The Moon's Conjunction with Ashadha

Ashadhee Yoga Definition

Definition

The period of a day when the Moon passes through the asterism of Uttarashadha in the lunar month of Ashadha

Observation Time

At the time of the full Moon in Ashadha

Seed Weighing Ritual

At the time of the full Moon in Ashadha, take equal weights of several kinds of seeds and keep them for a night being sanctified with the Mahavrata hymn.

Seeds that Increase in Weight

Will flourish

Seeds that Diminish in Weight

Will not thrive

Balance Specifications

Component	Specification
Scale-pans	Silken cloth, 6 inches long and wide
Fastening strings	Four strings, 10 inches long each
Cord between scales	6 inches in length
Balance length	12 inches

Balance Material (in order of preference)

Best Golden balance
Middling Silver balance
Alternative Khadira (Acacia catechu) wood
Alternative Shaft by which a man is wounded

Note: An inch is the space covered by 8 grains of barley placed side by side, or 3 grains placed lengthwise, or the breadth of the human finger.

Weighing Procedures

Right Hand Pan

Gold should be placed

Left Hand Pan

All other articles and water

Water Weighing for Rainfall Prediction

Weigh severally the waters of wells, rivers and lakes. The rain will be:

Meagre Rain

Well water proves heaviest

Moderate Rain

River water proves heaviest

Copious Rain

Lake water proves heaviest

Value Determination by Weighing

Subject	Measured By
Elephants	Amount of ivory
Cows, horses, and the like	Their hair
Kings	Amount of gold in their treasuries
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, etc.	Beeswax
Countries, years, months, quarters	Beeswax
Other substances	Their actual weight

Interpretation of Weight Changes

This is called the secret of weighing treasures with the balance. This applies equally to the Moon's conjunction with Rohini also.

Diminished Weight

Will be lost

Increased Weight

Will thrive

Same Weight

Will be indifferent

Planetary Influences

Evil planets standing in Swati, Uttarashadha or Rohini during the Moon's conjunction cause misery in the land.

In the case of an intercalary Ashadha month occurring, one should observe both the lunar conjunctions with devotional fasting.

Comparison of Conjunction Results

When Results are the Same

When the results of the Moon's conjunctions with Rohini, Swati and Ashadha are the same, the prediction — good or bad — is to be made unhesitatingly.

When Results are Different

If they be different, the effects of Rohini alone will prevail.

Wind Direction Effects During Conjunction

According as the wind blows from different directions during the Moon's conjunction with Ashadha:

Direction	Effect	Severity
East	Good harvest	Excellent
South-east	Raging of fire	Dangerous
South	Little rain	Poor
South-west	Middling rain	Moderate
West	Very good rain	Good
North-west	Copious rain accompanied by winds	Mixed
North	Abundant and beneficial rain	Excellent

Specific Predictions

4th Day Dark Half Prediction

If, after the full Moon in the month of Ashadha, the rain God pours down rain on the 4th day of the dark half at the asterism of Purvashadha, the rainy season will prove beneficial; otherwise, not.

North-easterly Wind at Sunset

If there is a north-easterly wind on the full-moon day of Ashadha at sunset, there will be an excellent growth of crops.

Key Principles

Ashadhee Yoga occurs when Moon passes through Uttarashadha in the month of Ashadha.
Observation is made at the time of the full Moon in Ashadha.
Seeds are weighed at full Moon after being sanctified with Mahavrata hymn for one night.
Seeds that increase in weight will flourish; those that diminish will not thrive.
The balance should be invoked through specific hymns recognizing it as daughter of Brahman.
Balance specifications: silken cloth pans (6"×6"), four strings (10" each), cord (6").
Balance material preference: gold (best), silver (middling), Khadira wood (alternative).
Balance length should be 12 inches.
Gold placed in right pan; all other articles and water in left pan.
Water weighing predicts rainfall: well water heaviest = meagre rain, river = moderate, lake = copious.
Value determination varies: elephants by ivory, cows/horses by hair, kings by gold, Brahmins/Kshatriyas by beeswax.
Weight changes indicate future: diminished = lost, increased = thrive, same = indifferent.
This weighing method applies equally to Moon's conjunction with Rohini.
Evil planets in Swati, Uttarashadha or Rohini during conjunction cause misery in the land.
Intercalary Ashadha month requires observing both lunar conjunctions with devotional fasting.
When Rohini, Swati and Ashadha results are same, predict unhesitatingly; if different, Rohini prevails.
Wind direction effects: east = good harvest, south-east = fire, south = little rain, south-west = middling rain, west = very good rain, north-west = copious rain with winds, north = abundant beneficial rain.
Rain on 4th day dark half at Purvashadha after full Moon = beneficial rainy season.
North-easterly wind at sunset on full-moon day = excellent crop growth.