Ch. 43. Longevity

1. O Maharishi Parashar, you have dealt with combinations for wealth and poverty. Kindly detail methods of ascertaining the life-span of human beings.

2-3. O Brahmin, for the benefit of mankind I narrate methods of ascertaining longevity. Knowing that longevity is difficult even for gods. Many exponents have laid down various methods of longevity calculations. Following is the summary of such schools of thought.

4-8. Pindayu. The Grahas contribute to longevity, according to their being in exaltation, or debilitation and also based on their strengths and weaknesses and positions in Ashvini etc. and in the various Rashis. First of all Pindayu is based on the positions of the Grahas. O Brahmin, listen carefully to what I say: 19, 25, 15, 12, 15, 21 and 20 are the number of years, contributed by the Grahas, from Sūrya etc., when in exaltation. These are half of the above in debilitation. And, if the Grahas are in between exaltation and debilitation, the rule of three process should be used. Deduct the actual position of the Grah from its deep exaltation point. If the product is less than 6 Rashis, deduct it again from 12 Rashis. The product concerned should be multiplied by the number of years allotted to the Grah and divided by 12 to get the Grah’s actual contribution.

9. Rectifications. Excepting Śukr and Śani, the contributions, made by others, should be halved, if they are eclipsed by Sūrya. One third should be reduced, if the Grah is in its inimical Rashi. This does not apply to the one in retrogression (see Vakra Charam).

10-11. Deductions for Grahas in the Visible Half of the Zodiac. Full, half, one third, one fourth, one fifth and one sixth are the deductions of contributions, made by malefics, placed in the visible half of the zodiac. Benefics in such cases lose only half of what malefics lose. Should there be more than one Grah in a Bhava, the deduction, due to the strongest, will only prevail and not deductions, due to other Grahas in that particular Bhava. Waning Candr is a benefic for this purpose.

12-13. Malefics in Lagn. In case Tanu Bhava is occupied by malefics, adopt the following procedure. Convert Lagn’s Sphuta into minutes of arc and multiply it by the years etc., contributed by the occupant, and divide by 21600. The years etc. so arrived be deducted from the respective contribution, which will be the net span, donated by the Grah. If there is benefic’s Drishti on Lagn, containing malefics, then the loss is only half.

14-15. Lagn’s Contribution. The number of years, contributed by Lagn, will correspond to the number of Rashis it gained (from Mesh), while the degrees Lagn has gained in the particular Rashi will also correspondingly donate (30° = l year). If the Lagn’s Lord in the Navāńś is stronger than Lagn’s Lord, then the contribution should be computed only based on the number of Navāńśas gained (from Mesh), otherwise the computation will be for the Rashi Lagn.

16-17. Nisargayu. O Brahmin, now I tell you about Nisargayu. 1, 2, 9, 20, 18, 20 and 50 are the years, allotted to Candr, Mangal, Budh, Śukr, Guru, Sūrya and Śani from the period of birth.

18-19. Ańśayu. Now I will tell you about Ańśayu contributions by Lagn and Grahas. The years correspond to the number of Navāńśas, counted from Mesh. Multiply the longitude in question by 108. If the product exceeds 12, expunge multiples of 12 and consider the final product in Rashis, degrees etc., as years, months etc.

20-22. The same reductions, as per Pindayu, apply to Ańśayu as well; i.e. half for a combust Grah, one third for inimical placement and the ones, due for placements in the half of the zodiac, counted from the 12^th backwards. Some scholars suggest further corrections for Ańśayu, viz. to increase threefold the contribution of a Grah in exaltation, or in own Bhava and double the contribution, if the contributor is in his own Navāńś, or in his own Dreshkan. If doubling and trebling is warranted, only trebling be done. In case of reductions also only halving is to be done, if both halving and reducing a third are required. That is how the final life-span of men be understood.

23. Longevity for Other Living Beings. For other living beings as well such computations can be made. The said figure should be multiplied by the figure, corresponding to its full span of life and divided by the figure, corresponding to the full span of life for human beings.

24-29. Full Life Span of Various Living Beings. Now I’ll tell you about the full life-span figures for various living beings. Gods and sages enjoy endless life-span (in astronomical proportions, as against ordinary mortals). The full life-span of eagles, owls, parrots, crows and snakes is one thousand years. For falcon, monkey, bear and frog the full span of life is 300 years. Demon’s full life-span is 150 years, while it is 120 for human beings, 32 for horses, 25 for donkeys and camels, 24 for oxen and buffaloes, 20 for peacocks, 16 for goats and rams. 14 for swans, 12 for cuckoo, dog and dove, 8 for hens etc. and 7 for birds etc.

30-31. Choice of Longevity. I have narrated 3 different methods of longevity. Listen to me about the choice among the three systems. According to which of the three, Lagn, Sūrya, or Candr is stronger than the other two, Ańśayu, Pindayu, or Nisargayu should be, respectively, chosen.

32. Doubtful Cases. If two among Lagn, Sūrya and Candr gain equal strength, then longevity should be worked out, as per both systems and the average of both should be considered. If all the three are equally strong, the average of the three should be considered.

33-40. Other Clues to Longevity. O excellent of the Brahmins, I will now give you details of other methods in the matter of longevity, as under. This is based on the positions of Lagn’s Lord, Randhr’s Lord, Śani, Candr, natal Lagn and Hora Lagn. These six are grouped into three groups thus: the Lords of Lagn and of Randhr Bhava on the one hand, Śani and Candr on the other hand and the natal Lagn and Hora Lagn on yet the other hand. Out of a group of two, if the two are in Movable Rashis, long life is denoted. One in a Fixed Rashi and the other in a Dual Rashi will also bestow long life. One in a Movable Rashi and the other in a Fixed Rashi will give medium life. If both are in Dual Rashis, then again medium life will be obtained. Short life is denoted, if one is in a Movable Rashi, as the other is in a Dual Rashi, or, if both are in Fixed Rashis. The type of life, denoted by three, or two groups be only considered. If the three groups denote different scales, then the one, indicated by the pair of natal Lagn and Hora Lagn should be only considered. In case of three different indications, if Candr is in Lagn, or Yuvati Bhava, then the one, indicated by the Śani-Candr pair will only come to pass.

41-44. Further Clarifications. If long life is denoted by all the said three groups, the span is 120 years, if by two groups, it is 108 years and, if only by one group it is 91 years. If medium life is arrived at by three groups, it is 80 years, if indicated by 2 groups, it is 72 years and, if by one group, it is 64 years. If short life is denoted by the said three groups, it is only 32 years, if indicated by two groups, the life-span is 36 years and, if by one group, the life-span is 40 years. These are rectified, as under.

45-46. Rectifications. If the contributor is in the beginning of a Rashi, his donation will be full and it will be nil, if he is at the end of a Rashi. For intermediary placements rule of three process will apply. Add the longitudes of the contributors and the sum so arrived at must be divided by the number of contributors. The latest product should be multiplied by the number of basic years and divided by 30. This will yield the net longevity.

47. Special Rule for Śani. Should Śani be a contributor, the class of longevity declines. Some advocate contrarily an increase of class in this context. If Śani is in its own Rashi, or in exaltation, change in class will not occur. Even, if he receives a Drishti from, or is yuti with only a malefic, no change occurs.

48. Special Rule for Guru. If Guru is in Lagn, or in Yuvati Bhava and receives a Drishti from, or is yuti with only benefics, the class of longevity will increase.

49-50. Increase and Fall in Class of Longevity. From very short life to short life, from short life to medium life, from medium life to long life and from long life to extremely long life are the increases in the classification of longevity, when Guru warrants an increase. The reverse is true, if Śani warrants a fall in the span of life.

51. (Maitreya says) You have narrated various kinds of longevity computations. Please favour me by denoting subtle classes thereof and poor and long life-spans.

52. (Maharishi Parashar replies) These are seven-fold, viz. Bal Risht, Yog Risht, short, medium, long, super-natural (Divya) and immortality (Amritayu).

53-54. The life-span in Bal Risht is 8 years, in Yog Risht 20 years, in short, medium and long lives, respectively, 32, 64 and 120 years. Super-natural life-span is 1000 years. Above this super-natural life-span of 1000 years it is Amritayu, which can be acquired only by those, who deserve it.

55. Limitless Longevity. Should Kark be Lagn with Guru and Candr therein, while Śukr and Budh are in Kendras and others are in Sahaj, Ari and Labh Bhava, the native will obtain limitless longevity.

56. Super-Natural Longevity. One having benefics in Kendras and/or Konas, while malefics are in Sahaj, Ari and Labh Bhava will obtain super-natural life-span. Randhr Bhava in this case should be one of the Rashis, owned by a benefic.

57. Living until the End of the Yuga. One born in Kark Lagn will live till the end of the Yuga, if Guru is in a Kendr and happens to be in Gopurāńś, while Śukr is in a Kon and happens to be in Paravatāńś.

58. Living the Life-Span of a Sage. Guru in Simhasanāńś, being in Lagn, Śani in Devalokāńś and Mangal in Paravatāńś. If these are so, one will enjoy the life-span, as due to a sage.

59. Good Yogas increase the life-span and bad Yogas decrease the same. Hence I tell you such Yogas, as to know of full, medium and short span combinations.

60. If a Kendr contains a benefic, while Lagn’s Lord is yuti with, or receives a Drishti from a benefic, or Guru in particular, the native will live a full span of life.

61. Should Lagn’s Lord be in a Kendr yuti with, or receiving a Drishti from Guru and Śukr, full life-span will result.

62. If at birth three Grahas are exalted, out of which the Lords of Lagn and Randhr Bhava are inclusive, as Randhr Bhava is devoid of a malefic in it, full life-span will result.

63. Long life is denoted, if three Grahas are in Randhr Bhava, in exaltation, own, or friendly divisions, while Lagn’s Lord is strong.

64. If Śani, or Lagn’s Lord is yuti with any exalted Grah, long life will result.

65. Long life will be enjoyed, if malefics are in Sahaj, Ari and Labh Bhava, while benefics are in Kendras.

66. If Ari, Yuvati and Randhr Bhava are occupied by benefics, while malefics are in Sahaj and Labh Bhava, full life-span will follow the birth.

67. If Randhr’s Lord is friendly to Sūrya, while malefics are in Ari and Vyaya Bhava, as Lagn’s Lord is in a Kendr, the native will live the full span of life.

68. O excellent of the Brahmins, if a malefic is in Randhr Bhava, while Karm’s Lord is exalted, one will be long-lived.

69. Long life will follow, if Lagn is a Dual Rashi, while Lagn’s Lord is in a Kendr, or in exaltation, or in a Kon.

70. Should Lagn be a Dual Rashi, while two malefics are in a Kendr with reference to a strong Lagn’s Lord, long life is indicated.

71-73. If the stronger among Lagn’s Lord and Randhr’s Lord is placed in a Kendr, long life is indicated and, if in a Panaphara, medium life is indicated, if in Apoklima, short life will come to pass. According to Lagn’s Lord being friendly, neutral, or inimical to Sūrya, long, medium, or short life will result.

74. Should Mangal and Sahaj’s Lord, or Randhr’s Lord and Śani be combust, or be yuti with malefics, or receive a Drishti from malefics, there will be short life.

75. If Lagn’s Lord is in Ari, Randhr, or Vyaya Bhava, yuti with malefics and devoid of Yuti with and/or Drishti from a benefic, short life will come to pass.

76. If malefics are in Kendras, devoid of Yuti with, or a Drishti from benefics, while Lagn’s Lord is not strong, only short life will result.

77. O excellent of Brahmins, if Vyaya and Dhan Bhava are occupied by malefics and devoid of a Drishti from a benefic, or of Yuti with a benefic, the native will be short-lived.

78. If the Lords of Lagn and Randhr Bhava are bereft of dignities and strength, short life will come to pass. If the Lords of Lagn and Randhr Bhava are helped by others, while being so, medium life-span will come to pass.