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InHindu astrology,yoga is the relationship between one planet, sign, or house to another by placement,aspect, orconjunction. It is the consideration of the planetarydasha's directional effects, the most important factor which distinguishes Hindu astrology fromWestern astrology.
Laghu Parashari, atreatise on dasha, is based onParashara'sBrihat Parashara Hora Shastra[1] and is the simplest and most widely-followed system. AncientHindu astrologers seem to have confined their exercises to the seven planets:[2] theSun, theMoon,Mercury,Venus,Mars,Jupiter, andSaturn; thelunar nodesRahu andKetu are rarely mentioned. Parashara refers to five additionalchayagrahas, invisible mathematical solar positions which affect individuals and nations. TheRigveda refers to a total of thirty-fourchayagrahas: twenty-sevennakshatraslunar stations) and the seven astrological planets.[3] Elsewhere, however, it refers to forty-ninechayagrahas: the previous thirty-four plus the two lunar nodes, the twelve zodiac signs, andayanamsa.Varahamihira favoured Satyacharya's dasha system, although he said that many people had degraded it with useless additions.[4]
Good or bad planetary results depend on the good or bad yoga caused by the planets.[5] Planets influence each other with mutual, direct (or indirect)sambandha.[6] Auspicious yogas arise when lords ofkendras (squares) andtrikonas (triangles) establish an association.[7]
The wordyoga is derived from theSanskrit rootYuj, meaning to join properly, to control judicially, or to integrate. It has been used to indicatelunisolar distances and planetary situations, associations, and combinations. Yogas are formed when one planet, sign, or house is related to another by placement, aspect or conjunction.[8] The consideration of planetary yogas and dashas is the most important factor that distinguishes Hindu astrology from Western astrology.[citation needed]
Yoga may have good or bad effects.Raja yogas are auspicious, anddaridra yogas indicate poverty.Sanyasa yogas indicatesannyasa (renunciation). Some yogas cancel the effects of inauspicious yogas[9] or raja yogas.[10] Some planets yield generally-beneficial yoga, indicating honour and prestige.[11]
Hindu astrology is based on the interpretation ofnakshatras (constellations),rasis (astrological signs) andNavagraha (the astrological planets). Planetary combinations and their indications are based on strength, nature, aspect, andavastha (state).[12][13] Hindu astrology requires the identification of yogas and their application in accordance with established principles.[14]
Although yogas are based on fundamental principles described in standard texts, not all texts cover all possible planetary combinations and associations, and texts have different interpretations of a given yoga.[15] Certain yogas described in the texts cannot occur; these relate to Mercury and Venus vis-à-vis the Sun. Mercury never goes beyond 28 degrees in front of or behind the Sun, and Venus never goes beyond 47 degrees.[16]Saraswati yoga is common and auspicious.[17]
Yogas are generally classified asChandra (Moon),Surya (Sun),Nabhasa (celestial),Raja,Dhana, orDarida. Their common factor is the relative strength of the planets and their houses by ownership, occupation or aspect. Janardan Harji, in the fourth chapter of hisMansagari, assigns certain outcomes to certain combinations.[18] Yoga results are indicated by the circumstances of birth and the course of a person's life, from birth to death.[19]
According toSaravali, the planets amplify a person's fate.[20][21] Hindu astrologers have attempted to enumerate all possible yogas, with varied results.[22][23][24]
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