Strength of Planets and Rasis

Introduction

When judging the results given by houses and planets, we have to judge their

strength. Sometimes we have to compare the strength of two planets and see which

one will dominate. For example, when finding the arudha pada of a house falling in

Scorpio, we learnt that we have to take the stronger of Mars and Ketu as the lord of

Scorpio. In several rasi dasas, dasas start from the stronger of lagna and the 7th

house. We need to be able to compare them and judge which is stronger. A house

may be influenced by several planets and they may suggest contradictory results. In

such a case, we need to decide which influence dominates.

There are different ways of measuring the strengths of planets and rasis for different

purposes. We will learn some of them in this section.

Why Different Strengths

Why do we need different strengths for different purposes? Why can’t we use the

same strength? To understand this, let us consider an analogy.

Suppose X is an engineer. Suppose Y is another engineer with exactly the same

background and suppose Y comes to the house of X for a few days. Suppose Y

sleeps in the afternoon and X doesn’t. Suppose it is 1 pm and Y is ready for his

afternoon nap. Suppose the two engineers have promised a charity in town that they

would give a big donation together and suppose someone from the charity comes to

X’s house. Because it is not his house and because he is sleepy, Y is probably not

going to play a prominent role and X is probably going to talk pleasantries and then

give a check on behalf of Y and himself. The money is both his and Y’s, but X is in a

better position to handle it. Shadbalas are similar to this. When two or more planets

take part in a yoga, the one that is stronger as per shadbala ends up giving the results.

Both X and Y may have to deal with contractors, workers and vendors for their

professional work. If Y has better relations with the people he deals with, he will be

more productive at his work as an engineer. Similarly, strength as per ashtakavarga

shows the ability of planets to deliver their goods in harmony with other planetary

forces at work in a chart. Even if a planet has good shadbala, it will be unable to

deliver its goods if it is at odds with other planets in the chart, i.e. has a low

ashtakavarga strength.

An engineer who has good relations with workers, vendors and contractors related to

one project may not go along well with people involved in another project. In that

case, he will produce excellent results in the former project and he may not be

effective in the latter. Similarly, a planet may have good ashtakavarga strength in one

divisional chart and poor ashtakavarga strength in another divisional chart. Then it

will give its results more effectively in the area of life related to the first chart.

Despite good capabilities and potential to get work done, Y may be unable to get his

work done if he is depressed about something or if he is absent-minded for some

reason. If he is in a cheerful state, he may get his work done well. Thus the state one

is in decides one’s final output. Similarly, a planet must be in a good “avastha”

(state) to give good results. There are different kinds of states – states related to age,

states related to alertness, states related to mood and states related to activity.

When one hires an engineer as an employee or when one assigns a project to an

engineer, one is concerned about how effective he will be in the project. But suppose

one is considering the same engineer as a partner in business. Then his effectiveness

in a particular project does not matter much. What matters now is how well rounded

he is. He should have good overall knowledge of various projects. Vimsopaka bala is

analogous to this. When we consider the overall effectiveness of a planet in one’s

life, we no longer look at its effectiveness to give results in a specific area of life.

Instead, we look at Vimsopaka bala. It shows the overall strength of a planet and its

ability to play an important role in one’s life (rather than a specific area of life).

If X and Y have to decide who eats a cake first or who gets to drink the only can of

soft drink left in the refrigerator, they are probably not going to argue about it. Their

qualifications or productivity at work or mental state or overall ability are not going

to matter. For something so trivial, they will probably toss a coin or have a friendly

arm-wrestling or simply do what their friends present in the room suggest. If Y has

more friends in the room and they say “let Y have it”, then Y is going to have it.

Similarly, for trivial things like determining who initiates dasas, antardasas etc, we

have very simple rules that are different from shadbala, ashtakavarga bala, avastha

bala, Vimsopaka bala etc

Shadbala and Astakavarga Bala

There are six sources of strength – strength due to placement, strength due to time,

strength due to directions, strength due to aspects, strength due to motion and

strength due to inherent nature. Shadbala is a measure of the strength of a planet

based on these six sources of strength. Explaining the computation of shadbalas is

beyond the scope of this book. For the details of its computation, one may refer to

“Brihat Parasara Hora Sastram” by Parasara or “Graha and Bhava Balas” by Dr.

B.V. Raman. Most computer software programs give shadbala, though there are

minor differences between the definitions used by them.

When two or planets influence the same house or when they participate in a yoga,

then the planet with the highest shadbala is the most likely give the results. The

planet with the strongest shadbala is like a group leader who acts on the group’s

behalf.

Avasthas (States)

Avastha literally means “state”. There are different possible states of a planet and we

will learn them in this section.

On the other hand, ashtakavarga bala shows how other planets support or oppose a

planet. It does not show how capable the planet is of leading and giving the results of

a group of planets, unlike shadbala. It shows how capable a planet is of giving its

own results, in harmony with other planetary forces.

State Related to Age

One of the states of a planet has to do with its age. Just as a 10-year old child or an

80-year old man have their limitations and cannot execute certain tasks efficiently, a

planet in childhoos or old age may not be very effective.

                                                   Table : Avasthas related to age

In odd rasis	In even rasis	Avastha	Meaning	Results
0º–6º	4º–30º	Saisava	Child	Quarter
6º–12º	18º–24º	Kumaara	Adolescent	Half
12º–18º	12º–18º	Yuva	Youth	Full
18º–24º	6º–12º	Vriddha	Old	Some
24º–30º	0º–6º	Mrita	Dead	None

 A planet at 23º in Cn will be in Kumaara avastha (adolescence) and it will give half of its results. A planet at 19º in Li will be in Vriddha avastha (old age) and it will not be very effective. A planet at 14º in Sg will be in Yuva avastha (young age) and it will give all of its results. A planet at 27º in Pi will be at Saisava avastha (childhood) and it will give one quarter of its results.

 One should not be carried away with these avasthas. Just as there are some child prodigies and wizards with wrinkles, a planet can give good results irrespective of its age-related state. Age is just one of the factors deciding a person’s productivity. Similarly, age-related state is just one of the factors deciding a planet’s effectiveness.

 State Related to Alertness

We have 3 alertness-related states of planets:

(1) A planet in its exaltation rasi or an own rasi is said to be in “Jaagrita” avastha

(awake). It gives full results.

(2) A planet in a rasi owned by a neutral) or friendly planet is said to be in “Swapna”

avastha (dreaming). It gives medium results.

(3) A planet in its debilitation rasi or a rasi owned by an enemy is said to be in

“Sushupta” avastha (asleep). The results it gives are negligible.

State Related to Attitude and Mood

We have 9 states of planets that are related to attitude and mood :

(1) A planet in its exaltation rasi is said to be in “Deepta” avastha (bright).

(2) A planet in its own rasi is said to be in “Swastha” avastha (doing well, contented,

comfortable, natural).

(3) A planet in a good friend’s rasi is said to be in “Mudita” avastha (delighted).

(4) A planet in a friend’s rasi is said to be in “Saanta” avastha (peaceful).

(5) A planet in a neutral planet’s rasi is said to be in “Deena” avastha (sad,

depressed).

(6) A planet in an enemy’s rasi is said to be in “Duhkhita” avastha (distressed,

miserable).

(7) A planet joined by malefic planets is said to be in “Vikala” avastha (crippled,

confused).

(8) A planet in a malefic planet’s rasi is said to be in “Khala” avastha (mischievous,

scheming).

(9) A planet joined closely by Sun is said to be in “Kopita” avastha (angry).

We have 6 additional states of planets that are related to attitude and mood :

(1) A planet in the 5th house joined by Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu is said to

be in “Lajjita” avastha (ashamed).

(2) A planet in its exaltation rasi or moolatrikona rasi is said to be in “Garvita”

avastha (proud).

(3) A planet is in an enemy’s rasi or conjoined by enemies or aspected by enemies or

conjoined by Saturn, it is said to be in “Kshudhita” avastha (hungry).

(4) A planet stationed in a watery rasi and aspected by enemies without the aspect of

benefics is said to be in “Trishita” avastha (thirsty).

(5) A planet in a friend’s sign, conjoined or aspected by friends and conjoined by

Jupiter, is said to be in “Mudita” avastha (delighted).

(6) A planet conjoined by Sun and aspected by malefics or enemies is said to be in

“Kshobhita” avastha (shaken, agitated).

Planets give results based on the state they are in. If a house contains planets in

Kshudhita or Kshobhita avasthas, the significations of the house are affected. If a

planet in the 5th house is in Lajjita avastha, there may be losses related to progeny. If

a planet in the 7th house is in Kshobhita avastha, there may be loss of spouse.

States Relates to Activity

There are 12 possible states of a planet related to its activity. This state is the most

important of all states. For each planet, we use the following formula to find its

avastha.

Suppose C is the number of the constellation occupied by the planet (1 for Aswini, 2

for Bharani and so on). Suppose P is the index of the planet whose avastha we are

finding (1 for Sun, 2 for Moon). Suppose A is the index of the amsa (navamsa)

occupied by the planet in its rasi51. Suppose M is the constellation occupied by

Moon. Suppose G is the ghati running at birth.52 Suppose L is the rasi occupied by

lagna (1 for Ar, 2 for Ta and so on). Then we compute (C x P x A) + M + G + L,

divide it by 12 and take the remainder. Using the resulting number as the avastha

index and referring to Table below, we find out the avastha of the planet.

                                               Table: Sayanaadi Avasthas

Avastha Index	Avastha name	Meaning
1	Sayana	Lying down, resting
2	Upavesana	Sitting down
3	Netrapaani	Eyes and hands
4	Prakaasana	Shining
5	Gamana	Going (on the move)
6	Aagamana	Coming, returning
7	Sabhaa (Sabhaa vasati)	Being at an assembly
8	Aagama	Coming/Acquiring
9	Bhojana	Eating
10	Nriyalipsaa	Longing to dance
11	Kautuka	Being eager
12	Nidraa	Sleeping

 

Results in Sayana avastha:

Sun: Digestive troubles, diseases, stout legs, bile, piles, heart troubles.

Moon: Honorable, sluggish, lustful, spoils finances.

Mars: Troubled, wounded, ulcers, itches.

Mercury: Addicted to pleasures, licentious, wicked, always hungry; [in lagna] lame,

eyes like a bee.

Jupiter: Strong, but weak voice, tawny complexion, prominent cheeks, afraid of

enemies.

Venus: Strong, troubles of teeth, short-tempered, poor, licentious.

Saturn: Hungry, thirst, dieases in childhood, wealthy later.

Rahu: Many miseries; [in Ar, Ta, Ge, Vi] wealth.

Ketu: Many diseases; [in Ar, Ta, Ge, Vi] wealth.

Results in Upavesana avastha:

Sun: Poor, fond of quarrels, hard-hearted, loses money.

Moon: diseases, unintelligent, poor, merciless, does misdeeds, steals money.

Mars: Strong, sinful, liar, eminent, wealthy.

Mercury: [in lagna] good character; [conjoined/aspected by malefics] poor;

[conjoined/aspected by benefics] wealthy and happy.

Jupiter: Talkative, troubled by enemies and kings, ulcers on feet, hands, feet.

Venus: Endowed with gems and gold, destroys enemies, honored by kings, happy.

Saturn: Self-respect, punished by kings, troubles by enemies, faces dangers, ulcers.

Rahu: Distressed due to ulcers, royal association, honorable, but financial troubles.

Ketu: Distressed due to ulcers, troubles from enemies, snakes and thieves, windy

(vaata-related) diseases.

Results in Netrapaani avastha:

Sun: Ever happy, wise, helps others, strong, wealthy, pleasures, favorite of kings.

Moon: Great diseases, garrulous, wicked, always bad actions.

Mars: [in lagna] penury; [elsewhere] ruler of a town.

Mercury: Honorable, no wisdom, no learning, no well-wishers; [in 5th] no happiness

from wife and children, many daughters, gains money from royal patronage.

Jupiter: Devoid of health and wealth, libidinous, likes entertainment, tawny

complexion, moves with people of a different class.

Venus: [in lagna, 7th or 10th] troubles to eyes and loss of wealth; [else] large house.

Saturn: Charming wife, learned in arts, royal favors, friends, intelligent, good

speaker.

Rahu: Eyes troubles, financial losses, troubles from wicked men, snakes and thieves.

Ketu: Eyes troubles, troubles from wicked men, snakes, thieves and rulers.

Results in Prakaasana avastha:

Sun: Charitable, wealthy, good orator in assemblies, strong, good-looking.

Moon: Famous in world, virtuous, royal patronage, royal insignia, wealth, luxuries,

regular visits to shrines, many ornaments.

Mars: Virtuous and honored by kings; [in 5th] loss of children; [in 5th with Rahu]

faces a severe fall.

Mercury: Charitable, kind, good deeds, scholar of many subjects, wise and destroyer

of groups of wicked men.

Jupiter: Virtuous, pure happiness and comfort, splendorous, visits holy places of

Krishna; [if exalted] excellent fame in the whole world, very opulent.

Venus: [exalted or in own/friendly rasi] has a conduct similar to a mighty elephant;

equal to a king, interested in poetry, arts and music.

Saturn: Virtuous, intelligent, opulent, likes entertainment, kind, devotee of Shiva.

Rahu: Prosperous in foreign places, virtuous, welthy, high position, good deeds, a

chief in king’s court, charming.

Ketu: Wealthy, righteous, lives abroad, enthusiastic, genuine, serves the king.

Results in Gamana avastha:

Sun: Lives in foreign lands, unhappy, lazy, unwise, poor, disturbed by fears, angry.

Moon: [if waning] sinful, cruel, eye troubles; [if waxing] troubled by fear.

Mars: Wanderer, boils, itches, quarrels with women, many wounds and ulcers.

Mercury: Visits the courts of kings frequently, wealthy.

Jupiter: Brave, many friends, scholar, wealthy.

Venus: Mother doesn’t live long, separated from own people, fear from enemies.

Saturn: Rich, good sons, scholar at a king’s court, grabs other people’s land.

Rahu: Many children, scholarly, wealthy, charitable and honored by a king.

Ketu: Many children, scholarly, wealthy, charitable, virtuous, great man.

Results in Aagamana avastha:

Sun: Affairs with the wives of others, deserted by people, likes travels, cheat, dirty.

Moon: Honorable, diseases of feet, secret sins, poor, unintelligent, sad.

Mars: Good character, endowed with gems, has weapons, destroyer of enemies.

Mercury: Visits the courts of kings frequently, wealthy.

Jupiter: Servants, excellent women and wealth always adore his abode.

Venus: Wealthy, visits holy shrines, enthusiastic, diseases of hands and feet.

Saturn: Separated from family, foolish, wanderer, miserable.

Rahu: Irritable, unintelligent, poor, wicked, miserly, libidinous.

Ketu: Diseases, loss of wealth, tale-bearer, hurts others.

Results in Sabhaa avastha:

Sun: Helps others, possesses wealth, gems and lands, virtuous, very strong,

affectionate and kind.

Moon: Eminent, honored by kings, sexual pleasures, good character.

Mars: A scholar in a king’s court, wealthy, honorable, charitable; [if exalted] skilled

at wars, successful, upholds dharma; [in trines] unlearned; [in 12th] devoid of

happiness from wife and children.

Mercury: [if exalted] highly wealthy and good deeds; wealthy, king or a minister,

devotion to Vishnu and Shiva, saattwik, obtains moksha.

Jupiter: Excellent speech, superior gems and wealth, , royal insignia, supremely

learned.

Venus: Eminent in a king’s court, virtuous, destroyer of enemies, wealthy and

charitable.

Saturn: Displays excellent judicial knowledge in assemblies, excellent wealth and

gems, exceedingly brilliant.

Rahu: Scholarly, miserly, many virtues, wealthy, happy.

Ketu: Garrulous, proud, miserly, licentious, skillful in evil subjects.

Results in Aagama avastha:

Sun: Troubled by enemies, fickle-minded, cheat, emaciated, doesn’t follow good

dharma and karma, wanton.

Moon: [if waxing] Garrulous, virtuous; [if waning] two wives, sick, cheat, wicked.

Mars: Bad character and deeds, ear troubles, timid, friendly with evil-minded people.

Mercury: Serves mean people and makes money, two sons, one daugher who brings

good name.

Jupiter: Many conveyances, comforts, honors, servants, happiness from progeny,

knowledge, friends, learning and noble path.

Venus: No wealth, troubles from enemies, separation from children, diseases,

unhappiness from spouse.

Saturn: Diseases, not skillful, no royal patronage.

Rahu: Financial losses, fear of enemies and litigation, depressed, separated from own

people, emaciated, manipulative.

Ketu: Notorious, sinful, litigation with own men, diseases, enemies.

Results in Bhojana avastha:

Sun: Pains in joints, loss of wealth over opposite sex, loss of strength, lies,

headaches, spreading lies, bad path.

Moon: [if waxing] Social status, honor, conveyances, wife and daughters, servants;

[if waning] these results will be hard to get.

Mars: [if strong] sweet food; [if weak] means acts, dishonorable.

Mercury: Financial losses in litigations, wrath of kings, no marital happiness.

Jupiter: Excellent food, wealth, royal insignia.

Venus: [debilitated] wealthy, respected by scholars; [else] Distressed due to hunger,

dieases, fear from enemies.

Saturn: Weak-sighted, delusion, enjoys tasty food.

Rahu: No happiness from wife and children, bereft of good food, timid.

Ketu: Hungry, sick, wanderer, poor.

Results in Nrityalipsaa avastha:

Sun: Learned, scholar, good at discussing poetry, reverred by kings.

Moon: [if waxing] strong, knowledge of poetry and music, connoisseur of arts; [if

waning] sinful.

Mars: Wealthy though royal connections, has gold, diamonds and corals.

Mercury: Honor, conveyances, gems, valorous, friends, progeny, learned in

assemblies; [in a malefic rasi] licentious, goes to prostitutes.

Jupiter: Honored by kings, wealthy, learned in dharma sastra and tantra, revered by

powerful men, respected by learned men, a scholar and faultless in grammar and

etymology.

Venus: Skillful in literature, arts, music, meritorious and opulent.

Saturn: Righteous, opulent, honored by kings, brave and heroic at wars.

Rahu: Great disease, eye problems, fear from enemies, financial losses.

Ketu: Diseases, eye troubles, wicked, sinful.

Results in Kautuka avastha:

Sun: Happy, learned, performs yajnas (rites), stays at a king’s palace, good at

discussing poetry, good-looking.

Moon: King, wealthy, skillful in sexual acts.

Mars: Curious, friends and children; [if exalted] honored by king and virtuous.

Mercury: [in lagna] skillful in music; [in 7th or 8th] addicted to courtesans; [in 9th]

good deeds and character, goes to heaven.

Jupiter: Curious, very kind, happy, honored, sons, famous.

Venus: Opulent, learned, famous and respected in assemblies.

Saturn: Endowed with lands, wealthy, happy, pleasures from charming ladies,

learned in poetry and arts.

Rahu: Wanderer, after other men’s wives, steals other men’s wealth.

Ketu: Goes after courtesans, losses in profession, sinful, wanderer.

Results in Nidraa avastha:

Sun: Drowsy, lives abroad, troubles to wife.

Moon: [if with Jupiter] eminent; [without Jupiter] loses wealth on females, troubles.

Mars: Angry, unintelligent, poor, wicked, fallen from the virtuous path, sick.

Mercury: Uncomfortable sleep, troubles of neck, miseries, litigation with own men,

loses wealth.

Jupiter: Poor, unintelligent, foolish, no righteous acts.

Venus: Serves others, criticizes others, garrulous, wanderer.

Saturn: Rich, charming, good character, brave, destroys all enemies, skillful in

dealing with women.

Rahu: Virtuous, good wife and children, happy, proud, bold, wealthy.

Ketu: Virtuous, endowed with wealth and agricultural products, whiles away time

with entertainment.

Importance of Sayanaadi Avasthas:

 Sayanaadi (Sayana etc) avasthas are the most important of all avasthas. In addition to the results listed above, Parasara listed some special results. If a benefic is in Sayana avastha, the house benefits from his presence. If a malefic is in Nidraa avastha in the 7th house without the conjunction or aspect of another malefic, it is auspicious. If a malefic is in Bhojana avastha, the house containing it is destroyed. If a malefic is in the 5th house in Sayana or Nidraa avastha, it is auspicious. If a malefic is in the 8thhouse in Sayana or Nidraa avastha, it brings death by royal wrath. If a malefic occupies the 10th house in Bhojana or Sayana avastha, all kinds of miseries may be expected. If a benefic or a planet in own or exaltation rasi occupies in the 1st, 5th, 7th or 10th house in Prakasana, Nrityalipsaa or Kautuka avasthas, it brings Raja Yoga. Parasara specifically mentioned Moon in the 10th house in Kautuka or Prakaasana avasthas.

However, one should not be carried away with avasthas and one should remember that they are only the “states” of the planet. The state of a planet related to age, alertness, mood and activity will have a role in the results given by it, but the houses influenced by it in various divisional charts are more important in deciding the results. We should avoid the temptation to make predictions based on thumb rules and look-up tables.

 Other Simple Strengths

 Stronger Co-Lord

When we find the arudha pada of a house falling in Scorpio or Aquarius, we need to find the stronger of Mars & Ketu (co-lords of Sc) and Saturn & Rahu (co-lords of Aq). The stronger lord acts its lord and decides the arudha pada. The stronger lord of Sc (or Aq) is also used in finding the duration of its dasa in many rasi dasas (e.g. Narayana dasa).

 Basic rule: If one of the co-lords is in the rasi, take the other planet. For example, if Saturn is in Aq and Rahu is in a rasi other than Aq, Rahu becomes the primary lord of Aq. If not, we find the stronger of the 2 planets and the stronger planet becomes the primary lord.

 The stronger planet of two planets is determined using the following rules. We go from one rule to the next, only if we do not have a winner. If we have a winner in one step, we do not go through the remaining steps.

 (1) If one planet is joined by more planets than the other, it is stronger. Suppose Saturn is in Pi with Mars and Sun and Rahu is in Ar with Jupiter. Then Saturn is stronger than Rahu, because he is with 2 planets and Rahu is only with one planet. So Saturn becomes the primary lord of Aq.

 (2) We find how many of the following planets conjoin/aspect a planet: (1) Jupiter, (2) Mercury, and, (3) dispositor. A planet conjoined/aspected by more of these 3 planets is stronger. We must use rasi aspects here. Suppose Saturn is in Ge with Mercury, Rahu is in Ar, Mars is in Le, Jupiter is in Ta. Saturn is conjoined by Mercury and his dispositor (who is Mercury again). His count is 2. Rahu in Ar is aspected by Mars, his dispositor, from Le. Neither Jupiter nor Mercury aspects or conjoins Rahu. So Rahu’s count of 1 loses to Saturn’s count of 2 and Saturn is the stronger planet. He becomes the lord of Aq.

 (3) If one planet is exalted and the other not, then the exalted planet is stronger. Suppose Saturn is in Li and Rahu is in Cn, with the same number of planets  Suppose we have a tie after step (2). Then we note that Saturn is exalted in Li and declare him as the stronger planet. He becomes the primary lord of Aq.

 (4) If we have a tie after (3), we consider the natural strength of the rasi containing the planet. Dual rasis are stronger than fixed rasis and fixed rasis are stronger than movable rasis. Suppose Mars is in Ge and Ketu is in Aq and we have a tie between them after step (3). Then we declare Mars as the stronger planet and the primary lord of Sc, because he is in a dual rasi and Ketu is in a fixed rasi.

 (5) (a) When finding dasa duration: If we have a tie after (4), we take the planet giving a larger length for dasa. Supose Saturn is in Ge and Rahu is in Vi and suppose we have a tie after (4). Suppose we want to find the stronger lord for Narayana dasa. Rahu in Vi gives 5 years and Saturn in Ge gives 8 years53. So Saturn is used instead of Rahu.

 (b) When finding the lord for arudha padas etc: If we have a tie after (4), we take the planet that is more advanced in its rasi. We measure the advancement of Rahu and Ketu from the end of the rasi. Suppose Mars is at 23Li17 and Ketu is at 5Cn54. Suppose we have a tie after (4). Advancement of Mars in Li is 23°17'. Advancement of Ketu from the end of Cn is 30° – 5°54' = 24°6'. Because Ketu is more advanced, Ketu is stronger than Mars and becomes the primary lord of Sc.

  Stronger Rasi

 When computing rasi dasas, we sometimes need to find the strongest rasi out of 2 or 3 or 4 rasis. In this book, we will mainly use Narayana dasa and we will only need to compare the strengths of 2 rasis. To conclude that a rasi is stronger than another rasi for the purpose of rasi dasas, we use the following rules. We use the same rules for finding the stronger rasi owned by a planet, when computing its graha arudha. We go from one rule to the next only if there is no winner after the rule. When we have a winner, we stop and do not go to the next rule.

 (1) If one rasi contains more planets than the other rasi, then it is stronger. Suppose we are comparing the strengths of Ar and Li. Suppose Ar contains Saturn and Jupiter and Li contains Venus. Then Ar is stronger, as it contains more planets.

 (2) We find how many of the following planets occupy/aspect a rasi: (1) Jupiter, (2) Mercury, and, (3) the rasi’s lord. A rasi occupied/aspected by more of these 3 planets is stronger. We must use rasi aspects here. Suppose we are compring the strengths of Ar and Li. Suppose Jupiter is in Ar, Mercury and Venus are in Ta and Mars is in Vi. Then Ar is occupied by Jupiter and not by the other two (Mercury and lord Mars). Its count is 1. Li is aspected by two (Mercury and lord Venus) and only Jupiter doesn’t aspect it (we are using rasi aspects). So Li’s count of 2 beats Ar’s count of 1 and Li is stronger than Ar.

 (3) If one rasi contains an exalted planet and the other does not, then the former rasi is stronger. Suppose we are compring the strengths of Ar and Li. Suppose Saturn and Mercury are in Li and Jupiter and Venus are in Ar. Suppose we have a tie between Ar and Li after rule (2). Then we note that Saturn is exalted in Li and declare Li as the stronger rasi.

 (4) A rasi whose lord is in a rasi with a different oddity (odd/even) is stronger than a rasi whose lord is in a rasi with the same oddity. Suppose we are compring the strengths of Ar and Li. Suppose we have a tie after rule (3). Suppose Venus is in Cn, an even rasi and Mars is in Le, an odd rasi. Both Ar and Li are odd rasis. Because the lord of Li is in an even rasi (i.e. a rasi with a different oddity) and the lord of Ar is in an odd rasi (i.e. a rasi with the same oddity), Li is stronger. 

NOTE: If we have a tie upto rule (3) when finding the stronger rasi owned by a planet for computing its graha arudha, this rule will surely resolve the tie, because the two rasis owned by each planet have a different oddity. So one of them will have the lord in a rasi with a different oddity.

 (5) If we have a tie after rule (4), we use the natural strength of rasis. Dual rasis are stronger than fixed rasis and fixed rasis are stronger than movable rasis. This rule is not useful in Narayana dasa, because we always compare a rasi and the 7th from it. If a rasi is dual/fixed/movable, the 7th from it is also of the same type. However, this rule is useful in some other dasas.

  (6) If we have a tie after rule (5), we look at the longitudes of the lords of the two rasis. We measure the advancement of each planet from the beginning of the rasi occupied by it (from the end of the rasi in the case of Rahu and Ketu) and compare them. The rasi owned by the planet with the higher advancement is stronger. Suppose we are comparing the strengths of Ar and Li. Suppose we have a tie after rule (5). Suppose Mars is at 23Ge17 and Venus is at 19Le51. Advancement of Mars (lord of Ar) in his rasi is 23°17'. Advancement of Venus (lord of Li) in his rasi is 19°51'. Because Mars is more advanced, his Ar is stronger than Li.

NOTE: In the case of Aq and Sc, we use the stronger lord. For Rahu and Ketu, advancement in rasi is measured from the end of the rasi. If Rahu is at 9Sc34, his advancement in Sc is 30° – 9°34' = 20°26'.