Vedic Astrology – Natural Benefics and Natural Malefics

Continuing our discussion from the previous post about the Navagraha family, let us, now, look at the nature of the grahas. Grahas are natural benefics or natural malefics. Natural benefic grahas bring out growth and natural malefic grahas restrict growth.

In keeping with the vedic tradition, the Ministers (teachers) are benefic. In fact, Jupiter and Venus, the Deva guru and the Asura guru, are the only grahas that are always benefic. Rahu and Ketu, the head and body of an Asura, are always malefic. Saturn and Mars are also always malefic.

The Sun is cruel, because of its heat, but not truly malefic.

The Moon and Mercury are sometimes benefic and sometimes malefic.

When is Moon malefic?

The Moon is malefic if it is within 72 degrees on either side of the Sun. Otherwise, the Moon is benefic. So, the Moon is 40% of the time malefic and 60% of the time benefic.

When is Mercury malefic?

Mercury, is an impressionable Prince. If Mercury is alone he is benefic, indicating that the natural nature of Mercury is benefic. If Mercury is conjunct the Sun or only the Sun aspects it, he is still benefic. The influence of the father on the Prince is benefic. If only malefics (Rahu, Ketu, Saturn, or Mars) aspect Mercury, he turns malefic. The malefic influence of the bad grahas influence the young Prince, who becomes malefic. An influence of Jupiter, however, can reverse the negative influence. Under the guidance of a good teacher, the Prince remains benefic; even if he has bad friends.

Interestingly, the nature of the navagrahas, as a whole, is more malefic. Let us assume Mercury is half the time benefic and half the time malefic. Then, the total for the benefic grahas is 3.1 (Jupiter + Venus + 0.6 Moon + 0.5 Mercury) and the total of the malefic grahas is 4.9 (Rahu + Ketu + Saturn + Mars + 0.4 Moon + 0.5 Mercury). Sun is also considered malefic in most vedic astrology texts, further skewing the malefic total to 5.9/9 or 65%.