N. Sundara Rajan's name needs no

introduction; he has played mentor and friend to most astrological magazines whether it be R Santhanams, B V Ramans or Star Teller and now Saptarishis Astrology. He started astrology in 1956, created one of the first astrology softwares, has written more than 1000 articles since 1963 in Dr Ramans magazine and others, has published 4 books, created the Vincity ephemeris, his ayanamsa is called the Sundara Rajan Ayanamsa adopted by 2 international softwares and his friend, mentor was the legend of legends of yesteryears the Highness of Nadi Astrology Late C G Rajan. Although Shri Sundara Rajan has numerous stunning world predictions to his credit but he is phenomenally humble man which only shows the grace of Rishis. http://www.vincityastrotemple.com/

Combinations For Successful Astrologers

By N. Sundara Rajan, India.

[Publisher: This article first appeared in Oct 1967 in the Astrological Magazine and for a year fan mails were published by Dr Raman in response to this article. Finally Dr Raman was forced to publish a letter stating that he will no longer publish the fan mails as it was more than a year than the articles publication. Kindly note the author uses his own ayanamsa, also for recent studies one can study Terri McCartney’s article titled ‘The Astrology for Astrologers’ in this issue]

hat makes one a successful astrologer? Scientists there are plenty but there was only one

Newton or one Einstein. Likewise, among astrologers there was only one VarahaMihira and in modern times we had the one and only B V Raman. Our ancient authorities on astrology like Brihat Jataka, Phaladeepika etc deal with a number of Raja Yogas for success in different professions and various spheres of life, but they are strangely silent or speak very little about the planetary combinations which make for a successful and eminent astrologer. This was perhaps why Varaha Mihira and brilliant astrologers, who came after him, were symbols of humility. But these great ancestors have not failed in their duty to us and we find hints here and there scattered, on the combinations which make one an eminent astrologer. The rarity of mention of these rules can be imagined from the fact that after spending much time and energy on more than a dozen ancient astrological treatises, I was able to lay my hands on only 18 rules which I list below and place before the enlightened readers. Also I have

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appended in illustration horoscopes of seven of the worlds eminent and leading astronomers and astrologers of the last century.

Rule A: Jataka Parijata (Ch.15, Shl.47) while describing the effects of the 10 th Bhava and various professions from the 10 th Bhava says, ‘If the lord of the 10 th house occupies the Navamsa of Mercury, the native will make his livelihood by astrology and allied Shastras.’

Rule B: Varaha Mihira, in his famous Brihat Jataka (Ch.18, Sh.2) says, ‘If the Sun is in Gemini, the native will be an astrologer.’

Rule C: Again in Ch.19, Sh.2, he says ‘If the Moon is in Leo is aspected by Mercury, the native will be an astrologer.’

Rule D: Again in Ch.17, Sh.4, while describing the effects of the Moon in various houses, Varahamihira says: ‘The native with the Moon in Cancer will have knowledge of astrology.’

Mantreswara, in Phaladeepika (Ch.5, Sh.5), says: ‘If the lord of the 10 th house occupies the house of Mercury, the native will earn his livelihood through knowledge of the planets.’

Rule E: Kiranur Nataraja, in his Tamil astrological treatise Jatakalankara while describing the effects for natives born under four quarters (padas) of the 27 asterisms says: ‘A person born with the Moon in the 3 rd and 4 th quarters of Aswini will be fond of astrology.’

Rule F: He again says: ‘A person with the Moon in the 3 rd quarter of Rohini will be versed in mantras and astrological mathematics.’

Rule G: Kiranur Nataraja again says that one who is born with the Moon in first quarter of Visaka will be an astrologer. He also, like Varaha Mihira, says that if the Moon is in Leo aspected by Mercury, the native will be a talented astrologer. Rule H: He further states while dealing with the 2 nd Bhava and its effects: ‘The native in whose natal chart Mercury is in a Kendra, the lord of the 2 nd Bhava is in exaltation, Venus is in a common (dual) sign, benefics in the 3 rd Bhava and Venus in exaltation – this native will be an expert in astrology.’

Rule I: Sage Garga, in his Hora Sastra, describing the effects of Tri‐Graha‐Yogas (combinations of three planets) in the 5 th Bhava, says: ‘A man who has got the Moon, Venus and Saturn in the 5 th will have knowledge of Jyotisha.’

Rule J: Illustrious Satyacharya, in his Satyacharyam, says: ‘If the lord of the ascendant is in the 5 th Bhava in a benefic sign, amsa or asterism, the native attains the siddhi of a particular God or Deity associated with that benefic and becomes a friend of powerful persons in authority.’

Rule K: Also ‘Lagna Lord in the 3 rd makes one famous in Jyotisha.’

Rule L: Again Satyacharya says: ‘If the lord of the 5 th is in the 2 nd Bhava with a benefic yoga, the native will be an astrologer and his predictions will come true. Further the native will enjoy wealth through Divine Favor.’ Again, while describing various professions from the 10 th Bhava,

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he says that Mercury makes one earn his livelihood through the profession of astrology.

Rule M: Another famous Tamil astrological treatise Veemakavi, based on a system similar to that of the Nadis, states thus: ‘If the lord of the 4 th house is a malefic and is placed in a trine; if the lords of 2 nd , 8 th and 12 th and Mercury join together or if Jupiter joins them, the native will be a scholar and an astrologer.’

Rule N: It is however another famous Tamil astrological classic, Jataka Choodamani, that lys down four sets of distinct combinations which go to make an expert astrologer.

Combination 1: ‘If no malefics are placed in kendras from the Sun, and if Venus is in exaltation in the 2 nd house with Mercury, the native will be a scholar and an expert astrologer and of charitable disposition.’

Combination 2 (Rule O): ‘If the lord of the 2 nd is in a kendra associated with or aspected by Mercury and Jupiter from his own house aspects and the full Moon is in conjunction with Saturn, he will be a talented astrologer.’

Combination 3 (Rule P): ‘If Jupiter is in a kendra or trikona and the lord of the ascendant is in exaltation and in conjunction with the lord of the 2 nd or with Mercury, the native will be an astrologer and will write treatises on astrology.’

Combination 4 (Rule Q): ‘If the lord of the 2 nd is the Sun or Mars and is aspected by Jupiter or Venus, the native will be well‐versed in Jyotisha; if the lord of the 2 nd is Jupiter or Venus and is in exaltation and aspected by the Sun or Mars, he will recite the Vedas or holy scriptures and compose them.’

Rule R: Jambunadeeyam, the famous treatise by Sage Jambunada, says: ‘If Mercury is in swakshetra in Kanya (Virgo), the native will be a poet and an astrologer.’

From, the above, it is clear that all the treatises on astrology stress the importance of Mercury primarily and only next in importance come the Moon, Venus and Jupiter and to a lesser extent, the Sun. If this one planet Mercury is well placed and very strong (by Shadvarga, shadbala, etc) he is capable of making one an eminent and outstanding scholar in astrology. Not only that, he makes the native versatile and a scholar in many subjects, mostly spiritual. This is said not to play down the significance of other planets, but just to impress on the readers how this single planet, by himself, is quite capable of bestowing on the native astrological caliber of a high order. But usually in practice, it is found that Mercury receives help from the other planets by association, aspect, etc. In the Bhava Karakatwa for success in astrology, all the texts lay stress on the 2 nd Bhava and some stress the importance of the 5 th Bhava while Satyacharyam and Veemakavi (Rule K and Rule M) refer to the 3 rd and the 4 th Bhavas in addition. Therefore it is seen that the requisites for a

successful and eminent astrologer are: 1) the full strength (by shadvarga, shadbala etc) of Mercury; 2) the strength of the 2 nd and 5 th Bhavas and their lords, occupants, etc; and 3) the interrelation of these two factors to other planets and Bhavas in the nativity.

The success, eminence and accuracy of an astrologer will vary according to the percentage of the sum‐ total of the above factors. In

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addition to the above, the Shastras impose on the astrologer certain spiritual duties. They require him to be a religious, sincere, truthful and honest person. It is needless to say though many persons may possess knowledge of astrology and some may even be adepts in reciting in whole or part the classics on astrology, yet they may not make the grade in point of accuracy of predictions, due to deficiency of any one of the above factors. An analysis of the charts of some of the world’s most famous and successful astrologers confirms the above conclusions. The first four are the charts of the world’s most famous astrologers: Cheiro, Prof B. Suryanarain Rao, Prof B V Raman and the late Madras scholar Prof C G Rajan, who was my preceptor. The fifth is the horoscope of an eminent Indian astronomer who is very well known in India and abroad and who has a number of publications and ephemerides to his credit. In deference to his wishes, I am not mentioning his name. The sixth is the horoscope of a very successful Madras astrologer, famed in India and some Far Eastern countries. Last but not least, is the chart of an erstwhile Office Superintendent of mine, who shunned publicity and who was an amateur, but who in my humble opinion, should be ranked among the world’s foremost astrologers for accuracy of predictions and mastery of the classical texts.

Now let me take Chart no.1, that of the late Count Louis Hamon, popularly known as Cheiro (chart taken from Page 391 of The Astrological Magazine, April 1967 and modified by me for Ayanamsa 22° 59'.)

The birth star is in the 3 rd quarter of Magha nakshatra ruled by Ketu. In Bhava, Jupiter comes to the 2 nd , Ketu to the 4 th , Mars to the 8 th , the Moon to the 9 th and Rahu to the 10 th

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Rule E applies to this chart, since Makha is the Anujanma star of Aswini. Jupiter and Mars are both debilitated but obtain Neechabhanga due to the Moon being in the 10 th from lagna. Both are Vargottama and hence very strong. Also note that these two planets exchange aspects being lords of the 2 nd and the Ascendant. Mercury and Venus are in lagna kendra (1 st house) and Venus is exalted in Navamsa in the 2 nd from Navamsa Lagna. Rule H of Kiranur Nataraja aptly applies to this chart and no doubt Cheiro proved to be an expert in this art. Satyacharyas Rule L applies to the letter and it is known throughout the world that Cheiro’s predictions came true with unerring accuracy. When Cheiro was in New York, press reporters showed him the hand‐prints of a Dr. Meyer who was at that time arrested on a charge of murdering a rich widow after insuring her in his favor. Cheiro was not told about the identity of the doctor, but after an examination of the palm‐prints, he told the reporters that the print was that of a man who had started his career normally but who became a pervert later. Cheiro went on in his own uncanny way. This man will be arrested and there would be a sensational trial. He will be sentenced to death, but at the last minute he will escape the chair.’

There was a sensational trial as predicted by Cheiro, the court‐room was packed and the culprit was finally sentenced to die in the electric chair. The man had read about Cheiros predictions and he wanted to have an interview with him. An interview was arranged by the reporters and when Cheiro met him, the convict got hold of both his hands and begged him to say if he would live.

Cheiro examined his hands and said he would live as there was no break in the Life‐ Line. The murderer filed an appeal to the Federal Court which was turned down. The day of execution came and he was ordered to be executed at midnight. Cheiro was restless and when midnight approached, Cheiro writes, he was parting his hair and pacing up and down the room. He was worried for the life of the culprit and his reputation was at stake, since his

prediction had not come off. The clock struck twelve and Cheiro heard the paper‐boy shout in the street below, ‘Dr. Meyer escapes chair – Supreme Court finds flaw in indictment’ and ‘Sentence reduced to Life’. Cheiro has to his credit a number of such hair raising predictions. Cheiro has written in one of his books that he owes all his success to a Hindu saint whom he met in the Himalayas. The saint, according to Cheiro, took him to his hermitage and kept him for one month where

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he taught him the laws of palm reading. Then while bidding him farewell the saint told him ‘Go forth to the world and give predictions. Henceforth you will be world‐famous.’ Just before his death which he had predicted to the hour, Cheiro told his attendants: ‘The mystery of Life, why we came here, where we are going, the secrets and answers to all these questions lies in the Orient, in the Far‐East, in India, the land of the Hindus.’

Chart No 2 is that of the late Prof B. Suryanarain Rao, grandfather of the late Dr B V Raman, I reproduce the chart given in his own book, The Astrological Self Instructor with modification for ayanamsa for 21° 49' Rule M of Veemkavi is applicable to this chart. Lord of the 4 th

the Sun is a natural malefic and is in the 9 th Bhava. Lord of the 2 nd Mercury is joined by Jupiter. Mercury occupies the house of Jupiter in Navamsa and is aspected by Jupiter. Lord of the 12 th

Mars aspects both Mercury and Jupiter and Prof. Rao was a scholar and astrologer. A peculiar feature of this horoscope is that the Sun and Saturn, though mutually inimical by nature, have joined hands in elevating the native to his pre‐eminent status. Note that the Sun is lord of the 5 th from the Moon in Rasi and lord of the 5 th from Lagna in Amsa. He occupies the house of Saturn and Saturn is in the 2 nd from Asc and the Sun, Venus and Mars are associated with the Moon in Amsa (D9). No wonder, therefore, that Prof Rao was the recipient of the Suns

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blessings in full measure which accounted for his success in astrology. I remember to have read in one of his books that Prof. Rao’s father when he was childless had a dream one night when the Sun‐God appeared and blessed him with a child, as a result of which he was named after the Sun. Mercury and Jupiter are in Kendra from the Lagna in Rasi while Jupiter occupies Lagna in Amsa and Mercury is in trine. These made Prof. Rao a great and prolific writer and he wrote many books not only on astrology but also on other subjects. Jupiter is strong by position, etc, which accounts for his versatility in Mantra Shastra also. Saturn in the 2 nd aspected by Venus from the 8 th Bhava gave Prof Rao success in his predictions to an amazing degree and Rahu in the 11 th from the 2 nd evoked for him appreciation even from the Britishers and other Westerners. The relative strength of Jupiter over that of Mercury made Prof. Rao an expert in the predictive aspect of astrology to the detriment of the mathematical part which was left for his famous grandson to take over and elaborate on.

That takes us to Chart No 3, that of our beloved Late Prof B.V.Raman. I reproduce the chart given in the Astrological Self Instructor with modifications for Ayanamsa 22° 38'

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Rule C of Varaha Mihira applies aptly to this chart since the Moon is in Leo Navamsa is associated with Mercury. Rule H of Kiranur Nataraja also applies since Mercury is in a Kendra and Venus is in exaltation and in a common sign in Navamsa. Rule N of Jataka Choodamani also applies to Prof Ramans chart if the 2 nd house is interpreted as 2 nd house from the Sun. Rahu’s position in the 2 nd and aspect of the lord of that house Jupiter from a Kendra have made Prof Ramans predictions remarkably true. Jupiter and Mercury occupying Kendras in Rasi, while in Navamsa they occupy a Kendra and Trikona respectively have made Prof Raman publisher, author, editor and journalist. Incidentally it may be stated that the inter‐aspects and associations in Rasi and Navamsa between Saturn, Jupiter and Mars would have made Prof Raman an equally eminent lawyer or surgeon had he taken to those studies. Actually Prof Raman has written a book on Ayurveda, the Hindu system of medicine. Prof Ramans success in astrology is too well known and to dwell on it too long is like carrying lignite to Neyveli.

Chart No. 4 is that of the late Jyotirbhushana C.G.Rajan of Madras

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Rule D of Varaha Mihira applies to this chart. Not only the Moon is in Cancer but is associated with Mercury the Karaka in the 9 th Bhava. Also the Moon occupies the asterism of Mercury. The Sun is in Gemini satisfying Rule B of Varaha Mihira. Rule J of Satyacharya also applies very aptly. Rule M of Veemakavi is partly fulfilled by association of lords of the 2 nd and the 12 th in Kendra from Lagna. The predominant strength of Mercury has accounted for his eminence as a mathematician and astronomer of the first order. Also since Mercury has lordship over the Tamil language, Mr. Rajan published more than 30 books on astrology in easy flowing and lucid Tamil and some books in English. His works include

translations of some famous Sanskrit astrological texts like Brihat Jataka, Jambunadeeyam 1 ,

Naradeeyam etc. In his Tamil work Jataka Ganitham he has dealt with the complete mathematical part of astrology in such a simple style that even a layman who does not know much of arithmetic beyond addition, subtraction, etc can master the subject. And he has not deviated from Sripathi’s Jatakarma Paddahati. For the more advanced research student in astronomy and astrology, his book Raja Jyothida Ganitham, from which one can calculate the longitudes and latitudes of the planets for any epoch from 3200 B.C to 3100 A.D (about 6000 years) is a masterpiece. He has rendered colossal service to the cause of astrology and also to the Tamil speaking public by publishing hitherto secret works in astrology. On the predictive side I can personally vouch from a number of letters from natives in the country and abroad, for the accuracy of his predictions. In addition to being an astronomer‐ astrologer‐author, Mr. Rajan held some distinguished Government appointments like Tahsildar, Taluq Magistrate, Co‐Editor of Government Panchangas and translations of Saptarishi Nadi published by the Madras Government. Scorpio, the ascendant, is a mystic sign and being the house of Mars, gave him indefatigable energy and until his last breath, he continued his research in astrology. All the planets except Saturn and Rahu‐Ketu‐the shadowy planets‐ are endowed with full strength by varga, aspect, etc.. and among them Mercury gains maximum strength which has accounted for his phenomenal success as an astrologer.

1 Publisher: Few months back Mr Karthikeyan from Australia with the assistance of Mr Rahul Vedi,

Australia and a team member of Saptarishis Astrology had translated for SA one chapter of Jataka Jambunaadeyam of Sage Jambunada, it would be published in subsequent issues.

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Chart No.5 is that of a famous Indian astronomer, who has a number of ephemerides and other astronomical publications to his credit.

The Moon occupies Aswini 4 th quarter satisfying Rule E of Kiranur Nataraja. He is a scholar in both Hindu and modern astronomy and well versed in Sanskrit. His ephemerides are famous for their accuracy and he is the author of several astronomical publications which are used by most Indian astrologers and even by some foreigners. But surprisingly enough, as he himself confessed to me, he does not know much of astrology beyond the bare fundamentals. Or rather, he did not take an interest in it. This is a very peculiar thing, as ordinarily all successful astrologers right from Varaha Mihira down to B V Raman are good astronomers also. For an astronomer, astrology is swimming to a fish, something automatic and natural. In my humble opinion, the reasons for a lack of interest in astrology in the native of this chart are as follow: astrology, in its purest form, has more spiritual roots and it is Shastraic in its origin. Unless a person has got a Shastraic outlook and a flair for spirituality, he is not likely to be interested in Jyotisha. Jupiter, Karaka for knowledge of the Shastras and Venus are both affected in this chart considerably while Mercury is very strong

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by association, aspect, etc and is exalted. The imbalance between the strengths of Jupiter and Mercury relatively, in my opinion makes a native concentrate on either astrology or astronomy exclusively, according s Jupiter or Mercury (relatively) gains predominance over the other. In Prof. Suryanarain Raos chart, we have seen how Jupiter was considerably stronger than Mercury, leading to a dominance of the astrological side over that of the mathematical. In the present chart the process is reversed with the predominance of Mercury over Jupiter leading to a neglect of astrology. This is confirmed by the fact that Jupiter and Venus occupy the asterisms of Rahu and Saturn respectively. The ambition in life of the native is to achieve unanimity in the different systems adopted by the Hindu Panchanga makers. He looks forward to the day when a single ayanamsa will be adopted by the entire community of Hindu astrologers and Panchanga makers. I personally feel he will achieve success in his noble ambition, thanks to the strength of the Ascendant lord and the Moon (karaka for ambition).

Chart 6 is that of a famous Madras Astrologer. In this chart peculiarly none of the given astrological rules apply to the Rasi chart. However Rules A and Q apply to the Navamsa. The association of Mercury, Jupiter and the Moon with the lord of the 2 nd in the 11 th (in Rasi chart) and lord of the 5 th (intuition) in the ascendant and the 5 th occupied by Mokshakaraka Ketu and aspected by Mercury, Jupiter and the Moon from the 11 th have made the native an extraordinarily capable and talented astrologer. Note that almost all planets occupy the two houses, the 11 th and the 12 th . The native is well versed in ancient Shastras and an adept in Tantra and Mantra Shastras.

He is noted for remedial measures and preparation of Talismans and Kavachas according to Shastras. I think Saturn who occupies the asterism of Ketu and who is in the 11 th being lord of the Ascendant and the 2 nd house with Ketu in the 5 th accounts for the natives specialization in the occult and mystic side of astrology.

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In passing, I may state here that I agree fully with the views expressed in the April 1967 issue of The Astrological Magazine by Mr. Buel D Huggins that Kethu in the 5 th

bestows on the native psychic abilities and extra‐sensory perception. Incidentally it may be observed that in Charts No 1 to 3, Ketu is in the 5 th Bhava from either the Ascendant or the Moon while in Chart No 4, Rahu is in the 5 th from the Ascendant in Rasi and Ketu in the 5 th

from the Moon in Navamsa. In Chart No.6 Ketu is in the 5 th from the Ascendant and in Chart No.7, Ketu is in the 5 th from the Moon. Thus Mr Huggins findings are confirmed in 6 out of 7 horoscopes discussed herein. I may be permitted to add here one more function of Ketu in the 5 th assigned in the ancient Hindu treatises: Ketu destroys issues or children either wholly or partly in the 5 th and the Shastras attribute this to serpents curse. This assignment of Ketu is fulfilled amply in all the six charts mentioned above where he is in the 5 th . The Hindu Hatha Yoga Shastras describe that the Kundalini Shakti or Serpent Power in man, if developed fully, leads on to attainment of super human powers or Siddhis, of which

E.S.P is one. Thus while the serpent power represented by Ketu 2

bestows on the native the power of extra sensory perception or occult and mystic gifts of intuition, it is destructive to the 5 th Bhava in so far as it relates to issues or children. Perhaps destiny compensates for the efficiency in one sphere of activity by deficiency in another!

Chart No 7 is that of an erstwhile Office Superintendent of mine, who had the power of E.S.P developed well and whose psychic capabilities were remarkable.

2 Publisher: It has been observed that this 5 th house ketu might be working on Ketu in the 5 th from

Arudha Lagna (AL) too. As this publisher has in his possession a chart where the said native has displayed minor stunning predictive abilities like twice on blind charts he predicted the name of chart holder and at times gets intuition that in 5 minutes so and so person will call up, it happens multiple times in a day and it has been happening since 2001. Let us test this further please.

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The native, in addition, was a Devi‐Upasaka (a devotee of the Goddess). This man who sunned publicity out of modesty, was an amateur and, therefore, was not very widely known to the outside world; nevertheless, in my humble opinion, deserves to be ranked among the foremost of astrologers. He had mastered all the classical texts on astrology and when you had a doubt and asked him, he would come out with the appropriate shloka from such diverse and varied authorities as Jataka Chandrika, Brihat Jataka, Uttara Kalamrita or Phaladeepika, followed by his inimitable definition and explanation which could do credit to an ancient commentator like Bhattotpala. His achievements will speak for themselves and I was myself witness to some of his outstanding and uncanny predictions.

The day was 23 rd October 1962; just three days after the Chinese staged a massive aggression on the NEFA border. Day by day the military situation became serious, with newspapers carrying big headlines of the advances of the enemy and the reverses of our troops. In Parliament there was a big uproar which was echoed in the Congress Working Committee. News came that the Chinese had crossed the Sela Pass and were on the threshold of the plains of Assam. There were demands for the resignation of the Defense Minister. It was 10 a.m. on the 23 rd . Myself and my colleagues were sitting opposite to the Superintendent in the office. Naturally as any other patriotic Indian, we were worried over the outcome of the war.

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I can still vividly picture him sitting there, with his forehead bedecked with lines of the sacred Vibhuti with a spot of Kum‐ Kum in the centre.

We asked him: ‘Sir, what in your opinion, will be the outcome of the war?’

He casually threw a file in an outgoing tray and pat came his reply: ‘Don’t worry. There will be a cease fire in another four weeks.’

We took it lightly, for at that time nobody could even imagine that such a thing was feasible. And we all received a pleasant shock, when, exactly in four weeks, on the 21 st November 1962, the Chinese announced a cease‐fire and the war came to an end.

On another occasion, my marriage negotiations were taking place and the bride’s party had only the previous night visited us and after talks, left our house late in the night. The next morning at 10 a.m. I attended the office as usual. The negotiations of the previous night were known only to the members of our family and to the bride’s family. There was no chance by any stretch of imagination of this man knowing the information, since he lived in a place some 25 miles away, and none of us could possibly leak out the information in such a short time and even if it had leaked out, it could not have reached him overnight, especially since none of the group except myself was known to him. Yet, as soon as I sat opposite to him the next morning, he said cheerfully: ‘My Dear Sundara Rajan, you have got the marriage expression in your face. Negotiations for your marriage are under way and you will get married in two months.’ Believe me, the marriage was settled exactly in two moths and he attended and blessed me.

Instances such as this are numerous and for want of space I have given only two. He used to tell us, in a mystic tone: ‘For twenty‐five years now, my friends, on every Tuesday I have performed Subramanya Sahasranama and on every Friday I have

performed Lalita Sahasranama without fail. Perhaps that accounts for my success.’

In his chart (chart no.7) there are some good yogas for an astrologer of gift and intuition. First, Saraswathi Yoga is present since Mercury and Jupiter are in Kendras and Venus is in the 2 nd and Jupiter occupies his own house. Also Hamsa Yoga and Sasa Yoga are present. Rule J of Satyacharya applies, and as I have already explained, the native is a Devi‐Upasaka. The Moon, though debilitated in Rasi, obtains Neechabhanga. Rule M of Veemakavi also applies. Rule O of Jataka Choodamani applies partly except for the conjunction of the Moon with Saturn, Rule Q of the same text applies to the letter. Note Ketu is in the 5 th

from the Ascendant aspected by Jupiter. In addition to being a gifted astrologer, he was a great orator and he enchanted his audience with his fluency and was listened to with rapt attention and respect. When he spoke in a lighter vein his speech was replete with alliteration and similes. At other times he used his tongue as a weapon with bitter sarcasm and felled many a powerful opponent. Note Venus is in the 2 nd in the house of an enemy and also associated in Navamsa with the Sun and Ketu in the 2 nd .

In all the above illustrations, I have carefully selected, after much time and energy, the horoscopes of some of the world’s most outstanding astrologers; and with equal care, I have selected and culled out from ancient astrological texts, the rules which deal with success in astrology. It may be seen that one or more of the rules apply to all the horoscopes under reference. From these it appears to my humble self, that success in astrology, as in any other walk of life, is pre‐destined and determined according to one’s Poorvapunya (the good deeds of the past birth) and is reflected in the natal horoscope of the person.

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