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Planetary

Planetary Influences

While the basic planetary type is crucial, we must remember that each of us contains the influences of all the planets. Through Vedic Astrology, we can examine the relative strength and weakness of all the planets.
The first and most significant factor is the general strength of the planet by house, sign and aspect.
The second is the friendship and enmity between planets, particularly that between the planet and the ruler of the sign in which it is located.


The Houses

The houses are more important than the signs in Vedic Astrology. Most planetary combinations (yogas) are defined in terms of them – like the ruler of the second house of livelihood located in the twelfth house of loss being a yoga for poverty. Vedic Astrology regards planets more as house lords than it does as sign rulers.

Planetary Influences

House Lords

Generally, planets are auspicious or inauspicious relative to the houses they rule as calculated from each particular ascendant. This is their "temporal" status, regardless of what their natural status may be. However, planets are generally good for the affairs of the houses that they rule.

House Rulership Table:

Temporal Disposition of planets

Sign

Sun

Moon

Mars

Mercury

Aries

5 A

4 A

1,

8 A

3

6 I

Taurus

4 N

3 I

7

12 I

2

5 A

Gemini

3 I

2 N

6

11 I

1

4 A

Cancer

2 N

1 A

5

10 *

3

12 I

Leo

1 A

12 N

4

9 *

2

11 I

Virgo

12 N

11 I

3

8 I

1

10 A

Libra

11 I

10 N

2

7 I

9

12 A

Scorpio

10 A

9 A

21

6 A

8

11 I

Sagittarius

9 A

8 N

5

12 A

7

10 I

Capricorn

8 I

7 N

4

11 I

6

9 A

Aquarius

7 I

6 I

3

10 I

5

8 A

Pisces

6 N

5 A

2

9 A

4

7 I


Sign

Jupiter

Venus

Saturn

Aries

9

12 A

2

7 I

10

11 I

Taurus

8

11 I

1

6 A

9

10 *

Gemini

7

10 I

5

12 A

8

9 N

Cancer

6

9 A

4

11 I

7

8 I

Leo

5

8 A

3

10 I

6

7 I

Virgo

4

7 I

2

9 A

5

6 N

Libra

3

6 I

1

8 A

4

5 *

Scorpio

2

5 A

7

12 I

3

4 I

Sagittarius

1

4 A

6,

11 I

2

3 I

Capricorn

3

12 I

5

10 *

1

2 A

Aquarius

2

11 I

4

9 *

1

12 A

Pisces

1

10 A

3

8 I

11

12 I

A = Auspicious, I = Inauspicious, N = Neutral, * = Very Auspicious,
Raja Yoga Karaka

This is a general table and requires more specificity:

The ruler of the ASCENDANT is generally good. Yet if it is a natural malefic or rules another house that is malefic in nature, its benefic status is tainted and it may under certain circumstances give bad results.
The ruler of the SECOND is generally neutral, though good for wealth and livelihood, which it rules. Yet as a maraka or death-causing planet, it has a negative side as well.
The ruler of the THIRD is generally inauspicious, as it is an impulsive, impetuous force, works through power and can cause oppression or opposition. However, it is usually good for brothers, which the house rules.
The ruler of the FOURTH, as an angle or kendra, is good if a natural malefic but bad if a natural benefic. If strong, it is good for the mother.
The ruler of the FIFTH is generally good, as the fifth is a trine and gives good karmic results.
The ruler of the SIXTH, a house of disease and injury, is generally bad.
The ruler of the SEVENTH, as an angle, follows the same rules as that of the fourth and is good for the partner.
The ruler of the EIGHTH, a house of obstacles, opposition and negativity, is inauspicious.
The ruler of the NINTH house, as the best trine and house of fortune, is usually good.
The ruler of the TENTH follows the same rules as that of any angular ruler and represents the best angular house.
The ruler of the ELEVENTH is good for income or gains, which its house rules. However, it is malefic for the chart as a whole because it has a disruptive, impulsive, anarchic influence and can cause disease and injury like the sixth lord.
The ruler of the TWELFTH is generally inauspicious but more often neutral in character, depending upon the other house it rules. When a planet rules two houses, we must combine the natural status of the planet along with the two houses it rules, as well as its relationship with the ruler of the Ascendant.

For example, Saturn rules the eighth and ninth houses for Gemini Ascendant, a good house and a bad house. It is naturally malefic but normally a friend of Mercury, which rules Gemini. Its mulatrikona sign Aquarius governs the ninth. Hence, it would be mixed but slightly good for Gemini. However, if it is a temporal enemy of Mercury in the chart, its results would tend to be bad. Depending upon its aspects and associations, it can function either as the lord of the eighth or ninth houses. Planetary positions in each chart will modify these principles of house rulership.

When we classify a planet as neutral or mixed for an ascendant, we mean that it can give both good and bad results, though in different areas of life, not that it will give only neutral effects. When Saturn rules the eighth and ninth, for example, it is still tainted by its eighth house rulership and will give some negative effects. Its effects will not simply cancel each other out but be good for some things and bad for others.