The Trident of Time: Rudra, Trishoola and Maheshwara

 In Vedic mythology, Rudra, Trishoola, and Maheswara represent different forms of Lord Shiva, symbolizing suffering, destruction, and final liberation. Astrologically, these forces operate within each person’s chart through designated Rāśis and planetary influences.

Rudra – The Planet of Suffering

• There are eleven Rudras, each linked to specific Rāśis in your chart.

• These Rudras indicate areas of life where suffering and destruction may manifest—relationships, finances, health, etc.

• Among them, the most impactful Rudra relates to physical suffering and is represented by one specific planet in your chart.

🧩 This “Rudra Planet” becomes key for diagnosing karmic affliction and guiding remedial measures.

The Rudra planet is determined using the lord of the 8th house from:

• Lagna (Ascendant)

• 7th house

Eighth Houses for Rudra Calculation:

Kalachakra Dasha

Kalachakra Dasha is one of the most profound and intricate Dasha systems in Vedic Astrology, known for its unique way of revealing destiny and major life cycles. Unlike Vimshottari Dasha, which is based on the Moon's Nakshatra, Kalachakra Dasha has a fixed sequence of signs that repeat, and its application often requires very precise birth details.

"Kala" means time, and "Chakra" means wheel. Kalachakra Dasha literally means the "Wheel of Time" Dasha. It is a sign-based (Rashi) Dasha system. Its key characteristics include:

• Fixed Sequence: The order of Dasha signs is fixed and repeats, but the starting point and specific number of years for each sign depend on whether the birth Nakshatra is 'Savya' or 'Apasavya'.

• Emphasis on Destiny: It's considered a highly deterministic Dasha, revealing major life events, spiritual growth, and significant shifts in one's journey.

• Variable Dasha Periods: Each Rashi (sign) in a Kalachakra cycle has a specific number of years assigned to it, but these durations are not uniform like in some other Dasha systems.

Narayana Dasha (Rashi Based Prediction System)

 Narayana Dasha is a prominent Rashi (sign-based) Dasha system in Vedic astrology, primarily used for predicting major life events, changes in fortune, and understanding the general prosperity and challenges of different periods. Unlike the Vimshottari Dasha, which is based on the Moon's Nakshatra, Narayana Dasha is directly linked to the strength and placement of the Ascendant (Lagna) in the birth chart.

Levels of Vimshottari Dasha System

 The Vimshottari Dasha system (VMDS), a cornerstone of Vedic astrology, is a powerful predictive tool that divides the entire lifespan into planetary periods (Dashas). It's based on the Moon's Nakshatra at the time of birth. These major planetary periods are further subdivided into smaller periods, creating a layered system of prediction. There are typically five levels (or even more, theoretically) that are commonly analyzed for precise timing of events.

Astronomical Concepts - Indian and Western

 The difference between Indian (Vedic) and Western astronomical concepts as per Astrology lies primarily in their celestial frame of reference and the systems they use for measuring planetary positions and time. Here's a breakdown of the key distinctions:

Science of Nadi Astrology

 Naadi (Nadi) has 4 different meanings in Sanskrit literature:

1) Nadi = Swara or Breathe movement. A human being inhales and exhales on an average of 21,600 times a day.

E.g. Ida (Chandra), Pingala (Surya) and Sushumna nadis.

2) Nadi = "Pulses" used in Ayurvedic system, to find kind of disease the patient is suffering by observing throbbing's of Pulses as felt on Patients wrist.

3) Nadi use in Marriage alliance for Compatibility. Adya - Madhya - Antya .

4) Nadi in Astrology is a small unit of Arc of the Zodiac to rise in the east as ascendant.

There are more than 20 Nadi granthas (Samhithas) prevalent in South India in the form of old Palm-leaf bundles in Sanskrit language.

Nadiamsa is 150th part of a Raasi or one-fifth (12 minutes) of a degree. Entire space of 360 degrees of Zodiac is divided into 1800 Nadiamsas.

Nadiamsa count is different for

a) Movable signs - regular order from 1 to 150.

b) Immovable (Fixed) signs - the count is reverse i.e from 150 to 1.

c) Common signs - The count is firstly from 76 to 150 and then from 1 to 75.

List starts with Vasudha, Vaishnavi , Braahmi,... etc.. Nadiamsas.

Ashtakavarga System of Predictions

Ashtaka means “consisting of Eight” and Varga means “a group”. Ashtakavarga is the system of analyzing a chart with respect to a group of 8 reference points.

We have 7 planets as the reference points and the the Lagna, making it 8 (Ashtak) .

The Ashtakavarga system is a method of calculating the powers of the planets relative to each other. For each and every house, all seven planets contribute their power or strength in terms of numerical value. This makes it easy to compare the powers of the planets for each house. There is no other system which can give such a clear cut view of the comparative strengths of all the plane

The individual Ashtakavarga chart is also known as the Bhinnashtakavarga.

The combined effect given in one chart is known as the total Ashtakavarga chart or the Sarvashtakavarga chart.

The total of benefic and malefic points in a house, for a planet is eight (8).

The “0”s are called Bindus or Benefic Points while “1”s are called Rekhas or Malefic Points. (Consider reverse in North India)

Benefics and Malefics in Horoscope

I am hereby pen this article to clear the confusions on which planetary and house combinations and also at which stages, we face good and bad results.

Houses
Benefic	1st	4th	7th	10th	5th	9th
Malefic	3rd	6th	8th	12th
Neutral	2nd	11th

Planets [Natural]
Benefic	Jupiter	Venus	Moon
Malefic	Saturn	Rahu	Mars
Neutral	Mercury	Sun	Ketu

Combinations		Results
Benefic	Benefic	Excellent
Benefic	Neutral	Better
Benefic	Malefic	Medium
Malefic	Malefic	Horrific
Malefic	Neutral	Bad
Neutral	Neutral	Good

There are 3 Main types of Rashi's:

A) Sheerodaya Rashi (Head-Rising) are: Mithun (Gemini), Simha (Leo), Kanya (Virgo), Tula (Libra), Vrishchik (Scorpio), Kumbha (Aquarius).
 Powerful at day.

B) Pristhodaya Rashi (Hind Rising) are: Mesha (Aries), Vrish (Taurus), Karkat (Cancer), Dhanu (Sagittarius), Makara (Capricorn).
Powerful at Night.

C) Those Rashis which rise from their both head and hind part are called Ubhayodaya Rashi. Pisces is the Ubhayodaya Rashi.
These are powerful at both day and night.

During the period of planets ie. Dasha if the planet is situated at Seershodaya Rashi then it gives more fruits especially in first half of Dasha, if Pristhodaya then it gives more fruits especially in last half of Dasha, if Ubhayodaya gives fruit throught the Dasha.

Benefic Position of Planets
Planets	Zodiac Signs	Houses
SUN	Leo, Sagittarius, Aries	1st, 6th, 10th & 11th
MOON	Cancer, Sagittarius, Taurus	1st, 2nd, 4th & 9th
MERCURY	Gemini, Virgo, Libra	2nd, 3rd, 5th, 8th & 11th
MARS	Aries, Capricorn, Scorpio, Leo, Sagittarius	5th, 10th & 11th
JUPITER	Cancer, Sagittarius, Aries, Pisces, Scorpio, Leo	1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 9th, 10th  & 11th
VENUS	Pisces, Taurus, Libra	1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th & 11th.
SATURN	Libra, Capricorn, Aquarius, Taurus	3rd, 7th & 12th
RAHU	Taurus, Gemini, Aquarius, Virgo, Libra	3rd, 6th, 8th, 10th, 11th & 12th
KETU	Scorpio, Sagittarius, Pisces	12th, 4th, 6th & 9th

Deadly Nakshatras [Stars]:  Punarvasu, Ashlesha, Hasta, Visakha, Mula, Shatabisha, Purvabhadra, Revathi & Bharani.

       Planets posited in this Nakshatra will give Unreasonable Troubles & Diseases.

Classification of Nakshatras

The nakshatras are the apparently fixed bodies in the Zodiac, where the planetary system moves with them placed in the background. 

Among the Rasi and the nakshatras, the former is overlorded by the Sun, whereas the latter is overlorded by Moon. This implies that the Rasi shows the environment we would be placed with at different times in our life and what we get out of it, on the other hand, the nakshatras govern the different state of mind, we shall be having at various times. Even the actual events are important in our life, taking a person-centric view point; our reactions to them also matter equally. Hence the study of the nakshatras is well warranted.

There are four padas (quarters) of each nakshatra, each measuring 3d 20m making the total duration of the nakshatra to be 13d 20m. Thus there are 108 padas across the zodiac and each map to 1 Navamsa. However, since the duration of 1 sign is 30 degrees, the nakshatra cannot be mapped exactly on the Rasis. 

However, it is interesting to see that 9 nakshatras can be mapped to 4 Rasis. From this we can derive the basis of dividing the zodiac of 12 Rasis and 27 nakshatras into 3 parts each measuring 120 degrees. This is the basis for the Navatara Chakra, where the nakshatras are divided into three groups of 9 each, starting either from the Janma or Lagna Nakshatra.

Fixed Nakshatras

Rohini, Uttar-phalguni, Uttar-ashadha and Uttar-bhadrapada are supposed to be fixed nakshatras and they are favourable for activities which are related to establishing something permanent such as coronations, laying the foundations of cities, sowing operations, planting trees. Soft Nakshatras Chitta, Anuradha, Mrigasira and Revati are soft nakshatras. They are favourable for soft or artistic activities such as wearing new apparel, learning dancing, music and fine arts, sexual union and performance of auspicious ceremonies.

Light Nakshatras

Ashwini, Pushya, Hasta and Abhijit are light nakshatras, and they are favourable for light and sportive activities such as putting ornamentation, pleasures and sports, administering medicine, starting industries and undertaking travels.

Sharp Nakshatras

Moola, Jyestha, Ardra and Aslesha are sharp nakshatras in nature and they are favourable for sharp, piercing and painful activities such as incantations, invoking spirits, for imprisonment, murders, and separation of friends.

Mobile Nakshatras

Sravana, Dhanishta, Satabhisaj, Punarvasu and Swati are mobile nakshatras and they are auspicious for mobile activities such as acquiring vehicles, for gardening and for going on procession.

Dreadful Nakshatras

Purva-phalguni, Poorvashadha and Poorvabhadra, Bharani and Makha are dreadful nakshatras and they are favourable for nefarious schemes, poisoning, deceit, imprisonment, setting fire and other evil deeds.

Mixed Nakshatras

Krittika and Visakha are mixed nakshatras and during their influences, works of day-to-day importance can be undertaken.

Inauspicious Nakshatras

Beginning from the third quarter of Dhanishta and ending with the last part of Revati, the time is held to be unsuitable for any kind of auspicious work. This period goes under the special name of Nakshatra Panchaka and when these stars are ruling, one should avoid journey towards the south, house repairing or renovation, collecting fuel and cattle fodder or acquiring cots and beds.

Auspicious Nakshatras

Of all the twenty-eight constellations, the pride of place appears to have been given to Pushya, the 8th star.

Signification of Houses in Astrology

Concerning the body, the significations of each house generally correspond to the significations of the equivalent sign of the zodiac in seriatim i.e. whenever we want to examine the condition of any part of the body, the concerned house and the same number of sign should both be examined. Afflictions to houses likewise cause diseases of the connected parts.

Three Qualities of Zodiac Signs

Each sign relates to one of the three major qualities, called in Western astrology "Cardinal," "Fixed," and "Mutable." In Sanskrit they are called Chara, "active," Sthira, firm or "immovable" and Dwiswabhava, dual or "both natured". These qualities relate to the manner whereby the individual directs his or her energy in life and is often reflected in the nature of the character. These qualities are much like positive (Cardinal), neutral (Fixed), and negative (Mutable) electrical charges. No quality is necessarily better or worse than the others. However, each has its energetic pattern and its characteristic imbalances that an individual dominated by it must master.

Aspects and Relationships of Planets in Astrology

 

In astrology, Relationship is an angle the planets make to each other in the  horoscope, and also to the ascendant, midheaven, descendant, lower mid- heaven, and       other       points       of            astrological interest. Those      aspects        are      between     0     deg.   and    180 deg. i.e. between   the    conjunction    and    the opposition   with   a   specific     geometry    based    upon    the   division   of    Circle   or   Sections    in    numbers,  respectively.

Relationships are measured by the angular distance in degrees and minutes of ecliptic longitude between two points, as viewed from Earth. According to astrological tradition, they indicate the timing of transitions and develop- mental changes in the lives of people and affairs relative to the Earth.

As an example, if an astrologer creates a horoscope that shows the apparent positions of the celestial bodies at the time of a person's birth (a natal chart), and the angular distance between Mars and Venus is 92° of arc, the chart is said to have the aspect "Venus square Mars" with an orb of 2° (i.e., it is 2° away from being an exact square; a square is a 90° aspect). The more exact that a relationship is, the stronger or more dominant it is said to be in shaping character or manifesting change.

Argala - Intervention from Planets

i. Formation of Argala:

  Lords / Planets in the fourth, second and eleventh cause Argalas, while obstructors of   t   the Argala will be those in the tenth, twelfth and third from a sec- tion or a Lord or Planet. If the Argala causing Planet is stronger than the obstructing one, the former will prevail. Or, if the number of Argalas is more than the obstructing Planets, then also the Argala will prevail. If there are three or more malefics in the third they will cause opposite Argala (more effective intervention), which will also be harmless and be very favourable. The fifth is also an Argala place, while the Planet in the ninth will counteract such Argala. As Rahu and Ketu have retrograde motions, the Argalas and obstructions be also counted accordingly in a reverse manner. The Argala, caused by one Plan- et, will yield limited effect, by two medium and by more than two, excellent effects. Argalas should be counted from a Sign or a Planet, as the case may be. The Argala, which is unobstructed, will be fruitful, while the one duly obstructed will go astray. The Argala effects will be derived in the Dasha periods of the Sign, or Planet concerned. 

ii. The Argala, caused by placement of a planet in the first one fourth part of the Sign, is countered by another, placed in the fourth quarter of the respective obstructive Sign. Similarly second quarter’s Argala is eliminated by the third quarter placement of another Planet. 

iii. Argala Effects:

  Should there be Argala for the Arudh Quarter, for the natal Ascendant and for the seventh from both, the native will be famous and  fortunate. 

A malefic, or a benefic, causing unobstructed Argala, giving a aspect to ascendant will make one famous. Similarly a malefic, or a benefic, causing unobstructed Argala, giving aspect to second section denotes acquisition of wealth and grains, to Third Section happiness from co–born, to First Section residences, quadrupeds and relatives, to Fifth Section sons, grandsons and intelligence, to Sixth Section fear from enemies, to Seventh Section abundant wealth and marital happiness, to Eighth Section difficulties, to Ninth Section fortunes, to Tenth Section royal honour, to Eleventh Section gains and to Twelfth Section expenses. The Argala by benefics will give various kinds of happiness, while benefic effects will be meddling with malefic Argalas. Argala by both benefics and malefics will yield results. 

iv. Argala can be by a malefic with reference to a benefic, so that the native does not enjoy good effects, due to the benefic. This is malefic Argala. If the Argala is eliminated by a benefic, or a malefic, then the first mentioned benefic will be at liberty to act, according to his own disposition. 

v. Should there be (unobstructed) Argala for First, Fifth or Ninth Section, the native will doubtlessly become a king and fortunate.