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♓︎ Mīna

The twelve rāśis

Mīna, a pair of fish, is the feet. It is dual, watery and female. Jupiter rules it and Venus is exalted in it.

Lord	Jupiter BJ 1.6 · BPHS 3.22-24
Nature	dvisvabhāva, dual; even, female, gentle BJ 1.11 · BPHS 3.5
Element	water; its humour phlegm BPHS 3.22-24 · BPHS 3.6
Varṇa	brāhmaṇa BPHS 3.22-24
Direction	north BJ 1.11
Rising	ubhayodaya, rising both ways BJ 1.10
Strong	by day BJ 1.10
In Kālapuruṣa	the feet BJ 1.4 · BPHS 3.4
Form	two fishes BJ 1.5
Colour	clear BJ 1.20
Exalts	Venus at 27° BJ 1.13-14 · BPHS 2.46-52
Debilitates	Mercury at 15° BJ 1.13-14 · BPHS 2.46-52
Nakṣatras	Pūrvabhādrapadā 4, Uttarabhādrapadā 1–4, Revatī 1–4 BJ 1.4

Each fact gives the verses it comes from. A book in the library opens at the verse.

Nature and temperament

Mīna is the twelfth sign of the zodiac, extending for 30° from 330° of the sidereal circle, and its lord is Jupiter. (BPHS 3.22-24 · BJ 1.6 · BPHS 3.1 · SAR 3.3) Parāśara gives it as watery, phlegmatic, brāhmaṇa, gentle, female, and dual in nature. (BPHS 3.22-24 · BPHS 3.5 · BPHS 3.6) Varāhamihira also classes the even signs as female and benefic, and the dual signs include Mīna. (BJ 1.11) Its direction is north. (BJ 1.11)

Varāhamihira gives Mīna as ubhayodaya, rising both ways, and as strong by day. (BJ 1.10) Parāśara also gives it as strong by day and moving in water. (BPHS 3.22-24) In the body of Kālapuruṣa, Varāhamihira and Sārāvalī place Mīna at the feet, and Parāśara’s sign-body sequence ends there as well. (BJ 1.4 · BPHS 3.4 · SAR 3.5) This sign therefore has a bodily link with the feet, gait, support, and the final point of the zodiacal body. (BJ 1.4 · BPHS 3.4 · SAR 3.5)

Varāhamihira describes Mīna’s form as two fishes. (BJ 1.5) Parāśara gives the fuller image as two fishes joined by tail and mouth. (BPHS 3.22-24) Varāhamihira gives its colour as clear. (BJ 1.20) Parāśara also describes it as footless, of middle body, healthy, sattvic, and twice-born. (BPHS 3.22-24) These descriptions are part of the sign’s natural figure and temperament in sign lore. (BPHS 3.22-24 · BJ 1.5 · BJ 1.20)

The exaltation sign of Venus is Mīna, with the highest exaltation at 27°, and Mercury is debilitated in Mīna, with deepest debility at 15°. (BJ 1.13-14 · BPHS 2.46-52) No mūlatrikoṇa is assigned here in the texts in this library. (BJ 1.13-14 · BPHS 2.46-52) When Venus is placed here, the sign gives exaltation dignity to Venus. (BJ 1.13-14 · BPHS 2.46-52) When Mercury is placed here, the sign gives debility to Mercury. (BJ 1.13-14 · BPHS 2.46-52) For other grahas, placement in Mīna is judged from Jupiter’s lordship and planetary friendship. (BJ 2.16-17 · BPHS 2.53-56 · Sārāvalī 4.28-29)

What the texts say of a birth in it

Varāhamihira says one born with the Moon in Mīna enjoys water-borne wealth and the wealth of others, lives with his wife, is affectionate, well-formed, prominent-nosed, stout, victorious over rivals, subject to women, lovely-eyed, wealthy, and learned. (BJ 17.12) Vijnanananda’s public-domain English rendering expands the water-borne goods as pearls, jewels, and sea products, and reads accidental treasure among the results. (Bṛhajjātakam, Vijnanananda 16 · p. 260) Sārāvalī gives further results by aspect to the Moon in Mīna. By Mars it gives authority through craftsmanship, knowledge of treatises and song, happiness, wealth, and subjection to women. (SAR 23.79) By the Sun it gives passion, fame, happiness, command, wealth, and a delighted wife. (SAR 23.80)

Sārāvalī says that Mercury’s aspect to the Moon in Mīna produces a king who is very happy, attended by fine women, and submissive. (SAR 23.82) When Jupiter aspects the Moon in Mīna, Sārāvalī gives a charming chief, some wealth, delicacy, and many women. (SAR 23.83) When Venus aspects it, the results are good conduct, passion, music, song, dance, and charm for women. (SAR 23.84) When Saturn aspects it, the results are bodily defect, dishonour through the mother, desire, poor judgment about wife and son, and attachment to low women. (SAR 23.85) A separate Sārāvalī verse says that when Mars aspects the nakṣatra lord in Mīna, the results are bravery mixed with disgrace, lack of happiness, and sinful conduct. (SAR 23.81)

For Mīna rising as the lagna, Sārāvalī gives fortune, a prominent nose, unclear eyes, knowledge of science and poetry, and fame through honour and respect. (SAR 47.46) It also gives raised shoulders, skin disease, a split mouth, desire for cattle and such property, confidence in giving, and possession of sheep and goats. (SAR 47.47) Another verse gives purity, good conduct, learning, speech, firmness, children, discipline, gentleness of mind, goodness, and sexual enjoyment. (SAR 47.48) If the sign or its lord is strong in a strong sign, Sārāvalī adds character, nobility of mind, wealth through brothers, anger, and good relatives. (SAR 47.49)

For other grahas in Mīna, Sārāvalī says that the Sun there brings sons, servants, friends, fame, gain from water-products, good speech mixed with untruth, disease of the secret parts, and many siblings. (SAR 22.67) Mercury there gives skill in sewing and related work, poverty, scattered means, and lack of knowledge, learning, and art. (SAR 26.24 · SAR 26.23) Jupiter in Mīna gives policy, instruction, practical skill, battle-application, renown, calm action, and steady courage. (SAR 27.24) Venus in Mīna gives intelligence, wealth, honour from good people, sweetness of speech, family support, and wisdom. (SAR 28.24) Saturn in Mīna gives delight in righteous conduct and legal dealings, discipline, and virtues. (SAR 29.24)

How it combines

A graha placed in Mīna is in Jupiter’s sign, so its dignity there follows its relation to Jupiter and any special dignity of its own. (BJ 1.13-14 · BPHS 2.46-52 · BJ 2.16-17 · BPHS 2.53-56 · Sārāvalī 4.28-29) The Sun, Moon, and Mars are Jupiter’s friends, so they are judged as being in a friendly sign here. (BJ 2.16-17 · BPHS 2.53-56) Saturn is neutral in Jupiter’s sign. (BJ 2.16-17 · BPHS 2.53-56) Mercury and Venus are Jupiter’s enemies by friendship reckoning, but Venus receives exaltation in Mīna, which overrides simple enmity in dignity grading. (BJ 1.13-14 · BPHS 2.46-52 · BPHS 2.53-56) Mercury receives debility here, and that weakens its capacity unless cancellation or support is shown elsewhere. (BJ 1.13-14 · BPHS 2.46-52)

The methods in this library treat houses as whole signs from the lagna, so Mīna is one full house in every chart. (BJ 1.15-16 · BJ 1.17-18) The condition of that house is judged through its lord Jupiter, especially Jupiter’s house placement, sign, and dignity. (BJ 1.15-16 · BJ 1.17-18) If Jupiter is strong, placed well, or otherwise supported, the matters of the house occupied by Mīna function more effectively. (BJ 1.15-16 · BJ 1.17-18) If Jupiter is weak, afflicted, or badly placed, those matters suffer accordingly. (BJ 1.15-16 · BJ 1.17-18) The same rule applies with added force when Mīna is the lagna, because Jupiter then becomes lord of the ascendant sign. (BJ 1.15-16 · BJ 1.17-18)

As a sign in the zodiac, Mīna can become any bhāva, depending on which sign rises in a given chart. (BJ 1.15-16 · BJ 1.17-18) If it is the lagna, its natural gentleness, watery nature, day strength, and Jupiter’s rulership affect the body and life direction described by the ascendant verses. (BPHS 3.22-24 · BJ 1.11 · BPHS 3.5 · BJ 1.10 · SAR 47.46 · SAR 47.48) If it is the Moon’s sign, it becomes the janma rāśi for transit reckoning. (Phaladīpikā 26 · Gochara (transits), 26.2 and 26.24) Gochara results are then counted from Mīna, and Saturn’s passage through the 12th, 1st, and 2nd from Mīna constitutes sāḍe sātī. (Phaladīpikā 26 · Gochara (transits), 26.2 and 26.24)

In Jaimini’s Chara daśā, each sign has its own period counted from the lagna, so Mīna can run as a daśā sign according to that classical method. (BPHS 50 · Jaimini Sūtras 1.1.28) During the Mīna Chara daśā, results are read from the condition of Mīna, planets placed in it, and its lord Jupiter. (BPHS 50 · Jaimini Sūtras 1.1.28) If the Moon is in Mīna, its natal sign results and transit sensitivity become more central in timing. (Phaladīpikā 26 · Gochara (transits), 26.2 and 26.24 · BJ 17.12) A modern reading by Vishwanathan treats the star lord as a second layer under the sign lord when judging the results of a sign period. (Jaimini Sūtras 1.1.28)