Perils of a Wrong

Muhurta
A Case Study
By
Shanmukha, India

his write-up is reverentially

dedicated to my father Sri T.
Nooka Raju, for giving me the
idea to write this. A brief introduction
about him is given below, which is the
background story that triggered this writeup.

Shanmukha, a graduate in Electronics

and Communication Engineering, works in
a Scientific organization of Indian Govt. He
started his study of Astrology when he was
22 years old and though not traditionally
trained; he is very fond of the wonderful
system of Jaimini and learns it from his
Guru Sri Iranganti Rangacharya. He is now
working on ancient commentaries on
Jaimini and writes some of his musings on
Jaimini system at his personal blog
http://sutramritam.blogspot.com

1. Introduction
My father is an Ayurvedic RMP
(Registered Medical Practitioner), yet
practices Allopathic system for his
livelihood. Though he was not trained in
Astrology, he was attracted to the science
since his childhood, while he was learning
Ayurveda from his Guru in traditional
Gurukula system, where he used to live in
his Gurus house, doing daily chores in the
house. His Guru was a traditional Vaidya
Vidvan and initiated my father into daily
Puja, Bhagavadgita etc, which my father
follows till the date. My father does the
Gita Parayana Yagna and gives the
discourses on Gita during Karthika month
and conducts Gita Jayanti celebrations
every year for the last three decades.

As he is a medical practitioner in a village, he visits the villages nearby and does his practice,
so he gets the chance to mingle with various kinds of people, which enriched his knowledge.
Though my father is not highly educated, but learnt various systems like mantras for snake
bites, preparing Talismans from the Sanyasis roaming in our native villages out of his
interest. Similarly he learnt fixing Muhurtas based on his interaction with Pandits in our
village.
When I told my father that I was learning astrology, he encouraged me and at the same time
cautioned me by telling an incident in his life. As my father is a well known person in our
village, people come to cross check the Muhurta, even though they would have already
gotten it fixed by a competent Pandit. Sometimes, poor people directly come to him and
request for a Muhurta. Once, a known person came to him and asked for a Muhurta, he
fixed it by looking at the Panchanga. After sometime he realized that it was a wrong
Muhurta given in the Panchanga, which he missed to cross-check. My father explains that
after that incident, he faced a lot of problems in his life. He says that he was running bad
times like Sade-sathi etc. of course. From that day, he developed the habit of cross-checking
every Muhurtha he came across in the wedding invitations he receives. So, he cautioned me
Fixing Muhurta is not an easy task; its like changing ones fate from that moment, so the Astrologer
needs to take extra caution while doing so. Henceforth, even I learnt Muhurta part; I never tried
to fix Muhurta for I fear I am not very competent to do that.
Recently, when I visited my village, my father drew a chart before me and asked me What
are the faults in this Muhurtha? I explained the faults in that Muhurta based on my
knowledge. Then, he told me that this was a Muhurtha given in a popular Panchanga
(Almanac) in our region and explained that bridegroom died in an accident four days after
his marriage conducted in the above cited Muhurtha. My father complained that he found
not much strength, which is essential for the important ceremonies like marriage. This
article contains two such Muhurthas from his observations which proved detrimental for the
respective lives of the couple.
It is not the intention of this write up to attribute the mishap solely to the defects of the
Muhurta, but to highlight the importance of selecting good Muhurta, lest the bad Yogas in
the birth chart will trigger the disaster.

Basic Rules in fixing Marriage Muhurta1:

Any Muhurta shall be free of Ekavimshati (21) Mahadoshas. Kalidasa explains that a
Muhurta sullied with any of these 21 Mahadoshas shall be rejected as it is fatal even if good
placements of planets in Vargottama, exalted, or own house etc.

1
2

This article draws heavily from Muhurta Kalpadrimamu (Telugu) Sri Iranganti Rangacharya.
Muhurta Sindhuvu (Telugu) Sri Vadrevu Suryanarayana Murthi Page 58

tallagna ca ubhaistribhiryutamapi svoccasthitaissvlaya
svasthairyadi mitragairguasatairlagna ca paceikam |
krreu tribhavrigeu yadi v vargottamnvita
lagna doavidita yadi tad mtyuprada syttayo ||
3

Readers can refer to any standard book on Muhurta for the explanation of these 21
Mahadoshas. As name suggests, any muhurta possesses any of these doshas is strictly
prohibited. 8th house from any Lagna is the place of obstacles and hence this place must be
free from any malefic association. It is strongly suggested by the classics that 8th house must
be free from occupation of any planet (malefic or benefic) for any auspicious ceremonies.
Benefic planets in 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th and 11th is recommended. But Moon in Ascendant
is strictly prohibited for any auspicious occasion. Natural malefic planets in 3rd, 6th and 11th
increase the strength of Muhurta. 7th house also needs to be free from placement of any planet
( jmitra uddhi)

We give below some very basic rules in selecting a good muhurta for marriage. The readers
are cautioned that this list is not exhaustive.
1.1

Month of Marriage:

Lunar Vaisakha, Jyeshta, Maagha and Phalguna months are best for marriage. Karthika and
Margasira months are medium and the rest are bad for the marriage.

4


vaikha phalguo mgho jyehacaite ubhaprad|
msaudvahane mrgomadhyo anyetvaubhmat||

1.2

Nakshatra of Marriage:

The
following
Nakshatras
without
Vedha
are
suitable
for
marriage.
Mrigasira, Hasta, Moola, Anuradha, Magha, Rohini, Revati, Uttara, Uttarashadha,
Uttrabhadra, Swati.
1.3

Tithi of Marriage:

Rikta tithis like Chaturthi, Navami, Chaturdasi and Amavasya are not recommended and
rest are suitable. Ashtami and Shashti are also not suitable according to some savants. Sukla
3

Muhurta Sindhu English by Sri Iranganti Rangacharya;

Muhurtha Sidhuvu Telugu by Vadrevu Suryanarayana Murthi. In our humble view this book
contains lucid explanations useful for the beginner.
4
Muhurta Kalpadrimamu (Telugu) By Sri Iranganti Rangacharya 1976, page

Pratipat, Chaturthi, Ashtami, Navami, Chaturdasi, Krishna Chaturthi, Ashtami, Navami,

Shashti, Dwadasi, Trayodasi, Chaturdasi and Amavasya are not suitable for marriage.
1.4

Weekday of Marriage:

All weekdays except Sunday, Saturday and Tuesday are suitable. According to some experts
Monday results in second marriage, which was accepted as suitable for second marriage by Kalidasa.
There was a karika which allows Muhurtas during night time of Sunday, Saturday and
Tuesdays. Yet, it will be wise to adhere to the most accepted norms while selecting Muhurta
for important ceremonies like marriage.

na vrado prabhavanti rtrau vieato'rkvanibhannm

1.5

Ascendant of Marriage:

The following table gives the results of marriage various Ascendants. If lord of Asc. or the
Jupiter aspects the Asc., this evil will be mitigated.

dridrya badhiratanau divdhalagne vvaidhavya iumaraa nidhalagne |
pagvage nikhiladhanvinamyu sarvatrdhipa gurudibhirnadoa ||

1.6

Type of Asc.

Results

Remarks

Badhira (Deaf)

Poverty

Daytime : Li, Sc
Night Time : Sg, Cp

Andha (Blind)

Daytime : Widowhood Daytime : Ar, Ta, Le

Nighttime: Childless
Night : Vi, Ge, Cn

Pangu (Lame)

Loss of Wealth

Daytime: Aq,
Night : Pi

Navamsa of Marriage:

Sagittarius, Libra, Virgo, Pisces and Gemini Navamsa of any Ascendant are suitable for
marriage. Pisces is prohibited by some savants. The last Navamsa of any Ascendant is
prohibited except if the Navamsa is Vargottama.
Exception: If Moon is in Capricorn or Libra, the Movable Asc. and Movable Navamsa are
prohibited even though Vargottama.

Bad Position of Planets at Marriage:

Saturn in 12th, Mars in 10th, Venus in 3rd, Moon or any malefic in Ascendant are bad for
marriage Muhurta.
Any one of Lord of Muhurta Lagna, Venus, Moon in 6th is bad.
Similarly, the Moon, Lord of Lagna, Mars and any benefic in 8th is bad.
Any planet in 7th is also bad
1.7

Good placements for the planets:

Sun, Ketu, Rahu, and Saturn in 3rd, 11th, 8th and 6th.
Mars in 3rd, 11th and 6th
Moon in 2nd, 3rd, 11th
Mercury, Jupiter except in 7th, 8th, 12th
Venus except in 8th, 3rd, 7th, 6th, 12th
1.8

Specific Bad Placements:

Saturn or Sun in Ascendant.

Moon in Ascendant, 6th, 8th
Mars in Ascendant, 8th
Mercury, Jupiter in 8th
Sun and Rahu combined in Asc.
Venus in 6th or 8th
Any planet in 7th.

2. Case Studies:
2.1

Case 1:

This is the first case observed by my father. The wedding invitation was given to my father
on the night of 6th April 2004, just a day before the marriage. As a habit my father checked
the Muhurta in the Almanac (Panchanga) and found there is a major fault in the Muhurta.
Since, it was just a day before, he couldnt do much to explain them. The marriage was
conducted on the given Muhurta. He was so scared about the Muhurta and the bridegroom
resides in the same village my father practices his medical practice, he quite often visits
them and inquires about his life, without telling him about his apprehensions. But, fate is so
cruel that this Bridegroom died in a very peculiar manner. My father narrates the incident
below.

In the village, there is a dried open deep well in which there was a bore-well fixed for agricultural
water supply. There was drizzle for two days before the incident. On the day, three members including
this bridegroom were repairing the bore well. The first person went into the well and suddenly
collapsed there beside the wall. Then, our bridegroom anxiously entered and also collapsed upside
down. The third person entered the well using a rope, felt breathless right in the middle and wisely
came out. Then, a group of farmers tried to pull out the person inside the well by knotting the rope. As
the first person collapsed and sat leaning the wall, they could rescue him by gripping rope to his hand.
The second person, our bridegroom, was upside down; they couldnt do much and couldnt save his life.
They found that Oxygen was nil in the deep well by sending a cock and side and found it dead.
As the birth data is not available, let us see what is in-store in marriage Muhurta?

Case 1: April 7th, 2004 at 07:30 Hrs, at 17N41, 83E03, IST

The Pandit fixed this Muhurta which was given in a popular Panchanga in our region. The
Pandit didnt even care to do the needed time correction, which is almost +2 minutes for the
place the Panchanga was prepared. The Panchanga5 was prepared for the year 2004-2005 by
Sri Butte Virabhadra Daivagna, Srisaila Asthana Siddhanti. He uses Surya Siddhanta based
calculations, whose Ayanamsa is near to Dr. Ramans Ayanamsa. The scanned images of
wedding invitation card and the Muhurta mentioned in Panchanga, which are in Telugu are
also given below.

It shall be noted here that the Panchanga makers use either Purva Paddhati or Drik Paddati methods in
preparing their Panchangas. In Purva Paddati scheme, they apply necessary Bija Samskaras
(Corrections) to comply with Observatory results and dont apply the necessary Bija Samskara
(Corrections) for Sun and Moon. That means the Tithi, Karana etc. are done from their own
calculations based on various Karana Granthas, which means the longitudes of Sun and Moon cant be
justified with Observatory results. The Drik Paddati method applies all Bija Samskaras for all planet
that is in accordance with the Astronomical Observatory results. The above cited Panchanga is based on
Purva Paddati, which means the longitude of Moon as well as tithi etc. need not match with the
software based calculations, let what ever be the Ayanamsa. Readers can read any standard work or
Calander Review Committee reports for much understanding of the concept.

2.1.1 Analysis of Muhurta Chart:

We shall not dwell into the Ekavimshati Maha Doshas in this article since it itself takes
more than an article. Readers are requested to refer to any standard text on Muhurta. We
shall concentrate on very basic rules that were not followed in this Muhurta.
First and foremost, there is no (jmitra uddhi) for the Aries Ascendant and
Libra Navamsa Muhurta as Ketu and Moon are occupied in 7th house of marriage. For a
marriage muhurta, this is of utmost important factor along with Asthama Suddhi.

Of late, new research scholars are advocating that benefic planets in 7th is acceptable, yet the
classical literature always denies any planet in 7th which is unfortunately not followed. The
following verse of Sage Vasishta explains the same.

sarve jmitra sasthvidadhati maraam

This Jamitra Dosha can be mitigated when a strong benefic aspects the Ascendant. This
case Jupiter placed in Vargottama aspects Aries, but he similarly had malefic aspects
from Mars and Saturn.
Ascendant was occupied by Rahu and retrograde Mercury. According to some classical
literature, Rahu, Ketu being shadow planets doesnt have malfeasance for Muhurta, yet
being malefic associating Moon proves strong malefic for this Muhurta. Mercury being
associated with Rahu Ketu axis also becomes malefic & reduces the strength of Muhurta
Ascendant.

 It is a known fact that at least 5 planets shall be strong for any Muhurta by occupying the
respective houses from Asc. For example, malefic in 3, 6, 11th and benefics in Kendra and
trines etc. In this case, Jupiter in 5th Leo and Saturn in 3rd Gemini were strong and the
remaining all planets were not anyway fortifying Ascendant.
Refer to exception in point 2.6 above. This case Moon in Libra and hence any Movable
Ascendant or Movable Navamsa is prohibited for marriage Muhurta, which
unfortunately not followed.
Though it is not a complete Kartari Yoga, but Mars in 2nd and Sun in 12th from Muhurta
Ascendant weakens the strength of the Muhurta.
The Karaka for marriage Venus is conjunct with inimical Mars and also subjected to
Kartari of malefic planets.
The 7th from Moon is also occupied by malefic planets.

2.2

Case 2: 5th November, 2009 at 19:03 hrs 17N41, 83E03, IST6

his is another case of Muhurta, where the Bridegroom died after a couple of days of
marriage. This Muhurta was given in one of the famous Panchangas of Coastal
Andhra Pradesh districts, published from Kakinada. It seems the almanac maker
uses Ayanamsa near to Lahiri. The Pandit, who fixed the Muhurta as given in the
Panchanga didnt care to cross-check the important factors in fixing up a Muhurta. He,
unfortunately, even didnt do the necessary correction in Ascendant time required to adjust
the Muhurta to the Pushkaramsa of the Lagna. As a tradition, the Muhurtas are fixed for the
respective Pushkaramsa of the signs. The following table gives the Pushkaramsa for the
signs.
Signs
Puskara Amsa Degree
Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
21
Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
14
Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
24
Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
7

For correct Pushkaraamsa, the Asc. should be at 14, which needs correction in time.

2.2.1 Analysis of Muhurta Chart.

Let us check the important factors that were unfortunately over looked in fixing up the
Muhurta. Since, we dont have the birth details of the couple, we cant deduce the Longevity
and compatibility factor in the charts of the couple, which is very important in marriage.
Moon occupies the Ascendant in Taurus. Have a look at the section 2.7 above, which
prohibits Moon in Ascendant for marriage Muhurta. Moon with full digital strength is
highly benefic, yet Moon in Lagna is not a welcome factor. Any other benefic like Jupiter
with strength is welcome.
The following verse of Brihaspati explains Moon is not acceptable in Ascendant while
explaining about Vishaghati Dosha.

cadroviaghadoa hatikendra trikoaga |

lagna vin ubhairda kendrev lagnapastath

Venus in 6th is a very important Mahadosha that shall be considered for any Muhurta.
There is an exception mentioned by Kashyapa vide the following.

ncagetu turyev atruketragatopi v |
bhguahodbhavo doonsttyatrana saaya ||

Venus in 6th dosha can be mitigated when Venus is debilitated or in inimical signs Cancer,
Leo, and Sagittarius.
In this case, the Venus occupied his own sign, which is not tune with the exception, thus
making a major Mahadosha. In fact, other savants like Kalidasa dont approve this
exception, though.
Lord of Ascendant (Venus) occupying 6th itself is another fault, which was unfortunately
over - looked. The following verse explains the important factors to consider

Muhurta Kalpadrimamu (Telugu) Iranganti Rangacharya. Page No - 108

vyaye ani khe'vanijasttye

bhgustanaucadrakhal naast|
lagnetkavirgaucarifaumtauglau
lagne ubhrcamadeca sarve ||
Translation: Saturn in 12th, Moon or any malefic in Ascendant, Mars in 10th, Venus in 3rd is

not acceptable. Similarly, anyone among Lord of Muhurta Lagna, Venus, Moon in 6th is bad
for marriage muhurta. Any benefic in 8th, Lord of Muhurta Lagna or Mars in 8th is also not
acceptable. Any planet in 7th is not good for marriage Muhurta.
For any Muhurta, the strength is decided by the placement of benefic planets in
quadrants and trines, similarly, malefic planets in 3rd, 6th, and 11th. In this case, only Ketu,
Mars and Sun had the respective placement. For the people in the southern region like Andhra
Pradesh, the strength of Jupiter is a must. Even Jupiter occupying 9th house, he is very weak
by debilitation and close conjunction with Rahu. As indicated above, important
ceremonies like marriage, at least five planets shall be in strength by occupying respective
places, which gives the strength to the Muhurta. In this Muhurta, only malefic planets
occupy some good placements, no benefic is in good position. Look at the chart, no
benefic occupied any quadrant, even if Moon in Ascendant which is not acceptable, no
benefic in trine except Jupiter in 9th sullied by Rahu resulting Guru Chandala Yoga.

3. Conclusion:
It is shown in the above two charts how important is selection of Good Muhurta for
auspicious ceremonies like marriage. There are a couple of divergent views by the ancient
savants regarding the selection of Muhurta for various occasions, yet all agree to the point
that Ekavimshati Mahadoshas shall be checked for any Muhurta. Since the birth details of
the natives were not available, only Muhurta charts are analyzed for any major faults in the
Muhurta. If the charts are available, the picture would have been much clear as to which led
to catastrophic effects on the bridegroom.