By Yenbeeyes, India Associate Editor

Yenbeeyes hails from a Tamil family

wherein he learnt astrology from his grandfather who knew the entire BPHS by heart. He was first asked to learn by heart the Sanskrit verses of BPHS & then was slowly taught astrology by his grandfather who was his Guru. After 3 years of teaching only BPHS he was then taught Jaimini Sutras by the age of 23. Yenbeeyes is our authors pen name and he, having retired in 2007, has taken up to the cause of astrology full time and is currently translating Jaimini Sutras into Tamil. Saptarishis Astrology has observed that Shri Yenbeeyes pursues this science with an unmatched discipline and dedication which is praiseworthy.

[Prologue: P.S.Iyer needs no introduction to the old hand. He hailed from Kerala but settled in Tamilnadu in Madurai during his last days. He had authored many books which were all written in Tamil. In spite of best efforts by many volunteers of Saptarishis Astrology, we have not been successful in getting his books. He has also written numerous path breaking articles in Astrological magazines during the 80s. He was specializing in Marriage part of Astrology. I was fortunate enough to get a very old edition of his book from my mentor. I am presenting this article based on his favourite subject of Astrology Prasna. Yes, he was known as the most brilliant expert of Prasna Astrology. Here he gives some very important clues with regard to marriage through Prasna. Readers, if they have any of his other books may kindly inform us or help us in sending scanned copies. Yenbeeyes]

he Astrologer to whom a person approaches to find out the matching of a boy and a girl, should create a Prasna Chart and based on the Udaya Lagna (Lagna rising at the time of Prasna) tell the good and bad results for the persons proposed to be united. The Prasna should be taken up at an auspicious time just as the Muhurtha time for the marriage. There is a basic difference in this. While fixing the Muhurtha for marriage, we ensure that there are no planets in the 7th house at the time of Muhurta. But in the Marriage Prasna, it is good if benefics are placed in the 7th house in Prasna Chart. Normally Vivaha Prasna (Marriage Prashna) is kept based on the name and nakshatra of the boy and the girl. However, it should be taken to be the Prasna relating to the girl. Hence in such a Prasna Chart, the Udaya Lagna represents the girl and the 7th there from indicate the boy. On this basis, the characteristics of the boy, his age, his health etc should be stated from the 7th house and that of the girl from the lagna rising at the time of Prasna. There is also an alternate way to this. Consider the Lord of Arudha Lagna in the Prasna Chart and on that basis, the girls characteristics, her physical features can be stated and from the Lord of the 7th house from Arudha Lagna, that of the boy. This principle is to be followed only for Marriage Prasna and not for other types of Prasna. This is as per Prasna Marga. The general rule is that whichever is strong out of Lagna or Lagna Lord and on that basis only results must be stated. Whether it is Arudha Lagna or Prasna lagna the same principle is followed. In Prasna there is a special method of finding the Arudha Lagna. If it is an Ashtamangala Prasna, the Arudha Lagna is indicated by the direction in which the golden coin falls, and in the Yamala Prasna, it depends on the number of conches the queerest takes and gives. In Thamboola Prasna it depends on the number of betel leaves taken. But in Arudha Prasna, it is decided as per general principles which are how many houses the Lagna lord is placed from the Udaya Lagna and an equal number is to be counted from the placement of the Udaya Lagna Lord which will be the Arudha Lagna. For example If Aries is the Udaya Lagna and its Lord Mars is placed in Leo, it is situated 5 houses away from Aries. Hence count 5 houses from Leo which will be Sagittarius and this will be the Arudha Lagna. Throughout the article I have used the term Udaya Lagna or Prasna Lagna which is the Lagna calculated at the time of starting the Prasna or query.

Rules As Explained By Late P.S.Iyer

1. If Moon is placed in 10th, 11th 3rd, 7th or 5th houses from Udaya Lagna and in addition to this if Moon is aspected by Jupiter or if Moon and Jupiter combine in any of these houses, the marriage is likely to happen in the near future. If the Udaya Lagna falls in

Taurus or Libra or Cancer and if these are aspected by benefics, marriage will happen quickly. 2. If Sun is debilitated or Sun is placed in his enemys house and aspects the Udaya Lagna or the Arudha Lagna, then at the time marriage of the girl, her father may not be alive. Or on account of certain pressing reasons, he may not be in a position to be present at the time of marriage. Note: There is a striking difference between Prasna Marga and this point. In Prasna Marga it is stated that If the Sun is debilitated or occupies an unfriendly sign and does not aspect either the Lagna or Arudha Lagna the bride will have no father. Similar treatment to be made for Moon (for mother), Mars for brothers etc. 3. Similarly when Moon is bereft of strength (especially Amavasya Moon) or in its debilitation house of Scorpio or eclipsed and aspects the 4th house and the 4th house Lord is also bereft of strength, then that girls mother may not be alive at the time of marriage or the marriage of that girl might be conducted in the presence of her fostermother or by the second wife of her father. Note: There are contradictions in these two rules. Here Sun and Moon have only the 7 th aspect. Elsewhere it is stated that the weak Sun or Moon should not aspect the Udaya lagna as well as the Arudha Lagna at the same time. There are further complications also in this. Moon has no enemy as per Sambandha rules. Hence what is stated above as enemy house should be taken as Tatakalika Sambandha or Temporary friendship only. In the next rule, it is to be understood that the Sun or Moon is in Udaya or Arudha Lagna which should be the debilitation or the temporary enemy house of the Sun or Moon as the case may be. 4. If Sun, placed in his enemy house or in debilitation, aspects the 7th house from Udaya Lagna or Arudha Lagna, then the father of the boy may not be alive. Similarly it should be stated for the mother of the boy from the position of Moon. Note: As in 2 above, this rule also differs from Prasna Marga which states that If the 7 th house from the Udaya Lagna or Arudha Lagna is not aspected by Sun, who should be debilitated or occupy an inimical house, the father of the bridegroom will not be alive. Similar treatment for Moon (mother) and Mars (brother) to be given. Dr. B.V.Raman has taken this view only. Also he is of the opinion that in actual practice, the aspect of Jupiter can negate the evils. 5. If the Prasna Lagna falls in any of the auspicious Lagna as defined in Prasna Marga, marriage will happen very soon and the couple will lead a happy life. Auspicious Lagnas are Those signs which receives the aspect of Jupiter or waxing Moon or

alternately if both (viz. Jupiter and Moon) are placed therein.. If the Lagna Lord is placed in 1st or 5th or 9th and is aspected by benefics without any malefic aspects, then that Lagna will be treated as Auspicious Lagna. 6. If Moon is placed in the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th or 12th houses from Prasna Lagna and is aspected by Mars and/or by such other malefics, the marriage of that girl will have impediments in her marriage due to menstruation or by monthly periods of that girl. But if the Moon is placed in other houses viz, in 1st, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th or 11th houses and aspected by a powerful Sun or Jupiter or Venus or blemishless Mercury, marriage will be performed without any hindrances and with happiness. Note: It is worth remembering the words of Varahamihira who has clearly stated the condition under which menses appears in a woman. Brihat Jataka-Chapter 4-Shloka 1:

Explanation: Mars and the Moon are the cause for monthly menses in women. When the Moon is in Anupachaya rasis the menses for conception occurs. Upachayas are 3 rd, 6th, 10th and 11th house and the rest viz., 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 12th are Anupachayas. When the Moon occupies these non-upachaya signs the menses appears. Another condition for this to happen is that the Moon must be aspected by Mars. This cause of nature facilitate conception. P.S.Iyer has omitted the 1st and the 7th house in the list of Anupachaya houses and added them with the Upachaya houses. 7. If the Prasna is held in dark half of the Moon (Krishna Paksha) and Moon is placed in an even rasi and aspected by malefics or if Moon aspected by malefics is placed in the 8th house, there will be hindrances for the marriage. Note: Here even rasi are the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th or 12th places from the Prasna Lagna. There is another ruling that if the Moon comes in the 8th house to Prasna Lagna, even if benefic aspects are there, it is doubtful that the marriage will happen. 8. When coming for Vivaha Prasna (Marriage query) if the queerest or his representative touches the right hand or heart or head, marriage will get decided in the near future. If on the other hand he or she touches legs, left hand, knees, backside of the body or the hip, then there will be impediments. 9. If there is an exchange of houses between Lagna lord and the 7th Lord or if they are in full strength on account of being in exaltation or in own house or placed in the house of Adhi Mitra (Good friend) or in mutual aspects or conjunct in a rasi that marriage will happen early.

Note: There is a differing view to this statement. It is stated that if the Prasna Lagna lord is placed in his exaltation house and to the 7th of that house (i.e. from the exaltation house), the 7th lord from Prasna Lagna is placed, marriage will surely materialize. Also for Leo and Aquarius Lagna, Lagna Lords as well as their 7th Lords if they are conjoined it cannot satisfy this rule. Because if Saturn is exalted in Libra, Sun will get debilitated and vice versa. This should also be borne in mind. 10. If there is an exchange of houses between Lagna Lord and Venus or if one of them is exalted and the other is in the 7th to the exaltation planet, then also the marriage will happen immediately and with felicity. 11. If Lagna Lord and the 7th Lord are conjunct and one of them is in debilitation and getting Neecha Banga (Cancellation of debilitation), marriage will be settled all of a sudden and will be happily performed. Note: This is a special rule. A doubt arises if this combination takes places in the 8 th or the 12th houses. Nothing is stated about that. Only experience will tell. 12. If malefic planets are aspected by other malefics and they are placed in the 8th house in debilitation or enemy house, due to unforeseen circumstances, marriage will stop. But if they are placed in the 6th house, either the boy or the girl will become sick or will be subjected to ill health or due to happening of some accident, marriage may not be held. Note: Prasna Margs Shloka 17 also expresses similar results. It is seen practically that the malefics say Saturn and Mars even when they are in their exaltation points viz., Libra and Aries respectively and if the Prasna Lagna happens to be Virgo, then also the marriage talks have failed due to dowry problems. Dr. B.V.Raman has given a clear example of this in his translation of Prasna Marga. 13. If at the time of Prasna, the queerest sees the mating of a bird or an animal or a snake, then it indicates that the girl has lost her virginity and because of that or on account of such act of the girl the truth will come out and the marriage will be stopped. 14. If in the 6th house or the 8th house from Arudha Lagna, a weak Moon is placed along with malefics and in spite of such bad combinations, marriage is performed, then in the 8th year from the date of marriage, both husband and wife will die at the same time. If in the 6th or the 8th house from Moon (which is placed in the 6th or 8th from Arudha Lagna), Mars is placed, then in the 3rd or the 6th or the 9th year after the marriage date, the girl will become a widow. Till that time they would not have any progeny. If either in the Prasna Lagna or to its 7th, Moon and Mars are conjoined, marriage should not be performed. If performed, that girl will become a widow or she will be burnt in fire. Note: While fixing Muhurtha for marriage, it should be ensured that not a single Dosha or blemish exist out of the 21 stated by authorities. One such Dosha is There should not be any malefics with Moon. At the time of Muhurta if Moon and Mars are within 1 degree

longitude, that marriage will not last long. If such a combination takes place in the house of Venus, there will be divorce on account of husbands bad behavior. If it is the house of Mercury or Saturn there will be discord in sex and adverse results may come. If it is the house of Sun or Mars, one out of the two will be burnt or will self immolate or will commit suicide. If the combination is in Jupiters house, either because of disease or due to taking up poison one of them will die. If it is the house of Moon, the bride will be rejected. This rule which is applicable to Muhurta is also applicable to Prasna. There are 21 Doshas or Adverse Elements which should be avoided in the selection of a fortunate time for starting anything important and involving profit, progress or pleasure. These, according to Narada are: 1. A Thithi, a day, an asterism, a Yoga and a Karana (Five limbs of panchanga) marked inauspicious. 2. The rising sign and the 7th house therefrom being adversely affected. 3. Surya Sankranthi i.e. the entry of the Sun into the first point of the Zodiac. 4. Malefics, strong in the Shadvargas. 5. Venus located in the 6th house. 6. Mars, located in the 8th house. 7. Ganthantha. 8. Karthari. 9. The Moon in the 6th, 8th or 12th house. 10. An asterism governed by a malefic planet. 11. The rising sign being the 8th house from the Janma Rasiof either the husband or the wife. 12. A sign, the duration of which coincides with Thyajyam. 13. Dur-Muhurtham (A time chosen for the execution of a malicious deed). 14. The part of a day marked adverse. 15. Ekargala. 16. Eclipse. 17. Uthpadha Nakshatras. 18. A Nakshatra ruled by two malefics. 19. Ku-Navamsa (i.e. The Navamsa of a malefic). 20. Mahapaatham (Vyatheepaatham). 21. Vaidriti. Some of the terms do need an explanation to have an understanding but it is beyond the scope of this article.

 15. If YamaVenus ( ) or the 10th Lord from the house where YamaVenus is placed if either of them is situated in the 6th or 8th or 12th from Prasna Lagna, the Prasna held for the marriage will not happen. If the natal Venus is placed in the 6th or 8th or 12th house from YamaVenus, marriage will get postponed at the last minute. Add the longitudes of YamaVenus, Lagna Lord and natal Venus and if Mandi or Rahu or Ketu comes in the longitude thus obtained or if any one of them aspect, the result would be that after marriage there will be discord between husband and wife; there will be no happiness and even the sexual activity will be absent. Let us name this calculation as Yoga Sphuta. Notes: An explanation is needed for YamaVenus. It is an upagraha or Subsidiary planet. It is like Yamakantaka rises in day time every day at a particular time. Calculate the difference between the time of sun rise and the rising of YamaVenus and calculate the sputa (degree) and note it as the YamaVenus Sputa. YamaVenus rises as below (Calculated from Sunrise): [A day consisting of 24 hours or 1440 minutes is equal to 60 Ghatikas and hence 1 Ghatika is equal to 24 minutes] Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 26 Ghatikas or 26 x 24 = 624 minutes (after Sunrise) 22 Ghatikas or 22 x 24 = 528 minutes 18 Ghatikas or 18 x 24 = 432 minutes 14 Ghatikas or 14 x 24 = 336 minutes 10 Ghatikas or 10 x 24 = 240 minutes 6 Ghatikas or 6 x 24 = 144 minutes 2 Ghatikas or 2 x 24 = 48 minutes

Here you have to add the Sputa (degree) of YamaVenus, Lagna Lord and Natal Venus and in that position (after expunging multiples of 360) if Rahu or Ketu or Mandi is placed or aspects is what is stated in the rule. Mandi aspects the 2nd, 12th and 7th houses from its position. Rahu and Ketu will always be 7 houses apart if one is in the above calculated sputa the other will be to its 7th place. Here it is treated that Rahu and Ketu have no aspect. Determination of Yama Venus: Example: To determine Yama Venus on 17 Feb 2012 at Chennai at 16:00 hours: Week Day Friday Sunrise 06:34:29 Yama Venus rises at 2 Ghatikas or 48 minutes after Sunrise on Friday.

Sunrise + 48 minutes = 07:22:29 Lagna at 07:22:29 on this date: 17 Aq 46 Therefore Yama Venus = 17 Aq 46 Lagna at the time of query which is 4 p.m. is 3 Cn 32 Longitude of Venus = 16 Pi 43 Yoga Sphuta = Sphutas of - Yama Venus + Prasna Lagna + Venus Yoga Sphuta = 317 46 + 93 32 + 346 43 = 75721 and expunging multiples of 360 we get 37 21 or 7 Ta 21. The chart for this query is given as under:

16. If Venus and the 7th Lord are placed in the Upachaya houses (3, 6, 10, 11th houses) from the Prasna Arudha Lagna, there will be increase in wealth in the house where she goes as in-law after marriage. Note: This is based on the general principle that if Bhava lord and its karaka are placed in Upachaya houses then the karakatwa is strengthened. Prasna Marga: Shloka 27:

The same verse is available in Prasna Ratnam also. Here the author says that the couple will be happy after marriage and beget children. Dr. B.V.Raman goes on to add that the same principle can be extended to predict about issues also. Happiness after birth of a child is assured if Jupiter and lord of 5th occupy Upachayas. If Mars and lord of 3rd occupy the 3rd or 6th or the 11th, there will be happiness after birth of a brother. Thus Karaka and the various Bhava lords are considered. 17. If Venus and Moon are placed in an even house and even Navamsa and with full strength if they aspect the Lagna, then that boy will get a beautiful girl with a good character. If Lagna falls in a female Drekkana and its Navamsa is an even rasi and if that Lagna is aspected either by Venus or Moon, then also the boy will get a similar type of girl. Note: Here Lagna refers to Arudha Lagna. The first part can be applied to birth charts as well. The second combination can be usefully applied to a male chart. 18. If benefics are placed either in Lagna Kendra or trikona and if the 7th house is aspected by benefics, that boy will get a beautiful girl. If the 7th house happens to be a malefics house, even though the marriage will happen immediately, the girl will be ugly or will have some bodily defect. Note: Here the benefic house refers to houses owned by Mercury, Jupiter and Venus, their exaltation houses or Suns own house. All others are malefic houses. In some books it is stated that Aquarius is stated to be a benefic house. But majority do not accept this view. Sarvartha Chinthamani gives details about each Drekkana giving its nature either as male or female. This can be applied in reading the 7th house in the chart of a male. This rule is from Prasna Sangraha. 19. If in the 7th place from either Udaya Lagna or Arudha Lagna, any benefic planet other than Venus is placed, marriage will happen soon and after marriage the couple will lead a happy life. Note: Note here that Venus is not considered as a benefic. Why? That is because Venus being Kalathra karaka (karaka for marriage) placed in the Kalathra Sthana (marriage house) he will destroy the effects of that house based on the general rule that Karaka Bhava Nasya. But if such a Venus in the 7th house is in his own house or exaltation house it will not affect the karakatwa is the opinion of some. If Venus is in the 7th house alone and has no malefic aspects, such a person will get a beautiful girl as his wife but she will not mind and respect her husband. If malefics have conjoined Venus in the 7th house or aspected by malefics, marriage will be held in a good manner but the behaviour of such a wife will depend on the quality of the aspecting planet. If such a Venus (in the 7 th house) is aspected by Sun, she will be attached to her fathers house and will not give the due respect to her husband or husbands family. If it is Mars, she will be a hot tempered

person and will always be quarrelsome (with her husband) and will oppose her husband for each and every thing. If Mercury aspects Venus, she will be less knowledgeable or there will be no increase of knowledge and if it is Saturn, she will of bad character. Rahus aspect will make her indebted financially and also will be drawing her husband in litigation. Ketu will make her a person without any sexual feelings. Here Mercury is to be treated as malefic only when he is debilitated or combust. 20. If the 7th lord is in the 6th house or the 6th lord is in the 7th house and the 6th lord is stronger than the 7th lord, then due to the disturbance created by the enemies, marriage will come to a standstill. 21. If the Lord of the Badhaka Sthana is placed in the 7th house or the 7th lord is placed in the Badhaka house, then due to some black magic marriage will not be held. Time of Marriage 22. Add the sphuta of Lagna Lord and 7th Lord and find out the Nakshatra of the resultant longitude. With the help of the Vimsottari Dasa of the lord of the Nakshatra so obtained, the time of marriage can be determined. The expired portion of the Dasa balance must be divided by 60 which will be the minimum days and Ghatis required for the marriage to materialize. Multiply this result by 3 and that will indicate the maximum period of days within which the marriage will happen. Note: In the example chart above Udaya Lagna is Cancer. Lagna Lord Moon is in 9 03 of Sagittarius and the 7th Lord Saturn is in 5 Li 23. The total of these two will be = 249 03 + 185 23 = 434 26 or 74 26 which will fall in Ardra 3rd pada. The Vinsottari Dasa for this would be of Rahu and will be for 7 Yrs. 6 m and 5 days. (Ardra starts from 66 40 and hence (74 26 minus 66 40) 7 46 or 466 of the Nakshatra have elapsed. For 800, the full duration of the Dasa will be 18 years or 216 months or 6480 days. So for the elapsed duration of 466 the dasa period would be (6480 x466)/800 = 3774.6 days or 10 Yrs. 5 months 25 days. Hence Balance of Rahu dasa would be 7 Yrs. 6 months 5 days). We are not concerned with the remaining period of the Dasa. Only the expired portion is taken up for further calculation. The expired portion is 3775 days (rounded) which when divided by 60 gives a quotient of 62 days and the remainder of 55 is the Ghatis. Or we can safely take this as 63 days. So the marriage will take place only after 63 days from the date of query which 17-02-2012. The maximum days within which the marriage will take place is got by multiplying this 63 days by 3 which will be 189 days. There seems to be some missing link in this calculation. Hence this needs to be tested thoroughly. Also the same calculation has to be carried out taking into account the Arudha Lagna Lord and the 7th Lord from Arudha Lagna.

23. When Moon transits its Dwadasamsa Rasi or the 5th or the 9th from it or the Chandraabhilasha Rasi or the Navamsa Rasi of the lord of the 7th, marriage is likely to happen. 24. Divide the Moons longitude by 800. Let the remainder be (a). Multiply (a) by 3 and divide the product by 200. The quotient is the Chandrabhilasha sign. The remainder multiplied by 200 gives degrees. Again multiply (a) by 9. Divide the product by 200. The quotient represents the Chandravela longitude. Note: This is taken from Prasna Ratnam and is available in Prasna Marga also. I have taken the English translation as appearing in the Prasna Marga of Dr. B.V.Raman. He has also given an example of how to calculate the above which I am applying to our sample chart given above. Before that I reproduce below the Sanskrit Verses from Prasna Ratnam.

Calculations: There are 4 conditions given here for Moons transit (All with reference to the Prasna Chart): (a) The sign occupied by his own Dwadasamsa position. (b) The 5th or 9th from it. (c) The Chandrabhilasha sign. (d) Navamsa Rasi of the lord of the 7th. The final decision rests upon the astrologers experience and intuition to pin point the correct date out of the four alternatives above. Rasi chart is as given above. He Navamsa and Dwadasamsa charts are given below to make the workings easier.

Determination of Chandrabhilasha Sign: Moon is in 9 Sg 03 in Rasi or 249 03 in the Prasna Chart. When the Moon transits (a) Pisces (Dwadasamsa) Rasi or (b) the 5th (Cancer) or the 9th (Scorpio) from Pisces, marriage may take place. (c)It may happen when Moon transits Sagittarius, the sign occupied by the 7th Lord Saturn (of Rasi Chart) in Navamsa. For the fourth option we have to determine the Chandrabhilasha sign and is explained here: Moons longitude = 249 03 or 14943 (i) 14943/800 = Quotient 18 and remainder 543- Let us call this remainder as (a) (ii) (a) x 3 = 543 x 3 = 1629 (iii) 1629/200 = 8.145 = 8s 4.35 degrees (0.145 multiplied by 30 gives degrees) (iv) Chandrabhilasha Sign Sagittarius 4.35 degrees.

Determination of Chandravela Sign: (i) (a) x 9 = 543 x 9 = 4887 (ii) 4887/200 = 24.435 = 24s 13.05 degrees or 0s 13.05 degrees expunging multiples of 12. (iii) Chandravela = Aries 13.05 degrees. Birth Star as well as Dasa of the girl 25. The girl would have been born in the dasa of Udaya Lagna Lord or Arudha Lagna Lord whichever is stronger. Note: This will be calculated only in the Prasna relating to the boy. The stronger of the 7 th lord from Udaya lagna or the Arudha Lagna can also be taken. The girl would have been born in the dasa of the stronger of these two. The girl would have been born at a distance of miles indicated by the longitude of the planet. [This has not been stated clearly. The longitude may vary from 1 minute to 360 degree. Are we to conclude that the maximum distance will not exceed 360 miles if we take 1 degree is equal to 1 mile? ] 26. Find out the nakshatra in which Arudha Lagna is placed. That nakshatra or its other Paryayam nakshatras viz. Anujanma or Trijanma nakshatras will be the birth star of the girl. 27. All the above rules are to be decided after assessing the strength of the Udaya and Arudha Lagnas. If both have equal strength, then the basis of decision must be only on Arudha Lagna. [There are 6 rules stated by P.S.Iyer which deal exclusively with nimittas or indicative signs or omens, on the basis of which one can predict whether a proposed marriage takes place or whether it will break down. I have not covered them in this article.]