Planetary secrets of baldness.

Written by

Jayasree Saranathan

(Published in the September, 2010 issue of The Astrological eMagazine)

A recent survey conducted among the British men showed that their worst fear was growing grey hairs than going bald. Baldness came second in their list of worries. A similar survey if taken among the Indian men, is sure to give a reverse of these two. It is because of the sociological perception in our country. A receding hair line or a balding head is a disadvantage for prospective grooms in India. With late marriages becoming the order of the day, many men who enter their thirties find themselves in the discomfort of thinning hair which further delays their marriage prospects.

Often I used to advise the parents of grooms to settle the marriage of their sons early in their life if I find some strong astrological indicators for baldness. In this article let me share some insights I have gained from texts and from the observation of horoscopes. The most obvious indicator is the presence of Sun in the ascendant or the 7th house in the rasi chart. Sun being the significator for head and hair, becomes a negative factor for good growth of hair if positioned in either of these two houses.

Some times we find this position running in families showing that it is a genetic trait. A condition popularly known as ‘Male pattern of baldness’ (Androgenic alopecia) that results in progressive thinning of hair from the frontal hairline towards the crown of the head is seen in persons with the Sun in the ascendant or the 7th in the rasi or in the Navamsa. We can check it in the Nehru family. Nehru had sun in the 7th house (cancer) in the Navamsa. His grandson Sanjay Gandhi had sun in the Navamsa lagna. Another grandson, Rajiv Gandhi had sun in the rasi- lagna. His son Rahul Gandhi also has sun in the lagna of the rasi chart.

Though Sun is the primary determinant for the growth of hair on the head, not all the bald-headed people show the above mentioned positional disadvantage of the Sun in their horoscopes. For example Rajinikanth, the popular film star who never shies away from the public to show his baldness - does not have the above mentioned position of the Sun. There are scores of others like him who have different combinations in their horoscopes showing the tendency to lose hair. Let us analyze those factors in this article.

Planets that influence hair- growth.

Scientifically, good hair growth is determined by three factors, the skin, the hair follicles and the proteins that sustain the hair growth. Astrologically these three are controlled by the benefic planets such as Mercury, Venus and Jupiter. It must be recalled here that

Varahamihira considers the signs of benefic planets as helping in hair growth and the signs of malefic planets having a role in hair loss. However he considers two benefic signs as susceptible for hair-loss. They are Taurus and Sagittarius.

According to Brihad Jataka (23-15), if birth falls in malevolent signs or in Sagittarius or Taurus and is aspected by evil planets, the person will be bald headed. The lagna falling in the signs of malefics such as Mars, Sun and Saturn must be devoid of evil afflictions for lasting hair growth on the head. Among the other signs, Taurus and Sagittarius ruled by Venus and Jupiter respectively must also be devoid of malefic afflictions to avoid baldness.

The reason can be rationalized on the basis of Baadhak lords for respective signs. The Malefic signs run the element of risk in upsetting the appearance due to the malefic lords. Aries signifying the head is associated with the fiery planet Mars. Sun is the natural significator for hair growth. But both sun and Mars are bilious planets. Excessive bile nature is one of the main causes for hair loss. So the three signs Aries, Scorpio and Leo come under the scanner.

The other two signs of malefic lordship are Capricorn and Aquarius. The lord Saturn is associated with early aging. Premature graying and early thinning of hair are the legacy of Saturn.

Saturn’s importance can not be undermined because it becomes the governing planet of the fetus in its 6th month of growth. Hairs start appearing in the 6th month of the fetal baby. Perhaps a research on the transiting Saturn in the 6th month of the fetus with the natal lagna (once the baby is born) might give an early idea about the appearance connected with hair growth.

In the 5th (preceding) month, the fetus gets good growth of the skin which is governed by the planet moon. This shows how the skin and hair develop in stages one after the other and how astrology has related well the respective planets to detect the kind of appearance one gets. Moon, particularly the Navamsa moon tells about the skin color and appearance supplemented by the hair growth on body and the head.

Among the signs of benefic lords, Gemini and Virgo are the favorable ones for beautiful appearance of hair. The lord is Mercury who is associated with earthy nature (prithvi tattwa). According to classical texts, birth in earthy nature ensures good and healthy growth of hair and nails. Mercury is the planet of prithvi tattwa which is also associated with skin. The Baadhak lord for both the Mercurian signs is a natural benefic namely Jupiter. Jupiter which aids in growth and is responsible for good assimilation of protein products (protein is essential for hair growth) can not upset the Mercurian contribution to hair growth.

As for Cancer, Moon is the influencing agent for hair growth. The hair-curt is recommended only in connection with the thithis (moon’s movement around the earth)

and therefore moon can not upset its native. Moreover the Baadhak lord for Cancer is Venus which is a first rate beauty conscious planet.

This leaves out the signs of Venus and Jupiter.

For Taurus, the 9th lord Saturn becomes the Baadhak making the sign vulnerable. For Libra the significator for hair (Sun) himself is the Baadhak. Unless Sun occupies adversarial locations, the Librans need not worry.

For Sagittarius and Pisces, Mercury becomes the Baadhak. But Varahamihira has sounded caution only for Sagittarius and not for Pisces. It may be because; Sagittarius is associated with good appearance of hair whereas Pisces is not. Since Mercury’s impact is dependant on whom he is associated with, one can not give a clean chit to it that it would not upset the Sagittarians.

This is the basic nature of signs in influencing hair-loss.

From Western astrology.

According to western astrology, the three fiery signs are held responsible for baldness. Among the planets Venus (good hair growth), Mercury (epidermis) and Saturn (iron deficiency is a cause for hair loss) in malefic angles can upset hair growth. As some cases of permanent baldness are induced by abnormal thyroid functions, the significator Mercury in affliction and its signs must be analyzed for such a condition.

In my opinion, Pluto also can be held responsible for baldness caused by sudden medical conditions or chemotherapy (given for cancer patients). Pluto stands for degeneration and also regeneration after that. The hair-loss follows precisely alternating phases of re-generation and de-generation.

According to medical science, at any time 90% of the hair keeps growing. The rest would be shedding. After some months of growth, the hair comes to a resting stage for 2 to 3 months when it no longer grows. Once the resting phase is over, the hair falls from the follicle. This is followed once again by growth of new hair in the follicle. In this way, different hairs will be in different stages of their cycle. Not all of them go to the resting and shedding stage simultaneously. That is why the density of hair is always maintained.

In the months after the delivery of a child, most hairs come to the resting stage due to hormonal changes in the lactating mother. That is why 2 to 3 months after the delivery, most women experience heavy hair-fall. The iron supplement (of Saturn) comes to their help at that time.

This kind of cycle is precisely what the planet Pluto does. If a person has adverse effect of Pluto on the planets that control the follicles of the skin (mercury), the hair (Saturn),

the lush hair growth (Venus), growth determinant (Jupiter) and the signifactor for hair (sun), permanent hair loss may occur depending upon the type of significance, affected by the disease or deficiency.

Lagna position

Lagna is the primary determinant for the appearance including the nature of hair growth. Both the luminaries add luster to the appearance. Both of them are connected with hair growth. In the following positions they adversely affect hair growth.

Sun in the lagna or in Navamsa lagna Sun in the 7th from the lagna / Navamsa lagna .

Moon in Aries or Leo in rasi or Navamsa makes the thinning of hair.

Moon in Taurus gives short hair.

Weaker sun and / or moon in the lagna of Drekkana and Trimsamsa also add to the hairy woes.

Navamsa position.

The following lagna position in Rasi and the corresponding Navamsa shows tendency to lose hair or thinning down of hair.

Lagna in Rasi chart - Lagna in Navamsa

Aries - Gemini Cancer - Capricorn

Leo - Leo

Scorpio - Sagittarius

Capricorn - Cancer

The following lagna – Navamsa positions are helpful for good appearance of hair.

Lagna in Rasi chart - Lagna in Navamsa

Taurus - Gemini Taurus - Cancer

Taurus - Leo

Gemini -Capricorn

Cancer - Cancer

Leo - Cancer (Soft hair)

Scorpio -Virgo

Sagittarius - Aries

Sagittarius - Cancer

Generally Navamsa lagna and Navamsa moon determine the appearance of a person. If the Navamsa lagna falls on the houses of benefics without afflicted by malefics, the person will have good growth of beautiful looking hair. The following are with reference to only Navamsa lagna as given in “Brahma Rishi Vaakyam”

If the Navamsa lagna falls in the sign of Sun (Leo), no need to worry about balding. The person will have thick and curly hair growth. The American President Barack Obama has Navamsa lagna in Leo, but has sun in the 7th in D-1. The sun is strong and auspicious in the other divisional charts (D-3 and D-30). So we have to do a combined reading. Sun in the 7th will certainly give a receding hairline but its strength in other charts with Leo as Navamsa lagna will not give him undue baldness. The hair thickness had come down early in his life. The spoilsport is Saturn which is in its own sign in both D-1 and D-9. It is posited in lagna in the rasi. So he must have started graying early. People and the media are thinking that it started only after he assumed office.

If the Navamsa lagna falls in the sign of Moon (Cancer), there must be worry about hair on the head. There will be more hair on the body but thin hair on the head! Early balding comes with lagna in Cancer in D-9 and D-3 and D-30 (unless the rasi lagna falls in the above mentioned signs that are favorable for growth of hair.)

If the Navamsa lagna falls in the sign of Mars (Aries and Scorpio), there is a strong chance of balding. This is a major pointer to baldness as per texts. There is no differentiation between these signs as being fiery or watery. That it is lorded by Mars is

the sufficient cause for the hair loss. A famous bald person in this category is Mahathma Gandhi. His Navamsa falls in Scorpio.

If the Navamsa lagna falls in the sign of Mercury (Gemini and Virgo), the person will have beautiful hair.

If the Navamsa lagna falls in the sign of Jupiter (Sagittarius and Pisces), once again the same feature as above. Usually the Navamsa lagna in the houses of benefics ensure beautiful and good growth of hair.

If the D-9 lagna falls in the sign of Venus (Taurus and Libra), same as above.

If the D-9 lagna falls in the sign of Saturn ( Capricorn and Aquarius), dull and thin hair would grow. Early graying is also seen.

With this basic information, let us now analyze the horoscopes of some famous persons having balding problems.

Rajnikanth – December 12, 1950. 9-45 pm. Bangalore.

Lagna is Cancer and Navmasa lagna is Capricorn. This fulfils the text book rule for early balding (given above).

Sun is in the Martian sign of Scorpio in Rasi and moon in the Martian sign of Aries.

But sun is not in 1st or 7th house – which is a popular position for genetically inherited baldness. So the cause must lie elsewhere.

Sun (as significator form hair) is in the asterism of Mercury. Mercury joins Venus in the 6th bhava in square position to Rahu, Ketu, Saturn and Neptune (indicator for mysterious health problems). Mercury is again afflicted in the Navamsa by Mars and Rahu and also by a combined coalition of Saturn and Sun. Some underlying dermatological affliction must have been the cause for his early balding.

Andre Agassi (Tennis player) – April 29, 1970. 12 pm, Las Vegas, Nevada, US.

The horoscope fulfils the classic case of Navamsa lagna falling the sign of Mars (Scorpio)

The sun is in exaltation in the rasi and in own house in the Navamsa. This strong position must give bountiful hairs on the head. But there are other issues.

Sun is joined with a debilitated Saturn (loss of hair strength and quick aging of hairs) and retrograde Mercury (some reversal process in the skin follicles).

In addition the growth inducing Jupiter is in opposition to this combination in retrogression. (a reversal process of growth)

This combination is aspected by Rahu in rasi which again afflicts Sun in Navamsa.

Jupiter in Navamsa is afflicted by Saturn and Mars

All these show that he has a congenital reversal of growth in skin, in follicular health and in protein synthesis for hair growth. There must have been shrinking of follicles due to some poisonous nature (affliction by Rahu) of chemical or medicines or tonics which he would have consumed for sporting strength. He claimed that his balding started in his early twenties. Note that Jupiter Mahadasa started in his 21st year. To make matters worse, Jupiter is in the asterism of Mars and posited in Martian sign in the Navamsa.

Sean Connery (James Bond actor) – August 25, 1930. 6-05 pm. Edinburgh.

This is a classic case of Varahamihira’s definition of Sagittarius lagna getting afflicted thereby causing baldness.

Saturn, the ageing agent is in retrogression in the lagna opposed by Mars and Pluto. Jupiter, the lagna lord in between these two malefics in the asterism of Rahu makes it weak. Saturn is placed in the Navamsa lagan too.

The aspect of Rahu to this combine further indicates that adverse effect of chemicals or medicines he had taken. He has underwent radiation therapy

Sun in the asterism of Ketu which joins Mars in the Martian sign of Scorpio in the Navamsa confirms this.

In these circumstances cancer Navamsa for Sagittarius lagna could not sustain thick hair growth.

The Dalai Lama – July 6, 1935. 4-38 am. Tengster, Tibet.

Varahamihira’s caution on Taurus is not found manifest here as the lagna is devoid of both malefic and benefic influence.

But the luminaries are in positions that quickened the balding process. Moon is in Leo both in Rasi and Navamsa. The sun is in the 7th from Navamsa lagna. So his balding is genetically designed.

Looking for additional information, we find that the sun is in the asterism of Rahu (for slowness) joining Mercury and Ketu in the house of mercury.

Retrograde Jupiter aspects this combination in rasi and aspects Mercury in Navamsa.

The slowing down Saturn joins sun in the 7th in the Navamsa.

All these show that he has an inherent slowing process connected to the dermis and the hair follicles caused by the deficient absorption of protein and other nutrients necessary for growth of hair.

To conclude, we can analyze many charts using the above explained factors and determine whether balding is an inherited trait or an induced trait due to various causes. Though astrological remedies for baldness are not found in classical texts, we can draw a clue for the remedy from the root cause assigned to this problem. The Sun is the major contributor to hair-loss. As such there are Ayurvedic solutions based on Sun’s planetary attributes. The planetary essence of pitta must be neutralized by lime products. If the prospect of losing hair is identified early in life from the horoscope, one can take proper medication and substitutes from Ayurveda to avoid hair-loss. Astrologically speaking, appeasement of Sun by way of worship of Sun God and recital of slokas such as Aditya Hrudhayam can be done from an younger age.