Hora Varga

By Ernst Wilhelm
[Link]

“All about wealth and happiness should be examined from Hora.”

-Sanketi Nidhi

Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra states that the Hora indicates Sampat. Sampat is prosperity, success and
accomplishment – those things that give concrete satisfaction. The Hora represents the concrete satisfaction
we obtain from the things in our lives. Ultimately, it is this concrete satisfaction that represents the worldly
worth and value of that thing. At times, during emotionally difficult times, it is easy for a person to forget
just how valuable anything of concrete worth is and so during these times a person may not feel satisfied
with things that are actually very good in their life when taken from a real world and not emotional point of
view.
A very important point about the Hora is that the prosperity it indicates is the prosperity needed to
fulfilling one’s responsibilities and the prosperity of finding satisfaction and worth in one’s responsibilities.
The Hora very much has to do with responsibilities and being responsible for the things in our lives. Hora is
not the fun wealth that is used for buying islands, yachts or living the “good life,” it is the wealth of
responsibility.
süryendvorviñame räçau same tadvaparétakam.
pitaraçcandrahoreçä deväù süryasya kértitäù,
räçerarddham bhaveddhorä täscaturvimçatiù småtä.
meñädi täsäà horäNäà parivåttidvayaà bhavet.

“Sun/Moon in odd Rasis, in even reversed. Ancestors are the lords of the Moon’s Hora, Devas of the Sun’s it is
said. Thus it is known that twenty-four half Rasis create the Horas - beginning from Aries these Horas revolve
twice.”
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra: Shodasavargas, 5.5-6

a b c d e f g h i j k l
a g b h c i d j e kf l g a h b i c j d k e l f
A B B A A B B A A B B A A B B A A B B A A B B A

“Some astrologers take the first half of a Rasi under its own lord, and the second half of that Rasi under the lord
of the eleventh house from that Rasi.” –Brihat Jataka

This idea that Brihat Jataka quotes from Yavana Jataka is a valid idea, but a completely different concept
which has nothing to do with Vargas. It is, in fact, a technique to be applied to the Rasi chart or any Varga
for that matter, but it is not meant for a Varga calculation. In this technique, the planetary lord of the Rasi in
question rules the first half of the Rasi, which is the active or receptive half depending on if it is the Hora of
the Sun or Moon. Any planets in this half can only be as successfully active or receptive as their lord. The
planetary lord of the 11th from the Rasi rules the result or gain that the first half of the Rasi is able to activate
or be receptive to as the case may be.

HORA DEITIES
The deities of the Horas are the Sun and the Moon, Atma and Manas, Initiative and Receptivity,
Intelligence and Knowing, etc. the two causative forces in our lives. It is these two forces that bring about
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all the effects in our lives through the agencies of the Five Elements (which are to be clearly studied through
the help of the Trimsamsa deities.) I highly recommend studying very carefully the descriptions of the Sun
and Moon in Graha Sutras as all those mentioned qualities of the Sun and Moon bear upon the Horas of the
Sun and Moon.
It is also important to know that the Sun’s Hora rules the right side of the body while the left side is
ruled by the Moon.

RESULTS OF HORAS
süryahoräphalaà dadhyurjévärkävasudhätmajäù,
candräsphüjidarkaputräzcandrahoräphalapradäù.
phaladvayaà budho dadyät same cändraà tadanyake,
raveù phalaà...

“The Sun’s Hora fructifies Jupiter, Sun and Mars; the Moon, Venus and Saturn are granted fruit by the Moon’s
Hora. Both fructify Mercury, in even the Moon, in the other the Sun fructifies.”
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra: Varga Considerations, 14-15

The Sun’s Hora is the initiating and activating while the Moon’s Hora is receptive. Planets in the Sun’s
Hora know what they want while planets in the Moon’s Hora know what they don’t want. Planets in the
Sun’s Hora are geared towards pursuing that which they want, while planets in the Moon’s Hora are geared
towards receiving what feels good. The Sun’s Hora finds satisfaction and happiness in what it does, not in
who and what it is, while the Moon’s Hora finds satisfaction and happiness in being validated for who and
what it is, not what it deos. The planets have a similar nature and so it is best if planets fall in Horas that are
similar in nature. If not, the satisfaction will be reduced. The male planets find worth and value in those
things which they act upon through the help of the Sun’s Hora. The female and neuter planets find worth
and value in those things which they receive with the help of the Moon’s Hora. Male planets in the Moon’s
Hora may receive many great things, but they will never find value in them since they did not set out to
acquire them. Female and neuter planets in the Sun’s Hora can go out and get many great things, but will
never feel validated by these things and so not find satisfaction in them.
Mercury can be active or receptive. In a male Rasi he is active and so then can find satisfaction when in
the Hora of the Sun. In a female Rasi he is receptive and so he can then only find satisfaction when in the
Moon’s Hora.
When Grahas are in Hora’s of opposite nature, then the individual will never find satisfaction with the
things represented by those Grahas. If many planets are in such situations the individual will often feel that
life is not worth living. The Grahas in Horas of similar nature indicate that with which the individual can
find satisfaction and the one of these with the best Lajjitaadi Avastha will indicate that of greatest
satisfaction. For this, consider both the natural indications of the Grahas as well as the indications of the
Bhava cusp that the Grahas rule in the Hora.
Just how worthwhile a thing is is determined by the wellbeing of the Bhava cusps and by the Lajitaadi
Avasthas of the Grahas, but how much satisfaction a person experiences from those things is dependent
upon the Grahas being in appropriate Sun or Moon Horas. An individual, therefore, may have every success
if the Grahas and Bhavas are well disposed, but not find satisfaction in any of it if the Grahas are in contrary
Sun or Moon Horas.

Ancestors & Devas

The Hora very much represents those concrete things that we have which we must be responsible for,
and according to the Grahas falling in the appropriate Sun or Moon Hora, one feels more or less satisfied
with their responsibilities. Each person has two types of responsibilities to fulfill in this world: ancestral and
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to the world at large, thus responsibilities are given due to ancestral karmas or due to the need of the world.
Responsibilities given by ancestral karmas are those indicated by the Grahas falling in the Hora of the
Moon. These responsibilities tend to be more focused on familial matters and the wellbeing of the family.
Responsibilities that are due to our need to be of service to the world outside of our families are given by
the Devas and indicated by those Grahas falling in the Hora of the Sun.
An important difference between these two types of responsibilities is that the responsibilities given by
the ancestors, those indicated by the Moon’s Hora, are ones that we can feel close to. The responsibilities
given by the Devas, are those that while we may become great for them, they have a spirit of sacrifice to
them, but do not give the feeling of closeness and love that does the Moon’s Hora. For this reason, the
female and neuter Grahas, which need the closeness of love, favor the Moon’s Hora, and the masculine
Grahas, which need to do and perform on as large as a scale as possible and which find satisfaction in
sacrifice, favor the Sun’s Hora.
The Lagna falling in the Moon Hora shows individual who in general is walking upon a path of serving
the ancestors while falling in the Sun Hora the individual is walking more upon a path of serving the world.

MOST IMPORTANT GRAHA IN THE HORA

The Hora is the second Varga and so the second Graha, the Moon, is the most important planet to
consider in the Hora. The condition of the Moon represents the fullest level of concrete satisfaction that we
can realize and the highest level of worth we can find with anything in our lives.

IMPORTANT BHAVAS IN THE HORA

2nd Bhava: The primary Bhava to consider in the Hora due to the Hora being the 2nd Varga. The 2nd Bhava
in the Hora represents the degree of success the individual can manage and their ability to take care of the
many important things in their lives for which they are responsible.
3rd Bhava: Adding up all the numbers in 2 yields the number 3 and so the 3rd Bhava is an important
secondary Bhava to consider in the Hora. The 3rd Bhava in the Hora represents the energy and courage
available to the individual with which to find satisfaction and happiness.
4th Bhava: Squaring 2 yields the number 4 and so the 4th Bhava is an important Bhava to consider in the
Hora. The 4th Bhava in the Hora represents the happiness derived from one’s concrete successes and
accomplishments as well as the possible property owned as an article of wealth and prosperity.

After considering the Moon and these three Bhavas to access the general condition of the Hora so
as to understand the individual’s capacity for concrete satisfaction and happiness, all the other Grahas and
Bhavas should be studied in order to see from which things the individual derives different degrees of
satisfaction.

YAVANA JATAKA CHAPTER TWO: THE FORMS OF THE HORAS

1. Halves of the signs in the circle of (zodiacal) constellations are called by the name of their series Horas. I
will describe them briefly, but in detail, together with their various shapes, insignia, distinguishing marks,
and forms.

Aries 1st Hora of Sun

2. The first Hora in Aries wears red clothes and is flaming like the Sun at Doomsday. He holds a sword and
a firebrand in his hands. His hair is tawny and sticks up, and his ear-rings are of gold. He is a fierce man
who has raised the staff of Death for the sake of protection.
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3. This is a man-shaped creature whose cry is loud and who has a long, thin face. Standing in the midst of
flocks of goats and sheep, and mounted on a goat, he rules his host.

Aries 2nd Hora of Moon

4. The second Hora in Aries wears a garland of skulls. His bow blazes with arrows. He has the strength of
an elephant. He is bound with a half-girdle, and his clothes are black, his limbs are adorned with snakes.
Bearing a sword and (elephant’s) skin, and of terrible figure, he wears the diadem (of Siva).
5. Entering the forest with his swift thieves, he lets loose destruction, this fearful-faced man, splitting open
the highest peak with his bolts. His anxiety is destroyed and lost.

Taurus 1st Hora of Moon

6. The first Hora in Taurus is a woman who carries a pitcher of cow’s milk and clarified butter. She is pre-
eminent, rising up with an axe in her hand. Her face is like that of a hone. She plays and swings gracefully,
wearing bright-colored robes, and her feet tinkle with anklets.
7. She is four-footed. Girdle-strings surround her body. She is filled with thirst, and has developed a desire
for food. She is beautiful with her heavy breasts, has handsome hips, and wears a bright, pendant girdle.

Taurus 2nd Hora of Sun

8. The second Hora in Taurus is a youthful woman who is a delight to the eyes. She is intelligent, and pale
with the beauty of campaka-flowers. She knows the rules of sciences, pharmacology, and the arts. She is
adorned with garments of silk, this blazing one.
9. She appears in an assembly of farmen (Brahmin?), sacrificing her body to Brahma (?) like a woman in
childbirth. She has garlands, perfumes, and cosmetic powders. Intoxicated from drinking liquors, she speaks
in a lovely voice.

Gemini 1st Hora of Sun

10. The first Hora in the third sign holds a lyre in his hand. His completion is the color of a parrot’s tail-
feather. He is an artistic man with a low-hanging robe whose nature it is to love singing, dancing, and
listening (to music). Seated on a cane chair he composes poetry.
11. He runs after women and is clever in love. His sides are bound in the embrace of a maiden’s arms. He is
not much of a businessman, but he speaks gently and sweetly, a very reprehensible person.

Gemini 2nd Hora of Moon

12. The second Hora in the third sign is established as being a woman whose actions are charming and
glowing with youth. She is pale and red-limbed, clever and grateful. She is besieged by the leader of an army
in a wide-spreading war. Clothed in red, she wears a long red necklace.
13. Raising her arms, she cries out when she is robbed, she is made naked by thieves in a park, but is
brought back by means of an armed conflict.

Cancer 1st Hora of Moon

14. The first Hora in the fourth sign is a woman who holds a blossoming lotus in her hand. She stands in
the water, pale as the color of a campaka-flower. Her upper-garment and ornaments are pale like moon-
beams. Her limbs are adorned with the splendor of full and half necklaces.
15. Leaning on the branch of an aioka-tree in a garden, she recalls to mind her beloved. She wears a golden
girdle and a necklace trembles on her breast.

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Cancer 2nd Hora of Sun
16. The second Hora in the fourth sign is established as being a very pale man in the middle of a garden
who leans on a bright weapon and whose neck is raised (in longing). He is a lover whose radiance is made
beautiful by grace-fullness. Holding a lotus, the beloved one pours forth his complaints
17. He wears variegated garments and ornaments at Doomsday(?). The ointment on his body is as bright as
Cupid’s His allies have been destroyed, and he is remembered with the harsh words …

Leo 1st Hora of Sun

18. The first Hora in Leo is to be spoken of as a bold man whose form is as terrible as a lion’s, He is
blazing, a fierce and hideous tyrant. He has upward-curving tusks, and is like Yama and Kala. He stands in
the midst of battles between Nishadas and thieves.
19. He has bound on his quiver. Desiring to taste flavors, he slays deer in mountain caves. His teeth are like
those of the lord of elephants. His firm chest is wounded.

Leo 2nd Hora of Moon

20. The second Hora in the house of the Sun is a fierce man who delights in battle. His bow is drawn back;
his garment is a deer-skin. He is a eunuch, but, bearing his ammr of gold, he protects women. The hair on
his body is long.
21. He is bald-headed and gat-toothed. Impassioned, he touches the genitals of a man or a woman.
Together with the robbers of his band he shouts terribly and shrilly in the desert.

Virgo 1st Hora of Moon

22. The first Hora in the sixth sign is a black and white woman who is charming and wise. She is wet with
her menstruation and has filthy garments. She thinks of fine clothes, and, desiring a son, has intercourse
with the man she loves.
23. She cries in the forest among the serving-girls of Brahma(?), leaning on a branch that is in full fruit and
leaf. She is without wealth like one in distress, and her body is stretched out. She has attained beauty.

Virgo 2nd Hora of Sun

24. The second Hora in Virgo is said to be a man pale as moon-beams who knows how to write. He wears a
beautiful and spotless garland of blossoming lotuses. He is handsome with teeth as bright as the rays of the
Moon.
25. He is remembered… He adores his beloved. A pleasing man, he is eloquent and clever in crafts, dances,
and the weaving of garlands, as well as in the use of a needle.

Libra 1st Hora of Sun

26. The first Hora in Libra is a man who is black and white. He is clever and knows spells... He carries a pair
of scales, and is steadfast in the five duties.
27. Standing within the market-place, he wears bright and graceful clothes. He is in control of grain, etc.,
and of all sorts of coins. He carries a dart, a sword, and an arrow in his fist. He follows the vow of one who
has renounced liquor.

Libra 2nd Hora of Moon

28. The second Hora in Libra is one who is accustomed to pitiless and manly deeds. He has prominent
teeth. Hating the accomplishment of protection, he carries bright-colored arrows, a knife, and a drawn
sword (with which to assail his enemies).

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29. He is a smasher of houses who strikes others with his fist. His hair is erect, and he is wearing a woolen
cover. Crying aloud in the market-place, he jingles a bell and causes fright among the people.

Scorpio 1st Hora of Moon

30. The first Hora in the eighth sign is a man of terrible form-blazing, fierce, and most dreadful. He delights
in injury, and wears a garland of gold. Yearning for battle, he dons his armor which is bound with serpents.
31. He has prominent teeth and is violent like Death. His limbs and his eyes are red, his hair like numerous
swords. He slays living creatures with poison and a sword like Maheshvara angry at Doomsday.

Scorpio 2nd Hora of Sun

32. The second Hora in the eighth sign is a level-standing(?) woman with a black body who has poisonous
mouth and hands. She is the cause of (the use of) weapons, battles, diseases, and dangers, as she makes her
snakes swell, writhe, and sway.
33. Her neck is clung to by great serpents proud of their poisonous breath. Her girdle consists of strings of
jewels. She is filled with anger, and her teeth are flashing and fearful. Biting her lower lip, she creates tumult
and quarrels.

Sagittarius 1st Hora of Sun

34. The first Hora in Sagittarius is a man whose bow of bone is drawn. He wears the Moon in his diadem,
and is moon-faced. His hair is bound with gold. He races with his horse, this protector of the sacrifice.
35. He stands in penance in the forest of asceticism and on the peaks of mountains, slaying the race of the
Dasyus. He knows the proper use of each element of the Vedas and the sacrifice, and accomplishes all his
desires. His eyes are as wide as lotuses.

Sagittarius 2nd Hora of Moon

36. The second Hora in Sagittarius is a woman of handsome brilliance who is full of motion, pride, and
playfulness, and who shims like gold. She understands magic, is artful in (the use of) poison and weapons,
and gives clever advice.
37. Seated on an auspicious throne she looks at an excellent casket filled with jewels and other riches. With
spotless ointment on her body as she gazes at the jewels from the sea, she shines, smiling like Lakshmi.

Capricorn 1st Hora of Moon

38. The first Hora in Capricorn is a man with jagged teeth who is hideous, and fierce, armed with a club like
Death at Doomsday. He breaks the peace, this wearer of a deer-skin.
39. He guards his iron, his slaves, and his buffaloes, and, standing in the water, defends his black grain. He
keeps fierce thieves who are devoted to him, Mlecchas and the chiefs of the Candalas, sending them out (on
raids).

Capricorn 2nd Hora of Sun

40. The second Hora in Capricorn is a woman with loose hair who has a red face and red arms and who
stands on one foot; they say that the rest of her is black. Her belly hangs down, and her teeth arc dreadful
like a crocodile’s.
41. She shines with blue unguents, and her body is covered with a garment the color of collyrium. She is
adorned with ornaments made of the metal of the Pishacas. Entering the water and standing at the Mare’s
Mouth (the Entrance to Hell), she raises her voice again and again.

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Aquarius 1st Hora of Sun
42. The first Hora in Aquarius is a man who is as black as collyrium. His teeth are dreadful. He is black, and
wears a graceful leather garment. He makes juice from the succulent sugar-cane.
43. He knows many desired arts, and his hands are employed in many crafts. A pot is on his shoulders. His
thoughts are covetous; he is a friend of those whose emblem is a pot, but is not subordinate (to them). His
hands hold dice for gambling. He is beloved as one who desires to defend (his friends).

Aquarius 2nd Hora of Moon

44. The second Hora in Aquarius is remembered to be a woman adorned with silken garments. Her robes
are black, and her hand grasps a noose. Her eyes are as wide as a lotus. She is learned in the sacred texts.
45. Her body is tall and black, her hair reddish and wild. She is by nature clever. Being in the final stage of
intoxication, and surrounded by throngs of Water-Raksasis, she commands Fate together with the Night of
Doom.

Pisces 1st Hora of Moon

46. The first Hora in Pisces is an excellent lady who is loved by one who has crossed over (the ocean).
Standing on a path beside the Great Sea, she is shining and moon-faced. Her laughter causes a trembling
and a graceful movement of her arms and breasts.
47. Having risen up from the shore of the Great Sea and surrounded by women who are pleasing in every
way, she shines forth, her limbs adorned with red garments. She accomplishes all her objectives, and is
without misfortune.

Pisces 2nd Hora of Sun

48. The second Hora in Pisces is said to be a woman wearing ear-rings made of the superior metal of the
Pishacas. Her body is adorned with a blue necklace and with girdle-strings having (all) the colors in the
world( ?).
49. Her upper-garment was made in the land of the Abhiras. She shines forth, dreadful, in blue robes. While
carrying her metals in wagons and by foot, she is robbed in the woods by blazing thieves.

50. These Horas, whose purpose resides in (the determination of) the thoughts, places of origin, and
qualities (of natives), are described by the Yavanas by means of illustrations wherein their forms, insignia,
and ornaments are successively given. They have names in accordance with their natures.

IMPORTANCE OF THE SUN AND MOON

“Surya is strong in the solar Hora. Chandra is strong in the lunar Hora.” -Jataka Parijata

The two most important Grahas to have in appropriate Horas are the Sun and the Moon. The Sun is
particularly important in a man’s horoscope and the Moon in the horoscope of a woman. If these are in
their own Hora, the individual’s capacity for concrete satisfaction is high.

The Sun’s Hora Lord

When the Sun is in the Hora of the Sun the individual has the capacity to act upon his desires and find
the success that provides satisfaction – in essence, he chooses and wins his responsibilities. Satisfaction is
provided because the Sun feels satisfied when it succeeds in what it set out to do and the responsibilities it
has are the ones they set out to procure. When the Sun is in the Moon’s Hora, however, the individual is not
clear on what they want and which actions they want to take, the result is that they receive the fruits that the
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world has to offer them and these fruits are not satisfactory because they are not the fruits that the Sun
really wanted or really knew he wanted – in essence, his life is full of responsibilities that he is not sure that
he ever wanted.

The Moon’s Hora Lord

When the Moon is in the Hora of the Moon the individual has a great capacity to know what feels good
and what feels bad, to know what they need and what they don’t need. This increases their capacity to be
receptive to the best things available to them and thus they find satisfaction. It is not necessarily that they
have everything that they want and everything the way they want it to be, life is never like that, but they do
know that they have the best for them from what was available and so they feel satisfied and secure in their
responsibilities. When the Moon is in the Sun’s Hora, however, the individual misses having a lot of their
needs met by concrete things due to their being overly active, or on account of their thinking they need
something specific or something else and so not being open to that concrete something that is available to
them. As a result, the Moon feels stressed by its responsibilities because it believes those responsibilities are
keeping her from doing what would really give happiness.

HORA LORDS OF THE FIVE ELEMENTAL GRAHAS

There are a couple classical texts that give the effects of the Grahas being in the Hora of the Sun or
Moon. These texts give nice qualities to Grahas in the Moon’s Hora and unpleasant qualities to Grahas
placed in the Sun’s Hora – basically, considering the Sun as a malefic and the Moon as a benefic. This view,
however, is erroneous and contradicts what we have learned from Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra which
prefers male Grahas in the Hora of the Sun and female and neuter Grahas in the Hora of the Moon.

Mars’ Hora Lord

Mars is a male Graha who takes pride and satisfaction in his ability to serve and protect the weaker and
less able. He finds greater satisfaction serving people at large in an impersonal manner, more so than he
does serving those close to him in a personal manner, which eventually can be felt as confining to his sense
of adventure. Furthermore, Mars is a Brahmachari, who never marries or has children, who would rather
develop himself both physically and spiritually for the betterment of the world. For this reason Mars finds
greater satisfaction when placed in the Hora of the Sun where he can better act as the impersonal hero then
he finds when in the Hora of the Moon which gives him many personal responsibilities that can eventually
be felt as boring or even stifling.

Mercury’s Hora Lord

Mercury may do well in either the Sun’s or Moon’s Hora. When in an odd Rasi he does well in the Sun’s
Hora, when in an even Rasi he prefers the Moon’s Hora. Mercury can find satisfaction actively or
receptively, when in an odd Rasi his path is active and then he will find satisfaction in the Sun’s Hora. When
in an even Rasi his path will be receptive and so he will find satisfaction in the Moon’s Hora.
Mercury is largely a Graha of experimentation. Furthermore, he is also a Graha that can adopt a high
spirit of sacrifice and service through understanding that everyone’s welfare is equally important. He can just
as easily adopt a personal success centered attitude of playing by the rules of life as effectively as possible.
When located in an odd Rasi, then he uses his intelligence to actively pursue his ideas and options until he
arrives at a decision that makes him feel satisfied with his knowledge and skills, if Mercury is in the Hora of
the Sun, this satisfaction is greater as his knowledge and skills can serve many people and then Mercury
achieves the ideal of Vishwamitra, being a friend of all. If, however, Mercury is in the Hora of the Moon,

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satisfaction will not be as great as the friendship he has to give is limited to a relatively few personal
relationships.
When in an even Rasi, then Mercury has less an attitude of changing things with his skills and
knowledge and more an attitude of making the most out of the things that come his way. There is more an
attitude of making the most out of things rather than making a difference with things, as there is when
Mercury is in a male Rasi. When in an even Rasi and the Moon’s Hora, then Mercury has the personal
attunement to make the most of the things in his life in order to build a better life for himself and his loved
ones. When in the Sun’s Hora, however, then an undercurrent of sacrifice separates him from the reality of
his relationships and experiences and so these things give him little satisfaction and he is unable to really
make the most of his situation or find happiness there.

Jupiter’s Hora Lord

Jupiter is a male Graha who finds happiness in shedding light, knowledge and wealth as far as he
possibly can. His abundance is so great, that serving only a small personal group of familial individuals is
simply not satisfying. His heart cries out with compassion for mankind to grow and prosper and so he is
only satisfied when he can reach as many as he possibly can. For this reason Jupiter finds greater satisfaction
in the Hora of the Sun where he can better serve humanity, then he does in the Hora of the Moon where
the abundance of his knowledge can only reach the smaller more personal audience, which quite often does
not want the gems he has to give.

Venus’ Hora Lord

Venus is win-win Graha, a Graha who wants to give yes, but also one which desires an equal return.
This equal return comes only in personal relationships and so Venus prefers the Moon’s Hora where deep,
personal and committed relationships can be found that provide great growth to all parties concerned.
When Venus is placed in the Sun’s Hora, the individual is not able to experience the closeness that creates
binding ties in human relationships; instead, the feel more impersonal in their relationships. While they can
easily sacrifice themselves for loved ones, they do this not out of love or with the hope of the loved one to
treat them equally so, but because the spirit of sacrifice takes them to an impersonal place where they can
experience greater feeling than they can experience in the realm of personal relationships.

Saturn’s Hora Lord

Saturn is a Graha of service, but one that wants validation for his service. Saturn craves this validation
because he is emotionally scarred and wounded. The validation that Saturn wants is not for the work that he
does, but for himself as an individual. Saturn wants to be accepted for who he is, while he is doing his work.
He does not want to be accepted because of what he does or considered great for what he does. When
Saturn is placed in the Hora of the Moon, the work he does gets him close to people who accept him for
how he is and thus he is satisfied in his work. When Saturn is placed in the Hora of the Sun, however, then
Saturn is respected for what he does, not who he is and so he does not get the inner validation that he needs
to feel satisfied with his responsibilities.

LAGNA’S HORA
“If the Lagna is an odd sign, and the Hora is presided by Surya, the person will be of a cruel disposition, lustful,
rich and honored by kings.
If the Lagna is an odd sign, and the Hora is that of Chandra, the person born will be eloquent, liberal,
handsome, compassionate, but will have an intriguing wife.

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If the lagna is even and the Hora is of Surya, one will be clever in counsel, sensible of favors received, but
irresolute and exceedingly timid.
If the lagna is even and the Hora is of Chandra, one will be fearless in speech, lazy and fond of a virtuous wife.”
-Jataka Parijata

The Hora of the Lagna represents the initiating (Sun’s Hora) or receptive (Moon’s Hora) nature of the
individual as they walk down the path of their life. The Rasi on the Lagna represents the nature of the path
itself, one most suited for initiative (male Rasis) or receptivity (female Rasis). The individual will have the
greatest capacity to embrace life if the Lagna is in the Sun’s Hora and a male Rasi or if it is in the Moon’s
Hora and a female Rasi. Men with the Lagna in the Sun’s Hora and a male Rasi will be the most capable of
successful masculine activity. Women with the Lagna in the Moon’s Hora and a female Rasi will be the most
capable of attracting towards them that which they need.

EFFECTS OF HORAS ACCORDING TO SARAVALI & YAVANA JATAKA

Note: That in italic is from Yavana Jataka, Chapter 28, the rest is from Saravali.
1. The qualities of such things as the Horas, which are halves of signs, are diverse and have many natures, forms, colors, and
characteristics; of the unique creator of the world.
2. There are always an essence, position, characteristics, and form similar to its internal form and characteristics; like a mirror
and its image, this is produced not in its own substance, but in the world of men.
3. There are twenty-four halves of the signs, or Horas, belonging, by their favor, to the Sun and the Moon; I shall describe those
which are favorable because of their positions, essences, and forms, and which are influential in the nativities of men.
4. The Sun rules the first Hora in the odd signs and the second in the even; the Moon rules the rest. If the lord of the Hora is
in an angle, there is an influence from its position and aspect.

HORAS IN ARIES: If the first Hora of Aries (Sun’s Hora) ascends at birth, the native will roll his eyeballs
unnecessarily, be cruel, rich, very bright in appearance, have a fierce wife, be tall, irascible and a leader of
thieves.
5. The man born under the influence of the first Hora in Aries has large red eyes, and the tip of his nose is like a parrot’s; he is
fierce, thick-set, and tall; fond of his wife; and a rich hero or the leader of thieves.

If the second Hora of Aries (Moon’s Hora) ascends at birth, the native will be a thief, careless, have an
afflicted foot, fingers etc., large eyes, tall stature, and be very intelligent.
6. One born in the second Hors in Aries is a gracious man with a light complexion, a broad, thick body, and sharp, terrible
toes and fingers; a clever and intelligent person who is rich in wives and has kind, wide eyes.

HORAS IN TAURUS: If the first Hora of Taurus (Moon’s Hora) ascends at birth, the native will be dark in
complexion, will have broad eyes, fore face and chest, be eminent, disposed to carnal pleasures and have
strong bones and physique.
7. A man born in the first Hora of Taurus is black and has wide eyes, forehead, and chest and a body of stout bones; he is a
bold and handsome lover who is subject to sexual intercourse and drinking and who speaks little.

If the second Hora of Taurus (Sun’s Hora) ascends at birth, one will have broad, long and round limbs, be
liberal, have attractive hair, thin waist and eyes akin to that of an ox.
8. They say one born under the influence of the second Hora in Taurus has broad and extensive prosperity, wealth, wives, and
fame; his body is erect, wide, and ofmedium height, and he has beautiful hair, hips set wide apart, and eyes like a bull’s.

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HORAS IN GEMINI: If the first Hora of Gemini (Sun’s Hora) is the ascendant, the native will have a long
waist, be very skillful, have a moderate physique, soft hair and feet, be courageous, fond of sexual union,
wealthy and learned.
9. One born in the first Hora in the third sign (Gemini) has sweet, wide eyes, a thin body of medium height, handsome thighs,
shoulders, and breast, and soft hair and feet; he is an eloquent and intelligent hero rich in sexual intercourse and love.

Born in the second Hora of Gemini (Moon’s Hora), one will have beautiful and large eyes, be sensuous,
soft, a gifted speaker and attached to others' housewives.
10. A man born in the second Hora in the third sign (Gemini) is an intelligent lover with sweet, wide eyes, an eloquent hero
who speaks gently and clearly; he has beautiful, good teeth and a beautiful, symmetrical body.

HORAS IN CANCER: If the birth be in the first half of Cancer (Moon’s Hora), one will be endowed with
an elevated body, a beautiful head, eminence and intelligence, be weak sighted, have limbs moving off and
on, be crafty, dark in complexion, ungrateful, and have broken teeth.
11. One born in the first Hora in the fourth sign (Cancer) has an erect body and a handsome head; he is a bold and black man
with a thin voice, a fickle and ungrateful rogue, a wretched man the limbs in whose body are broken.

If the birth be in the second half of Cancer (Sun’s Hora), one will be fond of gambling and travels, will have
a broad chest, be quite truthful, irascible and have a harsh physique.
12. He who is born in the second Hora in Cancer is a black man who walks like a horse and has vile mouth, eyes, and teeth
and little hair; a slender person with thick sides, a rich but low-born rogue who is addicted to wandering.

HORAS IN LEO: One born in the first Hora of Leo (Sun’s Hora) will have blood-red eyes, be bold,
endowed with a large and long physique, be crooked, happy and decidedly firm in his undertakings.
13. One born in the first Hora in Leo has a dishonest nature and performs deeds of firmness and strength; he is a bold man
hard to assail and irritable; the corners of his eyes are red and his body is heavy, broad. and proud; but he is happy at the end
(of his life).

One born in the later half of Leo (Moon’s Hora) will be fond of women, sweets, foods, drinks and robes,
will move frequently, have a harsh physique, be liberal, fond of travels, have a few sons, enjoys pleasures,
and is firm in friendship.
14. A man born under the influence of the second Hora in Leo desires women, spices, drinks, clothing, and food, and possesses
stolen property; his friendship is firm and he moves his arms and so forth; his limbs and back are hard, and he has few subjects.

HORAS IN VIRGO: If the birth be in the initial half of Virgo (Moon’s Hora), the native concerned will
have a soft and beautiful body, be a sweet speaker, fond of music, females and sexual union, be sweet,
fortunate and excellent.
15. One bore in the first Hora in the sixth sign (Virgo) is handsome with a youthful body; he speaks well and knows crafts
and sacred traditions (sruti); he is a soft-eyed, courteous, and sweet man who is fond of women, singing, music, and sexual
intercourse.

Born in the second half of Virgo (Sun’s Hora) one will be short-statured, will have knowledge of Hatha
Yoga and Vedas, will possess a big head, be agreeable, argumentative, learned in service, drawing and
writing, will have checkered prosperity and be happy.
16. One born in the second Hora in the sixth sign (Virgo) is a short man with a large head; a wanderer who desires (to know)
the sacred traditions (sruti) and is an expert in music, service, writing, and painting; a man dismayed by sacrifices who
experiences both decline and increase, but is happy at the end (of his life.)

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HORAS IN LIBRA: If the first Hora of Libra (Sun’s Hora) ascends at birth one will have a round face,
elevated nose and back and large eyes, be sportive, will have a strong body and strong bones, be wealthy,
and affectionate to his men.
17. A man born in the first Hora of Libra has a round face and an upturned nose, beautiful, broad, black eyes, and a thick
body; he is solid with thick bones; he is a graceful man, dear to his people, who is clever in business and rich.

If the second Hora of Libra ascends at birth (Moon’s Hora), one will be very wealthy and his wealth will be
firm, one is endowed with black and curly hair, crafty, round-eyed, has a strong lower body and attractive
skin, but defective feet.
18. He who is born in the second Hora of the seventh sign (Libra) has much wealth and acts with firmness and courage; he is a
black rogue with curly hair and round eyes, and the ends of his feet are split; he is an expert in crafts.

HORAS IN SCORPI0: One born in the first half of Scorpio (Moon’s Hora) will have blood-red eyes, be
adventurous in acts, valorous in battle, wicked, fond of females and rich.
19. One born in the first Hora of the eighth sign (Scorpio) has fierce, yellow eyes with red corners; he is a handsome assailant
who commits terrible deeds and is mighty in battle; a wealthy man with a depraved nature who is restless among women.

If born in the second half of Scorpio (Sun’s Hora), one will have broad, well-grown, long and fleshy limbs,
will serve a king, have many debts and many friends and will possess blown eyes (expanded as a flower).
20. A man born in the second Hora of Scorpio is a bald man whose body is expansive, thick, full-grown, and broad and whose
red eyes are wide-open; he serves the king and has many friends; but he has many debts also, and is an assailant.

HORAS IN SAGITTARIUS: One born in the first half of Sagittarius (Sun’s Hora) will possess a wide, and
split, face and chest, with eyes and neck contracted. One will be discarded by elders in boyhood and be
pious.
21. One who is born in the first Hora in Sagittarius has a … face, broad mouth and chest, handsome nose and cheeks, and
wide, curving eyes; he is an ascetic who had no guru in his youth.

If the later half of Sagittarius (Moon’s Hora) rises, one will possess eyes akin to the petals of a lotus and long
arms, will have knowledge of Shastras, be good in appearance, will speak sweetly, and is fortunate and
famous.
22. One who is born in the second Hora of the ninth sign (Sagittarius) has eyes as broad as lotuses and long, heavy arms; he is
handsome, lucky, happy, and glorious; wise in the meaning of the sciences, and possessing both dharma and artha.

HORAS IN CAPRICORN: If the first half of Capricorn (Moon’s Hora) is on the ascendant, the native will
be dark in complexion, will possess eyes like that of a deer, be fortunate, will conquer women, be beautiful,
crafty, opulent, will eat purified food, do good acts, and have an elevated nose.
23. A man born in the first Hora in Capricorn is black with an auspicious body, and has eyes like a deer’s and a thin,
elevated nose; he is a gentle and well dressed rogue who cats spicy food and is rich in wealth and ornaments; a man invincible
among women.

If born in the second half of Capricorn (Sun’s Hora) one will have blood-red eyes, be indolent, interested in
long travels, foolish, dark in complexion, will have a hairy physique, be clever and fierce.
24. One born in the second Hora of Capricorn is black and has eyes with red corners and a tall, thin body; he is lazy, but
commits violent and cruel deeds and acts with firmness and courage; he has women friends, but is fickle with regard to sexual
intercourse.

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HORAS IN AQUARIUS: One born in the first half of Aquarius (Sun’s Hora) will be endowed with a
female and friends, be a person of tastes or feelings (or an alchemist), soft in disposition, will have a few
sons, be virtuous, valorous, endowed with physical complexion akin to copper, be radiant and interested in
travels.
25. A man born in the first Hora of Aquarius has red, lotus-like eyes and a complexion that glows like copper; he is a hero
whose friends and courage are firm, a lazy person with few sons who thinks of drinking, acts wrongly, and is without virtues.

If born in the second half of Aquarius (Moon’s Hora), one will have copper-brilliant eyes, be emaciated,
firm, very insignificant in appearance, indolent, not outspoken, very dejected, miserly and very crafty.
26. A man born in the second Hora of Aquarius has red eyes which are wounded, obstructed, and torn; he is a weak cripple,
black and disconsolate, a lazy, dishonest, and wretched rogue.

HORAS IN PISCES: One born in the first 15 degrees of Pisces (Moon’s Hora) will be short-statured,
endowed with a broad and beautiful body, a large fore head, large face and broad chest, be dear to women,
very famous, skillful and valorous.
27. One born in the first Hora of the last sign (Pisces) is a short man with large brow, broad mouth and chest, and a wide,
extensive, and beautiful body; he is a glorious hero clever in business and beloved by women.

If born in the second Hora of Pisces (Sun’s Hora), one will be liberal, have an elevated nose, be skillful,
intelligent, possesses charming eyes, is dear to the king, and will speak affably.
28. A man born under the influence of the second Hora in Pisces is firm, intelligent, clever, and generous; his sandal-mark
(upanga) and eyes are beautiful and broad, and his nose is elevated; he is dear to the king, lucky with women, eloquent, and
auspicious.

YOGAS INVOLVING HORAS

“The native will be lame if Chandra is in Surya's Hora and aspected by Saturn.” -Sanketi Nidhi

The Moon is always troubled when influenced by Saturn, it will be more so, to a more debilitating
degree, if the Moon is also in the Hora of the Sun.

“If at the time of query, lagna falls in the Hora of Surya, the querent would not have enjoyed happiness in his
childhood. Later by his own efforts he would get a lift in life and become wealthy.
If the lagna falls in the Hora of Chandra, the querent would be happy in his childhood and face difficulties in his
later life.” -Sanketi Nidhi

It seems this would apply to natal horoscopes as well. The Lagna in the Hora of the Moon, which is
related to the Ancestors, does seem to give an easier and warmer childhood, all other factors equal. The
Lagna in the Hora of the Sun, however, creates a less accepting environment to strengthen and challenge
the individual to become the unique individual that they are.

“If the lord of the Hora in which Lagna falls at the time of query, is associated with a malefic and a retrograde
planet, the eyes and face of the querist will not be good looking.” -Sanketi Nidhi

This ties the Hora to the 2nd house, the house governing the face. A natural extension of this principle
would be to judge the appearance the natives face from the lord of the sign in the Hora in which the lagna
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falls. The face of the individual will be influenced by the influences to the Hora Lagna lord, check these influences in the Rasi
chart.

“If malefics occupy Surya’s Hora in odd rasis, one will be strong, sturdy, cruel in behavior and wealthy.
The one born with benefics posited in the lunar Hora of even Rasis will be brilliant in appearance, speak mildly,
be pleasant and graceful.
If it is otherwise, the effect also will be otherwise. If mixed, the effect will be mixed.” -Phaladeepika

These sutras illustrate the difference in nature between benefics, even signs and the Moon’s Hora on the
one hand and malefics, odd signs and the Sun’s Hora on the other. The benefics, etc, give beauty, grace, and
sweetness; the malefics give strength, power, and attainment.

“The Moon produces good effects in the solar or lunar Hora of a Rasi if she is aspected by Grahas occupying
respectively the solar or lunar Horas.” -Brihat Jataka

“When the malefic planets occupy the first half of any odd sign (the solar Hora of odd signs), the individual will
become widely famous, energetic, strong, wealthy and very powerful.
When the benefic planets occupy the first half of any even sign (the lunar Hora of even signs) the individual will
become gentle and delicate in constitution, fair in complexion, and will make friends with many. One will be
fortunate, intelligent, of sweet speech, and liked by all.
If the Horas occupied by the malefic and benefic planets are the same as mentioned while the Rasis are different,
then one will possess the qualities that have been stated for the two Yogas to a mediocre degree; but if both the
Horas and signs are different, the effects will fail.” -Brihat Jataka

These slokas do not mean to say that benefics are better in the Moon’s Hora and that malefics are better
in the Sun’s Hora; we have already seen that Jupiter, a benefic, gives best effects in the Sun’s Hora, and that
Saturn, a malefic, gives best effects in the Moon’s Hora. These slokas are only to mention the correlation
between benefics, even signs, and the Moon’s Hora; and the correlation between malefics, odd signs, and
the Sun’s Hora

“A planet that is in its own Hora makes one courageous.” -Saravali

This Sutra shows very clearly that the Hora is meant to be calculated as an entire chart, not just for Sun
and Moon, or else how can Grahas be in their own Horas?

“If the 3rd house is connected to a female Hora, or occupied by a female planet, the person born will have a sister
next after himself.
If the condition is that the Hora of the 3rd house or the planet occupying it is male, the person concerned will have
a brother born immediately after him.” -Jataka Parijata

Practically speaking, this concept does not work well to reveal the gender of a siblings, however, it does
show the nature of the sibling very well. If the 3rd cusp falls in the Hora of the Sun, a sister may well be born
after the native, but that sister will have a more masculine solar nature. So look for this to reveal more
accurately the nature of the sibling rather than the actual gender. The importance of this Sutra lies in it
revealing the importance of the Sun or Moon Hora on the cusp of a Bhava, including the Lagna, and how it
makes the person indicated by that Bhava cusp more masculine or feminine in nature.

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