Adhi Yoga

Definition

Adhi Yoga is a combination for leadership and wealth, formed when the benefic planets sit in the 6th, 7th and 8th houses counted from the Moon, or in its ascending-sign form from the Lagna (the rising sign). The benefics named are Mercury, Jupiter and Venus. Depending on how strong those benefics are, the person is held to become a commander, a minister or a ruler, and to enjoy prosperity, long life and freedom from disease.

In Tradition

The classical sources read Adhi Yoga much the same way: benefics in the 6th, 7th and 8th from the Moon (or from the Lagna, the rising sign) are held to make a leader of high standing, the rank graded by benefic strength. BPHS says the person becomes "either a king or a minister or an army chief," and Phaladeepika that the result is "a commander, a minister or a ruler respectively" — both keyed to benefic strength.

In Practice

An astrologer forms the yoga by counting the 6th, 7th and 8th houses from the Moon's sign (the Chandradhi form) or, in the Lagnadhi form, from the rising sign, then seeing which benefics fall there. The version named best is Mercury in the 6th, Jupiter in the 7th and Venus in the 8th, with the benefics clear of combustion (too close to the Sun), debilitation, and any malefic aspect; Saravali also wants those houses to exclude the Sun and take no malefic aspect. Rank tracks the strength of the benefics. Partial forms are read when only one or two of the three houses are filled: Uttara Kalamrita, citing Srutakirti, makes the person a leader, a minister or an eminent person respectively. Behari notes the combination is reckoned from the Moon, is not desirable from the Sun, and carries qualifying conditions from the Ascendant.

Historical Origin

Adhi Yoga runs across the classical Jyotish literature: Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra (Ch.37), Varahamihira's Brihat Jataka (Ch.XIII), Mantreswara's Phaladeepika (Ch.6), Vaidyanatha's Jataka Parijata (Ch.7), Kalyana Varma's Saravali (Lagnadhi Ch.34, Chandradhi Ch.35), and Kalidasa's Uttara Kalamrita (Ch.IV). Modern authors including Raman, Behari and Charak carry it forward.

Further Reading

• Parasara, Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra Ch.37 Sl.5
• Varahamihira, Brihat Jataka Ch.XIII Sl.2
• Mantreswara, Phaladeepika Ch.6 Sl.42-43
• Vaidyanatha Dikshita, Jataka Parijata Ch.7 Sl.113
• Kalyana Varma, Saravali Ch.34 Sl.13-14 (Lagnadhi Yoga)
• Kalyana Varma, Saravali Ch.35 Sl.20-21 (Chandradhi Yoga)
• Kalidasa, Uttara Kalamrita Ch.IV
• Behari, Fundamentals of Vedic Astrology
• Raman, How to Judge a Horoscope, Volume Two
• Raman, Notable Horoscopes
• Charak, Yogas in Astrology