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Shadbala Calculator: Six-Fold Planetary Strength (BPHS)

Shadbala is the six-fold strength of the 7 planets, set out in Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra. The calculator measures each planet from the Sun to Saturn in rupas and compares the total with the minimum that planet needs. It shows which planets are strong enough to give their results and which fall short.

Shadbala

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Birth details
  • Sidereal zodiac
  • Lahiri ayanamsa
  • North Indian chart
  • Vimshottari dasha

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How Is It Calculated

Shadbala adds 6 separate strengths. Each one is measured in virupas, and 60 virupas make 1 rupa.

  • Sthana Bala (position): exaltation (Uchcha), strength in 7 divisional charts (Saptavargaja), odd or even sign and navamsa (Ojayugma), house type (Kendradi) and drekkana.
  • Dig Bala (direction): each planet gains full strength in a particular house. Jupiter and Mercury peak in the 1st, and the Sun and Mars in the 10th. Saturn peaks in the 7th, and the Moon and Venus in the 4th.
  • Kala Bala (time): day or night birth (Nathonnatha), the Moon's phase (Paksha) and the part of day or night (Tribhaga). It also counts the lords of the year, month, weekday and hour, declination (Ayana) and planetary war (Yuddha).
  • Cheshta Bala (motion): the planet's speed and direction, with the highest value for retrograde motion. The Sun uses its Ayana Bala here, and the Moon uses its Paksha Bala.
  • Naisargika Bala (natural strength): a fixed value, highest for the Sun, then the Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars and Saturn.
  • Drik Bala (aspects): aspects from benefic planets add strength, and aspects from malefic planets reduce it.

The 6 values are added to give the total in rupas. The calculator then divides the total by the planet's minimum to get its ratio. A ratio of 1 or more means the planet meets its minimum.

Understanding Your Result

The bars show each planet's total against its minimum. Planets are ranked by ratio, so the planet at the top is the strongest in your chart. The table gives the 6 balas and their parts for each planet.

A planet above its minimum can deliver the results of the houses it rules and occupies. Its dasha tends to bring those results in a clear, visible way. A planet below its minimum delivers with more effort and delay.

Strength and benefic nature are separate questions. A strong planet gives its own results fully, and those results depend on its lordship for your ascendant. Read Shadbala together with dignity, yogas and the running dasha.

Look at the parts when a total looks surprising. A planet may be low in a single bala, such as Dig Bala or Cheshta Bala, and that shows where its strength is missing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Shadbala?

Shadbala means six-fold strength. It is the method from Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra that measures, in rupas, how strong each of the 7 planets is. The 6 parts are position, direction, time, motion, natural strength and the aspects a planet receives.

What are the 6 balas?

The first 3 are Sthana Bala (position), Dig Bala (direction) and Kala Bala (time). The other 3 are Cheshta Bala (motion), Naisargika Bala (natural strength) and Drik Bala (aspects). Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra sets them out in chapter 27.

What is the minimum strength a planet needs?

In rupas: Sun 6.5, Moon 6, Mars 5, Mercury 7, Jupiter 6.5, Venus 5.5, Saturn 5. A rupa is 60 virupas.

Why are Rahu and Ketu not included?

The classical Shadbala is defined for the 7 planets from the Sun to Saturn. The nodes have no motion of their own to measure and cast no aspect in this scheme.

Which planet is the strongest?

The one whose total is the largest against its own minimum, that is, the highest ratio. A planet can have the largest total and still rank below another with a lower minimum.

Learn More

Dig Bala, one of the 6 strengths, is covered in Planetary Directions and Their Strengths.