Hindu Predictive Astrology Part 12: On Aspects — How Planets See Each Other

Hindu Predictive Astrology — Complete Modern Guide

Welcome to Part III: Core Predictive Principles. With the chart cast and the Dasa system in hand, we now add the third critical dimension: aspects. How planets look at each other across the chart modifies every prediction you'll ever make.

Part 12 of 31 • Core Predictive Principles • Covers: Book Chapter XIII — On Aspects

The power of a planet to produce good or inflict evil is modified to a great extent by the natural sympathies or antipathies of the aspecting and the aspected planets.

A planet sitting in a great house with strong dignity may still underperform if it receives the crushing aspect of a malefic. Conversely, a struggling planet in a weak position may be rescued by Jupiter's benevolent gaze. Aspects are the invisible wires connecting planets across the chart — they amplify, diminish, redirect, and transform every signification.

Hindu vs Western aspects: According to Hindu astrology, all aspects are impersonal and counted from sign to sign — not from exact degree to exact degree as in Western astrology. An aspect is good or bad according to the relationship between the aspecting and aspected planet, not the geometry of the angle.

Universal Aspects: Every Planet's Gaze

All planets cast aspects on specific houses from their location, with varying degrees of strength:

Houses Aspected Degree Range Strength of Sight Visual
3rd & 10th 60°–90° / 270°–300° Quarter Sight (25%)
¼
5th & 9th 120°–150° / 240°–270° Half Sight (50%)
½
4th & 8th 90°–120° / 210°–240° Three-Quarter Sight (75%)
¾
7th 180° Full Sight (100%)
Full

Practical shortcut: For general prediction work, Raman advises that until the reader is quite familiar with astrological mathematics, it will be sufficient to consider only full aspects (7th house / 180°) for all planets, plus the special aspects of Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars described below.

The Three Special Aspects

Three planets have unique, powerful aspects in addition to the standard 7th-house full aspect that all planets share. These special aspects are cast with full strength:

♄ Saturn → 3rd and 10th houses + 7th

Saturn powerfully aspects the 3rd and 10th houses from its position, in addition to the standard 7th-house aspect. As a natural malefic, Saturn's aspects are generally restrictive, delaying, and disciplining. However, if Saturn acquires beneficence by temporal situation (e.g., as Yogakaraka for Taurus or Libra ascendants), its aspects produce good.

Total houses aspected: 3rd, 7th, and 10th from Saturn's position.

♃ Jupiter → 5th and 9th houses + 7th

Jupiter powerfully aspects the 5th and 9th houses (the trines) from its position, in addition to the standard 7th. Jupiter's aspect over any planet is of weighty importance as a natural benefic, apart from the fact that he may be temporarily ill-disposed. The 5th and 9th are the most auspicious houses, making Jupiter's trine aspects especially protective and enhancing.

Total houses aspected: 5th, 7th, and 9th from Jupiter's position.

♂ Mars → 4th and 8th houses + 7th

Mars powerfully aspects the 4th and 8th houses from its position, in addition to the standard 7th. The 4th and 8th house aspects are square aspects — sometimes evil, sometimes beneficial. If Mars is a Yogakaraka (e.g., lord of 4th and 9th for Leo ascendant), even his 4th/8th aspects on a friendly planet greatly enhance the significations of the aspected planet and house.

Total houses aspected: 4th, 7th, and 8th from Mars' position.

The Key Principle

The opposition aspect (7th house) becomes extremely good when produced by Jupiter and the Moon. It is generally held to be good when benefics aspect each other. A planet aspecting its own house — whether by 7th-house or special aspect — will naturally increase the significations of that house.

The results vary according to the natural and temporal dignities of both the aspecting and aspected bodies. Jupiter's aspect over any planet is of weighty importance as a natural benefic, regardless of his temporary lordship status.

How to Read Aspects: Counting from the Aspecting Planet

The aspect is signified by referring to the number of signs from the aspecting planet to the house or planet being aspected. Always count forward (in zodiacal order):

Example: Counting Aspects

If the Sun is in Cancer and Saturn is in Taurus: from Saturn's perspective, Cancer is the 3rd sign. So the Sun receives Saturn's 3rd-house aspect (which is one of Saturn's special full-strength aspects). From the Sun's perspective, Taurus is the 11th sign — this is not a standard aspect house, so the Sun does not aspect Saturn in return.

Worked Example: Aspects in the Standard Chart (8-8-1912)

Using the standard illustration chart from Part 7 (Ascendant Aquarius, Sun in Cancer, Moon+Saturn in Taurus, Mars+Mercury+Venus in Leo, Jupiter in Scorpio, Rahu in Pisces, Ketu in Virgo), Raman identifies the following aspects:

Aspecting PlanetAspected BodyAspect Type
♄ Saturn (Taurus)☉ Sun (Cancer)3rd house aspect Special
♄ Saturn (Taurus)♃ Jupiter (Scorpio)7th house aspect Full
♄ Saturn (Taurus)Ascendant (Aquarius)10th house aspect Special
☽ Moon (Taurus)♃ Jupiter (Scorpio)7th house aspect Full
♂ Mars (Leo)Ascendant (Aquarius)7th house aspect Full
☿ Mercury (Leo)Ascendant (Aquarius)7th house aspect Full
♀ Venus (Leo)Ascendant (Aquarius)7th house aspect Full
♂ Mars (Leo)♃ Jupiter (Scorpio)4th house aspect Special
♂ Mars (Leo)☊ Rahu (Pisces)8th house aspect Special
♃ Jupiter (Scorpio)☊ Rahu (Pisces)5th house aspect Special
♃ Jupiter (Scorpio)♄ Saturn & ☽ Moon (Taurus)7th house aspect Full
♃ Jupiter (Scorpio)☉ Sun (Cancer)9th house aspect Special

Notice: Jupiter's aspects in this chart are especially significant. Jupiter aspects the Sun by 9th-house (trine) special aspect, Saturn and Moon by 7th-house (opposition) aspect, and Rahu by 5th-house (trine) special aspect. As a natural benefic, Jupiter's gaze on these planets mitigates the negative indications of Saturn, protects the Moon, and controls Rahu. This is why Jupiter is called the Guru — the great protector.

Do Not Mix Systems: Jaimini and Tajaka Aspects

Jaimini and Tajaka writers consider altogether different methods of reading aspects. Raman is emphatic: beginners should never mix one system with the other.

For reference only (Jaimini aspects — NOT used in this series):

  • All moveable signs aspect all fixed signs, except the adjacent ones
  • All fixed signs aspect all moveable signs, except the adjacent ones
  • Common signs aspect each other

This series follows Parasara exclusively. The Parasari aspect rules described above are the ones to use for all predictions in this series. Jaimini aspects operate on a completely different logic (sign-based, not planet-based) and require a separate analytical framework.

Western Aspects: A Comparison

For the benefit of readers familiar with Western astrology, Raman provides a brief comparison. According to Western astrology, aspects are reckoned from mutual longitudinal distances (exact degrees), not sign-to-sign:

AspectDistanceOrb AllowedWestern View
Conjunction ☌0°8°Depends on planets
Sextile ⚹60°7°Good
Square □90°8°Evil
Trine △120°8°Good
Opposition ☍180°8°Evil
Parallel PSame declination1°Like conjunction

The influence of an aspect starts when the planets enter the orb range (applying), reaches maximum at the exact distance, then decreases (separating). For example, a sextile aspect starts at 53°, peaks at 60°, and ceases at 67°.

Raman's Critique of the Western Classification

Raman takes issue with the Western doctrine that opposition (180°) and square (90°) are always evil regardless of the planets involved:

"If for instance Jupiter is in Cancer and Mars in Aries, Western astrologers hold this bad. Commonsense suggests this is an excellent aspect and Hindu astrology says so. Why should a square aspect be always bad unless planets involved are malefics?"

The Hindu view is more nuanced: the nature of the planets involved determines whether an aspect is good or bad, not merely the geometric angle. A Yogakaraka Mars aspecting an exalted Jupiter by a square (4th-house) aspect produces excellent results — calling this "evil" because it's 90° makes no logical sense.

Source: Hindu Predictive Astrology by B.V. Raman, Chapter XIII — On Aspects (pages 59–62). Aspect examples from the standard 8-8-1912 illustration chart. Degree ranges from footnote on page 59.

Key Takeaways

  1. Hindu aspects are sign-to-sign, not degree-to-degree
    If a planet is anywhere in Cancer and another anywhere in Capricorn, they have a full 7th-house mutual aspect.
  2. All planets have: ¼ sight (3rd/10th), ½ sight (5th/9th), ¾ sight (4th/8th), full sight (7th)
    For beginners, focus on full 7th-house aspects plus the three special aspects below.
  3. Saturn's special aspects: 3rd and 10th (+ 7th) — three houses total
    Generally restrictive/malefic unless Saturn is temporally benefic (e.g., Yogakaraka for Taurus/Libra).
  4. Jupiter's special aspects: 5th and 9th (+ 7th) — three houses total
    Always protective and enhancing. Jupiter's gaze on any planet is "of weighty importance" as natural benefic.
  5. Mars' special aspects: 4th and 8th (+ 7th) — three houses total
    Context-dependent. Mars as Yogakaraka aspecting a friend = excellent. Mars as pure malefic aspecting = damaging.
  6. Whether an aspect is good or bad depends on the PLANETS involved, not just the angle
    This is the fundamental difference from Western astrology. A "square" (4th/8th) between Jupiter and Mars can be excellent.

In Part 13, we tackle a profound and serious topic: Ayurdaya (Longevity) — how to determine the probable life span (Balarishta, Alpayu, Madhyayu, or Purnayu), the combinations for infant mortality, and the methods for narrowing down the span of life. This is the chapter where astrology confronts life's most fundamental question.

Based on

Hindu Predictive Astrology

by B.V. Raman | First published 1938 | UBS Publishers' Distributors Ltd.