Malavya Yoga

sanskrit: मालव्य योग (Mālavya Yoga)

Definition

Malavya Yoga is the Venus member of the five Pancha Mahapurusha ('great person') yogas. It forms when Venus sits in its own sign (Taurus or Libra) or its exaltation (Pisces) in a kendra — an angle from the Ascendant, and in some accounts from the Moon. The chart is then read as carrying Venus at high standing.

In Tradition

Across the classical and modern Jyotish literature, Malavya Yoga is held to bring Venus's significations to their highest pitch — refinement, beauty, artistry, wealth, fine vehicles and the pleasures of life — marking a distinguished, fortunate person. Authors agree on this general principle while differing on the precise results they list.

In Practice

A jyotishi confirms the yoga by checking Venus for own or exalted dignity in an angle, then reads the venusian results the cited authors attach to it. Frawley notes comfort, prosperity, command of vehicles, beauty, charm and artistic talent, common in artists and figures of social influence. Behari adds strong limbs, a resolute and wealthy nature, spouse, children, fine food and the finest vehicles. Rao illustrates Venus in the 10th with President Zakir Hussain's chart; deFouw and Svoboda, citing Phaladipika, read 'will have sons' in Einstein's chart, where Venus as fifth-lord forms the yoga; Santhanam notes Malavya effects for an Aries Ascendant with Venus in its own Libra in the seventh.

Historical Origin

The yoga is attested in Varahamihira's Brihat Samhita (Adhyaya LXIX), which describes the Malavya great-man type and says he 'lives for 70 years and abandons his body in a sacred place by Yoga' (Sastri and Bhat translation). It carries into Saravali (Santhanam's commentary) and Phaladipika, and is elaborated by modern authors including Frawley, Levacy, Behari, Rao, Raman, deFouw and Svoboda.

Definition

In Tradition

In Practice

Historical Origin

Further Reading