On this page

In short: Kemadruma yoga forms when there are no planets in the signs on either side of the Moon (the 2nd and 12th from it). Classical texts describe it as a yoga of isolation or hardship, and the same texts list many conditions that cancel it.

The rule

Kemadruma yoga forms when no planet occupies the 2nd or the 12th sign from the Moon. The Sun is excluded from this count in the classical lunar yogas, and most authors also exclude Rahu and Ketu.

What it means

Kemadruma describes a Moon without support — a mind that may feel alone or unprotected. Classical texts describe poverty and sorrow; modern astrologers read it, when uncancelled, as emotional self-reliance learned the hard way, and they rarely see it act in full.

A worked check

Suppose the Moon is in Libra and no planet except the Sun sits in Virgo or Scorpio. Kemadruma would form. Now check the cancellations: is any planet in Libra, Cancer, Aries or Capricorn (angles from the Moon)? Is any planet in an angle from the ascendant? Is the Moon bright? If any of these is true, the yoga is cancelled in most authors' practice.

What weakens or cancels it

Classical cancellations (Kemadruma bhanga) include: a planet in an angle from the Moon; a planet in an angle from the ascendant; the Moon joined by a planet; the Moon in an angle aspected by Jupiter; a bright, full Moon; the Moon in its own or exaltation sign. Because at least one of these is present in most charts, a fully standing Kemadruma is uncommon.

An example

With the Moon in Leo and no planet in Cancer or Virgo, Kemadruma would form — but if Jupiter is in Scorpio (an angle from the Moon), it is cancelled.

Background

Kemadruma is the most feared of the lunar yogas and probably the most misquoted. Brihat Jataka and BPHS describe it in harsh terms, but both also give the conditions that cancel it, and the cancellations are broad. Many experienced astrologers say they have rarely seen a fully standing Kemadruma act as the texts describe.

When it gives results

A yoga gives its results mainly in the dashas of the planets that form it. Here that means the mahadashas and antardashas of Moon (Vimshottari mahadasha lengths: Moon 10 years). Within those periods, transits of Jupiter and Saturn over the planets or houses involved often mark the moments when the yoga becomes visible.

Checking it in a chart

To judge this yoga in a real chart, Sunyra checks, in order: that the formation rule is met exactly (by sign, using whole-sign houses); the dignity of Moon by sign and in the navamsa; combustion, retrogression and planetary war; aspects from natural benefics and malefics; the houses the planets rule for the ascendant; Shadbala strength; and the running and coming dashas. A yoga that passes these checks is described with confidence; one that does not is described as weak or partial.

How to read it honestly

Like every yoga, this one describes a potential. Whether and when it shows depends on the strength of the planets involved, the houses they rule, aspects from benefics and malefics, the divisional charts, and the dashas of the planets that form it. Classical texts list hundreds of yogas, and most charts contain several; no single yoga decides a life.

These yogas are often read alongside this one:

  • Gajakesari Yoga — Gajakesari yoga — 'elephant and lion' — forms when Jupiter is in an angle (1st, 4th, 7th or 10th) from the Moon.
  • Sunapha, Anapha and Durudhara Yogas — Sunapha, Anapha and Durudhara are the three lunar yogas formed by planets beside the Moon.
  • Adhi Yoga — Adhi yoga forms when the natural benefics — Mercury, Jupiter and Venus — occupy the 6th, 7th and 8th signs from the Moon.
  • Chandra-Mangala Yoga — Chandra-Mangala yoga forms when the Moon and Mars are together in one sign (and, in some texts, in mutual aspect).
  • Shakata Yoga — Shakata yoga — 'cart' yoga — forms when the Moon is in the 6th, 8th or 12th sign from Jupiter.

FAQ

Is Kemadruma yoga bad? Uncancelled, it is traditionally difficult; but it has many cancellations, and most charts with it have at least one.

Do Rahu and Ketu count for Kemadruma? Most authors exclude the nodes from the count; some include them.

Does the Sun count? No. The classical lunar yogas exclude the Sun.

Sources

  1. Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, ch. 37 (Santhanam)
  2. Brihat Jataka of Varahamihira, ch. 13 (lunar yogas)
  3. Phaladeepika of Mantreswara, ch. 6 (yogas)

Written by Sunyra Editorial. Astrology is a tradition of interpretation; read this as guidance, not a forecast. Disclaimer.

Last reviewed