By Deepak Bisaria, India

Deepak

Bisaria, 56, is an experienced and

technically accomplished astrologer with strong predictive instincts. He is on the teaching faculty of the Institute of Astrology of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan since March, 1997. He underwent the two year Astrology program here from 1993 to 1995. Before induction into the faculty in March, 1997, he was picked by Mr. K.N. Rao as sectional editor of Journal of Astrology. He also wrote several articles for the Journal and contributed to several group research projects. His book on Indian marriage in modern urban educated society, published in October, 2008, is regarded as a path-breaking exploration of marital astrology. He has been writing the monthly Newsletter at www.journalofastrology.com since 2009. Deepak believes that one can be blessed with an astrological sense only if it is in one's destiny. We should respect the verdict of the almighty and handle this divine gift with devotion and commitment of a devotee, he says.

he more you delve into astrology and look at the dashas available, the easier it gets to understand every aspect of a horoscope. Generally, astrologers all over the world follow nakshatra dashas. Among them the vimshottari dasha reigns as the king. All nakshatra dashas have one thing in common, the degree of Moon. As a result what happens mostly is that the Lagna is known but Lagna degrees are not and the vargas are not changing. Can predictions be made? It is to tackle this problem that Mr. Rao felt Jaimini charadasha should be researched into and has done with seven karakas. Shown the use of karakas which no one has ever done. Lets illustrate with an example. Horoscope 1

The person is running the dasha of Rahu-Saturn from 8-8-2011 and in chara dasha VirgoCancer from 22-5-2012. From Virgo the 11th house is aspected by PK, Amk and AK and from Cancer the 10th house by them. What can you predict about his son? Contrast this with Horoscope 2

It is the dasha of Ketu-Ketu from 19-11-2012 in vimshottari. Ketu is in the fifth house. In chara dasha it is Virgo from 2008 and presently the antardasha is of Pisces. The 10th house from Virgo has PK which is eighth from AK. Both the dasha antar dasha rashi have the aspect of PK. Here also the person is pushing her son but with difficulty. In both the horoscopes children are being pushed. At a glance can you find out from any other method?

But this method also has risks of its own. People with identical horoscopes cannot have the same prediction, therefore you have to go to the finer aspect that is also taken care both in Parashari and Jaimini. There are divisional horoscopes. Parashara has given 55 dashas and Jaimini 44, many conditional. How many have been lost we do not know. Chara Dasha became synonymous with a delightfully stimulating and sharpening predictive experience for me. In our institute we often quote the great musicologist V.M.Bhatkande who used to say at the end of five year music course during the convocation that what was taught for five years was NAYAKI. Students should develop their own GAYAKI after that In Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan the students are taught for two years in Alankar and Acharya and thereafter in research classes, they are expected to use the techniques they learn to develop their own style of predicting. The substance remains the same but style, GAYAKI different though from the same school and under the same Guru. For this reason perhaps the readers may find my approach a little different. No one can claim to have mastered any aspect of astrology. We all are students and learners. We should keep the process of elimination and addition on.

Astrology a Divine Superscience

here are 55 dashas of Parashara and 44 in Jaimini that are known to us. Both Maharishi Parashara and Rishi Jaimini perhaps were superhumans for they mastered these many dashas when we can at best, with the help of computer softwares use only 3-4 of them. The amazing power to predict, experienced by many through Chara dasha and its applicability on a very high percentage of horoscopes strengthens the belief that these Rishis were blessed with divya drishti (supernormal powers). This also strengthens the belief that these Rishis were just the medium selected by the Almighty for this knowledge to be revealed to us. Our classical text does not mention anywhere that these aphorisms were created or composed. They are said to have been revealed. Chara dasha has become a tool of invaluable utility for present day astrologers. Its pioneering principles have baffled many. The replicability of these principles and their extensive use across the globe, reminds, time and again of the landmark achievement of Mr.Rao. He writes in his book that it was a painstaking labour of over twenty five years. He mentally calculates the dasha which he feels is the best way to discover its finer points.

In the year 1994 I learnt Chara dasha in the Acharya class at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan , about the time of publication of the first edition of the book Predicting through Jaimini's Chara dasha in 1993. In the 1995-97 research class under his guidance we applied Chara dasha on many horoscopes and presented several case studies in seminars. During this period I wrote astro-sketches on Ram Kishan Dalmia and Dr Rajendra Prasad.

Its definite edge over Vimshottari dasha in authenticating and rectifying a horoscope:
Most of us at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan have this dasha built in our system. Many of us calculate it in our mind and some through handy computers. The innovative model that we follow for arriving at correct predictions begins with verification of the birth data of a horoscope, by matching bio-facts with Chara dasha. In view of the limited time available with present day astrologers it was difficult to detect a wrong Ascendant by adopting the traditional methodology as only a sketchy picture from the universal vimshottari dasha and transits could be got in a squeezed time frame In contrast, chara dasha instantly flashes some specific events to confirm the Ascendant. A word of caution is necessary here. The speed comes with risks. One tends to become judgmental and is likely to forget that the success rate of predictions is in the vicinity of only seventy percent with stand alone chara Dasha. It can be improved if the findings from chara dasha are integrated with the findings from vimshottari dasha. Both dashas should narrate the same story.

My Approach
My approach to a horoscope analysis underwent a change after I experienced the power of chara dasha. Feedback from many also show that the chara dasha determines the life events pretty accurately. I have been giving readings for Journalofastrology.com since the year 2009. Most of what I am sharing is observed from application of chara dasha for predictions on horoscopes from the website clients and from my family, friends and students. The sample size from 2009 would be over 2000 horoscopes.

Understanding the Desh Kaal Patra: Try to know the person. More the better. This
would help in choosing the focus - standard, psychological, or spiritual. Standard the most common covers education career, marriage, health and property.

Assessment of Promise
Mark the chara karakas. Mark the aroodh (pada lagna) UP (upa-pada ) KL (karkamsha lagna) U.Pada (Upa Pada) N.Lagna(navamsha lagna) MB (Mrityu Bhag) Read the horoscopes from Lagna, Aroodh Lagna, Karkamsha Lagna, Navamsha Lagna and the Atmakarka. Any karaka in 6, 8, 12 from these five important Lagnas would be weak. Note the repetitions. Generally any karaka afflicted by Rahu, Ketu or gnatikarka will also be weak. It has to be kept in the mind that Rahu and Ketu are quick absorbers and act as a catalyst. At times they give big jumps and windfalls. Even sometimes gnatikarka is positive for it denotes a relation. Help from a relation or a loan is also seen coming from this karaka Lastly see the horoscopic promise from the swamsha to refine predictions The yogas should be seen in the navamsha also. See the mutual relationship of atmakarka and amatyakarka both in the birth chart and the navamsha, the putrakarka and matrikarka for position and dignity. This assessment should be kept at the back of the mind while presuming as Lagna the Rashi, whose dasha is on. Life does not remain static, chara dasha beautifully indicates the phases of life and point which aspect of life is likely to change. In which area a person can afford to take risks and in which caution is advised. Do not forget that the other rashis with their attributes and influences also aspect the dasha rashi.

Decode the karakas

Intermingle the natural karakas and seven chara karakas. 1. Sun as the fixed karaka for father and atma could also be the chara gnatikaraka in a horoscope. 2. Similarly putrakaraka indicates dignity, education and children but could be Venus, the natural karaka for spouse. If the putrakaraka if it is free from association or gaze of gnatikaraka, Rahu or Ketu the education should would be good. 3. Any karaka getting into the 8th from rashi dasha could be a change or a problem. 4. Any karaka seen in the 10th house from the rashi dasha would remain the focus during

the period. 5. Transits should be applied liberally both in the birth chart and the navamsha.

Gauge the Strength of the Rashis: The number of planets or their aspects on rashis
determine the activity, both good and bad depending upon the influences. Planets provide energy. The phase would be more eventful in relative terms if there are more planets or aspects on a rashi. Sagittarius and Leo have been found natural eventful rashis.

See all the houses from every MD/AD: The main- periods and sub-periods show the
changes. People are eager to know about the changes in store. Through Jaimini chara dasha they can be easily predicted.

It is heartening to note that New Age Jaimini Astrology is being introduced by its developer in Mumbai at the Chara Dasha Workshop organized by Saptarishis Astrology on March 29 th and 30th of 2013. Perhaps only a few Mumbaikars have had a taste of Jaimini Astrology live from its developer. We are going there for we wish to serve those who cannot join Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Delhi. Learning from books is not enough is what we also agree. We should have periodical direct interactions to reinforce the learning.