Combining Different Dasa Systems - Right or Wrong?

[Guest guest]

Om Sree Saaradaayai Namah

Namaste friends,

I got a copy of the May 2000 issue of AM in which my article was published.

I noted a criticism of Yogini dasa and other non-Vimsottari dasas in the

editorial. It was part 2 of a series titled "Combining Different Dasa Systems

- Right or Wrong".

The editor made some excellent points. I agree with her, but not completely.

I wrote a letter to the editor on this. Because this is an important topic

and perhaps of interest to you and because all of you don't read this magazine,

I am sharing what I wrote with the lists. This is only a letter and not

an article. But please don't COPY parts from it without my permission.

I don't want to be misquoted.

OK, bye now. I will go back to the book.

May Jupiter's light shine on us,

Narasimha

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Combining Different Dasa Systems

Madam – This is with reference to your editorial titled "Combining

Different Dasa Systems – Right or Wrong" in the AM of May 2000. You rightly

questioned how a dasa with a paramayush of 36 years can be applied to a

madhyayu or poornayu person.

You wrote, "this and several other cases have shown the greater accuracy

of Vimsottari Dasa over other Dasa systems in our humble experience". This

is not surprising, considering that Sage Parasara, who taught tens of dasas,

singled out two dasas as important dasas – Vimsottari dasa and Kalachakra

dasa.

Parasara said in "Brihat Parasara Hora Sastram":

 

 

Vimsottari dasa is clearly an important dasa in Kali Yuga. However,

it should be remembered that the same Parasara who pointed out the importance

of Vimsottari dasa took the trouble of explaining Maitreya many other dasas

– phalita dasas and ayurdasas, nakshatra dasas and rasi dasas. Maharshis

don’t waste a single word, let alone multiple verses. Obviously those dasas

have their own importance and use.

However, we have to correctly understand when a dasa applies and how

a dasa should be used. This is why I completely agree with you when you

say, "this is an area that carries great potential for experimentation

and research". That is absolutely correct. Apart from experimentation,

we need to gather knowledge held as family secrets in the remote corners

of India.

Using all dasas for all purposes in an interchangabe manner, as some

contemporary authors are doing these days, is not logical. Different dasas

have different purposes and usages. Vimsottari dasa shows all the matters.

Specialized dasas show only specific matters, but give finer insights than

Vimsottari dasa. However, they are useless to one who does not understand

the intricacies, views them simply as alternatives to Vimsottari dasa and

tries to see all matters in them.

While we are talking about other dasas, I wish to make a pertinent point.

Even within Vimsottari dasa, we have a few variations. Jataka Parijatha

refers to variations of Vimsottari dasa initiated from the 4th,

5th and 8th stars from janma tara. Dasas started

from the 4th and 8th stars are mainly to be used

for longevity matters (please see "Crux of Vedic Astrology – Timing of

Events" by Pt. Sanjay Rath).

Let me give an example. In the Rasi chart of Dr. B.V. Raman, Moon is

in Mrigasira, first pada. The 8th star is Uttaraphalguni. First

pada of Uttaraphalguni is in Leo and Leo is stronger than Taurus which

contains Moon. So Vimsottari dasa started from Uttaraphalguni may be used

for longevity.

Dr. Raman passed away in Venus dasa as per Vimsottari dasa initiated

from janma tara. Though he is a yogakaraka, Venus is a maraka being in

the 7th house and so the normal Vimsottari dasa works. However,

Mercury may be said to be the biggest maraka in this chart, being the 8th

lord in the 7th house. Rahu is a malefic in the 2nd

house, the strongest maraka sthana according to Parasara.

 

So Mercury and Rahu are clearly the strongest marakas here. As per Vimsottari

dasa initiated from the 8th star Uttaraphalguni, Rahu bhukti

in Mercury dasa was running when the great astrologer passed away, leaving

a void in the astrological community. Vimsottari dasa from the 8th

star shows the event more clearly in this case.

Again, as you correctly accepted at the end of your example exploiting

the weakness of Yogini dasa, "one swallow does not make a summer". Moreover,

one may be unsuccessful if one attempts to use this variation of Vimsottari

dasa for other events or when the 8th star is not strong.

One thing is clear to me in my humble experience – different dasas and

different variations of dasas have their own importance. We need to gather

knowledge from traditional families and do practical research. I hope that

the excellent series you are running inspires students of astrologers to

do so.

P.V.R. Narasimha Rao

Boston, USA

May 2, 2000