Editor – This is Part 1 of a many part article by Bijesh. It has been broken down mainly due to the length of the original article along with my incapacity to go through it at once.

Author – Bijesh Menon

I have been practicing astrology for more than a decade now. Based on the interactions with my clients, I have come to a conclusion that a people are more concerned about their profession than other aspects of life. Most of my clients come to me questions like “When will I have stability in my job”, “Will I be transferred this year”,  “What if I leave my job and take up a business” or “Am I into the right line of profession, if not what is best for me” etc.  People take such failures very seriously and are less tolerant about them when it comes to career.

When I thought of writing an article about profession and vocation, I found myself confused on where to start. There are many books dedicated on this vast subject. I could not figure out how to express my views in a small article. I therefore decided to dedicate this article on the astrological combinations that cause downfall in profession, as it is the most worrisome area for a lot of us. I am trying to draw the attention of readers towards some of the planetary combinations which causes troubles and down falls to ones profession. These are based on my own experiences.

The Rahu-Ketu Axis and Unstable Career

The axis of Rahu and Ketu occurring in the fourth and tenth houses in a horoscope is one of the worst situations as far as profession is concerned. Irrespective of which planet (Rahu/Ketu) being posited in the tenth, the professional life of the native will suffer.

Rahu’s position in tenth house causes one to have frequent changes in his career. Such natives are much aggressive in their professional life. They seldom listen to others opinion and have strained relation with the co workers. They can be very impulsive which may lead them to making many a hasty decisions in career.

Rahu’s position in a fiery sign (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius) in the tenth house: Rahu is an aggressor and when he gets posited in a fiery sign, his flares burn high. This will lead to native always getting in to adverse situations in the work place. He will have frequent arguments with his co workers and superiors. He will never care others word. He will quickly get bored with his work. He will work hard but most of his hard work would go unnoticed. Such natives may not change the line of profession frequently but change in the job is certain. Business men with this combination will seldom find success since they will never maintain good relation in their business circle. Their success in life will be only in patches.

Rahu position in a watery sign (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces): Rahu is less malefic than being located in a watery sign being posited in a fiery sign. The reason behind it is that Rahu will never attains much power in a watery sign like a fiery sign.  But still Rahu will cause damage as much as possible because Rahu is uncomfortable in watery signs. In Pisces, Rahu is less harmful because Jupiter has a calming influence over Rahu as the depositor lord.

The natives with Rahu in the 10th house in a watery sign will have fewer changes in career but they tend to suffer more in their jobs. Such natives have a sense of frustration in their career and do not see many opportunities for change.

Rahu’s position in the tenth house in an earth sign (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn): Earth signs signify patience and practical approach. This influence on Rahu provides stability in career. Also, Rahu maintains a good relation with only a few planets and Venus and Mercury are among them. That’s the reason why Rahu is a less of a trouble in Taurus and Virgo. Such natives also may face some problems in their professional life and have the tendency to change jobs but will always hold their nerves with practical approach to the situation. Also they will have an attitude of seeing things from an angle of enjoyment and cooperation which will always help them stand strong even at the odd periods.

Rahu’s position in the tenth house in an airy sign (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius): In airy signs Rahu is most comfortable and causes least trouble. Once again two of the three airy signs Gemini and Libra are owned by Mercury and Venus who are friendly to Rahu. In Aquarius Rahu does not behave properly since the sign is owned by Saturn and the combination of Rahu-Saturn is always bad influence. Moreover most of the schools of astrology are of the opinion that for Rahu, Gemini and Virgo are like own houses. Taurus is considered Rahu’s exaltation sign. In practice, this has indeed been found to be true.

If Ketu is located in the tenth, then the native tends to suffer humiliation and hardship in their work life. The native will always find it difficult to enjoy their work because most likely he/she will be caught in a line of profession which is not the line of interest. But what makes Ketu’s case different is that such people will keep their frustrations and uneasiness unexpressed for long and then end it with a disastrous move. Unlike Rahu in the tenth, these people will not try to bring in a change in their career, but will ruin it by keep continuing at the same place and the performance going down each day, one day at a time. If Rahu forces one to have changes in the professional front even for no apparent reason, Ketu holds one from even reacting to adverse situations. And at last when they take a decision it will be pretty bad.

The transits of Rahu and Ketu are also adverse for career. Whenever the transit of either Rahu or Ketu has reference to the meridian point, there is tension in profession. A close examination however reveals that the transit of Ketu over the 10th house creates more trouble than than of Rahu. A transit of Rahu or Ketu over the natal 10th, either from Lagna or Moon, along with an influence of transit Saturn by the means of yoga or aspect, the situation gets worsened.

This New York Times article reveals how animals use their relationship with children to improve their social standing. This isn’t very different from humans where we too derive pleasure from our children. We feel happy seeing them play. We put big burden our expectations on their small shoulders and really, like the male Barbary macaques mentioned in the article, we “strengthen our social clout” through our children. Coincidently, I was reminded that it is father’s day today. After playing with my son with some time, I was tempted to dust off my notes on astrology on how to judge children through horoscopes.

Ideally, this article should have written itself as part II of Progeny in Vedic Astrology and Dattak Putra Yoga. However, life is such that when children come along, they take up majority of the time and energy of their parents. Most importantly, they divert the focus away from all other activities. Even now, when I am trying to concentrate on this article, I am not able to get the tunes of Itsy Bitsy Spider and Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun out of my head.

A relationship between a parent and child is a complex one. Responsibility and expectation does not always balance each other out. Both the parties grow together and as everyone gets older, maintaining the relationship is not necessarily a piece of cake.

To judge such a relationship, we need to look at 5th house in parent’s chart and 9th house in the child’s chart. Due to Bhavat Bhavam, both 5th and 9th become important as 9th is 5th from 5th and 5th is 9th from 9th. In general, we should look at influences on 5th house and its lord to determine how the relationship and association would be in future.

Happiness through children is indicated if there is a positive influence through Moon, Venus and Jupiter. Similarly, unhappiness would be caused by Saturn and Rahu. Afflicted Mercury causes worries, Mars causes danger and Rahu can be the cause of scandals. Adverse navamsha and saptamsha positions of well placed planets in rashi chart cause misunderstanding.

Placement of 5th lord in various houses is important. A good yoga/combination between 1st and 5th house lords predicts a good relationship. A good combination between 5th and 7th or 9th house lord predicts that the parent would benefit from foreign travels of the child. If there are negative influences, the relationship would be estranged by distance. Similarly, if the 2nd house is involved and there are a lot of negative influences, a parent might not be able to support the child financially.

The rules explained above are from the perspective of a parent, but can be turned around and looked from the perspective of the child as well. Take an example of 10th house – an unfavourable combination between 5th and 10th house would mean that a person would neglect his/her children for career. A similar combination involving 9th and 10th house would mean that a child will not get enough support from parent because of the parent’s career aspirations.

Sixth, eighth and twelfth houses are considered to be inimical because of the traits they represent in a horoscope. Sixth house represents enemies, obstacles, debt, and diseases. Eights house is representative of death and destruction. Twelfth house represents loss, unnecessary expenditure etc.

Owners of such houses are inclined to do evil as much as natural malefics. Any association or yoga with natural and temporal benefics in a chart is not considered to be good. Planets occupying such houses are rendered weak and give bad results in relation to their own houses. When the lords of such houses are rendered powerless through their position within one of these houses itself – along with other debilitating combinations – it is said to constitute opposite of a raja yoga – vipareeta raja yoga and we have Vipareeta raja yoga as “a raja yoga with disclaimers”.

The effects on an individual are the very good – windfall, success in a venture, etc. Success does not come with the grace and fame usually associated with hard work and raja yoga. It comes at cost of others and not by one’s own efforts, i.e., when others lose, the individual gains. It becomes important to have such a yoga in a horoscope wherever competition is involved and people like businessmen, politicians would gain tremendously due to this yoga. 

By itself, vipareeta raj yoga gives sudden results and cannot sustain riches for an individual for a long time. Other factors that strengthen the horoscope are necessary to build upon this success. In military parlance, this yoga gives a capability of surgical air strike deep within enemy territory. But if the enemy is still able to retaliate, one’s own defenses should be strong. Vipareeta raja yoga is like the first stage of a missile. It gives the propulsion for first stage, but if the second stage and the guidance system is imperfect, the missile is most likely to miss its intended target.

The following are important conditions for constitution of a vipareeta raj yoga:

1. Lord of one of these houses should be situated within 6th, 8th and 12th house only.
2. They should not associated with lords of 1st, 5th, 10th and 9th house.
3. No association with any natural benefic planet should exist.
4. The lords of these houses should not be located in their own houses.

Specific yogas are:

1. If 6th house is affected by malefic planets and/or if the lord of 6th house is situated in 8th/12th, it is called “Harsha yoga”.
2. If this is the yoga for 8th lord, it constitutes “Sarala yoga”.
3. For 12th house, the corresponding yoga is “Vimala yoga”.

Though the the names of these yogas sound very pleasant, it is seldom the case. Few caveats that ensure that above four points and three yogas are not taken literally:

1. Twelfth house is a little less important here. In case of dual ownership of signs, it is opined that the planet owning twelfth house behaves more like the lord of the other house it is owner of. Therefore, in case of Aries lagna, Vipareeta raj yoga cannot be formed by association with Jupiter, which is a natural benefic and becomes even more beneficial by ownership of 9th house.
2. The location is not 6th/8th/12th from lagna only. Based on principles explained in Uttara Kalamrita, JN Bhasin specifically takes an example of a Cancer lagna horoscope where Mercury is a lord of 12th and 3rd house and its position in 5th house along with aspects from natural malefics causes vipareeta raja yoga. It is interesting to note that 5th house is considered an auspicious house in general. The explanation provided is that Mercury is situated in 3rd from 3rd house and 6th from 12th house, thereby harming the prospects of these houses.
3. Natural benefics should not be involved. They tend to be ineffective in giving results of this yoga. Think about it this way – if you want to hit your enemy hard, then you want the baddest guys working for you. Goodness should not be involved.

This yoga does nothing but extend the logic of a negative of negative being positive. Therefore, an astrologer should consider a vipareeta raja yoga when lords of 6th/8th/12th are powerless not just by virtue of occupancy of such houses, but also by other means viz. debilitation in rashi and navamsha, occupation of enemy rashi, hemming/aspects from natural malefic planets etc.

An astrologer should be very careful while considering vipareeta raja yoga because of parivartana yoga. An parivartana yoga between 6th and 12th lords will end up planets fortifying their own house through full drishti. In case of 8th and 12th, they are 5th/9th to each other and such a location is considered to be advantageous to the planet. That is precisely the reason why Harsha Yoga, Sarala Yoga and Vimala Yoga defined earlier in this article do not fructify and function as expected.

Table: Likely combinations of Vipareeta Raja Yoga for various Lagnas

These are general comments about a lagna. Of course, one has to look at the exact location of each of the planets before arriving to any conclusion.

Timing of events should be seen from Vimshottari dasha periods of the planets involved.

Author: Bijesh Menon

Ever since the era of great astrologer Dr. B. V. Raman, lots of people from the educated society have started developing interest in the field of astrology, unlike in the past when astrology was monopolized by a few, those who came from the families with astrological backgrounds or from some certain casts, with rare exceptions. The new trend in astrology have enriched the subject by the means of research and studies under taken by the new generation though subject to criticism on occasions for deviating from the traditional path in small or large way. I have made an attempt to write an article on the same. I consider myself as a student of astrology and have only a little knowledge to my credit till date. So I make apologies in advance to the readers, if I make any mistakes in writing this article which is based on the findings of my humble experience in astrology.

Introduction
Before starting with the planetary combinations and other related factors which constitutes one with the fortune to be a master in astrology, we need to understand what qualities should an astrologer possess.

• Appropriate planetary combinations,
• A strong and uncomplicated mind: The person should have a strong and uncomplicated mind which should be spiritually inclined too, to help him self to be objective in thinking while judging matters from a horoscope than subjective,
• The person should have “Vaksidhi” (speaking ability),
• Should have a good power of intuition,
• The person should have developed a good analytical method of prediction.

Combinations for a good and sound knowledge in the field of astrology
To achieve knowledge in astrology or any related subject, one should have a natural inclination towards such subjects. A relation between the 1st and 8th houses or 10th and 8th houses indicates interest towards astrological related subjects. The lagna denotes the native himself while 10th denotes the profession or means of livelihood, success in life and honor from the society. The 8th house represents hidden energy, secrets, mysticism, astrology, occultism etc. The 8th house indicates initial path to spirituality too. The is a relation between 1st & 8th house as described below:

1. Lagna lord posited in the 8th house,
2. 8th lord posited in the 1st house,
3. 1st and 8th lords in conjunction, or
4. 1st and 8th lords in mutual aspect to each other.

Editor: Please look at this article - Rules of Combinations of planets, summarizing all the rules for required yogas.

Any of the above combinations indicates the person has an innate interest towards the mystic. Lagna being the representation of the native and 8th being the signification of all occult and mystic subjects (including astrology) a relation between them constitutes natural interest in astrological and related subjects. But that doesn’t mean that the person will have profession too in the same line.

Presence of any of the planetary situation in a horoscope indicates not only interest in astrological studies but the person having a profession in the related line. A relation between 1st, 8th & 10th house and its lords is the best situation in a horoscope for making an astrologer.

Apart from the relation between the 1st, 8th and 10th houses in a horoscope, there some signs and planets too play vital role in making an astrologer. In many astrologers’ horoscope it has been found that the lagna or 10th house is falls in any of these signs - Gemini, Scorpio, Aquarius or Pisces.

• Gemini falls in the 3rd place in the natural horoscope indicates communications. Gemini is the most intellectual sign and people with Gemini strong and influential in their horoscope are basically found possessing good knowledge in many fields. They are good readers and judges and have the ability to investigate complex situations.
• Scorpio is the 8th sign in natural zodiac those born with this sign rising are found to be good students of occult sciences. They can probe into difficult and complex subjects to smoke out their secrets and mark their mastery over it.
• Aquarians are among the most fast, deep and sharp thinkers of the world. They are unassuming by nature and noted for their ability to be detached from this material world. Being the 11th sign in natural zodiac, they possess good intuition also.
• Pisces being the 12th from the natural zodiac have a gift for their power of intuition, interest in religion, philosophy and related studies. They are most devoted to the field of their interest all which makes them the most eligible to become a celestial divinatory.

The karaka planet for astrology is Mercury who is karaka for “Budhi” or intelligence as well.  A powerful Mercury positioned in an angle, triangle, 2nd, 3rd or 11th house with residential strength and not afflicted is essential for making an astrologer. Mercury being conjoined or in aspect with Sun (but not combust and situated ahead of Sun), Jupiter or Saturn is supposed to give good results. Saturn’s influence over Mercury is deemed to be good as far as an astrologer’s horoscope is concerned. A combined influence of Saturn-Jupiter is supposed to be excellent. The influence of Saturn over Mercury will make the native patient and steady in achieving knowledge in any subject.

A yoga or aspect between Mercury and Jupiter is most desired situation in an astrologer’s horoscope since such situation will help the native to develop interest and achieve a good amount of knowledge in Vedic subjects.  Mercury shouldn’t be in dwirdasa (2-12) or shashtashtama (6-8) to Guru which cut downs the basic potential of the horoscope to become an astrologer even if there are other strong combinations. An influence over Mercury by the planets Mars, Ketu or Rahu are destructive for Vedic learning. Influence of Moon or Venus will make one more complex or materialistic by nature respectively.

The planet Guru also is vital in making an astrologer. Guru being the natural karaka for God’s grace, intuition, Vedic knowledge and wisdom his position in an astrologer’s horoscope is very important. Like Mercury, Guru also should be posited in houses like angles, trines, 2nd or 11th. He should have residential strength and influencing the houses Lagna, 2nd, 10th & 11th by the means of yoga, aspect or lordship. Guru being in yoga or mutual aspect with Moon, Mercury or Saturn in good houses is very desirable.

Combinations for a strong and uncomplicated mind
Moon and Ketu are also significant planets in an astrologer’s horoscope. Moon being the karaka for mind and the mental disposition of an astrologer is very important for doing objective analysis of charts; the Moon should be free from afflictions. Moon should be placed in the brighter half of the lunar month or should have residential strength and positioned in a good house. Moon shouldn’t be positioned in dwirdasha (2-12) or shatashtama (6-8) from the Sun since such a position will cause an imbalanced nature. Moon conjoined with or posited in Kendra from Guru forming Gajakesari yoga is the best situation for moon. A trine aspect from Guru also is fine. A good harmony between Guru and Moon will help the native to have good wisdom, vision and insight Veda shastras. A combined influence of Guru and Saturn over Moon is also deemed good, but influence of Saturn alone over Moon or by other planets than Guru is not good.

Ketu is moksha karaka and his positive approach in a horoscope will make one spiritually inclined. Ketu being posited in the houses 1, 3, 9, 11 and 12 is good, provided he is not conjoined or subject to aspect by any other planet except a trine aspect from Guru. Ketu being posited alone is always good since when he is under influence of a planet by the means of yoga or aspect changes his natural tendency. With the influence from Guru, Ketu will help a person to be detached from all illusions of this materialistic world.

Vaksidhi
Vaksidhi is an ability one gets by the grace of the lord. Speaking eloquently and with right words to express the mind is what Vaksidhi is all about. Vaksidhi Is judged from the 2nd house. The power of the 10th house also should be taken into account while judging the power of 2nd house. The lord of 2nd house posited there or in an angle or trine having residential strength is good for Vaksidhi. Mercury is the karaka planet for Vaksidhi. Jupiter influencing it is the best thing to happen. Moon, Budha or Sukra any of these planets posited alone in the 2nd house with the yoga or aspect of the lord of that rashi or Guru is good. The 2nd house should ideally fall in the signs of Sagittarius, Aries, Aquarius or Gemini. The yoga or aspect of 10th lord over 2nd house or the yoga or mutual aspect between 2nd & 10th lords also promotes vaksidhi. Ketu. Mars, Saturn or Rahu adversely affecting the 2nd or the 2nd lord is not desirable.

Intuition
In a horoscope 11th house is the house of intuition while planet Guru is the karaka for intuition and the planets Moon & Ketu are also is suppose to play a sub part. Moon, Mercury or Ketu posited in the 11th with aspect of Guru is the best position. Guru himself posited there also is fine.The 11th lord posited in the 11th or aspect the 11th are also activates one’s power of intuition. The 11th house falling in the signs of Scorpio, Aquarius or Pisces are the best situation.

A good analytical method of prediction developed by own
Now let us discuss the last quality an astrologer should be possessing, a good analytical method of predication developed by own. This is not warranted by any planetary combination instead it’s an ability achieved by one over the years of experience. An astrologer having a good basic knowledge in astrology and having the grace of intuition and vaksidhi starts his career in astrology and gain in experience over years. The more and more patience he shows in studying each chart instead of feeling himself to have mastered the subject and jumping into conclusions, the enthusiasm he keeps on to gather more and more knowledge in the field of astrology instead feeling saturated and accepting criticism on failure instead of making excuse for not wanting to admit own failure; all these attitudes will help one to establish a method of analyzing chart of his own.

I hope I have been clear and up to the point in all places in writing this article. Hope readers may find this article to be a use full one. I pray to the lord for all the students and budding professionals of astrology for their success. I invite comments from the readers in any form.

The art of determining benefic and malefic planets for a lagna (or rashi) is best learnt from Dr. B.V. Raman’s excellent book – How to Judge a Horoscope. This post is what I have learnt from one of the early chapters in the book – “Considerations in Judging a House”. If Motilal Banarasidas has copyright issues with this article, let it be known to me. I will remove it immediately. Still, I believe that all aspiring astrologers should mug this chapter.

The chapter does not only talk about planet by planet list for each lagna, but spell out the rules in making this determination. Lordship of certain houses in the chart can make the planets deviate from their natural tendencies of doing good or bad. E.g. Jupiter, who is naturally the best beneficial planet, is not good for Kanya (Virgo) lagna. It is similarly neutral for Simha (Leo) lagna.

In the rules given below, Dr. Raman also talks about Kendradhipati Dosha, the blemish acquired by a natural benefic by virtue of lordship of an angle 4th, 7th or 10th house. The lord of Lagna does not get affected by this dosha.

Benefics for a lagna can be determined as:

1. First house lord, other than moon,
2. 9th and 5th lords (in that order)
3. 10th, 7th and 4th lords (in that order), when they are not natural benefics. This is Kendradhipati Dosha, which gets cancelled only when the aforesaid planet occupies its own sign.
4. Natural malefics, when they become kendradhipatis.

The property of getting opposite traits to natural tendency is cancelled when the planet in question occupies its own house.

Malefics are determined as:

1. Lords of 3rd, 6th and 11th houses, in the opposite order,
2. Any benefics that might be tainted with Kendradhipati Dosha.

Neutrals are:

1. Moon as lord of Lagna,
2. Lords of 8th and 12th house; although the chapter mentions only Sun and Moon as having this property, but in principle it can be applied to each planet.

Based on the logic presented here, the list of benefics and malefic planet for each lagna can be summarized as: