Throughout the preceding sixteen chapters, B.V. Raman has systematically addressed the electional rules governing nearly every sphere of human activity — from marriage and travel to agriculture and public affairs. Chapter 17 gathers the remaining important categories that did not fit neatly into earlier chapters: lotteries and competitions, horse races, filing law-suits, seeking escaped prisoners, buying arms, starting wars, destroying strongholds, and making peace . These are the "miscellaneous elections," each with its own distinct set of constellations, lunar days, weekdays, and Lagna requirements.

"In the foregoing chapters elections bearing upon almost all human activities have been clearly described. In this chapter I propose to deal with a few more important ones bearing upon sports, law-suits, prisoners and war."

While some of these topics — war, siege warfare, peace treaties — may seem archaic at first glance, their underlying astrological principles remain deeply relevant. Modern equivalents abound: corporate competition, legal proceedings, security purchases, strategic negotiations, and conflict resolution all follow the same electional logic. The planets do not distinguish between a medieval siege and a modern hostile takeover; the cosmic energies at play are identical.

Lotteries and Competitions

Raman begins with an important caveat: success in lotteries and competitions depends primarily on the natal horoscope — specifically the strength of the second house (finance) and the prevailing Dasha and Bhukti periods. The election (Muhurtha) plays a secondary but still meaningful role.

"Success in lotteries and competitions generally depends upon the strength of the birth horoscope in regard to the house of finance and the nature of the directional influences at the time concerned. Therefore, much reliance cannot be placed on the strength of election in regard to chance-games."

This is a refreshingly honest acknowledgment. Muhurtha can optimize timing, but it cannot override a fundamentally weak natal chart for financial gains. The election serves as a force multiplier rather than a standalone guarantee. With that caveat in mind, Raman provides the following guidelines:

Favorable Conditions for Competitions

The rationale is elegant. The 5th house governs speculation and Purva Punya (past-life merit), while the 9th house represents fortune and divine grace. Together, they form the Trikona axis of luck. Fortifying both while keeping the financial houses (2nd and 11th) free from malefic influence creates the optimal electional framework for any chance-based endeavor.

Modern Application: Competitions and Contests

In the modern context, these rules extend naturally to any competitive situation where an element of chance or fortune plays a role: talent competitions, startup pitch events, grant applications, raffles, and even competitive examinations where luck in question selection matters. The key principle is that the election amplifies existing natal potential — it cannot create fortune where none exists in the birth chart.

Horse Races

Horse racing holds a special place in electional astrology because the horse itself is symbolically connected to the nakshatra Aswini — the very first constellation of the zodiac, ruled by the Ashwini Kumaras (the celestial horsemen). This makes Aswini the premier nakshatra for anything related to horses.

"Horses are said to be governed by Aswini. This constellation therefore is fortunate for purchasing and training horse for race purposes."

The choice of Sagittarius as the ideal Lagna is symbolically perfect: Sagittarius is depicted as a centaur — half-human, half-horse — and its ruler Jupiter naturally bestows expansion and success. A strong 10th house ensures that the effort culminates in a visible, public victory.

Modern parallel: While horse racing remains popular in many countries, these same principles apply to any competitive sport involving speed and physical prowess. The emphasis on the 10th house (public achievement) and Sagittarius (speed, action, adventure) makes these guidelines relevant for athletic competitions, motorsport entries, and even the timing of competitive product launches.

Filing Law-Suits

Legal proceedings are among the most consequential events in a person's life. The timing of filing a lawsuit can influence not only the outcome but also whether the matter settles peacefully or escalates into prolonged conflict. Raman provides detailed guidelines for this critical election.

Electional Rules for Litigation

"The Lagna or at least the Navamsa must be Aries in order to assure success to the litigation."

The reasoning behind these rules reveals deep astrological logic. The 6th house represents enemies, litigation, and disputes. By keeping it free from malefics, you prevent the opponent from gaining strength. The separation of the Lagna lord and 6th lord ensures that the litigant (Lagna) maintains distance and advantage over the opponent (6th house). Aries as the Lagna or Navamsa is favored because Mars, the warrior planet ruling Aries, gives fighting spirit and the determination needed to prevail in court.

Raman also notes an interesting condition for peaceful settlement :

"If benefics occupy kendras or occupying the male signs, have beneficial aspects, there will be peace between the parties."

This dual application is noteworthy: the same electional framework can be tuned either for victory (Aries Lagna, strong Mars) or for settlement (benefics in kendras), depending on the client's objective.

Modern Application: Legal Filings and Disputes

These principles apply directly to modern legal contexts: filing lawsuits, initiating arbitration, submitting regulatory complaints, or even sending demand letters. The avoidance of Tuesday (Mars = aggression without strategy) and Saturday (Saturn = delays and obstruction) is particularly practical — Tuesday filings may provoke unnecessary hostility, while Saturday filings may encounter bureaucratic delays. Thursday (Jupiter's day) is ideal, as Jupiter governs justice, wisdom, and fair outcomes.

Seeking Escaped Prisoners

This section addresses the Muhurtha for launching a search for escaped prisoners or fugitives. While the specific context is historical, the underlying principles apply to any situation involving the pursuit and recovery of someone or something that has been lost or has fled.

The astrological logic here is sophisticated. A movable Lagna (Chara Rasi) signifies active movement and pursuit. Mercury or Moon influencing the Lagna provides intelligence and intuition for tracking. The 6th lord in the 11th means the enemy (6th) becomes a source of gain (11th) — the pursuit ends in successful capture. A weak Sun deprives the fugitive of vitality and the ability to remain hidden. The Parivarthana Yoga between the 1st and 7th lords creates a symbolic exchange that draws the two parties together — the pursuer and the pursued become linked by destiny.

Modern application: These principles are relevant for investigations, skip tracing, locating missing persons, recovery of stolen property, and even competitive intelligence gathering. The emphasis on Mercury (communication, investigation) and Moon (intuition, public connections) aligns well with modern investigative methods.

Buying Arms and Instruments of Defense

The purchase of weapons and defensive equipment was a matter of great importance in classical times, and Raman provides detailed electional rules for this activity. In the modern era, this extends to the acquisition of security systems, protective equipment, insurance policies, and any instrument meant to provide safety and defense.

"A martian sign must be rising, or culminating and Mars must be in a dignified position."

Mars is the natural significator ( Karaka ) of weapons, courage, and martial activity. By ensuring Mars occupies a position of strength, the purchased arms become effective instruments of protection rather than sources of harm to the owner. The inclusion of Tuesday as a potentially favorable day (noted by "some works") reflects Mars's rulership of that day — the very energy of the weapon is aligned with the energy of the moment.

The broad selection of favorable nakshatras (14 out of 27) indicates that the ancients considered arms purchases a relatively flexible election, with the critical requirement being Mars's dignified placement rather than a narrow window of constellations.

Starting Wars and Military Operations

The Muhurtha for initiating warfare represents one of the most consequential elections possible. The stakes could not be higher — the lives of thousands, the fate of nations, and the course of history all hang on the timing of the first blow. Raman notes that standard Muhurtha texts are surprisingly sparse on this topic, and he has supplemented them with his own research from "relevant literature on the subject."

Rules for Starting Wars

"The enemy is said to retreat in confusion if the war is begun in a Chara Lagna when the Moon occupies a fixed sign."

This combination is strategically brilliant in astrological terms. A Chara (movable) Lagna gives the initiating side speed, mobility, and the element of surprise. The Moon in a fixed sign (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) gives the initiator's forces emotional stability, resolve, and endurance — they will not waver. The contrast between the mobile Lagna and fixed Moon creates a force that strikes swiftly yet holds its ground.

Raman identifies specific Lagnas that cause the enemy to retreat early: Aries, Leo, Taurus, and Sagittarius . The fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) provide aggression and momentum, while Taurus adds the stubborn determination of Venus-ruled earth.

The Mars-Saturn Warning

Perhaps the most important single rule in this section is the prohibition against Mars-Saturn conjunction or aspect:

"There should be no conjunction of or aspect between Mars and Saturn if great mortality and bloodshed are to be avoided."

Mars-Saturn combinations are among the most destructive in all of astrology. Mars brings violence and aggression; Saturn brings coldness, cruelty, and prolonged suffering. Together, they produce wars of attrition, excessive civilian casualties, and conflicts that spiral beyond anyone's control. This warning applies equally to modern strategic decisions: launching a hostile corporate takeover, initiating aggressive competitive action, or beginning any confrontational endeavor under a Mars-Saturn influence risks devastating and unintended consequences for all parties.

Destroying Strongholds

For the specific task of besieging and destroying a fortified position, Raman recommends:

• Lagna: A fiery sign (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) with Mars posited in or aspecting it
• Best Lagna: Aries — a stronghold besieged under Aries "is bound to fall early"
• Alternative: Sagittarius ascending with Mars in it renders "the collapse of any stronghold inevitable"

The fire element destroys structures; Mars provides the destructive force. This is electional astrology at its most literal — the symbolic qualities of the signs and planets directly mirror the intended physical outcome.

Making Peace and Treaties

Raman calls this "an important item in the lives of nations," and dedicates the most detailed treatment in the chapter to it. Peace-making requires the strong influence of Jupiter — the great benefic, the planet of wisdom, justice, generosity, and dharma.

Essential Conditions for Peace Treaties

The avoidance of the three malefic conjunctions (Mars-Rahu, Mars-Saturn, Rahu-Saturn) is critical. Each of these combinations represents a distinct form of breakdown: Mars-Rahu creates deception and sudden betrayal; Mars-Saturn produces cold-blooded aggression; Rahu-Saturn breeds suspicion, paranoia, and hidden agendas. Any peace made under these influences is built on unstable foundations.

Five Combinations for Lasting Peace

Raman provides five specific planetary configurations under which peace "is said to last for a long time." These are remarkable for their precision and deserve careful study:

Configuration #5 is arguably the strongest, as it combines the stability of a fixed sign with Jupiter's beneficence right in the Lagna itself. The fixed quality ensures the peace endures, while Jupiter ensures it is rooted in genuine goodwill rather than mere exhaustion or strategic calculation.

"Will our statesmen pay heed to the astrological counsel and try these simple astrological rules and rid the world of perpetual threat to Peace?"

Raman's closing appeal is both poignant and timeless. Writing in the aftermath of two World Wars, he saw clearly that humanity's greatest challenge was not technological but temporal — choosing the right moment to act, and the right moment to lay down arms. His final observation carries the weight of civilizational wisdom:

"The conceit of modern progress has no more respect for ancient ideas than for the forgotten civilizations of old, even though in many essentials they have anticipated or outstripped all that we boast of."

Master Reference: All Miscellaneous Elections at a Glance

The following comprehensive table consolidates all the electional rules from this chapter into a single reference, making it easy to quickly look up the requirements for any of the eight activities covered.

Key Takeaways