In Brihat Samhita( Chapter 18, Sloka 1), there is a clue that the movement of the Moon to the North or South of other planets is to be taken into consideration in Samaagama for deciding the favourability or otherwise of its results.
Elaborate discussions are available in the classical works on Graha Yuddha (planetary wars) and Astangata (combustion). In most of these texts, the ‘orbs of influence’ (longitudinal range) within which they are effective are also prescribed. But, for Samaagama, no such range of influence is prescribed probably because it is applicable in a different set of circumstances even without such restrictions.
In the classical works, in so far as Samaagama is concerned, the results of planetary conjunctions with the Moon are only described in detail without revealing the actual reason or logic based on which they were arrived at, as is the case with most of the other predictive principles as well.
Also, the fact that a planet gets Cheshta Bala of 30 Shashtiamsas when it is retrograde or in Samaagama by itself testifies to the planet getting some additional strength under such conditions and the point to be noted with more emphasis is that both these conditions (retrogression and Samaagama) relate to the movement of planets.
Thus, taking a cue from all these, it is concluded that the additional dimension of the movement of the Moon is to be necessarily included in the meaning of the word Samaagama so as to make it complete. As such, with due respect to all the scholars who have translated the classics, I am of the humble opinion that the meaning of the word Samaagama in astrology is to be revised and adopted as the movement of the Moon with reference to other planets or vice versa, or approach or arrival of planets at a specific distance from the Moon or vice-versa or conjunction of planets with the Moon instead of only conjunction of planets with the Moon. Here, it is reiterated that this revision is well within the basic dictionary meanings of the word and is also well supported by the classical works as indicated above.
Moreover, if this revised meaning of Samaagama is adopted in predictive astrology, it has been observed that it solves the long pending riddle of transits as to why the effects of transits are studied with reference to the natal Moon. In fact, the concept of Samagaama forms the fundamental basis for it with this revised connotation. Therefore, with this revised definition and meaning of Samaagama in mind, its applicability to the Dasa and transit principles in predictive astrology for timing events can be examined.
Courtesy: Modern Astrology (Dr Revathi Vee Kumar) to be continued…
Continued from: Samaagama – IIA
