Vakra * Vakragati * Vakri

Retrograde

Chesta Bala = Effort and Endurance

cf. English: gesture

Astrologers opine variously on the matter of " bent" course of the planets. When a graha reverses its normal forward movement and goes apparently backwards, it is called " vakragati" or " retrograde".

• Some say that "vakri" subha-graha are improved; but papa-graha in vakrigati are worsened. Some say that retrograde motion connotes strength of effort, or the mandate to strengthen the effort: one must work even harder than normal to achieve the realization of the graha.

• It is said that to accomplish the portfolio of the vakri graha will not be easy; but the fruits may be richer due to the long-term effort required. Thus, periods of the retrograde planet will be exceptionally difficult and exceptionally fruitful.

• It is said that retrograde graha possess chesta bala , the life-force-energy of vital movement that is gained through exertion of effort.

• The overall meanings of "vakra" are neutral in terms of phenomena of nature -- e.g., the bend of a river, curly hair, or a fractured arm -- but negative in terms of moral action:

• crooked in disposition , cunning , fraudulent , dishonest , evasive , ambiguous

• hostile , cruel , malignant , inauspicious

• prevaricating, lying

My own view is that the vakri status gives endurance, stamina, and an extra push of willpower from the native who knows that the job is going to require some extra output. If the graha is "bent on" doing evil, then the extra effort added to the evil-doing will simply increase the unhappiness. But if the graha is fundamentally good via some traits - via perhaps house-lordship, or parivartamsha status, or neechcha bhanga, or otherwise well destined -- then "vakri" motion will contribute to a favorable outcome "over the long haul".

Retrograde planets require the task to be done three times.

• There are three repetitions necessary with every vakri graha.
• However because "practice makes perfect" the final result is good.

Retrograde graha (eventually) produce a stronger effect.

• One will be obliged to repeat the behaviors of the planet several times in order to gain the predicted effect;
• yet when the effect does materialize the results are strong.

For example,

• a retrograde placement for Shani often involves accepting an obligation or karmic duty; then rejecting that responsibility due to its being too weighty; then coming to understand that one must accept karmic obligations whether they are too weighty or not! Thus one's experience of accepting the duty has been "practiced" three times and one matures into a greater wisdom for having repeated the drill.
• a retrograde placement for Mangala may involve pursuing a quarry - whether physical, mental, financial etc. At first the native moves with energy toward the conquest. Then one stops - it is too daunting, the vitality seems gone. Then a re-start and second burst of pursuit, which wins the competition.

Shani forces repetition until the karmic lesson is understood; and retrograde graha also enforce repetition.

Kendra-7 is a splendid placement for uchcha Shani suggesting loyalty to a contract and long-term success in making deals and bargains albeit with slow and steady behavior never a fast success.

Whatever lessons about time, age, carefulness, neutrality, scientific method, government, social institutions, public norms, structure of reality etc (Shani things) that you have to learn (major karma is building trust in relationships) you must learn it three times (retrograde).

By all accounts, Obama has enjoyed a fairly easy road to national acclaim. He has received significant " angel" funding (from donors like George Soros who fervently believe in Obama) and very few setbacks in realizing his political objectives, from age 36 to 49 (as of 2010).

• Obama seems to have successfully negotiated the normally difficult 6/8 periods of Guru-Shukra and Guru-Mangala; as of this writing he has entered the Guru/Rahu period with no unusual troubles yet.

  • Naturally, a job like president of USA = a 24/7 on-call stress machine, and the native who lets the performance pressure build too high will be driven into a forced seclusion for convalescence (12).
  • However there is a team of specialists who are watching the president's health, and if he is suffering undue stress this team is poised to " un-bend" him.

  Does Guru's retrograde status confer a chesta-bala (strength of physical movement and psychological motivation)that is keeping Mr. Obama in a state of willing readiness to put out the effort to overcome the liabilities of L-3+ L-8, and L-12 ?

  That claim seems possible to support, since he seems to have accomplished a great deal for a young man. It is not unreasonable to attribute his endurance, if not the full scope of his success during the mahadasha, to the chesta bala of Brihaspati "vakragati.

  Yet it would not be sensible to claim that Obama's accomplishments in politics, in particular his skillful consensus-building during a time of internal bickering, was accomplished by personal effort alone. Guru is extremely fortunate in lagna with neechcha bhanga empowerment.

  • The more telling period is coming soon at the time of this writing. Mr. Obama (according to the birth time of 19:24) should enter the Shani/Shani period in July of 2012. Shani is a natural and temporal L-2 maraka and Shani takes drishti from L-7 Surya. This dangerous set of attributes is strong enough without factoring in any extra effort from a vakri graha.

Guru = retrograde in Vrishabha/11

• Guru Mahadasha = her age 36 to age 52 (1954-until-1970).

• Guru =

  • L-6+L-9 from Karkata lagna

  • L-3+L-12 from Makara-Chandra

  • = a thrice-inauspicious lord.

  • But, Guru = parivartamsha correction from exchange with Shukra + Rahu

  her power grew immensely during Guru Mahadasha.

Like Barack Obama, Mrs. Gandhi enjoyed a steady + capable Moon as the result of intuitive, parental Chandra's parivartamsha yoga with lawful-governance lord Shani.

• Indira Gandhi was named Prime Minister during Guru/Chandra period.

  • Shani = not retrograde.

  • Due simply to the core nature of L-6+L-7 Shani the years of her Shani Mahadasha were extremely demanding;

  • yet there is only one super difficult angle from Shani and that is to Rahu-Dhanusha in 6

  • (Shukra is corrected by parivartamsha). Thus the Shani-Rahu period ended her life.

No doubt Mrs. Gandhi worked assiduously and encountered an endless stream of enemies during the period of L-6+L-9 Guru in her early middle years, age 36-52.

• Did the work require more effort due to Guru's vakri status?

• It would have been an exceptionally demanding time in anyone's life, given the very challenging lordships of Guru and L-6 Guru's disagreeable, secrecy-loving, hostile angle to Rahu in 6.

• But, it could be speculated that without the "chesta bala" = life-force effort produced by the vakri graha , the native might have abandoned public office, under the pressure of animosity (6), jealousy (6), and threats to life (8).

Did Guru retrograde put Mrs. Gandhi into a state of willing readiness to put out the effort to Overcome the liabilities of L-3+ L-6, and L-12?

• She did hold up remarkably well during Guru period all things considered.

• It is not unreasonable to attribute her endurance, if not the full scope of her success during the mahadasha, to the chesta bala of Brihaspati "vakragati".

file update: 22-May-2013

Copyright © 1994-2024 by Barbara Pijan Lama * Contact * How to Request a Jyotisha Reading * barbarapijan.com

Barbara Pijan Lama Jyotisha Vedic Astrology Surya Sun Chandra Moon Mangala Mars Budha Mercury Guru Jupiter Shukra Venus Shani Saturn Rahu Ketu Graha Planets Dasha Timeline Nakshatra Navamsha Marriage Children Wealth Career Spiritual Wisdom Cycles of Death and Rebirth