The word Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) is a dreadful word. The word itself generates fear and gloom. But what is a Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House)? It is important to understand its meaning. The Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) is supposed to give ‘Mrityu (death)’. Now what is ‘Mrityu (death)’? Lord Krishna has described eight types of '‘Mrityu (death)’ (death)'.

The Eight types of ‘Mrityu (death)’ (Death):

1. Always caught up in quarrels and anguish.
2. Always remaining surrounded by enemies.
3. Always remaining miserable and troubled.
4. Always getting insulted everywhere.
5. Terrible misery and sorrow.
6. Great dishonor in assembly.
7. Forever ailing.
8. Loss of life ultimately.

The Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) can give any one of these eight types of death. So, if Dasha (Period) of the Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) planet comes, then it does not always mean that actual death will take place, it means that one of these eight type of ‘Mrityu (death)’ or death like effects may take place. Ultimately actual death will have to be faced, but every time the period of a Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) comes one should not expect death.

Death will take place only once, when, according to assessment of longevity, the person has reached the end of his life, and the numbers of his breaths given to him by the lord have ended.

Who is the Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House)?

Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) is the killer. At the end of a man's life he kills, but of during the rest of his life time, the Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) creates sickness, disease, accidents, hindrances, obstructions, and other problems - (The eight types of ‘Mrityu (death)’).

The most powerful Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) bhava (house) is the second bhava (house) of the horoscope. After that comes the seventh bhava (house). Next is the twelfth house. After that comes the eighth house, then the third house and the tenth house. Their lords, and the planets associated with them qualify as the Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House), and Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) are different planets for different lagnas (Ascendant) according to their lordship.

The eighth house is the Ayu sthan (eight house). The seventh house is twelfth (Vyaya) of the eight, i.e. expenditure of Ayu. Eighth house from the eighth- the third house is also Ayu Sthan. The second house is also the twelfth from the third house- Vyaya of Ayu. So second house also becomes a Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) Sthan. This is the reason for the second and the seventh houses becoming Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) sthan. Of the two, the second house is the stronger Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) sthan.

The Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House)

1. The Strongest Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) is the Second house lord.
2. The Seventh house lord.
3. The planets which are associated with the Second house, or Second lord.
4. The planets which are associated with the seventh house, or Seventh lord.
5. The twelfth house lord.
6. The planets associated with the twelfth house, or twelfth lord.
7. The eighth house lord and the planets associated with the eighth house or eighth lord.
8. The third house lord and the planets associated with the third house or third lord.
9. The tenth lord (eighth from third house according to some people.)
10. Saturn is the 'Ayushkarak (longevity Signification) - the ultimate killer or 'Yama'. He is the unconditional Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House). If he is involved with the other Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House), he will supersedes all the others and take over as the Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) himself. Because he is the unconditional Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House), he can act anytime, anyhow and anywhere.

Some other Marakas

1. Chidra Grahas (planet) (छिद्र ग्रह)
   

   Jatak Parijat describes chidra grahas (planet) as the planets who are vulnerable. Whichever of these planets is strongest, can cause death in his dasha.

   The seven chidra grahas (planet) are:
   1. The lord of the eighth house.
   2. Planets placed in the eighth house.
   3. Planets Seeing the eighth house.
   4. The lord of khara Dreshkone (the 22th Dreshkone).
   5. The planet in conjunction with the eighth lord.
   6. The lord of the 64th Navamsa (D-9 chart) from Moon.
   7. The Atishatru (Bitter enemy) of the eighth lord.

   Jatak Parijat has given a lot of importance to eighth house. The 22nd Dreshkone falls in the eighth house from lagna (ascendant). The 64th Navamsa (D-9 chart) falls in the 8th house from Moon. And all the other chidra grahas (planet) are connected to the eighth house. So, the eighth house becomes a very important house for longevity.

2. Planets in ‘Mrityu (death)’ Bhaga (phase) (Phase)
   

   In every Sign, there is a fixed degree for each planet, and each lagna (Ascendant), which is his ‘Mrityu (death)’ bhaga (phase). If the planet is placed in his ‘Mrityu (death)’ bhaga (phase), then he becomes adverse. If a Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) is placed in ‘Mrityu (death)’ bhaga (phase) then he becomes even stronger as a Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House).

3. Sun and moon as Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House)
   

   Sun and moon, because they are luminaries, are not considered, to be among the Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House). But in practice is found that they can also act as Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House), especially if they are associated with other Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) or Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) houses.

4. Lagna Lord who is also the Eighth Lord
   

   For Aries and Libra Lagnas (Ascendant) - Mars and Venus are lagna lord and eighth lords. They normally do not become markas (lord of 2nd and 7th House). But if they are associated with other Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) - they can also become Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House).

So, we see that almost all the planets in the horoscope can becomes Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House). The planet which becomes more prominent among them, will probably be the actual Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House).

1. All these planets get Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) of varying degrees depending on their lordship.
2. Whenever Lagnesh (ascendant lord), Sun or Moon get Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House), then to a great extent their flaw is nullified but if their connection with any Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House) planet or house is repeated, then they can also act as Maraka (lord of 2nd and 7th House).