Combustion of Planets in Vedic Astrology
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The Sun is the king of the planets, and when another planet comes too close to it, that planet's light is overwhelmed. In the sky it literally disappears in the Sun's glare. Vedic astrology calls this combustion (asta, "setting"), and a planet in this state is called combust.
Combustion is one of the first checks of a planet's strength. This guide gives the classical distances, shows how to measure them correctly, and explains how to read a combust planet without exaggerating it.
Combustion distances
A planet is combust when its distance from the Sun, measured in degrees of longitude, is within the following orbs (Surya Siddhanta values):
| Planet | Combust within | When retrograde (some authorities) |
|---|---|---|
| Moon | 12 degrees | (never retrograde) |
| Mars | 17 degrees | |
| Mercury | 14 degrees | 12 degrees |
| Jupiter | 11 degrees | |
| Venus | 10 degrees | 8 degrees |
| Saturn | 15 degrees | |
| Rahu, Ketu | Never combust |
The Sun itself cannot be combust. The Moon within 12 degrees of the Sun corresponds to the days around the new Moon (Amavasya).
How to measure the distance
Combustion is about actual degrees, not about being in the same sign.
- Convert both planets to their full zodiac longitude (Aries 0-30, Taurus 30-60, Gemini 60-90 and so on).
- Take the difference. If it is more than 180, subtract it from 360.
- Compare the result with the planet's orb.
Worked examples
- Sun 10 deg Leo, Venus 18 deg Leo. Distance 8 degrees. Venus's orb is 10: combust.
- Sun 10 deg Leo, Saturn 28 deg Cancer. Leo 10 = 130 degrees, Cancer 28 = 118 degrees. Distance 12 degrees, within Saturn's 15: combust, even though they are in different signs.
- Sun 10 deg Leo, Jupiter 25 deg Leo. Distance 15 degrees. Jupiter's orb is 11: not combust, despite sharing the sign.
Why Mercury and Venus are so often combust
Mercury and Venus orbit inside the Earth's orbit, so seen from the Earth they never move far from the Sun. Mercury stays within about 28 degrees of the Sun and Venus within about 47 degrees. Mercury in particular is inside its 14-degree orb in a large share of charts. For that reason classical texts treat Mercury's combustion lightly, and the close union of the Sun and Mercury is even counted as a yoga: see Budha Aditya yoga.
What a combust planet means
Classically, a combust planet loses much of its strength. In practical terms:
- Its independent voice is reduced. The planet's significations come under the influence of the Sun: authority, ego, the father, government, the self. A combust Venus may show relationships shaped strongly by the person's own will or status; a combust Jupiter may show wisdom that has to be found through one's own experience rather than through teachers.
- The houses it rules may be slower to deliver or deliver through effort, particularly in its dasa and bhukti.
- The closer, the stronger. A planet 1 or 2 degrees from the Sun is deeply combust; one at the edge of its orb is only mildly affected.
None of this predicts misfortune on its own. Combustion is one strength factor among many.
What softens combustion
Astrologers commonly soften the judgement when:
- The planet is in its own or exaltation sign. Dignity keeps it functioning. This matters for yogas such as the Pancha Mahapurusha yogas, which are weakened, not cancelled, by a mild combustion.
- The planet is retrograde. A retrograde planet is closer to the Earth and brighter, and the smaller retrograde orbs for Mercury and Venus in the table reflect this.
- Jupiter aspects the planet or the house it rules.
- The planet is near the edge of its orb rather than deep inside it.
- The Sun itself is well placed for the Lagna, so its influence on the combust planet is constructive.
Combustion of the Lagna lord
A combust Lagna lord deserves a closer look, because it represents the person. It often describes someone who works under, or in the shadow of, a strong authority figure for some years before stepping forward in their own right. If you want to judge the Lagna lord thoroughly, combustion is one of the checks in how to know if your Lagna lord is strong.
Combustion versus planetary war
Both are about planets being too close, but they are different conditions. Combustion involves the Sun; planetary war involves two of Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn within one degree of each other. See Graha Yuddha planetary war in astrology.
Summary
A planet is combust when it is within its orb of the Sun: Moon 12, Mars 17, Mercury 14, Jupiter 11, Venus 10 and Saturn 15 degrees (smaller for retrograde Mercury and Venus in some texts). Measure actual degrees, not signs. Combustion weakens a planet's independent expression, the more so the closer it is, but dignity, retrogression, Jupiter's aspect and a good Sun all soften it, and Mercury's frequent combustion is treated lightly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is a planet combust?
A planet is combust when it is within a set distance of the Sun in longitude: Moon 12 degrees, Mars 17, Mercury 14, Jupiter 11, Venus 10 and Saturn 15. Rahu and Ketu are never combust.
Does the planet have to be in the same sign as the Sun?
No. Combustion is measured by actual distance in degrees, so a planet at the end of one sign can be combust with the Sun at the start of the next sign.
Is a combust Mercury bad?
Not necessarily. Mercury is never far from the Sun and is combust in a large share of charts. Classical texts treat its combustion more lightly than others', and the Sun-Mercury combination also forms Budha Aditya yoga.
Does combustion make a planet useless?
No. It weakens the planet's independent expression, and the closer to the Sun, the stronger the effect. A combust planet in its own or exaltation sign, or aspected by Jupiter, still gives a good deal of its results.
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