In Hindu astrology, yoga is the relationship between one planet, sign, or house to another by placement, aspect, or conjunction. It is the consideration of the planetary dasha's directional effects, the most important factor which distinguishes Hindu astrology from Western astrology.
Background Laghu Parashari, a treatise on dasha, is based on Parashara's Brihat Parashara Hora ShastraBrihat Jataka Ch. I St. 3. Published by Raman Publications, Bangalore. p.33. and is the simplest and most widely-followed system. Ancient Hindu astrologers seem to have confined their exercises to the seven planets:Notes of B. Suryanarain Rao on Brihat Jataka Ch. II St. 1. Published by Raman Publications, Bangalore. p. 73. the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn; the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu are rarely mentioned. Parashara refers to five additional chayagrahas, invisible mathematical solar positions which affect individuals and nations. The Rigveda refers to a total of thirty-four chayagrahas: twenty-seven nakshatras lunar stations) and the seven astrological planets.Rig Veda I.162.18/Rig Veda X.55.3 Elsewhere, however, it refers to forty-nine chayagrahas: the previous thirty-four plus the two lunar nodes, the twelve zodiac signs, and ayanamsa. Varahamihira favoured Satyacharya's dasha system, although he said that many people had degraded it with useless additions.Brihat Jataka Ch. VII. St. 13. Published by Raman Publications, Bangalore. p. 237
Good or bad planetary results depend on the good or bad yoga caused by the planets.Jatakalankara Ch. III St. 1. Published by Chaukhambha Sanskrit Prakashan, Varanasi. p. 41 Planets influence each other with mutual, direct (or indirect) sambandha.Phaladeepika Ch. XV St. 30. Published by Motilal Banarsidas, Delhi. p. 305 Auspicious yogas arise when lords of kendras (squares) and trikonas (triangles) establish an association.Phaladeepika Ch. XX St. 42, p. 410
Definitions The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root Yuj, meaning to join properly, to control judicially, or to integrate. It has been used to indicate lunisolar distances and planetary situations, associations, and combinations. Yogas are formed when one planet, sign, or house is related to another by placement, aspect or conjunction.Jataka Parijata Ch. XI St. 1 Published by Motilal Banarsidas Publishers, Delhi. p. 735 The consideration of planetary yogas and dashas is the most important factor that distinguishes Hindu astrology from Western astrology.
Yoga may have good or bad effects. Raja yogas are auspicious, and daridra yogas indicate poverty. Sanyasa yogas indicate sannyasa (renunciation). Some yogas cancel the effects of inauspicious yogasJataka Tattva Ch. II St. 108–116. Published by Ranjan Publications, New Delhi. p. 42 or raja yogas.Jataka Tattva Ch.X St.190 to 205 Published by Ranjan Publications, New Delhi. p. 272 Some planets yield generally-beneficial yoga, indicating honour and prestige.
Role of yoga and yoga-causing planets Hindu astrology is based on the interpretation of nakshatras (constellations), rasis (astrological signs) and Navagraha (the astrological planets). Planetary combinations and their indications are based on strength, nature, aspect, and avastha (state).Jataka Parijata Ch. XI St. 2. Published by Raman Publications, Bangalore. p. 737Jatakadeshmarga Ch. X St. 1. Published by Raman Publications, Bangalore. Hindu astrology requires the identification of yogas and their application in accordance with established principles.Prasna Tantra Ch. I St. 4–5. Published by Raman Publications, Bangalore. p. 3.
Although yogas are based on fundamental principles described in standard texts, not all texts cover all possible planetary combinations and associations, and texts have different interpretations of a given yoga. Certain yogas described in the texts cannot occur; these relate to Mercury and Venus vis-à-vis the Sun. Mercury never goes beyond 28 degrees in front of or behind the Sun, and Venus never goes beyond 47 degrees.Notes of B. Suryanarain Rao on Brihat Jataka Ch. VI St. I Published by Raman Publications, Bangalore. p.195 Saraswati yoga is common and auspicious.
Number and effects Yogas are generally classified as Chandra (Moon), Surya (Sun), Nabhasa (celestial), Raja, Dhana, or Darida. Their common factor is the relative strength of the planets and their houses by ownership, occupation or aspect. Janardan Harji, in the fourth chapter of his Mansagari, assigns certain outcomes to certain combinations. Yoga results are indicated by the circumstances of birth and the course of a person's life, from birth to death.Jataka Bharanam: Sadsaddashavicharana St. I Published by Shri Venkateshwar Press, Mumbai. p. 317
According to Saravali, the planets amplify a person's fate.Saravali Ch. 42 St.3 Published by Motilal Banarsidas, Delhi. p. 375 Hindu astrologers have attempted to enumerate all possible yogas, with varied results.Notes of B. Suryanarain Rao on Brihat Jataka Ch. X St. 2 St. I Published by Raman Publications, Bangalore. p. 302Brihat Jataka Ch. XI St.3. Published by Raman Publications, Bangalore. p.304Phaladeepika Ch. VI St. 32 to 34 Published by Motilal Banarsidas, Delhi. p.131
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