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

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

iii) Neutral are lords of 2^nd & 12^th houses. Their results will depend upon their association with other planets or the lordship of their other sign. Some astrologers consider 8^th 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 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 10^th, 11^th and 12^th from the position of a planet are its Temporal or temporary friends. Whereas planets posited in 1^st (same sign as the planet itself), 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th and 9^th 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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