Professional Documents
Culture Documents
K.N Rao Interview PDF
K.N Rao Interview PDF
K.N Rao Interview PDF
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
Enter Email
Submit
(http://www.facebook.com
/lova.institute)
(http://twitter.com
/VaughnPaulManle)
(https://www.youtube.com
/channel
/UCjm3aEk4er0iS_HtCrSsIkA
What's Popular
Gifts of the 8th House: Transformation and Change (/published-articles-h/22-gifts-of-the-8th-housetransformation-and-change)
Navigating By The Stars (/published-articles-h/101-navigating-by-the-stars)
Interview with K.N. Rao: Conversations with one of the Eminent Vedic Astrologers of our Time (/publishedarticles-h/26-interview-with-k-n-rao-conversations-with-one-of-the-eminent-vedic-astrologers-of-our-time)
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology (/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-interviewthe-necessity-for-research-in-astrology)
Astro-Profile: Dr. Masaru Emoto - The Hidden Messages of Water Signs (/published-articles-h/25-astro-profiledr-masaru-emoto-the-hidden-messages-of-water-signs)
Important Clues From the Previous Dasha (/published-articles-h/23-important-clues-from-the-previous-dasha)
Saturn: Deliverance from Life's Lessons (/published-articles-h/102-saturn-deliverance-from-life-s-lessons)
The Double Transit Phenomenon of Jupiter and Saturn (/published-articles-h/433-the-double-transitphenomenon-of-jupiter-and-saturn)
The Significance Of The Mystical Number 108 (/published-articles-h/103-the-significance-of-the-mysticalnumber-108)
The Power of Synchronicities and Omens (/published-articles-h/429-vedic-astrology-article-the-powerof-synchronicities-and-omens-by-vaughn-paul-manley-m-a)
The Five Foundations of Jyotish (/published-articles-h/100-the-five-foundations-of-jyotish)
Astro-Profile: Venus Williams's Big Comeback (/published-articles-h/24-astro-profile-venus-williams-s-big-
1 of 22
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
comeback)
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
Tweet
Like
Sri K.N. Rao, is widely considered to be one of the foremost Vedic astrologers in the world today. He is the founder of
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavans school of astrology in New Delhi, India, which is a two year course of study with over 1200
students and 27 teachers (as of Oct 2009). He is also the founder of the bi-monthly magazine, Journal of Astrology, and
author of more than twenty-five books. His academic and research-based approach combines both classic and
innovative methods like his PAC-DARES and Composite Approach, which are used by students worldwide. Over the past
forty years his record of accurate predictions has earned him wide spread recognition. His website
is: www.JournalofAstrology.com.
2 of 22
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
3 of 22
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
up the worlds best and biggest institution. I jocularly told him, But Swamiji, I dont have gadi, badi, or sari. Gadi
means I dont have a car. I never had a desire to have a car, which I could have easily afforded, because I wanted
to live with the minimum of things. Badi means house. I never even had a house. I bought this small house only
because paying rents in Delhi would have made my living uneconomical. There are very heavy rents here. So it has
proved a blessing in disquise for fifteen years now. Sari means what a woman wears, which means I never got
married. So I said, No gadi, no badi, no sari, how can I build up an institution? He said, When God wills it, it will
come, and everything will get created. You will see that it will happen. It was a very fantastic vision of his in 1980. It
was unbelievable.
Then, in 1982 Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan wrote to me a letter saying that they wanted me to start astrology classes.
They had known from some sources that I was teaching astrology to small groups in the office and at home. I met
them and told them that if I start up an institution that it would have to be with a team of teachers and not single
handedly. That way it will last even after I die or retire. So I waited for some time. In 1987, I was ready with a small
team of teachers, but they were not very good. Anyway, each one could teach something, but they were not
thorough. Anyway, we started with only 30 students. Today, in 2009, we have 1200 students and 27 teachers. We
have 80 research publications and a quarterly journal running for more than 12 years. So it has been a very
substantial achievement in that sense, and every prediction made by Moorkhanandji has come out correct.
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
Then, K. Padmanabhaiah, a scientist and a rich man who lost the case in Andhra Pradesh, decided to appeal to the
Supreme Court. I personally appealed to astrologers from all over India to file petitions as petitioners in person.
They promised they would come and file petitions. This number was 60-80 astrologers. But, when the case was
finally admitted, I was the only one. There was no one else from the country. When the case was being called on
the merits, again I was the only one. There was not even another astrologer in the audience at the court hearing the
case, other than two of my teachers from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. You can understand the level of hypocrisy.
These people talk about the great rishi tradition of India, but when it actually comes to showing solidarity to fight for
astrology not one man came.
I fought this case despite my sickness, since I had not been well after the year 2000. But anyway, by Gods grace, I
went and fought it and today astrology is legally protected in the country. Now for the first time in the history of
India, astrology is being taught as a regular subject in the university. Over 20 universities are now teaching
astrology classes. That is a big achievement. In that sense I have completed my mission. There is nothing left now.
At Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan we have a tradition of teaching, a tradition of producing research, a tradition of writing
books and publishing them. And all this we have been able to achieve with only a two-day weekend course of
5 of 22
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
maximum three hours per day. That is the most remarkable part. The universities have five-day per week courses
at five hours a day and they hardly achieve anything. We have achieved so much. That is Gods will, that is the
vision of Moorkhanandji.
A Fragmented Jyotish Tradition
Vaughn Paul: So this is a cornerstone of your teaching of astrology, this research-based, academic approach. Can
you explain more about that?
K.N. Rao: What you must know is that in the year 1834, when the English rule began to introduce English
education, they totally destroyed the Sanskrit legacy and tradition in the process. That has not been resurrected till
this day. There is no Sanskrit tradition, there is no Sanskrit parampara, there is no astrology tradition, and there is
no astrology parampara. The only small rudimentary parampara that still exists is the karmakanda parampara
where they do rituals for marriage and other events, etc. Nothing more. Everything the Englishman systematically
destroyed by introducing English education. That was the mischief, that was the intention. This can be best
understood by what Thomas Babington Macaulay stated in his speech of February 02, 1835, in the British
Parliament. Please see this quote:
"I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a
thief, such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such high caliber, that I do not think
we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and
cultural heritage, and therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if
the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self
esteem, their native culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation."
So what happened was that the educated class, the Brahmins, had taken to western English education quickly, they
distinguished themselves, but the Sanskrit tradition, which astrology was traditionally a part of, got destroyed totally.
Brahmins who remained in the countryside, and did not have the benefit of an English education, became
neglected. They eked out a living out of the fragments of their knowledge of karmakanda and some rudimentary
astrology. In both of the National Commissions for Backwards Classes of India (Kaka Kalelkars in 1955 and B. P.
Mandals in 1978), astrologers have been classified as a backward class.
So those of us who are now doing astrology have inherited a fragmented tradition. In the year 1901 we had 10%
male literacy and % female literacy. Such was the miserable condition. There was never any question of any
Jyotish tradition. People make all kinds of claims about Jyotish paramparas, but dont believe them. It all got
destroyed basically. Then, slowly it got revived. Dr. Ramans grandfather B. Suryanarayan Rao and some others
revived it in South India. In Andhra Pradesh, people brought out small booklets in Telegu, the local language. In
northern India it was revived in Varanasi, Lucknow, and Bombay. In Lahore they brought out books in Urdu. Slowly
they brought them out, but there was no tradition. It was all in fragments. Whatever book I got I read.
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
the concepts have undergone a change. It is still male dominated but the female is challenging the superiority of the
male everywhere now. It is that way in the West, so also in India. Females are employed; they have economical
independence and are not dependent on the male anymore for their living. They believe in a very limited, planned
family and so the whole concept has undergone a change. If you look at those astrology books you will find that
none of them help you to understand modern society, the modern male and female.
So how do you modernize those concepts? The principles of astrology are eternally valid, but their contextual
meaning has to undergo a change in modern times.
K.N. Rao: Totally modernizing it. If you do not modernize then astrology has no utility for the person of the 21st
century. The world has undergone such a big change. The whole world is a global village now. What is happening
in USA is affecting India, and vice versa. Cultural crosscurrents have become very common. They come as a craze,
as a fad, if they stay longer they become a trend, if they stay longer then they become part of civilization. That is
7 of 22
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
what is happening. There are many Indians leading an American style of life, there are many Americans leading an
Indian style of life. This is a result of global influence.
Now, getting back to 7 karakas. Surprisingly, all the famous commentators on Jaimini, like Neelakantha, Krishna
Mishra etc., never mentioned why these karakas are used and what their meaning is. And all these people also: B.
Suryanarayan Rao, Dr. Raman, Iranganti Rangacharya, P.S. Shastri never bothered to know why the karakas were
used. I found out in the course of time that the karakas represented the real soul of the Jaimini system. If you do
not know how to make use of the karakas then Jaimini is useless for you. And if you know how to make use of them
then you can give fine predictions about career, marriage, children and so many things. I spent 20 years working on
Jaiminis chara dasha and in the process I had to make some modifications. When I started predicting through
Jaimini I found that the chara dasha, as recommended by others, was giving the wrong timing. Then I corrected it
and now the chara dasha that I use gives the results of karakas exactly, and also gives the timely very closely.
8 of 22
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
On the other hand, if you take what they recommend in Darbhanga and Rajasthan and take the birth horoscope
and put the karakamsha there, then youll get extraordinarily correct results. The other is wrong. Second, a Jaimini
sutra says that if Venus is in the karakamsha then the man will be sexually virile and live up to 100 years. Now,
Venus at 29 degrees and 58 minutes in Virgo will be in debilitation and it will also be vargottama and it will also be
the atmakaraka. If you put it in the navamsha and treat it as being placed in the karakamsha then all those people
with Venus in that condition will live to be 100 years. That again becomes a stupid interpretation. I found this all
going wrong. So I said nothing doing. Ill follow the Darbhanga and Rajasthan people who put the karakamsha in
the birth horoscope and interpret it, and I got extraordinarily correct results. I gave brilliant predictions on that basis,
and many of my students have been doing that for 22 years. So I dont bother with the sutra-chopping pandits.
They will confuse you totally and they can produce no results.
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
These days we have been doing a very beautiful research. Were looking at the horoscope of the male or female
who want to get married and determining the profession of the spouse. In India, it is an immensely useful research
because we are still a tradition bound conservative society. The parents will come and show the horoscope of a girl
and ask what type of husband she will get. What will be his profession? That is a primary question that they ask. In
ancient times profession meant a traditional occupation. You are a farmer, you are an ironsmith, you are a warrior,
or you are a priest. Thats all. Shudra, Vaishya, Kshatriya, Brahman. Today you are a computer engineer, you are a
fashion designer, you are cinema actor, you work in TV, you are a journalist, you are a salesman, etc. So this all
has to be reinterpreted.
Group Research Projects
Vaughn Paul: For the benefit of people who dont know about the research projects at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
could you tell us how many charts you are using, etc.
K.N. Rao: Okay, see what happens is we have two types of astrology researches going on simultaneously. The first
is researching various divisional horoscopes and dashas that have been neglected for centuries. The second is
researching a subject that is chosen according to the socio-economic demand of the times we are living in. As I told
you, if you read all those books, on the basis of one single planet, they give all the results, which is stupid, totally
stupid. You have to make use of the PACDARES approach and synthesize the whole thing.
Now all types of new remedial measures come out. Why? The reason is because people want to make money.
There is one fellow in Delhi who makes yantras and sells them to Americans for $100-500 dollars and foolish
Americans are buying them. They think they can take this yantra and their fate will change. That is what is
11 of 22
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
happening. So along with the astrology that has spread to America a lot of superstitions have also become
attached to it. And the Americans think by wearing stones or doing yantra puja their problems will be solved. That
never happens. Whatever is fated is bound to happen. But do some worship, because it can be mitigated to some
extent through sincere, honest worship.
Vaughn Paul: Which you recommend to be done by the person himself or herself?
K.N. Rao: He has to do it himself! You feel an appetite, so you have to eat food. It is your problem therefore it is
your worship. It is not anyone whom you hire doing the worship and changing your fate. Nothing happens like that.
Not one single case. I have seen case after case to prove this. But anyway this cheating is going on in the name of
kala sarpa yoga, pitri dosha, etc. All this cheating has spread all over the world now through fraudulent Indian
astrologers. And in these days of web site astrology, the danger is much greater.
The PACDARES Method
Vaughn Paul: You mentioned just a moment ago about PACDARES. Can you talk about this approach that you
developed?
K.N. Rao: Ill tell you. All the old astrologers that I used to see in my childhood made use of a brilliant approach. I
saw my mother also doing this. They never coined any expressions to explain it, but over the course of time I
thought about it. When I was teaching, the demand from students was to have a clear cut, systematic approach.
They were reading books and getting confused. They would say Saturn in the 7th house means destruction, Rahu
in the 7th house means bad marriage. I would tell them this is all nonsense, dont go by that. Instead take a total
synthesis. How do you make a total synthesis? I said P is for a where a planet is placed or posited. A is for how it
is aspected. C is for conjunctions. Therefore it is called PAC. Out of these some yogas emerge. D is for dhana
yoga, money. A is for arishta yoga, arishta is mishaps, illness, etc. R is for raja yoga, getting high positions in life.
E is for exchanges, like the lord of the 2nd in the 4th, and lord of the 4th in the 2nd, etc. S is for special features,
which every horoscope has. Now look at this and synthesize the whole thing by doing PAC. Out of this emerges
DARES. This framework you keep in your mind.
Now look at the dasha system and you see when a particular event is to take place according to these yogas.
Hindu astrology is a dasha and yoga approach. The moment you forget that the system is destroyed. You must
know how to make use of the dashas, because the dashas are the dynamic fructification of a promised event. The
yogas show the promised event, while the dashas show when it is going to be fulfilled. So unless you do
PACDARES you cannot develop any astrological skill at all.
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
aspects in vargas. That is wrong. The entire book Jataka Bharanam is based only on the interpretation of vargas,
particularly the navamsha and aspects in the navamsha. Brilliant predictions come out of that. So see aspects also
in varga charts. Youll get very good results.
Vaughn Paul: Both Parashari and Jaimini aspects?
K.N. Rao: Yes, but dont mix the two systems. See aspects separately within their own systems.
Jyotish and Spiritual Sadhana
Vaughn Paul: You often stress to your students to practice astrology as part of spiritual sadhana, as a service.
K.N. Rao: You see it is like this. People will do it according to their background. Some are very greedy and want to
make money. They do make money and for some years they prosper. Then after that, they and their family suffer
very badly. I warn them to be careful. I say, Today you are cheating someone, so your karma will boomerang, and
you will also suffer. You will not escape your karma. So, if you become professional at all, become an honest
professional. Do it honestly, charge honestly, thats all. Stop there. Theres nothing wrong in that. But the temptation
to earn a lot of money and therefore charge the heavy fees and charge for remedial measures is not astrology. It is
cheating, downright cheating. But that is what is happening.
Yesterday one girl was here from London whom I had known since 1978. I had given her a prediction that she
would marry and go abroad. Shes now married and lives in London. She said Indian astrologers are appearing on
TV channels in London now, and doing the same thing that we are doing in India - cheating. So like an infection this
cheating is spreading. So, those who do astrology as a spiritual sadhana benefit immensely, tremendously,
because their sadhana begins to have a strong spiritual base. Then they dont get easily shaken up.
Vaughn Paul: So youre saying for the astrologers themselves to practice a spiritual sadhana?
K.N. Rao: Astrologers, if they do spiritual sadhana it is excellent for them! Traditional astrologers were doing it.
And, at a later stage they reduced their astrological activities to very little. For example, I see only about 7
horoscopes per week now. Earlier I was seeing 10 horoscopes per day and so I have a huge collection of
horoscopes. I have reduced it, because one ought to devote more time to ones japam, sadhana, and meditation.
Some of the astrologers will do that as they grow old. Others will be greedy. But many of these greedy astrologers
dont live very long, they die prematurely, leaving a lot of suffering for their families.
Vaughn Paul: Are there any specific practices that you recommend astrologers to follow?
K.N. Rao: Well in modern hectic times you cannot follow the old system. When I was a child I used to see
astrologers getting up early in the morning and doing their worship. Then one or two hours after sunrise they would
sit down to do astrology while people came to them. This was from about 7 oclock until 10 or 11 oclock. Then, they
would take their lunch and again come at 2 oclock and do it up to 4 or 5 oclock, until sunset. They would not be
doing it before sunrise, and they would not be doing it after sunset. Now these days, I do most of astrology only
after sunset. This is because during my service career I was busy in the office in the daytime, so I could do it only
after sunset. That choice had to be made. So, if you can follow that old discipline that is excellent. Sit down do your
worship then do your astrology. Your moral excellence increases, and your concentration is very good then. Your
predictive success is also much greater. If you do astrology after worship your predictions qualitatively improve.
Then as far as possible, if a needy man comes, do astrology free for him even if you are a professional charging
heavily. That ideal should be there. But in the mercenary culture of our times that ideal has vanished.
Misconceptions and the Value of Statistics
Vaughn Paul: What is left for you to accomplish in your work?
K.N. Rao: My mission is over, there is nothing left. There is an excellent teaching institute that has come up, the
teachers are there, the tradition of research is going on, book writing is continuing. The journal is already getting
handed over to a group now, and Im not looking after the journal anymore. They will be able to publish the books
that they write whether I am there or not. We have won that classic case at the Supreme Court in favor of astrology.
So all that Im continuing to do is consolidate this tradition of students writing and doing research. That is the last
thing that Im doing. We have now three other teachers, other than myself, conducting research, Manoj Pathak,
Naval Singh, and Deepak Bisaria. They have their own classes. We have reached a fantastic number of 230
13 of 22
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
Vaughn Paul: With all the research that is available through your publications and the journal, students now have
the big advantage of being able to see statistics that disprove many of these common misconceptions.
K.N. Rao: Why this statistical research is necessary is because no one in modern times will be convinced that
astrology is a science unless they see the technique replicated. They are not going to be impressed by your quoting
Sanskrit shlokas or talking about the great tradition of parampara. Hes a downright practical man, and he says,
"Show me the technique, show me the methodology, show me the results." That scientific culture has come to stay
now. Students at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan come and say, Please show us how it works.
14 of 22
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
Vaughn Paul: And then if we had time youd go into chara dasha, etc.
K.N. Rao: I can go into all that, but just at a glance here it is clear. He wrote to me a desperate letter. The moment I
opened it I said yes, this is going to happen. Here read this:
15 of 22
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
Vaughn Paul: Ive had sudden misfortune. On Oct. 6th, I was fired from my current job, and Im actively looking for
a job now>
K.N. Rao: Okay, he was fired from his job. On 6th October 2009, Saturn-Saturn-Mars was running and he lost his
job. Saturn is in the 12th house, Mars is the 12th lord, and he is in a foreign country. So it is so precise, astrology is
so scientific. The moment I saw that letter, I opened the horoscope and said it is clear, crystal clear. This is our
Hindu astrology. If you dont use the dasha system, astrology will be ruined.
Vaughn Paul: Ive also seen myself just in the days that Ive spent at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan on this trip, that its
very exciting to see students talking with one another, theyll be pointing out a chart and theyll say, Oh its this, its
this and this. They may ask one another, What about this? Its a very dynamic learning environment and theyre
all using this composite approach and PACDARES method and getting excellent results.
K.N. Rao: This has now crystallized into a tradition at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and the institution will keep on
prospering. We teach you a method, but it is for you to develop your predictive skill through that method. We cannot
give you predictive skill.
There was a great musicologist in the country by the name of Bhatkhande. He had a five-year musical course in
Lucknow, a beautiful course. At the end of the five years he used to say, In these five years what we have taught
you is 'nayaki,' that is a method, not 'gayaki,' not the skill of singing. This you have to develop yourself. Similarly,
what we are doing at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan is teaching you 'nayaki', a method. 'Gayaki' you develop yourself by
working more and more. And students now are developing very fast. This is because these days student who come
here have the great advantage of reading these books and researches. They buy all the books and read them. By
the time they complete the second year course they develop good skill.
Vaughn Paul: And if they have questions there are so many teachers and other competent students to get the
answers very readily.
K.N. Rao: So its at a very high level, a very high level now. The teachers themselves will have to keep on
upgrading their skill. After some time the teacher will find it difficult to meet the challenges of the students. It is
becoming so difficult now.
K.N. Rao: You know, any organization, anywhere in the world, can only develop if the cause of an organization is
kept above self-interests. All the organizations get shattered and vanish into limbo when self-interest predominates
and the real cause is forgotten. At Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan we face similar problems.
We started in 1987, but in 1989, when we started reaching the number of 200 students, people became greedy.
16 of 22
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
One person wanted to impose his books and his ayanamsha. You can understand whom. I said, No, we use only
Lahiri ayanamsha. There was an initial quarrel about this. Someone in Delhi who was bringing out a monthly
journal told me, You prescribe it for the students. I said, No, students are at liberty to buy whichever astrological
journal that they want. But in 1997, when Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan decided to start its own journal, the Journal of
Astrology, it was made part of the curriculum because it was our home journal. Students contribute articles, and we
develop new writers. We dont ask writers outside to contribute because we have produced enough writers. Getting
back to what I was saying, some of our teachers became greedy. They started all types of gimmicks and trapping
students. There were one or two scandals. We had to get rid of them.
17 of 22
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
K.N. Rao: Yes, they can read the books we are publishing in English. That is one.
First, students must become technically proficient. This will happen if you master the rudiments properly. Then, be
careful about the Jyotish software you are using. Now some of the software gives you eight karakas and ruins your
Jaimini. Some of them will give chara dasha totally wrong. These things you must learn and calculate manually.
Then dont go by many of the superficial claims of parampara, etc. See practically whether what is being said is
working or not. Take the time to go through that. After doing that keep on collecting horoscopes.
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
K.N. Rao: You see, when a subject becomes very popular, it loses the sheen, the brilliance of an academic study. It
becomes a part of pop culture and gets defiled, vulgarized. Its like classical music versus pop music. You see the
difference? Similarly, there is no comparison between classical, brilliant, academic astrology versus pop astrology,
which you see on TV and in newspapers. Pop astrology is totally vulgar. It has no meaning. So the danger of
academic astrology becoming associated with pop astrology is always there. To prevent this danger it is necessary
to come out, at some stage, with strong legislation all over the world. Otherwise, this will become a terribly
corrupting influence, and academic astrology will suffer as a result. Ordinary people will think that this vulgar
astrology is equated with real astrology, which it is not.
Vaughn Paul: So, nowadays, anyone can develop a web site and make any claims.
K.N. Rao: Yes. A lot of stupid and wrong claims have been made. So-called paramparas have been promoted.
Jaimini has been distorted. Stupid theories have been floated. Kala sarpa yoga has been bloated beyond
proportion and made into a big money earner. All these type of things have happened. So that is the danger of pop
astrology spreading in America, in Russia, and everywhere. Now you see stones are being prescribed as a remedy
measure. It is nonsense. it is not given in any classical book of astrology. So this pop astrology has to be controlled.
Regulating Malpractice
Vaughn Paul: What do you envision as the best-case scenario of how the study and practice of Vedic astrology
can develop from this point forward?
K.N. Rao: You see once there is a global linkage of serious astrological centers, where good research is being
done, they can collectively persuade their respective governments to come out with proper legislation to regulate
and control malpractices.
The beautiful thing that happened in the USA in the 19th century was that the moral practices of doctors was
controlled and regulated when the American Medical Association was formed. Medical treatment can be expensive,
but medical malpractices are very, very controlled due to strong organization and legislation. So the same thing
should happen with astrology. International astrological centers should link up and persuade governments to come
out with proper legislation. There should be a good organization. So that is bound to happen, but it will take some
time to get the proper regulation. After 30-60 years astrology will get recognized all over the world as the science of
sciences, as the science of counseling primarily, and prediction secondarily.
In India, prediction is primary and counseling is secondary. In America, counseling is primary, and prediction is
secondary. The Wests concept is, Man makes his own destiny. In the East, we believe in preordained destiny. So
the approach to astrology will be basically different in the East and the West. In India, if you say life is predestined,
people will easily accept it. In America or England, if you say the same thing they will not accept it. In India and the
USA, during the days of British Imperialism it used to be said, Character is destiny. A man can affect his destiny
according to his character. In India we dont say, Character is destiny. We say, "There is a destiny that youre born
with." Part of destiny is totally unalterable, part of destiny is alterable, and part of destiny is half alterable and half
unalterable. Therefore, we use three terms: dridha karma, adridha karma, and dridha-adridha karma. This means
that which is unchangeable, that which is changeable, and that which is half changeable. So our approach is that
we believe in destiny. Therefore, here in India prediction will be primary, and counseling will be secondary. In the
West, it will be the opposite.
Regaining Dignity in Jyotish
19 of 22
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
Vaughn Paul: In America, I feel like Im constantly faced with prejudices against astrology being an undignified
study.
K.N. Rao: Yes, they think it is undignified. But once you begin to establish and show the replication, then the same
study will become highly dignified. That is what ACVA (the American College of Vedic Astrology) should have done.
That should have been their aim. In any case, if you produce an internationally replicable research in one, two, or
three areas, then you can attack the scientific establishment. You can tell them, You have closed your mind. You
have not studied this. Come on disprove it!
In India, I had to fight this alone. As soon as scientists came to the court of law to fight astrology I destroyed all their
arguments in 22 minutes. They could not argue with me. So you can plan it for the next 6-10 years and youll see
that astrology will get the dignity, rest assured. If you do your work honestly, it will become highly dignified. Now in
Delhi people are learning astrology and respecting astrology. Why are these students coming to our classes from
other subjects? It is because they respect it. They want to learn it. You must create the same condition in the USA.
Vaughn Paul: They dont even oppose astronomy, a subject so closely linked to astrology. I think the reason is
what you said earlier, that if the church didnt oppose astrology, then more people would go to astrologers than to
the ministers for advice.
K.N. Rao: Yes. In the Middle Ages in Europe, there was terrible opposition to astrology. Its a very bad history with a
lot of prejudice.
When I was in the USA I gave a lecture to scientists in Boston. They came quietly, and other people came. The
program was not publicized, but it spread word of mouth. One American lady put up her chart on the board. I said,
20 of 22
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
Look here, you have studied philosophy, then your studies were interrupted, and then you resumed your studies
and youre in an educational career. She said, Yes. Everything is correct. I continued, And these days you
should be planning to go abroad. She said, Yes, Im going to Germany. I said, That is our astrology. You can see
that unless you apply the dasha system, you cannot know. That is our progression, not Western astrologys
progression based on transits.
Then many of them enlisted to study Vedic astrology. They said, We want to study. You can see so clearly about
us from the horoscope. It is worth studying. Well study it. So scientists can study this astrology. There is no
difficulty, except maybe there is difficulty with Christians. However, if the USA accepts it, Europe will accept it. USA
leads and the rest of the world follows. The 10% of the population in India who are opposed will keep quiet. 90% in
India are not opposed.
The Universal Subject of Astrology
Vaughn Paul: Is that because it is associated with the Hindu religion?
K.N. Rao: Absolutely! In the Supreme Court, when I was arguing the case for astrology, I said, The Mahabharata,
Ramayana, or show me a single Purana where astrology is not mentioned? How can you dissociate astrology from
the Hindu religion? You cannot.
Vaughn Paul: So to deny astrology would be to deny your sacred tradition.
K.N. Rao: Yes. It is not so in Christianity. It is not so in Islam. But it is so in the Hindu religion. We have the birth
horoscope of Rama. We have the birth horoscope of Krishna. From where they got it, I do not know. But we have it
from historical records. Astrology is an integral part of the Hindu religion. Nowhere else in the world is it an integral
part.
Vaughn Paul: Does that make it a requirement, for someone who is studying Hindu astrology, to be receptive
towards Hinduism?
K.N. Rao: No. Do you mean they have to convert to Hinduism? No. This study is an apara subject. Apara means a
non-spiritual subject. In the Mundaka Upanishad, educational subjects are divided into two parts: para and apara.
Para is what takes you towards God, spirituality. Apara is simply sociology, medicine, anything. So astrology is
also an apara subject.
Vaughn Paul: So, in fact, Vedic astrology or Hindu astrology is really just astrology.To put a name before it is to
limit it to a particular culture.
K.N. Rao: Yes. I argued in the Supreme Court that a Hindu Brahmin goes and studies allopathy. Allopathy has
come from the USA. Does he become a Christian after studying it? I went to America, I went to Russia and taught
them astrology. Did I convert them into Hindus? They studied the subject and went away. They retained their faith. I
have my faith. There are so many Christians who came to my classes in America. There are so many Russian
Orthodox Church members in my classes in Russia. So what happened? There is no question of conversion here.
It is just a wrong political argument. Some Indians gave me that argument. I said, This is nonsense. It does not
belong to any religion, it is a universal subject which anyone can study anywhere.
Vaughn Paul: Thank you very much K.N. Raoji for so generously sharing your wisdom and insights in this
interview. It has been incredibly informative and Im sure it will be very useful for students of this great study of
Jyotish. Namaste.
21 of 22
1/19/2015 4:26 PM
K.N. Rao Interview: The Necessity for Research in Astrology - Light On...
22 of 22
http://www.lightonvedicastrology.com/published-articles-h/7-k-n-rao-inte...
Add a comment...
Also post on Facebook
I simply bow down my head before your wisdom and selfless sharing
Reply Like Follow Post 26 December 2014 at 00:12
Ganpati Astro Varanasi
1/19/2015 4:26 PM