1.

1st Rashi or 1st zodiac sign is Aries or Maish and its lord planet or Swami Graha is Mars or
Mangal. Sun or Surya is considered as exalted or uchcha on Aries or Maish Rashi and Saturn
or Shani is considered as debilitated or neech on Aries or Maish Rashi.

2. 2nd Rashi or 2nd zodiac sign is Taurus or Vrish and its lord planet or Swami Graha is Venus
or Shukra. Moon or Chandra is considered as exalted or uchcha on Taurus or Vrish and no
planet (or graha) is considered as debilitated or neech on Taurus or Vrish Rashi.

3. 3rd Rashi or 3rd zodiac sign is Gemini or Mithun and its lord planet or Swami Graha is
Mercury or Budh. Rahu is considered as exalted or uchcha on Gemini or Mithun and Ketu
is considered as debilitated or neech on Gemini or Mithun Rashi.

4. 4th Rashi or 4th zodiac sign is Cancer or Kark and its lord planet or Swami Graha is Moon
or Chandra. Jupiter or Guru is considered as exalted or uchcha on Cancer or Kark and Mars
or Mangal is considered as debilitated or neech on Cancer or Kark Rashi.

5. 5th Rashi or 5th zodiac sign is Leo or Singh and its lord planet or Swami Graha is Sun or
Surya. No planet or graha is considered as exalted or uchcha on Leo or Singh. No planet is
considered as debilitated or neech on Leo or Singh Rashi.

6. 6th Rashi or 6th zodiac sign is Virgo or Kanya and its lord planet or Swami Graha is Mercury
or Budh. Mercury or Budh itself is considered as exalted or uchcha on Virgo or Kanya and
Venus or Shukra is considered as debilitated or neech on Virgo or Kanya Rashi.

7. 7th Rashi or 7th zodiac sign is Libra or Tula and its lord planet or Swami Graha is Venus or
Shukra. Saturn or Shani is considered as exalted or uchcha on Libra or Tula and Sun or Surya
is considered as debilitated or neech on Libra or Tula Rashi.

8. 8th Rashi or 8th zodiac sign is Scorpio or Vrishchik and its lord planet or Swami Graha is
Mars or Mangal. No planet is considered as exalted or uchcha on Scorpio or Vrishchik and
Moon or Chandra is considered as debilitated or Neech on Scorpio or Vrishchik Rashi.

9. 9th Rashi or 9th zodiac sign is Sagittarius or Dhanu and its lord planet or Swami Graha is
Jupiter or Guru. Ketu is considered as exalted or uchcha on Sagittarius or Dhanu Rashi and
Rahu is considered as debilitated or neech on Sagittarius or Dhanu Rashi.

10. 10th Rashi or 10th zodiac sign is Capricorn or Makar and its lord planet or Swami Graha is
Saturn or Shani. Mars or Mangal is considered as exalted or uchcha on Capricorn or Makar
rashi and Jupiter or Guru is considered as debilitated or neech on Capricorn or Makar Rashi.

11. 11th Rashi or 11th zodiac sign is Aquarius or Kumbh and its lord planet or Swami Graha is
Saturn or Shani. No planet or graha is considered as exalted or uchcha on Aquarius or
Kumbh Rashi. No planet is considered as debilitated or neech on Aquarius or Kumbh Rashi.

12. 12th Rashi or 12th zodiac sign is Pisces or Meen and its lord planet or Swami Graha is
Jupiter or Guru. Venus or Shukra is considered as exalted or uchcha on Pisces or Meen
rashi and Mercury or Budh is considered as debilitated or neech on Pisces or Meen Rashi.
Ch1
Generally most of the people are interested in astrology and want to learn this ancient science.
But the biggest roadblock and most difficult question they face is – where to start learning from?
Quite a few succeed in finding a guru with their persistent endeavor, but these gurus teach
astrology in such a complicated way that scares off even the earnest aspirants. Most of the
astrologers begin teaching with birth-chart making; and its complicated mathematical
calculations diminish learners enthusiasm and frighten them away. And rest of the pupils run off
after hearing complex and high-sounding terminology of astrology.
If certain basic principles are followed sincerely, it can make astrology learning a pleasant and
fulfilling experience. Those who want to master science of astrology must always bear these
points in their minds:

1. Begin studying astrology in step by step fashion.

2. Until a principle is understood completely, do not move to the next one or the other
book.
3. Do not just read, but assimilate whatever is read.
4. Do not read astrology books without guidance of an experienced guru. Reading more
books can confuse you, as there are many junk astrology books in the market.
5. In the beginnings, pay your attention toward analyzing birth-charts rather than making
them.
6. Initially start analyzing the birth-charts of your friends and relatives who you know well.
7. As far as possible, learn Sanskrit synonyms of English words used in astrological
terminology.

One can advance rapidly in his endeavor to learn astrology, if one keeps above points in mind
and stick to them.
Astrology can be divided in two sections: mathematical astrology and predictive astrology.
Mathematical part of astrology mainly contains creation of birth chart. In this part of astrology,
different positions of the planets are calculated on the basis of time and place etc. On the other
hand, predictive astrology is used for foretelling events of future. In this series, we will discuss
mathematical portion later and initially focus on predictive astrology. At the time of child-birth,
a map of the positions of planets in the cosmos is created, and this map is known as birth-chart
or janma kundali. Entire astrology is based primarily on nine planets, twelve signs, twenty-seven
Nakshatras and twelve houses (Bhava).
Generally predictions are based on permutations and combinations of these elements. Names
of nine planets are as follows:
Planet Sanskrit Name
Sun (Surya)
Moon (Chandra, Som)
Mars (Mangal, Kuja)
Mercury (Budha)
Jupiter (Guru, Brihaspati)
Venus (Shukra)
Saturn (Shani)
North Node (Rahu)
South Node (Ketu)

Sun and Moon are considered to be a star and a satellite respectively according to the modern
astronomy. But Indian astrology uses word Graha which is translated to Planet in English and
includes Sun and Moon for predictive purpose. Similarly, North Node (Rahu) and South Node
(Ketu) are astronomical points, and also called Graha (Planet) for predictive purpose.
Indian astrology is earth-centric. Zodiac is a circular belt and all planets seem to be moving on
this belt. If this zodiac is divided into twelve equal parts, each part is known as a zodiac sign.
These twelve zodiac signs are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio,
Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. Similarly, when this zodiac is divided into twenty-
seven equal parts, each part is called a Nakshatra. We will discuss about Nakshatras at length
later in this series.
Mathematically a circle is of 360 degrees. Therefore one zodiac sign, which is one-twelfth of
zodiac, comprises 30 degrees. Nonetheless, there is no need to go much into the mathematical
portion and it is enough to know now that each zodiac sign is of 30 degrees.
Each sign is governed by a planet. Let us have a look at it:
RASHI SWAMI GRAHA
(ZODIAC SIGN) (RULING PLANET)
Maish (Aries) Mangal (Mars)
Vrish (Taurus) Shukra (Venus)
Mithun (Gemini) Budh (Mercury)
Kark (Cancer) Chandra (Moon)
Singh (Leo) Surya (Sun)
Kanya (Virgo) Budh (Mercury)
Tula (Libra) Shukra(Venus)
Vrishchik (Scorpio) Mangal (Mars)
Dhanu (Sagittarius) Guru (Jupiter)
Makar (Capricorn) Shani (Saturn)
Kumbh (Aquarius) Shani (Saturn)
Meen (Pisces) Guru (Jupiter)
Ch2
In previous article of this series, we learnt about zodiac signs, planets and their ownership. Those
were very important concepts and, if possible, try to memorize those concepts. Now, we are
going to know about categorization of planets and signs, which is crucial for learning predictive
astrology.
Firstly, planets are classified into two groups namely benefic and malefic as follows:
Natural Benefic Planets: Moon, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter are considered benefic by nature
Natural Malefic Planets: Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are considered malefic by nature
Generally, Moon and Mercury are not always benefic. Full Moon i.e. the Moon near Purnima is
considered benefic, while ‘No Moon’ i.e. Moon near Amavasya is believed not to be benefic.
Similarly, if Mercury is placed with benefic planet, it is considered benefic and if placed with
malefic, it is considered malefic. In other words, nature of Mercury depends upon the nature of
planet influencing it.
It should be remembered that all natural malefic planets do not always produce negative results.
Similarly, all natural benefic planets do not always give positive results. Good or bad effect
depends up on several other factors like ownership, placement and aspects etc. We will discuss
these factors later.
Let us start with first factor i.e. sign placement. Generally, any planet gives positive results in
exalted sign (uchcha rashi), own sign (swa-rashi), and friendly sign (mitra-rashi) in this order. In
other words, exalted planets give best results, planets in own sign give second best results and
planets in friendly sign gives third best result, if we want to quantify. On the other hand, if a
planet is positioned in debilitated sign (neecha-rashi) or enemy’s sign (shatru-rashi), it is not
capable of giving good results
This table summarizes exalted, debilitated and own sign of planets -
Sl. Debilitated
Planet Exalted Sign Own Sign
No. Sign

1 Sun Aries Libra Leo

2 Moon Taurus Scorpio Cancer
3 Mars Capricorn Cancer Aries, Scorpio
4 Mercury Virgo Pisces Gemini, Virgo
5 Jupiter Cancer Capricorn Sagittarius, Pisces
6 Venus Pisces Virgo Taurus, Libra
7 Saturn Libra Aries Capricorn, Aquarius
8 Rahu Sagittarius Gemini
9 Ketu Gemini Sagittarius
Some points to be noted from above table:

1. Exalted and debilitated signs of a planet are always seventh from each other, e.g. Sun is
exalted in Aries, the first sign of zodiac, and debilitated in Libra, the seventh sign of zodiac.
2. Sun and Moon are lord of just one sign. While Rahu and Ketu are not lord of any of the
signs. Other planets are lord of two signs each.
3. Rahu and Ketu don’t have their own signs. Even exalted and debilitated signs of Rahu and
Ketu are not well-accepted by all the astrologers.

It is also required to understand friendship and enmity of planets for predictive astrology.
Planets are neutral, friendly or inimical to other planets as follows:

Planet Friend Enemy Neutral

Sun Moon, Mars, Jupiter Saturn, Venus Mercury
Moon Sun, Mercury None Rest of the planets
Mars Sun, Moon, Jupiter Mercury Rest of the planets
Mercury Sun, Venus Moon Venus, Saturn
Jupiter Sun, Moon, Mars Venus, Mercury Saturn
Venus Saturn, Mercury Rest of the planets Jupiter, Mars
Saturn Mercury, Venus Rest of the planets Jupiter
Rahu, Ketu Venus, Saturn Sun, Moon, Mars Jupiter, Mercury

This is very important table and should be memorized. If you find it difficult to memorize initially,
there is no need to get frightened. Eventually with the time and practice, you would learn it
automatically.
I am sharing a simple but rough formula to memorize above table. Roughly we can classify
planets into two groups that are inimical to each other:
Group 1: Sun, Moon, Mars and Jupiter
Group 2: Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu
As I said earlier, this is just a rough formula and there are some exceptions to it which you can
note down from above table.
How to use above table? Those planets, which are placed in the signs of friendly planets or
located with friendly planets, produce positive results. Similarly, if a planet is situated in sign of
enemy planet or positioned with an enemy planet tends to produce diminished positive results.
Let me take an example. You can see from above table that Saturn and Sun are inimical to each
other. So if Sun is posited in sign of Saturn i.e. Capricorn or Aquarius or Sun is situated with
Saturn, it will not be able to give its good results. In other words, Sun will be weak in giving its
results. On the other side, if Sun is with Moon, Mars or Jupiter who are friendly to Sun or in their
signs, it should generally give good results.
Exercise:
Find out what all planets are posited in exalted sign, own sign, friendly sign, debilitated sign and
enemy sign in your own chart and your family member’s chart.
Ch3
Now we will learn how to interpret diagram of a birth chart. We will also get to know concepts
like ascendant and house etc.
A birth-chart (also called Kundli or Horoscope in India) can be called a map of planetary positions
at the time of birth. There are several different ways of portraying birth-chart in different parts
of India. Mainly horoscope is drawn in three major ways – north Indian style, south Indian style
and Bangla (East Indian) style. To keep it simple, we will restrict our discussion to north Indian
style only.
A birth chart tells about the position of planets in houses and signs. We have already discussed
about the planets and zodiac sings, and we will talk about houses a little bit later. In north Indian
diagram of birth chart, ascendant sign is written on very first place and then signs are shown
from right to left. It means signs are portrayed “anti-clock wise” and the number corresponding
to zodiac sign is shown in each box. It can be understood better with following example chart:

Figure 1

Houses (Sanskrit: भाव)

To understand what is house, we will have to forget all the numbers and names of planets in
above example chart for a while. Above birth chart diagram can be decamped in 12 boxes, out
of which eight are triangular and four are rectangular in shape. In these four rectangles, topmost
rectangle is considered to be “ascendant” or the “first house”. This It has been depicted in gray
background in above example chart. Position of ascendant is always fixed in the birth chart. So
when we have to find out ascendant, we look at the position of grayed box above. Anything
written in that gray box will be called in “first house.”
When we start counting anti-clock wise from first house, the next position arrived thus is known
as second house. The next one from second house is called third house and so on. In Sanskrit,
house and ascendant are known as bhaav (भाव) and lagna (लग्न) respectively.
House-lord (Sanskrit: भावेश)
As we know, “house” and “sign” are two different concepts. The numbers written in horoscope
denote zodiac signs, e.g. “11” can be seen written in first house, which shows that eleventh sign
i.e. Aquarius is in ascendant or first house. Similarly, the 12th sign or Pisces is situated in second
house. We have studied in previous lesson that lords of Aquarius and Pisces are Saturn and
Jupiter respectively. Therefore, in astrological language we will say that lord of first house is
Saturn (because ‘11’ is written in first house). In same manner, lord of second house is Jupiter.
The lord of first house is also known as ascendant-lord. Similarly, lord of second house is called
second-lord, lord of third house is called third-lord and so on. So in example chart we can say
that Saturn is the first house lord, Jupiter is the second house lord and so on.
Position of planets in houses
If we start counting from gray rectangle to the house where Venus and Rahu are placed in
example chart, we will count up to 5. Thus, we can say that Rahu and Venus are posited in fifth
house. Similarly, Moon and Mars are in sixth, Saturn, Sun and Mercury are in seventh, and
Jupiter and Ketu are in eleventh house. This is known as position of planets in different houses.
Position of Planets in signs
It is comparatively easier to determine position of planets in zodiac signs. The number written
in the box where planet is posited shows position of the planet in sign. In above illustration, ‘3’
is written in the box where Venus and Rahu are placed, so we can say that these planets are in
3rd sign i.e. Gemini. In similar fashion, Moon and Mars are in Cancer sign because ‘4’ is written
in the box where they are posited.
Before finishing this week’s lesson, I would like to repeat it that position of planets in houses
and signs are two different concepts. When it comes to houses, the topmost rectangular house
is considered the first one irrespective of the number written there. The numbers written are
not important for determining the position of planets in houses. These numbers convey zodiac
signs and therefore they are used to ascertain the position of planets in different signs.
Ch 4
In astrology, predictions are based on nature and significations of planets, signs, houses, and
their inter-relations.
Astrology treats planets as living being; signs and houses are like those areas, where planets
travel. Relationships of planets with each other, with zodiac signs and with houses etc.
determine the predictions.
Just like living beings, planets have “nature” in astrology. Other than this, planets also have
“significations”. It is of utmost importance to understand the difference between “nature” and
“signification”. I have observed several times that even many famous astrologers do not
understand this distinction clearly and thus commit mistakes in predictions.
In simple words, “nature” tells about “how” and “signification” answers “what”. Let us understand
it more clearly with the help of an example. Suppose that Sun is posited in 10th house in Aries.
In such situation, what results will Sun give? A table depicting the significations of houses is given
below, which tell us that tenth house signifies business and trade. So “what will Sun give?” is
answered with “Sun will give business.” And how is this business or trade going to be? – It is
going to be in accordance with the natures of Sun and Aries. Sun is an aggressive planet and
Aries is ruled by Mars that is also aggressive. It shows that the business can be of aggressive
nature. In other words, native can either be in defense or in sports, where aggression is a
necessity. Similarly, a prediction is made by combining the nature and signification of planets,
signs and houses.
All the living and non-living things are signified by planets and houses. Because all these things
cannot be discussed here, therefore we will discuss only some important significations. Let us
first have a look at different houses and their significations:
First house: It signifies birth, head, nature, body, organs, age, looks, height and caste etc.
Second house: It shows money, monetary gain, eyes, face, voice, economical condition, family,
food, tongue, teeth, death and nose etc.
Third house: It depicts younger siblings, courage, fear, ears, strength and mental balance etc.
Fourth house: It indicates pleasure, education, vehicles, heart, property, house, mother,
relatives, domestic animals and buildings etc.
Fifth house: It suggests progeny, intelligence, laudable actions or work, charity, entertainment
and gambling etc.
Sixth house: It points at diseases, bodily deformity, troubles caused by foes, tension, wound,
litigation, brothers of mother and depression etc.
Seventh house: It stands for marriage, wife, sex, travel, death, business and partners etc.
Eighth house: Age, misfortune, vice, loan, enmity, sudden death, problems, suffering, pleasure
or pain in this life as per karmas of previous lives and afterworlds etc.
Ninth house: It tells about father, luck, guru, praise, effective work, religion, donation and virtues
of past births.
Tenth house: It describes occupation, business, trade, fame, class, rank, authority, domination
and family business.
Eleventh house: It is used to contemplate benefit, elder brothers, profit, jewelry, fulfillment of
longing, monetary gain and success etc.
Twelfth house: It denotes spending, agony, moksha, poverty, actions out of enmity, charity, loss
in theft, bondage, left eye, bed pleasure and leg etc.
Ch 5
In last lesson, we studies about signification of houses. We also learnt the difference between
‘signification’ and ‘nature’. This week, we are going to learn about planets. The signification and
nature of planets are as follows:
Sun Nature: It is square shaped, short height, dark red color, man, warrior (Kshatriya) caste,
vice planet, Satwa guna, fire element and Pitta nature.
Signification: It controls king, father, copper, trees with fruits, small trees, wheat, bones, head,
eyes, brain and heart.
Moon Nature: It is spherical, woman, Vaisya (business-class) caste, Sattva Guna, Vaat-Kapha
nature.
Signification: It controls white color, mother, mind, art, white tree, silver, sweet, rice, chest,
saliva, lungs and eye sight.
Mars Nature: It has muscular body, square, cruel, aggressive, man, warrior (Kshatriya) class,
Tamo-guni, Fire element, Pitta nature.
Signification: It shows red color, siblings, war, arms, thief, wound, daal, Pitta, blood, muscles,
operation, ears and nose etc.
Mercury Nature: It is thin, impotent, business class (Vaishya), neutral planet, Rajoguni, earth
element and consists of all three Vaat, Pitta and Kapha natures.
Signification: It indicates green color, grams, mother’s brother, mathematics, trade, speech,
tongue, voice, sex related diseases, dumbness, laziness and skin diseases.
Jupiter Nature: heavy fat body, man, Brahmin, pleasant, Sattva Guna, space element and
Kapha nature.
Signification: It depicts yellow color, Vedas, religion, devotion, gold, wise, guru, fat, Kapha,
swelling, home, education, sun, progeny, marriage and kidney etc.
Venus Nature: It is beautiful, female, Brahmin, charming, Rajoguni, water element and Kapha
nature.
Signification: It signifies white color, beautiful clothes, beauty, wife, love affair, sex, nuptial
bliss, poetry, singing, eyes and women etc.
Saturn Nature: It has black color, strange eyes, thin and tall body, cruel, impotent, Shudra
class, vice, Tamoguni, Vaat Kapha nature and air element.
Signification: It shows back color, father’s brother, jealousy, roguishness, thief, beasts,
servants, age, moles, physical strength, practice of Yoga, luxury, renunciation, service and
heart diseases etc.
Rahu & Ketu Nature: They are Vice planets, Chandaal, Tamoguni, Vaat Pitta nature and
impotent.
Signification: Dark smoke-like color, grandfather, grandmother, deception, accident, quarrel,
theft, snake, abroad, skin diseases, legs, hunger and difficulty in progress etc.
Rahu’s nature is like Saturn and Ketu has Mars-like nature.
Let us have a look at the nature of signs after learning nature and signification of planets.

Aries: Odd, Fiery, Movable, Barren, Violent, Quadruped, Short ascension, Male, Bilious, Forest,
Hilly Areas, Head, Brain
Taurus: Even, Earthy, Fixed, Semi Fruitful, Quadruped, Short ascension, Female, Windy,
Agricultural Land, Face, Eyes
Gemini: Odd, Airy, Dual, Barren, Human, Double-bodied, Voice, Short ascension, Male, Bile,
Wind and Phlegm, Bedroom, Throat, Shoulder, Arms, Lungs
Cancer: Even, Watery, Movable, Fruitful, Mute, Long ascension, Female, Phlegm, Chasm with
water, Chest
Leo: Odd, Fiery, Fixed, Barren, Human, Long ascension, Male, Bilious, Forest, Heart, Upper
Abdomen
Virgo: Even, Earthy, Dual, Barren, Human, Long ascension, Female, Windy, Mountain, Lower
Abdomen, Spleen
Libra: Odd, Airy, Movable, Semi Fruitful, Voice, Long ascension, Male, Bile, Wind and Phlegm,
Entertainment Places, Genetelia, Kidney.
Scorpio: Even, Watery, Fixed, Fruitful, Mute, Violent, Centipede, Long ascension, Female,
Phlegm, Underground, Excretory Organs.
Sagittarius: Odd, Fiery, Dual, Semi Fruitful, Double - bodied, Quadruped (Second Half), Long
ascension, Male, Bilious, Military Places, Thighs, Liver.
Capricorn: Even, Earthy, Movable, Semi Fruitful, Quadruped, Short ascension, Female, Windy,
Watery, Knee.
Aquarius: Odd, Airy, Fixed, Human, Voice, Short ascension, Male, Bile, Wind and Phlegm, Porter
House, Shin.
Pisces: Even, Watery, Dual, Fruitful, Mute, Double- Bodied, Centipede, Short ascension, Female,
Phlegm, Sea, Feet
You have gained enough astrological knowledge by now. Now you are ready for making
predictions. We will learn next how this information is used to make future forecasts.

Now, we have studied about houses, planets and signs. Let us have a look at our illustrative
birth-chart again.
Suppose that we want to know about the looks of native. We are aware that ascendant or the
first house determines one’s looks. Here, ascendant lord is Saturn because ‘11’ is written in 1st
house indicating the sign Aquarius and it is ruled by Saturn. It shows that the Saturn is affecting
native’s looks. Saturn is posited in seventh house along with Sun and Mercury in Leo sign. Sun is
the lord of Leo too, thus Sun will also affect native’s looks. Saturn’s nature is black, strange eyes,
thin and tall body, cruel, impotent, Shudra class, vice, Tamoguni, Vaat Kapha nature and air
element. And Sun’s nature is square shape, short height, dark red color, man, warrior class, vice,
Sattva Guna, fire element and Pitta nature. So, the native has influences from both these
planets.