Vedic Astro- Basics

Basics of Astrology

What is in a Birth Chart?
• There are 12 houses and 12 zodiac signs
• The 12 zodiac signs are based on Monthly calendar (base is Hindu calendar)
• Each sign is allocated a number starting from Aries as 1 and Pisces as 12 in a chart
• The 12 signs rule different parts of a body (Kaalpurush) & thus 12 different houses in a chart
• Each zodiac sign is ruled by a planet
• There are 7+2=9 planets (2 are Rahu-Ketu or shadow planets or Dragon’s head
and tail).
• The base of 7 weekdays is also based on Hindu planet lordship and each is ruled by a planet
• Except Sun and Moon all planets have dual lordships.
• Rahu-Ketu do not own any sign and give the results of the houses or the sign they occupy
• The houses are FIXED in any chart and the upper middle house (the 1st/ upper rhombus in the center) is counted as I (East direction/Rising)then move anti-clockwise count the one falling on immediate left as triangle II, just next triangle the III, again a rhombus in the center IV, the next triangle below is V……………this way come to the right of the House I, now this house is XII
• While counting the houses the house where you start from is always included
• The occupancy of signs and planets is the VARIABLE in any chart and thus deciding about the destiny or life
• However once occupying the Ascendant, the following signs follow in the same order always. Like if Ascendant occupier 5 (means Leo), then II house will have 6 (Virgo). III will have 7 (Libra). Therefore many attributes of people with same Ascendant can be called as common
• But rest all is the interplay of planets where do they exalt, fall (debilitate) and the house
• Each house has many significations or manifestations through it, to the self and to the people related.
• The sign owning the Moon becomes the Moon sign, the signing owning the Sun (or before) becomes the Sunsign and the sign which is in the house I becomes the Ascendant


Houses

Each of the houses has the first manifestation of the Kaal purush to rule the body parts.




Houses
(Bhav) Natural
belonging Natural Ruler Key Attribute Other Attributes
I Aries Mars TANU
Shareer
(lagna/ ascendant/rising sign)
(Physical appearance to the world) Head, Body, The rashi which comes in this house decides the main characteristics of the native. His outlook towards the world and his physical appearance.

II Taurus Venus DHAN/ARTH/ KUTUMB
Acculumated wealth Speech, Throat, Right Eye, Primary Education

III Gemini Mercury BHRATRU
(siblings-younger) Chest(Upper Thoracic), Hands, Communication, Younger brother or sister, Relationship with them

IV Cancer Moon MOTHER
Vehicle, Property Heart, Mother & relationship with her, Fixed assets, Materialistic comforts

V Leo Sun PUTRA
creativity, intelligence, fertility Love, Romance, playfulness, child (1st)

VI Virgo Mercury RANDHRA
(Rog/ Shatru) Workplace, Health/ Illness, Enemies, Maternal uncle/aunt

VII Libra Venus BHARYA/SPOUSE
(Partnership/ association) Marriage/Relationship/Business partnership

VIII Scorpio Mars MRITYU/GUPT
(secret/mystery/ hidden/reproductive organs) Hidden matters, Legacy, Insurance, wife's income,

IX Sagittarius Jupiter BHAGYA
Father/Fortune/Guru Higher Education, Travel, Religion

X Capricorn Saturn KARM/KARYA
Profession/career Public image made through karma (profession)

XI Aquarius Saturn LAABH
(Gains, Income, friends, elder siblings) Being 2nd from 10th this is wealth through profession

XII Pisces Jupiter VYAY/ MOKSHA
Losses/ Expenses Bed comforts, Foreign lands, confinement







Now understanding of each house in a Horoscope is derived by:

1. The primary significator or the naturally assigned lordships of house/planets in a horoscope; like Venus is the natural assigned ruler of House VII (Libra), therefore position of Venus always plays a role in Marriage or representing spouse). Likewise Saturn rules the X house of profession, so its placement plays an important role for career/profession. Likewise Moon represents mother. Sun- children, Jupiter-father/guru/bhagya thus Jupiter is also seen for spouse in case of women and likewise Venus is seen for wives in case of Men.

2. But major manifestation is through the Rashi (zodiac signs). The ruling sign to give the zodiac characteristics to the house viz. Libra would be love and harmony, Virgo would be critical, Scorpio about being secretive but all this pertaining to that particular house. Thus, the Lord (ruler of the sign) Planet of that House will impart its characteristics to the results of that house

3. The placement of the Ruling Planets or Lords of the rashis. The House belongs to the planet who’s Rashi (zodiac) comes to occupy that house. Say if its 3 in House X, this means the House X of career or profession belongs to Mercury. Therefore, Mercury’s position plays a very important part to decide about career here.

4. The role of dispositor i.e. if Lord of House X is Mercury and we see that Mercury is placed in House I in sign 6 (means Virgo). Therefore, the dispositor (house lord) here is Mercury again indicating a good career. But say if it gets placed in no. 12 (Pisces) in House VII. Here Mercury falls (neecha) and establishes difficulties in career. Also that VII represents spouse, so it could be professional gains through him. The ruler of Pisces is Jupiter therefore for Mercury the dispositor here is Jupiter. So Jupiter’s strength will also play an important role here (its placement in a house and sign)


5. But final outcome will combine the result planet/s posited in that house (pertaining to its attribute and its natural lordship) will impart its characteristics. And the results come based on the relationship of the posited planet and the sign. In some signs the planets are exalted, in some they fall (debilitate), in their own houses they will be swastha (healthy) and in some they will damage. This contribute to the strength of planets and is also a deep calculation of their degrees of rise and fall.

6. Further, the Aspects of different planets (planet placed right before 7 houses aspect it).All planets aspect 7th house from itself, Saturn aspects 3 and 10 also. Jupiter aspects 5 & 9 also and Mars 4& 8 also.


7. Other than this the important role is also through Conjunctions (yuti). Eg. Planets close to Sun (placed in the same house or close) get combust. Mercury tends to play the role of the planet it conjuncts with. Conjucntions with malefics or unfriendly planets play role in damaging the planet and giving malefic results and likewise benefics give benefic results. Those conjunct planets are carrying lordship of which house, will signify the results of that house again. Eg. Lord of career house and lord of gains if are conjunct in the house of wealth, this would result in enormous wealth through profession

8. These expression come to fruition with the Dashas (Vimshottari Dasha system as per Vedic astrology) which are layered as-

• Mahadasha (MD) (longest period of a planet like 6-7 years of Sun/Mars/Moon to 19-20 years of Saturn/Venus)
• Antardahsa (bhukti) or the subperiod of 1 to 2.5 years of each planet in the main MD
• Pratayantardasha- a few(1-2) months allocated to each planet within the prtayandarsha
• And then two other small sub-sub periods, so mostly to observe major manifestation the 3 layers are seen

9. Finally it is the Transit (gochar) which is said to contribute 25% results to the main MD and pratyantardashas. Transit of Saturn (2.5 years in one sign), Jupiter (1 year in one sign) and Rahu-Ketu (1.5 yrs in one sign) are given most of the weight age as they move slow and thus can attribute maximum results in a particular sign or a House. Rest all are fast moving planets like Mars would spend 45 days in a sign and rest all about a month in a sign. While considering transits in any house, a planet is observed to see its implications pertaining to that house as well as also its distance from Moon (affects on our Mind to deal with the situation)


Malefics and Benefics
The general benefics are Jupiter, Venus, Moon, Mercury
The general malefics are Saturn, Mars, Sun, Rahu, Ketu



Functional Malefic Planets

With the System’s approach it is very simple to identify the Malefic planets i.e. the planets which are the Lords of the rashis placed in Dushtsthan or Bad houses (Trik)VI, VIII & XII are the Functional Malefics. As the planets (except Sun & Moon) have dual Lordships, so one sign of the two is identified as the Mooltrikona sign, to bring major significations of that house and rashi

Mars’s mooltrikona is Aries (1) and if it falls in VI, VIII, XII houses, its Lord Mars becomes a Functional Malefic
Likewise, Libra (7) for Venus
Virgo (6) for Mercury
Saggitarius (9) for
Cancer (4) for Moon & Leo (5) for Sun are said to have been spared to give any blemish of bad houses (according to Parashar)


The other category of bad houses is III, VII & XI