The word “Raja” means “King”. Raja Yog means a combination which can elevate any one to a king like status, or some kind of royalty, or any comforts or powers similar to such a social figure. But as we known with Jyotish’s vocabulary, nothing is literal but everything is metaphorical and signals you towards the underlying meanings. Here the underlying meaning is, such combination can uplift a person in life and in the positions of your area of endeavour. When profound and very strong are the indications, yes it makes a person “KING”.
These basic type of Raja yogas are formed when Angle houses and Trine houses get connected in birth chart through placement, aspect, conjunction or sign exchange between these house lords.
- Angle houses are - 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th house. They are also known as Kendras.
- Trine houses are - 1st, 5th and 9th house. They are also known as Trikonas.
- First house is the strongest and most important house in a birth chart since it is both a Kendra (angle) and a Trikone (trine).
- Also note, of all kendra houses the 10th house is the strongest.
- And of all trikone houses the 9th house is the strongest.
The Brihat Parasara Hora shastra gives following verses about formation of these Raja yogas.
Classical verse translated
“If there be an exchange between an angular lord and a trine lord, or if these two lords join in an angle or in a trine, or if a trinal lord is in angle or vice versa, or if there be a mutual glance between them, they cause Raja Yog.”
“One born in such a Yog will become a king and be famous.”
These verse outlines the four ways in which angle lords and trine lords can combine or influence each other to make a Raja Yog or “Royal union”.
Although Raja yogas formed by either any of the four ways are favourable. They are listed below in descending order of favourability for birth chart.
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When an angle and a trine lord exchange houses, they form a superior Raja Yog.
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Lords of two houses exchanging (placed in each others house) forms a very special kind of relationship known as Parivartana Yog.
An exchange is the strongest way by which two planets, and two houses, can be connected. The planets involved become strong, as if they were in their one signs, and the meanings of the two houses blend together to become quite interconnected. Hence, when planets involved rule an angle and a trine they form a superior Raja Yog. -
When the lord of an angle and a trine join together in an angle or a trine, they form a strong Raja Yog.
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When two or more planets, each of them ruling an angle or a trine, are placed in an angle or a trine house forms a strong Raja Yog. The said Raja Yog is strong due to the fact that planets forming it are placed in auspicious houses, angle or trine. -
When a lord of a trine falls in an angle house, or the lord of an angle falls in trine house, they form good Raja Yog.
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Similarly as in exchange between angle and trine lord, when an angle lord falls in a trine, or a trine lord falls into an angle, the said lords ruling auspicious houses are again placed in auspicious house.
A less powerful Raja Yog is created when an angle falls in a trine house or vice versa. -
When there is a mutual aspect between an angle and a trine lord, they form good Raja Yog.
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The mutual aspect between angle and trine lord can form a Raja yog, but the favourability of such yog is judged from where these planets are placed in birth chart. Their placement in good houses (angle or trine) makes them more favourable then their placement in 2nd, 11th, 3rd, 6th, 12th and 8th house.
Raja Yoga Karakas
Then come the Raja yoga Karakas. These are the special planets for some ascendants which rule both an angle and a trine house for that ascendent.
More about Raja yoga Karakas here