You are on page 1of 25

1

The Midas Touch


The Astrology of Extraordinary Wealth

by Marc Boney, MA
edited by Vaughn Paul Manley, MA
Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved

For an entrepreneur or business executive there is no higher accolade than


being said to possess the Midas touch, the uncanny ability to turn any
enterprise into pure gold. As the Greek legend goes, King Midas was a
compassionate ruler who was granted a wish by the god Dionysus because of
his charitable deeds. He promptly asked that everything he touched be turned to
gold. This was granted to him quite literally with everything from food to people
turning to gold. American history has recorded many examples of latter-day
Midass. Men like John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan and Henry Ford are but a
few. They amassed personal fortunes that stagger the imagination. Bill Gates,
the founder of Microsoft, is yet another example of a modern-day Midas.
In one of those wonderful coincidences that happen in life, I chanced across a
newspaper report on Fortune Magazines list of the 10 wealthiest people in the
United States. Gates was listed as first, with an estimated personal net worth of
$50.2 billion. This has now grown considerably, with estimates reaching as high
as $62 billion or more. The next morning, while looking to retrieve a telephone
number from my Day Planner, I came across Gates birth data that had been
given to me at a weekend seminar on Jyotisha some months earlier. Id since
forgotten about it, along with my intention to make a study of his chart.

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

Though I was preparing to leave for work, my curiosity got the better of me and I
fired up my computer to have a quick look at his chart. As I entered the data,
and waited for the chart to materialize on the screen, the question in mind was
Would I find the wealth-giving planetary combinations mentioned in the ancient
classics that I had been studying? Suffice it to say, my experience of peering
into Bill Gates chart that morning was like that of a treasure hunter who
accidentally stumbles into Aladdins Cave and is nearly blinded by the dazzling
precious gems he finds there. I was late for work that morning, not surprisingly.
Dhana Yogas: Givers of Wealth
Master jyotishi, K.N. Rao, has given his students the memory tablet D.A.R.E.S.
as a way of analyzing different categories of yogas or planetary combinations in
a birth chart. The D in D.A.R.E.S stands for dhana yogas. Dhana means
wealth, so dhana yogas are planetary combinations that show the karmic
potential for affluence and prosperity.
The classic texts on Jyotisha mention many such combinations. Reduced to
their essence, most of them are planetary combinations involving the 2nd and
11th houses on the one side, and the three trinal houses (1,5,9) on the other.
Maharishi Parashara, in his Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, refers to the 2nd
house as dhana bhava, or house of wealth. He refers to the 11th as labda
bhava, or house of gains. For an individual to obtain great wealth, both of these
houses must be interconnected and favorably disposed.
According to the rishis these houses must also be connected with the three trinal
houses 1, 5, and 9particularly 5 and 9, which are referred to by Parashara as
lakshmi-sthanas, or abodes of Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth. Of course, it is
a fundamental principle of Jyotisha that the 1st house and its lord must always be
strong and favorably disposed for any benefic combination to fully manifest.
Significance of the 5/11 Axis
Many of the combinations mentioned by Parashara involve the 5/11 axis of the
birth chart. From what was outlined above, the reason is readily apparent. Any
planets in the 11th house and the 5th house will mutually aspect each other, thus
tying these houses together. If these in turn are natural benefics, well placed by
sign or themselves lords of 2, 11, 1, 5, or 9, it makes for the very combinations
that define dhana yogas.
Graha Yogas for Wealth
A distinction is drawn in Jyotish between yogas (planetary combinations) based
on house lordships, and those that are based solely on two or more planets
combining, regardless of their lordship or house placement. Thus far dhana

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

3
yogas have been defined on the basis of house lordships, but the classical
literature of Jyotish also mentions certain graha yogas that can be very wealth
producing. A notable example is the Chandra-Mangala Yoga, or the combination
of the Moon and Mars in mutual aspect to one another (conjunction or
opposition). When other supporting factors are present and these planets are
strong, this combination can bring great wealth.
A Special Lagna for Wealth
A unique method for assessing the potential for wealth in a persons birth chart is
to examine the planetary positions from the Indu lagna. (Indu is one of the names
of the Moon.) In determining this special lagna, different values or kalas are
assigned to each planet as follows:
Sun
Moon
Mars
Mercury
Jupiter
Venus
Saturn

30
16
6
8
10
12
1

The steps for calculating Indu Lagna are to:


1. Note the 9th lord from the lagna and the 9th lord from the Moon.
2. Add the values contributed by their two lords.
3. Divide by 12 to remove multiples of 12.
4. See which house is indicated by the remainder when counted from the Moon.
5. This house becomes the Indu lagna.
According to some classic texts an unblemished benefic or an exalted malefic in
the Indu Lagna makes one a multi-millionaire. The general implication is that
when benefics or well-placed planets associate or aspect the Indu Lagna, or fall
in the 2nd or the 11th from it, or occupy all houses from it, riches are ensured.
The Importance of the Navamsha
For me one of the most awe-inspiring and brilliant features of Jyotisha is its use
of the vargas, or divisional charts. These are purely symbolic charts that are
created by dividing the signs in different ways and seeing into which division a
planet in the birth chart falls. Parashara enumerates 16 of these divisions, and
places special emphasis on the 1/9 division or navamsha. These divisional
charts are used to assess the strength of the planets (their ability to give their

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

4
results strongly) as well as to get a deeper perspective on the karmic potentials
in various areas of a persons life. The vargas are like the fine print, which if
ignored, can lead to serious errors in judgment about what experiences a
persons periods and sub-periods are really likely to bring.
The navamsha is said to pertain especially to the spouse and marital relations,
but it is also critically important for assessing the strength of the planets in the
birth chart, and for seeing all life events. Planets that look good and promise
great things in the birth chart can be an empty promise depending on their
position and condition in the navamsha. Mr. Rao is fond of quoting a saying
among South Indian astrologers that astrological interpretation of the birth chart
without the use of the navamsha is like an abortion. Some authorities go so far
as to suggest that if the indications in the navamsha contradict those in the birth
chart, those in the navamsha should be favored. The reader should be
cautioned however, that the navamsha, like most of the divisional charts, can be
sensitive to even small inaccuracies in the birth time. Like any birth chart, it
needs to be verified before it can be trusted and used in giving predictions.
The Law of Karma
Remember also that according to the law of karma any one who becomes
wealthy has earned it through their efforts either in a past or the present lifeor
both. Of course, that earning could come from legitimate or illegitimate means.
The law of karma suggests that if the wealth were derived from the exploitation
and suffering of others, then the money gained would ultimately have a recoiling,
negative impact on that soulif not in the present life, then in some future life.
Dhana Yogas in the Birth Chart
So what did I see in the horoscope of Bill Gates that was so fascinating? Dhana
yogas upon dhana yogas, both in the rashi and the navamshaprecisely the
wealth-giving combinations outlined in the jyotish shastra over a thousand years
ago.
The rising sign is Gemini, making the planet Mercury lord of the ascendant. As
was mentioned above, both of these should be strong and relatively benign for
the full benefic effect of any yogas to manifest. Bear in mind that planets
become strong in a chart and are capable of giving their best results when they
are:
1) In an angle or trine house
2) Well placed by sign (in exaltation, moolatrikona, own or friends sign)
3) Have other sources of strength like dik bala and vargottama
4) Well placed in the divisional charts, particularly the navamsha.
5) Conjunct or aspected by natural or functional benefics.
6) Involved in special yogas that enhance their status.

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

5
Now see his horoscope.

Here we find Mercury in the 4th house, an angle, and in its exaltation sign, Virgo.
See that it is closely associated with a wealthproducing Chandra-Mangala yoga
created by the mutual aspect between Moon and Mars.
However, additionally note that from the standpoint of house lordship these three
planets also produce multiple dhana yogas. From a Gemini lagna the Moon and
Mars rule the money houses, 2 and 11, and Mercury as lord of the 1st house
rules a lakshmi-sthana. This three-planet combination creates dramatic dhana
yogas of both the graha and house lordship variety.
But there is something more to be seen about Mercurys involvement in these
wealth-giving combinations. Parashara devotes a chapter in his famous work to
some very special yogas, referred to as the Pancha Mahapurusha Yogas, or Five
Types of Great Personalities. These occur in a chart when either Mercury,
Venus, Mars, Saturn, or Jupiter are in an angle from the ascendant, and exalted,
or in their own sign. Each is given a special name with a description of
characteristics that result.
Since Mercury is in its exaltation sign and in an angle, Bill Gates has the
mercurial version of these known as Bhadra Mahapurusha Yoga. The following
is a partial translation of Parasharas description:
The Bhadra native is ....of commanding stature, very intelligent and learned,
enjoying high status, a ruler, blessed with comforts, wife, and children, and living
to an old age.
This description is very interesting in the light of what is known about Bill Gates.
He is the Founder/CEO of the hugely successful software company, Microsoft,
which has made him one of the richest men in the world. (Ive also contributed to
that wealth since Im utilizing his word processing software, Microsoft Word, and
his Windows operating system to write this article!)

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

In other words, here is a man with an extremely powerful and benefic Mercury
who just happens to head up one of the most dominant forces, if not the most
dominant force, in information technology in the world.

Why Mercury? Those with even a passing familiarity with astrological symbology
know that Mercury (the messenger of the gods in Greek/Roman mythology) is
the planet pertaining to intelligence, communication, and information. We should
also realize that the astrological symbology expresses itself on three levels:
through the planets, signs, and houses. The planet Mercury, the sign Gemini
and the 3rd house all relate to the same basic factor in astrology, roughly
analogous to the way water, steam, and ice are different forms of the chemical
compound H2O.
In the chart of Bill Gates we have already seen how strong Mercury is. Add to
this the fact that Gemini is his rising sign, and that Jupiter, the ruler of his 10th
house of professional achievement is in the 3rd house and we begin to see
astrologically why he is who he is. Information processing is what Bill Gates is all
about, both personally and professionally, and it is the source of his wealth as
well.
But Mercurys power in this chart goes beyond even the mahapurusha and
dhana yogas in which it participates. It is a fundamental interpretive principle of
Jyotish that the greater number of benefic yogas a planet participates in the more
dramatic the result. Now see that in addition to the ones already mentioned
Mercury is also the strong focal point of a rare variety of the Adhi-Yoga. Adhi
means to add or receive and Adhi-Yoga occurs in a chart when natural benefics
fall simultaneously in the 6th, 7th, and 8th for the lagna or the Moon.
In the chart of Bill Gates, Jupiter falls 6th from the Moon, Mercury falls in the7th
house, and Venus in the 8th. And look how dignified these planets are. Jupiter is
in the sign of a Great Friend, Mercury is in the sign of its exaltation, and Venus is
in its own sign. Hart deFouw in his wonderful book Light on Life comments:

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

In Adhi-Yoga benefics in the 6th and 8th house flank the 7th house, which
strengthens that house and any planets therein. The aspect on the 1st house of
such a strengthened benefic in the 7th house will then produce most favorable
effects. This yoga is particularly good for raising one to a position of leadership.
As the benefic in the 7th house from the Moon, Mercury becomes the focal point

of this exceptional Adhi-yoga, adding to its already considerable luster. Being the
head of Microsoft, Bill Gates is not only one of the wealthiest men in the world
but also one of the most influential in the global business community. The
condition of his lagna lord is an astrological testimony to his status in the world,
and its strength permits the other benefic yogas in the chart to give their full
effect.
Earlier, dhana yogas were defined as combinations that tie together houses 1, 2,
5, 9, and 11. Lets now look at each of these houses separately, see their
relation to the others, and then count the dhana yogas in Bill Gates chart.
1st House
We have already noted how the 1st lord, Mercury, is conjunct the 11th lord, Mars.
In addition, the lord of the 2nd house, the Moon, also makes aspect onto this
conjunction from the 10th. This makes three dhana yogas related to the 1st house
based on lordship. Add the Chandra-Mangala yoga and the Bhadra
Mahapurusha Yoga and that gives two more wealth-giving combinations, coming
to a total of five dhana yogas related to the 1st house.
2nd House
There are no planets in the 2nd house but the 2nd lord Moon participates in the
same five dhana yoga, just mentioned, that are related to the 1st house.
However, it should be additionally noted that this is a particularly benefic Moon

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

8
since it is waxing to near fullness. This adds additional luster to the dhana yogas
she participates in as the 2nd lord of income.
5th House
It is here that we really find a whole host of rare quality precious gems. The lord
of the 5th is in the 5th: a dhana yoga. The lord of 9th is in the 5th: a dhana yoga.
The lord of the 5th and 9th are conjunct: a dhana yoga. With respect to the last
combination, not only are these two lords of the Lakshmi houses conjunct in a
Lakshmi house, but one is exalted and the other is in its own sign. These three
are brilliant dhana yogas. This particular combination is so wealth producing that
it has been given the name Lakshmi Yoga, for Lakshmi, the Vedic goddess of
wealth. Whenever the lord of the 9th house and Venus occupy their own or
exaltation sign in an angular or trinal house, a Lakshmi Yoga is formed, and this
is a particularly beautiful one.
Note that the 3rd lord is also conjunct these planets in the 5th showing wealth
derived from 3rd house matters, like information technology.
9th House
There are no planets in the 9th, but as seen above, the lord of this house of
bhagya (fortune) is exalted, and participates in the Lakshmi Yoga in the 5th
house. It also receives a full aspect from Jupiter in the 3rd house.
11th House
Wealth of this magnitude is not possible without a powerful 11th house, referred
to in Jyotisha as the great multiplier and the house of gains. At first glance
something might seem amiss since there are no planets here. But we have
already seen that its lord, Mars participates in five first-rate dhana yogas,
including the classic Chandra-Mangala yoga.
Also recall the statement earlier about the significance of the 5/11 axis in creating
wealth. The gems in the 5th house make aspect onto the 11th. To add to this
embarrassment of riches, Jupiter aspects as well. Look closely and you will
see that every angle lord, every trine lord, and every natural beneficall the
planetary forces in a chart that have power to bestow auspicious results
influence this house, or its lord:
Mercury as an exalted natural benefic and lord of two angles and a trine
influences the 11th house through its conjunction with the 11th lord Mars.
Venus as a natural benefic in its own sign, and lord of a trine influences the
11th house by full aspect from its placement in the 5th house.
Jupiter as a natural benefic and lord of two angles aspects the 11th house.

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

9
The benefic Moon, waxing to fullness influences the 11th house through its
mutual aspect with the 11th lord, Mars.
An exalted 9th lord aspects the 11th house.
With such a powerful and benefic 11th house this mans stupendous wealth is
hardly a mystery astrologically.
Yet this is still only part of the story.
Multiple Perspectives
Parashara clearly states in his famous work that when examining a particular
issue, like wealth, you must analyze the chart from three vantage points. Look
first from the ascendant (as we have done), then use the Moon sign as the
ascendant (Chandra lagna) and finally, see things from the planetary significator
of the matter in question.
Note that from Chandra lagna the Moon-Mars combination continues to give a
strong dhana yoga, since it connects the 2nd and 9th lords with the 5th lord. Then
there is the Adhi-yoga formed from the Moon that has already been discussed.
Parashara tells us that the planet Jupiter is the natural significator for wealth. We
have already seen Jupiters role in giving Gates wealth from the other two
perspectives. Will using Jupiters place in Leo as an ascendant reveal a similar
picture? Have a look.
From Leo, exalted Mercury is both the 2nd and 11th lord. It is in its exaltation
sign and conjunct Mars, who is the yogakaraka planet for a Leo ascendant, since
it rules 9 and 4, creating another spectacular dhana yoga. The 5th lord becomes
Jupiter, whose placement in the 1st house is another dhana yoga. Jupiters
aspect onto its own 5th house as well as the 9th house, are still more dhana
yogas.
Using the Indu Lagna
Given what is known about Bill Gates wealth, his chart becomes an interesting
test case for this special technique for assessing wealth. The calculation of the
Indu lagna for his chart is as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.

The 9th lord from the birth lagna is Saturn whose point value is 1.
The 9th lord from the Moon is Mars whose point value is 6.
Adding these values together gives a total of 7.
Counting 7 houses from the Moon gives Virgo as the Indu lagna.

Note how Virgo is the very sign that participates in six of the benefic, wealthgiving yogas outlined earlier. Gates Indu lagna contains:

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

10

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

The dhana yoga created by the 1st lord conjunct the 11th lord.
The dhana yoga created by the 1st lord in mutual aspect with the 2nd lord
The dhana yoga created by the 11th lord in mutual aspect with the 2nd lord.
The Chandra-Mangala yoga
The Adhi-yoga
The Bhadra Mahapurusha Yoga

As if this were not enough, see how the conjunction of the exalted Saturn and
Venus is again the conjunction of the lords of the 5th and 9th houses, the two
lakshmi-sthanas.
Seeing Gates chart from the Indu lagna clearly shows the potential for
phenomenal wealth.
Navamsha and the Problem of Accurate Birth Times
The use of the 16 vargas, or divisional charts in addition to the birth chart gives a
marvelous intricacy and sophistication to Jyotisha not found in any other system
of astrology. However, beginners should be aware that the divisional charts are
very sensitive to even minor inaccuracies in the birth time, not to mention
differences in ayanamsha. Experience has taught me that even recorded birth
times from birth certificates or other written records should never be taken for
granted.
The birth data for Bill Gates used in this article comes from one of his
biographies, Hard Drive: Bill Gates and the Making of the Microsoft Empire,
where it was stated that he was born a little after 9:00pm. It became a
controversial birth time, however, when some years later Gates stated at a
Microsoft event that his birth time was near 10:00pm. This would give him
Cancer lagna. The consensus opinion, however, of many Vedic astrologers is
that a Gemini lagna is correct.
When considering the navamsha I always consider it suspect until proven
otherwise, since a few minutes inaccuracy in the given time can effect the
navamsha lagna as well as that of the other vargas. The given birth time of 9:15
pm gives 24 degrees 58 minutes of Gemini as the ascending degree, and hence
a Taurus navamsha lagna.
A good case could be made for this navamsha lagna since the significator of
wealth, Jupiter, is in the lagna as the 11th lord, and the wealth-producing VenusSaturn conjunction in the rashi chart remains a strong dhana yoga here as well.
These two planets are again conjunct, remain well dignified in a Great Friends
sign, again rule two lakshmi-sthanas (1 and 9) and fall in the 2nd house of wealth.
This divisional chart is given below.

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

11

Bill Gates Navamsha Chart


However, if Bill Gates were born just 8 minutes and 30 seconds later this would
give him a Gemini navamsha lagna, and if he were born 8 minutes and 18
seconds earlier his navamsha lagna would be Aries.
As an exercise, I leave it to the reader to decide whether a Taurus navamsha
lagna best reflects the known facts of his incredible business success and
resulting personal wealth, or if the other two possibilities seem to work better.
Importance of Dasha
It is the dasha sequence that makes the promise of a horoscope a living reality,
and it is fascinating to see that most of this incredible wealth has come to Bill
Gates in his Venus mahadasha. This is a classic case of a person getting their
best dasha in the prime of life. Bill Gates began his Venus period right around
the time of his 27th birthday. Parashara clearly indicates that Venus is the best
planet for a Gemini lagna and we have seen in the rashi the dramatic Lakshmi
yoga that it forms with its natural friend Saturn in the 5th house.
We have also seen how it remains well dignified in the navamsha and regardless
of which of the three proposed navamsha lagnas that you use, Venus
participates in powerful dhana yoga combinations.

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

12
It is fascinating to note that from August of 1995 until October 1998 he ran his
Venus-Saturn dasha, a dasha-antardasha combination that activates the
Lakshmi yoga in his chart. It was during this time that Microsofts global
domination of the industry took on new proportions due to the explosion of the
internet. Microsoft launched both Windows 95 and Internet Explorer in August
1995, exactly at the beginning of this dasha. His success actually spawned
organizations dedicated to preventing Bill Gates from eventually owning the
entire industry worldwide!
Examples of Other Modern-Day Midass
To solidify the lesson, lets look at the charts of some other extraordinary wealthy
individuals. Before reading my analysis, you may want to take a look at their
charts yourself, and see if you can find the wealth giving combinations between
the two money houses 2 and 11, and the lakshmi-sthanas 1, 5, 9. Bear in mind
that these connections can take place by:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Position
Aspect
Conjunction
Exchange of house lords

(Example: The lord of the 2nd in the 5th house)


(Example: The lords of 5 and 9 in mutual aspect)
(Example: The lords of 9 and 2 conjunct)
(Example: Lords of 1 and 11 exchanging houses)

The Chart of Ross Perot


Ross Perot is another man who has made a fortune in the computer industry,
and his chart also shows multiple dhana yogas, though they are not quite so
spectacular.
Again, since we are looking for PAC connections (position, aspect, conjunction)
between houses 1, 2, 5, 9, 11 and their lords, lets remove everything but these
factors.

From this, can you see the dhana yoga combinations? They are as follows:
www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

13

The 2nd lord Moon in the 1st house is a 2-1 combination.


The 2nd lord Moon and 9th lord Saturn glancing at each other from the
opposite houses are a 2-9 combination.
The 9th lord Saturns glance onto the 1st house is a 9-1 combination.
The 5th lord Venus in the 2nd house is a 5-2 combination.
The 11th lord Mars is in the 11th house, magnified by Rahu, an 11-11
combination.
The 11th lord Mars glances at the 5th house, an 11-5 combination.

Note that his Mars, the 11th lord of gains, is very well placed in its own sign Aries.
I mentioned earlier that Rahu and Ketu form an axis in a chart, and whenever
planets get connected to this axis, their results are greatly magnified. In this
case, connection to the Rahu-Ketu axis significantly enhances the dhana yoga
formed by Mars.
However, the question remains as to when this wealth would come into his life.
The following table gives Ross Perots planetary periods.
Planetary Periods
Jupiter
Saturn
Mercury
Ketu
Venus
Sun

Began
Born with six years left
August 1940
August 1959
August 1976
August 1983
August 2003

Duration
16 years
19 years
17 years
7 years
20 years
6 years

Look at this sequence and recall that Saturn, Ketu, and Venus all participate in
dhana yogas. The majority of his wealth has come in Ketu and Venus. Ketu is in
the 5th house and receives the glance of the powerful 11th lord Mars, thereby
giving the results of Mars. Being in Libra, it also gives the results of the ruler of
that sign, which is Venus. Venus, in turn, as the 5th lord in the 2nd, gives a very
good dhana yoga.
Towards the end of Ketu, he sold his company at a huge profit and has been a
billionaire throughout the 20-year Venus period. Like we saw with Bill Gates, the
wealth-giving combinations in Ross Perots chart got activated throughout his life,
and his has been a case of ever increasing fortune.
The Chart of Ted Turner
The chart of billionaire media mogul Ted Turner, founder of CNN news, illustrates
how the exchange of house lords can form a very powerful dhana yoga.

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

14

In his chart the 1st lord Mars and 11th lord Mercury are in an exchange, also
know as a Parivartana Yoga, with Mars in Mercurys sign of Virgo in the 11th
house, while Mercury is in Mars sign of Scorpio in the 1st house. Besides
combining these two wealth-giving houses, this exchange makes these planets
very strong and capable of giving dramatic results. Turner started his 17 year
Mercury period in September 1992, and since this time he has grown so
enormously wealthy that hes been giving away billions to good causes, while
challenging others with such a fortune to do the same. Here are Ted Turners
dashas:
Planetary Periods
Mars
Rahu
Jupiter
Saturn
Mercury
Ketu
Venus

Began
Born with 10 months left
September 1939
September 1957
September 1973
September 1992
September 2009
September 2016

Duration
7 years
18 years
16 years
19 years
17 years
7 years
20 years

This illustrates the important point that yogas in a chart only show the potential
for wealth. According to Jyotisha, the individual would have to run the right
periods of the planets involved in order for them to actually experience that
wealth. In other words, the dashas activate the yogas in the chart that the dasha
lords are involved in.
The Chart of Rupert Murdoch
Another global media tycoon is Rupert Murdoch, the billionaire founder of Fox
news, and main competitor of Ted Turners CNN news. His birth chart shows why
it has been his karma to accumulate such a vast fortune. Removing all but the
relevant factors gives the following planetary picture. Can you see how the
houses 1, 2, 5, 9, 11 and their lords are combining in this chart?

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

15

Like Ross Perot, Murdochs chart has the 2nd lord in the 1st house.
This 2nd lord Saturn is mutually glancing at the 1st lord Jupiter in the 7th
house.
The 11th lord Venus is in the 2nd house.
The 5th lord Mars glances at the 2nd house.
The 5th lord Mars and the 11th lord Venus are mutually glancing at each
other.
The 9th lord Sun glances at its own 9th house from its position in the 3rd
house.

Once again, there are more connections than Im listing here, but Im trying to
keep it as uncomplicated as possible and still illustrate the point.
Now see his planetary periods since birth:
Planetary Periods
Ketu
Venus
Sun
Moon
Mars
Rahu
Jupiter

Began
Born at the beginning
June 1937
June 1957
June 1963
June 1973
June 1980
June 1998

Duration
Less than full 7 years
20 years
6 years
10 years
7 years
18 years
16 years

Look again at his chart, and you will see that all of these planets participates in or
are connected to dhana yogas, except Ketu, which covers the first seven years of
his life. Keep in mind that Rahu gives the results of Jupiter since it is in Jupiters
sign Pisces.
At age twenty-one during the Venus period, he inherited the newspaper that his

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

16
father owned, and proceeded to build his media empire from there. It is again a
case of steadily increasing fortune amid the normal ups and downs of business.

Murdoch and Turner facing off


Murdoch made his money in the media, which can be clearly seen in his chart.
The media is represented by the 3rd house, Gemini, and Mercury as previously
stated. Notice how the dhana yoga formed by Jupiter and Saturn, the 1st and 2nd
lords, is also a combination of the 1st and 3rd lords. The media connection is also
strengthened by the fact that Jupiter is placed in the sign of Gemini. In addition,
the 3rd house has a powerful dhana yoga combination between the two Lakshmi
sthana lords, the 5th lord Mars and the 9th lord Sun. Lastly, Mercury the 10th lord
is placed in the 3rd house, and forming an extremely powerful raja yoga with the
Sun and Mars.
The Chart of Donald Trump

Given above is the chart of real estate mogul, Donald Trump, whose name is
almost synonymous with ostentatious display of wealth and conspicuous
consumption. Regardless of what you might think of the man, his birth chart
perfectly illustrates the principles of Jyotish concerning wealth-giving

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

17
combinations.
Now see the dhana yogas.

The 1st house has the 11th lord Venus.


The 1st lord Moon goes into the 5th house.
The 2nd house has the 5th lord Mars.
The 2nd lord Sun goes into the 11th house.
The 1st lord Moon and the 2nd lord Sun mutually glance at each other along
the wealth giving 5-11 house axis, and are magnified by the Rahu-Ketu axis.
Incidentally, Rahu is exalted in Taurus, while Ketu is exalted in Scorpio
according to sage Parashara, which strengthens this axis even further.
The 9th lord Jupiter glances at its own 9th house from its position in the
opposite 3rd house.

This is yet another incredible planetary picture for wealth. His planetary periods
tell the story of when he got it.
Planetary Periods
Mercury
Ketu
Venus
Sun
Moon
Mars
Rahu

Began
Born towards the end
June 1949
June 1956
June 1976
June 1982
June 1992
June 1999

Duration
About 3 years
7 years
20 years
6 years
10 years
7 years
18 years

In his adult life, he has been running the periods of Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars and
Rahu (which gives the results of the Sun and Moon who aspect it, as well as
Venus who rules it). All of these planets are configured in significant dhana
yogas. During the Venus period, Trump took over his fathers successful real
estate development company, and turned it into a money making machine.
In 1990 he also crashed and burned, barely avoiding bankruptcy. The period
and sub-period was Moon-Ketu, the two planets together in his 5th house. This is
fascinating when you consider the condition of his Moon. Notice that it is in its
debilitation sign Scorpio, and therefore has some weakness, even though it is
also configured in significant dhana yogas. When Trump ran Moon-Ketu (the
sub-period of the planet most connected to the Moon) Trump Towers almost
came tumbling down. However, by June of 1992 he began his Mars period, the
5th lord in the 2nd house, and he was able to recoup his fortune.
But now lets return to an earlier era, and look at the chart of a King Midas of the
19th century.

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

18
The Chart of J.P. Morgan
John Pierpont Morgan was the financial titan of his time and his personal net
worth once helped prop up the U.S. banking system during a troubled time. His
birth chart is a lesson in dhana yogas.

As you look at it, remember that the best condition a planet can obtain is
exaltation. Morgans chart is extraordinary from this standpoint.

The Sun is in its exaltation sign Aries


Venus is in its exaltation sign Pisces
Jupiter is in its exaltation sign Cancer
Saturn is in its exaltation sign Libra

I would like to call the readers attention in particular to Venus and Saturn, whose
exact degrees are given. At 27 degrees Venus is at its most extreme point of
exaltation. At 23 degrees Saturn is within 3 degrees of its most extreme point of
exaltation. Believe me when I tell you that this is a rare occurrence and according
to Jyotisha, would give these planets the ability to give extraordinary results.
Now look again and see the dhana yoga-giving houses and lords in his chart.
The 9th house is specifically referred to in Jyotish as bhagya bhava or the house
of good fortune and I have already mentioned how the 1st house and its lord are
considered of paramount importance.

See that in this chart the 1st house is Aquarius ruled by Saturn. Saturn goes
into the 9th house Libra, in extreme exaltation, forming a dhana yoga. Saturn
is mutually glancing at the 5th lord Mercury giving another dhana yoga,
which is also magnified by the Rahu-Ketu axis.
Venus, in turn, rules the 9th house and goes into the 2nd house of money in
extreme exaltation.

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

19

Jupiter, rules both the 2nd house of money and the 11th house of gains and is
exalted in the 6th house Cancer

(Note: For anyone with Aquarius as the 1st house, the 2nd and 11th houses
become Pisces and Sagittarius, respectively. Both these signs are ruled by
Jupiter, so Jupiter becomes the lord of both the 2nd house of money and the 11th
house of gains. When well placed by sign or house it becomes capable of giving
tremendous wealth in its period.)
This is an extraordinary astrological picture and it gave him extraordinary wealth
when he ran the periods of these planets, particularly Rahu and Jupiter, which
occurred in the prime of his life.
Planetary Periods
Venus
Sun
Moon
Mars
Rahu
Jupiter
Saturn
Mercury

Began
Born 1837 towards the
end
November 1841
November 1847
November 1857
November 1864
November 1882
November 1898
November 1917

Duration
About 4 years remaining
6 years
10 years
7 years
18 years
16 years
19 years
17 years

Like our other billionaires, his was not a rags to riches story. Born in the Venus
period, his father owned banks, which he worked in as a young man. At around
age twenty-seven he began the Rahu period, which gives the results of the
dhana yoga created by the mutual glance between the 5th lord Mercury and
exalted 1st lord Saturn. It lasted for 18 years and was followed by the even more
wealth-giving 16-year Jupiter period. Then came the period of Saturn, a planet
that is even more exalted and more wealth giving. In his later life, Morgan
redefined the phrase rich old man, enjoying all the fruits of his dhana yogas
until his death at age 76.
Clearly, all five of these billionaires earned their wealth. However, at least four of
them got a big head start from their fathers - a circumstance of birth. But what of
those who become enormously wealthy with little or no effort? What of people
who inherit fortunes?
Inherited Wealth
Queen Elizabeth II of England was not in line to inherit the throne and all the
enormous wealth that goes with it. For her to become Queen, a very strange and
unprecedented twist of fate needed to occur. Her Uncle, the Duke of Windsor,
fell in love with an American, Mrs. Simpson, and abdicated his right to the throne

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

20
to marry his ladylove. His brother George, Elizabeths father, then became King,
making her heir. Now see her chart.

It is a veritable cornucopia of dhana yogas. However, first notice the number of


planets in her chart that are in the best or second best condition.

Mars is in extreme exaltation at exactly 28 degrees Capricorn


The Sun at 7 degrees Aries is within 3 degrees of extreme exaltation
The Moon is in its own sign Cancer

Two of these planets, as well as others, combine in multiple ways to form


spectacular dhana yogas.

The 1st and 2nd lord Saturn goes into the 11th house giving two dhana yogas.
The 11th lord Mars, in turn, goes into the 1st house (exchange of signs) at an
extreme degree of exaltation. This is the same Parivartana Yoga that we saw
in Ted Turners chart between the 1st and 11th lords.
The 5th lord Venus goes into the 2nd house Capricorn
The 9th lord Mercury glances onto the 9th house, Virgo, its sign of exaltation.
Her Moon in its own sign Cancer is mutually glancing at her exalted Mars,
and along the powerful 1-7 house axis. This is the special, wealth-giving
Moon-Mars combination, Chandra-Mangala Yoga, as seen also in the chart of
Bill Gates.

What is remarkable about these dhana yogas is their quality. Most noteworthy is
the exchange between the extremely exalted 11th lord Mars and Saturn, who just
happens to be both the 1st lord and the 2nd lord. Do you see how Mars goes into
Saturns sign Capricorn and Saturn goes into Scorpio, a sign ruled by Mars?
Saturn now can give results as if its status was that of its own sign.
The intriguing question that remains is In what period and sub-period did she

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

21
ascend to the throne?
Planetary Periods
Mercury
Ketu
Venus
Sun
Moon
Mars
Rahu
Jupiter

Began
Born 1926
November 1939
November 1946
November 1966
November 1972
November 1982
November 1989
November 2007

Duration
With about 13 years left
7 years
20 years
6 years
10 years
7 years
18 years
16 years

Elizabeth began her 20-year Venus period around age 20. We have seen that
her Venus forms dhana yoga because it is the 5th lord in the 2nd house. The first
sub-periods in Venus were:
Venus-Venus
Venus-Sun
Venus-Moon
Venus-Mars
Venus-Rahu

Nov. 1946
March 1950
March 1951
Nov. 1952
Jan. 1954

After her father died in February of 1952, Elizabeth was crowned Queen in June
of 1953. As you can see, it was the sub-period of Mars, the planet in extreme
exaltation and forming an exchange with the 1st and 2nd lord Saturn.
The 20 years of Venus, was followed by the 7 years of her exalted Sun, followed
by the 10 years of the Moon in its own sign Cancer and in mutual glance with
Mars. Then came the 7 years of exalted Mars, which ended in 1989. This is the
beautiful astrological picture of her long and successful reign. However, since
she has been in her Rahu period, placed in the bad 6th house, and giving the
results of her debilitated Mercury, her crown has been tarnished somewhat by
the much-publicized scandals/divorces of her sons and daughters-in-law, most
notably Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
Before leaving her chart, there is one more interesting point that you should see.
Ive mentioned in previous sections that inheritances and property are said to
pertain to the 8th house and 4th house respectively. Anyone who inherits the
throne of England inherits all of the ancestral property associated with it,
including Buckingham Palace, country estates etc. One would expect then to
see connections in her chart between these two houses.
Aries is the 4th house of her chart, ruled by the extremely exalted Mars. Leo is
the 8th house of her birth chart, ruled by her extremely exalted Sun. Now notice
that this 8th lord of inheritances goes into the 4th house of ancestral property.
From an astrological standpoint, this is how you end up with Buckingham Palace.

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

22
Elizabeth didnt earn any of the extreme wealth shes enjoys, its all been a
matter of her birth. Nor could anyone have predicted it, since her father wasnt
even in line for the throneno one that is, except perhaps a practitioner of
Jyotisha.
Incidentally, Queen Elizabeths chart is another example, like Bill Gates chart, of
a misunderstood birth time. Some sources give her birth time to be 2:48 am,
while others give 2:40 am, which places her ascendant in Sagittarius, not
Capricorn. With Sagittarius ascendant we see none of the spectacular results of
her Venus dasha at the beginning of her reign. Venus in the 2nd house represents
the jewels, luxuries and riches that she acquired in her Venus dasha. From
Sagittarius, Venus would still rule a dhana yoga house, the 11th house, but it
would not form a dhana yoga with its placement in the 3rd house. An additional
point in her case for Capricorn lagna is the fact that she gave birth to all four of
her children during her 20 year Venus dasha. From Capricorn, Venus rules the
5th house of children.
A Happy King Midas?
The story of King Midas is, of course, a morality tale, cautioning the listener
against the disastrous consequence of unbridled greed. King Midas was made
quite miserable by the granting of his wish to the point that he had to ask
Dionysius to reverse it. And what of Bill Gates? Has his billions made him
happy? I wonder. And what effect will the possession of such wealth have on his
soul? Pondering such questions recalls to mind my Catholic upbringing and such
biblical quotations as It is more difficult for a rich man to get to heaven than a
camel through the eye of a needle. If it is our attachments that bind us to the
illusory world of form, as eastern approaches to spirituality suggest, then this
may very well be true. I have never encountered a self-made millionaire who
wasnt attached to his wealth. On the other hand, I think about the enormous
amount of good in the world that could be done with such wealth. In recent
years, Gates and his wife have been donating billions to worthy causes.
These musings aside, one thing is certain. The birth chart of Bill Gates reveals
him to be unquestionably a man with the Midas Touch.
An Unfulfilled Promise?
Is it possible that a chart could show the promise of wealth without it ever being
actualized? The answer is yes, because the dasha sequence may not favor the
activation of the wealth-giving dhana yogas in the chart. Its a very special karma
to have the best dasha at the prime of ones life, as we saw in the chart of Bill
Gates who started his twenty year dasha of Venus at age 27. However, what
about the case when the opposite happens, and someone begins their best
period later in life?

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

23
The following chart is of a woman who has many of the same wealth-giving
dhana yogas that weve seen in the charts of the billionaires discussed earlier:

For instance youll find:

Like Ross Perot and Murdochs chart she has the 2nd lord in the 1st house.
This 2nd lord Sun is conjunct the 11th lord Venus in the 1st house.
The 11th lord Venus is in an exchange or Parivartana Yoga with the 1st lord,
Moon.
The 1st lord Moon is in a Chandra-Mangala Yoga, with the 5th lord Mars.
The 1st lord Moon is in mutual aspect with the 9th lord Jupiter. This also forms
a Gajakesari Yoga further strengthening this dhana yoga.
The 9th lord Jupiter and the 5th lord Mars mutual glance at one another.
The 9th lord Jupiter glances onto the 2nd house.
From the Moon lagna, the 1st lord Venus is conjunct the 11th lord Sun.

Surely, there are enough high quality dhana yogas in her chart to indicate at least
the potential for considerable wealth. Now lets look at her dasha sequence:
Planetary Periods
Rahu
Jupiter
Saturn
Mercury
Ketu
Venus
Sun
Moon
Mars

Began
Born 1952
January 1955
January 1971
January 1990
January 2007
January 2014
January 2034
January 2040
January 2050

Duration
About 2 1/2 years left
16 years
19 years
17 years
7 years
20 years
6 years
10 years
7 years

Age
0
3
19
38
55
62
82
88
98

The planets involved in dhana yogas are: the Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars, and
Jupiter. Ketu and Rahu can be included in this list because of their association

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

24
with the Sun and Venus, the 2nd and 11th lords. The maha dashas of these
planets will therefore activate the wealth-giving karma. The only two planets not
included in this list are Saturn and Mercury, who are not involved in any dhana
yogas (except that Mercury is the 9th lord in the 11th house from the Moon.) As
her karma would have it, her Saturn and Mercury dashas covered her prime
working years from age 19 until 55! Her 7 year Ketu dasha recently began in
2007 at age 55. However, Ketu is not a materialistic and ambitious planet by
nature. Its just the opposite, and generally inclines the mind of the person
toward the aspirations of spiritual development. Her Venus dasha begins at age
62, followed by her Sun dasha at 82, and her Moon dasha at 88!
This is the chart of a woman who has had various careers as a massage
therapist, aesthetician, and social worker. The reason she has not amassed a
fortune is clearly shown by the dasha sequence.
Summary of Technical Points

Dhana is the Sanskrit word for wealth, and those planetary combinations in
a birth chart that bring wealth are referred to as dhana yogas.

The classical literature of Jyotisha contain many such combinations, but


beginning students should look for interactive combinations of the money
houses 2 and 11 and their lords, with the trinal houses 1, 5, and 9, the
Lakshmi-stanas, and their lords. These should be seen from both the birth
lagna and the Chandra lagna.

Supported by other factors, such graha yogas like the Chandra-Mangala, or


Moon-Mars combination can also confer wealth.

In particular, the combination of Venus exalted or in its own sign, combining


with the 9th lord exalted or in its own sign and in a trine or an angle can bring
extraordinary wealth, and is referred to as a Lakshmi yoga.

Special lagnas such as the Indu lagna can be employed to further assess the
wealth-giving potentials of a chart.

As always, the disposition of those planets forming dhana yogas in the rashi
must also be seen in the navamsha. Are they well placed by sign and house?
Do they continue to participate in dhana yoga combinations?

Its the dasha sequence that makes the potential for wealth in the chart a
reality. Without the right dashas to activate the dhana yogas in the chart, the
promise for wealth may never be actualized.

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

25
Bill Gates and the other billionaires discussed in this article had the karma of
acquiring vast personal fortunes because of the multiple, high-quality dhana
yogas in their charts, and their activation by the dasha sequence. Whether their
Midas Touch has led them to real happiness is a question that perhaps only they
will be able to answer.
All Praise to the Rishis and their Divine Science of Jyotish

www.LightOnVedicAstrology.com y Copyright 2008 y For Private Use y Not For Circulation

You might also like