170.171. Sayana & Other Avastas: Sayana, Upavesana, Netrapani, Prakasana, Gamanechcha, Gamana, Sabhaavaasa, Aagamana, Bhojana, Nrityalipsa, Kautuka and Nidra are another kind of 12 A vastas or states for the various planets (from the Sun through Ketu).
Notes: These twelve Avastas are known as “Sayanadi” Avastas, meaning “Sayana and other Avastas” to differentiate from other kinds of states.
The meanings and the order of these Avastas are as under:
1. Sayana – lying down, resting.
2. Upavesana (or Upavesa) – sitting.
3. Netrapani – a leading hand.
4. Prakasana (or Prakasa) – shining.
5. Gamanechcha – desirous of sexual union.
6.Gamana – going.
7.Sabhaavaasa (or Sabha) – remaining in an assembly.
8.Agamana – arriving.
9.Bhojana – food (i.e. eating).
10.Nrityalipsa – inflamed to (i.e. fond of) dance.
11. Kautuka – curious.
12. Nidra – sleeping.
Avastas at serial No.6 and 8 above should not be mixed up with each other for they are phonetically somewhat identical.
These Avastas are simple to calculate which are explained In the ensuing verses. Once these are properly known and wisely applied, predictions can be far more accurate. Particularly in respect of diseases, Avastas are one of the best possible sources to rely upon.
In fact these present slokas (from 170 to 177) are taken from Maharshi Parasra’s work, Brihat ParasaraHora Sastra, (chapter 45, vol. 1, English translation by R. Santhanam). But the sages words “Kathaamyaham” (meaning “I narrate “) have been altered by the source-book of Bala Bhadra, i.e. Sanketa Kaumudi as “Kathithaa Muni Pungavaih” meaning “great sages say so”.
Further, the Avasthas at 5, 6 and 8 of our present text are Gamanechcha, Gamana and Aagamana whereas in BPHS, these are Gamana (for Gamanechcha), Aagamana (for Gamana) and Aagama (for Aagamana). Since there is an error in Bala Bhadra’s quotation in the arrangement of names, these should be interchanged in understanding the effects when both these texts are correlated.
172 – 177. Method of Calculation: (a) Note the serial number of the Nakshatra (with reference to Asvini) occupied by a planet (for which Avasta is required). Multiply this by the respective serial number. of the planet (reckoned from Sun through Ketu). The resultant figure should be multiplied by the number of Navamsas covered by the planet (with reference to Aries’). To this figure add the sum total of the serial number of Janma Nakshatra (birth asterism counted from Asvini), serial umber of birth Ghatika (counted from sunrise, uninterrupted at sun set) and serial num r of the ascendant (counted from Aries). The ultimate sum should be divided by 12 and the remainder in the process will denote the Avasta position of the planet reckoned from Sayana Avasta.
(b) The remainder in the above process should be multiplied by itself to which should be added the figure denoted by the first letter of the (personal) name of the person (distinct from family title or surname). The resultant sum should be divided by 12. The remainder in this process should be increased by the relevant additament as noted below. Sun – 5, Moon – 2, Mars – 2, Mercury – 3, Jupiter – 5, Venus – 3, Saturn – 3, Rahu (and Ketu) – 4. The final figure be divided by 3. The planet’s Avastha is in the following sub-state according to the remainder being 1 = Drishti, 2 = Cheshta, and 0 = Vicheshta.
Notes: (a) Each kind of Avastha has its own importance. The present Sayanadi Avasthas lead to knowledge of subtle differences in effects when two nativities which are somewhat similar are under consideration. With every factor like birth ghati, Navamsa of a planet, Nakshat a position etc. changing, these differences will come out more explicitly in the open. These Avasthas have additional importance in deciding about the health conditions of a person.
A simple formula to remember Sayanadi Avastha calculation is given below.
{(S x P x N) + (A + G + R)} -:- 12
= Avastha of the planet.
In the above principle, “s” = serial number of the Nakshatra occupied by the planet for whom A vasthais needed (to be counted from Asvini); “P” = status ofthe planet counted from the Sun (i.e. Sun = 1, Moon = 2, Saturn = 7 etc. in the order of weekdays); “N” = Navamsa position of the planet (like 1st Navamsa, 2nd, 3rd etc. of the sign); “A” = Janma Nakshatra; “G” = ghati of birth from the sun-rise (uninterrupted at sun-set); and “R” = the ascendant’s order counted from Aries (i.e. Leo = 5, Libra = 7, so on so and so forth). Needless to mention that factors “A”, “G” and “R” are one and the same for calculation of A vastha of all the nine planets for a given horoscope. Whereas the factors “S”, “P” and “N” are variable from planet to planet.
Bala Bhadra has wrongly interpreted the word “Amsa” as degree instead of Navamsa in his following example. Amsa is variously used to mean N avamsa, degree, any of the 16 divisions specially Nadiamsa, Shashtiamsa etc.
Assume, we have to calculate Avastha for Mars, where the details are: Mars is in Aries 14° (5th Navamsa) in Bharani Nakshatra’s first quarter. Janma Nakshatra is Mrigasira. Birth at 16th ghatika, and the natal ascendant is Virgo.
So Mars is the 3rd planet in order from the Sun. Bharani occupied by Mars is the 2nd Nakshatra. Mrigasira is the 5th Nakshatra. Thus, the calculation is:
S=2 P=3 N=5
A = 5 G = 16 R = 6
Thus we have to proceed as under: {2 x 3x 5} = 30 = 30 + 9 + 16 + 6 =57. When divided by 12, the remainder is 9 indicating 9th Avastha, i. e. Bhojana Avastha for Mars.
Merely finding out a planet’s Avastha will not be of help. Its sub-state, (whether Vicheshta, Cheshta or Drishti) should be known for it has the final say on the Avastha. The sub-state should be known thus:
Stage 1: (Avastha Number x Avastha Number) + Value for the first syllable of personal name of the native. The resultant product be divide by 12. Call the remainder hereof as “R”.
Stage 2: Add to “R” the planetary additament as reflected in the present slokas (viz. Sun – 5, Moon – 2,.Mars – 2, Mercury – 3, Jupiter – 5, Venus – 3, Saturn – 3, Rahu (or Ketu) – 4). Divide this fmal sum by 3. If the remainder is 1, ,sub-state for that planet’s Avastha is Drishti; 2 = Cheshta and 0 = Vicheshta.
The first syllable values are not given in the original verses. These are supplied below for the benefit of the reader:
Bala Bhadra’s Example: (a) In the first paragraph, the authot” narrates the whole process which is as per our Notes given for slokas No. 172 – 177.
(b) The meaning of the example portion given by Bala Bhadra, vide paragraph 2 above is as under.
Assume the Sun (for whom Avasta is being calculated) is in I Makha Nakshatra. The serial order position of Makha (counted from Asvini) is 10. The Sun’s serial order position is 1. 10 multiplied by 1 is 10. The Sun placed in the sign Leo is in the 7th degree (a misinterpretation for “Navamsa” as stated earlier in the notes). So, 10 multiplied by 7 equals to 70. Birth star is Anuradha represented by 17. Birth is in the 45th ghatika and in Taurus ascendant (2). Hence 70 + 17 + 45 + 2 = 134. The figure 3 is divided by 12 which gives a remainder of 2. Hence the Sun is in the 2nd Avasta which is Upavesana.
Remainder 2 is to be multiplied by 2 which yields 4. The first alphabet of the person is “Ra” (as in “Rari”) which is valued at 5. This should be added to 4 above. The answer 9 is to be divided by 12. This leaves 9 itself as the remainder. The Sun’s constant additament is 5 and is to be added to 9 above. The resuitant figure, which is 14, is to be divided by 3. The remainder is 2. Hence the Sun is in the sub-state of Cheshta, in Upavesana Avasta.
