Chhidra Graha

CHID-ra GRA-ha

sanskrit: छिद्र ग्रह (Chhidra Graha)

Definition

A chhidra graha (chhidra, a "hole" or "gap" — so a vulnerable, death-dealing planet) is one of seven planets tied to the 8th house whose dasha (ruling period) can bring death or disease. The seven: the lord of the 8th, a planet sitting in the 8th, any planet aspecting it, the lord of the 22nd drekkana counted from the lagna (rising sign), an associate or conjunct of the 8th lord, the lord of the 64th navamsha counted from the Moon, and the 8th lord's bitter enemy.

In Tradition

Across the classical and modern Jyotish texts, the chhidra-grahas are read as a set of 8th-house-linked markers of vulnerability, and death is expected in the dasha of whichever one is strongest. They are weighed together with the marakas (death-dealing planets) when timing death and serious health crises, since the 8th is the house of life and afflicting it ends life.

In Practice

To judge longevity and the timing of death or disease, a jyotishi (astrologer) finds the seven chhidra-grahas in a chart and weighs their relative strength. Each is assessed in turn: the planet sitting in the 8th, the lord of the 8th, any planet aspecting the 8th, the lord of the 22nd drekkana from the lagna (rising sign), a planet associating with or conjunct the 8th lord, the lord of the 64th navamsha from the Moon, and the 8th lord's bitter enemy. Death is predicted in the dasha (ruling period) of whichever is strongest. These vulnerable planets are read alongside the marakas (death-dealing planets) to fix the period of death and to judge the onset of health crises and the end of life.

Historical Origin

The chhidra-graha doctrine is laid out in the classical Jataka Parijata of Vaidyanatha Dikshita (Ch.5, Sl.52-53, in the Sastri translation). Modern authors restate it, among them B.V. Raman in How to Judge a Horoscope Vol.II and K.S. Charak in Elements of Vedic Astrology and Yogas in Astrology, who list the same seven death-vulnerable planets connected with the 8th house.

Further Reading

  • Vaidyanatha Dikshita, Jataka Parijata
  • B.V. Raman, How to Judge a Horoscope Vol.II
  • Charak, Elements of Vedic Astrology
  • K.S. Charak, Yogas in Astrology