The Sub-Planets (Upagrahas)

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The Sub-Planets (Upagrahas)

Upagrahas (sub-planets) are calculated, non-physical points that behave like minor grahas. Classical texts call them aprākāśa-grahas (“non-luminous planets”). Because they add computational and interpretive load, many practitioners skip them, yet they remain a rich field for research. In this article they are grouped into three sets: (I) Gulikādi, (II) Dhūmādi, and (III) Prāṇapada.

I. Gulikādi Group (five upagrahas)

Idea. Divide the day (sunrise→sunset) into eight equal parts. The 1st part is ruled by the day-lord (Sun on Sunday, Moon on Monday, Mars on Tuesday, etc.). The remaining six parts follow the standard weekday planetary order; the 8th part is lordless. The five named upagrahas are defined by the parts ruled by specific planets: Gulika (Saturn), Yamakāntaka (Jupiter), Mṛtyu (Mars), Kāla/Kāla-velā (Sun), and Ārdhaprahāra (Mercury). For a night birth (sunset→sunrise), again split into eight equal parts, but the first part is ruled by the planet fifth from the day-lord (e.g., for Sunday it is Jupiter; for Monday, Venus; for Tuesday, Saturn; etc.). Each upagraha’s longitude is taken by casting an ascendant for the end of its ruling part.

How to compute Gulika and the others (step-by-step)

  1. Determine whether the birth is by day or night; measure that interval (sunrise→sunset or sunset→sunrise).
  2. Divide that interval into eight equal parts.
  3. Assign rulers: part 1 to the day-lord (for day) or the planet 5th from the day-lord (for night); then follow the regular order for the remaining parts; part 8 is without a lord.
  4. For any upagraha, compute the chart for the end instant of the part ruled by its planet; the ascendant at that instant gives the upagraha’s longitude. For Gulika, use the end of Saturn’s part.

Maṇḍi (sometimes distinguished from Gulika)

Some authorities treat Maṇḍi as distinct. When day and night are each 30 ghāṭī (i.e., 12 hours), Maṇḍi rises at fixed offsets from the start of day or night as follows; if actual day/night length differs, scale proportionally (see formula below). The ascendant at the computed instant is the longitude of Maṇḍi.

Standard offsets (when day/night = 30 ghāṭī each)

BirthSundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
Day birth26 ghāṭī2218141062
Night birth Use the values of the day 5th from Sunday → 10 … from Monday → 6 … from Tuesday → 2 … from Wednesday → 26 … from Thursday → 22 … from Friday → 18 … from Saturday → 14

Scaling formulas. For unequal day/night lengths, multiply the relevant 30-ghāṭī value by (actual duration ÷ 30):
Day birth: (Day duration in ghāṭī ÷ 30) × (26, 22, 18, 14, 10, 6, or 2, per weekday order)
Night birth: (Night duration in ghāṭī ÷ 30) × (10, 6, 2, 26, 22, 18, or 14, per weekday order).

II. Dhūmādi Group (five upagrahas derived from the Sun)

These five are algebraic transforms of the Sun’s longitude (treat 1 rāśi = 30°):

  • Dhūma (Mars-type): Sun + 4 rāśis 13°20′.
  • Vyatipāta (Rāhu-type): 12 rāśis − Dhūma.
  • Pariveśa / Paridhi (Moon-type): Vyatipāta + 6 rāśis.
  • Indracāpa / Chāpa / Kodanda (Venus-type): 12 rāśis − Pariveśa.
  • Upaketu (Ketu): Indracāpa + 16°40′ (and, increasing this by one rāśi yields back the Sun’s longitude).

III. Prāṇapada

Units. One Prāṇapada-sign equals 15 pala (a.k.a. vighaṭī). Each pala is 24 seconds of clock time, which equals 2° of Prāṇapada.

Computation

  1. Find the Iṣṭa-kāla: elapsed time since sunrise at birth (in ghāṭī & pala). Convert to pala and multiply by 2 to get total Prāṇapada degrees (divide by 30 if you wish to express as signs + degrees).
  2. Adjust by the Sun’s sign quality:
    • Sun in movable sign: Prāṇapada degrees + Sun’s longitude.
    • Sun in fixed sign: Prāṇapada degrees + Sun’s longitude + 240° (i.e., 9th from Sun).
    • Sun in dual sign: Prāṇapada degrees + Sun’s longitude + 120° (i.e., 5th from Sun).
    Reduce modulo 360° (i.e., delete multiples of 12 rāśis) to get the final position.

Interpreting Gulika

Nature. Gulika (often styled “son of Śani”) is a strong malefic. Like other malefics, it can yield comparatively better outcomes in the 3rd, 6th and 11th houses. Below are the brief house-wise indications. (As always, assess along with the whole chart.)

Gulika by House

  • 1st: Sickly; sinful; dull; ill-tempered; excessive sexual urge.
  • 2nd: Disabled; miserable; shameless; poor; indulges in immoral acts.
  • 3rd: Good-looking; village leader; virtuous; respected; wealthy; long-lived; without brothers.
  • 4th: Lacks comforts; ailing; sinful; afflicted by vāta and pitta.
  • 5th: Destitute; immoral; short-lived; jealous; impotent; irresolute; hen-pecked; slanders others; atheist; adverse for progeny.
  • 6th: Healthy; vanquishes enemies; handsome; liked by women; courageous; kind.
  • 7th: Subdued by wife; sinful; weak-limbed; adulterous; stupid; ungrateful; friendless; lives off wife’s income.
  • 8th: Miserable; hungry; cruel; very ill-tempered; without wealth or virtue.
  • 9th: Wicked deeds; cruel; lacking common sense; back-biter; may harm parents/teachers.
  • 10th: (Two readings) (a) Blessed with sons and comforts; religiously inclined; (b) gives up prescribed duties; shameful acts.
  • 11th: Happy; wealthy; handsome; leader; diminutive body; widely respected; adverse for elder brother.
  • 12th: Low deeds; wicked; ill-looking; defective limb; lazy; company of fallen women.

Gulika in conjunction/aspect with planets

  • Sun: Hates his father; shortened paternal longevity.
  • Moon: Adverse for mother.
  • Mars: Devoid of younger brother / separation from brother.
  • Mercury: Insanity.
  • Jupiter: Blasphemous heresy.
  • Venus: Liaison with women of easy morals; sexually transmitted disease.
  • Saturn: Chronic illness; short life.
  • Rāhu: Suffers/causes illness through poisons.
  • Ketu: Suffers/causes injury through fire.

Note: Planetary aspects substantially modify all the above results.

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