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)
Determine whether the birth is by day or night; measure that interval
(sunrise→sunset or sunset→sunrise).
Divide that interval into eight equal parts.
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.
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.
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
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).
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.
