Moolatrikona

moo-la-tri-KOH-na

sanskrit: मूलत्रिकोण (Mūlatrikoṇa)

Definition

Moolatrikona, the 'root-trine', is one of a planet's essential dignities — a band of degrees inside its own sign where the planet grows especially strong. In the dignity ranking it sits just below exaltation (uccha) and above plain own-sign. Each of the seven planets has one such portion. From the Sun onward the Moolatrikona signs are Leo, Taurus, Aries, Virgo, Sagittarius, Libra and Aquarius, with a fixed span set inside each — for the Sun, the first 20 degrees of Leo.

In Tradition

Classical and modern Jyotish writers tend to treat Moolatrikona as a planet's second-highest essential dignity — stronger than plain own-sign, though not quite as strong as exaltation. From BPHS, Jataka Parijata, Phaladeepika and Saravali through to modern authors, they agree it is a favoured band of degrees inside the planet's own sign, one that lets it give nearly full, dignified results.

In Practice

When a planet falls in its Moolatrikona arc, an astrologer reads it as well-placed and able to give its results with near-full force — second only to exaltation, and stronger than own-sign. The exact spans differ by author, and the sources are kept distinct rather than merged: BPHS gives Aries 0-12 for Mars and Virgo 15-20 for Mercury; Frawley gives Sun 4-20 Leo and Saturn 0-20 Aquarius; Behari counts Moolatrikona strength only in the Rashi (D1) chart, not the other divisional charts (vargas), and adds Cancer for Rahu and Capricorn for Ketu. Rao uses the Moolatrikona sign as the point from which a planet's friendships and enmities are counted. Cole rates it at 75% of effect in the Parashara strength ratio, against 100% for exaltation. Writers note it can overlap exaltation or own-sign and is sometimes set aside in practice, yet it can settle which house a planet that rules two signs will deliver.

Historical Origin

Moolatrikona is set out in the classical Sanskrit texts: BPHS (Ch.3, attributed to Maharshi Parasara), Jataka Parijata (Vaidyanatha Dikshita), Phaladeepika (Mantreswara) and Saravali (Kalyana Varma) — read here through Santhanam's and Sastri's translations. Modern authors carry it forward, among them Frawley, Levacy, Rao, Behari, Raman, deFouw and Svoboda, Cole and Harness.

Definition

In Tradition

In Practice

Historical Origin

Further Reading