Encyclopedia of Vedic Astrology : Relationship: Marriage, Love & Sex

Chapter 01

Marriage

Marriages are made in heaven says an old adage. The time of marriage is generally believed to be fixed by destiny. This is a disputable point. Dharma Shastras speak of the four ends of life, of which Kama or desire or love is the third. No Dharma shastra lays down the rule the one must marry. From the state of Brahmacharya one can proceed directly to the ashram of Sanyasa. One can renounce the world the moment he feels so:

Yad ahar eva virajet

Tad ahar eva pravrajet.

One need not necessarily proceed through the different ashramas to become a Sanyasi. This in essence means that the time of marriage is not a fixed one. In the horoscope of a person, it is not easy to sway that one will be married at a given time. On the other hand, an astrologer can discover in a chart different periods when marriage is likely to take place. If the marriage somehow does not occur at those times, there might develop a spiritual era or spiritual attachments during those times. If we accept this framework, then the following hints would become significant.

Marriage in the Hindu tradition is not meant for the enjoyment of sexual pleasures and the life. Marriage is intended primarily for begetting children; and at the same time it permits the husband and the wife to perform certain rites and to discharge certain duties. This naturally implies that a possibility to marry is determined by the individual’s willingness or unwillingness, and ability or disability to carry out these duties. In other words, the potentiality of the 7th house in a chart is governed by the nature of the 5th, 9th and 10th houses.

While fixing the auspicious moment for marriage, one has to observe certain rules. Transiting Saturn and Rahu should not afflict radical Venus of the boy and radical Mars of the girl. They should not be transiting the 7th house of either, or aspecting it. The radical Moon of the boy and the girl should not be afflicted by transiting Saturn or Rahu. The lord of the 7th house of either should not transit through a malefic house from the Ascendant of either. Mars should not transit through the 1st, the 7th and the 8th houses from the Lagna of either. The transiting malefics should not be in the Lagna and the 7th house of either. Venus in transit should not be in a malefic house from the Ascendant of the boy, and Mars in transit should not be in a malefic house from the Ascendant of the girl. The Moon at the time of marriage must be in a benefic house from the Lagnas of both.

In addition to these, there are other principles given in our texts. The boy is to be married in an odd year from the date of his birth, and the girl in an even year. The Moon must transit through Rohini, Mrigasira, Magha, Uttaraphalguni, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha, Moola, Uttarashadha, Uttarabhadrapada or Revati. The best Lagnas are Mithuna, Kanya and Thula, provided Venus is not in the 6th and Mars is not in the 8th. Marriage should not take place when the Moon transits Poorvaphalguni, Poorvashadha, Porvabhadrapada, Punarvasu, Pushyami, Aridra, Aslesha, Vishakha, first quarter of Magha, Moola and fourth quarter of Revati, Sunday and Tuesday are to be avoided. The second, third, fifth, seventh, tenth, eleventh and thirteenth lunar days and the months of Vaisakha, Jyeshta, Sravan, Aswayuja, Magha, and Phalguna are auspicious. One must avoid Chaitra when the Sun is in Meena (Pisces) and Ashadha when the Sun is in Mithuna (Gemini). A man should not marry in the month, Lagna and Nakshatra of his birth. Eldest son or eldest daughter should not be married in the month of Jyeshta. Two brothers or two sisters or a brother and a sister should not get married on the same day. All these principles have a relevance only in the light of what we have stated in the first two paragraphs.

Regarding the time of marriage, we read in Mantreswar (10.12):

Sukro ‘stapo va tanu natha bhamsak

Trikonam ayati tada vivahah:

Marriage takes place when Venus or the lord of the 7th house comes to transit in a trine to the sign occupied by the lord of the ascendant in Rasi or in Navamsa. This is alright if the lord of the 7th happens to be a slow-moving planet the Jupiter or Saturn. Otherwise many times will crop up during any given year. Hence Mantreswar gives the next verse which imposes certain other determining factors:

Kalatra samsthasya kalatra drishter

Dasaganevatha kalatra parasya

Yada vilagnadhipatih prayati

Kalatrabham tatra kalatra labhah.

Marriage takes place in the period of the planet in the 7th house, planet aspecting the 7th house, and the lord of the 7th house. It can also take place when the lord of the Ascendant comes to the 7th house in its transit.

Find out where the lord of the 7th house is in Rasi and in Navamsa. Then ascertain the relative strength of the lords of these houses. The major period of the stronger one gives rise to marriage. When Jupiter transits a trine to the sign in Rasi or Navamsa occupied by the lord of the 7th house, marriage can take place.

There are other factors which we find in our texts. A favourable period appears when Jupiter in transit aspects or passes through the sign occupied by radical Venus, the 7th house or the lord of the 7th. If this position is not afflicted by transiting planets, marriage is likely to take place. At every step we are asked to relate the transit positions to the radical positions and this is important. Yet the radical positions are more powerful and more relevant.

Venus, the 7th house, Lord of the 7th house, and the 2nd and the 4th houses are involved in determining the time of marriage. We have to note the planets influencing these in the natal chart. When similar influences appear in transit also, one can be sure of that period as the time of marriage. One person was married when his lord of Lagna (Jupiter) was transiting on his radical Venus situated in the 11th from the Moon; and this radical Venus had the aspect of his radical Jupiter. Curiously enough, this Jupiter at that time was transiting over the lord of the 7th house in the chart of the girl he was marrying. This is a powerful indication indeed.

More precise fixation of the time is possible when we follow the Vimshottari Dasha system. Here again we advise a scrutiny of the relative strength of the Lagna and the Moon; and then the Dashas can be worked out. The Dashas and Antardashas of the lords of the 7th, the 2nd and 4th houses, the period of Venus, the periods of planets posited in the houses the 2nd, the 4th and the 7th, and the period of the planet having the lowest number of degrees in any house, are some of the favourable periods for marriage. Having ascertained the major period, then one can proceed to fix Vidasha and the Antardasa.

Chapter 02

Astrology and Marriage

Marriage is a most complicated structure made up as it is of a whole series of subjective and objective facts of a very heterogeneous nature. Since we are concerned with the psycho-astrological aspect of marriage we shall exclude the objective factors of legal and social nature although these factors have a pronounced influence on the psychological relationship of the married pair.

Marriage is not an institution for simple brute sense gratification. The idea that it is a civil contract terminable at will smacks of meanness in conception of the grand liabilities and assets between the parties to be engaged in sacred wedlock. One of the great American judges said the contract of marriage is something more than a civil agreement between the parties, the extent of which only affects themselves. It is the basis of the family, and its dissolution as well as its formation is a matter of public policy in which the body or community is deeply interested and it is to be governed by other considerations than those which obtain with regard to any other civil contract that the ground which shall invalidate the contract must be something more than a mere representation as to collateral matters that no ground will annual a marriage which does not go to the very essence of the contract.

Marriage, both in the social and economic sense, is a sexual relationship entered into with the intention of making it permanent. In India, marriage was and is regarded as a religious sacrament and marriage comprehends the equality of the partner in respect of Dharma (right conduct), Artha (financial position), Kama (sex relation) and Moksha (final salvation). The universality of marriage constitutes one of the most striking differences between the Hindus and the other races. When the question of marriage is considered, various factors demand our attention, important ones being physical fitness, mental qualities, heredity, sexual compatibility and social and economic status.

In the modern world so much is made of the sex element in marriage that the other equally important factors, social and psychological, are practically ignored. The Hindu Shastras, having in view the climatic and ethnological conditions of India, have fixed the maximum and minimum age limits for marriage. Marriage between parties belonging to the same gotra is prohibited on account of the dysgenic influence on the offspring. Inter-racial, inter-communal and inter-religious marriages are equally condemned because in such matches there are great cultural differences. There can be very little sympathy between the parties. After a careful consideration of all these factors, the Hindus had devise astrological means of judging marriage compatibility whereby the relations between the couple may stand the strain of maladjustments. Pseudo-sexologists and sociologists are not wanting in India who are ever ready to point out their finger of contempt at the sound and sensible institution of marriage developed by the Hindus after centuries of experience and experiment. We are not concerned with such socialistic theories advocating companionate marriage and encouraging unbridled license in love affairs. They may be all right in countries like Russia and America-the melting pots of different races. But they cannot hold water in a country like India whose civilization, culture and social laws are peculiar to her geographical and historical positions. Inter-communal and inter-racial marriages are a gamble.

The Hindus have solved this complex problem of marriage selection by recourse to astrological considerations. If the horoscopes of the bridegroom and bride are correctly studied and investigations into the various kutas are undertaken, before marriage is contracted, there will be fewer tragedies than at present and less marital infidelity. Modern science has devised no means to find out the compatibility between the marrying couple. Sexologists suggest that the bride and bridegroom should subject themselves to a thorough medical examination. Although this sounds reasonable, it makes an important omission in that mere physical fitness does not ensure complete marital happiness. Happiness largely rests upon so many other factors that the aid of astrology should be sought for by every sensible individual.

In selecting horoscopes for marriage purposes, three factors have to be carefully considered. They are:

(a)The longevity of the bride and the bridegroom.

(b)The larger strength of the 7th and the 8th houses.

(c)Agreeability in regard to the Kutas.

When there is no longevity in the case of bride, the horoscope must be rejected even though the 7th house may be strong or the requisite number of units are available. Likewise, when the 7th house is weak and is considerably blemished, the horoscope to be matched should have antidotes or counteracting influences.

The Kutas or the units or agreement should be considered only when there is general sympathy between the horoscopes of the parties to be brought together. The existing practice almost all over India and particularly in the South is highly defective and dangerous as horoscopes are rejected simply because they do not conform to certain Kutas, while the most important factors such as longevity, widowhood, etc., are completely ignored. Therefore it is very essential to examine, to start with the general strength of the charts; and when good longevity is indicated in both the horoscopes and they are free from the afflictions in regard to the 7th and 8th houses, further agreement should be judged. When Mars and Venus are in the 7th, the boy or girl concerned will be highly sexed and such an individual should be mated to one who has similar instincts and not to a person having Mercury or Jupiter in the 7th, as this makes one under-sexed. When sexual incompatibility sets in marriage, life proves charmless and friction arises between the couple. Therefore, it is bounden duty of the parents to consult learned astrologers and not to entrust the work of comparing horoscopes to persons who have no practical experience. History is replete with ill-matched marriages and the most miserable lives the couple had to live.

Socrates, philosopher as he was reputed to be, was united in marriage to Xantippe, who, if rightly reported, perpetually ridiculed his philosophical teachings and mercilessly nagged him in his home. Once when he had invited a distinguished friend to dinner, she spitefully emptied the contents of a vessel upon his head. Plato sympathisingly asked him why he bore such indignities. Meekly replied the old philosopher : She teaches me patience and charity, and shows to me that if I can bear with her, I can bear all else in the world. Alcibiades, noted for brilliancy of intellect and a most graceful carriage of personality, was strangely unfortunate in his marital relations. Too proud to direct desert his wife he at one time contemplated and even attempted suicide as a release from his bonds. Pericles, ruling Athens for 50 years, finding it brick and leaving it marble was not only orator and statesman, but in other ways the most discrete and majestic character of that remote period. His relations with Aspasia caused bitterest criticism. His wife, being a fault-finding, social drag, failed to stand by him supporting him in his great work for the upbuilding of Athens, he deliberately parted with her, bestowing upon her half of his estates. Plato, warned by Socrates, his teacher, though noble, wealthy, scholastic and exceedingly popular in the higher walks of Grecian society never married, though a great admirer and lover of women. Cicero, the Roman orator and early pleader in the forum, studied at the feet of Zeno and Demetrius and married the heiress Terentia. It is needless to produce the full story of his unsatisfactory married life. Milton, holding in English literature one of the highest places as poet and patriot, wrote three pamphlets upon divorce and lived not merely unhappily but at times miserably with his wife, Mary Powell. Thomas Carlyle’s married life was rough as a tempestuous sea, and accordingly far from being happy. Dickens, as writer, author and world painter of human emotions stood for a time in Great Britain unrivalled and yet his matrimonial home life was a most painful failure.

We can multiply the instances any number. In the modern times, America counts such social ship-wrecks by thousands upon thousands, both in the lower and the higher planes of marital life. In India, the number is on the increase. All these tell their own sad stories of connubial dissatisfaction and family wretchedness. Readers must note that in the examples given above, the married lives were not shattered by the death of wife, or husband but they proved tragic because of the dislike between husband and wife. Having read the above paragraphs, the reader may be tempted to put the question Is marriage-true or harmonial marriage-possible at the present state of the world’s civilization. The quick answer is, of course, in the affirmative. We shall come to this question again.

It is interesting to note that in India cases of divorce are few and far between. The very idea of divorce is repugnant to the average Indian lady. A little before the Second World War an enterprising Indian scholar had a German professor of Sociology as his guest. The German professor remarked that he found the institution of marriage much more of a success in India and that he could feel the presence of a deeper harmony in domestic relations in India than in any other civilized region he had so far visited. The India professor’s reply was that this stability and harmony were probably due to the system of matrimonial matching of horoscopes, invariably resorted to by parents prior to settling of marriages. The Indian scholar started collecting case-histories of married couples and he managed to get 603 cases for study. The age-group selected was 30 to 40. The survey was made in 1940-41. All the people concerned were born between 1901-1910 and married between 1915-1930. The economic background was mostly rural and agricultural though 22% of the case-histories concerned people who derived their livelihood from commercial and industrial occupations. In most cases, the informants were males. It was found that divorces and separations were about 6% and deaths of husbands or wives 10%. The scholar’s findings were that 47% was positive, 42% neutral and 1% negative. By positive, he means very successful marriages. By neutral he means a fair degree of harmony in domestic lives. And by negative he means disharmonious family lives. His conclusion is that these figures prove the efficacy of astrology in marital settlements.

In his book The Interpretation of Nature and the Psyche, Dr. Carl Jung, the eminent psychoanalyst, refers to his researches to test astrological techniques and has used for this purpose the horoscopes of 966 married couple.

He counted all the conjunctions and oppositions between the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Venus, the Ascendant and Descendant. His graphs confirmed the traditional astrological correspondence between marriage and the Moon-Sun aspects.

Following the Sun-Moon aspects, came the conjunctions (in horoscopes of married persons) between the wife’s Ascendant and the man’s Venus, and the woman’s Moon and the man’s Ascendant.

"For students, this should provide inspiration for further research. Favourable Sun and Moon aspects between the charts of a man and woman link them strongly and indicate a tendency (other things being equal) for them to marry. On the other hand, Mars-Venus aspects might bring about physical attraction but do not necessarily point to legal marriage.

"A man’s Ascendant conjunct the Moon in a woman’s horoscope, according to Jung’s figures, points to marriage, as does a woman’s Ascendant conjunct a man’s natal Venus position.

Jung’s findings bore out classical astrological claims in relation to marriage. The strongest links were the Moon conjunct Moon and the Moon conjunct the Sun in horoscopes of mated persons. His highest percentage showed the Ascendant conjunct the Moon, which is traditionally characteristic of marriage. He points out, too, that this is strange indeed (for those skeptical of astrology’s worth) since the ascendant, together with the Sun and Moon, forms the trinity that determines fate and character.

To quote Jung: Had one wanted to falsify the statistical findings so as to bring them into line with tradition, one could not have done it more successfully.

In attempting to explain why astrology works, Jung made note of the fact that magnetic storms occur during the squares and oppositions of the planets. By the same token, clear radio weather is evident when the planets are harmonious; trined and in sextile aspect.

A careful consideration of the important astrological works reveals the following information:

If Mars is in the 7th house unaspected by benefics, there will be frequent quarrels in the married life often leading to misunderstandings and separation.

When Saturn is in the 8th house, and particularly in a square to Mars, the married life will be crossed by discord, lack of mutual understanding and absence of real attachment.

When Leo is Lagna and the 7th lord Saturn is in the 2nd, the husband will be completely subservient to the wife, carrying out all her orders.

Saturn in the 7th house is also indicative of unhappiness in marriage.

According to Prasna Marga, the famous Kerala work on astrology, if the Sun and Venus occupy the 5th, 7th or 9th house then the native will lack marital happiness.

A strong malefic in the 4th, particularly Mars, is not conducive to conjugal happiness.

If in the ashtakavarga of Venus, the 7th house from Venus contains a large number of bindus (positive units) and the wife is born in any of the asterisms of the Sun, then his wife will be as dear to him as life.

When the longitude of the 7th house falls in a malefic navamsa, the wife will be bad in a nature and frequent quarrels and misunderstandings will ensue.

If the lords of the 7th and 1st are not enemies, then the native will be loved by his wife. Otherwise, there will be hatred.

The above combinations do not speak of either death of wife or more than one marriage. They simply state that the dispositions of planets in a certain manner, in the (male’s or female’ s) horoscope, render the marital life unhappy.

Make the necessary reductions in the ashtakavarga of Venus. Mark those rasis that contain bindus or dots. Then take that rasi which contains more dots and get the bride from the direction indicated by that rasi. The marriage will bring real happiness.

The presence of a malefic in the 7th especially in the constellation of Rahu, Mars or Saturn is an indication of tension in the married life.

Persons born in Aries and Scorpio, subject to other factors affecting the seventh house, will get amenable partners.

The life-partners of persons born in Taurus and Libra will generally be of a domineering nature and married life will be crossed by discord.

Person born in Cancer will hardly have a happy married life. The misery will be less pronounced when Leo is the Ascendant.

Person born in common signs will be inclined towards extra-martial adventures unless the 10th house is subject to the influence of Jupiter.

Saturn’s sign as Lagna confers a philosophical outlook and married life will generally be marked by understanding, attachment and affection, despite temporary upsets and tensions.

The position of Venus in a horoscope is of utmost importance in ensuring a happy married life. Venus-Rahu-Mars or Saturn combination may often lead to trouble and sometimes to tragic consequences. The female will be the cause for all these troubles-physical and mental. When Ketu is in association with Venus, further afflicted by Mars or Saturn, there is deceit and danger of scandal in marriage. The sensual pleasure may take a sadistic turn if the 10th is also ill-disposed.

There is danger of poisoning and counter-acting dreadful forms of disease.

The principal factor in looking for marital concord is Mars-Venus relationship. These planets represent the masculine and the feminine each in its fundamental role and from them the force of attraction for the opposite sex can be derived. Mars rules energy and Venus rules beauty. It follows that the proper use of this combination will produce a desirable union.

Venus-Mars dispositions are a yardstick of happiness in sex-relations and understanding of each other in marriage.

We have given above some general hints. There are, of course, quite a number of other factors, but they do not fall within the purview of the present discussion.

While the 7th house and the Navamsa chart are the prime factors for judging marriage, the second house becomes equally important as it rules the kutumba or the family.

Matrimony, like any other life-phenomenon, is preeminently guided by the constitution of the mind. An unbalanced mind is a sure indication of matrimonial misadventure.

In the horoscopes of women, the Moon gives the following results, when occupying different sign:

Aries: The lady does not tolerate other points of views. She is domineering and self-willed. She may become a house-tyrant. She is impulsive and sometimes hot-headed. Taurus: The woman is firm, resolute, somewhat sensual, confident and persevering. She is industrious and generally calm. There is a desire for possession and worldly joys and pleasures. She is tolerant, affectionate and may become stubborn and obstinate if the Moon is afflicted. Gemini: The lady has a restless mind, with a desire for change. There is a craving for diversion. The tendency to nag, comparing the husband with other men will be pronounced. She has the capacity for adaptability also. Intellectual inclination, capacity to love and be loved and quick emotional upsets are the other characteristics of this sign. Cancer: This is generally an ideal place for the Moon provided the constellation is either Punarvasu or Pushyami. The lady loves her home. She is receptive and responsive. She lacks confidence and allows herself to be influenced by more dominant people. Married life will be affected by separation, illness, ill-will and even infidelity if the affliction is severe. Leo: She will have a strong will, dignity and confidence. The emotional life is strong but there is danger of over-bearing. She may be inclined to indulge in show and luxury but she can be an understanding wife though temperamentally incompatible with the husband. Virgo: She has a meticulous mind, a propensity to be critical, a good sense of reality, deft in what she does, practical though often emotional. She has the capacity for discussion, the mental faculties being well developed. Libra: Generally anxious to please the husband and work for harmonious relations with him, but her home-life cannot be happy due to husband’s domineering nature. She is discreet in her actions, fair minded, amiable, likes music and fine arts, and has a propensity for community life. Scorpio: The lady is generally attractive to the opposite sex. She is prone to have miscarriages. Sexual passions are strong and energies are dissipated soon. Sagittarius: The lady is sincere, frank, kind-hearted and noble. There is a lively disposition and the husband can be moulded by her sheer personality. She is independent and has a quest for knowledge. The mind is restless and somewhat impulsive. She is disappointed in her private life due to her own impetuosity and haste. Capricorn: She is a serious thinker and sober in action. There is attachment though the emotions are not quite consistent. She is practical, cold, and lacks tender regards, and is a matter-of-fact wife. Aquarius: She is tolerant, emotional, restless, practical, benevolent and free from bitterness. She is broad-minded, big-hearted, independent, self-willed, and is guided by her own inner sentiments. She is a task-master and sometimes hard to understand. She is deeply attached to the husband and the family, but married life is often crossed by tension. Pisces: She is sensitive, but receptive and active; she is not able to form independent judgments. Somewhat dreamy, she likes to be in the background. She is sentimental and lacks self-confidence.

In the above delineations, if the influences are disturbed by the general structure of the horoscope and by other influences operating on the Moon, the characteristics have to be modified.

A woman inclined to romance may go astray if there is a combined influence of Rahu, Mars and Venus. She may confine her romance to her own husband if the influences of Jupiter is dominant. One’s religiousness may descend to trivial rituals if Saturn’s influence is dominant.

We do not propose to deal with the question of marriage adaptability in this chapter. But we should like to say a few words about certain superstitions current in India about so-called Kuja dosha, etc.

There is a belief current amongst the public that boys and girls born in certain constellations cause the death of certain relatives. For instance a girl born in Visakha is said to bring about the destruction of her husband’s younger brother, so that parents generally try to find out a bridegroom who does not have a younger brother. Even when there are other merits in the horoscope, it is rejected on the simple ground that the girl is born in Visakha. This is entirely due to ignorance of the real astrological factors governing such considerations. Only certain Padas or quarters should be held inauspicious and not the entire constellation. Thus, in regard to Visakha, only the last quarter is evil and not the first three. Therefore, a girl born in the first three-quarters of Visakha should never be considered to bring misfortune to her husband’s younger brother. Similarly, the boy or girl born in the first quarter of Moola is to be rejected as it is said to cause the death of the father-in-law. The last three-quarters of Moola are highly beneficial. A girl born in Jyeshta is said to cause evil to her husband’s elder brother. Almost all authors agree that (certain parts of) Visakha, Aslesha, Moola and Jyeshta are destructive constellations-Aslesha (first quarter) for mother; Visakha (last quarter) for husband’s younger brother; Jyeshta (first quarter) for girl’s husband’s elder brother; and Moola (first quarter) for father-in-law.

Chapter 03

Marriage — An Astrological Study

Marriage is an institution with varied association. In Hinduism and in the Catholic religion at least, marriage is taken to be an indissoluble and sacred institution. To these faiths, marriages are literally made in heaven. In some countries marriage is a contract and it is therefore capable of being dissolved. Even where the law of divorce is found on the statute book, some countries like the United Kingdom do not allow a divorce as far as the royal family is concerned. When we turn to astrology, we only know that marriages are largely governed by planetary dispositions. We do not think that astrology would sanction divorce or oppose it, since astrology is neither a legislature nor a judge. Astrology only enables us to read the tendencies and indications that make a marriage happy or otherwise.

Since the zodiac begins with Aries (Mesha), the natural seventh is Libra (Thula). The main indicators of marriage are Libra and its lord, as far as men are concerned. The seventh from Libra being Aries, the chief indicators of marriage for a woman are Aries and Mars. In a woman’s chart, the Moon too must be taken into consideration since the menstrual period is regulated by Moon and Mars; and in a man’s nativity Sun too must be examined carefully.

In a man’s chart, we have to consider Libra and the 7th from the ascendant, Sun and Venus; and in a woman’s we must note Aries and the seventh from the ascendant, Moon and Mars. The eighth houses from these govern the sex life; and therefore Scorpio for men and Taurus for women have to be added to the list. Then the extra-marital life is determined by the twelfth house from the ascendant; and in a man’s chart, Pisces too needs scrutiny while in a woman’s Virgo too deserves a study. This might terrify one, since all the houses and planets appear to get into the picture. But what is indeed is to find out the strongest among the ascendant, Sun and Venus in a man’s chart, and among the ascendant Moon and Mars in a woman’ s. The major scrutiny should be from the point only. The others are needed as corroborating or strengthening aids only.

An affliction to a planet or house arises from a conjunction with or an aspect by a planet which is malefic by nature or by ownership or by both. If a conjunction with or an aspect by a benefic also operates, then we get the mixed character of the house or planet.

A strong, well-placed and unafflicted Venus gives a harmonious and balanced marital life of man. A similar Mars governs the balanced sex life of woman. There are the two basic planets, Venus is to be examined with the Sun, and Mars with the Moon. The position of Venus in a male chart is to be compared with that of Mars in the wife’s chart; and a similar comparison between the Sun in the husband’s chart and the Moon in the wife’s is necessary. Whether they aspect one another, they are in square or trine to one another, or they are inimical to one another must be carefully noted. The next step is to see whether the Navamsa chart of the wife agrees with the Rasi chart of the husband, and whether the Rasi chart of the wife agrees with the Navamsa chart of the husband. These preliminary observations will be taken up for a scrutiny and illustration at a later stage. Now we have to consider the possible effects resulting from certain positions of the planets. In the following, he means and includes she also.

The Sun in the seventh indicates a successful marriage; and in the eighth a successful interest in the affairs where the strongest feelings are involved and in matters of sex. The Moon, in the seventh makes one change his attitude frequently towards those intimately related to him; and he hopes the marriage partner to be motherly. The eighth house position stimulates these interests. Mercury in the seventh can either advance or retard reciprocity of feelings and emotions; and in the eighth he affects the emotions roused by others. Venus in the seventh is a very good indication of happy marriage and of the ability to live with others in peace and happiness. If this Venus is afflicted, there may be disappointment in this direction. Eighth Venus secures a balanced sex life if it is not afflicted. Mars in the seventh makes one forceful in intimate relationships. If afflicted, it might bring about irritation and quarrels. In the eighth it makes sex life very important for the native. The seventh house Jupiter is very good for marriage life. In the eighty it brings prosperity through marriage. Saturn in the seventh brings about frustration and disappointment in marriage, if it is afflicted. In the eighth it makes one serious in matters concerning sex.

Of the various signs involved in a consideration of the problem of marriage, there are a few sensitive degrees which may be noted. All these refer to the Nirayana or Sidereal Zodiac only.

Aries: 1°, the sexual need is an inescapable necessity. It might be almost fatal. 2°, one is fierce, restless and selfish, whimsical, and tyrannical, without any sign of chivalry. 4°, one is sensuous and generous. 6°, one may be ruined by the partner. 9°, it is likely that one may have untimely love. 11°, it makes one lack the ability to live in harmony with the person he or she loves. 13°, one is passionate to excess or is completely detached and isolated. 14°, it speaks of a deep-rooted lust. 17°, it refers to many a love affair and an artless and coarse behaviors. 19°, it suggests an ideal partner. 22°, one is indifferent to love. 23°, marriage can be lucky. 26°, one has a very good feminine nature. Gentle and sweet, she will be least self-assertive.

Taurus : 3°, one loves peace and spreads around himself comfort and harmony. 6°, the woman would order her husband and bully him. There may be bigotry and vulgarity. 8°, one gives himself or herself up wholly to friendship and this might lead to strife in family and unhappy married life. This is likely to ruin one’s self-respect. 10°, it gives rise to chaos and disorder in the household. 11°, 14°, it offers a happy marriage. 15°, one is fond of family and home, and yet faces domestic strife. 18°, one is fond of his family, but is really despotic and unscrupulous. 25°, there is a likelihood of being divide from the partner. 29°, it indicates happy marriage and perfect sociability. 30°, it is likely that estrangement from the partner and children follows.

Libra : 3°, it gives a generous heart. 8°, one allows himself or herself to be ruled unconditionally by the person he or she loves. In some cases we may find lust and delinquency. 15°, his behavior is determined by his sexual urge. Intrigues and adventures dominate his love affairs and he will quarrel over very paltry things. Sometimes lust may make him a criminal. 18°, one is unable to live without love; and there is faithfulness along with jealousy. 19°, there is a strong sex urge which may develop into lust. 22°, it offers neither joy nor pleasure in life. 24°, in his private life he is selfish and lustful, shameless and sensuous. 26°, there is an unbridled lustfulness, and he becomes a prey to wine, women and gambling. 29°, he is deeply attached to home.

Scorpio : 10°, one is dominated by sex urge, love of family and home. 12°, it indicates loneliness, sorrow and widowhood. 14°, it offers a steady domestic happiness. 19°, one becomes a deeply attached lover lavishing his affections. Sometimes excess of lust may bring him to trouble.

Marriage and Astrology

In this Chapter we shall advert to the prognostications from the female horoscope. In unfortunate cases, the painful sequel to the marriage may be some of these : (1) widowhood (2) desertion (3) the husband may be found to be degenerate, base, dissolute, infamous, brutal and unworthy (4) the wife may feel repugnance or hatred for the husband (5) the married life may be rendered miserable due to so many causes –poverty, disease, incompatibility or tyranny of the members of the husband’s household. Authorities in astrology have got something to say on these headings.

According to classical works,

(1)Early widowhood is indicated if the seventh or the eighth house in a female’s horoscope is occupied by a malefic.

(2)If Mars occupies the seventh house she will become a widow in early life.

(3)If Saturn occupies seventh house and is aspected by his enemies, after early widowhood the native will live to an old age.

(4)If the seventh house belonging to a malefic is occupied by Mars and Saturn, widowhood is indicated.

(5)If a cruel planet occupies the eighth house taking the debilitation Navamsa or Navamsa of an enemy or a malefic, the death of husband is indicated.

(6)Mars occupying 2, 12, 7, 4 and 8 from the Janma Lagna in the female horoscope is fatal to the husband, and vice versa .

(7)If the seventh