There is a king in your chart, a divine and radiant star whose light is the source of all life. His name is Surya, the Sun. He is the Atmakaraka, the significator of your very Soul. His power is absolute, his light overwhelming. In the celestial cabinet of your chart, the other planets are his ministers, advisors, and generals. When they stand at a respectful distance, they can perform their duties with clarity and strength. Combust Planets occur when planets come too close to the Sun, losing strength and clarity, significantly affecting their expression in a horoscope.
But what happens when a minister gets too close to the King’s blinding throne? What happens when they are no longer seen as an independent voice, but are simply lost in the blinding, radiant aura of the monarch?
This is the state of planetary combustion, one of the most critical and revealing conditions in all of Vedic astrology. Known in Sanskrit as Astangata (which means “gone to rest” or “set”), this is the phenomenon of the burned planets.
The Blinding Light: What is a Combust Planet?
Let us begin with the core truth of this powerful and often-misunderstood state.
Opinion: A combust planet is not “destroyed” or “deleted” from your chart. It is overshadowed, overpowered, and absorbed by the Sun’s immense light. Its natural, independent voice is muted, and its agenda is co-opted by the Sun’s agenda (the soul, the ego, the father, or one’s core vitality).
Reason: In Jyotish, a planet’s power is derived from its visibility—both in the sky and in the chart. The Sun (Surya) is the source of all light. He is the radiant King. When another planet, in its orbit, moves too close to the Sun from our perspective on Earth, it is lost in the Sun’s glare. It “disappears” and can no longer be seen. This physical disappearance mirrors a metaphysical one: the planet’s natural significations (karakatwas) lose their independent power.
Example: Imagine Venus (Shukra), the planet of love, beauty, and diplomacy, is in a combust state. Venus, the divine artist, is now standing right next to the blazing throne of the King (Sun). Can she give her objective advice on beauty, love, and compromise? No. She is “burned” by the Sun’s power. Her advice becomes about serving the King’s ego. This person’s “love” (Venus) may become selfish. Their relationships may be about what they get (Sun’s ego) rather than a balanced exchange (Venus). Their ability to compromise (Venus) is “burned up” by their own stubborn pride (Sun).
Opinion/Restatement: Therefore, the planetary combustion effects are a profound, often hidden, factor in a chart. They reveal the specific areas of our life (love, intellect, courage) that are weakened or distorted by the blinding, subjective light of our own ego, our father, or our soul’s overwhelming purpose.
The “Burn Zone”: How Close is Too Close?
A planet becomes Astangata Graha when it enters a “zone of influence” around the Sun. While the effect is a “dimmer switch” (getting weaker as it gets closer), classical texts give specific “orbs” or degrees of proximity where a planet is considered fully combust.
These are the general, traditional guidelines for combustion:
| Planet (Graha) | Combustion Zone (Degrees on either side of the Sun) |
| Moon (Chandra) | 12° |
| Mars (Mangal) | 17° |
| Mercury (Budha) | 14° (but see special exception) |
| Jupiter (Guru) | 11° |
| Venus (Shukra) | 10° |
| Saturn (Shani) | 15° |
(Note: Rahu and Ketu are shadow points and do not become combust, but they are deeply affected by their proximity to the Sun.)
Planetary Combustion Effects: The Fate of the Burned Planets
When a planet becomes Astangata Graha, its karakatwas (natural significations) suffer. The house it rules in your chart also becomes a source of struggle, as its “minister” is invisible and cannot manage his department effectively.
Combust Moon (Manas Karaka – Mind)
The mind (Moon) is scorched by the soul (Sun). This is the Amavasya (New Moon) condition.
- Effect: The emotional body is weakened. This can manifest as a feeling of mental burnout, a weak or unstable mind, or a profound lack of inner peace. The person’s feelings (Moon) are totally subservient to their ego (Sun) or their father’s will. They may find it difficult to connect with their own emotions or to nurture others.
Combust Mars (Parakrama Karaka – Courage)
The warrior (Mars) is burned by the king (Sun).
- Effect: The will, courage, and energy (Mars) are severely compromised. The person may lack initiative, feel “burned out,” or struggle to assert themselves. Their anger (Mars) is internalized, leading to deep frustration. They cannot act on their own behalf; their actions are always tied to their father’s (Sun’s) approval or their own ego (Sun).
Combust Mercury (Buddhi Karaka – Intellect)
The prince (Mercury) is burned by the king (Sun).
- Effect: The intellect (Mercury) becomes subjective, not objective. The person’s logic is “burned” by their ego. They can’t see facts clearly; they only see facts that support their own self-image. Their communication (Mercury) becomes a monologue about “me, me, me” (Sun).
- The Great Exception (Budhaditya Yoga): Mercury is unique. He is the Sun’s closest companion. If he is combust, but extremely close (within 1-3 degrees, especially when behind the Sun, not in front) and well-placed, the combustion can be cancelled and transformed into a powerful Budhaditya Yoga. Here, the soul (Sun) and intellect (Mercury) are fused, creating a brilliant, radiant, and divine intelligence. But this is rare, and most often, a combust Mercury simply shows a compromised, ego-driven intellect.
Combust Jupiter (Guru Karaka – Wisdom)
The divine teacher (Jupiter) is burned by the king (Sun). This is a very serious affliction.
- Effect: The Guru (wisdom) is overshadowed by the ego (Sun). This person’s “wisdom” becomes arrogance. They may be dogmatic, self-righteous, and unable to listen to any teacher (Jupiter) other than themselves (Sun). Their connection to grace, fortune, and children (Jupiter) is damaged because their own pride stands in the way.
Combust Venus (Kalatra Karaka – Spouse/Love)
The divine artist (Venus) is burned by the king (Sun).
- Effect: The planet of love, beauty, harmony, and relationships is scorched. This is one of the most difficult placements for relationships. The person’s ability to give and receive love (Venus) is compromised. Their “love” is selfish. They may lack refinement (Venus) and grace, or be unable to find joy in the simple pleasures of life, as their own ego (Sun) is always demanding satisfaction first.
Combust Saturn (Karma Karaka – Action/Duty)
The great judge (Saturn) is burned by the king (Sun). This is the great mythological father-son conflict.
- Effect: The planet of discipline, reality, and hard work (Saturn) is severely weakened by the ego (Sun). This can manifest as a poor work ethic, a hatred of all authority (Sun), or a complete inability to follow through on responsibilities (Saturn). The person’s sense of duty is “burned” by their pride. They may suffer from chronic health issues (Saturn) or have an intensely difficult relationship with their father (Sun).
Living with the Sun’s Fire
What is the remedy for combust planets? The remedy is not to “fix” the burned planet. The remedy is to purify the Sun.
The problem is an over-inflated, blinding, or immature ego (Sun) that is “burning” the other functions of your life. The solution is to turn that ego into a source of divine, selfless light.
- Humble the Ego: The primary remedy is to practice humility. This is done through selfless service (seva) where you get no credit.
- Honor the Sun: The Sun is divine. Honor its highest form by chanting the Gayatri Mantra, practicing Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations), and honoring your father. By honoring the divine Sun, you heal your personal ego.
- Consciously Strengthen the Burned Planet: You must manually and consciously do the work of the burned planets.
- Combust Venus? Consciously practice selfless love. Go to art museums. Learn to listen in your relationships.
- Combust Saturn? Create your own discipline. Make a schedule and stick to it, not for a boss (Sun), but for yourself.
Astangata Graha placements show us where our soul’s light is so bright that it creates a blind spot. Your karmic task is to learn to dim that ego-light just enough to let the divine ministers in your cabinet do their sacred work.
