The Dagger Behind the Cloak: Aristha Yogas in the Vedic Horoscope Robert A. Koch Aristha Yogas can sabotage the strongest-appearing charts. Robert Koch explains how to identify these troublesome configurations. Were life such a simplistic journey that we could find only positive, or only negative indications in a horoscope, then the task of chart interpretation would needless to say be a very easy one. In reality, however, the complexities of destiny possible for the soul in the human incarnation, make the astrologer's job of weighing the positive indications against the negative ones, a deep and sometimes problematic study. The brilliance of Raja Yogas and Dhana Yogas, which respectively bestow status and wealth upon the native, is sometimes found to be dim, or in some cases even non-existent, if eclipsed by the presence of fortune-defying Arishta Yogas. How to identify the Arishta Yogas, or misfortune in a horoscope, and to what extent these combinations of planets can interfere with the life path and fortune of the native, is an important area of study with which the Vedic astrologer should become well familiar. The Sanskrit word arishta implies a misfortune, obstacle or obstruction to success or happiness. There are several different kinds of Arishta Yogas, or combinations causing misfortune, and these can manifest in a variety of ways. By definition, the lords of trik houses, that is rulers of the 6th, 8th, and 12th houses (lord of the 3rd may be included also), when in exchange, conjunction, or mutual aspect with the lords of auspicious houses, will cause Arishta Yogas. The effects will be magnified when such planets come under the association or aspect of maraka planets (rulers of the 2nd and 7th houses) or of natural malefics. The obstructions will manifest in accordance with the nature and significations of the houses so affected. The "auspicious" houses can be grouped into three categories as follows: 1. The trikona houses, or 1st, 5th, and 9th: Since these have to do with the residual effects of positive karmas performed in prior lifetimes, their combinations with trik lords can create serious impediments to the full enjoyment of fortune. Since the lagna, or 1st house, has to do with the health and longevity of the native, it is clearly the most important among the three, and should not come under affliction if the native is to enjoy the full benefits of a prosperous life. 2. The kendra houses: 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th: These have much relevance to the success of one's goals and endeavors, as well as the happiness of one's personal life. Obstructions to the accomplishment of one's life mission, as well as to the happiness of marital and family life, can thus result if the rulers of these houses are involved in Arishta Yogas. 3. The 2nd and 11th houses: Personal income, and financial gains from multiple sources, are respectively among the chief significations of these houses, and thus are auspicious for the mundane prosperity of the native. The lords of these, when combined with the lords of the 1st, 5th and 9th houses, cause Dhana Yogas, which will generally be found in the charts of persons who have received exceptional wealth in their lifetimes. If the trik lords are influencing these by mutual exchange, conjunction, or aspect, however, the resulting Arishta Yogas can turn wealth into poverty, or the results of Dhana Yogas may never fructify fully at any point in life. Since health, longevity, and basic physical and mental well-being come under the category of the lagna (Ascendant or 1st house), it is most important for an astrologer to identify the Arishta Yogas involving the lagna and its lord before offering predictions on the results of Raja or Dhana yogas. What would be the advantage, for example, of extolling the virtues of great achievements or prosperity, if it were determined that the native would not live past the age of 25? Or, if the native were to suffer chronic health problems, to what extent could he or she enjoy the quality of life promised by wealth, education, or birth in a good family? With this in mind, let’s examine the nature of Arishta Yogas influencing health and longevity in particular, later making use of the chart of the late Ennis Cosby to illustrate our principles. Health and Longevity • The Rasi Lagna (natal Ascendant) and Chandra Lagna (Moon Ascendant), and their lords • The 8th house, and its lord • Karakas, the Sun and Atma Karaka planet (the planet attaining the highest degree in its sign) When any or all of these factors are found to be interacting with the lords of trik houses, or if they are located in trik houses in association or aspect of natural malefics or maraka planets, then the health and longevity of the native is curtailed. The following are examples of such Arishta Yogas: • Lord of the lagna in the 12th house in association with the lords of the 6th and 8th, while the 12th and 8th lords are in mutual exchange, and both under malefic influences. This yoga cannot only cause illness and hospitalization for extended periods of time, but imprisonment as well. I have the chart of a convicted serial killer on file, who has this yoga in his horoscope, and who is currently serving a life sentence for his crimes. • Lagna lord in mutual exchange with the lords of the 8th or 12th, and aspected by maraka planets. This is not only a yoga that threatens health and longevity, but it is a combination for poverty as well (Daridra-Yoga). • Lagna lord in the 12th, in association with a natural malefic as the 6th lord, and aspected by a retrograde benefic from the 6th house, who is also a maraka planet. This combination is found in the chart of a terminal cancer patient, who died at the age of 35. Note that benefic planets, especially if they are located in kendras, or if they occupy the lagna or aspect its lord, help to protect and preserve the health and longevity of the native. This is not so, however, if they are retrograde. Worse still, are retrograde natural malefics operating in such situations. • The Moon located in trik houses, and aspected by natural malefics or maraka planets. Also, the Moon in an angular house, in the RKA (Rahu-Ketu axis), and aspected by maraka planets or natural malefics. Both of these situations cause Balarishta, health problems or untimely death in childhood. Factors Compounding Maleficence The planets ruling the 22nd Drekkana and 64th Navamsa, as well as planets located in them, are factors that can have damaging effects on the health and longevity of the native, particularly when they are involved in Arishta Yogas as discussed above. The 22nd Drekkana is the one falling exactly 8 houses away from the rising Drekkana. Similarly, the 64th Navamsa lies exactly eight houses away from the Navamsa of the natal Moon. The 64th Navamsa from the natal Ascendant is also used in this regard by some astrologers. It is easier to find them in the following ways: • 22nd Drekkana: it is the 8th house of the Drekkana chart • 64th Navamsa: it is the 4th house from the Moon in the Navamsa chart, or the 4th house from the Navamsa lagna Mrtyu Bhagas are "death degrees", and as the name implies, are strong factors to terminate life if occupied by important longevity planets, such as the lord of the lagna, lord of the 8th, the Sun or Moon, or the Atma Karaka planet. Mrtyu Bhaga degrees are different for the seven planets, the lagna, and Rahu and Ketu in the twelve signs. These are found in the Jataka Parijata 1:57 among classical works on Jyotish, yet are described in more lucid detail in Subtleties of Medical Astrology by Dr. K.S. Charak. I have found in my researches on this subject, that when the dasas of planets in Mrtyu Bhaga operate, and are otherwise under the influence of marakas or natural malefics, serious illness or death takes place. This is especially so when transiting Saturn or Rahu simultaneously aspect the planet in Mrtyu Bhaga. Possible Alleviating Factors The following may be considered to see if Arishta Yogas found in a horoscope may be canceled: • If planets involved in Arishta Yogas in the natal chart are found to be well-placed and aspected in the Navamsa or Drekkana charts, or if they are involved with benefics or auspicious yogas in the Navamsa chart, then much of the virulence of the Arishtas can be alleviated. On the contrary, if natal planets involved in Arishta Yogas are under similar or worse situations in the Navamsa or other divisional charts, then the expected negative results become all the more certain. • If the lagna or the Moon comes under the aspect of a strong and benefic Jupiter, or other natural benefics, the cancellation of Arishta Yogas can result. • Birth during the Abhijit muhurta, which occurs within 24 minutes before or after local mid-day or midnight, can help to cancel scores of Arishta Yogas found in the horoscope. Any of the current Jyotish software programs gives the exact time of local noon or midnight on the day of the native's birth. Simply count 24 minutes before, or after such times, to see if the native' birth occurred during the Abhijit muhurta. Dr. Charak, in the above-mentioned book by him, has also suggested the following as a potent Arishta Bhanga, or alleviation of the effects of Arishta Yogas: • Even if the Moon is in the 6th, 8th, or 12th house, and aspected by malefics (Balarishta), the ill effects are canceled if it is a night birth in the sukla paksha (waxing lunar cycle), or a day birth in the krishna paksha (waning lunar cycle).