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Benefic and malefic planets in Vedic astrology

Also called: saumya graha, shubha graha, krura graha, papa graha, natural benefics, natural malefics

Definition

Benefic and malefic describe a graha's inherent nature: benefics (saumya or shubha grahas) are gentle by nature, malefics (krura or papa grahas) harsh by nature.

BPHS ch. 3 lists the Sun, Saturn, Mars, the waning Moon, Rahu and Ketu as malefics, the rest as benefics, with Mercury becoming a malefic when he joins a malefic. So Jupiter and Venus are natural benefics, the waxing Moon is a benefic, and Mercury is a benefic alone or with benefics. In Sanskrit: saumya or shubha grahas for benefics, krura or papa grahas for malefics.

Why it matters: P.V.R. Narasimha Rao (PVR) explains that the results given by planets are based on their inherent nature.

Lordship changes the picture for each ascendant. BPHS ch. 34 adds that benefics owning kendras will not give benefic effects, and malefics owning kendras will not remain inauspicious.

Lessons that use this term

Sources for this entry
  1. P.V.R. Narasimha Rao, Vedic Astrology: An Integrated Approach
  2. Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (R. Santhanam translation)

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