OM SAI RAM

Vedic Astrology Basics

G RAVICHANDRAN

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Vedic Astrology Basics

Planets
There are 12 signs and 9 planets. The planets are Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus,
Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Two more planets, Rahu and Ketu are used, which
are not physical objects. These are points where the Moons orbit around the
earth intersects the planet of the earths orbit around the Sun. They are also
called chaya or shadow planets or as these are formed of shadows.
Zodiac
The entire zodiac is divided into 12 equal parts (each of 30 degrees) and each
such part is called a sing (Rasi). The first sign is Aries and is also called Mesha in
Sanskrit. Mesha spans 0 to 30 degrees. The next part is Taurus or Vrishabha
from 30 to 60 degrees. The subsequent signs in order are Gemini or Mithuna,
Cancer or Karkataka, Leo or Simha, Virgo or Kanya, Libra or Tula, Scorpio or
Vrishchika, Sagittarius or Dhanush, Capricorn or Makara, Aquarius or Kumbha
and Pisces or Meena. These divisions are based on real stars in the sky.

Pieces

Aries

Taurus

Aquarius

Gemini

Cancer
Zodiac

Capricorn

Sagittarius

Leo

Scorpio

Libra

Virgo

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Malefic and Benefic

According to their basic qualities, the planets are categorized into two groups,
Natural Malefics and Natural Benefics.
Moon, Jupiter, Mercury and Venus are Natural Benefics.
Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu are Natural Malefics.

Character stick
Sun
Moon
Mars
Mercury
Jupiter
Venus
Saturn
Rahu
Ketu

Rajasik
Sathwik
Rajasik
Sathwik
Sathwik
Sathwik
Thamasik
Thamasik
Thamasik

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Planetary Velocities
All the planets revolve in orbits around the Sun. Although the Earth revolves
around the Sun, for the purpose of astrology we assume that the Sun goes
around the Earth. This apparent path of the Sun is called Ecliptic. All the
planets moves at various speed in their orbit.
Ascendant takes approximately 1 whole day to go around the zodiac and come
back to the same point. For Moon it is about 29 days, for Sun about 365 days (1
year), for Mars about 1.5 years, for Mercury and Venus about 1 year, for
Jupiter about 12 years and finally for Saturn approximately 30 years. Rahu and
Ketu each take 18 years to go around the zodiac once, approximately.

Planet
*Ascendant
Moon
Mercury
Venus
Sun
Mars
Jupiter
Rahu / Ketu
Saturn

Time Taken to cross one Sign

2 Hours
2.5 Days
On average one month
On average one month
One Month
1.5 Months
One Year
1.5 Years
2.5 Years

* Ascendant is the Zodiac Sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the
moment you were born.

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Sing Lord
Aries and Scorpio are ruled by Mars
Taurus and Libra ruled by Venus
Gemini and Virgo ruled by Mercury
Cancer ruled by Moon
Leo ruled by Sun
Sagittarius and Pisces ruled by Jupiter
Capricorn and Aquarius ruled by Saturn

Pieces

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Jupiter

Mars

Venus

Mercury

Aquarius
Saturn

Cancer
Ruler ship of Planets

Moon

Capricorn

Leo

Saturn

Sun

Sagittarius

Scorpio

Libra

Virgo

Jupiter

Mars

Venus

Mercury

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Exaltation & Debilitation

A planet is in an extremely happy condition when he is exalted and is in an
extremely miserable condition when he is debilitated (It is not always true, But
this fundamental principle is useful for prediction).
.
Planet
Sun
Moon
Mars
Mercury
Jupiter
Venus
Saturn

Exaltation
Aries
Taurus
Capricorn
Virgo
Cancer
Pisces
Libra

Debilitation
Libra
Scorpio
Cancer
Pisces
Capricorn
Virgo
Aries

Note: Except Mercury who is exalted in Virgo, no other planet gets any exalted
status in its own house.
Note: All exalted planets get debilitated in the seventh house from their points
of exaltations. For instance the Sun is exalted in Aries. Now count in this way
Aries first, Taurus second, Gemini third, Cancer ending with Libra which is the
seventh house from Aries.

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Pisces

Aries

Taurus

VENUS

SUN

MOON

Gemini

Aquarius

Cancer
JUPITER
Exalted

Capricorn

Leo

MARS
Sagittarius

Scorpio

Pisces

Aries

Mercury

SATURN

Libra

Virgo

SATURN

MERCURY

Taurus

Gemini

Aquarius

Cancer
MARS

Capricorn

Debilitated

Leo

JUPITER
Sagittarius

Scorpio

Libra

Virgo

MOON

SUN

VENUS

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Moolatrikona
The second best condition for planets is called as the Moolatrikona.
PLANET
Sun
Moon
Mars
Mercury
Jupiter
Venus
Saturn

MOOLATRIKONA
Leo up to 20 Degree
Taurus up to 27 Degree
Aries up to 12 Degree
Virgo up to 20 Degree
Sagittarius up to 10 Degree
Libra up to 15 Degree
Aquarius up to 20 Degree

Note: Except the Moon all other planets get the Moolatrikona condition in one
of their own houses

Own House
The Third best condition for a planet is to be in its own house
PLANET
Sun
Moon
Mars
Mercury
Jupiter
Venus
Saturn

OWN HOUSE
Leo
Cancer
Aries & Scorpio
Gemini & Virgo
Sagittarius & Pisces
Taurus & Libra
Capricorn & Aquarius

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Friendship and Enemies Planets

Planet
Sun
Moon

Friends
Enemies
Moon, Mars, Jupiter Venus, Saturn
Sun, Mercury
None

Mars
Sun, Moon, Jupiter
Mercury Sun, Venus
Jupiter
Sun, Moon, Mars
Venus
Saturn

Mercury, Saturn
Mercury, Venus

Mercury
Moon
Mercury,
Venus
Sun, Moon,
Sun, Moon

Neutral
Mercury
Mars, Jupiter, Venus,
Saturn
Saturn, Venus
Saturn, Mars, Jupiter
Saturn
Jupiter, Mars
Mars, Jupiter

Combustion of Planets
Planets become combust when they come within a certain distance from the
Sun. This rule does not apply to Rahu and Ketu, on the other hand, this is called
Eclipses.
Moon gets combust within 12 degrees on either side of the Sun
Mars gets combust within 17 degrees on either side of the Sun
Mercury gets combust within 14 degrees on either side of the Sun
Jupiter gets combust within 11 degrees on either side of the Sun
Venus gets combust within 10 degrees on either side of the Sun
Saturn gets combust within 15 degrees on either side of the Sun

Acceleration of the Planets

The movement of a planets from one sign to another sometimes becomes
more than the normal speed of the planet concerned. In such cases, the
concerned planets is said to be acceleration.

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Retrograde
Retrograde motion is when a planet appears to be moving backward. In
actuality, the planets speed slows down giving the illusion that it is travelling
backward. All planets except the Sun, Moon, Rahu and Ketu are subject to
retrograde motion.

Classifying Zodiac Signs by Modality

There are three modes: Cardinal, Fixed and Common. The Cardinal Signs are
efficacious and self starters. Fixed Signs are focused and determined. Common
Signs are flexible and adaptable.

Pieces

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Common

Cardinal

Fixed

Common

Aquarius

Cancer

Fixed

Cardinal
Modality

Capricorn

Leo

Cardinal

Fixed

Sagittarius

Scorpio

Libra

Virgo

Common

Fixed

Cardinal

Common

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Classifying Zodiac Signs by Element

The Signs are further grouped into one of the four Elements. The Elements
Fire, Earth, Air and Water each have its own temperament. The Fire Signs are
vital and intense. Earth Signs are practical and stable. Air Signs are social and
intellectual. And last the Water Signs are intuitive and emotional.

Pieces

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Water

Fire

Earth

Air

Aquarius

Cancer

Air

Water

Capricorn

Four Elements

Leo

Earth

Fire

Sagittarius

Scorpio

Libra

Virgo

Fire

Water

Air

Earth

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Classifying Zodiac Signs by Duality

Each Sign has a Duality. Astrologers use different names such as
assertive/passive, and male/female to describe the dualities. Aries, Gemini,
Leo, Libra, Sagittarius and Aquarius are all assertive (extroverted) Signs while
Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces are passive (introverted)
Signs

Pieces

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Female

Male

Female

Male

Aquarius

Cancer

Male

Female

Capricorn

Male & Female Sign

Female

Leo
Male

Sagittarius

Scorpio

Libra

Virgo

Male

Female

Male

Female

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Star or Constellations
There are twenty seven Stars of fixed star on the suns path. Each one is
covering 13.20 of longitude. 12 Rasis and twenty seven Star are considered
to be stationary or fixed ones and the nine planets are said to be moving along
the ecliptic.
S.No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27

Longitude in
Degree
From
0
13/20
26/40
40/00
53/20
66/40
80/00
93/20
106/40
120/00
133/20
146/40
160/00
173/20
186/40
200/00
213/20
226/40
240/00
253/20
266/40
280/00
293/20
306/40
320/00
333/20
346/40

Longitude in
Degree
To
13/20
26/40
40/00
53/20
66/40
80/00
93/20
106/40
120/00
133/20
146/40
160/00
173/20
186/40
200/00
213/20
226/40
240/00
253/20
266/40
280/00
293/20
306/40
320/00
333/20
346/40
360/00

Star Name

Star Lord

Ashwini
Bharani
Krittika
Rohini
Mrigashira
Ardra
Punarvasu
Pushya
Ashlesha
Magha
Purva Phalguni
Uttara Phalguni
Hasta
Chitra
Swati
Vishakha
Anuradha
Jyeshtha
Moola
Purva Sharha
Uttara Sharha
Shravan
Dhanishtha
Shatabhisha
Purva.Bhadrapad
Uttara Bhadrapad
Revati

Ketu
Venus
Sun
Moon
Mars
Rahu
Jupiter
Saturn
Mercury
Ketu
Venus
Sun
Moon
Mars
Rahu
Jupiter
Saturn
Mercury
Ketu
Venus
Sun
Moon
Mars
Rahu
Jupiter
Saturn
Mercury

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Aspects
In Vedic Astrology all planets aspect the planet in the same sign as well as the
seventh house form their position.
Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn, Rahu, Ketu are aspect
the 7th house from its location.
Three planets Mars, Jupiter and Saturn have special aspects.
Mars has two additional aspects the fourth and the eighth.
Jupiter has two additional aspects the fifth and the ninth.
Saturn has two additional aspects the third and the tenth.

Kendras (Quadrants 1,4,7,10)

These houses are very strong and give exceptional benefic qualities to the
planets that are placed in them. These are houses 1, 4, 7, and 10. They are also
known as the angular house in the chart.

Trikonas (Trines- 1, 5,9)

These houses are almost as strong as the Kendra houses, but are given the role
of secondary benefic and are houses 1, 5, and 9. They are also known as trine
houses and benefic planets that are placed in them produce great results.
Notice must be given to the fact that the first house is called a Kendra and
Trine house. It is one reason for the great importance bestowed on the
ascendant or first house in a chart.

Upachaya (3,6,10 and11)

Upachaya Sthanas: 3rd, 6th, 10th and 11th houses from Ascendant are called
Upachaya sthanas. Upachayam means "increasing" and "growing". Malefic
planets function better.
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Dushsthanas (6,8 and 12)

These houses represent the 6, 8th, and 12th in the chart and are the malefic
houses. Any benefic planet that is placed in the dushsthana houses will
become weak and bring about difficulties to that planet.

Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha houses

1, 5, and 9 are Dharma houses.
2, 6, and 10 are Artha houses.
3, 7, and 11 are Kama houses.
4, 8, and 12 are Moksha houses.

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Important Parameter to Remember

For every Ascendant some planets are benefic, some are malefic and some are
neutral. Again how they are placed in the chart is a very important point to be
considered. However the following are the basic thumb rules:
Lords of 1,5, 9 houses are always benefics.
Lords of 4, 7, 10 houses if placed in auspicious houses produce good results.
Lords of 6, 8, 12 house if placed in 6, 8, or 12 houses produce good results but
are bad if placed in the good houses.
2nd and 11th lords are better placed in the auspicious houses.
When two or more planets are placed in a house, it is called the conjunction of
planets. The results of these conjunctions of planets will depend on whether
they are benefics or malefics from the ascendant point of view. The
conjunction of the Kendra lords or the Kona lords or the Kendra or Kona lords
is highly auspicious. These are called Raja yoga combinations. The Raja yoga
combinations give rise to authority, power, position and wealth. However, if a
dusthana lord. i.e., 6th, 8th or 12th lord joins them it spoils the Rajayogas.
When two planets exchange houses, i.e., let us say Mars is in Venus house and
Venus in Mars house, it is called Parivartana Yoga or Exchange Yoga. The
Parivartana Yoga is a very powerful one. The Parivartana Yoga becomes
auspicious if the exchange is between two auspicious houses, i.e., between the
1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th and 11th houses. Similarly if two dusthana
lords, i.e., 6th, 8th and 12th, exchange houses then also it is auspicious.
However, if a benefic house lord exchanges houses with a malefic house lord,
like 9th lord with the 12th lord, then the exchange is inauspicious.
Similarly if exalted planets are placed in Kendras etc. it again causes
Rajayogas. There are several hundred raja yoga combinations mentioned in the
Shastras.

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Yogakaraka
Yogakaraka is that planet which has rulership over both a Kendra house and a
Trikona house. Any planet that holds rulership of both a Kendra and a Trikona
house is going to have a powerful and positive impact on the life of the
individual concerned.

Aries
Taurus
Gemini
Cancer
Leo
Virgo
Libra
Scorpio
Sagittarius
Capricorn
Aquarius
Pisces

None
SATURN, as lord 9 (Capricorn) and lord 10 ( Aquarius )
None
MARS, as lord 5 (Scorpio ) and lord 10 ( Aries )
MARS, as lord 4 (Scorpio ) and lord 9 ( Aries )
None
SATURN as lord 4 (Capricorn) and lord 5 ( Aquarius )
MOON as lord 9 (Cancer) conjunct SUN. Lord 10 (Leo)
None
VENUS as lord 5 (Taurus) and lord 10 (Libra)
VENUS as lord 4 (Taurus ) and lord 9 (Libra )
None

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Bhadhakasthana and Adhipathis.

The Badhaka lord creates obstacles. It cannot deny an event on its own but will
certainly create difficulties and obstacles. Badhaka should be determined as
follows
Of the twelve signs, Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are the movable -charasigns, and the 11th house counted there from are Bhadhakasthanas i.e., to
Aries born, Aquarius is the Bhadhakasthana and the lord of Aquarius is the
Bhadhakasthana Adhipathi . To Cancer-born, Taurus is the Bhadhakasthana
and the lord of Taurus, Venus is the Bhadhakasthana Adhipathi to Cancer born.
Similarly to Libra, the sign Leo and the Luminary Sun and to Capricorn, the sign
Scorpio and its lord, Mars are the Bhadhakasthana and Bhadhakasthana
Adhipathis.
For people born in fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, the 9th sign
from those houses are the Bhadhakasthanas and their lords are
Bhadhakasthana Adhipathis.
For people born in common signs Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, the 7th
sign there from and the lords of those houses are the Bhadhakasthanas and
Bhadhakasthana Adhipathis.
Pieces

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

11

Aquarius

Cancer

11

Capricorn

Leo

11

Sagittarius

Scorpio

Libra

Virgo

11

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Navamsa
From Rasi chart is derived the various divisional charts. The most important
among the divisional chart is the Navamsa chart which has a role to play in the
stock market forecasting.
The word Navamsa in Sanskrit means 1/9th part. The Sign in the Rasi chart
comprising of 30 degree is further sub divided into 9 parts

Dashas
The dashas are the ruling periods of planets. There are more than 50 different
types of Dasha systems, but the most popular and accurate one is the
Vimshottari Dasha system. We are explaining this system.
At the time of your birth, the star constellation in which your moon is placed
in your birth chart, and the degrees in which it is placed, determines which
dashas will be in operation during your life.
The period and the sequence of each Dashas is as follows:
Sun Dasha is 6 years
Moon Dasha is 10 years
Mars Dasha is 7 years
Rahu Dasha is 18 years
Jupiter Dasha is 16 years
Saturn Dasha is 19 years
Mercury Dasha is 17 years
Ketu Dasha is 7 years
Venus Dasha is 20 years
These are called Mahadasas

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As the Vimshottari Dasha follows a 120 year cycle one will not experience the
mahadasha of all the planets in ones life. Depending on by how many degrees,
moon has travelled in the star at the time of birth, the first dasha gets reduced
proportionately. In every mahadasha of a planet there are sub divisional
dashas of other planets called Antardasas. The first antardasha is that of the
mahadasa planet, followed by the other planets in sequence. Following the
same principle, the antardasas are further sub divided into Pratyantardasas.

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House Significations
First House / Ascendant
Body, Personality, Appearance, Health, Dignity
Second House
Learning, Wealth, Speech, Family, Face, Right eye.
Third House
Younger co-born, Help, Communications, Courage, Valour, Neighbours, Short
Journeys, Right Ear, Neck, Throat, Arms, Lungs.
Fourth House
Mother, Home, Immovable assets, Vehicle, Comforts, General happiness,
Chest, Heart.
Fifth House
Progeny, Learning, Creativity, Intelligence, Intuition, Spiritual inclination,
Speculation, Purva Punya, Upper abdomen, Love.
Sixth House
Maternal Uncle, Enemies, Thieves, Accidents, Disease, Loans, Debts,
Humiliation, Legal and court cases, Pets, Servants, Subordinates, Lower
Abdomen.
Seventh House
Spouse, Marriage, Partnerships, Passion, Sexual Desire, Semen, Kidney,
Agreements and Contracts.
Eighth House
Longevity, Death, Danger, Disgrace, Hurdles, Legacies, Sudden Unexpected
Gains, Inheritance, Nature of Death, External Genitalia, Loss of Limb.

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Ninth House
Father, Preceptor or Guru, Religious Learning, Wisdom, Charity, Fortune,
Higher studies and Research, Long Journeys, Hips, Thighs, Liver.
Tenth House
Profession, Honour, Recognition, Fame, Knee Joints.
Eleventh House
Elder Brother, Friends, Gains of all Nature, Income, Success, Entertainment,
Legs, Left Ear.
Twelfth House
Expenditure, Loss of Wealth, Bedroom, Sleep, Imprisonment, Exile,
Renunciation, Foreign Land, Secret Enemies, Hospitalisation, Feet, Left Eye.

Planetary Significations
Sun
Time, Soul, Father, Ego, Ruler, Government, Intelligence, Vitality, Profession,
Honour, Fame, Glory, Heart, Copper, Orange colour, Ruby, East.
Moon
Mother, Mind, Emotion, Water/Fluids, Pearl, White colour, Flowers, North
West.
Mars
Brothers, Defence forces, Courage, Strength, Valour, Muscle, Blood, Fire, Earth,
Copper, Red colour, Coral, South east.
Mercury
Maternal Uncle, Intelligence, Logic, Mathematics, Humour, Speech, Skin,
Nervous system, Green colour, Emerald, North.

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Jupiter
Progeny, God, Guru, Place of Worship, Devotion, Dharma (Constant integrated
awareness), Wisdom, Nobility, Ethical Behaviour, Morality, Spirituality,
Finance, Bank, Law, Liver, Fat, Gold, Yellow colour, Yellow Sapphire, North East
Venus
Wife, Women, Marriage, Sex, Happiness, Passion, Beauty, Creativity, Music and
Fine arts, Seminal Fluid, Kidney, Secretion, Vehicles, Silver, White colour,
Diamond, Bedroom, South east.
Saturn
Longevity, Old age, Servant, Subordinates, Poverty, Humility, Deprivation,
Purification, Sorrow, Miseries, Hardship, Humiliation, Obstruction, Lethargy,
Procrastination, Chronic Disease, Bones, Hair, Nails, Dirty places, Iron, Blue and
Black colour, Blue sapphire, West.
Rahu
Illusion, Transients, Unorthodoxy, Sceptics, Atheists, Black magic, Adultery,
Incest, Illegitimacy, Maverick, Foreign Travels, Snakes, Poisons, Liquor,
Narcotics, Secrecy, Gambling, Cheating, Underworld, Thieves, Outlaws, Illegal
activities, Black colour, Gomedh (Garnet), South west.
Ketu
Moksha, Detachment, Renunciation, Occult Knowledge, Spirits, Red colour,
Cats eye.

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Strong Planet
1. Exalted
2. Is in its Own sign/Own house in friends Rasi.
3. Is conjunct with or aspect by benefics.
4. Is in Kendra/Trikona
5. Is in Shubh Kartari Yoga
6. It is not in Papkartari
7. It is not debilitated
8. It is not combust
9. It is not first or last 5 degrees of a Rasi
Note: Good place for benefics in Kendra and Trikonas and for malefics are 3rd,
6th, 11th houses.

Weak Planets
1. Debilitated
2. Combust
3. First or last 5 degrees of a Rasi
4. It is in Enemys Rasi
5. It is in 6, 8, 12
6. It is with malefics or aspect by malefics
7. It is in Papkartari Yoga

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Note:
1. Navamsa is an important divisional chart. No prediction should be made
without consulting this. Planet favourable in Rasi but weak in Navamsa,
either debilitated or in enemy house or in evil houses minimize good
effects of Rasi. If planet is strong in Rasi and Navamsa it is fully capable
of giving excellent results.
2 A Horoscope may have all the Raj Yogas but if the proper Dasha does not
come good Yogas rarely give fruit.

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House Significations
Note: the first planet listed for each house is the main house significator.
First House: The Sun for vitality.
Second House: Jupiter for wealth. Mercury for speech.
Third House: Mars for younger siblings and for prowess and courage.
Fourth House: Moon for mother and the emotional mind. Mars for lands. Venus for
vehicles. Mercury for education.
Fifth House: Jupiter for children and wise counsel.
Sixth House: Saturn for illness. Mars for accidents and enemies.
Seventh House: Venus for marriage, wife. Jupiter for husband.
Eighth House: Saturn for longevity, delays, and obstacles.
Ninth House: Jupiter for guru, religion, fortune, higher learning. Sun for father.
Tenth House: Sun for power, fame. Mercury for commerce. Saturn for efforts,
actions. Jupiter for success.
Eleventh House: Jupiter for gains, income, older siblings.
Twelfth House: Saturn for losses and expenditures. Venus for pleasures of the bed.
Ketu (the South Node) for enlightenment,
Rahu (the North Node) for foreign travel.

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