Vividha Yogas:A huge category of miscellaneous yogas. Vividha means
“various.”
Nabhasa Yogas:Combinations that involve specific clusters or patterns
of planets giving a visual impact upon examination of the chart. Nab-
hasa means “sky.”
Yogas can be formed by a single planet meeting certain conditions, but more
commonly they are formed by multiple planetary combinations. Sometimes the condi-
tions for forming yogas are a function of the relative positions of specific planets in a
chart. An example of such a yoga is a commonly occurring pattern involving an angu-
lar relationship between Moon and Jupiter known as a Gajakesari Yoga, which is often
given the contemporary interpretation of being good at networking. Many other yogas
are formed by planets being the lords of specific houses in certain associations. One of
the most easily recognizable forms of the Raja (“rise”) Yoga, exemplifies this type of
yoga. The condition for its formation is that the lord of an angular or kendra house
(houses 1, 4, 7 or 10) must have a mutual relationship with the lord of a trine or
trikona house (houses 1, 5, 9). This relationship can be defined by any of the follow-
ing: mutual association (conjunction), mutual aspect, or an exchange of houses. This
latter condition is also known as a Parivartana Yoga.
In order to give some feeling for the breadth and color of this application of
Vedic astrology, an example of a yoga in each of the aforementioned categories fol-
lows, in a translation of the language of Maharishi Parashara, author of one of the
most widely used Vedic scriptures, known as the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra.
Raja Yoga:“Should the lord of the 4th house or of the 10th house join
either the 5th lord or the 9th lord, the native will obtain a kingdom.”
Dhana Yoga:“If the 2nd lord is in the 11th while the lord of the 11th is
in the 2nd, wealth will be acquired by the native. Alternatively, these
two lords may join in an angle or in a trine.”
Daridra Yoga:“If the ascendant lord along with a malefic is in the 6th,
8th or 12th houses while the 2nd lord is in an enemy’s sign or in debili-
tation, even a royal scion will become penniless.”
Arishta Yoga:“The native will be afflicted by illness throughout life if
Saturn is with Rahu while the 6th lord and 6th house are conjunct
malefics.”
Pravraja Yoga:“The yoga for ascetism is formed when four or more
planets possessed of strength occupy a single house.”
Ravi (Solar) Yoga:“Barring the Moon, if a planet among Mars etc. be in
the 2nd from the Sun, Vesi Yoga is formed. One born in Vesi yoga will
be even sighted, truthful, long-bodied, indolent, happy and endowed
with negligible wealth. Benefics causing this yoga will produce the
above mentioned effects while malefics will produce contrary effects.”
Chandra (Lunar) Yoga:“If benefics occupy the 8th, 6th and 7th count-
ed from the Moon, Adhi Yoga obtains. According to the strength ofTHEASTROLOGYBOOK [747]
Yogas