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Compiled by Gauranga Das Vedic Astrologer
Ó Copyright SJC and Gauranga Das

Definitions: The Zodiac, or bh§cakra is divided into 12 sidereal signs, called r§ªis. Each r§ªi occupies 30 degrees out of the 360 (30 x 12 = 360). The overlord of all the 12 signs is the Sun, because the zodiac marks one yearly cycle of motion (sa°vatsara) for the Sun, while he spends one solar month in each sign. The days when the Sun moves from one r§ªi to another are called sa¯kr§nti days, and are generally not good for any auspicious activities, because the Sun’s energies become disturbed on those days. It is like someone moving from one house to another is not a good subject to play chess for example, as he is too disturbed. Also, if someone is born on the sa¯kr§nti day, then certain remedial measures should be applied, otherwise he will suffer a lot during his life.

The zodiac may also be divided into two halves, starting out from the junction point of the signs Cancer and Leo. The only planets in the zodiac which actually own one sign, are the luminaries, i.e. the Sun owns Leo, and the Moon owns Cancer. The rest of the signs will be owned by one planet in pairs, i.e. starting from the Cancer-Leo pair we have Gemini and Virgo owned by Mercury, Taurus and Libra owned by Venus, Aries and Scorpio owned by Mars, Pisces and Sagittarius owned by Jupiter, and finally Aquarius and Capricorn owned by Saturn.

The following table gives the symbolic representation of the bh§cakra and the lords of each sign. Although in one sense we consider the Moon to be the overlord of the upper half, i.e. from Aquarius to Cancer, and the Sun the overlord of the lower half, i.e. from Leo to Capricorn, most of the time the odd signs (i.e. Aries, Gemini, and so on, every second) are considered to be under the lordship of the Sun, while the even signs (the remaining six) are considered to be under the lordship of the Moon. So each of the five planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn own one odd and one even sign.

The above table is very descriptive because we see that the sign pairs beginning from each side of Cancer and Leo, are owned by the same planet, and that also in the increasing order of distance from the Sun (i.e. Mercury is the closest while Saturn is the most distant). The shadowy planets R§hu and Ketu become co-owners of the signs Aquarius and Scorpio respectively.

Note: Generally the above chart format will be used, which is called the South Indian style, where the places of the signs are fixed.

Definitions: Planets indicate animate beings, while the r§ªis indicate inanimate objects or situations. Thus the signs are like the expansions of the qualities represented by their lords, one in a masculine way (odd sign) and one in a feminine way (even sign). The planet’s own sign is like its home, and it will represent features typical to that planet. Each of the planets also has an exaltation sign, where it behaves even more strongly and favourably than in its own house, and a debilitation sign in the 7^th from the exaltation, where it is very depressed and usually gives meager or bad results. Exaltation us called uccha while debilitation is n¦ca. The following are the exaltation signs for the different planets (the debilitation signs are not marked, as they are always exactly the opposite to exaltation.

Exaltation signs are like the favourite places of the planets. For example if you want to spend your holidays, you usually go to some nice place and don’t stay at home. Or if you go to a party, etc. you feel much better than at home. So the Sun is exalted in Aries, because Aries is the sign of new beginnings, and is very productive. The Moon is exalted in Taurus, because it is the second sign, representing the parental affection, and a sign owned by Venus, hence emotional. It also gives the feeling of security. Mars is exalted in Capricorn, the 10^th sign of hard work, for which he gives a strong impetus. Mercury is the only planet exalted in his own house, Virgo. This is because he is so witty, that he won’t feel himself completely satisfied in any other place. Jupiter is exalted in the 4^th sign of Cancer, which is the sign of the heart and that of God. So Jupiter indicating divine wisdom is naturally good there. Venus is exalted in the 12^th sign of Pisces, indicating mok¢a, or liberation. This is because the ultimate form of liberation is bhakti, or devotion towards the Supreme Lord, as it is confirmed by ¼r¦ K¥¢£a in the Bhagavad-g¦t§ (7.19)

Saturn is exalted in the 7^th sign of love and relationships, because although he is eunuch, he has very much desire for conjugal happiness. R§hu and Ketu are generally considered to be naturally exalted in Taurus and Scorpio respectively. However we should note that this will be correct ony for §yu¢ matters like longevity, health etc. where falling into these signs they will increase it. But for phalita matters like fortune, success, etc., their functional exaltation places should be considered, which are Gemini and Sagittarius respectively. The 9^th sign Sagittarius is vary favourable for dharma, or religious activities, so as Ketu, the mok¢a-k§raka. R§hu is excited for fight and using of weapons, poisons etc., which come to the 3^rd house of the natural zodiac, Gemini. Debilitation sign should be similarly understood. There are certain degrees within the exaltation/debilitation signs which constitute the points of highest exaltation or deepest debilitation. These degrees are given in the table below the next section.

Definition: The m¡latrikona place for a planet is usually a part of its own house (for the exception of the Moon), where it behaves almost as favourably as in exaltation. It is like the office or workplace of the planet. The following table gives the m¡latrikona signs for the different planets (the exact degrees of the portions are listed in a table below this section.

R§hu and Ketu again form an exception here, because they have their m¡latrikonas neither in their own, nor in their exaltation houses. R§hu’s m¡latrikona is in the 6^th house of the natural zodiac, indicating that his official duty is to create enmity. Ketu on the other hand, has its m¡latrikona in the 12^th sign of Pisces, as his official duty is to give liberation. Mercury’s m¡latrikona forms a part of his own/exaltation house, Virgo; and finally the Moon’s m¡latrikona falls into her exaltation sign, Taurus.

The following table contains all information regarding The planets’ own houses, exaltation/debilitation points and m¡latrikona portions. The Sanskrit names for the signs will be explained in a subsequent lesson on the signs.

Definition: As we have mentioned, the planets will indicate animate beings. These beings, besides living at home, going to job and having fun, also have some relationship with each other, which may be either friandly, inimical or neutral. These relationships are based on the natural characteristics of the planets, and their blood-relationship also according to the Pur§£ic descriptions. However, more research is required in this area. Mah§r¢i Par§ªara gives the following rule for establishing natural relationships between the planets:

i}akae<aaTa( SvaTa(- Sau%- SvaNTYaDaqDaMaaRYau" SvTau®Paa" )

Sauh*dae irPavXcaNYae SaMaaXcae>aYaLa+a<aa" )) 55 ))

"The lords of the signs which are the 4^th, 2^nd, 12^th, 5^th, 9^th and the 8^th from the m¡latriko£a sing of a planet and the lords of the exalted sign of each planet are the friend of a particular planet. Lords of the signs other than these are his enemies. The planets which have got the features of both (of a friend and of an enemy) are neutral to the said planet. These should be taken as the natural relationships of the planets." (BPHS. 3.55.)

If we apply the above principle to all the planets, then the result will emerge as follows:

In the case of R§hu and Ketu Mercury becomes a friend if we consider that Gemini is the sign for Rahu’s functional exaltation, whereas it remains neutral if we take Taurus as the sign of natural exaltation. Similarly, for Ketu Jupiter is a friend if we consider to be his sign of functional exaltation, while he becomes neutral if we take the sign of natural exaltation, Scorpio. Therefore for phalita matters the finrst relationship should be used, whereas for §yu¢ matters, the second is more suitable. I have added the relationships R§hu and Ketu make for other planets based on their ownership of Aquarius and Scorpio respectively.

Definition: The previously mentioned relationships are fixed on the basis of planetary lordship, m¡latrikona, and exaltation, so they are fixed in any chart, and are called naisargika sambandha. However the planets also form relationships on the basis of their position in the different houses of a certain birth chart. This is called temporary relationship or tatk§lika sambandha. The rule for this is given by Par§ªara as follows:

dXabNDVaaYa SahJa SVaaNTYaSQaaSTae ParSParMa( )

TaTkaLae iMa}aTaa& YaaiNTa irPaVaae_NYa}a Sa&SQaTaa" )) 56 ))

„The planets Sun etc. situated in the 10^th, 4^th, 11^th, 3^rd, 2^nd or the 12^th from another are mutual friends to each other. If they are situated other than these places, they act as enemies." (BPHS 3.56.)

In other words if we calculate the houses from one planet to another, and then from the other to the first, we will get the following pairs of distances:

Let’s analyse the temporary relationships between the planets in the chart of Rabindranath Tagore:

Definition: While judging the relationship between the planets, both the natural and temporary relationship should be taken into consideration in the system called compound or five-fold relationship, which adds up according to the following table:

If we would like to add up the natural and temporary relationships in the case of our example chart, we arrive to the following results:

Then Par§ªara goes on to state that planets in exaltation give fully good effects, and when in fall, fully bad effects. In between the ratio changes proportionately. This is also shown in the following table:

If we analyse our chart according to the above guidelines, we get the following results:

Of course we should note here that the proportion of benefic/malefic effects caused by a planet is in fact influenced my many other factors like their natural qualities, placement in and lordship of houses from lagna and other points, the different sources of strength etc. Therefore the above gradation is just one aspect of judging a planet’s effects in the chart.

Assignment: Calculate the temporary and compound relationships in the following example charts, and judge the benefic-malefic ratio of all the planets:

©Gauranga Das