Lagna, Paka Lagna & Arudha Lagna (Pt.

Sanjay Rath)
INTRODUCTION 
The progress of Jupiter through signs has been given vital importance in Jyotish as man is a
spiritual being having material experiences and this interaction between the atma and the
body occurs through the paka lagna for which the karaka (significator) is Jupiter. Jupiter
filters the thoughts that send impulses to the atma and the atma replies. Jupiter is the real
representative of God as he does the filtering and cleansing of thoughts because of which
the atma is capable of continued existance within the body. If Jupiter did not do the filtering
and cleansing of thoughts and all were allowed to be experienced by the atma, then every
soul that has incarnated as the selfish human being form will die within a few years. It is for
this reason that Jupiter gives long life and is capable of averting apamrityu and all sorts of
evils and is a karaka for so many houses..all good houses. 

Have you wondered as to why Maharishis could live for a thousand years and we mortals
stay for a few decades. It is the strength of their Jupiter. This is the mark of intelligence and
God is defined in Jyotish as the supreme intelligence. Not when Jupiter proceeds through
the zodiac, there are two planets that have the lordship over the Tara (stars literally and
implying the nakshatra). The *real* or *legitimate* lord is Jupiter or God as He alone has
the supreme intelligence and the *illegitimate* lord is the Moon. At any point of time, both
Jupiter and Moon try their level best to influence the lagna (individual intelligence). The
Moon shows the active conscious mind that is drawing various impulses from the interaction
of the senses and sense oegans and is passing this information with the filter of desire
(what impulses it liked and what it considered as not so good and what are bad) to the
lagna through the Arudha Lagna for which it is the Karaka. Similtaneously Jupiter who
knows everything having the memory of billions of years of existance of life on earth knows
what impulse gives what action and finally what karmic results, and like the wise
minster/compassionate and kind God, advises the lagna through the Paka lagna (for which
it is the karaka). 

Now that the lagna has got the input from the Moon through its desire filter and from
Jupiter through its memory, supreme intelligence and goodness filter, the lagna has to take
a decision. The lagna (individual intelligence) takes millions of decisions everyday. The
Lagna consults its own intelligence, own memory and own nature (Sun Karaka) and arrives
at a decision. Most of the time the decision is not perfect as the Sun lacks the supreme
goodness of Jupiter and has an element of 'ahamkara' associated with its intelligence. More
often the lagna tends to approve the decisions of the Moon (conscious mind) ignoring the
good advise of Jupiter. Not that the Moon always gives bad advise, but its vision is very
limited and sometimes it is in harmony with that from Jupiter and at other times, it is in
sakata and other relations with Jupiter. The best situation is one called Gajakesari. 

JUPITER IN SIGNS AND STARS 

Keeping in mind that Jupiter is to represent the supreme intelligence, let us examine its
position is some signs. In Kumbha Jupiter will be in a situation where Guru Brihaspati
(Jupiter) is teaching Saturn (lord of Aquarius) about how to do his work (Aquarius is
Moolatrikona of Saturn). 
For this we consult the Purana where Saturn wanted to learn the dharma shastra and
approached Brihaspati. Initially Brihaspati explained the system in his ashram and the
dakshina would be based on his judgment. On learning of the latters identity as 'Sanideva'
Brihaspati was shocked and was prepared to teach everything and would not take any
dakshina and begged that he be spared from sade-sati, kanataka and all those effects.
Sanidev was adamant and insisted that he would give dakshina. So it was finally settled that
the dakshina would be in the form of a reduced term of sadesati. Brihaspati taught him all
the dharma shastra and Sanidev became the Dharmaraja having the complete knowledge of
the implementation of justice (that is why the balance Libra is the ninth house from
Aquarius). Brihaspati knew that Sani would pay his dakshina within the year as was the
practise then, and as was his practise, always protected his body, mind and soul with the
three mantras of the Narayana Kavacha. One day as he plucked flowers for his daily
worship, the royal couple were in the neighbourhood and the prince (Mercury) entered the
garden to play. The prince was missing after sometime and a frantic search yeilded nothing.
The guards reported to the king that a divine person, glowing with spiritual light was
collecting flowers and they saw blood dripping through the basket. The king ordered that
the person (Brihaspati) be brought to him and told the guards not to harm him as it would
be most unwise to even touch such a personality before ascertaining the truth. The wise
king knew the danger to his kingdom if such great spiritual personalities are hurt. The
severed head of the prince was in the basket and blood was dripping from the neck (note:
chinna mastaka or cut-head is the mark of Rahu). Brihaspati was shocked and truthfully
pleaded his innocense. But the evidence clearly visible pointed against him, so he was held
captive but was not tortured and the search continued. Brihaspati realised that this was the
effect of his sade-sati saturn and made a silent prayer to the deity of saturn (Lord Shiva
here as the great destroyer {One vesha is Nataraja - the destroyer of the demon Maya or
illusion and untruth). The period ended then and there and suddenly everyone saw that
what looked like the head of the prince was just the watermelon and the red fluid was not
blood and instead was the red water melon juice. The prince was found...