This is the simplest of the regular drekkāṇa charts and just like the parivṛtti horā, is based on direct count from Aries for the 36 drekkāṇa travelling through the zodiac three times. The first twelve drekkāṇa are in the first four rāśi Aries to Cancer which is bhū-loka having Agni as the devatā. The second set of twelve drekkāṇa are in the four rāśi from Leo to Scorpio which is bhuva loka having Sūrya as devatā. The third set of twelve drekkāṇa are in the rāśi Sagittarius to Pisces which is svarga loka having Indra as the devatā.
This is a regular division focusing on the third house and the results pertain to “parākrama” includes the ability to fight, courage to face challenges, survival instinct, krama includes short journeys like daily commutation. These are some of the important matters ruled by the third house. The regularity of the divisional charts indicates that everything is expected to function normally in life, especially natural survival instincts, walking and commuting etc. It is all about vāyu tattva which helps us to breathe and is also responsible for locomotion.
Parivṛtti Drekkāṇa Mapping
Let us map the drekkāṇa of the rāśi into the signs of the D3-P Chart.
Aries drekkāṇa
- The first drekkāṇa of Aries (0°-10°) is mapped into Aries, a movable sign.
- The second drekkāṇa of Aries, which follows the first in the regular zodiacal order, is mapped into the next sign Taurus which is a fixed sign.
- The 3rd drekkāṇa of Aries is mapped into Gemini, a mutable (dual) sign.
Taurus drekkāṇa
- The next rāśi Taurus has its first drekkāṇa mapped into Cancer which follows the previous mapping in Gemini. Cancer is a movable sign.
- The second drekkāṇa of Taurus is mapped into Leo, a fixed sign.
- The third drekkāṇa of Taurus is mapped into Virgo, a dual sign.
In this manner, as we move from one rāśi to another in the rāśi chakra, we are moving at thrice the speed in the drekkāṇa chakra covering three signs for every one sign of the rāśi chart. By the time we travel across four signs of the rāśi chart from Aries to Cancer we have already mapped the twelve signs of the drekkāṇa chart. This represents the first gaṇḍānta between Cancer and Leo in the rāśi chart where we need to make a fresh beginning at Leo. Then again as we travel from Leo to Scorpio we again cover 12 signs in drekkāṇa chart. The junction of Scorpio and Sagittarius marks the second gaṇḍānta. Finally when we travel from Sagittarius to Pisces, we again cover 12 signs of drekkāṇa chart. This is the final ending marking the third gaṇḍānta.
It is noteworthy that the first drekkāṇa is always in chara rāśi (movable), second drekkāṇa maps to a sthira rāśi (fixed) and third drekkāṇa always maps to a dvisvabhāva rāśi (dual). In this manner every sign perfects contains ॐ (auṁ) where the first drekkāṇa is movable (a, Prajāpati Brahma), second drekkāṇa is fixed (u, Vāsudeva Viṣṇu) and third drekkāṇa is dual (ṁ, Rudra Śiva).
The second noteworthy point is that the three drekkāṇa of –
- Agni rāśi always starts from Aries, satya yuga rāśi
- Pṛthvi rāśi always starts from Cancer, dvāpara yuga rāśi
- Vāyu rāśi always starts from Libra, treta yuga rāśi
- Jala rāśi always starts from Capricorn, kali yuga rāśi
Table 9: Parivṛtti Drekkāṇa
Tattva |
Rāśi |
Parivṛtti Drekkāṇa |
Loka |
Bhū |
Bhuva |
Svarga |
1st 0°-10° |
2nd 10°-20° |
3rd 20°-30° |
Agni |
Aries |
Leo |
Sagittarius |
Aries |
Taurus |
Gemini |
Pṛthvi |
Taurus |
Virgo |
Capricorn |
Cancer |
Leo |
Virgo |
Vāyu |
Gemini |
Libra |
Aquarius |
Libra |
Scorpio |
Sagittarius |
Jala |
Cancer |
Scorpio |
Pisces |
Capricorn |
Aquarius |
Pisces |
Śrī Kṛṣṇa Jātaka

Body |
R |
Longitude |
D3 |
D3-P |
Lagna |
Ta |
16°28’59.22″ |
2 |
Le |
Sun – AK |
Le |
18°07’57.57″ |
2 |
Ta |
Moon – BK |
Ta |
15°53’55.34″ |
2 |
Le |
Mars – PK |
Cn |
3°12’09.87″ |
1 |
Cp |
Mercury – GK |
Vi |
1°47’37.65″ |
1 |
Cn |
Jupiter – DK |
Vi |
1°22’54.87″ |
1 |
Cn |
Venus – PiK |
Cn |
15°24’34.16″ |
2 |
Aq |
Saturn – AmK |
Sc |
17°03’50.24″ |
2 |
Aq |
Rāhu – MK |
Cn |
14°33’59.78″ |
2 |
Aq |
Ketu |
Cp |
14°33’59.78″ |
2 |
Le |
As an illustration, Lagna is in Taurus at 16°28’59.22″ which is the 2nd drekkāṇa (10°-20°) of the rāśi. This must map into a fixed sign (check 1). Taurus is an earthy (pṛthvi) sign and the drekkāṇa are reckoned from Cancer. To map the 2nd drekkāṇa, we determine the 2nd sign from Cancer which is Leo. Lagna is in Leo in parivṛtti drekkāṇa.
You can also check the table for D3-P above. Taurus is in the 4th row aligned to Pṛthvi. On the right side under 2nd drekkāṇa we find Leo. In this manner all the other planets are mapped into signs of the D3-P (Parivṛtti drekkāṇa).
The 3rd house is the kārya bhāva in this chart and for Śrī Kṛṣṇa this is the sign Libra which is ruled by Venus indicating that the only way Śrī Kṛṣṇa can be defeated is through pure love (bhakti). The only time when Kṛṣṇa ran away from the battlefield was during his marriage with Rukmini in deference to her wishes to spare the lives of her father and brother who were chasing the fleeing couple in a chariot. Kṛṣṇa turned his back and sped away at the speed of wind. The kind lord was willing to be called ‘Raṇachoḍji’ (one who ran away from battle) than to break the heart of his dear wife.
Kāraka Mars is exalted in the 6th house showing one who cannot be defeated easily. It is a yogakāraka for Siṁha lagna and aspects it from 6th house showing fame coming after thrashing enemies. As such, the 4th lord in exaltation shows one who is completely fearless for own protection or security. Venus as 3rd lord placed in the 7th house of war indicates a very high level of parākrama is required to fight many battles and wars.
- Rāhu associating with the 3rd lord Venus [or 3rd house] gives very high cunning and ability to outmanoeuvre opponents.
- Saturn associating with the 3rd bhāva gives great tenacity and persistence to achieve success. It also makes one a good wrestler.
The 3rd bhāva has the dṛṣṭi of all malefic planets Rāhu, Saturn, Ketu and Sun besides the 3rd lord Venus which is good. Further, Rāhu, Saturn and Sun have digbala. The aspect of Venus and Moon on Libra generates a powerful Rudra yoga in addition to yānavanta yoga which gives speed, brilliance in management and tremendous leadership skills. The 3rd lord conjoining the lord of a duṣthāna or placed in a duṣthāna shows the use of the hands for fighting or such karma. In the charts of top generals the 3rd lord must associate with the 8th house to show their intelligence (and hands) being use to plan death of enemy – like Rudra himself.
Exaltation and mutual aspect of 4th (Mars) and 8th (Jupiter) lords forms the chaturaśra yoga which is a pillar for longevity. As lords of 4th and 5th houses, it is Viṣṇu yoga that always keeps the conscience clean and right use of knowledge.
Two other houses we need to examine very carefully are the 6th and 11th houses. The 6th tells us who is in the side of the enemy and the 11th tells us what happens to the enemy.
When reading the Mahābhārata we had always wondered why Kṛṣṇa choose to allow the powerful Yādava army of Dvārkā to be in the wrong side (with Duryodhana) while he was a charioteer on the side of the Pāṇḍava. This chart explains everything. Kṛṣṇa is seen with the Moon in Leo lagna and Mars is in the 6th house showing the powerful Yādava generals on the side of the enemy. Kṛṣṇa opted to be a charioteer due to the Yānavanta yoga of Venus and Moon, which also becomes Rudra yoga during battle. Blood will not spill on the ones he protects while the opposite side will swim in their blood (rudhira means blood). What happens to the ones he kills? The 11th lord Mercury forms the powerful vedānta (Bhagavat Gita) yoga of Jupiter and Mercury in the 12th house of mokṣa with exalted Jupiter – with the power of the Gita and get mokṣa. Perhaps that is why Śrī Kṛṣṇa choose to speak the Bhagavat Gita at the battle field of Kurukṣetra before the Mahābhārata.
We will examine the Parivṛtti Drekkāṇa charts of some generals and others during the contact classes
- George Patton
- Erwin Rommel
- Bernard L. Montgomery etc.
Yuddha Niti
Yuddha niti is the strategy that a person follows in all life’s battles, be they small or big. This is determined by (1) planets in the 3rd house, (2) planets aspecting the 3rd house and (3) planets associating with the 3rd lord and finally (4) kāraka (significator) Mars
Niti |
Graha |
Meaning |
sāma |
Jupiter, Moon |
Compromise, Friendship |
dāma |
Venus, Mercury |
Pay the price – rajas guṇa dominates |
daṇḍa |
Mars, Sun, Ketu |
Punishment like beating, war, violence |
bheda |
Saturn, Rāhu |
Machiavellian tactics, cunning |
In the chart of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, there are no planets in the 3rd house. The third house is aspected by Moon (sāma niti, compromise), Venus (dāma), Ketu (daṇḍa) and Rāhu and Saturn (bheda). Therefore Śrī Kṛṣṇa was adept at all the niti śāstra and before the start of the Mahābhārata he was the last envoy of peace seeking just five villages from the Kaurava in exchange for end of hostilities and averting the Mahābhārata war. This peace mission (strategy) of the Moon failed, and he declared the day of battle.
Praśna Mārga
Praśna Mārga teaches another scheme for Yuddha niti. Dr. B.V.Raman translates –
MEANS TO ADOPT
Stanza 11. — If a question like “by what means or art can I win in this object” is put, then the method to be adopted to answer this question is given below
Stanza 72. — The means indicated by the strongest of the planets occupying the Ascendant, Upachayas or Kendras should be adopted as follows : Jupiter and Venus gentle (sāma); the Moon – bribery (dāma); Saturn, Rāhu and Mercury – intimidation (bheda), and Sun and Mars — force (daṇḍa);
The week-day or hour of the concerned planet is preferable.
NOTES
Jupiter and Venus govern arts of gentle persuasion. The Moon stands for offer of gifts and money. Mercury governs intimidation. Saturn, Rāhu and Ketu also govern intimidation in different forms. Mars and the Sun govern open rupture and war. The first two come under diplomacy and arbitration. The last two come under war. The methods indicated by the strongest of the planets occupying Upachaya Rāśi, or Lagna or Kendra should be used on the respective week days or at the time of their Kala Horā. Then the object can be accomplished.
Though Lagna is included in the Kendra it is repeated to show its importance. So is the 10th house repeated though it is included in the Upachaya Rāśi. The weekdays and Kala Horā for Rāhu and Ketu are similar to those of Saturn and Mars.
Upadeśa: We can see the difference between the traditions of Parāśara-Jaimini vs. Kerala tradition (praśna) in the planets governing action for handling conflict. The Moon rules śānti kalā (peace time) and will do everything to bring peace and harmony. Like a mother it hates war between its children. For this reason, the tradition attaches peace talks to Jupiter and Moon. Mercury and Venus are rajas guṇa planets and wealth, fulfilment of desire is the means to quench their thirst. Sun and Mars are fiery planets and will choose war (heroic tactics) over any form of compromise. Saturn is weak, Rāhu is bodiless while Ketu is headless – these handicaps compel them to choose bheda (Machiavellian tactics).
In praśna mārga, the fact that the Moon as mind rules desire shows the fulfilment of desire leading to end of conflict. The brahmin planets Jupiter and Venus are stated as choosing compromise talks. Mercury is weak most of the time, except in saṅdhyā and is group with Saturn as choosing bheda.
Readers will appreciate the subtle differences we bring out in the traditional Vedic astrology teachings and those of latter day authors. Bear in mind that praśna mārga is for praśna and may not show the natural traits in horoscopes in this particular topic.
Secondly we have been advised to examine Lagna, Kendra and Upachaya. [to be discussed]