Aprakash Grahas, Upagrahas & Pranapada

In Brhat Parashara Hora Shastra 3rd chapter (Santhanam Ed.), Maharishi Parashara enumerates about 5 Aprakash Grahas, 5
Upagrahas and Pranapada. These affect the life of the native at a very subtle level, since these Upagrahas do not have body of
their own and behave like shadowy planets. The effects can be visible not only in the dasa of the planets associating with them,
but also during the whole life of the native, which can be modified by the influences of the dasas etc. The importance of these
bodies can be seen from the place where these are described. They are described in the same chapter where the Grahas
(planets) are described. Thus Maharishi wanted us to check the influences of these planets as well in addition to the visible
planets to delineate horoscope in details.

Important Terms and Concepts:

1 day = 24 hrs = 60 Ghati
1 Hr = 2.5 Ghati;
1 Ghati = 60 Vighati;
1 min = 2.5 Vighati
Ista Kala = Birth time Sunrise/ Sunset (Time elapsed after sunrise or sunset)
Ista Ghati = Ista Kala measure in ghati
Dinamana = Duration of the day = Sunset Sunrise
Ratrimana = Duration of the night = Sunrise of next day Sunset
Sunrise Definition = Apparent rise of upper limb of Sun (as seen on a clear day)
References from Brhat Parashari Hora Shastra (chapter 3)


tryadhyavivabhgaica caturbhaih sahito ravih |
dhmo nma mahdosah sarvakarmavinakah || 61||


dhmo mand a
latah uddho vyatpto'tra dosadah |
sasadbho'tra vyatptah pariveso'tidosakr t || 62||


parivesacyutacakrdindracpastu dosadah |
vitryasyast i bhgdhyacpah ketukhago'ubhah || 63||


ekariyutah ketuh sryatulyah prajyate |
aprakagrahcaite pp dosapradh smr th || 64||
61-64. Aprakash Grahas. Add 4 Ris 13 degrees and 20 minutes of arc to Sryas longitude at a given moment to get the
exact position of the all inauspicious Dhoom. Reduce Dhoom from 12 Ris to arrive at Vyatipat. Vyatipat is also inauspicious.
Add six Ris to Vyatipat to know the position of Parivesh. He is extremely inauspicious. Deduct Parivesh from 12 Ris to
arrive at the position of Chap (Indra Dhanus), who is also inauspicious. Add 16 degrees 40 minutes to Chap, which will give
Ketu (UpaKetu), who is a malefic. By adding a Ri to UpaKetu, you get the original longitude of Srya. These are the Grahas,
devoid of splendour, which are malefics by nature and cause affliction.


sryendulagnagesvesu vayurjnananam |
iti dhmdidosn sthitih padmsanodit || 65||
65. Effects of Sub-Grahas. If one of these afflicts Srya, the natives dynasty will decline, while Candr and Lagn, respectively,
associated with one of these, will destroy the longevity and wisdom. So declared Lord Brahma, the Lotus-Born.


ravivrdianyanta gulikdi nirpyate |
divasnast a
dh bhaktv vred ganeyat kramt || 66||


ast mo'o nirah sycchanyao gulikahsmr tah |
rtrimapyast a
dh kr tv vret pacamditah || 67||


ganayedast amah khand o nisyatih parikrtitah |
nyao gulikah prokto ravyaah klasajakah || 68||


bhaumo mr tyurdist o gurvao yamaghant kah |
somyo'rdhapraharakah svasvadeodbhavah sphut a
h || 69||
66-69. Calculations of Gulika and other upagrahas: The portions of Srya etc. up to ani denote the periods of Gulik and
others. Divide the day duration (of any week day) into eight equal parts. The eighth portion is Lord-less. The seven portions are
distributed to the seven Grahas commencing from the Lord of the week day, while 8th portion governed by Gulika. Similarly
make the night duration into eight equal parts and distribute these, commencing from the Lord of the 5th. Here again, the eighth
portion is Lord-less and represent the portion of Gulika. Sryas portion is Kaal, Mangals portion is Mrityu, Gurus portion is
Yamaghantak and Budhs portion is Ardhaprahar. These durations differently apply to different places (commensurate with
variable day and night durations).



gulikest a
vallagna sphut a yat svasvadeajam |
gulika procyate tasmjjtakasya phala vadet || 70||
70. Gulikas Position. The degree, ascending at the time of start of Gulikas portion (as above), will be the longitude of Gulika at
a given place. Based on this longitude only, Gulikas effects for a particular nativity is estimated.



gulikest a
vallagna sphut a
yat svasvadeajam |
gulika procyate tasmjjtakasya phala vadet || 70||


bhapdasamaih prnaicardyarkatrikonabht |
udaydist a
klnta yadbha prnapada hi tat || 71||


svest a
kla palkr tya tithypta bhdika ca yat |
cargadvibhasasthe'rke bhanau yu navame sute || 72||


sphut a
prnapadkhya tallagna jeya dvijottama |
lagnd dvikone turye ca rjye prnapada tad || 73||



ubha janma vijnyttathaivaikdae'pi ca |
anyasthne sthita cet syt tad janmubha vadet || 74||

71-74. Calculation of Pranapad: Convert the given time into Vighatis and divide the same by 15. The resultant Ri, degrees
etc. be added to Srya, if he is in a Movable Ri, which will yield Pranapad. If Srya is in a Fixed Ri, add 240 degrees
additionally and, if in a Dual Ri, add 120 degrees in furtherance to get Pranapad. The birth will be auspicious, if Pranapad
falls in the 2nd, 5th, 9th, 4th, 10th, or 11th from the natal Lagn. In other Bhavas Pranapad indicates an inauspicious birth.