This is an extremely important and often overlooked topic as well.
For any planet-
Istha Phala = The ability to do Good
Kashta Phala = Ability to Harm/ create problems
The numeric value of these features, lets call them IP and KP in short for this article, depends mostly on 2 factors –
I) The Distance from Sun – The farther a planet is from the Sun, the higher its IP. This is attributed to the fact that planets close to the sun start becoming invisible due to the sheer brightness of the sun and hence lose their own ‘lusture’. The farther a planet is from the sun, the brighter its own appearance in the sky. This is most clearly visible for the Moon for obvious reasons. Exactly opposite to the Sun, the Moon is Full and bright and conjunct to the Sun is the New Moon or Amavasya where the moon is fully dark.
Likewise, for other planets (except Rahu-Ketu) the farther they are from the Sun, the brighter they will be.
Within the same context, safe to mention here without getting into details, is the fact that the outer planets – Mars, Saturn and Jupiter get retrograde when far away from the Sun and hence when Retrograde planets will generally have a higher IP.
II) Distance from Point of Exaltation – The closer a planet is to its point of deep exaltation, the higher its IP and lower its KP. Vice-versa is also true.
Now when you add the points (I) & (II) an important point to note is that a low IP DOES NOT automatically imply a high KP. It might, but not necessarily.
As an example assume Saturn at 15 degrees in Libra. This Saturn is within 5 degrees of its deepest exaltation point at 20 degrees of Libra and hence will have a very low KP and a high IP by default. Now assume Sun is at 10 degrees of Libra. Now Saturn being so close to Sun will drastically reduce the IP of Saturn however will NOT increase the KP. Hence such a Saturn will have a very low KP and a low IP. On the other hand notice how Sun is at exact debilitation point. Hence Sun will have a very high KP and almost NIL IP.
Another example – Moon at 3 degrees Taurus with Sun in Scorpio at 3 degrees will have a full IP (100%) and zero KP as its fully bright and also in deep exaltation.
Important features to know about IP & KP –
1) These are not parts of the standard Shadbala calculation for a planet’s strength
2) The mathematical range varies from an absolute number of 0 – 60. 60 is the highest IP for any planet and 0 in the lowest
3) Rahu-Ketu are excluded in this analysis as they are not real bodies or planets
4) High IP planets tend to give their promised results easily in their dasas as opposed to high KP planets. A planet with a high KP will tend to throw many obstacles in the native’s path during its dasa. However the final result is not dictated by IP/ KP. Its dicated by the functional nature, dignity, Yogas etc the planet is involved in.
5) If a planet is functionally benefic and good in dignity and shadbala and involved in good yogas, it will give very good results in its dasas. However if this planet has a low IP, the results will still come albeit after some initial setbacks and with more ‘hesitancy’ or a reduced ‘fluency’ than if planet also had a high IP
6) Contrary to pt. 5 above, if the planet is strongly malefic by rulership, dignity etc and has a low IP also, it will create grave problems in its dasas and might even detroy all significations of houses it rules, sits in and aspects
7) More than the planet itself, the IP of the Rashi, Nakshatra and Navamsa depositor of a planet is very crucial. This is because these planets act like a source for nourishment for the deposited planet from where the planet get its ‘Poshaak’ or Food. If a planet is deposited in a Rashi and Nakshatra of a planet with a very high IP and low KP, such a planet will have a lot of good energy to feed from and will give good/ benefic results.
8) Good Yogas should ideally form in signs and nakshatras owned by planets with high IP and low KP so that these Yogas can easily fructify. If the reverse of low IP and high KP is true, then the Yogas will manifest to a lower intensity and that too after initial struggles and hurdles in the path
9) Generic Benefics – Jupiter, Venus, Moon & Mercury form a greater Nourishment providers than the natural malefics – Saturn, Mars & Sun. However this is just a relative comparison and it is always desirable to have a planet with a higher IP as opposed to a low IP
JHora will spit out the numerical values of these in the ‘Strengths’ tab as do other softwares. As a general guideline, a planet with less than 20% IP is a very low IP. This implies an IP below 12 (in the 0 – 60 range) as very low. Typically any IP value above 30 is Very good and IP values above 45 are excellent.
Hi Vs,
A planet in 12 house, enemy sign, low vimsopaka bala and low Shad bala, but it has a very high ishta bala. In this case, is that possible to give good results (Ishta bala) during the planet dasha period?
will depend on the aspects on the planet, strength and placement of the depositor among other things..
I have been meditating of this topic for a while in the hope to grasp this important influence when making a reading. Like many other factors in vedic astrology, a jyotish must learn to take the whole chart into consideration and blend the many factors in the chart, but there are some points that make me ponder. For exemple, frequent used terms in Vedic astrology books, such as auspicious and inauspicious have always been a big source of curiosity, and I would like to take this opportunity to ask a question:
When refering to shubha and ashubha influences, are their effects applicable in a absolute and universal manner? That is to say, the inauspiciouness and auspiciouness will be experience by the native irrespective of the persons status and spiritual evolution? Could it be possible that the same experience caused by a particular planetary combination be precieved in diferent manner?
Looking forward to your kind reply.
Thank you,
No they will not be felt in an absolute manner. The reason, for example, why planets behave better beyond their maturity ages is because as the spiritual and mental advancement of a soul occurs, they develop the necessary wisdom and intellect to ward off many of day to day life’s negatives, many of which are self inflicted and more in the our minds than in reality.
the Istha phala concept illustrates the general intention of a given planet to do good in a horoscope. A natural malefic like Saturn, if possessing a high kastha phala, will tend to create big hurdles in the area of life he rules and aspects in a chart. How the individual handles these will be dependent on the person’s own mental development, patience and outlook towards life in general
Hi VS,
If functional malefic planet has higher KP then it means it is good for us as we have to suffer the bad results with delay or difficulty. .
Kindly share your views on the same..
if a FM planet has a high KP, its even worse and more delay in good activity will happen
Hi VS
Is it possible that by appeasing planets their IP gets bettered? Or any remedies where in general IP aspect of a planet can be strengthened? I have a debilitated and combust mercury in meen and am meen rashi and lagna..so this would mean mercury would not be giving any IP at all?
Hi Madan
No the basic IP can not now change after birth. However appeasing weak planets does mollify some of their negative results. especially the ones which have a psychological/ mental manifestation
If a FM planet has same IP-KP value(close to 30= Good) and the FM planet’s depositor has very high IP(>45) and low KP, does the FM do good? Will the FM be able to absorb good energy or it just strengthens the FM?
Does the planet depositor significance(General Malefic or Benefic) also matter?
simple rule – higher the IP of a depositor, better for any deposited planet (FM or FB)
if the planet itself also have high IP then even better, but depositor is more important
Thank you.
What happens when a chart mostly higher Kashta Phala(GE 30 for most planets) than IP?
these are finer observations and not to be used blindly. the yogas and strengths of lagna, lagnesh and the various planets as per rashi and bhav strength will dictate most of the results
other tools are for fine tuning. typically strong yogas with low IP planets implies the yoga will fructify but after much effort or setbacks. Higher IP planet yogas fructify easily without much setbacks in general
Thank you for responding. I happened to look at KP of Sarada mata in jhora and got the question.
Hi VS,
Amazing site, fascinating read.
You noted in point 7 – More than the planet itself, the IP of the Rashi, Nakshatra and Navamsa depositor of a planet is very crucial.
Where may I find this on JH if at all.
Apologies if this has already been answered.
TIA for your time and efforts
The IPs, strengths, breakups of all strengths are in the “Strengths” Tab in JHora
If distance from sun is used for Ishta phala calculations, how it is calculated for Sun? How can it be low in Dhanur raasi? I’ve low Ishta phala for Sun and I’m about to start its Dhasha in few months. Could you please let me know how the Dasha will be for me.
I started learning and chanting Vishnu Sahasra Nama, Lalitha Sahasra Nama and Sri Rudram in the last two years, if that’s any pointer.
22/12/1975, Chennai, 4:25 AM, Male
Distance from sun is one component. That is due to the fact that the farther a planet is from sun, the brighter it is
the other component is distance from its deepest exaltation point. At exact exaltation point, Istha phal is full and on the other hand at deep debilitation point, Istha phal is 0
Thanks.
I have calculated the potency or strength of a planet using a combination of Shadbala, Ishtha Phala, Kashtaphala and the residential strength of the planet in the bhava and have my own software to do so. Please read navagrahastro.blogspot.in and the strength of houses calculated thus is close to reality in a large sample taken from all over the world, class, job, criminals, prominent people and poor people.
Hello
Thanks for your note and good luck with your good work
Unfortunately, mathematical numbers of shadbal, ishtha/ kashta phal, ashtakvarga bindus etc do not work once you extend your research to 1000s of horoscopes. I can readily show 100s of horoscopes of very successful men in various fields of life who have relatively low bal and all of the numbers you have mentioned and still have spectacular results and vice versa.
Ganit jyotish can only only as far. In today’s world, you can instantly get all the detailed numbers in one second on computers and even phone apps (very detailed softwares) The real magic is to holistically analyze yogas and learn from case studies which takes decades of hard work and unbiased mind
thanks
Am I understanding right that a Functional Benefic with good dignity , placed well, aspected and conjuncted equally by functional benefics & functional malefics will produce “reasonably good” results in its dasa period, even though the mathematically calculated GANITH values of Shad Bala, Ishata bala , Kashta Bala etc., are LOW?
Kindly enlighten!
Thanks much VS ji.
yes absolutely
actually even the Mathematics is debatable due to interpretation of rules at times
I have had this discussion with PVR (Narasimha Rao) the author of JHora…once you go deep into the maths of some of these calculations, the results can change substantially depending on many factors and how you interpret them
hence best is to stick to basics of exalted, own, friendly, non friendly sign, directional strength, conjunctions and aspects and brightness etc. these are simple to eyeball and no deep calc is needed. Some old extremely accurate astrologers never calculated shadbal etc. they had an approximate idea by looking at the main factors and that’s what a learning astrologer should strive to do
IP and KP accounts for exaltation point and distance from the sun and does not consider MK or own house, so is it better to use them when dealing with planets in neutral houses?
Yes. there is no account for MK houses in this
Jupiter and venus have MK very close to their deep debilitation points and hence their KP remains very low in their MK area
Thanks much VS ji.. Thank you for taking time to answer all these questions to all the learners here.
You really need to write a book, you know that? 🙂
Anyway, my saturn-venus dasha/bhukti was incredibly humiliating. Even though it ran when i was in my early 40s (i.e Sat MD running after 36), and venus is in the 11th/scorpio, 10 degrees from the Sun, and in mercury’s star. I just looked at the Ishtaphal for Venus and its 9! Kashtaphal of 46. No wonder. Also, have you delved deep into the Shaap/curse astrology yet?
Brahmana sapa, kalatra sapa etc.
Sir,
If a planet has low IP and high KP but is exalted and even forming a good yoga like mahapurusha yoga in D9 , would it’s Sasha period give good results?
no dont use IP and KP as standalone deciding factors. generally a high IP makes the planets results easy to come. without a high IP, a planet can still give great results but with a bit more delay/ challenges
Hello –
Since Rahu and Ketu do not have Ishta Phala and Kashta Phala, in order to get an indication on how their dasha period will be, would we look at the other lord of the house they jointly own, or the house they are in or the planets that they are in conjunction with. Will the Ishta and Kashta Phalas of any of those planets serve as a good indication?
(Example: Rahu being a joint owner of Aquarius with saturn; and placed in Virgo whose lord is mercury in conjunction with venus there – will it inherit Saturn, Mercury or Venus’ phalas?)
Or is the benefic/malefic analysis (like the one done in excel spreadsheet) a better indicator for Rahu and Ketu?
look at the IP and KP of their depositors
If the dispositor has low IP but, it’s conjunct a planet with high IP ….Or vice versa….. Which would influence more ??
Thank you…
both influence but in my opinion, IP is the dominant factor always. IP high or low is not a yoga by itself. but it supports the ease with which a planet or yogas can play out the good yogas and high IP mitigates the negative yogas to some extent as well
Hello Sir your article is very good. But this calculation is showing bad results for my husband during his Jupiter Mahadasha as the IP is very low(almost 11) but my husband is Sagt ascendant and Jupiter is in fourth house (in own house and exalted house) but with Rahu as conjunction. Even Rahu Mahadasha that is currently running is not that bad like only some property issue are stuck and remaining is going fine. So should we be scared for Jupiter period or is this calculation dont matter too much for predictions.
being scared never solves any issue, so no point
That said, I don’t do personal readings. however a lot of things that you have mentioned seem contradictory here – if Jupiter in own house that it can not be exalted. Secondly a planet in own house can still have a low IP if near the sun. Any planet near the sun loses its shine and has low IP (not necessarily KP). Also Rahu if conjunct an own house Jupiter in Kendra will give results of the Jupiter and are likely to be good, in 4th house of assets and property/ land/ vehicles, it can always create some hurdles and blockades
Sir
IshtA fal + kasta fal =60?
no. not always
example if mercury is at exact 15 degrees in virgo, then its ishtha phal is technically 60 of 60 and kastha phal is 0
but if such a mercury is also exact conjunct with sun at 15 degrees in virgo then ishta phal will become close to 0 and kashta phal also will remain 0
Hello – If functional malefic planet, retrograde, in exaltation, and has high IP, does it mean it is going to do good or bad?
in astrology, there is rarely anything that is just Good or Bad. its all relative and there are shades of grey, not just black and white
Sir, I am going thru Rahu Mahadasha and currently under Venus Antardasha till 2022.
IP for Venus is 7.74 and KP for Venus is 49.43. Does it mean, it’s going to be tough roads ahead? Thanks in advance.
no such conclusion can be drawn from only IP and KP. the entire chart has to be analyzed properly. Unfortunately I dont analyze personal charts here
Hello sir, I have Jupiter in Lagna in Pisces, the Jupiter has ishta phala – 20% and kashta phala – 45%. I am wearing a yellow sapphire ring currently and it is Jupiter dasha jupiter bhukti. Does wearing a yellow sapphire also increase the negative effects of jupiter as it has high kashta phala?
no IP or KP wont affect you if wearing a pukhraj. you can continue wearing it
Wonderful explanation on IP and Kp. I have done alot of research on these issues and in my experience found they are good for quick and snapshot prediction.
1-For example in most of the cases planet Mercury with high ip made person highly rich and influencial. Like Bill Gates, Steve jobs, Modi, yogi.
2- high ip of a plant also brings a good result of the respective house represented by the planet. For example if a 7th lord planet have a good ip it makes sure the person will have a better married life. I have seen in many charts to verify it. Similarly for 10th house lord if have a higher ip will bring good results.
3- in my case capricorn ascendant, sun being 8th lord sitting in 6th house with the highest ip 51 during the 8th house maha dasha I have had good results of 8th house the only bad result I got is increased ego. But career wise I have received recognition, awards.
4- highest ip does not only work during the dasha but also its significance could also be seen early. For example a person with good venus ip in my most of the observations had a happy married life even though 7th lord was aspects by malefics.
5- If a person have good ip of most of the planets, it also gave him a good comfortable life even though the guy was doing nothing but due to family support had no stress.
6- Mars low ip and High kp made person weak, lazy and no sporty attitude. My own brother, scorpion ascendant, mars in 10th house low ip, while high kp makes him less sporty.
7- if moon, jupitar and venus have good ip one can surely say person will have a better married life even though he is having bad 7th house