The Lagna and Planetary Lordships

by Hank Friedman

I have been working on a table that would help me to remember the themes that each planet governs, for each Lagna (Ascendant). Each Lagna has its own implicit structure, and planets play different roles depending upon the Ascendant of the chart they are operating in. I studied the reference books (but few covered this topic) and then examined many charts to corroborate my ideas.

After several run-throughs, I completed the following table. I love how it shows that, for example, the Moon is a double significator of Mother for an Aries Lagna, because it is both the significator for Mother and rules the 4th house, and how Venus rules both parents for those with an Aquarius Lagna, because it rules both the 4th and 9th houses. In other words, the table shows what special roles each planet plays for each Lagna.

To use it correctly for each planet (for a specific Rising Sign), be sure to assess whether the planet has a good placement or a challenging one, because this controls whether a planetary theme will manifest positively or negatively. Good placements are combinations of being in good houses (all houses except 6, 8, and 12) and being strong or at least not weakened (weakened includes: in a planetary war, in its sign of debilitation, within 6 degrees of the Sun -- for all planets except the Moon, or the Moon within 72 degrees of the Sun). A planet can gain strength by having directional strength (dig bala, which occurs if Mercury or Jupiter are in the First House, Sun or Mars in the 10th, Moon or Venus in the 4th, or Saturn in the 7th house). A planet also gains strength by being in its own sign, its exaltation sign, or retrograde.

If a planet has good placement in the Vedic birth chart, then the themes represented by that planet should go well in the person's life (all other factors being equal), while if the planet has a challenging placement, the themes represented by it will be "bumpier".

For example, if Mars in a Leo Rising chart is in the sign of Cancer, then the relationships with (and/or the lives of) both parents may be very problematic. That's because Mars is both debilitated in Cancer and placed in the 12th house, too, as lord of both the 4th house (Mother) and the 9th house (Father). If the same Mars were also within 6 degrees of the Sun, then the situation would become even more severe.

On the other hand, if Mars in the Leo rising chart was in Taurus in the 10th house, and the Sun was in the 5th house in Sagittarius, then the significations for both parents (and ones relationship to them) would be very good, because Mars would be very well placed, having directional strength (dig bala, in the 10th house) and also being retrograde (by being close to opposite to the Sun).

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How to use the table
There are several things to notice about the table:

1. The most important theme for each planet/lagna is listed at the top of its list. If the planet's own nature reinforces the theme for the house it rules, then I have made the theme word(s) bold -- and sometimes underlined too -- to add emphasis.

2. The color of each table cell indicates the quality of the planet for that particular ascendant. As shown in the legend at the bottom of each of the two tables, planets ruling positive houses have green cells, negative houses red cells, etc.

3. If you don't understand some of the terminology:

a. Maraka indicates a planet that may cause illness, poverty, or death.

b. Kendra indicates ruling the 1st, 4th, 7th and or 10th houses. Kendra-Adhipati means ruling two of these: 4th, 7th, or 10th, which is said to cause challenges.

4. For a a version of the table (a PDF file) that you can print out on two pages, i.e. to place in a sheet protector to use as a reference in preparing for chart readings, click here.

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Sun

Moon

Mercury

Venus

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Aries

5^th

Children

Creativity

Self-Expression

Knowingness

4^th

Mother

Psychology

Changing emotions

Sensuality

3^rd & 6^th

Enemies/Competes

Sibling problems

Disrupted efforts

Brashness/Anxiety

2^nd & 7^th

Spouse

Maraka

Family

Attractions

1^st & 8^th

Vitality

Longevity

Ego

Stamina

9^th & 12^th

Spirituality

Travel

Foreign residence

Mentor issues

10^th & 11^th

Success & Fame

Isolation

Ambition

Taurus

4^th

Mother

Confidence

Independence

3^rd

Younger siblings

Fears vs. Courage

Fluctuating efforts

changing homes

2^nd & 5^th

Voice & writing

Intelligence

Groundedness

1^st & 6^th

Health issues

Fears & doubts

Self-thwarting

Works to please

7^th & 12^th

Passion

Loss of spouse

Separation

Isolation

8^th & 11^th

Probs w siblings

Trouble w Friends

Influence & Desire

Fulfillment blocked

9^th & 10^th Yogakaraka Success

Perseverance

Strong Beliefs

Gemini

3^rd

Younger siblings

Willfulness

Skills

Perseverance

2^nd

Family Bonds

Security issues

Variable finances

Changing moods

1^st & 4^th

Dual residences

Psychology

Changing feelings

Over-thinking

5^th & 12^th

Creativity

Issues w children

Romantic & Sexual

Expenditures

6^th & 11^th

Illness of self, sibs

Enemies & Friends

Problems receiving

7^th & 10^th

Career obstacles

Teacher or mentor

Successful partners

8^th & 9^th

Philosophical

Deep thought

Growth thru crises

Spiritual tests

Cancer

2^nd

Voice

Monologues

Speak w/o listening

Possessions

1^st

Changeable/moody

Varying confidence

Sensitivity

Impressionable

3^rd & 12^th

Careful spending

Unseen efforts

Misunderstandings

Problems w sibling

4^th & 11^th

Mom & Cars

Passion & pleasure

Interests at home

Friends Social life

5^th & 10^th

Career success

Accomplishment

Clouded Thoughts

6^th & 9^th

Hierarchy

Father problems

Blocks to Spirit

Fears & doubts

7^th & 8^th

Partnership issues

Passion

Chronic problems

Maraka

Leo

1^st

Vitality

Confidence

Inspiration

Health

12^th

Sensitivity

Fluctuating energy

Need for solitude

Impulsive spending

2^nd & 11^th

Varying finances

Money conscious

Confident talking

Friends & Family

3^th & 10^th

Career efforts

Accomplishments

Disciplined skills

Creativity

4^th & 9^th

Both parents

Strident faith

Luck with property

Ethics

5^th & 8^th

issues w Children

Strong passions

Deep knowledge

6^th & 7^th

Loss of partners

Isolation

Competition

Virgo

12^th

Unseen efforts

Lost energy

Feeling invisible

Hidden issues

11^th

Changing fortunes

Fulfillment issues

Friendship bonds

Social sensitivities

1^st & 10^th

Varying successes

Expressive career

Popularity

2^nd & 9^th

Thirst for learning

Devotion to family

Monetary goals

3^rd & 8^th

Issues with siblings

Accidents surgery

Longevity

Endurance

4^th & 7^th

Morals vs. Passion

Mother

Giving to others

5^th & 6^th

Issues w children

Pressures

Isolation

Hardworking

HJa

Positive Kendra Negative Maraka 3^rd lord Kendra-Adhipati Dhana

Sun

Moon

Mercury

Venus

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Libra

11^th

Older siblings

Social desires

Friends Influence

Desire for income

10^th

Changes in career

Rapport w public

Varying workload

9^th & 12^th

Travel

Father issues

Spirituality

Convictions

1^st & 8^th

Excesses

Sensuality + allure

Evolving journey

Ongoing issues

2^nd & 7^th

Maraka

Wants partner

Business person

3^rd & 6^th

Can’t accept advice

Self-centered goals

Efforts & obstacles

Problems w sibling

4^th & 5^th Yogakaraka

Family important

Developed mind

Responsible

Scorpio

10^th

Ambition

Achievements Fame & success

9^th

Issues with father

Varying faith

Moves away

Idealistic

8^th & 11^th

Prob w friends/sibs

Resolves problems

Reputation

Confrontations

7^th & 12^th

Loss of partner

Strong passions

Foreign adventures

1^st & 6^th

Illness

Health &Vitality

Assertion

Enemies

2^nd & 5^th

Children

Creativity

Family matters

Speaking talents

3^rd & 4^th

Controlled feelings

Issues with mother

Isolated as child

Sagittarius

9^th

Father

Valued mentors

Strong beliefs

Faith

8^th

Problems w Mom

Stormy emotions

Powerful passions

Intimacy issues

7^th & 10^th

Career changes

works w partner

Relationship probs

6^th & 11^th

Prob w siblings

Health issues

Friends & enemies

Need for routines

5^th & 12^th

Intense passions

Spiritual interests

Sharp insights

Aware of karma

1^st & 4^th

Well-being

Peace of mind

Faith in self

Psychological

2^nd & 3^rd

Systematic thinking

Strong efforts

Family issues

Capricorn

8^th

Problems w Dad

Longevity

Attachments

Challenges to ego

7^th

Strong desires Partner changes

Giving to others

Sensitive to mate

6^th & 9^th

Father problems

Intellectual rigor

Pragmatic ideals

5^th & 10^th Yogakaraka

Creative works

Bonded to children

Status & Fame

4^th & 11^th

Property

Friends

Fulfillment

Pride

3^rd & 12^th

Loss of siblings

Expenditures

Wasted efforts

1^st & 2^nd

Self-worth

Self-expression

Self-judgment

Responsible diet

Aquarius

7^th

Dominance issues

Jealousy

Attached to partner

Partner important

6^th

Unsteady routines

Fluctuating energy

Sensitive emotions

Health changes

5^th & 8^th

Issues w children

Sharp mind

Deep studies

Wisdom

4^th & 9^th

Both parents

Moving away

Faith & loyalty

Cars

3^rd & 10^th

Independent

Achieving

Strong will

Own path

2^nd & 11^th

Older siblings

Wealth + Income

Fulfillment

Friends

1^st & 12^th

loss of self

giving one’s all

austere

retreat

Pisces

6^th

Cooperation issues

Health & vitality

Competitive

5^th

Values children

Creativity

Devotion

Spiritual

4^th & 7^th

Mother

Varied Partners

Changing feelings

3^rd & 8^th

Problem w siblings

Longevity

Interrupted efforts

Issues w Passions

2^nd & 9^th

Strong Beliefs

Territorial

Loyal to family

1^st & 10^th

Career important

Popularity

Success

11^th & 12^th

Problems w friends

Gains & losses

The masses

Attachment tests

Positive Kendra Negative Maraka 3^rd lord Kendra-Adhipati Dhana

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