Ritual

(beginning with the new and full moon), the season, the day of the
month and the exact time, or auspicious moment, known as
muhurta. (There are thirty propitious muhurtas in a day and
10,800 in a year.) All these calculations are derived from the Indian
almanac which lays out methodical combinations of days, months
and years for registering astronomical and astrological phenomena.
In India there are numerous calendars in use based on the
data of ancient manuals, and much of the numerical data they
provide has been corrected, made uniform and adapted in relation
to up-to-date information based on observed facts.
The most significant hypothesis of astrology is that in the course
of their natural rotation the planets release their magnetic force,
which impinges upon the animate and inaminate world. We, in
our human terms, describe these effects as the 'influence of the
stars'. The range of influence, according to Hindu belief, is never
caused by a single planet but is invariably the result of the effects of
various planetary conjunctions including those of the twenty-eight
lunar mansions or asterisms, called nakshastras, in the zodiacal belt.
Each of the planets is in relationship with the zodiacal signs in
septenarious, novenarious, duodenarious order. Their relative
influence is understood as beneficent when they are in harmony
and malific when in disharmony. Furthermore, Hindus, like the
Greeks, have also assigned certain characteristics to each planet
and fixed the maximum period of any particular planetary
influence. Benjamin Walker summarizes these notions as follows:
The maximum span of a planet's influence is also rigidly determined
according to astrological laws. The full extent of all planetary influences
over a man is said to last 108 years. Out of this any man may be influenced
by each planet for not more than a fixed number of years.
Surya, the Sun, for wealth, fame, success 6 years
Chandra, the Moon, for religion, philosophy, mysticism,
writing, asceticism, madness 15 years
Mangala, Mars, for warfare, strife, litigation, quarrels 8 years
Budha, Mercury, for travels, business, agriculture, wealth 17 years
Sani, Saturn, for worries, troubles, death, mourning,
tragedy 10 years
Brihaspati, Jupiter, for domination, power, authority, rule,
justice 19 years
Rahu and Ketu, the ascending and descending nodes of
the moon, for greed, anger, jealousy, defeat, setbacks 12 years
Sukra, Venus, for pleasure, love, women, lust, and
voluptuary delights 21 years
In theory, the maximum bad luck period possible for a man to have
would be a succession of the worst aspects of Mars, Saturn and Rahu, i.e.,
30 years. 27
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