Nabhasa Yogas
sanskrit: नाभस योग (Nābhasa Yoga)
Definition
Nabhasa (sky-pattern) yogas are combinations that come from how the seven planets (Rahu and Ketu are left out) are spread across the signs and houses — from the shape of that spread, not from house-lordship or dignity. The classical texts sort them into four groups: Asraya (support), Dala (petal), Akriti (shape) and Sankhya (number). Most texts count thirty-two in all: 20 Akriti, 7 Sankhya, 3 Asraya and 2 Dala.
In Tradition
Classical and modern Jyotish writers agree on one point beyond the geometry: because a Nabhasa yoga arises from the whole planetary pattern rather than from lordship, conjunction or aspect, its effects are said to be felt throughout the whole of life — not waiting on any particular dasa or bhukti period to show up. One classical source (the Brihat Jataka) notes exceptions, such as the Vajra and a few others whose results fall in specific Antardasa periods.
In Practice
A jyotishi reads a Nabhasa yoga by looking at how the seven planets sit across the chart — which signs by modality, which groups of houses, what overall figure they trace — and treats that as a broad signature of the whole life pattern. The Asraya group is read from sign-modality: Rajju yoga (every planet in movable signs) marks someone fond of wandering who earns abroad, and it pairs with Musala (fixed signs) and Nala (dual signs). The Akriti group is read from the shape the planets form, and Raman holds these chiefly point to the means of livelihood and profession, with little definite effect unless the chart is otherwise strong. Some shape-yogas rank high: Chakra yoga, formed when all seven planets fall in alternate signs from the lagna (rising sign), is treated as a superior Raja yoga.
Historical Origin
The Nabhasa yogas appear in all the principal classical texts: the Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra (Ch.35), Varahamihira's Brihat Jataka (Ch.XII), Kalyana Varma's Saravali (Ch.21), and Vaidyanatha's Jataka Parijata (Adh.VII). Several of these point back to an older Yavana tradition of 1,800 varieties that was reduced to thirty-two. Modern writers, including B.V. Raman and K.S. Charak, restate and catalogue them.
Further Reading
- Maharshi Parasara, Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra
- Varahamihira, Brihat Jataka
- Vaidyanatha Dikshita, Jataka Parijata
- Kalyana Varma, Saravali
- B.V. Raman, Three Hundred Important Combinations
- K.S. Charak, Elements of Vedic Astrology
- K.S. Charak, Yogas in Astrology