Significations Of Planets

As the universe is sustained by the moon, the sun and the wind through their processes of rejection, attraction and circulation, so do the Kapha, Pitta and Vaata sustain the body.

Just as different signs of the Zodiac and different Nakshatras rule over various part of the body, the various planets are also related to different body parts, besides they indicate certain illnesses in conformity with their inherent nature. Thus it is only after a thorough consideration of the houses, signs nakshatras and planets involved, along with the dashas operating at a particular time, that is becomes possible to diagnose the nature and location of diseases in the body, as also its time of on set and final outcome.

The significations of various planets as appropriate to medical astrology are being briefly outlined here. The list of significations is in no way complete and there are areas where there our knowledge is absolutely negligible. As it is a beginning has to be made some where, and that is precisely what is being done here. The planetary significations mentioned here under are primarily based on two classical works (1)The Phaladeepika, a classic on predictive astrology written by Mantreswara; and (2)The Prashna Marga, a celebrated work of Kerala which is primarily meant for horary astrology but its principles find abundant utility in natal astrology.

The Sun

It has a bilious temperament. Its strength or weakness reflects the state of general health of an individual. It rules over heart, stomach, bones and right eye. The medical conditions that the sun rules over includes headache, baldness, hyper-irritability, fevers and pains, burns, diseases arising from the inflammations of bile (like certain diseases of liver and gall bladder), heart troubles, eye diseases stomach ailments bone disorders certain skin problems, injuries from falls, weapons and poisoning, disturbances of blood circulations, epilepsy, leprosy, and fear from quadrupeds, thieves and serpents.

The Moon

It has a phlegmatic temperament with an element of winds. Its strength and weakness reflects the stability and soundness of the mind of the individual. It rules over fluids in the body, besides also representing the mind, the blood and the left eye. It stands for Psychiatric problems, mental aberrations, nervousness, emotional disturbances, increase of sleep and general inertia.

Phlegmatic disorders, tuberculosis, pleurisy, dropsy, dyspepsias, diarrhea, anemia's, serous effusions in the body, septicemias, (blood poisoning), fever associated with chills and rigors, certain skin problems, jaundice, fear from water and water animals, and the wounds caused by the horns of animals get representation through the moon. The moon is collaboration with mars controls the menstrual cycle of women. It causes menstrual disorders and diseases of female reproductive system. Diseases of the breast and the flow of milk are also to be ascertained from the moon.

Mars

Mars is a bilious temperament. It is aggressive and energetic. The state of Mars in a chart reflects the soundness of the health of a native as also his vigor and vitality. it rules over the head, bone-marrow, bile, hemoglobin(the red pigment in the blood), musculature and the endrometrium (the inner lining of the uterus, i.e., the soil, where a seed on implantation produces an offspring's).Mars signifies accidents, injuries surgical operations, burns(especially under the influence of the sun), blood disorders, tissue disruptions, high blood pressure biliary inflammations and fever resulting from them, gall stones, injury by weapons, poisoning diseases caused by heat, excessive thirst, eruptive fevers, mental aberrations(specially of the aggressive type),eye and splenic disorders, epilepsy, itching of the skin, fractures, hemorrhoids, diseases of the uterus, miscarriages and abortions. Mars also indicates head injuries, injuries sustained in fights, and diseases above the neck.

Mercury

Mercury has in its nature all the three humours, viz., wind, bile and phlegm (Vatta, Pitta, Kapha,) mercury is concerned with the intelligence of a native. Its disposition in the chart indicates the capacity for discrimination and reasoning. An adverse mercury, in collaboration with a malefic moon, can derange one's thinking and be a cause of certain mental aberrations.It rules over skin, throat, nose, lungs and fore brain (concerned with higher function of the body).It signifies mental aberration, nervous break down, mental instability, mental complexes abusive language defective speech, high strung temperament, vertigo sudden falls and bad dreams.

Jupiter

It is phlegmatic (kapha) in temperament. Being the best benefic, a strong Jupiter protects the native against a host of diseases and neutralizes numerous afflictions in the chart. It rules over liver, gallbladder, spleen, part of pancreas, ear, and fat in the body. Jupiter signifies liver disorders, gall bladder diseases, splenic diseases, obesity, anemia's, fever, fainting, ear troubles, diabetes, etc. It being a slow moving planet, the diseases caused by Jupiter are chronic in nature. Jupiter also causes laziness.

Venus

Venus suffers from excess of wind and phlegm (Vatta, and Kapha).it governs the sexual drive of an individual. If grossly afflicted and ill placed, it leads to sexual perversions and venereal diseases. It rules over face, eye sight, seminal fluid, reproductive organs, urinary system, lacrimal (tear) gland, etc. It is also the significator for the parts of the body derived from the midgut, viz, intestine appendix and part of the pancreas. It is a watery planet and is concerned with the endocrine (or hormonal) system of the body. Venus signifies sexual disorders, diseases of the generative organs as well as the urinary system, diseases of the face, eye diseases,cataract, diseases of tear gland, leucoderma, venereal diseases diabetes, carbuncle, urethral stricture, stone in the kidney and urinary bladder, laziness, tiredness and exhaustion; it also indicates diseases like typhoid, appendicitis and endocrine (hormonal)disorder.

Saturn

Saturn has primarily wind (Vaata) and some phlegm (Kapha) in its disposition. It is the slowest moving planet and the diseases caused by it are either incurable or very chronic. Saturn rules over legs and feet, nerves, lymphatics, and distal part of the colon and rectum. It signifies chronicity, incurability, insanity, paralysis, idiocy, glandular diseases, elephantiasis, tumors and cancers, unforeseen dangers, exhaustion and fatigue, diseases and injuries of the legs and feet, mental disorders characterized by depression and melancholy, stomach troubles, injuries sustained from the falloff trees and stones.

Rahu

It signifies slowness of action, clumsiness, hiccup, insanity, unfounded fears, leprosy, debility, hemorrhoids, chronic boils and ulcers, incurable ailments, poisoning, snake bite and diseases in the feet. In collaboration with the moon, rahu gives rise to various phobias. Being equivalent to Saturn, it indicates chronicity and incurability,

Ketu

Ketu produces all the ailments signified by rahu. In addition, it leads to diseases with uncertain cause, epidemics eruptive fevers, viral and infective diseases, helmenthiasis (intestinal parasites), deafness, defects of speech, as also diagnostic confusion. Ketu being equivalent to Mars also indicates surgical intervention.