'Co ©r Seaman Wii\) Xobe' Series!

Why Predictions Go Wrong? - I

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P. S. Iyer

SA Volunteer: Manohar Mulchandani

(Taken From Astrological Magazine Of Raman Saheb, May 1977 Issue)

[Tke modem readers ol past lew decades would not know wko is P S Iyer, a predictor like kim kas not keen korn again
it is said. His latker would take kim to tkeir lamily cow sked and ask kim to predict tke sex ol tke to ke korn call. He
kad to construct tke ckart ky calculating it at tkat moment itsell and predict, tkis is kow ke was taugkt astrology. His
kook on marriage is considered tke greatest ever till date, inspite ol numerous attempts since 5 years to procure it and
get it translated in Englisk we kave not keen akle to get it. Tke Irustration kas keen personal.
Tke rumor as per one ol kis students goes like tkis tkat ke kad many nadis in kis possession including Dkruva
Nadi and kis lamily kurnt and tkrew tke kooks Irom kis likrary alter kis deatk. He was an astrologer to many Cakinet
Ministers and could predict events to tke day. Tke unlortunate part is every year in January kis students get togetker
in a particular ancient city known lor its temples and conduct a seminar, due to lack ol resources we kave not keen
akle to attend it and keg kis students to reveal kis teckniques, as not a single ol it kas survived in print witk tke Englisk
reading astro community. Some astrologers in tke nortk know ol kis teckniques kut reluse to write akout it or reveal it.
— SA P uklisker]

The Vedas are the unsurpassable treasure-trove of all encompassing wisdom

realized by Seers or Yogis (Rishis) and handed down to us through traditional
method of vocal recitation. Vedangas are supplementary literature designed for
implementing the fundamental principles enveloped in the Vedas. These are Shiksha
(pronunciation and euphony), Chhandas (prosody), Vyaakarana (grammar), Nirukta
(glossary), Kalpa (ritual rules), Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology).

Jyotisha or Astrology, the science of sciences, is also known as Vedachakshu or the

eyes of Veda Purusha, the Veda personified. This is interpreted as Pratyaksha Shastra in
as much as the roof of astrology or Jyotisha rests on the props of eternally existent
foundation of the Sun, the Moon, planets, asterisms and zodiacal signs (Rasis), as given
in Shastras:
 Jyotisha is the intricate but integrated system of diagnosis of the maladies of natives,
or times or incident arising out of poorvajanma (previous births) and praarabdha karma
(operative karma). Such maladies are, of course, responsive to prayers, oblations, rituals,
recitations of hymns and mantras and wearing of gems, stones and kavachas.
Predictions based on such a perfect science can never afford to go wrong or become
incorrect or even, casually, inaccurate.

Then why do predictions ever go wrong or become incorrect or at least inaccurate?

The answer is simple.

In this present computer century, top-class technicians and scientists unanimously

and unreservedly admit that the accuracy of answers or solutions offered by a computer
of the electronic brain depends entirely, solely and fundamentally on the accuracy of the
data fed to it. Mutatis mutandis, this rule verily applies to interpretation of a horoscope,
word for word. Predictions made on scientific analysis of planetary and other positions,
by a qualified and competent and devoted astrologer, will never go wrong or turn out
incorrect unless the basic data furnished or presented to him are inaccurate, incomplete
or unreliable. It is understood that the competent astrologers analyze horoscopes as
minutely as required with special reference to (i) Residential strength of planets in
various Bhavas or houses; (2) Grahabala (planetary strength) made up of Sthaanabala
(position at strength), Digbala (directional strength), Cheshtabala (movement strength),
Kalabala (temporal strength), Naisargika bala (natural strength) and Drishti (drik) bala
(aspected strength); (3) Bhavabala comprising of bhaavadhipati bala, bhava dig bala and
bhava drishti bala; and (4) Ishta/Kashta phala; the astrologers must possess the siddhi to
make accurate predictions.

Let us now go deep into all these details:

The basic data on which an astrologer may be able to construct an accurate horoscope
are (1) place of birth (2) date of birth and (3) time of birth.

Place of Birth: The astrologer is seldom concerned with the name of the place of birth;
but he is immensely concerned with its Rekhaamsa (longitudes) and Akshaamsa
(latitudes). These are, respectively, required for arriving at the local mean time of birth,
the sunrise and the sunset, Rasimana or duration of each Rasi and the rising sign at the
given time or time of birth, as also dinardha (half day) chaara and natha. If the place of
birth is a small village its distance and direction from the nearest town will help the
astrologer much.
 Date of Birth: India is a country of varieties. In this unique country we have a number
of eras or prevailing years in vogue at any given time like Samvatsari, Vikrama
Shakaabda Souramaana shastyahsamvatsa, Kollam, Hijri and so on. The name of the
month or its total duration is, again, not standard. Certain areas calculate the month
from Shuddha Prathama (the Ist of the lunar bright fortnight) to Amavasya (the New
Moon) while some reckon the month from the entry of the sun into any given Rasi. In
some areas Tithi (lunar day) is given to indicate the date of the month. Again, the
reckoning of the day in India is from sunrise to sunrise while under the Gregorian
system it runs from midnight to midnight. What is known as Kartika Maasa in
Tamilnadu may be Maargsheersha in another part of the country. It is therefore
necessary to ascertain, first of all, the exact date of birth and also to give the equivalent
date in terms of Gregorian calendar or corresponding to panchanga or ephemeris used by
the astrologer.

Alternatively it is advisable to give the date of birth in terms of what is known as

Saka by the Government of India so that the method of reckoning the date is, at least,
uniform. Let me illustrate this by an example.

A horoscope was taken up for predicting longevity and the particulars given by the
native were as follows:
Place and Date of Birth: Cochin (Kerala), 14-3-1909. Time 12 mts earlier to sunrise.
Balance of Jupiter Dasa: 8 years, 3 months and 3 days. Equivalent: Kollam 1084, Meenam
Ist, half ghati before sunrise: Visakha Nakshatra.

On checking, as a prelude to venturing prediction, it was found that according to

ephemeris, the Sayana Moon was in 242° 9' at 5-30 p.m. on 13-3-1909. It was therefore in
Anuradha 3rd at the time of birth. But the longitude of the Moon for leaving a balance of
0
Jupiter Dasa of 8 years, 3 months (in Thula or Libra Rasi) should be 201 55' which
balance of Dasa is incorrect on the face of it.

On referring the matter back, two different horoscopes were furnished for the same
nativity, calculated according to two different panchangas, as prevailing in the locality:

I II
Date of Birth
14-3-1909 12-3-1909
12 mts. before sunrise at Cochin (this 12 mts. Before sunrise at Cochin (this
panchanga shows the Sun's entry into panchanga shows the Sun's entry into
tl1
Pisces on I3 ) Pisces late on I2tl1)
 Nakshatra
Jyeshta Ist Vishakha I
Balance of Vim. Dasa at Birth
Mercury 13-11-4,30 Jupiter 12-8-0.

The above revised data are also at variance with Sayana positions and Nirayana
positions of planets according to standard panchanga and ephemeris.

Time of Birth: The next important data, which must be very accurate, relate to the
time of birth. Here again there is a very serious controversy in reckoning the time of
birth. Three important timings are advised by Satyacharya, the author of Jataka
Satyacharya (Adhyaya I, Sloka 6), viz., Garbhaadaana (conception) Kaala, Sirodaya (head
coming out of the womb) Kaala and Bhoopatana (the whole child out) Kaala. The first
two cannot be decided accurately for obvious reasons. Hence he seems to advise the
reckoning of the third timing, i.e., Bhoopatana Kaala as the birth time. Other schools
opine that Jalodaya (oozing) Kaala and Rodana (cry) Kaala should also be taken into
account. A modern school of thought canvasses that the time of severing of the navel
cord should be taken as the birth time as it is the actual time of separation of the child
from the mother's womb. Experience shows that taking the birth time given by the
consultor, as approximate, and fixing the exact time of birth keeping in view the
weekday, stree-purusha kaala and the prevailing tatvas (main and antara tatwas) and the
sex of the child will give as accurate a birth time as possible for astrological purposes.

In this connection the astrologer should remember one thing: the least division of the
(Bhackakra) Rasi or Udaya (rising) Lagna, in vogue, is Naadi Amsa which is part

of a Rasi or 481 seconds of time. According to Naadi-granthas, every child born at an

interval of 48 seconds of time will have a different pattern of life here (herebefore and
hereafter). It is, therefore, absolutely imperative that the birth time should be rectified
before venturing prediction. A number of methods including calculation of Praana Lagna
are in vogue for rectifying birth time. The most common ones are discussed below:

1. Prasava Jaataka Soochakam enunciates that if Saturn is in the 5tl1 or the ^ Navamsa,
the child will cry loudly during or after birth whereas the child will be incapable of
crying if Saturn was in the Ist or the 4th Navamsa. With Saturn in the
Navamsa, the birth will be a case of placenta previa while Saturn in the 6^
Navamsa indicates birth under suffocating circumstances. In the 2nd Navamsa,

^ A Rasi tliat covers 30° corresponds to two liours or7200 seconds. Tkereforel/lSO411 of a Rasi corresponds to 48 seconds
 Saturn indicates delivery when the mother was unconscious while in the third
Navamsa he indicates that the fluid has entered the child's belly.

2. The planetary combinations capable of determining the birth ascendant are

generally as follows:

(i) If the Moon or the planet disposited by it is in the 5tl1 or the 9th from Lagna
in Janmachakra (natal chart) or Bhava (house) chakra, Lagna can be said to
be correct.

(ii) If Janma Lagna and the Moon Rasi be one and the same, then this
combination is counted from the 7th of the Moon Rasi, and Lagna is certain.

(in) If the child's Moon Navamsa happens to be in Kendra from the Navamsa
Moon in the mother's horoscope, the child's Navamsa Lagna can he said to he
correct.

(iv) If the Nakshatra paada (quarter) of the child's birth happens to fall between
3yth and quarters of the mother's Janma Nakshatra or its 9^ or the 9th
from the 9th, then the birth time may be said to be correct.

Dr. B. V. RAMAN, in his Hindu Predictive Astrology, has very ably suggested a
number of methods for rectifying the birth time and I have found these to be quite
accurate.

Panchanga: The next aspect which requires careful consideration, as a prelude to

venturing prediction, is the use of a correct and reliable panchanga or standard
ephemeris. Here again a number of panchangas are being published in India both under
Suddha Vaahya system and under Drih Siddha (Nirnaya) system. The Ayanamsa taken
into account by panchangas too vary considerably. A successful astrologer is one who
recalculates or checks up the horoscope under consideration to the Ayanamsa he usually
uses and to the norms of the panchanga he usually follows. This would, no doubt,
involve a lot of additional work; but if predictions are made keeping this aspect in view,
there is very little possibility of predictions going inaccurate or incorrect.

Navamsa Chart: Yet one more important aspect has to be kept in view by the
successful astrologer if he wishes the predictions made by him to be near accurate.
__________ ♦ ♦
The strength of a planet lies in its Navamsa, as the dictum goes,

The lord of Navamsa of any planet, of course subject to the respective shadbalas, goes a
long way in regulating the temperament and/or in fortifying the benefic or malefic
aspect of any planet concerned.
 A vargottama planet or a planet attaining uchcha sthaana (exaltation position) or
trikona sthaana (trinal position) in Navamsa plays very purposeful role in the life of a
native. A number of yogas are attributed to the position of planets and certain
Bhavaadhipatis (house lords) in Navamsa. A Navamsa chart attains its place of
importance in the interpretation of horoscopes because it is the only varga chart which
takes into consideration all the three aspects of horoscopy, viz., Rasi (sign), Graha
(planet) and Nakshatra (constellation). In South India it is a practice to first construct the
Navamsa chart before even constructing the Rasi chart and Bhava chart.

Let us consider how a Janma Chakra (natal chart) becomes deceptive on the face of it
and Navamsa Chakra tells the real story. (I will discuss these in detail later).

Case I

Moon
Ascdt.
Jupiter Mandi Moon Mars
Sun
Ketu
Mercury
Rahu V enus Saturn
Janma Mandi Navamsa
Chakra Chakra
Ketu

Ascdt.
Saturn
Sun V enus Rahu Jupiter
Mars
Mercury
Date of birth: 16-12-1951 (female). Balance of
Vimshottari Guru Dasa: 10 years 9 months and 3 days

Bhava Chakra: Next in importance to render predictions as accurate as possible is

constructing the Bhava Chakra or Chalita Chakra.

Janma Chakra assumes that each Rasi is of 30° and in constructing this chart the
latitude of the place of birth is not given full consideration. Again, it is a fundamental
rule of astrology that a planet near to Bhavamadhya (cusp) in poorvabhaga (or eastern
half preferably) is more powerful than the one in the Aarambha (beginning) or Virama
(ending) sandhis (junctions). Further, as the latitude of place of birth goes farther and
farther from the terrestrial Equator the chance of more than one Bhava falling in one
house is rated higher. Therefore unless the Bhava chart is constructed and the planets are
placed in them correctly predictions made by an astrologer are bound to go wrong
invariably. Let me express this through an example.
 A native, born in 11° N latitude, at about i a.m. of December 18, 1932, has the following
charts.

Case II

Moon VII Moon X

Saturn Ketu Ketu

Janma Bh ava
Chakra V enus Chakra
Rahu Rahu
Saturn
I
Sun Jupiter Ascdt. IV
Mercury Mercury Jupiter Mars
V enus Mandi Mars Sun
Mandi

Here is yet another horoscope where the native's story is told only by the Bhava
chart:
Case III

Mandi
Sun
Moon Sun Moon
Ketu Ketu Mars
V enus Mercury V enus
Mandi
Mars

IV Mercury
Janma Bhava
Chakra Chakra
Saturn
X
Jupiter

Saturn
Ascdt. Rahu II I Rahu
Jupiter

Unless Bhava Chart is constructed, as in Case II, predictions given about, say, Putra
Bhava, are prone to go wrong or atleast prove inaccurate. The native has a number of
daughters but no sons. It is predicted that he will be blessed with a son during
September, 1977.

Mandi: One more important aspect which is normally not considered in various parts
of India is the position of Mandi. According to various texts, Mandi plays a vital role in
deciding the Poorva janma punya (merit accruing due to act in previous lives) of a native as
also his outlook, physical and mental make-up. To ignore such a vital element is to contribute
to inaccurate prediction.
 Should an astrologer consider all these aspects, among others, very carefully,
predictions can never go wrong. - 237.
(To he continued)

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