GRAHASDue to the unique lordships of the Graha, its natural malefic or benefic activity can change. 1. When ruling a Kendra (4th, 7th or 10th house) natural benefics loose their benefic quality, and natural malefics loose their malefic quality. A malefic who rules a Kendra as well as a trine becomes benefic. When ruling a Kendra, stronger Benefics become stronger malefics. 2. The rulers of Trines (1st, 5th, 9th houses) become benefic. 3. The lord of the Ascendant is a great benefic. 4. The lords of Trishadayas (3rd, 6th, 11th houses) become malefic. 5. The lords of the Parashrayas (12th, 2nd and 8th) act according to their association with other malefics/benefics, and also give results according to the house their other sign falls in. 6. The 8th lord is 12th from the 9th, and is therefore not benefic. When the 8th lord is also a Trishadaya lord (3rd, 6th, 11th) then it becomes malefic. But if the 8th lord also rules a Trine (1st, 5th, 9th) it will be a benefic. The Sun or Moon ruling the 8th house does not become malefic. 7. In each group (Kendras, Trines, Trishadayas, Parashrayas) the lordships are increasing stronger in their order. For example the 9th lordship is a greater benefic than the 5th lord. The nature of a Graha ruling a predominant house will overwrite the nature of another Graha that rules a less predominant house. Note: In the general case of lordships, there is a principle that out of the two signs a Graha rules, the Mooltrikona rulership is more predominant. Some are of the opinion that this would cause the nature of the Mooltrikona lordship to predominate in determining the functional nature of the Graha. However, this conflicts with Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra in a number of cases: Mercury/Vrishabha, Saturn/Mithuna, Jupiter/Karka, Saturn/Dhanu, Venus/Makara. We therefore do not recommend applying this principle in this context. Now let's look at each Ascendant and use these rules to find out which Grahas are functional malefics and which are functional benefics. Mesha (Aries) The Sun rules the 5th house, so it is a benefic. The Moon rules the 4th, so it looses its benefic quality (but does not become a malefic). Mars rules the 1st and 8th houses. As lord of the 1st (rule #1) and as lord of the 8th also ruling a trine (rule # 6) it will be benefic. On the other hand, the 8th house is predominant over the 1st house (rule #7) so the 8th house lordship is not The 12th house lordship is also bringing out the other lordship (of the 9th). This is because Mercury's natural tendency is to act according to its associations. Mercury looses its benefic quality but does not become a malefic. Mercury ruled the 3rd and 6th house. Jupiter rules the 9th and 12th. The 2nd lordships is neutral and brings out the other lordship. dependant on other associations. so that would make Saturn loose its malefic quality. Parashara only declares Mercury as a lesser Benefic. so it is benefic (rule #1). The 7th. Normally a trine rulership is required to turn a malefic wholly benefic. Jupiter is a benefic. Mars rules the 12th and 7th. Vrishabha (Taurus) The Sun rules the 4th house. but the 1st is also a Kendra. But the 11th house lordship is malefic. The 1st house rulership could make it a benefic. so it is malefic (rule #4). The 6th house is the more predominant house. Since this is a Kendra lordship and Venus is the greatest benefic. This would normally cause a favorable combination.completely removed. So the malefic contribution of the 6th wins over the benefic quality of the 1st. but does not turn benefic. and is the predominant lordship. Parashara concludes that Mars is helpful to other benefics. and the nature depends on the other lordship. Note: The lords of the 9th and 10th are Jupiter and Saturn respectively. Mercury rules the 1st and 4th. As 7th lord Mars looses its malefic quality. The more predominant house is the 5th. but also has a malefic side. and Saturn rules the 11th. it become benefic here. As the 2nd ruler it is neutral. and is very malefic. and make a neutral contribution. Mars can contribute in yogas as a benefic. the 7th. In spite of that. Its actual nature will depend on associations with other malefic or benefics. Mithuna (Gemini) The Sun rules the 3rd house. However. Mercury is not so capable of acting as a strong benefic on its own. it's 12 house lordship will still show and turn Jupiter malefic. The 12th lordship is neutral. As a result. But because Jupiter rules the 12th. so Saturn is malefic. so it is neutral. Jupiter rules the 8th and 11th so it becomes malefic (rule #6). Venus rules the 2nd and 7th. Therefore. Mercury rules the 2nd and 5th. so it is malefic (rule #4). The Moon rules the 3rd house and becomes malefic (rule #4). The Moon rules the 2nd. Saturn rules the 9th and 10th. and as the 2nd lord this tendency is reinforced. the combination will give inauspicious results for the Aries Lagna. another Kendra. which is also the higher house. and Venus is malefic. it become a malefic here. In other words. As a result. Mars rules the 6th and 11th. The more predominant lordship is the 4th. The 10th house lordship is a Kendra lordship. a benefic lordship. . Saturn rules the 10th and 11th. is strongly emphasized. but since the Sun has only one lordship. Venus rules the 1st and 6th. when Jupiter is associated with malefics. Jupiter rules the 6th and 9th. But the Mooltrikona sign is predominant here. Even though the rulership of the 7th is not malefic as . Jupiter's natural affinity with the 9th house wins. The 6th lordship is malefic. is benefic. The 8th house lordship is not good. Mars rules the 9th and 4th. The Moon rules the 10th. a trine lordship. a trine lordship. Saturn rules the 8th and 9th. 2 Kendras. It is the only benefic for Mithuna Lagna. The other lordship is the 5th. so Mercury is malefic. so it is a malefic. it would be a (somewhat) malefic lordship. The 8th lord is benefic if it also rules a trine. so the lordship of the 3rd house makes it malefic. Jupiter rules the 5th and 8th. its nature will depend on its associations. Venus rules the 2nd and 9th. The 6th house lord is malefic. The 4th is a Kendra. The 11th lordship is malefic. Saturn's nature will depend on associations with other Benefic or Malefics. The Moon is benefic as it rules the 1st. The 5th lordship is benefic. Jupiter rules the 4th and 7th. Mercury rules the 11th and 2nd. Parashara does not declare Saturn as benefic. but the 9th house. The Moon is malefic because it rules the 11th. The Moon rules the 12th. As a great benefic ruling 2 Kendras. Kanya (Virgo) The Sun rules the 12th house. Mars rules the 3rd and 8th house. Saturn rules the 7th and 8th house. Saturn is neutral. Leo (Simha) The Sun is benefic as it rules the 1st. it becomes a malefic (rule #1). so the trine lordship prevails. is a benefic one. so the benefic 9th lordship prevails. so Venus becomes a benefic.Jupiter rules the 7th and 10th. The Kendra lordship turns this natural benefic malefic. The 12th lord is neutral. and Jupiter's affinity with the 5th house reinforces the 5th lordship. and the 3rd house lordship is also malefic. It is benefic. The nature of the 2nd lord depends on association and the other lordship. Therefore. and Mercury is benefic. Venus rules the 10th and 3rd house. Tula (Libra) The Sun rules the 11th. Venus rules the 12th. Mars rules the 7th and 2nd. and the 4th house lordship also adds to the malefic nature. Mercury rules the 1st and the 10th. Mars is a benefic. so Mars has a Kendra and trine lordship. a trine. and benefics ruling Kendras are malefic. which is neutral. so it is malefic. and because Mercury is a (weak) natural benefic. As 11th lord Venus is malefic. and is therefore a Kendra as well as Trikona lord. Karka (Cancer) The Sun rules the 2nd house. but the 8th house lord acts according its association. while the 2nd lordship is neutral. but the 9th lordship which is a higher house. (rule #6). but the 6th lordship is malefic. and Jupiter is a benefic. Venus rules the 11th and 4th. so Jupiter is benefic. It will act according to its association (rule #5). The 7th house lordship for a malefic reduces the malefic tendency. a trine. Mercury rules the 12th and 3rd. Saturn rules the 5th and 6th. so it will act according to its association (rule #5). Mars rules the 10th and 5th. Saturn rules the 6th and 7th. The 7th house lordship will not counter that. Perhaps the natural affinity of Saturn with the 8th house brings enough emphasis on the 8th house lordship that it predominates over the 9th house. In spite of that. and is malefic. Parashara concludes that Venus is neither malefic or benefic. and is neutral (rule #6). On the other hand. Vrischika (Scorpio) The Sun rules the 10th house. so the benefic 9th lordship (trine lordship) prevails. The Moon rules the 7th house. The nature of the 12th house lord depends on the other lordship. but this is overruled by the fact that Venus rules a Kendra and Trine simultaneously. Jupiter rules the 1st and 4th. The 2nd lordship is neutral. As a result. and is benefic. Parashara declares it as a maraka ("killer") planet only. Venus rules the 7th and 12th. The 12th lordship is neutral. It is a neutral. The 3rd house lordship is malefic. the combined rulership of these two houses makes Mars somewhat malefic. and the 4th lordship is not contributing benefic qualities. Saturn rules the 2nd and 3rd. Saturn rules the 4th and 5th. and Mercury is a benefic. and the other house it rules. and the 5th lord is benefic. but the 3rd is malefic. Mars rules the 5th and 12th. The 12th lordship is neutral. And also. but does not become benefic. The 11th lordship is malefic. So Saturn is a malefic. The 12th house lord is neutral. The 6th lordship is malefic. Mercury rules the 7th and 10th. According to the rules. another Kendra. Mercury would be malefic. Mercury rules the 8th and 11th. Makara (Capricorn) The Sun rules the 8th house. two malefic lordships. but the 1st is also a Kendra. Saturn rules the 3rd and 4th. but the 9th lordship which is a higher house. the 8th house is predominant over the 1st house (rule #7) so the 8th house lordship is not completely removed. so Jupiter is malefic. a trine lordship. a trine. The nature of the 8th combined with the 11th is malefic (rule #6). and the 5th lordship. the 7th house lordship turns Venus malefic. The 1st house rulership could make it a benefic. Mercury's greater affinity with the 9th house wins. is benefic. and as a benefic ruling a Kendra. makes Mars benefic. The Moon rules the 9th house. Mars rules the 1st and 6th. and the 4th lordship is not contributing benefic qualities. and is the only malefic for this Ascendant. As lord of the 1st (rule #1) and as lord of the 8th also ruling a trine (rule # 6) it will be benefic. Jupiter rules the 2nd and 5th. which turns a benefic into a malefic. As the 2nd lord its nature depends on other associations. The more predominant lordship is the 4th. so Jupiter is benefic. Jupiter rules the 12th and 3rd. the 1st house is a Kendra as well. Venus rules the 5th and 10th. As a benefic ruling a Kendra. Parashara defines it as a neutral. and the 2nd lordship is neutral (depending on other associations). Dhanu (Sagittarius) The Sun rules the 9th house. However. In spite of this. It looses it malefic quality due to the Kendra lordship. The 3rd lordship is malefic. The 1st house lordship is benefic. but not as a generally malefic Graha. The Moon rules the 8th and is neutral (rule #6). So Mars is a malefic. Venus is a benefic. a Kendra and Trine. so it is benefic. The 10th house lordship is malefic for Venus. two kendras. Jupiter rules the 3rd and 6th. but the 6th house lordship is malefic. Venus rules the 1st and 8th houses. two malefic lordship. Mercury rules the 6th and 9th. Mars rules the 4th and 11th. Mercury rules the 9th and 12th house.such (malefic ruling a Kendra). becomes malefic. and is benefic. Venus rules the 6th and 11th. Jupiter looses its benefic quality but does not become a malefic. . the two effects are cancelled out and Saturn is neutral. the combination of these two lordships makes a benefic. Kumbha (Aquarius) The Sun rules the 7th house. and is benefic. so Mars is malefic. is benefic. a separate rule is given. but the 3rd house lordship is malefic. The 12th house lordship is neutral. The Moon rules the 6th house. Venus rules the 4th and 9th. For the case when the Sun and the Moon rule an even house. 5th. except for Saturn for Virgo it is neutral. As lord of the 10th. so Saturn is benefic. Mars loses its malefic nature. The 4th house lordship is malefic for a natural benefic like Venus. Venus rules the 3rd and 8th. Mars rules the 2nd and 9th. because Mercury is having such a dual nature. The 2nd house lordship is neutral. The 1st is a benefic lordship. The lord of the 1st is benefic for the 1st 6 Lagnas except Taurus (malefic) and Gemini (Neutral). 3. and the 9th is benefic. The 5th house lordship is benefic. This set gives the same natures to the planets as has been elaborated above. Mars rules the 3rd and 10th. but Saturn's affinity with the 2nd house (2nd lord is a maraka lord. and is malefic. . but the 9th house lordship is benefic. For the 2nd half of the zodiac it is neutral. except for Saturn for Sagittarius Lagna it is neutral. Here is a simplified set of rules that will help you determine them on the fly. 11th) that determines the functional nature. Mercury rules the 4th and 7th. Rule Memorization It is not so easy to memorize the functional malefics and benefics for each ascendant. The 1st house lordship is benefic. The 5th lord is always benefic. two Kendra lordships. In almost all cases. and gives the effect of the other lordship. as the ruler of a Kendra and Kona. Parashara declares Venus as a benefic. The 2nd lordship is neutral. As a result. 1. 3rd. and the 8th lordship is malefic. and therefore Saturn malefic. but in a very compact form. and Saturn is a natural significator for death) gives a malefic slant. The 3rd lord is always malefic. Parashara declares Mercury as having a mixed nature for this Lagna. 2. losing it's malefic nature due to the Kendra lordship. it will not be able to manifest only benefic qualities. so Mars is benefic. Meena (Pisces) The Sun rules the 6th house and thus is malefic. The 12th house lordship is neutral. Mercury rules the 5th and the 8th. Jupiter rules the 1st and 10th. The 11th house lordship is malefic. while the 11th house lordship is malefic. 7th.Saturn rules the 1st and 2nd. it is the lordship over the odd house (1st. Saturn rules the 11th and 12th. The Moon rules the 5th house. and is so easily subject to Grahas it is associated with. a trikona lord. and is a malefic. Jupiter is therefore neutral. and is malefic. However. However. 9th. The 1st house lordship. a trikona lordship. except for Aquarius (Benefic). but the rulership over the 10th is malefic (a benefic lord of a Kendra). and gives the effect of the other lordship. so Jupiter is malefic. Saturn rules the 12th and 1st house. First note that every Graha that rules 2 houses rules an odd and an even house. Jupiter rules the 2nd and 11th house. According to the rules. except for when the 7th lord rules a higher house and is not a great natural benefic. except for Saturn for Gemini Lagna it is neutral. with the exception of a) Sun is benefic when it rules the 4th. (This exception occurs for Taurus. The rulership of the Sun and Moon over even houses is generally neutral. The 9th lord is always benefic. then it is neutral. b) Sun and Moon are malefic when they rule the 6th. The ruler of the 11th house is always malefic 7.4. c) The Moon is malefic when it rules the 10th. Cancer and Sagittarius Lagnas). The 7th lord is always malefic. 6. . 5.