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Shadbala

By Kshitij Sharma, September 23, 2006

Shadbala refers to strength of planet in a horoscope. Everywhere and every time during interpretation of a janma kundali and trying to make predictions, we refer to strength of a planet. We try to understand if a planet is really capable of producing the desired result in a Vedic horoscope. We try to provide arguments whether a planet has gained or lost strength due to position a friend’s or enemy’s house or has become more or less powerful due to aspects of other planets.

The Shadbala system of calculating strength takes the guesswork away from such an interpretation and brings it down to mathematical formulae. There are no more ambiguities left. The unit of strength of a planet in this system is called a “rupa”. A rupa is further divided into 60 virupas or shashtiamshas (literally translated as sixty divisions).

There are 6 main strength areas defined by Brihat Parashara Hora Shashtra – hence the name shat (six) balas (strengths)

  1. Sthana Bala
  2. Dik Bala
  3. Kala Bala
  4. Cheshta Bala
  5. Naisargik Bala
  6. Drik Bala

I would like to explain few of the interesting strength areas in this article. For the entire understanding of Shadbalas, please pick up the book Graha and Bhav Balas by Dr. Raman.

Sthana Bala

This is the most interesting strength area. Rather than relying on an Vedic Astrology software, a student of Vedic Astrology must learn how to calculate this using pen, paper and a pocket calculator. This is a strength obtained through the position – exaltation or debilitation, placement in angle, succedent or cadent houses, etc. Saptavargaja Bala talks about strength in classical sense – in its own rashi or in moolatrikona, planets gain certain virupas (30 and 45 respectively), in friend’s house – 20 virupas and in enemies house – 4 virupas. Uchcha bala is calculated based on how far a planet is from its highest exaltation point.

Digbala

House in Janma Kundali Planets
Ascendant Jupiter and Mercury
4th House Venus and Moon
7th House Saturn
10th House Sun and Mars

Drigbala (Strength due to aspects)

Malefic aspects decreases strength and benefic aspect increases the strength of a planet.

This system talks about absolute gain or loss of strength. The other placement parameters should be then taken into account. Kendradi Bala talks about how a planet gains strength due to placement in Kendra – benefic will get more strength to do good and a malefic planet will get more strength to do worse.



12 comments

  • Comment by manjunatha on November 27, 2006 at 5:27 pm

    My doughter born in moola 3rd pada.
    Is she harmfull to me.
    Her dob is 23/11/06 in bangalore at 5:30 PM
    Please replay to me through email.

    Regards
    Manjunatha

  • Comment by Ramesh on April 26, 2008 at 12:47 pm

    My DOB – 03/07/1967 (Time 1.30 pm)Place – Calicut, Presently staying in Jamshedpur.
    Question is Should I do business and my posittion with respect to wealth

  • Comment by chandrasekar on June 5, 2014 at 7:09 pm

    My daughter was born in Bangalore Karnataka on 13 Nov 1987 at 2.04AM – when is she likely to get married.
    My date of birth is 3.12.1957 Mysore 1AM

  • Comment by shayad on May 19, 2015 at 9:52 pm

    When there are 4 planets in one house hiw to figure out which is the strongest of all and so on ?

  • Comment by Biju on June 19, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    Sir
    Pls check my DOB 03/09/1966 pob Kottayam Kerala Time 23:30pm I want to get the report of my shadbala . Pls do the needful. Thanks Biju

  • Comment by VASANTHAN on February 27, 2016 at 7:54 pm

    Dear sir,can please help me in getting sadbala based srong and week planets for my horoscope.Now i got confused with all software.I also want to know d10, d4,d20,d40 chart.please reply email.cheers.
    Vasanthan Rajalingam

  • Comment by praveenn on December 22, 2016 at 3:20 pm

    When will I get married?
    My date of birth is 10-may-1987 (3:41 AM)

  • Comment by vivek sharma on June 23, 2018 at 10:03 pm

    Hi sir, I am suffering from diabetes since 5 years and unemployed since 7 years.pls tell me as what work I should do to earn.thanks 8/12/1970,12:30 pm new delhi.

  • Comment by Ambika on October 31, 2018 at 9:16 pm

    My date of birth is 7/5/1981
    Thrissur
    Time 1.10pm
    I want to know about my health condition

  • Comment by Ankit Shah on December 8, 2018 at 9:31 am

    Namaskar!
    I am Ankit.
    Birth date: 18-March-1983
    Birth time: 23:00 hrs (11:00 PM)
    Birth place: Petlad, Gujarat
    I am working in pharma company, I want to know about my career, health & financial status.
    I want to go to abroad. Kindly suggest remedy if any and guide for good future.
    Pranam!

  • Comment by Subhasish Sarkar on June 25, 2020 at 12:18 pm

    Please tell me my comming 3 years prediction. Profession and personal
    Dob 05/071968
    8.15 pm
    Place- kolkata
    Friday.
    Regards

  • Comment by M. Roshan Kumar Roshan Kumar on December 12, 2020 at 5:38 pm

    Shadbala is not coming in your soft ware

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