Strong and Weak Planets

Strong Planets

A strong natal planet protects and promotes its general significations and the significations of its mooltrikona house. Any planet is considered strong when its longitude is within 5 to 25 degrees and it is not in the state of weakness. 

It can increase its strength if:

• it occupies own or good navamasa and other divisions. 
• it is under the close influence of functional benefic planets. 
• it occupies its exaltation, mooltrikona sign. 
• it is placed in the Sun-like houses, that is the second, third and ninth houses.

Any planet has capacity to bless the native with its results if its natal strength is at least 60% and it is unafflicted. In such a situation the results may come with some delay and of slightly lower order. With the help of the strengthening measures the strength of the planets, where it is less than 60% can be brought to the level of 60% so that it blesses the native with the significations ruled by it.  

Weak Planets

A weak natal planet is not capable of fully protecting/promoting its general significations and the significations of its mooltrikona house during the course of its sub-periods and during the triple transit functional malefic influences. A planet become weak when:

• The most effective point of its mooltrikona sign is afflicted by a functional malefic planet within an orb of one degree. 
• The most effective point of its house of placement is afflicted by a functional malefic planet, within an orb of one degree for mooltrikona signs of within an orb of five degrees for non-mooltrikona signs. 
• It is conjunct or aspected by any functional malefic planet within an orb of one degree. 
• It is combust due to its nearness to the Sun.
• It occupies  malefic houses from the ascendant, except it it is in own mooltrikona sign. 
• It occupies its sign of debilitation. 
• It is in infancy or old-age.
• It occupies its debilitated sign in navamsa. 
• It occupies the mooltrikona sign of a weak planet. However, its strength would be equal to the strength of its dispositor. 

In case of special or multiple afflictions, the otherwise "strong" planet is considered afflicted (and weak) even when the orb of affliction is of two degrees. 

The affliction is special or multiple i.e. when it comes from:

a conjunction with / aspect from the most malefic planet, 

an aspect from a functional malefic planet placed in a dusthana/malefic house, 

a conjunction with Rahu or Ketu (Rahu-Ketu axis), 

an aspect of a functional malefic planet afflicted by other(s) functional malefic planet,

more than one functional malefic planet at the same time.

Fairly Strong Planet

A Planet which has at least 70% power, is unafflicted and well placed, is considered as a fairly strong planet. 

Mild Affliction 

An affliction to the extent of 25% or less to a strong or fairly strong planet or the most effective point of a non-mooltrikona sign house is considered as a mild affliction. 

Quantitative Strength Analysis

The quantitative strength analysis for the planets can be obtained with the help of the following insights:

• A planet will lose strength to the extent of 75% if its mooltrikona sign house is afflicted. 
• A weak planet placed in an afflicted house will lose strength to the extent of 75%. 
• An otherwise strong planet placed in a non mooltrikona sign afflicted house will lose strength to the extent of 50%. Such a planet may give good results in the first place and will cause setbacks later. 
• A closely afflicted weak planet will lose strength to the extent of 75%. 
• A closely afflicted otherwise strong planet will lose strength to the extent of 50%. Such a planet will give good results in the first place and will cause setbacks later. 
• A planet becoming weak due to close combustion will lose strength to the extent of 75% if the Sun is a functional malefic planet. When the Sun is a functional benefic and it causes combustion to another planet, the planet will become 50% weak for the purpose of transit affliction. A combust planet in its sign of debilitation and placed in a malefic house will have only 10% power. 
• When planets are placed in the malefic house, they generally lose strength by 50% besides suffering through the significations of the malefic house. The placement in the sixth house can involve the person in disputes, debts and can cause serious obstructions for the significations ruled by the planet. The placement in the twelfth house can cause expenses and losses for the significations of the planet.
• When planets are placed in their signs of debilitation, they lose strength by 50%. When planets are placed in their signs of debilitation in birth chart and navamsa, they lose strength by 75%. 
• If in the birth chart the planet is badly placed and at the same time debilitated in navamsa it would lose strength to the extent of 60%. 
• A badly placed planet in its sign of debilitation will lose its power by 75%.
• A planet debilitated in navamsa would lose power by 25%.

When the lord of the Sixth house is in the ascendant the person gets involved in controversies. Discussing such a person also breed controversies.