Functional Benefics and Malefics for All Ascendants

Summary: List of the functional benefic and functional malefic planets for each of the twelve ascendants in the sidereal zodiac used by Vedic Astrology. Essential information for chart interpretation and remedial measures.

 

List of Functional Benefics and Malefics for all Ascendants

Aries: Taurus: Gemini: Cancer: Leo: Virgo: Libra

Scorpio: Sagittarius: Capricorn: Aquarius: Pisces

This information is absolutely essential knowledge and forms a key component of chart interpretation.

It is also vital for prescribing the correct remedial measures for bringing balance to the planetary energies for a particular ascendant. As a general rule, planets that are functional benefics can be strengthened by wearing appropriate gem-stones. However, functional malefics cannot be strengthened in this way and other techniques, such as planetary mantras, used.

This list of functional benefics and malefics for all twelve ascendants is aimed at students of Jyotish who already have some knowledge about this topic. Please note:

    • The numbers in brackets e.g. (9&12) refer to the houses ‘ruled’ or ‘owned’ by the planet relative to the particular ascendant in the sidereal zodiac.
    • Rahu and Ketu do not own any houses, so are not classified here as ‘functional’. They are therefore just natural malefics.
    • The notes sections below have been taken mainly from Parashara
    • The degree of positivity / negativity is given a grade, from 1 to 5, where this information has been available [1].
    • A Grade 5 for benefics means this planet is the most beneficial and auspicious possible, much more so than a grade 1 benefic
    • A Grade 5 for malefics means this planet is the most dangerous and problematic possible, far worse than a grade 1 malefic
    • Not all Jyotish Astrologers will be in 100% agreement on all of the following points. There are many layers and ‘exceptions’ in Jyotish, but the following will serve as a good initial guide.

Aries Ascendant

Functional Benefics:

    • Jupiter                       (9 & 12)           Very auspicious – grade 4
    • Sun                            (5)                    Auspicious – grade 2
    • Mars                         (1 & 8)             Helpful to auspicious planets

Functional Malefics:

    • Saturn                       (10 & 11)         Inauspicious – grade 3
    • Mercury                    (3 & 10)           Inauspicious – grade 3
    • Venus                        (2 & 7)             Inauspicious – grade 1

Notes:

    • Mars has Moolatrikona of Aries (1) so predominantly favourable.
    • Mars helps Sun, Jupiter – some also include Moon in this respect.
    • Saturn associated with Venus is not good.
    • Association of Jupiter-Sun; Jupiter-Mars, Mars-Sun are good.
    • Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter will not produce auspicious result.
    • Jupiter at disposal of a malefic gives inauspicious results.

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Taurus Ascendant

Functional Benefics:

    • Saturn                       (9 & 10)           Very auspicious (Yogakaraka)
    • Mercury                    (2 & 5)             Auspicious
    • Sun                            (4)

Functional Malefics:

    • Jupiter                      (8 & 11)           Very adverse indeed
    • Mars                         (7 & 12)           Maraka
    • Moon                        (3)

Notes:

    • Moon as 3rd Lord is not auspicious (but not too bad: 3rd house is not as bad as 6th, which is itself less bad than 11th.)
    • Parashara says Venus, even though he is ruler of 1st, is Malefic – presumably as Libra is 6th sign from Taurus and Moolatrikona for Venus. Others argue that Venus is a benefic for Taurus Lagna as it rules the first house – which is both a Trine & Kendra simultaneously. They say that the ruler of the ascendant is always a benefic influence.
    • Mercury by joining Saturn/Sun acts more effectively.

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Gemini Ascendant

Functional Benefics:

    • Venus                        (5 & 12)           Auspicious – grade 2
    • Saturn                       (8 & 9)             Auspicious – see notes
    • Mercury                    (1 & 4)             Auspicious

Functional Malefics:

    • Mars                          (6 & 11)           Very adverse indeed – grade 5
    • Sun                            (3)                    Inauspicious – grade 1

Notes:

    • Venus is highly favourable: 5th (Libra) is his Moolatrikona.
    • Saturn’s (8 & 9) role not mentioned by Parashara: it should be O.K. as 9th (Aquarius) is his Moolatrikona, but check other factors in chart.
    • Sun owning 3rd is not helpful.

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Cancer Ascendant

Functional Benefics:

    • Mars                          (5 & 10)           Auspicious – grade 2 (Yogakaraka)
    • Jupiter                       (6 & 9)             Auspicious – grade 2
    • Moon                        (1)

Functional Malefics:

    • Venus                        (4 & 11)           Inauspicious – grade 3
    • Mercury                    (3 & 12)           Inauspicious – grade 3
    • Saturn                       (7 & 8)             Strong Maraka

Notes:

    • Mars well related to Sun or Moon or Jupiter is very good.

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Leo Ascendant

Functional Benefics:

    • Mars                          (4 & 9)             Very auspicious indeed – grade 5 (Yogakaraka)
    • Jupiter                       (5 & 8)             Auspicious – grade 2
    • Sun                            (1)

Functional Malefics:-

    • Mercury                    (2 & 11)           Very Inauspicious – grade 4
    • Saturn                       (6 &7)              Inauspicious – grade 2
    • Venus                        (3 & 10)           Inauspicious (see notes) – grade 1

Notes:

    • Many say Venus is unreliable for this ascendant.
    • Conjunction of Jupiter and Venus will not produce auspicious results.

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Virgo Ascendant

Functional Benefics:

    • Venus                        (2 & 9)             Very auspicious (Yogakaraka)
    • Mercury                    (1 & 10)           Auspicious

Functional Malefics:

    • Mars                         (3 & 8)             Very Inauspicious – grade 4
    • Moon                        (11)                  Inauspicious – grade 3
    • Jupiter                       (4 & 7)             Inauspicious (see notes) – grade 1

Notes:

    • Suns (12th) role depends on associations – o.k. if joins good planets in good houses.
    • Saturn (5th & 6th) not mentioned by Parashara: favourable by virtue of 5th and relationship with Mercury – but some doshas due to 6th Lordship.
    • Jupiter (4 & 7) is a Maraka

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Libra Ascendant

Functional Benefics:

    • Mercury                    (9 & 12 )           Very auspicious – grade 4
    • Saturn                       (4 & 5)             Auspicious – grade 3 (Yogakaraka)

Functional Malefics:

    • Jupiter                       (3 & 6)             Inauspicious – grade 3
    • Sun                            (11)                  Inauspicious – grade 3
    • Mars                         (2 & 7)             Inauspicious (see notes) – grade 1

Notes:

    • Venus owns 1 & 8.  Parashara terms Venus a Neutral. However, some would argue Venus, as lord of lagna, is auspicious. Interesting!
    • Moon (10) associated with Mercury (9 & 12) causes Rajayoga.
    • Mars is a Maraka

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Scorpio Ascendant

 Functional Benefics:

    • Moon                        (9)                    Very auspicious – grade 4
    • Jupiter                       (2 & 5)             Auspicious – grade 2
    • Sun                            (10)                  Auspicious – grade 1

Functional Malefics:

    • Mercury                    (8 & 11)           Very adverse indeed – grade 5
    • Venus                        (7 & 12)           Inauspicious (see notes) – grade 2
    • Saturn                       (3 & 4)             Inauspicious – grade 1

Notes:

    • Mars (1 & 6) is Neutral. However, some would argue Mars, as lord of lagna, is auspicious. Interesting!
    • Venus is a Maraka
    • Sun and Moon associated are Yogakarakas.

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Sagittarius Ascendant

Functional Benefics:

    • Sun                            (9)                    Very auspicious – grade 4
    • Mars                         (5 & 12)           Auspicious – grade 2
    • Mercury                    (7 & 10)           Auspicious

Functional Malefics:

    • Venus                        (6 & 11)           Very adverse indeed – grade 5
    • Saturn                       (2 & 3)             Inauspicious – grade 2

Notes:

    • Moon as 8th ruler is not mentioned as inauspicious. Apparently Moon is o.k. if related to Mercury, Sun, or Mars
    • Mercury is auspicious – 10th is Moolatrikona
    • Sun and Mercury mutually associated give Yoga
    • Association between Moon and Jupiter gives a good Yoga
    • Jupiter is Neutral

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Capricorn Ascendant

 Functional Benefics:

    • Venus                        (5 & 10)           Very auspicious  (Yogakaraka)
    • Mercury                    (6 & 9)             Auspicious

Functional Malefics:

    • Mars                         (4 & 11)           Inauspicious – grade 3
    • Jupiter                       (3 & 12)           Inauspicious
    • Moon                        (7)                    (see notes)

Notes:

    • Saturn (1 & 2) is Neutral. However, some would argue Saturn as ruler of ascendant is auspicious. Interesting!
    • Sun (8) is Neutral.
    • Moon is Maraka

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Aquarius Ascendant

Functional Benefics:

    • Venus                        (4 & 9)             Very Auspicious indeed – Grade 5 (Yogakaraka)
    • Saturn                       (1 & 12)           Auspicious

Functional Malefics:

    • Jupiter                       (2 & 11)           Very adverse indeed – grade 5
    • Moon                        (6)                    Inauspicious – grade 2
    • Mars                         (3 & 10)           Inauspicious – grade 1
    • Sun                            (7)

Notes:

    • Venus gives Rajayoga.
    • Saturn’s Moolatrikona sign is Aquarius, so it is considered auspicious.
    • Mercury (5 & 8) should be auspicious but gives mixed results according to association.

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Pisces Ascendant

Functional Benefics:

    • Mars                         (2 & 9)             Very Auspicious – Grade 4
    • Moon                        (5)                    Auspicious – Grade 2
    • Jupiter                       (1 & 10)           Auspicious – Grade 1

Functional Malefics:

    • Saturn                       (12 & 11)         Very adverse indeed – grade 5
    • Venus                        (3 & 8)             Very Inauspicious – grade 4
    • Sun                            (6)                    Inauspicious – grade 2
    • Mercury                    (3 & 7)             Inauspicious – grade 1

Notes:

    • Pandit Ojha States: Sambandha between Mars and Jupiter gives Rajayoga.

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Footnotes

[1] I gained information on the five point grading system for benefics and malefics from the Jyotish pundits of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi over 30 years ago. If anyone has any comments, or can further update me on this, you can contact me via the information on the Contact page of this site.

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Further Resources for Students of Jyotish