Ch. 79. Ascetism Yogas

1. The Sage said. O Brahmin! Now I will describe to you the Yogas, leading to ascetism, under the influence of which the persons give up their homes and become initiated in some holy order.

2-3. The Yog for ascetism is formed, when four, or more Grahas, possessed of strength, occupy a single Bhava. The person born will become a Tapasvi, a Kapali, he will be wearing a red robe, be one, who keeps a Danda (staff), Yati, he will be keeper of a Chakr, or he will be a naked Sanyasin, according to the Grah, which is the strongest of the group: Sūrya, Candr, Mangal, Budh, Guru, Śukr, or Śani. If a number of Grahas are endowed with strength, the holy order of the one, strongest amongst them, is accepted.

Notes. There is a similar verse in Varahamihir’s Brihat Jatak, which, translated into English reads, as under. “If at birth, four, or more Grahas, possessed of strength, occupy a single Bhava, the person born will become a Sakya, Jeevika, Bhikshu, a Vriddha, or Guru, a Charak, a Nirgrantha, or Visava, a Vanyasana, or Vanaprastha, according to which of the Grahas is the strongest Grah of the group: Mangal, Budh, Guru, Candr, Śukr, Śani, or Sūrya. If the strongest Grah be conquered in planetary war by another Grah, or Grahas at the time of birth, the person will relinquish that stage of ascetic life and review to his previous condition of life.” A Vanaprastha is a religious man, engaged in the practice of rigorous and devout penance (i.e. he will be a Tapasvi); a Vivas is a naked ascetic (that is dwelling in hills and forests). A Bhikshu is an illustrious ascetic with a single staff for his symbol, engaged ever and anon in the contemplation of truths of the sacred scriptures. A Charak is a religious mendicant, wandering over many countries. A Shakya is an ascetic of the Buddhist clan. A Guru is a celebrated teacher, endowed with royal splendour. A Jeevika is a garrulous and gluttonous mendicant.

4. If strong Grahas, capable of leading to ascetism, be obscure by Sūrya’s rays (that is they be combust), the person born, in spite of having reverence for the holy order, will not become initiated in that holy order.

Notes. Brihat Jatak adds in this connection, that, if the Grahas referred to above be overcome in planetary war and be aspected by other Grahas, the person concerned will seek admission into the holy order without success.

5. If the other Grahas lose their strength (in spite of being in their exaltation Rashis etc.), as a result of combustion with Sūrya, the native will enter the holy order, as signified by Sūrya, that is, he will become a Tapasvi.

6. If the Lord of the Rashi, occupied by Candr (Janm Rashi), having no aspect of other Grahas on himself, aspects Śani, the native gets initiated into the holy order of the Grah, who is stronger amongst the two.

7. If the Lord of the Rashi, occupied by Candr, be devoid of strength and is aspected only by Śani, the native becomes initiated into the holy order, signified by Śani (Nirgranthas, naked ascetics).

8. If Candr be in the decanate of Śani, or in the Navams of Śani, or Mangal and be aspected by Śani, the native becomes an ascetic and enters the holy order, signified by Śani.

9. There is planetary war, if Mangal, Budh, Guru, Śukr and Śani are together (within one degree of each other), Śukr is the conquerer, whether he is in North, or South, but amongst the other four only one, who is in the North, is the conquerer and that in the South is considered defeated in the planetary war.

10. If the Grah, who leads the native to ascetism, is conquered in planetary war by another Grah, or Grahas at the time of birth, the person will relinquish the holy order, in which he becomes initiated.

11. Maitreya asked. O Venerable Sage! If there be many Grahas, who are significators for ascetism, then, which holy order the native will get initiated into?

12. Maharishi Parasara replied. O Brahmin! If all the Grahas be possessed of strength, the native enters into the holy orders of all the Grahas.

13. The native gets initiated into the holy order of the Grah, whose Dasa gets into operation at first. Then he relinquishes this holy order of this Grah at the commencement of the Dasa of the next Grah and accepts the holy order, signified by him.

14. When Guru, Candr and Lagn are aspected by Śani and Guru occupies the 9^th, the person, born in the Rajayog, will become a holy illustrious founder of a system of philosophy (holy order).

15. When Śani occupies the 9^th from Lagn and is not aspected by any Grah, the person, possessed of Rajayog, will take himself to the holy order, before becoming a Lord of men. If there be no Rajayog the native becomes an ascetic (religious wanderer).