Importance of Debilitated planets in Astrology

Importance of Debilitated planets in Astrology

S N Rao

According to Vedic astrology all planets get exalted and debilitated when placed in a particular sign. The significance given to such planets decide the delineation of the horoscope with regards to the level of impact in the life of the native. Exaltation and debilitation of a planet simply means that the strength of the planet is strong or weak in the birth chart. Any planet exalted in the birth chart means that the planet is very strong and is capable for giving its implied results in a maximum manner to the native. It has got no relevance to the benefic or malefic impact to the native. An exalted planet does not mean that the planet is positive and will give benefic result to the native. Similarly a debilitated planet does not mean that the planet is malefic and will give negative results to the native. This point is not clearly understood by many laymen and it creates confusion in their minds while analyzing the horoscope.

The basics has been clearly defined in Vedic astrology texts which gives the exaltation and debilitation points of each planet. It is provided below for easy understanding

While delineating the horoscope it is important to determine whether the concerned planet is a benefic or malefic planet in the birth chart. The nature of the planet, the house in which the planet is posited and the karakatwa it belongs to plays an important role to understand how the planet will behave. The planet will give its result only if it is activated in the maha dasha / antardasha / pratiantardasha / transit periods. Hence all the above factors need to be clearly understood to decipher the result of the debilitated planet.

Eg. For Aries Ascendant Jupiter is the lord of the 9^th house and the 12^th house. Jupiter is a benefic planet as it rules the trikona house. Jupiter is the karaka for knowledge. When Jupiter is debilitated due to its placement in Capricorn, it influences the 10^th house, the house of karma. When Jupiter is activated in the life of the native, it gives the native high integrity, ethical, maturity, disciplined and organized behavior at the work place. However it causes restriction to the native to rise ahead in his career and achieve a high position. He may be highly knowledgeable, but he may not be able to use his knowledge to his advantage in the work place. The rulership of Jupiter over the 12^th house gives him miserly qualities and sometimes he can make foolish decision which has a negative impact on his career and resulting in losses. He would like to work alone and can get lost when placed in a large team.

Eg. For Gemini ascendant Jupiter is the lord of the 7^th house and the 10^th house. Jupiter is a malefic planet as it rules the kendras. When Jupiter is debilitated due to its placement in Capricorn, it influences the 8^th house. The karakatwa of Jupiter to give knowledge makes the native highly intelligent. It makes the native curious to understand the mystic science and matters regarding life and death. The rulership of Jupiter over the 7^th house makes the native independent in relationships. He would not be too emotional in love and relationships would be more subtle in nature. However he can be manipulative to get his work carried out by his partners. He would be lucky and benefit in receiving wealth from joint investments, inheritance, business dealing or married partner. Due to the rulership of Jupiter over the 10^th house, He would feel restrained at the work place and would not get job satisfaction.

Eg. For Virgo ascendant Mars is the lord of the 3^rd house and the 8^th house. Mars is a highly malefic planet. When Mars is debilitated in Cancer it influences the 11^th house. This placement makes the native highly ambitious. Mars is the karaka for action. This placement reduces the physical action for the native. It gives the native calm strength and determined patience to achieve his goals and targets. He is likely to be a schemer and plotter. He would not be able to have a large friend circle as this placement would make him highly moody like the phases of the moon and tends to make him a critic. However friendships are not taken lightly and he would be loyal and emotional to his trusted few friends. Leadership qualities are a natural to him and it will help him to take bold and risky decisions to achieve his objectives. He may not be able to understand the delicacies in life and would be too blunt in matters regarding relationships and raising children.

The shadvarga charts are also very important for delineation. The navamsha chart in particular. If a planet is debilitated in the birth chart and is exalted in the navamsha chart then the planet needs to be treated as an exalted planet and results modified accordingly.

In my experience debilitation of a benefic planet reduces the good qualities of the planet, however if there is a cancellation of the debilitation then the native achieves great heights in his life. The debilitation of a malefic planet causes many untoward incidences in the life of the native, however if there is a cancellation of the debilitation then it improves the qualities of life which the planet is a karaka of.