In the astrological classics one can come across scores of Sanskrit Slokas using the term ‘Ksheena Chandra’ ( क्षीण चंद्र ) and ‘Poorna Chandra ( पूर्ण चंद्र ) in various yogas. The astrologers in general take the literal meaning of Ksheena Chandra as weak Moon and Poorna Chandra as the strong Moon. However, the Moon doesn’t get weak in Pakshabala only when it is waning and it doesn’t get strong in waxing condition. There are other various factors of Shadabala which makes Moon weak or strong in various calculations. The ‘Ksheena Chandra’ actually means the malefic Moon and the ‘Poorna Chandra’ is benefic Moon. As per Sage Parashara the increasing Moon, i.e. from the 8th day of the brighter half of the lunar month to the 8th day of the darker half of the lunar month, is benefic and on the rest of the days it is malefic while decreasing. The important point to note here is that Moon gets equal amount of Paksha Bala while it is at the exact point of Amavasaya or Poornima. So there is a misconception that Moon gets weak during waning condition when it is closer to Amavasaya. This fact can be proving by doing simple mathematical calculations on the horoscopes of natives born on the day of Amavasaya and Poornima.
The late Shri B.V. Raman has explained in detail the method of calculating ‘Pakshabala’ in his book ‘Graha and Bhava Balas’. In the Chapter number V (Kala Bala) he has explained in detail the method of finding Paksha Bala of planets. As per Sage Parashara the malefics (Papa Graha) become powerful during darker half and the benefic (Subha Graha) get strength during the brighter half of the lunar month. The Paksha Bala of Moon is doubled irrespective of birth taken place during darker half (Krishna Paksha) or brighter half (Shukla Paksha).
Method of finding Paksha Bala: Moon’s longitude – Sun’s longitude divided by 3 = Paksha Bala of Subhas or benefic planets
60- Paksha Bala of Subhas = Paksha Bala of Papas
If the Moon’s longitude- Sun’s longitude exceeds 180 degrees then it has to be deducted from 360 degrees. The Paksha Bala of Chandra has to be doubled always. I had a discussion on this calculation from one of my teacher from the Institute of Astrology Bharitiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi.
Now take the example in the case of Shiela Dikshit who was the former chief minister of Delhi. She was born on the day of Amavasaya. I got her horoscope from my teacher Shri K.N. Rao.
Case 1.
Horoscope of Shiela Dikshit
31 March 1938, 13:00 hours at Kapurthala (Punjab)
Longitude 75E 23’ and Latitude 31 N 23’
Balance of Dasha in Vimshottari: Saturn 8 years 2 months 3 days
The Shiela Dikshit was born on the day of Amavasaya as one can notice from the degrees of Sun and Moon in Meena rashi in her horoscope. Now calculate the Pakshabala of Moon in this case and you will find out that this Amavasaya Moon gets good strength.
340° 55’ ( Moon’s longitude) – 346° 55’ (Sun’s longitude ) devided by 3
(360° + 340° 55’ – 346° ) ÷ 3 = 354° ÷ 3
Since the difference between the Moon’s longitude and Sun’s longitude is more than 180° so deducting it from 360°.
(360° – 354°) ÷ 3 = 6° ÷ 3 = 2 Shashtiamsha is the Pakshabala of Shubhas or benefic planets (Jupiter and Venus)
Now 60 – 2 = 58 Shashtiamsha is the Pakshabala in of Papas or malefic planets (Sun, Mercury, Mars and Saturn)
The birth being on Amavasaya so the Moon is waning i.e. malefic. The Paksha Bala of Moon has to be doubled so it gets 58×2 = 116 Shashtiamsha
Now see the situation here, the Moon is getting 116 Shashtiamsha in Paksha Bala in case of Shiela Dikshit who is born on the day of Amavasaya. So how come it can be termed as weak ? It is malefic but strong in Paksha Bala. The Moon never gets weak in Paksha Bala when it is close to Amavasaya or Poornima.
I will now take the example of Rahul Gandhi’s horoscope born on the day of Poornima. I have got his chart from my teacher Shri K.N. Rao who noted his birth details from a report published on the basis of hospital records of Gandhi kid’s in the Indian Express News Paper website in year 2013. { Reference Link http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/delhi-underground-meticulous-records/1185170/ }
Case 2.
Horoscope of Rahul Gandhi
19 June 1970, 14:28 hours at Delhi
Longitude 77 E 13’ and Latitude 28 N 40’
Balance of Dasha in Vimshottari: Ketu 5 years 9 months 26 days
Rahul Gandhi was born on the day of Shukla Poornima. Now we will be calculating the Paksha Bala of Moon in his case.
242° 14’ (Moon’s longitude) – 64° 13’ (Sun’s longitude) divided by 3
178° 1’ ÷ 3 = 59.1 Rupa is the Pakshabala of Shubha i.e. benefic planets Jupiter, Venus and Mercury.
60 – 59.1 = 0.59 Rupa is the Pakshabala of Papa i.e. malefic planets Sun, Mars and Saturn.
Since the birth is of Shukla Paksha i.e. waxing Moon so the Moon is termed as benefic planet here. So the Pakshabala of Moon is 59.1 Rupa multiplied by 2 = 118.2 Rupas.
Now you have seen from the two examples given above that Moon’s Pakshabala is on the higher side when the birth is close to Amavasaya or Poornima. So it is a misconception that Moon gets weak or Ksheena when the birth is around Amavasaya. The conclusion in this matter is that on the day of Full Moon the beneficence of Moon is at its peak and on the day of no Moon its maleficence is at the highest level.
What is the best position of Moon in a horoscope ?
As per the classics of Hindu astrology the Moon at the time or close to Amavasaya (no Moon) and on the day of Poornima or Full Moon is not consider to be very good. The Full Moon birth (Poornima day birth) or the no Moon birth (Amavasaya day birth) both are not taken as auspicious in predictive Hindu astrology. Interestingly none of the Hindu God or Goddess was born on Poornima or Amavasaya days. The Lord Rama was born on the 9th day of the brighter Moon of the lunar month Chaitra i.e. Chaitra Shukla Navami. The lord Krishna was born on the 8th day of the darker Moon of the lunar month of Bhadrapad i.e. Krishna Ashtami of Bhadrapad. The Moon is consider to be a benefic during the 8th day of brighter Moon to the 8th day of darker Moon i.e. from Shukla Ashtami to Krishna Ashtami. So both lord Rama and lord Krishna were born during the auspicious time of the Moon’s phases. But interesting to note here is that none of them were born close to the Full Moon or on the day of Full Moon !!! On the day of Full Moon the Moon’s beneficence is at its peak. Interestingly lord Buddha was born on the day of Poornima and he is not consider as a deity by majority of Hindus in India. The Buddhism was once flourished in India but later on it when into oblivion.
As per the classical Hindu text of astrology the Moon at the peak of its beneficence or at the highest level of its maleficence is not consider good. Ideally the Moon should be around 90 degrees away from Sun. This will happen around the 8th day of darker Moon and on around the 8th day of brighter Moon. Thus the strength of the Moon i.e. mind should be at equilibrium; not too high or not too low.
Importance of the lordship of Moon as per Parashari System
The lordship of Moon and yogas from Chandra Kundali or Moon Chart should be carefully analysis as per Sage Parashara. The laghu Parashari, which was written by the disciples of Sage Parashara, clearly says that a waxing Moon becoming the lord of Kendra (square houses) losses its beneficence. Similarly a waning Moon when becomes the lord of Kendra houses losses its malefic nature and become neutral.
Thus in case of Amavasaya birth ( No Moon birth) if the Moon become the lord of Kendra houses then it is to be consider good. This will happen in case of birth in Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn ascendant. Such Moon if get associated with benefic planets will give good results. In case of Poornima birth (Full Moon birth) if the Moon become the lord of Kendra houses then it will looses its benefic qualities and gets Kendraadhipati Dosha.
In case 2 given above the birth is on the day of Poornima (Full Moon). In this Libra lagan case of Rahul Gandhi the Moon takes the lordship of 10th house. It looses its benefic nature and also falls in Kemadruma yoga. The Moon comes under Kendraadhipati Dosha. Moon in mutual aspect with malefic Mars and Sun is not giving good results in career here. Rahul Gandhi is the son of former Prime Minister Rajive Gandhi. He has not been able to settle down well in his political career yet. Congress party is loosing elections after elections under his leadership.
In case 1 of Shiela Dikshit the birth is on Amavasaya day. The Moon is the lord of lagan in her Cancer ascendant chart. The Moon looses its malefic nature here and becomes neutral. But since it is associated with Sun and Saturn, which are natural as well as functional malefic here, so it has to give malefic results. This three times chief minister of Delhi was accused of serious corruption charges and at present she has lost her importance in political arena of state.
