Hindu Predictive Astrology Part 1: Why Study Vedic Astrology?
Welcome to the first article in a comprehensive 31-part series that digitizes the classic text Hindu Predictive Astrology by B.V. Raman — one of the most influential astrology books ever written. We begin where Raman begins: with the case for why this science deserves your serious study.
Part 1 of 31 • Foundations • Covers: Book Chapter I & Introduction
Astrology is the most ancient of all sciences. It is not a science like Mathematics or Physics — it comprehends something higher, mysterious, and subtle.
So begins B.V. Raman in 1938, penning what would become the definitive introduction to Hindu predictive astrology for the modern age. His opening words carry a challenge that remains as provocative today as it was then: astrology is not merely an appeal to the reasoning faculty of man — it is an appeal to his hidden powers and capacities.
Various theories attempt to explain the influence of planets upon earthly life. Some people freely acknowledge the intimate relationship between celestial movements and human fortunes — the rise and fall of empires, the ebb and flow of human passions, the regeneration and degeneration of arts, sciences, and philosophy. Others flatly deny any such connection. Raman attributes this denial to a failure of dispassionate enquiry: these critics do not approach the subject with an unbiased mind.
"In any field of enquiry, the student will find it useful to remember, it is a major error of the intellect to attempt to oppose prejudices based on a priori arguments to the evidence afforded by facts. The final test of a theory is that it should work satisfactorily in practice."
This is the test by which astrological theory should be judged — not by philosophical argument, but by practical results. Collect the horoscopes of people from all walks of life, study them in the light of established principles, and you will find yourself convinced that astrology is a practical and useful science.
What Vedic Astrology Actually Is
Astrology is the science which comprises the foretelling of the regular movements of the planets, the fortunes and misfortunes of men, the fates of nations, inundations, earthquakes, plagues, volcanic eruptions, pestilences, and other incidents relating to terrestrial phenomena.
It is called Hora Sastra — literally "the science that treats of Time." Time (Hora) is the fundamental medium through which all events unfold.
It is also called Jyotisha — "the Knowledge of Light," from Jyoti (Light), which is the root-cause of all known creation.
The word "Astrology" derives from the Greek: Aster (a star) + Logos (reason or logic). Star-logic — reasoning from the stars.
While Jyotisha is one of the six Vedangas (limbs of the Vedas), in the Western tradition, astrology ranks alongside the liberal arts. Both traditions grant it a foundational role.
No sane brain, writes Raman, could deny the influence of planets upon man and how they affect, deter, and facilitate his career on the three planes of human existence:
Physical Characteristics
Body type, health tendencies, constitution
Mental Peculiarities
Temperament, intellect, personality
Spiritual Aspirations
Soul purpose, dharma, liberation path
The Subtle Power That Pervades the Universe
A certain subtle power, derived from nature, pervades the entire universe. The earth we inhabit is also subject to this mysterious and subtle force. The various elements encompassing all matter are altered by the motions of this ethereal power. The acts of creation (Srishti), protection (Sthiti), and destruction (Laya) are embedded in the womb of All-Powerful Time, and these variations are brought about as a consequence of this subtle power.
By his daily movements and the change of seasons, the Sun brings to perfection the embryo in plants and animals and brings about various changes on the earth. The Sun as the central figure predominates over the entire arrangement of the celestial system.
Being nearest to the earth, the Moon exercises much influence on it. As she wanes and waxes, rivers swell, the tides of the sea are ruled, and plants and animals are affected. Her gravitational pull governs biological rhythms across the planet.
Thus, it invariably follows that all bodies in nature — whether animate or inanimate — are subject to the motions of the celestial bodies. Not only those already in existence are influenced by planetary movements and configurations, but also the impregnations, growth, and developments of the seeds from which all bodies emanate are moulded by the quantity and quality of these influences at the time of impregnation.
What Astrology is NOT
Raman is emphatic on one point: astrology must not be confused with several things it is commonly associated with:
Fatalism
Witchcraft
Palmistry
Card-Shuffling
Astrology interprets what it conceives to be the future of man as moulded by his previous Karma and indicated by the planetary positions at the time of birth. It does not impose a fate. It reads the cosmic signature that each soul carries into incarnation — a signature written in the language of planetary positions.
Great Minds Who Practised Astrology
The greatest men of the world believed in and practised astrology. Raman cites a powerful roster of luminaries who took this science seriously:
Dante Alighieri — declared astrology to be "the highest, the noblest and without defect."
Johannes Kepler — one of the founders of modern astronomy, was also a master astrologer who cast horoscopes professionally.
Francis Bacon — the father of the scientific method, studied astrology deeply and argued for its reform, not its abolition.
Pythagoras & Democritus — ancient Greek masters of mathematics and philosophy, both held mastery in astrology.
Isaac Newton — was attracted to the study of mathematics and astronomy by the contemplation of an astrological figure of the heavens.
The Three Schools of Hindu Astrology
This science was cultivated to a high degree of perfection by the Hindus long before the so-called period of authentic history. Their researches fall under three important divisions:
1. Parasari Primary System
The dominant school, used in this entire series. Almost all astrological books in India follow Parasara, who is said to have lived before the dawn of Kali Yuga (more than 5,000 years ago).
Eminent authors and commentators like Varahamihira, Bhattotpala, and Venkatesa have held Parasara in the highest esteem and based all their writings on his principles. The Parasari method has won the general acceptance of all eminent scholars in all ages.
2. Jaimini Alternative
Considerably differs from Parasari in its treatment of even fundamental principles. Despite Maharishi Jaimini being revered as the author of the Poorva Meemamsa Sastra (a profound system of Hindu philosophy), his astrological methods are not widely practised in India.
Jaimini astrology uses different aspect rules, different sign-based Dasas (like Chara Dasa), and a different approach to prediction. It is consulted as an alternative to Parasari, not a replacement.
3. Tajaka Annual Predictions
Entirely devoted to deciphering Varshaphal or annual results. The Tajaka system gained importance in relatively recent times and is specialized for year-by-year prediction.
We will touch on Tajaka principles briefly in the article on Annual Horoscopes (Part 29 of this series).
The Parasari Lineage
The Parasari tradition flows through an unbroken chain of master astrologers spanning thousands of years. Understanding this lineage helps appreciate the depth and refinement of the system you are about to study:
| Scholar | Era | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Maharishi Parasara | Pre-Kali Yuga (5,000+ years ago) | Founded the system. Author of Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra — the foundational text of Hindu astrology. |
| Varahamihira | ~505–587 CE | Author of Brihat Jataka and Brihat Samhita. Systematized and codified Parasara's principles. The greatest compiler of Indian astronomical-astrological knowledge. |
| Bhattotpala | ~10th century CE | Renowned commentator who wrote detailed explanations of Varahamihira's works, making them accessible to scholars. |
| Venkatesa (Sarvartha Chintamani) | ~14th century CE | Enriched the astrological field with practical applications and refined predictive techniques. |
| Prof. B. Suryanarain Rao | 1856–1937 | B.V. Raman's grandfather. Revived astrology in modern India. Translated Jaimini's aphorisms into English. Reputed astrologer, historian, and author. |
| B.V. Raman | 1912–1998 | Author of Hindu Predictive Astrology (this book). Founder of The Astrological Magazine. Made successful predictions of world events including World War II. |
Astrology, Karma, and Free Will
One of the most important philosophical questions surrounding astrology is its relationship to free will. Raman addresses this directly: the planets do not cause events — they indicate them. The horoscope is a mirror reflecting the Karma (past actions) that the soul brings into this life.
The Framework: Karma + Free Will + Astrology
1. Karma sets the stage — Your past actions create tendencies, predispositions, and the broad outlines of your life circumstances. These are encoded in the birth chart.
2. Planets indicate the script — The planetary positions at birth reveal when and how karmic effects will manifest. The Dasa system (covered in Part 12) times these events with remarkable precision.
3. Free will operates within the framework — The human will is free to a certain extent. Advance knowledge of the future enables one to mitigate many evils. You cannot change the cosmic weather, but you can carry an umbrella.
"Fools obey planets while wise men control them."
— Ancient proverb cited by B.V. Raman. This single line captures the entire philosophy of Vedic astrology: knowledge of planetary influences empowers you to navigate life skillfully, rather than being blindly driven by forces you don't understand.
How This Series is Organized
Raman arranged his chapters systematically, graduated from beginner to advanced. We follow the same progression across 31 articles grouped into five parts:
| Part | Articles | Focus | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| I Foundations | 1–7 | Zodiac, planets, signs, time, terminology, strengths | Beginner |
| II Building the Horoscope | 8–12 | Chart casting, Shadvargas, birth rectification, Dasa system | Intermediate |
| III Core Prediction | 13–20 | Aspects, longevity, judgment, key-planets, yogas | Intermediate–Advanced |
| IV Detailed Predictions | 21–24 | Planets in houses, planets in signs, Dasa/Bhukti results | Intermediate |
| V Advanced & Specialized | 25–31 | Death, Ashtakavarga, horary, medical, mundane, practical cases | Advanced |
The Practical Purpose of Astrology
Raman concludes Chapter I with a powerful practical statement. When one has acquired a thorough knowledge of the everlasting and ever-changing influences of the stars, he will be able to prognosticate correctly:
Mental & Physical Qualities
Of any person whose exact birth moment is known
Fortunes & Misfortunes
That await the person throughout life
Progress in the World
Career trajectory, rise and fall, timing of events
By knowing the future correctly, man can create an environment to cope with adverse periods and alleviate evils indicated by the planets to a great extent. This is the practical purpose of the entire system — not passive resignation, but active, informed navigation of life.
Key Takeaways
-
Astrology is a practical science
Judge it by results, not by prejudice. Collect charts, study principles, test predictions. -
It is called Hora Sastra (Science of Time) and Jyotisha (Knowledge of Light)
These names reveal its essence: understanding time-cycles and the light of cosmic intelligence. -
Three schools exist: Parasari (primary), Jaimini, and Tajaka
This series follows Parasara exclusively. Don't mix systems. -
Astrology reads Karma, not fate
Planets indicate; they don't dictate. Free will operates within the karmic framework. -
"Fools obey planets while wise men control them"
The entire purpose is empowerment through foreknowledge, not passive surrender.
In Part 2, we'll set the cosmic stage — the zodiac belt, the solar system as understood in Vedic astrology, the critical difference between the sidereal and tropical zodiacs, and why this distinction makes Hindu astrology fundamentally different from Western astrology.
Based on
Hindu Predictive Astrology
by B.V. Raman | First published 1938 | UBS Publishers' Distributors Ltd.