http://vijayalur.wordpress.com/category/vedic-astrology/page/9/ Shadbala – An Overview It is well known fact that the planets in the chart have to be strong to give good results. In order to assess the strength of planets we have a system calledShadbala which is in existence from the times of Sage Parashara Shad Bala as the name suggests means six-fold strength and is made up of the following components: o o o o o o o Sthana Bala (Positonal strength) Dig Bala (Directional strength) Kala Bala (Temporal strength) Chesta Bala (Motional strength) Naisargika Bala (Natural strength) Drik Bala (Aspect strength) STHANA BALA Uccha Bala: Uccha means exaltation. When a planet is placed in its highest exaltation point, it is of full strength and when it is in its deepest debilitation point, it is devoid of any strength. When in between the strength is calculated proportionately dependent on the distance these planets o are placed from the highest exaltation or deepest debilitation point. Sapta Vargiya Bala: Rashi, Hora, Drekkana, Saptamsha, Navamsha, Dwadasamsha and Trimsamsha constitute the Sapta Varga. The strength of the planets in these seven divisional charts based on their placements in Mulatrikona, own sign, friendly sign etc. constitute the Sapta vargiya bala. o Oja-Yugma Rashi-Amsha Bala: Oja means odd signs and Yugma means even signs. Thus, as the name imply, this strength is derived from a planet’s placement in the odd or even signs in the Rashi and Navamsha. Kendradi Bala: The name itself implies how to compute this strength. A planet in a Kendra (1-4-7-10) gets full strength, while one in Panapara (2-5-8-11) gets half and the one in Apoklimas (123-6-9) gets quarter strength. Drekkana Bala: Due to placement in first, second, or third Drekkana of a sign, male, female and hermaphrodite planets respectively, get a quarter strength according to placements in the first, second and third Drekkana. o o o o o o o o DIG BALA The planets gains full Dig bala in the following houses: 1st (Lagna Bhava) – Jupiter and Mercury 10th (Karma Bhava) – Sun and Mars 4th (Sukha Bhava) – Venus and Moon 7th (Kalatra Bhava ) – Saturn When the planets are placed away from their Dig Bala position, their strength is proportionately reduced. Yuddha Bala: When two planets are placed inside each other’s orbs of influence. whereas Sun. Mars and Saturn and o o Unnata bala is seen for Sun. the declination becomes zero. Should there be a war between the planets. The angle which they make with respect to the plane of celestial equator measured from center of earth is called the Declination or Kranti. This strength hasderived its name from the fact that the day and night are divided into three parts each. Mesha. Tribhagiya Bala: Tribhaga means three parts. Hora Bala: Hora means planetary hour. the Nata bala is seen for Moon. Varsha (Abda) – Maasa. Planets position with respect to celestial equator gives them either plus or minus strength. they are supposed to be at war or yuddha. Each day from sunrise to next sunrise is divided into 24 equal parts of one hour. Jupiter and Venus are stronger during the day. Maasa Bala: Like Varsha Lord. below or placed on the celestial equator at any point of time. Moon. i. the lord of a particular Hora gets the Hora bala. The lord of the weekday is the lord of the day. whereas for Moon. second third or the last third part of the day.e. Ayana Bala: The Earth’s equatorial plane when projected on to the celestial sphere is known as the celestial equator.Hora Bala: Varsha Bala: The Varsha mentioned here is the solar year or the Samvatsara. whereas during the equinoxes. Jupiter and Venus. 23°27’ during the solstices where the Sunrises either on Tropic of Cancer or Capricorn. which commences when the Sun moves to the first sign on the zodiac. The Declination of Sun is maximum. The Planets gain strength during different part of a day like first third. Hence. Sun and Moon are excluded from this strength. Shukla Paksha & Krishna Paksha.Dina. For Sun.o KALA BALA Natonnata Bala: Natonnata is composed of two terms Nata and Unnata. This strength is attained by all planets by the virtue of their kind of movement. Mercury is stronger both during day and night. The Benefics are stronger in the Shukla Paksha and the Malefics are stronger in the Krishna Paksha. Mars and Saturn are stronger at night. the Paksha Bala becomes its Chesta Bala. Paksha Bala: Paksha i. • • o CHESTA BALA Chesta means to move / motion . The planets which can be above. the difference between the Shad Balas of the two should be added to the victor’s Shad Bal and deducted from the Shad Bal of the vanquished. These Horas are ruled by the 7 planets from Sun to Saturn. Take the weekday lord on which Sun has moved to a new sign as the lord of the Masa. o • • • • Dina Bala: Dina is weekday.. At a particular time.e. each Solar Month commences when the Sun enters each sign of the zodiac. the Ayana Bala becomes its Chesta Bala. There are eight kinds of motions: • Vakra (retrogression) • Anuvakra (entering the previous sign in retrograde motion) • Vikala (devoid of motion) • Manda (somewhat slower motion than usual) . This is the weekday lord of the day in which the Sun has transited to Mesha. Venus and Saturn respectively. our inherent desires and purpose of our struggle in this life. Jupiter has 5th/9th which gives ½ strength and Saturn has 3rd/10th which gives ¼ strength. o Naturally the planets are stronger in the order (ascending) of Saturn. 100 and 40 respectively. if each of their Sthana Bala. For example. 30. Mercury and Sun are considered strong. Kaala Bala. Chesta Bala: This shows what drives us. The aspect of benefics is considered to be strength and the aspect of malefics is considered to be weaknesses. The seven planets get relative strength according to their position in that order. 112 and 30 Virupa. Mars has 4th/8thwhich gives ¾ strength. Mercury.• Mandatara (slower than the previous) • Sama (neither fast nor slow) • Chara (faster than Sama) • Atichara (entering next sign in accelerated motion) o NAISARGIKA BALA Naisargika Bala is the natural strength of the planets. 40. Moon. 360. 390. Mars. 35. Dig Bala. 390. This strength does not depend on the specific chart but is fixed for all charts. 330 and 300 Virupa are the Shadbala strength needed for Sun. For Moon and Venus the required values are 133. 300. 50. Mercury. A strong planet shall protect its houses and Karakakatva and is more capable of giving good results. Unit for measurement of Shadbala is Rupa/ Virupa One Rupa is equal to 60 Virupa For a planet to be considered strong it must have a certain minimum strength. other planets get portions of strength according to their position in that order. Use of Shadbala Sthana Bala:This aspect of planet indicates the best position and status that suits you. 30. o DRIG BALA This strength is gained by the virtue of the aspect (Graha Dristi) of different planets on other planet. Sun has the highest luminosity. Moon and Sun. the planet is deemed to be very strong. If the strength exceeds the above-mentioned values. Jupiter. For Mars and Saturn these are 96. o o o o o o o • • • o o o o . 420. Saturn is the darkest planet. 67 and 20 respectively. Mars. Putting all together By summing up all the six component values we get the Shadbala for a particular planet. Chesta Bala and Ayana Bala are165. 50. Venus. Kaala Bala: This shows the best time suitable for undertaking an activity. Dig Bala: This shows the direction which is good for growth in the career or self development. respectively. all planets have 7th aspect which gives full. Jupiter. Jupiter. Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Graha & Bhava Balas by BV Raman Shad Bala Planetary Strengths Calculation & Prediction by SK Duggal Text Book For Shadbala Grahas & Bhava Bala by VP Jain Shadbala: Planetary Strengths (Calculation and Application) by SK Duggal & Neerja Taneja Applications of Shadbalas (In Delineation of Charts & Judgement of Horoscope) by SN Tekur o o o o o o o • • • • • • . Most astrologers use total Shadbala values to analyse the effects during Dasha & Bhukti and rarely use individual components. The following classic / books are recommended for research and further studies. Working out Shadbala involves lot of calculations and at times cumbersome. This subject is several centuries old yet remains an under studied and less understood aspect of planetary strength. However today computer can churn out the same in few seconds. Conclusion I have tried to give an insight into the vast realms of Shadbala.o o Naisargika Bala: This is of lesser consequence as this remains constant all throughout Drik Bala: This shows which planet shall be favourable all through the life of native as this is based on the aspect of benefics on the planet. Manual calculations take anywhere between an hour or two for an expert astrologer. I advise serious students to do more research to find the exact use of these components and expand their horizons.