CHAPTER THREE 3
Planetary Effects in bhavas,
Various Divisions,
Aspects, Dignities,
Avasthas etc..
Without the knowledge of the true positions of planets (in terms of degrees) and their placements in the various houses commencing from the ascendant, it is impossible to deduce the effects of a Bhava or house. Hence a Bhava chart should be erected which includes the 12 houses from the ascendant. This diagram should consist of beginning and ending of houses, diurnal and nocturnal strengths of planets, junctions of the various houses, planets climbing towards their respective signs of exaltations, going down to their signs of debilitation, and Vimsopaka strengths (based on dignities caused to planets by their ‘positions in the 16 divisions).
1. Bhava Chart: It is said in Surya Jataka (as told by the Sun God to his charioteer and disciple Aruna), “O Charioteer, in case of Journey, marriage, first-ever tonsure ceremony and initial feeding of the child, birth, Sacred Thread ceremony (due to Brahmins) and installation of the king, the results of planets should be declared only after working out (lengths of the) various houses.
2. (a) Bhava & Rasi Charts: Here it should be understood that the positions of planets in the various houses are meant for estimating the effects of houses and not for any other consideration. For, calculations concerning planetary aspects are to be done only on the basis of signs and not on the basis of houses. This is the view held by some.
(b) It is said in the work entitled Budha Nidhi that in case of birth, solar return, horary and others, the wise have suggested the use of Bhava chart in estimating the auspicious and inauspicious effects. Because planets give such effects only depending on their Bhava positions.
Notes: (a) Planetary dignities, computation of Ashtaka Varga, mutual aspects between planets, and effects referring to signs by a particular mention, transit effects etc. should always be done on the basis of Rasi or natural signs of the zodiac.
Positions referred to from the Moon or any other planet should also be reckoned on the basis of signs only, and not on the basis of the Bhava chart cast with the help of the ascending degree, meridian etc. For example, the Moon (or any other planet) is in 28th degree of Gemini. Another planet even in the 1st degree of Cancer should be treated as being in the 2nd from the Moon, though they may be conjunct in one Bhava, for a different purpose,
3. Sripati’s Views: In case of birth and others, the various combinations (or Yogas) yield effects, only according to their Bhava positions. Sripati has stated that in case of birth, journey, religious observance, tonsure ceremony, royal installation and others, planets reflect the effects of the various combinations depending on (their positions in the various) Bhava(s).
4 – 5. (a) To analyze the effects of houses, Raja Yogas (royal combinations), temporary terms between planets and such others, only the use of Bhavas and planets therein should be made. Wherever references to signs occur, as in case of Ashtaka Varga etc., only Rasi positions should be used. That is, in such cases wherever references to signs by name, viz. Aries, Taurus etc. are found, the use of signs should be resorted to.
(b) The planet whose longitude is identical with that of the cusp of a house will yield full effects due to that house. In case of excess or shortage, the effects should be drawn on rule of three basis.
(c) Only when a planet enters a Bhava, it will give effects of that Bhava. Full effects will occur with the planet attaining the same degree as that of the cusp. If it is in the end of a Bhava it will destroy the effects thereof. So say the best of sages.
6 .7. (a) Beginning & Concluding Points: Now stated are of the use of beginning and ending points of a house. A planet ahead of the beginning of a house will yield the effects due to that house. If it is ahead of the ending point, it will yield the results due to the next house.
(b) Use of Bhava Chart: As per Vamana, the twelve signs in the zodiac should be divided into 12 houses as the ascendant and others, and effects should be drawn only on the basis of the heavenly bodies therein.
8. Effects of Bhava: (a) Sage Bharadvaja has stated in this regard as under. For Seemantha (one of the 12 rituals observed during a pregnant woman’s 4th, 6th or 8th month), birth, tonsure ceremony, Sacred Thread ceremony, journey, first-ever entry in new premises, ritual bathing (such as during remedies for warding off planetary evils and after long time illness), and marriage, the learned advocate use of Bhava.
(b) The author observes as under. From the words of sage Bharadvaja, we understand that Bhava should be used to know of the effects of planets in Bhavas, and not for purpose of analyzing the Yogas.
(c) Some scholars advocate that sages have not instructed to calculate Bhavas and their beginning and ending points and hence all this is baseless. It is naive to say so, as Parasara Hora suggests calculation of Bhavas with their beginning and ending points, as stated below.
9 – 10. Division of Houses: (a) Find out the cusps of the ascendant and the 10th. Add 6 signs (or 180′) to each of these; to get the 7th and 4th cusps in order.
(b) Note the angular distance between the first and the fourth cusps (cusp = Bhava Madhya or the centre of the house) and divide the same by 6.” Add this product to the first cusp to obtain the end of the first house. When a similar distance – i.e. one-sixth – is added to the end of the 1st cusp, the 2nd cusp is known. This way, the process should be continued upto the 4th house.
(c) Similarly this process should be carried on between the 7th and 4th cusps as well as the 7th and 10th, and 10th and 1st cusps.
(d) This way, the twelve Bhavas with their cusps are obtained.
Notes: We will have an example assuming that the ascendant is Aries 5′ and the 10th cusp or the meridian is 11′ of Capricorn.
Cusp in Hindu astrology means the exact centre of a house. When we add 180′ to Aries 5′ we get Libra 5′ as the 7th cusp (or the descendant). Adding 180′ to Capricorn 11 0 (10th house), we get 11′ Cancer as the 4th cusp (or Nadir or Paatala, as it is known).
Between the 1st and 4th cusps, there are three houses, i.e. six halves of houses. Hence we divide the angular distance between the 1st and 4th by 6 to get 6 halves. In this case, the distance between Aries 5′ and Cancer 11′ is 96′. 96′ divided by 6 yields 16’. Aries 5′ + 16′ = Aries 21′ which is the end of the 1st house, i.e. beginning of 2nd house. End of the 1st house + 16′ = the cusp of the 2nd house. Aries 21 ° + 16° = Taurus 7° which is the 2nd house cusp. Taurus 7′ + 16° = Taurus 23′ is end of 2nd house and beginning of3rd house. Taurus 23° + 16° = Gemini 9′ is the middle of the 3rd pouse. Gemini 9° + 16° = Gemini 25° is the end of 3rd house and beginning of 4th house. Gemini 25 ° + 16° = Cancer 11° is the centre of the 4th cusp of which we are already aware.
This way, the angular distance between the 4th and 7th cusps (which is 84°) should be made into six equal parts and distributed between the 4th a d 7th houses.
Then the angular distance between the 7th and 10th cusps (which is 96°) should be made into 6 equal parts and spread between 7th and 10th cusps.
Lastly, the angular distance between the MC (or the 10th cusp, or the meridian) (which is 84°) should be similarly made into 6 equal parts and distributed from the 10th to 1st.
Thus the beginning and ending of the 12 Bhavas will emerge as shown below, for the example suggested. Needless to reiterate, end of one particular Bhava means beginning of the next Bhava and beginning of one particular Bhava means end of the previous Bhava.
House Beginning Middle (Cusp)
1st Pisces 21′ Aries 5°
2nd Aries 21° Taurus 7′
3rd Taurus 23 o Gemini 9°
4th Gemini 25 o Cancer 11 o
5th Cancer 25° Leo 9′
6th Leo 23° Virgo 7°
7th Virgo 21′ Libra 5°
8th Libra 21′ Scorpio T
9th Scorpio 23′ Sagittarius 9°
10th Sagittarius 25′ Capricorn 11′
11th Capricorn 25′ Aquarius 9°
12th Aquarius 23′ Pisces 7′
Once the calculation are made on the lines suggested by sage Parasara, the reader will note that by adding exactly 180′ to a particular house, we get the cusp of the opposite house, as we see in case of the 1st and 7th, 2nd and 8th, 3rd and 9th, 4th and 10th, 5th and 11th; and lastly the 6th and 12th in the above example. In a contrary situation, the calculations are erroneous.
11 – 12. (a) Degree of Benefic Effects: A planet in exaltation will give auspicious effects in full. In its Moola Trikona, it
will lose a quarter. In own sign, half will be lost. Just a quarter will remain in a friend’s sign. In the sign of a neutral,
only half-a-quarter of the effects will materialize. In debility or in combustion or in inimical sign, the planet will be
entirely futile, i.e. benefic effects will be nil.
(b) Malefic effects should be discerningly understood in a converse manner.
Notes: (a) A planet’s tendency to give auspicious effects will depend on its dignity. Here the reference is only to the extent of auspicious effects. Thus benefic effects in (deep) exaltation will be 100%, in Moola Trikona 75%, in own sign 50%, in a neutral’s sign 25% and in (deep) debilitation, combustion or inimical sign nil.
(b) Similarly, a planet’s tendency to give inauspicious effects should be reversed. That is 100% malefic effects when in debility or in combustion or in inimical sign, 75% in neutral’s sign, 50% in own sign, 25% in Moola Trikona and nil in exaltation. This condition is nothing but drawing a balance of malefic effects after computation of good effects as at “a” above.
A planet’s tendency of being good or bad should be concluded with the help of the following.
1. Natural benefic or natural malefic.
2. Functional benefic or functional malefic based on the rising sign.
3. Its relationship with its dispositor or an associate (by aspect/union) based on compound terms (Panchadha Sambandha).
4. Its dignity by location.
