Planetary Combustions – What to do when the Heat Rises

We couldn’t live without the Sun. The bright burning star at the center of our Solar System is the energetic force that sustains life on our planet. In Vedic astrology, the Sun is considered one of the nine planets, and is the largest, brightest and most dominant planet of all. When the other planets maintain sufficient distance from the Sun, they can benefit from its divine energy and even have their positive qualities enhanced. But what happens when they get too close?

From our line of sight from the Earth, each planet goes through a stage where it is hidden behind the Sun, which is known as ‘Ast’ in Sanskrit, meaning ‘to set.’ In English this process is known as ‘combustion.’ Though ‘combust’ usually means to burn, in a physical sense the planet does not actually burn or combust, but rather is dominated by the Sun which obstructs the planet from our view.

Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn all experience combustion. Mercury combusts six times per year, and every other planet combusts once a year, unless it is moving in retrograde motion. A planet’s combustion can be seen as a rebirth, where it moves towards the central energy source, the Sun, and comes out purified and energized by its rays.

Though the combust planet is present and still functioning, it is invisible. Its qualities are hidden from view, and its influence and significance decrease. We may not fully understand the planet at that time as its energy is completely taken over by that of the Sun, and, the closer the planet is to the Sun, the greater the impact.

The combustion of planets is an important area in Vedic astrology and can be studied in two ways – by birth chart and by transit. If you have a combust planet in your birth chart then the effect of it gets triggered when that planet combusts in transit. Each planet rules particular areas of life, and during combustion a shadow is created on those aspects. Extra effort may be required in these areas of life to maintain harmony.