Gaja-Kesari Yoga is one of the very auspicious yoga in Vedic astrology and also one of the famous yoga. The GajaKesari is the combination of two words; Gaja and Kesari. The terms ‘Gaja’ means an elephant and the word ‘Kesari’ means lion. So as the name suggests, yoga gives the native the toughness and vigor like a lion, also majesty and dignity of an elephant. Gaja-Kesari Yoga is formed when Jupiter(Guru) is placed in a Kendra position (i.e. 1st. 2nd, 3rd or 4th house) with respect to the Moon (Chandra).
Gaja Kesari Yoga in Scriptures
There are some confusion and contradictions about this yoga. There are some differences among various scriptures.
According to Parashara Hora Shastra,
कॆंद्रे देवगुरौ लग्नाच्चंद्रद्वा शुभदृगयुते ।
नीचास्तारिगृहैर्हीनॆ यॊगॆयं गजकॆसरि ॥
Gaja Kesari yoga is formed when Jupiter is positioned in a Kendra from the Lagna or from the Moon, and be conjunct or aspected by another benefic and is not debilitated, combust and in inimical sign. The native will be wealthy, intelligent, endowed with virtues, will be a king and splendorous.
According to Jataka Parijata,
कॆंद्रेस्थिते देवगुरौ मृगांकात् योगस्तदाहुर्गजकॆसरीति ।
दृष्टे सितार्यॆंदु सुतै: शशांके नीचास्तहीनैर्गजकॆसरीस्यात् ॥
Gaja Kesari yoga is formed when Jupiter is posited in a Kendra from the Moon. Also, Moon should not be combust and weak and is aspected by the benefic planets Venus and Mercury, not being debilitated the yoga gets strength. The native, born in Gajakesari yoga will be energetic, will have much money, and gains, will be meritorious, intelligent and loved by the king.
According to Phala Deepika,
कॆसरीव रिपुवर्गनिहंता प्रौढवाक् सदसि राजसवृत्ति: । दीर्घजीव्यतियशा: पटुर्बुद्धिस्तॆजसा जयति कॆसरि यॊगॆ ॥
Kesari yoga is formed when Jupiter is in a Kendra position to the Moon. The native will destroy his enemies like a lion. He will address the assembly with wisdom, intellectual, and a noble way. He will be ambitious, passionate, and emotional in his behavior. He will be long-lived, intelligent, well-reputed, and successful in his endeavors.
According to Jataka Desh Marg,
Gaja Kesari yoga cancels and destroys the negative effects of other yogas like thousands of elephants are killed by a lion. The native will be very rich, head of his community or head of the village, city, or the country, and will be very long-lived.
Formation of Gaja-Kesari Yoga The result of the Gajakesari yoga is not unique. There are many variations in the results. First, the result depends on the position and strength of the planets Jupiter and Moon. Practically the yoga can be of 48 types (12 houses * 4 combinations). So the result will be different for all the 48 types.
Result of Gaja-Kesari Yoga and various interpretations
The result of the Gajakesari yoga depends on the position of Jupiter and Moon in a horoscope, conjunction, and aspect of other planets on these planets, shadbala and ashtakavarga strengths, etc. Jupiter is very strong in Sagittarius, Pisces, and Cancer, Moon is strong in Cancer and Taurus. So obviously when Gajakesari yoga is formed in these houses, the result will be very strong. The ownership of houses from Lagna by both the Moon and Jupiter is very important in analyzing the horoscope. When the Jupiter and Moon own benefic houses, the result of the yoga will be very favorable. However, when they own malefic houses, they produce adverse results. Gajakesari yoga is modified when other planets aspect or associate with this formation. When benefic planets and friendly planets aspect them, good results will be enhanced and produce very beneficial results. When malefic and enemy planets associate or aspect either of them, the result of the yoga is reduced. Also, the aspect of dusthana lords (6th, 8th, and 12th lords) can modify the result in a negative way.
When Jupiter is conjunct with the Moon: Moon and Jupiter may conjoin in any of the houses. The results of this yoga depend on which house it is placed and position from the Lagna. It takes the characteristics of the house it is placed. But the general result is that the native will be famous, intelligent, wealthy, will have good health, dignified, etc.
The result of the yoga when present in some of the houses from Lagna:
In First house: Gajakesari yoga in first house can destroy many other negative yogas. The native will have good health, body, with majestic look. He will be dignified and impressive.
Fourth House: The native will have domestic comfort, very learned, possesses land and vehicles, associated with a king, will have a spiritual bent of mind.
Fifth House: The native will be very intelligent, well educated, respected by others, will have prosperous children, philosophical, artistic, etc.
Seventh House: The native will be skilled, wealthy, good in business and partnerships, will have beautiful spouse, good understanding with the partner, etc.
Ninth House: The native will be fortunate, religious, spiritual, contended, will always try to help others, learned, well educated, scholar, a good advisor.
Tenth House: The native will have high status, wealthy, luck in the profession, financial prosperity, does good karma, help others, respected by his juniors as well as superiors.
The Trikonas or Trines: There are four sets of trines. They are Dharma trikona (1,5 and 9 houses), Artha Trikona (2,6 and 10 houses), Kama trikona (3, 7 and 11 houses) and Moksha trikona (4, 8 and 1 houses). Gajakesari yoga formed in Dharma trikona makes the person very famous, respected by all. When it is formed in Artha trikona, it gives positive results in wealth and profession related matters. When it is formed in Kama trikona, it will make passionate and gives sensual pleasures. When it is formed in Moksha trikona, it is favorable for spiritual progress.
