The previous parts can be read here:-
Starting from the solar month of Aries (Chiththrai), the planetary transits must be noted. Certain combinations of planets in certain locations of the zodiac can be seen to coincide with excessive or lack of rainfall. The combinations for excessive rainfall are known as Ativrishti yogas (अतिवृष्टि) and those that support lack of rainfall are known as AnAvrishti yogas (अनावृष्टि). If AnAvrishti yogas prevail, there will be drought.
It is the planet that causes the rainfall or not is for the scientific researchers to find out, but a correlation between rainfall and certain planetary combinations do exist and have been noticed by our sages who have given it to us as knowledge. These combinations must be read along with the meteorological conditions written in Part-1 of this series. If on the 196th day after the favourable meteorological condition noticed (6 and a half months ago), planets are seen in Ativrishti combinations, then there will certainly be rains. As the meteorological conditions are different from place to place, the planetary yogas, though present in the sky, may not cause good rains if the supportive meteorological conditions were not noticed on the corresponding day earlier. That is why emphasis is laid on continuous observation from the month of Sagittarius onwards.
Declination.
Among the planets Venus has the foremost importance in causing plenty of rainfall. In Sangam Tamil texts it has been told in many poems that if Venus is seen moving in the South, there will be drought in the land. This is common wisdom that came up through watching the sky for ages. What is told here is the movement of Venus in southern declination. Declination is the region of the sky 24 degrees North and 24 degrees south of the equator of the earth as seen in the sky. The planets move up and down within this region. . Generally any planet would give favourable results if it moves in Northern declination.
Particularly with Venus, if it is seen transiting in the northern side of the path of the earth, it will give good rains. It should NOT be moving in the south of the orbit during the rainy season. Our ancestors had the knowledge of the earth's path by looking at the zodiac in the sky and were able to say which is north or south of it. Today we depend on Declination maps that are posted in the internet! A rain-prediction enthusiast must keep track of the declination maps to see the location of Venus.
Declination map of planets for the month of April 2013 is shown below. Venus is moving in the Northern declination and its direction is towards North in the coming months. This is a prime factor to be present for Venus to be effective in giving rains. Venus can be identified by this symbol
in the map.
in the map.
Combustion (Asthang / Asthamana)
The next feature to look for in Venus is whether it is combust or not. Combustion means too close to the Sun in such a way that the planet cannot be seen. The combustion duration differs from planet to planet. The degrees of combustion as per astrology are given below.
Mars = 17 degrees
Mercury = 14 degrees
Jupiter = 11 degrees
Venus = 10 degrees
Saturn = 15 degrees.
(How to use = For example Mars becomes combust at 17 degrees means, combustion period starts when Mars is in 17 degrees before the Sun and ends when Mars is in 17 degrees after the Sun. For Venus it is 10 degrees)
Any planet when it enters into combustion (known from the degree it occupies) usually causes rainfall at that time. Similarly the day of re-emergence from combustion comes along with rainfall. In the case of Venus, there are specific rules pertaining to the star in which Venus re-emerges from combustion. In this scheme, the sky is divided into 6 Mandalas of stars. They are as follows:
1st Mandala = Bharani, Krittikai, Rohini, Mrigashirsham (4 stars)
2nd Mandala = Arudra, Punarvasu, Poosam, Aslesha (next 4 stars)
3rd Mandala = Magha, Purva phalguni, Uttara Phalguni, Hastham, Chittrai (next 5 stars)
4th Mandala = Swathi, Vishaka, Anusha (next 3 stars)
5th Mandala = Jyeshta, Moola, Purvashada, Uttara shada, Sravana, (next 5 stars)
6th Mandala = Dhanishta or Avittam, Shathabhishak or Sadhayam, Purva bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada, Revathy, Ashwini (next 6 stars).
If Venus re-emerges after combustion in the 1st and 2nd Mandala, rains will be below average.
If it re-emerges after combustion in the 3rd and 5th Mandala, there will be little rain and famine conditions will prevail.
If it re-emerges after combustion in the 4th and 6th Mandala, there will be copious rains.
At the time of writing this article, Venus is combust in Aries. It is going to re-emerge from combustion in Krittika star on May 6th 2013. This happens in the 1st Mandala. This period coincides with pre-monsoon showers. As per this rule, there will be less rainfall. This means pre-monsoon showers will be less.
(The rules that I am writing here have not been tested by me personally. I request the enthusiasts to test them atleast for 5 years and find out which of these work out. I am only recording here whatever I have come across in the ancient texts.)
The re-emergence in a specific Mandala is given for Venus and not for other planets. However the starting and ending of Combustion for other planets must be watched for rainfall occurrence to check how far it works.
Budha – Shukra Saameephya (nearness of Mercury and Venus)
· Venus and Mercury will always be moving before and after the Sun. When all the three – Sun, Mercury and Venus occupy the same sign (zodiacal sign), there will be rainfall. If they happen to be in the same Navamsa, there will be heavy rainfall. If the sign and Navamsa happen to be watery signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces), then the rains will be very heavy. One has to judge accordingly.
· If Venus and Mercury occupy the same sign and the same Navamsa and in combustion, and Venus happens to be behind Mars, there will be plentiful rains.
· If the Sun is an earthy sign (Taurus and Virgo are applicable for rainfall) and Moon, Mercury and Venus occupy watery signs and watery navamsas, and if at that time rainbow is seen in the western sky, there will be plentiful rains.
(A note on rainbow:- In the rainy season beginning from the breaking of Monsoon season, if the rainbow is seen on any day in the West, it would rain. Rainbow must not be seen in the east in this season. If seen, it means less rains.)
The closer are Mercury and Venus to each other, it indicates good rainfall. A maximum gap of 30 degrees between them ensures copious rainfall. In their march around the zodiac, it is better to have Venus moving in front of Mercury. If Mercury moves in front of Venus, rain clouds would gather but would dissipate by wind currents. Fortunately throughout the rainy season this year, Venus is moving ahead of Mercury. This is unlike last rainy season when mercury often overtook Venus even though they were close to each other. Throughout the current year (2013) Venus is moving in front of mercury. Only in the first week of January 2014, Mercury overtakes Venus.
Anywhere between 8 degrees to 30 degrees gap between Mercury and Venus is considered as Budha- Shukra Sameepyam. This closeness is known as Bahu varsha period in astrology. The closeness of these 2 planets is considered as a crucial factor in determining the rainfall season. Compared to last year, this year's Budha- Shukra Sameepyam is long in the rainy season thereby making the upcoming season a satisfactory one.
The following are the duration of this Sameepyam in 2013.
Between May 12 and July 11 (coincides with arrival of monsoon)
Between Aug 24 and sep 30 (this covers the main period of rainy season)
Between Dec 30 and Jan 11 (This coincides with snowfall / winter)
Between Feb 16 to end of Vijaya year (Coincides with winter)
Inference from the above is that
· though the pre-monsoon showers may be less and missing, the arrival of monsoon can be expected on time as Budha- Shukra closeness happens without any hindrance.
· After a brief lull in the 2nd half of July and 1st half of August, the Monsoon revives. One must combine the GarbOtta assessment and daily observation done in Margashira month and till Phalguni to get accurate predictions.
· The figures show failure of South east Monsoon as the closeness of these planets is not there in the 3 months of October, November and December. We will check other factors in the next article to see if this is remedied.
· As far as Mercury-Venus closeness factor is concerned, the winter and snowfall (wherever applicable) is severe. This will result is misty conditions in the GarbOtta period next season and in the 4 month period after that. This will have a favourable effect on rainy season in the year that follows.
In the immediate context, Mercury and Venus are coming closer starting from May 12th and will be joined with Jupiter in the last week of May. Mercury – Venus – Jupiter conjunction ensures good rainfall, according to Prasna Marga. This period coincides with the arrival of Monsoon in Lakshadweep and Kerala. Thereafter, Mercury and Venus move one after another without any hindrance from other planets, until September.
(To be continued)
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