Maraka (Hindu astrology)

The transit influences of the Sun, Mars and Jupiter are taken into account for determining the time of death.

Death can occur in the dasha of a weak benefic planet occupying the 8th house or the lord of the lagna can give yoga and kill the native.

Venkateswara, the author of Jataka Chandrika, also states that in the antra-dasha of a maraka in the dasha of a Raja yoga-karaka, Raja yoga effects will be experienced but the same will break in the antra-dasha of a malefic planet; that the benefic associated with a maraka does not kill but a malefic can.

Rahu situated in the 6th, the 8th or the 12th house from the lagna behaves as a maraka.{{cite book|title=Application of Yogini Dasha for Brilliant Predictions|author=Rajeev Jhanji|publisher=Institute of Vedic Astrology|page=|url=http://books.google.co.in/books?

[8] Death from punishment by ruler can occur if the Sun is in the 3rd or is influencing the lord of the 3rd house or by fire if it in the 8th or influencing the 8th house; similarly the Moon can cause death either by Tuberculosis or from excess fluids (or drowning); Mars from either a surgical operation, burns, injuries or from weapon or surgery; Mercury from either Febrile, illness, or from fever; Jupiter from either Tumours, swelling or from prolonged illness; Venus from either Diabetes or renal disease or from starvation; and Saturn and Rahu from poison, drowning, fall from height, injury, incarceration or from thirst or dehydration.

[10] Planets associated with the lord of the 6th, the 8th, the 12th or a marakasthana cause suffering, misery and financial strain.

Jatakalankara states that if at birth the lagna-lord associated with a malefic is in a trikabhava or if the trika-lords occupy their own respective bhavas or if a malefic planet is in the lagna and the lagna-lord is weak, one suffers from acute mental and physical pressures and ailments.

Sarvartha Chintamani states that the Moon in Cancer lagna aspected by Mars from the 10th and by Jupiter from the 7th while giving yoga gives a life span of sixty years only, whereas Jupiter exalted in the lagna and aspecting the two trikonas occupied by benefics makes one live for eighty years.

Three or more planets situated in the 8th house not in their own or friendly or exaltation sign curtail term of life.

Alternatively, add the number of rekhas contributed by Saturn in the houses from the house occupied by it to the Mrityu-bhava, multiply this figure by the Yoga-pinda and divide by 27 the remainder will indicate the nakshatra transiting which or the trine nakshatra therefrom Saturn will cause death, or add the number of rekhas contributed by Saturn in the houses from the house occupied by it to the Mrityu-bhava, multiply this figure by the Yoga-pinda and divide by 12 the remainder will indicate the sign or its trine that will be transited by Saturn at the time of death.

If the birth lord aspects it, the time must be doubled; aspected by benefics the time will be trebled.”[15] Narayanan Nambutiri, the author of Prasna Marga, who follows Varahamihira, in Chapter XXXII St.116-118 states that firstly total the bindus (before reduction) in Saturn’s Ashtakavarga from the lagna to the sign occupied by Saturn; and from the sign occupied by Saturn to the lagna, these two numbers will indicate the age when the native will be attacked by disease or misfortune; the total of these two figures also indicates the age of troubles.

If the end or a beginning of a malefic dasha coincides with the age represented by these three figures, then death may take place.

Multiply the bindus in the sign occupied by Jupiter or the Sun in Saturn’s Ashtakavarga by Saturn’s Sodya Pinda and divide the product by 12, the remainder will be the sign transited by Jupiter or the Sun respectively at the time of death.