Pre Script 

– This article is a part of my Jyotish Prarambha Course.

When we learn basics we learn about the Own sign, Mool-Trikona [Favourite sign] and
Exaltation sign of planets. They are given in classics and except Rahu and Ketu, there
is no confusion amongst other planets regarding their own sign, exaltation and Mool-
Trikona. But classics doesn’t give us the reason behind the allotment of Signs to
planets. This can be only for the reason because sages thought that people already
know this [They must have never taught that people outside parampara will also read
this science that too from books and not from Gurus]

Many people have attempted to find a logic behind this allotment. Nobody’s views can
be discarded. Here in this article, I am presenting my own view on the allotment of different
signs to different planets for different purposes.

Swa-Rashi 
In Hindu mythology, Sun and Moon are considered as God’s. In Astrology we take
them as Ultimate male [Sun] and Ultimate female [Moon] They rule single sign in
zodiac Sun rules Leo and Moon rules Cancer. According to their Nature of being
Watery [Cancer] and Fiery [Leo] As the moon is the cause of sustenance and Karaka
of Kendra [Quadrants] she chooses a Kendra sign of water – Cancer. Whereas Sun
being Father [Creation chain] and being Karaka of prosperity and expansion he
chooses a sign in Kona [All three fire signs are in Kona] But he chooses Leo being
closest to Mother [Moon-Cancer]

There is a traditional story which goes as First Mercury comes to Moon and asks for a
place to live and Moon gives him Gemini [One sign behind her to live] Whereas Sun
gives him Virgo [One sign ahead of him] Mercury is fastest between planets
[Excluding Sun and Moon] Thus he comes first, Then comes Venus [2nd Fastest
planet] she goes to Moon who gives him Taurus [Next sign to Gemini behind Moon]
and Sun gives him Libra [Next sign ahead of Virgo] Then comes Mars [3rd Fastest
planet – Leaving Sun] which is given Aries by Moon and Scorpio by Sun [Next signs
to Taurus and Libra respectively in their direction of forward and backward motion]
Then comes Jupiter [4th fastest planet in Zodiac] Moon gives him Pisces whereas Sun
gives him Sagittarius] Then comes Saturn [Slowest planet] and he is given Aquarius
by Moon and Capricorn by Sun.
Regarding Own signs of Rahu and Ketu, I do follow another method, Not mentioned
anywhere. It will be taught in the course but being a separate topic is not being
disclosed here.

Trine ownership [Mool-Trikona]

Except for Moon, every planet has Mool-Trikona in its own sign.

Moon has Mool-Trikona in another sign Taurus due to Nakshatra Rohini falling in

Taurus. In Taurus from 0-3 degrees, he is exalted and in the rest of the sign, he is
Mool-Trikona.

The name mool-trikona implies auspiciousness. As any planet in Kona is devoted to doing
good to natives, bringing prosperity and expansion to him. Unless they become lord of 6-8-12
and starts harming Kona they bring auspiciousness. In the same manner planets in Mool-
Trikona is akin to being in 9th house as per Rashi placement [Being placed in 9th house, in
reality, is a Bhava Placement] Why 9th house because it is termed as Tri-Trikona which means
Highest Trikona or Third Trikona [First being lagna and second being 5th house]  A Planet in
Mool-Trikona is hence benefited and provides one with luck and auspiciousness [Mihir writes
9th house as Shubha which means auspicious in itself]  

Mool means root and Trikona mean trine which in the Astrological sense means
auspicious/good. Hence we must see the trine in which a planet’s Mool-Trikona falls in
the horoscope of the divine man [Kaal-Purusha] which always have Aries in the first
house.

Sun have his mool-trikona in Leo from 0 to 20 degrees, It falls in Dharma Trikona

which implies Sun’s duty is to hold Dharma and his significations are Dharmic. When
he signifies father it is that father who gives us our Dharma [Whose principles we
follow] he may or may not be the father who gave birth to native. The rest of Leo 20 to
30 degrees is his own house. The same method has to be followed for each and every
planet.

Mars have his mool-trikona in Aries from 0 to 12 degrees. It is in Dharma trikona which

again implies that he works for Dharma, When he kills it is to protect someone, when
he makes a step it is in accordance to good and bad he is taught. All his steps are
taken to save something or at least not to harm. Rest from 12 to 30 degrees Aries and
0-30 Degree of Scorpio is his own sign.
Mercury has his mool-trikona in Virgo from 15-20 degrees. Rest 20-30 degrees of
Virgo and 0-30 degrees of Gemini is his own sign and 0-15 degree of Virgo is his
exaltation. It falls in the 6th house of Artha implies his nature is accumulative and he
is of storing character. He is karaka of business which signifies his nature well. His
activities are for worldly affairs having something in mind, for growth and sustenance.
This is also Upachaya [Growing house]

Jupiter has his mool-Tikona in 0-10 degrees of Sagittarius, 10-30 of Sagittarius and 0-

30 of Pisces is his own sign. It being in Dharma trikona gives him a nature of doing
righteous things. Not being mean or greedy he works only for sustenance. Whatever
is necessary will be done, nothing will be done having enjoyment or fulfilment as a
motive.

Venus has his mool-trikona in 0 to 15 degrees of Libra. 15-30 degrees of Libra and 0-

30 degree of Taurus is his own sign. It being in Kaama Trikona it indicates his basic
temperament is working for desires and enjoyment.

Saturn has his mool-trikona in 0-20 degrees of Aquarius, 20-30 degrees of Aquarius

and 0-30 degrees of Capricorn is his own sign. It is in Kaama Trikona which again
implies his nature of work is motivated by desires and enjoyment.

Here one can notice that no planet have its Mool-Trikona in any of the signs in
Moksha Trikona. Mool-Trikona as said earlier shows the basic temperament and
constitutes the nature of the planet. No one has his mool-trikona in Moksha Trikona
because if their motive is moksha they can’t qualify to become a Graha [Which means
to grasp/hold] one motivated by Moksha will tend to leave each and everything.

Except for Moon, every planet has its exaltation in its own sign, He prefers the sign
according to his nature and temperament. Sun owning single sign Leo prefers it is
Mool-Trikona as it is according to his nature of  Fiery element. Mars takes Aries due
to it being a Fiery element whereas Scorpio is a watery sign. Mercury prefers Virgo for
it being an earth sign whereas he himself is of Earth element. Jupiter being of ether
element is comfortable in each and every element but between his both signs he
prefers fiery Sagittarius as it represents dharma and watery sign can’t be Mool-
Trikona of a Graha [Due to the reason stated above] Venus prefers his sign Libra
which is of Vayu Tattwa Venus being of Jala Tattwa must have preferred Taurus of
Earth Tattwa [Being friendly] but due to it already being occupied by Moon. See order
of planets Moon comes at 2nd place whereas Venus at 6th place he prefers Libra.
Saturn prefers Aquarius to be identical to his nature of the Airy element.
 Exaltation [Uccha]
To Understand this first understand Tatta [Element] and Dig-Bala [Directional Strength
of planets.

Sun and Mars are of fiery element and have digbala in South direction 10th house.
Venus and Moon are of the earth element and have Digbala in North direction [4th
house] Saturn is of Airy element and has digbala in West direction [7th house]
Mercury is of Earth element and Jupiter is of ether element and they both have
digbala in East direction [1st house/lagna]

See the image given below of Tattwa and Digbala and remember that Tattwa in nature
of Sun’s direction from 10th house through the day [Anti-clockwise of chart] is friendly,
In direction of the chart is neutral [Anti-Clockwise to Sun’s direction] and opposite are
enemies. The exception is the ether element [Jupiter] which pervades in each
element.

What do we mean by direction of Sun here is count like 10-7, 4-1 Houses, Opposite to
sun is 10-1, 4-7 Houses. Because at morning Sun is in lagna, At noon Sun is in 10th
house at Sunset sun is in 7th house and at midnight Sun is in 4th house always.

This makes a ring-like situation. Let me explain it for better understanding.

Air and Fire are friends. Water and Earth are friends. [In direction of Sun – Starting
from 10th house] In opposite direction they are neutral. Hence, Fire and Earth is
Neutral and Air and Water are Neutral. In Opposite direction, they are enemies,
Hence. Air is an enemy to Earth and Fire is an enemy to water.

This is the basic behind allotment of exaltation signs of planets. Let us deal with them
one by one.

Luminaries: Exalted in same Tattwa. Sun is of Agni tattwa, Another planet in the same
tattwa is Mars. His signs are Aries and Scorpio. Between them Aries is Male and Fire
element hence Sun is exalted in Aries.

Moon is of Jala tattwa, Another planet in the same tattwa is Venus. He owns Taurus
and Libra. Taurus is of Earth element [Friendly to water] as well as female sign.
Hence, Moon is exalted in Taurus.
Tara Graha: Mars is of Agni tattwa and is male [He is complete male as he suffers no
restriction of Sattwa being a Tamasic planet] He goes to its friendly Tattwa, Air. There
he finds Aquarius [Airy] and Capricorn [Earth element] He prefers Capricorn because
it is a female sign [Male planet without Sattwic nature – Want’s to procreate in a
female sign]

Mercury is of Prithvi tattwa, He is neutral [Without gender – Female eunuch] He goes

to  Watery tattwa [Friendly] finds no sign suitable as Cancer is much feminine and
Libra is masculine, He goes to fiery element and finds himself incompatible in much
fire. He can’t rise up to the level of Ether having his Mool-Trikona in a Upachaya
house. being neutral he can be satisfied by himself and thus prefers his sign Virgo
being female in nature [He himself is female eunuch] also due to same Tattwa [Both
Mercury and Virgo is of Jala Tattwa]

Jupiter is of ether element. He goes to his friendly element and finds Libra and
Capricorn there. being of ether element [Don’t want to harm anyone, docile] he prefers
the female sign Cancer out there.

Venus is of Jala Tattwa. He goes to his friendly Tattwa [Earth] and finds Gemini there
which is incompatible with being the male sign [Female planets prefer the female sign]
Because of a specified gender he doesn’t look to incompatible tattwa and goes to all-
pervading tattwa Ether. He finds Sagittarius there which is male and fiery but rejects
that and becomes exalted in Pisces which is a female sign as well as Jala Tattwa.

Saturn is neutral [Male Netutral] being without gender he doesn’t follow going to his
friendly Tattwa. He goes to neutral tattwa [Neutral Gender – chooses either self or
neutral Tattwa] and finds only one sign remaining there Libra [Of Venus] and chooses
it to be his exaltation. Rest two are already occupied by Jupiter and Venus.

Here we see a peculiarity. Luminaries are exalted in their own tattwa where male
prefers male sign and female prefers female sign.

Star planets consist of two male Jupiter and Mars and one female Venus along with
two neutrals Saturn and Mercury.

Both male and female prefer to go to their friendly tattwa and both of them prefers
female sign. Female planet prefers female sign [Same – Harmony] procreation for a
female is more a burden than a boon. It will be dealt with separately in Avtar Adhyaya.
We will see Venus is a form of Parshurama who never had a wife or children.
Eunuch planets are of two types one is completely dual [Mercury – owing to both dual
signs] and he remains in his own sign for his exaltation. whereas Saturn takes his step
to neutral tattwa [Misery significant – Not happiness but solitude]

Now see them in accordance with their Avtar.

Sun is Rama and is situated in Self-Dharma [Aries]

Moon is Krishna and is situated in Karma and sustenance [Taurus]
Mars is Narsimha and is situated in Karma and Prominence/Power [Capricorn]
Mercury is Balarama and is situated in Upachaya [Growth] and greens [Virgo]
Jupiter is Vamana and is situated in the 4th house of Vidya for Moksha [Cancer]
Venus is Parshurama and is situated in the 12th house [loss] of life and desires for
Salvation [Pisces]
Saturn is Koorma and is placed in the 7th house of Kama [Desire to give something –
Samudra Manthan] and enjoyment not for self but for all [Libra]

When we will read the course in-depth we will understand that the nature of planets
are so that they have to be exalted in these signs only.

Table of Exaltation, Rashi and Trikona

Planet Exaltation Mool Trikona Swa-Rashi Secondary Rashi

Sun 0-10 Aries 0-20 Leo 20-30 Leo  
Moon 0-3 Taurus 3-27 Taurus 0-30 Cancer  
Mars 0-28 Capricorn 0-12 Aries 13-30 Aries 0-30 Scorpio
Mercury 0-15 Virgo 15-20 Virgo 21-30 Virgo 0-30 Gemini
Jupiter 0-5 Cancer 0-10 Sagittarius 11-30 Sagittarius 0-30 Pisces
Venus 0-27 Pisces 0-15 Libra 16-30 Libra 0-30 Taurus
Saturn 0-20 Libra 0-20 Aquarius 21-30 Aquarius 0-30 Capricorn
(c) Shubham Alock for Jyotish Prarambh Course