Dosa Pariharas in Brhat Parasara Horasastra

Brhad-Nragara-Horasastra of Parasara is a gem among the texts written by him. This huge text contains 97 or 99 chapters according to two different editions and is in the form of dialogue between Sage Parasara and Maitreya. Although it deals with technical subject, the style is lucid and it is mostly written in anustub metre so that it is easily understood by all.

The text Brhat-parasara-horasastra has deliberated on this cause-effect relationship between celestial planets and terrestrial events. The text has been chosen for this study owing to its simplicity in explaining the various concepts of Jyautisa Sastra and exhaustiveness in covering the pillars of Pjalita Jyautisa.

In this book the extent of astrological treatment of dosas by Parasara has been described. It is seen how Parasara has made an in-depth analysis of each technical aspect in Jyautisa. It is also seen how the sage has given remedial measures for sins brought to light by some of the most important astrological methods viz., Dasa system, astrological combinations denoting curses and Samud aya-astakavarga scheme. This is a unique contribution of Parasara. Professio-nal astrologers can use such methods and remedies described by Parasara to cast effective predictions.

Mr. K N Srikkanth had his graduation in Vyakarana (1998-2004) from the Madras Sanskrit College affiliated to the University of Madras and obtained Master of arts in Phalita Jyautisa from Rastriya Samskrta Vidhyapitham (2006).

He has been associated with The Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute from 2007 where he pursued M. Phil and obtained the degree for his dissertation on Dosa pariharas in Brhat parasara horasastra (2008).

He has participated and presented research papers pertaining to Indian mathematics and Astronomy in many National and International seminars and conferences and has contributed articles in Research Journals.

Jyautisa is a branch of science dealing with the dynamics of creation. It consists of Ganita (Astronomy and mathematics), Hora (Horoscopy) Samhita (Miscellaneous subjects such as Vastu Sakuna Sastra etc.), Hora deals with horoscopy which entails analysis of events occurred / pending to occur in a persons life based on combination of planets.

It is imperative to know the cause and effect relationship between planets and events occurring in life since karma theory in Hinduism nescessitates each person to reap what he has sowed in past lives.

Jyautisa - meaning light illuminates the karmas that a person has done in past (which lie in the dark — or largely forgotten) and what one has to reap as a result.

Tradition ascribes eighteen seers in the field of astrology. Among them Parasara occupies a prominent position. Many works are ascribed to him and also many legends are woven around him. The fact that some hymns are ascribed to Parasara in the Rgveda makes us to infer the supremacy of this great personality among the sages of ancient India.

Brhad-Parasara-Horasastra is a gem among the texts written by him. This huge text contains 97 or 99 chapters according to two different editions and is in the form of dialogue between Sage Parasara and Maitreya. Although it deals with technical subject, the style is lucid and it is mostly written in anucmub metre so that it is easily understood by all.

The text Brhad-Parasara-Horasastra has deliberated on this cause-effect relationship between celestial planets and terrestrial events. The text has been chosen for this study owing to its simplicity in explaining the various concepts of Jyautisa Sastra and exhaustiveness in covering the pillars of Phalita Jyautisa

I am indebted to Dr. K. S. Balasubramanian, my guide, for agreeing to the choice of the topic and channelsing the ideas on the text.