The classics of Hindu astrology have given number of yogas which tells us about the prospects of happiness or unhappiness from our brother-sisters. In texts like Saravali and Sarvath Chintamani some astrological combinations have been given which can be used to predict the number siblings a native may have. As per these classics the number of siblings can be find out by counting the Navamshas gained by the 3rd lord. Some texts also suggest that number of benefic planets associated with the 3rd and/or the 11th house tells about number of brother-sister alive. The number of malefic planets giving aspects to these houses gives an indication about the loss of brother-sisters. Some Hindu astrology text also suggests using Bhinashtakavarga of Mars for counting the number of co-borns. As per these texts the number of bindus gained by Mars in its Bhinashtakavarga tells about the number of brother-sisters a native may have. The benefic planets giving bindus gives the number of siblings alive and the malefic planets giving bindus tells about the loss of co-borns. In actual practice it has been found that these methods are very difficult to apply. No hint has been given anywhere which explains us about the conditions for choosing the method as per the planetary position in the chart. Which method works in which condition is an unsolved puzzle.
{Note:- This article of mine was published in the December 2016 issue of Express Star Teller Magazine }
Apart from the above given classical methods I had come across a Dreshkana or Drekkana method which is popular among some traditional astrologers of North India for counting the number of co-borns for a nativity. An astrologer friend of mind explained me this method way back in 2007 when I was doing my Jyotish Acharya course from the Institute of Astrology Bharitiya Vidya Bhavan in New Delhi. I put this method into my practice for about 8-9 years and found it working accurately in 60% or more cases. Let’s understand the simple approach of this method.
- First of all note down the rashi of the lagn lord of Dreshkana Or Drekkana chart. The number of sibling could be equivalent to the numeric number of rashi, example- Dreshkana is Aquarius and its lord Saturn is in Cancer (rashi number 4) so the native may be among the total 4 siblings (Brother/Sisters).
- Secondly if the lord of Dreshkana lagna is in a rashi with higher numerical number like say it is in Capricorn (number 10) or Scorpio (number 8) than count up to the Mooltrikona rashi of Dreshkana lagna lord to ascertain the number of siblings. Example- Dreshkana is Pisces and its lord Jupiter is in Aquarius (number 11) than counting up to Mooltrikona rashi of Jupiter, which is Sagittarius, gives us number 3. So native may be among total 3 siblings.
- The second method is to count the number of planets that comes between the Dreshkana lagna and Mars (which is the karaka of co-borns). In this method we will have to superimpose the degree of lagna and planets in the Dreshkana chart to judge the exact number of planets that comes between the Dreshkana lagna and Mars as sometimes it may happen that there may be some planets in the lagna of Dreshkana and/or in conjoined with the Mars.
Now see some of the horoscope on which I had apply the above principals for finding out correct numbers of siblings of the natives consulting me.
Case 1:-Male
09-Sep-1972, 07:20:00, Pathankot (Punjab).
Balance of Dasha in Vimshottari : 0 Years 6 Months 28 Days
The native was born with the balance dasha of Sun which didn’t have any connection with third house and its lord in Rashi chart. Both Mars and Saturn are giving aspect to the third house showing the probability of being a younger among co-borns (as both these planets destroyed the third house’s karaka tattvas).
Now see the Dreshkaan which has Virgo sign rising with its lord Mercury placed in Sagittarius rashi. The Sagittarius is number 9 and his chart doesn’t have promise of having so many siblings. So from Sagittarius now count up to the Virgo which is the Mooltrikona sign of Mercury. It will give us the number 4. And now see how many planets are between the ascendant of Dreskana and the Mars. For this superimpose the degrees of planets and ascendant from the Rashi chart there. See with lagna having 07degrees 40 minutes and Moon is having 08 degrees 43 minutes the Moon is ahead from the lagna degrees. Also notice that Sun has cross the Mars in degrees so there are total 4 planets between lagna of Dreskana and Mars. We have not taken the Rahu/Ketu in the planets for the reason that they are shadow planets only.
Using the desh-kaal-patra sense I guess there may be one miscarriage to her mother as the affliction on the third house was severe. So I asked him are you total 4 siblings with you being the younger one? The native told me that they are 3 siblings with one of his younger one died in the childhood. The native is youngest with two elder brothers. Now see this second example given below.
case 2. Male
28-November-1974, 10:20:00, Delhi
Balance of Dasha in Vimshottari: 4 Years 0 Months 18 Days
Now see this chart where native got the dasha balance of Venus which is afflicted in the twelfth house with no connection with either the third house or Mars the karaka of younger co-born.
Coming to his Dreshkanaa the lord of lagna Sun is placed in Pisces (number 12) which is six rashis away from its Mooltrikona rashi Leo. And if you count the number of planets from Dreshkanaa lagan to Mars you will also find as many as six planets there. Jupiter is behind Mars in terms of longitude.
I asked him are you among total six siblings? The reply was affirmative in this case as well. This native told me that he is younger among siblings.
Now see the Yogas for being the youngest or eldest among co-borns. These combinations can also make one younger or elder among brothers or sisters. These astrological combinations are taken from the classics of Hindu astrology and some of the modern researches done by the students of Shri K.N. Rao.
- Lagna lord placed in the third house.
- Third lord placed in the lagan.
- Eleventh lord placed in the third house.
- Third lord is in own house.
- Rahu in the third house makes one first or the last child of her parents.( Reference -Mysteries of Rahu by Shiv Raj Sharam)
- Third lord in its own asterism (Nakshatra) also makes one younger among co-borns.
- Third house under the double affliction of Mars and Saturn also makes one younger among co-borns.
- Lagna lord placed in the eleventh house.
- Eleventh lord placed in the lagan.
- Third lord placed in the eleventh house.
- Eleventh lord in its own house.
- Eleventh lord in its own asterism also makes one elder among the co-born.
- Eleventh house under double affliction of Mars and Saturn also makes one elder among co-borns.
Example 3. Female
22 November 1984 at 22:27 hours at Delhi
Balance of Dasha in Vimshottari : Saturn 18 Years 8 Months 5 Days
In this Cancer lagan chart of femail native the dasha balance lord Saturn is place in the 4th house in Rashi chart. The Saturn doesn’t make any relation with 3rd house/lord and/or Mars. The Rahu place in the 11th house makes her younger in the co-born. Remember we had discuss this rule above that Rahu place in the 3rd or 11th house can make one either youngest or eldest among his/her siblings.
In this case the 11th lord Venus is in own Nakshatra which is Poorvashada. The 11th lord in own Nakshatra can also make on eldest or youngest among the co-born. She is the yougest child of her parents having two elder brothers. In her case the 11th house is receiving the aspect of Moon, Sun and Mercury. It amply explain the native having elder siblings.
Example 4. Female
30 June 1975 at 08:19 hours at Raipur
Balance of Dasha in Vimshottari: Jupiter 7 Years 7 Months 15 Days
In this case the female native born with the balance of Jupiter’s dasha in Vimshottari. The Jupiter is giving aspect to the 3rd house of younger co-born. However, only two elder siblings of her are alive as her mother lost pregnencies after her birth. The 3rd lord Mercury in the 11th house and the 11th lord Venus in the lagan is a combination of becoming either the eldest or the youngest among co-borns.
She is the youngest among 3 siblings having one elder brother and one elder sister. In her Dreshkana there are 4 planets between the lagna and Mars. She is among 3 siblings and one pregancy to her mother was lost.
Example 5. Female
3 April 1966 at 15:30 hours at Delhi
Balance of Dasha in Vimshottari: Venus 8 Years 1 Months 28 Days
In the Leo (Simha) lagan chart of this lady the dasha balance lord Venus is owning the 3rd house of younger siblings in both Rashi and Dreshkana. It is a good promise of having younger co-borns. In the Dreshkana the lagn lord Sun is in the Cancer sign having numeric number 4. She has one elder sister and 3 younger siblings. Thus having 4 co-borns to her.
