Frequently Asked Questions about Planetary Combustion

Frequently Asked Questions

PLANETARY COMBUSTION

1. If the Sun is a functional benefic planet, is the combust planet always considered weak?Let us first understand the combustion as a concept. Whenever a planet comes very near to the Sun, it is divested of its brightness (luster). The said state is called combustion. While in the state of combustion, the planets lack power to protect and promote the significations/houses ruled by them. If such a planet is weak on other accounts too, the significations ruled by them do not even take birth. The planets are said to be combust when they are within the below mentioned degrees on either side of the Sun.

When both the Sun and the combust planet are functional benefic planets and are closely conjunct, we have to see their two roles distinctively. Firstly, as the lords of the two auspicious houses they rule. The significations of both of these houses will flourish and will be connected to each other except the short run transit malefic influences which will stress the combust planet comparatively more than the Sun. Secondly, the role of a combust planet. The combust planet is considered as a weak planet but in case the Sun and planet(s) involved are functional benefic planets, the weakness of the combust planet(s) is operative only at the time of natal or transit afflictions.
2. Can we call the combust planet “Weak”?Yes. The weakness due to combustion gives high and low tides in life and need astral strength for the planets to enable them to fight natal and / or transit afflictions.
3. We understand that when combust, a planet will transfer its significations to the Sun. Right? Does that mean that if, say, the lord of the sixth gets combust, the Sun will take on its qualities of dispute, conflict, and injury, even if their orb of conjunction is more than 6 degrees?
If a functional malefic planet closely influences any other planet or the Sun, a functional malefic planet will certainly color the significations of the planet under its influence, negatively.
4. Is there ever a time when the transit influence continues for a longer duration?
Generally, the maximum limit of transit influences is around four months when Rahu/Ketu axis is stationary.
5. As for the Sun, to what extent the influence of the combust planet helps as the combust planet will be weak and not in a position to help the Sun?
When both the Sun and the combust planet are functional benefic planets and are closely conjunct, one should see their role as the lords of the two houses they rule. The significations of both of these houses will flourish and will be connected to each other except the short run transit malefic influences which will stress the combust planet comparatively more than the Sun.
6. In a situation, where the dispositor of the Sun is combust, the Sun indirectly hurting itself by causing combustion to its own dispositor, would there be more weakness to both dispositor of the Sun and Sun itself, if Sun was a functional malefic planet for the ascendant in question?
That is right.
h) IN FRIENDLY SIGNS:  When planets occupy the signs of their friendly planets, they are happy and feel free to produce results,  if they are otherwise strong.  The Sun, the Moon and Mars are friends and Jupiter is their preceptor.  Saturn, Mercury, Rahu and Ketu are friends and Venus is their preceptor.I)   IN INIMICAL SIGNS:  When planets occupy signs of their enemies, they do not find themselves comfortable to produce results expected of them. However, any sign from where a particular planet aspects its own mooltrikona sign is an exception to this rule and a planet in such a state does not find itself restricted to produce results.j)   AFFLICTED PLANETS:  The afflictions to the planets or houses are caused by the close conjunction or aspect of the functional malefic planets in a nativity. Whenever a planet/house is already weak for any other reason and is under the close influence of any functional malefic, it is treated as an afflicted planet/house. But when the planet/house is not weak for other reasons, it can be considered afflicted either under the exact influence of a functional malefic for normal afflictions or under the orb of influence of two degrees for special/multiple afflictions, becoming a weak planet/house for that reason. So whenever any planet/house is afflicted, it becomes weak not being capable of fully protecting/promoting its general and particular significations. The significations of the houses having mooltrikona sign of an afflicted planet are harmed more when such planets are already weak for other reasons. k) WEAK PLANETS:  A weak planet is not capable of fully protecting/promoting its general and particular significations during the course of its sub-periods and the transit malefic influences. Any planet is considered weak if: a) it is combust due to its nearness to the Sun.
b) it occupies malefic houses from the ascendant, ( Except when in its own mooltrikona sign.)
c) it occupies its sign of debilitation.(The planets are considered weak for all purposes if they occupy debilitated navamsa and are considered weak for specific purposes if they occupy the corresponding debilitated amsa. For example, if any planet is strong in rasi and navamsa, but debilitated in dasamsa, it makes it weak only for the purposes of the 10th house. But being debilitated in navamsa makes it weak regarding all its general and particular significations.)
d) it is in the state of infancy or old age.
e) it occupies debilitated sign in navamsa.
f) it occupies the mooltrikona sign of a weak planet.
g) it is the Moon within 72 degrees either side of the Sun.
h) it is conjunct or aspected by any functional malefic planet within an orb of one degree.
i) the most effective point of its house of placement is afflicted by a functional malefic planet within an orb of one degree. ( It only applies to nativities where the time of birth is correct.)
j) the most effective point of its mooltrikona house is afflicted by a functional malefic planet within an orb of one degree. ( In this case, the planet should be considered weak for the purposes of its particular significations only. It only applies also if the time of birth is correct.)
NOTE: in the last three points, when the affliction is special or multiple, i.e. when it comes from:-
1) a conjunction with/ aspect from the most malefic planet,
2) an aspect of a functional malefic planet placed in a malefic house,
3) a conjunction with Rahu or Ketu (Rahu-Ketu axis),
4) an aspect of a functional malefic planet afflicted by other(s) functional malefic,
5) more than one functional malefic planet at the same time,
any otherwise “strong” planet should be considered afflicted (and weak) even when the orb of affliction is of two degrees. l) STRONG PLANETS:  A strong planet protects and promotes its general and particular significations. Any planet is considered strong when it is not in the state of weakness. It can increase its strength if:a) its longitude is between 10º to 20º in a particular sign;
b) it occupies own or good navamsa and other divisions;
c) it is under the close influence of the strong functional benefic planets;
d) it occupies its exaltation, mooltrikona or own sign;
e) it closely influences the most effective point of the house.DISPOSITORAccording with Systems’ Approach, the dispositor is a planet in whose mooltrikona sign another planet is located in the natal chart. Suppose in a natal chart the Sun is placed in the sign Libra ruled by Venus. In this case Venus will be the dispositor of the Sun. No planet which is in a non- mooltrikona sign will have a dispositor i.e. the planet(s) in Taurus, Gemini, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces have no dispositor. If a planet is posited in Aries, its dispositor would be Mars; if a planet is posited in Cancer, its dispositor would be the Moon; if a planet is posited in Leo, its dispositor would be the Sun; if a planet is posited in Virgo, its dispositor would be Mercury; if a planet is posited in Libra, its dispositor would be Venus; if a planet is posited in Sagittarius, its dispositor would be Jupiter; and if a planet is posited in Aquarius, its dispositor would be Saturn.DIVISIONAL CHARTSThe divisional charts (DCs) are the charts which are drawn by division of houses for specialized analysis of a particular signification; for example navamsa for considering general fortune and marriage, etc., and dasamsa for considering professional aspects in a nativity. The methodology of study of the divisional charts has been brought out in the revised edition of author’s book “HOW TO STUDY DIVISIONAL CHARTS” which readers may study after they have learnt the system in general.