- February 03, 2008

Nature of Drekkana
Signs Drekkana
I II III
Mesha Ayudha/ Chatuspada Chatuspada Ayudha
Vrisha Chatuspada Sarpa/ Chatuspada
Chatuspada
Mithuna Chatuspada Ayudha/ Ayudha
Pakshi
Karkata Chatuspada/ Varaha Sarpa Sarpa
Simha Ayudha/ Pakshi/ Ayudha Ayudha/
Chatuspada Chatuspada
Kanya Pakshi Pakshi Pakshi
Tula Pakshi Pakshi Chatuspada
Vrishchika Sarpa Sarpa/ Pasha Chatuspada
Dhanu Pakshi - Ayudha
Makar Pakshi/ Chatuspada Chatuspada Chatuspada
Kumbha Ayudha Ayudha Ayudha
Meen Ayudha Ayudha Sarpa

 The Drekkana of the malefics are called Agni drekkana

 The Drekkana of the benefics are called Jala drekkana
 The drekkanas of both benefic and malefic planets or three aspected by both malefics and
benefics are called Mixed drekkanas.
 The drekkana falling in the 8th house is called the Death drekkana.

Charactestics Of Drekkana
Aries
Drekkana I:
Masculine, a black colored man wearing a white dhoti holding high an axe in his hand, gives the
impression that he is clever enough in protecting others, fierce in appearance, reddish eyes.

Drekkana II:
Feminine, quadruped, a woman wearing red clothes, fond of dressing up, pot belly, face
resembles a horse, looks tired with thirst, standing on one foot.

Drekkana III:
Masculine, sadistic, skilled in arts, especially in musical lines, reddish color, interested in
religious rites like Homa, active but foiled in attempts, wears red clothes, holds a stick high.
Taurus:
Drekkana I:
Female, curly hair but cut, big belly, partly burnt clothes, thirsty, hungry, fond of jewels.

Drekkana II:
Masculine, quadruped, skilled at cultivation of land and in fine arts, possesses a house, cattle,
trades in charcoal and carts, neck like a bull, very hungry, face like a goat.

Drekkana III:
Masculine, quadruped, big body like an elephant, white teeth, long legs like a camel, brown
colored, hair like a deer's, fickle-minded.

Gemini:
Drekkana I:
Female, fond of needle work, hence her hands are raised, fond of jewels, has reached puberty
but without children.

Drekkana II:
Masculine, bird, manly appearance, standing in a flower garden, armed with a bow, face like a
bird (vulture), thoughts are always on children, wealth and ornaments, fond of fun.

Drekkana III:
Masculine, man adorned with studded ornaments, mail coat, quiver, armed with a bow, well
versed in music, dance and poetry writing.

Cancer:
Drekkana I:
Masculine, quadruped, man holding leaves and medicinal roots, fruits, poised on a sandalwood
tree in the forest, fat like an elephant, long legs like a chamel, face like a pig's, neck like a
horse's.

Drekkana II:
Feminine, serpent, snakes coiled on her body, decorated with lotus flowers on her head, quite
youthful, resting on the branch of a Phalasa (jack) tree and shouting.
Drekkana III:
Masculine, serpent, one traveling in a ship on sea to get jewels for his wife, serpents are coiled
around him, has ornaments, nose and face bend down slightly.

Leo
Drekkana I:
Human, masculine, quadruped, bird, looks like a vulture and a jackal on the branch of a cotton
tree, dirty clothes, has no father or mother, keeps on shouting.

Drekkana II:
White garland on the head, covers the body with black skin and blanket, armed with a bow, lion's
courage, nose bent forward or beak-nosed.

Drekkana III:
Masculine, quadruped, curly headed, long hair on face, face like a monkey, active and nimble
like a monkey, habits like monkey, carries a stick, fruits and flesh in hand.

Virgo:
Drekkana I:
Feminine, a young girl covered in dirty clothes holding a vessel full of flowers, great desire for
clothes and wealth, desires to go to her father's house.

Drekkana II:
Feminine, whole body is covered with hair, black in color, cloth tied on head, armed with a bow,
desires writing a letter to her husband.

Drekkana III:
Feminine, golden color, body covered with a wet white silk, tall, vessels on hand, going to a
temple.

Libra
Drekkana I:
Masculine, a man sitting in his shop in a business area with a silver scale and weights, thinking
about business and profits.
Drekkana II:
Masculine, bird, face like a bird, thinks about his wife, children, hunger and thirst, likes to go
away with the vessel on hand.

Drekkana III:
Masculine, quadruped, frightens animals in the forest, decorated with precious stones, monkey-
like in shape, has a golden mail coat.

Scorpio
Drekkana I:
Feminine, serpent, a beautiful lady shorn of her clothes and ornaments, travelling from the
middle of the lake to the shore, snakes have coiled around her legs.

Drekkana II:
Feminine, serpent, snakes coil around her body, pot belly, her thoughts center on how to make
her husband happy.

Drekkana III:
Quadruped, square face like a tortoise, scares away dog, pig, fox and deer, safeguards a
sandalwood forest.

Sagittarius:
Drekkana I:
Male and quadruped, man with the body of a horse, armed with a long bow, lives in a hut in the
forest protecting sanyasis and articles used in religious performances.

Drekkana II:
Feminine, very pleasing color like gold and the champaka flower, separates gems in the ocean,
seated on a Badraasana.

Drekkana III:
Masculine, long face, color of gold and champaka flower, seated in a prominent place holding a
stick and wearing silk and a deer skin.

Capricorn:
Drekkana I:
Masculine, hair all over body, stout, protruding teeth, armed with chain, rod and net, fearful face.

Drekkana II:
Feminine, proficient in all art, very pleasing eyes, dark blue color, fond of tasty dishes, ornaments
around the neck.

Drekkana III:
Masculine and quadruped, horse's face, human body, covered with a blanket, armed with a
"kavacha" (shield), carries on his shoulder a pot studded with various gemstones.

Aquarius:
Drekkana I:
Masculine and bird, wants to procure oil, food, liquor and water, wears a blanket, silk and
antelope skin, face looks like a vulture.

Drekkana II:
Feminine, dressed in dirty clothes, vessels on head, collects metal pieces in a blanket, in a forest
of cotton trees.

Drekkana III:
Masculine, black colored, wears a crown, ears full of hair, carries bark, leaves, gum and fruits,
goes from one place to another.

Pisces:
Drekkana I:
Masculine, man handling articles for a Yagya, gemstones, coral, conch, tired hands, walks while
shaking his hands, sails over water to bring ornaments for wife.

Drekkana II:
Human, feminine, watery, young lady with a beautiful face shining like a champaka flower with
her retinue sailing over the sea to the other side, with a high flag staff.

Drekkana III:
Human, serpent, a man shouting beside a pit in the forest, his hands and legs are coiled by
snakes, thieves have stolen all his wealth, he is afraid, he keeps crying aloud.
Progeny in Jyotish II: Number & sex of
children
- August 26, 2005

Number of children
1. The number of children can be found out by counting the Navamsa gained by the 5th
lord.

For example, the 5th lord is placed in Virgo Rasi and Gemini Navamsa. Counting from Gemini
(Navamsa) to Virgo Rasi [Virgo (6) - Gemini (3) = 3], we have four signs, i.e., the 5th lord has to
gain three Navamsas to reach Virgo or upto three children should be anticipated (COVA- Page
190). This is however a crude method can can be used with care.

Max. no. of child = Rasi sign – Navamsa Sign

Pt. Rath says that, for this method to work, the 5th lord should be placed with the Jupiter (Karaka
for Navamsa). However, from an illustration given in Page 200 of COVA, we see that this is not a
necessary condition. Here Mars is not associated or aspected by Jupiter, but the Lagna is
aspected by Jupiter from the 7th, through Rasi and Graha Drsti both. Here we might conclude
that for this method to work, Jupiter should be strongly placed in the horoscope and influence the
factors of progeny.

2. This can also be seen from the planets aspecting the 5th by Graha or Rasi Drsti.

Rider: The number of children is limited by the

Rahu - Ketu axis, unless Jupiter is strongly placed
in the D-1, to eliminate all the putra Dosas. (COVA,
Page 184)
Birth of Twins
The signs Aquarius and Scorpio have two lords each and hence if they happen to be the house
of child/ pregnancy, they can indicate twins.
Most standard texts prescribe the involvement of the Signs Gemini, Virgo, Scorpio or Aquarius
for the birth of the twins. They add Gemini and Virgo also to Aquarius and Scorpio, since the
signs are lorded by Mercury whose nature is dual.

Illustration

In the chart of the standard nativity, the 5th lord Moon is in Aquarius Rasi and Pisces Navamsa,
which shows that there are possibilities of 11 children, however while we count from Pisces we
have to stop in Taurus, because Gemini is occupied by a node. Thus the maximum no. of
children is limited to 2 only shown by the signs Aries and Taurus.

Saptamsa chart can be seen for more details about children. The details of judging Saptamsa
Chart is given in subsequent section.

 1st child: The Saptamsa Lagna is in an Odd sign and hence the counting shall be in a
zodiacal manner. The 1st child is shown by the 5th lord Mars, placed in Gemini with Moon
and Ketu.
 2nd child: The 2nd child is shown by the 7th lord Mercury. Mercury is placed in Scopio
and has exhange. Scorpio generally shows female child being an even sign. Due to the
exchange of planets, it indicate male child. Its worthwhile to note that the 6th lord, the
maraka is aspecting Mercury, showing that the child shall face terrible condition and can
face death. However, due to Graha Dristi of Jupiter on Mercury and Rasi Drsti on the
Lagna, the child is saved.

Sex of children
The Rasi Chart

For matters concerning children, the placement of the fifth lord and the planets should be seen
from the Jupiter, the naisargika putra karaka. If there are planets in strengths from the Jupiter,
they can indicate the number and nature of the children. The placement of the fifth lord from
Jupiter will indicate the extent of gains from Children etc.- Pt. Sanjay Rath (COVA, Page 169)

Normally for determination of sex of the child, the

chart of the father is a better indicator. (COVA,
Page 188)
The Saptamsa
The timing of birth of Individual children, their nature, abilities and fortune is seen in the
Saptamsa chart. This has been explained in detail by Maharishi Jaimini Upadesha Sutras.
(COVA 8.6.1)

Counting

The first child is seen from the 5th house counted zodiacally or anti-zodiacally depending on
whether the Lagna is ODD or EVEN . The subsequent pregnancies are seen from every third
house (Manduka Gat i). Thus if an odd sign ascends in the Saptamsa, the individual pregnancies
are seen in the 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th etc. If an even sign ascends in the saptamsa, the individual
pregnancies are seen in the 9th, 7th, 5th, 3rd and so on. (COVA)

After the Manduka Gati reached the point of start, the sequence of jumps would repeat again,
which can’t be allowed. To counter this problem, the next sign arrived at is by Crawling the sign.
For illustration, after the jump sequence reaches from 5th to 3rd, the next sign after 3rd would be
5th again, thus here the jump doesn’t progress to the 5th, but the 4th there in, where the frog is
supposed to be crawling, than jumping as there is no space for jumping, 5th house, being
already considered. “Thus the order of pregnancy becomes 5-7-9-11-1-3-4-6-8-10-12-2. For
even sign the sequence becomes 9-7-5-3-1-11-10-8-6-4-2-12.”

The nodes generally indicate the last child. For exapmple, if Rahu is in the 7th or joins the
seventh lord, the native may have two children. (Jaimini Sutras)

Sex of the Child

The sex of the child is seen from the lord of the sign ruling the house of pregnancy. If the lord is
exalted or conjoin male planets (Sun, Rahu, Jup, Mars), the issue is male. If the lord is debilitated
or conjoins female planets (Moon, Ketu, Venus), the issue is female. Saturn and Mercury are
eunuch planets, but they have found to indicate female and male children respectively.

If the lord of the sign is neither exalted/ debilitated, not conjoins any other planets, the sex of the
child is seen from the nature of the sign occupied by it. All Odd signs excepting the Aquarius and
Gemini are male birth signs while all the even signs, expecting Cancer and Pisces are Female
birth signs.

Riders

1. Effect of Parivartana

1.1 On Counting:
If there is a exchange of house (Parivartana Yoga)
between the Saptamsa Lagna lord and the lord of
any other house, the counting will be based on
whether the other sign is ODD or EVEN and not
the oddity of the Saptamsa Lagna. However the
counting still starts from the Saptamsa Lagna.
(COVA, Page 193)
1.2 On sex of child:

If a lord of the child associate with a planet, lets

say Venus and there is a parivartana of this planet
with another Planet, let’s say Sun. The influence of
the other planet, namely Sun will be more
dominant over the lord of the child, in
determining the sex of the child. (COVA, Page
193).
However, if there is a parivartana of the lord of child with another planet, then the sex of the child,
determined by the lord of the child is simply reversed. For e.g., if the lord of the child is Venus is
placed in Leo, with Moon and the lord of Leo, Sun is placed in house of Venus, Taurus, then the
sex of the child indicated by Venus in conjunction with Moon, i.e., Female, shall be changed to
Male.

2. Lord of child placed in house of another child

If the lord of a child is placed in the house of

another child, then one of the children indicated
by them shall survive. For illustration the 5th lord
is placed in the 7th house, one of the children
signified by the 5th and the 7th lords will survive.
(Pt. Sanjay Rath).
However, in COVA, Pt. Sanjay has presented one more viewpoint while showing the use of
Drekkana for co-borns, whereby when the counting reaches a sign which houses another lord of
the child, the count crawls over to another sign. To illustrate the point he says “However,
Capricorn houses two sisters as indicated by Mercury and Jupiter and should normally have
limited the number of elder co-borns. Since the number is actually higher, the next sign Aquarius
will indicate the co-born.” (COVA, Page 120)

2.1. Two children lords placed together:

If two lords of the child are placed together, then

one of the children shall survive. For e.g., if the
lords of 5th and 9th are placed in the same sign,
then one among the children shown by them shall
survive. However, it is difficult to determine who
among them shall survive and can only be
determined from practical events. In the present
case, if there is a miscarriage of the first child, the
3rd child shown by the 9th lord shall survive and
vice-versa.
2.2. One planet becomes lord of two children:

If one planet happens to indicate more than one

child, then the first child will be shown by the lord
of the child however, the 2nd one will be shown
by the house of the child and the planets placed
therein. To illustrate his point Pt. Rath says in
COVA- page 120, when one of the children have
been indicated by Mars (House of child – Scorpio),
and the next house of the child happens to be
Aries, Mars will not show the child, however
Aries, placed with Moon will show a sister who is
emotional (Moon) and Rash (Aries). Had there
been no planet, then Aries would have shown
male birth.
3. Saptamsa lagna lord in Marana Sthana from lord of child

If Venus becomes the lord of Saptamsa Lagna, the issues indicated by the planets in the 8th
from Venus cannot survive unless conjoins Ketu (Ganapati), as these issues will have Venus in
the Marana Sthana (Reference). The same principle can be extended to other planets. Thus in
case of Different Saptamsa Lagna, the placement of the lord of the child in the following places
cannot survive.

 Sun- 2nd
 Moon- 6th
 Mars- 7th
 Mercury- 7th
 Jupiter- 11th
 Venus - 8th
 Saturn- 1st
 Rahu - 5th

Thus the principle states that if the Saptamsa Lagna lord is placed in a Marana karaka Sthana
from the Lord of the child, then either the parent or the child survive, unless, there is a blessing.