Shadbalas

Shad means six. Bala means strength. Hence Shadbala means six fold strength.

Why it is important?

Consider that you have a friend or relative who has no power. Will he be good for you? He is still your friend or relative. So Shadbala is very important to know who your favourable friends are and how strong they are.
If you have a Mahadasha and an Anthardasha the resultant effect will be the effect of the strong planet amongst the two.

To find the Importance of Bhava

The Bhava result will also be influenced by

The grahas in the Bhava
The grahas viewing the Bhava
The lordship of the Bhava
The significators or Karakas of the Bhava

Here also the strength of the planet will influence.

“Thath Sthana Dhik Kaala Nisarga Cheshta
Dhrig Bhedhabhinnam Kadhayamya Sesham”

– (Manasaagari 21-18)

Sthana Bala -Positional Strength

“Socha Suhrud Swa Dhrugaana Navaamsyai
Sthanabalam Swa Grahopa Gathaischa”

This is the strength which a planet get as a result of occupying a particular sign in a horoscope. A planet gets its positional strength in its exaltation. Moola Thrikona, own house, friendly house, Swa Shadvargas, etc. in debility the sthanabalam is zero.

We all know that we get respect and power in our own house or positions. There will no bala in an enemies house. Positional strength is the most important. It is further divided into 5 items namely.

They are,

Ucha Bala
Saptha vargaja Bala
Ojayugma Bala
Kendra Bala
Drekkana Bala
Uchabala

This is obtained through the exaltation of planets.

“Neechonam Khacharam Bhaardhathikam Chakraa Dwishodhayath
Bhaageekruthya Thribhirbhaktham Labdha Uchabalam Bhaveth”

Deduct Neecha from Grahasphudam. Divide it by 3, you get Uchabal. The maximum is 60 shashtyamsa or 1 rupa.

Maharishi Parashara supported for mathematical calculation of different strength.

Importance of Vargabala

Saptha vargaja Bala

“Kshethram Chas Hora Drekkanam
Navamsa Dwadashaamshakam
Thrishamsham Cha Sapthaamsam”

The above 7 vargas or classifications are called Saptavargaja bala.
If a planet is in Moolathrikona, it gets 45 shashtyamsa, Swakshethra – 30 shashtyamsa and friendly house – 15

Shashtyamsa .
Ojayugmabala

Swagrahopagathaischa Varaha Acharya tells us that female planet get strength in female rasi, while male planet get strength in male signs.

Hence Venus and Moon get 15 shashtyamsa strength in female rasi and navamsa.

Kendradhi bala

The first, fourth, seventh and tenth signs are called Kendras.

“Kendraathaparam Panaparam
Parathascha Thadwatha Apokleemam”

Very important among positional strength. If in the centre, the planet gets 60 value while in panaparam meaning 2, 5, 8 and 11, they get 30. In 3, 6, 9 and 12 they get only 15 points.
Ojayugma bala(sthana bala -positional strength)

“Madhya Aadyanthaga
Shanda Marthya Vanitha Kheda
Balishta Kramaath”
– (Phaladeepika)

Mercury and Saturn the Shanda Graham, get strength in the Madhya Drekkana, Moon and Venus get strength in last Drekkana while others get strength in first Drekkana. Points are 15 only. A total of all the above Socha Suhrud Swa Drigaana Navamsair is the sthana bala.

Digbala -Directional strength

This is the directional strength.

“Digshu Budhangira Sau
Ravi Bhoumo Soorya Sutha
Sithasheetha Karau Cha”
– (Varaha Hora 2-19)

In Lagna, the ascendant(East), Mercury and Jupiter are powerful. In 10th Bhava (North) Sun and Mars are powerful. In 7th Bhava (west) the Saturn is powerful. In 4th Bhava (south) Moon and Venus are powerful.
Sage Parashara has detailed mathematical calculation of Digbala. Deduct Balasoonya Dig Sthana sphudam from the graham and divide by 3.You get directional strength in points. Maximum is 60.

Cheshtabala- Motional strength

From Makara (Capricorn) up to Midhuna is Uttarayana (Sun’s Northenly course). Sun and Moon are powerful in this period. Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn in retrogression or in conjunction with full Moon get Cheshta bala.

“Udagayane Ravi Seetha Mayookhau
Vakra Samagamaga Parishesha
Vipula Karaayudhi Chothara Samstha
Cheshtitha Veeryayutha Parikalpya”
– (Varaha Hora 2-20)

In order to find out Cheshtabala mathematically, we have to find a result namely Cheshta Kendra and divide it by 3.

Kalabala
Dina Rathri Bala

It means temporal strength. the Moon, Mars, and Saturn are powerful during the night. Sun, Jupiter and Venus are powerful in the day. Mercury is powerful in day and night it is called Dina Rathri Bala

“Nishi Sashi Kuja Saura
Sarvadha Njo Ahni Chaadhye”
(Varaha Hora 2-21)

The maximum bala is 60 shashtyamsa. For Moon, in midnight bala will be 60, so is for Sun in mid-noon.
Pakshabala

“Bahula Sita Gathasyu
Kroora Soumya kramena”

It means for benefic planets, the end of Sukla Paksha is powerful. But for malefic end of Krishnapaksha is powerful.

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Thribhag bala

“Dina Thryamsheshta Soumaarka Shaneenam”
– (Parashara)

If we divide day time into 3, Mercury is the lord of the first part, Sun the lord of the second part and Saturn is the lord of 3rd part. Similarly, night time is given to Moon, Venus, and Mars. Guru is always powerful. A maximum of 60 is given.

Abda bala, Masa bala, vara bala, and hora bala

There are Abdabala for the starting day of the year, similarly, Masa bala for the month starting vara lord, Vara bala for the Vara lord and Horabala for Kaala Hora lord.

“Arka, Shukra Budhaschandra
Manda Jeeva Dharasudha”
– (Prasna Margam)

Hora bala is the maximum in Kalabala and is with 60 points

Naisargik Bala

This means natural strength. each planet is supposed to produce a particular measure of strength permanently irrespective of its position. Sun, Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars and Saturn are strong in order. Sun is the most powerful and Saturn the least.

The strength of the planet is numerically calculated as follows.

Sun – 60
Moon – 51
Venus – 43
Jupiter – 34
Mercury – 26
Mars – 17
Saturn – 9

There will not be any change for these values in any horoscope.

Drig Bala

Drigbala is calculated as a result of the aspect to which each planet is subjected to by the other. The aspected planet is called Drishya Graham. The aspecting planet is called Dreshta Graham. The angle between the two is called Dhrushti Kendra.

The aspect of benefics give full Drigbala or strengthen the aspect of malefic take away the Drigbala.

“Poornam Pashyathi Bhanuja Thri Dashame
Cheth Pada Drishtye Itharah
Jeevo Dhee Navame Arthayaa Thadhithareh
Bhoumas Chathurtha Ashtame
Sarve Paadha Viheenayaa
Akila Drusha Pasyanthi
Sarve Asthabham
Vithaya vyaya vairino
Na Dha Drishu”

It means that all planets view their 7th position. Saturn views 3rd and 10th have. Other planets have a quarter aspect to 3rd and 10th. Guru has an aspect of 5th and 9th. Other planets have a half aspect to 5th and 9th, Mars has an aspect to 4th and 8th. Other planets have 75% aspect to 4th and 8th.

Conclusion

Sage Parashara has found out the total numerical value of all strengths. He has identified individual optimal strength also. Yavanacharya has instructed optimum strength of 360 points for each. Jyotish is knowledge mixed with sadhana. Then we can identify the strength without numerical support. Albert Einstein was having mercury in debility. Einstein was one of the best knowledgable people. Seeing the debility, we cannot tell, mercury is powerless. Hence knowledge, as well as sadhana, is required to assess the strength of planets.

Courtesy: S Unnikrishnan

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