What a pity! For a man in old age, the body shrinks. He walks with faltering steps. The teeth have fallen. Vision is impaired. Deafness worsens. The mouth foams with saliva. Relatives do not care for his words. Wife does not do service and children turn inimical.
A man in the years of decline loses his faculties gradually. One cannot be hale and healthy throughout his life. The natural wear and tear of the system inevitably disables him. But one can take precautions and safeguard oneself against some of the common diseases by leading a disciplined life, dietary restrictions and measures that defend the system. Medical Astrology does help mankind in identifying diseases that are likely to occur and helps the native to take suitable measures before the infirmity assumes gigantic proportions.
What is Diabetes Mellitus?
Pancreas is a gland 15 centimeters long, grey-pink in colour and weighing about 85 grams. It is located behind the stomach and in front of the spine and plays an important role in the digestive process. It produces insulin and keeps the blood sugar at proper level. When insulin is not produced this does not happen and consequently one becomes a victim of diabetes mellitus.
In Ayurveda the Meha Rogas which include diabetes are treated. Virasimhavalokana observes thus:
sadhya kaphottha das’a pittaja at /
yapya na sadhya pavanas’catu ka //
samakriyatvad vi amakriyatvat /
mahatyatvacca yathakrma te //
There are ten varieties of meha diseases arising out of phlegm, six arising out of bile, and four arising out of wind. (Thus there are twenty varieties). Those arising out of phlegm can be cured. But it is difficult to cure bilious diseases, and windy diabetes which causes decay and defies medical treatment.
Diabetes in Astrology
Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease relating to the function of pancreas characterized by deficiency of insulin, consequent disability to the use of carbohydrates, excess sugar in blood and urine, thirst, hunger, frequent urination, emaciation of the body and imperfect combustion of fats, resulting in acidosis. In its worst from it can cause coma leading to moribund condition and ultimate death. It affects eye-sight and vital organs, causing neuropathy and in general complicates any other disease. Healing of wounds is delayed and may result in the amputation of the wounded parts of the body. All these facts have to be taken into account in the astro-analysis of diabetes. There is huge mass of astrological literature giving the combinations for diseases and we have culled out some of these
To delineate the nature of this abominable disease, some basic facts have to be ascertained.
Pancreas is situated above the navel and below the heart. Thus we can conclude that it is represented by the 5th house. The second drekkana of the sixth house which indicates the belly of the body has also to be reckoned with.
The seventh house which indicates the waist and urinary diseases has also a role. The eighth house, particularly second drekkana which is symmetric to the second drekkana of 6th has to be included. Astrological works give combinations relating to 6th and 8th houses and they have to be carefully utilized. The sixth and seventh houses of Kalapurusha namely Virgo and Libra, Leo which indicates belly and digestive problems, and Scorpio indicating the genital organs have indisputably a role. When these houses or ras’is are occupied by or aspected by malefic or placed between malefic, problems relating to urine and connected organs are, in general, indicated.
In Astrology Venus is treated as the Karaka for Prameha (diabetes mellitus) vide.
This means, ‘leukoderma, the diseases due to phlegm and wind, problems of the eye, diabetes ….” are caused by Venus. Urinary diseases are also indicated by Venus. Generally diabetes worsens and leads ultimately to the damage of the kidneys. Therefore combinations for urinary diseases and renal problems have to be taken into account. Jupiter indicates sweetness and an ill-disposed Jupiter denies the opportunity to taste ‘sweets’. Thus an unfavourable Jupiter indirectly indicates diabetes. A weak Jupiter in 6th, 8th or 12th or Jupiter in combustion is indicative of diabetes. Thirst, hunger etc. are the symptoms of diabetes. Consequently, the Moon has an important role. Saturn which indicates urine, excreta and other filthy materials has also a significant role.
To sum up: If the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th or the ras’is Leo, Virgo, Libra and Scorpio are afflicted, diabetes or urinary diseases are suggested. Similarly, if the planets Venus, the Moon, Jupiter are ill disposed, one can infer urinary disease or diabetes. The urinary diseases caused by Saturn, bad digestion, emaciation of the body etc. are suggestive of diabetes. When the planets causing the combinations are in vargas which are watery rasis, mrityubhaga, evil shastyamsa etc. they acquire importance.
Works like Brihajjataka, Saravali Jataka Tatva, Virasimhavalokana, Yovanajataka, Gadavali, etc. give specific combinations for Diabetes Mellitus. It is to be observed that if the diseases are caused by phlegmatic planets (Jupiter) they are curable; if caused by bilious planets (Sun, Mars) they are partly curable and if by windy planets (Saturn) they are not curable.
We have extracted several combinations from standard texts below:
When the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, and Venus are in the 5th diabetes is indicated.
Even if one, two, three of these planets occupy the 5th, diabetes is indicated. When these planets are associated with evil planets results will be pronounced. It is found from observation that Venus in the 5th aspected by Saturn causes diabetes.
When the Sun or Mars and Saturn are in Lagna diabetes is indicated.
If all the three are in Lagna results will be strong. Even if Mars and Saturn are in Lagna, effects will be felt.
If Venus is in the 8th aspected by malefic phlegmatic diseases, diabetes etc are indicated. It may cause even death.
If Venus is in a watery sign and has Varga in a watery sign the results will be pronounced, more so when Venus is weak.
If Saturn and Mars are conjoined or have mutual aspect, diabetes is caused.
On the examination of 100 horoscopes the combination / mutual aspect of Saturn and Mars was found in sixty. This appears to be a powerful combination.
When Lagna is aspected by a malefic, lord of Lagna is debilitated and the eighth house is aspected or occupied by Venus, diabetes is caused.
This was not found in any of the horoscopes we examined. More analysis may be required.
If Mercury is in Sagittarius or Pisces with the aspect of the Sun, diabetes is indicated.
Since this is not possible, aspect should be treated as conjunction. Sun- Mercury conjunction in Sagittarius or Pisces is suggestive of this.
If the Sun is in Lagna, and Mars is in the 7th, diabetes is indicated.
This is considered as a combination for insanity by some authors. If the Vargas are watery signs, diabetes is likely.
If Mars aspects the 8th house diabetes is indicated.
This has been observed in the horoscopes of many diabetics.
Mercury in the 8th indicates urinary problems.
If Mercury has Vargas in watery signs and is aspected by malefics, the results are strong.
If the Lord of Lagna is in the 6th with Mars, diabetes is indicated.
When the combination is present, untimely diet is indicated. Consequently problems like hyperacidity and ulcer are likely. Because the 6th house is afflicted, diabetes is also likely.
If the Moon’s navamsa is in cancer and Scorpio and the Moon is conjoined with a malefic, disease of a subtle nature is likely.
We get from Brhajjataka of Varahamihira,
“candre karka av s’cika s’akagate papairyute guhyaruk”
The term guhyaruk suggests “one with diseases in secret or subtle parts”. It is to be interpreted using the Vargas of the Moon. If the Moon is in Leo which indicates thirst, hunger etc chances for diabetes are strong.
If a weak Moon is in Leo, thirst, hunger and problems of digestion are indicated, more so when it is an indicator of disease.
When the Moon gets Vargas in watery signs, diabetes is likely.
If a watery planet is in the 7th together with the lord of the 7th, urinary diseases are indicated.
The Moon and Venus are watery planets. When the planets are in watery signs and get Vargas in watery signs, the results will manifest well.
If the lord of 6th is in the 3rd diseases near the navel are indicated.
The place being navel, urinary diseases related to diabetes are also likely.
If the Sun, the Moon and Venus are in the 5th, diabetes is likely.
Watery Vargas aggravate this.
Rahu in the 7th causes diseases of the waist.
This can indicate diseases in the inner part and hence diabetes.
A malefic in the 5th causes problems.
Since the 5th represents pancreas, diabetes is likely. Watery Vargas aggravates this.
If the lord of the 7th is in a malefic’s house and is aspected by a malefic, diabetes is likely.
This is found to be true from observations.
If the Lagna is aspected by Saturn and the weak lord of the 8th has the aspect of a malefic, problems due to indigestion are likely.
This can suggest diabetes also.
Astrologer Dr Krishnendu 