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Encyclopedia of Vedic Astrology: Yogas: Introduction, Chapter I, Part – 1




Dr. Shanker Adawal

What is Yoga?
1.1 In Vedic astrology, the associations the planets form or variations of how they are placed in a horoscope are referred to as yogas. Yoga literally means union or that which adds, joins or yokes. Astrologically, Yoga refers to planetary combinations or configurations and their special results, which affect the life of an individual. In traditional Indian ephemeris, known as Panchang, Yoga is also a particular division of time, arrived at by adding longitudes of the Sun and the Moon at birth. These are 27 in number, starting from Viskumbha to Vaidhriti, each governed by a different constellation or lunar-mansion, which are also 27 in number. In spiritual field, the word “Yoga” means training, taming and stimulating the body and mind with universal soul. In Ayurveda, the yoga of two or more medicines gives specific results. Yogas are one of the unique features of Vedic astrology. There are hundreds of yogas mentioned in various classical texts. Most of the yogas are formed of more than one planet, but all combinations do not mean a yoga formation. The idea behind these yogas is to equate the planets’ strength in a chart, and how & when they will produce their effects in a native’s life.

1.2 The entire basis of astrology rests on the premise that the pattern of an individual’s life correlates with the planetary pattern at the time of his birth. An individual wants to know something of everything connected with the life of his and of those who are dear and near to him. These include a large variety of his life’s transactions and a previous knowledge of these will be of immense help to him in not only to adjust himself & his affairs, but may also take remedies wherever possible to avert or mitigate the evils caused by the planetary formations. The Yogas in astrology tend to indicate the degree of good augury or adversity, an individual is to experience in his life. Human life falls under two main divisions- Yogas and Aristhas, or fortunes and misfortunes. Yogas mean success and gain in every or any field to the maximum extent possible. Whereas Aristhas or misfortunes include all sorts of failures, loss, sorrows, obstacles in physical mental or social fields. It is natural for every human being to have a mixture of good yogas and Aristhas operating at different periods of his life. It should also be realized that no single yoga is nevertheless quite possible to distinguish a certain accent of one or the other in a chart.

1.3 In astrological parlance, Yoga means a specified permutation or combination of planets in different houses/signs relative to each other or to lagna/ Moon. Planets represents concentration of life force. Their placement in different houses represents the exertion of the life force in areas represented by their occupation. The signs have their own specific characteristics. Planets occupying specific signs get influenced by the nature of these signs. The eventual results produced by different planets depend upon how well the life force represented by them, finds expression in modifying influences of house & signs. In astrology the yogas are generally formed by planets placed in a particular pattern with an inherent linkage. This linkage could be involving planets only or between planets and houses/ signs or any other combination of the above. According to Vaidyanath Dikshit, the inherent linkage may be established among planets in any of the following manners:

i) Conjunction or placement in the same house/ sign,
ii) Mutual aspect,
iii) Parivartan or exchange of houses or Nakshtras,
iv) Anyone of the planets aspecting the others,
v) Positions in mutual Kendra/Konas,
vi) Planets occupying the same house or any of the Shodas Varga.
vii) One sided link- when a planet occupies the sign of the other, and this other planet aspect the former, without itself receiving the aspect of the former.

1.4 The yogas constitute the special featue and play a vital role in evaluation of a chart. They are capable of changing the entire complexion of a horoscope. They give auspicious results and lift one to astronomical heights or cause evils/ Aristhas of untold magnitudes. Most of the yogas are related with lagnas, but astrological savants are of the opinion that they should also be seen with reference to position of the Moon, especially if Moon is strong & well placed. Some astrologers believe that the yogas from lagna give results from childhood only while those from Chandra lagna fructify after the age of 30 years and the rise will be by own merits/ efforts. A large number of astrologers are of the opinion that the yogas fructify between main operative years of life i.e. between 18 to 65 years of age and only during the dasha, Bhukti of concerned planets forming a particular yoga. It should always be remembered that a yoga is as strong as the planets forming the yoga are.

Nature of Planets
2.1 According to natural/ general classification of planets, benefics are Jupiter, Venus, well associated, Mercury & waxing Moon and malefic are Sun, Mars, Saturn, evil associated Mercury, waning Moon & nodes. However while dealing with yogas, malefic & benefics unless otherwise stated are in the sense of malefic & benefic lords with reference to lagna or the Moon. Thus the break down is:

i) Benefics are lords of 1st, 5th & 9th houses and lords of 4th, 7th & 10th houses if they are natural malefic.

ii) Malefics are lords of 3rd, 6th, 8th, & 11th houses (8th lord being most malefic) and lords of 4th, 7th & 10th houses if they are natural benefics.

iii) Neutral are lords of 2nd & 12th houses. Their results will depend upon their association with other planets or the lordship of their other sign. Some astrologers consider 8th lord also as neutral.

iv) The nodes give their results as per their association with other planets or as per the nature of their depositor.

2.2 According to Mahirishi Vashistha, the signs of exaltation, debilitation, Malefic Nakshtras and Avayoga for various planets are as under:

Planet
Exaltation sign
Debilitation sign
Malefic Nakshtras ruled by
Sign of Avayoga
Sun
Aries
Libra
Mercury
Aquarius
Moon
Taurus
Scorpio
Ketu
Capricorn
Mars
Capricorn
Cancer
Venus
Taurus, Libra
Mercury
Virgo
Pisces
Rahu
Sagittarius & Pisces
Jupiter
Cancer
Capricorn
Moon
Gemini, Virgo
Venus
Pisces
Virgo
Saturn
Aries, Sagittarius
Saturn
Libra
Aries
Sun
Cancer, Leo

2.3 Sage Parashar in chapter 34 of Brihat Parashar Hora Shastra has clarified the nature of planets for various lagna as follows:

Lagna
Benefics
Malefics
Neutrals
Marakas
Yogkaraka/Rajyoga planets
Aries
Jup, Sun
Mer, Sat
Mar
Ven, Sat
Jup + Sat
Taurus
Sun, Mer & Sat
Jup, Mon
Ven
Jup, Mar
Sat
Gemini
Ven
Mar, Jup & Sun
Mon
Mar, Jup
Mer + Ven
Cancer
Jup, Mar & Mon
Ven, Mer & Sat
Sun
Sat
Mar
Leo
Mar, Jup & Sun
Sat, Mer & Ven
Mon
Mer, Sat
Mar
Virgo
Ven, Mer
Mar, Jup & Mon
Sun
Mar
Mer + Ven
Libra
Sat, Mer
Jup, Mar & Sun
Mon, Ven
Mar, Jup
Sat
Scorpio
Jup, Mon & Sun
Mer, Ven & Sat
Mar
Mer
Sun + Mon
Sagittarius
Mar, Sun
Ven, Mon & Sat
Jup, Mer
Ven, Mon
Sun + Mar & Mar + Jup
Capricorn
Ven, Mer
Jup, Mar & Mon
Sun, Sat
Mar, Jup
Ven
Aquarius
Ven, Sat
Jup, Mon & Mar
Sun, Mer
Jup, Mar
Ven
Pisces
Mon, Mar & Jup
Ven, Sat & Sun
Mer
Ven, Sat
Mar, Mar + Jup & Mar + Mon

Friendship among planets

3.1 Natural Friendship among planets is as shown in the table below:
Planet
Friends
Enemies
Neutral
Sun
Mon, Mar & Jup
Ven & Sat
Mer
Moon
Sun, Mer
Nil
Rests
Mars
Mon, Mar & Jup
Mer
Ven, & Sat
Mercury
Sun, & Ven
Mon
Mar, Jup & Sat
Jupiter
Sun, Mon & Mar
Mer & Ven
Sat
Venus
Mer & Sat
Sun & Mon
Mar & Jup
Saturn
Mer & Ven
Sun, Mon & Mar
Jup
Rahu
Jup, Ven & Sat
Sun & Mon
Mer & Mar
Ketu
Mar, Ven & Sat
Sun & Mon
Mer & Jup


3.2 Temporal Friendship: The planets posited at 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th and 12th from the position of a planet are its Temporal or temporary friends. Whereas planets posited in 1st (same sign as the planet itself), 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th from the planet in the chart are its temporary enemies.

3.3 Panchdha Friendship: The word Panchdha literally means Five. The above mentioned two types of friendship/relationship give rise to five types of friendship as under;

S. No.
Natural Friendship
Temp. Friendship
Final Friendship
Effect of Friendship
1
Friend
Friend
Fast Friend
Fully benefic
2
Neutral
Friend
Friend
Beneficial
3
Enemy
Friend
Neutral
Good results in friendly dasha
4
Neutral
Enemy
Enemy
Obstructive/harmful
5
Enemy
Enemy
Bitter Enemy
Only Malefics & harmful results

                                                                                                                                                     
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Shanker Adawal

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