Every planet has its own role in Astrology and in a particular chart. This role is decided by the things planet is karaka of in general and the houses which it rules & sits in a specific horoscope. In some charts, these planets sit in good positions and get further boost by friendly planets; hence they are able to manifest their goals easily. In other cases, a planet may be conjunct with enemy or malefic planets and in such cases, planet which is in weak dignity will get sacrificed in favour of the planets in good dignity in same conjunction. And it’s not that these times of conjunctions are part of Layman’s life only. Even the most successful people in the world can have few trashed planets and actually, most of the richest people of the world have seen the worst of times in their early life. So, we all have our shares of happiness and grief. Vedic Astrology gives ways to analyse these situations in horoscope where a planet can become completely weak in comparison with the planets it is conjunct with. Here, natural relationships between planets are important to understand their Avasthas, like Sun-Saturn are Arch-Enemies and Moon-Jupiter are Best Friends. These ways are known as Lajjitadi Avasthas. Lajjit means Ashamed, Adi means Etc and Avastha means States, so Lajjitadi Avastha literally means Ashamed Etc States of planets, by which we can decide the dignity, strength of planets involved over each other and also the strength of house involved. 

Total number of Avasthas under Lajjitadi Avasthas are 6 and as they start with Lajjit Avastha, they are named as Lajjitadi Avastha. Following are different Avasthas of Planets – 

Now, let’s see, what causes each Avastha?

Garvita Avastha/Proud State 

"A planet being in Exaltation or Mool Trikon Sign causes Garvita Avastha".

Garvita Avastha is in effect when a Planet is in Exaltation or Mool Trikon Sign. Such planet feels a positive sense of pride & confidence in respect to its accomplishments. Here, it should not be misunderstood as Egoistic State. 

"If a planet is in enemy’s sign, conjunct enemy, aspected by enemy, in that case starvation is caused to the planet. It can also happen when Saturn conjuncts a planet". 

Trishitha Avastha/Thirsty State. 

"A planet in a Water Sign and aspected by an enemy planet, with no auspiscious Graha aspecting is said to be Trishita Avastha/Thirsty State".

This state is in effect whenever a planet is in a Water Sign and it gets aspected by an enemy planet. But if, a Gentle Planet (Mercury/Venus/Moon) aspects here, it strengthens the planet in Water Sign. This Avastha is only for the aspecting enemy planet that will cause Trishita/Thirst. This state shows that a planet in a watery Rasi can still be productive even when aspected by enemies, though it will not be happy. As the name “Thirsty State” implies, it indicates the lack of emotional fulfillment that a planet experiences.

Mudita Avastha/Delighted State 

"If a planet is in a friend’s sign or joined with a friend or aspected by a friend, or that joined with Jupiter is called Mudita Avastha/Delighted State". 

As we can see that there are so many Avasthas, both good and bad, and a chart will have many of them together. Like, if I think of my own chart then I think I have 5 out of 6 avasthas stated above. Positive Avasthas will help the planet to accomplish its goals and negative avasthas will restrict the results. In Astrology, nothing cancels anything and everything is in addition. So, it is not that if you have one planet in wrong avastha that means that planet is doomed or you won’t get any result out of it. There will be some other conjunction/aspects going on that planet which might be creating a positive avastha. So, everything in Astrology should be read in its entirety, rather than in the most micro manner. One planetary placement never gives any result. Whenever any event happens, it is allowed by majority of planets related to that planet, their positions/dignity, their dashas & transits etc. So again, don’t jump to any conclusion by just reading about one concept of Astrology.