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

Mercury

(Mangal, Kuja)

(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:
Zodiac Sign

Sanskrit Name

Governing Planet

Aries

Mesha

Mars

Taurus

Vrishabha

Venus

Gemini

Mithun

Mercury

Cancer

Karka or Karkata

Moon

Leo

Simha

Sun

Virgo

Kanya

Mercury

Libra

Tula

Venus

Scorpio

Vrishchik

Mars

Sagittarius

Dhanu

Jupiter

Capricorn

Makar

Saturn

Aquarius

Kumbha

Saturn

Pisces

Meena

Jupiter

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,
considered
if Mercury
considered
it.

Moon and Mercury are not always benefic. Full Moon i.e. the Moon near Purnima is
benefic, while No Moon i.e. Moon near Amavasya is believed not to be benefic. Similarly,
is placed with benefic planet, it is considered benefic and if placed with malefic, it is
malefic. In other words, nature of Mercury depends upon the nature of planet influencing

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 enemys sign (shatru-rashi), it is not capable of giving good results
This table summarizes exalted, debilitated and own sign of planets Serial No.

Planet

Exalted Sign

Debilitated Sign

Own Sign

Sun

Aries

Libra

Leo

Moon

Taurus

Scorpio

Cancer

Mars

Capricorn

Cancer

Aries, Scorpio

Mercury

Virgo

Pisces

Gemini, Virgo

Jupiter

Cancer

Capricorn

Sagittarius, Pisces

Venus

Pisces

Virgo

Taurus, Libra

Saturn

Libra

Aries

Capricorn, Aquarius.

Rahu

Sagittarius

Gemini

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 dont 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.
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.
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 birthchart 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.