What are the factors that influence the planetary dignity, strength in Vedic Astrology ?

Planetary dignity and strength are influenced by various factors in Vedic astrology, which determine how powerfully a planet can deliver its results. Here are the key factors:

1. Sign Placement (Exaltation, Debilitation, Own Sign, etc.)
• Exaltation: When a planet is in its exalted sign, it gains maximum strength and delivers highly positive results (e.g., Sun in Aries, Jupiter in Cancer).
• Debilitation: A planet in its debilitated sign has the least strength and may struggle to deliver positive outcomes (e.g., Sun in Libra, Jupiter in Capricorn).
• Own Sign: A planet in its own sign is strong and comfortable, bringing stability and favorable outcomes (e.g., Mars in Aries or Scorpio).
• Friendly/Enemy Sign: Planets in friendly signs perform reasonably well, while those in enemy signs may encounter challenges in delivering results.

2. House Placement
• Kendra (1st, 4th, 7th, 10th houses): Planets in these angular houses are generally strong and active, especially if they are natural benefics (e.g., Jupiter, Venus).
• Trikona (1st, 5th, 9th houses): Planets in these houses gain strength, especially benefic planets like Jupiter, Venus, or Mercury, which bring positive energy.
• Dusthana (6th, 8th, 12th houses): Planets in these houses tend to face challenges, and their strength may be reduced, especially if they are malefics.
• Upachaya (3rd, 6th, 10th, 11th houses): These houses help planets grow stronger over time, especially malefics like Saturn, Mars, and Rahu.

3. Aspect Influence
• Benefic Aspects: If a planet receives aspects from benefic planets (like Jupiter or Venus), its strength increases.
• Malefic Aspects: If a planet is aspected by malefics (like Saturn, Mars, or Rahu), its ability to deliver positive results may weaken.

4. Navamsa (D9 Chart) Placement
• A planet’s strength in the Navamsa (D9 chart) can enhance or reduce its power. A planet exalted or in its own sign in the D9 chart gains extra strength, even if it is weak in the Rasi (main) chart.
• A debilitated planet in the Navamsa weakens its results, even if strong in the Rasi chart.

5. Yogas and Combustion
• Planetary Yogas: If a planet is involved in auspicious yogas (like Gaja Kesari or Panch Mahapurush Yoga), it gains strength and can deliver excellent results.
• Combustion: If a planet is too close to the Sun (within certain degrees), it becomes combust and loses strength, diminishing its ability to produce positive effects.

6. Retrograde Motion
• Retrograde planets are considered strong and their influence tends to be more introspective or internalized. However, they may delay the results or require revisiting certain areas of life.

7. Planetary War (Graha Yuddha)
• If two planets are too close to each other (within 1 degree), they enter into a planetary war. The stronger planet wins and dominates, while the weaker one loses strength.

8. Directional Strength (Dig Bala)
• Some planets gain extra strength based on their direction:
o Jupiter and Mercury are strong in the 1st house (East).
o Saturn is strong in the 7th house (West).
o Moon and Venus are strong in the 4th house (North).
o Mars and Sun are strong in the 10th house (South).

9. Vargottama
• A planet that occupies the same sign in both the Rasi chart and Navamsa chart is known as Vargottama and gains special strength, delivering highly positive results.

10. Planetary Friendship and Enmity
• Planets also gain or lose dignity based on their friendship or enmity with the ruling planet of the sign they are in. For example, Mars is strong in signs ruled by the Sun (Leo) or Jupiter (Sagittarius, Pisces), as these planets are friendly to Mars.

By combining these factors, we can assess the overall dignity and strength of a planet in a given chart and understand how it will influence specific areas of life.