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"Frequently Asked Questions"
Functional Malefic Planets/ Functional Benefic Planets.


1. Do Functional benefics ever cause harm?
The functional benefic planets, when strong and unafflicted in the natal chart, never cause any harm. There can be slight tension if during their sub periods there are some short lived transit afflictions. When the functional benefic planets are weak they are vulnerable go get harmed through the natal or transit afflictions caused by close conjunctions/aspects.
2. Does the classical rule that stipulates that malefic planets in malefic houses are well placed, and capable of producing good results, ever apply in SA?
No.
3. For example, couldn't the lord of the twelfth house placed in the sixth house, result in financial solvency (through loss of debts) during its operating period if well placed and aspected by transit?
No. Rather it is the other way round. There are further losses through avoidable expenses, loss of comforts, losses in foreign lands. To interpret it correctly, it means the significations of the twelfth house are involved in disputes and losses.
4. Does an affliction by a functional malefic planet could infer a state of weakness to an otherwise strong planet, even though "affliction and weakness" are considered to be two different things?
For strong and well placed planets, the orb for affliction is just 1 degree. A functional malefic planet will cause afflictions, irrespective of its strength.
5. In case, a functional benefic planet is badly placed and unafflicted, then would the negative effects be more if it is on the most effective point or away from the most effective point of that bad house? For example, the Sun for an Aries ascendant is placed in twelfth house?
When away from the most effective point, it will mean the person may have inclinations to move to a far away place, have sensitive emotions, some delay in progenic matters. On the most effective point, it may mean benefits from foreign lands based on intellectual pursuits.
6. Similarly, if a functional benefic planet is badly placed and afflicted, then would the negative effects be more if it is on the most effective point or away from the most effective point of that bad house? For example, the Sun for an Aries ascendant is placed in twelfth house and afflicted at same time by, say, Mercury.
In this case it makes no difference. The general and particular significations of the Sun will suffer.
7. A couple of questions: (1) How powerful is the Most Benefic Planet for counteracting negative aspects? Say for example, we have Scorpio 19degrees 53 minutes rising with Saturn and Mercury in Aquarius, both at 9 degrees. Let us say this combination gets aspected by Ketu from the twelfth house at 5 degrees 58 minutes. Assuming there are no other aspects to this conjunction, and neither Saturn nor Mercury are combust or debilitated in navamsa, is it likely that Saturn's influence on Mercury will outweigh that of Ketu?
Yes.
8. How is it that the lord of the ascendant for Scorpio is Mars, as it also shares itself with Scorpio as its functional malefic?
The functional nature of the planets is decided on the basis of placement of their moolatrikona signs in good or bad houses. As the moolatrikona sign of Mars is in the sixth house, Mars becomes a functional malefic planet as it represent the significations of the sixth house when forming close conjunctions/aspects in the chart.
9.Would we then consider one born under the sign Scorpio as with unhealthy appearance, or prone to have enemies? This would even stress the sense of an ugly appearance?
If Mars is not afflicting and Mars is strong, the person may be handsome/beautiful and enjoy good health. In this case we also consider the influences on the second house.
10. Let us say a malefic planet is placed in its own moolatrikona sign. For example, The Moon in the twelfth house for a Leo ascendant. Then should one conclude that the Moon is not weak due to bad placement, as it is in its own moolatrikona sign. If this is so, then technically speaking the words "bad placement" does not apply in such cases?
This is absolutely right.
11. Will a functional benefic planet in it's own non-moolatrikona sign be treated as weak by being in the twelfth house?
It will be treated as weak planet for the purposes of the house where its moolatrikona is placed.
12. And will a functional benefic planet in it's own non-moolatrikona sign in the twelfth house be considered strong if placement is the only weakening factor?
No.
13. When a planet (either functional benefic planet or functional malefic planet, either strong or weak) aspects a house (either moolatrikona or non-moolatrikona) and its aspect is not near the most effective point, has this planet any influence/effect on this house when its dasha and/or bhukti occurs or when it transits this house ?
There is no impact of the planet if the aspect is not close during the sub period of the planet but there is impact when this planet transits a house as per its functional nature.
14. If two Planets A and B (either both the functional malefic planets, or both the functional benefic planets, or one functional malefic planet and one functional benefic planet ) are either conjoined OR mutually aspect each other - can we say that - - In the sub-periods of planet A, also expect the impact of planet B; and - - In the sub-periods of planet B, also expect the impact of planet A.
Both planets influence each other, and in their mutual sub periods, the impact of both the planets continue.
15.What exactly do you mean by impact?
The level of impact means the amount of influence.
16. Does a weak planet will not have as much effect on a planet it aspects or is conjunct with as in the case of a strong planet?
There are two angles. If the weak planet is a functional benefic planet, its impact will not be as effective as that of a strong planet. If the weak planet is a functional malefic planet its weakness or its strength does not mean much as it will afflict in both the cases and the level of affliction cannot be quantified.
17. (a) Is a functional malefic planet in its mooltrikona sign considered strong even if it is in the sixth, eighth or twelfth house. (b) Will strong functional malefic planet give good results or bad results? For Scorpions, if Venus is strong, will it give good results in its sub-periods?
(a) Yes.
(b) The strong functional malefic planet, if not involved in afflicting other planets/most effective points of the houses in the chart, will give good results pertaining to the significations ruled by them. For Scorpions a strong Venus will give good results of the twelfth house provided Venus is not closely afflicting any other planet/most effective point of a house.
18. When we analyse a chart for father we have to look ninth house lord and the Sun (karaka). In SA notes it is mentioned if the Sun is weak then it is not good for father. How?
The Sun is significator for father. If the Sun is weak it means the planet who had to take care of father fails to do that. It is more so when there is no moolatrikona sign in the ninth house.
19. If a strong malefic planet, when not afflicting other planets/houses, is better than a weak one, then why strengthening of a functional malefic planet is not recommend, as well? The malefic nature of the planet is not reduced due to its weakness. So why does this planet not be strengthened so that it can protect its own significations?
If a functional malefic is forming a natal affliction, strengthening it will seriously harm the other afflicted planet. Strengthening, a functional malefic planet certainly puts problems to the native during transit afflictions. Under special circumstances, if a functional malefic is weak and is in deep trouble and at the same time not causing any harm in the natal chart, it can be strengthened. But its cost and benefit has to be fully analysed/judged by the recommending astrologer.
20. For Virgos, as the Sun is a functional malefic planet - does this mean its transit to its own sign for Virgos even though being a dusthana house can still have good effects?
For the twelfth house significations, yes.
21. Say the Sun is the functional benefic planet. But when it is in a bad house (in transit or natal chart), can't its significations be hurt?
When the Sun is in a malefic house, its positive results are obstructed, and it gives short-lived problems, connected with the house of placement. The real problem is there if it is afflicted in that situation both by transit or natal functional malefic planets.
22. Could you explain about exalted functional malefic planets? The debilitated malefic planets are considered weak and therefore they can not protect their significations.
The functional malefic planets, whether strong or weak, if forming close conjunctions/aspects in the chart are always bad. In other cases, if weak including in the state of debilitation, they fail to protect and promote their own significations.
23. Are exalted functional malefic planets are considered strong, and therefore will protect their significations?
Yes, the strong functional malefic planets will protect their general significations and the significations of the house where their moolatrikona sign is placed.
24. Is the strength of the functional malefic planets better when exalted rather than being in their own moolatrikona sign?
The placement in own moolatrikona sign is better. In case of exaltation they are dependent upon the strength of their dispositor.
25. Are other Dasas that are used in tradition astrology (like Narayani dasa, etc.) used in SA?
Under SA, no other dasa is used. The propagators of Chara dasa, Narayani dasa, Kalchakara dasa, etc., had all been found to be unstable and had been using number of analytical techniques as against the Systems' Approach which is simple and similar for all types of astrological analysis.
26. Will the exalted functional malefic planets when placed at the most effective point of a house harm the significations of the house in which they reside?
Yes, they will harm. They will also harm the significations of the house(s) aspected.

27. What are the conditions in which a FM will afflict its own MT sign house:

Answer: (i) a FM does not afflict its own MT sign by conjunction or by aspect;

(ii) a FM will afflict its own MT sign by aspect only if it itself is afflicted by another FM planet.

Dispositor weakness or bad placement affliction is not applicable in this case.

The benefit of aspect to the MT sign of FM is limited to the proportion of the strength of the FM.