Interpreting Planetary Influences

Chapter 01

Introduction to Astrology

The essence of astrology is predictions, preventing mishaps and changing the unfavorable planetary influences. The art of predictions enables an astrologer to look into the future with confidence and the suggestion of astral remedies helps in preventing mishaps.

The divine knowledge of astrology unfolds the future, reduces tensions, anxiety and enables one to move in the right direction. It helps people to make decisions in the face of uncertainties. It deals with all aspects of human life. The Systems’ Approach predictive techniques give dependable indications in life pertaining to the future events, right at birth. The preventive astrological remedial measures, at the same time, help blessed ones by reducing the impact of unfavorable planetary influences and harnessing the significations ruled by functional benefic planets. The astrology, the ancient wisdom, helps us in understanding the potentialities and weaknesses in our lives enabling us to charter the course of success in our life in the matters of health, education, career, love, relationships, finances, etc. etc.

The basis of the divine knowledge of astrology is the Karma theory. The Karma theory is based on the premise that the planetary influences in the natal chart are the results of one’s deeds of past lives. The ascendant establishes the functional nature of planets. The Moon sets the clock in motion. The type of karma, one is destined to, is deciphered from the nature of influences on the tenth house, the lord of the tenth house, the Sun and Jupiter. One should be on the right path for future good Karma.

The planetary influences in the horoscope are studied through the natal placements of planets, conjunctions and aspects read in conjunction with the planetary strengths, planetary periods and current planetary influences. The study of planetary influences is carried out with reference to the ascending sign. The ascending sign is worked out on the basis of the date, time and place of birth.

For identifying the future of any aspect of life we study:

•The planetary influences on the house ruling that particular house. For example, status, wealth and family are ruled by the second house.

•The mooltrikona sign lord of the concerned house. If there is no mooltrikona sign in a particular house, then we will identify the planet(s) ruling that aspect from the list of significators given in Chapter 3.

•The significator planet ruling that particular aspect of life. For example, the Sun is the significator of status while Jupiter is the significator of male child. Both status and male child are ruled by the second house.

•The strength of the lord and significator in the divisional chart ruling that particular aspect of life. For example, Dasamsa is the divisional chart for professional matters while Sapthamsa is the divisional chart for analysis of progeny matters.

•The strength analysis of the mooltrikona sign lord of a divisional chart ascendant of that particular aspect of life.

•The operating sub-period of the planet and study of triple transit influences at the time of analysis of a horoscope.

The strong planets bless the native with happiness including birth in a resourceful family, good opportunities for education, comfortable life and opportunity for spiritual development. The weak or afflicted planets cause delays, troubles and setbacks in life. The divine science of Vedic Astrology indicates opportunities to mold planetary influences through good deeds, propitiation of functional malefic planets and strengthening of planets. The severely afflicted planets curtail/ deny happiness and bring tragic happenings in life.

Checking the strength of planets in the horoscope is one of the important aspects of analysis. The main factor for correct predictions is identifying the real strength of the planet. We come to know about the weakness of a planet, when analyzed in detail, though apparently it may appear to be strong. This weakness cannot be detected in a superficial analysis. The weakness may be of any type that is arising out of a strong or exact affliction, placement in the mooltrikona sign of a weak and/or afflicted planet, placement in an afflicted house, occupying a debilitated sign, being combust, positioned in malefic houses, aspected by or conjunct with the functional malefic planets, joining a sign of debilitation in divisional chart, being in the infancy or old age, identifying the strength of dispositor, etc. This is detailed in Chapter 4 - Systems’ Approach Predictive Techniques.

The weakness of natal planets as identified in the rasi chart cannot be made up fully even by placement in good houses or exaltation signs in Vargas (divisional charts), obtaining maximum benefic points in ashtakvarga and participation in auspicious conjunctions with the lords of the benefic houses. Analyzing the role of a weak dispositor in creating weakness to a particular planet requires special mention here. Whenever a particular planet occupies an apparently sound or even an average position and at the same time its dispositor is weak and/or afflicted, the particular planet also becomes weak and it fails to protect or promote the significations ruled by it. The strength of the planet is dependent upon the strength of its dispositor. No planet which is in a nonmooltrikona sign house will have a dispositor.

Identification of the close and exact afflictions in order to know which weak planets/houses become vulnerable to delays and setbacks for the significations of the concerned planet and/or house is necessary.

Planetary strengths (both natal and transit) and operating planetary periods, help us in (i) studying and explaining the combined effect of planetary influences for the next six months to one year, or for the requested time; (ii) recommending the astral remedies for strengthening of the weak functional benefic planets and propitiatory remedies for the functional malefic planets; and (iii) answering specific questions, if any.

The conjunctions and aspects help us in identifying the auspicious and inauspicious planetary configurations. The placement of a planet links the significations of the house ruled by it with the significations of the house where it is placed. An afflicted planet indicates suffering through the significations ruled by the said planet.

The blessed ones are impelled by the divine forces for making use of the ultimate knowledge and astrological remedial measures - both propitiating functional malefic planets and strengthening weak functional benefic planets through the Kavach or Special Power Kavach or gemstones.

The major constituents of the divine knowledge of Astrology are the signs, houses, planets and planetary periods. These have been discussed in our book, Self Learning Course in Astrology. To keep brevity, we are not repeating the same in this book.

Astral remedies are two pronged. In the first place by propitiating the functional malefic planets which are causing unfavorable influences in the horoscope, we can avert mishaps; secondly, by strengthening the weak functional benefic planets we can achieve comparatively better results than the present results or we can reduce the influence of the functional malefic planets to a large extent.

The advice of astrological remedies is the crux of benefits from the divine knowledge of astrology. Those, who are impelled by God in the hour of necessity, turn to astrological advice. Divine will is again required for performance of the advised astral remedies. Sometimes, after seeking the astrological consultation, people come to the conclusion that they do not believe in astrological remedies and cannot wear an amulet for strengthening their weak and afflicted planets. This reasoning is prevalent in some sections of the Hindu, Muslim and Christian populations. When faced with serious problems, such people can find themselves of two minds; they fail to decide whether they should follow their family/religious beliefs or the advice regarding astral remedies. Due to this situation they sometimes become hesitant and lose precious time in making a decision. The blessed people rise above family/religious beliefs and benefit from the performance of astral remedies. There are numerous cases like this.

With this background in mind, we are bringing out this book to make use of the divine knowledge of Astrology for various aspects of life.

Chapter 02

Major Constituents of Astrology

The divine science of Astrology has four major constituents/ elements. They are the signs, houses, planets and planetary periods. It will be in the fitness of things if the four constituents of the method are briefly discussed to develop an understanding for learning the System of Astrology.

A.Signs

The first constituent of the System is signs. They are twelve in number and are ruled by the planets indicated next to each of them:

The words within parenthesis indicate their nomenclature in Sanskrit. You will observe that the planets Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn rule two signs. These planets have a special attention to one of their two signs and it is known as their mooltrikona sign. The mooltrikona signs of these planets are as follows:

The mooltrikona signs possess the positive and negative aspects of their lords according to their nature, strength and placement in the birth chart. The most important quality is that they lead us to idendtify the functional nature of planets and infer the extent of fructifications of the significations of a particular house. For example in a horoscope chart, if the sign Libra resides in a house with no malefic influences on it and Libra’s planetary lord Venus is in full strength then the significations of that house in particular will flourish to a very affluent level of society in which the native (person) is living. For knowing more on the signs, readers may refer to our book, Self Learning Course in Astrology.

B.Houses

The second constituent of the System is houses. The houses are twelve in number. Each of the twelve houses of the horoscope deals with specific significations. The significations of the houses fructify under the planetary periods (sub-periods) connected with them. The significations of the houses have been detailed in Chapter 3. The houses are either good (benefic) or unfavorable (malefic) dwellings. The sixth, eighth and twelfth houses are known as malefic houses given that they rule diseases, obstructions and losses, respectively.

C.Planets

The third constituent of the System is planets. In Vedic astrology we consider the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu as planets. The Sun and Moon are the luminaries. Rahu and Ketu are the shadowy planets. As the planets Pluto, Neptune and Uranus neither have a lordship over a house nor have a planetary period of their own, we do not consider them in the Predictive astrology techniques.

The planets signify various things including specific body parts and the functional system of health. For example, the Sun is personified as a king in the planetary cabinet. Persons having the Moon, the significator of mind, in the sign of the Sun would have the mental frame of enjoying life like a king i.e. of thinking big. The Sun signifies father, husband and male children. The Sun also rules the heart, digestive system and vitality. The Moon rules the lungs, fluids in the body, lymphatic system, etc. Additionally, the planets govern the houses in a nativity (horoscope) where their mooltrikona signs reside. For example, if the sign Libra is in the eighth house, Venus would rule the significations of the eighth house.

The planets attain either benefic or malefic functional natures in a nativity based on the lordship of the benefic or malefic houses containing mooltrikona signs. The planets may be weak or strong. The functional malefic planets when influencing other planets or houses can cause afflictions to them. For knowing more on the planets, readers may refer to our book, Self Learning Course in Astrology.

D.Planetary Periods

The fourth constituent of the System is planetary periods. Though various types of planetary periods for specific planetary combinations are mentioned in the classical texts, we will consider only the Vimsottari main period system in this book as this is universally applicable for all sets of combinations in a nativity. The major time span is called the main period of a planet. Based on the longitude of the Moon in the natal charts, we calculate the current major period of a particular planet and the balance of periods yet to be operational. For knowing more on the planetary periods, readers may refer to our book, Self Learning Course in Astrology.

According to their strength in a horoscope, the planets give results of the general and particular significations ruled by them in their sub-periods. More light will be thrown on this at other appropriate places in the book including the discussions on case studies.

Reasons for Problems in Life:

1.Weak planets;

2.Badly placed planets;

3.Afflicted planets;

4.Prolonged transit affliction to weak natal planets;

5.Transit of the slow moving planets Rahu, Ketu, Jupiter and Saturn in malefic houses;

6.Sub-periods of functional malefic planets.

How to Identify Planetary Influences in a Horoscope:

1.Placement of planets;

2.Close conjunction of planets with other planets;

3.Close conjunction of planets with most effective point of houses;

4.Close aspects with other planets;

5.Close aspects with the most effective point of houses.

Chapter 03

Significations of Houses

First House: Represents the person, his/her innate nature and state of health, vitality, longevity, happiness, personality, appearance, prosperity, general disposition in life and the body parts - complexion, head (cranium and forehead) and brain, hair, pituitary glands, etc. For example, weakness of the first house and/or afflictions to the first house or its lord result in a sickly constitution, causing vulnerabilities for headaches, mental tension, paralysis, giddiness, wounds, scars, derangement, brain fever, stupidity, nose bleeding, etc. It causes setbacks in professional matters and the health of the person. A strong Sun and Mars, as significators for vitality and energy respectively, help as a protective cover in matters of health and status.

Second House: Represents wealth, family, livelihood, nourishment, male child, higher education, food, professional position, spouse, marriage, continuance of married life, possession of precious stones and metals, money in cash, earning capacity, financial status, fortune, prosperity, movable properties, speech, vision and the body parts –face and its organs (nose, throat, mouth, tongue, teeth and eyes, especially the right one), facial bones, upper neck and its bones, gullet, larynx, cerebellum, trachea, cervical region and cervical bones, tonsils, etc. For example, weakness of the second house and/or afflictions to the second house or its lord cause vulnerabilities for disorders of speech, throat, cervical, gums, eyes, teeth, etc., and diseases mainly arising out of a weak venous system. It also causes problems in professional and relationship matters. It indicates problems to male child. A strong Mercury, as a significator for speech, helps as a protective cover.

Third House: Represents younger brothers or sisters, neighbors, courage, physical strength, energy, sports, learning, comprehension, initiative, vitality, entrepreneurial nature, the power of understanding, fast grasping power, fast decision making, leadership traits, vision, short journeys, initiation into spiritual techniques, writing, innovation and communicative capability and the body parts - lower neck, shoulders, arms and ears (especially the right ones), hands, and collar bones, thyroid gland, respiratory and nervous systems, etc. For example, weakness of the third house and/or afflictions to the third house or its lord cause vulnerabilities for problems of respiratory canal, disorders of thyroid, imbalances in the nervous system, depression resulting in partial paralysis, stammering, shoulder pains, fracture in the collar bone region, partial deafness, respiratory diseases, asthma, etc. besides bringing setbacks in professional ventures. A strong Mercury, as a significator for communicative capability, helps as a protective cover.

Fourth House: Represents mother, happiness, upbringing, relatives, supporters, basic education, vehicles and conveyances, domestic peace, mind, mental peace, spiritual life, confidence, righteous conduct, comforts, luxuries, country of birth, immovable properties, real estate, land, house, home, assets and the body parts - the rib cage, heart, chest, lungs and breasts. For example, weakness of the fourth house and/or afflictions to the fourth house or its lord cause vulnerabilities for coronary problems, physical ailments of the breast, chest, heart and epigastria regions, lung disorders, tuberculosis, mental disorders, lunacy and problems connected to the circulatory system besides causing problems regarding mother, parents, properties and mental peace. A strong Moon as a significator of mother, Venus as significator of comforts and Mars as a significator for immovable properties help as a protective cover.

Fifth House: Represents intelligence, emotions, discernment and discrimination power, talents, memory, creative intelligence, love, speculative gains from investments, organizational ability, success, progeny, knowledge, wisdom, higher learning, training, position, social life, inclinations, spiritual pursuits, disciples and students, devotion, mantras, yantras, amulets, resources and merits we bring into life, future, digestion, etc., and the body parts - upper belly, stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, spleen, colon, diaphragm, spine and spinal cord, pregnancy, etc. For example, weakness of the fifth house and/or afflictions to the fifth house or its lord cause vulnerabilities for diabetes, peptic ulcers, anemia, colic pains, stones in the gall bladder, acidity, spinal cord disorders, dyspepsia, diarrhea, pleurisy, delusion, etc. besides causing problems in studies and progeny matters. A strong Sun, as a significator for digestion - nourishing agent of the body, and significator for learning and job, helps as a protective cover.

Sixth House: Represents disputes, diseases and injuries, debts, enemies, competitors, thieves, fears, doubts, worries, health, sound financial position, maternal uncles, protection against losses through theft, fire and cheating, misunderstandings, confrontation, litigation and the body parts –waist, navel, lower abdomen, kidneys, small intestine, upper part of large intestine, intestinal function, appendix, etc. For example, weakness of the sixth house and/or afflictions to the sixth house or its lord cause vulnerabilities for problems of appendicitis, poisoning, colic’ s, constipation, hernia, blood urea, psychiatric problems, exhaustion and nervous breakdowns besides causing the problems of debts, diseases and disputes. In other words, health, financial position and the position with reference to the opponents is identified through this house. A strong Mercury and Mars, as significators for health, help as a protective cover.

Seventh House: Represents long term relationships, legal ties, spouse, partners in life and partners in business, vitality, potency, fertility, passion, outgoing nature, adultery, moral conduct, pleasures, comforts and life in foreign lands, success in love affairs, conjugal life, home abroad, travel, trade or business, expansion and the body parts –pelvic girdle, lumbar region, bladder, lower part of large intestine, inner sexual organs such as ovaries, uterus, cervix, testicles and prostate gland, etc. For example, weakness of the seventh house and/or afflictions to the seventh house or its lord cause vulnerabilities for generative organs, venereal diseases, arthritis, gout pains, urination problems, impotency, sterilization, renal problems, etc. besides causing problems in marriage, partnership business and in foreign lands. A strong Venus, as a significator for marital relationships, helps as a protective cover.

Eighth House: Represents longevity, research, interest in mystical sciences, occult, inner and outer transformations, past and future events, inheritance, death, wills and testaments, insurances, easy gains, marital-tie, vulnerability, fear, accidents, obstructions, litigation, bankruptcy, theft, losses, misfortunes, disgrace, disappointments and the body parts –scrotum and anus, outer sexual organs, excretory organs, pelvic bones, etc. For example, weakness of the eighth house and/or afflictions to the eighth house or its lord cause vulnerabilities for fissures, impotency, piles, boils, chronic diseases, etc. besides causing setbacks for father, husband, self and obstructions in all aspects of life. A strong Saturn, as a significator for longevity, helps as a protective cover.

Ninth House: Represents father, preceptor, spiritual learning, spiritual inclinations, intuition, charity, virtue, duty, destiny on the basis of past lives and resultant happiness, meditation, foreign travel, long journeys of short duration and life in foreign lands, education abroad, grace, luck, general fortune, sudden and unexpected gains, religion, pilgrimages, philosophy, medicine, remedies, the past, etc., and the body parts –thighs, left leg, thigh bones, hips, hip joints and the arterial system. For example, weakness of the ninth house and/or afflictions to the ninth house or its lord cause vulnerabilities for anemia, low productivity of blood, thalassemia, leukemia, high fevers, rheumatism and troubles regarding hips and thighs, etc. besides causing setbacks for father and fortune. A strong Jupiter, as a significator for general fortune, and a strong Sun, as a significator for father, help as protective covers.

Tenth House: Represents profession, career, promotion, livelihood, power, fame, public esteem, status, position, honor, karma in life, character, authority, government, employer, living abroad, ambition, next birth, happiness from male progeny, debts and the body parts - knees and kneecaps, joints and bones. For example, weakness of the tenth house and/or afflictions to the tenth house or its lord cause vulnerabilities for arthritis, broken knees, inflammation of joints, general weakness, skin diseases and allergies, emaciated body, etc. besides giving setbacks in professional matters and problems regarding male children. A strong Sun, as a significator for organizational capability, helps as a protective cover.

Eleventh House: Represents income, prosperity, gains, profit, friends, elder brother or sister, hopes and aspirations and their fulfillment, etc. and the body parts - shanks, ankles, shin bones, legs, left ear and left arm. For example, weakness of the