Astrology can forecast a suitable marriage partner based on a detailed analysis of the



horoscopes of the bride and the bridegroom. In Western Astrology , emphasis is placed upon mutual rising signs, though at present many of my Western counter-parts are considering the importance of the moon in a Horoscope. For this the nature of the rising sign at birth and lord of the sign or house is examined. All angular signs or houses are grouped under triplicities.

The basic approach is to classify the signs as belonging to the four elements viz., fire, earth, air and water starting with Aries. Then we the moveable, the fixed and the common signs starting with Aries. Also we have the odd and even signs, male and female signs etc. Thus if the marriage partners belong to the fiery signs ( Aries, Leo and Sagittarius ) there will be agreement in general. The owners Mars, Sun and Jupiter

respectively are mutual friends, hence, zodiac compatibility exists. But they also represent respectively the moveable, the fixed and the common signs! Thus there will be differences in mentalities or psychological content! Factors like the lord of the rising sign, its strength, placement in the horoscope play a vital role in astrological prognostications. So to assume compatibility if the rising signs are the same, is a mistaken belief. Zodiac Compatibility is all about matching the mutual strengths and weaknesses of marriage partners and understanding each other. A lot of weaknesses get camouflaged in courtships as every effort is made to impress the other. Hence, the importance of mental framework and psychological build need not be stressed.

These can be ascertained from a minute study of the moon in one's Horoscope. Moon is the ruler of Cancer, gets exalted in Taurus, is depressed in Scorpio and is considered weak in the 6th, 8th and the 12th houses. Again, it should be seen whether it is waxing or waning. Indian astrology goes further to study the birth star and its pada or quarter i.e., a division of 200 minutes (angular). Each of the (27) twenty-seven constellations excluding Abhijit has a lord or owner in triplicity starting with Krittika who is presided over by the Sun. Indian astrology also considers the moon for time-based predictions which is known as the dasa system, the well-known being Vimshottari i.e., 120 years cycle. The timing of the marriage will be detrimental if the dasas do not match or correspond to each other. Further, divisional charts, especially,

Navamsa , as well as Gochara or transit effects and the twelve essential factors of matching ( detailed in an earlier article)

are important.