To understand the meaning of Yoga in Astrology, we first need to comprehend the meaning of the word Yoga. Yoga means addition, union, synergy, and togetherness. When planets are in Yoga in a birth chart, they work in coherence and synchronization. The outcome of their combined efforts is based on many aspects: their natural makeup, their likes, and dislikes for each other, their house lordships, their placement in a sign & house, their strength, their avastha, their char karka, etc.

In general, there are four kinds of Yoga in Astrology.

1. Parivartana or Exchange Yoga in Jyotish:

When planets are placed in each other’s sign they are in Parivartana or Exchange Yoga. This is considered the strongest yoga of all.
Example: Venus is placed in the sign Capricorn and Saturn is placed in the sign Taurus.

2. Yuti or Conjunction Yoga in Vedic Astrology:

When two or more planets are placed or conjoined in one sign, they form Conjunction Yoga.
Example: Sun & Mars placed in the sign Gemini.

3) Graha Drishti Yoga (via Planetary aspect) in Astrology:

When two or more planets aspect each other via Graha Drishti, they for this type of yoga.

We know that planets from the Sun to Rahu aspect the 7th sign from their placement. It is also called Graha Drishti of a planet. Also, we include special & full aspects of the outer planets like Mars, Jupiter, Saturn & Rahu for this Yoga.

-Mars also aspect the 4th and 8th house/sign from his placement.
-Jupiter also aspects the 5th and 9th house/sign from his placement.
-Saturn also aspects the 3rd and 10th house/sign from his placement.
-And Rahu also aspects 2nd, 5th, and 9th house/sign from his placement.

Example: If Jupiter is placed in the sign Cancer and Rahu is placed in Pisces, then they are in Yoga because they mutually aspect each other by Graha Drishti. Similarly, when is Sun is placed in Aries and the Moon is placed in Libra, they are also in Yoga as per astrology because they aspect each other by Graha Drishti.

4) Graha Drishti on Dispositor (Tadisha) Yoga in Vedanga Jyotish:

Dispositor is termed used in Jyotish for the lord of the sign where a planet is placed. So when one planet is placed in the sign, lorded by another planet, and also aspects his disposition, then this yoga is formed in astrology.

Example: When Mars is placed in the sign Capricorn, and Saturn is placed in Leo, they are in Yoga as per the rules of astrology. Here Mars is placed in the sign of Saturn and also aspects Saturn by Graha Drishti (8th house aspect).

Primarily we judge yogas based on their house lordships from Lagna. Yoga formed by naturally friendly planets in strength generates outstanding results.

This 4th Type of Yoga is present in the Dasamsa Chart D10 of Shri Amitabh Bachchan.

In terms of auspiciousness and inauspiciousness or qualities of results, there are 3 kinds of Yoga in Astrology: Raj Yoga, Dur Yoga, and Vipreet Raj Yoga.

1. Raj Yoga or Lakshmi Narayan Yoga in Jyotish. Raj Yogas accord high status, name, fame, authority, success, influence, posts, prosperity, wealth, property, vehicles, following, and knowledge & learning, etc.

Maharishi Parashar in Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra teaches us that Quadrant houses (1,4,7,10) are Shri Vishnu Sthanas and Trinal houses (1,5,9) are Goddess Lakshmi Sthanas. The Yogas formed between these two house lords are called Raj Yoga or Lakshmi Narayan Yogas in Jyotish.

If the plants involved do have lordships of only these two types of houses in a horoscope, then it is much more powerful yogas as per the rules of Vedanga Jyotish.

For example, A yoga formed by Mars and the Sun for Leo Lagna native is very powerful Raj Yoga as the planets own only trine and quadrant houses. Moreover, the two planets are friends of each other.

In the same way for Leo Lagna, the Yoga formed by Venus and Jupiter is not that great, as both the plants own 1 additional house each which is not a quadrant or trine. Venus rules the 3rd house along with the 10th house and Jupiter also rules the 8th house along with the 5th house. Further, Venus and Jupiter are not natural friends.

Some Yogas that give positive results of great magnitude are called Maharaj Yoga.

2. Dur Yoga in Vedic Astrology generates difficulties, failures, obstacles, losses, suffering, defame, wrath, and consequently fear from authority/power, etc. Further, there are problems in obtaining the auspicious results.

A Dur Yoga is formed when an auspicious house lord (Quadrant & Trine) is in union with an inauspicious house (6,8,12) lord.
Here the good agenda gets combined with bad ones, so there are problems in obtaining the auspicious results in life. The quality and/or the quantity of auspiciousness suffers.

Example: The 10th house lord in union with the 8th, 6th, or 12th lord is a Dur Yoga in astrology

So here the 10th house lord whose agenda is achievements and success gets coupled with either:

-failure, disappointment, or changes (8th lord).
-struggle, enmity, or obstacles (6th lord).
-losses, expenses, or compromises (12th lord).

So consequently, there will be problems/extra efforts in obtaining the desired goals of the 10th house namely: success, honor & posts.

Other Yogas that generate suffering are also called Dur Yoga. Like Sarp Yoga, which is a Nabhas Yoga. It is formed when there are 3 or more malefic planets are placed in 3 or more quadrant houses from the Ascendant. Sarp yoga gives poverty, failure, suffering, bad nature, and dependence on others.

3. Vipreet Raj Yoga in astrology: They generate results of initial suffering, failure, and disappointments to the native but later benefit/gain on the loss, misery, or death of others.

It is formed when the lords of inauspicious houses (6,8,12) form a union, preferably in these houses only.
This Yoga is especially beneficial when it occurs in Dusht Sthana (6,8 or 12th house) from Ascendant.

Some examples of Vipreet Raj Yoa in astrology are:

-The 6th lord is in the 12th house and the 8th lord is in the 6th house.
-The exchange between the 6th and the 12th lords.
-The 12th lord is placed in the 6th house with the 8th lord, etc.

Understand the Raj Yogas and Vipreet Raj Yogas in the horoscope of legendary Bollywood actor Shri Amitabh Bachchan.

Similarly, the unison of some specific planets irrespective of their lordships also forms Yoga in astrology.

-Moon and Jupiter Yoga is called Gaj Kesari Yoga. It grants abundant fame and prosperity to the natives.
-Moon and Mars Yoga is called Chandra Mangal Yoga, it is yoga for wealth.
-Mercury and Sun Yoga is called Budh Aditya Yoga or Nipun Yoga. This Yoga makes one very intelligent, fast learner, skillful, and dexterous.

Yoga formed by Rahu & Ketu in Jyotish:

Maharshi Parashara in Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra teaches that:
-Rahu and Ketu give predominantly the effects due to their conjunction with a house lord (functional benefic or functional malefic) or due to the house they occupy. -BPHS

-If the shadowy planets Rahu and Ketu are situated in an angle or trine, are in conjunction or in aspect or association with a trinal or quadrant lord even they will become Yoga karaka. -BPHS

Rahu is the co-lord of Aquarius along with Saturn and Ketu is the co-lord of Scorpio along with Mars. However, in whichever house Rahu and Ketu are placed they treat that house as their own. So practically they behave as lord of that Bhava.

So a planet in Yoga with Rahu or Ketu can generate Raj Yoga, Dur Yoga, or Vipreet Raj Yoga; It all depends.

If Mars and Rahu are placed in the 10th house in the sign Taurus for the same Leo Lagna then It is a powerful Raj Yoga. Practically, the 4th, 9th, and 10th lords are in conjunction. However, Mars and Rahu are not friends and Rahu does Kuj-Stambhan or douses the fire of Mars.

For Capricorn Lagna 9th lord Mercury along with Rahu in the 10th house is a better Raj Yoga as the planets involved in yoga are natural friends.

If exalted Mars is placed in the 6th house for Leo Lagna along with Rahu then it generates a Dur Yoga as Yoga Karaka Mars is placed with the 6th lord of struggle/enmity. Further, Rahu because of his presence in a Trik bhava (6th, 8th, 12th) shall behave negatively. Although, because of his association with Yoga Karaka Mars there is some beneficence. However, Mars and Rahu are not friends and Rahu does Kuj-Stambhan or douses the fire of Mars.

For Leo Lagna: If Moon and Rahu are placed in the 6th house, it is a Vipreet Raj Yoga in astrology. As Moon is the 12th lord and Rahu shall be practically the 6th lord.

9 Planets and Their Characteristics in Astrology: A Complete Guide

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