Functional Nature of Planets I
INTRODUCTION
We all know that the results and influences attributed to a planet is an amalgamation of variety of factors such as its natural nature, the houses it owns, the house/ sign it in which it is placed in, different yogas the planet is involved in etc. Comprehensive judgement of a horosocope require a Jyotisha to consider all the factors before pronouncing any judgement. Hence understanding each of these factors becomes very important. Two of the factors which form the foundation of any interpretation are the Natural (Naisargika) and Functional (Karaka/ Akaraka) nature of a planet. It is important to note that where Natural nature is important in finding out the influence of the planets on the nature (behavious, skills, attitude) of the person, the functional nature can be used to find the different situations the person shall be faced with during his life time. However, one must not take such a simplistic approach in Horoscopic Interpretation and understand that what is given below are only the cues to interpretation. Only with Patience, Practice and Guru's blessings, one can master the divine discipline of Jyotisha. Following rules have been taken from the Chapter 34, Yogakarakadhyaya of Brhat Parasara Hora Shastram and shall help us in increasing our understanding of the functional nature of planets.
FUNCTIONAL NATURE
1. Natural Benefics lording the Kendras (Quadrant) do not bestow Benefic/ auspicious (Shubha Yoga) Results and Natural Malefics owning the Kendras do not bestow Malefic/ inauspicious (Ashubha Yoga) results on the native. (BPHS 34.2.)
The Natural Benefics are Jupiter, Mercury, Venus and Moon and the natural malefics are Saturn, Rahu, Mars, Sun. In this verse Maharishi Parashara says that the benefic planets looses their beneficence and Malefic planets loses their maleficence if they lord Kendras. However, one must not interpret this by making the Benefics, Malefics and the Malefics, Benefics. What the verse mean is that the benefics lose some part of their Beneficence, however, they still remain benefic but with lesser capability to give auspiciousness/ material benefits (yoga). Similarly, the malefics shall lose their maleficence, however they shall still remain mild malefics and shall not confer auspiciousness (yoga). In the verse 14, Maharishi Parashara that Malefics, only when simultaneously own a Trikona (Trine), becomes Yogakaraka and confer auspiciousness/ material benefits (shubha yoga)
2. The Lord of a Trikona (Trine) shall always give auspicious results. The Lord of Lagna is specially auspicious, as Lagna is both a Kendra as well as a Trikona. Fifth and Ninth are specially for wealth, while Seventh and Tenth are specially for happiness. The Trishadaya (3/6/11) lords shall give inauspicious/ malefic results. (BPHS 34.3, 34.4).
Trikonas are the houses of Lakshmi and the Kendras are the house of Vishnu. While Vishnu sustains, Lakshmi, gives the malerial benefics (money/ power/ fame etc.) in this world. There are four trikonas in a horoscope, each one is pivoted to one of the four kendras. They are Dharma Trikona (1/5/9) pivoted to Lagna; Artha Trikona (2/6/10), pivoted to Tenth house or Karma Bhava; Kama Trikona (3/7/11) pivoted to 7th house and the Moksha Trikona (4/8/12) pivoted to the Fourth House or Sukha Bhava. The four Kendras show the four Ayanas/ Purusharthas or Direction or Goal of human life and govened by Vishnu, the deity who upholds the Dharma. As Lakhmi, the consort of Vishnu, follows him, similarly the Trines follow the four kendras. For sustain in this world at any time, everyone must follow one of the ayana, which shall define the goal the person shall be striving for. This also means that the person who is aware of his goals shall be happy as kendras shows the happiness.
3. The auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the Twelfth, Second and the Eighth lords shall depend on their association. The comparative strength of these three lords are in the ascending order of Twelfth, Second and the Eighth. Eighth Lord is specifically not auspicious, as he owns the 12th from Ninth house of Dharma. If the Lord of Randhr Bhava simultaneously owns the Trishadayas (3/6/11), he will prove specifically inauspicious, while his simultaneous ownership of a Trikona will bestow auspicious effects. (BPHS 34.5, 34.6)
4. The Planet, owning a predominant house, will stall the effects, due to another, owning a less significant house and will give his own results. Eighth lordship of the Sun and the Moon is not inauspicious (BPHS 34.7)
Natural strength of houses has been mentioned in books like Laghu Parasari etc. The Kendras, in the descending order of 10th, 7th, 4th and 1st are stronger than the Trisadayas in the descending order 11th, 6th, 3rd. The Trisadayas are stronger than the Trikonas, in the descending order 9th and 5th (the ascendant is predominantly a Kendra and then a Trikona). The 12th & 2nd houses have no strength of their own and depend on the other house lordship of their owner. The eighth house is always evil and is never stronger than the ascendant. Thus on the basis of lordship the planets can be placed in the following ascending order of natural strength (influence) in the chart: - 2nd , 12th , 5th, 9th, 3rd, 6th, 11th, 8th, 1st, 4th, 7th & 10th house lord. It is evident that the tenth lord is the most influential planet in the chart as the tenth house is the most potent house for any planet to be placed. This fact should be borne in mind while analyzing Rajayoga and Duryoga (Kendra/ Trikona Lord in dusthana) i.e. combinations for prosperity and penury. (Pt. Sanjay Rath)
NATURAL BENEFICS AND MALEFICS
Jupiter and Venus are natural benefics, while Moon is mediocre in beneficence and Mercury is neutral (its nature depends on association). In beneficence, strong (in paksha bala) Moon, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus are stronger in the ascending order. This means that the when they shall own a kendra (kendradhipatya dosa), the effect shall be according to that order i.e., Moon gets more affected than Mercury and so on. The Sun, Saturn and Mars are natural malefics. However, in maleficence Weak (in paksha bala) Moon, Sun, Saturn and Mars are stronger in the ascending order. (BPHS 34.8-34.10).
YOGAKARAKAS
1. If there be an exchange between a Lord of a Kendra and that of a Trikona, or, if a Lord of a Kendra is conjoined with a Lord of a Trikona in a Kendra, or in a Trikona, or, if a Lord of a Trikona is in a Kendra, or vice versa, or, if there happens to be a full Drishti between a Lord of a Kendra and a Lord of a Trikona, they cause a Yoga. One born in such a Yoga will become a king and be famous. (BPHS 34.11-34.12)
The conditions given by Maharishi Parashar in verses 11 & 12 of BPHS for yogakarakas are:
i. Exchange between the Kendra and Trikona Lords.
ii. Kendra lord cojoins a Trikona lord either in a Kendra or in Trikona.
iii. Kendra lord placed in a Trikona or Tikona Lord placed in a Kendra.
iv. Kendra and Trikona lords having mutual aspect (graha drsti).
Here the maharishi have clearly spelled out the conditions of the rajayoga, however in the subsequent stanzas we shall see the conditions which can break such yoga formed by association of a kendra and trikona lord. More to this, we must remember that if a kendra lord is placed in a dusthana, it shall cause duryoga (inauspicious combination), however if it conjoins a Trikona lord then it becomes capable of granting yoga (auspiciousness), however related to the dusthana.
In verse 15, Maharishi says that if the lord of the kendra or trikona simultaneously own the trishadayas (the evil houses 3/6/11), then the mere association of the kendra or trikona lord shall not give yoga. This is an important condition and one must keep in mind while interpreting the yogakarakas in a horoscope.
In verse 13, Maharishi gives the condition for a planet becoming suo-moto yogakaraka, whereby he says that if a planet owns both kendra and trikona, then he becomes suo-moto yogakaraka and can give yoga (auspicious results) without associating with other kendra/ trikona lords. However, we must see the association of the trisadaya lords as mentioned in the 15th verse, before pronouncing the results.
2. NODES AND YOGA KARAKAS: Both the nodes Rahu and Ketu give their effects, based on their conjunction with a house Lord or their. If they are in Kendra conjoining or aspected by kendra/ trikona lords it will become Yog Karak. (BPHS 34.16-34.17)
Nodes are shadowy planet and give results based on their association or placements. If they are conjoined with Yogakaras or are aspected by them, they shall confer rajayoga. However, due to the conjunction, the yogakaraka itself might suffer and give bad results in its periods.
We might also consider the lordship of Rahu ketu in finding out their functional nature. For this purpose, we need to consider Rahu as the lord of Aquarius and Ketu as the lord of Scorpio. However, this requires experimentation as this is not specifically mentioned by the Maharishi.
PT. SANJAY RATH'S COMMENT ON THE SUBJECT
Kendradhipati dosa or the negative effect of the ownership of quadrants by natural benefic planets implies reduction in their beneficence. The benefic owner of a quadrant is still a benefic and does not become a malefic. Similarly, a malefic planet owning a quadrant will not remain a malefic and that does not imply that the malefic
becomes a benefic. This loss of beneficence of a benefic lord of quadrant is called Kendradhipati dosa. This flaw is annulled if the planet is also well placed in a quadrant or trine.
Similarly, a malefic planet owning a quadrant sheds its malfeasance and will give very good results if placed in an evil house. If instead, the planet is placed in a quadrant or trine, the loss of malfeasance may not occur fully. For example if Saturn is the lord of the 10th house for Taurus ascendant, its placement in the 12th house in debility will give excellent results like power, position and a good career. If the malefic is also the lord of a trine in addition to its ownership of a quadrant, then it becomes a yogakäraka producing auspicious results.
Yogakaraka means capability for producing auspicious results. The lord of the ascendant is the natural yogakaraka in any chart as it the first house is a quadrant and a trine. The lords of trines (5th & 9th houses) are important for wealth and sustenance while the lords of the 4th, 7th & 10th contribute to the happiness.
The 1st, 10th, 7th & 4th houses/ lords represent the four ayana (goals of life) called Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha (Readers may refer to the Bhagavat Gita for a detailed explanation of these goals). Yoga has been loosely interpreted as Union/association and in astrology this implies conjunction, mutual aspect or exchange of signs. A
weaker yoga is caused by one planet aspecting the house of the other and vice-versa or by an exchange of constellation called sukshma yoga. The association of the lord of a quadrant with the lord of a trine results in Rajayoga producing auspicious results. For example, if the tenth lord associates with the ninth lord Dharma-karma-adhipati yoga results. This is the highest karma yoga. Another form of this yoga is theassociation of the lord of the tenth house with the lord of the fifth house. Gyana yoga (that leads to moksha) is caused by the association of the lord of the fourth house with the lord of a trine. This yoga gives great learning and knowledge.
Subha yoga or good results are produced by the placement of the lord of a quadrant in a trine. Duryoga or inauspicious results are produced by the placement of the lord of a quadrant in a dusthäna (evil house). However, the duryoga is modified if it associates with the lord of a trine.
Rajabhanga yoga is caused by the association of the lord of a quadrant with the lord of a dusthana in an evil house. If instead, they associate in a quadrant, Viparita Räjayoga occurs.
We all know that the results and influences attributed to a planet is an amalgamation of variety of factors such as its natural nature, the houses it owns, the house/ sign it in which it is placed in, different yogas the planet is involved in etc. Comprehensive judgement of a horosocope require a Jyotisha to consider all the factors before pronouncing any judgement. Hence understanding each of these factors becomes very important. Two of the factors which form the foundation of any interpretation are the Natural (Naisargika) and Functional (Karaka/ Akaraka) nature of a planet. It is important to note that where Natural nature is important in finding out the influence of the planets on the nature (behavious, skills, attitude) of the person, the functional nature can be used to find the different situations the person shall be faced with during his life time. However, one must not take such a simplistic approach in Horoscopic Interpretation and understand that what is given below are only the cues to interpretation. Only with Patience, Practice and Guru's blessings, one can master the divine discipline of Jyotisha. Following rules have been taken from the Chapter 34, Yogakarakadhyaya of Brhat Parasara Hora Shastram and shall help us in increasing our understanding of the functional nature of planets.
FUNCTIONAL NATURE
1. Natural Benefics lording the Kendras (Quadrant) do not bestow Benefic/ auspicious (Shubha Yoga) Results and Natural Malefics owning the Kendras do not bestow Malefic/ inauspicious (Ashubha Yoga) results on the native. (BPHS 34.2.)
The Natural Benefics are Jupiter, Mercury, Venus and Moon and the natural malefics are Saturn, Rahu, Mars, Sun. In this verse Maharishi Parashara says that the benefic planets looses their beneficence and Malefic planets loses their maleficence if they lord Kendras. However, one must not interpret this by making the Benefics, Malefics and the Malefics, Benefics. What the verse mean is that the benefics lose some part of their Beneficence, however, they still remain benefic but with lesser capability to give auspiciousness/ material benefits (yoga). Similarly, the malefics shall lose their maleficence, however they shall still remain mild malefics and shall not confer auspiciousness (yoga). In the verse 14, Maharishi Parashara that Malefics, only when simultaneously own a Trikona (Trine), becomes Yogakaraka and confer auspiciousness/ material benefits (shubha yoga)
2. The Lord of a Trikona (Trine) shall always give auspicious results. The Lord of Lagna is specially auspicious, as Lagna is both a Kendra as well as a Trikona. Fifth and Ninth are specially for wealth, while Seventh and Tenth are specially for happiness. The Trishadaya (3/6/11) lords shall give inauspicious/ malefic results. (BPHS 34.3, 34.4).
Trikonas are the houses of Lakshmi and the Kendras are the house of Vishnu. While Vishnu sustains, Lakshmi, gives the malerial benefics (money/ power/ fame etc.) in this world. There are four trikonas in a horoscope, each one is pivoted to one of the four kendras. They are Dharma Trikona (1/5/9) pivoted to Lagna; Artha Trikona (2/6/10), pivoted to Tenth house or Karma Bhava; Kama Trikona (3/7/11) pivoted to 7th house and the Moksha Trikona (4/8/12) pivoted to the Fourth House or Sukha Bhava. The four Kendras show the four Ayanas/ Purusharthas or Direction or Goal of human life and govened by Vishnu, the deity who upholds the Dharma. As Lakhmi, the consort of Vishnu, follows him, similarly the Trines follow the four kendras. For sustain in this world at any time, everyone must follow one of the ayana, which shall define the goal the person shall be striving for. This also means that the person who is aware of his goals shall be happy as kendras shows the happiness.
3. The auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the Twelfth, Second and the Eighth lords shall depend on their association. The comparative strength of these three lords are in the ascending order of Twelfth, Second and the Eighth. Eighth Lord is specifically not auspicious, as he owns the 12th from Ninth house of Dharma. If the Lord of Randhr Bhava simultaneously owns the Trishadayas (3/6/11), he will prove specifically inauspicious, while his simultaneous ownership of a Trikona will bestow auspicious effects. (BPHS 34.5, 34.6)
4. The Planet, owning a predominant house, will stall the effects, due to another, owning a less significant house and will give his own results. Eighth lordship of the Sun and the Moon is not inauspicious (BPHS 34.7)
Natural strength of houses has been mentioned in books like Laghu Parasari etc. The Kendras, in the descending order of 10th, 7th, 4th and 1st are stronger than the Trisadayas in the descending order 11th, 6th, 3rd. The Trisadayas are stronger than the Trikonas, in the descending order 9th and 5th (the ascendant is predominantly a Kendra and then a Trikona). The 12th & 2nd houses have no strength of their own and depend on the other house lordship of their owner. The eighth house is always evil and is never stronger than the ascendant. Thus on the basis of lordship the planets can be placed in the following ascending order of natural strength (influence) in the chart: - 2nd , 12th , 5th, 9th, 3rd, 6th, 11th, 8th, 1st, 4th, 7th & 10th house lord. It is evident that the tenth lord is the most influential planet in the chart as the tenth house is the most potent house for any planet to be placed. This fact should be borne in mind while analyzing Rajayoga and Duryoga (Kendra/ Trikona Lord in dusthana) i.e. combinations for prosperity and penury. (Pt. Sanjay Rath)
NATURAL BENEFICS AND MALEFICS
Jupiter and Venus are natural benefics, while Moon is mediocre in beneficence and Mercury is neutral (its nature depends on association). In beneficence, strong (in paksha bala) Moon, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus are stronger in the ascending order. This means that the when they shall own a kendra (kendradhipatya dosa), the effect shall be according to that order i.e., Moon gets more affected than Mercury and so on. The Sun, Saturn and Mars are natural malefics. However, in maleficence Weak (in paksha bala) Moon, Sun, Saturn and Mars are stronger in the ascending order. (BPHS 34.8-34.10).
YOGAKARAKAS
1. If there be an exchange between a Lord of a Kendra and that of a Trikona, or, if a Lord of a Kendra is conjoined with a Lord of a Trikona in a Kendra, or in a Trikona, or, if a Lord of a Trikona is in a Kendra, or vice versa, or, if there happens to be a full Drishti between a Lord of a Kendra and a Lord of a Trikona, they cause a Yoga. One born in such a Yoga will become a king and be famous. (BPHS 34.11-34.12)
The conditions given by Maharishi Parashar in verses 11 & 12 of BPHS for yogakarakas are:
i. Exchange between the Kendra and Trikona Lords.
ii. Kendra lord cojoins a Trikona lord either in a Kendra or in Trikona.
iii. Kendra lord placed in a Trikona or Tikona Lord placed in a Kendra.
iv. Kendra and Trikona lords having mutual aspect (graha drsti).
Here the maharishi have clearly spelled out the conditions of the rajayoga, however in the subsequent stanzas we shall see the conditions which can break such yoga formed by association of a kendra and trikona lord. More to this, we must remember that if a kendra lord is placed in a dusthana, it shall cause duryoga (inauspicious combination), however if it conjoins a Trikona lord then it becomes capable of granting yoga (auspiciousness), however related to the dusthana.
In verse 15, Maharishi says that if the lord of the kendra or trikona simultaneously own the trishadayas (the evil houses 3/6/11), then the mere association of the kendra or trikona lord shall not give yoga. This is an important condition and one must keep in mind while interpreting the yogakarakas in a horoscope.
In verse 13, Maharishi gives the condition for a planet becoming suo-moto yogakaraka, whereby he says that if a planet owns both kendra and trikona, then he becomes suo-moto yogakaraka and can give yoga (auspicious results) without associating with other kendra/ trikona lords. However, we must see the association of the trisadaya lords as mentioned in the 15th verse, before pronouncing the results.
2. NODES AND YOGA KARAKAS: Both the nodes Rahu and Ketu give their effects, based on their conjunction with a house Lord or their. If they are in Kendra conjoining or aspected by kendra/ trikona lords it will become Yog Karak. (BPHS 34.16-34.17)
Nodes are shadowy planet and give results based on their association or placements. If they are conjoined with Yogakaras or are aspected by them, they shall confer rajayoga. However, due to the conjunction, the yogakaraka itself might suffer and give bad results in its periods.
We might also consider the lordship of Rahu ketu in finding out their functional nature. For this purpose, we need to consider Rahu as the lord of Aquarius and Ketu as the lord of Scorpio. However, this requires experimentation as this is not specifically mentioned by the Maharishi.
PT. SANJAY RATH'S COMMENT ON THE SUBJECT
Kendradhipati dosa or the negative effect of the ownership of quadrants by natural benefic planets implies reduction in their beneficence. The benefic owner of a quadrant is still a benefic and does not become a malefic. Similarly, a malefic planet owning a quadrant will not remain a malefic and that does not imply that the malefic
becomes a benefic. This loss of beneficence of a benefic lord of quadrant is called Kendradhipati dosa. This flaw is annulled if the planet is also well placed in a quadrant or trine.
Similarly, a malefic planet owning a quadrant sheds its malfeasance and will give very good results if placed in an evil house. If instead, the planet is placed in a quadrant or trine, the loss of malfeasance may not occur fully. For example if Saturn is the lord of the 10th house for Taurus ascendant, its placement in the 12th house in debility will give excellent results like power, position and a good career. If the malefic is also the lord of a trine in addition to its ownership of a quadrant, then it becomes a yogakäraka producing auspicious results.
Yogakaraka means capability for producing auspicious results. The lord of the ascendant is the natural yogakaraka in any chart as it the first house is a quadrant and a trine. The lords of trines (5th & 9th houses) are important for wealth and sustenance while the lords of the 4th, 7th & 10th contribute to the happiness.
The 1st, 10th, 7th & 4th houses/ lords represent the four ayana (goals of life) called Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha (Readers may refer to the Bhagavat Gita for a detailed explanation of these goals). Yoga has been loosely interpreted as Union/association and in astrology this implies conjunction, mutual aspect or exchange of signs. A
weaker yoga is caused by one planet aspecting the house of the other and vice-versa or by an exchange of constellation called sukshma yoga. The association of the lord of a quadrant with the lord of a trine results in Rajayoga producing auspicious results. For example, if the tenth lord associates with the ninth lord Dharma-karma-adhipati yoga results. This is the highest karma yoga. Another form of this yoga is theassociation of the lord of the tenth house with the lord of the fifth house. Gyana yoga (that leads to moksha) is caused by the association of the lord of the fourth house with the lord of a trine. This yoga gives great learning and knowledge.
Subha yoga or good results are produced by the placement of the lord of a quadrant in a trine. Duryoga or inauspicious results are produced by the placement of the lord of a quadrant in a dusthäna (evil house). However, the duryoga is modified if it associates with the lord of a trine.
Rajabhanga yoga is caused by the association of the lord of a quadrant with the lord of a dusthana in an evil house. If instead, they associate in a quadrant, Viparita Räjayoga occurs.
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DM Tripathi