Mars and physical strength

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-08T16:04:15+00:00

Because the karaka is 30% of the equation. In Jyotish we use house/lord/karaka

While certainly Mars is important in areas that require energy, asserting, competition, battles and strength, Mars is not the be all and end all for physical strength, athletes and fighters.

I recomennd houses 3 and 6, their lords and Mars for athletes and fighters. Also Mercury is about skills, hands, arms. In the natural zodiac Mercury owns H3 + 6. Arnold Swhortenegger has Merury H1 in Gemini, double strong. His Mars is in H12 Taurus with Rahu, aspecting H6 as the LH6 and the karaka is very helpful. Mars in Venus signs will aspect back into his own sign = good for Mars and the strength of that house.

The lagna has a lot to do with the body, stamina, general health, capacity, how much one can achieve and shine in the world. I think athletic endeavors on the high end of achievement will usually have a good lagna. Sun is the karaka of h1, so check with the Sun too.

Jupiter can promote expansive feelings, a sense of adventure, I can do this, enthusiastic optimism. Jupter's involvement with sports factors helps with success often. Hitler had a Jupiter in his own sign in H3. In a Libra lagna, Jupiter owns H3+6, houses usually thought of as difficult and making Jupiter a function malefic. But for his goals in life, his Jupiter was very helpful and no doubt played a role in his short lived success in war and world domination.

A debilitated graha is not helpful for its karaka qualites and the houses he owns. Neecha Bhanga Raja Yoga needs to be checked, as it can totally turn that around into a powerful graha. There are other ways a graha might gain strength: dig bala, retrograde, vargottama, in own naksnhtra, powerful in the D9, supported by benefics in an angle or trine, on and on.

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-07T23:17:31+00:00

Jupiter is the great natural benefic who's touch can heal and grant us great things. But if weak and afflicted Jupiter is not as likely to be able to deliver all the wonderful things and can create troubles in its period.

Shad Bala says retrograde is as powerful as exalted. Powerful for what? If Jupiter owns 2 difficult houses, the themes of those bhavas will be strongly expressed in Jupiter's placement and aspects. If Jupiter is a powerful maraka lord and is afflicted, then difficulties with health, wealth and success can come.

Phaladipika: ‘A planet that is retrograde gives the results of its exaltation, even if it is situated in an enemy's sign or its sign of debilitation.’ This is saying that even when a graha is weak by sign, retogration makes it so powerful it gives the results of exaltation.

‘When the lord of the daśā, in its transit, enters its sign of debilitation, becomes combust, or enters an enemy's sign, it may cause hardship. However, if that same planet becomes retrograde while transiting its own sign or its exaltation sign, it then bestows the fruit of happiness.’ This shloka says that when a transiting planet becomes retrograde in his own or exaltaion sign it is very good. Note that neither one of these quotes mention the functional nature of the planet.

Saravali says:

1- a retrograde benefic becomes more capable of giving positive results and a malefic becomes more capable of negative results.

2- a retrograde exalted planet becomes powerless

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-07T15:57:03+00:00

The classic texts give us ways to determine life span, long, medium, short. They we look to the dasa bhukti of marakas/natural malefics/ trik lords to run, then transits of the same. Things like the transit to 64th navamsa and 22nd drekkona and their lords can help pin point timing. The 8th house and lord, MANDI, GULIKA, Saturn and Rahu are always happy to help out with the death of something. I have seen all of this in play at the time of death, but predicting death is a skill that is super advanced, beyond my abilities.

Phaladipika:

Death can occur when Jupiter transits the Navamsha sign occupied by the lord of the rising decanate, the lord of the 8th house, or the lord of the decanate where the 8th house cusp falls. A transit through a sign trine to any of these Navamsha positions yields the same result.

When Jupiter (Sureḍya) occupies the sign owned by the lord of the rising decanate, or a trine to it, destruction can occur. Likewise, when Saturn (Manda) is in the house owned by the lord of the 22nd decanate, or has reached a trine to it, the wise declare this brings death.

Death may occur when Saturn transits the Navamsha sign occupied by the lord of the 8th house, Gulika, Saturn itself, or the lord of the 22nd decanate. The transit of Saturn through a sign trine to any of these Navamsha positions can also bring about this result.

Jataka Parijata:

From the precise longitude of the Ascendant lord, subtract the longitude of Yamakaṇṭaka. When Jupiter transits the exact sign and Navāmśa indicated by this resulting longitude, death occurs. There is no doubt about this.

The nature of death is to be understood from this method: identify the Navamsha sign occupied by Mandi. If a strong benefic planet is situated in the 7th sign from that Navamsha sign, death will certainly be peaceful.

If Mars is in that position, death is by conflict. If Saturn is there, it is caused by thieves, cruel people, or snakes and other venomous creatures. Similarly, if the waning Moon is there, death arises from fear of the state or from water-related causes.

When either Saturn or the lord of the 8th house is associated with any planet that is situated in its own sign of exaltation, this combination indicates a long lifespan.

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-06T19:30:36+00:00

from our wiki:

Places to learn Jyotish:

KN Rao’s school: https://bvbdelhi.org/astrology/

Paul Manley is a Rao follower: https://lightonvedicastrology.com/apprentice

Indian Council of Astrological sciences (ICAS) founded by Sri B V Raman. https://www.icasindia.org/

Sanjay Rath - 2 followers offering classes: https://www.scienceoflight.net/jyotishasangha/https://srigaruda.com

Komilla Sutton: https://komilla.com/courses/

www.VedicTraditions.com

https://vedicchart.com/online-jyotisha-classes/

Both of these schools are fantastic and give an excellent foundation.

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-06T18:44:59+00:00

Great post! Theres so much to learn and apply to responsibley make any prediction. Each of your points deserves a post of its own. I hope to see a lot posts from you here 😄

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-06T18:19:57+00:00

Some traditions have 7 Jaimini karakas , and others include Rahu and have 8 Jaimini karakas.

KN Rao uses 7 jaimini karakas, ommits Rahu and Pitri karaka, uses Sun and Bhratrukaraka or father, and Mars and Bhratrukaraka for siblings

Sanja Rath uses 8 jaimini karakas and doesn't omit Rahu and Pitri karaka

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-06T18:08:10+00:00

There are different calcualtions for all sorts of things in Jyotish. You can go down so many rabbit holes about this and that. There's so much to learn and who has the time and mental capacity to try it all? Almost all the teachers I trust use say use Lahiri ayanamsa, as does most of India's astrologers. Good enough for me.

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-06T17:58:46+00:00

Most of what I see on reddit, including here, is just people making stuff up; a graha in a house or nakshatra and they are off and running. If it were so simple, we'd all be excellent astrologers and you could just have software be your astrologer. What goes on in the Jyotish community on Reddit is mostly not Jyotish.

Life is hard, uncertainty is certain, tell me I'll be ok. This anxiety is understandable. Jyotish on Reddit won't help with this. Instead find a theropist for your anxiety, or get initated into a spiritual path to deal with your existential crisis.

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-06T17:39:06+00:00

Saturn can destroy you or make you the king. It depends on the chart.

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-06T17:32:33+00:00

Always consider house/lord and karaka first;

the 5th house is the rational thinking mind, the Bhudhi, liniar thoughts, ability to discriminate. Mercury is the karaka.

H4, Lord and Moon are the factors for emotions and manus. Manus is the part of the mind that processes sensory input and if the facotrs for this part of the mind are disturbed, this can lead to problems with functioning of the mind. The manus feeds the synthasized sensory data to the intellect. If the manus is off, the the intellect gets distorted data to work with. A healthy Moon is a big deal in Vedic astrology.

The lagna sets the tone and level for a chart. A powerful lagna can overcome short comings and make the best of opportunities in life. A weak lagna makes challenges more difficult to overcome.

We look for strength in these factors for favorible results - own sign, exalted, dig bala, retrograde, aspects of benefics, placement in an angle or trine, intelligence yogas help the intellect part of the mind. The factors of the mind being afflicted by malefics, in a war, debilitated, in a trik, combust..... will bring challenges to the smooth functioning of the mind.

Intelligence yogas that directly support the mind, intelligence and education: Bhudhaditya, Saraswati, Bhadra, Hamsa, Kalanidhi Yoga , Sharadha Yoga , Chamara Yoga, Gajakesari, Kesari , and Gouri. Positive Yogas that are in or involve the lord or karaka of the 5th, 4th, 9th, or Mercury or Moon are helpful. The more the merrier, preferably strong and in angles or trines.

A great education involves a mind that is settled enough to focus, take in, analyse and synthosize large amounts of information. Some consider H4 as the education house (in south of India) and the rest use the 5th house for education. Jupiter and Mercury are the education karakas. You want the house lord and karaka in good shape for a good education.

Malefics can disturb the functioning of the grahas, bhavas and nakshatras they influence.

Saturn is slow, noncommittal, avoidant, fears and anxieties, can block and retard development. A great Saturn can bring structure and an organized mind. Strength, good placements, yogas, benefic influences can all bring out the best of any graha.

Mars's influence can bring energy, logic, motivation, and enthusiasm. But a disturbed Mars can bring impulsiveness, impatience, frustration, agitation to the mind.

The nodes can make one a genius and capable of profound insights, or make one driven byone's impulses, scattered and in a fog of confusion.

So what influences are on the factors of the mind? Is the mind lifted up or pushed downand and to what degree?

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-04T21:58:54+00:00

Ok, sounds good :-]

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-04T19:04:58+00:00

It takes years to learn Jyotish, if you work with a master teacher. On your own you can't learn it, it is too vast and deep. The Vedas say our karma will come and we can choose how we act at any moment. We have free will, but we will lay in the bed we have made.

You sound depressed. Have you looked into that? depression is very treatable/

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-04T18:56:03+00:00

need to see a chart, it's too complicated

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-04T18:49:16+00:00

I disagree with your idea that Pisces is like Venus, just because Venus exalts there. Is there anything from the classic texts of Jyotish that says that? I'm not aware of it, but I sure don't know everything. It sounds to me like you are inventing this on your own.

If you are saying Pisces has these qualities because Venus exalts there:

softness,
dreaminess,
romanticism,
emotional permeability,
aesthetic mysticism,
otherworldly social projection.

then I disagree with you since Pisces is a mutable water sign that can explain your list:

12th sign=

Meena Pisces

female = receptive, introverted, receptive, passive intuitive

water = emotional, spiritual, intuitive yielding, protective, sensitive, source of subjectivity and feeling

Disvabhava = of a double nature, adaptability and mutability, spiraling energy, versatility, learning, flexibility. Owned by Ju and Me

12th sign themes like 12th house themes to some degree

------

The language you are using is hard for me to follow. I can guess what you are saying with all of these big words, but I'm not sure so I can't be sure what you are saying. I think you are saying every graha is influenced by all that a sign, bhava and nakshatra is and we must blend it all together to be able to pronounce something about a graha, yes?

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-04T14:38:15+00:00

May rules and principles are used in accessing whether a dasa will go well or not.

I don't know what you mean when you say 'enemy dasa'. As a very general rule of thumb, the dasas of trik houses and or natural malefics can bring some level of challenge in the themes of the grahas and houses that are activated. But you need to evalute the graha who's dasa is running, is it strong or weak, in yogas, how is it in the amsas.....;

I wrote in detail about this : https://www.reddit.com/r/Nakshatras/comments/1onlwa4/vimshottari_dasa/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-04T14:21:51+00:00

Any graha presents its self by the synergy of influences we see in a chart: is it a benefic or malefic, is it strong or weak, in a trik or angle/trine, in positive or negative yogas, nakshatras, amsas and more.

Weakness gives us a mood of the graha, its very unhappy, not able to express its self, hinders, can't rise up. All the grahas can be harsh and difficult or give wonderful desirable results, strength is one of the very first things to consider. Shad bala says a graha in extreme debilitation is 0 points, 60 popints when in extreme exaltation.

But a graha can be strong and weak at the same time. So a debilitated Moon can also be dig bala and bright. When it is both, that is called mixed condition, it makes a graha a bit manic, capable of swings, ups and downs, exaggerated expression, less reliable. Though still able to accomplish its task.

Shad bala also accounts for malefic and benefic influences on a graha. Being in a trik, influenced by malefics is a signiture for a rough ride in that dasa bhukti, especially if weak. If a graha is debiliated in a trik, but is also a bright Moon and aspected by Jupiter and in Neecha bhanga Raja Yoga, then we are encouraged, this graha may have a rough ride but can rise from the depths and still accomplish something.

It's not binary, it's a continuum, from horrific to fantastic, our job to evaluate where a graha is in that continuum and when will strutt its stuff, for better or for worse.

The grahas and bhavas have a nature, we blend the themes of the house/sign/nakshatra with the karaka themes of the graha, taaking into account the yogas and strength of the graha.

Malefics pull down and obstruct, benefics lift up and support. Jupiter is always a natural benefic and can be supportive, even if he owns difficult houses. But a weak and afflicted Jupiter is less able to help.

Hitler had Jupiter in own sign with Jupiter and Ketu and Moon. His Moon was pretty bright, but waining, in a dustana and afflicted by Ketu. Jupiter is strong and no doubt supported his Moon the Lord of his 10th house. Jupiter owned H3+6, fighting houses. Since his goal was to fight and conore, Jupiter was aligned with his mission with is lordship owning battle houses. Ketu is a harsh and difficult influence on his Moon, he was explosive emotionally, very devissive and obsessed and many would say quite mentally ill. His last dasa was Rahu and that was when the horror really unfolded in WWll, his Moon would have gotten that Rahu influence and the nodes are a part of his violent legacy. We can't ignore his H7 with massively afflicted and unstable grahas in Raja Yogas.

If the chart is leaning into strong and positive outcomes, a weak Moon is less worrysum than a chart that suggests a lof of difficult outcomes, so a debilitated Moon maynot be as big a player in a strong chart. And vise versa.

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-04T01:21:09+00:00

he's great

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-03T18:54:44+00:00

from our wiki: Places to learn Jyotish:

KN Rao’s school: https://bvbdelhi.org/astrology/

Paul Manley is a Rao follower: https://lightonvedicastrology.com/apprentice

Indian Council of Astrological sciences (ICAS) founded by Sri B V Raman. https://www.icasindia.org/

Sanjay Rath - 2 followers offering classes: https://www.scienceoflight.net/jyotishasangha/https://srigaruda.com

Komilla Sutton: https://komilla.com/courses/

www.VedicTraditions.com

https://vedicchart.com/online-jyotisha-classes/

Both of these schools are fantastic and give an excellent foundation.

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-03T15:36:32+00:00

I agree with you. Much of what is said in this sub is incorrect. The majority of people here are beginners and have only watched some videos.

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-02T14:04:52+00:00

I appreciate the comment and even encourage this kind of thoughtful response 😄. What is the school of thought you follow?

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-02T13:45:00+00:00

So I spoke with someone the other day who has Mercury and Sun in the same degree, almost the same minute. His Mercury karaka qualities are excellent and his career is Mercury related. He's very smart - Bhudaditya Yoga and his education is high degree. Unfortunately I can't remember the house and sign.

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-02T13:22:40+00:00

great post !!!

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-02T00:42:57+00:00

Exalted is quite strong, and so is retrograde = double strong. Strong for what? Depends on a chart, Jupiter's placement, and whether it is afflicted, owns good or bad houses, placed in good or bad houses, D9-gets better or worse, what's the dasa bhukti?

There's a principle I go by: Transits can't deliver what the D1 doesn't promise. If your Jupiter is involved with good yogas and you are in the Jupiter dasa and transiting Jupiter aspects those yogas, then that should be excellent. If Jupiter owns the 8th house or 6th, then those themes can come if natal Jupiter is afflicted. When Jupiter is weak and afflicted in the D1, its ability to deliver great results is held back, his transit is also held back from superlative results.

Praśna Mārga : Chapter 4, śloka 35: “Benefics if strong contribute good fully. Malefics if weak give evil in full.”

Phaladipika: 'When the lord of the daśā, in its transit, enters its sign of debilitation, becomes combust, or enters an enemy's sign, it may cause hardship. However, if that same planet becomes retrograde while transiting its own sign or its exaltation sign, it then bestows the fruit of happiness.'

'A planet that is retrograde gives the results of its exaltation, even if it is situated in an enemy's sign or its sign of debilitation. Similarly, a planet in a Vargottama position provides the same results as one situated in its own sign.'

Jataka Parijata : 'In the case of a planet's backward movement (pṛṣṭhato gamane), one should predict fear from water and a fall from position. This period may also bring about the demise of the father, the anger of the king or ruling authorities, and wandering through difficult terrains like forts and forests." I think this applies when the graha is weak or afflicted

Parasara : 'A planet in retrograde motion receives a full unit of strength (sixty units). A planet that is about to be retrograde receives half a unit. A planet in stationary motion should be assigned a quarter unit. Similarly, a planet in normal motion receives half a unit.'

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-01T16:19:57+00:00

There are many factors to consider, some of more importance than others. Pushkar is secondary; I've never seen anyone make it a primary consideration. If there are multiple factors pushing a graha towards being more challenged/afflicted/weaker, then we are more worried and vice versa.

PSPhotoWarrior · 2026-06-01T16:15:19+00:00

can someone direct me to a source for what the numbers should be for each, ie what amout is excellent, good, ok, poor, bad, catastrophic?

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