WHAT IS VEDIC ASTROLOGY?

By Shyamasundara Dasa,

Jyotish Sastri

You have in your hands a map of destiny[1]. The secrets that it contains can only be revealed by a Vedic Astrologer.

Right about now you are probably wondering what is Vedic Astrology? You have probably heard of astrology, who hasn’t? Most people know what their Sun sign is in “Western Astrology” but very few know about Vedic Astrology, the subject of this report. Even people who have only the slightest smattering of knowledge about astrology ask the question: What is Vedic Astrology? And how is it different from the Western Astrology that they are accustomed to? Therefore, to answer these questions I first would like to very briefly explain a little about Vedic Astrology and how it is different from its Western cousin.

Vedic vs Western Astrology

The Vedas are the oldest scriptures known to exist, they are well over 5,000 years old. The vast ocean of Vedic knowledge encompasses both material and spiritual knowledge; it is perfect knowledge that was revealed by Sri Kåñëa (The Godhead) to the Rishis, the sages of Vedic culture. Astrology is part of the Vedic literature, and has been preserved and handed down in the guru parampara, the chain of apostolic succession, since time immemorial. Vedic Astrology is the original form of astrology that existed thousands of years ago in what is now known as the Indian sub-continent. It gradually spread by diffusion into other cultures such as the Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Chinese, etc. The major differences between Vedic Astrology and modern Western Astrology are threefold:

First of all, Vedic Astrology is technically called a Sidereal system whereas Western Astrology is Tropical. What this essentially means is that up in the sky there are stars which make up the various constellations of the Zodiac such as Virgo, Aquarius, etc. Vedic Astrology is based upon the actual stellar constellations (sidereal) whereas Western Astrology is based on a fictitious zodiac that slowly moves backwards in space as a function of time (tropical). These definitions can be found in any good dictionary. As of this writing, Oct 22, 1993, the beginning of the Western imaginary zodiac, their first point of Aries, begins at 6.25 degrees of the constellation Pisces. This is called the “Age of Pisces” in Western Astrology. This first point will move in a retrograde (backward) motion at a rate of about one degree per 72 years until it enters into the constellation of Aquarius. That will be the beginning of the famous “Age of Aquarius” that we have all heard about. At the rate of motion of 72 years/degree X 6.25 degrees it will take 450 years before the so-called “Age of Aquarius” takes place. Out of ignorance of astronomy, the New Age community has jumped the gun by almost half a millennia in declaring that we are already in the Age of Aquarius.

Secondly, Vedic Astrology, as already mentioned, is based on a very old unbroken tradition since time immemorial whereas Western Astrology has had a very checkered history. Astrology for all intents and purposes disappeared in the West during the Dark Ages; it resurfaced during the Renaissance only to fall out of favor during the so-called Age of Reason. In fact, it totally disappeared from the European continent until about 100 years ago. It had been kept barely alive in England during that time. Western Astrology as we know it today has only been around for 130 years. The point being that the Vedic tradition is very strong and vibrant with the heritage of many millennia of accumulated knowledge, whereas Western Astrology is a chaotic mis-mash of New Age ideas; the “new kid on the block.”

Thirdly, Vedic astrology being an appendix to the Vedas, is thoroughly soaked in Vedic thought and philosophy. This necessitates that the practioner of the science must have earnestly assimilated the Vedic philosophy and lived the life of a Vedic Brahmin, with all its attendant spiritual practices. By contrast, modern Western astrology is a reflection of permissive Western culture where anything goes. Western astrology has no real consistent philosophical basis; what passes for a basis is watered down, distorted, third hand Vedic philosophy. The Western Astrologer has (in comparison to the Vedic Astrologer) no philosophical training, nor does he know what it means to follow a spiritual discipline. The combined effect of genuine philosophical knowledge coupled with an authentic spiritual lifestyle cannot be over estimated when it comes to developing the divine vision and ability to properly guide that is so necessary in becoming an astrologer.

I have hardly done justice to the subject of comparing and contrasting Vedic and Western Astrology, but hopefully what I have said will give you an inkling of the differences which exist. The differences are not just technical but depend on a whole different world view. Now that we have finished our digression let us return to the main objective of this report.

The birth-map or horoscope is a symbolic representation of the Earth, planets, and stars at the time of your birth. It is a divine language, a mystic cryptogram by which God has communicated what a person’s destiny will be, knowing which a wise person will exercise his freewill to optimize the result.

Fate and Freewill and Vedic Astrology

The view point of Vedic Astrology is that life is an interplay of both “Fate” and “Freewill.” Our fate being the reaction to our previous exercise of freewill. In our lives we are often faced with choices presented to us by our environment. We have the freedom to chose between “a” and “b,” but once that decision has been made we must accept the reaction to that decision. The reaction may be immediate or it may be delayed by thousands of lifetimes. In any case, the reaction, pleasant or unpleasant, will come at the appointed time determined by higher authorities. As Chanakya Pandit says, “Just as a calf can find its mother in a herd of 10,000 cows; in the same way your actions [reactions] will find you.” The reactions to life’s actions are inescapable by everyone except those who are devoted to God in Bhakti Yoga. When a karmic reaction ripens and fructifies it creates a new situation, an environment that presents you with more choices on which to exercise your freewill. Thus life is an interplay of both fate and freewill as previously stated.

Let me give an example of how this works. Suppose someone is born into a poor family because of his bad karma from a previous lifetime. This person is raised in a ghetto besot with crime and poverty. Let us say, hypothetically, that he has two choices. He can blame society for the evils he faces and thus try to victimize society by taking to a life of crime and thus acquire wealth. Or he can take responsibility for his situation as he finds it and try to better himself by education and honest endeavor. Suppose he chooses the first option of crime and robs several institutions. Eventually he will get caught (if not killed first) and sent to jail, which will be a reaction for his criminal behavior. But even while in jail he still has options, though more limited than those of a free man. He can choose to be a hardened criminal or to be a model prisoner and go straight. Each choice will have a reaction. Thus we can see that life is an intricate interplay of Fate (Karma) and Freewill.

Astrology as a Language

Getting back to the horoscope. By looking at the chart, the Vedic Astrologer studies the interaction of the planets, signs, houses, and the aspects between them. This is the language of the stars. Every thing known is in the portfolio of one or more planets, signs, or houses. And it is by studying the interactive trends in the chart that the astrologer[2] can ascertain so much information about a person.

The various elements in the chart: planets, signs, nakshatras (lunar mansions), houses, elements, modalities, polarities, aspects; are the components of this divine celestial language and act like nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc, with rules of grammar and syntax just as in a regular language, but far more complex as one would imagine. To give you an idea of what we are dealing with, consider the following very cursory meanings of the planets, and houses. Remember whole books have been written about a planet, sign, or house so what I am giving just skims the surface but gives you an idea of what is going on.

The planets represent the following:[3]

Sun Q: Atma (soul), self, self-realization, influence, prestige, power, valor, health, eye, general well being, heat, splendor, father, king, royalty, royal favor.

Moon R: The heart, understanding, inclinations, emotions, sleep, happiness, good name and fame, facial luster, mother, royal favor, affluence, travel, water reservoirs.

Mars U: Stamina, courage, desire, anger, scandal, diseases, enemies, opposition, controversies, weapons, commander of an army, land, immovable properties, younger brother, relations such as cousins.

Mercury S: Intelligence, discrimination, speech, expression, education, learning, mathematics, logic, astrology, medical knowledge and profession, writing, publishing, acting as a middle man in trade or politics (diplomacy), dancing, mixture of things, leafy

trees, testing of precious stones, charms (amulets), maternal uncles, friends.

Jupiter V: Wisdom, learning, corpulence, acts of religious merit, devotion to God, ancestors and superior beings, holy places, scriptures, proficiency in learning, philosophy, giving alms or donations, benevolence, wealth, respect, sons, religious, preceptors, fruit, fruit trees.

Venus T: Spouse, marriage, sexual matters, pleasures of the senses, singing, poetry, scents, ornaments, jewellery, all articles of luxury, cooperation with and from others, flowers, flowering trees, beauty, buying and selling, cows, watery places.

Saturn W :Longevity, life, death, adversity, calamities, disrespect, diseases, poverty, livelihood, servility, unrighteous conduct, learning of sciences and foreign languages, agricultural pursuits, minerals, oils, things buried deep in the ground and coming out there from, servants (male and female), service, theft, cruel deeds, malice, lameness, very old persons.

Rahu < (North Node of the Moon):Paternal grandfather, fallacious argument, harsh speech, gambling, movement, travelling, outcastes, foreigners, snakes, snake bite, theft, wickedness, widow(er), intrigue with a widow(er), skin diseases, itches, eczema, acute or sharp pain in the body, hiccoughs, swelling in the body.

Ketu > (South Node of the Moon): Maternal grandfather, consumption, pain, fever, wound, witchcraft, causing trouble to enemies, horned animals, dog, cock, birds with spots or of variegated colors, philosophy, salvation.

The meanings of the signs of the Zodiac are well known to everyone or can easily be found out so we will not explain them here.

The following are brief meanings for the twelve houses of the horoscope suitable for our basic educational purposes.[4]

First House: self, head, body, personality, mental temperament, health.

Second house: eyes, face, upper part of the throat, speech, wealth, family.

Third House: arms, lower part of the throat, shoulders, brothers, sisters, valor.

Fourth House: chest, heart, mother, landed property, friends, conveyances, happiness.

Fifth House: stomach, education, intelligence, sons, daughters.

Sixth House: the region of the navel, illness, enemies, debts, distress.

Seventh House: partnership, sexual relations, spouse, the part of the body below the waist and down to the genitals.

Eighth House: genitals, anus, death, legacies.

Ninth House: hips, thighs, religion (dharma), devotion to God, prosperity, religious preceptor (guru), father.

Tenth House: knees, back, status and position in life, activity, honor from government.

Eleventh House: calves of legs, friends, income.

Twelfth House: expenditure, loss, sexual enjoyment, left eye, teeth, confinement.

The above information is grossly simplified but gives you a bit of an idea of what is being dealt with. Considering that there are nine planets, twelve signs, and twelve houses, you can imagine what the possible combinations and permutations can be[5]. The energies of the planets, signs, and houses, interact with each other in myriad ways. By studying the combinations, a well trained astrologer can know an amazing amount of information about the owner of the chart. A remarkable feat considering that the original input data consisted of only the date, time, and place of birth.

Natal Reading

The Natal chart is the birth chart. The reading of this chart is what most people consider to be the sum total of astrology. In a general reading of the Natal chart one should expect to be told who you are, where you have been, and where you are going.

In truth, most people do not understand themselves, and in fact are quite confused about who they are, how their mind works, why it works that way, etc. The vast majority of people don’t really know who or what they are on either the psychological or spiritual plane. Therefore, the first thing that is done is an analysis of: psychology, character, and life potential. The astrologer discusses the person’s qualities, intellectual abilities and aptitude, people skills and relationships with family, friends, and loved ones, financial acumen and status, education, travel, health, etc.

Life potential indicates a person’s predisposition and predilection in certain areas. For example, a certain combination of planets may indicate a person with acute intelligence and love of knowledge, this would give a strong potential for academic achievement or a career in research, teaching, scholarship, etc.

This initial analysis serves several functions: 1) To bring the seeker a big step closer to achieving the Socratic ideal of “Know thyself.” 2) To verify the accuracy of the birth time and the horoscope. A good astrologer will be able to paint a picture that should be instantly recognizable by the seeker. The seeker should feel illuminated by the knowledge as well as secure and confidant that he is dealing with an astrologer who is qualified. This is especially important since in most cases this will be the first time that the seeker will have met the astrologer. 3) The astrologer will also understand the psychic nature of the seeker and be better able to guide him.

At some point the discussion will turn to your past in this lifetime. Astrologers deal with this in different ways. Some go deep into the past attempting to give a few details about the life. The idea is that by correctly identifying certain life events they will gain the confidence of the seeker. This is often done at the expense of giving a good psychological analysis which is more beneficial to the seeker. Why is a psychological analysis more beneficial? Because most of the time the psychological analysis will reveal items that the person is unaware of, with the added benefit that often many things about the past are brought up and detailed anyway. Whereas an astrologer who just mentions a few incidents from the past life of the seeker has not really told them something they didn’t know before. And by neglecting to analyze the personality in depth and give satisfactory explanations he has deprived the seeker of much valuable knowledge that could not be gained even after a score of psychological examinations.

Depending on the situation and the needs of the seeker, the astrologer will usually give an outline of the seeker’s recent past and the present situation that caused him to consult the astrologer in the first place.

Then the astrologer will proceed to discuss the up-coming future trends and planetary periods that the seeker can expect to experience both externally in the world and internally in terms of psychological attitudes. The internal and external realities are both very intimately related, for a negative mental attitude can attract and often is the precursor to equally negative experiences in external reality. The reverse is also seen, that a few reverses in life can instill a negative and depressed world view in the seeker creating a vicious cycle of gloom and doom.

This is where the real skill of the astrologer is tested. A real Vedic astrologer is not just someone who makes some predictions and then stands aside. Rather he is a Vedic Brahmin who has been trained in yoga, philosophy, counseling, etc. The astrologer, if he foresees difficulty ahead, should be able to provide the seeker with strategies for meeting the difficulties in a mature and wise way. This after all is the benefit of Vedic Astrology and the proper use of your freewill. To “Act with Wisdom” as opposed to “Reacting in Ignorance.” Simply knowing that difficulty lies ahead may be sufficient to avert real danger. You may still be exposed to the problem but you will know what to do because you were not taken by surprise. In cliche terms:“To be fore-warned is to be fore-armed.”

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed a large area of Florida. There was much physical damage to property, but considering the horrific nature of the storm the loss of human life was practically nil. Why? Because the National Weather Service had warned residents of the approach of the storm and they in turn had time to prepare for the inevitable. They evacuated dangerous areas, boarded up windows, cached food and water, sought high ground, and took shelter. They acted with wisdom. We can only imagine what the death toll would have been if Andrew had pounced on Florida with no warning at all. The carnage would have been astronomical and the people would have been simply reeling from the death blow not knowing what to do next. This is reacting in ignorance. That is, reacting to a situation after it has already struck without any fore knowledge that it would happen. This is why, generally, there are few casualties from hurricanes compared to earthquakes. At present, hurricanes can be predicted by the weather service, but no government agency can predict earthquakes[6].

Of course, the previous discussion should not unnerve you into thinking that the astrologer is only going to give out dire predictions of impending ruination and existential calamity. This is hardly the case; we just dealt with a worst case scenario first. Just as often, and much easier and pleasant for the astrologer, are predictions of up-coming times of good fortune and happy times free of difficulty and full of opportunity. People love to hear about good fortune, and, frankly, it is much easier on me when I have to give predominantly good news. You know what happened to the bearer of bad news in ancient times.

People are funny though. Most people have heard of the saying: “Make the best use of a bad bargain.” Often hardship can bring the best out of a person. It has been observed that the only difference between the carbon in a diamond and that in a graphite lead pencil, is that the former has been subjected to tremendous heat and pressure for a long time, then chiselled and polished to perfection. So while giving people bad news is not so pleasant, they often take it more seriously than when I give good news.

The opposite of “Make the best use of a bad bargain;” is “To squander a good opportunity.” Or: “To rest on your future laurels.” Surprisingly, people often think that if good times are ahead they don’t have to do anything. Wrong. When an astrologer indicates that there is smooth sailing ahead it is not time to take it easy, but rather to strive harder because now that resistance is lower you are more likely to succeed. But you must still endeavor with determination, just that now it will be easier. And who knows? The cycle may change. So it is the sign of wise a astrologer who advises the seeker to maintain and even build up his momentum in good times. That way if things should take a turn for the worst, the seeker will be able easily overcome the problem. If you are driving on the flats and you see a hill up ahead you speed up; the momentum of the car will carry you over the top with less strain.

The usual situation with the vast majority of people is that their future karma will be a mixture of good and bad. So it is up to the astrologer to sort out as much as possible which is which and advise how to minimize the negative and maximize the positive with suitable strategies.

The process that I have just described is how the astrologer tells the seeker “Who he is, where he has been, and where he is going.”

How Long Will It Take?

You should be prepared to spend from 1 to 3 hours, or longer in some cases, with your astrologer, for this initial reading. The length of time will be determined by the subjects covered, questions asked and the intricacy of the case. I have described a general first reading. Sometimes a person has a specific problem they want to deal with such as career, marriage, health, etc. The astrologer should adjust to fit the needs of the seeker. In so doing, however, several of the items I described may be left out.

If the birth time is not accurate or unknown, the astrologer may have to rectify it by asking certain questions and adjusting the time according to your answers. This all takes time.

Your Part

Up to now we have only discussed what procedure the astrologer is likely to employ, and what subjects he will speak on. But what about you? What should you say or do? Should you say anything or just listen? The following recommendations will help you to get the most out of your reading:

Before going to the astrologer find out if he is going to tape record the session. If not, get permission to bring your own tape recorder and record it yourself. Bring enough tapes to adequately cover the meeting, more is better than less. So bring at least two C-90 tapes.

Before starting the session pre-arrange with the astrologer that if you make a particular signal he should turn off the tape recorder. This indicates you want to discuss something that you don’t want to be recorded. You may not want others who may listen to your tape to know some personal details.

It is a good idea to note down any questions or areas in your life that you want covered in the reading. It is generally best to let the astrologer know this in advance so that he will be able to focus extra attention on those areas. Some topics may require extra research.

While the astrologer is speaking I recommend that you avoid breaking his train of thought. Bring a note pad, if you have a question write it down, if it hasn’t been resolved before the reading is over then you should ask it and resolve it then. Breaking the astrologers train of thought means going off on tangents, or asking a question and before he can answer it fully you ask another question. Of course there should be feedback, both positive and negative, so that the astrologer knows that he is on the right track. Astrology is, after all, a difficult science. If the astrologer makes a mistake, let him know, he will adjust his calculations. If he is right, confirm it by a nod or whatever so that the astrologer will continue in confidence. Whatever the case, don’t just sit there like a piece of wood. Interact. But do so in such a way as is conducive to the reading. This may mean that you have to go into a long explanation of your situation, or it may mean that you listen while he explains. As long as you stay on track.

Be honest with your astrologer. You wouldn’t lie to your physician would you? If you don’t feel comfortable telling the astrologer the truth about your situation then find an astrologer who you can trust. Misleading your astrologer could have serious consequences. Another thing, don’t try to trick or test your astrologer. If you intend to have a long standing relationship with anyone, what to speak your astrologer, it is not good by starting out on such a footing. The astrologer will be able to tell that there is something afoot and this just hampers the process.

What has been said above about your part in a natal reading also applies, with necessary adjustments, to other kinds of readings.

Chart Updates

A person’s life cannot be encapsulated in a few hours. Because it is impossible to do everything in one sitting, people often have follow up readings that cover certain time frames. People usually ask about what the next six months or one year will hold in store for them. Many people have their charts updated around the beginning of the New Year, or their birthday and have a report for the upcoming year. You may want a chart updated because you are contemplating a new business, moving your residence, having marital, legal or health problems, etc. There are no hard and fast rules regarding when or why to have your chart done, or for what span of time. Let your needs be the guideline for this.

Follow up readings are almost exclusively predictive in nature. (Unless for some reason the first reading didn’t cover all the main points. This sometimes happens when the seeker asks the astrologer to focus on just one area, thus excluding others which the seeker may want covered in a subsequent reading.) They will reveal, in more detail, the types of situations, both physically and mentally, that you will find yourself in. Times of strength or weakness, happiness and sadness, romance, love, health, illness, travel , education, etc. These types of readings are quite popular with business people, executives, and anyone (and that means you) who needs to have the best information available for decision making and planning. These type of people know the value of a good advisor who can suggest strategy for progressing in material or spiritual life. We shall momentarily diverge and take a glimpse at what Vedic thinkers have said about the need of good counsel, then we shall return back to the topic.

The Need For Counsel

Since ancient times good astrologers have been recognized as among the best of advisors. Chanakya Pandit (circa 1550 BC)[7] has said that every king should have ministers to guide him:

“One without an adviser has no certainty of counsel.”

“All things begin with counsel.”

“The country prospers by proper ministerial counsel.”

“Through ministerial eyes other’s weaknesses are seen.”

“Counsellors (ministers) are the ones who see the true implications of what ought to be done and what ought not to be done.”

“Governance is possible only with assistance. A single wheel does not move. Hence ministers should be appointed and their counsel listened to.”

Of the many ministers to the king Chanakya explains that:

“The royal astrologer should know reading, writing and arithmetic, explain well and interpret the secrets of the planets.” And, “The Brahmin who knows mathematics, interprets scripts, is interested in the ancient scriptures and is able to interpret the secrets of planets is worthy of worship like a god.”

And finally Varaha Mihira said: “There is no better boat than a horoscope to help a man cross over the troubled sea of life.”

Though you may not be a King you can still avail yourself of good astrological counsel to help you plan your life.

Chart Updates Continued

Closely related to update charts but of generally longer duration are charts that focus in on a particular planetary period or subperiod. These will normally cover time frames several years in duration. I would still advise anyone who had such a longer forecast done to have his chart updated at least annually if not every six months. The reason is simple, the shorter the span of time investigated, the more detail revealed.

Compatibility Charts

The potential of the natal chart has not been exhausted yet. It has often been said that “Marriages are made in heaven.” And the cynics have added: “But often end in hell.”

The situation is common, you meet someone, you are attracted, get attached, jump into the relationship, but after sometime find out that it is not right for you. Usually after much pain. There must be a better way. There is!

It is a time honored tradition in India to compare and match horoscopes of prospective marriage partners. This usually is done by the parents who were detached from the effects of hormones. Not surprisingly, in the hands of a good astrologer there is a high success rate and happy marriages.

The problem that exists among astrologers around today is that few are actually trained in how to do this properly. The vast majority of Vedic astrologers (at least in this country) simply rely on a detailed comparison of the Moon in the respective charts. This is called the Kuta method. This is valuable but somewhat simplistic, though way ahead of the Western method of comparing Sun signs (Western astrologers also have more sophisticated methods).

An experienced astrologer employs a system that thoroughly examines the two horoscopes on three tiers:1) The general strength of each chart individually with especial attention paid to capacity for relationship and marriage; 2) A detailed examination of compatibility between the two charts based on all the planets not just the Moon; 3) Calculations to determine the durability of the relationship (many people are attracted, seem compatible, but afterwards end in divorce court, giving rise to the saying “Marry in haste; lament at leisure”).

For persons who are capable of maintaining a relationship (obviously it will be impossible to match up someone if they don’t have the karma to marry) this Vedic method of horoscopic matching is quite useful by saving you a lot of time, energy, money, and protecting your sensitive emotions from a lot of pain. All that you need to know is the date, time, and place of birth of the people involved.

Just be sure that the astrologer you consult to do a compatibility reading is experienced in doing them and uses a sophisticated technique as outlined above.

Though compatibility studies are generally done for romantic purposes it is not limited to this. The same principles can be adjusted and used in conjunction with other astrological techniques to develop an excellent method for selecting personnel. If you were going to pay someone $50,000, $100,000 or more per year it would make sense to hire someone who not only has a good resume (which could be forged) but someone who fits the job, fits in with the other people on the team, and most of all works well with you. An astrologer could easily determine if the candidate was honest or a cheater and if he had the capacity to fulfill the position. And by comparing his chart to the others he would have to interact with, it could be quickly determined who he would get on with and who he would rub the wrong way. If he fit in with most of the people, you could take him on the team and just make sure he had little interaction with the people whose charts showed a negative reaction. Thus by nicely harmonizing workers into an effective team, esprit de corps is instilled, and competitiveness is greatly enhanced.

Parent-Child Relationships

Parents often consult astrologers to find out how they can best guide their beloved children. Astrology can point out what the compatibilities and incompatibilities are between parent and child. An astrologer can suggest strategies for dealing with problem areas in the parent/child relationship, and guide the parent in understanding the nature of their child, what the child’s creative potential is, what areas should be encouraged, and also identify the problem areas.

Mundane & Financial Astrology

An expansion of astrology from the personal to the global level is Mundane Astrology or Political Astrology. This is a complex and exciting system that uses various astrological methods to track the horoscopes of countries, institutions, and political leaders. On the Machiavellian side, astrology has been used to track business and political competitors, to know their weak points and how to take advantage of them. Let me give you an example of this by recounting an anecdote from my own practice:

Several years ago when I was living in Manhatten, New York, some clients of mine wanted to do business with David Rockefeller, President of the Chase-Manhatten Bank. My clients had never met Mr. Rockefeller so they knew practically nothing about him, what he liked or disliked, what were his quirks, what was the best way to approach him, or which of the men among my clients, if any, would get on well with Mr. Rockefeller. Since they didn’t have the financial resources of the CIA, or FBI to create an indepth dossier of the man, they approached me instead. The leader of the consortium asked if I could I tell them something of this man whom they wanted to meet in order to make the most of that first meeting. He requested that I fill in their gaps of knowledge?

I took up their challenge. My only real problem was to find out Mr. Rockefeller’s birth data. To accomplish this I called up the NYC Public Library Reference desk. They couldn’t give me his birth data but they did give me the number of his private secretary at the Chase Manhatten Bank. I called up the man who was delightfully cooperative supplying me all the details I required. With that information I drew up his chart and made a report for my clients. They later told me that the information helped them a lot in sizing up Mr. Rockerfeller and to come up with a plan of how to deal with him.

So you can see that a lot of vital information can be derived from the few bits of information that are required to erect a horoscope. Throughout history, even up to modern times, the leaders of India have had court astrologers help them to form policy.

A subset of Mundane astrology is Financial astrology or Stock Market Astrology. The super wealthy industrialist J.P. Morgan is quoted to have said that: “Astrology is not for millionaires, its for billionaires.” But caveat emptor, here is where the intelligent reader must beware, there are several person’s who claim to be able to predict the market’s fluctuations, i.e. when the prices of oil or gold will go up or down. What their actual success rate is, has not been determined, you have to take their word for it. This doesn’t mean that there are no astrologers who can predict the market fluctuations, just that you have to be careful, especially when it comes to investing a lot of money.

What most people, including some astrologers, don’t realize is that your own personal chart contains in it the information about your financial success or failure. All the good tips in the world are not going to help you if it is not your karma to be wealthy in this life. Better than going to some person who claims they know which way the market will turn and then invest accordingly, it would be better to go to a good astrologer to have your own chart read to see what the chances are in your economic future. If from your chart it is seen that finance and fortune shine brightly then you can safely invest in anything you feel inspired by particularly those items found lucky in your chart. If on the other hand destiny is against you then no matter what you do, your investment will go bad; it would be wiser in such situations not to gamble on the stock market. To illustrate, let me give an example from my days as an astrology student in India.

I was studying Prasna (which will be explained later) in South India with my teacher Sashi Kant Jain. I was training under the supervision of Mr. Jain’s fourth son, Surendra Kumar (he had five sons who were astrologers). One day a successful business man came to us with a problem. Let’s call him Mr. Patel. Mr. Patel had somehow gotten involved in playing the ponies and had lost about 200,000 Rupees, which in India is not an insignificant sum. His plea to us was to help him win back his money. If he could recoup his losses, he would quit gambling. I told him that he should just cut his losses now by not playing anymore. No! He insisted that we help him win his money back and he wanted to use astrology to accomplish this. On taking up his chart it became very clear that he didn’t have the kind of karma necessary to win by gambling, so again I advised Mr. Patel to quit now and lose no more. But he wanted to go ahead. Since he didn’t like the advice I had given him he went to my astrology teacher’s second son, Chandru who specialized in gambling astrology.

Chandru had the ability to pick at least 6 winning horses out of 8 races. He was so good that he didn’t even bother to bet himself. Gamblers would come to see him and Chandru would tell them which horses to bet on. Invariably they would win and then come back and give him a good percentage of the winnings. He made a lot of money this way.

Mr. Patel approached Chandru and apprised him of his problem. Chandru consoled him and gave him the names of several horses to bet on at the next day’s races. The next day at the races Mr. Patel was about to wager on the horses that Chandru gave him, but at the last minute a wave of doubt overcame him and he chose different horses, none of which even placed. Needless to say most of the horses Chandru picked won their races. Now you understand what I mean by unfortunate in gambling. But the story is not over yet.

Chastened by this experience with Chandru, Mr. Patel came back to me and asked me to help him get his money back. I tried to dissuade him but he wouldn’t relent. We took up the Prasna chart of the time he approached us (my teacher and I) on examining it I could see that at the next day of racing he would win but then lose, what to do. Since he insisted on gambling to get his money back I gave him the second best advice I could (I had already given him the best advice, to quit). The advice was that he should take 1000 Rupees and bet with that money on the first race. After winning, which I knew he would, he should keep that original money aside and not touch it but just play with his winnings. I told him this because he was going to lose in the end but at least he wouldn’t lose the original 1000 Rupees.

Two days later he came back with a very sad face. He had followed my advice. taken the 1000 Rupees and bet and won big. He put the original money aside and only played with the winnings and continued to win. By this time he was overcome with betting fever, and at the last race he calculated that if he bet all his money, including the 1000 Rs, he would be able to recoup his losses from previous days. He bet all the money and lost.

After this debacle he didn’t come to me or Chandru anymore for advice, and I for one wouldn’t give him anymore. What was the use. Eventually, after losing about 400,000 Rupees Mr. Patel finally realized the wisdom of my first advice and quit gambling. If he had listened to me the first time he would have saved himself 200,000 Rupees.

While this example is not about Stock Markets per se, stock investments are very high risk endeavors and are in every way like gambling, especially for the uninitiated. What this example illustrates is that no matter how hard one tries to win at the horses (or market speculating), even through astrology, he will not be successful if it is not his destiny to get money in this way.

Another example is of a man who was actually in the stock market business as a broker. From his chart I could see that he had tremendous insight into the trade but because of a slight flaw in his horoscope things would not turn out for him no matter what he did. He would tell his broker to do something, and there would be some mix up and the deal would fall through. He was practically in tears because he was doing all the right things and picking all the right stocks but for him there was no success.

While another client who was a stockbroker had the knack of always picking the winners and doing things right. He did so well that he stopped being a stockbroker and went to medical school, his true love. To pay for his schooling he would do a couple of trades a month and bring back piles of cash. His chart showed that he would be fortunate in this type of endeavor.

One final example of doing financial astrology through the person’s horoscopes: A few years ago a Doctor, lets call him Dr. Levi, called me. He wanted to buy a small hospital and set up a special clinic. To do so he would have to borrow $900,000. He had already consulted another astrologer who told him to go ahead, but Dr Levi wanted a second opinion. I studied his birth chart and concluded that it wouldn’t be a good idea for him to buy the hospital because later he would have financial troubles and this huge debt would be a big problem for him. After giving him my response he told me that both his banker and accountant also thought it was a bad idea. Now, with the down turn in the economy and the revolution that is going on in the health care industry he is happy that he doesn’t owe $900,000. Since we are on the subject of medicine this leads us to our next topic.

Medical Astrology

Another derivative of Natal astrology is Medical astrology. While much medical information can be had with Natal astrology and Prasna i.e. probable times of sickness, susceptibility to certain diseases, weak constitution, proness to accidents, or exposure to venereal disease, when to perform surgery or give medicine, choose a physician, etc. But Medical Astrology is properly, strictly the dominion of Ayurvedic Physicians who have the opportunity to study many medical cases thoroughly.

Medical Astrology is the full blown investigation and diagnosis of medical problems using astrology. It was once very much in vogue. Even today in India, Ayurvedic doctors are urged to study astrology. But the difficulty is that to properly practice Medical Astrology you must be a qualified physician. It is a valuable tool of the astrologer/physician but few astrologers fall into this category.

Unless the astrologer is also trained highly in medicine he should limit his medical advice and refer you to a health professional. The same can be said in regard to other spheres such as law, financial planning and marriage counselling. The astrologer does his part then refers you to the appropriate specialist to handle your problem. It is not expected that the astrologer should be an expert in all fields. He should be very knowledgeable, but he should know his own limitations and for the sake of the benefit of the seeker he should refer him to proper sources of help if need be rather than go outside his field of expertise.

Medical astrology is a conglomeration of many branches of astrological knowledge and we shall mention the medical uses of other branches when appropriate. As has already been mentioned from the Natal chart the general health of the individual can be determined, periods of stress and disease can be seen, etc.

Relocation Astrology

Have you ever wondered if life would be different in another city or state or even another country or continent? Well before you pack up your bags for Bali or the Italian Riviera check with your Vedic Astrologer. On the basis of your Natal chart plus other methods special to Relocation Astrology he can advise you where best to live.

The approach that I personally use is a two tier one. First, I use a special computer program to generate various maps of the world with planetary lines on them based on your birth chart. Then by analyzing your chart I determine which lines are most favorable for you. This is the more general approach and it is useful in analyzing large geographical regions. To narrow down a particular city I would use a relocation chart for the particular city you are interested in.

Relocation Astrology is a very powerful and accurate technique which is just becoming popular in the last ten years. This method can be used to find the best place in the world to make money, study, write a book, find love, etc. The well known actress Shirley McClain used Relocation Astrology to choose where she would build her home.

Muhurta

So far, we have talked about ascertaining the future from the time of birth. But suppose you have an important event or project planned that you want to be successful. Logically, it would make sense that if you chose the best time available within a particular “window of time,” then you would get the best results. It makes good sense and you are right. This is called Muhurta or Electional Astrology. Basically it is the Science of Timing, when to choose the best time to start something in order to get the best result. There are certain events in life that we would really like to see turn out successful, such as a business or marriage. If you went to all the trouble of matching a chart for compatibility then it is also recommended that you choose a good Muhurta for the wedding in order to neutralize any defects that there may be in the match.

With a little imagination we can expand the possibilities for Muhurta beyond these two items, business and marriage. When to build a house, make a big purchase, start any important project like writing a book, or releasing a book or movie, or go on a long journey. Vedic Kings would consult their astrologers about when to begin a military campaign or sign a peace treaty. Vedic parents would consult on when to conceive a child and when to perform the child’s samskaras (sacraments). Gurus and Acaryas (great spiritual leaders) would choose auspicious Muhurtas for conducting an initiation ceremony, installing a deity, on laying the corner stone of a temple. Example: Solar and Lunar eclipses are considered very good for initiations. Vaidyas, ayurvedic physicians, would choose auspicious times for doing surgery or beginning a regimen of treatment. Example: since the Moon rules over fluids it is considered very bad to have surgery near the full Moon day because of excessive loss of fluid and danger of hemorrhaging.

Here is an example of a practical application of Muhurta. In 1992 some clients of mine had to make an important presentation to the Governing Body Commission (GBC) of an important spiritual organization. By studying the charts of the men involved and the time slot available I chose what I considered to be a perfect time. They had previously wanted a much later time, but I put pressure on them to accept the date that I chose. Somehow they were able to arrange their presentation on the appointed day and it went off perfectly. They later said that in the days that followed the mood at the GBC meetings changed drastically and that if they had tried to make the same presentation then, at the time that they had originally planned, it would have been very doubtful if they would have been able to carry it off.

Prasna

I have saved one of the most useful and dynamic branches of Vedic astrology until last. That being Prasna, which literally means question.

Suppose that you are a parent in a traditional Indian household, and suppose that you meet a particularly attractive girl who you think might just be the perfect match for your son[8]. But you don’t want to make any commitment just yet or reveal your mind about your intentions. You certainly wouldn’t want to tip your hand and reveal your interest by inquiring about the girl’s birth particulars. What to do? After suitably pondering the situation you ask your Vedic astrologer the question: What will be result for my son if he marries girl “X?” The Vedic astrologer notes the time the question is asked, calculates the chart, analyzes it, and then gives you an answer.

How does it work? The thought entering your mind is the conception. Pondering, worrying and brooding over it is the gestation period. And asking is the birth of the question. You will be surprised how accurately a trained astrologer will be able to zero in on the correct answer.

Of course Prasna is not limited to romantic questions, but can be applied to almost any situations where humans have questions. The following list is a small sample of the thousands of questions I have been asked in the course of my practice. I have chosen them to show the wide variety and almost endless application that is only limited by your imagination and personal experience:

Which of the following three places A,B, or C is the best place to sink a well? Which is the best to invest in: Gold, Pharmaceuticals, or Oil? My daughter is missing, is she alright, when will she return? Who murdered the victim, what can you tell me about the murderer? What shall be the result for me if I move to Los Angeles next month? Should I file a legal suit against “X?” Will the IRS come after me? My health isn’t good, the doctor recommended some treatment; should I do it? I have lost my wedding ring, shall I recover it? What is the sex of my unborn child? Should I take initiation from “X?” Should I purchase the land in India? What will be the result for me if I marry “X?”

I have done thousands of Prasnas since 1981 and the results are amazingly accurate provided you follow a few simple rules when asking a question:

1) Keep your mind clear and meditate on your question. If your mind is confused and you are thinking of many different questions then the chart will reflect your nebulous state of mind and be exceedingly difficult if not impossible to answer. This can be likened to a woman who gives births to 5 or 6 children at one time; the survival of any of them is doubtful.

2) Ask one question at a time. If you have other questions keep your mind clear and only ask them after you have received an answer to your first question.

3) Don’t ask more than three questions in one day. Brghu Muni says that it is best to approach the astrologer with only one question of an auspicious nature.

4) Always write your question down. This forces you to think clearly and concisely.

5) Don’t make your questions convoluted. Try to keep them as straightforward as possible.

6) When asking a question do not use negative phraseology, keep it positive. That is, instead of saying “What will be the result if I don’t do such and such?” Ask: “What will be the result if I do nothing at this time?” or “. . . I keep quiet at this time?”

7) Don’t ask ambiguous questions; be specific. “To be or not to be” may be good poetry but it is not a good question. Remember “Perfect questions; Perfect Answers.”

8) If you are consulting by mail write each question on a separate piece of paper fold it and then number the questions consecutively. Maximum three.

Before I leave the subject of Prasna I would like to give an example from my files of how it is used.

In December of 1988, I received an urgent call from a friend. His mother-in-law had just been rushed to the hospital and had to undergo emergency surgery for diabetes related problems. The woman, an old traditional Indian lady, would not sign the consent forms until I was consulted and had given my approval. I had noted the time of the call, and with that I began my calculations. My conclusion was that her condition was serious but that she had no danger to life in undergoing surgery. I told this to my client who conveyed the information to his wife and mother-in-law. Soon after I got another call from my client: “Are you sure, the condition is very serious, and my wife is doubtful.” To alleviate her anxiety I called the hospital emergency room and talked to the wife and asked why she was doubtful. She told me that the doctors had privately told her that her mother had less than a 5% chance of survival so she had trouble reconciling this with my assurance that the surgery would be successful. I looked at my calculations again and couldn’t see any indication that pointed to death so I told her. “If your mother dies during or because of the surgery I will not be able to explain it astrologically. If that happens I will give up the practice of astrology.” I was serious. My conviction was so firm that the wife’s mother signed the consent forms and underwent surgery. Later that day when I came back to my apartment I found a message on my answering machine: “Shyama, you don’t have to give up astrology, my mother survived and is doing fine.”

Astrology and Architecture

Another ancient branch of Vedic Astrology that is making a comeback is the Astrology of House Building and Architecture. Presently, only a few Stapathis (Vedic Architects) in India now practice this art but recently some new books on the subject have been published. We hope that this will help to foster an alliance between builders and astrologers.

How to choose an Astrologer

“Astrology is perfect; astrologers are not.”

If this essay has been even somewhat successful you will know something of what astrology is and what it can do for you. But the best way to find out is by hands on experience with a good astrologer. Only then can you see what a powerful tool astrology is, and with a little imagination you could find special uses for it in your life. But that is only possible if you can consult a good astrologer. How to differentiate the good from the bad?

Unlike doctors, dentists, engineers, architects or other licensed professionals there is, at present, no policing body for Vedic Astrologers such as the AMA which polices allopathic physicians. Of course there may be quack doctors, and some people frown on the whole enterprise of allopathic medicine. But at least to be a licensed MD the license holder had to pass certain criteria of rigorous educational training lasting several years.

Vedic Astrology is just now becoming popular in the West; unfortunately side by side there has been an increase in the number of charlatans claiming rights to the title of Vedic Astrologer and in the process giving Vedic Astrology a black eye. Typically they have read one or two books and now claim to be astrologers. Some are dilettantes who have dabbled in it for years but never undergone any serious training.

I once came upon an advertisement for a Vedic Astrologer that I hadn’t heard of before. Since I knew most of the practitioners, I was curious as to who he was. I gave him a call and asked him if he was interested in the Astrology software I had written. During the conversation I asked him who he had studied with and for how long. He stunned me when he said that he never studied with any teacher, but had read a book on it a year before and was now an astrologer. His is not a unique case. Some tyros have even written popular texts on Vedic astrology which turn out to be cook book astrology with no realizations in them. How could there be, they had only just come in contact with the science a year or two before.

Therefore the crucial task that you, the seeker, face before consulting an astrologer is to make sure that you actually get a real astrologer, not a quack. The danger that exists in getting a bogus astrologer lies in the observed phenomenon that most often when people come for a consultation, especially their first time, they are totally psychologically open, credulous, and impressionable to whatever the astrologer says. Here is where the quack astrologer can harm the seeker and bring astrology into disrepute. To aid your search in finding a good astrologer I have come up with some guidelines and questions that you should ask before consulting.

Q. How long did he study astrology? Was it continuous study or sporadic?

A. Like medicine, mathematics, engineering, or any other science, astrology is a very technical, complex, and subtle subject with many branches and sub-branches. In fact the Vedas say that astrology is the most complex science of all because of its unique inter-disciplinary nature. It is therefore not surprising that such a science requires at least 5 to 7 years of intense, rigorous, full-time study under qualified teachers. So if someone has only studied for one or two years, your red light should go on. In fact, you should be doubtful of anyone with less than five years of training.

A distinction should be made between years of experience, and years of training. Suppose you call up some astrologer and he says that he has ten years of experience. That tells you absolutely nothing about his years of training. He may have studied for seven years and been in practice for three years or vice versa. While field experience is very important, it should not be in lieu of a solid astrological education. The benefit derived from experience will be vastly different for an educated versus an ignorant astrologer.

In the case of the ignorant psuedo-astrologer, it is often the case of “re-inventing the wheel.” He will make many mistakes, with you as the guinea pig. For the learned astrologer, experience brings more polish and elegance, he also expands his knowledge, but not at your expense.

You will also find people who claim to have 20 years of study in astrology. But when you ask them details it turns out that 20 years ago some friend did their chart and over the years they developed an interest in astrology reading a book here and there, having a chart done here and there. This rather spastic unsystematic method of study should make you cautious at the very least. This is like someone who had their tonsils out as a kid and developed an interest in medicine. And over the years between occasional visits to the family doctor and reading a few medical books loaned out from the library they decided that they were now competent to practice medicine. Would you have yourself or loved one treated by such a person? Of course not. Then why consult the astrological equivalent? Aside from this, any serious educational institution puts time limits on study to ensure that education is continuous, that the student is actually doing the work, and that the student stays up to date, as well as maintaining maximum retention of the study material. If you spread a four year course over ten or fifteen years then by the time you are finished the last year you will have forgotten what you learned in the beginning. This is especially true in Doctoral programs.

Q. Where did he study? Who were his teachers?

A. India is the land of Vedic Astrology, especially South India. In India there are some recognized astrological organizations which sponsor astrological study. There are also some universities that offer degree programs in astrology. But the best way to study is the old traditional way of guru-sishya, teacher-disciple; this is a very personal and intense way of learning from a master astrologer. While not every astrologer in India is worth studying from, still there are many eminent pandits who are recognized by their peers and accomplishments as actual scholars and masters of astrology. Noted astrologers have either written learned astrological books or are sought out by the elite and their own peers.

You should also be aware that just because someone is Indian is no guarantee that they are good astrologers. There are literally millions of astrologers in India, only a fraction of them are good.

If someone says they are self taught from a book, then remember what the wit said, “A man who teaches himself has a fool for a student.” And we might add “a fool for a teacher.” Yes it is true that there are many books on Vedic astrology, but they can never take the place of a teacher. Vedic astrology books were meant as mnemonic guides for the students to help them remember the lessons that they learned from their guru. For as Varaha Mihira, a famous astrologer, has said: “Little is written but much is meant.” In other words while there is information in books it can’t be properly understood without a guru, and there is even more information that is not in books and can only be taught personally.

At this time there are very few qualified teachers in North America, but this is slowly improving. There are even some accredited, degree granting institutions that are developing courses in Vedic astrology, i.e. Institute for Guadiya Vaisnavism (IGV), and the Bhaktivedanta University (BU). The IGV and BU will take the traditional approach to teaching astrology.

So in summary if the person says he has no teacher, is self taught, or has never been to India, you should be doubtful of his bona fides.

Q. How many branches of Vedic Astrology did he study?

A. There are six branches of Vedic Astrology: Gola (astronomy), Ganita (mathematical astrology), Jataka (Natal astrology), Prasna, Muhurta, and Nimitta (omens). A good scholar would have studied five of these branches. These days, with the advent of computers and ephemerides, few astrologers study Gola. Expertise in Ganita, Jataka, and Prasna are essential. Training in Muhurta and Nimitta are strongly recommended.

If the astrologer only knows Natal Astrology he is probably self taught. Even if schooled in astrology he may be of limited use for he will be lacking in versatility. Obviously the more knowledge and expertise the better.

Q. How much experience does he have?

A. Generally more experience is better. But suppose you have a choice between one astrologer with little or no formal training but ten years of experience, and another astrologer with five years formal training and only two or three years experience? There can be no comparison, the latter astrologer with the formal training should be in a superior position of knowledge. Consider this, a serious student of astrology may have two or three astrology teachers that he studies under as he progresses in his study. Each of them may have 50 or more years of training and experience[9]. Thus the formal training he receives is the distilled essence of 150 or more years of his teachers experience. Also, the training period includes apprenticeship in which the student practices astrology, it is not just theory. Of course if the astrologer has both real formal training plus long experience so much the better. Also, be careful of those who count their years of self study as experience. That is not strictly honest. No one would count there years in college as work experience. So when asking about experience, be sure to find out if this is experience after formal study with a teacher, after self study, or a combination of both study and active practice time.

Q. What is the astrologer’s background education?

A. Traditionally in India there was a natural screening process that only allowed the most gifted intellects to study astrology. First of all, the person had to master Sanskrit in order to read mathematical texts. After mastering mathematics the student mastered astronomy in order to be able to calculate the planetary positions. After all in those days there were no ephemerides, calculators or computers, only good brains. Then at the culmination the student would study astrology.

Even today in India I have seen that the most respectable and able astrologers are scholars in other fields aside from astrology. I have met astrologers who were High Court Judges, Doctors, Engineers, Sanskritists, etc. Eminent and learned men in several fields. For example, my astrology teacher from Calcutta, the late Harihara Majumdara, aside from being an author of several astrology books in English and Bengali was also a Barrister and Sanskritist. My astrology teacher in Bangalore, Sashi Kanta Jain was a versatile genius who could: read, write, and speak at least ten languages; was a qualified Ayurvedic physician; learned in mantra sastra, philosophy, and the Vedas; knew mathematics and Vedic astronomy; as well as being a first class astrologer. Krsnan Potti of Trivandram, with whom I studied Prasna, was a well known scholar and author of over a dozen books.&nb