This article is a result of many emails that I received. One planet does not cause the expected result in full. There are many reasons why the same position of a planet does not give the same result in different horoscopes. This article is an effort to answer such doubts of countless people who sent me emails.
Errors and Omissions – Planets in each house
Right from beginners to experts in Astrology, there is the possibility of errors while assessing a horoscope. Like many types of knowledge, Astrology is very simple at the basic level but as you try for more perfection it gets more complex landing us in doubt and confusion.
No two horoscopes are exactly alike. However there are only 9 planets and 12 houses. So when you read a book about planets in various houses Astrology look very simple, enthusing new comers and making it look like Astrology could be understood in less than a month. Some books and teachers claim that they can teach you Astrology in less than 24 hours. According to me Vedic Astrology is the most complex knowledge in the world. Research in this field can be highly rewarding and it can change the lives of more people than by any other method.
By doing an example I wish to clarify my point.
Saturn in the 5th house – most people think that this marks the end of the prospects of children in their life or it simply means trouble through children.
The error in this kind of reading is that Saturn will be in the 5th house for 1/12th of the world population simply because Saturn has to be in 1 out of the 12 houses, so 1 out of 12 people is sure to have Saturn in the 5th house and according to the classical books 1/12th of the world’s population are supposed to be either childless or have some serious problems with children. Is Astrology as simple as that?
Other planetary positions add to or subtract from the bad luck of children due to Saturn in the 5th house.
There are 12 types of Saturn in the 5th house
What? This is what comes to your mind, is it not?
Mesha Lagna – Saturn in the 5th house – Saturn in Simha (Leo) – Simha is ruled by Sun. Saturn and Sun are miles apart in everything.
Vrishbha Lagna – Saturn in the 5th house – Saturn in Kanya (Virg0) – ruled by Mercury (Budha) they are friends.
Mithuna Lagna – Saturn int the 5th house means Saturn is in Libra (Thula) – Saturn is exalted here and is in the house of Venus (Sukra), they both get along well.
Karkataka Lagna – Saturn in the 5th house means Saturn is in Vrischika (Scorpio) which is ruled by Mars (Kuja) – there is enmity between both of them.
Simha Lagna – Saturn in the 5th house means Saturn is in Dhanus (Sagittarius) – the malefic nature of Saturn mellows down and the Jupiter effect is very positive – it is like being guided all the time by Guru (Jupiter). This is a positive sign and the MoolaTrikona of Jupiter.
Kanya Lagna – Saturn in the 5th house means Saturn is in Makara (Capricorn) – own house of Saturn. Saturn is happy being in own house.
Thula Lagna – Saturn in the 5th house means Saturn is in Kumbha (Aquarius) – own house of Saturn, better than Makara because this house is the MoolaTrikona of Saturn (Sani). It is also a positive sign.
Vrischika Lagna – Saturn in the 5th house means Saturn is in Meena (Pisces) owned by Jupiter, but this is a negative sign, and therefore not as good as Dhanus.
Dhanus Lagna – Saturn in the 5th house means Saturn is in Mesha (Aries) owned by Mars, Saturn and Mars do not get along well, Saturn is very weak here, because Saturn is debilitated in Mesha
Makara Lagna – Saturn in the 5th house means Saturn is in Vrishabha (Taurus), owned by Sukra, Sukra and Saturn get along well with each other.
Kumbha Lagna – Saturn in the 5th house means Saturn is in Mithuna (Gemini) owned by Budha friendly to Saturn.
Meena Lagna – Saturn is in the 5th house means Saturn is in Karkataka (Cancer) owned by the Moon, the Moon has no enemy, though Saturn does not like the Moon.
So we find that the same Saturn in the 5th house is actually 12 types.
Now do this for all the planets in your horoscope.
You will know the complexity of every horoscope. You are unique. Is there someone else like you in this world? So your horoscope is also unique because you are unique. So do not waste time in trying to know more about your star, your moon sign, your sun sign. Also do not waste time in simple readings like Sun in which house? Moon in which house? Get deeper into each position of planet and then read together the combined effects of all the planets with regard to a single topic.
The position of the 12 lords of 12 houses have a great effect on your life as much as the position of planets.
For example, the advantage of Moon in the 2nd house with regard to wealth will be lost considerably if the lord of the 2nd house is in the 12th house of loss.
There are 24 types of Saturn in the 5th house.
Before we get deeper into the subject think of the 12 types of Saturn in the 5th house when Saturn is alone.
What if Saturn is along with another planet. That adds to the complexity to the problem of trying to judge what Saturn in the 5th house is trying to tell us.
Saturn is alone is one condition.
Saturn is not alone is another condition.
So in each of the 12 houses as seen in the previous paragraph, Saturn may be alone or with a planet. These are 2 possibilities and that makes it 12 x 2 possibilities = 24 type of Saturn in the 5th house.
Is the planet that is with Saturn a natural benefic like Sukra or Sani or a natural malefic like Sun or Mars. That is another possibility.
So there are 48 types of Saturn in the 5th house
If we add another condition like what if Saturn is with 2 malefics or if Saturn is with 2 benefics.
I have brought to your notice all these possibilities to explain why should not read a book and start using your knowledge straightaway without considering all these.
Example using other planets
Sun in the 1st house usually means good health (arogyavan) but Sun in the 1st house when Sun is in Capricorn (Makara) means the person will have high blood pressure and have heart problem.
Sun in the 1st house when Sun is in Thula means serious eye disease – Retina problems indicated.
If Sun is in Simha or Simha Navamsha the person will acquire lordship over some territory.
If the Moon is associated with a malefic, will be uneducated.
If the Moon is in conjunction with benefic or benefics, will be highly educated.
Here is another example. If Sun is in the 9th house it speaks about some problem to father. But if Sun is strong, like exalted or own house then the father will be long lived.
If Sun is in the 9th house and Sun is weak, debilitated, afflicted by malefic planets then Sun in the 9th house means short lived father.
What a world of difference.
Is Astrology so complex that it is useless?
I am a strong chess player, but not an International Master or Grand-master. Therefore I am aware of the complexity of chess. I used to buy books and each book had tall claims like “…become a champion by reading this book”.
So I spent so much money on books which promised me a lot, but it was of no use to me because I started playing chess when I was 17 years old, when most players began at 4 years. I had developed wrong habits in chess, like not working out many replies, I was hasty and took undue risks because that was my nature.
When I look at a position and try to figure out my next move it is based on my knowledge of chess, it may not be the best move. When I refer to Fritz (a chess software), it gives me a strong move each and every time and even rates my move as poor or ok etc. Mostly I found my moves were inferior.
V Anand the world champion or the top 10 players will find something good each time. So given the same horoscope, different type of readings are possible based on the expertise of the Astrologer.
So do not blame chess, do not blame the complexity in any game or Astrology. Keep practicing and you will see the difference.
So do not give up Astrology because it is complex.
Life if complex, so Astrology with deals with life must be as complex as other complex things in the world.
If Moon is in the 7th house and Moon is very weak then it means loss of spouse, whereas if the Moon is exalted or very strong it means the person will marry only once. In general Moon in the 7th means fond of physical union.
If Mercury is in Lagna, it makes an Astrologer. I have Mercury in Lagna. Does that mean that 1/12th of the human beings of this world will become Astrologers. No. The answer is 1/12th of the world will like Astrology a lot, will love to talk and read about it.
In Bhrigu Sutra, it is said that Mercury in lagna will affect the left eye. The retina of my left eye is permanently damaged. When I met the top eye doctors of Chennai, they said it cannot be rectified and they asked me to pray to God, that is thelimitationsof science. Mercury is very close to my Lagna point and Jupiter is also close to it. Mercury is exalted in my Navamsa. The lord of the 5th house is in my Lagna another condition that favors Astrologers.
So I was destined to be an Astrologer but also have a damaged left eye.
Before concluding on any topic weigh the pros and cons of a particular topic like marriage, children, wealth, house, vehicle, health etc.
Astrology is a great science despite its complexities, errors and omissions.
