Benefic and Malefic Planets
The art of determining benefic and malefic planets for a lagna (or rashi) is best learnt from Dr. B.V. Raman’s excellent book – How to Judge a Horoscope. This post is what I have learnt from one of the early chapters in the book – “Considerations in Judging a House”. II believe that all aspiring astrologers should mug this chapter.
The chapter does not only talk about planet by planet list for each lagna, but spell out the rules in making this determination. Lordship of certain houses in the chart can make the planets deviate from their natural tendencies of doing good or bad. E.g. Jupiter, who is naturally the best beneficial planet, is not good for Kanya (Virgo) lagna. It is similarly neutral for Simha (Leo) lagna.
In the rules given below, Dr. Raman also talks about Kendradhipati Dosha, the blemish acquired by a natural benefic by virtue of lordship of an angle 4th, 7th or 10th house. The lord of Lagna does not get affected by this dosha.
Benefics for a lagna can be determined as:
Malefics are determined as:
The chapter does not only talk about planet by planet list for each lagna, but spell out the rules in making this determination. Lordship of certain houses in the chart can make the planets deviate from their natural tendencies of doing good or bad. E.g. Jupiter, who is naturally the best beneficial planet, is not good for Kanya (Virgo) lagna. It is similarly neutral for Simha (Leo) lagna.
In the rules given below, Dr. Raman also talks about Kendradhipati Dosha, the blemish acquired by a natural benefic by virtue of lordship of an angle 4th, 7th or 10th house. The lord of Lagna does not get affected by this dosha.
Benefics for a lagna can be determined as:
- First house lord, other than moon,
- 9th and 5th lords (in that order)
- 10th, 7th and 4th lords (in that order), when they are not natural benefics. This isKendradhipati Dosha, which gets cancelled only when the aforesaid planet occupies its own sign.
- Natural malefics, when they become kendradhipatis.
Malefics are determined as:
- Lords of 3rd, 6th and 11th houses, in the opposite order,
- Any benefics that might be tainted with Kendradhipati Dosha.
- Moon as lord of Lagna,
- Lords of 8th and 12th house; although the chapter mentions only Sun and Moon as having this property, but in principle it can be applied to each planet.
Lagna | Beneficial Planets | Planets with evil streak |
Aries (Mesha) | Jupiter, Sun, Mars | Saturn, Mercury, Venus |
Taurus (Vrishabha) | Saturn, Mercury, Mars, Sun | Jupiter, Moon and Venus |
Gemini (Mithuna) | Venus | Mars, Jupiter, Sun |
Cancer (Karka) | Jupiter, Mars | Venus, Mercury |
Leo (Simha) | Mars and Sun | Mercury and Venus |
Virgo (Kanya) | Venus | Moon, Mars, Jupiter |
Libra (Tula) | Saturn, Mercury and Venus | Sun, Jupiter, Moon |
Scorpio (Vrishchika) | Moon, Sun, Jupiter | Mercury, Venus |
Sagittarius (Dhanu) | Mars, Sun | Venus, Saturn, Mercury |
Capricorn (Makara) | Venus, Mercury, Saturn | Mars, Jupiter, Moon |
Aquarius (Kumbha) | Venus, Mars, Sun | Jupiter, Moon |
Pisces (Meena) | Moon, Mars | Saturn, Sun, Venus, Mercury |
