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Planetary Friendship
Naisargika Mitra or Natural Friend: Based on their natural qualities the planets have some friends, enemies and neutrals. Note the Rasis, which are the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 12th from the Moolatrikona of a Graha. The Grahas ruling such Rasis are its friends, apart from the Lord of its exaltation Rasi. Lords other than these are its enemies. If a Graha becomes its friend in one and enemy in the other, then it is neutral, or equal.The following chart illustrates this inter-planetary friendship.
Tatkalika Mitra or Temporary Friend: Depending on how the planets are placed in a particular chart, there is a temporary friendship between the planets. The rule for this temporary friendship is: in a chart, a planet placed in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th and 12th from another planet becomes its temporary friend. The following chart illustrates the temporary friendship of the planets in our example horoscope.
Panchadha or Compound friendship: This is simply the combination of the two types of friendship to arrive at an overview of friendship. The 5 point formula is:
Friend + Friend = Great Friend
Friend + Neutral = Friend
Friend + Enemy = Neutral
Enemy + Neutral = Enemy
Enemy + Enemy = Great Enemy
See the following chart of compound friendship for the example horoscope.
Various strengths and conditions of the planets
We have seen in lesson 1 that the planets own certain houses. Lets go a step deeper into the vast ocean and see the other conditions.
Uccha, Moola Trikona, Swasthana, and Neecha of planets.
When placed in certain houses the planets are said to be in Uccha or in exaltation. A planet is in the best condition when he is exalted. The next best placement is called Moolatrikona, followed by its Swasthana or own house, followed by Mitrasthana or friends house and the worst condition is Neecha or Debilitation. The following are the placement conditions of the planets.
Sun is exalted in Aries upto the 10th degree. In the 10th degree he is in deep exaltation. After that it is his Moolatrikona. In Leo upto 20 is his moolatrikona and after that it is his own house.
Moon is exalted in Taurus upto the 3rd degree. In the 3rd degree he is in deep exaltation and after that it is his moolatrikona house. Karka is his own house.
Mars is exalted in Makara upto 28 degrees. In the 28th degree he is in deep exaltation. After that it is his Moolatrikona. In Mesha upto 12 degrees his moolatrikona and after that it is his own house. Vrischika is also his own house.
Mercury is exalted in Kanya upto 15 degrees. In the 15th degree he is in deep exaltation. After that the next 5 degrees are his Moolatrikona and after that his own house. Mithuna is also his own house.
Jupiter is exalted in Karka upto 5 degrees. In the 5th degree he is in deep exaltation. After that it is his Moolatrikona. In Dhanu upto 10 degrees his moolatrikona and after that it is his own house. Meena is also his own house.
Venus is exalted in Meena upto 27 degrees. In the 27th degree he is in deep exaltation. After that it is his Moolatrikona. In Libra upto 15 degrees his moolatrikona and after that it is his own house. Vrishabha is also his own house.
Saturn is exalted in Tula upto 20 degrees. In the 20th degree he is in deep exaltation. After that it is his Moolatrikona. In Kumbha upto 20 degrees his moolatrikona and after that it is his own house. Makara is also his own house.
Rahu and Ketu There is a controversy about their exaltation etc as they do not really own any houses. In fact the were ignored in this regard in some of the major shastras. However several other later generation authors generally agreed that Mithuna and Dhanu are the exaltation houses of Rahu and Ketu respectively, Vrishabha and Vrischika are their respective Moolatrikonas and Meena and Kanya are their respective own houses.
Neecha or Debilitation: All exalted planets get debilitated in the opposite seventh house from their point of exaltation. The highest point of debilitation is the exact opposite of the highest point of exaltation. After that the debilitation effect is not there.
It must also be noted that in the order of auspicious placement, next to his own house, comes a planet placed in a friend’s house and then the neutrals house.