Prastaara Ashtakavarga (PAV)
Prastaara Ashtakavarga (PAV) is a detailed spreadsheet representation of the Ashtakavarga system. "Prastaara" means "spread-out," indicating that this format shows the exact references from which a planet is benefic in each sign.
While Bhinna Ashtakavarga (BAV) shows the total number of benefic points in each sign for a planet, PAV goes a step further by showing exactly which of the 8 references (7 planets + lagna) contribute those benefic points.
Purpose and Importance
Using the BAV of a planet, we can find out the signs in which it is benefic with respect to more references and the signs in which it is malefic with respect to more references. However, for detailed transit analysis, this is sometimes not enough.
For example, if we know that a planet is benefic in Taurus with respect to 5 references, that may not be sufficient for specific predictions. We may need to know exactly what those 5 references are.
If we are looking for Jupiter's transit that brings marriage, for example, we may want Jupiter to be benefic in his transit sign with respect to certain specific planets (Venus or the 7th lord, for example). In such situations, PAV becomes invaluable.
How to Create Prastaara Ashtakavarga
To create the PAV of a planet, we need to:
- Determine the houses in which the planet is benefic from each of the 8 references (using standard tables)
- Convert these houses to actual signs based on the positions of the references in the chart
- Create a spreadsheet showing which references make the planet benefic in each sign
Example of Prastaara Ashtakavarga
Let's consider an example of Mercury's PAV:
| From | Ar | Ta | Ge | Cn | Le | Vi | Li | Sc | Sg | Cp | Aq | Pi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Moon | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mars | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Mercury | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jupiter | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Venus | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Saturn | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Lagna | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total (BAV) | 7 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
In this table:
- A value of 1 indicates that Mercury is benefic in that sign from that reference
- A value of 0 indicates that Mercury is malefic in that sign from that reference
- The last row shows the total number of benefic points (rekhas) in each sign, which corresponds to Mercury's BAV
For example, we can see that Mercury is benefic in Aries with respect to Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Venus, Saturn, and Lagna, but not with respect to Jupiter.
Applications of Prastaara Ashtakavarga
Detailed Transit Analysis
PAV is particularly useful for detailed transit analysis. It allows astrologers to see exactly which references make a transiting planet benefic in a particular sign.
For example, if Jupiter is transiting Taurus, and we want to know if this transit will bring marriage, we can check if Jupiter is benefic in Taurus with respect to Venus (significator of marriage) or the 7th lord.
Specific Event Prediction
PAV allows for more specific event predictions by considering the relationship between transiting planets and specific references that are relevant to the event in question.
For example, for career matters, we might be particularly interested in whether a transiting planet is benefic with respect to the 10th lord or Saturn (karaka for career).
Relationship with Bhinna Ashtakavarga
It's important to note that from PAV, we can easily construct BAV. The sum of all the entries in each column (sign) in a PAV gives the number of rekhas in that sign in BAV, as shown in the last row of the example table.
In this way, PAV can be seen as the detailed breakdown of BAV, providing the specific information that makes up the summary numbers in BAV.