�ववाह पटलः�ववाह पटलः�ववाह पटलः�ववाह पटलः

(शौनक मुिन �वरिचतंशौनक मुिन �वरिचतंशौनक मुिन �वरिचतंशौनक मुिन �वरिचतं & वराहिम�हर �वरिचतंवराहिम�हर �वरिचतंवराहिम�हर �वरिचतंवराहिम�हर �वरिचतं))))

Vivaha Patala

(Sri Saunakiya Vivaha Patala of Sage Saunaka and

Laghu Vivaha Patala of Varahamihira)

Translation and notes by

Veneet Kumar & Sreenadh OG

Ancient Indian Astrology Foundation

Contents

Part – I: Sri Saunakiya Vivaha Patala

1. Introduction …………………………………….......…….…........................................…….07

2. Sage Saunaka ….......................………………….………….……....…..................................10

3. Chapter 1 : Origin of Question …………………………..…….…….....................................13

4. Chapter 2 : Gain of Bride …………………………………...................................................28

5. Chapter 3 : Worship of Sachi ………………………………..………………….......……...34

6. Chapter 4 : Results of Year etc …………………...………………..………………….…...37

7. Chapter 5 : Results of Nakshatra ……………..…………………………………..…..….….53

8. Chapter 6 : Strength of the Nakshatras ………………………...……………..…………....62

9. Chapter 7 : Results based on Janmarksha and Transit .…… ……………..………………...69

10. Chapter 8 : House Planet Results ……………………………...….……………………......84

11. Chapter 9 : Combinations …………………………...…………….......................................93

12. Chapter 10 : Things to do in 4th day after marriage ……...……..….………………….....100

Part – II: Laghu Vivaha Patala of Mihira

1. Introduction …………………………………………………………………………….……106

2. Prayer ………………………………………………………………………….…………….108

3. Worship of Sachi …………………………………………………………………………….112

4. Importance of Marriage Lagna …………………………………………………..………….114

5. Year, Ayana, Season, Month etc for Marriage …………………………………………..….115

6. Nakshatras that are good for marriage …………………………………………………...….116

7. Janmadi Nakshatras …………………………………………………………………...…….117

8. Strength of Tithi, Day, Karana, Nakshatra and Lagna ……………………………..……….120

9. Mutual Placement of Moon-signs ……………………………………………..…………….121

10. Planets conjoining Moon ……………..……………………………………………...…….122

11. Moon’s sign ……………………………………………………………………….……….123

12. Planets in Various Houses …………………………………………………………...…….124

13. General results for Benefic and Malefic planets ………………………………………..….126

14. The combinations indicating queen (Rajni Yoga) ……………………………………...….128

15. Gana Yogas ……………………………………………………………………….……….129

16. Atma-Upekshaka-Poshaka-Vadhaka Houses………….……………………………..…….135

17. Rules according to places (desas) ………….……………………………..……………….136

18. Secret of Muhurta………….……………………………..……………………….……….140

19. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………....141

Appendix I: Vivaha Patala from Brihat Samhita

1. Planets in Various Houses …………………………………..………………………………143

2. Specialty of Godhuli Time …………………………………………………………….……146

3 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………148

4. Books of Reference……………………………………………………………………….…148

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Part - I

ौी शौनक�य �ववाह पटलःौी शौनक�य �ववाह पटलःौी शौनक�य �ववाह पटलःौी शौनक�य �ववाह पटलः

(शौनकमिुन�वरिचतंशौनकमिुन�वरिचतंशौनकमिुन�वरिचतंशौनकमिुन�वरिचतं))))

Sri Saunakiya Vivaha Patala

(by Sage Saunaka)

Introduction

Sri Saunakiya Vivaha Patala is a rare text, hitherto unpublished in any language, and probably so is

the case with Laghu Jataka of Varaha Mihira. We availed the manuscript of SVP (Saunakiya Vivaha

Patala) from BORI (Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute) and the manuscript of LVP (Laghu

Vivaha Patala) in Roman script from net. These were our main source texts, apart from the quotes

from the same found in Bhattolpala’s commentary, King Bhoja’s works, Brihat Daivajna Ranjana

etc – all of which helped in verifying and amending many slokas. While working on this text we

noticed that there are many other resources dealing with ‘Vivaha Patala’ in more elaborate way such

as Raja Martanda by King Bhoja, Garga Samhita, Vivaha Patala Sarasamucchaya by Krishnasankar

Kesavarama Raika. We have utilized the untranslated, unpublished manuscripts of these texts

available with us to cross reference while preparing the translation and brief commentary of Sri

Saunakiya Vivaha Patala of Sage Saunaka and Laghu Vivaha Patala of Varahamihira. Another point

to remember here is that Vasishta Samhita and Kasyapa Samhita also may have Vivaha Patala present

in them - but we are yet to go through these manuscripts fully. (Currently what is available in the

market with the name 'Vriddha Vasishta Samhita is not the real Vasishta Samhita, but actually a

muhurta text with the real name 'Jagan Mohana'. The real Vasishta Samhita is yet to be published even

though available as manuscript.)

History and description of the text

This text came to us as a manuscript availed from Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI).

Later we realized that the many quotes from this text can be found in Brihat Daivajna Ranjana as

well. To make the text more interesting and valuable we have provided our extra inputs and thoughts

wherever we felt relevant.

Why this book is unique

This book is unique because this is the one of the rare texts we know which comprehensively

addresses the question ‘how to predict based on the marriage muhurta’? Just like someone prepares a

horoscope based on Birth time, similarly one can prepare a complete horoscope based on ‘Marriage

time’ using this text. Thus this text seems to emphasize the fact that ‘any important time that is

relevant to an individual’s life can be taken, and based on the same the whole life events of that native

can be predicted’.

Changes to source text

We have made corrections to the source text only where it was unavoidable, and have utilized the

maximum cross reference materials available with us to get the correct readings. Also if anywhere

alternate readings were available we have taken care to mention the same. To make the text more

understandable and user friendly we have inserted many sub-headings in every relevant section.

Period of Sri Saunakiya Vivaha Patala

It is interesting to note that internal evidence available from this also point to that fact that the author

of this text lived during 3rd century BC. The following quote from 4th Chapter sloka 21 of Sri

Saunakiya Vivaha Patala provides the clue about the period this text. The sloka reads as follows -

िल�ीकृते �दनकरे च�वा रशतािन िन!"पेत।्

सदशं ष' �ऽशंा) भ+े ल,धा) ऋतवो वसंता0ाः॥

[Convert the position of Sun into minutes and add 400 minutes to it. Divide it by 360 degrees.

The remainder (when multiplied by six) indicates seasons beginning with spring.]

The word ‘सदशं ष' �ऽंशा)’ means ‘multiply 36 by 10’ and thus we get 360 degrees. Why add

400 minutes? Seasons are related to the Tropical zodiac and equinox and not to the Sidereal

zodiac. Thus converting the Sidereal longitude of Sun into Tropical longitude is required to

correctly identify the season. This is why it is asked to add 400 minutes to the (sidereal) longitude

of Sun. This gives us an excellent clue about the period of this text! This statement points to the

fact that during the period of Sage Saunaka the vernal equinox was 400 min (i.e. 6 deg 40 min)

ahead of Meshadi (the first point of Aries), in Aries 6 deg 40 min, in the middle of Aswini

Nakshatra. Currently vernal equinox is approximately 24 deg 45 min less than Meshadi. Thus

from the period of Sage Saunaka the vernal equinox moved (24 deg 45 min + 6 deg 40 min) 31

deg 25 min backward. At the speed of approximately 50 sec per year this would take 2262 years!

Thus, if the mean precession rate is assumed to be 50 sec per year, then the approximate period of

this text and sage Saunaka would be BC 3rd century! Let us remember that the student of Sage

Saunaka the grammarian Katyayana was also believed to have lived during BC 3rd century itself,

re-confirming the accuracy of this calculation, and the authority of the above quote. i.e. Period of

Sage Saunaka and Sri Saunakiya Vivaha Patala = 3rd century BC

Thus in short, the above quote advice us to ‘divide the tropical longitude of Sun with 360, (and

also multiply the remainder with 6 to get the season number) and the result indicates the seasons

beginning with spring’. This is absolutely right! And since adding 400 min (to convert Sidereal

longitude to Tropical longitude) is specific to BC 250 approx, the period of SVP becomes

clear. The accuracy of the above calculation is confirmed and thus this strong internal evidence

helps us to pinpoint the period of Sage Saunaka and this text Saunakiya Vivaha Patala in BC 3rd

century.

Hope that you will enjoy this text.

With regards,

Veneet & Sreenadh

Sage Saunaka

Sage Saunaka is a much respected sage with whom numerous puranic stories, mythologies, and

legends are connected with.

As per Puranic Encyclopedia of Vettam Mani -

1) General. A renowned acarya. He is believed to be the author of the famous works - "Rgveda

Anukramani", "Aranyakam", "Rkpratisakhya", etc.

The famous Asvalayanacarya was Saunaka's disciple. Acaryas like Katyayana, Patanjali and

Vyasa belonged to his class. Saunaka's real name was "Grtsamada". It was because he was the

son of Sunaka that he got the name "Saunaka".

2) Birth. Saunahotra, the son of the sage Sunahotra, once performed a yaga. Indra attended that

yaga. At that time Saunahotra rescued Indra from an attack of the Asuras. Indra, who was

pleased at this, blessed Saunahotra that he would be born in his next birth in the Bhrgu family

under the name "Saunaka".

3) Genealogy In Vayu Purana his genealogy is given in two forms.

i) Ruru ( PramadvarJ) - Sunaka-Suunaka-Ugrasravas

ii) Dharmavrddha – Sunahotra – Grtsamada – Sunaka – Saunaka. (Vayu Puraaa, 92, 26) .

4) Important works. Saunaka is believed to be the author of numerous works. The most important

of them are given below:

(1) Rkpratisakhya (2) RgvedacchandanukramanI (3) Rgvedarsyanukramam (4) Rgveda

Anuvakanukramani (5) Rgvedasuktanukramam (6) Rgvedakathanukramanl (7)

Rgvedapadavidhana (8) Brhaddevata (9) Saunakasmrti (10) Caranavyuha and (11) Rgvidhana.

Matsya Purana, Chapter 252 mentions that Saunaka had written a work on the science of

architecture.

5) Disciples. The chief disciple of Saunaka was Asvalayana. Once Asvalayana wrote and

dedicated to his Guru (master) two treatises entitled "Grhyasutra" and "Srautasutra" to please

him. After reading it, Saunaka destroyed his own work on "SrauteSastra". Asvalayana wrote his

treatise after having studied the ten works of Saunaka on Rgveda.

Katyayana, the disciple of Asvalayana later received the ten books written by Saunaka and the

three books written by Asvalayana. Katyayana gave his disciple Patanjali, the two works,

"Yajurvedakalpasutra" and "Samaveda Upagrantha" which were written by himself. From this we

may infer that the series of Saunaka's disciples was as follows: Saunaka – Asvalayana –

Katyayana – Patanjali – Vyasa.

As per Wikipedia -

Shaunaka (Sanskrit: शौनक) is the name applied to teachers, and to a Shakha of the Atharvaveda.

It is especially the name of a celebrated Sanskrit grammarian, author of the Ṛgveda-Prātiśākhya,

the Bṛhaddevatā, the Caraṇa-vyūha and six Anukramaṇīs (indices) to the Rigveda. He is claimed

as the teacher of Katyayana and especially of Ashvalayana, and is said to have united the

Bashkala and Shakala Shakhas of the Rigveda. In legend, he is sometimes identified with

Gritsamada, a Vedic Rishi. According to the Vishnu Purana, Shaunaka was the son of

Gritsamada, and invented the system of the four levels of human life.

Ṛgveda-Prātiśākhya is attributed to Shaunaka who taught it to others in a satra-yajna (a 12-day

very large scale collective yajna) held in Naimisha according to Vishnumitra of Champa town,

the commentator of Uvaṭa's commentary of Ṛgveda-Prātiśākhya.

Shaunaka had a prominent role in the epic Mahābhārata. The epic Mahābhārata was narrated to

Shaunaka by a story teller named Ugrasrava Sauti during a conclave of sages headed by

Shaunaka in a forest named Naimisha.

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaunaka)

An interesting point to note here is that Saunaka is considered as the teacher of Katyayana who is

believed to have lived during 3rd century BC. Wikipedia says the following about Katyayana -

Kātyāyana (c. 3rd century BC) was a Sanskrit grammarian, mathematician and Vedic priest who

lived in ancient India.

Works: He is known for two works:

The Varttika, an elaboration on Panini grammar. Along with the Mahābhāsya of Patañjali, this

text became a core part of the Vyākarana (grammar) canon. This was one of the six Vedāṅgas,

and constituted compulsory education for students in the following twelve centuries.

He also composed one of the later Sulba Sutras, a series of nine texts on the geometry of altar

constructions, dealing with rectangles, right-sided triangles, rhombuses, etc.

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyayana)

As clarified earlier the internal evidence available from within Sri Saunakiya Vivaha Patala also

points to that fact that he lived during 3rd century BC.

I hope that is good enough information on Sage Saunaka. In the astrological context this great

sage is important and known to as the author of Brihat Saunaka Hora, Laghu Saunaka Hora, Sri

Saunakiya Vivaha Patala etc. Many of his works, as well numerous quotes from his lost works are

still available. Some of the available quotes from Brihat Saunaka Hora indicate that Sage

Vatsyayana was also student of Sri Saunaka. Third century BC must have been a very vibrant

period in the literary history of India, with so many scholars living at the same time and in touch

with each other. That was probably the period of King Asoka (304–232 BC) in the north and the

Satavahana Kings (230 BC–220) in central India. If this Sage Saunaka is connected to

Naimisaranya as MBh puts it, then he lived 45 miles north of Lucknow in Uttarpradesh

(Naimisaranya is here) and was certainly within Asoka’s empire.

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Part - II

लघु �ववाह पटलः लघु �ववाह पटलः लघु �ववाह पटलः लघु �ववाह पटलः

(वराहिम�हरवराहिम�हरवराहिम�हरवराहिम�हर�वरिचतं�वरिचतं�वरिचतं�वरिचतं))))

Laghu Vivaha Patala

(By Varahamihira)

Introduction

This astrology work on marriage named Laghu Vivaha Patala was written by Varahamihira

during the 1st half of 6th century AD. This is a small but important work, hitherto unavailable

with a proper English translation along with the original Sanskrit quotes in Devanagari. We are

happy present this rare work to the inquisitive reader. This work is important - both historically

as well as for the knowledge it contains. Bhattolpala wrote a commentary named ‘Chintamani’ to

this book in 10th century AD.

Meters

Just like in case of all his other works, Mihira made this work an aesthetic beauty with the use of

numerous meters. LVP contains 19 meters. These meters are - 1.Arya, 2.Indravajra, 3.Upajati,

4.Upendravajra, 5.Totaka, 6.Puspitagra, 7.Rathoddhata, 8.Vamsasthavila, 9. Vasantatilaka,

10.Viyogini, 11.Vrishabhacharita, 12.Mandakranta, 13.Malini, 14.Sankhanidhi, 15.Salini,

16.Sardulavikridita, 17.Sikharini, 18.Sloka, and 19.Sragdhara.

Ancient Authors

In LVP Mihira refers to 13 ancient authors prior to his time such as - 1.Raibhya, 2.Garga,

3.Jivasarman, 4.Devala, 5.Devakirti, 6.Parasara, 7.Babhru, 8.Bhaguri, 9.Bhrugu, 10. Mandavya,

11.Vatsya, 12.Satya, and 13.Harita.

Bhattolpala in his Chintamani commentary to LVP refers to 16 ancient authors prior to his time

such as -

1.Raibhya, 2.Garga, 3.Jivasarman, 4.Devala, 5.Parasara, 6.Bhaguri, 7.Bhrugu, 8. Mandavya,

9.Vatsya, 10.Satya, and 11.Harita, 12.Manikyamuni, 13.Vasishta, 14.Vadarayana (Badarayana),

15.Vishnugupta, 16.Saunaka.

It is interesting to note that except Devakirti and Babhru, all the other ancient authors mentioned

by Mihira are quoted by Bhattolpala too. The authors Manikyamuni, Vasishta, Vadarayana, and

Vatsya are not mentioned by Mihira. We may assume that by the time of Bhattolpala the books by

Devakirti and Babhru was no more available. The authors which Bhattolpala quotes but Mihira

didn’t in LVP (he mentions them as well as many others in his other works such as BS and BJ),

such as Vasishta, Vadarayana (Badarayana), Vishnugupta, Saunaka are also better ancient than

Mihira. The period of Manikyamuni is uncertain. Vishnugupta is probably the author of

Arthasastra itself, who lived during BC 370 - BC 283. Saunaka, the author of VP and the guru of

Katyayana the grammarian lived around BC 350. The period of Badarayana the astrologer might

also be somewhere around this period itself, based on the fact that he too mentions Yavana

(probably ‘Persians’) and also based on his style of writing.

Anecdote

Bhattolpala tells an interesting anecdote about Mihira and his works. The Sun god Savitur created

a science book of the heavenly bodies with three large sections. He was afraid that it might be

scattered and lost, and he came back to earth in Kali yuga disguised as Varahamihira, and rewrote

it into much smaller texts. Thus got created numerous texts by Varahamihira such as - Pancha

siddhantika, Briahat Jataka, Brihat Samhita, Brihat Vivaha Patala, Laghu Vivaha patala, Laghu

Jataka, Brihat Yogayatra etc.

Thanks

We express our sincere gratitude to every resource and people that were helpful to us in the

preparation and publishing this rare ancient work. We hope that in future we would be able to

avail, translate and publish Brihat Vivaha Patala of Mihira too.

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