Medical Astrology Guide. Death and Disease in Vedic Astrology

When Maandi and Gulika are placed in the same house, they tend to consistently bring affliction as they transit from one house to another. Eventually, they are likely to occupy the 1st house of health or the 8th house of life expectancy, posing an additional threat to the native’s well-being.

Case Study 6: Ronald Reagan

Here is the natal chart of Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and ultimately died from pneumonia caused by an incurable illness.

He passed away during the Sagittarius—Virgo period according to Chara Dasha.

During the Sagittarius period, Maandi and Gulika were aspecting the 1st house of health, as all dual signs influence each other.

The sub-period of Virgo left no chance for recovery, as Maandi and Gulika were located in the 1st house.

The situation worsens when Maandi and Gulika surround a specific planet, as this can seriously impact the person’s well-being, leading to mental suffering or even death.

The effect of this situation can be compared to Papa Kartari Yoga, where the Lagna is hemmed in between two malefic planets.

Always keep an eye on whether:

– Maandi and Gulika are in the same house or not;

– there are any planets nearby.

If Maandi and Gulika are in the same nakshatra as a planet, this will negatively affect the results the person experiences during that planet’s period.

The most troubling situation arises when the Ascendant or the ruler of the 1st house is surrounded by Maandi and Gulika. This often indicates a decline in the family line to which the individual belongs. This is also one of the signs that the person is unlikely to have successful offspring.

Typically, this positioning of the Ascendant and the Lagnesha suggests that a person’s life is overshadowed by some sort of spiritual or physical ailment.

Let us examine an example of such a situation.

Case Study 7: Addiction

The native, beyond marriageable age, has no children, lives in poverty, suffers from addictions, and has attempted suicide.

The Lagna in this natal chart is between Maandi and Gulika.

I often observe that individuals whose Lagnesha or Lagna are situated between these Upagrahas often cannot have children, or if they do, the child may not be a successful heir due to various illnesses or destructive personality traits.

Here is an example where Gulika plays a significant role concerning Mars and the marital life of the individual. The Upagraha is located in the same sign as the ruler of the 7th house.

Case Study 8: Marital Breakdown

In the following example, a man broke up with his wife without any significant reason, which ruined his family life.

This happened during the Moon—Mars period.

If Mars had been the ruler of the 1st house or had aspected the 1st house, it could have had detrimental effects on his health.

Additionally, it is worth noting that Mars’s 8th aspect affects matters related to the 4th house. As a child, the chart owner experienced abandonment when his mother left him for a new marriage, leaving him to live with his father.

Case Study 9: Death in Childhood

In the following example, Maandi and Gulika afflict the child’s Lagna. He passed away shortly after reaching the age of three.

Any house cusp can be caught between the Upagrahas Maandi and Gulika. It is crucial to check if these points fall at the beginning of the house so you can determine if they will cause harm.

To find out the degree at which the house begins, you need to know the degree of the Lagna. In Jyotish, an equal house system is used, meaning each house starts at the degree of the Ascendant.

In this case the Lagna degree is hemmed in between Maandi and Gulika, and the lord of the 1st house is:

– debilitated;

– under the aspect of Mars, the ruler of the 12th house;

– under the aspect of Venus, the ruler of the 6th house associated with diseases and accidents.

Case Study 2: Diabetes

Here is the case of the woman discussed in the chapter about Jupiter, who was diagnosed with diabetes.

Maandi and Gulika surrounded her Lagna, with Gulika positioned close to the Ascendant.

This situation around the Ascendant led to a chronic, incurable condition that the owner of this astrological chart has been enduring for 13 years.

Atma Karaka

Atma Karaka (AK) is an important indicator of a person’s health and overall well-being. This is the planet with the highest position in the sign, meaning it has the greatest degree in the entire natal chart.

Symbolically, Atma Karaka is linked to the 1st and 8th houses, as it reflects the state of health and potential life-threatening situations.

When the Atma Karaka is severely afflicted, it creates an unfavorable foundation for the person’s life.

A weak Atma Karaka can attract the following kinds of events into a person’s life:

– poor health;

– low status in society;

– dissatisfaction with life and achievements;

– feelings of insecurity;

– a tendency toward bad habits and addictions and so on.

Since we are focusing on health, we will concentrate on the first item in this list.

The position of Atma Karaka must be examined closely.

Afflictions to Atma Karaka can indicate:

– combustion of Atma Karaka;

– position in the same sign as Gnati Karaka;

– sign aspect from Gnati Karaka;

– position of AK in the 6th, 8th, or 12th house;

– proximity to malefic planets;

– being close to debilitated planets;

– placement in Gandanta;

– conjunction with a negative fixed star;

– position of Atma Karaka in Sarpa Drekkana.

It is also important to assess the condition of the zodiac signs ruled by the Atma Karaka: how favorable are they?

Sade Sati

Sade Sati refers to the transit of Saturn through the 12th, 1st, and 2nd houses from the natal Moon. This period is often a challenging time for individuals.

In the twelfth house from the Moon, it indicates a period of losses in a person’s life (people, projects, illusions depart).

In the first house, Saturn transit tests the strength of a person’s character and health, often prompting them to work on their body – through sports, surgeries, or dietary restrictions.

And when Saturn enters the second house from the Moon, we expect financial changes and shifts in relationships with a marriage partner.

During Sade Sati, health issues may become prominent in the following situations when:

– the Moon is the 1st house ruler or is located in the 1st house;

– the Moon is Atma Karaka;

– Atma Karaka is situated in the 12th, 1st, or 2nd house from the Moon;

– Sade Sati affects the 6th, 8th, or 12th houses.

In each of these instances, it is essential to carefully analyze all years of Sade Sati using Vimshottari Dasha, transits, Ashtakavarga, and Chara Dasha.

Here is an example of a natal chart in which a transit over the Moon, the ruler of the 1st house, caused significant health difficulties.

Case Study 3: Panic Attacks, Miscarriages, Oncology

During the transit of Saturn over the 1st house lord Moon, a woman experienced panic attacks and underwent several surgeries due to miscarriages.

This occurred while Saturn was in Libra.

When Saturn entered Scorpio, the woman became a mother.

However, she was diagnosed with breast cancer just a year after giving birth.

Later, she faced a second episode of cancer when Saturn was in Sagittarius, transiting through her Atma Karaka Venus.

Case Study 10: Atrophic Gastritis

One more astrological chart in which Sade Sati led to health problems.

While Saturn transited through Sagittarius, the individual was diagnosed with atrophic gastritis, which caused significant distress.

The treatment lasted about a year, but once Saturn exited the 6th house, the man’s health returned to normal.

Viparita Raja Yoga

I have often heard people express that Viparita Raja Yoga is highly favorable.

Sources describe it like this: "Viparita Raja Yoga is formed by the 6th, 8th, and 12th rulers when they are placed in the Dusthanas, exchange signs, or they form conjunctions. A person with such a yoga will gain property, health, and longevity; they will experience career success, be skilled, earn good money, and leave a positive impression, achieving fame.

When the rulers of these challenging houses share the same sign, aspect each other, or are placed in each other’s houses while lacking any other connections or aspects, this creates stable growth in an individual’s life, leading to good fortune and solid social status. The motto of this yoga is: 'To rise, you must first fall.'"

In my opinion, the positive results of these combinations are often exaggerated.

Let us turn to the birth chart of Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States.

Case Study 11: Joe Biden. Aneurysm

In this instance, the lords of the 6th and 8th houses are joined together in the 12th house. This is a classic example of Viparita Raja Yoga.

As you know, I analyze the events that occur during the Dasha and Antardasha of the planets before making any judgments about whether they are beneficial or detrimental.

During the Moon-Mars period, Biden tragically lost his wife and daughter in a car accident, and both of his sons were so severely injured that caring for them became his top priority. This period did not lead to any significant rise in his status or major victories.

In the following Moon-Rahu period, Joe Biden became a senator. However, this was not due to Viparita Raja Yoga, but rather because of Rahu’s favorable placement in this natal chart, sitting exalted in the Magha Nakshatra within the 10th house of his career.

It appears that Viparita Raja Yoga was not in a hurry to reward Biden with its blessings.

You might think justice would come to light during the Mars-Mercury period, but Biden’s biography shows no significant changes during that year.

Shortly after, though, the Mars-Moon period brought new challenges: an aneurysm that required urgent surgery, putting him in critical condition and resulting in a seven-month career break as he fought to recover.

Other factors also played a key role in defining his success periods. In August 2008, Barack Obama selected Joe Biden for the prestigious position of vice president.

This stroke of luck occurred during the Jupiter-Jupiter period, when Jupiter in Rasi was exalted, ruling the 5th and 2nd houses while positioned in the 9th house of fortune and the support of influential figures.

Viparita Raja Yogas can bring health issues and other setbacks, depending on which house rulers are conjoined or involved in mutual exchange.

It is particularly intriguing when the rulers of the 6th and 8th houses exchange signs. This often leads to legal troubles during the periods of the planets involved in the yoga, as well as significant complications from even minor ailments. Despite this, many astrologers still proclaim the prosperity and positivity associated with Viparita Raja Yoga.

Sometimes, it is better to warn a person about potential negative events and give them a chance to prepare rather than pretending to be all-knowing. A carriage can turn into a pumpkin at the appointed hour, and you might appear kindhearted, but ultimately, you will not be seen as a professional astrologer.

Divisional Chart D-6

D-6 chart (Shashtamsa) represents a sign divided into six parts. This Varga reveals information about diseases, treatments, periods of illness, and even death.

It is essential to recognize that the houses in the Shashtamsa chart correspond to various parts of the Cosmic Man’s body. Therefore, afflictions to specific houses or zodiac signs may indicate a predisposition to certain diseases.

To understand which house governs which body part, let us check the following table:

Here are some guidelines I follow when interpreting the D-6 chart:

– The rulers of the 6th, 8th, and 12th houses are very important for determining the timing of illness and death.

– It is beneficial when the rulers of the Dusthana houses are not placed in the 1st house and do not influence the D-6 Lagnesha.

– It is favorable when the Dusthana rulers are located in the 3rd and 11th houses.

– It is disadvantageous if the 6th, 8th, and 12th rulers are overly strong or too weak.

– Planets in the 1st house can also trigger periods of ailments.

The 12th house of the D-6 chart draws my special attention as an astrologer because it reveals the approach to disease treatment and its effectiveness.

It is important to understand which planet influences the 12th house. The stronger its influence, the more significant it becomes in our interpretations.

My hierarchy for assessing the importance of planets, from most significant to least, usually proves accurate:

– a planet located in the 12th house;

– the ruler of the 12th house;

– a planet conjoined with the 12th ruler;

– a planet aspecting the 12th house or its ruler.

If there are afflicted planets in the 12th house or the 12th ruler is weak, then treatments are likely to be ineffective. In such cases, an individual must focus on disease prevention throughout their life to avoid complications.

Those who have a solid 12th house ruler involved in Raja Yoga, Maha Purusha Yoga, or other auspicious combinations are fortunate. In these cases, even serious illnesses may be treated successfully, leading to full recovery. These individuals are often blessed with favorable doctors and circumstances regarding their healing.

If the 12th house ruler is retrograde, or if a retrograde planet is positioned in the house, treatments may need to be repeated.

Now let us examine how different planets placed in the 12th house can influence the nature and methods of treatment:

Mars: when the 12th house is connected with Mars, treatments will likely be surgical, involving invasive procedures.

Rahu and Ketu: when Rahu and Ketu are placed in the 12th house, they may signify treatments involving toxic substances or potent medicines, resembling a kind of poisoning of the individual.

This placement may also lead to the need for opioid medications, treatment with alcohol-based tinctures, and other harmful compounds.

A person with such a placement often requires complex diagnostic methods.

Mercury: if Mercury is positioned in the 12th house, it signifies a careful and responsible approach to treatment, highlighting attentiveness (especially when Mercury is in Virgo) and suggesting that treatments can produce swift results, thanks to Mercury’s nature as one of the fastest planets.

However, if Mercury is afflicted due to combustion, being in a debilitated sign, or other factors, treatment results may be opposite to expectations or only temporary.

In general, Mercury can yield unstable treatment outcomes unless it is in its own signs or auspicious yogas. Such individuals often respond well to standard chemical treatments for their illnesses.

The Moon: in the 12th house of D-6, the Moon suggests that a person’s condition improves when they calm their nerves and mind.

Due to fate, these individuals may be prescribed treatments that involve water and medicinal liquids such as syrups, solutions, or drops.

This combination can make the natal chart owner exceptionally sensitive to mood variations. Psychological comfort becomes key to their successful treatment.

Jupiter: when the 12th house is influenced by a strong Jupiter, prayers, pilgrimages, and other spiritual practices serve as effective remedies for the person.

Additionally, such treatments often affect hormonal balance and liver function.

Venus: positioned in the 12th house, Venus indicates a favorable treatment outcome, provided it is not afflicted or retrograde.

Relief from illness should come relatively quickly, and the treatment process should be comfortable and gentle.

Saturn: in the 12th house, Saturn points toward treatments involving fasting, cold conditions, or a more austere approach.

Treatment may be prolonged and exhausting only if Saturn is not positioned in the signs of Libra or Capricorn.

The Sun: when the Sun is placed in or influences the 12th house, treatment may involve strengthening the immune system and restoring its normal function.

A severely afflicted 12th house or its ruler tends to bring difficulties. The next example will illustrate this.

Case Study 12: Incurable Brain Disease

Below is a case of a person suffering from a rare brain disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He is unable to move or even breathe.

His treatment consists solely of life support in an intensive care unit, but his condition shows no signs of improvement.

The 12th house ruler, Mars, is aspected by two malefics – the Sun and Saturn.

Saturn also aspects the 12th house from the 3rd house.

The speed of recovery and the onset of treatment effects often depend significantly on the movement speed of the planets positioned in the 12th house.

To better understand how planetary speed relates to their influence, below is a list of the planets arranged according to the distance they cover within a single day.

The fastest-moving planets appear at the top, while the slowest are at the bottom. In our assessments, we rely on the average recovery time for the majority of patients with a specific condition, rather than on our personal impressions.

Here is the list that shows the planets according to their speed and the distance they cover within a single day:

– the Moon – 13°;

– Mercury: 1.2° to 1.5°;

– Venus: 1°;

– the Sun: 1°;

– Mars: 0.5°;

– Jupiter: 0.07°;

– Saturn: 0.03°.

For example, if the treatment of an illness takes one year, a person with exalted Mercury in the 12th house might experience noticeable improvements in just 3—4 months. If Saturn is involved, it may extend healing time to 1.5 to 3 years.

Death in Natal Chart

Death marks the end and complete cessation of the biological and physiological processes that sustain our bodies.

Death can be analyzed using both Chara Dasha and Vimshottari Dasha. Below, we will examine each approach in detail.

Death in Chara Dasha

The Chara Dasha periods serve as the primary tool for determining when a person may pass away.

It is essential to understand the following general principles of Chara Dasha period analysis:

– The start of a period or sub-period shifts the Lagna to the sign of the current period. For an Aries Lagna, entering the Leo period shifts the Lagna to the 5th house for the entire duration of Leo. I recommend redrawing the birth chart for Leo while keeping all the planets in their original zodiac signs.

– The sub-period also shifts the temporary Lagna.

– When we examine the Chara Dasha period, we identify the general trends and promises of the period. When we analyze the sub-period, the details and exact timing of events become clear.

– It is crucial to determine what kind of karaka a given planet has become. For example, a benefic Venus can become a Gnati Karaka and be associated with the 6th house, indicating illnesses, accidents, and other misfortunes.

During Chara Dasha analysis, we actively consider the sign aspects of the planets relative on different houses in the natal chart, based on Jaimini’s principles:

– all movable signs (1, 4, 7, 10) aspect all fixed signs (2, 5, 8, 11), except the neighboring one;

– all fixed signs (2, 5, 8, 11) aspect all movable signs (1, 4, 7, 10), except the neighboring one;

– all dual signs (3, 6, 9, 12) aspect each other without exception.

Karakas are symbolic indicators of certain additional functions that planets perform in the natal chart.

I consistently follow the 7-karaka system and exclude Rahu from the list of planets that can serve as karakas. If your astrological program includes Rahu as a karaka, I recommend adjusting the settings to match mine for greater clarity and consistency while reading this book.