STRENGTH OF A YOGA

A yoga is formed by more than one planet. The nature of a planet is of three types, vlz., benefic,

malefic and neutral.According to the natural classification benefics are Jupiter, Venus, well-associated Mercury and waxing Moon and malefics are the Sun, Mars,Saturn, evil-associated Mercury and waning Moon.

The benefics or benefic lords are (l) lord of Lagna, (2) lords of the 5th and 9th, and (3) lords of kendras or quadrants, when they are natural malefics.The malefics are (l) the lords of the 3rd, 6th and llth, and (2) lords of kendras when they are natural benefics.

The lords of the 2nd and l2th may be termed neutral because they give good or bad results according to their other conjunctions. The 8th lord is a malefic according to Jathaka Chandrika but for all practical purposes he may be taken as a neutral. 

The above can be classified thus :

Benefics :  Lord of 1, lords of 5 and 9, and lords of 4,7 and l0 if they are natural malefics.

Malefics : Lords of 3, 6 and 11. Lords of 4,7 and l0 if they are natural benefics.

Neutrals :Lords of 2, 8 and 12.

Of course, the 8th lord is supposed to be evil unless he be the Sun or the Moon. We shall avoid controversies and assume that the 8th lord is a neutral for the purpose of interpreting yogas.

Here an observation has to be made.In the above list of benefics, malefics and neutrals we have completely omitted to take into account the influence due to a double lordship. Thus for Aquarius,Mars owning the l0th-a quadrant-is good.In addition to the lOth he owns the 3rd also which is bad. In other words, Mars a natural malefic becoming a bsnefic lord by virtue of owning a kendra is 'influenced'by his ownership of the 3rd house.

It will be seen that excepting the Sun and the Moon all the other planets own two houses each so that whether a planet is a benefic or malefic can be judged only when both the lordships are taken into account. The nature of a lord is influenced by two factors, viz., (l) the other lordship and {2) association. The other

lordship varies with regard to different ascendants.When Pisces is Lagna, Mars owns the 2nd and 9th

houses while he owns the lst and 8th when Aries is Lagna. Thus the 'Ascendant' is of the utmost importance

while deciding the benefic and malefic lords.We shall now discuss the nature of the different planets.

Sun.-He is benefic as lord of 1,4,7, 10, 5 and 9 which is possible in regard to Leo, Taurus,Aquarius, Scorpio, Aries and Sagittarius. He is neutral as lord of 2, 11 and 8 which is possible for Cancer, Virgo and Capricorn. He is malefic as lord of 3, 6 and I l, which is possible for Gemini, Pisces and Libra.

Moon.-Benefic as lord of l, 5 and 9 which is possible for Cancer, Pisces and Scorpio. Neutral as lord of 2, 12 and 8 which is possible for Gemini, Leo and Sagittarius; and malefic as lord of 3, 6, ll,4,7 and 10 which is possible in regard to Taurus,Aquarius, Virgo, Aries, Capricorn and Libra.

Mars.-He is benefic as a lord of I and 8 (Aries),2 and 7 (Libra), 2 and 9 (Pisces), 3 and 10 (Aquarius),4 and 9 (Leo), 5 and 10 (Cancer), 5 and 12(Sagittarius), and 7 and 12 (Taurus).if you take Sagittarius Mars is benefic as lord of a trine 5 and neutral as lord of 12. But bis trinal lordship is so powerful as to overcome the l2th lordship so that he becomes a benefic.Mars is neutral as lord of I and 6 (Scorpio) and malefic as lord of 3 and 8 (Virgo), 4 and 11 (Capricorn),and 6 and ll (Gemini).

Mercury.-Benefc as lbrd of 2 and 5 (Taurus), 9 and 6 (Capricorn) and 9 and 12 (Libra) : neutral as lord of 1 and 4 (Gemini), I and l0 (Virgo), and 5 and 8 (Aquarius); malefc as lord of 3 and 12(Cancer), 4 and 7 (Pisces), 7 and l0 (Sagittarius), 8 and 11 (Scorpio), 2 and ll (Leo), and 3 and 6 (Aries).

Jupiter -Benefic as lord of 2 and 5 (Scorpio), 6 and 9 (Cancer) and 9 and 12 (Aries) ; neutral as lord of I and 4 (Sagittarius),I and l0 (Pisces),a nd 5 and 8 (Leo): and malefc a$ lord of 2 and11 (Aquarius),3 and 6 (Libra), 3 and 12 (Capricorn), 4 and 7(Virgo), 7 and l0 (Gemini), and 8 and I I (Taurus).

Venus.-Benefc as lord of I and 8 (Libra), 2 and 9 (Virgo), 4 and 9 (Aquarius), 5 and l0 (Capricorn),

and 5 and 12 (Gemini): neutral as lord of l and 6(Taurus) ; and malefic as lord of 2 and 7 (Aries), 3

and 8 (Pisces), 3 and l0 (Leo), 4 and I I (Cancer), 6 and ll (Sagittarius), and 7 and 12 (Scorpio).

Saturn.-Benefc as lord of I and 2 (Capricorn), 1 and.12 (Aquarius), 4 and 5 (Libra), and 9 and l0(Taurus) ; neutral as lord of 3 and 4 (Scorpio), 5 and 6 (Virgo), 6 and 7 (Lco), and 7 and 8 (Cancer) ; and

nmlefic as lord of 2 and 3 (Sagittarius;, I t and 12(Pisces),8a nd 9 (Gemini),a nd l0 and ll (Aries).

AN INTRODUCTION TO VEDIC ASTROLOGY YOGAS

All planetary combinations may be divided into two broad groups, viz., Yogas and Arishtas. Though by the word yoga is meant a combination, in actual practice yoga is always considered

to imply a fortunate combination. Yogas include success in every line-health, personality, success in politics, financial gains, good education,mental strength, bodily health , good wife, dutiful children, sympathetic friends and relations,righteous conduct and other sources of pleasure and enjoyment which which generally go under the name of fortunes. The Yogas may be Raja yogas (political power),Dhana Yogas (combination for wealth) or Gnana yogas (combinations for real higher knowledge and spirituality).

Arishtas generally deal with misfortunes though they are also included in the generic term Yoga. Arishtas or misfortunes include all sorts and sources of sorrows, worries, miseries, troubles, distractions, bodily and mental disturbances such as ill.health, physical and mental deformities, financial losses, ugly and bad children, quarrelsome wife,hateful relations and friends, evil temper, sinful nature and other unpleasant sources in life which go under the name of evils or misfortunes. 

Special Yogas, including what are called Nabhasa yogas, have been dealt with, with suitable illustrations wherever necessary.The difficulty arising when two or more yogas coincide

such as would be the case in respect of say Asraya and Akriti .

There are many Yogas mentioned in the ancient astrological writing. Among them the important combinations will be discussed in the upcoming posts.

This is a tribute to Dr B V Raman..Dr. Raman himself was a great scientist who challenged wrong notions and gave a firm footing to the science of astrology and was a rishi of our times..

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