Barbara Pijan Lama Jyotisha Vedic Astrology

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Death 

of the Physical Body

 

  • Please note: This page deals specifically with the phenomenon of the human spirit leaving its temporary physical body, i.e., death. 

  • Death is a completely natural process. However, western society has a strong death taboo. 

  • If you are not interested in the subject of death, please do not proceed in reading this page!

"Two only, among the forty meditational practices, are always and under all circumstances beneficial: the development of friendliness, and the recollection of death." 

 -- Buddhagosa

There are no masks at the end.

Yama Thanka

Yama Thangka

http://www.indianmuseumkolkata.org/

As an astrologer and an incarnate human, I recommend intelligent preparation for death. Since very few people in our era possess the spiritual knowledge necessary to transcend physical death, the answer to death questions for most of us is not "if" but "when".

Death is a strange & wonderful aspect of Life. An essential guarantor of creative differentiation in the universe, death is the great housecleaner. Without death, things would get pretty stale, pretty quickly!

All the major religious traditions offer time-tested wisdom on the death process. Practitioners skilled in facilitating this passage can be found worldwide in church, synagogue, mosque, mandir, temple, and gompa. Within the world's religious literature on death, certain texts are particularly accessible.

Sogyal Rinpoche's now classic commentary entitled The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, exemplifies the clear, intelligent information on the natural reality of death and dying which is now available to English language readers.  It is possible to be well-prepared for death. 

Jyotisha treats human death with the respect & admiration due an awesomely creative life force.  This page offers a tiny snippet of what Vedic astrology tells us about death and rebirth:

Timing of Death by Maraka Graha:

  • death of self = 

    • period of L-2 or L-7, 

    • possible timing = period of L-8 if and only if the Kharesha is in lagna

    • material conditions of death not timing are normally seen from domain-8

  • death of mother = 

    • period of L-2 or L-7 from Chandra

    • period of 8th-from-domain-4 =  period of L-11

  • death of father =

    • period of L-2 or L-7 from Surya

    • period of 8th-from-domain-9 =  period of L-4

  • death of child =

    • period of L-2 or L-7 from Chandra

    • period of 8th-from-domain-5 =  period of L-12

  • death of spouse =

    • period of 2nd-from-domain-7 =  period of L-8

    • period of 8th-from-domain-7 =  period of L-2

If the lord of Rahu or Ketu is a temporal maraka i.e., plays one of the house-lordship roles above, then Rahu-Ketu can give the death effect of their lord or their co-occupants (most frequently their lord).

Deaths during Rahu periods are shocking and create considerable disruption. However although the outcome may ultimately be favorable for the native. 

What is a "Maraka" Graha?

A "maraka" planet signifies the separation of the spirit from the fleshly body.  

  1. Lords of house-2 and house-7 are the maraka planets. However, not every bhukti of L-2 or L-7 gives death!  

  2. Rahu-Ketu can be virulent maraka graha when they occupy domain-2 or domain-7

  3. Shani and Kuja are called "natural marakas" but in practice they are not killers unless they are already L-2 or L-7. If a malefic is also L-2 or L-7, the malefic requires very little additional triggering by transits or drishti to do the job.

  4. Rarely, bhukti of either L-2-from-Chandra or L-7-from-Chandra can trigger death of the native.

  5. Periods of L-2/L-7-from-Chandra do frequently give death of mother. Similarly, L-2/L-7-from-Surya do frequent give death of father.

  6. The Kharesha = lord of the 22nd drekkana (decanate) has major "badhaka" powers. When the Kharesha interacts with lord of domain-8 and the radix lagna, periods of L-8 can give sudden death of the physical body.

  7. "Marana karakas" (see table below)

  8. the graha which rules the 64th navamsha from Chandra can function as a maraka (= graha ruling the 8th rashi from D-9 Soma)

  9. lord of Gulika or Mandi can function as a maraka

KHARA DREKKANA: The 22nd decanate from the ascendant will denote the nature of one's death. For example, by the nature of its lord, (i.e. the humor, place etc. )

 ~~ Saravali, Ch 47, shloka 22

Marana karakas ("death inflictors")

A "marana" karaka's power increases if it is found:

  1. yuti or receiving drishti from papa-graha (malefics)

  2. occupying the rashi of an enemy or its neechha rashi

maraNa:

  • the act of dying , death

  • passing away , cessation (as of lightning or rain)

  • the 8th mansion

  • a kind of poison

  • refuge, asylum

  • killing, slaying , slaughter , death , destruction

  • to suffer death

  • a magical ceremony having for its object the destruction of an enemy (also {-karman} and {-kRtya}

  • slayer 

  • name. of a partic. mystical weapon

  • calcination

~~ Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon

Surya

in domain-12

Chandra

in domain-8

Kuja

in domain-7

Budha

in domain-7

Guru

in domain-3

Shukra

in domain-6

Shani

in domain-1 (esp. for Simha lagna)

Rahu

in 9th-from-lagna

Ketu

 

Natural Marakas:

  • Saturn = material reality, laws of the natural world

  • Ketu = separation, alienation, dissociation; 

  • Mars = quick actions, conflict, violence

Periods of maraka planets signify death ONLY when the maraka planet is especially death-empowered during His bhukti. 

The minimum conditions for death empowerment of marakas are: 

  • Shani or Kuja must rule radix L-7 or L-2. 

  • Ketu must occupy domain-2, or domain-7

Empowerment to effect death is most frequently created when:

  • L-2's navamsha sign is ruled by radix L-7/L-8 --or--

  • L-7's navamsha rashi is ruled by radix L-2/L-8

Place of Death

Traditionally, the place of Death is generally determined by the Lord of the Rashi occupied by the Lord of Navamsha (swamsha).

Much depends as always upon the character of lagnesha, swamsha, graha in lagna, and graha casting drishti upon lagna/lagnesha.

Surya

Temple, Ashram, or Forest

Chandra

Gardens, lush farmland, fertile growings 

Kuja

Surgery, Hospital, battlefield, emergency setting.

Budha

 children's play area, casino or gambling house, sporting club

Guru

 public building, law court, theater

Shukra

finely appointed homes, care & convalescence homes.

Shani

places with low people, victims, slaves, & commoners.

This chart is copied in its entirety, with no changes from the original, from the generous Jyotisha offerings of :

Sri Sarajit Poddar, Jyotish Guru,  Sri Jagannath Center

http://www.scribd.com/doc/282623/Death-Matters?referral=google

[** BPL note: the swelling disease called "dropsy" originally "hydropsy" in modern times is called edema, or Brit. oedema.]

Serial

Combinations

Cause of Death

1

The Sun in 10th and Mars in 4th 

Fall from the top of a mountain

2

Saturn in 4th, the Moon in 7th and Mars in 10th

Falling into a well.

3

Both the luminaries in Virgo aspected by malefics 

Own Kinsmen/ Poisoning.

4

Both the luminaries in Lagna happened to be a dual sign

Watery grave.

5

Saturn in Cancer, the Moon in Capricorn 

Dropsy.**

6

The Moon in Martian sign hemmed in between malefics

Weapons or Fire.

7

The Moon in Virgo betwixt malefics 

Vitiation of blood or consumption.

8

The Moon in Saturnine signs in betwixt malefics 

Hanging, Fire or fall.

9

5th and 9th occupied by malefics without benefic aspect

Captivity/ Prison.

10

Decanate of 8th house be Sarpa (Serpent) or Pasa (Noose) or Nigada (Fetters)

Captivity.

11

Virgo happened to be 7th (Pisces Lagna) occupied by the Moon along with malefic, Venus in Aries (2nd), Sun in the Lagna

Die on account of a woman.

12

Sun or Mars in 4th, Saturn in 10th, weak Moon conjoined with malefics in the 1st or 5th or 9th

Impalement.

13

The Sun in the 4th, Mars conjoined with weak Moon in the 10th aspected by Saturn 

Beaten with wooden clubs.

14

Four planets mentioned above in 8th, 10th, 1st and the 4th 

 same result.

15

Above four planets in the 10th, 9th, 1st and 5th 

Suffocation \ Fire \ Imprisonment \ Beating.

16

Mars in 4th, the Sun in 7th and Saturn in the 10th 

Weapon \ Fire \ Royal displeasure.

17

Saturn in 2nd, the Moon in 4th, Mars in 10th 

Wounds or Worms

18

Sun in 10th, Mars in 4th 

Fall from a Vehicle / Injuries received from stone throwing.

19

Mars in 7th, the sun, Moon and Saturn in the Lagna 

 Machine.

20

Mars in Libra, Saturn in Aries, the Moon in Saturnine sign 

 Death in between filth and night soil.

21

Weak Moon in 10th, the Sun in 7th and Mars in 4th 

 Same as above.

22

Weak Moon aspected by strong Mars, Saturn in 8th 

Worms \ Tumor \ Instruments \  Fire \ Disease of private parts.

23

The Sun in Lagna, Mars in 8th, Saturn in 5th, the Moon in 9th 

Fall from a precipice \ Fall of thunderbolt or off a wall.

24

Mars and Saturn afflicted

Suffocation

25

Lagna be a watery sign or Amsa aspected by the Moon and Venus, 8th and 12th occupied by malefics 

In water.

26

Birth during the Visa ghatis, 8th occupied by malefic 

Poison/ Fire/ Weapons.

27

The Moon in the fatal degree of Lagna or 8th or 12th 

Water or Machinery.

28

  • 8th lord in the Navamsa which is termed as visa, 

  • and be conjoined with malefics 

Snake poison/ by vultures/ by wild boar according to the name of particular Navamsha. 

The first Navamsha of Aries, Taurus, Virgo and Sagittarius called snake poison; the middle of Gemini, Leo, Libra and Aquarius is called Vulture poison.

29

  • The Sun and Mars in each other’s sign 

  • and also Kendra from the 8th lord 

Impalement on account of royal displeasure.

  [This also happens when Mars and Saturn are in each other’s sign or Amsa, in the sign or Amsa of the 8th house (or in the fatal degree) and at the same time in Kendra from the 8th lord].

30

  • The Moon in Lagna, 

  • weak Sun in 8th, 

  • Jupiter in 12th 

  • and a malefic in the 4th

Fall from the couch / Attack by hunters at night.

31

  • Lagna lord in the Navamsa of the 8th house, 

  • is eclipsed or in the 6th 

Hunger in a place far away from kith and kin.

32

  • 1st and 8th lords weak, 

  • Mars conjoined with 6th lord 

In battle / Weapon.

33

  • Lagna or 7th lord conjoined with lords of 2nd and 4th

Indigestion.

34

  • Lord of Navamsa of the 4th house 

  • in dusthana or conjoined with Saturn 

Poisoning.

35

  • Above lord with Rahu or Ketu

Hanging.

36

  • Weak Moon conjoined with Mars or Saturn or Rahu

  •  in the 8th 

Ghost/ Fire/ Water.

37

  • Weak Moon conjoined with Mars or Saturn or Rahu 

  • in other dusthana 

Epilepsy.

38

  • Weak Sun or Mars in the 8th, 

  • Malefics in 2nd 

Bilious disease.

39

  • The Moon or Jupiter in the 8th (Watery sign), 

  • aspected by malefic 

Consumption

40

  • Venus in 8th 

  • aspected by malefics 

Rheumatism, Consumption or Diabetes.

41

  • Rahu in 8th 

  • aspected by malefics 

Heat blisters/ Snake bite/ Small pox/ Mental Disease

42

  • 8th lord aspected by Venus, 

  • the Sun or Saturn conjoined with Rahu

  •  posited in a Krura Shastiyamsa 

Head chopped off.

43

  • The Moon conjoined with Saturn, 

  • Rahu and Mandi placed in a dusthana 

  • and aspected by Lagna lord 

Violent death.

44

Benefics occupy 4th, 10th or 1st

 

45

  • Mars in 8th, 

  • Malefics occupy Trikona from Asdt. or the Moon 

Captivity/ Hanging.

46

  • The Sun and Mars in the12th, 

  • Rahu and the Moon in the 7th, 

  • Jupiter in any Kendra 

Far away from home in a temple garden.

47

  • Saturn in Taurus

  •  in conjunction with a malefic 

Hanging

48

  • Saturn aspect rising Sun or Moon 

Prison.

49

  • The sun in 4th, 

  • Mars in 10th aspected by weak moon 

Crucifixion.

50

  • Saturn in 8th with weak Moon 

  • aspected by strong Mars 

Surgical operation, Piles, Fistula.

51

The disease with which the native suffered before dying can be ascertained from the diseases indicated by the planets occupying the 8th house. 

If there is no planet in the 8th then the 8th lord have the say on it.

 

Circumstances of Death according to the Rashi of the 22nd Drekkana 

Contents of this chart copied from the generous offerings of Sri Sarajit Poddar, 

Jyotish Guru,  Sri Jagannath Center

http://www.scribd.com/doc/282623/Death-Matters?referral=google 

"  In the absence of aforesaid conditions the nature of death is to be judged from the 22nd Decanate which falls in the 8th house."
 

First Decanate

Second Decanate

Third Decanate

Mesha 

Water, Snake-poison, Bite

Water, worms, Snow,  Forest.

Falling into the tank or well

Vrishabha 

Elephant, Horse, Camel

Bile, Fire, Wind, Thieves

Fall from a vehicle, seat or horse or through Weapons in  Battle

Mithuna 

Cough, Asthma

Buffalo, Poison, Typhoid

wild animals, Mountain, Snakes or elephants, Forester or forest

Karka 

Crocodile, Liquor, Thorns, Sleep

Blows, Drinking poison

Birds, Diabetes, Tumor, Blood vitiation, Sleepiness.

Simha 

Water, Poison, Disease of the feet