Prediction about any event in an astrology chart is done by looking at either transits of planets (gochara) or by referring to a dasha period. Dasha period system is the more important of prediction systems in use. There are various dasha periods used within Indian Astrology - Vimshottari, Sodashottari, Dwadashattari, Ashtottari etc. Within these dasha systems also, Vimshottari dasha system is marked as the most important one in the ancient texts. The birth chart application in this site displays the Vimshottari dasha.

Vimshottari means 120. The dasha is called as such because of the period of effect of various planets adds up to 120. Dasha periods are always calculated according to the position of Moon in the chart. Janma Nakshatra therefore plays an important part in calculating the starting dasha period in the chart, which is determined by the lord of the nakshatra that the Moon falls in at the time of birth.

The main dasha period is called the mahadasha. This period is further divided into sub periods - antardasha and further sub periods - pratyantar dasha, sukshama dasha and finally the prana dasha. Without going into details of how these periods are calculated, if the span of the main period is of order of years, the duration of prana dasha is of the order of days or even hours. Errors in recording the time of birth are magnified quite a lot while calculating these innermost dasha periods. It is a pretty good reason for astrologers not to use sukshama dasha and prana dasha while making predictions.

Results from various planets are arrived at by looking at their natural or acquired traits in the chart. In their own or friendly house or navamsha, planets give good results. Similar results should be expected from planets that are have shadbala, vargottama or in a square or a trine position from lagna or Janma rashi. Planets involved in various yogas give results as described in the yoga. Debilitated planets, planets in enemy signs, naturally cruel planets give bad results during their dasha periods. Generally speaking, all planets do not give good results towards the end of their dasha periods.

Effects of various planetary combinations (yogas), whether good or bad, rajyogas or dhana yogas or nirdhana yoga etc. and corresponding predictions should be looked at from dasha periods of the associated planets. Essentially, the laws of :

• characteristics of planets in the chart,
• friendship between planets,
• yogas,
• strength of planets and
• retrogression

are the classical ones, some of which we have discussed earlier in this site and read in the books. Please refer to them while trying to make predictions for a particular period in a person’s life.

For ascertaining results related to affairs of a particular house or bhava, the lord of the house, planets situated in the house and those influencing the house by a drishti are considered important. This is required to predict an event in a person’s life - e.g. job, change of place, marriage and birth of children. Let us take an example of child birth. Fifth house (and also the 9th house, by principles of bhavat-bhavam) either from Lagna or Moon is important for children and childbirth. In the period of 5th house lord, putrakaraka, and a benefic planet affecting 5th house, one can expect childbirth in a family. In the period of malefic planets, e.g. Saturn or Rahu or a lord of a malefic house affecting fifth house, it will be difficult for a couple to have children, even if all other putrakaraka elements in the chart are really strong.

When antardasha and other sub-periods are looked at, combination and relationships between various period lords also come into picture. If the mahadasha lord and sub-period lord are friends either naturally or temporally in a chart, we should see good results. A 5/9 relationship, i.e. when two planets are situated in 5th and 9th position from each other, is considered auspicious. Similarly, a 2/12 or 6/8 relationship between the planets is not considered good when the dasha period operates.

All the planets that may influence a house will give their effect as main dasha period rulers or one of antardasha rulers. Per Dr. Raman, antardasha rulers are more important in giving result. When both rulers affect a house, the results should be considered complete. When main dasha ruler does not affect the house in any way but inner dasha ruler does, the results are less and limited. When only the outer dasha ruler is concerned with the house and antardasha ruler is not, the results will be extremely limited.

Rahu and Ketu are considered shadow planets (chhaya graha). They are mathematical entities whose manifestation is physically evident only during solar and lunar eclipses.

References to Rahu and Ketu can be found in a lot of Hindu scriptures including Rigveda, Atharva-veda and Mahabharata. Per Vishnu Purana, Rahu was a demon (asura, rakshasa) who tasted amrit, the divine nectar of immortality, by deceit, which was being served only to Gods by Vishnu, under the guise of Mohini. Even though Vishnu tried to kill him, he did not die because by then he had already consumed amrit. The upper and lower body parts of that demon were named as Rahu and Ketu.

In the group of planets referred to in Indian astrology, Rahu and Ketu can be considered the only two demons. Every other planet is worshipped as a god in Indian mythology. They do not own any signs, but they do own nakshatras, and are hence assigned appropriate dasha periods in the Vimshottari dasha system. Rahu owns Ardra, Swati and Shatabisha and has 18 years of Vimshottari dasha. Ketu owns Ashvini, Magha and Moola nakshatras and has 7 years out of 120 years of Vinshottari dasha period.

In any of the journals of Indian astrology, no positive words have been used while describing either Rahu or Ketu. First and foremost, they come from a demonic background. Secondly, they are considered to be wile, deceitful and dishonest. After all, Rahu did succeed in tricking Vishnu in serving him amrit. Rahu is described as a liar, a patient of leprosy, foul mouth and full of criticism about others. Ketu is a scoundrel and one with low character. Ketu also has weak lungs because he smokes a lot. Both these planets cause smallpox, leprosy, worms in stomach and other diseases. Rahu especially is responsible for psychiatric disorders and other diseases of mind, especially when conjunct with Moon.

Given such negative characteristics, it would seem surprising that most of us survive the wrath of these planets because they are bound to affect one house or other in our horoscopes.

If placed well in a chart, these planets work to check the very bad qualities they represent. Rahu gives courage, prestige and fame, Ketu works towards providing knowledge and moksha, the final liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Rahu represents ghosts (pret and pishacha). Placed well in a chart, it can bring out extraordinary qualities in terms of supernatural in an individual.

The question is - what does good placement in a chart mean for Rahu and Ketu? Rahu and Ketu do well if they come under the influence of Jupiter and Venus, who are the gurus of Gods and demons respectively. As explained in Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (BPHS), Rahu is exalted in Taurus and its moolatrikona sign is Cancer. Ketu is exalted in Scorpio and its moolatrikona signs (there are two of them) are Gemini and Sagittarius. Rahu’s negative tendencies can be kept in check by strengthening Mercury. Quite logical, given that Mercury represents intellect and Rahu works towards destroying it.

Rahu’s placement in ascendant gives money to an individual from unexpected sources. However, it is not considered good in house number two, which is the actual house of wealth. Rahu in sixth house gives a lot of power to conquer enemies in a battlefield. Ketu does well in third house, where it gives a lot of money to an individual. Although, this combination cannot be considered good for younger brothers. Ketu in sixth house is a good placement - it makes an individual generous and famous. Ketu’s placement in eleventh and twelfth house is considered extremely auspicious, where it gives results to make a person’s worth equivalent to that of kings.

Maraka planets are ones that get qualities of causing death by virtue of ownership of certain houses in the Vedic horoscope.

In Brihad Parashara Hora Shashtra, Maharshi Parashar has commented that 3rd and 8th house in a horoscope are houses that denote length of life. The vyayasthanas (12th) from these houses are bestowed with the quality of expending away life. Overall longivity should still be seen from 3rd and 8th, but the cause and timing of death should seen from rulers of 2nd and 7th houses. Inimical planets in these houses should also be seen in the same light.

Why suddenly a discussion on Maraka planets? While recognizing and understanding that death is the finality, I am hail and hearty, thanks for asking.

We always associate life and death with an organism, very interestingly this works for various aspects denoted by the horoscope as well. During the recession years of 2001-2003 in the US, my company went under and I too lost my job like lakhs of other engineers. I was running mahadasha/antardasha of rulers of 4th and 11th house - 7th and 2nd from 10th, the house that denotes profession and career.

One of the sources of strength of a planet is the state of exaltation or “uchcha”. In this state of exaltation, a planet is said to get a lot strength to do good - even naturally inimical planets like Saturn do not cause harm to the traits of a horoscope when in exalted state. The planet gives lot of beneficial results when it is a ruler of a good house but on the other hand it does not do a lot of harm even if it is a lord of a difficult house like the 8th or 12th.

In the seventh sign from the “uchcha”, the planet is devoid of all the strength - also known the state of debilitation, i.e. “neecha”. The planet becomes weak and can also cause hindrances. However, loss of strength is not the important point here, the loss of “dignity” is. That is why our learned gurus chose the word “neecha” for such a state, they did not use the word “ashakta”, which is the Sanskrit word for powerless.

There was a brief discussion in one of the posts about Neechabhanga and some very interesting points were raised. I would like to summarize it for the benefit of readers and also add my comments. There are some conditions under which there is a cancellation (bhang) of debility (neecha) of the planets that are in neecha state. Under these following conditions, the position of planet from Moon or lagna is important and is automatically implied unless stated otherwise. It would be best if the conditions are satisfied from both. The debility is canceled when -

1. the neecha planet is free from combustion or is retrograde and is not in any dusthana (6th, 8th or 12th),
2. the lord of the sign where this planet would get exalted is in kendra,
3. the lord of current house where the planet is debilitated and the lord of sign where this planet would be exalted are situated mutually in kendras,
4. the neecha planet is aspected by lord of exaltation sign of the planet - of course, there ought to be a good relationship between the planet and ruler of the sign where the planet is exalted,
5. the planet that becomes exalted in the current sign is in kendra from lagna or moon,
6. this debilitated planet is exalted in Navamsha chart.

Conditions 1, 2, 5, 6 are explicitly mentioned as a rajyogas in Dr B.V. Raman’s book “Three hundred important combinations”. Along with these, conditions 3 and 4 are additionally called as rajyogas by J.N. Bhasin.

To illustrate the point, consider a horoscope where Saturn is in Aries and hence debilitated. As per the rules, Saturn’s debilitation would be canceled when -

1. Saturn is in any house except 6th, 8th or 12th - e.g. this would happen for Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn lagna or rashi. However, this condition may not be true all the time and must be looked at in conjunction with other conditions as well. Per Dr. B.V. Raman, a retrograde Saturn, debilitated in 10th house can damage a person’s career beyond repair, unless there is some benefic aspect on 10th house. Saturn’s favourable placement in other divisional chart would also help in mitigating the effects.
2. Saturn gets exaltation in Libra, which is the sign ruled by Venus. According to rule number 2, Saturn’s exaltation gets canceled when Venus is in kendra.
3. Saturn is debilitated in Aries, which is rules by Mars. Thus, Saturn’s exaltation would be canceled if Mars and Venus are in mutual kendras.
4. Saturn’s debilitation would be canceled if Venus aspects it.
5. Aries is the exaltation sign of Sun. If Sun is in kendra, Saturn’s debilitation is canceled. This is not considered to be a one of the conditions causing neechabhanga by Dr. Raman, although it is mentioned in his book.
6. If Saturn is in Libra in Navamsha chart, its debilitation stands canceled.

In the context of debilitation of planets, other yogas that are worth mentioning are -

1. (a) When ruler of lagna is in moveable sign, (b) the lagna itself is a movable sign and (c) if the lord of Navamsha occupied by a debilitated planet is in a kendra or trikona, this Navamsha lord is capable of giving a rajyoga.
2. Mutual aspect between lagna lord and a debilitated planet with Rahu and Saturn in 10th, aspected by benefic 9th lord, gives rajyoga. This effect would be seen in the dasha and antardasha periods of this debilitated planet.

Does mere cancellation of debility mean that the planet has become a rajyoga karaka? It is a matter of debate. Condition 1, which states that the planet just needs to be away from Sun and not situated in 3 out of 12 houses in a horoscope would apply to a majority of charts. This would mean that the debilitation would cancel for little less than 75% of all individuals. In my humble opinion, this condition is too generic to cause rajyoga.

A rajyoga should be caused only when such a planet getting the neechabhanga is situated in a kendra and is strong in Navamsha as well. It should also simultaneously be a lord of houses 1st, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th and 10th and not the rest of the houses in the chart. My opinion on ownership of kendra and trine houses is based on a simple reasoning - a planet becomes a yoga karaka by by the virtue of lordship of certain houses and not by its position in horoscope, e.g. Saturn is a rajyoga karaka for Libra lagna by becoming ruler of houses 4 and 5, and for Taurus by being the ruler of houses 9 and 10. Unlike a planet which is exalted, a planet getting Neechabhanga would still be naturally inclined to do harm when it is lord of dusthanas - just like other planets in the chart. Neechabhanga is cancellation of debility, it is not exaltation.

Author: Nitin Kashyap

[Editor: This is first article in a series that will be published under "Guest Author" category. Mr. Nitin Kashyap has kindly written this article for the website planetarypositions.com. He hails from Dwarka and practices astrology professionally. He can be reached at kashyap_nitin [at] rediffmail dot com.]

In a Vedic astrology birth chart, third house is representative of attributes like courage, younger siblings, short tours, skills, servants and capability of being a writer in literally sense. Still, it should be noted that in a lot of of cases, a powerful third house comes at the cost of trouble in profession and finance. Some of the examples where this is seen are:

1. if the third house lord is conjunct with the tenth lord in seventh house,
2. if the third house lord is situated in tenth house or the tenth lord is situated in third house, or
3. if third lord is not a friend of ascendant lord and at the same time it is exalted.

Take an example of Aquarius ascendant. Mars is the lord of two houses - third as well as tenth. It is not a natural friend of Saturn, which is the lord of the lagna in this case. If Mars is exalted in house number 12 for this lagna, the person faces a lot of problems in his career. Some astrologers can say these problems are being caused by the 10th lord being in inimical 12th house but in my opinion, the root cause of all the problems is Mars being the third house lord and at the same time it being strong by virtue of exaltation. The reasoning behind my observations and opinion is as follows:

1. First of all, third house is sixth from tenth house, thereby indicating enemies of the profession. In this capacity, it indicates problems and struggles in professional life.
2. Seventh house from any house is considered to be a maraka bhaav for that particular bhava. The third house is seventh from ninth house. Ninth house, also known as labhastana, is indicative of luck, religion, higher studies etc. Therefore, a strong third house would automatically create deficiency of good luck.

I think it is necessary for all poets and writers to have a good influences on the third house and a strong third house lord, because this indicates a command over language and communication and their literally capabilities. However, if you look closely over history, a large number of good writers have lived in poverty and have lead a miserable life.

All comments on this article, in form of praise or criticism, are most welcome.