Hindu Predictive Astrology Part 29: Mundane Astrology, Muhurtha, Annual Horoscopy and Transits
This article covers four specialised branches from Chapters XXXI–XXXIV. Each is a complete discipline with its own literature; Raman provides the essential outlines and refers readers to his dedicated books on each subject.
Part 29 of 31 • Specialised Branches • Covers: Chapters XXXI–XXXIV
Mundane Astrology predicts events affecting nations: wars, plagues, revolutions, and incidents affecting the State or its head. Each zodiacal sign rules specific countries and cities.
Signs & Countries
| ♈ Aries | France, England, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Naples, Birmingham, Florence, Marseilles |
| ♉ Taurus | Persia, Ireland, Holland, Poland, Asia Minor, Russia (part), Dublin, Leipzig, Rhodes |
| ♊ Gemini | USA, SW England, Belgium, Wales, Lower Egypt, London, Melbourne, San Francisco |
| ♋ Cancer | Holland, Scotland, New Zealand, Paraguay, New York, Venice, Amsterdam, Manchester |
| ♌ Leo | Italy, Sicily, France (part), Bohemia, Bombay, Chicago, Philadelphia, Damascus |
| ♍ Virgo | India, Turkey, Brazil, Greece, Crete, West Indies, Paris, Jerusalem, Los Angeles |
| ♎ Libra | India (part), Japan, Austria, Tibet, Portugal, Vienna, Johannesburg, Lisbon |
| ♏ Scorpio | Norway, Bavaria, Morocco, Washington, Liverpool, Baltimore, Dover |
| ♐ Sagittarius | Spain, Arabia, Hungary, Madagascar, Cologne, Toledo, Sheffield |
| ♑ Capricorn | India (part), Afghanistan, Greece, Mexico, Saxony, Oxford, Brussels |
| ♒ Aquarius | Sweden, Russia, Denmark, Abyssinia, Arabia (parts), Hamburg, Brighton |
| ♓ Pisces | Portugal, Egypt, Normandy, Nubia, Sahara, Alexandria, Lancaster |
12 Houses in National Horoscopy
| 1st | General affairs, public health, Cabinet conditions |
| 2nd | State revenue, aristocracies, wealth, imports, allies |
| 3rd | Telephones, telegrams, railways, aeroplanes, newspapers, neighbouring nations |
| 4th | Schools, colleges, landed estates, trade, agriculture |
| 5th | Mentality of rulers, children, births, crime, amusements |
| 6th | State debts, public diseases, territorial attacks, armed forces |
| 7th | Women's health, immorality, infant mortality, war, foreign relations |
| 8th | Death-rate, State Treasury |
| 9th | Temples/mosques/churches, courts, law, righteousness |
| 10th | Ruler, parliament, foreign trade, exports, revolutions, lawlessness |
| 11th | Gains from other nations, trade gains, international relations |
| 12th | Secret crime, plots, hospitals, war, losses |
Key prediction tools: Lunar year chart, Sun's entry into cardinal signs, monthly lunations, the Planetary Cabinet (annual rotating portfolios), eclipses (effects last 6 months before and after; two eclipses within 14 days = national troubles/assassinations/war), comets, and the nativities of rulers.
Muhurtha means selecting the auspicious moment for every new event. Even widowhood can be averted by choosing the right marriage time. The Shubha Lagna (auspicious moment) calls all beneficial ethereal currents into operation.
| Activity | Key Rules |
|---|---|
| Medicine | Good days: Sun–Mon–Wed–Thu–Fri. Bad: Tue/Sat. Benefics in quadrants. 14 favourable nakshatras listed. Surgery: when Saturn/Sun/Mars are in quadrants on their own day. |
| Marriage | 7th house must be empty. Mars not in 8th, Venus not in 6th. Jupiter/Venus/Mercury in quadrants (not 7th). Good months: Magha, Phalguna, Vaisakha, Jyeshta. 11 favourable nakshatras. |
| Entering New Houses | Good months: Magha, Phalguna, Vaisakha, Jyeshta. Good days: Mon/Thu/Fri/Sat. Avoid Sun in Aquarius/Cancer/Gemini. |
| Construction | Sun in Taurus/Cancer/Leo/Aquarius/Aries/Libra/Scorpio/Capricorn. Avoid Jupiter/Venus combustion. Benefics in quadrants (not 1st); evil planets in 3/6/11. |
| Agriculture | 13 favourable nakshatras. Bad days: Tue/Wed/Sat. Rising signs: Pisces/Taurus/Gemini/Virgo. Avoid New/Full Moon and 8th/9th/14th dark half. |
| Digging Wells | Aquarius/Taurus = water. Scorpio/Libra/Gemini = little water. Others = no water. Venus/Moon in quadrants = plentiful. Sun's sign = rock. |
| Education | 8th house empty. Good days: Mon/Wed/Thu/Fri. 9 favourable nakshatras. Lunar days 2,3,5,7,10,11,12,13. |
| Travelling | East: Tue. South: Mon/Sat. West: Wed/Thu. North: Fri/Sun. Good signs: Sagittarius/Taurus/Cancer/Leo/Libra. Best time: 12 noon (Abhijit Muhurtha). |
Rahukala — Daily Evil Hours (if sunrise at 6 AM)
| Monday | 7:30–9:00 AM | Friday | 10:30 AM–12:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 3:00–4:30 PM | Saturday | 9:00–10:30 AM |
| Wednesday | 12:00–1:30 PM | Sunday | 4:30–6:00 PM |
| Thursday | 1:30–3:00 PM |
Constellation Strength (Tara Bala)
Count from birth nakshatra to the day's nakshatra, divide by 9. Remainder: 1 (Janma) = danger; 2 (Sampat) = wealth; 3 (Vipat) = losses; 4 (Kshema) = prosperity; 5 (Pratyak) = obstacles; 6 (Sadhana) = gains; 7 (Nidhana) = danger/death; 8 (Mitra) = good; 9 (Parama Mitra) = very favourable.
The annual horoscope depends on the time of the Sun's return to its exact birth position each year. A chart cast for this moment predicts the year's events. Each year has its own Varsha Dasas (annual planetary periods) totalling 365 days.
Varsha Dasa durations: Sun 110 days, Moon 60, Mars 32, Mercury 40, Jupiter 48, Venus 56, Saturn 4, Rahu 5, Lagna 10.
Method: Calculate from birth star to anniversary star ÷ 9 → determine which Dasa starts. Find the balance by the proportion of the nakshatra remaining. Apply to the annual chart just as Vimshottari Dasa applies to the natal chart.
Key principle: Always combine: (1) birth horoscope Dasa/Bhukti, (2) Gochara positions, and (3) the annual chart's indications. When all three converge on the same theme (e.g., financial gain or health trouble), the prediction becomes certain.
Gochara means the passage of planets through the zodiac from the natal Moon. Transit results must be judged with reference to Vedha-sthanas (obstructing points). Predictions require blending birth chart + Gochara + Ashtakavarga + Vedha.
Jupiter Transit (16-year average stay: ~13 months per sign)
| 1st | Loses wealth/intelligence, quits place, quarrels |
| 2nd | No enemies, wealth, women |
| 3rd | Quits place, obstacles in work |
| 4th | Troubles from kinsmen, patient, resigned |
| 5th | Servants, prosperity, sons, gold, women, gems |
| 6th | Afflicted at heart, no delight |
| 7th | Good bed, excellent woman, wealth, good meals, intelligence |
| 8th | Imprisonment, diseases, heavy grief, serious illness |
| 9th | Efficient, influential, sons, success, wealth |
| 10th | Quits place, loses health and wealth |
| 11th | Returns to country, recovers health and wealth |
| 12th | Grief in return journey |
Jupiter good houses: 2, 5, 7, 9, 11. Bad: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12.
Saturn good houses: 3, 6, 11. Bad: all others (especially 1, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12 — the 7½ years Saturn or Sade Sati when Saturn transits 12th, 1st, and 2nd from Moon).
Mars good houses: 3, 6, 10, 11. Mercury good: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11. Venus good: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12. Sun good: 3, 6, 10, 11.
Key Takeaways
- India is ruled by Virgo; England by Aries; USA by Gemini — national events correlate with transits through these signs
Eclipses, lunations, and Saturn transits through a nation's ruling sign produce the most significant effects. - Muhurtha can neutralise even natal afflictions — the right moment overrides chart weaknesses
Widowhood yoga can be averted by auspicious marriage timing. This is the most practically useful branch for everyday life. - Rahukala must be avoided daily — these 90-minute windows are inauspicious for starting any new work
Monday 7:30-9 AM, Saturday 9-10:30 AM, etc. Adjust proportionally for actual sunrise time. - Annual horoscopy combines three systems: birth Dasa + Gochara + annual chart — convergence = certainty
When all three indicate the same theme (gain, loss, marriage, illness), the prediction becomes definitive. - Jupiter's transit good houses are 2, 5, 7, 9, 11 from Moon — these are the most practically used Gochara rules
Saturn's good houses (3, 6, 11) and the 7½ years Saturn concept are equally essential. Always check Vedha (obstruction) points.
In Part 30, we study Practical Horoscopes and Decanates — real case studies demonstrating chart analysis, plus the complete descriptions of all 36 Drekkanas used for physical appearance identification and Prasna work.
Based on
Hindu Predictive Astrology
by B.V. Raman | First published 1938 | UBS Publishers' Distributors Ltd.