There is a place where you are most yourself. A place where you can relax, where you know where everything is, where your resources are at hand, and where you can act with effortless, authentic power. You are not a guest, nor are you on public display; you are the master of the domain. You are “at home.” In the divine science of Vedic Astrology, the planets (Grahas) have this same experience. This is the power of a planet own sign placement, a position known as Swakshetra.

We have explored the divine “peak” of Exaltation (Uccha), the challenging “exile” of Debilitation (Neecha), and the “throne room” of Moolatrikona. Now, we must understand the foundational strength of Swakshetra (pronounced Swa-kshe-tra), which literally means “one’s own field” or “one’s own home.” It is a placement of profound, stable, and natural dignity.

The Power of ‘At Home’: What is Swakshetra?

Let us explore this most fundamental and reliable source of planetary strength.

Opinion: A planet own sign placement (Swakshetra) is one of the most stable, comfortable, and naturally powerful positions in Vedic astrology.

Reason: This is the most straightforward of all dignities. The planet is the lord (ruler) of the sign it is currently in. The planet’s energy and the sign’s energy are one and the same. A planet in its own house doesn’t have to “try” to be anything. It isn’t a celebrated guest (Exaltation) or a king on his throne, actively working (Moolatrikona). It is the king in his own palace, the mother in her own home, the artist in their own studio. The expression of the planet is pure, undistorted, effortless, and authentic.

Example: The Sun (Surya) in Leo (Simha) is the King in his own kingdom. His authority, vitality, and sense of self are not just strong; they are natural and unquestioned. The Moon (Chandra) in Cancer (Karka) is the Mother in her own home. Her ability to nurture, her emotional well-being, and her mental peace are foundational, deep, and self-sufficient. This home sign placement gives the planet a “home field advantage,” providing it with all the resources and comfort it needs to function at its best.

Opinion/Restatement: Therefore, finding swakshetra planets in your chart is like finding a deep wellspring of natural talent and reliable strength. These planets provide a consistent, stable, and self-sufficient foundation for the areas of life (houses) they influence, becoming a source of power you can always depend on.

The Swakshetra Planets: A List of “Home” Signs

Unlike Exaltation or Debilitation (which is one sign per planet), the “own sign” placement refers to the signs a planet naturally rules (lords over). The Sun and Moon rule one sign each, while the other five classical planets rule two signs each.

This is the complete list of swakshetra planets:

• Sun (Surya) – Rules 1 Sign:
  • Leo (Simha) – The King in his own kingdom.
• Moon (Chandra) – Rules 1 Sign:
  • Cancer (Karka) – The Queen (or Mother) in her own home.
• Mars (Mangal) – Rules 2 Signs:
  • Aries (Mesha) – The fiery, assertive “barracks” (his Moolatrikona).
  • Scorpio (Vrischika) – The watery, intense “secret fortress.”
• Mercury (Budha) – Rules 2 Signs:
  • Gemini (Mithuna) – The airy, communicative “marketplace” or “library.”
  • Virgo (Kanya) – The earthy, analytical “laboratory” (his Moolatrikona & Exaltation).
• Jupiter (Guru) – Rules 2 Signs:
  • Sagittarius (Dhanus) – The fiery, philosophical “university” or “temple” (his Moolatrikona).
  • Pisces (Meena) – The watery, spiritual “monastery” or “boundless ocean.”
• Venus (Shukra) – Rules 2 Signs:
  • Taurus (Vrishabha) – The earthy, sensual “palace” or “art collection.”
  • Libra (Tula) – The airy, refined “ballroom” or “diplomat’s court” (his Moolatrikona).
• Saturn (Shani) – Rules 2 Signs:
  • Capricorn (Makara) – The earthy, structural “mountain” or “office of the CEO.”
  • Aquarius (Kumbha) – The airy, humanitarian “network” or “throne room” (his Moolatrikona).

Moolatrikona vs. Swakshetra: The Two “Homes”

For the five planets that rule two signs (Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn), one of those signs is a “normal” home (Swakshetra) and the other is a “power” home (Moolatrikona).

Think of it this way:

• Swakshetra (Normal Home): This is the planet’s “living room” or “private chambers.” It is completely comfortable, powerful, and relaxed. (e.g., Venus in Taurus).
• Moolatrikona (Throne Room): This is the planet’s “home office.” It is also Swakshetra, but it’s a more focused, powerful, and purposeful placement where the planet is actively working to express its highest function. (e.g., Venus in Libra).

A planet in either of these signs is considered a planet own sign placement and is a source of immense strength.

What an “Own Sign Placement” Means for You

When you find a Swakshetra planet in your chart, it indicates:

• Natural, Effortless Talent: You have an innate, authentic skill in the areas the planet governs. A Swakshetra Venus gives a natural sense of art, beauty, and refinement. A Swakshetra Mars gives natural courage and energy.
• Reliability & Consistency: This planet’s energy is stable, predictable, and can be relied upon throughout your life. It is not a source of great crisis or confusion; it is a source of strength.
• Resourcefulness: The planet “owns the house” it’s in. It has all the resources it needs to get its job done. This creates a self-sufficient and powerful effect in the “department” (house) where it is placed.
• Authenticity & Purity: The planet expresses its purest nature. Mars is purely Mars-like (courageous); Venus is purely Venus-like (artistic); Saturn is purely Saturn-like (disciplined). This authenticity becomes a cornerstone of your personality and life.

A home sign placement is a divine blessing. It is a foundation of stability, a divine “home base” of power, and a part of your being that is completely, comfortably, and powerfully itself.