Four Step Theory

Now it is well known fact that the best Astrological method for predicting
timing of any event accurately is Krishnamurthi Paddhati or KP in short. It is
a gross misunderstanding that this is a very difficult system to grasp. In fact,
because of very simple rules which are easy to understand, many astrologers
have opted to shift to this system. If someone has a basic knowledge to work
out correct longitudes of planets and erect a cusp chart, this is the easiest
method to understand. Now-a-days even this much skill is not necessary
because many computer software are available to do these mathematical
calculations.
It is assumed that the readers are conversant with basic rules of KP. In KP, the
measure deviation from Traditional Astrology is that the Planet gives the result
of the house where its star lord is situated in the horoscope. That is why it is
known as Stellar Astrology. However Prof. Krishnamurthi observed that
predictions based on planet and its star lord were not so accurate. So he divided
the arc of each star in nine parts in proportion to period allotted to each planet
in Vimshottari Dasha. He called this as Sub. According to KP, this Sub has power
to decide whether the planet shall give favorable or unfavorable results.
Sometime during 1990, I read articles titled The Sub lord speaks written by
Mr. K. M. Subramaniam. He suggested that the star lord of the sub should be
given importance while predicting. I immediately recalled that Prof.
Krishnamurthi had also taken the star lord of the sub into consideration in some
articles in his Readers. So the thought appealed me and I started my research in
that direction. Based on research and experience, I formulated a theory with
specific rules using basic KP principles. To distinguish it from KP it was given a
name Four Step Theory. I am glad to state that many KP Astrologers have
welcomed this theory and are practicing it.
Let me put forward the rules (and its interpretations wherever necessary) of
Four Step Theory for the benefit of the readers.

Rule No. 1
a) As per KP, a planet becomes a significator of the house where it is
deposited. And also becomes the significator of the house(s) or cusp(s)
owned by it.
However if the Stars owned by such planet are, i) occupied by some
planet(s), ii) not occupied by any planet or iii) occupied by the same planet
its signification should be different. This is differentiated in Four Step
Theory as Primary (or strong) signification and Secondary (or weak)
signification as given below:
a1) If there are no planet(s) tenanted in the star(s) of a planet, it is a
Primary (or strong) significator of the house it is deposited (even if there
are other planet(s) in that house).
a2) If there are no planet(s) tenanted in the star(s) of a planet, it becomes
the significator of house(s) owned by it. However, if there are no planet(s)
tenanted in house(s) owned {except Uranus, Neptune and Pluto}, It
becomes Primary (Strong) significator otherwise it becomes Secondary
(weak) significator of the house(s) concerned.
Interpretation:
Please refer the chart attached on Page # 7. Let us consider Jupiter. There
are no planets in the star of Jupiter. Jupiter owns house 2 and house 11.
As per Rule a1), Jupiter is Primary (strong) significator of House 12 which is
occupied by it. (Even though there is another planet Venus deposited in
that house)
As per Rule a2) Because of ownership, Jupiter is significator of houses 2
and 11. However it becomes Secondary (weak) significator of house 2
since Sun and Mercury are stationed there. While there are no planets in
house 11 so Jupiter becomes Primary (strong) significator for house 11.
a3) If there are planet(s) {except Uranus, Neptune and Pluto} tenanted in
the star(s) of a planet, then the said planet becomes weak significator of
the house tenanted by it, as well as, house(s) owned by it.

a4) When the planet is in its OWN star it becomes Primary (strong)
significator of the house tenanted by it (even if there are other planet(s) in
its stars). However it will be Primary (strong) significator of the house(s)
owned by it only if there are no planet(s) {except Uranus, Neptune and
Pluto} tenanted in that house. Otherwise it becomes Secondary (weak)
significator.
Only Primary (strong) significators are powerful to give result is most
important rule of Four Step Theory. Secondary (weak) significators are like
mirage, and do not give results.
This is First Step. Let us move on to Second Step, now.
Rule No. 2
Planet is supposed to give results of the house where its star lord is
deposited. This is famous KP rule. In Four Step Theory also, the planet will
give results of house where its star lord is deposited (even if there are
other planet(s) in that house) i.e. it will be a Primary (strong) significator of
that house.
However it becomes Primary (strong) significator of house owned by its
star lord only if there are no planets {except Uranus, Neptune and Pluto} in
that house or else it will be a Secondary (weak) significator.
Therefore signification of planet at Star level is Second Step.
Interpretation:
i)

Since we are working out the signification of the planet at star level,
here we need not consider the star lord (or the sub lord) of the star
lord in this step because we are not working out signification of the
star lord of the planet.

ii)

Planets conjoined with, aspecting/aspected by star lord within an orb

of 3 degrees 20 minutes shall only be considered in this step. Please
refer Rule No. 6

iii)

To explain clearly, suppose the star lord of the planet is Mercury.

Then the planet(s) conjoined with Mercury (within the orb), aspected
by Mercury (within the orb) and aspecting Mercury (within the orb)
shall only be considered in this step. It is not necessary to include the
star lord of Mercury.

iv)

In case of Rahu/Ketu appearing on this step please follow Rule No. 7

Rule No. 3
Now we come to this third step. That is signification of planet at the sub
level. As per KP the Sub has the deciding power to declare whether the
result will be favorable or unfavorable. This implies that this sub acts like a
planet (though in fact it is not a planet but it is mere sub division of the
star). Taking this clue from KP, the Rule No. 1 stated above is applied for
the sub (in Four Step Theory).
This signification of a planet at sub level is the Third Step.
Rule No. 4
In KP we have accepted the fact that any planet gives the results of house
deposited and owned by its star lord. And we have seen that the sub in
Step No. 3 acts as a planet. Naturally this sub should also give the result
based on its star lord. So, the Rule No. 2 applies here. This is signification
of the planet based on star lord of its sub lord.
This is Fourth Step. I call this as a step of success.
Step no. 3 and Step No. 4 are very important in Four Step Theory. In my
experience many unsolved queries are solved by use of these steps.
Rule No. 5
Prof. Krishnamurthi advocated use of Plaucidus System of house division.
It gives importance to starting point of houses. During my studies, while
forming this Theory it, was experienced that the planet(s) near the cusp
(within the orb of 3 degrees 20 minutes) are capable of giving results of
that cusp as a Primary (strong) significator. It is further observed that the

orb can further be increased up to 5 degrees based on the experience of

the Astrologer.
However, such planet cannot act as Primary (strong) significator for the
house(s) owned by it. In my opinion, there is a scope for research in this
matter.
Rule No. 6
In Four Step Theory, an orb of 3 degrees 20 minutes is considered for
conjunction as well as aspects. When Planet is Primary (strong)
significator, any planet conjoined with it, aspected by it or aspecting it (of
course within the prescribed orb) will also become Primary (strong)
significator of that house.
Secondly, if any planet aspects any cusp (not the house) within prescribed
orb, it will act as Primary (strong) significator for such aspected cusp.
Rule No. 7
Rahu/Ketu have been given more importance in KP. Prof. Krishnamurthi
has said that Rahu/Ketu will first give results of the planet(s) conjoined,
secondly the planet(s) aspecting them, next of their star lord and lastly
that of the sign lord where they are stationed.
In Four Step Theory, whenever Rahu/Ketu appear as star lord (i.e. on steps
2 and 4) similar results are experienced. If Rahu/Ketu are conjoined or
aspected by any planet, the sign lord where Rahu/Ketu are deposited will
not be effective in offering results.
In fact, as per my experience, Rahu/Ketu give results in any of above order.
At least till today I could not come to any conclusion about this order.
Further research is necessary in this respect.
Rule No. 8
Many times it is observed that a planet becomes Primary (strong)
significator of favorable as well as unfavorable houses. Under such

circumstances one gets confused whether such planet will give favorable
or unfavorable results.
In my studies, I observed that when a planet is significator of favorable and
unfavorable houses, it gives favorable results. However if such planet, ON
THIRD AND FOURTH STEP, becomes Primary (strong) significator of
unfavorable houses only it will not give result of that house. If such planet
is one of the DBA lords, it will not give result in its period. This I call as
Adversity of Sub.
Rule No. 9
In connection with any query, as in KP, we analyze main house and two
supporting houses. But in Four Step Theory, the event will fructify only
when chain of all such house signification is completed by DBAS lords.
Sometimes additional supporting houses need to be considered viz. 5 and
8 for marriage, 7 and 5 for going abroad etc.
Rule No. 10
After fixing the DBAS for an event, transit of planets must also be
favorable. In KP the transit of luminaries are given more importance. But
in Four Step Theory, transits of DBAS lords along with luminaries are
considered. For checking transit, we have divided the planets in two parts.
1) Slow moving planets such as Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. In case of
these planets we have to check the sub they are transiting.
2) Fast moving planets such as Sun, Mars, Mercury and Venus. For these
planets we have to check the star they are transiting.
In case of Moon when it appears as one of the DBAS lords, we have to
check Karaka planet for the query. For example, in case of marriage if
Moon appears as one of DBAS lords we should consider transit of Jupiter
and Venus. In case of Job one should study transit of Sun and Saturn. In
case of sell or purchase of house we have to consider transit of Mars.
These Subs for slow moving planet(s) and Star lords for fast moving
planet(s) must be Primary (strong) significator of favorable house(s) on

First and Second Steps only for the event to materialize. (It does not
matter even such planet signifies unfavorable house(s) along with
favorable house(s))
If such Sub or Star lord is Primary (strong) significator of only unfavorable
houses on first two steps, then event cannot happen in this period. In such
case we have to examine next period.
Rules of retrograde planets are experienced while checking transits. For
example, assume that one is running Dasha, Bhukti or Antara of Saturn.
And if Transit Saturn is retrograde it will give the result. However if the
transit Saturn is in the star of a retrograde planet it cannot give the result
in its period.

Planet D Sign
Sun
Pisces
Moon
Scorpio
Mars R
Virgo
Mercury Aries
Jupiter
Aquarius
Venus
Aquarius
Saturn R Leo
Rahu
Pisces
Ketu
Virgo
Uranus Gemini
Neptune R Virgo
Pluto R Cancer
Fortuna Virgo
Cusps Sign
1
Aquarius
2
Pisces
3
Aries
4
Taurus
5
Gemini
6
Cancer
7
Leo
8
Virgo
9
Libra
10
Scorpio
11
Sagittarius
12
Capricorn

Deg Min Sec

22 30 ' 23 ''
05 44 ' 39 ''
03 50 ' 48 ''
01 53 ' 46 ''
05 07 ' 53 ''
06 17 ' 07 ''
20 47 ' 54 ''
14 01 ' 11 ''
14 01 ' 11 ''
08 11 ' 55 ''
22 56 ' 18 ''
22 49 ' 03 ''
27 07 ' 30 ''

Deg Min Sec

13 53 ' 15 ''
21 34 ' 30 ''
23 35 ' 45 ''
20 22 ' 27 ''
15 11 ' 19 ''
11 42 ' 10 ''
13 53 ' 15 ''
21 34 ' 30 ''
23 35 ' 45 ''
20 22 ' 27 ''
15 11 ' 19 ''
11 42 ' 10 ''

Star
StarLord
Revati (2)
Mercury
Anuradha (1) Saturn
Uttar-Phal (3) Sun
Ashwini (1)
Ketu
Dhanishtha (4) Mars
Dhanishtha (4) Mars
Purva-Phal (3) Venus
Uttarbhadra (4) Saturn
Hasta (2)
Moon
Ardra (1)
Rahu
Hasta (4)
Moon
Aslesha (2)
Mercury
Chitra (2)
Mars

Sub
Moon
Mercury
Saturn
Venus
Sun
Moon
Jupiter
Rahu
Jupiter
Rahu
Sun
Moon
Jupiter

SubSub
Rahu
Ketu
Venus
Rahu
Jupiter
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Jupiter
Venus
Jupiter
Saturn
Venus

H.Lord
Saturn
Jupiter
Mars
Venus
Mercury
Moon
Sun
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn

Sub
Mercury
Sun
Saturn
Ketu
Ketu
Moon
Venus
Venus
Saturn
Venus
Venus
Mars

SubSub
Rahu
Sun
Rahu
Mercury
Mercury
Mercury
Moon
Jupiter
Rahu
Rahu
Mercury
Venus

StarLord
Rahu
Mercury
Venus
Moon
Rahu
Saturn
Venus
Moon
Jupiter
Mercury
Venus
Moon

GOOD LUCK
Sunil Gondhalekar