D

r Charak needs no introduction to

veterans in astrology. He is a surgeon by
profession with the qualification of MS
(Surgery) and FRCS (UK). He heads the
Department of Surgery in ESI Hospital,
which is a 600 bed hospital in New Delhi.
He started studying astrology whilst in
school. So by now, he has been in touch with
the subject for over 40 years having written
about ten books, only one of which is not on
astrology! He edited the Vedic Astrology
magazine for 11 years, from 1997 to 2007.



The Fascinating
Dashamamsha - 1
Indicator of Inherent Nature and
Inclinations
By
Dr K. S. Charak, India
Readership Level: Intermediate to
Advanced

ne of the most fascinating of the
sixteen vargas, or divisions of a
rashi of thirty degrees, is the
Dashamamsha. This particular varga,
which indicates one-tenth of a rashi or an
arc of three degrees, in our opinion, has not
received the significant attention that it
deserves. While dealing with the relative
numerical worth of the different vargas,
sage Parashara himself does not give a lot
of importance to this varga. He is,
however, careful to mention that specific
and significant aspects of the life of a
native must be judged from the
Dashamamsha. Says he:
::tt:t ;==
That is: Highly significant results (must
be judged) from the Dashamamsha.
The Dashamamsha is often used to predict
about the profession of a native. In the
olden times, the vocation of the native, at
least in India, depended upon the vocation
followed by his father. Modern times have
seen more and more new professions
O
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coming up, and they do not normally happen to be specific to families. This, in todays
circumstances, increases the significance of the Dashamamsha manifold. The Dashamamsha
has really become an important divisional chart that should not be ignored by any serious
student of astrology.
It has been said, and rightly too, that the navamsha is one of the most important
amongst the various vargas. Authorities have gone so far as to say that the navamsha even
takes precedence over the rashi chart. This emphasizes the significance of the navamsha
which indicates one-ninth of a rashi. Unfortunately, the Dashamamsha has not been granted
similar eminence. While it is not our intention to belittle the relevance of the navamsha in
any way, it is certainly suggested that any serious study of a horoscopic chart must include
not just the rashi and the navamsha charts but also the Dashamamsha chart.

Constructing a Dashamamsha chart
Each rashi or sign is an arc of 30 degrees. A Dashamamsha is one-tenth of a rashi or an arc of
3 degrees. Each rashi thus has ten Dashamamshas. For an odd rashi, the first Dashamamsha
starts from the same rashi. For an even rashi, the first Dashamamsha starts from the rashi
that falls in the ninth house from the rashi in question. Table-1 may be used to construct as
Dashamamsha chart.
Chart 1: Bill Gates

Let us consider the chart of Bill Gates (Chart 1: born on October 28, 1955; at 21:05 hours; at
Seattle, Washington, 47N36'33", 122W19'57", TZ 8 hours; Daylight Saving 0) with Mithuna
(Gemini) lagna and Makara (Capricorn) Dashamamsha. The eighth house of the rashi chart
becomes the lagna of the Dashamamsha, signifying the sudden, the unexpected and the
enigmatic in his work and achievements. Much earlier, in these very pages, we have
highlighted the significance of the eighth house pertaining to significant and enigmatic
earnings. The eighth lord Sun in the lagna of this chart does not damage the tenth house as,
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according to Parashara, the Sun as the tenth lord does not suffer the blemish of the
eighth lordship.
= t-t:t:ttt:x =t-s=t-t+
That is: The blemish of the eighth lordship does not apply to the Sun and the Moon.
The natal chart shows very significant Dhana yogas or yogas for wealth. All the planets here
have something to do with the eleventh house or eleventh lord (by association or aspect).
This signifies the income and the consequent financial status of the individual. A special
Dhana yoga is formed when all the planets are located in houses 10, 3, 4 and 5. The native
attained eminence particularly during the dasha of Venus (from December 15, 1982 to
December 15, 2002), the fifth lord in the fifth house. As the lord of the twelfth house,
associated with Saturn, the ninth (as well as the eighth) lord in the fifth house, Venus also
indicates spiritual inclinations and a charitable disposition.




291
These facts are also confirmed in the navamsha and the Dashamamsha charts. In the
navamsha, a prominent Dhana yoga forms in the third house by the conjunction of the lagna
(and eighth) lord Mars, the second lord Venus and (the tenth and) the eleventh lord Saturn,
while the ninth and twelfth lord Jupiter occupies the second house to confer
on the native a tendency to spend his wealth in charitable activities. In the Dashamamsha,
the eighth lord Sun in the lagna is aspected by the lagna lord, the second lord and the
eleventh lord, as well as by Jupiter, the twelfth lord. Jupiter as the twelfth lord in the ninth,

in exchange with the ninth lord Mercury, aspected by the lagna and the second lord Saturn
further signifies that the native would have plenty of wealth and a spiritual/charitable
disposition. Venus is the yogakaraka planet whose dasha proved to be the most significant to
the native. This Venus occupies the sixth house and is aspected by the ninth (and sixth) lord
from the twelfth house. The Sun dasha (from December 15, 2002 to December 15, 2008) does
not see any reduction in his benevolent disposition.
A very significant feature of this chart is that both in the navamsha as well as the
Dashamamsha, the two luminaries, the Sun and the Moon, are aspected by Jupiter. This
feature in any chart raises the status of the native immensely.
The Ruling Deities
hile the Dashamamsha chart needs to be studied like any varga chart as we have
done above, the important point that we intend to highlight here is the
significance of the ruling deities of the ten Dashamamshas in any given sign.
These have been indicated by Parashara thus:
::t tf:f:=t=t s-stf=ttt=t
=tt t=+: =t:tt=:t
=-+: =t:t = t -=t +
That is: The ten lords of the east, etc., directions, viz., Indra, Agni, Yama, Rakshasa,
Varuna, Maruta, Kubera, Ishana, Padmaja and Ananta, in this order for odd signs and in
reverse order for even signs (happen to be the lords of the ten Dashamamshas).
Thus, the lords of the ten directions have been allotted the rulership of the ten
Dashamamshas. This is the real significance of the Dashamamsha. It emphasizes the
direction that the native takes in his life or at different times in his life. The ten ruling
deities of the Dashamamsha are as under:

1. Indra : Lord of the east. He is king of the gods.
2. Agni : The Fire-god. He rules over the south-east.
3. Yama : The lord of Death; the upholder of Dharma. Ruler of the south.
4. Rakshasa : The demon; Nirriti, the demon. Rules over the south-west.
5. Varuna : The lord of waters; ruler of the west.
6. Maruta : Vaayu, the Wind-god. Rules over the north-west.
7. Kubera : The god of Wealth. Rules over the north.
W
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8. Ishaana : Lord Shiva. Rules over the most auspicious north-east.
9. Brahma : The Creator. Rules over the heavens above, the upward direction.

10. Ananta : Shesha, the Serpent-king. Rules over the nether world, the
downward direction.

In this above-mentioned order, the ten Dashamamshas in the odd signs are ruled over by the
ten deities starting from Indra and ending at Ananta. In case of even signs, the order is
reversed so that the first Dashamamsha is ruled by Ananta and the last by Indra. The
implied meanings of these ten deities are indicated in Table-2.

Sage Parashara emphasizes that highly significant results must be judged from the
Dashamamsha. This means that professional rise (and fall), social status, lifetime
achievements and governmental recognition are all to be judged from the Dashamamsha. An
understanding of the nature of the ruling deities throws light on the inclinations of the
native and the direction in which his life tends to move. This may not only indicate the
inclination that in inherent in the chart and, therefore, something fixed and unchangeable. It
must also indicate dynamicity and the change in attitude and inclinations at different times
in life, as we shall see presently.
The most elementary method of ascertaining a native's inclinations would be to see
the nature of the ruling deity of the Dashamamsha in which his lagna falls. This may give a
reasonably accurate clue about the nature of the individual. The other important factor that
appears relevant to us is the lord of the tenth house since the Dashamamsha chart is
specifically relevant to the tenth house. Thus the nature of the deity that rules over the
Dashmamsha in which the lord of the tenth house resides could also throw a lot of light on
the nature of activities that a person is inclined to undertake during his lifetime. These
factors need to be given the importance that they have not so far received.


Table 1: Dashamamsha chart
Signs/ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Dashamamsha
1. 0- 3 1 10 3 12 5 2 7 4 9 6 11 8
2. 3- 6 2 11 4 1 6 3 8 5 10 7 12 9
3. 6- 9 3 12 5 2 7 4 9 6 11 8 1 10
4. 9-12 4 1 6 3 8 5 10 7 12 9 2 11
5. 12-15 5 2 7 4 9 6 11 8 1 10 3 12
6. 15-18 6 3 8 5 10 7 12 9 2 11 4 1
7. 18-21 7 4 9 6 11 8 1 10 3 12 5 2
8. 21-24 8 5 10 7 12 9 2 11 4 1 6 3
9. 24-27 9 6 11 8 1 10 3 12 5 2 7 4
10. 27-30 10 7 12 9 2 11 4 1 6 3 8 5
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Table 2: Ruling Deities of the Dashamamsha
1. Indra(#N) : Power, lust for power, physical pleasures, wealth, recognition,
learning, overlordship, arrogance, dominance, ability to take measures
to attain one's ends without always caring for the means.
2. Agni(Ai) : Energy, capacity to perform and consume, limitless appetite,
inclination toward virtuous and sacred deeds, excessive sexual energy,
fearful when provoked.
3. Yama(ym) : Capacity to inflict punishment or death, impartiality, justice,
limitless power without loss of discrimination, spirituality.
4. Rakshasa(ra]s) : Raw energy, inclination toward wickedness, great physical strength
and determination, vengefulness, capacity to wreak havoc, 'Tamasic'
nature.
5. Varuna(v[) : Expanse, all-encompassing, great learning, hidden strength, ability to
pacify tempers.
6. Vaayu(vay) : Instability; capacity to permeate and to destabilize, interest in a wide
range of things, immense strength and energy.
7. Kubera(kber) : Wealth, prosperity, arrogance because of riches.
8. Ishaana($zan) : Overlordship, prominence, sacredness, benevolence, auspiciousness, the
first amongst the lot.
9. Brahma(a) : Creativity, procreation, freshness, power to materialize, great learning
and wisdom, sagacity, ability to disseminate knowledge.
10. Ananta (AnNt) : Limitlessness; very limited (zero); strength, benevolence, virtue,
perseverance, power to sustain; outside the realm of imagination in a
positive or a negative sense.

Note: Odd signs: Direct order; Even signs: Reverse order.





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Looking back at the above chart (birth chart of Bill Gates, Chart 1, discussed in the
preceding issue), we find that the lagna Mithuna (Gemini) at 2259' falls in the eighth
Dashamamsha of this odd sign. The ruling deity of this Dashamamsha is Ishaana or lord
Shiva. This is the most auspicious and the most benevolent of the Dashamamsha lords. It is
no secret that the native has been devoting himself to numerous benevolent and charitable
activities. Renowned all over the world, the native stands out prominently amongst his
contemporaries.
His tenth lord Jupiter in Simha (Leo) at 432' falls in the second Dashamamsha ruled by
Agni, the Fire-god. This indicates energy, zeal and capacity for achievement. Agni destroys
evil and anything else that obstructs his way. He is supposed to have a great appetite,
including sexual appetite. The tenth lord signifies the Karma that the native is inclined to
indulge in. The ruling deity indicates the manner of its accomplishment. The fire-element is
supposed to control all significant activities that concern a native. It is highly desirable to
have the lagna or the tenth lord in a Dashamamsha ruled by the Fire-god.
The Moon could be another graha of significance to the native. In the chart in question, the
Moon occupies the tenth house at 1428' in Meena (Pisces). This is the fifth Dashamamsha.
For an even sign, counting in the reverse manner, the fifth Dashamamsha is ruled by Vaayu,
the Wind-god. This indicates capacity to permeate and wide ranging interests. This could
also indicate communication and transmission. The Moon indicates the mental inclinations
of an individual, and its Dashamamsha ruler could throw light on the natural mental
inclinations and interests of a native.
As we have observed, the Venus dasha (December 15, 1982 to December 15, 2002) proved
highly significant to the native. Venus in Tula (Libra) at 2656' falls in the ninth
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Dashamamsha of an odd sign, ruled by Brahma the Creator. Creativity is a prominent
feature of this Dashamamsha. Lord Brahma created the whole manifest universe from
virtually nothing. Creation, materialization, new ideas and the like are important aspects of
this Dashamamsha. The native displayed these qualities quite remarkably during this dasha.
So, the application of the concepts of ruling deities of the Dashamamsha is not just a static
concept. It has its appropriate dynamicity when applied to the dasha system.
Presently, the native runs the dasha of the Sun, from December 15, 2002 to December 15,
2008. The Sun at 1145' in the odd sign Tula (Libra) falls in the fourth Dashamamsha ruled
by Raakshasa. This indicates excess of physical energy and an untiring disposition, though
not all activities may appear to be, or really be, above board. The native is certainly not
sitting idle. The next dasha, that of the Moon which we have mentioned of above, promises
enhancement and widening of his interests as the Dashamamsha rulership of the dasha lords
changes from Raakshasa to Vaayu.

Chart 2: Indira Gandhi




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The chart of the late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (Chart 2) is an interesting
example of the relevance of the ruling deities of the Dashamamshas. She was born on
November 19, 1917 at 23:11 hours IST, at Allahabad 25N27', 81E51'. The natal chart shows
three Parivartana yogas or yogas of planetary exchange. It is a remarkable chart for studying
the application of astrological principles.
The Dashamamsha chart is also remarkable. Two planets, Mars and Saturn, are exalted, one
(the Sun) occupies its own house, while there is an exchange of the Moon and Venus, lords
respectively of the eighth and the eleventh houses. The lagna lord Jupiter aspects the lagna.
The deities ruling over her various Dashamamsha are also significant. The lagna Karka
(Cancer) at 2722' falls in the last Dashamamsha of an even sign, its ruling deity being Indra
the king of gods. True to the nature of Indra, she remained powerful most of her life, to the
extent that she was labeled as the only man in her cabinet of ministers. She of course made
mistakes, the worst of them being the imposition of emergency in India in the year 1975.
This action of hers remains the most criticized till date, and she suffered for it in the
subsequent general elections in 1977. She, however, sprang back with a vengeance and
thereafter remained in power till her very end. Her name and her charm persist to this day,
decades after her departure from this world. Even like Indra, she wielded excessive power in
Indian politics, enjoyed her life, suffered at the hands of her detractors, reprimanded several
of them, committed follies, performed acts of courage, and was extensively revered as well
as criticised at the same time.
Her tenth lord Mars at 1623' in Simha (Leo) an odd sign, falls in the sixth Dashamamsha
ruled by Vaayu which signifies strength as well as interest in a wide variety of things.
Vaayu, the Wind-god, has the capacity to permeate. She was a popular leader of the masses.
Her Moon in Makara (Capricorn) at 535' is located in the second Dashamamsha of an even
sign, ruled by Brahma the Creator. It indicates a fertile mind and a highly creative
disposition.
The dashas of Jupiter and Saturn were of particular significance in her career. Jupiter dasha
(November 15, 1954 to November 15, 1970) saw her grooming as a politician and eventually
becoming the Prime Minister of India during the Jupiter-Sun (May 25, 1965 to March 13,
1966) dasha. Jupiter as the ninth lord in the eleventh, and as the Dashamamsha lagna lord
aspecting the lagna, is significant for her career. In the sixth Dashamamsha, of an even sign,
ruled by Varuna the lord of waters, the dasha of Jupiter indicates her being widely accepted
as a leader. In fact, there were doubts in the beginning about whether a frail-looking woman
could really, and effectively, rule over the vast and diverse India. But once she came to
power, she left no one in doubt about her capability and efficiency. The AD lord Sun, in
Vrishchika, an even sign, at 408' falls in the second Dashamamsha ruled by lord Brahma.
The Sun also owns and occupies the ninth house of the Dashamamsha chart. Later on,
during the Jupiter-Rahu (from May 19, 1968 to November 15, 1970) dasha, she removed most
of her detractors from within the ruling party and gave the ruling party a new name. Rahu,
at 912' in Dhanu (Sagittarius), an odd sign, falls in the fourth Dashamamsha ruled by
Raakshasa. Obviously, propriety and ethics had to be sacrificed to achieve the desired end.
But then that was the necessity of the times.
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It was the MD of Saturn (November 15, 1970 to November 15, 1989) that had to prove
more eventful for her. Saturn in the lagna in the eighth Dashamamsha, ruled by Yama, gave
her immense power to enforce her rule, and justice as well as punishment as she thought fit.
Right at the commencement of her Saturn dasha, in Saturn-Saturn (from November 15, 1970
to November 18, 1973) itself, she handed over a comprehensive defeat to Pakistan in the 1971
war, creating Bangladesh, a new country, out of the trouble-making neighbor. It was Saturn
the malefic, the eighth lord, in the Dashamamsha ruled by Yama, the fierce lord of death
and justice, in full swing. In the Dashamamsha chart, Saturn is exalted in the eleventh
house, under the benevolent aspect of Jupiter, but also associated with the eighth lord Moon.
The dasha of Saturn saw her take wide-ranging decisions, several of them highly
controversial. The most criticized and politically incorrect decision of hers was the
imposition of the state of emergency in India in March 1975 in the Saturn-Mercury
(November 18, 1973 to July 27, 1976) dasha. She had sensed instability in her career as the
Prime Minister and feared losing at the hustings. The imposition of emergency was a
desperate move by her to keep her opponents at bay. Mercury in the fifth Dashamamsha of
an even sign is ruled here by Vaayu which has the characteristic of instability. As a
consequence, after the lifting off of the emergency rule and the subsequent general elections
in 1977 in her Saturn-Ketu (July 27, 1966 to September 6, 1977) dasha, she lost and faced
ignominy. She was even briefly arrested during the new regime. Ketu is in the
Dashamamsha ruled by Raakshasa or the demon, and occupies the twelfth house (of
imprisonment, losses, ignominy) in the natal chart.
In the subsequent dasha of Saturn-Venus (September 6, 1977 to November 5, 1980), she
regained her lost power and her glory, and became the Prime Minister of India again.
Political pundits had earlier written her off as of no significant consequence in future. She
proved them all wrong. Venus, the AD lord, as the eleventh lord exchanging signs with the
ninth lord, in the sixth house gave her the capacity and the skill to fight back. Venus
occupies the eighth Dashamamsha of the odd sign Dhanu (Sagittarius) which is ruled by the
most auspicious Ishaana.
It was at the peak of her popularity that she suffered a violent death, at the hands of her own
Sikh body guards, supposedly as a retaliation against some of her actions that seemed to
have hurt the religious sentiments of a section of the people of north India, on October 31,
1984. The dasha running was that of Saturn-Rahu (June 27, 1984 to May 3 1987). Rahu, as we
have mentioned above, occupies her sixth house and its Dashamamsha lord is Raakshasa.

Chart 3: Jacques Chirac
We may have a look at the chart of the erstwhile President of France, Jacques Chirac,
who was born on November 29, 1932, at 12:00 hours in Paris, France, at 48N52' and 2E20'
(Chart 3). He has been a very popular President of France. His popular and enduring image
with the French people has been considered to be due to his legendary appetite, his
heartiness, his past reputation with ladies, and his penchant for Sumo wrestling. He has
been variously charged with absurd political beliefs, questionable judgment and allegations
of corruption. Inspired by General de Gaulle to enter public life, he became a junior minister
298
in 1969. He remained the mayor of Paris for several years between 1977 and 1995,
interrupted in 1986-88 when he was the Prime Minister.




Having stood and lost in 1981 and 1988 elections, he was finally elected as the President in
May 1995. In 1997, he dissolved the assembly while still in majority, and lost re-election. He
then had to wait till 2002 to be back as the President which post he held till May 16, 2007.
One of his major political reforms was to reduce the presidential term of office from seven
years to five years, bringing it in line with that of the Parliament, though it meant a shorter
second presidency for himself. He opposed the US invasion of Iraq in the year 2003.
In his birth chart, the lagna lord occupies the lagna while the tenth lord Venus occupies the
tenth house. There is an exchange between the eighth lord Sun and the eleventh lord Mars.
The ruling deity of his lagna is Indra, even like the preceding chart. This expectedly makes
the native popular, powerful, controversial, prone to physical enjoyments, sometimes
arrogant, and going through fluctuations in his fortune because of his tendency to get into
politically incorrect situations. The tenth lord Venus in the tenth is aspected by Saturn, and
299
its ruling deity in the Dashamamsha is Raakshasa, the demon. The Moon, the lord of the
seventh house in the twelfth, in Dhanu at 502' is ruled in the Dashamamsha by Agni or
Fire. The rulers of Dashamamshas in case of the above three nodal points (the lagna, the
tenth lord and the Moon) indicate most of the natural inclinations of the individual.
The important dashas for him have been those of the Moon (April 8, 1963 to April 8, 1973),
Mars (April 8, 1973 to April 8, 1980), Rahu (April 8, 1980 to April 8, 1998), and Jupiter (April
8, 1998 to April 8, 2014). The Moon, as stated above, is under the influence of Agni, the Fire.
Mars, in the fifth Dashamamsha of Simha (Leo) is governed by Varuna which indicates
expansion and generally a tendency to contain the Fire. During this dasha, he remained the
mayor of Paris or held the posts of junior minister.
His Rahu dasha became particularly significant for his career. Rahu in the seventh
Dashamamsha of the odd sign Kumbha (Aquarius) is ruled by Kubera, the god of wealth.
This generally indicates prosperity and riches, more so for this native since his Rahu
occupies the second house (wealth) aspected by Jupiter (the Karaka for wealth) and the
eleventh lord (income) Mars. It is a different matter that Rahu has its own demoniac nature
and is aspected by Jupiter and Mars from the eighth house, hence the charges of corruption
against him. He fought elections in 1981 and 1988, and lost on both occasions. He finally won
in May 1995 during the dasha of Rahu-Sun. The Sun in the fifth Dashamamsha of
Vrishchika (Scorpio) is ruled by Vaayu, the god of Wind. This was followed by Rahu-
Moon (September 1995 to March 1997); the Moon, as already mentioned, is ruled by the
powerful Agni, the Fire. The subsequent dasha of Rahu-Mars (March 20, 1997 to April 8,
1998) saw him taking the unwise decision of dissolving the assembly and losing in the re-
election. Mars, in the eighth house with the twelfth lord Jupiter and in RKA, is in the fifth
Dashamamsha of Simha (Leo) ruled by Varuna. He had to wait till the year 2002 to be re-
elected as the President, in the dasha of Jupiter-Saturn (May 26, 2000 to December 7, 2002).
Jupiter, the MD lord, is in the last Dashamamsha of the odd sign Simha, ruled by Ananta
while Saturn in the Makara (Capricorn) lagna is in the third Dashamamsha ruled by the all-
auspicious Ishaana.
Jupiter as the twelfth lord also indicates retirement. He quit as President on May 16, 2007, in
the dasha of Jupiter-Venus. Venus ruled by the Dashamamsha lord Raakshasa indicates the
element of Tamas which indicates lethargy and inactivity. He had himself reduced the
term of Parliament by two years (from seven years to five) and thus quit office two years
earlier than he could have. This he did despite the AD lord being the tenth lord in the tenth
house which, looked at superficially, must indicate active professional life.





300
Appendix

Indra: Ruler of the East
ndra is the king of the gods. Highly revered and excessively feared, this eldest son of
Aditi, the mother of the gods, also lords over rain and thunder. These latter he
sometimes uses as his weapons in his not-so-infrequent skirmishes with his rival
cousins, the sons of Diti, the mother of demons. He is endowed with great physical strength
and charm. A terror to his enemies, he protects the gods and their interests with the
immense prowess that he has earned through austerities. The gods, the sages, the beautiful
heavenly maidens and a host of celestial beings stand in attendance in his court. It is only
natural that power and plenty sometimes go to his head, and he lands himself in peculiarly
unenviable situations. From there he comes out again and again to start afresh and the cycle
goes on.
Indra conducted to completion a hundred yajnas and attained the overlordship of all the
gods. His renown increased progressively as a result of his austerities. Sage Brihaspati; the
preceptor of the gods, gave him spiritual initiation which increased his wealth and fame
manifold. Over a period of time, Indra and the gods became all-powerful and prosperous.
This eventually made Indra fall a prey to arrogance, to the extent that he lost all his sobriety
and discrimination. As a consequence, he even failed to get up from his seat and render due
respects to sage Brihaspati, his guru, who happened to visit his court. The guru was pained
but uttered no word of reproach. He merely walked out of the assembly of the gods, wishing
all the while that Indra should lose his riches.
It was some time before Indra realized that he had unwittingly slighted sage Brihaspati and
this could have ominous forebodings for him. He got up and rushed straight to Brihaspatis
residence but the guru was nowhere to be seen. While Indra returned, he halted at the bank
of the river Mandakini for a bath. There he happened to see Ahalyaa, the lovely young wife
of the sage Gautama, wrapped in thin wet cloth, emerging from the river after a bath and
proceeding toward the hermitage close by. Her half a smile, slanting glances, prominent
curves and perfect limbs enchanted the lustful Indra so much that he followed the lady to
the hermitage and the two of them indulged in sexual activity. It was here that the sage
Gautama also arrived.
Indra sensed trouble, disengaged himself from Ahalyaa, and fell at the feet of the infuriated
sage,

seeking

forgiveness. Despite your glorious lineage, thundered the sage, being the son
of the sage Kashyapa, the great grandson of the Creator Brahma, and related to Daksha, the
Progenitor, how could you stoop to this wretchedness? Where has your wisdom and the
knowledge of the Vedas gone? Your lofty preceptor, sage Brihaspati, is a dear friend of Mine
and for his sake alone I spare your life. But suffer for your sin you must. May then a
thousand female organs, the apparent cause of your way-wardness, grow upon your skin.
The mortified Indra implored for forgiveness. The sage then agreed to mollify his curse.
Go and offer worship to the Sun-god for a year, and your blemish will change into a
thousand eyes on you body.
I
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Indra performed the penance as directed, and in due course became the thousand-eyed
lord. It was not infrequent for Indra to deceive others to fulfill his own selfish motives. At
many an occasion Indra deceived the trusting demons, the principal rivals of the gods, to get
better of them. He obstructed many a sage in his penance so that none could acquire a status
higher than his. Many a woman did he violate to satiate his lust. He developed friendship
with the great and benevolent king Prahalada, a descendant of the demons, who ruled over
the heaven. By sheer deceit, Indra robbed the benevolent king of his benevolence, virtue and
character and ultimately displaced him to re-acquire the kingship of heaven.

Agni: Ruler of the South-East
gni, the Fire-god, represents the fire-element in everything that exists. Through this
element, the Fire-god performs several benevolent functions that ensure the
survival of not only the earthlings but the entire universe. For the living beings, the
Fire-god provides the necessary heat to ensure survival, and to enable several metabolic
functions in the body to proceed without hindrance. In the human body, the Fire-god acts
through seven different fires or energies which perform varied functions. The first of
these fires helps in digestion of food and its absorption in a liquid form. The second
converts the absorbed liquid food into blood. The third fire converts blood into flesh. The
fourth, acting on the flesh, creates lipid (fat). From the fat, the fifth fire creates the
skeleton. The sixth fire produces the marrow inside the skeleton. And the seventh fire
generates from the marrow the highly precious seminal fluid. The same fire in different
forms thus conducts different body functions to help life go on and to propagate.
Agni was born out of the Ksheera-Saagara, the Celestial Ocean of Milk. This happened as a
result of Lord Brahma depositing. His seminal fluid in the Ocean. Soon after the incident, a
child come out of the Ocean and sat in the lap of lord Brahma who accepted him as His son,
Almost immediately, lord Varuna, the god of Waters reached there and claimed the child
to be his, since the child had emerged from the Ocean waters. There was thus an argument
between Lord Brahma and Lord Varuna about who the real father of this child was. Lord
Vishnu commented that Brahma was no doubt the father of the child but the right of
fatherhood could not be denied to Varuna as well since the child had emerged from the body
of the Ocean. Lord Shiva finally settled the dispute. Brahma is no doubt the father of this
child Agni, said He. Let Varuna grant this child learning and knowledge of the Mantras
and thus accept the child as his disciple. Scriptures declare that a disciple is equivalent to the
son too. May lord Vishnu grant him brilliance and incendivity. This Agni will be able to
burn anything and everything, and

lord Varuna will be

able to pacify him.
Sage Bhrigu once cursed Agni thus: May you become all-devouring.
This annoyed Agni because he happens to be the mouth of the gods and the Pitras and
carries to them the nutrients from the sacrificial rituals. So he retracted himself from all
yajnas, fire rituals and earthly functions. As a result, the three worlds went into chaos and
misery. Lord Brahma finally pacified Lord Agni and persuaded him to resume his usual
functions.
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Agni-deva is supposed to have been instrumental in the birth of Skanda, the six headed son
of lord Shiva. The mighty Skanda killed the dreaded demon Taraka even while he was just
seven days old. Agni-deva himself carries the essence of lord Shiva, and the consequent
benevolence.

Yama: Ruler of the South
ord Yama is the lord of Death. He enforces the rule of Dharma, law and justice, and
grants the individual the fruits of his Karmas. He is stern and powerful and is not
affected by attachments and allurements. Impartial in His disposition, He operates in
both His forms, as Dharma and as Death. It is in His nature thus to ensure the
implementation of discipline on the one hand and inflict punishment for any lapses on the
other. None can escape His vigilant eye and His functionaries operate ceaselessly to carry
out His command. Every living being has to proceed to the abode of Yama at the expiry of
his term on earth and reap the fruits of his actions. Only the Creator can afford to mollify
Him in His fury.
The wicked Raavana had become virtually invincible through his austerities. In his
Pushpaka Vimaana, he could fly from the world of mortals to that of the gods with the speed
of the mind. It was his desire to conquer the three worlds and rule over them. With this aim
in mind, he set out to first conquer the earthlings.
Once upon a time, while flying by the Pushpaka through the clouds, Raavana met sage
Naarada, the Rishi of heavenly encyclopedic knowledge. The demon king saluted the sage
and offered him the due courtesy. Naarada exhorted Raavana to give up his desire to
overcome the earthlings by making him understand that the feeble-bodied earthlings were
afflicted by miseries, ailments and old age. There was no greatness in destroying or
subjugating those who were already proceeding to the world of Yama. Real strength would
be to conquer Yama, the lord of Death, himself.
Raavana was amused. I shall conquer Yama. The god who bestows death upon others
would himself be afflicted with death.
Indra, the king of gods, and all the movable and immovable creatures on the earth, meet
their death at the hands of Yama as their longevity expires. Yama is witness to the good and
bad deeds of all living beings, and bestows justice upon them on the basis of their Karmas.
He instills fear in the minds of all beings. The very thought of someone daring to face Death
itself to conquer Him intrigued Naarada.
Naarada went to the kingdom of Yama to warn the lord of Death about the intentions of the
ten-headed Raavana. While Naarada was apprising Yama of the impending arrival of the
demon king, the two of them spotted the glittering aircraft of Raavana approaching them
from a distance. As he reached the Yama-loka, Raavana witnessed countless creatures
receiving the fruits of their good and sinful Karmas at the hands of Yamas men. Raavana
had a close view of the numerous hells there and the creatures who suffered the torments in
those hells. The mighty Raavana forcibly released all those suffering the torments of hell.
This annoyed Yamas men who attacked Raavana in great numbers and broke the doors, the
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seats and the couches, etc., of his aircraft. The self-repairing aircraft, however, regained its
original shape soon after being broken.
In the fierce fight that ensued, Raavana and his men were severely wounded but they
continued their fight. Raavana was greatly harassed. His armor was broken and he had to
use the never-failing Paashupata missile, acquired with the grace of lord Shiva, to overcome
Yama's men.
Yama, the son of the Sun-god, was incensed at the prospect of Raavanas success and
proceeded to the battlefield. Seeing Yama in person, the forces of Raavana lost heart and ran
helter-skelter leaving the fearless Raavana virtually alone. Raavana received a good beating
at the hands of Yama so that at one stage he even appeared to have lost much desire to
continue battle. But continue he did, for he still longed for victory. The fierce battle between
the two of them wrought a lot of damage and destruction around.
As Yama decided to kill Raavana, He lifted His fierce and never-failing Kaala-Danda to
strike him. Just then, the Creator Brahma intervened.
O mighty son of Surya! Pray do not slay this demon with the Kaala-Danda. I have given
this Raakshasa a boon that he would not be slain by any god. Do not, therefore, falsify my
word. In earlier times, I alone constructed this formidable weapon of yours. With My
strength behind it, it never fails, and causes certain death. Raavana too would not survive its
blow. I have made the Kaala-Danda an unfailing weapon. If Raavana dies as a result of your
strike, or if he survives your blow, in either case My word, the word of the Creator, would
be falsified. Withhold your weapon and let my word remain True.
O Lord of the world, said Yama, the lord of Dharma, to Lord Brahma, the Creator, may
your word prevail. See, here, I withdraw my weapon. Besides, if I am not supposed to kill
this demon, there is no sense in my continuing this fight with him.
Saying this, Yama retreated and disappeared along with His chariot and His horses.
Raavana shouted in triumph.

Rakshasa: Ruler of the South-West
akshasas are a class of demons, the anti-gods. They represent all that is against
benevolence and virtue. The ruler of the South-West is the Rakshasa. This particular
corner is called as the Nirritya Kona, ruled by the demon Nirriti. It is considered as
the most inauspicious direction.
Puranas mention of the eleven Rudras who were born to Brahmas son Sthanu. Nirriti was
one of them, hence revered like all other Rudras, and ruler of the south-west. It is the evil
Nirriti, that represents the demoniacal principle, however, that is of concern to us here.
Puranas refer to Nirriti as both male as well as female. During the early phases of creation,
there came a time when there was not enough for the earthlings to eat and to satisfy their
hunger. Starvation aroused in them cruelty towards each other so that they started killing
each other for food. This gave birth to Adharma, the unrighteousness or anti-Dharma, the
certain annihilator of living beings. Adharma married Nirriti (a demoness). From Adharma
and Nirriti were born the ferocious sinners Bhaya (fear), Mahabhaya (intense fear) and
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Mrityu (death). It is said that Mrityu engulfs all living beings. He has no wife and no
progeny because he does not spare any one.
The Vedas mention of Nirriti as the elder sister of the goddess Lakshmi. Lakshmis elder
sister, also known as Daridra or Alakshmi, is also supposed to have come out of the process
of churning of the Ocean for Amrita. The churning of the ocean was a grand event in which
both the gods and the demons participated. The purpose was to extract Amrita, the Elixir of
Life, from the ocean. In the process, however, several other things came out. Some of these
were very precious while others, like the all-consuming poison, were quite fearsome. One of
the undesirable things that came out of the ocean was the goddess Daridra (Nirriti), the
elder sister of the goddess Lakshmi. Daridra, the impoverishing one, dressed in red
garments, asked the weary gods, What may I do?
The gods replied, Pray go and reside where there is discord. Take along with you
inauspiciousness to the abodes of those who use harsh language at home, those who speak
the untruth and those who are mentally unclean, the sinners who sleep at sunset. May you
spread suffering and poverty in those homes. May you continue to torment those with
malicious intent and those who are evil-doers.
In one of the Pauranic stories, Yami, the sister of the law-enforcing Yama, tells her brother,
Doesnt the demon Nirriti sexually associate with his own sister regularly?
The south-west is considered inauspicious. Place of worship is not constructed in this
direction while designing a house. In general, this corner of the house is reserved for
undesirable or unclean purposes.

To Be Continued





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