The Great Astrologer’s of Gujarat
Series
Jitendra Trivedi is Bombay based
Astrologer and freelance Journalist.
After 19 years stint with Indian Express
Group of Newspapers, he is now
writing on Astrology and
Spiritualism. His journey of Astrology
started in his 20th
year (1980). Ardent advocate of Parashar
System of prediction, he is active
volunteer of SA Mumbai Club. His
greatest asset is his soft spoken nature.
By
Jitendra Trivedi, India
Editors: A V Gopalakrishnan, UAE &
Maurício Avila. Brazil
A
strologers nowadays
emphasize the use of
divisional charts. But there
was one exceptionally talented
astrologer of a small village of India
who did not use Vargas kundalis, not
even Navamsa chart nor even dasha
system for making predictions.
Late Shri Manubhai S. Shah (23-
12- 1908 to 16-01-1985) of Gujarat was
the
astrologer who devised and used a
system of astrological prediction based
on birth chart only. He wrote that
Navamsa and others Vargas kundalis
were the tools through which astrologers
try to justify their wrong predictions. He
wrote a voluminous book called “Jyotish
Shiromani’’ In which Shah has given
simple rules and has substantiated it
with 3,597 horoscopes. He also studied
western astrology but found Indian
Astrology more useful.
He considered astrology as a Science and stated that if you are able to predict 30
important events of one’s life with year and month then you are a good astrologer. He has
demonstrated how to do it in his above mentioned book, which is available in Gujarati
and English as well. Mr. Shah has written other 18 books which are sheer gems; he
was very detailed and precise in its writings, defining each house results with clearly
illustrations of benefic and malefic influences and presenting the astrological
combinations and yoga’s in a crisp and accurate manner.
Late Manubhai Shah had once visited an astrologer who insulted him. This made
him learn Astrology and, in the process, he learned Astronomy, Western and Indian
Astrology, but found Indian Astrology more useful and declared it as the Gem of the
Earth. He only used Rasi charts for making predictions. For timing of events he used
Paribhraman Kal Paddhti (Hindu Theory of planetary progressions).
Although I believe in Dashas and Navamsa chart, I respect Mr. Shah`s
techniques for their simplicity and effectiveness. His techniques give amazing results
when put to a test on different horoscopes.
His most startling statement is that "Rahu & Ketu are mathematical points and
not planets, hence they don’t have any role to play in predictions''. Therefore he has
not given the positions of Rahu-Ketu in any of the 3,597 horoscopes of its collection.

The technique structure base of his predictions is founded on the following points:

Sthan Karakas
Irrespective of the sign it is tenanting, planets in certain houses produce good
results. Mr. Manubhai said that a planet in its karaka house should not be
considered weak, but should be seen as if were in its own house. For example,
Jupiter in 2nd or 9th house even in the sign of Capricorn is not weak.

Following are the karaka houses for each planet:

Planet Karaka Houses

Sun 1, 9, 10
Moon 1, 3, 4, 7
Mars 3, 6
Mercury 4, 10
Jupiter 2, 5, 9, 11
Venus 7
Saturn 6, 8, 12
Planets Natural Friendship
There are two categories of planets: Dev grahas (Sun, Moon, Mars and Jupiter)
and Danav grahas (Saturn, Venus and Mercury). Dev grahas are winners. Danav
grahas are defeated by Dev grahas. Danavas are enemies of Devas. Moon is
loved by all planets. No planet is enemy of Jupiter since he is Ajatshru (one
without enemies).

Planet Friends Neutral Enemies

Sun Moon, Mars, Jupiter Mercury Saturn, Venus
Moon Sun, Mercury Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus ----------
Mars Sun, Moon, Jupiter Venus, Saturn Mercury
Mercury Sun, Venus Saturn, Jupiter, Mars Moon
Jupiter Sun, Moon, Jupiter Saturn Mercury, Venus
Venus Mercury, Saturn Mars, Jupiter Sun, Moon
Saturn Mercury, Venus Jupiter Sun, Moon, Mars

Strong, Weak and Failed Planets

A debilitated planet is considered weak. Such planet will not give good or bad
results as expected.
Retrograde Mars and Saturn should be considered strong, retrograde Jupiter, Venus
and Mercury should be considered weak.
A planet in conjunction with Sun even though combust (Asta) gives the results of
the Sun.

Houses
Kendra houses (1st, 4th, 7th and 10th) are beneficial. Generally 10th house is
considered strong, but Mr. Shah considers 1st, 5th and 9th houses as the strongest.

Sarak (benefic) and Marak (killer) Theory

Mr. Shah on the basis of the following three rules presents Sarak and Marak Theory.

1. Lords of the 6th, 8th and 12th houses are Marakas (death inflictors) if they are not
lords of Kendra houses.
2. Saturn is a Marak even if it owns a Kendra (angular) house.
3. Jupiter will not behave as Marak even if he owns the 6th, 8th or 12th houses.
According to the above rules, following are the Sarak, Marak and the strongest Marak
planets for each Ascendant:

Ascendant Strongest Marak Marakas Sarakas (Benefics)

Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter,
Aries ----- Mercury, Saturn
Venus
Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter,
Taurus ----- Saturn
Venus, Mercury
Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter,
Gemini ----- Mars*
Venus, Mercury, Saturn
Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter,
Cancer Saturn Mercury
Venus
Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Venus,
Leo Saturn Moon
Mercury
Moon, Jupiter, Venus,
Virgo ----- Sun, Mars*
Mercury, Saturn
Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter,
Libra ----- Saturn
Venus, Mercury
Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter,
Scorpio ----- Mercury, Saturn
Venus
Moon, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter,
Sagittarius -----
Saturn Mercury
Moon, Mars, Jupiter,
Capricorn ----- Sun, Saturn
Venus, Mercury
Sun, Mars, Jupiter,
Aquarius Saturn Moon Mercury,
Venus
Moon, Mars, Jupiter,
Pisces Saturn Sun, Venus
Mercury
*Mars: For Gemini and Virgo Ascendants Mars is Marak, but if Mars is in his karaka house,
exalted or aspected by Jupiter (via 5 th or 9th drishti) then it becomes Sarak and being Saturn also a
Sarak planet for these Lagnas, such natives continuously progress in their lifes as there is no Marak
in their kundalis.

If Mercury is in Deva rashi (1st, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th or 12th signs) consider Mars as Sarak
and Saturn as Marak. Consider Saturn as a Marak even if Mercury is weak i.e. in
the 6th, 8th or 12th houses. If Mercury is in Danava rashi (2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th or 11th
houses) or between 29 and zero degrees consider Mars as a Marak and Saturn as a
Sarak.
 It should be noted that Saturn is impotent hence it will not be able to give good
results of 5th and 7th houses in spite of being Sarak for Gemini and Virgo
Ascendants.
 Saturn is the strongest Marak for Cancer, Leo and Pisces Ascendants.

Now we will see how a weak planet becomes strong and a strong planet becomes
weak or better saying: How a Marak planet turns into a Sarak planet and vice versa.

Neecha bhanga yogas

A neecha (debilitated) planet is considered weak, but does not lose the power of
their aspect. Its power is weak, but if such planet is in its own karaka house,
then it gets Sthan bala and gives good results of its houses. For example, Jupiter in
2nd house for Sagittarius or Cancer Lagna, also Mars placed in 3rd house for
Taurus Lagna or in 6th house for Aquarius Lagna.
Any Sarak planet in neecha rashi if in yuti, prati-yuti or aspected by other Sarak
planet also becomes strong.
Any debilitated Marak planet or Saturn in 6th, 8th or 12th houses should also be
considered as being Neechbhanga.
If a neecha Marak planet is connected to Saturn by yuti, prati-yuti or drishti then
such planet should be considered strongest Maraka.

Important note: A Marak planet is not able to give results of its karaka houses, hence is
considered malefic, but if such planet aspects its Karaka Sthan, then it will give
benefic results of its karaka house. For example, in Gemini Lagna when Mars is
situated in the 12th house he aspects the 3rd and 6th houses, in this case Mars will give
good results regarding 3rd and 6th house matters.

How Retrograde Planets become Strong

Retrograde Sarak Mercury, Venus and Jupiter are considered weak. They are
not able to give the results of their own houses or karaka houses as expected. But if
they are placed in their karaka house in exaltation (except in 6 th, 8th or 12th
houses) or related to the Sarak planet they become strong.

Important note: Any planet which is lord of a Kendra, 5th or 9th houses and is also
lord of 6th, 8th or 12th house is Sarak, but it will not work as a strong Sarak if it is
aspected by Saturn, conjunct with Saturn, placed in Saturn’s sign or in 6th, 8th or 12th
houses.
Saturn is the karaka of 6 th, 8th and 12th houses meaning disease, enemy, death, loss,
debt, interest and expenses. Saturn is Yama and therefore it’s not able to give
good
results. Saturn has one quality and that is its satanic power. Native will be able to use
its satanic power only if it is aspected by a Sarak graha.

Planets and their Social Status

 Sun is the king and it dwells in palace and lives a royal life.
 Moon is the queen and dwells in artistic home with garden and fountains. Its home
is full of gold, silver and jewels.
 Mars is the minister or the army chief. It lives in a bungalow as per its
ministerial status.
 Mercury is a businessman, finance minister or a treasurer and lives in a house as
per its status.
 Jupiter is the Dev Guru. It lives in the city in a house which has two or three rooms.
 Venus is the Danav Guru and lives in a two or three room house in a village.
 Saturn is the king of Danavas, he is a demon, uneducated, cruel, and hence it
lives in a slum.

1. In every horoscope Ascendant is the Spine. All other planets give results of their
houses according to the strength of lord of the first house. The native will attain the
status of the lord of the sign in which lagnesh is situated (except when it’s placed
in 6th, 8th or 12th houses). For example, if Lagna is Taurus and Venus is in Cancer,
the native will acquire the status of Moon. He will gain riches and acquire vehicles.

Native`s nature will be affected by any planet in the 1 st house or aspecting the 1st
house, but the native will not be able to reach the status of that planet. For example,
if Sun is in Ascendant or aspecting it, native will have the nature of Sun but will
not attain the status of Sun or for being in the Sun`s sign. However, if Ascendant
lord is in a sign of a lower status planet, then such Sun will maintain the native’s
position as per Lagna rashi.
Suppose for Sagittarius Ascendant, Jupiter being in Capricorn or Aquarius rashi
with Sun placed in 1st or 7th house, in this way the native’s social status will not
go below Jupiter’s status.

Same way, if Ascendant lord is placed in 6th, 8th or 12th houses, the native will
not attain the status of the lord of the sign in which it is placed. In such
situation if any benefic planet is related to the Lagna then native’s position is
maintained as per Lagna rashi. But if such related planet is of lower status then
it will give lower status.
 For example, in Cancer Ascendant if Moon is in 6th, 8th or 12th house, the native
will attain the status of Saturn. But if Ascendant (not its lord) is in aspect with
Sun, then the native will get the status of the Moon (not of the Sun).

2. Any planet connected with 1st house lord by yuti, prati-yuti or drishti will have an
impact on the nature of 1st house lord, but will not impact the status of 1 st house
lord.

3. When 1st house lord (except Saturn) is in its karaka house in a sign having better
status, then lagnesh will attain the position of that planet. Suppose lagnesh Mars is
in 11th house with Jupiter in Aquarius rashi, in this case Mars will not attain the
status of Aquarius rashi (Saturn’s status) but of Jupiter.

4. When 1st house lord is in its karaka house in a sign having lower status, then
lagnesh will be free from rashi dosha. In such a situation it is considered as if
in their own rashi. Suppose in Sagittarius Lagna with lagnesh Jupiter in 2nd
house, native’s financial status will not be of Saturn but of Jupiter. In short,
planet in its karaka house is said to be in its own house and free from rashi dosha.

5. When 1st house lord aspects the first house, the native will attain the status of the
sign in the first house or the status of the sign in which the 1 st house lord is placed,
whichever is higher. For instance, in Taurus Ascendant when Venus is placed in
the 7th house in the sign of Mars. As Venus aspects its own sign the native will
attain the status of either Venus or Mars. Since Mars status is higher than Venus
then the native will reach up to the status of Mars.

6. If Dev lagnesh is in Danav rashi, then lagnesh will not accept the vices of Danav
rashi. However he will accept the virtues of Danav rashi and will get the status of
Danav rashi.

7. Danav lagnesh will get results of the sign in which it is placed (except 6th, 8th and
12th houses). But such native will suffer when Saturn in transit connects with
lagnesh by yuti, prati-yuti or drishti. Bad results will prevail even though Saturn
is Sarak and worse if he happens to be Marak.

8. Dev lagnesh in debilitation is considered weak. If in the kundali of such native

lagnesh is placed in a lower status sign, then the native will get lower status
(Except for Moon and Mars).
9. If Danav lagnesh is in debilitation, then native will get the position of that sign,
but if that sign is of a higher status rashi, the native will not be able to enjoy higher
status. For example, when lagnesh Mercury is in Pisces rashi, Mercury will have to
undergo the results of Pisces rashi. On other hand, when lagnesh Venus is in Virgo
rashi, Venus will not be able to enjoy the results of Virgo rashi. Similarly, if
lagnesh Saturn is in Aries rashi, the native will not enjoy the results of Aries rashi.

10.In Dev Lagna kundali (1st, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 12th signs), Saturn being aspected
by Mars 8th drishti is said to be Sarak. Saturn could not harm because it is
defeated by Mars. Such yoga is found in the horoscopes of Industrialists, these
native’s can use Saturn’s satanic power to do mass production.

11.Devas planets do not take advantage of Danavas position, but Danavas planets
take advantage of Devas position.

Now let us take one example to make above rules more clear:
Example chart:

This is Dhanu Lagna hence Moon, Venus, and Saturn are Marakas. Lagnesh Jupiter,
Venus and Mercury are under Saturn’s special drishti (3rd & 10th aspects). Thus the
native will have problems related to the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses. But Saturn turned
Sarak because it is with Mars. Also Sun aspects Jupiter hence Marak power of Saturn
is reduced considerably. Venus is strongest Marak as it is aspected by Saturn and not
having drishti of any Sarak planet. Venus rules 6th & 11th houses and is the karaka of
7th house, therefore native will not have good results of these three houses. Though
Sun
aspect Jupiter, the native will enjoy the social status of Jupiter only because it is under
Saturn’s aspect.