5 modules · ≈6.5 study hours · Intermediate · source-cited

फल-दर्पणम्Phaladīpikā Path — Interpretive Foundation (Maṇṭreśvara)

Phala-darpaṇa Trace five foundational chapters of the Phaladīpikā — Maṇṭreśvara's 15th-century synthesis. Covers graha-svarūpa, Pañca-Mahāpuruṣa yogas, lagna-phala, āyurdāya, and muhūrta.

नमस्तस्मै महावीर्यो मन्त्रेश्वरमते सदा।

Salutations to that one of great vigor — Maṇṭreśvara's view, always.

Phaladīpikā is the most-read interpretive compendium of the second-millennium jyotiṣa tradition. Its 28 chapters compress the pre-classical material into accessible Sanskrit verse. This path traces five of its foundational chapters (1, 6, 10, 16, 26), pairing each with the parallel BPHS chapter and pointing to engine surfaces where applicable.

Pre-reqfoundation

01अनुक्रमःThe sequence

anukrameṇa jñānam · step by step

  1. ग्रह-स्वरूप-दर्पणम्Graha-svarūpa-darpaṇa

    Maṇṭreśvara on the Form of the Grahas

    Phaladīpikā opens with a chapter on graha-svarūpa — the form, complexion, deity, and natural quality of each of the nine grahas. The interpretive baseline for all subsequent chapters.

    TopicsMaṇṭreśvara's portrait of each graha — body, complexion, deity · Opening verse: sūryaḥ ātmā kīrtitaḥ śāstrakāraiḥ — 'Sūrya is the soul' · Comparison with BPHS Ch. 2 — points of agreement and refinement · How a 15th-century synthesis compresses pre-classical material

    AnchorsPhaladīpikā Ch. 1 · Phaladīpikā Source

    Praxis/chart · /graha-bala

    Minutes
    ~60
    Order
    1 / 5
    Tier
    Intermediate
    Open module →
  2. पञ्च-महापुरुष-योगाःPañca-mahāpuruṣa-yogāḥ

    The Five Great-Person Yogas

    Phaladīpikā Ch. 6 — Rucaka (Mars), Bhadra (Mercury), Haṃsa (Jupiter), Mālavya (Venus), Śaśa (Saturn). Each forms when its graha sits in own/exaltation sign in a kendra.

    TopicsRucaka — Maṅgala in own/exalted sign in a kendra · Bhadra — Budha · Haṃsa — Bṛhaspati · Mālavya — Śukra · Śaśa — Śani · Kendra requirement — 1st, 4th, 7th, or 10th house · Sun and Moon do NOT form mahāpuruṣa yogas (excluded by the classical scheme) · +1 more

    AnchorsPhaladīpikā Ch. 6 · BPHS Ch. 37

    Praxis/chart · /graha-bala

    Minutes
    ~70
    Order
    2 / 5
    Tier
    Intermediate
    Open module →
  3. लग्न-फल-दर्पणम्Lagna-phala-darpaṇa

    Results of the 12 Ascendants

    Phaladīpikā Ch. 10 — for each of the 12 lagnas, Maṇṭreśvara compresses physical characteristics, temperament, and life-direction into brief verses.

    TopicsEach of the 12 lagnas — physical complexion, temperament, dharma-direction · How lagna-lord placement modifies the lagna-rāśi indications · Maṇṭreśvara's compression style — many verses per lagna · Convergence vs divergence with BPHS Ch. 40

    AnchorsPhaladīpikā Ch. 10 · BPHS Ch. 40

    Praxis/chart

    Minutes
    ~80
    Order
    3 / 5
    Tier
    Intermediate
    Open module →
  4. आयुर्दाय-दर्पणम्Āyurdāya-darpaṇa

    The Three Methods of Longevity Computation

    Phaladīpikā Ch. 16 — piṇḍāyu, aṃśāyu, naisargikāyu. The classical methods for estimating an upper bound on lifespan, used as one input among many.

    TopicsPiṇḍāyu — sum-of-graha-contributions method · Aṃśāyu — navāṃśa-fraction method · Naisargikāyu — fixed-per-graha method · Three āyur-khaṇḍas: alpa (short, 0–32y), madhya (medium, 32–64y), dīrgha (long, 64–100y+) · +1 more

    AnchorsPhaladīpikā Ch. 16 · BPHS Ch. 88 · Jaimini-sūtras Adhy. 3 · Pāda 3

    Praxis/jaimini-dasha-deep

    Minutes
    ~75
    Order
    4 / 5
    Tier
    Intermediate
    Open module →
  5. मुहूर्त-दर्पणम्Muhūrta-darpaṇa

    Maṇṭreśvara on Electional Astrology

    Phaladīpikā Ch. 26 — selecting auspicious time-windows for vivāha (marriage), gṛhārambha (house-construction), vyavasāya (commerce), and yātrā (journeys).

    TopicsWhy muhūrta — the doctrine that time has quality, not only duration · The five pañcāṅga-limbs as filters for muhūrta selection · Specific muhūrta categories — vivāha (marriage), gṛhārambha (house), yātrā (journey) · Avoidances — durmuhūrta windows, eclipse-times, certain tithi/nakṣatra combinations · +1 more

    AnchorsPhaladīpikā Ch. 26 · BPHS Ch. 90

    Praxis/muhurta · /panchang

    Minutes
    ~75
    Order
    5 / 5
    Tier
    Intermediate
    Open module →