Chidra Grahas

The following planets are called chidra-grahas and the strongest of them
can cause death in his period :
(a) the lord of the 8th house
(b) the planet occupying the 8th house
(c) the planet aspecting the 8th house
(d) the lord of the 22nd Drekkana
(e) the planet in association with the 8th lord
(f) the lord of the 64th Navamsa occupied by the Moon
(g) the bitter enemy of the 8th lord.

1. Grahas occupying the 8th house: 8th house is the most

damaging house of the horoscope, as it indicates LOSS OF LUCK
represented by the 9th house. It is the 12th house of loss from the 9th
house of Good luck. It is the sum total of all the negative Karmas
performed in past lives that one need to redeem in this life. Verily this
is also the house of longevity, as the native needs to stay in this mortal
world and undergo the suffering, till the time, the punishment of the
negative karma are done. When naisargika papa-grahas occupy the
8th house, it can cause severe diseases, troubles due to debts,
financial troubles or even bankruptcy. The grahas occupying the 8th
should never be Neecha, else, the longevity is curtailed. If a Graha
occupies the 8th in Uccha, Mula or Sva Rasi, the troubles are lesser.
Chandra should never occupy the 8th house as it is highly
inauspicious. Budha is the only graha, whose 8th house placement is
said to be auspicious. In the horoscope of females, malefic in the 8th
house can break the marriage and cause divorce or separation,
provided the 12th is also afflicted. Note the natural and functional
significations of the grahas occupying the 8th house. The native
person will not be happy with respect to such significations. For
instance, when 11th lord occupy the 8th house, the native may have
prolonged period of debt. Also, there could be sudden calamities or
mishaps affecting those significations. The situation is even more
grave, when the graha is also weak of afflicted i.e., through
conjunction, aspect of papa-kartari by naisargika papagrahas. The 8th
house from both the Janma Lagna and Janma Rasi needs to be
judged.
2. Grahas aspecting the 8th house: The Grahas aspecting the 8th
house will also behave to some extent as if they are occupying the 8th
house. The results of aspect will have stronger impact, when the 8th
house is vacant. When the graha occupying the 8th house takes up the
 mandate of punishing the native, the results due to aspects become
feeble and inconspicuous. Even here, Shubha grahas aspecting the
8th house will remove the evil of the 8th house, while papagrahas will
increase. The extent of evil is more when the 8th house is the house of
Neecha or Shatru of the aspecting graha. Mutual aspect of Moon-
Mercury or Saturn-Sun in the 2nd-8th axis can cause extreme
suffering in the financial matters.
3. 8th lord: The 8th lord takes the front seat in driving the troubles,
when the 8th house is neither occupied or aspected. 8th house is the
holder of the prang-energy and is called the Rudra. It becomes
destructive when it is badly placed in a bad Rasi i.e., Neecha or
Shatru. Under such circumstances, it saps out the prana-energy from
the native and the native’s life is difficult to sustain. When occupying
a bad Rasi and under bad yogas such as combustion, defeat in a graha
yuddha, conjoined or aspected by naisargika papagrahas who are also
inimical, papa-kartari yoga etc., the native can undergo untold
suffering. In Which area? The area governed by the Bhava where the
8th lord is placed. The weakness and affliction of the 8th house can
cause premature death of the native, while its strength can give long
life.
4. The grahas conjoining the 8th lord: According to the principle
of conjunction, when two grahas conjoin (usually within 12 degrees),
there is exchange of energies between the grahas. Under such cases,
the evil is caused by not the evil graha, but the graha conjoining it. On
the other hand, evil graha actually gives auspicious results. Thus, if a
graha conjoins with the 8th lord, it will become instrumental in
fulfilling the mandate of the 8th lord.
5. The 22nd Drekkana Lord: The 22nd drekkana is also called the
Khara Drekkana and it forebodes grave danger to the native. It is the
Drekkana where the cusp of 8th house falls. It is actually very easy to
find out for the equal house system. (1) When the Lagna rises in the
1st Drekkana, the 8th lord is the 22nd Drekkana lord. (2) When the
Lagna rises in the 2nd Drekkana, the 12th lord is the 22nd Drekkana
lord. (3) When the Lagna rises in the 3rd Drekkana, the 4th lord is the
22nd Drekkana lord.
6. The 64th Navamsa: The 64th Navamsa also falls within the 22nd
Drekkana and it is essentially the 4th lord from the Navamsa Lagna.
Both the lords of 22nd Drekkana as well as 64th Navamsa needs to be
evaluated for various troubles and danger in life. One should also note
that a graha loses its potency to kill (or pose danger) when it is
 exalted or aspected by Strong and Pure Shubha graha. This needs to
be assessed as well before pronouncing the judgement.
7. The Adhishatru of Randhresha: In compound relationship, a
Graha becomes adhishatru (extremely inimical) to the 8th lord when
it is both naturally inimical as well as temporally inimical to the 8th
lord. A graha becomes functionally inimical to another graha when it
is placed in a Trine (1–5–9) or 6–7–8 from the other graha. For
instance Surya and Shani are mutually inimical to each other. Say, for
a Karka Lagna native, 8th lord is Shani occupies the 3rd house in
Kanya. Surya is naisargika shatru of Shani and occupies the 7th from
Shani i.e., Meena. Surya has become a Adhishatru of Shani and will
be hell bent in destroying the significations of the 8th house. This
Surya will be not only detrimental to longevity and pose danger to the
native’s life.

Important note: The 8th/ 22nd Drekkana house principle

should be judged from all the Bhavas, for timing dangers to
people governed by various Bhavas. For instance for danger to
father, one can consider 9th house as the temporary father’s
lagna and check the grahas occupying the 8th house, aspecting
the 8th house or conjoined the 8th house. Similarly, the 22nd
Drekkana lord can also be found using the method laid above.

Jataka Parijata: There are 7 Chidra grahas known as Sapta-Chidra

grahas viz. (1) Randhresha, (2) Randhrayukta: Grahas occupying
Randhra Bhava, (3) Randhradrsta: Grahas aspecting the Randhra
Bhava, (4) Kharadhipa: lord of 22nd Drekkana, (5) Randhradhipayuta:
Graha conjoined with the Randhresha, (6) Lord of 64th Navamsa, (7)
Randhresvaratishatru: The adhi-shatru of Randhresha.

Notes on Gulika and Mandi

There is much debate and confusion about the computation of Gulika and
Mandi. I don’t want to go into my thoughts on this matter, but stating
which I use. In my view Gulika and Mandi are different as stated by
Kalidasa, although they are interchangeably used by many. Kalidasa
further on states that both are the children of Shani and are highly evil.

This is not a lesson on computation of Gulika and Mandi, hence my

suggestion is to refer to any standard book such as Brhat Parashari Hora
Shastra, Uttarakalamrita, Phaladeepika, Jataka Parijata, Sarvartha
Chintamani etc.
1. Gulika: According to Maharishi Parashara, when the Dinamana or
Ratrimana is divided into 8 parts, 7 of them are governed by the 7
Vara grahas (nodes are excluded). The 8th part is lordless. Gulika
rises at the beginning of Shani’s period. During Dina (Sunrise to
Sunset), the order of the grahas governing the 7 parts in the weekday
order starting from the weekday lord. During Ratri (Sunset to
Sunrise), the order starts from the 5th from the weekday lord.
2. Mandi: According to Kalidasa, the computation of Mandi is when
the Dinamanda or Ratrimana are divided into 30 parts, during
daytime, Mandi rises at the end of 26, 22, 18, 14, 10, 6 and 2 ghatikas
on Sunday to Saturday. During nighttime, it rises at the end of 10, 6,
2, 26, 22, 18 and 14 ghatikas.

Recommendation
I recommend the following rules for commutation of Gulika and Mandi. I
believe some people will not agree with me, however, its fine to have
differences in opinions.

1. Gulika: When the day or night duration is divided into 8 parts, the
Gulika Rising time from Sunday to Saturday are: Daytime- 6, 5, 4, 3,
2, 1, 0. Nighttime- 2, 1, 0, 6, 5, 4, 3.
2. Mandi: When the day or night duration is divided into 30 parts, the
Mandi Rising time from Sunday to Saturday are: Daytime- 26, 22,
18, 14, 10, 6, 2. Nighttime- 10, 6, 2, 26, 22, 18, 14.

Illustration
Determine the Diva and Ratri Gulika and Mandi for the day of birth of
the standard nativity. Note in the diagram, Mandi is not shown in the
right location.
Key details:

 Weekday : Sunday
 Sunrise : 05:31 = 05.5167
 Sunset : 18:10 = 18.1667
 Next Sunrise: 05:32 = 05.5333
 Dinamana : 18.1667–05.5167 = 12.65
 Ratrimana : 29.5333–18.1667 = 11.36

— — — — — — — — —

Gulika Rising time from Sunday to Saturday: Daytime- 6, 5, 4,

3, 2, 1, 0. Nighttime- 2, 1, 0, 6, 5, 4, 3.

Mandi Rising time from Sunday to Saturday: Daytime- 26, 22,

18, 14, 10, 6, 2. Nighttime- 10, 6, 2, 26, 22, 18, 14.

— — — — — — — — —

Diva Gulika and Mandi
Diva Gulika
= Lagna rising at the end of 6th
portion
= Dinamana / 8 * 6 + Sunrise
time
= 12.65 / 8 * 6 + 5.5167
= 15.0042 = 15hrs
Lagna rising at 15hrs on that day
and that location was 15°56’45”
Dhanu. Hence Gulika is at
15°56’45” in Dhanu and Simha
Navamsa.
— — — — — — — — —
Diva Mandi
= Lagna rising at the end of 26th
portion
= Dinamana / 30 * 26 + Sunrise
time
= 12.65 / 30 * 26 + 5.5167
= 16.4800 = 16hrs 29min
Lagna rising at 16hrs 29min on
that day and that location was
08°34’ Makara. Hence Mandi is
at 08°34’ in Makara Rasi and
Meena Navamsa.
Ratri Gulika and Mandi
Ratri Gulika
= Lagna rising at the end of 2nd
portion
= Ratrimana / 8 * 2 + Sunset
time
= 11.36 / 8 * 2 + 18.1667
= 21.0067 = 21hrs
Lagna rising at 21hrs on that day
and that location will be the
longitude of Ratri Gulika.
— — — — — — — — —
Ratri Mandi
= Lagna rising at the end of 10th
portion
= Ratrimana / 30 * 10 + Sunset
time
= 11.36 / 30 * 10 + 18.1667
= 21.9533 = 21hrs 57min
Lagna rising at 21hrs 57min on
that day and that location will be
the longitude of Ratri Mandi.