COMBUSTION

Combustion (asta) has a great significance or importance in the interpretation of horoscope. Planets become combust when they are within certain limits of the Sun. According to Surya Sidhanta,

Combustion is one of the modes of conjunction. The limits are:-

• Moon within 12 degrees of Sun.
• Mars within 17 degrees of Sun.
• Mercury within 14 degrees of Sun and 12 degrees when retrograde.
• Jupiter within 11 degrees of Sun.
• Venus within 10 degrees of Sun and 8 when retrograde.
• Saturn within 15 degrees of Sun.
• Rahu combusts Sun and Ketu eclipses the Moon.

Western Astrology allows an orb go.30′ either side of the Sun for a planet becoming combust. An inherent contradiction is evident in this theoryas, a uniform orb for all celestial bodies of various sizes and distances, can not be conceived.

As per Phaldeepika, ‘The good influence of a planet is at its maximum.. three quarter, a half quarter or nil as the planets are in the exaltation, Swakshetra, friendly sign, inimical sign or depression sign respectively. The proportions given above are with respect to benefics or lords of the benefic houses. In the case of malefics or lords of malefic houses. it will be reverse. When a planet is in combustion its effects will be similar to that in depression” i.e. debilitation or nil quantitatively.

Parasara says that planets are capable of optimum self-expression occupying the 7th house from the Sun which however becomes nil when conjunction with the Sun.

Debilitated or combust 9th lord makes the native resort to begging. Saturn occupy 6th, 8th or 12th house, debilitation or combust denotes troubles through poison, weapon. change of place or job, cause (or great fear, the death of the parent, ill health of wife and children, troubles through the state. loss, confinement etc.

COMBUSTION

Varahamihira says debilitiated, vanquished planets in war, combust by the Sun, devoid of rasmis.

If the lord of any bhava is combust with ‘the Sun (or occupies 8th etc.) without the association or aspect of beneficial planets, the Bhava’s results become defunct.

 During the dasha of a planet in combustion, one will be drawn into unnecessary conflicts and quarrels, wife and children are afflicted and one meets with the death of serious accidents.

A planet  lose power completely when it is within a certain distance from the Sun as detailed above. Mercury being an Exception. This is called budhaditya yoga. In addition, the planet is called combust when posited in the same degrees and minutes of longitude as the one occupied by the Sun and it is considered to be eclipsed and becomes utterly powerless.

It is also provided by our sages that planets within a distance of 5 degrees from the Sun are in full combustion, if however they are 10 degrees apart from the Sun, the combustion is partial or ordinary.

When the planet is beyond 15 degrees. there is no combustion at all.

According to Jatak Tatva  the dasa of eclipsed (combust) planet will cause troubles and produce untoward results. According to Jatak Parijat the planet may not prove auspicious when they are eclipsed by Sun’s rays, also a planet in a house cannot advance it if its lord is eclipsed.

One’s longevity reduces if a planet other than Venus or Saturn is combust. Planets under combustion become powerless. According to Hindu Astrology, Rahu combuts or eclipses Sun while Ketu eclipses the Moon.

Combustion

At combustion, planet loses its own rays due to close to sun.
1) The combust planet obscured by the rays of the Sun is impotent (weak to act independently).
Combust planet express itself through Sun.
Important Note : Retrograde planet does not lose its rays at combustion.

2) Sun is the Karak (Significator) for lagna, signifies self (ego).
Sun  affectes with the qualities of the combust planet due to the closeness of combust planet.
To say to someone that Mars is combust and therefore weak (impotent) will not ring true because the person knows that the traits of Mars are strong in their nature (self). Similarly,

Combustion

However, ego and pride would likely be quite prominent in regards to intellect (Mercury) and force of character (Mars).
3) Sun is karak for Dharma and Agni which purifies the individual beings by cleaning them with Spiritual heat.
To say, Combustion of Jupiter will make you pass through a phase of spiritual growth like gold passing theorugh fire to come clean and combustion of Saturn will burn the sins attributed to adharma you did in the past birth by forcing you to serve elders and father.
4) Also look for natural friendship and enimity of Sun with combust planet.
For example,Combustion of Venus indicate delays in marriage ( perhaps Sun shows it’s anger) and it also indicate Dharmic attitude of Venus at relationship, no extra marital affairs or love affairs.
5) How results will be manifested can be seen through house and nakshatra lordship yogas.
Retro mercury will not lose it rays so combustion results will be not pronoused and Budh Aditya yoga will give its full effects.