LEARN ASTROLOGY - LESSON 33

"How to Judge Debilitated Planets - Part I"

The classical texts/commentaries are in agreement that the debilitated planets result in losses, delays, miseries, etc. on the native.  Still some classical commentaries like Jataka-Parijata, Phaladipika, etc. give combinations for cancellation of the state of debilitation of a particular planet if (i) its debilitation sign lord or (ii) the planet which has the sign in question as an exaltation sign, is in strength.  These commentators further add that this cancellation of debilitation creates rajayogas, though with delay and the native rises in life. But in our experience, whenever the sub-period of a debilitated planet with debilitation cancelled is in operation, it worries the native regarding the general and particular significations ruled by it.  For judging the results of a planet, first we should see the functional nature of the planet for a particular ascendant and then for finding out the extent we consider the strength of the planet in question.  If a planet is a functional malefic and is placed in its sign of debilitation it will (i) delay the results of its significations (ii) will indicate problems as per nature of the house ruled by it (iii) indicate setbacks to the significations of the closely afflicted houses/planets.  If a planet is a functional benefic but is debilitated it gives (i) beneficial results to a very limited extent (ii) fails to protect its significations when afflicted in the natal chart (iii) fails to protect its significations when afflicted by any functional malefic triple transit triggering influence. 

When a debilitated planet is placed in a malefic house in a natal chart and its longitude is transited by functional malefic planets irrespective of the sub-period being in operation, it indicates painful sufferings more severely to the native in comparison to a debilitated planet placed in an angle or a trine.  Before taking up illustrations, we would like to add that the principles of neechbhanga rajayogas imply that while a planet or two might be in debilitation, certain other planets including their dispositors and exaltation lords possess strength.  The rajayoga is, in fact, caused during the ruling sub-periods of such other strong planets. The sub-periods of debilitated planets bring delays, results of a lower order, stress and suffering to the native.

The debilitated Sun, weakens the soul/vitality, puts the father, husband and the son to trouble and indicates stomach and cardiac disorders.  The debilitated Moon indicates worries on account of property and domestic peace as well as indicates harm to the mother and wife.  The debilitated Moon indicates health concerns arising out of lungs and immunity disorders. In general, debilitated Mars makes a person short tempered, less courageous, prone to injuries, muscular disorders and accidents.  The debilitated Jupiter makes a person selfish and divests the native of the power to adhere to the social norms/morality. The debilitated Jupiter indicates health concerns arising out of liver orders. The debilitated Saturn indicates delayed results and joint problems.  The debilitated and afflicted Mercury makes one vulnerable to nervousness, speech disorders and paralysis.  Venus, when debilitated, indicates loss of comforts, sickness to spouse and health concerns arising out of renal disorders. Rahu occupying Scorpio makes the native very active to follow materialistic pursuits leaving behind all social values and norms, while Ketu occupying Taurus reduces materialistic possessions and indicates physical miseries.  These are just general significations.  The particular significations ruled by debilitated planets are different for different ascending signs.  The positional strength, that is the location in an angle/trine and aspect of strong Venus/Jupiter when functionally benefic, renders some relief to the weakness of the debilitated planets.  The debilitated planets under the close influence of functional malefic planets or placed in malefic houses become afflicted and indicate more sufferings.

CHART 1: Male born 3rd December, 1937, 0030 Hrs. 71E33, 32N35.

The lord of the ascendant, the Sun, is just on the most effective point of the fourth house and aspects the tenth house closely from there. The lord of the second house is in the fifth house which blessed the native with a degree in engineering. The exalted Mars aspects the ninth, twelfth and first houses.  The native was a top ranking government officer in the armed forces.  The strength of Mars and its aspect to the ninth house, as also the strong influence of the Sun gave him a long lived father.  The debilitated Moon afflicts both the most effective points of the house of its location and aspect as well as the Sun.  In this case the affliction is not exact and does not indicate grave problems with regard to the significations of the afflicted houses/planets.  The debilitation of the Moon and the close nodal affliction to the same disturbed the mental peace of the native, caused ill health to his wife, incurred losses in rental income and encroachment on his properties during the sub-period of the debilitated Moon in the main period of the Moon.  The native suffered setbacks in career during the sub-period of Jupiter in the main period of the Moon as both of these planets are in the state of debilitation in the natal chart.

CHART 2: Male born 14th October, 1962, 0519 Hrs. 77E04, 28N37, India.

In this chart Rahu, Ketu and Saturn are close to the most effective points of the houses of their location and they exactly afflict the houses occupied and aspected including the most effective point of the seventh house. They also make the planets Mercury and Moon weak as they afflict their mooltrikona sign houses.  The planet Mars is in its sign of debilitation.  Mars rules the house of the marital tie and inheritance.  This turns Mars utterly weak. The functional malefic planets, Saturn and Mars, mutually aspect each other closely and afflict each other. Venus ruling the house of family is weak due to infancy, afflicted MT sign house and placement in an afflicted house.  Jupiter ruling the house of marital happiness and domestic peace is placed in the house of conflicts and becomes weak.  During the sub-period of Mars in the main period of the Sun, another functional malefic, the engagement of the native was fixed and broken twice. The native's father also suffered from a fire in his premises and a raid by the income tax authorities.  During the sub-period of Mars in the main period of the badly placed Moon the native developed a fear complex and became mentally sick. 

CHART 3: Male born 16th July, 1948, 1230 Hrs. 85E08, 25N36, India.

The lord of the tenth house is weak due to placement in its sign of debilitation.  The Sun ruling income is weak as it is in utter infancy and its dispositor is weak due to debilitation.  Saturn is weak due to old-age and its dispositor is weak due to debilitation.    Jupiter is weak due to old age but it benefits the weak Saturn to some extent due to a close aspect.  The functional malefic planet Mercury is close to the most effective point of the ninth house and afflicts the ninth and third houses.  The profession remained a constant area of worry in the life of the native.  The academic career was just average.  During the sub-period of the Moon in the main period of Ketu, the native lost his job.  Due to the inherent weakness of the Moon, which is unstable by nature, the career of the native has always been changing and dissatisfying for the native except during short intervals of trouble free times.  During the sub-period of the Moon in the main period of Venus, the native's venture started in the sub-period of Venus in the main period of Venus was doomed again as both the Moon is debilitated and Venus is placed in an afflicted house.

CHART 4: Male born 5th October, 1947, 0435 Hrs. 77E10, 31N06, India.

Venus becomes weak due to old age, debilitation and combustion. It is well placed in the house ruling status.  The badly placed Mars ruling the house of fortune is also debilitated.  As Venus is close to the most effective point of the second house, its impact in the matter of status/job became pertinent.  Jupiter becomes weak due to a close affliction from Ketu and Rahu.  During the sub-period of Venus in the main period of Jupiter, the initiatives of the native were such that they brought him humiliation; he was superseded and transferred outstation.  The native was very tense regarding his job.  The weak planets lacked capacity/power to promote and to protect their significations due to malefic transit influences.

CHART 5: Female born 14th November, 1954, 1015 Hrs. 80E21, 26N29, India.

The Sun ruling the house of fortune is in old age and occupies its sign of debilitation.  The so called neechbhanga rajayoga would have been created as both Venus and exalted Saturn are with the Sun in the same house.  The most effective points of the seventh and first houses are under the exact malefic influence of the most malefic planet, the Moon.  The native had to face most unfortunate events in life.  The significator for husband is placed in the eighth house while the most effective point of the seventh is suffering from an exact affliction.   She was deserted and divorced during the sub-period of the Sun in the main period of combust and weak Saturn.  The operating planetary period was of a debilitated planet ruling the house of fortune.  No neechbhanga rajayoga was caused due to the so-called cancellation of debilitation of the Sun.

CHART 6: Male born 17th March, 1939, 0528 Hrs. 74E14, 32N09, India.

The lord of the eighth house ruling marital tie, longevity, nervous system and easy gains occupies its sign of debilitation.  The Sun ruling vitality is weak due to infancy.  Saturn ruling the ascendant is strong in the chart.  The functional malefic planet, Moon, ruling the house of diseases is weak due to bad placement and closely afflicts weak Venus badly placed in the house of losses.  Jupiter being the dispositor of the secondary significator of vitality, Mars, is combust and weak.  During the sub-period of Mercury in the main period of the ascendant lord, Saturn, the native suffered from paralysis in December, 1987, when transit Rahu was causing affliction to the most effective point of the second house where both Saturn and Mercury are placed in the natal chart. The native died at the age of 49 years.

In all the case studies taken up in this chapter, the so called combinations for cancellation of debilitation of the debilitated planets were present but the same could not prevent the losses and mishaps.  In our view, debilitated planets fail to promote and protect their significations until and unless they are strengthened and continued propitiatory remedies for the functional malefic planets are performed.