Elections Pertaining to Education - Chapter XI

According to ancient sages Vidya or Education comprises the study of the Vedas, Vedangas, Mimamsa, Dharmasastras, Medicine, Music, Political Sciences and Economic subjects. Elaborate treatises exist on all these subjects. In order to get proficiency in the different branches of knowledge, education should be commenced under auspicious planetary influences. Each subject in which mastery is desired calls for concentration-to be applied in a particular form with a view to tapping the intellectual resources of the particular type-latent in the brain cells. Astrological consultation is held to facilitate such concentration as the moment selected for commencing the study of a particular subject is supposed to tune the mental currents to be in harmony with the natural forces.
The most beneficial constellations for commencing education are Mrigasira, Aridra, Punarvasu, Pushya, Hasta, Chitta, Swat}, Sravana, Dhanishta and Satabhisha. Aswini is held by some writers to be one of the best. Rohini, Uttara, Uttarashadha and Revati are neutral. The remaining ones are to be rejected.
Tuesday and Saturday should invariably be avoided. Sunday can be considered permissible if other atrological conditions are satisfactory. The following lunar - days are auspicious: - 1st (of dark half), 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 10th and 11th. The 4th, 8th, 9th, 14th and New and Full Moon days should be avoided.
The Lagna should not be a fixed sign. Common signs are the best and the movable ones ordinary.
In commencing education - be it of any type - one should have regard to two important Yogas given below: -
Saraswati Yoga -
(a) Wednesday coinciding with Hasta, the rising sign at the time being Gemini or Virgo with the Sun, Moon and Mercery occupying the Amsa of Mercury.
(b) Wednesday at sunrise when Mercury is in deep exaltation.
(c) Wednesday, when Mercury is in Lagna and occupies the 3rd quarter of Hasta.
(d) Jupiter in deep exaltation in Lagna on days other than Saturday and Sunday.
Vidya Yoga -
(a) Friday when Pisces is rising and Venus occupies the 27th degree of the same sign.
(b) Jupiter in deep exaltation and Cancer rising on Thursday.
(c) The day and constellation being propitious, the Sun must be placed in his own Hora.
If education were to progress satisfactorily, one must have due regard to the following considerations also.
The forenoon and the noon are the best. Malefics should be disposed in die 3rd, 6th and 11th houses. The 8th house should be clean and unoccupied by benefic or malefic planets. For starting education, Wednesday morning would be the befit provided the election chart is otherwise well disposed and strong.
Learning Vedas and Sasrras. - Pushyami, Dhanishta and Sravana are auspicious ones. Let Jupiter be as strong as possible.
Learning Astrology and Astronomy. - Aswini, Punarvasu, Pushyami, Hasta, Swati, Moola and Revati are good.
Learning Grammar. Logic and Philosophy. - Rohini, Mrigasira, Punarvasu, Pushya, Hasta, Dhanishta and Revati are favourable constellations for learning Grammar while for the other subjects Sravana, Satabhisha, Hasta, Uttara, Moola and Revati are good. The intellectual planet Mercury should be fortified as usual.
Learning Medicine. - Dhanishta is the best constellation not only for beginning the study of medicine but also for learning the use of firearms. An affliction to Mars by Saturn should be avoided. Let the rising sign or Navamsa be that of Mars or the Sun.
To Learn Music and Dancing. - Let Venus be as strongly placed as possible avoiding affliction by Rahu or Saturn, as this is said to lead to an immoral career. Hasta, Pushyami, Dhanishta, Anuradha, Jyeshta, Revati, Satabhisha, Uttarashadha and Uttarabhadra are the best. Harmonious aspects should exist between Jupiter and Venus. Place the lord of Lagna in the 5th or 9th and see that these two houses are free from affliction. Mercury-Venus conjunction in Lagna would be highly propitious.
Learning any Science. - The Study of any science can be commenced either in a Saraswati Yoga or in a Vidya Yoga under any of the special combinations mentioned above.
Learning a Trade. - The planet ruling the avocation should be well disposed in regard to the ascendant and free from affliction. The following are the occupations governed by the different planets.
The SUN denotes kings, members of political department, ministers, magistrates, lawyers and civil servants. The Sun favourably situated in relation to the 10th house bestows professions of the above nature. The MOON rules over nurses, midwives, jewellers, dealers in pearls and precious metals, and also governmental activities. MARS produces soldiers, warriors, carpenters, mechanics, surveyors, chemists, bankers, commanders, insurance agents, and butchers. MERCURY gives rise to preceptors or school masters, mathematicians, authors, printers, secretaries, book-sellers, accountants and insurance agents. JUPITER makes one a priest, a lawyer, a councillor, judge, scholar and a public man. VENUS produces artistes, musicians, actors, perfumers, jewellers, winesellers and solicitors with a keen intellect. SATURN governs different kinds of professions involving responsibility and subordination, mill hands, compositors, hawkers, factory workers, scavengers and manual workers in general.
The planet in question may also occupy the 10th house aspected by benefics. Tuesday must be avoided for learning any trade.