5 PERSONAS MÁXIMO

‘Tajiki’ is the language that present in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in previous USSR. This language comes under the Indo-Iranian language family, which is a branch of Indo-European language family. Languages like Persian, Kurdish, Baloochi, Dardik, Ar- menian etc are also part of Indo-Iranian language family in which Tajiki is also present.

The primordial form of Persian language is the one used in Persia and Armenia in Arcadian ruling period. The books of Zaratushtra (BC. 1500) are written in such old Persian known as Sent Avaste. The middle age pertain is known by the name Pahlavi. The script of this language is also different. Later when the Arabs conquered Iran, the Arabic language greatly influenced Persia and the modern Persian language (AD 9th _{century) originated.}

That means, much knowledge transfer happened via the path: Tajikistan → Armenia → Iran → India. Or in other words via the language path: Old Tajiki → Old Armenian → Sent Avaste (Old Persian) → Pahlavi (Middle age Persian) → Persian (Modern Per- sian) → Arabic → Indian Languages.

One of the knowledge branches, which got transferred through this path, is a particular form of astrology. It is the ancient astrol- ogy prevalent in Tajikistan, Armenia and Uzbekistan which reached through Iran (Through Persian and Arabic) that later became popu- lar as ‘Tajik Astrology’. It is astonishing to note that the system still preserved its old roots of origin even after this much transfer and transformations. Thus ‘Tajik Astrology’ means ‘the system of astrology originated in Tajikistan’.

It was with Mohammed Ghazni who entered India in 10th _cen- tury, that this system of astrology reached Kashmir, and then later with the spreading of Arabs in India, spread throughout North India. In India the meaning of the word ‘Tajik’ transferred to refer

to Arabs. Remember the quote –

+¶Éä¹É ±ÉÉäEò ºÉxiÉÉ{É Eò±ÉÉ{Énù& iÉÉÊVÉEòÉxɱÉ&

[The attack of the Arabs caused much sadness and loss of radi- ance to the whole world] Note that in this quote the word ‘Tajik’ is used to refer to the Arabs.

In Arabic Taj means ‘crown’ – thus ‘Tajik’ system could mean ‘the crown among the knowledge branches’. Remember the San- skrit verse that praises astrology as the crust (or crown) of pea- cock. The quote reads as follows –

ªÉlÉÉ Ê¶ÉJÉÉ ¨ÉªÉÚ®úÉhÉÉÆ xÉÉMÉÉxÉÉÆ ¨ÉhɪÉÉä ªÉlÉÉ

iÉuùiÉ ´ÉänùÉÆMÉ ¶ÉɺjÉÉhÉÉÆ VªÉÉäÊiɹÉÆ ¨ÉÚvÉÇÊxÉ ÎºlÉiÉÆ**

- ´Éän ÉÆMÉVªÉÉäÊiɹÉÆ [Like the crest of peacock, like the gem stone in the head of cobra, astrology is the crown of the vedic knowledge branches]

Thus it is clear that both Ancient Vedic Indians (Suras or Devas) and the Ancient non-vedic Asura empire (which ruled Iran, Arme- nia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) which worshiped Ahur Mazda (Asura medha = Asura wisdom) in the period of ancient Zoroas- trian religion (BC 1500) considered astrology as the crown among the knowledge branches. It is one of the rudimentary branches of this ancient non-vedic astrology that was popular in Tajikistan, which is available to us now in the name ‘Tajik Astrology’.

In AD 1544 an indian scholar with the name Neelakandha trans- lated this system of astrology from Arabic to Sanskrit. This Neelakandha is the son of an astrologer named Ananta (Ananta Daivajna) and is the grand son of the famous astrologer Rama (Rama Daivajna) who wrote the text ‘Muhurta Chinatamani’. The son of Neelakandha named Govinda, later wrote a famous com- mentary called ‘Peeyoosha dhara’ for Muhurta Chintamani and a commentary known as ‘Rasala’ for Neelakandha’s text on Tajik system of astrology. The text written by Neelakandha on Tajik

system of astrology is well known today as – ‘Tajik Neelakandhi’. At the time of Neelakandha Kashmir was known as Vidarbha. Note that this ancient kingdom Vidarbha was very popular from Upanishad and Epic period onwards.

There seems to have lived one scholar who wrote some well appreciated text on this branch of astrology in Sanskrit prior to Neelakandha known as Samara Simha. Samara Simhas text on Mundane astrology must be available even now in some manu- script libraries.

The book Tajik Neelakandhi is composed of 3 parts – knows as Tantra texts. They are –

1. Samjna Tantra (Naming system or the basic knowledge) 2. Varsha Tantra (Mundane Astrology or Varsha phala or Pre- dictions connected with year beginning)

3. Prasma Tantra (Horary Astrology)

Just as this system preserved its old roots of origin in its name as ‘Tajiki’ (pointing to ‘Tajikistan’) the use of the word ‘Tanta’ to denote the branches is also cute to note. In ancient times all the vedic knowledge branches were known as Nigama, and all the non-vedic knowledge branches were known as ‘Agama’ or ‘Tantra’. Thus the naming of the various knowledge branches in Tajik system of astrology also points to its ancient Tantric origin. The old tradition rooted in Asura wisdom.

As noted above – during the continuous transfer from Tajikistan

to Iran via Armenia and from their through the Arabs to India, even though some part of the inherent knowledge got preserved, the naming conventions used and words used changed and modi- fied elaborately. Many words, especially those used to denote vari- ous yogas, used in current Tajik system of astrology, such as the following seems to denote that the origin or acceptance of words from Arabic than from its original source or origin.

1. Ikkabali (lucky)

2. Indu vara (destruction or loss) 3. Itthasala (mutual aspect) 4. Eesarapha (separation) 5. Naks 6. Yamaya 7. Manavoo 8. Kabbul (acceptance) 9. Jauri Kabbul 10. Khallasar (Empty) 11. Radrim (waste)

12. Duphali kuddhe (normal) 13. Duddhodha divir (self support) 14. Tambir (benefic)

15. Kuddh (Powerful) 16. Duraph (weak)

Actually many of the yogas mentioned in this system are popu- lar in ancient Indian astrology from age old period itself. As an example, I will take the first of these 16 yogas, named Ikkabali

and elaborate.

The yoga named Ikkabali is formed when all the planets are – 1. In Kendras

2. In Panaphara 3. In Apoklima

[There is an argument regarding whether the words ‘Kendara’, ‘Panaphara’, ‘Apoklima’ etc are of Greek origin or not. This I won’t touch here, because it is another big controversial subject in itself]

Tajik Neelakandhi is tells us that “If all the planets are in Kendra, Panaphara or Apoklima the yoga named Ikkabali is formed and the native would be very lucky”. This is a general statement. The ancient Indian astrology, deal with these 3 conditions seperatly and gives them seprate names and provides some unique details. Let us see what are the named given by the sages for these yogas considering these 3 conditions seperatly.

As per indian astrology

The word kendra refers to square, i.e. 1-4-7-10 houses. If all planets (both benefics and malefics) are in Kedra it is known as ‘Kamala Yoga’. Brihat Jataka provides the following quote -

Eò¨É±ÉxiÉÖ Ê´ÉʨɸɺÉÆκlÉiÉè´ÉÉÇ{ÉÒ iÉtÊnù Eäòxpù¤ÉÉÁiÉ&

- ¤ÉÞ½þiVÉÉiÉEÆ [If all planets (both benefics and malefics) are in Kendra (1-4-7- 10) then it is known as Kamala Yoga. If they are in signs other than Kendra (i.e. Panaphara and Apoklima) it is known as Vapi Yoga] From this it is clear that -

* If all planets are in Kendra (1-4-7-10), it is Kamala Yoga. * If all planets are in Panaphara (2-5-8-11) it is Vapi Yoga.

* If all planets are in Apokilma (3-6-9-12), then too it is Vapi Yoga

Kamala yoga is also known as ‘Padma Yoga’. What are the results to be predicted for these yoagas? Brihat Jataka provides the following results -

Ê´ÉJªÉÉiÉEòÒiªÉÇʨÉiɺÉÉèJªÉMÉÖhɶSÉ {ÉnÂù¨Éä

´ÉÉ{ªÉÉÆ iÉxÉÖκlÉ®úºÉÖJÉÒ ÊxÉÊvÉEÞòzÉ nùÉiÉÉ**

- ¤ÉÞ½þiVÉÉiÉEÆ [If Kamala yoga (Padma Yoga) is present, the native would be, famous (very popular), he will lead a happiest life with a multi- tude of virtuous qualities. If Vapi yoga is present, the native would be, healthy (having a body without diseases, enjoying all kinds of bodily pleasures), and wealthy. But he won’t donate anything to others (means he won’t help others much with his wealth or prop- erty)]

It is clear that the combination is mentioned in Brihat Jataka, but how can we be sure that these combinations are mentioned by the great sages who lived before Varaha Mihira? Even though Mihira tells us that he had created his text only by abbreviating or brewing the essence of ancient Rihi Horas, is there any proof avail- able to argue that the same is or might have been dealt with in those ancient Rishi horas as well? Yes there is! Kausika hora pro- vides the results for Kamala yoga as follows -

+ÊiÉJªÉÉiɪɶÉÉ& {Éi¨Éä ºÉnùÉ SÉÉʨÉiɺÉÉèJªÉ¦ÉÉEÂò

+nù§ÉMÉÖhɺÉx{ÉzÉ& {ÉÖ¯û¹ÉÉä ÊxÉÊvÉEÞòi¦É´Éä±É**

- E ÉèʶÉE ½þÉä® É (¾þt{ÉlÉÉ) [If the native is born in Padma yoga (Kamala yoga), he would be very famous, and would always enjoy happiness and wealth. He will have a wealth of virtues and will have tremendous amount of wealth as deposit]

Rishi horas in much detail. It is clear that Mihira collected and discussed these yogas based on Rishi horas only.

Actually there is a big collection of dealt with in ancient indian astrology with the name Nabhasa Yogas. Nabhasa yogas are subcategorized in to branches, such as -

1. Asraya yogas 2. Mala yogas 3. Sankhya yogas

The yogas such as Kamala and Vapi comes under the Asraya yoga sub category, because these combinations results due to the Asraya (deposition) of Planets in houses with the names as Kendra, Panaphara and Apoklima.

[The detailed discussion of all possible Naphasa yogas is another big subject and therefore I am not going into it, and the categroization, sub categoration, and the various yogas involved]

Hope this article much have helped the readers in -

* gaining insight about the origin and development of Tajik system of astrology and

* understanding the both Tajik system and ancient indian as- trology sprung from the same root source of Asura wisdom, which spanned many countries in some ancient past.

If this article inspires you to look in this unique branch of as- trology in a revised new perspective, and also if such an efforts brings out new insights about the correlation between various cul- tures and ancient wisdom promoted by them, I would be happy.

Part -II