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:

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On a related note, I have some notes about how to predict acquisition of immovable property like a house, apartment, land etc. I would like to share it with the readers. Please take a look at comment on it.

Writing this article was tough :-). When we talk about “house” we generally mean the house in a horoscope. However, in this article, “house” means “a place to live” and “bhava” is used wherever I need to refer to a house in astrological sense.

Fourth bhava is very important in the chart for lot of reasons. It indicates happiness, affection through mother etc.. Fourth being one of the quadrants is also responsible for conferring Rajayoga on the person. Fourth lord is also one of the indicators that can govern foreign travel.

Purchase of big ticket items like vehicles, cars etc. and property (houses, apartments etc.) should also be looked at from fourth bhava. The karaka planets for these traits are different; Venus being vahanakaraka should be considered for movable property, and Mars mars being grihakaraka should be looked at for immovable property.

For our current discussion, the following should be considered as important:

1. Mars, the naisargik karaka for houses,
2. 4th bhava lord and
3. Planets aspecting the 4th bhava and/or 4th lord.

Predictably (pun intended), strength of these three factors and beneficial aspects on them is necessary for the prospect of owning a house. Please go through this post on strength of bhava and planets to judge if these factors are indeed strong. 4th bhava lord in quadrant or trine with beneficial aspect gives good houses. Jataka Parijata also suggests looking at the third bhava(twelfth from fourth) and placement of beneficial planets in this bhava along with a strong 4th lord in a trine or quadrant is said to bestow a big bungalow to the person. 4th lord by itself should not be placed in 3rd bhava.

If Mars and/or 4th bhava lord are weak and are placed badly (in 6th, 8th or 12th bhava), it indicates that the person will not be able to own a house. Specifically talking about the 12th bhava, this placement can indicate travel to a foreign land or symbolically living in someone else’s house. If there are malefic aspects on the 4th bhava lord while placed in 3rd bhava, it indicates kshaya or destruction of property. The nature of malefic aspect would show the type of damage to property.

When Mars and/or 4th bhava lord have strength by way of exaltation or other such factors, it would guarantee a house, but a simultaneous bad placement in one of 6th/8th/12th bhava would indicate unhappiness from the house.

The combinations for predicting adoption of a child by a couple are based on looking at the weakness of putrakaraka elements in the chart. The logic is simple – if there are no natural issues, adoption is the next possibility. The yogas therefore are more or less along the lines of malefic aspect on 5th (and 9th) lords/houses (thus denying children) and also on the 7th house (denying ability to procreate).

1. Effect of Saturn and Mars on 5th house either by occupation or aspect afflicts the house of children.
2. Lord of 5th house in barren signs, i.e. those signs belonging to Saturn and Mercury.
3. Affliction of 7th house indicates inability to procreate.
4. Association of lord of lagna with Mercury may also indicate inability to procreate.
5. Since a person will have a child to call his own after adoption, influence of a benefic on the 5th house or its lord is a must.

If this benefic influencing the 5th house is Jupiter, which is the naisargik putrakaraka, the influence almost guarantees birth of children as seen from various Parashari yogas. Therefore, it can mean that it is not Jupiter that influences 5th house in rule number 5 above, but it is rather Moon or Venus that are indicated here.

I would like to point out a problem with this approach. It does not consider a scenario where perfectly normal couple think about adopting a child even when they already have naturally born children. IMHO, it would be difficult to make a distinction between adopted children and naturally conceived children in such a case.

A birth in the family is matter of great joy for everyone. The institution of marriage is created to protect the unit of family and provide the greatest care to children who will carry forward humanity on our planet. This article attempts to briefly look at the factors that bestow the blessings of childbirth to a couple. It is important to analyze the chart of both husband and wife in order to come to any conclusion.

In Vedic Astrology, the process starts right at the time when charts are matched at the time of marriage. Afflictions to 7th house and its lord can adversely impact the fertility of a person. Nadi dosha can lead to conception followed by mishaps like still birth, miscarriages etc. Nadi dosha is therefore considered a strict no-no for horoscope compatibility. These factors therefore must be avoided while kundalis are being matched.

What I am not going to discuss in this article is determination of sex of children. It may have been okay in the past, but in current age and time, it is not right. It is my humble opinion that couples should not engage in such activities.

The following elements are important from perspective of having children:

1. Naisargika Putrakaraka, i.e. Jupiter.
2. Fifth house and its lord
3. Divisional chart Saptamsha
4. 9th house, by the principle of bhavat bhavam. 9th house is considered to be important when looking at the horoscope of women.
5. Dasha factors – to determine if the currently running dasha is conducive towards conception.

Any afflictions to these factors or elements would be considered detrimental to the ability of having children. The usual afflictions come from Saturn, Mars etc., and lords of 6th and 8th houses. Based on these rules, some of the yogas or combinations that can potentially lead to childlessness are:

• Lord of 5th house in debilitation or positioned in 6th, 8th or 12th house. This yoga should also applicable to lord of 5th from Sun or Moon.
• Malefic influence of Sun and/or Mars on 5th house and its lord. The influence could be through presence, drishti (aspect) or by hemming the house. These are fiery planets and they “burn away” the prospects of having children.
• Malefic influence of Saturn and Mercury as these are considered to be impotent planets.
• Malefic influence of 6th and 8th lords on 5th house as explained above. 6th house is important as by being 2nd from 5th, it becomes a maraka for factors determined by 5th, i.e. children. The lord of 6th house carries this power.
• Jupiter’s presence in 6th or 8th house.
• Planets powerless in Saptamsha

Very interestingly, Rahu is not a part of this list of malefic planets. I would like to quote from Dr. Raman’s book, Combination #220:

Rahu in 5th house in a Navamsha other than that of Saturn gives rise to bahuputra (large number of children) yoga.

There are various curses or sutakshaya yogas that are mentioned in Dr. B.V. Raman’s book “Three Hundred Important Combinations” that lead to loss of children – please go through combinations #212 through #219 for the same. All these combinations revolve around afflictions of 5th house and its lord but rather than being general statements, the combinations are properly defined.

Any good influence benefic planets, but most importantly Jupiter, would mitigate the problem. In such a case, the couple would not be denied of children, but rather miscarriages and difficulty in conception should be predicted. Influence from Rahu also brings in a degree of “unusual”.

These problems could very well be solved by appropriately seeking medical help. Astrologically, it would be necessary to strengthen Jupiter and 5th lord to overcome such problems. Worshipping Lord Krishna in His “Santan Gopal” form helps.

There are three tests for judging fertility: (a) Kshetra Sphuta (for a female nativity), (b) Beeja Sphuta (for a male nativity) and (c) Santana Tithi test but the calculation and explanations are beyond the scope of this article.