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Varahamihira
The pages here would contain articles on various topics of Jyotish. Please visit regularly as I shall update
these pages frequently. I express my gratitude to Sri Jagannath Center (SJC) & Pt. Sanjay Rath, my Guru for
helping me advancing in my Jyotish Studies.

W e d n e s d a y, J u n e 3 0 , 2 0 0 4

Functional Nature of Planets I

About Me
INTRODUCTION
We all know that the results and influences attributed to a planet is an amalgamation of variety Varahamihira
of factors such as its natural nature, the houses it owns, the house/ sign it in which it is placed
Its difficult to say who I am.
in, different yogas the planet is involved in etc. Comprehensive judgement of a horosocope Different people see me in
require a Jyotisha to consider all the factors before pronouncing any judgement. Hence so many different ways.
understanding each of these factors becomes very important. Two of the factors which form From my perspective, I am a
the foundation of any interpretation are the Natural (Naisargika) and Functional (Karaka/ soul trapped inside the world
Akaraka) nature of a planet. It is important to note that where Natural nature is important in of illusion!
finding out the influence of the planets on the nature (behavious, skills, attitude) of the person, View my complete profile
the functional nature can be used to find the different situations the person shall be facedwith
during his life time. However, one must not take such a simplistic approach in Horoscopic
Blog Archive Jyotish Resources
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. ►  2015 (9) Barbara Pijan
Following rules have been taken from the Chapter 34, Yogakarakadhyaya of Brhat Parasara Lama
►  2012 (1)
Hora Shastram and shall help us in increasing our understanding of the functional nature of Freedom Cole
►  2011 (2)
planets. PVR Narasimha
►  2009 (2) Rao
►  2008 (30) Sagittarius
FUNCTIONAL NATURE Publications
►  2006 (3)
1. Natural Benefics lording the Kendras (Quadrant) do not bestow Benefic/ auspicious (Shubha Sanjay
►  2005 (11) Prabhakaran
Yoga) Results and Natural Malefics owning the Kendras do not bestow Malefic/ inauspicious
(Ashubha Yoga) results on the native. (BPHS 34.2.) ▼  2004 (85) Sanjay Rath

►  November (1) Sarbani Sarkar

The Natural Benefics are Jupiter, Mercury, Venus and Moon and the natural malefics are Sohamsa
►  October (7)
Saturn, Rahu, Mars, Sun. In this verse Maharishi Parashara says that the benefic planets looses Sri Jagannath
their beneficence and Malefic planets loses their maleficence if they lord Kendras. However, ►  September Center
(21)
one must not interpret this by making the Benefics, Malefics and the Malefics, Benefics. What Visti Larsen
the verse mean is that the benefics lose some part of their Beneficence, however, they still ►  August (9)
remain benefic but with lesser capability to give auspiciousness/ material benefits (yoga). ►  July (15)
Similarly, the malefics shall lose their maleficence, however they shall still remain mild malefics ▼  June (32)
and shall not confer auspiciousness (yoga). In the verse 14, Maharishi Parashara that Malefics,
Intelligence &
only when simultaneously own a Trikona (Trine), becomes Yogakaraka and confer Planets
auspiciousness/ material benefits (shubha yoga)
Education &
Planets
2. The Lord of a Trikona (Trine) shall always give auspicious results. The Lord of Lagna is
Functional
specially auspicious, as Lagna is both a Kendra as well as a Trikona. Fifth and Ninth are Nature of
specially for wealth, while Seventh and Tenth are specially for happiness. The Trishadaya Planets II:
(3/6/11) lords shall give inauspicious/ malefic results. (BPHS 34.3, 34.4). Aries &
Taurus La...

Trikonas are the houses of Lakshmi and the Kendras are the house of Vishnu. While Vishnu Functional
sustains, Lakshmi, gives the malerial benefics (money/ power/ fame etc.) in this world. There Nature of
Planets I
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 The Principles
of Naming
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/ Muhurtha
Basics
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 Marak Grahas
I
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 Brahma &
aware of his goals shall be happy as kendras shows the happiness. Maheswara
 in Ayur
Jyotisha
3. The auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the Twelfth, Second and the Eighth lords shall Yogada- The
depend on their association. The comparative strength of these three lords are in the Yoga Giver
ascending order of Twelfth, Second and the Eighth. Eighth Lord is specifically not auspicious, Snapshot
as he owns the 12th from Ninth house of Dharma. If the Lord of Randhr Bhava simultaneously Method of
Interpreting
owns the Trishadayas (3/6/11), he will prove specifically inauspicious, while his simultaneous
a
ownership of a Trikona will bestow auspicious effects. (BPHS 34.5, 34.6) Horoscope I
Neechabhang
4. The Planet, owning a predominant house, will stall the effects, due to another, owning a less a Rajayoga
significant house and will give his own results. Eighth lordship of the Sun and the Moon isnot (Pt. Sanjay
inauspicious (BPHS 34.7) Rath)
Janma
Natural strength of houses has been mentioned in books like Laghu Parasari etc. The Kendras, Vighatika
Graha
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 Judging
placement
descending order 9th and 5th (the ascendant is predominantly a Kendra and then a Trikona).
of a Planet
The 12th & 2nd houses have no strength of their own and depend on the other house lordship in a House
of their owner. The eighth house is always evil and is never stronger than the ascendant. Thus
Judging
on the basis of lordship the planets can be placed in the following ascending order of natural Suicidal
strength (influence) in the chart: - 2nd , 12th , 5th, 9th, 3rd, 6th, 11th, 8th, 1st, 4th, 7th & 10th Tendencies
house lord. It is evident that the tenth lord is the most influential planet in the chart as the tenth from a
Horoscope
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 The concept
of Argala
for prosperity and penury. (Pt. Sanjay Rath)
Triggering of
NATURAL BENEFICS AND MALEFICS Planets
Jupiter and Venus are natural benefics, while Moon is mediocre in beneficence and Mercury is The Zodiac
neutral (its nature depends on association). In beneficence, strong (in paksha bala) Moon, and its
division
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 Lagna, Paka
Lagna &
gets more affected than Mercury and so on. The Sun, Saturn and Mars are natural malefics.
Arudha
However, in maleficence Weak (in paksha bala) Moon, Sun, Saturn and Mars are stronger in the Lagna (Pt.
ascending order. (BPHS 34.8-34.10). Sanjay
Rath)...
YOGAKARAKAS Symbols of
1. If there be an exchange between a Lord of a Kendra and that of a Trikona, or, if a Lord of a Nature II
Kendra is conjoined with a Lord of a Trikona in a Kendra, or in a Trikona, or, if a Lord of a Symbols of
Trikona is in a Kendra, or vice versa, or, if there happens to be a full Drishti between a Lord of a Nature I
Kendra and a Lord of a Trikona, they cause a Yoga. One born in such a Yoga will become a king Use of Nimitta
and be famous. (BPHS 34.11-34.12) in Jyotisha
Planetary
The conditions given by Maharishi Parashar in verses 11 & 12 of BPHS for yogakarakas are: Avasthas
i. Exchange between the Kendra and Trikona Lords. (Ajit
Krishnan)
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. ODD and EVEN
Footed
iv. Kendra and Trikona lords having mutual aspect (graha drsti). Signs (Ajit
Krishnan)
Here the maharishi have clearly spelled out the conditions of the rajayoga, however in the
The
subsequent stanzas we shall see the conditions which can break such yoga formed by Singnifican
association of a kendra and trikona lord. More to this, we must remember that if a kendra lord ce of Male
is placed in a dusthana, it shall cause duryoga (inauspicious combination), however if it and Female
signs in
conjoins a Trikona lord then it becomes capable of granting yoga (auspiciousness), however Zodi...
related to the dusthana.
Underline
Theme of
In verse 15, Maharishi says that if the lord of the kendra or trikona simultaneously own the Universe-
trishadayas (the evil houses 3/6/11), then the mere association of the kendra or trikona lord The Pancha
Tattvas
shall not give yoga. This is an important condition and one must keep in mind while
interpreting the yogakarakas in a horoscope. Notes on
Bhagyapad
a (A9)
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 The Marana
Karaka
yogakaraka and can give yoga (auspicious results) without associating with other kendra/ Avastha of
trikona lords. However, we must see the association of the trisadaya lords as mentioned in the Planets
15th verse, before pronouncing the results.
Dasa Trend
Analysis I
2. NODES AND YOGA KARAKAS: Both the nodes Rahu and Ketu give their effects, based on
The Use of
their conjunction with a house Lord or their. If they are in Kendra conjoining or aspected by Lamps in
kendra/ trikona lords it will become Yog Karak. (BPHS 34.16-34.17) Prognostica
tion
Nodes are shadowy planet and give results based on their association or placements. If they SJC IIIrd
are conjoined with Yogakaras or are aspected by them, they shall confer rajayoga. However, Annual
West Coast
due to the conjunction, the yogakaraka itself might suffer and give bad results in its periods.
(US)
Conference
We might also consider the lordship of Rahu ketu in finding out their functional nature. For this
SJC IInd
purpose, we need to consider Rahu as the lord of Aquarius and Ketu as the lord of Scorpio. Annual
However, this requires experimentation as this is not specifically mentioned by the Maharishi. European
conference
PT. SANJAY RATH'S COMMENT ON THE SUBJECT Sri Jagannath
Kendradhipati dosa or the negative effect of the ownership of quadrants by natural benefic Center
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 Categories
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 quadr
ant or trine. Nakshatra (4)
Praśna (4)
Similarly, a malefic planet owning a quadrant sheds its malfeasance and will give very good Calendar (2)
results if placed in an evil house. If instead, the planet is placed in a quadrant or trine, the loss Aditi (1)
of malfeasance may not occur fully. For example if Saturn is the lord of the 10th house for Aprakash Graha (1)
Taurus ascendant, its placement in the 12th house in debility will give excellent results like
Arudhapada (1)
power, position and a good career. If the malefic is also the lord of a trine in addition to its
Ashlesha (1)
ownership of a quadrant, then it becomes a yogakäraka producing auspicious results.
Chakras (1)

Yogakaraka means capability for producing auspicious results. The lord of the ascendant is Concepts (1)
the natural yogakaraka in any chart as it the first house is a quadrant and a trine. The lords of Education (1)
trines (5th & 9th houses) are important for wealth and sustenance while the lords of the 4th, Lost Horoscopy (1)
7th & 10th contribute to the happiness. Mundane Astrology (1)
Pranapada (1)
The 1st, 10th, 7th & 4th houses/ lords represent the four ayana (goals of life) called Dharma, Punarvasu (1)
Artha, Kama and Moksha (Readers may refer to the Bhagavat Gita for a detailed explanation of
Sarpa (1)
these goals). Yoga has been loosely interpreted as Union/association and in astrology this
Trisphuta (1)
implies conjunction, mutual aspect or exchange of signs. A
Upagraha (1)
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 sambandha (1)
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.

Posted by Varahamihira at 11:10 AM

1 comment:
Anonymous said...
A very good article.Has clarified lots of doubts. Author seems to have his guru's Kripa on
him.

DM Tripathi
Thursday, May 27, 2010 12:31:00 AM

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