The Ornament of Natal Astrology with Commentary

This is further explained in the Jātaka-Rahasya Jātaka-Rahasya: "The Secrets of Birth," a classical astrological treatise: "He who is governed by the quality of Sattva original: Sāttvika; the quality of purity, goodness, and harmony possesses compassion, stability, truthfulness, straightforwardness, and devotion toward spiritual teachers and the Divine." || 3 ||

Now, the author describes three unfavorable combinations (anishta-yogas) in the following verse:

First Combination: If the Ascendant original: Lagna; the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at birth is a malefic sign—such as Aries or others ruled by "harsh" planets—and the Lord of the Ascendant is also situated in a sign ruled by a malefic planet.

Second Combination: When the "Two Flowers" original: Pushpavanthau; a poetic term for the Sun and the Moon are hemmed in between two malefic planets. This state of being "hemmed in" (Pāpakartari) should be understood relative to either their signs or their specific degrees, for there is no evidence to restrict this definition.

Third Combination: When Mars is situated in the seventh house from the "Lords of Day and Night" (the Sun and the Moon), and Mercury is located in a "rear-rising" sign Pṛṣṭhodaya: "rising from the back," a category of zodiac signs (Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Sagittarius, Capricorn) often considered less favorable for certain influences.

A person born under these conditions will be manasvi here meaning "obstinate" or "self-willed", blind, prone to wicked deeds, and fond of residing in the houses of others implying dependency or vagrancy, or perhaps attached to the wives of others. They will also possess a "wasted" or physically frail body. The trait of being "strong-willed" or "obstinate" is particularly understood to manifest if the Moon is strong at the time of birth.

Thus, the favorable and unfavorable combinations for the House of the Body Tanu-bhāva: the First House, representing the physical form, character, and general vitality have been described.

Now, one might ask: "Why is it that sometimes even when a favorable combination is present, the good result is not observed? Conversely, why might an unfavorable combination result in something good?" The truth of the matter lies in the "aspected" nature of the planets. If the planet responsible for a favorable combination is "glanced at" (aspected) by a malefic planet, the auspicious result is lost. However, if the planet causing an unfavorable combination is aspected by a benefic planet, a good result may still be obtained.

The authors of the Tajika original: Vajika/Tajika; a system of Indian astrology influenced by Persian methods emphasize that the "breaking" of a combination depends on these planetary gazes. This is confirmed by the author of the Bṛhat Jātaka Bṛhat Jātaka: A 6th-century foundational text of Indian astrology by Varāhamihira, who states: "Combinations declared as auspicious only truly become so when they are aspected by benefic planets."

Thus ends the section on the House of the Body. || 5 ||