The Sun in the Birth Chart: Soul, Father and Standing

Among the nine grahas the Sun holds the position of king. Astronomically it is a star rather than a planet, but in this system graha means something that seizes and influences, and by that definition the Sun is the foremost of them.

What the Sun signifies

The Sun signifies the atma, the soul. It describes the centre of your being, your vitality and your essential character.

Beyond that it governs the father, authority, reputation, leadership, government service, politics, confidence, bone, the heart and the right eye.

Its placements

The Sun is exalted at ten degrees of Aries and debilitated at ten degrees of Libra. Leo is its own sign.

The Moon, Mars and Jupiter are its friends. Venus and Saturn are its enemies. Mercury is neutral.

It spends about thirty days in each sign and completes a circuit in a year.

A strong Sun

Where the Sun is strong there is visible self assurance. Such people move into positions of responsibility without particularly seeking them.

Their relationship with the father is generally good and supported. Dealings with government tend to meet less obstruction. They receive recognition and standing in their field.

Vitality is usually good as well.

An afflicted Sun

Where the Sun is debilitated, in an enemy sign, afflicted by Saturn, Rahu or Ketu, or weakly placed in the sixth, eighth or twelfth house, certain patterns recur.

Confidence is uncertain and decisions are hesitant. There may be friction with the father or distance from him. Dealings with authority and with government offices drag.

The most common and most disheartening expression is a person who does capable work and does not receive the credit for it.

On health, the bones, eyes and heart are the areas traditionally watched.

Combustion and Grahan Yoga

When another planet comes very close to the Sun it becomes combust and loses strength. This is not the Sun harming it so much as the Sun's intensity overwhelming it.

Where Rahu or Ketu conjoins the Sun, the combination is called Grahan Yoga, and matters of confidence and recognition tend to become more complicated.

Remedies

The simplest and most effective is offering water to the Sun. Within an hour of sunrise, take a copper vessel with water, a red flower and rice, face east, and pour slowly while looking at the Sun through the stream.

Recitation of the Aditya Hridaya Stotra is highly regarded. It is the same hymn Agastya gave to Rama before the final battle.

Donating wheat, jaggery and copper on Sundays is beneficial. The mantra Om Ghrini Suryaya Namah may be recited.

The most direct remedy of all, stated plainly in the texts, is to honour and serve your father.

On the gemstone

Ruby is the Sun's stone, but it should never be worn on general advice.

If the Sun rules a maraka or otherwise difficult house in your chart, wearing a ruby can make matters worse rather than better. A gemstone belongs at the end of a full reading, not at the beginning.