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Shadbala Basics
Signification
Planetary strength is important for chart prediction. Strong planets will have auspicious effects
during their time of influence (Dasas, transits). Weak planets will have inauspicious effects.
Strength of Rasi resp. Bhava lords is another important aspect of the chart. Bhavas will have
effects according to their strength and the strength of their lords.
Some sources of strength give hints for special purposes: e.g. Digbala gives information about
directions having positive or negative effects. CALCULATION::
The complete Shadbala is the sum of all Balas. Balas are calculated in Rupas or Virupas. One
Rupa has 60 Virupas. Most sources of strength have values between 0 Virupas (very weak) and
maximum value of 60 Virupas (very strong). Other sources (like Drekkana Bala) have only a
maximum value of 30 Virupas.
Parasara gives required values of strength for each planet. Planets meeting these requirements
are considered to be strong. These planets will have favourable effects. Planets without strength
will prove inauspicious.

Types of Shadbala
There are 6 main types of Shadbala. Sthana Bala and Kala Bala have several sub-Balas. The
hierarchy (including translation of Sanskrit terms) is shown below. Please follow the links.
1. Sthana Bala - positional strength
2. 1.1 Uchcha Bala - divisional strength
3. 1.2 Saptavargaja Bala - strength of exaltation
4. 1.3 Ojhajugmariamsa Bala - strength related to placement in odd/even Rasis and
Navamsas
5. 1.4 Kendradi Bala - strength of placement in angle, succedent or cadent houses
6. 1.5 Drekkana Bala - strength according to Drekkana placement of planets
7. Dig Bala - directional strength
8. Kala Bala - temporary strength
9. 3.1 Nathonatha Bala - diurnal/nocturnal strength
10. 3.2 Paksha Bala - strength related to Lunar phase
11. 3.3 Tribhaga Bala - strength related to portions of the day/night
12. 3.4 Varsha-Masa-Dina-Hora Bala - strength of astrological year, month, day and hour
13. 3.5 Yudhdha Bala - strength caused by planetary war
14. 3.6 Ayana Bala - equinoctial strength

15. Cheshta Bala - motional strength

16. Naisargika Bala - natural strength
17. Drig Bala - aspectual strength
Summary Bala Summary
 Sthana Bala
[Sthana Bala]{#sthana} is the strength of planetary positions. This kind of strength depends
exclusively on the zodiacal positions of the planets. Other factors (like speed, Bhava cusps or
aspects) are neglected in this context.
There are 5 parts of Sthana Bala. The total Sthana Bala is the sum of these 5 parts.

No
. Sthana Bala Type Description

1 Uchcha Bala Strength of exaltation

2 Saptavargaja Bala Divisional strength

3 Ojhajugmariamsa Placement in odd/even Rasis and Navamsas

Bala

4 Kendradi Bala Placement in Kendra, succedent or cadent houses

5 Drekkana Bala Drekkana placement of planets

1. Uchcha Bala
Uchcha Bala is a measure for the distance between a planet and its exaltation point.
Each planet gets 1 Rupa( ie 60 Virupas) in exaltation and zero in debilation. Other positions
contribute a proportional value.
Rule: Find out the distance between a planet an its debilation point (max is 180 deg ). Uchcha
Bala (in Virupas) will be one third of this value.

Uchcha Bala Example

Let the Sun be in 12 Gemini. Debilation is in 10 Libra. Distance between both points is 118 deg.
So Uchcha Bala will be 118/3 = 39.3 Virupas.

2. Saptavargaja Bala
Saptavargaja Bala is the divisional strength of seven Vargas (Saptavargas). Saptavargaja Bala is
similar to Saptavarga calculation, but the evaluation is different, and there is no weigthed
evaluation, i.e. all Vargas have the same contribution.
The seven Vargas are
  Rasi (D-1)
 Navamsa (D-9)
 Hora (D-2)
 Decanate (D-3)
 Saptamamsa (D-7)
 Dvadasamsa (D-12)
 Trimsamsa (D-30)

Each Varga placement contributes a strength according to the placement in the planet's sign.

Placement Strength (Virupas)

Moolatrikona 45

Own Rasi 30

Extreme friend (Adhi Mitra) 20

Friend (Mitra) 15

Neutral (Sama) 10

Enemy (Satru) 4

Extreme Enemy (Adhi 2

Satru)

Theoretical maximum value for Saptavargaja Bala is 45*7=315 Virupas (Planet in Moolatrikona
for all Vargas).

Remarks
1. Strength calculation is not the same as in Saptavarga calculation.
2. Exaltation and debilation play no role in Saptavargaja Bala.
3. Moolatrikona placement in Varga charts is calculated according to sign position not to
longitude (because there is no longitude in higher Varga charts).
4. There are different opinions about temporary friendship of planets. Some say that
temporary friendship is always relative to Rasi placement of planets, others say that this
friendship must be calculated from the underlying Varga chart.

3. Ojhajugmariamsa Bala
Ojhajugmariamsa Bala is about the placement of the planets odd/even Rasis and Navamsas.
Female planets (Moon, Venus) get 15 Virupas if they are placed in even Rasi/Navamsa, zero
otherwise.
Male planets (Sun, Mars, Jupiter) and neutral planets (Mercury, Saturn) get 15 Virupas if they are
placed in in odd Rasi/Navamsa, zero otherwise.
This calculation must be made for Rasi an Navamsa chart separately, i.e. a planet can get a
maximum of 30 Virupas for this kind of strength.

Ojhajugmariamsa Bala Example

Moon in 1 Pisces gets 15 Virupas for Rasi placement in odd?? sign and 15 Virupas for
placement in female Navamsa (Cancer). The total Ojhajugmariamsa Bala is therefore 30
Virupas.

4. Kendradi Bala
Kendradi Bala evaluates the fact that planets in angles (Kendras) are stronger than planets in
succedent or cadent houses.
Each planet in angle gets full strength (60 Virupas), planets in succedent houses get 50% of
strength (30 Virupas), while planets in cadent houses only get 25% (15 Virupas). There is no
distinction between male and female planets etc. in this Bala type.
The table below shows the Kendradi Bala for all houses.

Type Houses Strength (Virupas)

Kendra (angle) 1, 4, 7, 10 60

Panaphara (succedent) 2, 5, 8, 11 30

Apoklima (cadent) 3, 6, 9, 12 15

5. Drekkana Bala
Drekkana Bala is based upon placement of planets in decanates of Rasis.
Male planets get 15 Virupas in first decanate, female planets in 2nd decanate, neutral planets in
3rd decanate. This evalution is valid for all zodiacal signs; there is no distinction between male
and female signs.
The table below shows the Drekkana Bala for Rasi positions. The degrees are the Rasi portions
of the planets' longitudes (e.g. Mars in 15° Leo will have Drekkana portion of 15° in the table).
 10° -
Planets/Degrees 0° - 10° 20° 20°- 30°

Sun, Mars, 15 0 0
Jupiter

Moon, Venus 0 15 0

Mercury, Saturn 0 0 15
 Dig Bala
Dig Bala is the strength of planetary directions, i.e. their position relative to the angles of the
chart.

Signification
Digbala has high influence on the effects of the planets.

1. Planets with high Digbala will have auspicious effects in the direction of their strength.
2. Planets with bad Digbala will cause losses and difficulties in their direction of strength or
the opposite direction.

Remark: It is difficult to determine the correct direction in which events will take place because
there are different views of planetary directions. Digbala is the source of strength but events may
take place in the directions attributed to the planets, i.e.

 Sun: east
 Saturn: west
 Mercury: north
 Mars: south
 Jupiter: north-east
 Rahu: south-west
 Moon: north-west
 Venus: north-east

Calculation
Each planet has directional strength in an angle of the chart. These points of strength are: the
cusp of 1st house (Ascandant), 7th house (Descendant), 4th house (Nadir, Imum Coeli) or 10th
house (Meridian, Medium Coeli).
Sun and Mars are strong in the 10th, Jupiter and Mercury in the Ascendant, Moon and Venus in
the 4th and Saturn in the 7th.
Dig Bala of a planet is the distance between his position and the corresponding point of
mimimum strength (in Virupas). Values greater than 180° or 60 Virupas must be deducted from
360° resp. 120 Virupas, so the Dig Bala of a planet must be between zero and 60 Virupas.
The table below shows the strongest and weakest points of Dig Bala for the planets.

Planets Strongest Weakest

Sun, Mars Meridian Nadir

Mercury, Ascendant Descendant

Jupiter
 Planets Strongest Weakest

Moon, Venus Nadir Meridian

Saturn Descendant Ascendant

Examples
1. Let Moon be in 3° Taurus and Meridian in 17° Cancer. Dig Bala of the Moon is
therefore

Formula

digbala = ( 97° - 33° ) / 3 = 64/3 = 21 Virupas

1. Let Sun be in 12° Capricorn and Ascendant in 23° Cancer. Dig Bala of the Sun must
be calculated from the Descendant i.e. 23° Capricorn

Formula

digbala = ( 293° - 272° ) / 3 = 21/3 = 7 Virupas

Kala Bala
Kala Bala is the temporal strength the planets, i.e. it is a collection of different sources of strength
at the time of birth.
Kala Bala consists of 6 parts.
 No
. Kala Bala Type Description

1 Nathonatha Bala Diurnal/nocturnal strength

2 Paksha Bala Strength related to Lunar phase

3 Tribhaga Bala Related to portions of the day/night

4 Varsha-Masa-Dina-Hora Astrological year (Varsha), month (Masa), day (Dina) and

Bala hour (Hora)

5 Yudhdha Bala Strength caused by planetary war

6 Ayana Bala Equinoctial strength. Some see Ayana Bala as a separate

source of strength.

1. Nathonatha Bala
Nathonatha Bala relates to diurnal resp. nocturnal strength of the planets.

 The Moon, Mars and Saturn are strong in the night and weak in the daytime.
 The Sun, Jupiter and Venus are strong in the daytime, weak in the night.
 Mercury has always maximum strength.

Calculation

2. Paksha Bala
Paksha Bala is related to Lunar phase at the time of birth. Benefics get high Pakasha Bala near
Full Moon, low Bala near New Moon. Reverse for malefics.

Calculation
Paksha Bala in Virupas depends on the angle between Moon and Sun. The formula is

Formula

pakshabala = ( moon - sun ) / 3

The Bala must be deducted from 120 if the value exceeds 60.
This method yields a small value if birth takes place near New Moon (irrespective of placement
before/after New Moon). Birth near Full Moon will result in high Paksha Bala (~60). Birth near
Half Moon will have 30 Virupas.
This method is extended to all planets in Paksha Bala. Benefic planets (Jupiter, Venus) get
Paksha Bala Virupas according to this method.
The method of calculation is reverse for malefics (Sun, Mars, Saturn) i. e. the value must be
deducted from 60.
The Moon is benefic if birth takes place in the bright half of the month, i.e. birth is between New
Moon and Full Moon. Reversely Moon is malefic for birth in the dark half of the month (between
Full Moon and New Moon).
Mercury is regarded as malefic if conjunct with a malefic, benefic otherwise.

3. Tribhaga Bala
Tribhaga Bala is about portions of the day/night at the time of birth.
Each portion of the day resp. night has a lord as its ruler. The lord of the birth time will get full
strength (60 Virupas). See table.

Day/Night Part Lord

Day 1 Mercury

Day 2 Sun

Day 3 Saturn

Night 1 Moon

Night 2 Venus

Night 3 Mars

Jupiter always gets 60 Virupas, i.e. each chart will have two planets with 60 Virupas Tribhaga
Bala: the lord of birth time and Jupiter. Other planets will have nil Tribhaga Bala.

[4. Varsha-Masa-Dina-Hora Bala]

This Bala is about the astrological year, month, day and hour in which birth takes place.
Astrological fundaments and calculation of this Bala are described on the Hora page.
The strength of this Bala are

 The lord of Varsha (year) gets 15 Virupas.

  The lord of Masa (month) gets 30 Virupas.
 The lord of Dina (day) gets 45 Virupas.
 The lord of Hora (hour) gets 60 Virupas.

5. Yudhdha Bala
Yudhdha Bala is about planetary war. Planetary war takes place if 2 planets (Mars ... Saturn) are
within one degree of each other.
The planet with the higher longitude is the winner. The difference of Kala Bala points aquired so
far will be redistributed and must be added to the winner's amount and reduced from the loser's
amount.

Ayana Bala
Ayana Bala plays a singular role in Shadbala calculation. Some see it as a part of Kala Bala,
others see Ayana Bala as a separate source of strength.
Ayana Bala is identical to Cheshta Bala for the Sun (the Sun has no own Cheshta Bala because
he is always in Sama motion).

Signification
Ayana Bala depends upon declination and the tropical zodiac, i.e. Ayanamsa must be neglected.
Ayana Bala is the only source for evaluation of this planetary property. Moon and Saturn are
strong with southern declination; Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Venus in the north.
Mercury plays a special role in so far as it is strong with northern as well as southern declination.
So Mercury is again the most neutral planet.
All planets (including Mercury) have medium Ayana Bala near the equinoxes.

Calculation
Ayana Bala depends upon the declination of the planets resp. their tropical longitude (which is
nearly the same, see below). It is important to remember that Ayanamsa must be added to the
planetary longitudes in Ayana Bala calculation.
The planets form 3 groups, each of them having their own rules for Ayana Bala calculation. All
planets have 50% Ayana Bala strength (30 Virupas) in the equinoxes (0 Aries and 0 Libra).
The specific rules are

1. The Moon and Saturn have maximum Ayana Bala (60 Virupas) near the point 0
Capricorn, zero in 0 Cancer.
2. The Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Venus have maximum Ayana Bala near the point 0 Cancer,
zero in 0 Capricorn.
3. Mercury has maximum Ayana Bala near 0 Cancer and 0 Capricorn.

Kranti Based Calculation

Kranti is the declination of a planet relative to the celestial equator. A planet in the equinox has
Kranti zero while a planet near the point 0 Capricorn or 0 Cancer has maximum Kranti (which is
about 23:27 deg).
The rule for Ayana Bala calculation is
Formula

ayanabala = 30 * ( eps +- kranti ) / eps = 1.2793 * (eps +- kranti)

where eps is the obliquity of the ecliptic (23:27). The rules for addition/subtraction of the Kranti
value are

 Moon and Saturn: the value must be added for southern Kranti, deducted for northern
Kranti.
 Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Venus: the value must be added for northern Kranti, deducted for
southern Kranti.
 Mercury: the value must be added for northern and southern Kranti.

Parasara's Method
The second method is described by Parasara in chapter 27 (15-17) of Hora Shastra.
Find out the tropical longitude of a planet i.e. add Ayanamsa to its longitude. Calculate the
distance from the nearest equinoxe. This value must be between 0 and 90. There are 3 Khandas
(portions) for 3 possible Rasis: 45 (1st sign), 33 (2nd sign) and 12 (3rd sign).

Khanda Rules
1.) Planets within the 1st sign get the proportional strength according to their longitude in that
sign (Khanda 45).
Example: A planet in 10° Pisces has distance 20° from equinoxe (0° Aries) and will get a
value of 20/30 * 45 = 30.
2.) Planets in the 2nd sign (30°-60°) will get the Khanda of 45 plus proportional value (of 33)
for their longitude in the 2nd sign.
Example: a planet in 10° Scorpio has distance of 40° from equinoxe. So the value is 45+
10/30 * 33 = 56.
3.) Planets in the 3rd sign (60° - 90°) get a value of 78 (=45+33) plus the portion of the
Khanda value (12).
Example: a planet in 15° Cancer has distance 75° from equinoxe. The total value will be 78 +
15/30 * 12 = 84.
The result must be between 0-90. Planets near the equinoxes get a small value (near 0); planets
near 0°Cancer or 0°Capricorn get a high value (near 90).

Rules for Specific Planets

Moon and Saturn get in addition 90 degrees if they are posited between Libra and Pisces. The
value must be deducted from 90 if their position is between Aries and Virgo.
Same vice versa for Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Venus i.e. 90 must be added for for positions
between Aries and Virgo; the value must be deducted from 90 for Libra to Pisces.
For Mercury 90 must always be added.
The result must be divided by 3 to get Ayana Bala in Virupas. The value must be between 0 and
60 Virupas.

Length Based Calculation

This method doesn't use the declination of the planets but is only based upon their tropical
longitude. The results are almost identical to the above described method's results.
The calculation rule is
Formula

ayanabala = 30 * ( 1 +- abs( sin( len ) ) )

where len is the tropical longitude of the correponding planet/luminary.
The rules for addition/subtraction are the same as above.

Example
Take May 1st 1990 0:00 UT as example. Length must be Sayana (without Ayanamsa);
declination must be relative to the equator (not to the ecliptic).
The table shows that the results are quite similar; the tolerance is within 2 Virupas.

Declinatio
Planet Length n Method 1 Method 2 Method 3

Sun 10°22 Taurus 14°56 N 49.1 48.8 49.4

Moon 29°55 Cancer 21°12 N 4.2 3.9 4.0

Mars 07°32 Pisces 10°12 S 17.0 18.8 18.5

Mercur 15°05 Taurus 17°36 N 52.5 50.5 51.2

y

Jupiter 06°57 Cancer 23°23 N 59.9 59.1 59.8

Venus 26°28 Pisces 02°29 S 26.8 28.2 28.2

Saturn 25°20 20°54 S 56.7 56.6 57.1

Capricorn
 Cheshta Bala
Cheshta Bala is the strength of planetary motions.
This kind of strength applies only to the planets, not to the luminaries. The Cheshta Bala of the
Sun is identical to his Ayana Bala; Cheshta Bala of the Moon is her Paksha Bala.
The five planets (Mars ... Saturn) may have 8 different types of motion. They can be in direct
motion (slow, normal or accelerated), be stationary or retrograde. Another kind of motion is the
introgression into the next/previous sign of the zodiac in accelerated of retrograde motion.

Retrograde Motion
Retrograde Planets are very strong according to Cheshta Bala. A retrograde planet is powerfull
and gets the full Cheshta Bala (i.e. 60 Virupas). This kind of motion is called Vakra.
Another kind of retrograde motion is Anuvakra. A planet is in Anuvakra motion if he is retrograde
and enters the previous sign in his retrograde motion. Anuvakra planets get 50% of strength (30
Virupas).

Stationary Planets
A planet is stationary if he he is devoid of motion. This happens if the motion is changing from
direct to retrograde or vice versa. Stationary planets get a strength of 25% i.e. 15 Virupas. This
kind of motion is called Vikala.

Direct Motion
There are 5 different kinds of direct motion described in Hora Shastra.
The motion is called Mandatara if the speed is slow. Mandatara motion gets 25% of strength (15
Virupas).
The motion is called Manda if the speed is medium. Manda motion gets 50% of strength (30
Virupas).
Normal motion is called Sama. A planet is in Sama motion if his speed is near the average.
Sama motion gets 7.5 Virupas and is the weakest of all motions.
Fast direct motion is called Chara. Chara planets get 75% of strength (45 Virupas).
A special Chara motion is Atichara. A planet is in Atichara motion if he is in Chara and enters
the next sign of the zodiac. Atichara planets get 50% of strength (30 Virupas).

Summary of Cheshta Bala

The table below summarizes the different types of Cheshta Bala.
 Motion Virupas Speed (Percent) Remark

Vakra 60 <0 Must not enter previous sign

Anuvakra 30 <0 Like Vakra. Planet enters previous

sign in retrograde motion

Vikala 15 < 10% of average speed -

Mandatara 15 Between 10% and 50% of -

average speed

Manda 30 Between 50% and 100% of -

average speed

Sama 7.5 Between 100% and 150% -

of average speed

Chara 45 > 150% of average speed Must not enter next sign

Atichara 30 > 150% of average speed Like Chara. Planet enters next sign
in direct motion

Naisargika Bala
Naisargika Bala is the natural strength of the planets. This strength does not depend on the
specific chart but is fixed for all charts.

Signification
Planets with nearly identical Shadbala can be evaluated by their Naisargika Bala, i.e. the planet
with higher Naisargika Bala can be regarded as stronger.

Calculation
The seven bodies are ordered by their luminosity and get relative strength according to their
position in that order. Sun has the highest luminosity, Saturn is the darkest planet; other planets
get portions of 1/7 Rupa according to their position in that order.

Positio Strength
n Body (Rupas) Virupas

1 Sun 7/7 60

2 Moon 6/7 51.4

3 Venus 5/7 42.9

4 Jupiter 4/7 34.3

5 Mercury 3/7 25.7

6 Mars 2/7 17.1

7 Saturn 1/7 8.6

Drig Bala
Drig Bala is the aspectual strength of planets, i.e. strength received from other planets by their
aspects.

Signification
Most Balas are standalone properties of a planet. But Drig Bala has to do with strength coming
from other planets. This is important for prediction because periods of a planet with high Drig
Bala will produce helping effects. Aspecting planets will help during their periods or transits.

Using Sputa Drishti

The classical view of Graha Drishti is refined in chapter 26 of Hora Shastra: Sputa Drishti gives
exact values for each angle between pairs of planets, see the Drishtis (Aspects) page.
Drig Bala has a slightly different approach. Aspects are sorted in two groups: benefic and malefic
aspects.
Benefics are Jupiter and Venus. Malefics are Sun, Mars and Saturn. Moon is a benefic if birth
takes place in the bright half of the month. Mercury is malefic if conjunct with a malefic (including
nodes).
Drig Bala needs a rectification of Sputa Drishti. The values for rectification are

 Benefic aspects get 125% of Sputa Drishti for Drig Bala.

 Malefics get only 75% of Sputa Drishti for Drig Bala.

The Drig Bala of a planet is the sum of all rectified aspectual values.

Bala Summary
Strength and weakness of the planets depend upon their net Bala strength i.e. the sum of the
Balas. The net strength is important for the judgement of the effects during Dasas and transits.
Planets with high net Bala will have strong effects. These effects will be auspisious in most
cases. But strong planets can also have strong inauspisious effects, especially Saturn and Mars.
Planets with low net Bala will prove inauspicious or harmless.

Shadbala Requirements
Strength and weakness of planets depend upon their total Shadbala. Planets are considered to
be strong if they meet the minimum Shadbala requirements mentioned in Hora Shastra. The
values are

Planet Required (Rupas) Virupas

Sun 6.5 390

Moon 6.0 360

Mars 5.0 300

Mercur 7.0 420

y

Jupiter 6.5 390

Venus 5.5 330

Saturn 5 300
 Planet Required (Rupas) Virupas

A planet that has at least the required Shadbala Pinda is considered to be strong and will show
favourable results. Nevertheless malefics like Saturn or Mars can give problems and miseries,
too.

Requirements for Individual Shadbala Types

There is another Shadbala requirement template that is based upon individual requirements for
different types of Sub-Balas. This approach can be used as an alternative method for judgement
of strength, even if the requirements mentioned above do not match.
Planets are arranged in groups. The corresponding planet must match all the requirements in
order to be considered as strong.
The table shows the required Balas in Virupas.

Sthana
Planets Bala Dig Bala Kala Bala Cheshta Bala Ayana Bala

Sun, Jupiter, 165 35 50 112 30

Mercury

Moon, Venus 133 50 30 100 40

Mars, Saturn 96 30 40 67 20