Planets as Temporal House Lords In Vedic Astrology The concept that the planets Show their effects as Karakas and house rulers is fundamental. The pure energy of the planet is its nature as a karaka. The relationship of the signs and where they fall relative to each other determines which houses each planet will rule. There are very detailed and specific guidelines that show us how planets operate as house rulers. As with everything in Vedic astrology, memorizing the rules and remembering their application will only give us a surface understanding of the deeper principles being illustrated. The deeper principles relate more to yoga, Vedanta and awakening to our divine purpose within. From BPHS Chapter on Yoga Karakas we get the sutras for determining the planets as temporal lords. BPHS Yoga Karakas Chapter. 2-7. Nature due to Lordships of Grahas. Benefics, (Moon, Venus Jupiter or Mercury) owning Kendras, (angles) will not give benefic effects, while malefics, (Sun, Mars, Saturn) owning Kendras, will not remain inauspicious. The Lord of a Kon (Trine) will give auspicious results. The Lord of Lagn is specially auspicious, as Lagn is a Kendr, as well as a Kon. Putr (5) and Dharm (9) Bhava are specially for wealth, while Yuvati (7) and Karm Bhava (10) are specially for happiness. Any Grah, owning Sahaj (3), Ari (6), or Labh (11) Bhava, will give evil effects. The effects, due to the Lords of Vyaya (12), Dhan (2) and Randhr Bhava (8), will depend on their association. In each group the significance will be in the ascending order. Randhr’s (8) Lord is not auspicious, as he owns the 12th from Dharm Bhava. If the Lord of Randhr (8) Bhava simultaneously owns Sahaj (3), Yuvati (7), or Labh Bhava (11), he will prove specifically harmful, while his simultaneous ownership of a Kon (trine) will bestow auspicious effects. The Grah, owning a predominant Bhava, will stall the effects, due to another, owning a less significant Bhava and will give his own results. Randhr’s lordship of Sūrya and Candr is not evil. (Capricorn and Sagittarius) In this chart the Trines have a plus sign, which denotes they lead us to positive awakening – the cruel houses have a Minus sign, which shows they lead us farther from this awakening. The angles and neutral houses have a zero, which shows they do neither. The houses are also ranked, based on the above sutras, according to their dominance. General Rules: 1. A Graha will be the Lord of either 1 or 2 houses. When the Graha is the lord of 1 house the nature will be obvious and indicated by the house the planet rules, when the Graha is the lord of 2 houses, the nature is determined by the non - neutral house. 3. If the graha rules a dharmic and cruel house the nature is determined by the dominant bhava as shown in the Dominant Bhava Chart above. 4. Benefics ruling angles cease being Benefic. (different than become MALEFIC) 5. Malefics ruling angles cease being Malefic. (different the become BENEFIC) As is the case with most Astrological texts, there are ground rules that establish the parameters and define the major principles involved, and then there are exceptions which modify these basic rules and add nuance to them. The same is true here. First it is important to digest the meaning of these rules, only then do the exceptions become relevant. Some Observations: * The lords of the dharma houses are always benefic. * Of the cruel house lords, 2 are Kama houses and 1 is an artha house. * All Moksha houses are neutral. * Two of the three neutral houses are dusthanas. * Planets are never simultaneously the ruler of the Dharma House and a kama House. * Planet are never simultaneously the ruler of an Arta house and a Moksha house. There is much insight here. The sage is teaching powerful lessons about how to view our worldly life. It is clear to see that most areas of life have no bearing on the development of our consciousness. They merely serve to either awaken a deeper sense of duty to evolve toward truth through introspection, self-knowledge and surrender (as shown by the Trines and houses 1,5 and 9 respectively) or to over exert our self - willed nature through personal effort, argument and ambition (the Cruel houses of 3,6 and 11 respectively) Dharma is related to the fire principle as it is through the alchemy and illumination of fire that we gain access to the truth. When the dharmic areas of life are weak, the flame does not burn brightly enough to illuminate. Rather it will create smoke that obscures. (Think of Rahu, who creates smoke) There are lower qualities to these houses as well, but the point is, it is through the higher qualities of these houses that our true dharmic Self can emerge. The main obscuring factor is desire as 2 of the three cruel houses are kama houses. Our personal, self-willed desires (3rd house) and our desires for worldly gain and ambition (11th houses) take us further from truth and our dharma. The other cruel house, the 6th is an artha house, it shows where our quest for wealth becomes excessive and forceful, by bringing us into conflict and battle with others over it. Of course, there is also a higher quality that comes through these cruel houses. They are where we are able to act will courage, humility and a sense of altruism. Yet the point is, the lower quality of thee houses are the evil forces that keep us trapped in our limited universal view. The 7th house, the sphere of our relationships, is the lone kama house not included in the cruel trinity. Obviously our relationships have something to teach beyond the desire nature they bring. The compromise we learn through relationships justifies the passion and energy we expend in maintaining them, rendering them as neutral. The sage himself in these sutras gives praise, “The 7th and 10th are particularly comfort producing” - We are not here to suffer through life. Our relationships and careers are 2 important areas of life that allow for enjoyment and fulfillment, yet they do not take us closer to truth or further away from it. The Moksha houses (2 of which are dusthanas) are all neutral. The Moksha houses are generally where we can feel the most pained and vulnerable, through the emotions, (4th house) life’s breaks and changes (8th house) and letting go of our attachment to life and our efforts. (12th house) Despite the drama we have with these areas of life, in and of themselves they have little impact, except for bringing us to a point of reckoning. At which point we will choose the dharmic or cruel path. Dual lordship of cruel houses Exceptions to Each Ascendant After the general guidelines are spelled out in the initial Sutras of this YogaKaraka Chapter, The Sage refines these indications. An important sutra that holds sway in these exceptions is: …the 11th, 3rd, 8th, 6th, 2nd and 12th, understand these Bhavas to be explained as cruel, Dvijasattama, that joining these Bhavas cause damage. Fortunate Bhavas are angles and trines, Dvijasattama, joining these causes auspisciosness. Association with dusthana houses or a dusthana lord will damage that area of life. A few observations: There is a consistent worsening of effect for Jupiter and Venus, especially Venus. The Rishi proclaims her to be an evil graha for 7 out of 12 Rashis. With the exception of the Saturn and Mercury ruled Rashis, she is evil. (for Libra her Mulatrikona, she is neutral) When considering her exaltation point falls in cruel houses from the houses she rules, the nature of Venus is revealed to be a Graha that requires some self will- individual effort to transform. This will bring disruptions to the areas of life she rules. Also a worsening is often seen when a planet is the Lord of the ruling planet’s debilitation rasi. (Jupiter for Mercury ruled ascendants, Mars for Saturn ruled ascendants) Benefic ruling angles (except the moon for Libra) are also worsened. Aries Though the 8th lord, Mars causes auscpisciouness in association with an auspiscious. Saturn, Mercury and Venus are evil, auspiscious are Jupiter and the Sun, not auspiscious is the simple union of Saturn and Jupiter. Jupiter’s dependence also insures evil action, Venus is a particular killer with the qualaties of a Maraka. Saturn and evil Grahas are also killers. Thus the effects are known as caused by Aries Lagna, Dvijottama. Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, Yogakarakas, 19-22 Exceptions: Venus is evil not neutral, “Jupiter’s dependence insures evil action” Venus loses grace, becoming evil. As a neutral planet exalted and debilitated along the difficult, 6th and 12th house axis. With her exaltation point in the 12th house, at best she brings expenses, ups and downs, disillusionment and apathy with each desire they are able to fulfill. These problems cause a reevaluation of the energy spent on fulfilling their desires, which serves to awaken them to greater devotion and less selfishness. At worst she removes the obstacles to her charms allowing a sleepy fulfillment as being asleep in the 6th house. Either way, this is most difficult energy for the Aries native. “Jupiter’s dependence ensures evil action” is clearly shown by his debilitation point falling in the “Karma Bhava,” The 10th house of action. This is reinforced by the insistence of inauspiciousness of a Saturn / Jupiter association. Every angle lord is either evil or ignored, showing the need for an emphasis on dharma, not action.