AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna

Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Verses ............................................................................................................................................................ 4
Popular Views ............................................................................................................................................... 7
Dr. B V Raman ........................................................................................................................................... 7
R. Santhanam ............................................................................................................................................ 8
GC Sharma................................................................................................................................................. 9
Pandit Sanjay Rath .................................................................................................................................. 10
Pandit Sitaram Jha .................................................................................................................................. 11
Professor Ramchandra Pandey ............................................................................................................... 12
My views ..................................................................................................................................................... 13
Inference # 1 ........................................................................................................................................... 15
Inference #2 ............................................................................................................................................ 16
Dr. Raman ........................................................................................................................................... 16
Pandit Sanjay Rath .............................................................................................................................. 17
R. Santhanam & GC Sharma ................................................................................................................ 17
Inference # 3 ........................................................................................................................................... 18
Pandit Sitaram Jha and Prof Ramchandra Pandey .............................................................................. 18
Jyotish Softwares ........................................................................................................................................ 19
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 19

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna
Introduction

While I was teaching my course on Lagna Vishesha with my small group of students in Chicago, I
stumbled upon some material on Varnada Lagna which differed from my learning from my Guru. This is
not an uncommon phenomenon in the jyotish world where viewpoints often differ on interpretations of
Sanskrit verses. However, this case was very different. I could see very distinct differences and wanted
to dig in deeper into each interpretation. It is only for this academic research purpose that I thought of
penning my ideas down in an article and share with the world.

Again, the reader of the article should note that the views expressed in this article are of a technical
nature and would primarily cater to the taste of advanced students of jyotish and not beginners. The
views are also my personal analysis on this subject and anyone is free to differ from them.

Vishesha Lagna of Parasara is a cryptic portion of the published book Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra and
hence often a subject of debate among scholars. Many scholars believe that this portion is later
induction into the original pure Parasara Hora by students aligned with the Jamini School of jyotish. I
wish not to comment on that portion of the subject. My views and thoughts along with the model that
Parasara wanted to present for Vishesha Lagna is clearly shared with my students. My personal opinion
is that if understood, applied and analyzed in real charts, this knowledge can reveal facts which would
otherwise be difficult to decipher in a person.

Also, I wish to indicate that in BPHS, Parasara talks about Varnada Dasa and not just about Varnada
Lagna. However, my article would only be focused on the calculation of Varnada Lagna. Analysis and use
of Varnada Dasa would be out of scope for this article.

Analysis and interpretation of the Varnada Lagna is also out of scope of this article. I have used some
works of Jamini for reference to show viewpoints of other authors on this subject.

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna
Verses

The relevant verses of the Varnada have been provided below –

Varnada-khya-dahsam bhanaam kathayam-atha te-agratah

I now begin the tale of a Dasa system called Varnada

Yasya vigyana-matrena vadeda-ayur-bhavam phalam

Comprehending the science behind this, one can estimate the life expectancy of a native.

Oja-lagna-prasutanam meashade-ganayet-kramat

If the ascendant is in an odd sign, then count directly from Aries to the ascendant

Sama-lagna-prasutanam meende-pasa-vyataha

If the ascendant is in an even sign, then count from Pisces to the ascendant in the reverse

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna

Meshameenadito janmalagna-antam ganayet sudhih

just as the ascendant is calculated from Aries and Pisces to obtain the corrected ascendant,

Tathaiva hora-lagna-antam ganayitva tatah param

use similar calculation to find the corrected hora lagna from hora lagna

Oja-tvena samtvena sajateeye ubhe yadi

if both the obtained ascendants [lagna and hora lagna suddhi] are odd or even

Tarhi sankhye yojayeet vaijatye tu viyojayet

add both the outcome, if one is odd and the other even, and then obtain the difference between the
two ascendants

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna

Meshameenaditah pashchatyo rashih sa tu varnadah

If the final product if odd or even, then counting that many rasis from Aries or Pisces in direct or reverse
order will arrive at Varnada lagna

Etatprayojanam vakshye srunu tvam dwijapungavah

Now listen to the use of the above, O superior of Brahmins

Hora lagnabhayot ya sabalat varnada dasha

Varnada dasha starts from the stronger of the two hora lagna and janma lagna

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna
Popular Views

Dr. B V Raman
Reference – Studies in Jamini Astrology, Page 13 -14

Dr. Raman gives stress on the fact that Janma Lagna determines if the final count is forward from
Aries or backwards from Pisces.

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna
R. Santhanam
Reference – Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra, Volume 1, Page 65

R. Santhanam believes that the final product in the last step of the calculation itself determines if the
rasis are counted forward from Aries or backwards from Pisces.

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna
GC Sharma
Reference – Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra, Volume 1, Page 94-95

GC Sharma is in agreement with R. Santhanam on his views on the calculation.

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna
Pandit Sanjay Rath
Reference – Jamini Maharishi’s Upadesha Sutras, Page 372-373

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna
Pandit Sitaram Jha
Reference – Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra, Page 19

Translation from Hindi to English – Pandit Sitaram Jha’s commentary

If Lagna is odd, count from Aries to Lagna. If Lagna is even, count from Pisces to Lagna in reverse. Keep
this number.

If Hora Lagna is odd, count from Aries to Hora Lagna. If Hora Lagna is even, count from Pisces to Hora
Lagna in reverse. Keep this number

If both the numbers obtained are odd or even, add them.

If numbers obtained are one odd and other even, get their difference.

If the final number thus obtained is odd, then count so many signs from Aries to obtain Varnada Lagna

If the final number thus obtained is even, then count so many signs from Pisces to obtain Varnada
Lagna.

He recommended doing these calculations using degrees of Lagna and Hora Lagna.

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna
Professor Ramchandra Pandey
Ex-Head of Department, Jyotish, Banaras Hindu University

Reference – Saptarishis Astrology magazine

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna
My views

All jyotishas I have mentioned in this article are stars in the word of jyotish for their contribution. They
all have been Gurus to me in some way or the other and thus I stand in no position to pin point their
flaws in their commentaries or analysis since I personally have never considered myself anything more
than an eternal learner. However, I also felt the need touch upon this sensitive subject. When I was
about to teach my small group of students this concept, I felt shocked to see that so many great
stalwarts views on this differed from my own learning and it set me in motion in a journey of self-
discovery and I must admit that I was truly blessed to have done so.

The conceptual, philosophical and case studies aspect of Varnada is beyond the scope of this article. I
just wanted to stick to pure mathematical calculation of the Varnada Lagna and the share my views on
the methods supported by various scholars I mentioned in the previous section.

First some simple mathematics –

Summation of two odd numbers is always even

Difference of two odd numbers is always even

If we don’t consider degrees of Lagna and HL and just consider rasis, the result will be as below -

Lagna HL Creation Creation ∑

Point Point
Movement Movement
[Lagna] [HL]
Odd Odd Odd Odd Even
Even Even Odd Odd Even
Odd Even Odd Odd Even
Even Odd Odd Odd Even

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna
Let me give you a few examples –

Case 1

Lagna HL From Aries From Aries ∑

Forward Forward
[Lagna] [HL]
Mesha Mithuna 1 3 1+3 = 4

Case 2

Lagna HL From From ∑

Meena Meena
Reverse Reverse
[Lagna] [HL]
Makara Vrishchika 3 5 3+5=8

Case 3

Lagna HL From Aries From ∑

Forward Meena
[Lagna] Reverse
[HL]
Simha Karka 5 9 5+9=14

Case 4

Lagna HL From From Aries ∑

Meena Forward
Reverse [HL]
[Lagna]
Vrishabha Tula 11 7 11+7 = 18 -
12 = 6

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna
Inference # 1
This is crystal clear from Parasara’s verses that the he explicitly mentions that the final number can be
odd or even. However, in any way we do it, just considering Rasis without degrees of Lagna and Hora
Lagna will always give us the final number as an Even number. Thus, only rasi consideration for Varnada
Lagna doesn’t make sense.

Thus, the table should look like this –

Lagna HL Creation Creation ∑ or ∆

Point Point
Movement Movement
[Lagna] [HL]
Odd Odd Odd/ Even Odd/ Even Even/ Odd
Even Even Odd/ Even Odd/ Even Even/ Odd
Odd Even Odd/ Even Odd/ Even Even/ Odd
Even Odd Odd/ Even Odd/ Even Even/ Odd

Creation Point is taken as 0 degrees of Aries and the movement is forward or backward based on the
final number being even or odd.

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna
Inference #2
Dr. Raman
He suggested that the final rasi number obtained be counted in forward or reverse from Aries or Pisces
based on the sign of the Janma Lagna.

Let us see this with an example –

Dr Raman’s suggestion –

Case 1

Lagna HL From Aries From Aries ∑

Forward Forward
[Lagna] [HL]
Mesha Mithuna 1 3 1+3 = 4

Case 2

Lagna HL From From ∑

Meena Meena
Reverse Reverse
[Lagna] [HL]
Makara Vrishchika 3 5 3+5=8

Thus, based on Dr. Raman, Case 1 will have Varnada rasi as Cancer [4 counted forward from Aries] and
Case 2 will have Varnada Lagna will be Leo [8 counted in reverse from Pisces]

Here’s the problem with this method –

For any person born in even Lagna rasi, the Varnada will be odd sign rasi.

For any person born in odd Lagna rasi, the Varnada will be even sign rasi.

This is the case because ∑ is always an even number.

Another issue with this method is that the translation of the Parasara verses doesn’t support this view.

This method is thus rejected.

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna
Pandit Sanjay Rath
Pandit Sanjay Rath suggested that if the Lagna and Hora Lagna are different sign types [i.e. one is odd
and the other is even], then although the suddhi Lagnas are odd, they should be subtracted from each
other and then he recommends following Dr Raman’s method of obtaining the final Lagna rasi based on
Janma Lagna.

This method is the same method as Dr. Raman’s with another layer of condition.

If Lagna is odd, Hora Lagna is even, then instead of adding two odd numbers, we subtract them getting
an even number.

Thus, the generic rule will be –

If Lagna is odd, HL is even; the VL will always be even

If Lagna is even, HL is odd; the VL will always be odd

If Lagna is even, HL is even; the VL will always be odd

If Lagna is odd, HL is odd; the VL will always be even

As one can clearly see, the above rules are identical and have the same flaws as the rules of Dr. Raman’s
just with a layer of complication involving the HL to implement the difference somewhere in the
equation to satisfy the verse of Parasara.

Simply stated, this method is identical to Dr. Raman’s -

If Lagna is odd, VL will always be even

If Lagna is even, VL will always be odd.

Another issue with this method is that the translation of the Parasara verses doesn’t support this view.

This method is also rejected.

R. Santhanam & GC Sharma

Both R. Santhanam’s and GC Sharma’s methods suffer from the same flaw. Both are totally incorrect
since they will always yield an odd Varnada Lagna since the Summation is Even and will be counted in
Reverse from Pisces.

Thus according to their methods, every person will have only odd rasis as their Varnada Lagna.

This method is also rejected.

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna
Inference # 3
Pandit Sitaram Jha and Prof Ramchandra Pandey
I pay my respect to Pandit Sitaram Jha and Prof Pandey to shower assurance to my learning of jyotish.
When I struggling with some textual reference to validate my learning, it was their commentaries and
comments that made me feel that I still had some support from the sages.

Their methods are the correct methods and the only method I ever learned to calculate Varnada Lagna.

I will show this with a few examples –

Lagna HL Creation Creation ∑ or ∆

Point Point
Movement Movement
[Lagna] [HL]
Even [24 Cp] Odd [6 Le] Odd [2s + 6] Odd [4s + 6] ∑ = [6s+ 12]
= 12 Li
VL = 12 Li

Lagna HL Creation Creation ∑ or ∆

Point Point
Movement Movement
[Lagna] [HL]
Even [24 Cp] Odd [26 Le] Odd [2s + 6] Odd [4s + 26] ∑ = [7s+ 2]
= 28 Le
VL = 28 Le

Lagna HL Creation Creation ∑ or ∆

Point Point
Movement Movement
[Lagna] [HL]
Even [0 Cp] Odd [6 Le] Even [2s + 0] Odd [4s + 6] ∆ = [2s+ 6]
= 6 Ge
VL = 6 Ge

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AIAC – A Look at the Calculation of Varnada Lagna
Lagna HL Creation Creation ∑ or ∆
Point Point
Movement Movement
[Lagna] [HL]
Even [24 Cp] Odd [24 Le] Odd [2s + 6] Odd [4s + 24] ∑ = [7s+ 0]
= 30 Le/0 Vi
VL = 30 Le/0 Vi

Jyotish Softwares
As far as my knowledge goes, none of the jyotish software today calculates VL correctly. So, please do
calculate your VL by hand to verify the calculations of the soft wares.

Conclusion
Once you calculate the VL correctly, please go through some of the wonderful dictums of Parasara and
Jamini to see the VL working perfectly in real charts.

AIAC, Chicago

March 23 2012, 1:15 AM CDT

Revised – March 27 0:05 AM CDT [Added few more case studies and checked spellings etc.]

Revised – April 13 0:10 AM CDT [Corrected two examples of Varnada Lagna]

Revised – April 15 1:30 AM CDT [Correct one more example of Varnada Lagna]

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