Mirror of Auspicious Moments

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These special conditions destroy defects: even as the sun's rays [dispel darkness], so do the Moon original: "Vidhu", Venus original: "Bhriguja"; literally 'the son of Bhrigu', and the beloved Mercury original: "Budha" when placed in the "heavenly" positions referring to the 10th house or favorable subdivisions. If the lords of the trines Trikona and the angles Kantaka the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses, also called Kendras are strong, and if the Moon and Jupiter original: "Jiva" are placed in favorable divisions of the zodiac, they constantly steal away all remaining defects, just as the cool-rayed one the Moon [steals the heat of the day]. || 18 ||

If the Lord of the Ascendant Lagna or other planets are in auspicious subdivisions, or in the angles, or if Jupiter and Mercury, or Jupiter and Venus, or Mercury and Venus are situated in mutual angles from each other; or if the Lord of the Ascendant or the sign occupied by the Moon original: "Anubham"; the Janma Rashi possess high scores in the eight-fold strength system Ashtakavarga, or are situated in their signs of exaltation Ucca, these are considered auspicious placements. || 19 ||

When the Lord of the Ascendant is in a house or subdivision related to the Sun's trine, and benefic planets are in the angles—specifically Jupiter, the Moon, Mercury, and Venus—the influence of the King of the Gods original: "Sureshya"; referring here to Jupiter as the preceptor of the gods in an angle ensures success. If benefics are in the 5th or 9th houses from the Moon’s sign, or in the angles, or if they are in the 11th house from the Ascendant and possess strength, they act like a great emperor. They are like a King original: "Rajendra" accompanied by his ministers, seated upon a grand elephant-throne. If Venus is strong and placed in a favorable subdivision or in the house of the Ascendant, and if the lords of the "Hour" Hora, the Year, the Month, and the Day are powerful in the Ascendant, and if the malefic planets are placed in the 3rd, 6th, or 11th houses original: "hari-sahodaranga"; the Upachaya or 'increasing' houses where malefics are actually beneficial, they are rendered powerful for good.

|| 197 || These specific combinations have been selected as the most important; all of them destroy every remaining defect. There are thousands of others mentioned elsewhere, but they are not included here for fear of making this book too voluminous original: "grantha bahulya bhitya". Furthermore, a placement that is considered powerful by the learned may be weak in certain regions due to local customs Deshachara. Conversely, defects that are established by local custom are not overridden by rules from other regions. || 198 || In times of no distress, one should seek the best time; in times of moderate distress, a moderate time is acceptable. But when a true emergency exists, one may proceed even if only a few exceptions to the defects are present. Thus, through these fifty-one verses, this science has been composed by Vidyamadhava.

This chapter, which is the "Exceptions for All Defects," is now complete. It is the Third Chapter of the Vidyamadhaviya. || 199 || 198 ||

Because a moment entirely free of secret flaws is very difficult to find, one should consider the virtues of the time even when many defects are present. O Virgin? likely an address to a student or a poetic invocation, I shall now explain the virtues of the Electional Moment Muhurta which are like multifaceted gems. First: the virtue of a "minor or weak defect." Second: the "absence of all defects," which is a very great virtue. Third: the "rising of a benefic planet" as ordained by a distinguished priest original: "Vipra". These three are known as the Great Virtues Mahaguna of the body [of the chart]. If one does not understand...