Who Becomes Markesh: The Classical Hierarchy

1. The lord of the 2nd house. The premier markesh. BPHS explicitly calls the 2nd the more powerful maraka house.

2. The lord of the 7th house. The second primary markesh.

3. Planets occupying the 2nd or 7th house. Natural malefics placed there (Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu) take the role on strongly; natural benefics take it on mildly.

4. Planets conjoined with a maraka lord. Sitting with the 2nd or 7th lord, a planet absorbs the duty by association (BPHS 44.3 extends maraka status through such connection).

5. The lord of the 12th house, and planets connected to it. A tertiary markesh: BPHS 44.6-7 says that when the primary marakas' periods do not apply, the dasha of a planet related to the 12th lord, or of the 8th lord, or of a pure malefic, can carry the role.

Rahu and Ketu deserve their own note. Having no lordship, they become marakas by position and company: classical texts flag them when placed in the maraka houses, conjoined with maraka lords or planets, or placed in the 7th from a maraka lord.

And then the famous rule of BPHS 44.9: if Saturn is ill-disposed and connected with any maraka, Saturn takes over the role ahead of everyone - the foremost markesh. Saturn's slow, grinding nature makes it the most effective agent of wear, which is exactly why Saturn-flavoured markesh periods respond so well to boring, consistent maintenance.

Notice what this hierarchy implies: almost every planet CAN be a markesh for some lagna. Venus is the markesh for Aries lagna (ruling both the 2nd and 7th); Mars for Libra lagna. The role is structural, not evil. The next lesson grades how strongly each holder actually plays it.