INTRODUCING JAIMINI'S UPADESHA SUTRAS- ANDREW FOSS

Introducing Jaimini's Upadesha Sutras

Jyotish Star February 2012

by Andrew Foss Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (BPHS) is the most fundamental text we have in Vedic Astrology. The author, Maharishi Parashara, had a son VedaVyasa. The interesting story is given in the great epic MahaBharata. Vyasa's son was Shuka Deva, so called because he could remember and repeat anything he heard like a parrot (Shuka), and his disciple was Maharishi Jaimini. Traditionally, the disciples would write commentaries on the works of the master. When the word Upadesha is attached, then it makes it clear that the work is an exposition of the teachings of the guru. Maharishi Jaimini called his text the Upadesha Sutras. The first sutra says 'Upadesha Vyakhyasyamah', which has multiple meanings but a rather obvious one is that this is the teachings of his guru explained in detail (Vyakhya) with a hint at Vyasa. Thus it is strange that many people think that Jaimini taught something new or different from Maharishi Parashara. In fact, the many chapters in Parashara which discuss things also discussed in Jaimini's work are said by some to have been inserted into the original text. For example, the concept of Rashi Drishti or sign aspects appears very early in BPHS, while the aspects of the planets appears later. Is it not strange that some people think that the sign aspects are not part of Parashara's teachings and widely ignore them? Perhaps because the sign aspects are often ignored, so are the multiple Rashi Dashas given by Parashara. In fact about half of the Dashas explained in BPHS are Rashi or sign Dashas. It is an obvious guess that sign aspects should be important in sign Dashas. Jaimini is deeply connected to Ketu and this shows in many ways. Ketu rules over Scorpio and well-hidden things and the sutras are deeply encoded. Every word can be converted to a number which may indicate a house or sign. Every sutra has layers of meanings, some which involve these numbers and some the normal meanings of the words. Sutras, in particular, encode principles which, when properly understood, have universal application unless exceptions are indicated. The exceptions are particularly deeply secreted. Multiple Dashas are explained which are generally to be found in BPHS also. Comparison helps understanding. Jaimini often gives further insights into the calculation and application of the Dashas, while little is said about the application of most of them in BPHS. Various categorisations appear such as dashas for longevity and those for general results and dashas which belong to Brahma, Vishnu or Shiva. Each deity has a different job so different general rules apply to those dashas related to those activities of the deities. A great deal of the teaching can be applied to computing longevity. Traditional astrologers in India were always supposed to compute the lifespan of clients but little or nothing of that has been taught in North America and it is, perhaps, the hardest topic in Jyotish, which is a very good thing as it could be misused. Perhaps that is why the sutras are so well-guarded. Another fascinating area is computation of the conception chart, which can be quite easy when one knows how, and detailed analysis not only of the months of pregnancy but the whole life from this chart. New and extraordinary techniques pour like a fountain as one progresses through the sutras with the help of a guide from a lineage which has maintained this knowledge since time immemorial. Otherwise one would never guess even a little of it all, however smart one is. Traditionally, the young person would start studying at around the age of nine, when the initiation into the spiritual path was given. As the sutras have four chapters and four sections each, the study would continue for 16 years and the final initiation as a Jyotishi would occur around 25. This allows about one week per sutra. Adults don't have so much time so the course has been structured over five years by Pandit Sanjay Rath, perhaps the only living exponent of the lineage of Swami Achutyananda of Puri. Swamiji was born around 1500 and was one of the great disciples of Chaitanya MahaPrabhu, considered by many an incarnation of Shri Krishna. No doubt Swamiji also had a Jyotish guru but his greatness was such that the lineage is in his name. He wrote hundreds of books and founded many schools of Jyotish and the other Vedic Sciences but only a few traces remain. He said he would remain in the Shunya (void) and there is a place near Puri where you can go, even today, and consult him through an amazing oracle. When you think of your question writing appears on blank copper plates that provide very appropriate and insightful answers. Occasionally the answers are in English but usually in ancient Oriya which a Brahmin interprets. Those interested in learning the Jaimini Upadesha Sutras can approach a Jaimini Scholar, a graduate of Sanjay's 5 year course. We finished this course in the Himalayas this year. You can look here: JaiminiScholar.org. You can also contact me at andrew@vedicsftware.com or phone 202-657-5432. © Andrew Foss 2012, all rights reserved.