Understanding Jyotish:

The Signs

The Divisions

The ecliptic (360 degs) have six modes of division - Shadvargas:

• Rasi (30 degs)
• Hora - 2 parts of a Rasi of 15 degs each
• Drekkana - 3 parts of Rasi - 10 degs each
• Navamsa - 9 parts of Rasi - 3 deg 20 min each
• Dwadamsa - 12 parts of Rasi - 2 deg 30 min each
• Trimasamsa - 30 parts of Rasi - 1 deg each
• Note - The Navamsa Sign (different from Navamsa) of a 'variable' sign is counted from itself, in a fixed sign, begins from 9th; in dual from the 5th. Example Aries 1st Namamsa Sign is Aries; Taurus is Capricorn; Gemini is Libra
• Note - The 1st Dwadasamsa Sign of a Sign is the sign itself
• Note - The lords of Navamsas and Dwadasamsas are the sames as Lords of the Rasis

Terms

• Kendras - 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th
• Panapharas - 2nd, 11th, 8th, 5th
• Apoklima - 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th
• Upachaya - 3rd, 11th, 10th, 6th
• Trikonas - 5th, 9th
• Chaturasras - 4th, 8th
• Marakas - 2nd, 7th
• Trikasthana - 6th, 8th, 12th

Karakas of each house:

• Lagna (ascendant) - Sun
• 2nd - Jupiter
• 3rd - Mars
• 4th - Moon and Mercury
• 5th - Jupiter
• 6th - Saturn
• 7th - Venus
• 8th - Saturn
• 9th - Sun and Jupiter
• 10th - Mercury, Sun, Jupiter and Saturn
• 11th - Jupiter
• 12th - Saturn

• Waning Moon, Sun, Saturn, Mars, Rahu and Ketu are Malefic; if Mercury is associated with them, it behaves Malefic
• Saturn and Mercury are eunuches. Moon and Venus are feminine. Rest are Masculine
• Moon, Sun, Jupiter are Satvic (inclined to do good). Mercury and Venus are Rajasic (mixed nature). Rest are Tamasic (inclined to do bad)

Vargottam

(Excerpts from Varamhira's Brihat Jataka)

• If a planet in a sign occupies the Navamsha of that very sign, the planet is "Vargottam", In the movable, fixed and mutable signs the 1st, 5th and the last Navarnsa is respectively the "Vargottam" Navarnsa.
• The signs Leo, Taurus, Aries, Virgo, Sagittarius, Libra and Acquarius are respectively the Mool Trikona signs of Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn.
• For a planet to be "Vargottam" is a source of strength to that planet and often results in the good of the person having it.

Synonyms for Houses

(Excerpts from Varamhira's Brihat Jataka)

• The first house is termed "Hora", "Udaya" and "Tanu".
• The second is called "Kutumba" (Family).
• The third is called "Sahotha" (Brothers).
• 4th is "Bandhu" (Relatives)
• 5th is termed "Putra" (Son)/(Child)
• 6th is "Ari" (Enemy)
• 7th is "Patni" (Wife)/(Spouse)
• 8th is "Marana" (Death)
• 9th is called "Shubha" (Good or Religious)
• 10th is "Aaspad" (Position)
• 11th is "Aaya" (Gains)
• 12th is called "Rishpha" (Loss).
• The "Upachaya" (Gainful or accumulative) houses are the 3rd, 6th, 10th and 11th.

Other names for Houses

• First house is also named as "Kalpa" (Body), the second is called "Sewa" (Wealth), the 3rd is "Vikram" (Bravery), the 4th is "Griha" (House or residence), the 5th is "Pratibha" (Prowess or intellectual acumen), the 6th is "Kshat" (Injury), the 7th is "Chittotha" (Cupid-sex), the 8th is "Randhra" (Sin), the 9th is "Guru" (Preceptor), the 10th is "Maan" (Honour), the 11th "Bhav" (Wealth), the 12th is "Vyaya" (Expenses).
• The common name for the 4th and the 8th house is "Chaturasra", the 7th is also called "Dyoon" (Gambling). The 10th house is named "Kha" (Sky) and "Aagya" (governmental orders).

Kendras and their Importance

• The Kendras (Angular Houses) are also termed "Kantak" and "Chatushtaya".
• These are the 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th houses of the Horoscope.
• The signs signifying "Humans", "Water", "Insects" and "Animals" are considered as in strength when located respectively in these houses.
• Gemini, Virgo, Libra, the first half of Sagittarius and Acquarius are "Human" signs strong in lagna ie the first house. The signs Cancer, the second half of Capricorn and Pisces are "Watery" signs and are strong when located in the 4th house.
• The insect sign "Scorpio" is strong if located in the 7th house and the signs Aries, Taurus, Leo, the second half of Sagittarius and the first half of Capricorn are "Animal" signs, strong when located in the 10th house.
• The 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th houses are the "Kendra" houses.
• The next adjoining these - 2nd, 5th, 8th and 11th are termed "Panaphar" (Cadent Hollses).
• The next adjoining houses - 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th are called "Aapoklim" (Succeedant houses).
• The 4th house is also called "Hibuk", Ambu (Water), "Sukha" (Comforts), "Vaishma" (Residence).
• The 7th house is termed "Jamitra" and "Asta" (Descending)
• The 8th is called "Sut" (Son) and "Trikona" (Trine)
• The 10th is also called "Meshooran", "Dashama" and "Karma".

Indications of Rasis

• Aries: Dynamic, enterprising, valiant, ruddy, head, forests, large forehead, hasty, impulsive, restless, thick eyebrows, leadership, overbearing, dry, lean, tall.
• Taurus: Beautiful, face, stable, sluggish, loyal, meadows, plains, luxury halls, dining halls, eating places, fine teeth, large eyes, luxurious, faithful, thick hair, stout.
• Gemini: Chest, garden, communication, journalism, schools, colleges, study rooms, cables, telephone, newspapers, tall, well-built, prominent cheeks, thick hair, broad chest, curious, learned, jovial.
• Cancer: Heart, breast, watery fields, rivers, canals, kitchen, food, attractive, small build, emotional, deeply attached, mother-like, sensitive.
• Leo: Stomach, digestion, navel, mountains, forests, caves, deserts, palaces, parks, forts, boilers, steel factories, thin, dry, hot, royal, self-pride, insolent, domineering.
• Virgo: Hip, appendix, lush gardens, fields, orchards, libraries, bookstores, farms, intelligent, sharp, orator, nervous, physically weak, discretion, tactfulness.
• Libra: Groin, Businessmen, markets, trade centers, banks, hotels, amusement parks, entertainment, toilets, cosmetics, balanced, wise, good talker.
• Scorpio: Private parts, holes, deep caves, mines, garrages, small build, dusky complexion, bright eyes, secretive, scheming, occult, best friend or a worst enemy, peevish, sensitive.
• Sagittarius: Thighs, royal, attorneys, government offices, aircraft, falling, sparse hair, muscular, deep eyes, uproght, honest, genial, gambler.
• Capricorn: Knees, marsh lands, watery places, alligators, beasts, bushes, slender buils, long neck, prominent teeth, witty, perfectionist, patient, organizer, cautious, secretive, pragmatic.
• Aquarius: Ankles, charity, philosophy, tall, bony, small eyes, mountain spring, places with water, ill-formed teeth, coarse hair, hard-working, stoic, honest.
• Pisces: Feet, oceans, seas, prisons, hospitals, hermitages, short, plump, large eyes, large eyebrows, lazy, emotional, timid, honest, irresolute, talkative, intuitive.

Benefics and Malefics

• Jupiter and Venus are natural benefics (saumya grahas or subha grahas). Mercury becomes a natural benefic when he is alone or with more natural benefics. Waxing Moon of Sukla paksha is a natural benefic.
• Sun, Mars, Rahu and Ketu are natural malefics (kroora grahas or paapa grahas). Mercury becomes a natural malefic when he is joined by more natural malefics. Waning Moon of Krishna paksha is a natural malefic.
• This information is important because the results given by planets are based on their inherent nature.

Governance, Varnas etc

• Sun governs soul. Moon governs mind. Mars governs strength. Mercury governs speech. Jupiter governs knowledge and happiness. Venus governs potency. Saturn governs grief.
• Sun indicates blood-red color. Moon - tawny color. Mars - blood-red color. Mercury - grass green color. Jupiter - tawny color. Venus - variegated. Saturn - black color.
• Jupiter and Venus are Brahmanas (learned). Sun and Mars are Kshatriyas (warriors). Moon and Mercury are Vaisyas (traders). Saturn is a Sudra (worker).

Planetary Relationships