!!What makes me trust astrology!!

From Skepticism to Conviction: What Makes Me Trust Astrology

I did not believe in astrology until the 28th year of my life. My skepticism was rooted in a simple question: How can we divide the world's billions of people into only 12 zodiac signs or 27 Nakshatras? I had seen many people with the same sign or Nakshatra leading vastly different lives. At the time, I was unaware of the finer, more precise divisions of the zodiac that make each horoscope unique.

My journey from doubt to belief was not sudden; it was built on a series of verifiable experiences that I could not logically dismiss.

1. The First Encounter: A Surprising Reflection

One day, a friend who was learning computer skills at a local institute took my birth details and generated my horoscope using software. The printout was full of predictions based on the positions of planets in various houses and signs. I was baffled. How could this software know my general tendencies, my inner nature, and even my specific physical ailments? This was my first, undeniable inclination toward the potential truth of astrology.

Later, I discovered an old, handwritten copy of my horoscope at my village home, prepared years ago by a Pandit from the holy city of Banaras. In it, he had accurately predicted my disinclination towards marriage and my intense spiritual desires. This second piece of evidence deepened my faith, and I began to study astrology in earnest.

2. A Disturbing Yoga: Destiny in Action

During my studies, I came across a specific astrological combination: if the lord of the 5th house is situated in the 6th house in a female Nakshatra (constellation), the native marries his maternal uncle's daughter. This act is considered highly reprehensible in North Indian culture, where a maternal uncle's daughter is regarded as a sister.

Some time ago, a young man from a respected upper-caste community in my village eloped with his own maternal uncle's daughter and married her. I had his horoscope. When I examined it, to my astonishment, this exact yoga was present. Later, I found three more cases with a similar combination. One had eloped with his maternal aunt's daughter. In the other two cases, the individuals had long-term immoral relations, but their attempts to marry were unsuccessful. One of them had a relationship with the daughter of a man who was an adopted maternal uncle from a village relation, not a blood relative (I have found that adopted relations often function astrologically just like blood relations).

This type of relationship is highly condemned in our society. It was a profound lesson in how helpless a person can be in the face of a strong destiny. The young man who married his cousin felt deep remorse and was ostracized by his family and community for a long time.

Before applying this yoga, one must understand that many astrological classifications are disputed. The precise identification of which Nakshatras are "female" and which are "male" is one such area, with several differing opinions, none of which I find perfect. I have identified some, but others remain mysterious. The full effect of this particular yoga seems to manifest only when Venus or the 7th lord is also strongly related to the 1st, 4th, or 6th house.

This experience led me to understand that astrology, as we have it today, is a branch of knowledge that was once at its peak and has since declined. It appears to be a downward-oriented stream of knowledge, not an upwardly-progressing one like modern science. We often associate it with religion and miracles, which is perhaps why scientifically-minded people are not interested in its study. But at its core, it is a science that studies the effect of cosmic forces on our subconscious mind and actions. It is not magic, and not every planetary position can yield a clear-cut prediction. Some situations create confusion, while others remain beyond our current understanding.

3. Predestination and First Relationships

I have a close friend who confides everything in me. He had relationships with four virgin girls, and with two of them, he had sexual intercourse. These were the first sexual experiences for those girls, and he provided satisfactory proof of this to me. There were numerous astrological similarities in the horoscopes of these two girls.

With the other two girls, he engaged in sexual molestation but could not have intercourse, even though the girls were willing and all circumstances were favorable. One of them openly expressed her desire, yet it never happened. Astrologically, his horoscope was significantly different from those of these two girls. This made me want to investigate further, suggesting that there are specific astrological points that align for a first intercourse to occur with a specific person.

Following this, I spoke with other friends, clients, and newly married couples, collecting horoscopes of partners who were each other's first sexual partner. From this study, I found that at least five or six specific astrological points must agree for this event to take place, just as I had observed in my friend's case. From this, I am of the firm conclusion that for a first intercourse happening with mutual consent, the partner is predetermined. (I have no data on cases of rape, so I cannot comment on that.)

4. Predicting Health and Accidents

Beyond relationships, I know of certain planetary periods (Dashas) and transits that reliably make a person unwell. This can manifest as a simple illness, an accident, or, in severe cases, even death. I cannot always tell for sure what will happen, as my own astrological knowledge has its limits, but the timing of vulnerability can often be seen.

5. The Mystery of Snake Bites and 'Parivesha'

Snakebite is not a rare occurrence where I live. Astrology contains several combinations for this, but one from the classic text Prashna Marg has proven decisive in my experience, especially when other supporting combinations are present. (An article of mine on this topic was published in Bangalore's Modern Astrology magazine and is available on my blog). The combination involves a sub-planet called 'Parivesha'.

• The Rule: The text states that if the longitude of Parivesha falls in the ascendant, a snakebite may result.
• My Observation: I've found that the Navamsa sign of Parivesha often falls in a sign that is trine to the natal ascendant or Navamsa ascendant. It can also aspect the ascendant from the 7th or 10th house.
• The Case of the Twins: I was startled by a case of twin brothers. One died of a snakebite in childhood, while the other is still alive and well. Both shared the same ascendant, but their Navamsa ascendants were different. In the chart of the boy who died, the Parivesha yoga was perfectly formed with respect to his Navamsa Lagna. I have studied many such incidents since and have found this yoga to be consistently true.

6. Rectifying Birth Time Through a Child's Gender

Some time ago, a relative gave birth to a daughter and asked me to note the time. I cast the horoscope and informed them that there was a slight error in the time they had given me; it should be about 40 seconds different. He was surprised and confirmed that it was indeed off by more than 40 seconds. "I was fully conscious and watching the clock," he said, "but on what basis are you saying this?" I explained that I had decided based on the gender of the child. The time he had given favored a male birth, not a female one.

The sex of a child can be determined by the odd-even nature of the Navamsa-Dwadasamsa ascendant (the 1/12th division of the Navamsa ascendant). This ascendant changes roughly every minute. To use this, one needs a birth time accurate to the second and precise geographical coordinates. This raises the difficult question of how to define the "moment of birth" – is it the emergence of the head, the whole body, or the first cry? This is a research issue that remains a challenge.

7. Election Predictions and the Power of Horary Astrology

In November 2023, elections were proposed for several Indian states. I had predicted, using a method I developed, that the opposition party would form the government in all of them. However, a friend from Jabalpur visited and, in our discussion, strongly disagreed, stating that based on his business-related travels, the ruling BJP was leading in Madhya Pradesh.

I immediately noted the time of his statement and cast a horary (Prashna) chart to test its truth. Yes, the truth of a spontaneously uttered statement can be tested through astrology. After examining the horoscope of that moment, I saw that his statement was proving to be true. And so it was. When the election results came, governments changed everywhere except in Madhya Pradesh. (The fact that the successful, long-standing Chief Minister was then replaced by his own party was beyond my imagination, so I had not considered that specific point).

The method for determining the truth of a statement involves examining the 2nd house of the horary chart. If benefic planets are there, if the 2nd lord is in a sign owned by a benefic, and if it receives benefic aspects, the statement is likely true. The Navamsa sign of the 2nd house cusp and its condition in the Navamsa chart further solidify the conclusion. This method has been proven to me many times.

8. Horary Astrology and Finding Lost Items

Horary astrology is a branch that focuses on specific questions. In my village, cases of missing or stolen goods are common. According to astrological rules, if the Ascendant, Moon, Ascendant Lord, and Arudha Ascendant (and their Navamsas) are all in fixed signs at the time of the question, the item is not stolen but is still at home, misplaced by a family member. I have seen this to be 100% true in countless cases. Even if just two of these four factors are in a fixed position, it indicates the item is at home. The real difficulty arises when these factors are in signs of mixed nature (e.g., fixed in Rasi but movable in Navamsa). This requires an astrologer to estimate planetary strength, which is where mistakes can happen, as there is no perfect, universally accepted scale for this.

So, Vedic astrology is not a fake branch of knowledge. It is true, as I have experienced in so many cases. From these experiences, I can surmise that many major events in our lives are predetermined, even if we are unable to know them with our current level of astrological knowledge. This study has only further strengthened my understanding of Advaita Vedanta. That is why I trust astrology.

The ultimate aim of Vedic culture has always been enlightenment—knowing the Absolute. Whether in lifestyle, knowledge, or even entertainment like music, all fields were developed to aid in this process. The dictum ‘सा विद्या या विमुक्तये’ (Sā Vidyā Yā Vimuktaye) – meaning "True knowledge is that which liberates" – is the core motive. The Rishis developed astrology not just for material prediction but to understand the cosmic system and its profound influence on us. It reveals our integrity with the cosmos, showing that we are not separate from the universe. Just as the planets regulate the Earth's tides and seasons, so too do they regulate the subtle currents of human life, for we are an integral part of that same cosmic body. This strengthens the philosophy of Advaita: we are all one, not separate. Astrology, at its best, is a tool to realize this truth.

--------------------------------------------------------------------Raghvendra Khare