Ashtakvarga and The Financial Astrology

It was with a sense of pleasant surprise and a degree of disbelief that I had
responded to the news from our family friend about regular courses on Astrology
being conducted. The end of our discussions made up my mind. I was determined
to join the course and decide for myself whether Astrology had the ability to
visualize the future as is made out, or are the so called rationalists correct when
they debunk it all as hocus pocus. With a great feeling of expectation, I joined
the course and was relieved to find in the group a number of fellow engineers,
managers, doctors, bureaucrats, senior police officials etc. Not to forget we also
had in the group two professors from the Delhi University, one from the field of
Medicine and the other from Psychology. The two years spent in the study were
indeed rewarding

The basic objective of any pursuit to know the future is to provide man with some
tangible or intangible benefit to man in his day to day life. The essence of living is
harmony. A man in harmony with his environment, with his work, with his desires
and with his family can lead a meaningful life. Any attempt to have knowledge of
the future should be positively oriented and used as a contribution towards
harmonizing ones life. It is indeed a blessing that the timing is coinciding with the
personal computers becoming a household item. Normally a detailed preparation
of a complete horoscope with all its parts may have involved hours of tedious
calculations. This can now be accomplished within seconds and does not require
the astrologer to have any proficiency or knowledge of astronomy or
mathematics.

The two years provided a rich treatise of the varied facets of Vedic Astrology, and
believe you me; they are indeed varied having a vast range of subjects and
specializations. Needless to mention that to become a specialist in any of the
fields of astrology would entail an amount of effort, time and dedication very
much similar to those required for becoming a specialist in any field of
professional specialization like engineering, medicine etc., as are in vogue these
days. May I venture to say that the innovative effort required would be manifold
due to the lack of inadequate research and development in this subject
consequent to the detriment suffered by Vedic astrology at the hands of the
Mughal and British rulers of India.
A subject, which impressed me tremendously, is Ashtakvarga. Credit for this is
very much due to Mr.Vinay Aditya, who taught the subject to us. Perhaps but for
his handling of the subject in his own unique open and innovative manner, the
same level of understanding and appreciation may not have been possible. He
has authored a book on the subject, “Dots of Destiny”; acknowledged widely as
being the best on the subject. Appreciation is also due to Mr.Vinay Gupta who
subsequently taught the subject.

The shloka 12 in the chapter on Ashtakvarga in Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra

states:

"While answering Maitreya, the most outstanding student, the sage Parashara
says that the Jyotisha Shastra has been divided into two parts, i.e. general and
specific. The portion already described is the general part and now I take on to
the specific part."

It is this specificity that has attracted me to Ashtakvarga. While the basic Natal
Chart, Yogas, the Dasha system and the Transit give us clear indications of the
direction of events broadly, to be able to pronounce the relative nature of the
results duly quantified on a particular day, day after day, with precision has
proven elusive so far. Possibly I speak for a majority of us who had taken up the
study of astrology, it is the desire to be able to have a precise judgment of a day,
to the extent possible, that has been one of the prime motivating factor for
taking up this study.

Precision involves details; more the details better the precision. Sage Parashara
further states that just as there are auspicious and inauspicious results of the
twelve houses, with respect to the Ascendant and the Moon, in the same way,
these houses have favourable and unfavourable results in relation to the other
planets. The results relating to the auspicious and inauspicious events connected
with the life of the native in the predictive astrology are based on the positioning
of planets, for example the planets being in the signs of exaltation, friendly,
inimical or debilitation, located in an auspicious or inauspicious house etc., and
the timing of an event has been attempted on the basis of different Mahadashas
and Antardashas etc. According to Maharishi himself, it is difficult to say, whether
an event will take place in all certainty. At times these parameters could emanate
signals which are contradictory to and conflicting with each other. Therefore,
under these contradictory situations, it is difficult to delineate the results. So
much so, the predictions go quite wrong. To tide over these vexed problems, the
Maharishi Parashara has expounded the Shastra of Ashtakvarga in great detail.

Owing to the complex, laborious and time consuming calculations involved,

Ashtakvarga may not have attained the heights that it has the potential of in the
earlier times despite its strength and precision. The fact that such a subject was
conceived and formulated in the times when virtually no calculation aids were
available, is in itself a statement of its underlying importance. With the growing
popularity of computers these extensive calculations have become relatively
simpler, fortunately for aspiring astrologers of the current times. The availability
of modern day computational aids has made it practical for astrologers having a
research orientation to be liberal in attempting to apply various theories and
hypothesis in this area. The time and effort involved for the mathematical
calculations has reduced sufficiently for the astrologer, neither to be scared or
disheartened at the prospect nor lose focus or direction of his basic research.
Ashtakvarga can be incorporated as well onto a Varshaphala Chart, Prashna
Chart, any divisional chart etc. Mr.Vinay Aditya had seen a vision, which he had
expressed thus:

"Computer astrology hitherto has been quite inane and its utility has been
restricted to mathematical presentations only. I foresee a future when computer
programs will be able to churn out a new kind of Varshphala, or a daily report
based entirely on Ashtakvarga and transits which would give meaningful ‘How is
your day today’ from your individual birth data."

Similar predictions based on the Sun-sign or the Moon-sign presently dished out
in newspapers or magazines are so generalised that they become preposterous;
their popularity is only due to rules of probability.

The desired objective therefore would be to have a system, which would

incorporate the genius of the Ashtakvarga principles along with the other vital
astrological factors and produce a purposeful report for the native on a day to
day basis duly quantified numerically. To begin the strength of the natal planets
needs to be determined. This maybe based on the following factors:

1. Number of benefic points obtained by the planet in their own

Bhinnashtakvarga.
2. Benefic point contributed by Kakshya lord or not.
3. Kakshya-bal of the planet based on panchda maitri status with Kakshya
lord.
4. Planet being combust or not.
5. Shadbala status of the planet.

The strength determined by the above contributing factors would have an effect
on the auspicious or inauspicious effects of the transit. Planets having a higher
strength will enhance the auspicious results and planets with lower strength will
enhance the inauspicious results.

Likewise the strength of the planets in transit is to be determined. For evaluating

the transit strength the following factors may be taken into consideration:

1. Benefic points obtained by the planet in the sign being transited in its
Bhinnashtak.
2. Rasibala of the planet based on the on panchda maitri status with
Kakshya lord in which it is currently situated.
3. Benefic point contributed by Kakshya lord or not in the sign being
transited by the planet currently.

The amalgamation of the above two strengths calculated could be suitably

quantified in a numerical manner depicting the auspiciousness or the
inauspiciousness of a particular day for the native.
Mr. Shyam S. Kansal has done pioneering work in this field. He has successfully
developed software using Ashtakvarga and other relevant quantifiable astrological
parameters which aims at providing a sound basis to anyone looking for
astrological guidance in everyday endeavours. He has also attempted to quantify
factors that were hitherto not quantified. He has been the first and is the only
person in our knowledge so far who has recognized the potential of Ashtakvarga
and married it to computers with very successful predictive results.

The degree of success can only be adjudged based on actual results. Therefore
permit me to share a chain of events in their chronological order. Convinced of
the veracity of the efforts invested and feeling that the time was ripe, he decided
to share his views with the outside world. Though the system is equally
applicable to all aspects of everyday life, being an astute businessman it was the
world of finance that was chosen by him. On 12th November 1996 he sent an
open letter to various fund managers, portfolio managers, stockbrokers etc.
introducing his method of analysis and prediction. Therein also was a set of
predictions pertaining to the movement of leading pivotals on the stock market
for the period until 31st March 1997. That this is not a tall claim in retrospect is
borne by the fact that a leading financial newspaper, Business Standard carried
an article based on this very letter on the front page of its edition dated 5 th
December 1996. It must be mentioned that the tone of the article was satirical in
nature, but that is not a matter of discussion here. I do now wonder if it was a
mere coincidence that this article caught my attention then, and that I had
approached Mr.Vinay Aditya with the same to seek his views. I did resolve to
trace and contact Mr.Kansal to have him throw more light on his approach. It was
indeed a pleasant surprise when Mr.Vinay Aditya informed me a couple of weeks
thereafter that I need not make further efforts as he had received a letter from
the very same Mr. Kansal. It was with a sense of expectation that I approached
Mr. Kansal to understand and appreciate his achievements. The meeting was a
satisfying experience; and at its conclusion I had gained a friend with similar
interests and impressed by the thorough dedication to the subject displayed by
him.

Needless to mention that his predictions regarding the movement of the pivotals
during that period were correct. Sensex (Bombay Stock Exchange Sensitive
Index) was predicted to witness a sudden upsurge around 13th December 1996
for a short period. On 4th of December 1996 Sensex hit a 52-week low. Business
Standard in its edition dated 5th of December 1996 has quoted analysts at Unit
Trust of India expecting the Sensex to touch a level of 2600 within the
forthcoming settlement. In this backdrop the Sensex shot up sharply by 143
points on 11th of December. This led a leading stock analyst to state in The
Economic Times that “…it is interesting that this type of rally should take place at
the fag end of the year. Normally this is the time when shares have fallen…. It is
extremely difficult to predict whether this rally will carry on.”

Particularly interesting has been the case of Bajaj Auto Ltd. The share was
predicted to lose value while majority of the market felt that it would shoot up.
Astrological analysis prevailed over the conventional economic analytical
approaches and the share took a battering in the coming months. The
significance of the period and the intensity of its impact on the company can be
gauged on the basis of the interview of its chairman Mr.Rahul Bajaj published in
The Economic Times on 15th May 1997. He says,

“ …Hence there must be some other reason. It could be political uncertainty. But
even the political uncertainty began after February ’97, but the fall in growth
started in October or November. The decline could be on account of the fall in the
Sensex, but again does not explain the entire fall. ……Political uncertainty does
not explain the low growth in the second half of the year. We had a very good
monsoon, therefore purchasing power should have been higher. My dealers say
that people are just not buying scooters. Perhaps they are saving instead of
buying. I had to cut down production plans for two-wheelers.”

So much so that the Economic Times carried an article in its edition dated 3rd of
October 1997 with the headline being “Bajaj stock value plummets 40%”. The
story does not end here. Encouraged by the vindication of his efforts, he
arranged to have the reports of previous ten years generated through the system
described above, validated by none other than Mr. Rahul Bajaj, chairman of the
company. Of the 74 critical dates identified, 69 were confirmed as having been
significant for the company in some or the other manner. Of the remaining 5
adequate data was not readily available. This goes on to confirm the multilateral
utility of the method and its multidimensional applicability in all spheres of
everyday life. This could go on further, but the point I am trying to make has in
all probability been conveyed.

The practical applications of Ashtakvarga as explained have unlimited potential

waiting to be tapped for the good of mankind. However, as far as the readers of
Vedic Astrology are concerned all that has been stated is about the past. What of
the coming months? Based on this very methodology, the share of Bajaj Auto
Limited is likely to be doing well on the bourses during most of July & August and
part of September 1998. On the flip side the scrip will be under bear pressure
and face declines during November and December 1998. Happy punting!