This
analysis pertains to the horoscope of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the
revered statesman and former Prime Minister of India. Among astrologers, there
has been some debate regarding his Ascendant sign.
Some
prominent astrologers—most notably Shri K.N. Rao—support the view that
his Ascendant is Scorpio. Shri Rao has clearly expressed this opinion in
the preface to his celebrated work, Finer Techniques of Astrological
Prediction. He cites the following birth particulars:
Date: December 25, 1924
Time: 5:45 a.m.
Place: Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (78°09′ E, 26°12′ N)
While I
concur with Shri Rao regarding the general parameters of the chart, I
respectfully differ with him on the birth time. Based on my own
research, I believe the correct birth time is 3:45 a.m., which yields Libra
as the Ascendant with Taurus Navāṃśa—a view supported by several
other experienced astrologers.
Below, I present both versions of the horoscope, cast using Lahiri Ayanāṃśa. Gulika has been calculated according to the Parāśarī method, and house division is based on the Śrīpati system.
Tenth house=5s-01/53 ,Fifth=11s-28/32, eigth house= 2s-25/12
Rahu-Venus
from 17/06/1994 to 17/06/1997
Jupiter`s
period from 28/11/2000
Rahu-
Venus starts from 29/01/1996 to 29/01/1999
Jupiter
period starts from 12/07/2002
Key Observations Regarding the Horoscope of Shri Atal Bihari
Vajpayee
1. Health
A well-established principle in astrology states that any
afflicted planet placed in the Ascendant tends to cause diseases in the
corresponding part of the body, as well as ailments related to its
associated dhātu (bodily element).
From Libra Ascendant, Saturn is posited in the
Ascendant, conjoined with Gulika, placed in the Navāṃśa of the
6th lord, and aspected by Mars from the 6th house. Saturn is the
natural significator of knees and joints, and this specific
configuration strongly supports Mr. Vajpayee’s history of knee pain and
eventual knee surgery. Currently, he suffers from paralysis, a
disease also ruled by Saturn. The placement of Saturn afflicted by both
Gulika and Mars (a functional Maraka) in the Ascendant from Libra
provides a clear and convincing astrological explanation for these
chronic health conditions—far more coherently than a Scorpio Ascendant
can.
By contrast, from the Scorpio Ascendant, Saturn
falls in the 12th house, which may suggest injury, deformity, or pain
due to an accident affecting the legs or eyes, but not paralysis or
prolonged joint disease. Furthermore, a widely accepted rule of astrology
states that exalted planets placed in evil houses tend to cause
misery, severe accidents, or a wretched life. This situation arises in the
chart with Scorpio Ascendant, and is incompatible with Mr. Vajpayee’s
dignified and honorable life.
2. Occupation
Mr. Vajpayee’s long and illustrious political career
is more convincingly supported by the Libra Ascendant. In this chart:
- The tenth
house, which governs profession, is under the direct and strong
influence of Saturn and Rahu, the primary indicators of political
life.
- The 10th
lord Moon is in the Navāṃśa of Saturn, conjoined with Rahu,
further emphasizing political inclinations.
- Additionally,
the Ascendant itself is under Saturn’s influence, indicating a
public life rooted in strategy, perseverance, and diplomacy.
From the Scorpio Ascendant, however, the 10th lord
Mercury is influenced primarily by the Sun and Jupiter. Although the
Sun may support a full-time political role, Jupiter does not, as
it leans more toward scholarship, teaching, and spirituality than the strategic
intensity of politics. While Jupiter’s aspect on the 10th house is
beneficial in general, it lacks the political sharpness indicated in the Libra
chart.
The Kārakāṃśa Ascendant (a key determinant of
vocation) also adds to the argument.
- From Scorpio
Ascendant, the Ātmakāraka Moon falls in Aquarius Navāṃśa,
and is aspected by Mercury and Jupiter—a combination more
reflective of a philosophical or scholarly temperament, not that of
a seasoned political tactician.
- Conversely,
from Libra Ascendant, the Ātmakāraka Moon is in Capricorn Navāṃśa,
conjoined with Rahu and aspected by the Sun. Capricorn being a diplomatic
sign, Rahu indicating politics, and the Sun suggesting status
or government position—this configuration paints a picture of political
authority, more consistent with Mr. Vajpayee’s career.
3. Rājayoga (Political Success and Dignity)
From the Scorpio Ascendant, the only promising
Rājayoga appears to be the conjunction of the 10th lord Mercury and the
5th lord Jupiter in the 2nd house. However, in the Navāṃśa chart,
these planets are in a 2/12 relationship, which diminishes the
strength of this yoga and undermines its effectiveness.
The conjunction of Venus and Moon in the 1st house
(Scorpio Ascendant) does not constitute a Rājayoga because:
- Venus
is a functional malefic and a Maraka for Scorpio Ascendant, and
suffers from Kendradhipati Doṣa (a blemish of owning a Kendra
without being a benefic).
- The 9th
lord Moon under the influence of a Maraka creates a Daridra Yoga
(yoga of misfortune or poverty).
- The debilitation
of the 9th lord further weakens prospects of fortune and support
from destiny.
- Even
though debilitation of the Bādhaka lord (Moon in this case) can
sometimes be favorable, this is only so when the planet is not in the
Ascendant—which is not the case here.
- Furthermore,
Moon and Venus are mutual enemies, adding additional affliction to
the chart.
Critical
Evaluation of Rahu’s Role and Final Verdict on the Ascendant of Shri Atal
Bihari Vajpayee
In classical
astrological literature, the placement of Rahu in the 10th house is
generally praised far more than in the 9th. From the Scorpio Ascendant,
however, Rahu is positioned in the 9th house, which raises several
concerns:
1.
It
resides in the Bādhaka house, a location notorious for causing obstacles
and karmic entanglements.
2.
It
is placed in the nakshatra of Ashleṣā, ruled by Mercury, who is
the 8th lord from Scorpio—a clear dosha.
3.
The
rāśi dispositor of Rahu (Moon) is debilitated, severely reducing
Rahu’s functional strength.
4.
In
the Navāṃśa chart, Rahu falls in the sign corresponding to the 3rd
house of the Rāśi chart, ruled by Saturn, which is both a natural
and functional malefic here.
5.
Lastly,
Rahu is unaspected by benefic planets and instead suffers malefic
aspects in both Rāśi and Navāṃśa.
Given these
multiple blemishes, how can Rahu produce a Rājayoga during its period,
especially when so many afflictions weaken its potential?
Even though
the ancient text Devakeralam does praise Rahu in the Ashleṣā
nakshatra, such commendation is conditional and does not override the
specific negative influences outlined above. In this case, Rahu’s potential
is substantially diminished. Had Rahu been placed in the 10th house—as
it is in the Libra Ascendant chart—it would have turned into a powerful
Yogakāraka.
In my
experience, Rahu in Ashleṣā can indeed act as a strong Yogakāraka, but not
when it is placed in the 6th, 8th, 12th, or Bādhaka houses, or when it
resides in a Navāṃśa corresponding to the 8th house of the Rāśi chart.
Taking
Libra as the Ascendant
If we adopt Libra
as the Ascendant for Shri Vajpayee, several powerful alignments immediately
support this view:
- The Libra Ascendant with
Taurus Navāṃśa falls in a Puṣkara Navāṃśa, which is highly
auspicious and praised in classical texts for conferring
purity, prominence, and protection.
- Saturn, a natural Yogakāraka for
Libra, is exalted and placed in the 1st house—a formidable
Rājayoga in itself.
- Rahu, placed in the 10th house,
falls in Ashleṣā nakshatra, ruled by the 9th lord Moon, and
is situated in the Navāṃśa of Saturn, further strengthening its
capacity to grant career success and public leadership.
Accordingly,
Rahu’s period turned out to be immensely fruitful. Shri Vajpayee
assumed the Prime Minister’s office on 16 May 1996, and again on 19
March 1998, during the period of Rahu–Venus.
Now, from Scorpio
Ascendant, Venus is a functional malefic, and its role during this
sub-period becomes questionable. However, from Libra Ascendant, Venus
is both Ascendant lord and Navāṃśa lord, capable of bestowing high rank,
prestige, and office, even though it is not a Yogakāraka.
Jupiter’s
Period – A Contradiction for Scorpio Ascendant
During the
major period of Jupiter, Shri Vajpayee’s political party, the BJP,
suffered an unexpected defeat, despite strong public sentiment
and favorable external conditions. This period also marked the end of
his active political career.
This decline
under Jupiter can only be explained from the Libra Ascendant, where Jupiter
is a functional malefic, combust, and situated in the 3rd house—a weak
and inauspicious position.
On the
contrary, from the Scorpio Ascendant, Jupiter is a Yogakāraka as
the 2nd and 5th lord, conjoined with the 10th lord Mercury, and
positioned strongly. Such a configuration should have brought prestige and
success, not political obscurity or downfall.
This glaring
contradiction further invalidates the Scorpio Ascendant theory and strengthens
the case for the Libra Ascendant, both from the standpoint of health,
career, and timing of key life events.
Adopted
Daughter – Astrological Indications
The Santan
Lagna is obtained by multiplying the degree of the Ascendant by five.
- At 3:45 a.m., using Libra
Ascendant, the calculated Santan Lagna falls in Aquarius
(approximately 10°09′ of Aquarius).
- At 5:45 a.m., as per the
Scorpio Ascendant chart, the Santan Lagna becomes Gemini (around
2°19′ of Gemini).
Now, let us
examine the 5th house from each Santan Lagna:
- From Aquarius, the 5th
house is Gemini, ruled by Mercury, and aspected by Mercury
from Sagittarius. This fulfills the Sloka’s requirement: a Mercury-ruled
sign, aspected by Mercury.
- From Gemini, however, the
5th house is Libra, ruled by Venus, with no qualifying
aspect from Mercury, Saturn, or Moon. Therefore, the Yoga for adoption
is not present in the 5:45 a.m. chart.
Additionally,
another rule states that if the 5th lord is placed in the Navāṃśa of Saturn,
and if Venus and Jupiter are in their own signs, this too indicates the
possibility of an adopted child.
Let us now
test this rule with the Libra Ascendant chart:
- The 5th lord, Saturn, is
Saturn himself, so the Saturnine influence is inherent.
- Jupiter is in his own sign, Sagittarius,
in the Rāśi chart.
- Venus is in its own sign, Taurus,
in the Navāṃśa chart.
These
placements fulfill the stated classical condition for the adoption Yoga.
Thus, from
the Libra Ascendant, the astrological factors indicate the potential
for an adopted child, a fact confirmed by Shri Vajpayee’s life, as
he indeed had an adopted daughter. Conversely, the Scorpio Ascendant
chart does not yield this Yoga, further casting doubt on its validity in
representing his life accurately.
5.
Unmarried Status
From the
perspective of the Scorpio Ascendant, the 7th lord Venus is
placed in the Ascendant itself, aspecting its own house—the 7th.
Furthermore, Venus is in its own Navāṃśa, conjoined with the Ascendant
lord Mars in the Navāṃśa chart and situated in a Kendra house. Such
a configuration typically supports the prospect of marriage, rather than
denying it.
In contrast,
from the Libra Ascendant, the picture changes significantly. Here:
- The 7th lord Mars is
posited in the 6th house, which is 12th from the 7th house,
indicating loss or denial of partnership.
- In the Navāṃśa chart,
Mars again falls in the 6th house, and notably, is conjoined with Venus,
the natural Kāraka for marriage. This placement—Mars (7th lord) and
Venus (Kāraka) together in the 6th—suggests struggles, denial, or
renunciation of marriage.
This
configuration under the Libra Ascendant provides a far more
convincing astrological explanation for his lifelong bachelorhood than the
Scorpio Ascendant, which in fact supports the likelihood of marriage.
6. Bharat
Ratna Honor
Shri
Vajpayee was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award,
on December 25, 2014. Let us examine the Dasha and transit conditions
prevailing on that date under both proposed birth times.
From
Libra Ascendant (3:45 a.m.):
- Major period: Jupiter
- Sub-period: Moon
- Sub-sub-period: Venus
In this
chart:
- Jupiter, although a functional
malefic for Libra Ascendant and placed in the 3rd house (not a
particularly strong position), is conjoined with the royal planet Sun,
thus granting it some dignity and political favor.
- The sub-period lord Moon
is the 10th lord, ruling honor, status, and public recognition,
clearly supporting such a national accolade.
- The sub-sub period lord Venus
is both the Ascendant lord and conjoined with the 10th lord Moon
in the Rāśi chart. This further strengthens the indication of
recognition, prestige, and formal state honors.
This Dasha
configuration, particularly Moon–Venus, is entirely supportive of
receiving the Bharat Ratna.
From
Scorpio Ascendant (5:45 a.m.):
- Major period: Jupiter
- Sub-period: Rahu
- Sub-sub-period: Jupiter
Here:
- Jupiter is a Yogakāraka, being
lord of the 2nd and 5th, and is conjoined with the 10th lord Sun.
However, it is also conjoined with the 8th lord Mercury, and falls
in the Navāṃśa of Gemini, which is equal to the 8th house
from the Rāśi Ascendant—an inauspicious placement that reduces the
effectiveness of Jupiter.
- More significantly, the sub-period
is of Rahu, which is completely unfit for a national honor:
- It is in the Bādhaka house,
- In the Navāṃśa of Saturn,
a malefic for Scorpio,
- And in the nakshatra of
Mercury, who is also a functional malefic for this Ascendant.
This
combination, especially Rahu in the sub-period, does not support the
receipt of the Bharat Ratna in any substantial way.
Transit
Consideration
At the time
of the Bharat Ratna announcement, the Moon sign was Scorpio in
both charts. However, the Navāṃśa of the Moon differs:
- For the Libra Ascendant
chart, the Moon's Navāṃśa is Capricorn.
- For the Scorpio Ascendant,
it is Aquarius.
According to
references found in Devakeralam, transit effects over the Moon’s Navāṃśa
sign can be significant and are to be taken seriously. In the case of Libra
Ascendant, transits over Capricorn—the Moon’s Navāṃśa sign—can
help explain the conferring of high honors.
- So, Saturn
is 10th from the sign Aquarius and 11th from Capricorn.
Now let us
see about its transit from these houses in the words of Manishi Mantreshwar by
Phal Deepika. Chapter 26, verse 23-
The native commits sinful deeds when this Saturn is in the 10th
house; loss of honor and a life full of ailments is another predicament.
When in the 11th house, Saturn brings all kinds of happiness and
wealth, and unique honour too.
Hence, this transit is only fit at the time of the Libra
ascendant.
Jupiter is 6th from the sign of Aquarius and 7th from the sign of Capricorn. Let us observe the words of Phaldeepika about this type of transit. Chapter 26, verse 19-
Hence, Jupiter at sign Cancer at the time of his honor also
supports his Libra ascendant.
Hence, we can conclude the time of
his birth at 3h 45m is more logical than others.
-------------------------------------Raghvendra Khare
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