About surya in vedic Astrology

1. Obeisances to Surya
प्रणिपत्य रविं मूर्ध्रा वराहमिहिरात्मजेन पृथुयशसा ।
प्रश्ने कृतार्थगहना परार्थमुद्दिश्य सध्यशसा ॥ १॥
praṇipatya raviṃ mūrdhrā varāhamihirātmajena pṛthuyaśasā ।
praśne kṛtārthagahanā parārthamuddiśya sadhyaśasā ॥ 1॥
Translation: Sri Pṛthuyaśa, the famed son of the illustrious Varāhamihira invokes the blessings of the glorious Surya (ravi), bowing his humble head, and composes this work on Prasna, which is pregnant with terse meaning, for the benefit of the mankind.
Commentary:
All works of Jyotish starts with the invocation of blessings of the Ishta Devata of the author. This is extremely important in the studies of the Jyotisha shastra, because, this discipline is more than a rational study of the rules and applying them in real life. It requires one to connect one’s consciousness to the divine consciousness, and decipher the wishes of the divine.
Surya is an important devata in Vedic lore and is an important part of the pancha-devata (5 fundamental forms of devatas, Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti, Ganesha and Surya). He is a one who also blesses one with the knowledge of Jyotish. He has transferred the knowledge of Surya Siddhanta to Maya Danava. He is the overlord of the solar system, and can bless one with supreme knowledge of Jyotisha Shastra.
This principle can be extended to the regular practice of Jyotisha. Before looking into a chart, one should do his prayers invoke divine blessings. This enables one’s intuition to work well and improves the accuracy of divination. One should be humble and consider himself as only a channel through which the divine consciousness communicates with the querent. A lack of humility, arrogance and high ego comes as an obstacles to this. In addition to prayers and spiritual practices, one should also engage in doing regular meditation, which makes one’s consciousness highly receptive, like a sponge.
What has been written in Jyotish shastra is for the benefit of the mankind. This is another important aspect one should never forget. When selfishness, personal aggrandisement and greed for wealth, name and fame takes forefront, the ability to use this knowledge declines. It is not something that is given to the beholder for personal gains. A Jyotishi has to be humble enough to accept what comes to him without asking. If he leaves his own wellbeing to the divine will, his needs are well taken care of. Anyway, the earning of wealth through deception, threat, fear etc. can’t stay with the Jyotishi for long, but leaves a trail of negative karma, which he has to deal with sooner or later. There is no Karma which has no impact. One has to undergo the consequences of his action, this way or that way!
A Jyotishi has to be dignified and of exalted nature. One who is entrusted to guide others, should himself be pure. One should be humble, regularly practice deva-aradhana (spiritual practices), always eager to help others, eat sattvik food and live simply. Only one who has all these characteristics is rightful person to be blessed with this divine knowledge.
Unlike natal horoscopy, Prasna is a tool of tapping into the divine consciousness. One's ability to decipher prasna depends on once ability to merge one’s consciousness with the divine consciousness. Only then, irrespective to the tools and methods used for divination, he will receive answer and guidance. Thus, even though there are many many methods of divination based on the moment i.e. Tarot, I-ching, Tajik, and many variants of Prasna Jyotisha Shastra, each of them are highly capable in the hands of true master.
2. Divination from the Kendra Bhavas
च्युतिर्विलग्राद्धिबुकाच्च वृद्धिर्मध्यात्प्रवासोऽस्तमयान्निवृत्तिः ।
वाच्यः ग्रहैः प्रश्नविलग्रकालादृहं प्रविष्टो हिबुके प्रवासी ॥ २॥
cyutirvilagnāddhibukācca vṛddhirmadhyātpravāso’stamayānnivṛttiḥ ।
vācyaḥ grahaiḥ praśnavilagrakālādṛhaṃ praviṣṭo hibuke pravāsī ॥ 2॥
Translation: Removal from one’s place (or position) is to be divined from the Lagna. Growth, success and prosperity to be divined from the Sukha Bhava (4th house). Absence from home and travelling to be divined from the Karma Bhava (10th house). Return from travel is to be divined from Saptama Bhava (7th house). And, the timing of return has to be divined from the Sukha Bhava (4th house). The positions of several grahas at the time of query should be considered. The time of return will be synchronous with the entry of planet in the 4th house.
Commentary:
At the onset the author narrates what should be seen from the 4 Kendras. Why? Because these 4 Bhavas are the foundation stone of a horoscope. They also govern the 4 important question that the querent may ask.
The Kendras are extended to all the remaining houses through the principle of Trines. The Kendras are the governor of 3 Bhavas each, thus covering all the 12 Bhavas. Lagna governs the success of the Dharma Trikona (1–5–9). Karma Bhava governs over the Artha Trikona (2–6–10). Saptama Bhava governs over the Kama Trikona (3–7–11). And, Sukha Bhava governs over the Moksha Trikona (4–8–12).
Question category 1: Removal from current state (Chyuti): The questions can come in the form of, (1) Do I have to change my place, and move to a new location, (2) Can I continue my life the way it was, (3) Should I expect a big change in the ways of my life, (4) Is there is an upcoming disruption of my status-quo, (5) Do I have a big fall from position etc. These kinds of question has to be divined from the Lagna.
Question category 2: Growth in current state (vṛddhi). The questions can come in the form of, (1) When I can be better off compared to now, (2) is there growth in my life, or I am bound to continue my current state, (3) Will I be able to acquire house, vehicles, properties, friends, happiness etc. These kinds of question has to be divined from the Sukha Bhava (Hibuka = 4th house).
Question category 3: Travelling outside of homeland (pravāsa). The questions can come in the form of, (1) Do I have to travel abroad to gain success in life, (2) when I am making a overseas trip, (3) How will be my upcoming foreign trip, (4) What preparation should I do for the upcoming foreign trip etc. These kinds of question has to be divined from the Karma Bhava (Madhya = 10th house).
Question category 4: Traveling back home. The questions can come in the form of, (1) Should I return to my homeland, (2) When should I return to my homeland, (3) Should I continue to stay overseas, (4) How long should I (or will I) stay overseas. These kinds of question has to be divined from the Saptama Bhava (Asta = 7th house).
The house is represented by the 4th Bhava. Hence, planets moving into the 4th house (i.e., Bhavishyat yoga, the yoga that will occur in future), can indicate the native (or someone else), coming into the native’s home (or the homeland).
The questions are of actually two types (1) Those related decline and growth, which are to be studied from Lagna and 4th house. (2) Those related to travelling out and returning home, which are to be studied from 10th and 7th house. They are complementary questions, hence should be studied in pairs.
In the above mentioned four Kendras, the things to be considered are (1) Rasi falling in the house i.e., Odd/ even, Chara/ Sthira/ Dvisvabhava, or Sirshodaya/ Prshtodaya etc. (2) The Grahas occupying the Bhavas (3) The Avastha of the grahas occupying the Bhavas, (4) Conjunction or aspect of the lord of the Bhava, (5) Disposition of the lords of the said Bhavas, (6) Aspect of grahas on the said Bhavas. The influence of the Bhavadhipati, Sirshodaya Rasis and Naisargika Shubha grahas can indicate positive outcome. The functional favourable (karaka) grahas can also indicate success, but if they are naisargika kruragrahas, the success will come after heavy toil. The Chara Rasi indicate long distance movement, Sthira Rasi indicate fixity, and the Dvisvabhava Rasi indicate movement in the vicinity. Odd rasi indicate activity, drive and passion, while Even Rasi indicate passivity, letting things to continue on its own. Sirshodaya Rasis are fluid and hence beneficial, while the Prshtodaya Rasis are full of obstacles, risks and danger, hence troublesome. Thus, after judging the naisargika and functional karakatva (significations) of the grahas involved one should arrive at a conclusion