Module 4 of 5 · Phala-darpaṇa · ~75 min · quiet reading, no upsells

आयुर्दाय-दर्पणम्The Three Methods of Longevity Computation

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

viṣaya-sūcī · what this module covers

  • Piṇḍāyu — 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+)
  • These are upper-bound estimates, NOT predictions — always cross-checked with multiple inputs

Pre-reqphaladipika-lagna-phala

01सारांशःThe topic, unfolded

saṃkṣepa

Longevity (āyur, āyus) is the most ethically loaded computation in jyotiṣa. The classical tradition is unanimous that āyur is one of the hardest things to determine with confidence, and that even when the computation suggests a short āyu, multiple bhaṅga-yogas (cancellation patterns) may intervene. Phaladīpikā Ch. 16 gives the three standard methods: piṇḍāyu adds contributions from each graha based on position; aṃśāyu uses the navāṃśa-fraction of each graha; naisargikāyu assigns a fixed lifespan-contribution per graha.

The three āyur-khaṇḍas (lifespan-classes) are alpa (0–32 years), madhya (32–64), and dīrgha (64+, sometimes extended to 100+ as pūrṇa-dīrgha). Different lagna-lord and 8th-lord positions place the nativity in one of these classes; the three methods then refine within the class. Pārāśara's BPHS Ch. 88 and Jaimini's distinct method (Jaimini-sūtras Adhy. 3 · Pāda 3) provide cross-checks.

We compute none of this for you on the public engine — and not for marketing reasons. Longevity-determination is the textbook example of a calculation where śāstric outputs require an experienced ācārya's interpretation, NOT a mechanical reading. This module exists so you understand the tradition's approach; the interpretive judgment belongs to the qualified jyotiṣī.

02शास्त्र-प्रमाणम्Classical anchors

śāstra-pramāṇa · chapter and verse

Textual references · chapter · verses · gloss
TextChapterVersesGloss
PhaladīpikāCh. 16approx. 41 versesĀyurdāya-adhyāya — three computational methods.
BPHSCh. 88Āyurdāya-nirūpaṇam — Pārāśara's parallel longevity chapter.
Jaimini-sūtrasAdhy. 3 · Pāda 3Jaimini's distinct longevity-method — three rāśi rules.

Every anchor maps to a chapter structure in the annotated library. We point to topics; the substrate computes — we do not predict from these texts on your behalf.

03अभ्यासःPraxis

abhyāsa · apply it on the instruments

  1. 01 · Reflection

    Read Phaladīpikā Ch. 16 summary at /library/phaladipika. Reflect on the tradition's discipline: three methods, three classes, multiple bhaṅga-yogas — why does the classical tradition build in this much redundancy for āyur-determination?