The major-period of a planet delineates the trend of life over a long span of time. It indicates the general lines on which the life of an individual would proceed. It shows the areas in which the individual would operate, acquire, lose, excel, achieve, experience, fail, innovate or attempt. The specificity of results is indicated by the sub-period because the sub-period planet indicates events with reference to the major-period planet. This does not mean that the major-period planet does not indicate an event that is to happen during that period. An event that happens on a particular date shall happen during the long span of time of the major-period, during the shorter span of time of the sub-period and during the limited span of time of the inter-period. It is therefore obvious that the major, sub and inter-periods will each indicate the event. If even one of the three periods does not indicate the event, it cannot happen during the combined periods. Suppose we are considering the marriage of an individual and the major-period shows it but the sub-period under consideration does not indicate marriage. It is therefore possible that the individual will get married during the longer time span of the major-period but the sub-period when the event happens should be some other one.
The life of each individual consists of a few major-periods. It is easy to see as to what events are likely to take place in a major-period. We should then take up one sub-period of a qualified planet that is inclined
136 Chapter 2: The Major-Period
to give the result in that major-period at a time to determine the sub- period in which the specific event should happen. Having determined the sub-period we should again take up one qualified inter-period at a time in the sub-period to determine the inter-period in which the event is likely to happen. This will bring us down to a few months at the most, in which the event is to take place. Normally, thereafter we may take up either the annual chart or transit analysis or both as we like, to determine the precise timing of the event. The timing of an event becomes easier when the major-period is considered along with the sub-periods. The timing becomes even more precise when we study the sub-period too in the same manner with inter-periods.
2. Parashar has handled the effects of each major-period in seven to twelve stanzas in Chapter 47 of his magnum opus Brihat Parashar
Hora Shastra. In Chapter 48 he deals with the effect of major-
period of the owner of each house. He generally deals with two owners in one stanza, devoting less than twenty stanzas to the twelve owners. He has dealt with nine sub-periods in each major- period in nine consecutive chapters. Each chapter has 70 to 83 stanzas. For each sub-period, remedial measures have also been stated to counter its adverse effects if any. The overriding effect of sub-periods is evident from the handling of the subject in Brihat
Parashar Hora Shastra. Parashar deals with the inter-periods in
Chapter 61. The effects of all the 81 inter-periods are dealt with in less than 82 stanzas. Chapters 62 and 63 of Brihat Parashar Hora
Shastra deal with the finer periods. Chapter 62 handles the effect of sookshma periods of all the nine planets in less than 82 stanzas.
Chapter 63 handles the effect of prana periods of all the nine planets in less than 83 stanzas. Jataka Parijat does not deal with effects of inter and other finer periods at all.
3. The analysis of the effect of inter and other finer periods many a time becomes unproductive since the computation of such periods becomes flawed on account of lack of accuracy in the reported time of birth, or due to the ayanamsha used. The difference of even a few seconds in the birth time alters the finer periods. Such a fine computation of time of birth is generally not possible. Therefore, barring exceptional cases, any analysis of periods beyond the inter- period should not be undertaken.
Here we would like to mention that the birth of an individual is the beginning of his life on this planet. This event refers to the ascendant. It would also refer to the Arudha lagna. The Moon refers to infancy of an individual. The first house from the natal Moon would also show infancy. Therefore, if the time of birth is correct, the major period planet should be related to the Moon, ascendant, Arudha lagna and the Moon sign. This means that the major-period planet in which the individual was born would necessarily be a Factor for infancy. The sub-period planet would indicate infancy with reference to the major-period planet, and the inter-period planet would do so with reference to the sub-period planet. The finer period planets would do so each with reference to its superior period planet. We have explained this in the next Chapter. But each of these five period planets would necessarily be related to the Moon. By changing the time of birth slightly, if necessary, one can easily correct the time of birth.