The Sun represents a purifying male energy. Associated with Vishnu, the Lord of preservation, the Sun is characterized as having a stable and selfless nature, one that is strong, firm, authoritative, royal, and respectable. It is lord of the East. The Moon, Mars, and Jupiter are friends to the Sun. Saturn, Venus, Rahu, and Ketu (north and south nodes of Moon) are its enemies. Mercury has a neutral relationship with the Sun. According to astrologers, the Sun passes through one of the twelve zodiac signs each month. The Sun is exalted (at its peak) in Aries; this power decreases gradually, until the Sun passes Virgo. From Libra onward, the energy starts its full descent and becomes weakest when it reaches the zodiac sign Pisces. From there, it again rises to its peak in Aries. It rules the zodiac sign Leo. The Sun influences the intellect—it makes its natives masculine, authoritative, harsh, strong, witty, extroverted, helpful to friends, and brutal to enemies. Like a lion, the upper torso of a native influenced by the Sun is more developed than the lower half. They become famous and achieve top positions in their field of work. Sun natives have bile-dominated temperaments. The Sun rules over the right eye, right nostril, pingala nadi (right channel), the right side of the body, and the left hemisphere of the brain.