Complexion
Physical Coloring & Visual Appearance
derived from the Radix Lagna
"Complexion of the planets:
the Sun is blood-red
the Moon is tawny
Mars who is not very tall is blood-red
while Mercury's hue is akin to that of green grass
tawny, variegated, and dark are Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn in their order"
~~ BPHS Ch. 3 [Planetary Characters& Description], Shloka 16-17
Complexion is a complex matter!
All attributes of complexion are relative to the native's local group. I.e., if the native belongs to a group that has typically straight hair then curly hair is distinctive; but if the native belongs to a group that has typically curly hair then straight(er) hair becomes distinctive.
If one is born into a genetic group that typically has dark-colored eyes, thenthe planetary combinations which typically produce light-colored eyes will produce the lightest-colored eyes available in his gene pool. Sometimes these planets do give very surprising results due to secret parentage, but normally the product is noticeably lighter colored eyes.
Making complexion judgments in the global era is tricky, since human genes are now mixing enthusiastically. However generally, the "range of normal" for the native should be their own family or tribe (or general ethnic group of origin if the child is adopted); -- and there are infinite special cases.
The results must be interpreted relative to the birth group.
But still, general trends of planetary coloring will apply, and with practice it is possible to predict - within a range of tones - how the person may appear on the physical plane, based on the influence of the planets which compose the astral plane. The physical body is the perfect expression of the soul. That's why this correspondence works.
Contributing influences include but are not limited to:
lord of Chandra:
when Chandra has a dark-colored lord such as Mangala, expect a relatively darker complexion including darker hair and wavier hair
within a light-colored group this influence is distinctive; within a darker-colored group the native's family will probably consider their complexion to have a lighter tone
same reasoning. If lord of lagna is Kuja there is some darkening. Kuja is darkest in His own signs (swakshetra) and His exaltation sign (uccha). If lord of lagna is Shukra there is some lightening. Shukra is lightest in His own signs (swakshetra) and His exaltation sign (uccha). If Guru is lagnesha there is some orange-red cast, a copper tone.
E.g., within the current northern European gene pool Taurus and Libra ascendants default to the "blond" complexion i.e. blue eyes and yellow-white hair. Such a native with Sagittarius Moon ruled by Guru, will acquire an additional copper tone to the complexion, an orange-pink glow that moves them into the redder zone of their own group. Should one furthermore have lagnesha Shukra yuti Surya, the reddishness is strengthened because Surya gives a pitta influence too.
Navamsha lagna, its lord and the rising nakshatra in navamsha lagna
Navamsha profiles the astral body patterns, including the emotions and the deeper spiritual self-knowledge which the person carries about oneself
Nakshatra on the navamsha lagna expresses the psycho-emotional
Drishti to lagna and drishti to Chandra
Same reasoning, involving many 'checks and balances':
a rising graha definitely affects not only the complexion but also the stature
e.g., Shani rising makes a person shorter than average for their groups
Shani yuti Chandra also makes shorter
Guru drishti to lagna or Chandra expands and makes taller (very large people have distinctively Guru-marked radix charts, but as to whether the largeness is vertical or horizontal :) or whether the largeness is a point of honor in their culture or an embarrassing stigma, look closely.)
Shukra drishti to Chandra or lagna always contributes beauty. Shukra rising, or yuti Chandra gives balanced features in any complexion or stature.
Rahu-Ketu
Rahu involved with lagnesha or Chandra, or in lagna, gives a dark smoky cast to the complexion which is usually quite attractive despite marking the native as somewhat unusual-looking in their group.
Chandra rules the breasts and feminine curves. Rahu with Chandra gives luscious breasts and amplifies the feminine characteristics of yielding softness and love. In a male body gives strong caretaking & parental inclinations. If Chandra is exalted in Taurus the native will be plump and attractive.
Shani rules the bones. Rahu with Shani gives pronounced bone structure, perhaps a prominent interesting nose and cheekbones, a high forehead or distinctive limbs.
Mars with Rahu in lagna, as lagnesha, or with Chandra amplifies the warrior nature giving narrow hips, a fast gait and fast pulse of life generally, athletic musculature, and a love of competition. Curly hair and quick reflexes. In a female body gives strong vitality and love of adventure, but may reduce the maternal capabilities to some form of social competition and show. If Mars is exalted in Capricorn there will be no stopping this native in business.
Rahu with lagnesha Guru, will magnify the expansive and desireous nature of Guru perhaps too much. A dark red tone to complexion, and if aspect to lagna also a large physique.
Typically Shukra + Surya in any house will contribute the quality of attractive, balanced features to the native's appearance.
Shukra + Surya is usually a formula for a pretty face & lovely figure.
In a dark rashi (signs of Kuja & Guru) the beauty of Shukra + Surya is sultry & intense
In a light rashi (sign of Budha, Shukra, & Shani) the beauty of Shukra + Surya is pale & cool
Rashi of Chandra is neutral-color, grayish; the beauty of Shukra + Surya is pretty, but not striking unless Chandra is lagnesha
There is only one exception to this general rule of the loveliness produced by Shukra + Surya.
When Surya yuti Shukra occurs in Simha rashi, the advantage of physical beauty is lost. Surya and Shukra are mutual enemies and when Surya has the advantage in swakshetra, He cancels Shukra's powers.
This native is typically involved with fine arts, home decor, political entertaining, fashion design, and celebrity activities (portfolio of Shukra) but they will lack the classic beauty which Surya + Shukra normally provides.
12 Rashi *generalized*
Physical shell components of material body appearance
The overall frame/physique judged by condition of radix lagnesha or Chandra
Hair, skin, & eye complexion including some general tendency toward red/blue or dark/pale judged by dhana bhava & L-2
Red complexion tones = Surya, Kuja, Guru
Blue complexion tones = Shani, Shukra
Neutral complexion tones = Budha, Chandra
Amplified tones = Rahu yuti L-2, Chandra or lagnesha
Hazy or indistinct tones, draining of color = Ketu yuti L-2, Chandra or lagnesha
Mesha [Aries]
radix lagna -or-Chandra lagna, whichever is stronger
Depends on condition of Kuja & Shukra.
Mesha lagna body overall tends towards the lean, muscular physique of the athlete & hunter. Even when overweight there is muscle-power underneath & good energy for competition & pursuit.
L-2 = Shukra, so Shukra's condition plus any graha occupying Vrishabha, will tell more about the hair/eyes/face. Shukra tends toward whitish/pale. Shukra with Ketu is very pale. Shukra with Rahu is a smoky whitish blue. Shukra with Surya goes light pink. Shukra with Guru is peach toned, etc.
Vrishabha [Taurus]
radix lagna -or-Chandra lagna, whichever is stronger
Depends on condition of L-1 Shukra & L-2 Budha.
If Shukra is well disposed the body parts are harmoniously arranged, attractive facial features etc. Tends toward body softness, pushing into corpulence, due to pleasure instinct. (The same attractiveness benefits will flow from Shukra in lagna, so long as Shukra's lord is auspiciously placed.)
L-2 = Budha, so Budha's condition plus any graha occupying Mithuna will tell more about the hair/eyes/face. Budha is very neutral color-wise. He absorbs the personalities of the other, more mature grahas who influence Him. Mithuna complexion depends on Budha's house lord, co-tenants, & received drishti combined with the same considerations for Chandra.
For example if Budha occupies Mesha and receives drishti of uccha Kuja, the native may be of swarthy complexion compared to other members of his family & tribe. By contrast if Budha is conjunct Shukra the native may display a pale or bluish complexion compared to others in their family or tribe.
Mithuna [Gemini]
radix lagna -or-Chandra lagna, whichever is stronger
Depends on condition of L-1 Budha & L-2 Chandra.
Budha is extremely impressionable and so is Chandra. Mithuna-lagna folk therefore have the broadest possible range of physical appearance. It is almost impossible to spot Mithuna lagna by physical attributes, so variable are its outcomes due to Budha's adolescent "trying on" of personalities & behaviors.
Chandra's own attributes are watery, kapha, pale, a bit sluggish and plump. However for judging complexion, Chandra's rashi lord and drishti received are crucial. Chandra in Guru's rashi will provide a golden complexion, but if Guru is yuti Rahu the gold can turn to sallow. Chandra in a rashi of Mangala tends toward darker red - but with drishti of Kuja becomes quite swarthy. The same Mesha Soma with Ketu however loses its color & becomes indistinct. Chandra in a rashi of Budha is also quite muted in color unless Budha receives some very strong drishti.
These natives are chameleons, prone to significant changes in physical appearance. They are skilled in theatre and they naturally evolve to suit the needs of their current partnership. They cheerfully undertake cosmetic surgeries, gain & lose bodyweight in response to emotional swings, & change their costume & language to accommodate their psycho-social environment.
Karka [Cancer]
radix lagna -or-Chandra lagna, whichever is stronger
Depends on condition of L-1 Chandra & L-2 Surya.
The overall body type of Karka lagna does tend toward abundant flesh in the upper arms, chest, & breasts. However Chandra is highly impressionable; a variety of body types can emerge depending on Soma's lord & received drishti. If Chandra is strong, e.g. uccha or swakshetra, a pale & buxom overall quality compared to others in their group may be noted.
Surya contributes a bright red-gold tone to the complexion. (Kuja is dark red moving toward black, while Guru is radiant orange-gold.) Hair & skin will have visible if sometimes subtle golden-red qualities unless these are hidden by a darkening effect on either Chandra or Surya - e.g. a strong Shani drishti. Surya is also a dry graha which contributes curliness to the hair.
Simha [Leo]
radix lagna -or-Chandra lagna, whichever is stronger
Depends on condition of L-1 Surya & L-2 Budha.
Overall body type of Surya lagna is strong with a tendency toward a proportionally large head. Budha has a neutral effect on complexion, so degree of redness depends on support from other grahas. Budha's adolescent qualities can give a youthful appearance, barring Shani drishti.
Swakshetra Surya in radix lagna along with uccha Budha occurs in August/September births, and will give a regal elegance with youthful smile.
Kanya [Virgo]
radix lagna -or-Chandra lagna, whichever is stronger
Depends on condition of L-1 Budha & L-2 Shukra.
Similar to Mithuna lagna, the body type of Kanya lagna varies widely according to influences upon Budha.
Shukra is white-blue with bright pastel reflections of all other colors - like a diamond - while Budha is neutral. This native tends toward a lighter, more transparent complexion compared to others in their gene pool. Often they have very pretty eyes.
Thula [Libra]
radix lagna -or-Chandra lagna, whichever is stronger
Depends on condition of L-1 Shukra & L-2 Budha.
The body type will be softer in general, although Kuja or Shani in Tula lagna can give a wiry or stocky build.
Complexion tends toward pale or neutral tones. If Budha is yuti Ketu the native may appear indistinct or colorless, fading into their environment. This is an elite combination that makes the native appear attractive in a neutral way. They reflect the qualities of intelligence (Budha) and good breeding (Shukra) thus they look like members of the ruling class whether they were born into privilege or not. Leadership opportunities may easily come their way.
Vrischika [Scorpio]
radix lagna -or-Chandra lagna, whichever is stronger
Depends on condition of L-1 Kuja & L-2 Guru.
Kuja can expand or contract this shaman's body according to aspects upon Him; Guru drishti to Kuja can increase body size whilst Shani drishti to Kuja will contract it. Rahu yuti lagnesha/Chandra or drishti to lagnesha/Chandra can give an intense or dark-mood appearance, very changeable depending on which spirits the shaman is articulating. The difference in Vrischika changeability vs. Karka or Mithuna/Kanya is that with the others the change is a response to the outside environment, social milieu or partners, but with Vrischika the change comes from within. Watch drishti to Kuja, and major transits too.
Complexion has a golden hue from Guru. Hair & skin enjoy Guru's kapha qualities, tending to be beneficially oily & soft. If Guru is auspiciously placed, the face is broad with compassionate expression. Wise eyes.
Dhanus [Sagittarius]
radix lagna -or-Chandra lagna, whichever is stronger
Depends on condition of L-1 Guru & L-2 Shani.
Guru drishti to lagna/Chandra can make the physical body quite large.
Shani, the force of conformity, gives the complexion an average dark-toned appearance. Not usually a fashion model unless Shukra influences Chandra, lagna, dhana bhava or Shani. Yet may have a settled pleasantness about them that attracts good company. Often trouble with teeth or skin or hair dryness, since Shani gives dry gnarliness and He rules the bones.
Makara [Capricorn]
radix lagna -or-Chandra lagna, whichever is stronger
Depends on condition of L-1/L-2 Shani.
Body type tends toward low height, dense & compact frame compared with their family gene pool. (Shani in lagna in any rashi has a similar height-reducing effect.) The body is solid. If Shani is auspiciously placed, Makara natives have great physical stamina. "Built for distance, not for speed."
Shani is dark blue, almost black, the color of Shri Krishna. If Shani is yuti Kuja, Surya, or Guru, Shani's super-dark blue can take on reddish overtones or undertones. If Shani is influenced by Shukra the blue tones get stronger.
Shani is a dry, brittle, aging influence. Early aging appearance; fragile, dry skin; early hair graying. Unless Guru is yuti or drishti Chandra, the body type tends toward slender even bony. A good Shukra can improve body comfort and appearance.
Kumbha [Aquarius]
radix lagna -or-Chandra lagna, whichever is stronger
Depends on condition of L-1 Shani & L-2 Guru.
As with Makara, body type tends toward low height, dense & compact frame relative to others in their tribe. In a family of small-bodied people, Kumbha lagna will tend to be the smallest and most compact. Nevertheless as with any lagnesha, expansive drishti to Shani can expand the typical Kumbha frame and rarely there can be a quite large person with this lagna.
Complexion is golden-toned similar to Vrischika lagna, with a similar compassionate expression if Guru is auspiciously placed. Hair & skin enjoy Guru's kapha qualities, tending to be beneficially oily & soft.
Meena [Pisces]
radix lagna -or-Chandra lagna, whichever is stronger
Depends on condition of L-1 Guru & L-2 Kuja.
When Guru occupies houses 1, 5, 7, or 9, the physical body may grow quite large. However if Guru occupies a dusthana, the body may become quite small & childlike.
Due to Guru/Kuja influence, tends toward a more pitta (reddish tones) complexion relative to others in their gene pool. Rahu with either Kuja or Guru will increase redness. Skin may be flushed or spotty esp. if circulation in the Guru-ruled body is sluggish.
Letter asking about Chandra lagna, janma lagna, & other factors in fleshly appearance:
When I was reading about the lagna ascendant, what do you meant by: " Moon's sign & characteristics also influence appearance?" I'm a little unclear about that because you could look like your moon sign also? It would be very nice if you can clear this up for me. Thank you.
Namaste,
Thanks for your excellent question.
Chandra lagna (moon sign) and the janma lagna (rising sign) and any planets conjoining them, as well as the lagnesha -- all of these factors can affect physical appearance.
First check the janma lagna and any rising planets. If there are rising planets they will definitely contribute their natural character to the physical body's appearance.
For example if Mars is rising the person will be competitive and have lots of muscular energy and also have a darker tone to their complexion (relative to their overall gene pool) than if Mars was not in lagna.
If Saturn is rising the person will probably be of short stature (again, relative to their gene pool) be on the dark end of their family's coloring range, and have a strong work ethic. Saturn has a dark-blue tone which will tend to darken the hair and skin slightly. For example, I have Shani rising. In my northern European gene pool family, most members have dark hair. There are chestnut (dark reddish brown) haired folk and sable (blue-based dark brown) haired folk. Having Shani rising, I went to the sable side because Shani gives the blue tone. My brother with Kuja rising has the chestnut tone.
The lagnesha (planet that rules the rising sign) also contributes to the physical appearance.
If there are no rising planets or if the Moon is the ascendant lord (for Karkata lagna) then the Moon will be more influential. Also the Moon's influence is easier to see in women's bodies because women have more permission to be emotionally sensitive.
Chandra rules the astral body.
If Chandra is strong, and the janma lagna doesn't have any rising planets, the astral body will manifest very powerfully through the physical body and affect the physical body's appearance.
The person will appear to be very sensual, psychic, and feminine. They will also have a sort of mousy or grayish appearance that fades into their majority group, making them look fairly average within their gene pool.
Here are some brief complexion examples: all famous beautiful actresses, and all within the same local gene pool (European):
Coloring Example: actress Angelina Jolie
Jolie is very pretty. Yet her natural coloring is "mousy" because her lagna is ruled by the Moon = naturally a milky grey color. For predicting her appearance, it is important to know that she has the beauty planet Shukra in lagna, in both radix AND navamsha charts.
It's also important to consider that Purvaphalguni nakshatra = navamsha lagna. Purvaphalguni has strong implications of being the "best, most delicious fruits" and Purvaphalguni is also ruled by Shukra. With so much influence of Shukra, the beauty implications - even for someone with a mousy complexion - start to become quite strong!
An actress & model uses many professional beauty aids to alter their appearance, including hair dye, eye makeup & other body modifications. However the Moon by nature fluctuates.
Sometimes in public Ms. Jolie looks very normal & indeed 'mousy' within her gene pool. Sometimes she looks spectacularly beautiful. That's the effect of "fluctuating" lagnesha Chandra interoperating with Shukra's natural beauty -- as well as various cosmetic paintings and costume styling, which are some of the best tools in the Shukra's toolbox!
Coloring Example: actress Elizabeth Taylor.
Ms. Taylor has exceptionally bright, clear-white skin contrasted with darkest hair within her gene pool. The strikingly beautiful contrast may be understood as an effect of the "dark rashi" of Kuja-ruled Vrischikha (Scorpio) in lagna. Mars gives a blackened patina, including a rich black-toned red color .
Elizabeth Taylor's Libra Moon tends toward a whitish sparkle-tone. Chandra's dispositor is a Rahu-amplified uccha Shukra.
Shukra is tremendously empowered in her rashi kundali. In the much of the West, Ms. Taylor held a position of iconic beauty and glamour for many years. Born in 1932 and arriving on the film stage in late childhood, she matured into a spectacular She was considered most beautiful woman of her generation.
Shukra-ruled Purvaashadha is the nakshatra upon her navamsha lagna, and Shukra also occupies the favorable (and grey-white or bone colored) rashi of Kumbha in her navamsha. There are many other considerations of course, but the effect of the light-bright Shukra along with the dark-black Kuja is a baseline in evaluating Elizabeth Taylor's physical complexion.
Coloring Example: entertainer Madonna
Her complexion is light-yellow-pink with a reddish tint of hair & skin (pitta) that comes from Simha rising. Sun-Moon enjoy parivartana yoga so her physical appearance gains the effect of a pale rising Sun - very intense & draws in your attention like the dawn light!
Her rising Moon & Mercury provide long-lasting adolescent appearance (Budha is a "Kumara", a youth). Unmistakably feminine (rising Moon) even when she wears a mannish costume. (Shukra yuti Surya is almost always physically attractive too.)
Sorry the Jyotisha rules for determining physical appearance are not more simple. We have to combine quite a number of planetary effects in order to evaluate how a person's physical body will look. In particular, domain-2 which rules face and voice can really change the total effect of the "appearance" if there are strong graha there - see for example the actor Brad Pitt.
It takes skill and experience to estimate the physical appearance.. Good luck in your Jyotisha studies!
Sincerely, Barbara Pijan Lama
Q: okay I have one last question and then I'm going to stop: what happens if you have more than one rising planets? Sorry for asking so much questions.
A:
With multiple rising planets, the Jyotisha analysis must combine & refine many different planetary effects.
US President G.W. Bush (USA president 2000-2008) provides a good example of a person with three rising grahas AND a planet yuti Moon.
- Mercury + Saturn + Venus rising in Cancer.
- G.W. is a well-known person so you can probably estimate which part of his appearance & social identity (two things that are set in the janma lagna) is attributable to Mercury, which part to Saturn, and which part to Venus.
- We could say that G.W. is easy with words (Mercury) but he sounds like a common man not an elitist (Saturn is strongly proletarian) and he is pretty normal looking within his gene pool (Saturn produces "average" looks & behavioral conformity).
- In the range of normal-looking he is slightly on the handsome side (Venus), & he's fairly photogenic (Venus + Mercury) and he is relaxed on camera (Venus + Mercury).
- Complexion is determined most by house-2 and L-2, which are Simha.
- G.W.'s L-2 Surya occupies a rashi of neutral-color Budha, and Budha is rising with Shani, so G.W.'s complexion is more controlled by his rising planets
- Because G.W. has Cancer rising, his lagnesha Moon becomes a very important influence upon his appearance.
- Being a Moon-ruled person he has a mousy, fairly pale natural coloring, and Moon + Jupiter so he is taller than he would be. (If the only height influence was Saturn rising, he would be shorter.)
- He is a slightly handsome, medium-height guy who speaks poorly or unclearly sometimes because Mercury is oppressed by Saturn, but the common folks mainly like him a lot for being normal and believable (Saturn).
- His popularity despite not being very book-smart is due to the parivartana yoga (exchange of signs) between Mercury rising and the powerful lagnesha Moon.
- This parivartana makes him appear caring (because it gives the effect of virtual rising Karkata moon) and common-sense type smart (because parivartana gives the effect of uccha Budha in the pragmatic house-3).
- Educated people don't like him that much but he is quite popular with working people due to Saturn rising + Venus rising.
- Saturn and Venus are mutually friendly planets so they are a very beneficial pair in lagna at the time of their birth.
- This pair makes a person appear simple & likeable, most of the time.
That is pretty complicated I know. And remember we are only talking about appearances when we are looking at rising planets in janma lagna and planets yuti Moon in Chandra lagna. There is a lot more to a person than how they look and how others perceive them!
As a Jyotisha exercise, try to figure it out.
- Mercury, Saturn, Venus, Moon, and Jupiter each have an important role in his appearance and this group of three rising planets affects the way the world perceives him as a man.
- The Moon is especially strong because it is the planetary ruler of G.W.'s Karka lagna, so start by considering all of the attributes of G.W.'s Moon.
- Then add in the other layers, and eliminate the contradictions.
Here is one combination we have to balance out to get the accurate appearance for the person:
- Saturn in lagna makes a person short;
- Jupiter = yuti Moon which makes a person tall.
- G.W. is somewhere in the middle: medium stature, slightly on the tall side for his gene pool,
- and he's slightly taller than average for his group because Moon who is with Jupiter is stronger than either Mercury or Venus which are with Saturn.
Best of luck in your Jyotisha studies!
Sincerely, B Pijan Lama
updated: 11 September 2008
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