Planets and Dasas

by Mu'Min Bey, guest writer

Part One
One of the reasons Vedic Astrologers can size-up a chart and predict outcomes so quickly is because each planet rules certain houses depending on the Asc. So, for a Libra Asc, the best planet is Saturn, because of its lordship of houses 4 and 5, whereas Jupiter is not so good for a Libra, due to its rulership of houses 3 and 6. This is a very important principle to remember, as the first planet a Vedic Astrologer should look for is the best planet for a Lagan and then the not-so-good planets. I cannot stress enough how important this procedure is. Vas (Vedic Astrologers) can also size things up quickly based on how a planet is placed - by sign, aspect, house placement/rulership, and so on. Once you have been doing VA (Vedic Astrology) for awhile, it just sort of comes to you in a flash; I know that's how it works for me. When I look at a chart, and I see Mars placed in the 5th house for a Sag Asc, and I see that the person is due for a Mars Dasa in a minute, it all comes together for me, and it takes about a minute or two. It's really that simple. Dasas, in a major way, are better at evaluating the overall tenor and tone of a person's life than Western Astrology, especially if that Dasa's a long one. Say, for example, you have a person in a Saturn Dasa, and that Saturn is in Aries (very bad) in the 7th house, for a Libra Asc. Now, keep in mind that Saturn's Dasa will last for about 19 years, and in this case, it started in the early 1990s. Right off the bat, you can expect there to be a lot of pain associated with relationships - loneliness, heavy burdens, frustration, a hard time getting into or keeping relationships going, will be a big theme. Things like this are very important. The easiest way to evaluate Dasas are to just roll with what the natural significations of that planet are, along with the house that it sits in these are the areas in which you will be able to see clearly how Dasas will operate for that person, and you will be able to see the effects right away, especially if that planet stands out somehow. There are a lot of subtleties of Dasa interpretation and in due course, I will write more about this. But I will say right now, that your ability to correctly assess a Dasa is solely dependent upon the nature of the relationship you make and have with the Planets. The closer you become at one with the meanings of the Planets, the better you will be able to feel their ebb and flow.

Part Two
Now, what we have to remember, in Vedic Astrology, is that there are TWO kinds of planets: benefic (good) and malefic (bad). On top of that, there are TWO kinds of planetary states: 1. Natural Benefics and Natural Malefics 2. Functional Benefics and Functional Malefics The Natural Benefics are: Moon, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter. The Natural Malefics are: Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. Functional benefic and malefic status depends on the Asc, and is another reason why the Asc is so important. Really, it is the only reason why most Vedic Astrologers want this kind of info, so they can get a handle on what planets are good and which ones are not so good. For any Asc, planets ruling the 6, 8, or 12 houses are not good. ANY planet ruling the Asc is automatically good; planets ruling the trines (5 and 9) are also good. Planets ruling the Kendras (angular houses) are usually good as well. Planets ruling the 2 and 11 houses can be mixed, depending on

other factors. When Planets run their Dasas, what has to be kept in mind is whether the planet is inherently good or bad, and whether it rules a good or bad house. This is the first thing you should look for. Dasa Sandhi... This is when a Planet either just begins its Dasa, or is nearing the end of its Dasa. Classical books say that a planet that runs both its major and minor periods at the same time is not good; for example, Rahu/Rahu. This is because that Dasa is just getting off the ground, and is like the dawn or the sunset - it's neither day or night, and there is an intermingling of energies going on, so it's not considered good. Same goes for the end of a Dasa, like Rahu/Mars, because the Dasa is losing strength. How Planets Placed in Dasa Lord's Signs Impact the Quality of Said Dasa... Benefic planets that are placed in the Dasa Lord's signs can greatly improve the overall strength and significations of said Dasa. On the other hand, malefic planets occupying said Dasa Lord's signs can greatly harm the Dasa, and the results it can give. Take for example, Venus Dasa running in a chart, with Mars in Taurus, and Rahu in Libra. On top of that, Venus is placed in the 12th house, and Mars is placed in the 6th. Now, Venus, here, is greatly damaged by both the occupancy of malefics in its signs, as well as naturally malefic Mars aspecting Venus. This means that, although there may be a great deal of sex going down here (12th house placement of Venus, the aspect of Mars, Mars is a sexual planet, Rahu is in Venus' signs, and Venus also rules sex), trying to get into a stable relationship is going to very difficult, and if any of these planets has a tie-in to the 7th house from either the Asc or the Moon, then it could be disastrous for the native. Take another example, Jupiter Dasa with Mercury in Sag and Venus in Pisces. Now, because there are two natural benefics placed in Jupiter's Signs, Jupiter's Dasa will be very good, especially along educational/intellectual and romantic lines. This is a simple rule that cannot be overlooked. Dasa of Rahu and Ketu... Rahu and Ketu don't own any signs, and as such, can be difficult to interpret. One way I have found helpful is to see whether Rahu occupies signs of Mercury, and if Ketu occupies signs of Jupiter. They tend to do better in these signs, and, if other factors agree, can even bring very good and pleasant results. But even when the Nodes are excellently placed, they still have to give some trouble and confusion, because they are, after all, natural malefics. If Rahu and Ketu are angular, their effects will really be felt during their Dasas; so a lot will depend on other factors in the horoscope, as well as the Node's dispositors. Rahu can, under certain conditions, give Raja-Yoga results. If Rahu is placed in a Kendra (angular house) while at the same time, it is aspected by the ruler of that Kendra, it will give Raja Yoga. Same will be true if a natural benefic aspects Rahu in the same position. Many famous people have such combinations - just last night, I spoke of Vanessa Del Rio's chart, she has this. So did Princess Di. The Importance of Planetary Distances in Dasa Interpretation... The way in which planets are placed from each other is vitally important; if they are 1/1, 1/7, 5/9/, or 4/10, chances are good that Dasas will flow into each other with little problem. However, if planets are 2/12 or 6/8 from each other, their Dasas will be very rough - one will end and another will start "off-key" so to speak. This accounts for why some people just seem to go off into something all together different in their lives, from one path to another. This is also why people can be doing very well in their lives and all of a sudden, things go haywire, even if that planet isn't all that badly placed in the horoscope. Planets being in good relationship to one another is very important in Dasa analysis. House Placement of the Dasa Lord...

The house a planet is placed in will really come to the forefront during its Dasa. Additionally, certain houses are better than others. Planets placed in the Konas (trines, 5 and 9) will tend to do better than planets placed in the Triks (6, 8, or 12). Planets placed in Kendras will really exert a lot of power during their Dasas, as the Kendras are the Power Zones of the Horoscope. Planets placed in the 2 and 11 houses will give results dependent on whether they are naturally benefic or malefic, and on other factors. There are other factors, but the above should help you out in learning how to analyze the strength and overall trend of a Dasa.

Mu'Min M. Bey is both Western and Vedic Astrologer with 13 years of extensive study and experience in astrology, interested primarily in the political, predictive, and counseling areas. A regular contributor to many of the Internet's most popular astrological forums, he has been, for nearly 5 years, a volunteer instructor of Astrological Studies at Temple University's PASCEP program. Website: http://muminbey.tripod.com Blog: http://muminspeaks.blogspot.com

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