A native gets auspicious results due to the presence of strong planets in the birth-chart. The strength of planets is measured by the method of Shadbala.

The strength of planets can be identified by the placement of the planet in the respective house. Another factor to be considered is that the planet should not be declined or debilitated in the respective Moon-sign. Astrologers find Shadbala the best methodology to measure the strength of any planet. There are six types of Shadbala and all these types are considered to measure the strength of any planet.

Significance of Shadbala

The Shadbala method cannot be ignored in astrology. Shadbala lets one know what impact a planet has while placed in a particular house. It also marks the auspicious planets and their impact.

The strength of a house-Lord is determined through Shadbala. This is very instrumental in making predictions from the birth-chart. The placement of house-Lord is also taken into consideration to make astrological predictions and if the house-Lord is at a weaker position, then the native will get inauspicious results. Moreover, Shadbala helps in predicting an auspicious direction for the native.

'Dig Bala' is one of the six parts of Shadbala method which determines an auspicious direction.

Calculation of Planet strength

Shadbala has six parts and these parts are further divided into sub-parts. The strength of planets are measured through mathematical calculations and these Balas are added to get the sum total of various Roopas and Virupas. There are 60 Virupas in each Roopa. According to many sources, the strength should be measured between 0 to 60 Virupas, but for Drekkana Bala, the maximum strength obtainable is 30 Virupas.

Components of Shadbala

Basically, there are six types of Shadbalas and these Shadbalas are further divided into sub-Balas. Let us have a look.

1. Sthan Bala: Sthan Bala or you can call it positional strength of a planet is sum total of following types of strength.

Saptavarga Bala: This is the total strength of a planet in all seven Vargas. How the planet is positioned in different Vargas on the basis of being placed in Mooltrikona sign, exaltation sign, own sign, friendly sign, in a neutral sign or in an inimical sign. This is worked out from Panchdha Maitri chart. The Virupas are allocated as per the position in a Varga.

• Uccha Bala: This is based on the position of a planet due to its position between exaltation and debilitation. This Bala is calculated with a mathematical formula.


• Oja-Yugma Bala: This is the strength which a planet gets because of its placement in odd or even signs in Rashi and Navamsa sign. Points are given on the basis of placement of male planets and female planets. When male planets are placed in odd signs 15 Virupas are granted. When female planets are placed in even signs 15 Virupas are granted. Male planets in even sign and female in odd signs get no points.


• Kendradi Bala: This is the strength a planet gets for its placement. When in Kendra 60 Virupas are granted, in Panfara house 30 Virupas, and in Apoklima house 15 Virupas are given.


• Dreshkon Bala: Sun, Mars and Jupiter male planets if in the first Dershkon get 15 Virupas. Moon and Venus are female planets if placed in the 3rd Dreshkon get 15 Virupas. Finally, Saturn and Mercury are neutral planets if placed in the 2nd Dreshkon get 15 Virupas.No points in other positions.

2. Dig Bala: Dig means direction and Bala means strength. In other words Dig Bala of the planet taking into account its strength and direction. Jupiter and Mercury are strong in the east or ascendant and get full strength. Saturn is strong in the west, Moon, and Venus in the north whereas Sun and Mars are strong in the south. A mathematical formula is required to calculate the actual strength or Bala of a planet as per its placement.

3. Kal Bala

• Nat Unnat Bala: Some planets are strong at day and some are strong at night. Planets which are strong in the day have Unnat Bala and those strong at night have Nat Bala. The birth time of the native i.e. night or day determines the strength of all the planets. Moon, Saturn, Mars are strong in the night whereas Sun, Jupiter and Venus are strong in the day. Mercury is strong in both day and night. This is also calculated with a mathematical formula.


• Paksha Bala: This refers to the strength of a planet as per the birth of the native either in Shukla Paksha or Krishna Paksha of the Moon. Benefic planets get strength in Shukla Paksha and malefics become weak. Vice versa applies in Krishna Paksha.


• Tri-Bhag Bala: Here the day time i.e from sunrise to sunset and similarly the night time i.e from sunset to sunrise is divided into three equal parts (Bhag). Each Bhag has a ruling planet which imparts strength.


• Varsh-Mas-Din-Hora Bala: This is the strength allocated to the planet on the basis of a particular Year, Month, Day and Hora.


• Yuddha Bala: Two planets are said to be at war when they are placed within one degree of each other. A planet whose longitude is less than the other is the winner in planetary war and gets strength. Mars is the only planet which does not get defeated.


• Aayan Bala: This is the strength granted to a planet on the basis of its placement in Uttarayana or Dakshinayana. Again this is calculated with the help of a mathematical formula.

4. Cheshta Bala: this is the strength attained by a planet due to its motion around the Sun. Although they are moving in a particular direction, sometimes they seem to be in backward motion which in astrological terms is called retrograde motion. The strength is calculated with a mathematical formula.

5. Naisargik Bala: each planet gets strength based on its natural strength. This natural strength depends on its luminosity or brightness. The Sun is the brightest star gets maximum strength. Next comes the Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn. The values are fixed in naisargik bala.

6. Drishti Bala: This is the aspectual strength. Every planet aspect its seventh hose with full Drishti. Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have special Drishti or aspects. Mars aspects fourth and eighth house. Jupiter aspects fifth and ninth house and Saturn aspects third and tenth house.

All the above Balas so calculated are summed up and given values in Rupas. The planet which is strongest will get maximum Rupas and next strongest will get the second place and so on. A planet will give results in their Mahadasha or Antardasha according to its strength in Shadbala.