Planet condition and strength
Shadbala in Vedic astrology
Shadbala, meaning six-fold strength, scores how strong each planet from the Sun to Saturn is. It adds six parts: position, direction, time, motion, natural strength and aspects. Each part is measured in virupas, and 60 virupas make one rupa. A planet's total is compared with its classical minimum, and a ratio of 1 or more means strong.
Updated
Shadbala: how the API computes it
Shadbala has six sources of strength (SB-01). They are position (sthana bala), direction (dig bala), time (kala bala), motion (cheshta bala), natural strength (naisargika bala) and aspects (drik bala). Aspects are the influence other planets cast on a planet.
Each source is measured in virupas, and 60 virupas make one rupa. POST /v1/shadbala returns all six for every planet, the total, and the planets ranked from strongest to weakest. It also compares each total with the classical minimum for that planet.
A ratio of 1 or more means the planet is strong enough to give what its placement promises. The API keeps the six parts separate. A planet strong by position but weak by time reads differently from one that is average in all six.
If a part cannot be computed, the response names it in not_computed. It does not count it as zero (SB-06).
Shadbala in a real API answer
POST /v1/shadbala200 OK{
"shadbala": {
"unit": "virupas",
"grahas": {
"Sun": {
"totals": {
"sthana": 196.24,
"dig": 47.79,
"kala": 181.94,
"cheshta": 95.86,
"naisargika": 60,
"drik": -30.45
},
"rupas": 9.19,
"required_rupas": 6.5,
"strong": true
}
}
}
}Get it from the API
Planet and house strength (shadbala and bhava bala). Here is the call to API for Astrology (apiforastrology.com) for our sample, John Doe, born Aug 15, 1990, 10:30 AM, New York.
POST /v1/shadbala
# John Doe, born Aug 15, 1990, 10:30 AM, New York
curl -X POST "https://apiforastrology.com/api/astrology/v1/shadbala" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $ASTROLOGY_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"year":1990,"month":8,"day":15,"hour":10,"minute":30,"second":0,"latitude":40.7128,"longitude":-74.006,"timezone":"America/New_York"}'Answer (long lists shortened)200 OK
{
"shadbala": {
"grahas": {
"Sun": {
"sthana": {
"uchcha": 23.74,
"saptavargaja": 142.5,
"ojhayugma": 0,
"kendradi": 30,
"drekkana": 0,
"saptavargaja_detail": {
"D1": "great_friend",
"D2": "mulatrikona",
"D3": "neutral",
"D7": "great_friend",
"D9": "neutral",
"D12": "friend",
"D30": "great_friend"
}
},
"kala": {
"nathonnatha": 47.49,
"paksha": 38.6,
"tribhaga": 0,
"kalanga": 0,
"ayana": 95.86,
"yuddha": 0,
"tribhaga_lord": "Mercury",
"kalanga_detail": {
"varsha": {
"lord": "Moon",
"virupas": 0
},
"masa": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"virupas": 0
},
"vara": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"virupas": 0
},
"hora": {
"lord": "Mars",
"virupas": 0
}
}
},
"totals": {
"sthana": 196.24,
"dig": 47.79,
"kala": 181.94,
"cheshta": 95.86,
"naisargika": 60,
"drik": -30.45
},
"total_virupas": 551.38,
"rupas": 9.19,
"required_rupas": 6.5,
"ratio": 1.41,
"strong": true,
"rank": 1
},
"Moon": {
"sthana": {
"uchcha": 52.81,
"saptavargaja": 116.25,
"ojhayugma": 15,
"kendradi": 15,
"drekkana": 15,
"saptavargaja_detail": {
"D1": "mulatrikona",
"D2": "great_friend",
"D3": "enemy",
"D7": "friend",
"D9": "great_friend",
"D12": "enemy",
"D30": "enemy"
}
},
"kala": {
"nathonnatha": 12.51,
"paksha": 42.8,
"tribhaga": 0,
"kalanga": 15,
"ayana": 0.67,
"yuddha": 0,
"tribhaga_lord": "Mercury",
"kalanga_detail": {
"varsha": {
"lord": "Moon",
"virupas": 15
},
"masa": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"virupas": 0
},
"vara": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"virupas": 0
},
"hora": {
"lord": "Mars",
"virupas": 0
}
}
},
"totals": {
"sthana": 214.06,
"dig": 9.19,
"kala": 70.98,
"cheshta": 21.4,
"naisargika": 51.43,
"drik": 14.67
},
"total_virupas": 381.74,
"rupas": 6.36,
"required_rupas": 6,
"ratio": 1.06,
"strong": true,
"rank": 6
},
"Venus": {
"sthana": {
"uchcha": 26.22,
"saptavargaja": 120,
"ojhayugma": 30,
"kendradi": 30,
"drekkana": 0,
"saptavargaja_detail": {
"D1": "neutral",
"D2": "neutral",
"D3": "neutral",
"D7": "neutral",
"D9": "great_friend",
"D12": "mulatrikona",
"D30": "great_friend"
}
},
"kala": {
"nathonnatha": 47.49,
"paksha": 21.4,
"tribhaga": 0,
"kalanga": 0,
"ayana": 55.21,
"yuddha": 0,
"tribhaga_lord": "Mercury",
"kalanga_detail": {
"varsha": {
"lord": "Moon",
"virupas": 0
},
"masa": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"virupas": 0
},
"vara": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"virupas": 0
},
"hora": {
"lord": "Mars",
"virupas": 0
}
}
},
"totals": {
"sthana": 206.22,
"dig": 5.39,
"kala": 124.09,
"cheshta": 10.46,
"naisargika": 42.86,
"drik": -22.92
},
"cheshta_detail": {
"seeghrochcha": 77.66,
"mean_longitude": 119.74,
"true_longitude": 98.33,
"kendra": 31.38
},
"total_virupas": 366.11,
"rupas": 6.1,
"required_rupas": 5.5,
"ratio": 1.11,
"strong": true,
"rank": 7
},
"Jupiter": {
"sthana": {
"uchcha": 59.77,
"saptavargaja": 93.75,
"ojhayugma": 15,
"kendradi": 30,
"drekkana": 15,
"saptavargaja_detail": {
"D1": "great_friend",
"D2": "great_friend",
"D3": "great_friend",
"D7": "enemy",
"D9": "neutral",
"D12": "neutral",
"D30": "neutral"
}
},
"kala": {
"nathonnatha": 47.49,
"paksha": 21.4,
"tribhaga": 60,
"kalanga": 0,
"ayana": 55.94,
"yuddha": 0,
"tribhaga_lord": "Mercury",
"kalanga_detail": {
"varsha": {
"lord": "Moon",
"virupas": 0
},
"masa": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"virupas": 0
},
"vara": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"virupas": 0
},
"hora": {
"lord": "Mars",
"virupas": 0
}
}
},
"totals": {
"sthana": 213.52,
"dig": 35.25,
"kala": 184.82,
"cheshta": 8.89,
"naisargika": 34.29,
"drik": -21.94
},
"cheshta_detail": {
"seeghrochcha": 119.74,
"mean_longitude": 90.43,
"true_longitude": 95.69,
"kendra": 26.68
},
"total_virupas": 454.84,
"rupas": 7.58,
"required_rupas": 6.5,
"ratio": 1.17,
"strong": true,
"rank": 4
},
"Mercury": {
"sthana": {
"uchcha": 53.58,
"saptavargaja": 93.75,
"ojhayugma": 15,
"kendradi": 15,
"drekkana": 0,
"saptavargaja_detail": {
"D1": "great_friend",
"D2": "neutral",
"D3": "enemy",
"D7": "enemy",
"D9": "enemy",
"D12": "own",
"D30": "great_friend"
}
},
"kala": {
"nathonnatha": 60,
"paksha": 21.4,
"tribhaga": 60,
"kalanga": 75,
"ayana": 35.33,
"yuddha": 0,
"tribhaga_lord": "Mercury",
"kalanga_detail": {
"varsha": {
"lord": "Moon",
"virupas": 0
},
"masa": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"virupas": 30
},
"vara": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"virupas": 45
},
"hora": {
"lord": "Mars",
"virupas": 0
}
}
},
"totals": {
"sthana": 177.33,
"dig": 51.94,
"kala": 251.73,
"cheshta": 40.71,
"naisargika": 25.71,
"drik": -14.44
},
"cheshta_detail": {
"seeghrochcha": 254.86,
"mean_longitude": 119.74,
"true_longitude": 145.75,
"kendra": 122.12
},
"total_virupas": 532.98,
"rupas": 8.88,
"required_rupas": 7,
"ratio": 1.27,
"strong": true,
"rank": 2
},
"Mars": {
"sthana": {
"uchcha": 30.1,
"saptavargaja": 150,
"ojhayugma": 30,
"kendradi": 30,
"drekkana": 0,
"saptavargaja_detail": {
"D1": "own",
"D2": "great_friend",
"D3": "great_friend",
"D7": "friend",
"D9": "great_friend",
"D12": "great_friend",
"D30": "friend"
}
},
"kala": {
"nathonnatha": 12.51,
"paksha": 38.6,
"tribhaga": 0,
"kalanga": 60,
"ayana": 53.19,
"yuddha": 0,
"tribhaga_lord": "Mercury",
"kalanga_detail": {
"varsha": {
"lord": "Moon",
"virupas": 0
},
"masa": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"virupas": 0
},
"vara": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"virupas": 0
},
"hora": {
"lord": "Mars",
"virupas": 60
}
}
},
"totals": {
"sthana": 240.1,
"dig": 41.85,
"kala": 164.3,
"cheshta": 39.52,
"naisargika": 17.14,
"drik": 23.35
},
"cheshta_detail": {
"seeghrochcha": 119.74,
"mean_longitude": 334.64,
"true_longitude": 27.71,
"kendra": 118.56
},
"total_virupas": 526.26,
"rupas": 8.77,
"required_rupas": 5,
"ratio": 1.75,
"strong": true,
"rank": 3
},
"Saturn": {
"sthana": {
"uchcha": 37.96,
"saptavargaja": 31.88,
"ojhayugma": 15,
"kendradi": 60,
"drekkana": 0,
"saptavargaja_detail": {
"D1": "enemy",
"D2": "great_enemy",
"D3": "great_enemy",
"D7": "neutral",
"D9": "great_enemy",
"D12": "neutral",
"D30": "neutral"
}
},
"kala": {
"nathonnatha": 12.51,
"paksha": 38.6,
"tribhaga": 0,
"kalanga": 0,
"ayana": 58.11,
"yuddha": 0,
"tribhaga_lord": "Mercury",
"kalanga_detail": {
"varsha": {
"lord": "Moon",
"virupas": 0
},
"masa": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"virupas": 0
},
"vara": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"virupas": 0
},
"hora": {
"lord": "Mars",
"virupas": 0
}
}
},
"totals": {
"sthana": 144.83,
"dig": 32.06,
"kala": 109.22,
"cheshta": 48.7,
"naisargika": 8.57,
"drik": 59.78
},
"cheshta_detail": {
"seeghrochcha": 119.74,
"mean_longitude": 265.54,
"true_longitude": 266.13,
"kendra": 146.09
},
"total_virupas": 403.17,
"rupas": 6.72,
"required_rupas": 5,
"ratio": 1.34,
"strong": true,
"rank": 5
}
},
"ranked": [
"Sun",
"Mercury",
"Mars"
],
"unit": "virupas",
"virupas_per_rupa": 60,
"not_computed": [],
"note": "Ratio is rupas over the classical requirement; at or above 1.0 the graha is strong enough to deliver what its placement promises. The six totals are reported separately because a graha strong on positional grounds and weak on temporal ones…"
},
"bhava_bala": {
"houses": {
"1": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"bhavadhipati": 532.98,
"bhava_digbala": 60,
"sign_kind": "nara",
"total_virupas": 592.98,
"rupas": 9.88,
"rank": 1
},
"2": {
"lord": "Venus",
"bhavadhipati": 366.11,
"bhava_digbala": 50,
"sign_kind": "nara",
"total_virupas": 416.11,
"rupas": 6.94,
"rank": 9
},
"3": {
"lord": "Mars",
"bhavadhipati": 526.26,
"bhava_digbala": 20,
"sign_kind": "keeta",
"total_virupas": 546.26,
"rupas": 9.1,
"rank": 5
},
"4": {
"lord": "Jupiter",
"bhavadhipati": 454.84,
"bhava_digbala": 0,
"sign_kind": "chatushpada",
"total_virupas": 454.84,
"rupas": 7.58,
"rank": 7
},
"5": {
"lord": "Saturn",
"bhavadhipati": 403.17,
"bhava_digbala": 50,
"sign_kind": "jalachara",
"total_virupas": 453.17,
"rupas": 7.55,
"rank": 8
},
"6": {
"lord": "Saturn",
"bhavadhipati": 403.17,
"bhava_digbala": 10,
"sign_kind": "nara",
"total_virupas": 413.17,
"rupas": 6.89,
"rank": 11
},
"7": {
"lord": "Jupiter",
"bhavadhipati": 454.84,
"bhava_digbala": 30,
"sign_kind": "jalachara",
"total_virupas": 484.84,
"rupas": 8.08,
"rank": 6
},
"8": {
"lord": "Mars",
"bhavadhipati": 526.26,
"bhava_digbala": 40,
"sign_kind": "chatushpada",
"total_virupas": 566.26,
"rupas": 9.44,
"rank": 3
},
"9": {
"lord": "Venus",
"bhavadhipati": 366.11,
"bhava_digbala": 50,
"sign_kind": "chatushpada",
"total_virupas": 416.11,
"rupas": 6.94,
"rank": 10
},
"10": {
"lord": "Mercury",
"bhavadhipati": 532.98,
"bhava_digbala": 30,
"sign_kind": "nara",
"total_virupas": 562.98,
"rupas": 9.38,
"rank": 4
},
"11": {
"lord": "Moon",
"bhavadhipati": 381.74,
"bhava_digbala": 20,
"sign_kind": "keeta",
"total_virupas": 401.74,
"rupas": 6.7,
"rank": 12
},
"12": {
"lord": "Sun",
"bhavadhipati": 551.38,
"bhava_digbala": 40,
"sign_kind": "chatushpada",
"total_virupas": 591.38,
"rupas": 9.86,
"rank": 2
}
},
"ranked": [
1,
12,
8
],
"unit": "virupas",
"not_computed": [
{
"component": "bhava_drishti",
"reason": "aspects on a house are not added: sources disagree on the arithmetic and no published figure could be reproduced, so no value is invented for it"
}
],
"note": "A house is largely as strong as its lord, which is why bhavadhipati bala dominates the total. Bhava digbala reads the kind of sign on the house midpoint (equal houses). Occupancy is not counted separately -- an occupying graha already…"
},
"reckoned_at": {
"is_day": true,
"hora_lord": "Mars",
"hora_rule": "sixty_minutes_from_sunrise",
"weekday_lord": "Mercury",
"vedic_weekday_index": 3,
"part_fraction": 0.3166,
"solar_noon_fraction": 0.5418
},
"meta": {
"ayanamsa": "lahiri",
"ayanamsa_value": 23.7260727,
"julian_day": 2448119.10483,
"ephemeris": "JPL DE440s",
"node": "true",
"timezone": {
"source": "zone",
"offset_hours": -4,
"zone": "America/New_York",
"abbreviation": "EDT",
"dst": true,
"dst_hours": 1,
"ambiguous_resolved_by_fold": null,
"note": "read from the IANA tz database at this instant, so daylight saving and historical offset changes are included"
}
}
}Where the API returns it
| POST | /v1/shadbala | Planet and house strength (shadbala and bhava bala) |
| POST | /v1/upagrahas | Upagrahas: Gulika, Mandi, the kaala velas and the Dhoomadi points |
| POST | /v1/strength/vimshopaka | Divisional-chart strength, ishta and kashta phala, and planet friendships |
| POST | /v1/aspects | Planet aspects (graha drishti) |
| POST | /v1/yogas | Yogas: planetary combinations found and not found |
What the API reference says
Each line is quoted from the reference page of the endpoint named above it.
- POST /v1/shadbala · Planet and house strength (shadbala and bhava bala)Returns how strong each planet is (shadbala, meaning "six-fold strength") and how strong each of the twelve houses is (bhava bala).
- POST /v1/upagrahas · Upagrahas: Gulika, Mandi, the kaala velas and the Dhoomadi pointsThe parts are divided from the real sunrise and sunset at the birth place: the center of the Sun on the true horizon, without refraction, the classical astrological sunrise shared with shadbala and the special lagnas.
- POST /v1/strength/vimshopaka · Divisional-chart strength, ishta and kashta phala, and planet friendshipsThree parts of the traditional strength chapter that sit beside shadbala.
Feature page: Planetary strength. Who uses it: Astrologer consultation platforms. The classical rules the API follows are in the rulebook.
How we check the numbers
Every value here starts from planet positions worked out from NASA JPL planet data (DE440). We test them against NASA JPL Horizons, NASA's planet position service. On 25,571 positions from 1850 to 2149, the Sun and planets agree within 0.001 arc seconds. The Moon agrees within 0.011. On 2,000 random birth charts, the rising sign agrees with Swiss Ephemeris within 0.004 arc seconds. An arc second is 1/3,600 of a degree. A practicing astrologer reviews the rules behind these answers. See how we test.
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Astrology API
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Your first answer
John Doe, New York
POST /v1/planets200 OK
- RisingVirgoHast
- SunCancerAshlesha
- MoonTaurusMrigashira
- MarsAriesKrittika
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