Brhat Jyotish Tattva: Volume 1: Lagna Bhava (2)

(Excerpts from the Book: Not Proofread yet)

Author: Sarajit Poddar (aka Varahamihira)

Chapter xx: Graha Sambandha

Relationship between the grahas is one of the most important and fundamental concept in jyotish. Almost
everything is evaluated from the relationship frame of reference, for instance, placement of grahas in rasi,
conjunction, aspects and many more things. It is known the when a graha is placed in a friend's sign, it is capable
of bestowing auspicious results on the native. On the contrary when the graha occupies a sign owned by its enemy
it gives adverse results. All grahas have the potential to bestow both positive and negative results. It bestows
auspicious results when it is strong and influenced by shubha-grahas, while when it is weak and influenced by
papa-grahas, the results are predominantly negative.
In the matters of strength, a graha is strong when placed in its own sign, mulatrikona, uccha or in a mitra rasi.
Hence, to evaluate the strength and auspiciousness of a graha, we need to have deep understanding of the
friendship and enmity between the grahas. The key thing to understand here is that, like in humans, the
relationship between the grahas are not always reciprocal. For instance, take the relationship between Chandra
and Budha. Chandra seduced Tara, the wife of Brhaspati and from that union produced Budha. Hence, Budha is
bastard child of Chandra. Chandra being the father of Budha, loves him dearly. However, Budha is not quite
happy about his bastard origin, and hence, hates Chandra the most. Thus we see here a love hate relationship.
Now what happens when Budha occupies the Rasi of Chandra vs. Chandra occupying the Rasi of Budha? When
Budha occupies the Rasi of Chandra, Chandra supports all activities of Budha, while Budha troubles the
significations of the Chandra's rasi. On the other hand when Chandra occupies a Budha's Rasi, it supports all the
significations of the Bhava connected to that Rasi, where as its own significations take a beating as Budha does not
support it.
So, it is important to understand the point of reference in the relationship matters. Based on this, the
relationships can be classified as:
1. Love-Love
2. Love-Neutral
3. Love-Hate
4. Neutral-Neutral
5. Hate-Neutral
6. Hate-Hate

The Deva and Asura camp

Before delving further into this, let us understand the high level relationship between the two camps, the
Deva and Asuras, the Daityas and the Adityas. The Devas represents the positive and brighter side of the universe,
while the Asuras represent the negative and the darker side. They have coexisted from the time of creation of the
universe and they will continue to co-exist for ever. Without bad, there is no good and without good there is no

bad. The creation is all about manifesting brightness over darkness, knowledge above ignorance, truthfulness
above untruth. Asato Maa Sad Gamaya, Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya, Mrtyor Maa Amrtam gamaya.
The Devas are represented by Surya, Chandra, Brhaspati and Mangal, while the Asuras are represented by
Shani, Budha and Shukra. Among the nodes, who rules the two opposite ends of the creation, Rahu is Asura while
Ketu is Deva. Rahu is the giver or material indulgence, while Ketu is the giver of freedom and spiritual bliss.
Hence, the nodes represent the cycle of creation, while Rahu attracts the soul to this material world, Ketu detaches
and gives freedom from the material bondage.
Among the Deva grahas, Surya, Chandra and Brhaspati are endowed with Sattva Guna, while Mangal and
Ketu are endowed with Tamas Guna. On the other hand the Asura grahas Shani, Rahu are endowed with Tamas
Guna while Shukra and Budha are endowed with the Rajas Guna. The more about the Gunas can be understood
from Srimad Bhagavad-Gita.
The Devas and Asuras are in eternal fight to dominate and overpower each other. This is also seen among the
grahas belonging to these two camps. The Devas army represented by Ketu, who is led by Mangal and guided by
Devaguru Brhaspati. On the other hand, the Asura's army is represented by Rahu and guided by Shukra. They
are into never ending fight.
Hence, it can be said that the grahas belonging to each of the camp are friendly to each other. For instance, in
the Deva camp, Surya, Chandra, Brhaspati and Mangal are friendly to each other. Similarly, in the Asura camp,
Shani, Shukra and Budha are friendly to each other. The treatment of the nodes are different as they are Chaya
grahas.
Mapping the grahas into the zodiac, the Deva Grahas govern the Fiery and watery signs while the Asura
Grahas govern the Earthy and Airy signs. Each group have one pair of Odd and even signs, representing,
prevalence of both masculine and feminine energies within both the groups. However, from a tattva perspective,
there is a difference as some tattvas are in exclusive control of the both the camps. This has a deeper meaning. Let
explore that.
Fire represents the father Surya and Water represents the Mother Chandra. Both of them are needed for the
creation to happen. But they need to be balanced, else, fire will turn water into Air or Water will douse the fire.
The creation happens at the juncture of the water and fire signs, which is a very delicate and fragile process. Hence
the junction represents the danger zone which is prone to mishaps and death. They are also known as the
Gandanta. Coming back to the nature of the Tattvas, the fire governs energy, drive, enthusiasm, optimism,
positivity, innovation and creative potential. The water element governs compassion, beauty, harmony, comfort,
care, knowledge and wisdom. These characteristics are needed to maintain positive energy, balance and harmony
in the world.
On the other hand, the Tattva governed by the Asura grahas are Earth and Air. The Earth represents
achievement, success, dominion and settlement. The airy signs represent human interaction, intellectual growth,
logic, application of intelligence, philosophy etc. They are required for growth and progress in the world. So in a
way, the Asura energies are not that bad, they bring growth and success in the world. The things turn sour, only
when greed comes into the picture and the growth starts hurting the balance and harmony.
The Upachayas are the houses of growth and in the natural zodiac, they are governed by the Asura grahas
Budha and Shani. on the other hand the Trikona are the houses of harmony and are governed by the Deva grahas
Mangal, Surya and Guru. The Kendras are equally shared by both the Deva and Asura grahas. The Dharma and
Moksha Kendra are governed by the Deva grahas, while the Artha and Kama Kendras are governed by the Asura
grahas. they also tells a lot of the primary and the root motive of the Deva and Asura Grahas. Among the four
primary goals of the world, the righteousness (dharma) and moksha (freedom) are governed by the Devas, while
the Artha (success, wealth) and Kama (fulfilment of desires) are governed by the Asuras.
The Trines from a Sign are always governed by the same tattva and the same camp of graha. That is why
when a Bhava lord occupies a Kona from its Bhava, it is always placed in a friendly sign. Thus it is always
conducive for a graha to be placed in the Kona from its Bhava. However, when a Graha occupies a Kendra, two of
the four Kendras always belong to the friends while two belong to the enemies. Among the Kendras, the 7th is
always ruled by a Graha belonging to the enemy camp, while the 1st is owned by the Graha. Among the 2 other
Kendras 4th and 10th, the friendship or enmity depends on the oddity of the signs. For the odd signs, the 4th house
is always ruled by a friendly graha, while for even signs, the 10th is always ruled by a friendly grahas. It is useful to
keep these concepts in mind as this helps in developing overall idea of graha placements in a snap.

Naisargika Sambandha Between Grahas

According to Satyacharya, the lord of the Rasis falling in the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 12th from the
Mulatrikona of a Graha are friendly to the grahas.
2

The mulatrikona or various grahas are (1) Surya: Simha, (2) Chandra: Vrsha, (3) Kuja: Mesha, (4) Budha:
Kanya, (5) Guru: Dhanu, (6) Shukra: Tula, (7) Shani: Kumbha.
Some rules about Mulatrikona of grahas:
1. All grahas excluding Budha and Chandra have their Mulatrikona in the odd sign owned by them.
2. Budha and Chandra have their mulatrikona in even sign. Both these grahas attain their Uccha in their
Mulatrikona Rasi.
3. Chandra is the only graha whose mulatrikona falls in a sign now owned by it i.e., Vrsha Rasi, owned by
Shukra.
According to this principle, the the owner of the signs falling in the Upachaya 3H-6H-10H-11H and Saptama
7H, from the mulatrikona Rasi of a graha are its enemies. Lets take Kuja whose Mulatrikona is Mesha. Counting
from Mesha, the enemies should be the lords of Mithuna (3H), Kanya (6H), Makara (10H) and Kumbha (11H) as
well as Tula (7H). Hence, the enemies of Kuja should be Budha (Mithuna, Kanya), Shani (Makara, Kumbha) and
Shukra (Tula). However, there is a catch. Shani cant be Kujas enemy as Makara is the Uccha Rasi of Kuja.
Similarly, Shukras other Rasi Vrsha is placed in the 2H from Mesha. Thus, the only enemy is Budha, while Shani
and Shukra should be neutral. The remaining i.e., Guru, Surya and Chandra should be Kujas friends.
Now, the important question is, in the above example, is Budha inimical towards Kuja, and Shukra, Shani
neutral towards him? Or it is the reverse? I.e., Kuja is inimical towards Budha and neutral towards Shukra and
Shani. Lets take another example of relationship between Chandra and Budha as this is a Love-Hate relationship.
From Chandras Mulatrikona, Budha owns 2H and 5H, hence Budha should be friendly towards Chandra.
However, we know that Budha hates Chandra. Similarly, from Budhas Mulatrikona, Kanya, Chandra owns 11H,
hence Chandra should be inimical towards Budha. Again, we know that Chandra is very fond of Budha.
In real fact, the stories from the Purana tells us that Chandra loves Budha and Budha hates Chandra. This is
only possible, when we reverse the frame of reference. What this means that is, when we are determining the
friendship and enmity from Chandras Mulatrikona Vrsha, this means that we are looking at the Rasis, for which
Chandra is friendly or inimical. Since Budha owns the 2H and 5H from Vrsha, Chandra is friendly towards
Budha. However, when we see Chandras Rasi from Budhas mulatrikona, Kanya, it falls in the 11H, indicating
that Budha is inimical towards Chandra.
Again, we know that Chandra being the karaka of Manas, the mind, and the Mother, is inimical towards none.
It is friendly towards some and neutral towards the remaining grahas. However, the reverse is not true, i.e., Budha,
Shukra and Shani are all inimical towards Chandra. This condition is fulfilled only when we use the logic
mentioned above i.e., a Grahas own attitude is friendly or inimical towards other grabs depending on where they
fall from the Grahas mulatrikona.
Seen from Chandras mulatrikona, Vrsha, (1) Shukra owns 1H and 6H, hence Chandra is neutral to Shukra,
(2) Shani owns 9H and 10H, hence Chandra is neutral towards Shani. Also, seen from Shukras mulatrikona,
Chandra owns the 10H, indicating that Shukra is inimical to Chandra. Similarly, seen from Shanis mulatrikona,
Kumbha, Chandra owns the 6H, indicating that Shani is inimical towards Chandra.
Using this logic, the friendship and enmity of grahas are as follows:
1. Surya (Simha): Surya is friendly towards Chandra (12), Guru (5-8) and Kuja (4-9). Surya is inimical
towards Shani (6-7), Shukra (3-10). Surya is neutral towards Budha (2-11).
2. Chandra (Vrsha): Chandra is friendly towards Surya (4) and Budha (2-5). Chandra is neutral towards
Kuja* (7(deb)-12), Guru (8-11), Shukra (1-6), and Shani (9-10). Chandra is inimical to none.
3. Kuja (Mesha): Kuja is friendly towards Surya (5), Chandra (4), Guru (9-12). Kuja is inimical towards
Budha (3-6). Kuja is neutral towards Shani (10(exalt)-11), Shukra (2-7).
4. Budha (Kanya): Budha is friendly towards Shukra (2-9) and Surya (12). Budha is inimical towards
Chandra (11) and Kuja (3-7). Budha is neutral towards Guru* (4-7(deb)) and Shani (5-6).
5. Guru (Dhanu): Guru is friendly towards Surya (9), Chandra (8), Kuja (5-12). Guru is inimical towards
Budha (7-10) and Shukra (6-11). Guru is neutral towards Shani* (2(deb)-3).
6. Shukra (Tula): Shukra is friendly towards Budha* (9-12(deb)) and Shani (4-5). Shukra is inimical
towards Surya (11), Chandra (10). Shukra is neutral towards Kuja (2-7) and Guru (3-6(exalt)).

7. Shani (Kumbha): Shani is friendly towards Budha (5-8) and Shukra (4-9(exalt)). Shani is inimical
towards Surya (7), Chandra (6), Kuja (3(deb)-10). Shani is neutral towards Guru (2-11).

Some key points

1. A Graha is not inimical to the sign it is exalted in, even if that sign falls in upachaya or 7th from the
Mulatrikona Rasi.
2. Extending this logic, a graha is not friendly to the sign it is debilitated in, even if that graha falls in friendly
signs from the Mulatrikona Rasi.
3. Surya-Kuja-Guru are friendly to each other. Similarly Surya-Chandra-Guru are friendly to each other.
However, Chandra-Kuja has neutral-friend relationship.
4. Shukra-Shani and Shukra-Budha are friendly towards each other. However, Budha-Shani has neutralfriend relationship.

Classification into 6 fold mutual relationships

There are 21 pairs of relationships among the saptagrahas, out of which 6 are mutual love, 4 are one sided
love, 1 is love and hatred, 2 are complete indifference, 5 are one sided hatred, and 3 are mutual hatred.
1. Love-Love: Surya-Chandra, Surya-Kuja, Surya-Guru, Kuja-Guru, Budha-Shukra, Shukra-Shani.
2. Love-Neutral: Budha-Surya, Kuja-Chandra, Guru-Chandra, Shani-Budha.
3. Love-Hate: Chandra-Budha.
4. Neutral-Neutral: Kuja-Shukra, Guru-Shani.
5. Hate-Neutral: Shukra-Chandra, Shani-Chandra, Shani-Kuja, Guru-Budha, Guru-Shukra.
6. Hate-Hate: Surya-Shukra, Surya-Shani, Kuja-Budha.
How to read this? Lets take Chandra-Budhas relationship to illustrate this. We note above that this
relationship is classified as Love-Hate. Chandra-Budhas love-hate relationship means Chandra loves Budha while
Budha hates Chandra. Similarly, Shukra-Chandras Hate-Neutral relationship means Shukra hates Chandra while
Chandra is neutral towards Shukra.

Some important pointers

1. Chandra is mildly inimical towards Kuja as Chandra is debilitated in the 7H making its doubly inimical
towards Vrschika.
2. Budha is mildly inimical towards Guru as Budha is debilitated in the 7H making it doubly inimical towards
Meena.
3. Guru is mildly inimical towards Shani as it is debilitated in the 2H making it neutral towards Makara
instead of friendly towards it.
4. Shukra is mildly friendly to Budha as its it is debilitated in the 12H making it neutral towards Kanya.
5. Shani is extremely friendly towards Shukra as it is exalted in 9H making it doubly friendly towards Tula.
BPHS 3.55: Note the Ris, which are the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 12th from the Mulatrikona of a Graha. The
Grahas ruling such Ris are its friends, apart from the Lord of its exaltation Ri. Lords other than these are its
enemies. If a Graha becomes its friend as well, as its enemy, then it is neutral.

Treating each Rasi independently

When we say that Surya is neutral towards Budha, we would expect that Surya will be neutral towards both
of Budhas sign. Right? However, it is not the case. Surya is friendly towards Budha when occupying Kanya and
inimical towards it when occupying Mithuna. This is because Kanya is 2H (friendly) from Suryas Mulatrikona
Simha, while Mithuna is 11H (inimical) from the Mulatrikona. These subtle differences need to keep into
consideration while analysing the Rasi placements. However, the intensity of Suryas enmity will be much lesser
when compared with say Shanis signs, as Surya is inimical to both those signs. Hence, while its placement in
Mithuna will give mild negative results, the insanity of negative results will be far higher in Makara and Kumbha.

Five fold Relationship

While the grahas have natural relationships based on their mulatrikona, the relationships undergoes
transformation depending on the relative placements of the grahas. It is known that when two friendly grahas
occupy 7th from each other, it is known as Sama-Saptaka. What does this term Sama-Saptaka mean? It means
having neutral relationship (Sama) due to placement in the 7th house (Saptaka). Thus, there is no doubt that two
friends become neutral due to their placement in the 7th from each other.
Thus, the relative placement of grahas from each other transform the natural relationship between them.
According to Maharishi Parashara:
1. Conjunction or opposition between two grahas make them inimical.
2. Placement in the 2nd-12th from each other makes them friendly. This is called Dvirdvadasa.
3. Placement in the 3rd-11th from each other makes them friendly. These are Upachaya positions.
4. Placement in the 4th-10th from each other makes them friendly. These are Kendra positions. Graha
occupying 4-10 from each other become mutual co-worker i.e., they support each other in fulfilling their
objectives. This is called Kendra sambandha.
5. Placement in the 5th-9th from each other makes them inimical. These are Kona positions. This is mildly
inauspicious, as the houses involved are auspicious.
6. Placement in the 6th-8th from each other makes them inimical. These are Shastaashtaka positions. This is
highly inauspicious as the houses involved are inauspicious.
BPHS 3.56: The Graha, posited in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, or the 12th from another, becomes a temporal
friend. There is enmity otherwise.
The resultant of the natural and temporal relationship is five fold relationship, which is known as PanchadhaMaitri-Sambandha. This is as follows:
1. Ati-Mitra = Intimate friend = Friend + Friend
2. Mitra = Friend = Friend + Neutral
3. Sama = Neutral = Friend + Enemy
4. Shatru = Enemy = Enemy + Neutral
5. Ati-Shatru = Deadly enemy = Enemy + Enemy.
We know that Surya and Shani are natural enemies. They become deadly enemies when they conjoin, oppose,
occupy Shastaastaka or Kona from each other. Among them, the Shastaastaka is worst, followed by conjunction
and opposition. The Kona from each other is only mildly inauspicious.
BPHS 3.57-58: Should two Grahas be naturally and temporarily friendly, they become extremely friendly.
Friendship on one count and neutrality on another count make them friendly. Enmity on one count combined with
affinity on the other turns into neutrality. Enmity and neutrality cause only enmity. Should there be enmity in both
manners, extreme enmity is obtained. The Jyotishi should consider these and declare horoscopic effects accordingly.