Popular rule vs the verse
15 rules of Vedic astrology set beside the classical verses they are said to come from: what the verse says, and what Supastro computes now.
Of 15 rules checked, 8 are in the classical texts, often in a narrower form than the one in use. For the other 7, no verse was found: they are later customs.
Why the gap matters
Most yogas and doshas (combinations in a birth chart said to help or to harm) are quoted to people as tradition. Some are in the classical Sanskrit texts. Others were added much later, or grew wider as they were passed on. A later rule is not wrong for being later, but a person told they have a dosha deserves to know which part of that verdict comes from a verse and which from custom.
Supastro computes these rules in its own engine, so we checked each one against the texts, rule by rule. For every rule below you can read the version that was computed before (the common version, or our own earlier code), the verse with its source and number, and the rule Supastro computes now. Where a rule has no verse, we still compute it and label it a later custom, so a person who has been told about it can check it.
All 15 rules at a glance
| Rule | In the classical texts? | Source shown | What Supastro did |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vasumati Yoga | Yes | Brihat Jataka 13.9 | Now follows the verse |
| Manglik (Mangal dosha) | Yes, five houses | Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 80.47 | Now follows the verse |
| Parivartana Yoga | Yes, three types | Phaladeepika 6.32 | Now follows the verse |
| Viparita Raja Yoga | Yes, with a condition | Uttara Kalamrita 4.22 | Now follows the verse |
| Amala Yoga | Yes, benefics only | Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 36.5-6 | Now follows the verse |
| Nabhasa Yogas | Yes | Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 35.16-17 | Now follows the verse |
| Akhanda Samrajya Yoga | Yes | Phaladeepika 7.25 | Now follows the verse |
| Karaka Adhi Yoga (Jaimini) | No verse found | Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 40.3 (nearest verse, a different rule) | Kept, labelled a later custom |
| Kaal Sarp dosha | No verse found | Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 35.8 (nearest verse, a different rule) | Kept, labelled a later custom |
| Pitru dosha (Grahan dosha of the Sun) | No verse found | Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 83.20-30 (nearest verse, a different rule) | Two entries merged into one, labelled a later custom |
| Grahan dosha of the Moon | No verse found | Jataka Parijata 7.75 (nearest verse, a different rule) | Kept, labelled a later custom |
| Guru-Chandal dosha | No verse found | None found | Kept, labelled a later custom |
| Angarak dosha | No verse found | Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra 33.36-40 (nearest verse, a different rule) | Kept, labelled a later custom |
| Shrapit dosha | No verse found | None found | Kept, labelled a later custom |
| Vish dosha | The pairing yes, the name no | Phaladeepika 18.2 | Kept; the name labelled later |
Tap a rule’s name to jump to it. Verse numbers follow the editions in our library; other editions number some verses differently.
Vasumati Yoga
Verse foundA wealth combination: the benefic planets in the 3rd, 6th, 10th or 11th houses, the houses of growth.
Two or more of Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and the Moon in the 3rd, 6th, 10th or 11th from the Lagna only (the Moon counted as a benefic; never counted from the Moon).
If all the benefic planets Mercury, Jupiter and Venus occupy the Upachaya houses from the Ascendant ... a person will become exceedingly wealthy
Mercury, Jupiter and Venus in the 3rd/6th/10th/11th from the Lagna or from the Moon. All three: the full yoga. Two: the medium grade the verses give. A pair that reaches two only by counting the Moon is still listed, labelled a later convention, dormant (with one of the three benefics the verse gives 'very little' wealth).
Cited as: Brihat Jataka 13.9; Phaladeepika 6.19; BPHS 37.6 — Mercury, Jupiter and Venus in the 3rd/6th/10th/11th from the Lagna or the Moon (all three full, two medium)
Manglik (Mangal dosha)
Verse foundMars in certain houses of the birth chart, traditionally said to strain marriage.
Mars in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th from the Lagna or the Moon (Venus a side note). Cancelled by any of: Mars in own sign, exalted, in Leo/Aquarius, with the Moon or Jupiter, under Jupiter's aspect, or in a house-specific sign (2nd Gemini/Virgo, 7th Cancer/Capricorn, 8th Cancer, 12th Taurus). Both partners Manglik cancel.
if Mangal be in the 12th, 4th, 7th, or 8th from Lagn, without aspect by, or association with any benefic.
Classical form (BPHS 80.47, read in the Sanskrit): Mars in the 1st, 12th, 4th, 7th or 8th house with no benefic joining or aspecting it (Jupiter, Venus, the Moon, or Mercury when Mercury is free of malefics) — full status. A form made only by the 2nd house or by counting from the Moon is still listed, labelled later convention, never an affliction (dormant; 'Manglik by later convention only'). The later exceptions (own or exalted sign, Leo/Aquarius, sign-specific houses) stay listed: they cancel a convention-only form but only soften a classical one (Mild). Both partners Manglik still cancel (BPHS 80.48-49).
Update: Since 11 Nov 2026 the waxing Moon's aspect on Mars (from the 7th, BPHS 26.2) cancels like any benefic's (BPHS 80.47 with 3.11); it counts only when the chart's degrees show the phase. A Moon joining Mars still counts unless the phase is known to be waning.
Cited as: BPHS 80.47-49 — Mars in the 1st, 12th, 4th, 7th or 8th house with no benefic joining or aspecting it; void when both partners have it (Brihat Jataka 24.8, Phaladeepika 11.3: the 7th)
Parivartana Yoga
Verse foundTwo planets each sitting in the other's sign: an exchange of signs.
A mutual sign exchange is Dainya when either planet sits in the 6th, 8th or 12th (dormant), otherwise Maha; an exchange with the 3rd lord was named Maha with a Khala note in the Source line.
These 8 are called (Khala) Yogas. The remaining 28 are termed (Maha) Yogas.
Phaladeepika 6.32's three types: Dainya (a 6th, 8th or 12th lord involved; dormant as before), Khala (the 3rd lord with a lord of the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th or 11th — its own name and Phaladeepika 6.33's mixed result), Maha (the other 28).
Cited as: Phaladeepika 6.32-34 — Dainya (a 6th/8th/12th lord), Khala (the 3rd lord), Maha (the rest)
Viparita Raja Yoga
Verse foundThe rulers of the three difficult houses (the 6th, 8th and 12th) placed in one another's houses; the texts give it a rise through reversal.
The lord of the 6th, 8th or 12th in any of the 6th/8th/12th (its own included) was called Viparita Raja Yoga; no relation between the lords was asked.
These lords must be related mutually by conjunction, mutual aspect, or mutual exchange of houses.
Uttara Kalamrita 4.22's form — a 6th/8th/12th lord in another of those houses, related by conjunction, mutual aspect or exchange to another of the three lords and to no other planet — is the Viparita Raja Yoga, full status. The same placement without that relation (or a lord in its own dusthana) is Phaladeepika 6.57's Harsha (6th lord), Sarala (8th) or Vimala (12th) yoga: named so, full status as that yoga, with its own Phaladeepika effect; the Viparita Raja name is not claimed.
Cited as: Uttara Kalamrita 4.22 — dusthana lords in each other's dusthanas, related only to each other; Phaladeepika 6.57-69 — the placement alone is Harsha, Sarala or Vimala
Amala Yoga
Verse foundA benefic planet in the 10th house, counted from the ascendant or from the Moon.
Jupiter, Venus or Mercury in the 10th from the Lagna or the Moon, even with a malefic in the same house.
If there be exclusively a benefic in the 10th from Lagn, or Candr, Amal Yog exists.
The 10th from the Lagna or the Moon holds a benefic (Jupiter, Venus, Mercury) and no malefic (Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu) — full Amala. A benefic sharing that 10th with a malefic is still listed, labelled the looser later reading, dormant.
Cited as: BPHS 36.5-6 — exclusively a benefic in the 10th from the Lagna or the Moon (Phaladeepika 6.19; Jataka Parijata 7.119)
Nabhasa Yogas
Verse foundShapes made by how the seven planets are spread around the chart; BPHS chapter 35 names 32 of them.
A Sankhya yoga (the number of signs the seven planets occupy) was always active, even when another Nabhasa yoga formed; Ashraya and Dala active; the 20 Akriti yogas were not detected.
None of these seven Yogas will be operable, if another Nabhash Yog is derivable.
All 32 of BPHS 35: the 20 Akriti yogas are detected (the seven planets confined to the named houses, each named house occupied; Vajra/Yava need both halves). A Sankhya yoga is dormant when an Ashraya, Dala or Akriti yoga forms; an Ashraya yoga is dormant when an Akriti yoga forms. Exactly one Sankhya yoga is still listed for every chart.
Cited as: BPHS 35.9-17, 35.50; Brihat Jataka 12.4-12; Phaladeepika 6.39 — Sankhya only when no other Nabhasa yoga forms; Ashraya gives way to an Akriti yoga (Brihat Jataka 12.12; Saravali 21.7)
Akhanda Samrajya Yoga
Verse foundA combination the English translations call that of “a full-blown empire”, built on the rulers of the 2nd, 9th and 11th houses and on Jupiter.
The lords of the 2nd, 9th and 11th all in their own or exaltation signs (no source; the 30 Oct 2026 audit labelled it 'later convention').
out of the lords of the 11th, the 9th and the 2nd houses, there be but one that occupies a Kendra ... to the Moon
Phaladeepika 7.25: at least one of the lords of the 11th, 9th and 2nd in a kendra from the Moon, and Jupiter the lord of the 2nd, 5th or 11th — full status (Jataka Parijata 7.61 names only the 11th for Jupiter; noted on the instance). The old 2nd/9th/11th-in-dignity form is still listed when the verse is not met, labelled 'no verse', dormant.
Cited as: Phaladeepika 7.25; Jataka Parijata 7.61 — one of the 11th/9th/2nd lords in a kendra from the Moon, Jupiter lord of the 2nd, 5th or 11th
Karaka Adhi Yoga (Jaimini)
No verse foundIn the Jaimini school, the Amatyakaraka (the planet of career and counsel) in an angular house from the Atmakaraka (the planet of the self).
The Amatyakaraka in an angular house from the Atmakaraka (or with it) gives a raja yoga, a combination for rank and success (modern Jaimini practice).
No verse gives this rule. Searched the texts in our library and, on the web, the Jaimini Sutras (the raja-yoga sutras), Santhanam's BPHS and Jaimini pages; only modern pages state the rule, none with a sutra number.
Should Amatya Karak and the dispositor of Atma Karak be together, the native will be endowed with great intelligence
Unchanged, labelled a later (Jaimini-school) convention with no verse located; its status still follows the dasha of the two karakas.
Cited as: Later convention (Jaimini school): no verse located; nearest, BPHS 39.3-5, 40.3, 40.6
Kaal Sarp dosha
No verse foundAll seven planets on one side of the line between Rahu and Ketu.
All seven planets hemmed between Rahu and Ketu.
No verse gives this rule. Not in BPHS, Phaladeepika, Brihat Jataka, Jataka Parijata, Uttara Kalamrita, Laghu Parashari or Saravali (web text).
If 3 Kendras are occupied by benefics, Maal Yog is produced, while malefics so placed will cause Bhujang, or Sarpa Yog.
Unchanged, labelled a later/modern convention with no verse located.
Cited as: Later/modern convention: no verse located (BPHS 35.8's Sarpa is a different yoga)
Pitru dosha (Grahan dosha of the Sun)
No verse foundThe Sun in the same sign as Rahu or Ketu, known under two names.
The Sun with Rahu or Ketu, under either name: Pitru dosha or the Grahan dosha of the Sun.
No verse gives this rule. Not in BPHS (the curse chapter and the eclipse-birth chapters state other rules), Phaladeepika, Brihat Jataka, Jataka Parijata, Uttara Kalamrita, Laghu Parashari.
There will be no male issue, as a result of the curse of the father in the previous birth
One entry, 'Pitru Dosha (Grahan Dosha of the Sun)', id PitruDosha with the old Grahan ids and names as aliases; every fact of both kept. Labelled a later/modern convention.
Cited as: Later/modern convention: no verse makes the Sun with a node a dosha (BPHS 83.20-30 is a 5th-house rule; BPHS 85, 91 treat birth during an eclipse)
Grahan dosha of the Moon
No verse foundThe Moon in the same sign as Rahu or Ketu.
The Moon with Rahu or Ketu.
No verse gives this rule. The only nearby verse, Jataka Parijata 7.75, is a narrower rule: it also needs a malefic's aspect.
When the Moon seised by Rahu or Ketu is aspected by a malefic planet, the person born soon gets into poverty.
Unchanged, labelled a later/modern convention.
Cited as: Later/modern convention as a natal conjunction (nearest, Jataka Parijata 7.75-76; BPHS 85, 91 on eclipse birth)
Guru-Chandal dosha
No verse foundJupiter in the same sign as Rahu or Ketu.
Jupiter with Rahu or Ketu, named a dosha.
No verse gives this rule. No text in our library (BPHS, Phaladeepika, Brihat Jataka, Jataka Parijata, Uttara Kalamrita, Laghu Parashari) names it; a web search found it only on modern pages.
Unchanged, labelled a later/modern convention (no classical verse names it a dosha); node timing by Phaladeepika 20.39 / BPHS 34.16 as before.
Cited as: Later/modern convention: no verse names Guru-Chandal Dosha a dosha
Angarak dosha
No verse foundMars in the same sign as Rahu or Ketu.
Mars with Rahu or Ketu, named a dosha.
No verse gives this rule. No text in our library (BPHS, Phaladeepika, Brihat Jataka, Jataka Parijata, Uttara Kalamrita, Laghu Parashari) names it; a web search found it only on modern pages.
If Rahu and Mangal are in the 5th from Karakāńś
Unchanged, labelled a later/modern convention (no classical verse names it a dosha); node timing by Phaladeepika 20.39 / BPHS 34.16 as before.
Cited as: Later/modern convention: no verse names Angarak Dosha a dosha
Shrapit dosha
No verse foundSaturn in the same sign as Rahu.
Saturn with Rahu, named a dosha.
No verse gives this rule. No text in our library (BPHS, Phaladeepika, Brihat Jataka, Jataka Parijata, Uttara Kalamrita, Laghu Parashari) names it; a web search found it only on modern pages.
Unchanged, labelled a later/modern convention (no classical verse names it a dosha); node timing by Phaladeepika 20.39 / BPHS 34.16 as before.
Cited as: Later/modern convention: no verse names Shrapit Dosha a dosha
Vish dosha
Verse foundThe Moon in the same sign as Saturn.
The Moon with Saturn; the Moon dignified, or Jupiter's or Venus's aspect softens it.
If the Moon be in conjunction with Saturn, the person born will be the son of a widow remarried.
Unchanged. The conjunction and its effect are classical; the name 'Vish' is a later convention (labelled).
Cited as: Brihat Jataka 14.2; Phaladeepika 18.2; Jataka Parijata 8.3; Saravali 15.12 (the Moon with Saturn); the name 'Vish' is a later convention
How the comparison was made
- The rules. These are the 15 rules in Supastro’s engine whose definition differed from the verse, or that an audit of our citations on 30 October 2026 marked as later custom. The comparison was built on 30 Oct 2026; the Manglik entry was last revised on 11 November 2026.
- The texts. Each rule was searched for in the six canonical texts in our library, by file and line, and in primary translations read online (for example the Sanskrit of a verse, or a second English translation).
- Which reading wins. Sources are ranked canonical, then classical, then commentary, then modern convention. The strongest reading backed by the most canonical texts is the one Supastro computes. Rules with no verse are still computed and shown, labelled a later custom.
- Quotes. Every quote is at most 25 words, as printed in the edition named. Obvious scanning errors in the old editions (such as “bo” for “be”) are corrected.
Limitations
- “No verse found” means no verse in the texts and translations we searched. It is not proof that no text anywhere gives the rule.
- Translations differ. Where the Sanskrit and the English disagree (as with the 1st house in the Manglik verse), the entry says which reading Supastro follows and why.
- This page compares rules, not results. For how often a rule fires, see the Manglik dosha study.
Download the data
All 15 rules (CSV): one row per rule with its plain description, the version before, whether a verse was found, the source and quote, the source tier, the rule Supastro computes now, what changed, and a link to the rule on this page. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit Supastro and link to this page.
Cite this
Supastro Research. (2026). Popular rule vs the verse: 15 astrology rules checked against the classical texts. https://supastro.com/research/popular-rule-vs-verse
Source: Supastro Research, "Popular rule vs the verse: 15 astrology rules checked against the classical texts" (14 November 2026), https://supastro.com/research/popular-rule-vs-verse
Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 — credit Supastro and link to this page.