Hindu Predictive Astrology Part 6: Planetary Strengths and Avasthas

Hindu Predictive Astrology — Complete Modern Guide

In Part 5, we built the complete vocabulary of dignities, relationships, and planetary attributes. Now we learn how to measure a planet's power: the 10 states of existence (Avasthas) and the six sources of strength (Shadbalas) that determine whether a planet can actually deliver what it promises.

Part 6 of 31 • Foundations • Covers: Book Chapter VII — Planetary Strengths and Avasthas

A planet may own a great sign and sit in a powerful house — but if it's weak, it cannot deliver. Strength determines delivery.

Planetary conjunctions play an important part in determining the various sources of strength and weakness in a horoscope. Conjunction of good planets always produces beneficial results, while the reverse holds good when malefic planets join together. But beyond conjunctions, planets enter various states of existence based on their position, and draw strength from six independent sources. Both systems must be considered in every chart judgment.

Think of it this way: The sign lordship and house placement tell you what a planet is supposed to deliver. The Avasthas and Shadbalas tell you how well it can actually deliver it. A planet in an excellent house but in a terrible Avastha is like a talented employee who's seriously ill — the potential is there, but the capacity to perform is compromised.

The 10 Avasthas (States of Planetary Existence)

Planets, on account of their incessant movements, get into certain states of existence called Avasthas, which are ten in number. Each Avastha produces its own characteristic results. In the judgment of a horoscope, all these details must be fully considered.

Auspicious States (1–5)

Deeptha — Exaltation

Condition: Planet in its sign of exaltation.
Results: Gains from conveyances, respect from elders, fame, wealth, and good progeny.

Swastha — Own House

Condition: Planet in its own sign.
Results: Fame, wealth, position, lands, happiness, and good children.

Muditha — In the House of a Friend

Condition: Planet in a friendly sign.
Results: Happiness.

Santha — In an Auspicious Sub-division

Condition: Planet in beneficial Shadvargas (divisional charts — covered in Part 9).
Results: Strength and courage, helping relations, comfort and happiness.

Sakta — Retrogression

Condition: Planet in retrograde motion (Vakra).
Results: Courage, reputation, wealth, and progeny.

Inauspicious States (6–10)

Peedya — Last Quarter of a Sign

Condition: Planet residing in the last quarter (final degrees) of a sign.
Results: Prosecution, incarceration, pilfering habits, and expulsion from country.

Deena — In an Inimical House

Condition: Planet in an enemy's sign.
Results: Jealousy, mental worry, brain trouble, sickness, and degradation.

Vikala — Combustion

Condition: Planet in combustion (intimate conjunction with the Sun).
Results: Diseases, orphanage, loss of wife and children, and disgrace.

Khala — Debilitation

Condition: Planet in its sign of debilitation.
Results: Losses, mean birth, troubles from various sources, quarrels with parents and relations, imprisonment, and hating God and sacred literature.

Bhita — Acceleration

Condition: Planet in accelerated motion (Athichara).
Results: Losses from various sources, torture, foes, mean habits, and danger in foreign countries.

A planet can be in multiple Avasthas simultaneously. For example, a planet could be retrograde (Sakta — auspicious) AND in an enemy's sign (Deena — inauspicious). The astrologer must weigh the net effect of all active states. This is where experience and intuition become essential.

The Shadbalas: Six Sources of Strength

Each planet gets a particular share of strength when it occupies a particular position. This strength can be numerically measured by a unit called Rupa. There are six kinds of strength considered in Indian astrology — together forming the Shadbala (literally "six strengths") system:

Sthanabala — Positional Strength

The strength a planet gets from its position in the chart.

A planet acquires Sthanabala when it occupies its exaltation sign, own house, Moolatrikona, friendly house, or its own Shadvargas (divisional chart positions — covered in Part 9). The higher the dignity (exaltation > own > Moolatrikona > friendly), the greater the Sthanabala.

Digbala — Directional Strength

The strength a planet gets from the house direction it occupies.

Direction	House	Planets with Digbala
East	1st (Ascendant)	Jupiter & Mercury
North	10th (Midheaven)	Sun & Mars
West	7th (Descendant)	Saturn
South	4th (Nadir)	Venus & Moon

Chestabala — Motional Strength

The strength a planet gets from its type of motion.

Sun and Moon get Chestabala when in the signs of Uttarayana (Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini — the Sun's northerly course).
Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn get Chestabala when in retrogression or in conjunction with the Full Moon.

Planetary War (Grahayuddha): If Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, or Saturn are conjoined with Mars, they are said to be defeated in the planetary fight and gain Chestabala as a result. Mars is the natural warrior — other planets lose to him in close combat.

Kalabala — Temporal Strength

The strength a planet gets from when (time of day, phase of Moon, etc.).

Kalabala has several sub-components. Here is the complete set of rules:

Factor	Details
Day/Night	Night: Moon, Mars, Saturn are powerful. Day: Sun, Jupiter, Venus are powerful. Mercury is always powerful.
Paksha (lunar phase)	Bright half (Shukla): Benefics are powerful. Dark half (Krishna): Malefics are powerful.
Time of day	Sunrise: Mercury • Noon: Sun • Evening: Saturn • 1st part of night: Moon • Midnight: Venus • Last part of night: Mars • Jupiter: always strong.
Weekday, month, year	Planets are powerful during their own weekdays, months, and years (e.g., Sun on Sunday, Moon in the month of Sravana, etc.).

Drugbala — Aspectual Strength

The strength a planet gets from the aspects it receives from other planets.

Aspects of benefics give full Drugbala (add strength), while aspects of malefics take away Drugbala (subtract strength). The detailed rules of aspects — which houses each planet aspects and with how much strength — are covered in Part 12 (On Aspects). For now, understand that a planet receiving Jupiter's aspect gains significant Drugbala, while one receiving Saturn's aspect loses it.

Naisargikabala — Natural/Permanent Strength

The innate strength each planet carries regardless of chart position.

Each planet produces a particular measure of strength permanently, irrespective of its position. The order from strongest to weakest:

☉ Sun

☽ Moon

♀ Venus

♃ Jupiter

☿ Mercury

♂ Mars

♄ Saturn

Sun is the most powerful; Saturn is the least powerful in terms of natural inherent strength.

Putting It All Together

The total Shadbala of a planet is the sum of all six individual strengths, measured in Rupas. Raman notes that the numerical calculation of these strengths is detailed in his companion book Graha and Bhava Balas, which provides the full mathematical framework.

The Practical Interpretation

When analysing any chart, ask these questions about each important planet:

What Avastha is it in? (Exalted? Own house? Enemy sign? Combust? Retrograde?)
Does it have Digbala? (Is it in its preferred directional quadrant?)
Is it temporally strong? (Born during the day → Sun/Jupiter/Venus gain. Born at night → Moon/Mars/Saturn gain.)
What aspects does it receive? (Jupiter's aspect adds enormous strength. Saturn/Mars aspects reduce it.)
What is its natural rank? (Sun inherently beats Saturn in any tiebreaker.)

A planet strong in multiple Shadbala categories can overcome even debilitation. For example, if Jupiter is debilitated in Capricorn but has Digbala (in the 1st house), strong Kalabala (born during the day), and receives benefic aspects (Drugbala), the total strength may still be adequate. This is why single-factor analysis is dangerous — always assess ALL six sources before judging a planet's capability.

Source: Hindu Predictive Astrology by B.V. Raman, Chapter VII — Planetary Strengths and Avasthas (pages 24–26). For detailed numerical calculations of Shadbala, Raman refers to his companion work Graha and Bhava Balas.

Key Takeaways

10 Avasthas range from Deeptha (exaltation — best) to Khala (debilitation — worst)
Each produces specific life results. A planet can be in multiple Avasthas simultaneously — weigh the net effect.
Retrograde planets (Sakta) are considered STRONG, not weak
This is counter-intuitive for Western astrology students. In Vedic astrology, retrogression gives courage, reputation, and wealth.
Combustion (Vikala) and Debilitation (Khala) are the two most damaging states
Combustion: diseases, orphanage, loss. Debilitation: losses, imprisonment, hatred of God.
The 6 Shadbalas provide a numerical strength framework measured in Rupas
Sthanabala (positional) + Digbala (directional) + Chestabala (motional) + Kalabala (temporal) + Drugbala (aspectual) + Naisargikabala (natural).
Digbala: Jupiter/Mercury → East (1st), Sun/Mars → North (10th), Saturn → West (7th), Venus/Moon → South (4th)
A planet in its preferred direction gains significant additional strength.
Natural strength order: Sun > Moon > Venus > Jupiter > Mercury > Mars > Saturn
This permanent ranking applies regardless of chart position and serves as a tiebreaker.

With the complete foundational vocabulary now in place — signs, planets, nakshatras, classifications, dignities, relationships, Avasthas, and Shadbalas — we're ready to put theory into practice. In Part 7, we'll learn how to cast a Hindu horoscope step by step, including the South Indian and North Indian chart formats, calculating the Ascendant, placing the planets, and deriving the Navamsa chart.

Based on

Hindu Predictive Astrology

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