BPHS Ch.9 — 14 Balarishta (Infant Death) Yogas, Sandhya Definition & Mahamrityunjaya Remedy
Balarishta = early death combinations (death before age 24); these OVERRIDE normal longevity calculations. Note: Parashara likely means Rashi Drishti (sign aspects), not Graha Drishti in these early chapters. 14 combinations: (1) Moon in 6/8/12 + malefics only = very early death; with benefic aspect = extends to ~8 years; (2) Retrograde benefic in 6/8/12 + malefics only = same as Moon; (3) Sun+Saturn+Mars (2 of 3) in 5th = danger to mother/siblings; (4) Mars in lagna + malefics only = death; (5) Mars in 8th + Sun or Saturn = death; (6) Eclipse birth + Saturn+Mars both aspect lagna = longevity only a fortnight; (7) Sandhya birth + Chandra hora + Gandanta lagna + Moon+malefic in Kendra = death; (8) Scorpio lagna + all malefics east + all benefics west = death, no further analysis; (9) Papakartari on lagna + malefics in 6/8/12/2 = death possible; (10) Moon in 6th + Saturn in 10th + Mars in 7th = trouble for both mother and baby; (11) Saturn in lagna + Moon in 8th + Jupiter in 3rd = death; (12) Hora chart: Sun 9th + Saturn 7th + Jupiter+Venus 11th = death in 1 month (NOT Kachinath Hora; a different longevity-specific Hora); (13) Sun/Moon/Venus/Rahu in 12th = especially inauspicious, problems in dashas; (14) Moon in 9/7/1 with NO benefic aspect or conjunction = early death possible. Sandhya definition: 3 ghatikas (72 min) BEFORE sunrise = Pratha Sandhya; 3 ghatikas AFTER sunset = Sayam Sandhya. Remedy for all: Mahamrityunjaya Homam — start immediately on 11th day (or earlier in urgency); do NOT wait.
"If you see a combination suggesting death within a fortnight, don't wait. On the 11th day — or even within the sootaka period if urgency demands — do Mrityunjaya Homa. Balarishta overrides all longevity calculations; remedy is urgent."
— P.V.R. Narasimha Rao
BPHS Chapter 9 — Arishtadhyayam (Early Death / Balarishta)
General Principle
Arishta = inauspicious combination; specifically here = early death (before age 24)
"If there is an Arishta, do NOT calculate longevity using the 3-part rule or other longevity methods. Arishta overrides longevity calculations. It can cause death within a few years."
Key note on aspects: In these early BPHS chapters, Parashara likely means sign aspects (Rashi Drishti), not Graha Drishti (planetary aspects). This is consistent with his earlier chapters that only mention sign aspects.
Balarishta Yogas (14 Combinations from BPHS)
Combination 1 — Moon in Dusthana with Malefic Aspect:
- Moon in 6th, 8th, or 12th house
- Aspected ONLY by malefics (no benefic aspect)
- → Death very early (within 1-2 years)
- → If a benefic ALSO aspects Moon: longevity extended to up to 8 years
Combination 2 — Retrograde Benefics as Moon Substitute:
- Same as Combination 1, but replace Moon with ANY retrograde benefic planet
- Retrograde benefic in 6th/8th/12th, aspected by malefics, no benefic on lagna
- → Same death combinations as Moon above
Combination 3 — Sun, Saturn, Mars in 5th House:
- Sun, Saturn, Mars (and Moon) in 5th house
- Particularly if 2 or more of these malefics conjoin Moon in 5th
- → Danger to mother OR sibling (5th house = Poorvapunya; affliction here shows weak karmic bank account)
- PVNR note: "Not necessarily 'all three jointly' as Santhanam translates; probably 2 out of 3 is sufficient"
Combination 4 — Mars in Lagna, Only Malefic Influences:
- Mars in lagna, conjoined OR aspected by malefic planets
- No benefic conjunction or aspect on lagna/Mars
- → Can give death
Combination 5 — Mars in 8th with Sun or Saturn:
- Mars in 8th house + conjoined with Sun OR Saturn
- → Can give death
- PVNR's interpretation: Combination 4 = Mars in lagna (malefics only), Combination 5 = Mars in 8th (with Sun/Saturn specifically)
Combination 6 — Eclipse Birth + Saturn/Mars on Lagna:
- Moon+Sun+Rahu together (eclipse) OR Moon+Rahu OR Sun+Rahu (eclipse-like)
- AND Saturn + Mars both aspect lagna
- → Longevity = only a fortnight
Note: "This proves that baby charts can be seen immediately from birth — no need to wait till 1 year or older."
Combination 7 — Sandhya Birth + Gandanta + Malefic Kendra:
- Birth during Sandhya time (defined precisely below)
- Birth during Chandra Hora (Moon's hora running)
- Lagna in Gandanta
- Moon AND a malefic in Kendra (quadrant)
- → Causes death
Definition of Sandhya (from BPHS shloka):
- Pratha Sandhya (morning): 3 ghatikas (= 72 minutes) BEFORE sunrise
- Sayam Sandhya (evening): 3 ghatikas (= 72 minutes) AFTER sunset
- Sunrise/sunset reckoned from center of Sun's disk at the horizon (the actual longitude — not the first visibility of upper limb)
- PVNR's preferred definition: when Sun and Lagna are at the same longitude = actual sunrise
Combination 8 — Scorpio Lagna with Hemispheric Separation:
- All malefics in the eastern half of zodiac (90° before to 90° after the lagna)
- All benefics in the western half (centered on 7th house)
- Lagna is in Scorpio
- → Early death — "no need to analyze further" (Parashara's words)
Combination 9 — Papakartari on Lagna + Malefics in Multiple Houses:
- Lagna hemmed by malefics (Papakartari yoga)
- Malefics also in 6th, 8th, 12th, or 2nd houses
- → Can give death (PVNR: probably 2-3 malefic houses needed, not just 1)
Combination 10 — Moon in 6th + Saturn in 10th + Mars in 7th:
- Mars and Saturn aspect each other (Mars 4th aspect on Saturn; Saturn 10th aspect on Mars)
- Moon in 6th = weak/afflicted
- Saturn in 10th = aspecting 4th house (family)
- Mars in Marakakaraka sthana (7th) aspected by Saturn
- → Trouble for both mother and baby
Combination 11 — Saturn in Lagna + Moon in 8th + Jupiter in 3rd:
- Saturn in lagna, Moon in 8th, Jupiter in 3rd
- All three in Marakakaraka sthanas from each other
- → Goes to Yama's abode (death)
Combination 12 — Hora Chart Combination:
- In the Hora chart (D2 — but NOT Kachinath Hora, a different longevity-specific Hora)
- Sun in 9th, Saturn in 7th, Jupiter + Venus in 11th house
- → Longevity = only 1 month
Note: PVNR: "This must be a Hora chart where planets can occupy all 12 signs, not just Cancer and Leo. So it can't be Kachinath Hora. It's a different specific Hora for longevity assessment."
Combination 13 — Any Planet in 12th House:
- All planets in 12th house are inauspicious for longevity
- Particularly inauspicious: Sun, Moon (Indu), Venus, Rahu in 12th
- Even by aspect on 12th: can cause some bhanga (break/problem)
- "In their dashas, you can expect some loss or suffering"
- Especially when 2+ of these 4 planets have to do with the 12th (one occupying, one aspecting)
Combination 14 — Moon in 9th/7th/1st without Benefic Aspect:
- Moon in 9th, 7th, or 1st house
- No benefic aspect or conjunction on Moon
- → Can cause early death
- PVNR: "I cannot fully explain why these houses specifically, but this is what Parashara states"
Remedy for All Balarishta Yogas
Mahamrityunjaya Homam — Parashara does not explicitly give remedies in this chapter, but PVNR strongly recommends this for any Balarishta combination.
"If you see a combination suggesting death within a fortnight, don't wait. Immediately on the 11th day (or even within the sootaka period if urgency demands), do Mrityunjaya Homa. Strongly recommend it for any short-life baby chart."
Same-Nakshatra Dosha (Nakshatra Sama) — Clarification
Rule: The dosha between parent and child applies ONLY if both are born in the same nakshatra in the same sign (Rashi).
- Punarvasu in Gemini vs Punarvasu in Cancer = NO dosha (different signs)
- "My take is: same nakshatra AND same Rashi = dosha; but not necessarily same navamsha"
- Same nakshatra in different signs = no problem