Adhi Yoga

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Aum Namah Shivaya

 

 

 

'Yogas' is a complex topic for discussion even for teachers. This is one area

that is unique to Vedic astrology and probably even the Greeks in some form.

Unless one has studied all the Yogas systematically and compared different

texts and commentators, one misses the full picture. Quoting any single text

often gives only a fragmented understanding. While the fragments may be helpful

in giving us *some* understanding, they could be misleading too at times.

 

Since some of you have started a discussion on the Adhi yoga, I will try to give

a more complete picture of the Chandradhi yoga though as briefly as possible.

Let's start with the magnum opus- BPHS. According to Parasara, benefics in the

6th, 7th, and 8th places from the Moon constitute the Chandradhi yoga. Adhi

yoga is said to make one a King, Minister or Army Chief according to the

strength (‘balakramaat’) of the benefics. In other words the results of the

yoga are based on how strong the benefics are.

 

One could come up with Adhi yogas of varying strengths after calculating the

permutations possible. Of these some are comparatively stronger. Siva has

outlined one such for Dhanus (Sagittarius). But it is not true that a “first

class Adhi yoga can form only for Saggitarius lagna with moon in it” as he

suggests. I will cite more. Consider this.

 

Moon in Aries

Mercury in the 6th in Virgo

Venus in in the 7th in Libra

Jupiter in Scorpio in the 8th

 

In this instance, Mercury is exalted, Venus in own house and Jupiter in a

friend’s house. Now consider another strong case- what Siva has already touched

upon.

 

Moon in Sagittarius

Venus in the 6th in Taurus

Mercury in the 7th in Gemini

Jupiter in the 8th in Cancer

 

Here too one planet (Jupiter) is exalted while two are in own kshetras. Both the

above are instances of superior Chandradhi yoga. Now I will cite two more.

 

Moon in Pisces

Jupiter in the 6th in Leo

Mercury in the 7th in Virgo (exalted)

Venus in the 8th in Libra (own)

 

Moon in Libra

Venus in the 6th in Pisces

Jupiter in the 7th in Aries

Mercury in the 8th in Gemini

 

Here too Venus is exalted, Jupiter is in a friend’s house while Mercury is in own house.

 

Having cited four strong cases of Adhi yoga, let me now cite a weak one.

 

Moon in Leo

Jupiter in the 6th in Capricorn

Venus in Aquarius

Mercury in Pisces

 

Here both Jupiter and Mercury are debilitated and hence weak.

 

Now that brings something interesting to my mind- the Sakata yoga.

 

The Jataka Parijata (7th chapter) defines this yoga more clearly than other

texts. According to it, if Jupiter is in the 6th or 8th from the Moon and

(Jupiter) is in not in a Kendra, it constitutes Sakata yoga. So this brings to

mind another interesting situation. What if there is Chandradhi yoga too? The

first three instances of a strong Adhi yoga that I have cited earlier, can all

qualify for Sakata yoga too provided Jupiter is not in a Kendra (which can

happen 2 out of three times approximately as there are 12 houses and only 4

kendras). So what happens?

 

Both the yogas prevail and the dosha of Sakata yoga can weaken the Adhi yoga.

 

Seven forms of Chandradhi Yoga:

 

Considering the positions of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, Adhi yoga can be of 7 types.

 

All three in the 6th

All three in the 7th

All three in the 8th

in the 6th and 7th

in the 6th and 8th

in the 7th and 8th

One each in the 6th, 7th and 8th.

 

While all of the above cases can qualify for full fledged and equally good Adhi yoga,

The presence of Sakata yoga can weaken the Adhi yoga. So in all the cases where

Jupiter is in the 6th or 8th and is not in a Kendra, the Adhi yoga is weakened.

But as long as Jupiter is in a Kendra, it is ok. Of course generally speaking it

is better to have Jupiter in the 7th than in the 6th or 8th as that would be

like a jewel unused or wasted (I remember Sri K. N. Rao ji referring to

benefics in dusthanas as wasted benefics in some article)

 

 

Three types of Chandradhi yoga

 

While Parasara mentions only the Shubhadhi yoga (benefic Adhi yoga), others like

Bhattotpala mention three types. In his commentary on ‘Brihat Jataka’

Bhattotpala enumerates three types of Adhi yoga.

 

Shubhaadhi yoga: Benefics in the 6th, 7th, 8th

Paapaadhi yoga: Malefics in the 6th, 7th, 8th

Misramaadhi yoga: both benefics and malefics in the 6th, 7th, 8th

Since someone on the list seems to suggest that functional benefics may also

constitute Adhi yoga, let me state the classical view in this respect. Only

natural benefics are to be taken into consideration for the Adhi yoga. Likewise

only the natural malefics constitute a Paapaadhi yoga.

 

Another point that should have been clarified is the strength of the Moon. In

the first place Moon should be strong. The Chandradhi yoga derives its power

from the presence of the benefics in the 6th, 7th, and 8th FROM THE MOON. In

other words it centers on the Moon. Hence a weak Moon cannot confer the

blessings of the yoga. Firstly it is preferable to have a Poorna Chandra (full

Moon). At least it should not be a Ksheena Chandra which is considered a Papa

(malefic). It should be remembered that while the Moon himself is actually not

a malefic, a ksheenachandra is deemed a Papa because other planets lose their

capacity to bestow any auspicious results that they are otherwise capable of

giving. Technically ksheenachandra is Moon within 24 degrees of the Sun.

 

Apart from the above anything that weakens the Moon, can reduce the effects of

the Chandradhi yoga. Again I refer the reader to Sri K. N. Rao ji’s article on

Gajakesari yoga where he describes the conditions that can weaken or spoil the

Moon.

 

Lagnadhi yoga:

 

Finally I should refer to the Lagnadhi yoga too since some think that both the

Chandraadhi yoga and Lagnadhi yoga are same except for the reckoning from Moon

being shifted to the Lagna. Both are not nearly the same in their nature or

quality. What conditions constitute the Lagnadhi yoga?

 

Benefics in the 6th, 7th 8th from Lagna constitute the Lagnadhi yoga. Another

version states that benefics in the 7th and 8th from Lagna constitute the

Lagnadhi yoga. But it is Jataka Parijata that defines the Lagnadhi yoga more

clearly by qualifying it further. According to this text Lagnadhi yoga gets

formed only when there are no malefics in the 4th (paapaissukhasthaana

vivarjithaischa). Since at least one other version gives happiness among the

results of Lagnadhi yoga, Jataka Parijata’s definition is quite logical. How

can one be happy if the 4th house is afflicted by malefics. The 4th house is

the ‘sukha sthana’ and malefics here can signify discontentment, inner

dissatisfaction/insecurity or unhappiness depending on the extent of

affliction. Moreover apart from the first house, the

fourth house is the most important of all the kendras, the pillars that support

the chart. Thus Jataka Parijata’s gives us the complete picture of the Lagnadhi

yoga.

 

 

Regards,

Satya Prakash

 

 

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