Yogas are a core principle in Vedic astrology, and contribute greatly to the use of andunderstanding of Jyotish. Yogas primarily influence the house(s) occupied by the yoga-formingplanets.Note: This article was handed out in a class that I taught, and as such is quite condensed. Readingthe other articles on my website on planetary strength, yogas, and other topics will help to flesh itout.Necessary ConditionsIn order to perform yoga analysis, since most yogas depend upon house rulership and/or houseplacement to a large extent, the birth time must be reasonably accurate, i.e. the Lagna must not beuncertain or near a sign boundary (less than 2 degreesd ).In addition, if the Lagna, the Sun, or the Moon are very weak, positive yogas may not manifestappreciably.E.g. If the Moon is within a few degrees of the Sun, or either the Sun or Moon are at their points of maximum debilitation (10 degrees of Libra and 3 degrees of Scorpio respectively),or(and all of the following conditions should be met) the Lagna is Gandanta (the last 3 degrees 20minutes of a water sign or the first 3 degrees 20 minutes of a fire sign) or within 1 degree of a signchange, and occupied by (or aspected by) only malefics and the Lagnesa weak and poorly placed,positive yogas will give few results. (All these conditions for the Lagna must be met.)

Furthermore, for positive yogas to be utilizable by the person, they should have some relationshipwith the First House or Lagnesa, i.e. you can initiate actions with skill instead of just havingpositive events happen to you..Most positive yogas require that the yoga-forming planets be in Kendras or Trikonas, and at leastone of the yoga-forming planets should be strong (own sign, exalted, vargottama, dig bala,retrograde, or Bright Moon) and preferably not influenced by malefics.Similarly, for negative yogas to carry full weight, the planets involved should be weak, poorly-placed and aspected by malefics (and without benefic influence).Yogas of ReversalThere are a few types of yogas that take weak planets and make them give good results, however inall cases, good usually follows bad, i.e. that after some degree of trial or hardship or challengingevents, the person’s life turns around and their abilities and life themes develop significantly.The three most common yogas of reversal are dusthana rulers in dusthanas, Vipareeta Raja Yogas,and Dainya Parivartana Yogas. When the ruler of the 6th, 8th, or 12th is either

Yogas for intelligence

all cases, the yoga-forming planets must not have the influence of malefics upon them, or theeffects of the yoga will be greatly diminished or even reversed. The yoga-forming planets should notbe in dusthanas, and at least one (but preferably all) should be strong:

Kalanidhi yoga occurs when Jupiter is in the 5th with or opposite to Mercury or Venus, or is in thesign of Mercury or Venus. If the latter, Jupiter should be in the 1st house or Vargottama orretrograde (in order to have strength).

Budhaditya Yoga: Mercury with the Sun, in, aspecting, or ruling the First House or Fifth House.Saraswati Yoga: Jupiter strong while it and Venus and Mercury are all in angles or trines or in the2nd house.Yogas of Wealth Like most of the yogas mentioned above, with the exception of the illness combinations, these require an absence of influence by both malefics and dusthana lords to manifest fully, and of course should not occur in dusthanas, and the yoga-forming planets must have strength. Theyoga-forming planets also should not rule dusthanas (as their moolatrikona sign).Trinal Raja Yogas form when the lords of houses 1, 5, and 9 combine. These bring prosperity andluck into one’s life.