Yogas in Vedic Astrology
A yoga is a named combination of planets. When certain planets stand in certain houses, signs or relationships to each other, the classical texts say the combination brings a particular quality into life. Some yogas support wealth, status or learning; a few describe challenges that call for patience.
A yoga describes potential rather than a fixed outcome. Its results tend to show most clearly during the dasha periods of the planets that form it, and a yoga formed by strong, well-placed planets gives fuller results than one formed by weak or afflicted planets. The yogas below were found by checking your birth chart against the standard rules; the facts under each one show exactly why it applies to you.
Ruchaka Yoga
Rule: Mars in its own or exaltation sign in a kendra (1st, 4th, 7th or 10th house).
Ruchaka is one of the five Mahapurusha yogas. It gives courage, physical vigour and a commanding presence. You are likely to do well in roles that need decisiveness and drive, such as leadership, defence, sports, engineering or any field where you must take charge. Channel your energy with patience and it becomes a lasting source of success.
Bhadra Yoga
Rule: Mercury in its own or exaltation sign in a kendra (1st, 4th, 7th or 10th house).
Bhadra is the Mahapurusha yoga of Mercury. It gives a sharp intellect, fine speech and a gift for learning, trade and communication. You are likely to be quick to understand, good with words and numbers, and respected for your judgement. Writing, teaching, commerce, law and analysis are natural fields for this yoga.
Hamsa Yoga
Rule: Jupiter in its own or exaltation sign in a kendra (1st, 4th, 7th or 10th house).
Hamsa is the Mahapurusha yoga of Jupiter. It gives wisdom, good character and the respect of others. You are likely to be drawn to knowledge, ethics and spiritual life, and to be trusted as an adviser. Teaching, law, finance and counselling suit this yoga, and its blessings tend to grow with age.
Malavya Yoga
Rule: Venus in its own or exaltation sign in a kendra (1st, 4th, 7th or 10th house).
Malavya is the Mahapurusha yoga of Venus. It brings charm, artistic taste and the comforts of life: a pleasant home, vehicles and good company. You are likely to appreciate beauty and harmony and to attract affection. The arts, design, hospitality, fashion and any work that pleases people are favoured.
Shasha Yoga
Rule: Saturn in its own or exaltation sign in a kendra (1st, 4th, 7th or 10th house).
Shasha is the Mahapurusha yoga of Saturn. It gives discipline, endurance and the ability to build slowly but solidly. Authority often comes through hard work, organisation and service to many people. Progress may be gradual in youth, but this yoga rewards persistence with a secure and respected position later in life.
Raja Yoga
Rule: The lord of a kendra (1st, 4th, 7th or 10th house) and the lord of a trikona (1st, 5th or 9th house) together, in each other’s signs, or aspecting each other.
A Raja yoga links the houses of effort and action (kendras) with the houses of fortune and merit (trikonas). It supports rise in status, recognition and the ability to lead. Its results usually unfold during the dasha or antardasha of the planets that form it, and they are strongest when those planets are well placed and not afflicted.
Dharma Karmadhipati Yoga
Rule: The lords of the 9th house (dharma, fortune) and the 10th house (karma, career) together, in each other’s signs, or aspecting each other.
This is one of the most valued Raja yogas. It joins your sense of purpose with your work, so career and duty tend to support each other. It favours an honourable profession, steady advancement and work that has meaning for you. Its best period is the dasha of either of the two planets.
Yogakaraka Planet
Rule: One planet rules both a kendra (4th, 7th or 10th house) and a trikona (5th or 9th house).
A planet that owns both an angle and a trine forms a Raja yoga by itself and is called the yogakaraka of your chart. It is the most helpful planet for your Ascendant: its dasha and antardasha periods tend to bring progress, and strengthening it through good conduct and the traditional remedies of that planet is considered especially worthwhile.
Dhana Yoga
Rule: The lord of a wealth house (2nd or 11th) together with, in exchange with, or aspecting the lord of the 1st, 5th, 9th or the other wealth house.
Dhana yogas are combinations for wealth. They link the houses of income and savings with the houses of self, merit and fortune, so effort tends to turn into earnings and savings. The amount and timing depend on the strength of the planets involved; their dasha periods are the usual time for financial gains.
Gajakesari Yoga
Rule: Jupiter in a kendra (1st, 4th, 7th or 10th house) counted from the Moon.
Gajakesari, the ‘elephant and lion’ yoga, is one of the best known combinations. It gives intelligence, a generous nature, good reputation and the ability to overcome opponents. Unafflicted, it brings respect in society and steady prosperity; its effects are most visible in the periods of Jupiter and the Moon.
Sunapha Yoga
Rule: One or more planets other than the Sun, Rahu and Ketu in the 2nd house from the Moon.
Sunapha supports self-earned wealth, a good name and intelligence. You are likely to build your position through your own efforts, and the planets in the 2nd from your Moon colour how: Mars through courage, Mercury through skill, Jupiter through learning, Venus through art and comfort, Saturn through hard work.
Anapha Yoga
Rule: One or more planets other than the Sun, Rahu and Ketu in the 12th house from the Moon.
Anapha gives a pleasant personality, good health and contentment. It favours a dignified life, a liking for comfort and an inclination to give generously. The planets in the 12th from your Moon show the qualities through which these results come.
Durudhara Yoga
Rule: Planets other than the Sun, Rahu and Ketu on both sides of the Moon: in the 2nd and in the 12th house from it.
Durudhara combines the results of Sunapha and Anapha. The Moon, your mind, is supported from both sides, which gives emotional stability, wealth, comforts and a generous nature. It favours a life well provided for and the goodwill of family and friends.
Kemadruma Yoga
Rule: No planet other than the Sun, Rahu and Ketu with the Moon or in the 2nd or 12th house from it.
Kemadruma describes an unsupported Moon. Traditionally it points to periods of loneliness, worry or financial ups and downs, and to the need to build your own support. It is very often cancelled by other features of the chart, in which case these effects are not expected.
Chandra-Mangal Yoga
Rule: The Moon and Mars together in one sign, or aspecting each other.
Chandra-Mangal yoga joins feeling with drive. It is traditionally linked with earning ability, enterprise and success in business and property. You are likely to act quickly on your instincts; balancing that energy with patience helps you get the best from this yoga.
Adhi Yoga
Rule: The natural benefics Mercury, Jupiter and Venus in the 6th, 7th and 8th houses from the Moon.
Adhi yoga places the benefics around the 7th from the Moon, protecting the mind from many sides. It is associated with leadership, polite and trustworthy conduct, good health, a long life and victory over opponents. When all three benefics take part the yoga is full; with two it is partial.
Sakata Yoga
Rule: Jupiter in the 6th, 8th or 12th house from the Moon.
Sakata, the ‘cart wheel’ yoga, describes fortune that rises and falls like a turning wheel: periods of progress followed by setbacks. Steady habits, savings and patience smooth the ride. The yoga is cancelled when the Moon is in a kendra from the Ascendant.
Vasumati Yoga
Rule: Mercury, Jupiter and Venus all in upachaya houses (3rd, 6th, 10th or 11th) from the Moon.
Vasumati is a yoga for growing wealth. The upachaya houses improve with time, so benefics placed there bring income and assets that increase steadily over the years. It favours careful saving and investments made with patience.
Budhaditya Yoga
Rule: The Sun and Mercury together in one sign.
Budhaditya yoga joins the Sun’s confidence with Mercury’s intelligence. It gives a clear mind, good communication and the ability to learn and explain, with recognition for your skills. It is a common yoga; it gives its best results when Mercury is not too close to the Sun (combust).
Vesi Yoga
Rule: One or more planets other than the Moon, Rahu and Ketu in the 2nd house from the Sun.
Vesi yoga supports truthful speech, a balanced outlook and steady progress. You are likely to be hard-working and fair, and to gain through effort and good relations with others.
Vosi Yoga
Rule: One or more planets other than the Moon, Rahu and Ketu in the 12th house from the Sun.
Vosi yoga is associated with skill, learning and a charitable nature. You are likely to be capable and knowledgeable, and to earn respect through your abilities.
Ubhayachari Yoga
Rule: Planets other than the Moon, Rahu and Ketu on both sides of the Sun: in the 2nd and in the 12th house from it.
Ubhayachari yoga surrounds the Sun with support. It is associated with eloquence, good health, a balanced nature and a respected, comfortable position in life.
Harsha Yoga
Rule: The lord of the 6th house placed in the 6th, 8th or 12th house.
Harsha is a Vipreet Raja yoga: a difficult house lord placed in another difficult house loses its power to harm. It favours good health, victory over opponents and rivals, and happiness that comes after overcoming obstacles.
Sarala Yoga
Rule: The lord of the 8th house placed in the 6th, 8th or 12th house.
Sarala is a Vipreet Raja yoga. It gives resilience, a long life and the ability to stay steady in a crisis. Sudden challenges often end by leaving you stronger, and research or work with hidden matters can prosper.
Vimala Yoga
Rule: The lord of the 12th house placed in the 6th, 8th or 12th house.
Vimala is a Vipreet Raja yoga. It is associated with careful spending, independence and good conduct. Expenses tend to be controlled and losses limited, and the yoga favours a calm, principled life.
Neecha Bhanga Raja Yoga
Rule: A debilitated planet whose weakness is cancelled, for example by the lord of its sign or of its exaltation sign standing in a kendra.
When the debilitation of a planet is cancelled, the classical texts say it can rise to give strong results, much as someone who starts with difficulties can achieve more than expected. The matters ruled by this planet may begin with struggle and improve markedly with effort and time, especially in its dasha.
Maha Parivartana Yoga
Rule: Two planets in each other’s signs, linking two good houses (neither the 3rd nor the 6th, 8th or 12th).
In an exchange each planet acts as if in its own sign, so the two houses support each other strongly. A Maha Parivartana between good houses is a powerful positive link: the matters of both houses prosper together, especially in the periods of the two planets.
Khala Parivartana Yoga
Rule: Two planets in each other’s signs where one of the houses is the 3rd.
This exchange involves the 3rd house of effort and courage. Its results are mixed: progress comes, but often through persistent effort, changes of direction and some restlessness. Steady work brings out its good side.
Dainya Parivartana Yoga
Rule: Two planets in each other’s signs where one of the houses is the 6th, 8th or 12th.
This exchange links a good house with a difficult one, so the matters of the two houses can bring worry, debt or delays at times. It also gives the capacity to recover: what is lost can be regained through patience and sensible action.
Amala Yoga
Rule: A natural benefic in the 10th house from the Ascendant or the Moon, with no malefic there.
Amala means ‘spotless’. A benefic in the 10th house supports a good reputation, honest work and lasting recognition for your conduct. It favours professions that serve others and a name that remains clean.
Lakshmi Yoga
Rule: The 9th lord in a kendra or trikona in its own or exaltation sign, with a strong Ascendant lord.
Lakshmi yoga, named after the goddess of wealth, is a combination for fortune, prosperity and a noble character. It favours wealth that comes with honour, a comfortable life and the means to help others.
Saraswati Yoga
Rule: Jupiter, Venus and Mercury in kendras, trikonas or the 2nd house, with Jupiter in its own, exaltation or a friend’s sign.
Saraswati yoga, named after the goddess of learning, gives intelligence, education, skill with words and an appreciation of the arts. It favours scholarship, writing, teaching, music and recognition for knowledge.
Parvata Yoga
Rule: Benefics in kendras with no malefic in a kendra, and the 6th and 8th houses empty or holding only benefics.
Parvata, the ‘mountain’ yoga, gives stability, prosperity, a charitable nature and a good name. It favours a position of standing in your community built on generosity and good conduct.
Kahala Yoga
Rule: The 4th and 9th lords in kendras from each other, with a strong Ascendant lord.
Kahala yoga gives boldness, energy and the ability to lead a group. It favours determination, a strong position and success in ventures that need courage and organisation.
Guru-Mangal Yoga
Rule: Jupiter and Mars together in one sign, or aspecting each other.
Guru-Mangal yoga joins Jupiter’s wisdom with Mars’s energy. It favours principled action, courage used for good causes, technical or legal skill, and success in property and administration.
Mahabhagya Yoga
Rule: A man born during the day with the Ascendant, Sun and Moon in odd signs, or a woman born at night with all three in even signs.
Mahabhagya means ‘great fortune’. The classical texts associate it with good character, long life, prosperity and a respected place in society. It is a supportive background yoga that adds to the good results of the rest of the chart.
Shubha Kartari Yoga
Rule: Benefics in both the 2nd and the 12th house from the Ascendant.
Shubha Kartari places the Ascendant between benefics, like being held between two protective hands. It supports good health, a pleasant nature, a good name and protection from difficulties.
Papa Kartari Yoga
Rule: Malefics in both the 2nd and the 12th house from the Ascendant.
Papa Kartari places the Ascendant between malefics, like being hemmed in by scissors. It can bring pressure, health worries or obstacles to your plans at times. Its effect is reduced by strong benefics elsewhere, and patience and steady routines help most.
Daridra Yoga
Rule: The lord of the 11th house (gains) placed in the 6th, 8th or 12th house.
This combination places the lord of gains in a difficult house, so income can be irregular or spent quickly. It is a caution rather than a sentence: planning, saving and careful choices about debt go a long way to offset it, and strong benefics elsewhere reduce it.