A B C of Indian Astrology

years.

Preface

This book is written for a lay person in a simple and easy to understand language in order to arouse an interest in the old and ancient science of Indian astrology. Since the beginning of time, man has always wondered whether the heavenly bodies or the planets exercise any influence on the life and destiny of human beings. Through a lot of research, mathematical calculations on the movements of planets, careful analysis of the fluctuating events in the lives and fortunes of human beings and attempting an understanding of their relationship, the ancients of India had divinised that the fortunes and the events in the life of man are indeed significantly shaped by stellar movements. They went on to evolve a system of the art and science of astrology based on their research extended over several centuries. Astrology is not an exact science like Chemistry or Physics. It is as much an art as a science of understanding the influence of planetary movements on the lives of human beings and predicting the course of events in the future. Indeed, the predictions based on this system are remarkably accurate and startlingly revealing.

The Indian system of astrology recognises seven planets and the two nodes of Rahu and Ketu. The sphere of heavenly space around us consists of 360 degrees and has been divided into twelve zodiacal signs of 30 degrees each. In the course of their orbital rotation, the planets transit through these twelve zodiacal signs in an orderly manner. The movement and the placement of planets in different houses and signs is worked out by precise mathematical calculations. The degrees and presence of a planet in a specific house of the horoscope chart exerts a significant influence on the life of a person.

The horoscope chart is prepared on the basis of an individual’s time and place of birth. It is based on the placement and degrees of the planet in the heavenly space at the time of birth. The horoscope chart is made up of twelve houses. Each house has well-defined functions and portfolios. An astrological assessment of the horoscope chart enables one to make predictions about the life of an individual.

The author has pursued this fascinating subject as a hobby for well over 50 years and has found it remarkably satisfying and rewarding in answering many of the queries regarding future events. It is with the intention of arousing a similar interest in a common person in the ancient art and science of Indian astrology that he has undertaken the task of bringing out this book.

Chapter 1

Planets and Nodes

There are seven planets and two nodes in the Indian system of astrology. The superior (upper) and the inferior (lower) intersections of the orbits of moon and earth denote the nodes and these are known as Rahu and Ketu respectively.

For the purpose of this book, Rahu and Ketu would be considered as planets along with the other seven planets. The words planet and star are being used synonymously in the book.

The list of the nine planets used in astrology are listed hereunder:

Zodiacal Signs

There are twelve zodiacal signs corresponding to the twelve-fold division of space around us. Each of these signs occupies or straddles a space of 30 degrees in the overall space of 360 degrees around us. These twelve signs are assigned the following names and numbers:

These zodiacal signs are referred to simply as signs in the book.

Rulership or Lordship of Different Zodiacal Signs by Planets

Sun is the lord of sign Leo (Sinh) from 21 to 30 degrees.

Moon is the lord of sign Cancer (Karak) from 1 to 30 degrees.

Mars is the lord of sign Aries (Mesh) from 19 to 30 degrees and sign Scorpio (Vrishchak) from 1 to 30 degrees.

Mercury is the lord of signs Gemini (Mithun) from 1 to 30 degrees and Virgo (Kanya) from 21 to 30 degrees.

Jupiter is the lord of signs Sagittarius (Dhan) from 14 to 30 degrees and Pisces from 1 to 30 degrees.

Venus is the lord of signs Taurus (Vrikh) from 1 to 30 degrees and Libra (Tula) from 11 to 30 degrees.

Saturn is the lord of signs Capricorn (Makar) from 21 to 30 degrees and Aquarius (Kumbh) from 1 to 30 degrees.

Rahu is the lord of sign Virgo (Kanya) from 1 to 30 degrees.

Ketu is the lord of sign Pisces (Meen) from 1 to 30 degrees.

Exaltation of Planets

Sun is exalted in Aries (Mesh).

Moon is exalted in Taurus (Vrikh).

Mars is exalted in Capricorn (Makar).

Mercury is exalted in Virgo (Kanya).

Jupiter is exalted in Cancer (Karak).

Venus is exalted in Pisces (Meen).

Saturn is exalted in Libra (Tula).

Rahu is exalted in Taurus and Gemini (Vrikh and Mithun).

Ketu is exalted in Scorpio and Sagittarius (Vrishchak and Sagittarius).

Peak Strength (Mool-Trikon) of Planets

Sun is in its Mool-Trikon in sign Leo (Sinh) from 1 to 20 degrees.

Moon is in its Mool-Trikon in Taurus (Vrikh) from 4 to 30 degrees.

Mars is in its Mool-Trikon in Aries (Mesh) from 1 to 18 degrees.

Mercury is in its Mool-Trikon in Virgo (Kanya) from 1 to 15 degrees.

Jupiter is on its Mool-Trikon in Sagittarius (Dhan) from 1to 13 degrees.

Venus is in its Mool-Trikon in Libra (Tula) from 1 to 10 degrees.

Saturn is in its Mool-Trikon in Aquarius (Kumbh) from 1to 20 degrees.

Rahu is in its Mool-Trikon in Cancer (Karak).

Ketu is in its Mool-Trikon in Leo (Sinh).

Debilitation of Planets

A planet in debilitation (Neech sthan) is inimical, malefic and harmful.

Sun is debilitated in sign Libra (Tula) at 10 degrees.

Moon is debilitated in Scorpio (Vrishchak) at 3 degrees.

Mars is debilitated in Cancer (Karak) at 28 degrees.

Mercury is debilitated in Pisces (Meen) at 15 degrees.

Jupiter is debilitated in Capricorn (Makar) at 5 degrees.

Venus is debilitated in Virgo (Kanya) at 27 degrees.

Saturn is debilitated in Aries (Mesh) at 20 degrees.

Rahu is debilitated in Scorpio (Vrishchak) and Sagittarius (Dhan) at 15 degrees.

Ketu is debilitated in Taurus (Vrikh) and Gemini (Mithun) at 15 degrees.

Friendly Signs of Planets

Sun is said to be in a friendly sign in Cancer, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Pisces.

Moon is said to be in a friendly sign in Aries, Leo, Sagittarius and Pisces.

Mars is said to be in a friendly sign in Leo, Sagittarius and Pisces.

Mercury is said to be in a friendly sign in Taurus, Leo, Libra, Capricorn and Aquarius.

Jupiter is said to be in a friendly sign in Aries, Leo and Scorpion.

Venus is said to be in a friendly sign in Gemini, Capricorn and Aquarius.

Saturn is said to be in a friendly sign in Taurus, Gemini and Virgo.

Rahu is said to be in a friendly sign in Virgo, Libra, Capricorn and Aquarius.

Ketu is said to be in a friendly sign in Virgo, Libra, Capricorn and Aquarius.

A planet in a friendly sign is usually favourable and helpful to the person.

Inimical Signs of Planets

The signs Taurus, Libra and Aquarius are inimical to planet Sun.

The signs Libra, Capricorn and Aquarius are inimical to Moon.

The sign Aquarius is inimical to Mars.

The sign Cancer is inimical to Mercury.

The signs Taurus, Libra and Aquarius are inimical to Jupiter.

The signs Leo and Sagittarius are inimical to Venus.

The signs Cancer, Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Pisces are inimical to Saturn.

The signs Aries, Cancer, Leo and Pisces are inimical to Rahu.

The signs Aries, Cancer, Leo and Pisces are inimical to Ketu.

As the term inimical suggests, planets in their inimical signs exert a negative and harmful effect on the person.

Neutral Signs of Planets

Sun is said to be neutral in signs Gemini and Virgo.

Moon is said to be neutral in signs Gemini and Virgo

Mars is said to be neutral in signs in Taurus, Gemini, Virgo and Libra.

Mercury is said to be neutral in signs Aries, Scorpio and Sagittarius.

Jupiter is said to be neutral in Gemini and Virgo.

Venus is said to be neutral in Aries, Cancer and Scorpio.

Planets Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are not neutral in any sign.

As the term neutral suggests, planet in a neutral sign is neither beneficial nor harmful to the person.

Table showing 9 planets with their signs of lordship, their exalted signs, their signs of debilitation, friendly signs, inimical signs and neutral signs.