My Experiences in Astrology — Modern Reader's Guide

B.V. Raman's autobiographical journey through 60 years of Vedic astrology practice.

Part 6 · Series: Foundational & Learning Topics

The First Article: Mundane Astrology and World Events

A turning point in Raman's development as an astrologer came when he ventured into Mundane Astrology —the application of astrological principles to nations, world events, and historical developments. His first such article addressed a contemporary crisis of the 1930s: the Italian invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia).

"My first article on Mundane astrology, written after a careful consideration of the astrological and international factors, was on 'The League and Ethiopia'. Grandfather appreciated the article. But as usual his appreciation was hedged in with the remark, 'it could have been better written'."

This passing observation reveals something profound about mentorship and criticism. The grandfather did not dismiss the article or ignore it. He appreciated it—meaning he recognized that Raman had grasped the essential principles and applied them correctly. But he also immediately noted that there was room for improvement in the presentation and execution.

Constructive Criticism as Wisdom: Notice the grandfather's method. He did not praise unqualifiedly, nor did he criticize harshly. Instead, he offered the kind of feedback that motivates continued growth. If he had been overly enthusiastic, Raman might have felt his work was complete. If he had been dismissive, Raman might have become discouraged. Instead, the grandfather struck a balance that communicated: "You have done well, but you can do better."

The Impact of Balanced Feedback

Raman explicitly acknowledges how this approach shaped his development as a writer and thinker:

"Had he showered unqualified appreciation, I would perhaps have felt that no improvement was needed. If some of the editorial articles written by me in the fifties and sixties were hailed as masterpieces, the credit must indirectly go to grandfather."

This is a remarkable admission. By the 1950s and 1960s, when Raman was writing editorial articles for The Astrological Magazine that were praised as masterpieces, he recognized that the foundation for this quality had been laid decades earlier through his grandfather's balanced but constructive criticism. The mentor's role was not to provide the final answer but to establish a pattern of growth and refinement.

The Teacher's Art: This teaches us something essential about the difference between giving information and providing mentorship. A teacher who simply corrects is less valuable than one who guides the student toward self-correction. The grandfather didn't say, "Here's how you should have written it." Instead, by implying that improvement was possible, he invited Raman to find the improvements himself.

The Content of the Article: Astrology Applied to History

The article itself, published in THE ASTROLOGICAL MAGAZINE in July-September 1936, posed the essential question about a major historical event:

"What will be the ultimate future of Abyssinia? Is it going to remain under the subjugation of an Imperialist Power?"

This demonstrates that Raman was not content to remain in the realm of personal astrology. Even as a young astrologer still learning from his grandfather, he was engaging with world events, using astrological principles to analyze political and historical situations. This would become a hallmark of his career—the integration of mundane astrology into contemporary affairs.

Personal Convictions and Religious Tolerance

Beyond his astrological work, Raman's character was being shaped by encounters with people of different faiths and worldviews. One such encounter involved a visiting Bishop who came to the village and began attempts at Christian conversion.

"After a few meetings, he started giving sermons on Christianity and how Christ alone was the real saviour. In those days, my knowledge of Christianity or Christ's teachings was superficial, though as a Hindu tolerance marked my attitude towards other faiths."

Raman's natural disposition was one of tolerance, a quality that would characterize his entire life. However, tolerance did not mean passivity. When the Bishop made disparaging remarks about Hinduism and Hindu philosophy, Raman responded with conviction:

"When the Bishop, as he later turned out to be, made some offensive remarks on Hinduism, I retorted, 'Look here, you have no business to come here to convert poor people by holding out all sorts of temptations. Do you know anything of Sankara's philosophy?'"

What is interesting here is that Raman, despite admitting he did not yet have deep knowledge of Christian teachings or Sankara's philosophy, was moved to defend his traditions. This speaks to something deeper than intellectual knowledge—it speaks to loyalty and conviction about the value of one's own heritage.

Conviction Without Arrogance: Raman's response was bold but not arrogant. He challenged the Bishop's right to convert people through inducements, not the validity of Christianity itself. He pointed to Sankara's philosophy as worthy of consideration, even though he had not yet fully mastered it himself. This is the mark of someone who believes in something without pretending to know more than they do.

The Integration of Public and Private Life

What emerges from this Part is a picture of Raman as someone whose life was not compartmentalized. His astrological work connected to his interest in world events. His learning continued even as he began teaching and writing. His respect for his grandfather's guidance extended to all areas of life, not just technical astrological matters. His religious and philosophical convictions influenced his response to world events and personal encounters.

This integration—the sense that everything connects to everything else—is perhaps the most important quality of a master astrologer. Such individuals do not treat astrology as a separate technical discipline. Instead, they see it as one expression of a larger wisdom that encompasses history, philosophy, spirituality, and the human condition itself.

Key Takeaways: The Art of Criticism and Growth

What This Part Teaches Us:

  • Balanced criticism promotes growth: The grandfather's method of appreciating the work while suggesting improvement created the optimal psychological conditions for Raman's development. This is a lesson for all teachers and mentors.
  • Improvement comes from within: The most effective teaching doesn't impose a solution but invites the student to find their own path to excellence. The grandfather didn't rewrite Raman's article; he inspired Raman to improve future articles.
  • Mentorship extends beyond technique: The grandfather's guidance on writing and thinking extended into how Raman approached world events, interfaith dialogue, and his own convictions. True mentorship shapes character, not just skill.
  • Integration is mastery: Raman's work in mundane astrology, emerging even while he was still a student, shows that mastery comes not from narrow specialization but from the ability to connect astrological principles to larger patterns of history and human experience.
  • Conviction and tolerance coexist: Raman's response to the Bishop shows that being respectful of other traditions doesn't require abandoning one's own convictions. True tolerance is not indifference but respectful engagement.
  • Character matters in astrology: The quality of an astrologer's predictions and insights is inseparable from their character—their thoughtfulness, their respect for tradition, their willingness to grow, and their commitment to truth.

As Raman's articles in the 1950s and 1960s would later be hailed as masterpieces, the foundation for that mastery had been laid through years of practice, learning, and receiving the kind of mentorship that challenged him to be better without crushing his spirit. This is the art of reading between the lines—seeing not just what is written but what is emerging, and helping it grow into its fullest potential.