiosity in me. I was just twenty years then and everything at time activated the senses. Here the reason was an article on Sri Atmeshwar Swami who used to correct the ascendant with thumb impressions. I started researching on the subject and collected a lot of data. Shri Michiel Boender who is the owner of Parashara’s Light and Mr.Raj Rao the owner of Astrolife once tested me for this science. I correctly gave them their correct ascendants. This is not rocket science and today I am sharing a real life example with two different methods to find out the ascendant.

THUMB IMPRESSIONS.

Every thumb impression (Right in males and left in females) carries the correct ascendant of the jātaka. The Pakśa and timing can be ascertained based on signs and symbols on thumbs where both hands need very minute observation. Birth tithi can be ascertained based on lines on phalanges. However, the exact time requires a close inspection for five six hours or a whole day which is a tedious process. It requires a whole book for the purpose.

Here I am just trying to explain the ascendant with thumb. The jātaka here has given both hand thumb impressions. These are taken for certain minute verification.

In this case, the questioner knows about his date of birth and carries an approximate time of birth.

The thumbs indicate that an airy sign is rising in the ascendant. The presence of the airy sign is visible through a balloon like structure, which is full of air. According to his date of birth there is a fifty fifty chance that the ascendant is Pisces or Aquarius.

Here an airy sign is rising (This requires a detailed study) however, the basic air is visible in patterns as you can see in red marks. The air has a tendency like balloon shape, which is visible. Second thing under observation is the lines below the delta. It is used for finding out the degrees of ascendant. Since only one line is visible, it is very fair that Aquarius is rising as ascendant with degrees between zero and one.

Though this science requires lot of practise and verification of hand symbols but after a certain experience user can easily differentiate the sign. Though Gemini also appears as Vayu rashi however, it is a Jeeva sign. The ṃoola or roots are visible only in Aquarius sign.

THE PRASHNA METHOD.

Here is the Praśna chart for Ṇaśtajatkam.

According to Krishneeyam:

प्रष्टारूढं राशिं ये वीक्षन्ते ग्रहा बलोपेताः

तेषां क्षेत्रं प्रष्टुर्जन्मर्क्षं निर्द्दिशेन्मतिमान्‌।। १

During the Praśna the strongest planet that aspects the ārūḍha, the sign of that planet will be the natal ascendant of the questioner.

In the example chart, Sun is strongest in Śadbala but is not aspecting the Ārūḍha ascendant. The next strong planet is Saturn which aspects the ascendant. The sign of Saturn is Capricorn and Aquarius. Here we are sure that it is between Aquarius and Pisces. So it is surely aquarius.

According to Vārāha Acharya’s hora, the calculation of ascendant for lost horoscope is mentioned in following verse:

होरानवांशप्रतिमं विलग्नं लग्नाद्रविर्यावति च दृकाणे ।

तस्माद्वदेत्तावति वा विलग्नं प्रष्टुः प्रसूताविति शास्त्रमाह ॥ ७ ॥ 

नष्टजातकाध्यायः || वृहद्जातकम

The Navmansha sign rising during Praśna should be considered the ascendant of the native.

Here the rising Navmansha in Uday is Ṃithuna and Rising Navmansha of Ārūḍha is Ṃeena. It is just one sign after Aquarius, which means sandhi or these two signs. We already deciphered Aquarius ascendant.

ACCORDING TO DVADAŚANŚA

Ṃithuna the rising sign in eleventh dvadaśanśa of the ascendant. The eleventh dvadaśanśa from Ārūḍha is Aquarius, which should be the rising sign of the Jataka.

There is another method, which involves Ṃandi and D-9 of Praśna.

Here Aquarius falls in trine to Ṃithuna Navmansha and it is the ascendant.

 

CONCLUDING REMARKS:

These are some of the methods to find out the ascendant. The finer techniques are required to correct it to minute degrees. More patience, research is required when date and year of birth is not known or lost.

Practise and omens can give clues of rising sign.

For example the omen of an earthen pot during Praśna session is a sure shot sign that Aquarius is ascendant.