Sri
K.N. Rao
Sri
K.N. Rao is the founder of the Bharatiya
Vidya Bhavan School of Astrology, New Delhi, India, the largest astrology
school in the world with over 800 students and 26 teachers. He is also
the editor of the quarterly magazine, Journal of Astrology, and
author/editor of more than twenty books on Vedic astrology. His academic
and research-based approach combines both classical and innovative methods
like his PAC-DARES and Composite Approach which are used by students worldwide.
Over the past forty years his record of accurate predictions has earned
him wide spread recognition.
Question:
Thank you so much for agreeing to do this interview. From your biography
we know that your father Sri K. Rama Rao was an illustrious journalist
and a freedom fighter. Your mother, Smt. K. Sarasvani Devi initiated you
into astrology at the age of 12. Could you please give us some feel of
your experience of being brought up in such an atmosphere? Could you share
any notable anecdotes from your childhood or formative years?
K.N.
Rao (KNR): To help answer this question, let me recount to you
an incident from my life. At the age of 23, when I was interviewed for
the All-India Services, the first question put to me was - “What
has been your reaction as a south Indian brought up in northern India?[1]”
I replied - “I recently read a novel of a Polish pianist who was
brought up in Russia. In Poland he was called a Russian and in Russia
a Pole!”
Humor
aside, I was very fortunate to be away from the extreme “Brahminical”
orthodoxy of south Indian society of those days. If I were a Brahmin living
in South India, I might have found it very difficult to mix freely with
people from different communities. On the other hand, living in Lucknow,
I had the unique enriching opportunity of bringing home my Muslim friends
for dinner.[2]
Furthermore, my father, with his Brahmo Samaj[3] background, never allowed
any male member ever to take any dowry in marriage. For four generations
no male in our family has taken any dowry. My father was a very courageous
and patriotic person. He was jailed while working for India's freedom
movement, leaving the eight of us - his wife and children – without
a breadwinner in the family. How we survived those days is still a miracle!
Since we survived, I experientially know, without any doubt, that there
is a great God, with his scheme for all of us puny mortals. We cry and
cringe - but for what? I am a very firm believer in karma and its results.
I am more convinced in it because of my experiences with astrology, with
my astrology Guru, late Yogi Bhaskaranandji, and my mantra Guru, Swami
Paramanand Saraswati.
Question:
Given your father's association with India's freedom movement, did you
have an opportunity to meet some of the leading political figures of that
time? If so, how was that experience?
KNR:
I traveled quite a lot with my father, who was moving from one
place to another due to his job. I was the personal volunteer of Mahatma
Gandhi during my vacations in Wardha. I saw, from closest quarters, the
future famous men of India. Fellow volunteers and I, who had come from
different parts of India, got disenchanted with almost all of them, except
Mahatma Gandhi and Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan.[4]
In working for these famous leaders of India, we young volunteers had
to be extra cautious. Many of these leaders were short tempered and it
was not unusual for them to slap us! In this matter, Jawaharlal Nehru
was the harshest, and due to this, all of us disliked him thoroughly.
Fortunately, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan was different from most other leaders.
He always came to our defense and even said something pleasant and sweet
to help offset the unpleasant work/living environment.
We all knew him as a genuinely guileless man and revered him second only
to Mahatma Gandhi. As regards Gandhiji – he had his own way of noticing
things and giving instructions. For example, among all the young volunteers,
two of us were recognized to be the brightest. Both of us meticulously
remembered all the work instructions given to us, and carried these out
diligently, and in a timely fashion. The result of this was that the two
of us were always overburdened with work. Once Gandhiji looked at one
of the leaders and said, “Will you not give opportunity to the other
boys to be efficient also?” It was his diplomatic way of making
sure that the workload was shared equitably and ensuring that all of us
had an opportunity to improve ourselves.
But the favorite person I worked for during this period was Acharya Bhansali
who was a professor of mathematics at the Bombay University. He jumped
into the freedom movement and remained a Brahmachari throughout his life,
serving in Sevagram Ashram until his death. Even after India's freedom
from the British, power politics never attracted him. I distinctly recall
one encounter with him. He called the entire group of boy volunteers and
gave us some neem leaves[5] to eat. Most of the boys in our group ate
a leaf or two and slowly slipped away. I stood there and ate all the leaves
he had given me. After that incident I became his favorite! To eat neem
leaves and become someone's favorite is quite a hilarious memory for me.
Prof. Bhansali was also adept at catching snakes with his bare hands.
Even if the snake bit him, somehow, the poison never affected him –
something that still remains a mystery to me.
We also came in touch with other famous leaders– such as Dr. Zakir
Hussain, Prof. Aryanagam[6], Sri J.C.Kumarappa[7], and Acharya Vinoba
Bhave[8].
While
these experiences with these leaders were enriching and educational, even
at that point, I knew inside of me that the real seat of greatness lay
elsewhere. As I struggled to find the truth, I got my answers from the
sacred Hindu scriptures – the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads,
and later, more directly, from spiritual masters. I have written about
these spiritual masters in my book, “Yogis, Destiny and the
Wheel of Time.”
Question:
Did the journalistic background of your father have any impact on your
thinking and training?
KNR:
My father, as a journalist, subscribed to eighteen newspapers every day.
I used to be his assistant and my job was to organize, by subject, the
newspaper clippings into different envelopes. Looking back, I feel that
this experience taught me a mental discipline and the ability to catalog
material on a particular subject in an index-like fashion for any future
reference.
My
father also had a rich collection of books, particularly biographies written
by Englishmen. He asked me to read these along with the New Testament
for their beautiful English style and writing.[9]
From
that age, until the age of almost forty, I was a voracious reader of books.
This changed when I met the great Urdu poet, Firaq Gorakhpuri, during
my work tenure in the city of Allahabad in North India. He advised me
to read less, and think and analyze more.
Question:
Can you provide some details on the initiation by your mother into astrology?
Also, can you please share some more details about your mother and her
astrological abilities?
KNR:
At the age of eleven I had a terrible attack of typhoid, which was considered
a deadly killer in those days. Convalescing and weak when I lay on my
bed, my mother put a painting of Goddess Saraswati in front of me and
initiated me into numerology, palmistry, graphology and astrology.
I grew
up seeing my mother make remarkable predictions to people when they came
to her. In one case, a young boy had run away from his family. Everyone
thought that since the boy wanted to become a film actor, he had, in all
likelihood, run away to the city of Bombay[10]. Looking at the boy's horoscope,
my mother predicted that the boy would be found in a place of pilgrimage
in northern India. Later, the boy was seen and brought home from Haridwar.
Having been a witness to many such accurate predictions, I was convinced,
beyond doubt, of the greatness of astrology as a predictive science.
Many
may say that astrologers' predictions are often “wishy-washy”
and imprecise with only anecdotal accuracy – so how can a skeptic
be assured beyond doubt on the validity of astrology? My answer would
be that each one of us has to come to one's own conclusion. While I cannot
convince anybody on the validity of the science of Jyotish, my own conviction
remains firm. I also know that when my predictions fail that it is due
to my own faults and limitations, and does not, in any way, take away
the greatness of the science of Jyotish itself.
Question:
Overall as a child and young adult, did you have some inkling that you
had some specific purpose in life? Have you been an ambitious person?
KNR:
I had always found astrology immensely fascinating and spiritually enlightening,
but had never ventured out in the open. Most people knew me as a high-ranking
officer in the government of India and only a very few close friends knew
that I practiced astrology.
Coming
to your question - No, I never felt that I had any specific purpose or
mission in my life until a great Mahatma, late Moorkhanandji (whose actual
name was Sri Vidyaranya) told me in 1980 that astrology was getting “eclipsed”
but luckily had not totally vanished from our world. He said that the
world would witness a revival of Jyotish through my instrumentality.
Now,
twenty-four years later, I am realizing the truth of that great prophecy.
Through the teamwork of many of us, and the blessings of my gurus and
teachers, we have now produced thirty-six books offering insightful research
in the field of Indian Astrology. We have also been running the largest
school of astrology in the world at the Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, New Delhi,
where nine hundred students attend our weekend courses on a regular basis.
All this happened not because of my individuality or ambition. I was simply
a conduit to the divine plan as blessed by Moorkhanandji.
Yogi Moorkhanandji and Sri K.N. Rao in
1981
Question:
Moorkhanandji's prediction was quite remarkable! Did he make any other
predictions about you?
KNR:
Yes, in fact, Moorkhanandji did make another prophecy in 1980. He said
that I would have to fight a big battle in my life for furthering the
cause of astrology. As it turned out, in the year 2000, the Human Resources
Ministry and the University Grants Commission in India introduced astrology
as a subject in the universities. The scientist and left-wing communities
in India vigorously challenged this proposed introduction of astrology
into the curriculum. There were legal cases filled in various court systems
in India. Of these, the legal cases in Andhra Pradesh and Madras got most
attention. Both of these cases were however subsequently dismissed at
the state level. But the Andhra Pradesh case made its way to the Supreme
Court of India in the year 2001 where it was admitted for a hearing.
I intervened[11] in this case as a “Petitioner-In-Person”,
which is permissible under the Indian law. At that time, I was in the
midst of a severe health crisis and could barely walk using a walker-support.
Given my health condition, I asked the astrologers' community in India
to help but unfortunately did not get any aid whatsoever. Anyway, despite
being pitted against one of the most famous lawyers of India – Mr.
Shanti Bhushan - I was quite successful in countering all the arguments
he presented. Hearing my arguments, the Additional Solicitor General,
Mr. Rawal, told me that I was very effective and thought that we would
win the case. On May 5th 2004, the judgement came out and we did indeed
win the case. That is what Moorkhanandji foresaw in the year 1980!
Question: Going back to your education – where
did you do your high school, undergraduate and graduate studies? What
was your field of specialization? How was your academic performance? What
about extra-curricular activities – did you have any talents in
sports, writing, speaking, acting/drama?
KNR: My father had a job that moved our family from one
place to another. Due to this my education, too, was in different places,
giving me a wide exposure to the diversity of India. My education started
in Delhi, continued in Lucknow, and then to Nagpur where I did my matriculation.
This was when I found myself in geographical proximity to Mahatma Gandhi.
In Vijaywada I did my intermediate. Finally, my academic life completed
a full circle, bringing me back to Lucknow, where I did my B.A. and M.A.
in English.
I was a good student throughout – never failing but at the same
time rarely being at the top of the class. I did win essay-writing competitions
and was successful in securing a few scholarships. I was also selected
to participate in debating forums at an All-India level. That reminds
me – in school days I almost always won the top-prize in the Hindi
poetry recitation competition. The famous Hindi poet Jaya Shankar Prasad,
whose work I used to recite, was unquestionably my hot favorite.
I was very good at languages – Hindi, English and Sanskrit. Even
in those days when grading was extremely stringent, and despite doing
very poorly in science and mathematics, I used to get an aggregate score
of around 75%. These high grades were primarily due to my excellence in
the language subjects. Urdu was a required third language for us at middle
level of schooling. The Maulvi Saheb, who taught us Urdu, was more interested
in getting married for a fourth time than in teaching us! Consequently,
Urdu became a hellish experience for my fellow students and me. Since
Urdu and Hindu were aggregated together, I was lucky that my near “zero”
grade in Urdu got compensated by my securing a high score of 80% in Hindi.
I would be remiss if I did not bring up one more interesting point. All
through my life, I suffered badly because of my bad handwriting. Perhaps
hard to believe, but true nevertheless – in the nationwide competitive
examination, twenty marks were deducted from my aggregate just for my
bad handwriting!
I never had any histrionic talent. Once during my service career I acted
in a Sanskrit play as the famous character Ashwathama of Mahabharata.
A drama critic, who must have been clearly irritated by my performance,
wrote in his review that one had to learn from K.N. Rao how not to act!
In sports, I somehow never got myself to focus enough. Even so, I played
football, hockey, cricket, badminton, tennis, billiards, snooker and bridge.
From my student days, I served as a sports reporter for newspapers, both
in English and Hindi. Twice I won brilliancy prizes in Chess when, in
different tournaments, I defeated India's fourth and fifth ranked players.
In bridge, my teammates and I won the Uttar Pradesh and Delhi State Championships.
But I lost all my interest in games (including bridge) when I had a paranormal
experience in 1961. I had a forewarning about my father's death two days
before he actually died. I clearly remember having the premonition on
7th March 1961, and subsequently my father died two days later on March
9th. This served as a turning point in my life and I decided that life
was meant only for searching higher spiritual aims, and should not be
wasted in frivolous activities.
Question:
How about your spiritual instruction and initiation – can you please
provide some details on that? Have you interacted with any other mystics
or spiritual gurus?
KNR:
I got initiated into my spiritual path in April 1962. In1966 I wanted
to leave my service and become a Sanyasi. But my Guruji advised me otherwise.
He said that I still had unfulfilled karmas (or actions) to be exhausted.
He suggested that I fulfill my duties and by doing so I would better my
spiritual life as well. He warned that Sanyasa could become an escape,
in fact ruining my spiritual life instead of bettering it. I also interacted
with a fakir who had supernatural powers. In 1963 he told me that I would
have to move to Delhi and also would travel abroad several times, which
as we now know, all came true.
In
summary, I have benefited immensely from the instructions of my Guruji
– in particular the one where he advised me not to become a renunciate.
Even though I saw some genuine saints or Mahatmas, my lifetime experience
has been that the world is overflowing with fake spiritual leaders who
pretend to be Sanyasis. Having seen this rampant fraudulence first hand,
I am saddened to say that, nowadays, Ashrams are hotbeds of intrigues
and corruption which remains hidden from the public eye due to the glamour
of the Guru who heads the organization. One consequence is that after
the death of the founding Gurus, the disciples are involved in legal proceedings
in courts of law for successor rights etc. In short there is no silver
bullet that brings spiritual wisdom - my own spiritual learning has come
from my own personal experiences and through the grace of my Guruji. It
takes time, faith, perseverance and lots of grace.
Question:
Can you provide us some overview of your professional career?
Were there any problems or crisis that you faced in the course of your
career? Were you practicing astrology while you worked at your regular
job?
KNR:
I started my career as a lecturer of English in a college at Lucknow.
Subsequently, I was selected for the Indian Audit and Accounts Services
through a competitive exam and interview. In this job I rose in rank and
retired at the high level of Director General. Twice during my service
career I was also sent on deputation to the division of Commercial Taxes
in Patna, Bihar and the Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi. As destiny
would have it, in these roles as the Chief Accountant, I was able to create
surplus budgets four times – a feat that had never been achieved
before. This became a famous case study leading me to lecture on financial
controls of a civic body for the next six years at the Indian Institute
of Public Administration.
Despite
these successes, I was not a distinguished bureaucrat. The life of a bureaucrat
never suited my personality – I have strong, independent views on
so many subjects that, more often than not, conflicted with the “straitjacket”
approach of “going-with-the-grain” expected of me. While a
bureaucrat, I did however make many notable/successful astrological predictions
to famous politicians of India, and also failed miserably sometimes! During
my service career I was better known as a journalist, a public speaker
(both in Hindi and English), a top-class bridge player, and of course,
as an astrologer who provided free consultation to a wide array of people
– from the lower-middle class to top politicians of India.
However,
these astrological predictions got me into trouble on some occasions.
For example, in December of 1988, in an interview I gave to a magazine,
I stated that in the following year (1989) the central government of India
(federal government) would undergo a big change. This statement got me
into a really sticky situation with the ruling party. Luckily, I wriggled
out of this mess by saying I was merely espousing untested academic research
and that I had no political motivation whatsoever for making this statement.
As events showed later, in 1989 the Congress government of Rajiv Gandhi
lost the general elections and the central government did indeed change,
proving my prediction accurate.
Question:
What about your personal life? Have you ever been married or come close
to getting married? If not, were you not pressured by your parents to
get married?
KNR:
I have never been married. In 1960 I did come close to getting married
but it never materialized. Given my prestigious high-ranking position
in the government, a stable job/salary, and the fact that I came from
an Andhra Niyogi Brahmin[12] family, marriage proposals used to come in
plenty especially from prosperous families. Among these were marriage
proposals from the families of two former presidents of India, Sri S.Radhakrishnan
and Sri V.V.Giri.
However,
I was quite clear that I did not want to get married. I told my father
that since I was very sure of not getting married, it was pointless for
me to go to “see” prospective brides. My argument was that
if I were forced to go to see the prospective brides, I would reject them
anyway (as I was not interested in marrying) causing a feeling of hurt
to the girls. Thankfully, my father understood the validity of my argument
and did not pressurize me any further for getting married. As for my mother,
she did say that as a mother she wanted me to get married but as an astrologer
she saw it would be disastrous.
When
I started my spiritual life, I decided that marriage would be a big burden.
I felt that I would be deceiving the girl I would marry, since I knew
in my heart that I would not be able to devote attention to the demands
of a conventional married life. So I felt quite certain of my decision.
That
reminds me of a strange incident. In 1993, when I visited USA for the
first time in my life, a sixty-year old American woman (I may add that
she was good looking and well-to-do) approached me to marry her. Amused,
I explained to her that at this age we should be concentrating on a spiritual
life rather than get distracted by marriage and worldly matters!
Question:
Did you feel lonely or lacked companionship at some times in your life?
Saying this in another way, did you delve deeper into writing and astrology
partly because you found these activities to be your companions?
KNR:
I never felt lonely and in fact relished the time to myself – exploring
and writing about interests that captured me from within. All through
my life, I have lived simply without too much attraction for material
things. For thirty years I ate only once a day, eating three chappatis
at night. However, I did indulge in one vice; I drank lots of tea. All
this continued until, due to diabetes, I was forced to change my old habits
and I switched to a two-light-meals routine. Fundamentally, however, my
attitude and living hasn't changed much at all. I have always enjoyed
and relished the joy of living life simply and by myself.
K.N. Rao teaching at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Question:
Coming back to your spiritual guru – Swami Parmananda Saraswati
– Can you please tell more details on who he was and what he taught
you? What is the spiritual path you practice?
KNR:
He was a Vaishnava guru and initiated me into Krishna mantra. On receiving
the Shakti Paath (transmission of spiritual energy) and within six months
of my initiation, I was blessed with numerous extraordinary experiences.
For example, I got many clairvoyant dreams from April to September of
1962.
One
such dream in April of 1962 showed me of a Chinese attack on the northeastern
state of Assam where I was then posted. As we all now know, subsequently
a war broke out between India and China on 20th October 1962. My guru
started his spiritual journey initially on the path of Tantra[13] under
the tutelage of an extraordinary Tantric guru. As you may know, Tantriks
outnumber Vaishanavas in the states of Bengal and Assam. But during the
course of his sadhana when he was in a very advanced state, he had to
switch over to Vaishnavism. How this happened is an interesting story
by itself. A famous Vaishnava saint, Prabhu Bejoy Krishna Goswami[14]
was initiated in Gaya by a Nanak panthi[15] guru, Swami Brahmananda. This
initiation took place by an astral vision of Swami Brahmananda to Prabhu
Goswami. Similarly, Prabhu Bejoy Goswami appeared astrally to my Guruji,
Swami Parmananda, and asked him to spread Krishna Bhakti (or devotion).
Thereafter, my Guruji became a Vaishanava and always kept a photograph
of Guru Nanak in his place of worship. Also, in our sadhana or practice,
Sri Guru Nanak and Guru Grantha Saheb, Sikhism's sacred religious text,
have a very high place of respect and veneration.
Our
spiritual tradition also traces our lineage to the Vaishnava tradition
of Madhvacharya[16] of Karnataka. However, at the core, we strictly follow
the Bhakti Marg (path of devotion) as taught by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu –
the famous Bengali saint whose love and surrender to Lord Krishna is still
considered as one of the most exemplary cases of liberation through the
path of devotion.
My
Guruji had very extraordinary supernormal powers and I was a first-hand
witness to many of his prophecies. He was known to say things that often
startled all of us. Let me give you an example. Once, while coming down
from the sacred Kamakhya[17] hill, he saw Sanjay Gandhi lead his Youth
Congress Brigade. Guruji suddenly remarked - “This fellow does not
have raja-lakshana (the signs of kingship) at all”. This statement
came true, when five years after this prediction Sanjay Gandhi died in
an unfortunate plane crash, without ever becoming even a minister in the
government of India.
Question:
Your mother and Yogi Bhaskarandji were your astrological Gurus. Can you
give us a glimpse into your interaction with them and the learning you
derived? Also, can you share some details of their lives?
KNR:
Their method of teaching astrology was the classical ancient Hindu method.
As they analyzed a horoscope, I was never allowed to keep the horoscope
in front of me. I had to see it once and have a clear visual memory of
it. Further when the analysis proceeded, I was trained to dynamically
visualize the various planets, their aspects, positions etc. In fact as
the training progressed, the verbal analysis would unfold itself as a
visual dance-drama inside of me. Further I was required to do many of
the intricate calculations mentally. I can unequivocally say that this
method of training, more than any skill per se, has helped me immensely
in practicing astrology. Based on this method of instruction, I later
wrote the book, “Learn Hindu Astrology Easily”, in which I
evolved a mnemonic memory tablet PACDARES. This is an eight-step analysis
scheme that I recommend for every astrologer to follow before they get
into the arena of making predictions.
My
mother, perhaps because of her feminine instincts, was simply superb in
predicting about marriage and children. In these areas of marriage and
progeny, even until today, I have not seen anyone make such remarkably
accurate predictions as she did. Despite her success in working with these
areas, she discouraged me from getting too involved in these two domains
of astrology. She felt that if I got caught in the sphere of marriage
and children, people would not leave me alone and I would have no time
whatsoever to do original research in other areas of astrology. I found
this advice very valuable. However, using her old papers and working notes
on these topics, I did write the book “Planets and Children”[18].
In this book I provide unique techniques for analysis and prediction that
are tested with thousands of horoscopes from all over the world.
My
mother developed some supernormal powers in the last twelve years of her
life from 1972 to 1984. Let me give you some examples. In 1972 my youngest
brother and his wife were expecting a child. They were living in Baroda,
a town in the western state of Gujarat. At that time, I was with my mother
and my (late) eldest sister in Patna, Bihar. Due to an age-old Hindu household
custom, my sister wanted to go to Baroda to be with the pregnant wife
of our brother. Unfortunately her vacation from work was granted 2-3 days
late. As soon as her vacation was sanctioned she showed up home with a
railway ticket for her journey to Baroda. Seeing my sister's imminent
travel plans, my mother announced that it was already too late. As we
looked quizzically at her, she explained that a girl child had already
been born. Being physically present with my mother all the time, I can
personally testify that we had no communication with my brother via phone
or telegram. Astonished at her statement, I asked her how she made this
statement. She did not answer my question in the presence of my sister.
But later when I was alone, she told me that she had a vision of her mother
(my maternal grandmother) informing her that she was re-born as a daughter
to my brother. My mother further predicted that this newborn girl would
make a successful career with the government of India. Two days later,
we got formal intimation that a daughter was indeed born to my brother
and his wife. That daughter, who was later named as Vineeta, is now an
engineer in the Indian Railways.
Let
me narrate another episode of my mother's paranormal powers. I, along
with two of my friends, had gone to Vrindavan for our usual weekend visit
to see the famous saint, Nagaridas Baba. We were late in returning from
our trip. Given the late hour of our return, I thought that my mother
would be already asleep. I expected the door to be opened by my youngest
brother Subhas. But reaching home I found both my brother and mother standing
outside the house waiting for me with obvious anxiety. On inquiring, Subhas
told that mother had woken up suddenly and told him that my friends and
I had met with an accident on the way. Her statement was absolutely correct!
The three of us were indeed involved in a car accident but fortunately
no one was hurt.
My mother had also told me ten days before her death that she would go
into samadhi or deep trance (which doctors called coma) and leave her
body soon thereafter. She also said that she would die in the presence
of my brother and that I would not be with her at the moment of her death.
As it turned out, when she did go into the state of coma, my brother took
her to a nursing home in an ambulance and I was following them in a car.
By the time I reached, she was already pronounced dead and in the presence
of her youngest son, as she had predicted.
My jyotish guru, Yogi Bhaskarananda, who had a B.A. in English from Bombay
University, had spent forty years in the Himalayas. A dedicated Brahmachari
who devoted his life for service of others, Bhaskaranandaji developed
supernormal powers towards the end of his life and did not need any horoscope
to foretell people's future. In my opinion his discussion on the philosophy
of Karma and Rebirth was par excellence in its intricacies, lucidity and
rigor. The learning I derived from him on this topic inspired me to write
the book, “Karma and Rebirth in Hindu Astrology.”
Question:
Just for the record I want to get a small but perhaps important clarification.
The term Vedic Astrology is often used to refer to Jyotish. This term
is more in usage now than ever before as far as I can recall. Are we correct
in calling Indian Astrology as Vedic Astrology – in other words
is Jyotish quoted in the Vedas directly?
KNR:
That is a good question. Technically, Jyotish should not be called Vedic
Astrology. For Yagnas[19] and Karmakanda[20] the Vedas
are the authentic source. For the householders it is the Smritis[21].
But both the Vedas and Smritis are in the Puranas[22].
Just as the entire Creation has emerged from Him, so too the entire literature
of the world is an offshoot of the Puranas. There is no iota
of doubt about it. In the Vedas, there is no methodology provided to determine
Tithi[23], Vaar[24], Nakshatra[25], or planetary
Sanchara (transits). Even the methodology for determining timing
of Parvas (festivals), or Eclipses is not mentioned in the Vedas.
What is not in the Vedas is in the Smritis. And whatever is not found
in these two is to be known from the Puranas.
Through someone's fertile imagination it was decided to call Hindu astrology
as Vedic astrology. I too fell into this trap and I never verified or
clarified this with a competent Vedic scholar. But now I stand corrected.
It is either Indian astrology or Hindu astrology. Vedic astrology does
not exist at all. Having said that, the term “Vedic” is a
great marketing tool especially in the new age movement. So whether it
is true or not, I suspect Vedic astrology will continue to be the preferred
name for Indian Astrology especially in the west. (Note - I asked
K.N. Rao if I should stop using the term "Vedic astrology."
He said, "It is all right in USA. Do as you have been doing."
- - Vaughn Paul Manley 7/5/05)
Question: Having practiced astrology
for so many years and now teaching this subject successfully, in your
opinion, how much of mathematical skills does one require to learn/practice
astrology? In this context, what has been the impact of computers on the
practice of astrology?
KNR: Fundamentally, the calculations
required to do most of the basic astrological predictions are of simple
arithmetic nature. Most people in India are very good at simple arithmetic
regardless of their level of education. This is generally enough to learn
some of the basic calculations for casting a horoscope etc. In fact most
students of astrology here in India can do these calculations mentally.
A little bit of knowledge of basic astronomy is also helpful in practicing
astrology, and more so if one wants to pursue advanced research in the
subject.
At Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan[26], we insist that every student should have
hands-on experience of doing astrological calculations. I am a strong
believer in the fact that manual/mental calculations help you better visualize
and develop instincts for practicing astrology. I am generally wary of
depending exclusively on Jyotish software programs in the market. A faulty
component for an intricate calculation in a software program can have
disastrous consequences on the correctness and quality of the prediction.
These faults in the software are a common occurrence even to this date.
The bottom line is that the responsibility for the prediction lies squarely
on the shoulders of the astrologer and I feel every astrologer should
take that duty very seriously. Further, a total dependency on computers
is never advisable. Unfortunately, astrology software programs have helped
mushroom a new breed of “half-baked” astrologers.
Despite my reservations regarding use of astrology software programs,
the availability of computers is very helpful and a great time-saver for
a serious astrologer. If I have access to a Jyotish program that I have
verified as dependable, I use it right away. If not, I do some manual
calculations to check its accuracy repeatedly and on an ongoing basis.
Mostly the basic horoscopes generated by these software programs are accurate,
but the supplementary features, such as less-used Dasha[27] systems
or Ashtakavargas etc., are often faulty or simply wrong. So we should
keep these limitations always at the back of our mind when using Jyotish
software programs. That is one of the reasons, as I said earlier, complete
dependence on computers is very dangerous!
Question: Could you please give us some
brief idea on how you go about making predictions from a horoscope? Also,
there are two contrary viewpoints that you have presented in this interview
– on the one hand you have said that Jyotish is a science, and on
the other you have cited numerous examples of astrologers who made predictions
intuitively without using a scientific/analytical approach. Could you
also please provide some clarity on this conundrum?
KNR: A horoscope analysis can be split
into two types – (a) intra-horoscope, (b) inter-horoscope.
The first one involves looking at various dimensions within a particular
horoscope such as Rasi, divisional charts, Ashtavarga etc. to synthesize
a holistic view of the individual. Here we have to contend with opposing
and supporting factors that need to be considered simultaneously. This
requires experience and practice, obtained by looking at lots of horoscopes.
Most importantly it needs constant learning from your own mistakes.
Inter-horoscopes become necessary when for example a pregnant woman or
parents of a newly born child come to you (as is very common in India),
asking about the health, abnormalities or future of the child. In such
a case looking at the horoscope of the father, mother and child simultaneously
makes the picture much clearer. This type of analysis, as you would understand,
requires a lot of work and takes time/patience.
Well-prepared data is the womb from which prediction is born. One has
to balance analysis with synthesis. Some charts are simpler than others;
the difficulty comes when multi-dimensional analysis has to be followed
by synthesis. The synthesis leads to inference from which emerges a conclusion.
Science of astrology is, in many ways, similar to medical diagnosis where
blood tests, urine test, x-rays, cardiograms etc. are all used to arrive
at a proper diagnosis. In this part of astrology where multi-dimensional
analysis is involved, deep familiarity and experience with vast array
of predictive techniques is the key to success.
As an astrologer advances, almost magically, more of intuition starts
coming into play. Let me give you some examples. In 1973, a mother came
to me to ask about her missing son. I looked at her face and something
within told me that her son was coming home. I still made calculations
and found that her son was safe and on his way back home, which is what
happened. In another case, someone asked about his missing son. Before
I even calculated, I got a strong intuition from within that the boy was
killed. I made calculations and found some details that, later, turned
out to be useful for police investigations. Through calculations, I also
found that the dead body of the boy was in a water body and the killer
was wearing red clothes. Later police investigations caught the criminal
in red clothes and the dead body was recovered from under a stone in the
Ganges River.
Therefore, sometimes the prediction comes in a flash of intuition. A formal
analysis-synthesis exercise is done later only to confirm the intuitive
prediction. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras[28] tell us that there exists
a Jyotishmati Nadi (or a predictive intuitive channel) within
us, which when activated one can see past, present and future. Here one
needs no horoscope or knowledge of astrology. I know of a person –
Sivananda Murthy in Hyderabad. He did a lot of astrology in his youth.
At present, he can tell you something about your future without a horoscope.
Among the persons known to me, he is the only one alive with a fully activated
Nadi (or channel) of this type.
Even if the Nadi is not fully active, in the case of every honest
astrologer, he experiences this channel of intuition in some spells inspired
by divinity. These experiences border on the mystical and lead the astrologer
into the higher realms of existence – to find out our real purpose
in being here. Such experiences take an astrologer towards God making
him stop practicing astrology and devoting his life to spiritual activities
only.
Question: Can intuitive wisdom help
further the field of astrology?
KNR: Yes, that is exactly how most good
research is done in any field. Research ideas are born in the stillness
of intuition. Once the intuitive idea is born, you have to work extremely
diligently with technical competence to show its validity and then present
it in a systematic fashion for others to understand. This requires discipline,
hard work and perseverance. My research in Jaimini Astrology, a field
that remained dormant for almost 3000 years, is an example of that.
Question: You have mentioned that astrology
is very useful in facilitating our spiritual journey. Could you please
elaborate on this more clearly? Can you please provide some examples of
how astrology has helped people in their spiritual progress?
KNR: An astrologer (and their clients)
can be categorized via the four-tier system described in the Bhagavad
Gita – (a) Arta, one in agony, has a disturbed mind
and such an astrologer cannot predict properly; (b) Artharthi -
greedy and he will dupe his clients and make money; this is generally
what you see quite commonly among astrologers everywhere; (c) Jignasu
- who has a scientific curiosity and wants to know more deeply on
how planets affect the universe and its life. This is what took me into
astro-meteorology and occasional predictions about earthquakes –
an area that still continues to be enigma for me; (d) Gyani -
At one stage the astrologer feels that he has been wasting his time predicting
for others. When there is a God controlling everything why not devote
time only to realize HIM. If circumstances help him, he gives up astrology
(or at least reduces it substantially) and contemplates on the higher
Self alone.
Let me now come back to your question on astrological advice for spiritual
improvement. In my experience, mostly people from the west who are into
the New Age Movement or those initiated by Indian, Sufi or Buddhist gurus,
seek astrological advice on their spiritual life. Indians typically don't
do that – they go to their spiritual gurus for spiritual guidance
and come to the astrologer for guidance in their worldly matters. So the
sample of people seeking astrological advice on spiritual matters is definitely
biased towards westerners.
Generally speaking, most people we come across in today's world, almost
always, have their share of worldly distractions. These distractions can
be discerned very clearly from their horoscope charts. This is known as
Yoga Vighna or Antaraya[29] or you can also call it
Maya[30]. We have to give advice based on these factors. But in the case
of a person who is a full time devotee – with no job or worldly
worries – you have to merely tell them not to worry when good periods
are seen and caution when the Dasha (time) is not favorable.
In the context of spirituality, the type of advice given depends on the
question asked and the horoscope of the individual. Let me illustrate
this via some examples of how I was able to help people in their spiritual
path using astrology (in all these cases the advice was given after looking
at the astrological charts of the people):
Twenty years back, a German woman asked me about her meditation. I told
her that there was a disturbance caused by some matter related to property/land,
which was affecting her. As it turned out, she did indeed have a lot of
trouble with her neighbor who was objecting to her building a temple somewhere
in Germany. This bothered her repeatedly while she tried to meditate.
I asked her to solve this land problem first and then concentrate on her
meditative practice;
A man from Australia asked me and I told him about his sexual torments
and how to manage them so as to not have an effect on his meditation;
Another man asked me on how to get deeper into meditation. Looking at
his horoscope, I could see that he had the inherent ability to sit long
in Asanas (or Yogic postures). I told him that he should practice Yogic
Asanas and it would accelerate his spiritual progress. He followed up
on my advice and it did indeed helped him;
In one case, I had to tell a man that he was faking and being untruthful
which was a gross violation of the basic tenets of being a sadhaka or
spiritual seeker. His question about spiritual life was simply fanciful
and not sincere;Based on some extraordinary indicators I saw in a girl's
chart, I told her that she would progress rapidly in her spiritual life.
It was one of the most joyful experiences for me to see her fulfill the
spiritual promise that was vividly “inscribed” in her horoscope;
Question: Do you believe in Free Will
for us “puny mortals” (as you describe all of us in an earlier
part of the interview)? To what degree is everything pre-destined and
what, if at all, is our own choice/free-will?
KNR: Actually, my honest answer to this
question is that God alone can answer this question fully and satisfactorily.
When I see my prediction coming out correct, I clearly see the role of
pre-determination. For example, in 1995, while teaching a course in the
U.S., I predicted that Clinton would win a second term, but would get
involved in land and sex scandals. That prediction came out to be true.
However, I also predicted that Clinton would not be able to complete his
second term – that prediction did not come true. This is how sometimes
pre-determination and free-will interplay with each other to determine
the final outcome.
We all enjoy some amount of free will within the orbit of predetermination;
not outside it. If free-will was non-existent, the great sage Parashara
whose magnum opus on astrology, Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra,
we depend on, would not have prescribed remedial measures like doing Vishnu
Sahasranamam or doing charities etc. You have seen my own example.
I could not walk in the years 2000-2001 without a support walker. No doctor
could diagnose my disease and therefore no treatment was possible. I did
Vishnu Sahasranamam regularly and with God's grace, I can now
walk without the walker (even though I still use a walking stick for safety).
There are three words in Hindi – Mitana, Ghatana and Uthana
that provide a comprehensive picture of the fate of Karma itself.
In very rare cases you will find Mitana or complete eradication
of Karmas – generally speaking destiny does not spare us.
Ghatana or reduction in intensity is what most of us hope and
work for. This category covers most of us. Uthana or transcending
is again rare. To give an analogy of this - there is blazing heat outside
but one is sitting in an air-conditioned room unaffected by what is happening
outside. This happens only to true seekers of God. He alone is a true
Gyani who knows that Karmas need to be “worked-out”. As the
Gita says “Gahano Karmana Gatih[31]” or
as the great saint Surdas[32] says “Udho Karman Gi Gati Nyari
Re” - Karma is itself mysterious.
Astrology is linked to the theory of karma and the cycle of rebirths.
Therefore an astrologer does see the role of predestination and also of
free will. However, as the astrologer goes deeper, he sees a greater role
of predetermination and less of free will. But what can an astrologer
do? If he tells the truth bluntly, he disappoints his clients. If he does
not, he bluffs them!
Question: Besides your astrology Guru
and your mother, are there any astrologers from the recent era (living
or dead) who have impressed and influenced you? If so, how?
KNR: In my experience, (Late) Hardeo
Sharma Trivedi, who was the editor of the Vishwa Vijay Panchanga[33]
in Hindi was one of the best astrologers in the field of mundane Jyotish.
He came from the Varahamihira[34] tradition of astrology known
for its strength in the area of predictive mundane astrology. He was technically
very sound, morally impeccable, and had an impressive prediction success
rate of 80% in a career spanning 66 years (from 1933 to 1989). He did
not know English so he was not well versed in international affairs. Despite
this limitation, he made simply remarkable predictions on international
matters. Using the concept of eclipses, Trivedi-ji predicted the impending
catastrophe of the Second World War in a Hindi pamphlet in the year 1933
many years before the World War broke out. In 1963, based on the Hindu
New Year horoscope, he predicted a “terrible tragedy to the head
of state of USA” (which turned out to be the fatal attack on JFK).
He also predicted the U.S. stock market crash of 1987 and also the severe
communal tension of 1992 in India. You can gauge the consistency of his
predictions from the fact that he made these predictions in February-March
(before the beginning of the Hindu New Year in April) of every year when
the Panchanga was released. Despite his obvious brilliant track-record
he never attained international fame because (a) he wrote in Hindi, limiting
the audience that read his work, and (b) he lived in Solan, Himachal Pradesh
away from the power center of Delhi. I respected him so much that I used
to visit him at least twice a year.
The second person who impressed me greatly was (Late) Dr. B.V.Raman. As
you know, Dr. Raman popularized Hindu Astrology to an English-speaking
audience, like no one else did in twentieth century. It was he who created
a platform on which good astrologers could communicate, discuss, share
their findings and collaborate. He had his spells of brilliant predictions
particularly from 1938 to 1960. His service to the field of Indian astrology
has been truly remarkable and precious.
Then there was Vemuri Ram Murthy Shastri in a village in Andhra Pradesh
whom I never met personally. I read his predictions along with accompanying
calculations and logic, brought to me by some friends. He was a true genius
and I was his uninitiated disciple, much like Eklavya[35]. Even though
I never met him, I have paid my tributes to him in my book “Predicting
through Jaimini's Chara Dasha.”
There may be a few others but, unfortunately, most of the so-called “famous”
astrologers are people who have made one or two good predictions and then
get catapulted to fame via inflated or unverifiable claims through their
friends in the press. I don't care for all the hype and media attention.
I personally value commitment, consistency, and the test of time. Very
very few astrologers pass per this criterion in today's day and age.
Question: That brings us to the question
of the quality of today's astrologers. What is your opinion of the new
and upcoming astrologers?
KNR: The new young breed of rising astrologers
is in a hurry to pluck stars and collect dollars. I had hoped that their
work would help us address the deficiencies in many areas of predictive
astrology. But, unfortunately, I found most of them greedy and boastful
in the infancy of their careers and becoming gurus before even doing any
original research of provable value. They are often in the habit of floating
some wild theories without any empirical support. For example, one such
astrologer claimed that he could trace the past life of a person from
their horoscope. Another person claimed to predict the exact date of an
event very successfully every single time. In my view these are nothing
but fanciful exaggerations to fool the public that is clamoring for miraculous
stuff.
The New Age movement in USA has created a demand for such astrology gurus
and opened opportunities for earning quick money. In these days of websites
and email, it is easy to self-promote. I know I am not being polite but
this is the truth in majority of cases. Maybe a few of them have done
some good research. But unless an astrologer has maintained a good
record (sixty to eighty percent) of sound, clear, unambiguous and accurate
predictions over a period of fifteen years, he cannot be categorized as
good. But in these days of advertising and marketing, who cares for
such a rigorous evaluation criterion?
Question: That is a pretty negative “report
card” on the upcoming astrologers! Like everybody, they too have
to make money and survive. Can you blame them for trying to make a living?
KNR: What you are saying is true. What
you are suggesting is that there are reasons for the reality to be as
it is. However, I am merely observing the situation as it exists. To understand
this better, let me give you a categorization of people who are involved
in astrology –
(1) You will be surprised to see that many astrologers were in some petty
job and through astrology, they found a way to get some recognition among
colleagues and their bosses. Some may have taken astrology as a profession
because they had trouble at work and were dismissed or forced to resign
from their jobs. Then these people aggressively promote themselves as
astrology-gurus capitalizing on the opportunity offered by the New Age
movement.
(2) There are many bright and intelligent, professional people who have
been attracted to astrology. These people have very good educational career
and have the intellect to pick up astrology rapidly. But how long can
they continue practicing astrology when they have the twin burdens of
a full-time job and families? In today's modern professions of medicine,
engineering, chartered accountancy, law etc. equal attention to both profession
and astrology is very difficult if not impossible. In their competitive
professions these people have to keep updating their knowledge and skills
for the sake of bettering their careers. I have seen scores of such people
who started well but tapered off achieving nothing due to the demands
of their professional and personal lives.
(3) In the case of bureaucrats (like myself) who hold secure (but dull
and routine) jobs, both the job and astrology can flourish without one
affecting the other. I fall into this category.
Therefore, the intention with which people get into and practice
astrology is very important. Further, in learning any Vidya or knowledge,
it is the attitude that matters. My observation is that after
learning for some months or years, these young upcoming astrologers become
argumentative, arrogant and conceited. As I said before, they would be
well advised to concentrate on their predictions for a period of at least
fifteen years to see their real grasp of knowledge.
I have always felt that the best way to conduct astrology is via established
research centers with regular/well-paying jobs for trained astrologers.
If that happens there will be sound and dependable astrologers who have
the environment to get engrossed in uncovering the deeper secrets of life.
Another hope is that family traditions of astrology can be revived so
that the young and bright in the family can preserve the oral/written
traditions of ages without having to worry about earning wages.
But remember one axiom of life – “Nature will never reveal
its full secrets”. At any stage of the human race there will be
some good astrologers and very very few excellent astrologers. Only one
or two Tapasvi astrologer among them would reach levels of greatness.
Fundamentally, true astrology begins only when one feels reasonably secure
both inside and outside. Then only is one able to imbibe an attitude of
service – which is the crucial key to unlocking the treasure of
any Vidya such as astrology.
Question: Your practice involves Parashara's[36]
system of astrology and also the Jaimini[37] system. Could you tell us
a bit about these systems and the research work you have done?
KNR: There can be four or more routes
to reach a place in a city. So it is with the field of astrology. The
Parashari system is the most popular, the best understood, and most widely
practiced system. When I write books or discuss case studies, I invariably
first explain a prediction or a technique through the Parashari system
because of its wider acceptance and understanding. Parashara uses Nakshatra
Dashas[38] for timing events and among them the Vimshottari Dasha[39]
is regarded as the king of these Dasha systems.
The Jaimini system is totally different; even the method of timing of
events is different. In this system there are Rashi[40] and Navamsha[41]
Dashas. According to Late Dr. Raman, in the Jaimini system, the Chara
Dasha is the emperor of Rashi Dasha systems. In Parashara's
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, three Dashas have been
discussed elaborately – Vimshottari, Chara and Kalachakra[42]
Dasha. This also is indicative of the importance of the Chara
Dasha for predictive astrology.
Then there is the Mandook Dasha in the Jaimini system –
commentators of this system explained it only theoretically without giving
any illustrative example. I saw in some examples of Vemuri Ramamurthy
Shastri (he is discussed earlier in the interview) that he used Mandook
Dasha differently. Empirical results showed that his understanding
was correct. I first tested this method on my own horoscope where it worked
well. Thereafter, on testing this method on many more horoscopes I became
quite convinced of the validity of this Dasha system that even inspired
me to write a book on this subject.
I did a fair amount of original research on Kalachakra Dasha
after getting some hints from a Pandit of Rewari (a town in the North
Indian state of Haryana). Using this Dasha system, I predicted
the death of Rajiv Gandhi in my published research in August 1990. As
it turned out, Rajiv Gandhi was subsequently killed on 21st May 1991.
However, this Dasha system is very sensitive to birth time and unless
the moon position is absolutely accurate (to within seconds), the prediction
of life event timings become very erratic. Therefore, given that birth
times are rarely so accurate, I felt that it was waste of time to work
on it any further.
I also did a lot of work on the conditional Dashas of Parashara
and other Dasha systems of Jaimini. I taught some of this work
to my students who have written excellent books that are now available
in the market. For instance, Yogini Dasha system has a short
cycle of 36 years. As longevity of humans is increasing, this Dasha system
needs to be now used in 2 or even 3 cycles of 72 and 108 years respectively.
All this requires a new level of understanding that was not necessary
in times when people did not live that long. In one of my advanced Astrology
classes, I discussed the possibilities of new research areas and methods
of investigation. Taking up some of these ideas, Mr. V.P.Goel (who is
now a faculty member at the Institute of Astrology, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan)
wrote an excellent book that gives very promising predictive results.
Many of the new faculty members at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan have done
pioneering work in furthering the field of Indian Astrology – e.g.,
Mr Manoj Pathak on Dwisaptati Sama Dasha, Mr. Naval Singh on
Chatursheeti Sama Dasha, Mr. V.P.Goel on Shodashottari Dasha,
and Mrs. Akhila Kumar on Jaimini's Sthira Dasha. It is most gratifying
for me to see my former students enhancing the understanding of Indian
Astrology through their diligent and insightful research.
K.N. Rao teaching an advanced research class at
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Scoffing at my enthusiasm for new research, some people argue against
spending effort/time in developing newer or lesser-known systems. But
one of my biggest realizations in the field of astrology has been that
a Jyotishi (astrologer) has to learn to look at many different
viewpoints (through the eyes of different systems) and then use them concurrently
to reach a conclusion. This “Composite System of Astrological Predictions”
is one of the fundamental cornerstones of Indian Astrology. The great
Parashara Rishi taught us so many Dashas, Divisional Charts,
and a myriad of techniques not merely for decorative display but for actually
using them!
Question: There are other parallel systems
of Indian Astrology – such as the Nadi Jyotish. This particular
Nadi system, as you know, takes a thumbprint and identifies a
leaf, written centuries ago, that tells about your life to an amazing
level of detail. If the correct leaf is identified, the past is so amazingly
accurate including your name, date of birth, place of residence, job,
family (including name of family members) etc. These Nadi Astrologers
also use the leaf to tell about your future. However, many people question
the accuracy of these future predictions. What is your opinion on this
system of astrology?
KNR: What is called Nadi system
in south India is known as the Bhrigu system in north India.
For both these systems, we don't know much about the underlying methods
at all.
Most of these readings are done from the books or palm leaves or palmyra
leaves. As far as I know, the people doing these readings do not know
astrology themselves. They have leaves in their possession and they read
out from these after finding the correct leaf that pertains to you. These
leaves are generally known to reveal some past facts that are substantially
correct. But the future predictions tend to be spurious and far less reliable.
People who tested this system have gone to the extent of saying that revealing
the names of parents, wife, husband etc. is the result of Bhoota siddhi[43]
and that nothing is really written on those leaves. It is my experience
that a few Nadi readers sometimes do come out with startling
readings which I have verified myself and I am truly amazed by their accuracy.
But more often than not they flounder and come out with preposterous predictions
too! It has convinced me that Nadi readings, sometimes quite remarkable,
are mostly undependable especially for future predictions.
Let me however give you an anecdote of an amazing prediction through Nadi
reading that I have myself verified. A reading was given to a person (whom
I know very well) when he had three children. The prediction said that
he would have two more children and that the last one would be a male
who would become a doctor. This doctor would marry a woman who would also
be a doctor by profession. Then this (doctor) son would be arrested and
sent to jail after a terrible quarrel with his wife. The reading further
said that all this would happen because this (doctor) son was a medical
man in his previous life and was aborting the children of pregnant women.
In one case, a girl wanted to be born but she was killed in the womb of
the mother. She laid a curse on him and promised to be born as his wife
in his present life and take revenge. As events unfolded, all the events
predicted happened exactly per the reading. Please remember the reading
was given in 1950, the doctor son was born in 1958 and he was arrested
in the year 2000. All this is most fantastic and I know every detail of
this and I have verified it completely.
We “regular” astrologers can never give such amazing predictions.
However, such cases of phenomenal predictions based on Nadi are
few and there is a lot more fraud in the name of Nadi readings.
I therefore prefer to use the more tested and systematic approach of Parashara
and Jaimini methods.
Question: What is your opinion of Western
astrology especially vis-à-vis the Indian astrological system that
you practice? Is a cross-pollination of ideas between the two systems
possible?
KNR: Let me begin by saying that I haven't
delved into Western Astrology much at all. My knowledge therefore is very
limited. Furthermore, I have been very satisfied at the immensity and
depth of the Indian Astrological system that has kept me away from exploring
other astrological systems. Therefore, it would be really unfair for me
to pass any sort of judgement on Western Astrology. Having said that,
I did find Western system of astrology limited by a lack of Dasha systems,
absence of divisional charts and Yogas.
Using extra-Saturnine planets like Pluto, Uranus and Neptune makes the
astrological canvas too crowded without any great research on the effects
of these newly discovered planets. If someone could establish and show
their predictive uses (not mere post-mortem studies) it will be helpful.
It is said that in mundane astrology these planets have great use. As
far as I know, there are very few, if any, examples of confirmed predictions
of notable events using these planets.
In one's limited lifetime it is difficult to dabble in too many systems
of astrology. It causes clutter, confusion and makes your judgement clouded.
So I prefer to stick to the system I am familiar with and leave it to
others to use the system they prefer. In my biased opinion, the Indian
Astrological system is deep, comprehensive and capable of “delivering
the goods” to whomsoever who chooses to dive into it. That is the
only truth I can attest to without any hesitation.
Question: What is the viewpoint you favor
on the following issues – (a) Is there a particular Ayanamsha[44]
that is the correct one? (b) Do Rahu and Ketu[45] have own sign, exaltation/debilitation
signs, strengths, aspects etc.? (c) Do astrological principles apply in
full for a planned C-section birth?
KNR: (a) Yes I have delved on the topic
of Ayanamsha in great detail and I have also shown in my books
why Lahiri Ayanamsha (actually it should be called Chitrapaksha
Ayanamsha) alone is the accurate one. To ascertain this fact, one
has to look carefully at Vargas or divisional charts. Based on a scientific
investigation, I have rejected all other Ayanamshas. Unfortunately,
my work on Ayanamsha annoyed late Dr. B.V.Raman, who used his
own Ayanamsha. Therefore, this controversy even affected my excellent
friendship with Dr.Raman.
As an historical note, readers should know that Chitrapaksha ayanamsha
got its official seal from the Calendar Reforms Committee in 1956. It
also got an official endorsement from the best astronomers of India and
also from the notable scientist Meghnad Saha.
(b) This is an old controversy. I do not use the exaltation/debilitation
signs for Rahu/Ketu at all. On the other hand the condition of Rahu and
Ketu and their dispositors[46] gives us good results. My favorite case
is that of John F. Kennedy, the ex-president of USA, who achieved all
his political eminence and glories in the Mahadasha of Rahu in
Dhanu (where it is supposed to be debilitated). In the next Dasha
of Jupiter, he was killed.
(c) Yes most definitely – 100%. I have given one instance in my
book, “Karma and Rebirth in Hindu Astrology”, the
case of a doctor who wanted me to give a birth time for the C-section
delivery for his wife. I provided the time and made several predictions
about the child before its birth. Twenty years later these predictions
were shown to come true. Upcoming astrologers should do more research
on this area by giving a time for C-Section, make predictions, watch the
life of the child for fifteen or twenty years, and see whether the predicted
events match up with reality or not.
Let me give you another anecdote. More than sixteen years ago I provided
a birth time to the wife (who is like my niece) of an army officer. She
and her husband wanted me to give a birth time so that the child would
be a male scientist. I gave the time per their wishes. But nature had
the last say in this matter. She went into labor a little earlier than
the chosen date. After the birth of a son, they asked me for prediction
and I told them jocularly that the boy would study commerce and classical
music. They came to me from Calcutta in 2003 with the grown-up boy. The
boy is now doing graduate studies in commerce and has finished the fifth
year in Hindustani classical music.
Question: Being a well-known and highly
reputed astrologer, does it not put an added burden on you for being scrutinized
and repeatedly tested on the accuracy of your predictions? Does protecting
your image and stature sometimes stand in the way of you practicing astrology
in a free and unfettered fashion?
KNR: One of the reasons why an astrologer
often feels burdened is because of lack of practical understanding of
astrology among the clients. That is a real problem. For example, there
is no acceptance or understanding of (1) variability brought out by inherent
uncontrollable uncertainties such as inaccurate birth times or (2) acceptable
error limits. Everybody wants perfect answers every single time.
That is never going to happen no matter how good the astrologer is! Does
the world abandon the science of aeronautics and space exploration if
the space shuttle crashes due to errors by the world's best scientists
at NASA? The answer is no – they learn from their mistakes and improve.
But astrology is thought to be something “out of the world”
which is simply not true. Everybody is subject to laws of nature including
the astrologer, and each of us works under the gamut of Maya. Why then
forget the Will of God? As the great Tulsidas has said, “Haani-Laabh,
Jeevan-Maran, Yash-Apyash, Vidhi Haath” (Profit and loss, life
and death, fame and infamy are in His hands).
My experience is that, often times, it is the unnoticed and unquoted individual
predictions which are truly inspired. They give great internal satisfaction
to an astrologer. Sometimes such predictions get great publicity through
informal channels and grapevine. After hearing about these predictions
people come to the astrologer with great expectations. These expectations
(or for that matter any expectations) create a preconditioned mind to
“hear” a very highly favorable or certain type of predictions
that would alter the course of people's lives. For instance, I predicted
in one case that the boy would become an engineer, go to a foreign country,
marry a foreigner but would remain afflicted with an incurable ailment.
Fifteen years later when events took place exactly as I had predicted
other people came running to me to hear a similar prediction. If you do
not give them a similar prediction they feel disappointed and sore. Why
should I put a strain on myself and try to live up to their expectations?
From my personal experience I have learnt that being true and honest to
myself is the only way to live one's life harmoniously. This brings you
peace and a palpable proximity to God. Isn't that the true purpose of
why Jyotish was revealed to us in the first place?
Question: On a final note, would you
like to give any advice to aspiring astrologers?
KNR: My advice to aspiring astrologers
is to do their astrology quietly. They should not seek publicity or promote
themselves, and let their good predictions earn them a good name. It is
how so many, including me, started. It is only in 1983, after more than
forty years of practicing astrology, that I was dragged into the limelight,
much against my wishes. And if an astrologer can practice as a service
without charging any money - it is the best. Or leave it to the client
to donate what they wish. Never demand or put a price on your service.
I know I am old-fashioned in this matter - but for a good reason.
(Note - I
asked K.N. Rao about charging money in the West for astrology services.
He said, "It is all right in USA. Do as you have been doing."
- Vaughn Paul Manley 7/5/05).
Astrology is a revelatory science and it is revealed, not by aggression
but by faith and surrender to the divine. Always remember the four “Mahavakyas”[47]
of astrology – Have Faith; Be Diligent and Practice Patience; Humbly
learn from your mistakes, and Live a Life of Service. Then the divine
lotus of astrology will open within you.
Footnotes
1 Mr. Rao's family is originally from South India but lived, for the most
part, in Northern India
2 At that time this would have been, almost certainly, looked down upon
in a traditional Brahmin household in south India
3 A Renaissance religious movement that, among other things, did not believe
in the caste system. Many believe that this movement was one of the foundation
stones of modern thinking in India
4 A Pashtun or Pathan, he was a participant in the freedom struggle against
the British. He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and came to be
known as the “Frontier Gandhi”
5 Notorious for its bitter taste but considered a great medicinal herb
6 A world famous expert and scholar in the field of rural industries
7 Noted for his contributions in the field of Gandhian economics
8 A scholar-saint regarded by many as the spiritual successor of Mahatma
Gandhi
9 In those times, it was very unusual, if not heretical, for a Brahmin
kid to be asked by his father to study texts of other religions
10 India's film industry is located here. Also known nowadays as “Bollywood”
11 Mr. Rao had prior experience of appearing before the Supreme Court
in the famous “Mandal” Case. The Mandal Commission's aim was
to come up with criteria for determining social and educational backwardness
that became very controversial. Mr. Rao also wrote a book on this entitled
“Mandal Report X-Rayed”
12 Considered an elite family in South India partly because of their accomplishments.
Historically members from this family held high-level positions in the
courts of the kings from the days of the famous Golconda empire in south
India
13 A spiritual path that aims to activate one's internal spiritual energy
or Kundalini from the base of the spine to the top of the head via the
7 psychic centers
14 He is mentioned with reverence in the literature on Ramakrishna Paramhamsa
(the famous saint and devotee of the mother goddess who lived in the state
of Bengal)
15 A guru from the lineage of Guru Nanak (the first Guru of the Sikh religion)
16 A saint who lived in the 13th century and propounded the Dualistic
school of worship
17 An extremely sacred hill in the state of Assam. It is revered as one
of the most potent and powerful spiritual centers for the procreative
goddess, Kamakhya
18 This book was translated into the Russian language in 2003
19 A Hindu ritual sacrificial external worship often accompanied by a
fire ceremony
20 Dealing with work and actions
21 These are Hindu mythological texts like the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata
22 These contain mythological and allegorical stories of Gods and Goddesses.
Scholars and mystics believe that these texts impart philosophy and knowledge
at multiple levels depending on the stage of development of the reader/student
23 Phases or days of a lunar month
24 Weekday
25 27 constellations which form an important pillar-stone of Jyotish
26 As mentioned earlier in the interview, one of the biggest astrology
schools is housed at this institution. Mr. Rao is the founder and prime-mover
of this astrology school
27 Planetary periods. There are 32 such systems expounded in the classical
text Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra
28 A classic axiomatic text written in Sanskrit on the complete path of
Yoga
29 Obstructive energies that take you away from finding your spiritual
center
30 Maya is a Hindu term that is used to represent one's illusory perception
to life. It is also the dynamic force or power that manifests physical
and relative reality
31 It is impossible for one to know or analyze one's karmas (actions)
and their impact
32 A blind saint known for his supreme devotion to Lord Krishna. He is
very well known, especially in Northern India, for his devotional hymns
and songs that are still sung commonly in festivals and religious gatherings
33 Panchanga is a Hindu/Indian calendar/almanac that provides a plethora
of information on astrological factors, auspicious/inauspicious times
etc. In other words it is a comprehensive planning information resource
for Hindus
34 Indian philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician, author of the Pañca-siddhantika
(“Five Treatises”), a compendium of Greek, Egyptian, Roman,
and Indian astronomy
35 From the epic Mahabharata, where a young boy becomes an unrivaled archer
by drawing inspiration from the statue of the great Guru, Dronacharya.
Eklavya learnt archery by practicing in front of the Guru's statue without
ever getting any initiation or direct instruction from the Guru
36 A system or tradition enunciated by the Rishi or seer, Parashara, mainly
through his famous astrological treatise Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra.
This work is one of the main foundations for Jyotish
37 Another seer who developed additional tools and techniques to complement
the Jyotish knowledge base developed through Parashara
38 Timing system that distributes the time (not equally) to 9 Nakshatras
within the 120 degree zodiac space
39 Has a cycle time of 120 years. This 120 year period is sub-divided
into 9 unequal parts which are ruled by each of the nine planets
40 These are the 12 constellations – Aries etc.
41 Parashara developed 16 sub-charts of the main Rashi chart. Navamsha
is the ninth division chart and one of the most important sub-charts to
be studied in conjunction with the Rashi chart
42 Means the wheel of time. It is a timing system that, like Chara Dasha,
is also a Rashi-based system for timing of events
43 Possessing control of a ghost/spirit and using this spirit to get the
requisite information
44 The distance between the starting points of the sidereal and tropical
zodiacs at any given time
45 The two nodal planets. Also called as “Chaya Grahas” or
shadowy planets
46 The lord of the Rashi in which these planets are placed
47 Great Sentences or axioms
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