Karma & Freewill

an overview by Sanjay Rath

1. After death, a person carries with him the dharma and the Karma, which can be divided into
two broad parts called Sanchita Karma and Prarabdha Karma. Sanchita Karma is finished in
various types of hells and suffering in the life after death whereas Prarabdha Karma has to be
carried into another body and can be burnt only through experience. So, only the most elevated
souls who have complete control over their Indriya’s (sense’s) are not affected by these
experiences in this life. All others are.

2. Based on the Prarabdha Karma, Krishna decides the circumstances of birth, experiences and
length of life that a person has to undergo to complete this Prarabdha. Sometimes one life is not
enough and many births maybe necessary. The conception chart is used to determine the past
karma. In fact the Dwadasamsa (D-12 Chart) of the Nisheka (Conception) tells us many details.
This is not a practical proposition, but not an impossibility given the direction of development of
the biological sciences. The Janma Kundali (Birth Chart) is the perfect map of the Prarabdha
Karma and the Shastyamsa (D-60 Chart) is the most vital in the Shodasavarga scheme of
Parasara. The D-60 gets the highest weightage in the Vimsopaka Bala scheme and hence
establishes its priority over others. This chart also tells us about the Prarabdha Karma in addition
to the Navamsa, Rasi and other charts in their relative importance (weights assigned by Parasara
in Vimsopaka scheme).

3. Given this paradigm of the theory of Karma and rebirth, we hardly have any space to
maneuver and it seems that the journey through this life is an inevitable jail term that we must
bear. This is true. Now the hard question is what is the role of Jyotish and in what way is the
Jyotish going to help in altering the inalterable or changing that which cannot be changed as the
term is fixed and so is the sentence inevitable. In reply some astrologers offer platitudes like
making the suffering easier by knowing that this was an eventuality and that this is only a natural
reaction to what we had done, but then this is a nice logical analysis and is not really supported
by the traditional texts or literature. This question was answered in detail by Harihara the author
of Prasna Marga (translation Dr B V Raman). After reading that, all doubts will disappear and
you will realize the great job that Harihara has done in explaining the Karma and Freewill
concept in Jyotish.

4. Like every other birth, the Atma rides (Arudha) this Mana (Mind-Moon), which controls this
Sareera (Body). The Atma remembers all it’s past incarnations but the Mana, being new and
aware of this incarnation alone cannot understand the reason behind the various forms of
suffering that it sees and experiences. It expresses anger when a feeling that injustice has been
done (based on its awareness and concept of justice) this is Mars and later this passion results in
sorrow as the Atma does not cooperate with the Mana being aware that the Prarabdha Karma is
being burnt through this anubhava (experience). It is here that Jupiter intervenes. If Jupiter is
strong in simhalokamsa or is strengthened by adoration of one’s DIKSHA GURU (be careful
here – not Siksha Guru’s like K N Rao or myself and Achyutananda Dasa has warned us to be
very careful with the advent and advancement of Kali Yuga w.r.t guru’s), then one is directed in
the path of self correction through recitation of prayers for forgiveness and protection from evil
experiences that are destined to come.
5. This is the point of Harihara when he was explaining the value of Prasna. Prasna tells us
whether the native has done better or worse Karma from his birth till the time of Prasna. Thus
Karma done in this life is immediately recorded by Chitra Gupta (sitting on the star Chitra -
linked to Chitra Paksha Ayanamsa maybe). [Some astrologers advise the worship of Chitra gupta
the assistants of Yama on Chaitra (derived from Chitra) Poornima so that they may skip some
records of your bad Karma!!!]. This immediate recording results in an alteration or influence to
the birth/natal chart and has a profound influence on the immediate and long-term future.

If the Natal Chart planetary positions are better than the Prasna chart, then the person has fallen
further in this life i.e. accumulated more bad karma.
If the Natal chart planetary indications are worse than the Prasna chart then infer that he has done
better Karma in this life, and to that extent shall have a better future.
If the indications of the Natal and Prasna chart are the same, then he is merely sailing through
this life experiences based on the past Karma.
That the effect of this Karma can alter the indications of the Janma Kundali including Longevity
(Please keep calm and read further).
6. It is evident from the above clear statements that the Karma we do in this life is immediately
recorded from the moment the Karma is performed and has an immediate impact on the future
whether immediate or distant or subsequent births. It is here that another question crops up. This
is the question of FREE WILL. Now, what is free will? It means the power to determine the
action that one shall take as a consequence to or for the purpose of some event or goal. It is a
goal directed action and not an involuntary action. This is where the question of Upachaya comes
up and the houses 3,6,10 & 11 deal with the actions that one can or will take given the various
inputs from the environment (33% is bounded rationality like the Simonian model of decision
making). Thus, in the first place, this action itself is bounded by various inputs and this is called
bounded rationality depending on four factors that are like four boundaries of a plot –
Information (Knowledge) called BUDDHI [Dharma-Ayana], Resources that are focused on
VRIDDHI or increase of wealth [Artha-Ayana], Abilities that fulfill desires based on (the purity
of) the purpose SUDDHI [Kaama -Ayana] and finally Time that is the final giver of
emancipation and end of all Karma whether Sanchita or Prarabdha called SIDDHI [Moksha-
Ayana]. Here comes the greatest teaching of the Gita “KARMA IS YOUR BIRTH RIGHT BUT
YOU HAVE NO RIGHT (ADHIKARA) ON THE FRUITS”. This adhikara or right to freedom
of Action is the only birth right given by God.
Hence Harihara (Prasna Marga) prays –
मध्याटव्याधिपम् दु ग्धधिन्धुकन्याध्वम् िीया।
िीयायाधम िाध्वहं बुद्धे शु िये वृिये च धिद्धयै॥
madhyāṭavyādhipam dugdhasindhukanyādhvam dhīyā|
dhīyāyāmi sādhvahaṁ buddhe śudhaye vṛdhaye ca siddhayai||

7. Once again we come to the definition of the self (SWA) and find that the Atma is merely an
observer and hence these houses or UPACHAYA for reckoning the right to action or exercise of
free-will is not at the level of the Atma and is merely a process of action and reaction of the
Mana and Sareera in this manifested Universe. Thus, this is only to be seen from the Lagna and
especially, the Moon, especially the tenth house from the Moon. Kalyan Verma (Saravali) has
given a very detailed explanation on the placement of individual planets or groups of them in the
tenth from the Moon. Why is so much importance being given to the Moon for this free will? It
is the mind where the seed of all action is generated and hence Moon the Mana karaka is the
playground for this Maya to act on. This is what the Bhagavat Gita teaches “Give the reigns of
the horses (of your mind) to Krishna and see how He shall steer you through the battlefield of
life (Life in the Kali Yuga is viewed as a battle field)”. The Rig Veda is very clear about the
generation of this seed of all action in the mind in Vishwamitra’s prayer to Brihaspati:
शुधचमकैबृृहस्पधिमध्वरे षु नमस्यि। अनाम्योज आ चके॥
śucimarkairbṛhaspatimadhvareṣu namasyata| anāmyoja ā cake|| (Rig Veda 3.62.6)
Translation: May Brihaspati (the Deva Guru -note my earlier explanation to the importance of
the Diksha Guru and Jupiter) the granter of success (to all our actions – the term adhvareshu
refers to the inviolable principle or the TRUTH that must prevail like OM TAT SAT) give us
good thoughts (that lead to such actions that are inviolable – the inviolable principle also refers
to holding back such thoughts that lead to such Karma that would violate the principles of
Dharma).

8. It is evident that this concept of free will is limited to the Mana and that too the Upachaya i.e.
those thoughts that are action related. Having accepted the limited free will concept, we now
come to the method of Vedic remedial measures called Mantra i.e. Mana + Trai or protection of
the Mana from (a) generating such seeds of evil thought that result in evil Karma, as well as (b)
protecting against the provocation from the experiences of Past karma that can bring anger,
sorrow and passion (Rajas) and ignorance (Tamas) to dominate the Mana and raise the level of
the Mana to that of the Atma (self realization).

9. Please do not read me wrong when I say this. Vivaha (i.e. Marriage and its specific form) is
destined in the form of an ANUBHAVA and to say that two people were married for so many
births or shall continue together for so many births is fine if you are a priest solemnizing the
marriage but not as a Jyotish. How the Mana will react to the various experiences that it is
subject to and is so confused about (not having the knowledge of Prarabdha) is what a Jyotish
should be looking for. This is where he can guide if he is aware of the pitfalls and troubles that
can result from a mismatch like Kuja Dosha (that was what had started this thread). I have done
lots of studies in this area and unlike others have also given out a lot of ‘so called secrets’ related
to determination of circumstances, timing, Lagna of spouse, status of family, details about the in-
laws and possible troubles like mother-in-law problem etc. In fact my writings in this area are
very comprehensive and still, I cannot say with any certainty
that this is the spouse (although I have done this and have later wondered as to why I was so
sure..an inner feeling that I cannot explain). In fact the Royal family of Agra will vouch on this,
when I was 100% sure that the two charts Rani-mata had brought were to get married (I also
gave the time when the boy would agree and what not all). Prasna is a very vital tool for this.

I see transits from Natal positions in Navamsa as well). We men are also feminine, as we cannot
escape this monthly cycle… HE alone is the Purusha.