Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 3

ACVA Journal 2:2

Page 13

Some Subtle Interpretations of Raja Yogas


in Vedic Astrology
by Robert Koch
Raja Yogas are powerful indicators of success in life. Robert Koch explains how to tell
if a Raja Yoga will manifest its full potential.
In Vedic astrology, yogas play a very important role in the determination of destiny for the individual. Students of Jyotish
will need to make a serious study of the various kinds of yogas, in order to grasp the subtleties of this destiny, as well as when,
and in which areas of life, it will be played out. In this article, I will talk about Raja Yogas. Raja means royalty in Sanskrit, and
thus in former ages, Raja Yogas were considered only in the charts of kings and queens. In the modern age, however, a chart in
which Raja Yogas are found show that achievements, respect and position, as well as fame in life will be enjoyed by the native,
irrespective of his or her social position. Given the great diversification of educational and career paths in the modern age,
however, it will not always be easy to see how much fame and achievement one may get. Especially in America, one may pursue
multiple career paths, or may fall from one, only to begin another. Needless to say, the strengths of Raja Yogas, as well as the
subtleties of interpretation showing the degree to which the native will benefit from them, is very important in Vedic chart
analysis.

How to Find Raja Yogas in a Chart


The best known type of Raja Yoga is formed through the mutual association, aspect, or mutual exchange (mutual reception in
Western astrology) between the rulers of kendra (1,4,7,10), and trikona (1,5,9) houses. The positions of the planets forming these
yogas can be in any of the twelve houses, thus giving rise to fortune through the nature of areas in life represented by them. Yet,
the more such planets are found in the kendra and trikona locations, the greater the likelihood that the full benefits of a Raja Yoga
are enjoyed. Always look for Raja Yogas at the onset of chart analysis. They can give an instant view of how far a person's
destiny will take him in this lifetime.

The Importance of the Lagna


All benefic yogas in Vedic astrologywhether they be Raja Yogas or otherwisewill bring benefits only if the lagna or its
ruler are strong and unafflicted. The lagna is the foundation upon which the horoscope is constructed. If it is weak or afflicted,
then it will be difficult for the native to enjoy the full benefits of whatever yogas are found in the chart. If the lagna or its lord are
weak in the birth chart, however, yet they are strong in the Navamsa chart, then rise in life is possible after struggle earlier in life.
Before beginning any chart analysis, always check to see the strength of the lagna, its lord, the lord of the rising Naksatra
(constellation), and their positions and strength in the Navamsa and other divisional charts. If all these are found to be strong, then
the results of Raja Yogas as described below, will manifest more fully in the life of the native.

Determining Raja Yoga Strength


There are several factors that should always be borne in mind when determining the strength of Raja Yogas. As described
above, a Raja Yoga gives rise to reputation, position, and distinction in the lifetime of the person concerned. Yet understanding
how, and to what extent, such benefits will come to a person, requires a more careful consideration of the strengths of such yogas.
Once a Raja Yoga has been identified in a horoscope, the following fine points will need to be considered in order to determine its
strength:
1. The strength of the dispositor of the yoga-forming planets, by sign and house location
2. The aspects that planet receives from other planets
3. Whether or not the yoga is also formed from the Moon, and other special ascendants such as Pada lagna
4. All the above points considered in the Navamsa and other divisional charts.

The Strength of Dispositors


A dispositor is the lord of the sign where a planet is placed. The lord of the Naksatra where the planet is placed, should also
be taken as an important dispositor. The strength of the dispositor is the final voice of how powerfully a planet will act in a
horoscope. For example, the Sun is exalted in Aries. Yet, if in some horoscope the dispositor of the exalted Sun, i.e. Mars, is
debilitated in Cancer, or in other inimical signs such as Gemini or Virgo, then the power of the Sun to propel the individual
forward in life will be curtailed. The same principle is to be borne in mind when considering the strengths of Raja Yogas. By
definition, a Raja Yoga involves the combined forces of strong and benefic planets, viz. the lords of kendras and trikonas, either
through mutual association, exchange, or aspect. Now, if the rulers of the signs where such planets are placed, are located in

malefic houses such as 6, 8, and 12, or if they are placed in their debilitation or inimical signs, then the results of the yogas they
form will greatly modify the magnitude of achievement that the native will enjoy.
Take the chart of the late Timothy Leary as an example. Note the strong Raja Yoga in this chart involving Jupiter (5th lord)
with Saturn (4th lord) in the 10th house, aspected by the 9th lord Moon from the 4th. The yoga is further strengthened by the
presence of the 7th lord Venus in the 1st, aspecting its own sign of Taurus. Whenever the kendras in a chart are reinforced by
strong benefic planets, the promise for great achievements becomes even more pronounced. This is thus a
powerful Raja Yoga bringing in the rulers of both houses of learning and higher education (5th and 9th) into the house of career,
the 10th. This should bring forth a strong destiny as a teacher, a lecturer, as well as philosopher and author, and an idealist whose
understanding is backed by significant spiritual perspectives. In fact, any time Jupiter and Saturn join in the 10th house, the
person will gravitate toward careers which enlighten and educate, as well as uplift others. Saturn ruling the masses, and Jupiter
being connected to vision, learning, and higher knowledge, are powerful harbingers of destiny for this individual.
Still, it is not hard to find the flaw in the Raja Yoga of this chart. The lord of the 10th house (Sun) where these planets are
located, is debilitated, and placed in the 12th house, which is the house of loss and fall, materially speaking. In the 12th house, the
Sun is associated with Rahu, as well as aspected by Saturn, a further compounding of difficulty in finding the full manifestation of
the power of the yoga. Thus, although rising to a high position in life, he fell entirely "from grace" within the circle of his peers,
due to espousing radical anti-establishment and spiritual philosophies, such as "turn on, tune-in, and drop-out.
Looking further in the divisional charts: In Navamsa, the Sun is also in the 12th house, and conjoined by the debilitated
Moon. Further, Mars, which disposits the Moon (and which is also the lord of the birth ascendant) is debilitated and in the 8th
house. So these configurations give a further weakening to the strength of the Sun to deliver the full effects of the natal Raja
Yoga. In the Drekkana chart also, the Sun is debilitated and in the 8th house, giving further confirmation to the fact that this
person would rise high in life in his chosen field, yet would fall from his position of fame and respect, and acquire admonishment
instead.
In the case of Timothy Leary, we find that fall from one position led to great achievements in another direction. Thus, the
effects of the Raja Yoga were not lost entirely; they simply gave rise to a second important destiny of that individual, namely
becoming the high priest of the LSD and consciousness expansion movement of the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Now look at the 10th lord
Sun from two other angles of vision, viz. the Moon (Chandra lagna), and the Pada lagna.

Pada Lagna
The Pada lagna is found in Jaimini astrology, yet is an ascendant from which many subtleties of karma can be ascertained. If
you ever have trouble seeing the destiny of the individual from the natal lagna, you will be able to grasp it much more easily from
the Pada lagna. It is calculated as follows. Count as many signs away from the lord of the lagna, as the lagna lord is removed
from the lagna. The resulting sign is the Pada lagna. In Timothy Leary's chart, the lagna lord (Mars) is in the second house
Sagittarius, one sign away from the lagna. Counting one sign from there, we come to Capricorn, which is the Pada lagna of his
chart.
Now, in consideration of the Raja Yoga in his chart, we will look at how the Sun (10th lord from the birth lagna) fares when
referenced from the Pada lagna. From the sign Capricorn, the Sun becomes the 8th lord, yet is placed now in the 10th with
Mercury and Rahu. Mercury, the 9th lord, when in the 10th with Rahu, forms a Raja Yoga. Any planet ruling a kendra or
trikona, being placed in a kendra or trikona with Rahu or Ketu, forms a Raja Yoga. So the Sun, an indicator of fall from his first
profession, now enters the 10th house from the Pada lagna with Rahu and Mercury, who now create a second Raja Yoga. Rahu
by itself has to do with drugs, medicines, and intoxication, as well as progressive or anti-cultural perspectives. The Sun, as ruler
of the 8th house, has to do with transformation, birth and death, and consciousness expansion. Their dispositor, Venus (the 10th
lord from Pada lagna), is now solidly placed in the 11th house (the house of gains, groups, friendships, and notoriety), and is
entirely free from affliction by malefic planets. So this means that fall from the first profession, becomes the beginning of a
second profession which had radical and unconventional undertones (Rahu), yet gave him popularity and earned him many loyal
friends and supporters until the end of his life.

Chandra Lagna
From the Moon, we see a similar picture: the Sun becomes the ruler of the 7th, and is in the 9th, conjoined with Rahu and
Mercury, the 5th lord. Thus we see that from this angle of vision also, the Sun forms a Raja Yoga which has relevance to the
second profession in life. The 9th lord, Venus, is in the 10th and in unafflicted, thus giving strength to his Raja Yoga.
From the natural lagna, as well as Navamsa and Drekkana charts, we can see that the 10th lord Sun (as dispositor of the Raja
Yoga) occupies difficult locations, thus indicating a serious flaw in a yoga which should otherwise earn this individual lifelong
fame, respect, and reputation. Yet, from the Pada and Chandra lagnas, the same planet is involved in Raja
Yogas of a different sort, i.e. with Rahu, and being conjoined with lords of the 5th and 9th houses. Had the Sun not been involved
with Raja Yogas present from either of these lagnas, then even a second rise in career status might not have been possible for this
individual.
When analyzing horoscopes in Vedic astrology, make a habit of identifying the Raja Yogas, if any, that may be present in the
chart. These yogas will tell you if the individual is going to make any kind of mark in the world, or if there is any particular kind
of destiny due to be played out in this lifetime. Take into account the strength of the lord of the lagna first of all. If the lord of the

lagna is not strong, or if it is afflicted by multiple malefic influences, or if it weak in the Navamsa and other divisional charts, then
even strong yogas in the chart cannot manifest fully. Second, look at the dispositors of the Raja Yogas being formed, and see if
they are well placed (by sign and house, viz. in exaltation, own, or friendly sign, and in kendra or trikona houses). Finally, do not
make a final conclusion on the strength of the Raja Yoga planets until you see if their dispositor is involved in strong Raja Yogas
from Pada and Chandra lagnas. If all these criteria are observed in chart analysis, then you will be able to see if a fall from a high
position is followed by a rise in another position, or if difficulties and struggles in the early parts of life are followed by a rise in
career in the middle and latter parts of life. If there are no Raja Yogas of any sort visible in a chart, then the individual may have
to work very hard to achieve much in life that would benefit either himself, or others that he may contact.
Robert Koch has been practicing Vedic Astrology for over 16 years, drawing upon wisdom gained from living 20 years as a monk
of a Hindu-based Vaishnava order. He has traveled throughout Asia and the Far East, studying astrology in North India in the
late 1970s. He can be reached at 317 N. 188th St., Seattle, WA 98133, 206/542-6688.
Birth Data Source
Timothy Leary: Steinbrecher from Springfield medical records.

You might also like