Jyotisha Library
Parashari · पराशरी
The mainstream house-and-lordship system most Vedic charts are read with.
Parashari is the default grammar of Indian natal astrology. A chart is read through twelve houses, the lords of those houses, planetary dignity, divisional charts and the Vimshottari dasha clock. Astravya's calculations, dashas and interpretations follow this system unless a page says otherwise.
How it works in practice
- Judge a matter from its house, that house's lord, and the natural significator of the matter.
- Confirm the reading in the relevant divisional chart before treating it as strong.
- Time the result with Vimshottari Mahadasha and Antardasha, then check transits for the trigger.
- Weigh the planet's dignity, aspects and combustion before predicting the size of a result.
Strengths
- Widest source base and the most cross-checkable rules.
- Timing is explicit: dashas give periods, transits give dates.
- Divisional charts allow the same matter to be tested more than once.
Cautions
- Rules from different treatises can disagree; a single verse is never proof on its own.
- House and divisional readings depend on an accurate birth time.
How it differs from other schools
vs Jaimini
Parashari times events with Vimshottari and planetary periods; Jaimini uses sign-based Chara dashas and karakas assigned by degree.
Read Jaiminivs Tajika
Parashari reads the birth chart for the whole life; Tajika casts a fresh chart each solar return for one year.
Read Tajikavs Prashna
Parashari needs birth data; Prashna answers from the moment a question is asked.
Read PrashnaTreatises in this school
- Brihat Parashara Hora ShastraThe foundational reference for house, lordship, divisional and dasha technique.
- Brihat JatakaA compact, disciplined natal manual valued for its precision.
- SaravaliA detailed expansion of natal combinations and their described results.
- PhaladeepikaA well-organised practical guide widely used for house-based judgement.
- Jataka ParijataAn encyclopaedic compilation drawing many earlier authorities together.
- Uttara KalamritaConcentrated material on significations, karakas and sensitive points.
- Hora SaraAn early natal work valued for its treatment of timing and results.
Glossary
- Bhavaभाव
- A house — one of the twelve life areas a chart is divided into.
- Bhava lord
- The planet ruling the sign on a house; its condition carries that house's affairs.
- Karakaकारक
- A natural significator, e.g. Jupiter for children, Venus for marriage.
- Vargaवर्ग
- A divisional chart such as D9 or D10 used to test one area in detail.
- Vimshottari dasha
- The 120-year planetary period cycle used to time results.
- Yogaयोग
- A named planetary combination with a described effect.
- Doshaदोष
- A named affliction pattern; always read with its cancellations.
- Shadbala
- Six-fold planetary strength measure used to weigh a promise.
Published rules from the knowledge base
Reviewed and released entries recorded under this school, each with its source and rights basis.
Tenth house and its lord govern career
The tenth house and its lord describe profession, status and public action. A strong tenth lord placed in a kendra or trikona and unafflicted supports steady professional rise; an afflicted or weak lord points to obstacles or changes of direction.
When it applies: Career and reputation questions; read with the Sun, Saturn and Mercury as karakas.
Where sources disagree: Phaladeepika gives more weight to planets occupying the tenth than to its lord.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Bhava effects (tenth house)
Seventh house and Venus describe partnership
The seventh house, its lord and Venus (for a man) or Jupiter (traditionally for a woman) indicate marriage and partnership. Benefic aspect on the seventh and a well-placed lord favour harmony; malefic occupation or a lord in a dusthana shows friction or delay.
When it applies: Relationship and marriage questions.
Where sources disagree: Modern practice reads Venus as the relationship karaka for every native.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Bhava effects (seventh house)
Lords of kendra and trikona combine as Raja Yoga
When a lord of an angular house (1, 4, 7, 10) joins, aspects or exchanges with a lord of a trine (1, 5, 9), a Raja Yoga forms, promising rank and success, especially in the dashas of the planets involved.
When it applies: Status, authority and timing of success.
Where sources disagree: Results are reduced if either lord also owns a dusthana (6, 8, 12).
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Yoga chapters (Raja Yoga)
Dasha lord delivers results of the houses it owns and occupies
A planet's Vimshottari period brings forward the matters of the houses it rules and occupies, modified by its dignity and aspects. The sub-period lord's relation to the main lord (friend, enemy, sixth/eighth from each other) colours the outcome.
When it applies: Timing any event; always read the running mahadasha and antardasha lords.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Dasha effects chapters
Special aspects of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn
Every planet fully aspects the seventh from itself; Mars additionally aspects the fourth and eighth, Jupiter the fifth and ninth, and Saturn the third and tenth. Aspects transfer a planet's nature to the house and planets they reach.
When it applies: Any house or planet analysis.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Graha drishti
Moon's strength governs mind and wellbeing
A waxing, well-placed Moon aspected by benefics gives a steady mind and contentment; a waning Moon, or one hemmed in by malefics, shows restlessness and worry. The Moon's sign is also the base for dasha and transit reading.
When it applies: Emotional wellbeing questions and transit reading from the Moon sign.
Phaladeepika Phaladeepika, planetary effects
Saturn transiting 12th, 1st and 2nd from Moon (Sade Sati)
Saturn's passage through the twelfth, first and second signs from the natal Moon is a period of pressure, responsibility and slow results. Its severity depends on Saturn's natal strength and the running dasha.
When it applies: Current-transit and difficult-period questions.
Where sources disagree: Many authors say Saturn gives good results for natives with Saturn-ruled lagnas.
Phaladeepika Phaladeepika, transit chapter
Jupiter transit from the Moon sign
Jupiter transiting the second, fifth, seventh, ninth or eleventh from the natal Moon is favourable for growth, family and gains; other positions give mixed results unless vedha (obstruction) is absent.
When it applies: Timing of favourable periods.
Phaladeepika Phaladeepika, transit chapter
Planets in the eleventh house give gains
Almost any planet placed in the eleventh house is considered to bring gains, the nature of which follows the planet: benefics through friends and favour, malefics through effort and competition.
When it applies: Income and wealth questions.
Saravali Saravali, bhava effects
Ascendant lord sets overall vitality
The ascendant and its lord describe body, temperament and overall resilience. A strong, well-aspected lagna lord supports health and self-direction through the rest of the chart.
When it applies: General personality and health questions.
Brihat Jataka Brihat Jataka, general principles
Moon as karaka of mind and mother
The Moon signifies the mind, emotional steadiness and the mother; a waxing, well-placed Moon is read as supporting emotional balance.
When it applies: Read with the 4th house and the Moon's paksha strength.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Karaka descriptions
Sun as karaka of father, authority and vitality
The Sun signifies the father, government, authority and vitality; its strength colours how these themes appear in life.
When it applies: Read with the 9th and 10th houses.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Karaka descriptions
Antardasha lord relationship to the mahadasha lord
Sub-periods tend to be smoother when the sub-period lord is friendly to, or well placed from, the major-period lord, and more mixed when placed 6th, 8th or 12th from it.
When it applies: Count the position of the sub-period lord from the major-period lord.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Antardasha effects
Dasha lord gives results of the houses it rules and occupies
During a planet's major period, the matters of the houses it rules and the house it occupies come forward, modified by its strength and dignity.
When it applies: Applies to Vimshottari periods; sub-period lords modify the result.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Dasha effects
Raja yoga from kendra and trikona lords combining
A connection (conjunction, mutual aspect or exchange) between a lord of an angular house and a lord of a trinal house is described as a yoga for rise in status.
When it applies: Results come mainly in the dashas of the planets forming the yoga.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Raja yoga chapter
Gajakesari yoga: Jupiter in a kendra from the Moon
Jupiter placed in the 1st, 4th, 7th or 10th from the Moon forms Gajakesari yoga, associated with reputation, intelligence and lasting goodwill.
When it applies: Weakened when Jupiter is combust, debilitated or in an enemy sign.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Yoga chapters
Lord of the 7th and Venus describe partnership
The condition of the seventh-house ruler and of Venus as the significator of partnership are read together to describe the nature of marriage and close partnerships.
When it applies: Judge both factors together; one weak factor alone is not conclusive.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Bhava effects (seventh house)
Lord of the 10th in a kendra or trikona supports career standing
When the ruler of the tenth house sits in an angular or trinal house and is not afflicted, the texts describe steady professional recognition and authority.
When it applies: Birth time must be reliable, since the tenth house depends on the ascendant.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Bhava effects (tenth house)
Moon-Mars combination (Chandra-Mangala)
Moon and Mars together are described as giving enterprise and earning ability, with a warning about impulsive temperament.
When it applies: Stronger when the combination falls in a good house.
Saravali Planetary combinations
Mars in the 10th strengthens drive in career
Mars gains directional strength in the tenth house and is described as giving initiative, competitiveness and capacity for command in work.
When it applies: Moderated if Mars is debilitated or heavily afflicted.
Phaladeepika Planets in houses
Rahu and Ketu give results of their dispositor
The nodes have no signs of their own and act largely through the planet ruling the sign they occupy and planets conjoined with them.
When it applies: Check the dispositor's strength before judging a node period.
Phaladeepika Nodes
Jupiter transiting 2nd, 5th, 7th, 9th or 11th from the Moon is favourable
Transits of Jupiter through these positions counted from the natal Moon are described as supportive for growth, finances and relationships.
When it applies: Obstruction (vedha) points can cancel the good result.
Phaladeepika Gochara (transits)
Lord of the ascendant in a strong house supports overall wellbeing
A well-placed, strong ascendant lord is treated as a foundation for general vitality and the ability to act on the chart's promises.
When it applies: Requires a reliable birth time.
Jataka Parijata Ascendant lord
Houses 6, 8 and 12 as dusthanas
The 6th, 8th and 12th houses are grouped as difficult houses; their lords placed in each other's houses can reverse hardship (viparita raja yoga).
When it applies: Read viparita results only when the lords are otherwise unafflicted.
Uttara Kalamrita House classification
Every summary on these pages is Astravya's own wording of a classical principle. Sanskrit verses are not reproduced unless the source wording is out of copyright or licensed, and each published rule records its chapter, verse and rights basis.