Some Inportant Nithya-Doashaas

There are a very large number of time doashaas described in classical works on Mutboortha, such as Maadhaveeyam, Muhoorthapadavi, Kaalaprakaasika, Bruhaddaivajnaranjanam, Prasnamaarga, Muhoorthaganapathi and others. In fact it is extremely difficult to get a Muhoortha free from all defects. So in modern busy world, only the important doashaas are avoided, if'at all one decides to elect an auspicious time. A few important time doashaas are described below in brief. a).Meteor, Earthquake, Comet: When a meteor falls on the earth or when and earthquake is felt or when a comet is seen rising three days from that time are forbidden for all auspicious functions. b). Eclipses : Three days from solar and lunar eclipses are to be avoided for auspicious functions. However, the daytime preceding a lunar eclipse need not be avoided. c).Gulikoadaya Raasi : Each day, as we have already learned, is divided into 12 signs according to the sign situated in the eastern horizon. We have also learned to calculate the rising momentofGulika (Maandi). If the rising time of Gulika (26th Ghati on Sunday day-time after Sunrise for a 30 Ghatiday and so on) fall in a particular sign, that has to be avoided. However, the period in the Gulikasign after the rise may be accepted. d).Moon in 6, 8, 12 : 'rhose raasis of any day from which the Moon is posited in the 6th, 8th or 12th signs must be avoided. That is, the Moon should not be posited in 6th, 8th and 12th of the signs (Raasi) elected. e). Signs aspected, occupied or released by malefics : In election of time, Kethu is ignored, Sun, Mars, Raahu and Saturn are treated as malefics. Some authorities treat weak Moon also a malefic. The sign (Raasi, Lagna) elected should not bE' aspected by malefics, should not be occupied by malefics and should not be justcrossed by malefics. When a malefic has transited a sign and until a benefic occu,pies that sign it is to be avoided. f).Sandhyaas : These are the junctions of periods such as between day and night, midday and midnight. It is usual to avoid 6 Ghatis before Sunrise, two Ghatis after Sunset, and 10 Vighati at midday and midnight. g). Gandaantha : These are the junctions between three pairs of stars, Revathi -Aswini, Aaslaesha Magha and J yaeshta -Moola. The last quarter (Paada) of Raevathi and the first quarter of Aswini is said to be the period of gandaantha. Similarly for the other pairs. This is Nakshatra-gandaantha. There are other gandaanthaas also. h).Ushnasikha: In the duration of each star there are specific periods designed as Ushnasikha and these are to be av:oided. These periods are usually tabulated in Panchaangaas. i).Visha : Like Ushnasikha each star has a specific portion called Visha, which are also to be avoided. [Refer to some standard Panchaanga]. j).Sthira-Karanaas: Half of a Thithi is called a Karana and there is a particular order in which the Karanaas change, depending upon the Thithi and whether it is the first half or second half of the Thithi. From the second half of the Prathama (Prathipada) of the bright Paksha Karanaas are named repeatedly as Simha, Vyaaghra, Varaaha, Khara, Gaja, Surabhi and Vishti in cycles till the first half of Krishna-paksha-Chathur-dasi. So the above set of names repeat 8 times. These are called Charakaranaas as they repeat during a lunar cycle. From the second half of Krishna=chathurdasi follow a set of 4 non-repeating Karanaas called Sthirakaranaas. These are in the order, Sakuni (a nocturnal bird), Chathushpaath (quadruped), Snake and worm (Kimshughna). The last four Karanaas are called Sthira-karnaas and are not auspicious. k).Vishti, Riktha, Ashtami : In the Karanaas Vishti must be avoided. Among the thithis, chathurthi, Navami and Chathurdasi are called 'Riktha' collectively and are not auspicious. Similarly Ashtami is said to be inauspjcious. i).Laata, Vaidhrutha, Aekaargala, Saarpa-masthaka etc : These are all maleficities which are to be obtained by astrological (:alculation and are usually given in Panchaangaas. m).Sign aspected by Venus: Though Venus is a benefic, the Raasi aspected by Venus is to be avoided. In Pachaangaas usually auspicious Muthoorthas would be given for various functions. And these times would be free from the Nithyadoashaas.

Baalaanna-varjya-thaaraas : These are the asterisms which are not suitable for the fIrst rice-feeding of the child These are generally to be avoided for all auspicious functions. The forbidden stars are given below: Jyaeshta, Aardra, Bharani, Krithika, Aaslaesha, Magha, Poorvaphalguni, Poorvaashaadha, Poorvaproaslltapada, Visaakha, Moola. Thyaajyagana: According to Maadhaveeyam the followmg are to be avoided for all auspicious functions. ' a). Baalaanna-Varjya stars as given above. b). The dark fortnight (Krishna paksha) c).Chidra thithis-Chathurthi, Navami, Chathudasi, Shashti, Ashtami and dwaadasi. d). The weak-days ofmalefics (Sunday, Tuesday, Saturday) e). The signs of malefIcs f). The Kaala-hoaraas of malefics. 1\12 of a day or night' is called a Kaala-hoara that is each hour (of a 12 hour day or night) is a Kaalahoara. And each Kaala-hoara is rulet by one of the seven planets. The first hour of any weak -day is ruled by the planet of that day. (Sun for Sunday, Moon for Monday and so on). The next hoara is ruled by the lord of the 6th day, the next hoara by the lord of the 6th day from the previous hoara lord's day and so on. At night the week-lord of the 5th weekday is the first lord. The order follows the cy'cIe Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus etc .. Note that the order is the' same as the increasing Ol'der of speed from Saturn to Moon. Samkranthi (Samkramam): This is the time when the Sun transits from one ~ign to the next. The exact time of transit would be given in the Pachaangaas. If the transit takes place at daytime that daytime is fully inauspicious and if at night the whole of that night. Usually, it is customary to avoid 16 Ghatis before and 16 Gha tis after transit. Mruthyuyoaga and Dagdhayoaga : Certain asterisms when they fall OIl certain week days cause Mruthyu Yoaga. Thus the asterism I'I/Iagha with Sunday, Visaakha with Monday, kndra with Tuesday, l\11001a with Wednesday ca use Mrut'yuyoga. Similarly the thithis Dwaadasi, Aekaadesi, Panchami, Dwitheeya, Shashty, Ashtami and Nawami respectively combines with each week day from S~day cause Dagdhayoaga. These are also to be avoided. Shad-doashaas : There is a set of six doashaas .called Shaddoashaas, which are also not desirable for auspicious functions. Karthrudoashaas : These are not general doashaas but inauspicious for the person performing a function. These are not given in Panchaangaas as they cannot be given, for they vary from. p~rson to person. The main Karthru doashaas are: a). The 11th Nakshathrapaada from the paada in which one is born. b). The 108th paada c). The sign 8th from the Moon-sign at birth of the person. el). The 3rd, 5th and the 7th stars from the birth-star-triads. e). The sign' 8th from the Ascendant-sign at birth. There are several other doashaas which' are described in Muthoortha-texts. Again there are several exceptions also (Apavaada) for each doasha, when the doasha would not be harmful. The day and night are divided into 15 equal parts each of about. 2 Ghatis duration. Each is called a Muhoortha and each Muhoortha is given a specific name. Certain Muhoorthaas are to be avoided while certain others are said to be beneficial. Just like the malefic yoagaas, there are benefic yoagaas like the Siddha yoaga and Amrutha yoaga. These are given in Panchangaas. To conclude this unit, it is desirable to remember that classical authorities have described in detail the doashaas to be avoided for each auspicious function, like marriage, when one gets a completely satisfactory time free from all maleficities. And certain Parihaaraas also have been suggested to ward off the evils caused by various Muhoortha-defects. For instance, in order to elect the MuhoorthGl for marriage the astrologers must consider the followlng: Krishnapaksha Ashtami and the stars Moola, Mrugaseersha, Roahini. Magha, Swaathy, Raevathy, Uthra, Anuraadha are suitable for marriage, provided there are no Karthrudoashaas. The sign Maesha (Maesha-Iagna). Moon in the lagna, Mars and Raahu in the 8tH, any planet in the 7th, the latter half of the month Meella.

the months Kataka, Kallya, Kumbha, Dhanu the birth-star of the bridegroom, the period when there is
a planet transiting in the 7th from the Moon-sign of either the bride or the bridegroom etc. are to be avoided. There are a few more forbidden periods. The astrologer should carefully consider all these by reference to authoritative books and prescribe the proper Muhoortha. It is usual to select the Muhoorthaas given in Pachaangaas and then to avoid the time with Karthrudoashaas. Prescription of a Muhoortha is a difficult and important task for a real astrologer. Wha t has been outlined in this unit is only a very elementary introduction to Muhoortha. You are advised to read important books on the subject, like Maadhaveeyam, Muhoorthapadavi and Kaaleprakeesike before prescribing a proper Muhoortha.