How to Judge a Horoscope Volume One I to VI Houses BANGALORE VENKATA RAMAN MOTILAL BANARSIDASS PUBLISHERS PRIVATE LIMITED • DELHI Reprint: Delhi, 1997, 2000, 2002,2006 Ninth Revised Edition: Bangalore, 1984 Eleventh Edition: Delhi, 1992 Twelfth Edition: Delhi, 1995 © MRS. RAJESHWAR1 RAMAN All Rights Reserved. ISBN: 81-208-0844-4 (Cloth) ISBN: 81-208-0847-9 (Paper) ISBN: 81-208-0846-0 (Cloth) ISBN: 81-208-0849-5 (Paper) MOTILAL BANARSIDASS 41 U.A. Bungalow Road, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi 110 007 8 Mahalaxmi Chamber, 22 Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai 400 026 236, 9th Main III Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore 560 011 203 Royapettah High Road, Mylapere, Chennai 600 004 Sanas Plaza, 1302 Baji Rao Road, Pune 411 002 8 Camac Street, Kolkata 700 017 Ashok Rajpath, Patna 800 004 Chowk, Varanasi 221 001 Printed in India BYJAINENDRA PRAKASH JAIN AT SHRIJAINENDRA PRESS, A-45 NARAINA, PHASE-I, NEW DELHI 110 028 AND PUBLISHED BYNARENDRA PRAKASH JAIN FOR MOTILAL BANARSIDASS PUBLISHERS PRIVATE LIMITED, BUNGALOW ROAD. DELHI 110 007 CONTENTS PAGE Preface to Eleventh Edition vii Preface to Ninth Edition viii Preface to First Edition ix Chapter 1—General Introduction 1 2—Considerations in Judging a House 5 3—Determination of Longevity 13 4—Concerning the First House 20 5—Concerning the Second House 81 6—Concerning the Third House ., 124 7—Concerning the Fourth House 159 8—Concerning the Fifth House 201 9—Concerning the Sixth House „ 245 10—Practical Examples 289 An Index of Technical Terms 301 PREFACE TO THE ELEVENTH EDITION To sale of the 10th edition (wrongly printed as 9th edition) of the First Volume of HOW TO JUDGE A HOROSCOPE within twelve months of its publication testify not only to the popularity of my humble writings on astrology but also to the publishing enterprise of Motilal Banarsidass. I am grateful to the public for the interest they have been evincing in my writings and the patronage extended. I crave the indulgence of the readers for any shortcomings in this edition. I am thankful to my daughter Gayatri Devi Vasudev for her assistance in revising the edition, to my sons B. Niranjan Babu and B. Sachidananda Babu for careful proof corrections and to Messrs Motilal Banarsidass for printing out this eleventh edition attractively. Bangalore B. V. RAMAN 13-12-1991 PREFACE TO NINTH EDITION How TO JUDGE A HOROSCOPE is a book on the practical or applied side of astrology. The presentation has been well received by the general public The ninth edition has been thoroughly revised. Volume II dealing with Houses VII to XII has been published. I am grateful to the public for the interest they have been evincing by my writings and the patronage extended. I crave the indulgence of the readers for any shortcomings in this edition. I am thankful to my daughter Gayatri Devi Raman for her assistance in thoroughly revising the edition, to my sons B. Niranjan Babu and B. Sachidananda Babu for careful proof corrections and to Messrs. P. N. Kamat and G. K. Ananthram of IBH Prakashana for bringing out this new edition attractively. BANGALORE 20-4-1984 B. V. RAMAN PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION All my astrological books—both predictive and mathematical—have been received favourably—in fact beyond my own expectation—both by the public and the press. This has encouraged me to bring new books dealing with important aspects of astrology. The present work, which I have the pleasure to submit herewith, makes a departure from the. conventional method of treatment of astrology. I have dealt with each Bhava or house exhaustively with suitable illustrations. There can therefore be no question as to the importance of this new work. Nothing is more difficult in the present state of our knowledge than to say in what events and circumstances any given combination will express itself. For example, such a combination as Saturn and the Sun, rising in the ascendant, may result in a fall, disease, loss of status or money; it might indicate a temperamental defect, an intellectual inhibition or it may operate in several other ways. An attempt has been made in the following pages to ascertain the indications of the various influences with reference to each house. In the judgment of a horoscope an astrologer will come across many a pitfall. Each house deals with different significations and the same set of combinations obtaining in a particular house might influence the different significations comprehended by the house, in different ways. To be more clear, let us take the 4th house. It is X supposed to signify mother, education, landed and house properties. An illiterate man may possess many houses and a long-lived mother while one with full education may not possess any properties. How can the same set of combinations affect the same house—in different ways in regard to its different significations? This apparent inconsistency has been reconciled to some extent by the introduction of an important factor, viz., the Karaka (indicator). A careful study of the illustrations provided in this book will make these points clear. I have endeavoured in this book to take the reader through the practical aspect of astrology and have omitted the rudimentary principles and rules In the study of any branch of knowledge, theory and practice must go side by side. Theory always remains theory and it will be of no practical use toman. Take physics, chemistry, biology or geology. One may have read all the books available on the subject but if it comes to a question of application, he blinks like an idiot. An ordinary mechanic, druggist or a compounder is any day more al home with his subject just because he has had practical experience. A harmonious blending of the theoretical knowledge with practical ability is always desirable In the sphere of astrology too, a study of practical horoscopes is absolutely necessary to grasp the true worth of the subject and handle its technique properly. In writing How TO JUDGE A HOROSCOPE, this aim has been kept in view. Typical examples, illustrative of important principles, have been selected from actual lives. A careful study of these examples will certainly give a sound and working knowledge of astrology. In the analysis of the Bhavas (houses) I have omitted to take XI into account the various yogas as I have dealt with them in detail in my Three Hundred Important Combinations. Most of the rules given in ancient Hindu astrological books can be readily tested if we can only secure sufficient data beyond dispute. To reject them off-hand as unsuitable is to betray our ignorance. In my extensive travels throughout India, I have had discussions with several well-known scientists and scholars. Most of them are convinced that astrology has a rational basis but they hesitate to proclaim their faith in public just because the orthodox scientist has not yet put his stamp of approval on astrology- In this book, I am not going to make a case for astrology. The introduction I have given to my Astrology for Beginners and my Astrology and Modern Thought should be eye-openers to the greatest sceptic, that astrology is science and no superstition. It is an interplanetary or cosmic science that deals with the play of cosmic energy. If modern science has not yet discovered by the limited means at its disposal that man is subject to the influences of planets on the three planes of existence, viz., physical, mental and moral, then it is certainly no fault of astrology. The ancient Maharishis who have propounded the rules of astrology were sages of a high psychic development and examined terrestrial and celestial phenomena by their divine sight or Divya Drishti. We would hardly be justified in attributing mean motives to those sages who have left great names in the landmarks of time. They saw many phenomena which the so- called scientist could hardly hope to see with his instruments. Our minds are mean and arc almost exclusively engaged in studying and procuring worldly comforts. Though at the height of Xll yogic development, they scorned to utilise such knowledge for any worldly concerns, and soley used it for the benefit of mankind. Can a science as astrology be ever untrue? The scientist takes too crudely a materialistic view of the whole nature of the universe. He contends that he may think of considering astrology as a fit subject for investigation provided the destiny factor is ruled out of it. This is simply absurd. There is nothing like destiny in astrology. The proper term to be used is Adrishta or that which is not seen. Astrology simply indicates and gives the greatest scope for the development of will-power, by means of which one can either counteract the evil indications or augment the favourable influences. I feel sure that I have supplied a long-felt want by ushering in this publication for the benefit of the educated public. BANGALORE 30-9-1941 B. V. RAMAN 1. General Introduction In the study of astrology nothing is more important, more difficult and more taxing than the proper judgment of a horoscope. The twelve Bhavas or houses represent the entire history of the individual. In order to analyse a horoscope properly and thoroughly each house or Bhava should be carefully scrutinised. Sometimes it so happens that many of the principles of astrology given in even standard works do not hold good in actual charts. In such circumstances, conclusion should not be drawn that the principles of astrology are contradictory. On the other hand, a further analysis of the relations and interrelations of planets should be made.