1) In order to further understand the subtleties that distinguish two birth charts one must first understand the division of time in vedic sciences as given by Surya Siddhantha.
1 sura = Prateev Pala = 0.0006 seconds
1 Vipala = 60 Sura, Prateev Pala = 0.4 seconds
1 Praana = 10 Vipalas, one breath = 4 seconds
1 Vinadi = 6 Praanas = 60 Vipalas = 1 Pala = 24 seconds
2.5 Vinadis = 15 Praanas = 1 minute
2 minutes = 5 Vinadis = 30 Praanas
A Lagna averagely passes one Shashtiamsa in time span of 30 praanas.
24 minutes = 1 Ghatika (nadi) = 360 Praanas = 60 Vinadis
48 minutes = 1 Muhurtha = 2 Ghatikas = 720 Praana = 120 Vinadis
1 hour = 1 Hora = 2.5 Ghatikas = 150 Vinadis
2 hours = 2 Hora = 5 Ghatikas
Two Hora is the average passing time of the Lagna in a sign in the D1 chart.
1 day = 24 Hora = 60 Ghatikas = 1 Divas = 3600 Vinadis
1 week = 7 days
1 fortnight = 15 days = 360 Hora
1 month = 720 Hora = 1800 Ghatikas
1 Ritu = 2 months = 3600 Ghatikas
1 Ayana = 6 months
1 year = 12 months
Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra (BPHS), the handbook of astrology gives the following details related to lordship of planets on time:
Sun – One Ayana (6 months, 1/2 year)
Moon – One Muhurtha
Mars – One day
Mercury – One Ritu
Jupiter – One month
Venus – One fortnight
Saturn – One year
In addition to the normal ‘lagna’ or the ascendant (that sign which rises in the east at the time of birth) BPHS gives special lagnas that are extremely time sensitive. They are described below:
Hora Lagna: changes sign every 2.5 Ghatikas (each hour)
It is used to determine the wealth, prosperity and property of the native. It corresponds to the 2nd and 4th house matters.
Ghatika Lagna: changes sign every Ghatika (every 24 min)
It is used to determine the power, authority, intelligence and success of the native in this world. It corresponds to 5th and 10th house matters.
Bhava Lagna: changes sign every 5 Ghatikas (every 2 hours)
Bhava lagna is said to represent the energy and constitution of a native’s aura on the ethereal level.
Vinadi Lagna: changes sign every Vinadi (every 24 sec)
Vinadi Lagna is used to examine the physical well-being of the body and also to predict the birth of a male or female child.
Praana Pada: changes sign every 3-4 minutes
Duration of one praanapada is however 15 vinadi’s or 24 seconds. Praana means life force that keeps every species alive. Pada means foot or even word. This special point in the chart is used to study the longevity of a native. Cruel planets conjunct or aspecting praanapada can indicate afflicted life force while benefic planets conjunct or aspecting praanapada can make up for a smoother life force.
These lagnas are put to best use in the South Indian Jaimini system of astrology. Maharisi Jaimini gives special Raja Yoga combinations that should be verified in the D1, D3 and D9 charts using the special lagna points and influences to those points. Since these Raja Yogas are based on finesse division of time they can make or break a horoscope. Simply put these special sensitive points are what distinguish an extremely famous, rich or king like native from an average Joe or even a pauper.
2) Then there are special avasthas called Shayanadi avasthas that are completely based on the first letter of the given name of the native. At this stage you must be awestruck as to how deep and profound the hindsight of the Vedic rishi’s were. An avastha means a ‘state’ and in these particular sets of avasthas we are referring to the state of planet in your birth chart due to the influence of your name. What they essential mean is that the first letter of name can create a certain vibration which can ward off malefic influence of planets during certain time periods or augment some of the best results indicated by some planets so that you attain bigger results during it’s main period. For this very reason, the names that are given to children in India at the time of their birth are not just any ordinary names but those are very carefully crafted names which influence their life on ethereal levels.
3) Another set of rules that can make or break a horoscope is the “yogas” in the chart. The Samskritha word Yoga means ‘to unite’ or ‘to join’. In the context of a birth chart, it figuratively means the zeal of a horoscope. It is the yogas in the horoscope that distinguish a king from a pauper. There are thousands of combinations of the planets that give their results according to their time periods. Although the yogas given by BPHS are not time sensitive compared to the yogas given by Maharisi Jaimini, the position of the moon in the chart plays an important role in parasari yogas. On any given location on earth, on the very same day the planets will be in the same rasi for everyone. What does change is the nakshatra pada of the moon and the lagna due to the fact that they traverse quickly around the zodiac. As a result of this the yogas that are formed in the chart also change dramatically. Say two people had the same yoga to be a king in the chart but if a person A doesn’t even run the planetary cycle that brings those karmas to fruition then that yoga will be as good as null in the chart. Likewise if Person B were to have a different nakshatra pada of the moon and runs the planetary cycle of that particular yoga producing planet then he will rise to fame and glory in the world. Or over a period of few hours in person A ‘s chart the moon gains strength by reaching his exalted degrees and fulfills other strengths then he will give success to person A whereas if the same moon towards the end of the day closely conjuncts a malefic planet like Saturn in person B’s chart then moon will restrict his/her success.