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.
फल-दर्पणम्
Phala-darpaṇa
Phaladīpikā Path — Interpretive Foundation (Maṇṭreśvara)
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.
Anukrama · The Sequence
- ग्रह-स्वरूप-दर्पणम्Graha-svarūpa-darpaṇaMaṇṭreśvara on the Form of the GrahasMaṇṭreśvara's portrait of each graha — body, complexion, …Opening verse: sūryaḥ ātmā kīrtitaḥ śāstrakāraiḥ — 'Sūrya…Comparison with BPHS Ch. 2 — points of agreement and refi…How a 15th-century synthesis compresses pre-classical mat…AnchorsPhaladīpikā Ch. 1Phaladīpikā SourcePraxis/chart/graha-bala~60 minOpen module →
- पञ्च-महापुरुष-योगाःPañca-mahāpuruṣa-yogāḥThe 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.
Rucaka — Maṅgala in own/exalted sign in a kendraBhadra — Budha · Haṃsa — Bṛhaspati · Mālavya — Śukra · Śa…Kendra requirement — 1st, 4th, 7th, or 10th houseSun and Moon do NOT form mahāpuruṣa yogas (excluded by th…+1 moreAnchorsPhaladīpikā Ch. 6BPHS Ch. 37Praxis/chart/graha-bala~70 minOpen module → - लग्न-फल-दर्पणम्Lagna-phala-darpaṇaResults of the 12 Ascendants
Phaladīpikā Ch. 10 — for each of the 12 lagnas, Maṇṭreśvara compresses physical characteristics, temperament, and life-direction into brief verses.
Each of the 12 lagnas — physical complexion, temperament,…How lagna-lord placement modifies the lagna-rāśi indicationsMaṇṭreśvara's compression style — many verses per lagnaConvergence vs divergence with BPHS Ch. 40AnchorsPhaladīpikā Ch. 10BPHS Ch. 40Praxis/chart~80 minOpen module → - आयुर्दाय-दर्पणम्Āyurdāya-darpaṇaThe 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.
Piṇḍāyu — sum-of-graha-contributions methodAṃśāyu — navāṃśa-fraction methodNaisargikāyu — fixed-per-graha methodThree āyur-khaṇḍas: alpa (short, 0–32y), madhya (medium, …+1 moreAnchorsPhaladīpikā Ch. 16BPHS Ch. 88Jaimini-sūtras Adhy. 3 · Pāda 3Praxis/jaimini-dasha-deep~75 minOpen module → - मुहूर्त-दर्पणम्Muhūrta-darpaṇaMaṇṭreśvara on Electional Astrology
Phaladīpikā Ch. 26 — selecting auspicious time-windows for vivāha (marriage), gṛhārambha (house-construction), vyavasāya (commerce), and yātrā (journeys).
Why muhūrta — the doctrine that time has quality, not onl…The five pañcāṅga-limbs as filters for muhūrta selectionSpecific muhūrta categories — vivāha (marriage), gṛhāramb…Avoidances — durmuhūrta windows, eclipse-times, certain t…+1 moreAnchorsPhaladīpikā Ch. 26BPHS Ch. 90Praxis/muhurta/panchang~75 minOpen module →
Anya-Panthāḥ · Other Paths
First-principles introduction — 27 nakṣatras, 12 rāśis, 9 grahas, the 5-limb pañcāṅga, and the construction of the sidereal chart.
Seven modules tracing the Bṛhat Pārāśara Horā Śāstra — graha-bheda, varga, ṣaḍ-bala, yoga, daśā, aṣṭakavarga, and vivāha (marriage). The canonical depth-path of Vedic astrology.
Six modules through the Upadeśa-sūtras of Maharṣi Jaimini — chara-kāraka theory, ārūḍha, cara-daśā, sthira-daśā, nārāyaṇa-daśā, and rāśi-dṛṣṭi. The terse-aphorism school that runs parallel to Pārāśara.
Five modules on practical use — muhūrta selection, praśna methodology, varṣaphala analysis, aṣṭakūṭa compatibility, and daily nakṣatra-mantra practice. Computation in service of practice, not prediction.