Argala

Argala means planetary/sign intervention. I consider this the single greatest

teaching of Maharishi Parasara without which we cannot explain the hidden or
subtle influence of a planet in the chart. The magnificent theory of Argala
stipulates the following: (a) Every planet has the power to influence the affairs of every other planet or
house.
Thus for example, even if a planet has nothing to do with the second house by way
of ownership, aspect, conjunction etc, it does not mean that the person shall stop
eating food during the dasa of the said planet. This is where the Argala concept
comes to the rescue and explains the way in which this planet has a subtle
influence on both the second house as well as the second lord.
(b) Bodies (both planets, signs and Upagraha etc.) placed in the second, fourth and
eleventh house from any planet/sign have PRIMARY ARGALA (direct
intervention) in its affairs.
(c) Bodies (both planets, signs and Upagraha etc.) placed in the twelfth, tenth and
third houses cause VIRODHA ARGALA (Obstruction to Argala) on the bodies
(planets/signs) in the second, fourth and eleventh house respectively. Illustration:
Determine the Primary Argala & Virodha Argala on the Lagna in the Standard
Nativity.
Figure1: Primary Argala (A) & Obstruction or Virodh Argala (O)

The Lagna is Pisces having the Argala of Aries (2nd House- A2) which is
obstructed by Aquarius & Moon (12th house-O12). More planets indicate strength.
Hence the obstruction is stronger than the Argala.
Primary Argala is also caused by Rahu in Gemini in the fourth house (A4) which is
obstructed by Ketu in the tenth house in Sagittarius (O10). Both the signs and
planets are equally strong. However, the aspect of Jupiter on Sagittarius makes it
stronger than Gemini. Thus, the Primary malefic Argala of Rahu is ultimately
defeated due to Jupiter. Primary Argala is also caused by Saturn in the eleventh
house in Capricorn (A11). Since there are no planets in the sign of Virodha Argala
(O3), the obstruction is much weaker than the Argala and the intervention of Saturn
in the affairs of the Lagna shall prevail.
(d) Bodies (both planets, signs and Upagraha etc.) placed in the fifth and eighth
house from any planet/sign have SECONDARY ARGALA (direct intervention but
lower in influence than primary Argala) in its affairs.
(e) Bodies (both planets, signs and Upagraha etc.) placed in the ninth and sixth
houses cause VIRODHA ARGALA (Obstruction to Argala) on the bodies
(planets/signs) in the fifth and eighth house respectively. Illustration: Determine
the Secondary Argala & Virodha Argala on the Lagna in the Standard Nativity.
Figure 2: Secondary Argala (A) and its Obstruction (O)

The fifth house is Cancer with the Sun & Venus in it causing secondary Argala
(A5) on the Lagna. This is obstructed by Scorpio (O9) in the ninth house.
However, the Argala with two planets is stronger than the obstruction without any
planet. Secondary Argala is also caused by the eighth house Libra (A8) that is fully

obstructed by the sixth house Leo (O6) with Mercury in it, as Leo with a planet is
stronger than Libra without any planets.
(f) Special Argala is also caused by the presence of Malefics in the third house.
Earlier we have seen that the third house acts as an obstruction to the Argala in the
eleventh house. However, if the third house has malefic planets in it, then they can
suo-moto, cause Argala. Such an Argala does not have any kind of intervention.
(g) Special Argala is also caused by the planets/sign in the seventh house.
However, this can be removed by the planet/sign in the Lagna which cause Virodha
Argala.
(h) The Argala reckoning from Ketu is in the reverse direction. If Ketu is in a sign
from which the Argala is being determined, or if the Argala is being determined for
Ketu (Spiritual purposes), then the counting of houses/signs is in the reverse.
Illustration: Determine the Other Argala & Virodha Argala on the Lagna in the
Standard Nativity.
Figure 3: Other Argala (A) and its Obstruction (O)

There are no planets in the third house let alone malefic planets. The sign in the
third house is also a beneficial sign (Taurus). Thus, Special Argala (A3) does not
exist. The seventh house has Mars in Virgo causing Argala (A7) that is obstructed
by the presence of Jupiter in Lagna (O1). Both signs are equally strong by the
placement of planets, but Pisces is much stronger as Jupiter is in own sign. Thus,
Jupiter obstructs the Argala. In this manner, the various influences of each of the
signs and planets on every other sign or planet can be examined.

(i) If both the Argala (intervention) and Virodha (Obstruction) are equally strong,
Bandana Yoga (Bondage) can result. If both are malefic and equal, the Bandana
Yoga can be very evil or adverse like confinement after an accident (where the 2nd
& 12th houses are involved showing the accident in the 2nd house which is a
Maraka and the hospital in the 12th house). This can also indicate adverse
situation concerning education and career if the 4th and 10 th are involved. If the
planets are poles apart in nature, then the education may have nothing to do with
the career like a qualified doctor working as a bureaucrat. Fifth and ninth houses
involved show very adverse situations that can also cause terrible misfortunes, jail
terms etc. If beneficial planets are involved, then the bondage could relate to
staying indoors for writing a book, meditation or other means of beneficial
confinement. A careful study of the nature of the planet, signs involved etc, has to
be made.
(j) If the planet causing Argala is inimical to the house/planet under consideration,
it shall prevent the same from achieving its purpose by showing different
directions. This does not apply to the special Argala in the third house (refer-f)
where the presence of malefic alone shall constitute the Argala. For example in the
Figure-5, the Argala of Rahu on Jupiter is considered evil due to the inherent
inimical disposition of the two planets. Being in the fourth house, this Argala gave
education in an English medium public school and tried to keep the person away
from the traditional learning or value systems (Jupiter). Since the Argala is equally
obstructed by Ketu (esoteric studies, Astrology22, Ganita etc.) the traditional
learning continued through informal methods like learning Vedic Astrology etc.
Since both are equally strong, both continued simultaneously. However, Jupiter
causes the balance to tilt in favor of Ketu and the native finally took up Jyotish in a
big way.
(k) Special Argala of the third house gives success in battles and competitions
while the Argala of the seventh can be the greatest blessing like a loving spouse or
a curse like a characterless wife.