Rahu Kalam and Choughadia Vs Astansh

Astansh vs. Rahu Kaalam and Choughadia

Several time divisions, related to real and imaginary celestial figures or bodies, are used in completing a horoscope or determining a Muhurta (auspicious time). Often, more than one method is in vogue to calculate these, sometimes resulting in different conclusions. Some methods are akin to ‘Shavar Mantras’. The great poet Tulsidas has said about them:

(Rough Translation: "The letters may not align, the meaning may not be understood, yet its manifest power is due to Lord Shiva's glory!")

However, astrology is not like a ‘Shavar Mantra’. Astrologers often favor it for its perceived scientific nature. The entire astrological framework and its mechanisms, indeed our whole cosmos, operate in a regular and systematic order. Therefore, the methods for calculating astrological figures must be logical and adhere to a proper order. My experience has shown that outcomes based on logical processes also prove effective in practice. Unfortunately, the calculation methods for certain astrological figures have been vitiated over time by some ambitious, misguided, or dishonest individuals. Rahu Kaalam is one such example.

Rahu Kaalam is essentially a one-eighth part of the day, occurring at different times on different days of the week. The renowned astrological text, “Prashna Marg,” honored by all astrologers almost like a holy book, contains verses related to Astansh. It is said that during the operation of a benefic Astansh, work undertaken by the client will be fulfilled with success. Good timing suggested during the question hour (Prashna) is also considered suitable for Muhurta.

Related verses are-

Related verses can be found in Prashna Marg, Vol-1, Chapter 16, Sloka-25 (Hindi translation by Shuk Dev Chaturvedi and J. N. Bhasin).

The reckoning of Astansh begins with the lord of the day, and subsequent Astanshas follow in the sequence of the weekday lords. Thus, the first Astansh is attributed to the lord of the current day, and the second Astansh will be ruled by the lord of the next day in the weekday sequence (e.g., if Monday is the first, Mars rules the second Astansh, Mercury the third, and so on). Subsequent Astanshas are determined similarly. It must be noted that Rahu's Astansh rules immediately after Saturn's period. So, if we begin with Friday, the sequence of Astansh rulers will be: Venus, Saturn, Rahu, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter.

The portion of a particular day where Rahu's Astansh falls is considered the dreaded ‘Rahu Kaalam’.

For nighttime, we can adapt the same process, starting with the lord of the fifth weekday from the day in question and dividing the night period into eight equal parts. (The first Hora of the day generally decides the ruler of the day or night, a related concept for planetary rulership.)

This Astansh method was once prevalent in the Kerala and Tamil regions, as mentioned by Professor N. E. Muthuswamy in his "Encyclopedia of Astrology."

The method currently in vogue for determining Rahu Kaalam is, in my view, flawed and conflicts with the principles outlined in Prashna Marg.

Choughadia

Choughadia is very popular in North India for quickly deciding Muhurta. It also represents a one-eighth portion of the day. However, it often misleads and can provide incorrect Muhurta timings to the client. For example, the 3rd Choughadia on a Sunday is termed 'Labh' (profit), but according to the Astansh scheme from Prashna Marg, this period is ruled by Mars; hence, it should ideally be avoided for auspicious activities. Similarly, on Monday, the 7th Choughadia is 'Labh', but this period is ruled by Rahu according to Prashna Marg’s Astansh system.

The guidance from Prashna Marg is arguably more reliable and authentic. Therefore, we should consider replacing the popular Choughadia and the commonly followed Rahu Kaalam with the correct and authentic scheme of Astansh.

The approximate table of Astansh is below, assuming a sunrise at 6:00 AM and a day duration of twelve hours. For correct calculation, one should always start from the actual sunrise time and divide the day's total duration into eight equal parts.

Day/	6-7.30	To 9.00	To 10.30	To 12.00	To 1.30	To 3.00	To 4.30	To 6.00
Sunday	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc	Jupi	Venus	Saturn	Rahu
Monday	Moon	Mars	Merc	Jupiter	Venus	Saturn	Rahu	Sun
Tuesday	Mars	Merc	Jupiter	Venus	Saturn	Rahu	Sun	Moon
Wednesday	Merc	Jupiter	Venus	Saturn	Rahu	Sun	Moon	Mars
Thursday	Jupiter	Venus	Saturn	Rahu	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc
Friday	Venus	Saturn	Rahu	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc	Jupiter
Saturday	Saturn	Rahu	Sun	Moon	Mars	Merc	Jupiter	venus

This table is for the day's duration. It can also be adapted for nighttime calculations by referring to the row of the 5th weekday from the day in question. For example, to determine the Astanshas for Sunday night, one should refer to the row for Thursday. An Astansh ruled by a benefic planet is generally good for commencing any work. The Moon's influence (as an Astansh lord) can be good or bad depending on its current phase and strength. One can also select a particular Astansh based on the nature of the work and whether it is supported by the ruling planet of that Astansh.

---------------------------------------------------Raghvendra Khare

-- Appeared in Modern Astrology, April 2014