The Art of Prediction

In Astrology it is understood that at any point of time nature is governed by a planet and the position of that planet in the horoscope determines how the native will feel or behave.
This chapter details the calculation of the planet acting at any point of time and the period for which the planet rules.

There are three basic parameters in a horoscope : 1. planet 2. house and 3. Rashi (sign). Twelve rashis are spread over twelve houses; on an average one rashi occupies one house. However, rashi is exactly 30⁰, whereas a house may vary in size and the starting of house may fall at any rashi at any point. It is equivalent to placing one circle over the other, both having same dimensions, but any one point on circumference of one circle can be made to align with any point on circumference of the other circle. The rest of the circle gets automatically placed. Similarly in a horoscope we determine the Lagna (first house position) and place the rashi circle over the rest of the twelve houses.

After fixing the signs over houses we place the planets in the various houses. Since there are only nine planets and some planets combine together in a house, some houses are left empty. The planets possess some intrinsic properties and when mixed with the colour of sign and house they occupy, they change their colour, leading to different behaviour, at different time of births. Study of this change in behaviour of the planets is basic astrology.

There are three basic reasons why planets behave differently, like

1. the house in which it is placed.
2 sign in which it is placed
3. other planets associated with aspecting it.

Once the planet's behaviour is ascertained because of its placement, the results are changed with time, depending upon Dasha operating at that time. Dasha tells us which planet is effective to give results at what time.

To understand what the horoscope has in store for a native, let us study how the planets have co-relation with life. We give below the basic nature of planets and houses and also what they signify.

Signification of Planets

Sun : Sun is the king, soul, father, will power, life, glory, health, sovereignty and clothes. Its colour is pink or red. It has anger but momentary. Its element is gold and gem ruby. East is represented by Sun.

Moon : It is a cold, calm and quiet planet and represents mind, mother, motherland, money, eyes, lungs, liquids and nurses. Its colour is white, direction north-east, element is silver and gem pearl.

Mars : Mars is a soldier and represents land, boldness, younger brothers and sisters, chemists, fire, anger, surgery. It has anger which stays for a long time. Its element is copper and gem coral. Its colour is red and direction south.

Mercury : Mercury is talkative and tactful, but not harmful. It is a good trader, mathematician, editor and publisher. It has excellent argumentative and analytical power. It represents memory, throat, arms, maternal uncles and short journeys. Its element is bronze and gem is emerald. colour is green and direction north.

Jupiter : It is the heaviest and the most benefic planet and represents Guru. It is very politie and religious and represents education, school, temples, oils, fats, sugar, long journeys, judges, priests and scientists. It's colour is yellow, metal platinum, gem yellow saphire and direction north - east.

Venus : Venus is a planet of sex, love and beauty. It is a poet, dancer, singer, wife, actor or driver. It represents luxury, vehicles, kidney, silver, diamond, south-east direction and white colour.

Saturn : It is the most malefic planet and very selfish and cunning. It represents death, politics, gas, aeroplanes poverty, servants, electronics and legs. Its colour is blue, element iron, gem blue saphire and direction is west.

Rahu : Rahu is an expansionist planet and represents smoke, mental disturbance, loss, theft, death of a family member. It also represents sudden gain through lottery, gambling or speculation. Its colour is black, element mixed metal and gem gomed.

Ketu : It has tail but no head and represents broken relationships, changing events, accidents. It represents electronics, brown colour. gem is cat's eye.

1st house : 1st house or so called Lagna is the most important of all the houses and determines the longevity, health, character and nature of the native. It specifically signifies the head.

2nd house : This house is also called 'Dhan' house and deals with money matters, one's deposits, income tax, customs, computers. It represents one's family and face, speech, food habits and left eye.

3rd house : Called 'Bhratra' house, this is the house of brothers and sisters, signifies courage, boldness, short journeys and throat. one is made singer by this house only.

4th house : 4th house represents mother, motherland, house, mental peace, vehicles and education. It is also called 'Matra Bhava'. It represents chest, particularly lungs.

5th house : This house is also called as 'Putra Bhava' and represents children, intelligence, speculation and love affairs. It indicates stomach and gives professions of teacher, principal and gynaecologist.

6th house : This house is called 'Ripu Bhava', that is house of enemies. It governs digestive system, quarrels court and jobs done by hand, like typing.

7th house : Also called 'Kalatra Bhava', it represents wife, business partner, marriage, business or employment in a private firm. It governs sexual organs and diseases thereof.

8thhouse: Called 'Ayusthan' it represents death, reasons of death, underground wealth, historical things and monuments. It represents accidents, parental property, life insurance, mining and anus.

9th house : Called house of luck and religion, it represents pilgrimage, higher studies like doctorate, long journeys, languages like Sanskrit, Roman and Hebrew. It also indicates grand parents and mental aptitude towards Yoga and sadhana. It represents hips.

10th house : This house is called 'Karma sthana' and represents the acts one does. It signifies father, government, politics, management. It governs knees and defines the profession of a person.

11th house : 11th house is house of gains or 'Labha' and represents sources of income, elder brothers and sisters, friend's circle and legs.

12 th house : The house of loss and expenses is called 'Vyaya sthana' and covers bad habits, hospital, jail, long journeys and quests. It also indicates export and import, also feet.

Strength of Planets
The planets gain strength at certain points and behave differently in different signs and houses. They show different relationships with different planets.

Planets own certain signs. Sun and Moon own one sign and other planets own two signs each. Rahu - ketu, being pseudo planets, do not own any sign. Planets get exalted or become powerful at certain points and get debilitated exactly 1800 away. Moon, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus are benefic by nature and others are malefic as shown in the table below .

For any ascendant, some planets become Yogakaraka or maraka, depending upon the house they own. This is one of the most important factor in prediction. A yogakaraka planet shows good results in its dasha or antar Dasha. Stones are suggested only for a yogakaraka planet. if a planet is benefic only then it is good to make it strong ; else it will harm the native. planets which are yogakaraka for each ascendant is given in the table below.

Benefics - Lords of 1,5,9
Yogakaraka and lords of 4, 7, 10, if natural malefic.
Malefics - Lords of 3,6,
Maraka 11and lords of 4,7,10,if natural benefic
Neutral - Lord of 2,8, 12.