Gajakesari Yoga

GUH-juh keh-SAH-ree YOH-guh

sanskrit: गज-केसरी योग (Gaja-Kesarī Yoga)

Definition

Gajakesari Yoga ('elephant-lion' combination) is, in the form most modern books cite, Jupiter sitting in a kendra (an angle — the 1st, 4th, 7th or 10th house) counted from the Moon, or the Moon and Jupiter falling in mutual kendras. Its stricter Parasari form (BPHS Ch.36) asks more: Jupiter in an angle from the ascendant or the Moon, joined or aspected by a benefic, and not debilitated, combust or in an enemy's sign. Either way it is a celebrated, fortunate combination held to bring fame and prosperity.

In Tradition

Across the classical and modern Jyotish literature, Gajakesari Yoga rests on Jupiter being angular (in a kendra) to the Moon, and is read as a fortunate combination giving wisdom, fame, wealth and lasting reputation. Several authors add a caution: because Jupiter sits in a kendra from the Moon in a large share of charts, the yoga is common, so its classical results should be weighed against how strong and well-placed the two planets actually are.

In Practice

A Jyotishi reads the Moon-Jupiter angle and judges how much the yoga can really deliver. Santhanam notes its wealth and fame ripen in the dasa periods (the planetary timing-cycles) of Jupiter, the Moon and related planets. Rao adds that the lord of the sign holding the planet must be strong for full results, and rates the yoga most promising in the 5th, the Lakshmi sthana, the wealth-place. Raman holds that its strength rests on how the Moon and Jupiter sit — exalted, debilitated or in an enemy's place — and that in the 12th, 6th or 8th from the lagna (ascendant) it cannot move the chart toward good. deFouw and Svoboda warn that since about a third of charts show Jupiter in a kendra from the Moon, you should meet the stricter Parasari criteria before predicting results. The yoga can also be afflicted: Raman shows that in Hitler's chart Ketu's contact made the Kesari work on its lower plane.

Historical Origin

The classical texts attest it as Gaja Kesari Yoga in the Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra (Ch.36 Sl.3-4) and, in the weaker Moon-Jupiter angular form, as plain Kesari Yoga in Mantreswara's Phaladeepika (Ch.6); it is also indexed in the Bhavartha Ratnakara. Modern authors elaborate it, among them Frawley, Levacy, deFouw and Svoboda, Charak, Rao and Raman. deFouw, Svoboda and Santhanam observe that most modern books oversimplify the definition.

Definition

In Tradition

In Practice

Historical Origin

Further Reading