Bandhana yoga

Bandhana yoga in Hindu astrology basically indicates being placed under restraint, arrest, capture, detention, confinement, imprisonment, bondage, incarceration and the like, on account of circumstances beyond one’s control or by opponents or by concerned authorities for no reason or on criminal charges for infringement law or by placing restrictions on freedom for political reasons. A weak lord of the Lagna (ascendant) and a weak Saturn jointly or severally cause suffering and hardships in life including being confined or imprisoned. Rahu is the karaka for being sent to jail.

Mahadeva in his Jataka Tattva XI.35-42. states that Papa i.e. malefic, planets situated in the 12th, the 2nd, the 5th and the 12th indicate bandhana i.e. confinement. Equal number of planets situated in the 2nd and the 12th or in the 5th and the 9th or in the 6th and the 12th or in the 3rd and the 11th or in the 4th and 10th give rise to Bandhana yoga. Bandhana yoga also arises if at the time of birth malefic planets occupy the 2nd, the 5th, the 9th and the 12th house the Lagna falls in either Aries, Taurus or Sagittarius sign when the person will be bound by rope or cord, or in Gemini, Libra, Aries or Virgo sign when the person will be handcuffed or bound by iron chains, or in Pisces, Cancer or Capricorn when the person without being bound will be confined in a castle or fort or in a closely guarded prison or in Scorpio sign when the person will be confined in an underground cellar. Bandhana yoga is also caused if at the time of birth the lords of the Lagna and the 6th house occupy a kendra or a trikona in conjunction with Saturn.

If benefics aspect the Bandhana yogas afore-detailed then the troubles are temporary but if malefics aspect then the person is likely to suffer very harsh treatment. The Lagna or the lord of the lagna and the Moon afflicted by a cruel malefic or malefics, the 4th house and its lord or the 9th house and its lord or the 10th house and its lord similarly afflicted make one commit evil deeds, become a criminal and suffer punishment at the hands of authorities. A person takes to a career of crime if at the time of birth Rahu afflicts the Moon and the lord of the 10th. Ketu situated in the 10th house makes one commit vile deeds and be impure in his resolves.

In the case of Mahatma Gandhi born in Libra lagna, Saturn occupied the 2nd house in Scorpio sign and the Sun was in the 12th in Virgo as also Ketu was in the 4th and Rahu in the 10th for which reason he was frequently kept under house-arrest or in jails by the British authorities for political reasons. Similarly, Jawaharlal Nehru who was born in Cancer lagna had Saturn situated in the 2nd and Rahu in the 12th house who too suffered confinement like Gandhi. Ramkrishna Dalmia born in Gemini lagna had the Sun occupying the 3rd house and Rahu, the 11th; he went to jail punished for his mis-deeds and illegal activities. Aung San Suu Kyi born in Virgo lagna has Ketu occupying the 4th and the Sun conjoining with Saturn and Rahu in the 10th house, she has suffered a long period of confinement for her political beliefs. And, Sanjay Dutt born in Scorpio lagna not only has Saturn in the 2nd and Jupiter in the 12th but also has Ketu located in the 5th and the Sun in the 9th house. Mars situated in the 8th or in the 12th house if not associated with benefics leads to hospitalisation, living abroad or imprisonment.

Mars, Rahu and Saturn, all three occupying the kendrasthanas indicate imprisonment. B V Raman states that Bandhana yoga is caused when the lords of the lagna and the 6th are in a trine or a quadrant in conjunction with Saturn, Rahu or Ketu. Mercury and/or Saturn situated in the 8th house from the lagna indicate death in a prison at the gallows.