Vedic Astrology: an Integrated Approach
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Vedic Astrology: An Integrated Approach © P.V.R. Narasimha Rao First Published in 2000 Contents Part 1: Chart Analysis ................................................................................ 1 1. Basic Concepts.......................................................................................................3 2. Rasis.....................................................................................................................21 3. Planets..................................................................................................................28 4. Upagrahas ............................................................................................................41 5. Special Lagnas .....................................................................................................45 6. Divisional Charts .................................................................................................51 7. Houses..................................................................................................................67 8. Karakas ................................................................................................................79 9. Arudha Padas .......................................................................................................85 10. Aspects and Argalas...........................................................................................100 11. Yogas .................................................................................................................112 12. Ashtakavarga .....................................................................................................145 13. Interpreting Charts.............................................................................................166 14. Topics Related to Longevity..............................................................................180 15. Strength of Planets and Rasis.............................................................................187 Part 2: Dasa Analysis .............................................................................. 207 16. Vimsottari Dasa .................................................................................................209 17. Ashtottari Dasa ..................................................................................................226 18. Narayana Dasa...................................................................................................231 19. Lagna Kendradi Rasi Dasa ................................................................................259 20. Sudasa................................................................................................................263 21. Drigdasa.............................................................................................................267 22. Niryaana Shoola Dasa........................................................................................273 23. Shoola Dasa .......................................................................................................281 24. Kalachakra Dasa ................................................................................................289 Part 3: Transit Analysis.......................................................................... 313 25. Transits and Natal References ...........................................................................314 26. Transits: Miscellaneous Topics .........................................................................346 Part 1: Chart Analysis Several important principles and techniques of chart analysis are explained in this part. This part forms the basis for the rest of the book. Based on the positions of all the planets when a person is born, several charts are prepared. They go by the names – “rasi chart” and “divisional charts”. Based on the analysis of these charts, several conclusions can be drawn regarding the results that can be given by different planets to the native. This part covers the analysis and judgment of these charts. It can help if the reader has basic understanding and prior knowledge of Vedic or western astrology, but it is not really required. This part is intended to be self-sufficient. However, bear in mind that extra reading can only do good! Part 1: Chart Analysis 3 1. Basic Concepts 1.1 What is astrology Planets are constantly in motion with respect to earth in the skies. The positions of Sun, Moon and some planets close to earth can give important clues about the fortunes of individual human beings and groups of human beings. That is the basic premise of astrology. How exactly we can make guesses about the fortunes of individual human beings and groups of human beings based on the positions of those planets in the skies is the question that we will attempt to answer in this book. While astrology is the subject that deals with this question, there are many theories and philosophies in vogue and they are significantly different from each other. Sunsign astrology, for example, is based on categorizing people into 12 groups based on the solar month of birth. Some people may be convinced, based on their experiences, that people born in the same month share certain qualities. It is, however, not very logical from a rational perspective – there are just too many people in this world, who are totally different from each other. So the month of one's birth is totally inadequate for guessing one's nature or fortune. Even the date and the hour of birth are not enough. We know that there are many twins in this world, who are significantly different from each other! What we mentioned just now is, by the way, a very important question to be answered – it is like an “acid test” for any astrological doctrine. It is a known fact that there are many twins in this world, who are significantly different from each other and who lead totally different lives. Of course, some twins may have some common qualities between them, but the fact remains that several twins are significantly different. An astrological doctrine should be capable of explaining this fact in order to be considered as a meaningful subject. Most astrological doctrines of the world fail this acid test. If an astrological doctrine assumes, like in the case of many popular astrological theories of the world, that two persons born within a couple of hours in nearby towns will have the same fortune, 4 Vedic Astrology: An Integrated Approach then that doctrine is obviously lacking in completeness and inadequate for confident use in real-life. It fails the acid test of twins. 1.2 India's astrology Materialistically speaking, India may not be a rich country today, but India has extremely rich cultural heritage. The depth of some of India's ancient knowledge (like astrology) is just amazing and it makes one wonder if the history of this great civilization is correctly represented in the pages of modern history. Astrology of India is the most comprehensive and complete system of astrology available today and it is the only one that comes close to answering the just mentioned “twins puzzle”. India's astrology can explain how twins can be different. The principles used in India's astrology are so sensitive to changes in birthtime that people born within 1-2 minutes can be significantly different in some aspects and similar in some others. This approach distinguishes between what a person truly is, what a person wants to be, what he thinks he is and what the world thinks he is. It has enough parameters, tools, techniques and degrees of freedom to model the extremely complicated human life. This astrological approach is known in the world by many names. Early pioneers of modern Indian astrology, like Dr. B.V. Raman, called it “Hindu astrology”, because this system was first taught by ancient Hindu sages. However, some people do not like this expression because “Hindu” is not a Sanskrit word. This word was later coined by the western invaders from the name of a river flowing on the northwestern border of India (river “Sindhu” or “Indus”). They used the word “Hindu” to describe the land and the people on the eastern side of this river. The religion practiced by a majority of Indians is known as “Hindu” religion today, but the fact is that there is no name for this religion in India's Sanskrit language, the language in which most of the literature of this religion – and astrology – appeared! Most other religions are known by the name of their main propagator, but India's ancient religion had no single propagator or prophet. This religion consisted of knowledge that revealed itself to spiritual masters of many generations. So there was no name for this religion and the word “Hindu” coined by western invaders was accepted by the world. However, as already stressed, this word finds no place in Sanskrit literature. Some people do not like using a non-Sanskrit word to describe Part 1: Chart Analysis 5 India's astrology, considering that most of India's classical literature in astrology appeared in Sanskrit. Later day authors came up with the name – “Vedic astrology". The word “Vedic” means “pertaining to Vedas". Vedas are the sacred scriptures of, what is known today as, Hinduism and they are supposed to contain knowledge of all subjects. Moreover, astrology in particular is supposed to be a “Vedaanga” (which means a limb of Vedas). In particular, it is said to be the eye of the Vedas. So the name “Vedic astrology” is becoming popular these days. This author also suggests using “Vedic astrology” or