A Dangerous Trap

In Astrology, Mars and Sun are considered as fiery planets. Perhaps that may be the reason they are good friends. But due to their bad temperament and aggressive nature they have special role to cause destruction. Our sages had a divine method to calculate their inauspiciousness. This method is known as “ Kantak-Shool”method. The word “Kantak” means “Thorn” and “Shool” means “a kind of sharp weapon”. To calculate the inauspiciousness first the position of Sun’s nakshatra to Mool nakshatra. This will be equation “(1)”. Now count the nakshatra occupied by Mars to moola. Treat this number as (2). As per rule the total of (1) and (2) is called “ Kantak-Shool”. The total we get will be considered as (3). Lastly count from the Moola nakshatra till the number denoted by equation number (3). The resultant nakshatra will be the “Kantak-shoola nakshatra”. This nakshatra is so dangerous that it destroys the significance of the planet occupying that nakshatra.
Example
Suppose in a birth chart Sun is placed in Rohini nakshatra, and Mars is placed in Chitra nakshatra. Now start counting from Rohini till Moola, we get 16. In Next step count from Chitra till Moola, we get 6. The resultant figure would be 16+6=22. The 22nd nakshatra from the moola would be deadly one. Here it comes to be Hasta nakshatra. A planet occupied in Hasta nakshatra would loose its beneficiance.

It is believe that this is such a malefic yoga that there is no remedy for that.

The R factor

Now a days most of the horoscopes are made by computers. As compare to old charts which are hand made, the new charts give description of planet also. Sometimes the alphabet “R” is written in front of a planet. “R” means retrograde. We all know that the planets move in a linear direction. But due to difference in their relative speed which varies from time to time , sometimes they appear to move in a backward direction for a particular duration. This backward movement in astrology is called “Retrograde motion” of planet. Retrograde planets are the most mystical part of astrology. Some orthodox astrologers rarely pay attention towards this state and jumps into conclusion straightaway. Without taking the “Retrograde” state of planet into account any prediction could be misleading. An astrologer has to use all his experience of studies and intuition before arriving at any result regarding retrograde planets. No doubt when a planet is retrograde in natal chart, then its behavior is not normal. It is debatable weather the benefic planet will become more benefic or not.
For example when a 7th lord or house is under the effect of retrograde planets then it causes delays(a kind of abnormality!). The more the number, the greater is the delay. In the following chart the 7th lord is retrograde. This causes abnormal delay in the marriage.



Similarly, when a dashanath or antardashanth becomes retrograde in transit then it may suspend the outcome of a particular result. The Retrograde planets holds key in medical astrology and they have to be interpreted carefully.