Gandanta Points in Vedic Astrology – how significant are they?

Gandanta points are astronomical in nature. Gravity is the scientific force that serves as the guiding principle in vedic astrology. Gravitational force is directly proportional to the mass of the objects and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the objects. Therefore, the Moon, which is closest to the Earth, is very important. Similarly, large objects like the Sun, Jupiter, and Saturn are also important while reading a vedic chart.

Planets moving around the Sun follow specific orbits. Earth does not have free will to take any path around the Sun. The further the object is from the Sun, the less influence the Sun has on the object. That is why Pluto has an erratic orbit. The idea of a fated destiny also comes from this concept.

Twelve constellations (zodiacs) and 27 nakshatras (stars) make up the vedic sky. Each constellation covers 30 degrees (360/12). Each nakshatra covers 13 degrees and 20 minutes (360/27). The constellations or nakshatras have the weakest influence at the extremities, which are also the areas between two constellations or nakshatras. “Sandhi” points are 1 degree on either side of such boundaries.

Gandanta Definition

There are three special points that serve as boundaries for constellations and nakshatras. These points are the “Gandanta” points. Graha in 1 degree on either side of the “Gandata” points are in the “Gandanta” zone. Gandanta points form at the boundary of

• Cancer/Leo and Ashlesha/Magha – 120 degrees
• Scorpio/Sagittarius and Jyeshta/Moola – 240 degrees
• Pisces/Aries and Revati/Ashwini – 360 degrees

Gandanta Effects

Grahas in the Gandanta zone (1 degree on either side of the Gandanta point) can be erratic and uncertain. So, there is some fear about them. I don’t give this too much importance because

1. Classical texts write very little about Gandanta. Graha weakness is a result of debilitation, combustion, planetary war, or position of the graha in an enemy sign.
2. The closest reference to vedic scriptures is the concept of bala avastas. In this, grahas in the first 6 degrees of odd rasis and the last 6 degrees of even rasis are like babies and so are not considered to yield their full power. The gandanta zone would fall under this window. Bala avastas can add color to interpretation, but should not be used exclusively. Sun in Aries at 2 degrees, is exalted and vargottama, but in bala avasta. This Sun is strong, maybe just a little immature!
3. Gandanta points are purely a mathematical artifact of choosing where the constellation and nakshatra boundaries fall. Therefore, the points are arbitrary.
4. In transits, grahas spend very little time in the gandanta zone. Five of the nine grahas would cross the zone in 2 days. These are Sun, Moon, Mars, Venus, and Mercury. Jupiter, Rahu and Ketu take about a month and Saturn takes about 2 months.
5. Jupiter gandanta is especially less worrisome because Jupiter is strong in all the gandanta signs. It is exalted in Cancer, in its own sign in Pisces and Sagittarius, and in its friend’s sign in Aries, Leo, and Scorpio.

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