The affliction of the planets and houses of the horoscope
The cause of the affliction of a planet may be its weakness, placement in a trika house (the 6th, 8th or 12th), malefic aspects or conjunctions with unfavourable planets such as Rahu, Ketu, Saturn, a weak Moon and so on.
A house is considered afflicted when:
— a malefic planet is placed in it;
— a malefic planet aspects it;
— a malefic planet rules it.
A planet becomes afflicted when it:
— is joined to a malefic planet (Rahu, Ketu, Saturn, Mars, the lord of the 8th house, a weak Moon);
— receives malefic aspects;
— is placed in a dusthana;
— is in conjunction with the ruler of a trika house (the 6th, 8th or 12th);
— is in the sign of its debilitation;
— is combust;
— is in the same degree as a malefic planet (the sign is of no importance);
— is placed in the sign of a naturally malefic planet;
— is squeezed between bad planets;
— has poor Shadbala figures;
— falls into unfriendly signs in the divisional charts.
A house and its lord receive strength and protection when:
— the lord is in exaltation;
— the ruler is placed in its own sign;
— the planet aspects its own house;
— the ruler of the house has the status of Vargottama;
— a benefic planet is joined to the ruler;
— the lord of the house receives benefic aspects;
— there is a connection of the lord of the bhava with the 5th or 9th houses or with their rulers.
Observations concerning the auspiciousness of the planets and houses
1. The Sun, Saturn and Rahu possess separative qualities: their influence leads to partings and separations. The action of these planets on the 2nd house, however, points to knowledge in the field of medicine.
2. If a planet that is functionally malefic for the Lagna is strongly placed in the chart, it becomes still more pernicious, and the stronger this planet is, the worse. If, on the other hand, it is afflicted and weak, the consequences will be far more pleasant, and the more damage such a planet receives, the better its results.
3. The Sun, Mars and Saturn lose a considerable part of their potential when they fall into the 5th or the 9th house.
4. If the Lagnesha is in the 6th or 12th house together with the ruler of the 8th and receives benefic aspects, the person’s life will be a long one.
5. When the rulers of the Ascendant and of the Moon both have a direct connection with the 6th, 8th or 12th houses and are afflicted at the same time, the person will die in poverty.
6. For rising Scorpios the placement of Mars in the sign of Libra brings a double benefit: Mars aspects and strengthens its own sign in the 6th house, and also keeps an eye
on the Lagna, where the second sign of Mars is placed.
7. A person with the Lagnesha in the 9th house under the aspect of Jupiter will always have money.
8. The condition of the 4th and 10th houses and of their rulers, as well as of Venus and Jupiter, will tell about personal transport.
9. About means of transport for commercial purposes one may learn from the 3rd house and its lord.
10. Observations have shown that if the 5th house is strong, then the significations of the 10th house weaken. And conversely, the strength of the 10th house tells badly on the affairs of the 5th house. If the 4th house is strong, then the indications of the 12th house weaken. Correspondingly, when the 12th house is in good condition, the significations of the 4th suffer.
11. A connection of any house or of its ruler with the Lagnesha is always very welcome.
12. The aspect of a malefic planet on its own house causes it no harm.
13. The significations of a house receive a crushing blow if:
— malefic planets are placed on both sides of the house;
— malefic planets are in the 4th and 8th from the house;
— malefic planets are placed in the 5th and 9th from the house.
If the houses indicated are occupied by benefic planets, the flourishing of the indications of the house is guaranteed. This principle works for the karaka of the house as well.
14. Before drawing conclusions about the nature of any planet, one should pay attention to which planets it is the dispositor of — malefic or benefic ones.
15. The placement of a planet in the 3rd or 11th from its own house influences the activity of that house favourably.
16. When analysing a horoscope do not forget the principle of desha-kala-patra (translated literally as «country, time, person». This principle says that when analysing a horoscope one must without fail take into account the particulars of the culture of the person’s country and of the time in which he lives, as well as the characteristics of his personality — translator’s note.)
Sri Govind Swarup Agarwal — «Vedic Astrology»