Planet condition and strength
Virupa and rupa in Vedic astrology
Virupas and rupas are the units of shadbala, the six-part strength score. 60 virupas make one rupa. Each planet has a classical minimum it needs to count as strong, and the API reports the ratio of its score to that minimum, so a ratio of 1 or more means strong.
Updated
Virupa and rupa: how the API computes it
A virupa is the small unit of shadbala. Sixty virupas make one rupa. POST /v1/shadbala returns each planet's strength in virupas. It splits the score into the six sources instead of giving only one number (SB-01).
The six are position, direction, time, motion, natural strength and aspects (the influence of other planets). The split matters. Take a planet that is strong by position and weak by time. It reads differently from a planet that scores average everywhere, and the total hides that.
Each planet also has a traditional minimum in rupas. The ratio field is the planet's strength in rupas divided by that minimum. So a ratio of 1 or more means the planet passes.
The natural strength part, naisargika bala, is the same in every chart. For the seven planets it always adds up to 240 virupas. The API checks this on every request.
Sometimes a part cannot be worked out. Then the response lists it under not_computed instead of counting it as zero (SB-06).
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/aspects | Planet aspects (graha drishti) |
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)Results are in virupas; 60 virupas make one rupa.
- POST /v1/aspects · Planet aspects (graha drishti)
gradedgives the strength of each aspect in virupas, from 0 to 60, for the seven planets from the Sun to Saturn. - POST /v1/shadbala · Planet and house strength (shadbala and bhava bala)
ratiois the planet's strength in rupas divided by the traditional minimum for that planet. - POST /v1/shadbala · Planet and house strength (shadbala and bhava bala)The seven planets' values always add up to exactly 240 virupas.
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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Your first answer
John Doe, New York
POST /v1/planets200 OK
- RisingVirgoHast
- SunCancerAshlesha
- MoonTaurusMrigashira
- MarsAriesKrittika
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