The following are 12 different names given to the 12 Rāśis commencing from Mesh: Kriya, Tavuru, Jituma, Kulira, Leya, Pathona, Juka, Kaurpi, Taukshika, Akokera, Hridroga and Cheththa.
Scholars have given various names to Mesh etc. Among them, “Ali” indicates Vrischik, while “Vanagiri” Simh. The twelve Bhavas from Lagn are, respectively, called as: Tanu, Dhan (Artha), Sahaj, Bandhu, Putr, Ari, Yuvati (Kalatra), Randhr (Nidhana), Dharm, Karm (Kriya), Labh (Aya) and Vyaya (Vigama).
Notes: The meanings of the 12 synonyms given above are: body, wealth, co-born, relatives, children, enemies, wife, death, righteousness, or good work (one of the four ends of human existence), action, income and loss.
Vigama apart from meaning loss, also means death, or departure. The 12th being the terminal house of the horoscope is related to one’s departure from the world. Kendr, Panaphara and Apoklima divide the 12 houses in three groups.
Kendras are Tanu, Bandhu, Yuvati and Karm Bhava. Dhan, Putr, Randhr and Labh Bhava are called Panapharas. The Apoklimas are Sahaj, Ari, Dharm and Vyaya Bhavas.
Notes: Panapharas are the next Bhavas to Kendras, while Apoklimas are the next ones to Panapharas.
Kantaka and Chatushtaya are the other names given to Kendras (angles), while Charama means Apoklima. Madhya Kendr is Panaphara.
Bandhu and Randhr Bhava are known, as Chaturasra. Ari and Labh Bhava are otherwise called Shatkona. Sahaj, Ari, Karm and Labh Bhava are known, as Upachayas.
Alternative names given to Yuvati Bhava are: Jamitra, Asta Bhavana, Dyuna, Kama and Chitha. Sahaj Bhava is called Duschikya, Sahaj and Vikrama.
Aspada (place), Ajna (command), Karma (livelihood), Meshurana and Kha-Madhya (zenith point of the firmament) are all identical with Karm Bhava. Bandhu Bhava is called Hibuka, Sukh (happiness), Vesma (residence), Pathala (underworld), Vari (water) and Bandhu (relatives).
Trikon, or Kon notes Putr and Dharm Bhava, while Tritrikon (Kon of the Kon) indicates Dharm Bhava only. The other names given to Dharm Bhava are: Bhagya, Guru and Subh.
Notes. According to some Jyotishis, Lagn is also to be considered, as a Kon, apart from being a Kendr. However, Phala Deepika Ch I, Sloka 17 and 18 list 1, 4, 7 and 10, as Kendras and specifically mention, that the 5th and the 9th are Konas. Same view is found in Brihat Jataka (Ch. I),
Saravali (Ch. I, Sloka 27, Lagnachandika (Ch. I, Sloka 6), Jataka Tatwa (Ch. I, Rule 27 and Jataka Parijata (Ch. I). Thus from these references, only the 5th and the 9th are called Konas and Tanu Bhava is not.
Vyaya Bhava is called, as Rippha, Lopa (void) and Vyaya (loss), while Dhan Bhava is termed, as Vitta (wealth), Kutumba (family), Vak (speech) and Mangala (auspiciousness).
Randhr Nidhana (death), Vinasa (destruction) and Dukh (grief) are the other identifications of Randhr Bhava. All the names Riksha, Bhava, Kshetra, Rāśi mean one and the same thing.
Notes. Bhav also means Rāśi (Brihat Jataka, Ch. I, Sloka 6).
Udaya (rising), Prag Lagn (the point rising in the east), Lekha and Hora are the other names given to Lagn. The various names, as enumerated for the Rāśis are given by the ancient preceptors.
Hora means also half of a Rāśi. Lalata Rekh. (the 1ine on the forehead, or Brahma Lipi) also indicates Hora. Some Jyotishis depend on the Hora for the knowledge of future.
Notes: The word Kal indicates the present, past and future, as known by Trikala.
Ch. 2. Grah Lakshanas
The lords of the 12 Rāśis and that of the 12 Navamashas with the same identity are: Mangal, Śukr, Budh, Candr, Sūrya, Budh, Śukr, Mangal, Guru, Śani, Śani and Guru. The lords of the Horas in odd Rāśis are Sūrya and Candr, while the reverse is true in the case of even Rāśis.
The lords of the four directions, viz. East, South, West and North are Mesh, Vrishabh, Mithun and Kark, respectively, with their Konas repeating again in the same order.
Notes: Each Rāśi is divided in two equal parts of 15 degrees. The first 15 degrees of odd Rāśis are ruled by Sūrya and called Solar half. The second 15 degrees are ruled by Candr and called Lunar half. In the case of even Rāśi, the arrangement is reversed. As regards directions, these are clear for Rāśis. See planetary rulerships of the directions, as under: Sūrya, Śani, Śukr, Candr, Mangal, Budh, Rahu, Guru; East, West, South East, North West, South, North, South West and North East, respectively, (as per Brihat Jataka, Ch. II, Sloka 6 and my English translation of Saravali).
These can be profitably used in Horary Astrology also. In this context, C. G. Rajan’s Tamil translation of Parasara Hora and Prasna Marga, Slokas 7 to 9 in Ch. II have the following account: Mesh-Vrishabh East, Kark-Simh South, Tula-Vrischik West, Kumbh-Meen North, Mithun South East, Kanya South East, Dhanu North West, Meen North East.
The exaltation Bhavas for the (seven) Grahas from Sūrya onwards are:
Mesh, Vrishabh, Makar, Kanya, Kark, Meen and Tula. In these Bhavas, the respective Grahas have the highest exaltation points at 10th, 3rd, 28th, 15th, 5th, 27th and the 20th degrees. The seventh Rāśi from the exaltation Rāśi is the Rāśi of fall, or depression for the respective Grah and similar degree is the point of deepest fall.
Notes: These can be tabulated thus: (Grah, Deep exaltation Rāśi and degree, Deep fall Rāśi and degree); Sūrya, Mesh, 10, Tula, 10; Candr, Vrishabh, 3, Vrischik, 3; Mangal, Makar, 28, Kark, 28; Budh, Kanya, 15, Meen, 15; Guru, Kark, 5, Makar, 5; Śukr, Meen, 27, Kanya, 27; Śani, Tula, 20, Mesh, 20.
For Rahu and Ketu, please see notes Sloka 8 of this Ch..
