Astro 104

The Moon referred to as the Queen of the Navagrahas or the planetary world is the planet that rules the mind of the human being.

There are several significant Moon-based yogas – those defined by the position of the Moon in relation to other planets - expounded in the classical works on Astrology.  Some of these yogas are favourable and they signify benefits to the native while there are few evil ones which bring misery and suffering to the native. 

Of the Moon-based evil yogas one that has become a main subject of discourse and debate in astrological circles in India in particular is the much dreaded Sakata Yoga. 

How does Sakata Yoga arise?
According to Indian sage Vaidyanatha Dikshita, the Sakata Yoga arises when the Moon is found in the 6th or the 8th House from Jupiter in a Natal Chart. It is also noteworthy that there is another planetary position – a very rare one in fact, that generates this evil yoga apart from the direct involvement of the Moon. That is where all nine planets are posited in the 1st and the 7th Houses. 

Why the Sakata Yoga is baneful
This yoga is considered very evil for two reasons: one is that this yoga nullifies all other favourable yogas in the Natal Chart and the other reason is that the malefic effects the yoga generates persist throughout the life.

In the case of other yogas, be they malefic or beneficial, the effects they produce are confined to the Dasas and Antar Dasas of the Yogakaraka planets. 
Vaidyanatha Dikshita says that even a person born into a royal family would suffer poverty, misery in day-to-day life and become the target of the wrath of the ruler, king or the head of the state if he is afflicted by Sakata Yoga.  

Meanwhile, Mantreswara, author of the celebrated classical work, Phaladeepika says that the native afflicted by the Sakata Yoga would lose his wealth, status and reputation, but he may regain all what he has lost. However, he would undergo much mental pain and suffering.

Exceptions to the general rule 

• There are exceptions to the general rule that the Sakata Yoga arises when the Moon is placed in the 6th or the 8th House from the House.  
• The Moon is in exaltation or in his own House or posited in the Houses owned by Jupiter though placed in the 6th or the 8th House from Jupiter. This planetary position not only nullifies the adverse effects of Sakata Yoga, but also generates the favourable Mukuta Yoga that raises the native to a very high position.
• If the Moon posited in the 6th or the 8th from Jupiter is aspected by Mars the Sakata Yoga gets cancelled.
• If the Moon is conjunct with Rahu or is aspected by Jupiter when he is placed in the 6th or the 8th House from Jupiter Sakata Yoga gets nullified.
• The Full Moon in the 6th or the 8th House from Jupiter does not give rise to Sakata Yoga.
• Jupiter acquiring greater strength in Shadbala than the Moon would result in the cancellation of the Sakata yoga. 
• The Sakata Yoga does not arise if the Moon is in a Kendra from the Ascendant even if he is in the 6th or the 8th from Jupiter.