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Happiness from the Vedic (Astrology) Perspective
In the Vedic Astrology tradition, what signifies
happiness? The 4th house rules happiness
(actually "saumya" or benevolence), mother, real
estate, vehicles, and education. What do these have
in common? Mother. Very often, in traditional Indian
families, land and houses (and vehicles) were
inherited from the mother's side of the family. In other
articles, we shall discuss other significances of the
4th house, but in this one we shall limit ourselves to
happiness.
When I first started to do research on happiness, I
thought that this old formula would be enough to
indicate happiness in a birth chart:
1. The 4th house itself, and
2. Lord (ruler) of the 4th house, and
3. Karakas (significators) of the 4th house (in this
case, the Moon and Venus).
While the above indicators certainly play a substantial
role in determining happiness, certain other factors
are even more important. In a word, they are the
natural benefics—Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and
the
Moon (and also Mars, only if well placed). The single
most
important
indicator of happiness is Jupiter, who is seen by
Jyotishis as the Teacher of the Devas. In Western
astrology, he is called the Greater Benefic—in
other
words, the best good guy. Among his significations
are tradition, children, the guru, religion, philosophy,
higher education, elder brother, the Law, all
professions, and financial success. Each of these
words suggests one type of socially acceptable
happiness or another. Another very important
indicator of happiness is the 1st house. As a matter
of fact, the 1st house is so extremely important that, in
my opinion, there can be no real success in
life—in
ANY arena—without the blessings of the house
of the
Self (the 1st house).
It is quite true that the lord of the 4th house in the 1st
house, or the lord of the 1st house in the 4th house,
does tend to show us a happy person, but the natural
benefics are mentioned in the classical texts relating
to happiness far more often than the 1st and 4th
houses.
Mr. K. N. Rao, founder of the world's largest astrology
school in Delhi, has said that Mercury in the 1st house
relieves 1,000 evils; Venus in the 1st house relieves
10,000 evils and Jupiter in the 1st house relieves
100,000 evils. Also he has said that benefics in
angles and malefics (the Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and
Ketu) in houses 3, 6 and 11 tend to make for a
successful and happy individual.
Why should the planet Mars be equated with
happiness? Perhaps because Mars stands for will
power. In this world we must often will ourselves to
be happy. We create our own destinies, to a large
degree, and Mars gives us the necessary drive to do
so.
Let us look at some combinations found in the
classical texts, just to get a rough idea of the patterns
that create happiness or fulfillment or contentment.
- Bhrigu Sutras
- Mercury in the 1st house in its own sign
- Venus in the 4th house
- Brihat Jataka
- Jupiter aspects the Moon—will enjoy
happiness
and long life
- If the Moon is in Cancer at the start of any dasha
or bhukti—honor, wealth and happiness will
come
- If at the start of any planet's dasha or bhukti the
Moon is in Sagittarius or Pisces—honor,
wealth and
happiness will ensue
- When Jupiter reigns, happiness, wealth and
honor will be found
- Sankata Nidhi
- If the Lagna Lord is strong and in the 4th house,
the native gets land, vehicles, inherits his mother's
property and enjoys happiness and comforts
- If the 4th Lord is in the 1st house, the native will
be learned and happy throughout his life
- If the 4th Lord is in the 2nd house while the 2nd
Lord is exalted, in its own sign, or in a friendly sign (in
rashi or Navamsha), then various kinds of happiness
and a wonderful family life will be found
- If the 4th Lord is in an angle or a trine, with
strength, then happiness is sure to exist for that
native. However, one must look at that planet (the 4th
Lord) also in the Navamsha and the Trimsamsha.
- Brihat Jataka
- Moon in Poorvashadha = happiness and an
agreeable wife
- Jupiter in Aquarius = happiness
- Sanketa Nidhi
- Mars = happiness
- Saravali
- A planet that is conjunct the Moon bestows
complete happiness
- Moon in Gemini = happiness
- Mars aspects the Moon in Gemini = happiness,
wealth, beauty, valor and is learned
- Moon in Pisces = music, arts, learned in
Shastras, happiness and wins over others
- Venus in Taurus or Libra and is aspected by the
Moon = happiness, wealth, respect and sons. The
native has excellence and is splendorous
- If in the Ashtakvarga, the Moon has 8 bindus, the
native will have affluence and pleasures
- The Moon in the 9th house = happiness, money,
brains, sons, and attracts women. He will be devoted
to divine and paternal assignments
- The Moon in the 2nd house = happiness, money
and friends
- Moon conjunct Venus in the 1st house = great
happiness
- In the dasha of the Moon in the 11th house, the
native will enjoy money, good food, nice clothes,
recreation, wife, son and happiness
- If Mercury aspects the Moon in Leo, the native will
be like a female; and he will enjoy money, happiness
and pleasures
These are a few of the combinations for happiness I
found in the classical texts (using Vedic Astrology
Bookshelf by GeoVision Software).
Now we will look at the charts of two women, a mother
and a daughter, who have rather good combinations
for happiness, contentment and fulfillment in their
charts.
Chart I1 is of a 64-year-old
female who is
running
Mercury dasha, Venus bhukti.
What do we see concerning possible indicators in the
chart?
1. The Lord of the 4th house (of happiness) is the
highest planet in the sky in the 10th house, from which
it aspects its own sign, Sagittarius, in the 4th house.
2. The Moon, the natural indicator of the emotions, is
in the 1st house and is bright.
3. Venus, the other significator of the emotions, is in
its own sign of Taurus in the 9th house. It forms a
MahaLakshmi Yoga which gives prosperity to the
native.
4. Mars, representing will power, aspects the 1st
house and the Moon, giving the native the strength to
achieve what she wants.
5. We have a wonderful Gaja-Kesari Yoga formed by
the Moon and Jupiter being in angles from each
other. This indicates wisdom, honor, truthfulness,
and goodness. These qualities are generally
associated with happiness.
Now look at Chart I2. This is for a 44-year-old
female
who is the daughter of the owner of Chart I1.
1. The Moon and Venus are conjunct in the 1st house.
This means that the two planets most indicating
fulfillment of emotions are helping each other
greatly.
2. The Lord of the 4th house (Venus) is placed in the
1st house.
3. Jupiter, that most important indicator of happiness,
is in his own sign of Pisces in the 2nd house.
4. Mercury, while being debilitated, has
NeechaBhanga by being with Jupiter in its own sign.
5. Four out of five of the natural malefics (Mars, Saturn,
Rahu and Ketu) are out of the way in the 6th and 12th
houses. From those positions, they cannot much
disrupt the native's cheerfulness, happiness, and zeal
for living.
So, in conclusion, what shows happiness in a kundali
(birthchart)?
1. Strongly placed natural benefics
2. Some connection between the 1st house and the
4th house
3. Natural malefics being in upachaya houses (3, 6,
10 or 11) or in dusthanas (6, 8, 12 and maybe 3); in
other words, being out of the way
4. If several natural benefics are conjunct or aspect
each other, it further strengthens the capacity for
happiness and fulfillment
5. The Moon being in its own sign or a sign of Jupiter
May you find the Happiness you are looking for and
deserve.
(c) copyright 2007 Michael Laughrin.
From the August/September, 2007 issue of Michael Laughrin's North American Jyotish
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