Hora Lagna

By Yenbeeyes written on 24-12-2009

Having written about the special Lagna ‘Savayava Hora Lagna’ it becomes essential
to say a few words about the Hora Lagna itself as well as its other variations used in
Vedic Astrology.

Hence these scribblings.

Traditional Hora Lagna:

Parasara has stated as below in BPHS:

Tatha sah ardha dwi (2½) ghatikam itadaka udayat dwija

Prayati lagnam tannama hora lagnam prachakshate

Meaning: From Sun rise till birth time, the Lagna which repeats every 2½ ghatis (60
minutes or 1 hour) is called Hora Lagna.

How to calculate this is also given by him in the next sloka.

Ishta ghatyadikam dwignam panchaptam bhadikam cha

Yat yojyam udayike bhanau hora lagnam sphutam hi tat.

Meaning: Divide the time from Sun rise to birth by 2½ and add the quotient to the
longitude of Sun at Sun rise. This gives the longitude of Hora Lagna.

Since we are nowadays not conversant with ghatis and vighatis, but are familiar with
hours, minutes etc., let us translate this formula into our practical units of time.

a. Note down the time of Sun rise and the Longitude of Sun at Sunrise. (Both
are available in Jhora Software)
b. Calculate the difference between the Birth time and the Sun rise time. Since
it will be in two/three units of Hours-Minutes/Seconds – convert them into a
single unit of say-minutes.
c. Divide the number so got in the above step by 2 or multiply it by 0.5. (Both
amount to the same thing) – to get the Hora Lagna which is from Sun rise.
d. Now to get the longitude of this Lagna, add the Sun’s longitude, in degrees
noted in point one to the above result. If the resultant is more than 360 –
expunge the multiples of 360 degrees. The number got must lie within the
range of 0 to 360 degrees. This will be the Hora Lagna longitude.

Jagannath Hora software Hora Lagna calculation is based on this principle.

Let us take two examples – one day birth and one night birth.

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 Hora Lagna
By Yenbeeyes written on 24-12-2009

Example 1:

Jawaharlal Nehru

Birth time and Date: 23:36 on 14th Nov., 1889

Step 1:

Sun rise on this day: 06:19 (Sun rise definition is taken as ‘The tip of the Sun’s disk
appears to be on the eastern horizon)
Longitude of Sun: 0° Sc 17’ OR 210° 17’

Step 2:

Birth time - 23:36 OR (23 * 60 + 36) = 1416 minutes

Sun rise - 06:19 OR (06 * 60 + 19) = 379 minutes

Difference between the two = 1037

Step 3:

Divide the above number by 2 or multiply by 0.5 = (1037) * (0.5) = 518.5

Step 4:

Add the Sun’s Longitude to the number got above = 518.5 + 210° 17’
Converting 210° 17’ into decimals we get 210 + 17/60 = 210.3
Now adding 518.5 + 210.3 = 728.8
Remove multiples of 360 from the above number = 728.8 – 720 = 8.8
Hence hora Lagna will be the 1st sign of the zodiac which is Aries and its longitude
will be 8.8 or converting the decimal into degrees we get 8 + 0.8* 60 = 6th from
Janma Lagna and it will be in 0° Ar 48’ (Converting the decimal 0.8 above into
minutes). Jhora gives the Hora Lagna longitude as 0° Ar 03’ 27.10” (More precise
calculation – using computers)

(Addition on 26-12-2009)

Calculating the Hora Lagna from Janma Ghatis:

Janma Ghati for Jawaharlal Nehru as per Jhora = 43.2077=43 ghatis 12 vighatis
(Decimal 0.2077 is multiplied by 60 to get vighatis as 60 vighatis make I ghati)
Multiply this by 2 and divide by 5 = (43-12 x 2) / 5 = (86-24)/5 = 17 hrs – 16 minutes
which when converted into minutes will be = (17 x 60) + 16 = 1036 minutes. Refer
the minutes got above (1037 minutes). The difference is due to inclusion of seconds
also while calculating ghatis by Jhora software.

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 Hora Lagna
By Yenbeeyes written on 24-12-2009

The reason for showing this calculation is due to a mail received by me from one
reader expressing doubts about Ishta Kaal and Ishta Ghati.

Ishta Kaala is the time of span between Sun rise of the day and the time of
happening of an event. The birth time after Sun rise is known as Ishta ghati and is
normally expressed in ghati-vighati. Since 2.5 ghati make an hour we divide the ghati
by 2.5 or 2½ which is nothing but multiplying it by 2 and diving it by 5 (2/5) to get the
hours and minutes.

Example 2:

Author:

Date of birth: 05-10-1949 at 13:47 or 827 minutes

Sun rise: 06:01 or 361 minutes
Difference between the above two: 466
Multiplying by 0.5 we get: 233
Add Sun’s Longitude: 18° Vi 36 or 168° 36’ = 168.6 + 233 = 401.6
Expunging multiples of 360 we get = 401.6 – 360 = 41.6
Converting it into degrees = 41° 36’ which is 11° Ta 36’

As per Jhora it is 11° Ta 16’

Janma Ghati for this data as per Jhora = 19.4155=19 ghatis 25 vighatis (Decimal
0.4155 is multiplied by 60 to get vighatis which will be 24.93 rounded to 25 vighatis)
Multiply this by 2 and divide by 5 = (19-25 x 2) / 5 = (38-50)/5 = 7 hrs – 46 minutes
which when converted into minutes will be = (7 x 60) + 46 = 466 minutes. Refer the
minutes got above (466 minutes).

This is called the Traditional Hora Lagna.

Parivritti Dwaya Hora Lagna:

This is a method as enunciated by Vriddha Karikas.

Parivritti Dwaya - in a cyclical order. Each sign is divided into 2 halves - 0° to 15° will
be the first part and 16° to 30° will be the second part. Thus the 12 signs will have 24
horas. The first 6 signs viz. from Aries to Virgo will have 12 horas which will be
repeated for the next signs beginning from Libra to Pisces. The calculations will begin
from Aries and the first hora of Aries (0° to 15°) will be assigned to Aries and the next
or the 2nd hora of Aries (16° to 30°) will be kept in Taurus. When we start calculating
the hora for Taurus, we have to start from Gemini which will be the 1st hora and
Cancer will be the 2nd hora. Like that it will go on till Pisces.

The given below table is prepared for all 12 signs:

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 Hora Lagna
By Yenbeeyes written on 24-12-2009

Sign 1st Hora 2nd Hora

0° to 15° 16° to 30°
Aries Aries Taurus
Taurus Gemini Cancer
Gemini Leo Virgo
Cancer Libra Scorpio
Leo Sagittarius Capricorn
Virgo Aquarius Pisces
Libra Aries Taurus
Scorpio Gemini Cancer
Sagittarius Leo Virgo
Capricorn Libra Scorpio
Aquarius Sagittarius Capricorn
Pisce Aquarius Pisces

Savayava Hora Lagna:

I have already expressed my vies and the views of learned personalities in my article
with the same name.

Applications:

According to Mahamahopadhyaya Iranganti Ranghachari, These two types of Hora

Lagna are to be used in Longevity mainly. Parivritti Dwaya Hora Lagna is used in
Rajayogas too.

To quote the words of Learned Sri Ranghacharya:

“Make use of Parivrittidway Hora Lagna when you intend to judge the term of life by
Lagna and Hora Lagna. Make use of Savayava Hora Lagna to judge the term of life
when you intend to calculate the life span from Lagna and Hora Lagna.”

Additions made on 26-12-2009

After posting this article I came across another Hora Lagna which is explained by Sri
D.P.Saxena in his book Judgement of Longevity. I furnish below the details of the
same.

From Judgement of Longevity by D.P.Saxena

A new Hora Lagna called Kaala Hora Lagna has been explained.

1. Ishta kaala must be converted into hours, minute and seconds. Ishta kaala is the
time elapsed between sun rise and time of birth which is given as Janma ghati in
Jhora.

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 Hora Lagna
By Yenbeeyes written on 24-12-2009

If Ishta kaala is not available, we have to deduct the time of Sun rise from the Birth
time.
By dividing this Ishta Kaala or Ishta ghati by 2.5 or multiplying it by 2 and diving it
by 5, we get hours, minutes etc.

To convert Ishta ghati in ghatis to hours, minutes and seconds use the
formula:Divide the ghatis by 2.5 OR multiply by 2 and divide by 5 which will directly
give hours etc.
because 1 hour = 2½ ghati
1 ghati = 24 minutes
1 vighati = 24 seconds

2. The number of hours obtained in step 1 will denote the rasis. If the number is
more than 12, expunge multiples of 12. The number of minutes obtained in step 1
should be divided again by 2 to get the degrees. If you get any reminder thereafter
that should be converted into minutes.

3. If the Janma Lagna is even the rasis, degrees, minutes obtained have to be added
to the longitude of Lagna.

4. If Janma Lagna is Odd, the addition has to be made to the longitude of the Sun.

5. The resultant figure will be the Hora Lagna and will be named as Kaala Hora Lagna
(KHL). Mr Saxena uses this KHL for determining Longevity for the Jaimni method.

Let us experiment this KHL with our above two examples:

Example 1: Jawaharlal Nehru

1. Janma Ghati = 43.2077 as per Jhora.

Since Birth ghati is given only in ghatis divide it by 2.5 to get hours = 43.2077/2.5 =
17.28308 hours
Convert the decimal hours into minute - Multiply it by 60 = 0.28308 x 60 = 16.9848
minutes
Convert the decimal minutes in above to seconds by multiplying it by 60 = 0.9848 x
60 = 59.094 seconds
So the Ishta ghati is 17 hours 16 minute 59 seconds

2. The number obtained viz. 17 is the number of rasis. Since it is more than 12 we
deduct 12 to get 5 rasis.
Dividing the minutes by 2 we get the degrees which is 16/2 = 8 degrees.
Dividing the seconds by 2 we get the minutes which is 59/2 = 29 minutes
So we get the longitude as 5s 8° 29’.

3. Here the Lagna is Cn - which is even. Hence add longitude of Lagna to this
Longitude of Lagna = 3s 29° 41’
Longitude as above = 5s 08° 29’

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 Hora Lagna
By Yenbeeyes written on 24-12-2009

The total comes to 8s 38° 10’ which is 38° Sc 23’.

However, there seems to be some error in the calculation part given in the book. Mr
Saxena might have some background in giving the calculation as mentioned.

According to me this is the formula to convert time into degrees

Time to Arc
24 h 360°
1h 15°
1m 15'
1s 15"

So applying this rule to the above 17 hours 16 minute 59 seconds

Step Action Example: Result
Convert 17h 16m 59s
units of time to arc
1 Multiply hours by 15 to obtain degrees 17 x 15 255 degree
2 Divide the minutes by 4 to obtain 16 m ÷ 4 4 degree
degrees; multiply the remainder by Q = 4; R = 0 x 15 0 minute
15 to obtain minutes of arc
3 Divide the seconds of time by 4 to 59 s ÷ 4 14 minute
obtain minutes and minutes of arc Q = 14; R = 3 x 15 45 seconds
multiply the remainder by 15 to
obtain seconds of arc
259° 14' 45" OR
4 Add degrees, minutes and seconds 8s 19° 14' 45”
The longitude as calculated in step 2 above is 5s 8° 29’. So we find there is a
difference in Longitude.

Let us try the 2nd example also:

Author:

Date of birth: 05-10-1949 at 13:47 or 827 minutes

Sun rise: 06:01 or 361 minutes

1. Janma Ghati = 19.4155 as per Jhora.

Since Birth ghati is given only in ghatis divide it by 2.5 to get hours = 19.4155/2.5 =
7.7662 hours
Convert the decimal hours into minute - Multiply it by 60 = 0.7662 x 60 = 45.972
minutes
Convert the decimal minutes in above to seconds by multiplying it by 60 = 0.972 x
60 = 58.32 seconds
So the Ishta ghati is 7 hours 45 minute 58 seconds

2. The number obtained viz. 7 is the number of rasis.

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 Hora Lagna
By Yenbeeyes written on 24-12-2009

Dividing the minutes by 2 we get the degrees which is 45/2 = 22 degrees.

(Remainder is 1 which will be added in the next step)
58 seconds + 60 seconds as above = 118 seconds and divide this by 2 we get the
minutes which is 118/2 = 59 minutes
So we get the longitude as 7s 22° 59’.

3. Here the Lagna is Cp - which is even. Hence add longitude of Lagna to this
Longitude of Lagna = 9s 07° 54’
Longitude as above = 7s 22° 59’
The total comes to – 16s 30° 53’ OR 4s 30° 53’ OR 30° Le 53’

This calculation as per rules given in the book.

My calculations are as under:

Ishta ghati is 7 hours 45 minute 58 seconds
Step Action Example: Result
Convert 7h 45m 58s
units of time to arc
1 Multiply hours by 15 to obtain degrees 7 x 15 105 degree
2 Divide the minutes by 4 to obtain 45 m ÷ 4 11 degree
degrees; multiply the remainder by Q = 11; R = 1 x 15 15 minute
15 to obtain minutes of arc
3 Divide the seconds of time by 4 to 58 s ÷ 4 56 minute
obtain minutes and minutes of arc Q = 14; R = 2 x 15 30 seconds
or multiply the remainder by 15 to
obtain seconds of arc
117° 01' 30" OR
4 Add degrees, minutes and seconds 3s 27° 01' 30”
The longitude we got above is - 7s 22° 59’.

Learned readers may comment on this. Also if any reference for this Kaala Hora
Lagna is found in any ancient classics, I shall be glad to receive the reference for the
same.