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Tajik Astrology
Tajiki is the language that present in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in
previous USSR. This language comes under the Indo-Iranian language
family, which is a branch of Indo-European language family. Languages
like Persian, Kurdish, Baloochi, Dardik, Armenian etc are also part of
Indo-Iranian language family in which Tajiki is also present.
The primordial form of Persian language is the one used in Persia
and Armenia in Arcadian ruling period. The books of Zaratushtra (BC.
1500) are written in such old Persian known as Sent Avaste. The middle
age pertain is known by the name Pahlavi. The script of this language
is also different. Later when the Arabs conquered Iran, the Arabic
language greatly influenced Persia and the modern Persian language
(AD 9th century) originated.
That means, much knowledge transfer happened via the path:
Tajikistan Armenia Iran India. Or in other words via the language path: Old Tajiki Old Armenian Sent Avaste (Old Persian)
Pahlavi (Middle age Persian) Persian (Modern Persian) Arabic Indian Languages.
One of the knowledge branches, which got transferred through this
path, is a particular form of astrology. It is the ancient astrology prevalent in Tajikistan, Armenia and Uzbekistan which reached through Iran
(Through Persian and Arabic) that later became popular as Tajik Astrology. It is astonishing to note that the system still preserved its old
roots of origin even after this much transfer and transformations. Thus
Tajik Astrology means the system of astrology originated in Tajikistan.
It was with Mohammed Ghazni who entered India in 10th century,
that this system of astrology reached Kashmir, and then later with the
spreading of Arabs in India, spread throughout North India. In India the
meaning of the word Tajik transferred to refer to Arabs. Remember
the quote

+ E xi{ E{n& iVEx&

[The attack of the Arabs caused much sadness and loss of radiance to
the whole world] Note that in this quote the word Tajik is used to
refer to the Arabs.

In Arabic Taj means crown thus Tajik system could mean the
crown among the knowledge branches. Remember the Sanskrit verse
that praises astrology as the crust (or crown) of peacock. The quote
reads as follows

l J h xMx h l
iui nM jh Vi vx li**
- nMVi
[Like the crest of peacock, like the gem stone in the head of cobra,
astrology is the crown of the vedic knowledge branches]
Thus it is clear that both Ancient Vedic Indians (Suras or Devas)
and the Ancient non-vedic Asura empire (which ruled Iran, Armenia,
Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) which worshiped Ahur Mazda (Asura medha
= Asura wisdom) in the period of ancient Zoroastrian religion (BC 1500)
considered astrology as the crown among the knowledge branches. It
is one of the rudimentary branches of this ancient non-vedic astrology
that was popular in Tajikistan, which is available to us now in the name
Tajik Astrology.
In AD 1544 an indian scholar with the name Neelakandha translated this system of astrology from Arabic to Sanskrit. This Neelakandha
is the son of an astrologer named Ananta (Ananta Daivajna) and is the
grand son of the famous astrologer Rama (Rama Daivajna) who wrote
the text Muhurta Chinatamani. The son of Neelakandha named
Govinda, later wrote a famous commentary called Peeyoosha dhara
for Muhurta Chintamani and a commentary known as Rasala for
Neelakandhas text on Tajik system of astrology. The text written by
Neelakandha on Tajik system of astrology is well known today as
Tajik Neelakandhi. At the time of Neelakandha Kashmir was known
as Vidarbha. Note that this ancient kingdom Vidarbha was very popular from Upanishad and Epic period onwards.
There seems to have lived one scholar who wrote some well appreciated text on this branch of astrology in Sanskrit prior to Neelakandha
known as Samara Simha. Samara Simhas text on Mundane astrology
must be available even now in some manuscript libraries.
The book Tajik Neelakandhi is composed of 3 parts knows as
Tantra texts. They are

1. Samjna Tantra (Naming system or the basic knowledge)

2. Varsha Tantra (Mundane Astrology or Varsha phala or Predictions connected with year beginning)
3. Prasma Tantra (Horary Astrology)
Just as this system preserved its old roots of origin in its name as
Tajiki (pointing to Tajikistan) the use of the word Tanta to denote
the branches is also cute to note. In ancient times all the vedic knowledge branches were known as Nigama, and all the non-vedic knowledge branches were known as Agama or Tantra. Thus the naming
of the various knowledge branches in Tajik system of astrology also
points to its ancient Tantric origin. The old tradition rooted in Asura
wisdom.
As noted above during the continuous transfer from Tajikistan to
Iran via Armenia and from their through the Arabs to India, even though
some part of the inherent knowledge got preserved, the naming conventions used and words used changed and modified elaborately. Many
words, especially those used to denote various yogas, used in current
Tajik system of astrology, such as the following seems to denote that
the origin or acceptance of words from Arabic than from its original
source or origin.
1. Ikkabali (lucky)
2. Indu vara (destruction or loss)
3. Itthasala (mutual aspect)
4. Eesarapha (separation)
5. Naks
6. Yamaya

11. Radrim (waste)

12. Duphali kuddhe (normal)
13. Duddhodha divir (self support)
14. Tambir (benefic)
15. Kuddh (Powerful)
16. Duraph (weak)
Actually many of the yogas mentioned in this system are popular in
ancient Indian astrology from age old period itself. As an example, I
will take the first of these 16 yogas, named Ikkabali and elaborate.
The yoga named Ikkabali is formed when all the planets are
1. In Kendras
2. In Panaphara
3. In Apoklima
[There is an argument regarding whether the words Kendara,
Panaphara, Apoklima etc are of Greek origin or not. This I wont
touch here, because it is another big controversial subject in itself]
Tajik Neelakandhi is tells us that If all the planets are in Kendra,
Panaphara or Apoklima the yoga named Ikkabali is formed and the
native would be very lucky. This is a general statement. The ancient
Indian astrology, deal with these 3 conditions seperatly and gives them
seprate names and provides some unique details. Let us see what are
the named given by the sages for these yogas considering these 3 conditions seperatly.

As per indian astrology

8. Kabbul (acceptance)

The word kendra refers to square, i.e. 1-4-7-10 houses. If all planets (both benefics and malefics) are in Kedra it is known as Kamala
Yoga. Brihat Jataka provides the following quote -

9. Jauri Kabbul

Exi li{ itn Expi&

7. Manavoo

10. Khallasar (Empty)

- iViE

[If all planets (both benefics and malefics) are in Kendra (1-4-7-10)
then it is known as Kamala Yoga. If they are in signs other than Kendra
(i.e. Panaphara and Apoklima) it is known as Vapi Yoga] From this it is
clear that * If all planets are in Kendra (1-4-7-10), it is Kamala Yoga.
* If all planets are in Panaphara (2-5-8-11) it is Vapi Yoga.
* If all planets are in Apokilma (3-6-9-12), then too it is Vapi Yoga
Kamala yoga is also known as Padma Yoga. What are the results
to be predicted for these yoagas? Brihat Jataka provides the following
results -

JiEiiJMhS {n
{ ixlJ xvEz ni**

wealth of virtues and will have tremendous amount of wealth as deposit]

This quote amply proves that such yogas were dealt within Rishi
horas in much detail. It is clear that Mihira collected and discussed
these yogas based on Rishi horas only.
Actually there is a big collection of dealt with in ancient indian astrology with the name Nabhasa Yogas. Nabhasa yogas are
subcategorized in to branches, such as 1. Asraya yogas
2. Mala yogas
3. Sankhya yogas

- iViE
[If Kamala yoga (Padma Yoga) is present, the native would be, famous
(very popular), he will lead a happiest life with a multitude of virtuous
qualities. If Vapi yoga is present, the native would be, healthy (having a
body without diseases, enjoying all kinds of bodily pleasures), and
wealthy. But he wont donate anything to others (means he wont help
others much with his wealth or property)]
It is clear that the combination is mentioned in Brihat Jataka, but
how can we be sure that these combinations are mentioned by the
great sages who lived before Varaha Mihira? Even though Mihira tells
us that he had created his text only by abbreviating or brewing the
essence of ancient Rihi Horas, is there any proof available to argue
that the same is or might have been dealt with in those ancient Rishi
horas as well? Yes there is! Kausika hora provides the results for Kamala yoga as follows -

+iJi& {i n SiJE
+nMhx{z& { xvEi**
- EE (t{l)
[If the native is born in Padma yoga (Kamala yoga), he would be very
famous, and would always enjoy happiness and wealth. He will have a

The yogas such as Kamala and Vapi comes under the Asraya yoga
sub category, because these combinations results due to the Asraya
(deposition) of Planets in houses with the names as Kendra, Panaphara
and Apoklima.
[The detailed discussion of all possible Naphasa yogas is another big
subject and therefore I am not going into it, and the categroization, sub
categoration, and the various yogas involved]
Hope this article much have helped the readers in * gaining insight about the origin and development of Tajik system
of astrology and
* understanding the both Tajik system and ancient indian astrology
sprung from the same root source of Asura wisdom, which spanned
many countries in some ancient past.
If this article inspires you to look in this unique branch of astrology
in a revised new perspective, and also if such an efforts brings out new
insights about the correlation between various cultures and ancient wisdom promoted by them, I would be happy.
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