Unknown Horoscope (Nashta JAthagA)

This method of casting the horoscope of a native using prashna is called “ NASHTA JATAKA”. The year, ayana, ritu, month, paksha, thithi, nakshatra, ascendant, Moon etc. may be found out from the prashna chart.  First we have to cast the prashna chart, along with other varga charts, for the person who wishes to know the details of his birth.

1.      YEAR OF BIRTH: Cast Dwadasamsha chart of the prashna chart. The sign occupied by Moon in D12 will indicate the position of JUPITER in the Birth chart. From this the year in which Jupiter transited can be found out. As Jupiter transits one sign for roughly one year, we get the year of birth in the broad span of 12 years, closest to the rough age of the native.

2.      AYANA: If the prashna lagna is in the FIRST HORA, then it is UTTARAYANA and if in the SECOND HORA, and then it is DAKSHINAYANA.

3.      SEASON: Different planets represent the following seasons.

PLANET               SEASON

Sun                       Grishma

Moon                    Varsha

Mars                     Grishma

Mercury                Sarat

Jupiter                   Hemanta

Venus                   Vasanta

Saturn                   Shishira

The lord of the Drekhana of Prashna lagna gives us the season in which the native was born. It may so happen that there is contradiction between the ayana and the season.

In that case take Mercury in place of Mars, Venus in place of Moon and Saturn in place of Jupiter and vice versa. Out of seven planets as drekhana lords, Sun is not to be replaced for any other planet.

4.      MONTH: After the season is fixed, the month is to be fixed. The six seasons are related to the Sun’s transit in different nirayana signs.  Now again see the lagna of the prashna chart. We have already seen in which drekhana the prashna lagna falls. The first part of the drekhana represents the first month of the season and the second part of drekhana represents the second month of the season.

5.      DATE OF BIRTH: See the drekhana of the prashna lagna. The entire drekhana represents 30 days resulting in 3 days for one degree of drekhana or 1 day for 20 minutes. The elapsed degrees of drekhana indicates the elapsed dates. Thus the date and Sun’s degree can be assessed.

For example, the longitude of prashna lagna is 16 degrees and 20 minutes, in the second drekhana in which 6 degrees and 20 minutes have elapsed. Now taking 1 degree for 3 days and 20 minutes for one day, we get the number of days elapsed from the SUN’S ENTRY in the sign as (3x6)+1 = 19 days. We know the date when Sun entered into that particular sign. Add 19 days to the date of Sun’s entry to get the date of birth.

Prasna Methods : Part-2

SANKHYA PRASNA ( Numerical prasna):

The person who approached the astrologer is asked to tell a number below 108. The number 108 represents the total number of navamsas in the chart. The number selected by the person represents the number of navamsa. By dividing the number by 9 the lagna sign can be arrived and by dividing the number by 12, the navamsa lagna can be arrived. The lords of the lagna in rasi chart and navamsa chart should not be enemies. If these two planets are friends or one and the same, the result will be favourable and otherwise the result will be adverse.

This method is useful in selection of one item out of several items, like selection of one job out of several etc.

TIME OF FRUCTIFICATION:

In Sankhya prasna, the time of fructification can be predicted basing on the Navamsa lagna lord.

Sun - 1 Ayana (6 months)

Jupiter - 1 month 

Moon - 1 Khanam (Muhurtha)

Venus - 1 Paksham (15 days)

Mars - 1 Day

Saturn - 1 year

Mercury - 1 month

Prasna Methods : Part-1

SWASA PRASNA OR SWARA PRASNA:

The astrologer has to observe his breathing. The left side breathing is called Ida and right side breathing is called Pingala. Ida Swasa is good on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Pingala Swasa is good on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.

When the breathing (Swasa) is favourable, the person will get good health, monetary gains, good food and fructification of desired deeds. When the breathing is not favourable, the person will get adverse results.

CHESTA PRASNA OR TOUCH OF LIMBS:

If the person asks the question while touching his chest, the person will get favourable result immediately. Similarly, if the person asks the question while touching auspicious items, the desired result can be fructified soon.

Naval, nose, face, hair, nails, teeth, secret parts, feet, ring finger are considered to be bad parts of the body. Hence when the person is asking the question he is not supposed to touch these parts. 

Qualities & Duties of an Astrologer

The astrologer should be expert in mathematics and should have calculating ability, intelligent, judiciary and should have control over senses. He should have the knowledge of direction, place and time. He should be expert in Siddhanta, Hora and Samhitas. He should be always cheerful and unbiased. He should not be selfish. Astrologer should not use undesired methods like black magic etc., for giving the predictions. He should not be money minded.

Duties:

He should wakeup in Brahmi muhurta and pray God. After attending the calls of the nature,    

After taking bath he should perform his daily rituals and note the particulars of that day in Panchanga.

He should carefully and attentively hear the question asked by the person. Astrologer should observe the movements of the person and also observe the Omens at that time.

Astrologer should observe his breathing.

The place where the prasna is being conducted should have pleasant atmosphere.

Importance of Prasna

In predicting the results, Prasna plays an important role. Hence, Prasna is treated as a separate part in Astrology and it was given place in the 5 parts of astrology called, Siddhanta, Hora, Samhita, Sakuna and Prasna. When natal horoscope is available for giving the predictions, what is the necessity of Prasna? Prasna can be used for those persons who are not having natal chart, or the natal chart is not available at the time of approaching the astrologer.

Prasna can be used in the situations where one of the several opportunities is to be selected. For example, selection of one job when there are opportunities for more than one job, selection of one match for a girl or boy when there are more than one match.

Prasna can be used in the case of theft, in identifying the thief, whether the lost property will be recovered or not, in the case of missing persons, in the case of ill health where the doctor is to be changed or the treatment is to be changed and so on.

The Prarabdha karma is denoted by the natal horoscope. The modifications of Prarabdha karma in this birth can change the results and that can be identified by Prasna. The natal chart denotes the position of the Karma phala till the time of birth and the prasna chart indicates the karma phala that was modified after birth till the time of asking the question. If the results in natal horoscope and the prasna horoscope are similar, then the results will be definitely experience.