We have been discussing
about Rajayoga since last few sessions wherein we obtained an understanding
that there are three classifications of Rajayoga namely Maha Rajayoga,
Neechabhanga Rajayoga and Vipreetha Rajayoga and in the last 2 sessions we were
discussing Maha Rajayoga in detail. Now let us have an insight into the next
section, the Neecha Bhanga Rajayoga, a typically natured Rajayoga, a
distinctive feature of Vedic Astrology which is been either unexplored or been
discussed only in patches without a systematic approach to it till date. Thus I
believe that a discussion here about this unexplored fiefdoms of Vedic
astrology would be of benefit for all who dabbles with astrology, I mean the
students, researchers and professionals alike.
Let’s start......
The Effects of Neecha Bhanga Rajayoga
As mention in the earlier
notes on Rajayoga, Neecha Bhanga Raja Yoga too provides one with Fame, Wealth
and Power generally. But all the said prosperities will be enjoyed by the
native only in the second half of life especially after the age 36
corresponding to the age when the yoga promoting dasha, sub period and transits
takes place in one’s chart. This typical nature is attributed this Yoga because
teh planet who cause Neecha Bhanga Rajayoga is subject to debilitation first
and then attains the cancellation. Likewise the natives life too would suffer
adversities in the initial part of life and then will start excelling.
Acquiring much fame among
vast number of peoples and several communities along with holding a good image
are the outcome of this Yoga. One will be well known within his/her personal,
professional and social circles. Whatever they do brings a good repute for them
and people generally like them for what they are. They will amass huge wealth and
start producing many sources of income once the Rajayoga is in operation. They
will also hold power in life. There will be many waiting to take orders from
them once the Yoga is operational.
The Definitions & Controversies
When a planet is in Neecha
(debilitation) and attains Bhanga (cancellation) from his state of Neecha (debilitation)
then it is called as Neecha Bhanga and a planet who has secured Neecha bhanga
(Cancellation of debilitation) is bound to provide Rajayoga results to the
natives thus it is called as Neecha bhanga Rajayoga. Whether a planet attaining
Neecha Bhanga would always be capable of producing Rajayoga is a debatable
matter which we will be discussing at an apposite place below. Anyway let us have a gaze through the
definitions which are most common in practice.
When a planet is in
debilitation and
1) The Lord of that sign
where the planet is getting debilitated should be in a Kendra (Quadrant) either
from Lagna or Moon.
2) The planet who gets
exalted there (in the sign where a planet is getting debilitated) is in a
Kendra either from Lagna or Moon.
3) The lord of the sign where
the debilitated planet in concern could get exalted should be in Kendra either
from lagna or Moon.
4) The lord of that sign
where the planet is getting debilitated should be having aspect or conjunction
with the planet in debilitation.
5) The lord of that sign
where the planet is getting debilitated and also the lord of the sign where the
debilitated planet could attain exaltation, these two should be in mutual
Kendra (Quadrants) or trikona (Trines) to each other.
6) The debilitated planet should
be exalted in Navamsa.
The above are definitions
mentioned in the ancient texts for forming Neecha Bhanga Rajayoga and may not
be true in actual practise always. There are so many other parameters we need
to take in to consideration to have a final conclusion whether the cancellation
of debilitation (Neecha Bhanga) taking place as per verbatim is in operation or
not. Anyway before we get in to the
technicalities of the yoga let us have look at the controversies existing about
definitions of the yoga.
There are controversies about
the definitions mentioned above. For example the definitions mentioned in
clause no 2 & 3, which one to take in actual practice is always a matter for
debate among different schools of Vedic Astrology. A set of schools of Vedic
astrology believe that it is the lord of the planet where the debilitated
planet could get it’s exaltation (mentioned in 3) should be taken in to
consideration while others believe that it is the planet who gets exalted at
the sign where a planet gets debilitated (Clause 2) should be taken in to
consideration for determining the Neecha bhanga. Score of horoscopes examined
by me forces me to conclude that the conditions applied in both clauses holds
good. Depending upon the power and position held by these two enables either of
the them to become more stronger and more benefic in nature which empowers
themselves to become the saviour of a debilitated planet.
Meanwhile yet another
controversy regarding the definition is whether the planet in concern mentioned
in clauses 1, 2 and 3 could be posited in a Kendra either from Lagna or Moon or
from Moon alone. Some are of the opinion that the planet in concern mentioned in
above clauses are to be posited in a Kendra from Moon alone and it couldn’t be
considered from Lagna. I am of the opinion that either Lagna or Moon could be taken
for consideration for counting the position of a planet in concern.
Judging It’s Exsitence
We know that there are 9
planets in use in Vedic astrology, out of which only 7 planets could be subject
to Neecha and subsequently for Neecha Bhanga too. Rahu and Ketu are exempted
from being Neecha or Neecha Bhanga since they are deviod of ownership of houses
and also don’t have exaltation or debilitation houses though many schools of
astrology strongly believe otherwise assigning Taurus and Scorpio as signs of
exaltations respectively for Rahu and Ketu thus the same signs becoming the sign
of debilitation for each other. Anyway I think we don’t need to include Rahu
and Ketu here as I am of the strong opinion that Rahu and Ketu are not capable
of producing Neecha Bhanga Rajayoga. Let us see what happens with the other
planets....
Strength of Neecha Bhanga conferring planet
While considering a planet
in debilitation for Neecha Bhanga first and foremost importance has to be given
to the other planet who could constitute Neecha Bhanga. If the said planet is
powerless then the Neecha Bhanga could exist only theorotically. For example;
If Jupiter is debilitated and the Lord of debilitation sign that is Saturn is
in the sign Leo in an enemy sign owned by Sun then Saturn cannot constitute
Neecha bhanga for Jupiter. Supposing Saturn is in a Kendra from Lagna or Moon
still Saturn will be unable to cause cancellation of debilitation for Jupiter.
If the Lagna or Moon for such a case happens to be Taurus or Aquarius then
Saturn would be either the Yogakaraka or 1st lord for that chart
still his ability to cause Neecha Bhanga will be very much limited. In such a
case of Jupiter only if other factors which could confer Neecha bhanga are
strongly posited could help Jupiter to attain Neecha Bhanga. Likewise if the
other planets who could confer Neecha Bhanga for Jupiter are also posited ill
then the chances for Jupiter to have Neecha Bhanga with the help of these
planets are rules out. So the planets being in strength who could confer Neecha
Bhanga for a debilitated planet is very essential for conferring the same.
Lordship of the Planet who attains the Neecha Bhanga; Does it
matters?
If we go by experience it
may not be necessarily matter if the planet be in a good house. In many cases it
is been seen that planets who owns inimical houses and placed in debilitation
but in a good house and also subject to Neecha Bhanga then the said planet
definitely confers rajayoga. This is been born out to be true in various cases
examined by me. For example; If Sun is debilitated in the 10th house
for Capricorn Lagna then it will be the 8th lord debilitated in the
10th house. If Sun attains Neecha Bhanga in that chart then
irrespective of the fact that Sun is the 8th lord the most powerful
Dusthana, Sun will go on to confer Neecha Bhanga Rajayoga for the native on the
appropriate period in life. Being the 8th lord posited in the 10th
house he would be causing severe obstacles for the native’s career till the
Rajayoga comes in to action but once it gets in to operation Sun will make sure
that the native is been elevated to the highest peaks in life.
We can see that if the
planet attaining Neecha Bhanga happens to be in a Kendra or a Kona from the
Lagna or Moon then the said planet will definitely confer Rajayoga to the
native irrespective of the planet’s lordship over houses. Apart from Kendra and
Trikona houses, the natural benefic planets though owning an inimical house will
be capable of producing Neecha Bhanga Rajayoga if attained cancellation of
debilitation in the 2nd house while the same holds good for natural
malefic planets in the 3rd and 11th houses. If we fall
back to the clause No 4 we can see that the planet in debilitation and it’s
depositer lord are taken in to account. In such cases the planet in
debilitation should be preferably posited in a Kendra or Trikona while the
depositer should be either conjunct there or should have aspect over there from
a house other than Dusthana.
From the above we can see
that the position of the planet who attains Neecha Bhanga matters the most than
his lordship in providing Rajayoga.
The Best Combinations
The above said were mainly
banked upon the combinations mentioned in clauses 1, 2, 3 and 4 while in actual
pratice it is been found that the combinations mentioned in the clauses no 5
and 6 the most reliable in predicting Neecha Bhanga Rajayoga.
As per clause No 5
mentioned above, the lord of debilitation and the lord of exaltation signs of a
debilitated planet are required to be either in a Kendra or in a Trikona from
each other to confer Neecha Bhanga for a debilitated planet. By being either in
a Kendra or in a Trikona from each other these two planets will become temporal
friends to each other for that chart eventhough they are natural enemies. This
brings in a harmony between the exaltation and debilitation lords of a
debilitated planet thus causing him a much comfortable situation where the debility
of a planet fades away leading to cancellation of debilitation. Anyhow these
two planets needs to have good strength and also needs to be away from
Dusthanas to produce desired results.
The exaltation in Navamsa
of a planet who is posited in the debilitation sign in Rashi chart is also
considered to be one among the combination for a debilitated planet to have
Neecha Bhanga. As far as I am concerned this could be the most reliable
combination in ascertaining whether a debilitated planet has attained Neecha
Bhanga or not. Only if the planet attaining Neecha Bhanga as per this combination
happens to be in a dusthana would be deprived from the capacity of producing
Rajayoga.
Neech Bhanga or Neech Bhanga Rajayoga
There is confusion among
different schoold of Vedic astrology whether a debilitated planet attaining
Neecha Bhanga could always produce Rajayoga? Some say that a planet which
attained Neecha Bhanga is always capable of producing Rajayoga while others are
of the opinion that it may not be necessarily so. I prefer the latter version.
As mentioned in the above lines a planet though attaining Neecha Bhanga but
posited in a duthana generally doesn’t cause Rajayoga though there are
exception for this too. So all the Neecha Bhanga may not be necessarily be
Rajayoga.
Moon an Exception
I have to mention a rare
phenomen regarding the Neecha Bhanga of Moon which will be noteworthy and also
may made subject for further experiments and researches whoever wish to. Let me
also mention here that I am indebted to an unknown author (whose name I forgot)
from whose article I have noticed this point which I am broaching to my readers
now which was published in Astrological Magazine many decades ago. The author claims that Moon can never attain
Neecha bhanga if happens to be in his sign of debilitation in Rashi chart as
being posited in Scorpio (Moon’s sign of debilitation) Moon could never acquire
the position in Taurus (Moon’s exaltation sign) in Navamsa chart; True since
Navamsa of a planet posited in Scorpio starts from the sign Cancer and ends at
Pisces in clockwise direction thus Moon’s Navamsa would never fall in Taurus if
he is posited in Scorpio in Rashi chart. The author goes on with the claim that
all the other planets has a chance to secure the exaltation position in Navamsa
chart while being posited in debilitation sign in Rashi chart meanwhile Moon alone
is deprived from such an opportunity which is a clear cut indication that the
planet Moon if debilitated cannot attain Neecha Bhanga even if other
combinations are favouring for the same. I have been trying to see the applicability
of this principle in various charts examined by me and I must admit that the
principle has proved right in majority of the cases though there were
exceptions. I leave it to the wisdom of my esteemed readers for taking this
rule in to confidence.
Neecha Planets in Vargothama
Yet another point where
clarity is lacking regarding the Neecha Bhanga of planets is when a planet is
debilitated in a chart and subject to Vargothama too (Vargothama – Having
posited in the same sign in both Rashi and Navamsa chart). As per Vedic
astrology a planet being Vargothama obtains prodigious powers to shower benefic
results upon the native. Based on this prinicple a bunch of Vedic astrologers
are of the opinion that If a debilitated planet is in Vargothama then that
alone would enable a debilitated planet to attain Neecha Bhanga.
As far as I am concerned
this cannot be relied upon due to a couple of factors. Mainly because whether
the Vargothama powers can be attributed to a debilitated planet itself is a
highly debatable matter and I will be discussing about that later separately.
Secondly even if there are planetary combinations present in a chart which
constitutes Neecha Bhanga for a debilitated planet who is having Vargothama
too, we cannot expect the planet to have attained Neecha Bhanga because even
when the planet has attained Neecha Bhanga in Rashi chart the planet will be
debilitated in Navamsa and we know how important the power of a planet in
Navamsa matters. But if a planet who is debilitated and Vargothama has attained
Neecha bhanga in both Rashi and Navamsa charts powerfully then we can expect the
planet to have attained Neecha Bhanga but such occassions would be rare.
Neecha Planets in Retrogression
The nature of a planet
when he is in retrogression is a vast subject to discuss and needs to elaborated
solely in an article which I will be doing soon. Anyway since we are bound to
make an understanding about what happens to debilitated planets who is retrograde
also let us have a brief look.
Generally when a planet is
in retrogression he is acquires power but whether the power acquired will be
diverted towards good deeds or otherwise is the question in concern here.
Eventhough a planet is a temporal benefic in a chart but a natural malefic then
his retrogression is not going to help as the power acquired will be used for
adverse purposes. Meanwhile a natural benefic planet though happens to be a
temporal malefic in a chart if becomes retrograde then he will be tend to
produce more beneficial results acquired through retrogression. So in a chart
if a natural malefic is in debilitation but if in retrograde motion too then he
might not produce the Rajayoga results even if subject to Neecha Bhanga
meanwhile a natural benefic planet if attains Neecha Bhanga then he will
produce strong Rajayoga results if in retrogression.
Debilitated Planets in Mutual Aspect
Some Vedic Astrologers
have an opinion that if two debilitated planets are in mutual aspect then that
alone could confer Rajayoga. They claim that since both are in need to get rid
of their state of debilitation they might help each other in attaining Neecha
Bhanga. We willl have to simply reject this claim as we know now that a planet
deviod power cannot be of help to another who is in need. This is as false as
believing that two blind men standing on either sides of a road in search of
help could help each other in crossing a road.
Time of Frutification
High amount of caution is
a must while fixing up the time period when the Neech Bhanga Rajayoga would
start operating in a chart if it is present. In many cases it is been found that in the sub
period of a planet which is comes first after the age of 35 who is posited in
the Nakshatra (Star/Constellation) of the planet who is causing Neech Bhanga
Rajayoga will be start providing the Yoga results and the native will start
getting benefitted out of it. Meanwhile is the transit Jupiter which is through
a good house from natal Moon should also influence the natal position of the
sub period lord by then. If an adverse transit of Saturn is influencing the
natal position of the sub period lord then the Rajayoga might not trigger then.
On such occassions the native will have to wait till the occurance of such a
combined planetary infuence taking place next time for the Rajayoga to get
triggered.
Please Heed
I hope I have been able to
cover at least the major portions of the topic though not in it’s
entirety. I would have missed a few
points in my scrutiny which my esteemed readers may deem to be valid. If so, I
always welcome whoever wish to pinpoint where I have missed to look into. Also
there must be places where a few might disagree and have indifferences which
are also welcomed for further explorations.
