Yoga · Classical source
Gaja Kesari Yoga
Jupiter in a kendra from the Moon: one of the best known yogas, and far more common than its fame suggests.
Also written: Gajakesari Yoga, Gaj Kesari Yog
- Type
- Yoga
- Planets
- Jupiter and the Moon
- Source tier
- Classical
- How common
- 33.4% of charts
- Source
- Phaladeepika ch. 6; BPHS ch. 36 (Santhanam) / 38 (Sharma) for its qualifiers
How it forms
In its classical form, Jupiter sits in a kendra (the 1st, 4th, 7th or 10th sign) counted from the Moon. That alone is very common, so the engine gives the full reading only when the texts’ qualifiers also hold. Another benefic must join or aspect Jupiter. Neither Jupiter nor the Moon may be debilitated, combust or in a dusthana. Jupiter must not be in an enemy’s sign, Saturn and Rahu must not afflict either planet, and the Moon must not be very dark.
Without those qualifiers, the basic form is reported, with a more modest reading.
Classical (from the Moon)Classical
Jupiter in a kendra from the Moon.
In 33.4% of charts
BPHS form (from the ascendant)Classical
Jupiter in a kendra from the ascendant, supported by a benefic and free of every weakness above.
In 0.32% of charts
Jataka Parijata formLater classical
The Moon aspected by Mercury, Jupiter and Venus, none debilitated or combust.
In 0.15% of charts
Modern loose formModern
Jupiter merely joining or aspecting the Moon. Common in popular use, but not the classical definition.
In 16.4% of charts
What it gives
With its qualifiers. A steady mind joined to wisdom. You think clearly under pressure, speak with authority, are learned and generous, and earn a name that outlives your deeds.
Basic form. Jupiter stands in a kendra from the Moon, the basic form of Gaja Kesari, found in about one chart in three. Without the dignity and benefic support that complete it, it gives a steadying optimism and sound judgement rather than the renown the full yoga promises.
What weakens it
Each of these makes the yoga weaker without removing it. The tag says how established the rule is.
- No other benefic joins or aspects JupiterClassical
- Jupiter or the Moon is debilitated, combust, or in the 6th, 8th or 12th houseClassical
- Jupiter is in an enemy’s signClassical
- Saturn or Rahu afflicts Jupiter or the MoonLater classical
- The Moon is very dark, close to new moonLater classical
How common is it?
We cast 20,000 charts with this site's engine, for random birth times and places between 1940 and 2010, and counted. Gaja Kesari Yoga appeared in 33.4% of them: about one chart in three. It held in full, with none of its weakening conditions, in 0.66%; in the rest it was present in a weaker form.
A rule that appears in about one chart in three cannot mark anyone out on its own. What matters is its strength, and whether anything in the chart cancels it, which is why the engine grades each one rather than simply reporting it.
Is it in your chart?
Your free kundli lists every yoga and dosha the engine finds, why each applies, and anything that weakens or cancels it.
Cast your kundliRelated
- Adhi YogaThe benefics in the 6th, 7th and 8th from the Moon, graded by how many take part.
- Amala YogaOnly benefics in the 10th house: a clean, lasting reputation.
- Sunapha, Anapha & Durdhara YogaPlanets in the signs either side of the Moon: the support the mind draws on.
- Kemadruma YogaA Moon with no planet on either side, common in form but almost always cancelled.