A retrograde planet is also called "Vakri" in Sanskrit & a forward
moving planet is known as the "Margi" planet. It should be noted that a
retrograde planet doesn't actually move backwards. It moves forward only
in the solar system. Due to the relative motion between the earth & the planet, it seems to move backwards.
Retrograde planets are strong. Why? They are nearer to the earth compared to the forward moving planets. "Shorter the distance, greater is the gravitational pull between two masses " . So the gravitational pull is at the maximum between a planet & earth at the times the planet is retrograde.
Ancient scriptures provide the ways to calculate the strength due to retrogression. This strength is known as the "Chesta Bala". Chesta bala is the part of total strength (i.e "Shadabala") of the planet.
Saravali says that in retrograde motion the benefic planets become more benefic & the malefic planets become more malefic. Why? The same gravitational pull logic !! The increased gravitaional pull makes benefic planets more benefic & the malefic planets more malefic.
Generally an outer planet(Mars, Jup, Sat) is retrograde when it is in the 6th , 7th or 8th from house from the Sun. Very rarely an outer retro planet is in 5th or 9th to the Sun. So if you have a retrograde outer planet in your chart just note its position from the Sun. You would be amazed to verify this astronomical fact !
In Dasa - Bukti - Pratyantar -Sookshma the results related to these planets can be seen , whether good or bad. Retro planets bring health problems if in case it is indicated in the particular dasas or transits related to the retro planets. Also "Retro planets in debliation give a Neechabhanga Raja yoga". This theory too seem to be correct. This is written in "Phaldeepika" . But remember a Neechabhanga rajayoga too may be cancelled in many ways in a chart.
The ancient classic "Bhavartha Ratnakar" says a retrograde malefic planet gives good result. But I don't think that its true in all the cases. A malefic retro planet can give good results in exceptional cases only.
"Jataka Parijata" considers a retrograde planet to be always bad. But I have seen retrograde in charts of very successful people too. So I don't really attach a "bad" tag to retro planets. The analysis of them needs to be done carefully. It depends upon the experience of an astrologer to analyze good or bad results arising out of a retro planet correctly.
Astrologers differ in their ideas about the retrograde planets. The unpredictability of a retro planet is accepted in both Vedic & Western Astrology. There is literature available on them saying that they give unusual results (either good or bad) . Retro planets have some powerful psychological impacts on the native.
It is always to be noted that the results of a retro planet depends upon its position, aspects & conjunctions. The chart need to be analyzed by a good astrologer in totality for the final verdict.
FOR ASTRO-NUMERO ADVICE CONTACT ME ON FACEBOOK. MY FACEBOOK ID IS :
https://www.facebook.com/astro.shukla
Hi Astro, great writing on retrograde planets...I am very interested in this topic as 6 of the planets in my natal chart are in retrograde. I was just curious about what you said about the house placement of these...should I start counting with the house that contains the sun or the one after it? I think either way I have a retro in the 5th house from the sun. Very informative. Thank you. Christa Chandler
ReplyDeleteHi Christa that's good to know that. Hope my short article helped you somewhat !
Delete