Retrograde Planets

Retrograde Planets

S N Rao

Except for Sun and the Moon, all planets become retrograde once in a while. Rahu and Ketu, which are not physical planets are always in retrograde motion. The Panchanga / Almanac provide the details whether the planet is retrograde or not on a particular day. It is usually identified by a suffix R in the birth chart.

When a planet appears to be moving in the opposite direction as compared to its normal movement, it is called a retrograde planet. In Vedic Astrology all astronomical observations are done considering the earth to be the reference point. This system of observation is called 'geocentric'. This may be likened to everyone's common experience while sitting in a moving train. If the train you are sitting in passes by another train which is moving in the same direction, but slower than your train, this other train seems to be moving backwards against the backdrop of distant trees. This is so because you consider yourself to be the reference point and hence stationary. Largely, a similar phenomenon takes place with the planets also, when they appear to be moving backwards. In our solar system, the planets are orbiting around the Sun with varying speeds. The earth is also doing likewise.

Inner and outer planets: The planets that lie between the Sun and the earth are called inner or inferior planets. These are Mercury and Venus. They can never go too far away from the Sun. Mercury can go a maximum of 27 degrees form the Sun and Venus cannot go beyond 47 degrees from the Sun. These two planets retrograde when they are between the earth and the Sun. Since Mercury and Venus are always quite close to the Sun (as viewed from the earth) it is difficult to know from their position in the chart alone when they are retrograde.

The planets whose orbits lie outside the orbit of the earth are called outer or superior planets. These are Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The extra-Saturnine planets, i.e., Uranus & Neptune are also in this very category. Outer planets retrograde when the earth is between the Sun and the planet. The outer planets are definitely retrograde when they are in the 6th, 7th or 8th house from the Sun. Sometimes they are retrograde even when they are in the 5th or 9th house from the Sun, but not always.

Vedic astrology has given a lot of importance about the position (longitude) of a planet in the zodiac as far as determining the strength and delineation is concerned. That is the reason we have detailed descriptions of deepest points of exaltation, debilitation, own rashi placements and velocity of the planet. Velocity has two components, one is speed and the other is direction. When a planet increases the speed, it becomes atichari. It is termed Vakri when retrograde. Cognisance of velocity of a planet has been taken in Shadbala which is the actual strength of a planet arising out of six difference sources. Out of these six sources, one is termed Cheshtabala. A retrograde planet gets full 60 shashtiamshas as its Cheshtabala. All other states of motion get 45 or less. This strength is added to the strength of a planet derived through a host of other sources. Thus its relative importance is very low in Shadbala. In practice it tends to affect more on the mental plane rather on the physical plane. According to Shri Mantreshwara of Phaladeepika a retrograde planet has the status of an exalted planet. However there are not many takers for the above statement. In Sarvatha Chintamani the results of the dasha of retrograde planets, as under:

The Sun and the Moon are never retrograde.

Mercury: In the dasha of retrograde Mercury the native gets happiness and good luck, prosperity from wife & children. He would engage himself in acts of charity and would be highly religious.

Venus: During the dasha of retrograde Venus the native gets much honor from superiors / government. He would get happiness from vehicles, fine clothes and ornaments. He would benefit from female company.

Mars: During the dasha-antardasha of Mars in retrogression, the native will be full of fear. He would face opposition from enemies, thieves, fire and animals. He may fall from the position held and may live in solitude.

Jupiter: The dasha of a retrograde Jupiter bestows on the native much knowledge and benefits from friends and society. He would be satisfied and content and would be prosperous.

Saturn: Retrograde Saturn in its dasha causes failures in actions, frustrations in undertakings, sorrows and loss.

These results should not be applied ad-verbatim as they will be modified due to other factors present in a chart.