A NOTE ON
PROBLEMS IN PREDICTION
By "Daivagna Ratna" P.V.R.RAYUDU B.E.,M.Tech
The intention of this article is not that the senior astrologers would not know the problems in giving accurate predictions, but to once again recapitulate the same while introducing the intricacies to the beginners in this subject.
 
Ayanamsha

In  the  Hindu (Vedic) astrology, the Nirayana system is used  to calculate the Lagna (Ascendant) and longitudes of planets, by deducting the Ayanamsha  from Sayana system positions. The popular ayanamshas used are of Lahiri, Raman and Krishnamurthy (K. P.). The differences in ayanamshas  vary  from about 6 minutes to 1 degree 30 minutes  in  these systems. As a typical case, in year 1938 the ayanamshas are about Lahiri 23-00, Raman 21-33 and K. P 22-54. When the Lagna and the planets are  at   the  edge of a Rashi (sign), these three ayanamshas may give  different lagnas  and  planetary  positions in the rashis. If not in the Rashi chart, they  will  definitely affect the other Varga (divisional) charts, particularly the Shatshiamsha (1/60 part = 30 minutes)  chart. If one can go into the Nadi amsha ( 1/150 part=12 minutes), the situation will be definitely the worst.

In  this connection, our respected late Sri R. Santhanam states  in is  book  Deva Keralam:

To wit, if a planet, say Saturn is  in  Aries 19-59  as  per Lahiri Ayanamsha, another Ayanamsha even  with  a  small difference of minus 2' of arc can place Saturn somewhat ahead and  give it Libra navamsha instead of Virgo navamsha due to Lahiri. Saturn  even in Aries Rashi with Libra navamsha  protects  one   from   heart ailments,  gives him longevity and  helps him progress in his calling. The same  Saturn with Aries sign position but in Virgo navamsha makes  him wholly  unreliable and makes him a victim of some sort of diseases  of hands  and legs. This difference could be easily located by an  experienced  astrologer. Same  is  the case with  other divisions  including navamsha.

Also, in  this connection, it may also be worthwhile to quote  from the  June 1991 Grahavani journal (of Hyderabad, AP., India):

According to almost all  ephemeris,  Saturn had gone into retrogression and entered Dhanus (Sagittarius)  and again reentered Makara  (Capricorn) on  15 December 1990. But according to Vakya Panchanga (ephemeris) followed by Nadi astrologers in South India, Saturn entered Makara on 10  February 1991, that is, a difference of 55 days. Then what is the fate  of the children born between 15 Dec 1990 to 10 Feb 1991,   whether Saturn is  to be  placed  in Dhanus or Makara. According to  Vakya  Panchanga, such  a situation is common for Saturn whenever it retrogrades or entering the signs, there will be a difference of nearly 90 days,  and for Jupiter  15 days  and for fast moving planets Budha (Mercury), Sukra (Venus) for  1 to 3 days will be there. How to reconcile this position is for scholars    in  the science to decide. All Nadi literature was based on Vakya  Panchanga and the predictions arrived on such calculations are 80% coming true. In view of the different Graha Gathis (planetary movements)  even the horoscope charts prepared through computers are of no use.

Dasa Systems

Let  us  see the planetary Dasa systems  (progressions) used  by Hindu astrologers. The most popular and generally used system by  many astrologers is the Vimshottari Dasa system of 120 years with Maha Dasa (main planet period), Antar-dasa (sub period), Pratyantar Dasa (sub  sub period)  and other  minor periods called Vidasa  and  Sukshma/Prana Dasa. By  adopting different ayanamshas, the balance of  Maha  Dasa  at birth  in Vimshottari system is likely to be different to a period of about 2 years when major periods of planets operate and all the subsequent  periods will accordingly vary. Then obviously it would  be  very difficult to correlate particular life event during  a particular Dasa period even considered upto the minutest level. Mostly, in addition, some planet or other in one of the major/minor periods is somehow gets connected to the particular event to be checked and the  astrologer will satisfy himself for his prediction for the event in that Dasa and  he will not bother to check that the same event can be  predicted in  some other Dasa also.

In  this  connection  let me quote  from  the  famous astrologer Dr. B. V. Raman  from his editorial in December 1977 in the  Astrological magazine:

From what I have said hitherto, you will notice  that  Nadi astrology gives an important place to the basic pattern of the horoscope revealed by Dwadasamsha (1/12 division) for a general  outline and  Nadi amsha (1/150 part) for a comprehensive  survey. The  details such as attainment of rank, position and status, success, occupation  etc are filled in by the planets and the various Yogas or typical  combinations  formed  by them. In actual practice, these  principles  can  be easily demonstrated by applying them to well known horoscopes. But that will only be a post-mortem study. After an event has happened,   we  can justify it in some way or the other, but it is in the prior application of these principles and prediction of events to happen in future  that the real value of astrology lies.
 
In addition to Vimshottari Dasa system, as given by Daivagna Ratna  Sri T. Ramakrishna  in Grahavani journal of November  1988:

There  are many other   Nakshatra Dasa  systems  such  as  Shodashothar  (116. years), Dwadasottari (112), Ashtottari (108), Panchottari (105),   Satamana (100), Chaturasiti (84), Dwisapthati(72),   Sashtidpani  (60), Shatirimsati. (36)  and  other  Dasa systems of  Kalachakra  Dasa, Chara  Dasa, Sthira Dasa, Yogini  Dasa  (slightly  varying from Shatirimsati Dasa stated  earlier), Tanvadi Dasa, Panchaswara Dasa,   Varnadi Dasa, Yogindra Dasa, Ashtakavarga Dasa (Pinda Amsha,   Nisargika),  Sandhya  Dasa,   Sandhya panchaka Dasa, Tara Dasa and Sudarshana chakra.

It is not known clearly when to use which Dasa.

In this connection, let me quote from the book Hindu Astrology  by Shri Shil Ponde:

The normal span of life for all persons born in  the Shukla  Paksha, or between New Moon and Full Moon, should be 120 years. That of persons born in Krishna Paksha, between full Moon and  new Moon, should be 108 years. It was not at all extraordinary for men  and women in ancient civilization to live longer than this normal span, but the  nervous tension and toxic poisons which are the  concomitants  of modern civilization have cut down the normal span of life considerably.  Vimshottari Dasa system (120 Years) is to be used for all  persons born  between  new Moon and full Moon and the Ashtottari Dasa  system (108  years) is to be used for persons born between the full Moon and the new Moon, that is, during the waning period of the Moon.

In addition, Shri Shil Ponde also states that a slightly different Ayanamsha is to be used for the position of the Moon, only when dealing with  planetary periods and for determining the true position  of  the  Moon  in the fixed zodiac and it is to be used instead of the regular Ayanamsha  correction, not in addition to it. As a hypothetical  case, he states that " instead of making the Krishna Paksha, between full Moon and  new Moon, should be 108 years. It was not at all extraordinary for men and women in ancient civilization to live longer than this normal span, but the  nervous tension and to ic poisons which are the  concomitants  of modern civilization have cut down the normal span of life considerably. Vimshottari Dasa system (120 Years) is to be used for all  persons born between  new Moon and full Moon and the Ashtottari  Dasa  system (108 years) is to be used for others. He gives 19-38 for year 1933  whereas Lahiri's gives 22-55, a difference of about 3 degrees.  I may also state here that Sage Satyacharya, father of Nadi Astrology, states that  the Dasa system  should  be taken from the Moon  or  Lagna  whichever  is stronger.

Varga (Divisional) Charts

Let  us  see  the  Varga (divisional) charts.   As  per late  Sri R. Santhanam, the  Shatshiamsha chart is to be prepared at the  rate  of 1/2 degree per Rashi starting from the rashi where Lagna or planet  is situated in rashi chart.  Whereas, in his book  Jyotisha  Siddhamthamu (out  of  print) in South Indian Telugu  language, my  Guru  "Daivagna Ratna & Vidya Visarada late Sri Divakaruni Venkata Subba Rao  (author of  many  valuable books in Telugu language) states that if  Lagna  or planet  is in odd rashi in rashi chart, then count its position at  the rate  of 30 minutes per rashi from Mesha (Aries) clockwise and  if  in even  rashi count from Meena (Pisces) anticlockwise.  I personally  feel that counting should be clockwise from the rashi where Lagna or planet is located if it is in odd rashi and anti clockwise from that rashi  if it  is in even rashi,  since originally the names of Shatshiamshas  are given clockwise for odd rashis and the same names repeat anti clockwise for even rashis. These versions will definitely give different Shatshiamsha  charts.  I am not sure whether Shatshiamsha charts can  be  prepared at all or just see them as good or bad as mentioned against each name of Shatshiamsha.

Late  Sri R. Santhanam states in his book Deva Keralam that "  the  aspect as a rule should be seen in rashi chart only, not  in  navamsha and other charts, for aspects emanate only by longitudinal  distances".  In his book Jyotisha Siddhamthamu  late Sri D. V. Subbarao states  that " the lordships of bhavas and their position in Varga charts is not to be  considered in Varga charts, the bhava lords & their position is  to be judicially taken only from Bhava chart, in Varga charts the position of the Lagna lord of that Varga is important. " Whereas, in her  article in June 1986 the Astrological magazine, Smt Gayatri Devi Vasudev states " the point is not to decry Parasari system has having limitations but to  stress that reckoning aspects in navamsha too, and  subjecting navamsha  to  an  analysis  similar to  rashi  seem  to  make  matters clearer".  She also quotes Dr. B. V. Raman regarding navamsha " it is  the pivot  on  which the horoscope revolves, every  combination  mentioned should  be applied to the rashi, bhava and navamsha charts and  then  a conclusion drawn".

I may mention here that nowhere it is published specifically  how to  use these various Varga charts and what would be the results  for  various permutations   and  combinations   for   different   charts. For example, what would be the type of life pattern for Aries Lagna  in rashi chart  with the different nine lagnas in  navamsha  chart  from Aries  to Sagittarius, for Taurus Lagna in rashi chart  with  different nine navamsha lagnas from Capricorn to Virgo etc.  and extending the same  logic for various other permutations and combinations  upto  the level  of  different Shatshiamshas each of 30' duration  or  still  the minutest  Nadi  amsha  division of 12' arc duration.   Of course, there  is some literature available giving what each 2 1/2 degree in each  bhava (Dwadasamsha)  represents and what would be the Karmic pattern of  each Shatshiamsha, independently without  linking to the  rashi  chart  and other  Varga  charts and planetary positions. Some of  the  astrologers may  be  having ancient literature giving life patterns  dealing  with planetary  positions along with permutations and combinations of  various  Varga charts upto the level of Nadi amshas, but they will not  be publishing their secret treasure for the benefit of others and for the research in the subject.

Special Lagnas/aspects

There are also many special lagnas such as Ghatika Lagna, Vighatika Lagna, Bhava  Lagna, Arudha  Lagna, Atmakaraka  Lagna, Upapada  Lagna etc., aspects  of planets from one rashi to  another  rashi  (Jaimini system), and as per some Nadi rulings a retrograde planet  aspects  the previous house & planets aspect the trines from them etc.
 
Nadi Literature
 
In  his 3 volumes of book Nadi Jyotisha-A stellar system  of  astrology published in 1954 (out of print), late Sri R. Gopalakrishna  Rao (Meena)  had given importance only to the constellation lords  of  the planets as Jeeva and Shareera planets and their Satwik  (pure), Rajasik (restless) and Tamasik (dull/aggressive) gunas (qualities).  Shri  Ratanlal  in his book Nadi system of prediction (stellar theory)  published in 1983 and late Sri N. V. Raghavachary (Meena II) in his book   Practical  Stellar  astrology (based on Nadi  principles) published  in  1995 Almost followed the original books by Sri R. Goplakrishna Rao.  Even  the Krishnamurthy Paddhathi is also an tension of what is stated by  Sri R. Gopalakrishna Rao. Sri R. G. Rao of Bangalore. India in his book  Bhrugu Nandi Nadi had given interpretation of Nadi principles on the basis of Karakatwas (signification) of planets only and Jupiter transits  only ï 7   3 irrespective  of  Lagna. Late Sri R. Santhanam in his  volumes  of  Deva Keralam  (Chandra Kala Nadi) gave many useful rules of Nadi astrology.

The  Astrological  magazine  of Bangalore, India  has  been  publishing general  life  patterns  for each Nadi amsha as per  Dhruva  Nadi  and Nandi  Nadi. All these available Nadi literature is still  scanty  only without giving any real clues.

Birth Time Rectification

There  are also many systems mentioned for birth time  rectification. The minutest in these systems is as per Tatwa Siddhantha to match the male/female  birth  for moveable/fixed/dual  Lagna, day  and  Moon Nakshatra (constellation),  as given in the books Jyotisha Siddhamtamu (out of print) by late SriD. V. Subbarao in Telugu language in 1970,  The Nadi system of rectification by Mr. Marc Penfield in 1976,  Rectification of birth time (an analytical approach) by Prof. P. S. Sastri in 1996  and in the article Rectification of birth time-Bhrugu Nadi by Sri  M. V. Rao in March 1973 in the esteemed journal The Times of Astrology.  In  these also there are no similarities,  but the Antar-tatwa Siddhantha  adopted by  late  Sri D. V. Subbarao goes to the e tent of difference  in  birth time  upto  12 seconds in time for male/female birth  similar  to  the minutest  Nadi amsha patterns.  In this connection,  I may  mention  that during my lectures in USA recently during April to July 1998 in American  Federation  of  Astrologers and Arsha Vidya  Gurukulam  on  their invitation,  I  happen  to read in the World Almanac that  for  every  3 seconds  9 births and 6 deaths take place (it is for the  scholars  to visualize where from the other 3 births come from after 6 deaths), which amounts  to  3 births for every second.  In such a case,  even  the  Nadi amsha  of  12 seconds duration for each birth,  which might  have  been visualized in ancient times when birth rate is very slow,  does not hold good in these modern times.

Longevity

There are also many systems such as Pindayu, Amshayu, Jeevasarmayu, Ashtakavargayu  etc.   for  calculating the  longevity,  which  may  give
different longevities.
 
Transits

There  are also many views on the transit system of  planets  from natal Moon,  Lagna,  planets in rashis,  in Nakshatra,  in navamsha,  over natal planets,  vedha  etc.  There are Varsha Phala(progressed chart) to  erect the chart of progression based on Sun position every year same as  at natal chart, Dinavarsha Paddhati of one degree is one year with  subtle aspects just as western system applied on Sayana chart, Tajaka  system etc.
 
Others

There are also Ashtakavarga method, Rajayogas,   planetary  shadbalas (6  fold strength), bhava balas, Vimsopoka planetary strengths,   Upagrahas (Gulika, Mandi
etc.), eclipses etc.  There are also many rules  given by  many  sages  and astrologers for an event to  happen,  which  it  is  humanly  impossible  to remember all these rules  and  apply.  Even  the present  Nadi  astrologers who read from their  ancient  palm  leaves mostly  give predictions age wise only by whatever method  they  follow and  those  future predictions  also seem to be not  correctly  coming true in most cases, though the past events seem to be mostly true.

Conclusion

I  might  have missed some more points but in view of  the  above quoted points  I wonder whether any astrologer can really  predict  any specific event on a particular time purely from astrological point  of view,  without any  other intuition techniques or through  any  other secret  literature such as Nadi Grantha available with him.   I  would like to quote here Dr. B. V. Raman in his letter to me on 4 December 1993 that

Astrology  is a subject where not only an  insight  into  its techniques  is needed but also certain amount of intuition.  Experience can  gradually make appreciate the nuances of the  predictive  art.  The literature available on Nadi astrology in the market could only be  of academic  interest. They do not give one an insight into the  technique of the system. The late Mr. Gopalakrishna Rao (Meena) has given the Nadi method as revealed by his Guru in his book Nadi  Jyotisha. But unfortunately the book has been out of print for a long time.

The  whole  problem in astrological prediction is mainly  due  to lack of sufficient literature in astrology with correct  understanding of  the principles.  In ancient times Gurukulam system of  teaching  was prevalent and much facilities were not available to record  or  write down  the details of the principles taught with their specific  interpretations  and as  such the rules in the brief  Sanskrit  slokas  of ancient  times can possibly be mistranslated and  misunderstood  nowadays. The  astrologers nowadays mostly do not collect, maintain data  of the  complete  life pattern events of the charts of  their  clients  & others, do research and discuss openly with others. Some of them publish some  specific  past  events  only by justifying  by  some  method  or other, which mostly will not coincide when applied to some other  similar chart.  It may be appreciated how difficult it is to interpret  the twins  charts or those born very closely, wherein also the  events  and timings vary considerably.  Most of the astrologers are lucky that they do not face similar charts for interpretation at the same time.

As  a former scientist,  engineer & manager,  I do realize that  even in  the fields of the present most modern sciences  and  technologies such as medicine, space travel etc.,  inspite of much research, availability  of literature and many methods of approach, there are still  failures beyond the scope of human being, but still the progress is fantastic  since many nations take interest in those specific  areas. Whereas the  subject  of  Astrology is mostly a neglected  area  for  whatever reasons  may be and no Governmental agency is interested  in  pursuing the  research in this subject. No astrologer is also interested in  the research in astrology and none of the astrological ssociations/federations/groups/ onferences/ trusts/ magazines  do strive for research  to  evolve  new specific rules, rather new Nadi Grantha, suitable to  modern times  and different countries. The strange thing is that many consult an astrologer when they are in trouble and do not come forward to help to  do  research in this subject. Such being the case, this  subject  of astrology  is  sure  to have its natural death  in  due  course, though surviving in its superficial way of knowledge.

I  sincerely wish that the Governments, the  rich  individuals, the trusts, the rich Swamis etc. should come forward and  encourage  research in Astrology by giving necessary funds and organization.
 


My Contact Details
Ravindra K Chunodkar
Moti Kutir
133, Shivaji Nagar
Nagpur - 440 010
India
ravichunodkar@hotmail.com
https://members.tripod.com/~ravichunodkar

Created on 01 July 1999
Devoted to Applied Research in Vedic Astrology