Shukra is the Sanskrit name for the planet Venus. In Vedic astrology it is the graha of love, marriage, beauty, comfort, art and pleasure, and also of refinement and diplomacy. In mythology Shukracharya is the guru of the asuras, a master of the secret knowledge of reviving the dead, so Shukra is a teacher as well as a giver of pleasures. This guide explains what Shukra signifies, where it is strong and weak, what it does in each house, and how its 20-year Mahadasha works, with two real charts.
See where Shukra sits in your chart. The free Kundli calculator shows Venus's sign, degree, house, nakshatra and dignity, and when your Venus dasha runs. No sign-up.
Shukra at a glance
| English | Venus |
| Signifies | Marriage and the spouse, love, beauty, art, music, luxury, vehicles, comfort, sensual pleasure, diplomacy |
| Body | Reproductive system, kidneys, skin, face, the lustre of the eyes |
| Own signs | Taurus (Vrishabh) and Libra (Tula) |
| Moolatrikona | Libra 0°–15° |
| Exalted | Pisces (Meen), deepest at 27° |
| Debilitated | Virgo (Kanya), deepest at 27° |
| Friends | Mercury, Saturn |
| Neutral | Mars, Jupiter |
| Enemies | Sun, Moon |
| Nakshatras ruled | Bharani, Purva Phalguni, Purva Ashadha |
| Mahadasha | 20 years, the longest in Vimshottari |
| Day, colour, metal | Friday, white, silver |
| Gem (traditional) | Diamond, or white sapphire |
| Strongest house | 4th (directional strength, dig bala) |
What Shukra does in a chart
Shukra is the natural karaka of the 7th house (marriage and partnership). In classical texts it is the main significator of the wife in a man's chart; today astrologers read it for love and relationships in every chart. It is also the karaka of comforts and vehicles (with the 4th house), and of all the arts.
A strong Shukra gives charm, taste, a pleasant appearance, artistic talent, a comfortable life and harmony in relationships. A weak or afflicted Shukra can show dissatisfaction in love, overindulgence, or difficulty enjoying what one has. See Venus and Marriage Timing for its role in when marriage happens.
Shukra as a functional planet
For two Lagnas Shukra is the yogakaraka, the best planet in the chart:
- Capricorn Lagna: Venus rules the 5th and 10th houses.
- Aquarius Lagna: Venus rules the 4th and 9th houses.
For Taurus and Libra Lagna it is the Lagna lord (though it also rules the 6th or 8th). For Aries Lagna it rules the 2nd and 7th, the maraka houses. See The 12 Houses and Their Lords.
Shukra in each house
| House | Classical tendency |
|---|---|
| 1st | Attractive, charming, artistic, fond of comfort |
| 2nd | Sweet speech, wealth through art or luxury, good food |
| 3rd | Artistic skill, pleasant siblings, creative communication |
| 4th | Comfortable home, vehicles, happiness; Venus's best house |
| 5th | Romance, creative intelligence, love of entertainment |
| 6th | Service in beauty, health or arts; can strain relationships |
| 7th | An attractive spouse and strong attraction; but a karaka in its own house (karako bhava nashaya) can complicate marriage |
| 8th | Inheritance, a partner's wealth, interest in hidden things |
| 9th | Fortune through women or the arts, a refined faith |
| 10th | Career in arts, beauty, fashion, luxury, hospitality, media |
| 11th | Gains through art, women, friends; social success |
| 12th | Pleasures of the bed, spending on luxury, foreign travel; good for enjoyment |
These are starting points. The sign, the dignity and the aspects on Shukra change them.
Combust and retrograde Shukra
- Combust: Venus within about 10° of the Sun (8° when retrograde) is combust; its significations are absorbed by the Sun, so love and pleasure may be less expressed or come later.
- Retrograde: Venus turns retrograde about every 18 months, for around six weeks. A retrograde natal Venus is read as an inward, reflective approach to love and values, often revisiting past relationships.
Two real charts
From NavAstro's calculator, for example births (not real people):
Debilitated Shukra: 12 August 1994, 6:40 am, Lucknow. Venus is at 10.9° Virgo, its debilitation sign, in the 2nd house with the Moon. Is the debilitation cancelled? Virgo's lord Mercury sits in the 12th from the Lagna and the 11th from the Moon, and Venus's exaltation lord Jupiter in the 3rd from the Lagna and 2nd from the Moon: neither is in a kendra, so there's no Neecha Bhanga by those rules. In the D9, though, Venus moves to Aries, a fair placement. Reading: comforts and relationships need patience and effort, and improve with maturity.
Strong Shukra: 15 September 2026, 10:25 am, Pune. Venus is in its own sign Libra, in the 1st house, with the Moon. Venus in its own sign in a kendra forms Malavya yoga, one of the five Pancha Mahapurusha yogas: charm, taste and a comfortable life. See Yoga in Kundli.
Shukra Mahadasha
The Venus Mahadasha lasts 20 years, the longest of the nine. People born in Bharani, Purva Phalguni or Purva Ashadha nakshatra start life in it. When Shukra is well placed, its dasha often brings marriage, property, vehicles, comfort and artistic or financial success. When it's weak, the same themes come with more effort. The antardashas inside it, from Venus–Venus (3 years 4 months) to Venus–Ketu, colour each phase.
Traditional remedies for Shukra
Classical and folk remedies to strengthen a weak Venus include:
- reciting the mantra "Om Shum Shukraya Namah", especially on Fridays,
- respecting women and keeping one's relationships honest,
- giving white items (rice, sugar, white cloth) on Fridays,
- and wearing a diamond or white sapphire, but only after a full chart reading, since a gem strengthens Venus's bad houses too.
Frequently asked questions
What is Shukra graha in English? Venus. Shukra is the Sanskrit and Hindi name for the planet.
In which sign is Shukra exalted? Pisces (Meen), deepest at 27°. It's debilitated in Virgo (Kanya), deepest at 27°.
How long is the Shukra Mahadasha? 20 years, the longest Mahadasha in the Vimshottari system.
Which house is best for Shukra? The 4th house, where Venus gets directional strength. The 1st, 5th, 9th, 11th and 12th are also considered good.
Related reading: Venus and Marriage Timing · Yoga in Kundli · Kundli Houses Explained · Find your Venus in the free Kundli calculator
This article is for general information about Vedic astrology. It is not professional advice.