Arsha (Sanatana) School of Astrology

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Dear All,

The following is an article on Arsha (Sanatana) School of astrology.

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Arsha School of Astrology

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India is a country with a great tradition. In every branch of

knowledge it has its uniqueness. Agama (Tantric) and Nigama (Vedic)

knowledge molded the foundation of everything. Before looking into

these foundations, let us have a look at the astrological system that

grew up from these very roots, and became the great river from which

almost all the other streams drew energy. This vast knowledge base is

the Arsha or Sanatana school of astrology of which great saints like

Vasishta and Viswamitra (Kousika) and the others of Saptarshis were

the gurus. It is the purest flow of original knowledge, which I

cherish in my mind, and want to learn more about. It is the school of

astrology from which most of current knowledge of astrology draws its

power from. It is the school of astrology which all the other schools

fully accepted but later modified.

Was it from an effort to unite the Agama and Nigama systems of

astrology that this school stemmed? Otherwise why Skanda (kartikeya /

Muruka) of the Tantric system was considered the originator of this

system when the text itself tries to emphasis the importance of Vedic

(Nigama) knowledge as well? In the whole of Vedic literature or in

the epics we can not see the Rasi chakra but only the Nakshatra

chakra. In the whole of Vedic literature we can see only the Tropical

solar and lunar months, but not the Sidereal Solar months like Mesha

(Aries), Vrishabha (Taurus) etc. The Vedic (Nigama) system of

astrology was fully based on Tropical Months and (fixed) Sidereal

Nakshatra system. But the Tantric (Agama) system of astrology was

fully based on (fixed) Sidereal Solar Months and (fixed) Sidereal

Nakshatra system. The Tantrics used the fixed framework of Rasi +

Nakshatra to study the sky. For them the point 120 deg away from

fiducial star Moola (Mahakala, the path of pritr Yana) was very

important since it represented the point where the 7 planet

conjunction occurred (Meshadi). Ra-Si chakra was their symbolic Yogic

body of Kalapurusha. The Kalatantra the Tantrics cherished was a

result of a mix of Yogic experience and the Mahakala who himself is

the universe - the rhythm of universe becoming one with that of human

body. The Suras (Vedic followers) and Asuras (Tantrics) fought for

long! Over theoretical issues, importance of Yaga and Yoga, Tropical

and Sidereal Calendar systems, importance of Nakshatra and Rasi, No

temples or Temples, Architecture methods that should be followed and

many more. A merge of the two was the only possible outcome of this

struggle, which eventually happened, even after the strong opposition

from puritans. As far as astrology is concerned there emerged a

uniting stream of thought, that merged the concepts of both (Agama

and Nigama) and that was Arsha (Sanatana) School of astrology. It was

an adaptation of Tantric knowledge by Vedic followers rather than the

Tantric adopting the Vedic stream. In this struggle many great

Tantric gurus and there concepts were left out – to mention some,

Bhrigu, Agastya, Ravana, Nandi, Kaka Bhusunda and the like. But their

knowledge too survived to an extend as we would see later when we try

to have and understanding of Tantric stream of astrology. The true

knowledge of astrology held by Vedic (Nigama) and Tantric (Agama)

cultures is still there in mystery and demands a lot of study to

eradicate the darkness surrounding them and the related literary

history.

But in this article my effort of not to de-mystify the astrological

knowledge possessed by neither Vedic nor Tantric culture, but to

reveal the efforts and knowledge base of the new stream emerged –

that is Arsha (Sanatana) school of astrology. Let us try to have an

idea about the texts and gurus of this school of astrological thought.

 

Skanda Hora

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This text is also known as `Jyotishmati Upanishad'. In the

end of every chapter of this text the words `Atharva kile

jyothishmatyamupanishadi ithi' is present. This indicates that this

text was considered as an extension of Atharva Veda. Many slokas of

this ancient text is quoted by many. The language of this text itself

indicates that it is the oldest of Rishi Horas. It is said that

Skanda advised the knowledge of astrology to Brahma. So it could be

considered that it is a text written by Brahma as per the advice of

Skanda Deva. This text is not available today except many slokas from

it

We could find elaborate description of the Rasis in this

text. Apart from this the subject dealt with are Prediction related

to - Significance of Signs-Houses-planets, Exaltation-Debilitation

etc for planets, placement of planet in Rasis, placement of planets

in Bhavas, conjunction of planets, Drishti and Drishti phala,

Different Sign-House-Planet combination related Yogas, Raja Yogas,

Introduction to Nabhasa Yogas, Special Yogas like Pravrijya Yogas,

Adhana Lagna, Hora-Drekkana-Navamsa etc, Life span determination,

Pinda Dasa calculation, Drekkana Swaroopa, Horoscope of women etc.

That means almost the whole of popular astrology that we find in use

today can be found in this age old text! The whole of astrology used

today is nothing but an extension and interpretation of the concepts

and ideas presented by Skanda Hora only!

In Sounaka Hora it is said that after leaning this knowledge

of astrology from Skanda, Brahma taught it to Daksha Prajapati alone

but none else. That means the prime continuation of this tradition

(school of astrology) is through Daksha here after.

Brihat prajapatya

----------------------

This text is an elaborate explanation and interpretation of

the subjects dealt within Skanda Hora. As said by Sounaka Hora,

Daksha is the direct disciple of Brahma who learned this knowledge

from Skanda. Brihat prajapatya is a Vyakhya of Skanda Hora rather

than an independent presentation of ideas. This text might had been

very large and that is why the prefix `Brihat' (Big).

Leghu Prajapatya:- This is abbreviated version of Brihat

Prajapatya.

Both these texts are not available today except many slokas

from them.

Vasishta Hora

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This is a very reputed and authentic text of astrology based

on Skanda Hora and Brihat prajapatya. In Sounaka hora it is said

that, Vasishta hora contained 16000 slokas. Many slokas from this

text is quoted by various authors. Vasishta had authored texts for

all the 3 branches of astrology. They are Vasishta Sidhanta, Vasishta

Hora and Vasishta Samhita. Mihria, Hridya padha, Balabhadra etc

quotes Vasishta extensively.

Vridha Vasishta: Another Rishi with the name Vridha Vasishta

is also popular. He has authored 2 texts known as Vridha Vasishta

Sidhanta and Vridha Vasishta Samhita. Of them Vridha Vasishta

Sidhanta is available even today.

Kousika Hora

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In Sounaka hora it is said that, Kousika (Viswamitra) created

this text to compete the Vasishta Hora, based on Vasishta Hora

erroneously thinking that it was a copy of Skanda Hora. This text

contains 36000 slokas says Sounaka. This is the text where the

logical and astronomical inconsistencies evolve first. Vasishta

simply applied his logic to extend the concepts presented in Vasishta

Hora, and didn't know much about astronomy which caused the trouble.

He is even speaking about the predictions that should be given to

Mercury placed in the 4th house from Sun etc, which is an

astronomical impossibility. It is said by Sounaka that, Vasishta

later learned astronomy from Maya (the sishya of Surya, the

originator of Surya Sidhanta) and regretted the errors he committed.

Even though this discrepancy is there in this text, this is also a

well reputed ancient astrological classic.

Surya

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He is an acharya with astronomical par excellence, who taught

Maya. He is regarded as one of the 18 great gurus of astrology. Maya

collected the advice given by Surya and presented it in the form

of `Surya Sidhanta'. It is the modified version of this text is what

we find in `Pancha Sidhantika' by Mihira. It is though Maya and some

other rare references that we know about this guru. A text known

as `Surya Hora' or `Surya Jatakam' or `Surya-Aruna samvada' is also

available in the name of this Rishi. It is in the form of a guru-

sishya conversation between Surya and Aruna. Acharya Balabhadra

quotes extensively from this text.

Maya

-------

This is a great scholar well versed in many fields of

knowledge such as – Astronomy, Mathematics, Architecture etc. It is

he who wrote or modified `Surya Sidhanta' and presented it to the

world. Many texts like Mayamata (Architecture), Maya Hora etc

authored by this acharya. Both `Surya Sidhanta' and `Mayamata' are

available today but not `Maya Hora'. Chandra Hari is deriving the

concept of `True Ayanamsa' and the mathematical foundation of Rasi-

Nakshatra division based on this text (Surya Sidhanta) only. If this

text was not available, it would have been an impossibility to judge

the true mathematical foundations of Rasi chakra and the astronomical

concepts and methods cherished by the ancient scholars and Rishis. It

is erroneously considered by many that Maya is an astronomer

of `Yavana Kula' and the student of `Yavaneswara'. But as evident

from classics, `Maya' is a student of `Surya Kula' and the student of

the great guru `Surya Deva'. But still there is a possibility that he

may have some connection outside India, judged from the fact that he

was called `Yavana' by some. He was a follower of Asura (Tantric)

tradition and not Vedic. Remember that he was well known as `Asura

Silpi' (Architect of Asuras) It may be this non-Vedic foundation of

the knowledge cherished by Maya that might have caused the trouble.

Atri

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He is one of the 7 great gurus (Saptarshis) of astrology,

from whom astrology descendent to the 18 gurus. The text written by

Atri is known as Atri Hora. Texts in the names of other gurus like

Mareechi, Chyavana etc are also mentioned here and there. Atri Hora

is not available today. Atri is supposed to have written some

Ayurvedic texts as well.

Brihat Sounaka Hora

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This is a very good and large text, many slokas of which are

available even today. The available slokas from this text helps us

very much in rebuilding the literary history of ancient Indian

astrology – especially of the Arsha (Sanatana) school of astrology.

This is a text written as advised to Sounaka Rishi by Soma (Mo).

Here one thing we should remember is that in that era no body

called Arsha school or Sanatana school, like Hindu religion was never

called by that name by Hindus. It is we who name this original school

of astrology as Arsha or Sanatana school of astrology.

Sounaka Hora: It is a summarized version of Brihat Sounaka

Hora.

Mandavya Hora

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Rishi Mandavaya who was a true devotee of Siva wrote this

text. Many slokas of this text is quoted by Mihira and many others.

This is a well reputed text of the original stream.

Chyavana Hora

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Chyavana is a well reputed name both in Astrology and

Ayurveda. Chyavana Rishi is the author of Chyavana Hora. Very few

slokas from this text only is available today.

Brihaspati Hora

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The authorship of this text is ascribed to Deva guru

Brihaspati. It mentions subjects related to Muhoorta and Marriage

compatibility elaborately. Even though mentioned by some the slokas

that are said to be of this text available today seems to of later

origin.

Badarayana Hora (Vyasa)

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This Badarayana does not seems to be the author of

Mahabharata, but some later time scholar guru of Vyasa Kula. Many

slokas form a text with the name Badarayana Hora is available.

Hridyapadha and Many other texts quotes Badarayana extensively, which

indicates that he too was a reputed scholar though not to the stature

of Rishis. Even the literary quality of his slokas does not have much

in comparison with that of Rishi Horas. It would be good not to

confuse this later time scholar of astrology with the Badarayana

Vyasa who wrote Mahabharata.

Soma Jatakam

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This might be a text of later origin, since we find no

mention of it in ancient classics, but only by the time of Acharya

Balabhadra of (10th century). This might be a text created following

the style of Surya Jataka which is an ancient text.

Suka Hora

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A text written by Suka Rishi. Many other texts like Suka

Jatakam is also popular by his name. It could be possible that these

texts are also of later origin.

Satyacharya Hora

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Satyacharya is a well reputed acharya lived before the period

of Mihira. He is considered almost equal to the Rishis in

authenticity. Satyacharya Hora is extensively quoted and mentioned by

Mihira. Mihira had a special repute for this acharya. Many slokas

form Satyacharya Hora is available today, but not the original text.

Geevasarma Hora

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Geevasarma is another acharya who was the contemporary of

Satyacharya or one lived after him. Mihira quotes and mentions

Geevasarma also in his works. He has developed many modifications and

alterations to the original system which makes him stand apart from

the general stream.

Vishnu Gupta (Chanakya)

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He is the famous minister of emperor Chandra Gupta Mourya of

Pataleeputra. Vishnu Gupata Hora is a well authentic text and well

reputed by the ancient scholars. But except some slokas, this text is

also not available today.

Varaha Mihira

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He is the great acharya who caused the destruction of ancient

Rishi Horas. The reasons are –

• He created a very good and very small text named Brihat

Jataka, containing 573 slokas, which briefed the contents of Rishi

horas. Therefore the people with less memory and scholarship started

learning this text instead of learning the original Rishi Horas,

which were very big.

• He mixed the teachings of Arsha school with that of Yavana

school.

He authored many texts such as – Pancha Sidhatika, Brihat Jataka,

Brihat Samhita, Leghu Jataka, Brihat Yogayatra and many more.

Bhattolpala:- Bhattolpala (Utpala Bhatta) wrote a very good

commentaries for Brihat Jataka and Brihat Samhita quoting many Rishi

horas, which enabled/ensured the survival of at least some of the

Rishi Hora slokas.

Acharya Balabhadra

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A great scholar of 10th century who wrote a text called `Hora

Ratna' which presented the contents of many Rishi Horas and the

astrological classics before his period in a systematic manner.

Kerala Astrology

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The astrological system followed in Kerala is an extension of Arsha

or Sanatana school of astrology especially due to the efforts of the

following acharyas.

Krishnacharya:- He wrote a very good text named Krishneeyam. This

acharya might have lived in the 15th century AD, and was the

contemporary of Madhavacharya who wrote Madhaveeya.

Vishnu:- He is the son of Madhavacharya, who wrote an elaborate and

very good commentary for Krishneeyam with the name `Chatura Sundari'

in Sanskrit. This commentary became very popular, and is appreciated

very much by the Kerala astrologers, and is in line with the

interpretation system of Rishi horas.

Talakkulattu Govinda Bhattatiri:- He wrote a very good commentary for

the first 10 chapters of Varaha Hora (Brihat Jatakam) with the

name `Dasasdhyayi' in Sanskrit. This commentary became very popular,

and is appreciated very much by the Kerala astrologers, and is in

line with the interpretation system of Rishi horas.

Kaikulangara Ramavaryar :- He wrote a very good commentary for Varaha

Hora (Brihat Jatakam) with the name `Hridyapadha' in Malayalam,

quoting hundreds of Rishi hora slokas. In Kerala `Hridyapadha' has

become another name for `Varaha Hora'. It is well appreciated by

Kerala astrologers.

I have listed the names of some Rishis and acharyas of Arsha school

of astrology and tried to emphasis why Kerala astrology could be

considered as an extension of this school of astrology.

This list is not at all complete. The lot many scholars who collected

and presented the slokas to us from the texts available to them (but

not available today – the lost treasures) from all schools of

astrological thought also helped in the survival of this school of

astrology at least to this extend.

Collecting and classifying the knowledge imparted by these different

schools of astrology separately and uniting them to one single

stream, identifying the opinion differences clearly are the need of

the moment. I hope such studies and classifying efforts could be of

great help in this regard.

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If I am able to depict, even a glimpse of the size of this vast

treasure house of ancient astrological knowledge, I am satisfied. I

hope this effort was not futile.

Love,

Sreenadh