Jain Jyotish Shastra - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain Jyotish Shastra by Premchand M. Mehta, based on the provided text:

Book Title: Jain Jyotish Shastra (Jain Astrology) Author: Premchand M. Mehta Publisher: Premchand M. Mehta Publication Year: 1967

Core Theme: The book explores the influence of planets and constellations on human life, viewing them as conduits of unseen forces that govern our existence. It aims to provide guidance for navigating life's challenges and understanding its patterns through the lens of Jain astrology.

Key Concepts and Sections:

The Power of Unseen Forces (Page 3, 7): The fundamental premise is that unseen forces, governed by natural laws, orchestrate the universe. Celestial bodies like planets and stars (Nakshatras) emit elements that sustain life on Earth and profoundly impact human destiny. This influence is compared to radio broadcasting, where a connection must be made (like tuning a radio) for the message (planetary influence) to be received and understood.
Planetary Attributes and Their Influence (Page 8-9): The book details the specific qualities and domains associated with each planet and their impact on human life:
- Saturn (Shani): Property, inertia, lethargy, royal/governmental influence, dissolution.
- Jupiter (Guru): Wealth, prosperity, children, family, knowledge, science, life-sustaining element, primary element.
- Mars (Mangal): Activity, work capacity, workplace, family, friends, effort, element of creation.
- Venus (Shukra): Women, movable assets, materialism, fate, business, social status, treasury, speech, sweetness, originality, vocal abilities, minister element.
- Moon (Chandra): Mind, mother, desires, aspirations.
- Rahu & Ketu: Disturbances, anxieties, dissatisfaction, discord. These are not considered "elements" but rather distort the qualities of the planets they associate with, causing distorted experiences and unrest.
- Sun (Surya): Fire element, radiance, light.
- Mars (Mangal): Fire element, radiance.
- Saturn (Shani): Earth element, atoms.
- Moon (Chandra): Water element, flow.
Zodiac Signs and Their Elements (Page 9-10): The book assigns elemental qualities to the zodiac signs:
- Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): Agni Tatva (Fire Element) - associated with flames, sacrifice.
- Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): Prithvi Tatva (Earth Element) - associated with land, agriculture, city areas.
- Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): Vayu Tatva (Air Element) - associated with wind, storms, breath.
- Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): Jal Tatva (Water Element) - associated with water bodies, rivers.
Interaction of Planets and Zodiac Elements (Page 10-12): The book explains how the strength and expression of planetary qualities are modified by the elemental nature of the zodiac sign they occupy:
- Water element signs (4, 8, 12): Strengthen planets like Saturn, Venus, and Moon.
- Earth element signs (2, 6, 10): Strengthen planets like Saturn, Venus, and Moon.
- Fire element signs (1, 5, 9): Weaken planets like Saturn, Venus, and Moon, but strengthen Jupiter, Sun, and Mars.
- Air element signs (3, 7, 11): Weaken planets like Saturn, Venus, and Moon, but strengthen Jupiter, Sun, and Mars.
- Jupiter, Sun, and Mars: Gain strength in Fire and Air signs.
- Saturn, Venus, and Moon: Gain strength in Water and Earth signs.
- Planets in Earth signs (2, 6, 10): Maintain their qualities with balanced strength.
- Rahu and Ketu: Do not have inherent elements; they distort the qualities of the planets they conjoin and the elemental nature of the sign they are in.
Behavioral Tendencies based on Planetary Placement (Page 12): The position of planets in different signs influences an individual's approach to actions:
- Signs 1 & 7: Actions are performed with detachment and sacrifice.
- Signs 4 & 1: Actions are performed solely for self-interest.
- Signs 2 & 8: Actions are performed with a hoarding mentality.
- Signs 5 & 11: Actions are performed with a blend of self-interest and altruism.
- Signs 3 & 9: Actions are performed with a spirit of service and detachment.
- Signs 6 & 12: Actions are performed with religious and worldly sentiments.
The Impact of Planetary Rays and Colors (Page 14-17): The book draws a connection between planetary energies, their associated colors (derived from sunlight through a prism), and their impact on human life and health. Combinations of planetary influences manifest through specific color mixtures, affecting personality, well-being, and destiny. For example:
- Saturn + Jupiter (Blue + Yellow = Green): Leads to happiness and prosperity.
- Saturn + Mars (Blue + Red = Black): Indicates facing difficulties.
- Saturn + Sun (Blue + excess Yellow = More Blue): Impacts reputation negatively.
- Jupiter + Mars (Yellow + Red = Golden): Leads to success in father's profession.
- Mars + Venus (Red + White = Red): Indicates sensual desires.
Planetary Conjunctions and their Effects (Page 18-22): The book provides detailed interpretations of various planetary conjunctions (yuti) and their likely outcomes in different areas of life, including wealth, character, relationships, intellect, and career. It notes that the distance between planets (up to 8 degrees, or 15 for Sun-Moon) influences the strength of these effects.
Mahadasha and Antardasha (Minor Periods) (Page 22-23, 28-30): The text explains how to calculate and interpret "Mahadasha" (major planetary periods) and "Antardasha" (sub-periods) based on the Moon's birth Nakshatra (constellation) and the Sun's transit. It provides tables and methods for determining auspicious and inauspicious periods, linking them to the transits of Jupiter (for auspicious times) and Saturn (for inauspicious times), with Mars providing finer details. The Sun's Nakshatra is considered the individual's "meter."
Health and Planetary Influences (Page 31): The book touches upon health, linking Saturn's placement in water, fire, or air signs to the generation of specific tastes (sweet, sour, bitter) in the body. It suggests remedies for balancing bodily humors.
Auspicious Times for Spiritual Practices (Page 32): Specific lunar phases (Shukla Paksha), solar transits through certain zodiac signs, and days of the week (Thursdays) are identified as particularly auspicious for spiritual practices like chanting, penance, and worship.
Macro-Cosmic Influences (Saturn-Jupiter and Saturn-Rahu Conjunctions) (Page 33-35): The book discusses the significant impact of periodic conjunctions of Saturn with Jupiter and Saturn with Rahu on a global and national level. These conjunctions, depending on the elemental nature of the zodiac sign they occur in, can indicate periods of prosperity, peace, unrest, natural disasters, political turmoil, or widespread hardship.
Nakshatra Yantra and Calculations (Page 24-27): The text emphasizes the creation of a "Nakshatra Yantra" or chart, which is crucial for understanding the interactions between planets, Nakshatras, and zodiac signs. This chart helps in determining whether planetary influences are beneficial (Shubh/Anukul) or detrimental (Ashubh/Pratikul).

Overall Purpose: "Jain Jyotish Shastra" by Premchand M. Mehta serves as a guide to understanding the cosmic influences that shape human life according to Jain astrological principles. It highlights the interconnectedness of celestial bodies, elements, and individual destinies, offering insights into predicting life events, understanding personal tendencies, and potentially navigating challenges with greater awareness and preparedness. The book emphasizes that living a virtuous and disciplined life is key to mitigating negative influences and maximizing positive ones.