The analysis of the horoscope of the universally acclaimed genius of astrology of the 20th centuiy Dr. B.V. Raman carries many clues to his unique life and mission.
Dr. B. V. Raman: Born August 8, 1912 at 19h. 43m. (1ST) at 12 N 59, 77 E 35.
Cusps of Houses: I Aquarius 10-35; II Pisces 16-12; III Aries 18-35; IV Taurus 16-39, V Gemini 12-35; VI Cancer 9-31, VII Leo 10-35; VIII Virgo 16-12; IX Libra 18-35; X Scorpio 16-39; XI Sagittarius 12-35; and XII Capricorn 9-31.
The rising sign is Aquarius. It gives one an ability to read character and study human nature. Astrology, as a subject, intrinsically, is the study of human nature. It is no wonder, therefore, that Dr. Raman was easily attracted to the study of astrology. Aquarius being a fixed sign gives immense will-power, determination, concentration, perseverance and a penetrative intellect. It also gives love for humanitarian undertakings and service to humanity. Aquarians are noted for the integrity and sincerity they possess having a fixed faithful nature.
Dr. Raman was a water-bearer, quenching the thirst of all those desire of acquisition of astrological knowledge. The Ascendant is the synthetic expression of the twelve mundane Bhavas or houses into one, and it shows the fortune and limitations imposed upon the soul in the realization of the desires and attractions carried over from the past birth. That is why the influence of the Ascendant is considered first as it is of primary importance.
Saturn gives perseverance, will power, mental perfection, deep thought and careful meditation, accuracy, precision, power to consider and reason on all things with caution, prudence, profound mentality, an intense desire to find out the true state of things, delight in study and research with a studious, contemplative and reflective attitude of mind. All these qualities were responsible for Dr. Raman! amazing mastery of the principles of astrology. In terms of feelings, Saturn gives a stern, uncompromising and inflexible state of mind. It is commonly known that Dr. Raman would not, in the name of research, compromise on the traditional principles established by the ancient masters.
The second influence of importance is that of the ruling planet. The lord of the rising sign and its aspects with other planets determine the primary character of the native and the centre he has to work from. The remaining planets and the signs they are in together with their mutual aspects denote the relationship between the native and his environment. The character manifested through the planets other than the ruling planet is primarily a reaction to one’s environment. Saturn is the ruling planet here. Though Saturn is placed in the 4th from the Ascendant, considering from the point of view of the cuspal points of the house, Saturn falls in the 3rd Bhava or house.
Let us consider the influence of the third house which is mental in its nature. This house is intent on acquisition of profound knowledge, a versatile intellect and deep understanding as the natural lord of this house in the Zodiac is Mercury. The house gives inventive abilities, ingenuity, command over language, power of speaking, argument, debate and reasoning, good adaptation to surroundings and an ability to quickly sense the motives of others. The house denotes power of writing or communication of ideas and education. The quality of the contents of the numerous books Dr. Raman wrote and his strenuous efforts in the diffusion of astrological knowledge through education are well-known.
Saturn is placed in Taurus which is the natural second sign of the Zodiac denoting acquisition and which has Venus as its lord denoting one’s attractions. Therefore, it is obvious, that Dr. Raman was naturally attracted to acquisition of knowledge. Being a fixed sign, it gives a fine determined persistent steady plodding persevering and patient nature and also very good physical strength and vitality to achieve one’s ambition. Another notable point of the horoscope is that Saturn is placed in the Rohini Nakshatra ruled by the Moon who is exalted, and therefore, promises grand success in his efforts at acquisition of knowledge.
Coming to the aspects which the ruling planet has with other planets, Saturn is in a trine (120°) with Uranus. A trine aspect in astrology is said to be one of harmony as it is of the nature of Venus. It is also a fortunate aspect as it shows that the attitude of the man and that of the environment indicated by the Bhavas or houses occupied by the planets in trine are mutually harmonius and pleasant. The aspect may also be interpreted as the good Karma done in the past birth by the native which has surrounded him with favorable conditions in the present. That is to say, the native of the horoscope had the ambition to achieve excellence in the field of astrology in the past birth itself and that the lords of Karma have blessed him with its realization during this birth.
Many traditional astrologers do not consider the influence of Uranus on the plea that it is not one of the nine listed, and that the ancient masters of India did not speak about its influence. Present day investigations show that this planet was known in very ancient times and that its influence was judged by old timers by the exercise of the faculties of seership and clairvoyance. Man responds to the vibrations of this planet only when it is in some aspect with other planets. This planet is found to be responsible for sudden and unexpected events and also for strange and uncommon behaviour exhibited by people. The planet stands for originality of thought, independence of mind, inventive genius, self-will, eccentricity, abruptness, unconventionally amounting to rudeness and rebellion, will-power that cannot be easily thwarted and which does not follow the beaten track and set on its own ends. The planet manifests a passionate energy equal to that of Mars, intellectual power equal to that of Mercury and a will that can be as determined as that of Saturn.
The Saturn-Uranus aspect gave Dr. Raman an interest in the study of a subject that is unconventional and unique. Had it not been for this aspect, he would not have taken up the study of astrology but would have taken up some other conventional line. This aspect increased the strength of the will giving high intellectual power and a high degree of concentration. Though Uranus is placed in the 12th from the Ascendant, it is actually placed in the 11th Bhava. The 11th house is the house of hopes and aspirations, success and prosperity. Therefore, the placement of Uranus in the 11th and its trine with the ruling planet Saturn brought forth remarkable success in his efforts at mastery of astrology.
The Moon is in his sign of exaltation in the 4th Bhava. Exaltation of any planet is always a fortunate influence. The 4th denotes parents and the domestic environment. The Moon, being the natural lord of the 4th sign of the Zodiac, also denotes domestic environment and the psychic power of receptivity and easy susceptibility. The Moon is in 135° aspect with Uranus. This aspect shows that one of his elders was successfully engaged in the study of astrology and that the native was also easily influenced thereby and drawn to its study. The Moon is in 60° aspect with the Sun and this aspect shows that his expertise in astrology is due to hereditary factors. It also denotes that there was mutual co-operation between the native and his senior in the matter of the knowledge being received hereditarily. The 60° aspect is a positively good one involving intense physical activity and thereby change of state and contains the potentiality of the future; that is to say, the native had the potential to become a master in the future. Since the Sun denotes life and vitality, this aspect between the Moon and the Sun coupled with the aspect between the ruling planet Saturn and Uranus gave him a long life, sufficient physical vitality and health to achieve the mission of his life. Since the Moon denotes birth and family environment, its exaltation denotes that he was destined to take birth in a favorable family environment to achieve his mission. Since the Moon also denotes children, its exaltation shows that the native was fortunate to have a daughter drawn to the study of astrology successfully. Since the Moon denotes the general public, its exaltation combined with the placement of Saturn in the 3rd shows that the native was fortunate to edit and publish an astrological magazine to the satisfaction of the public and also enthral them through his power of speech.
Since the Moon denotes birth and family environment, its exaltation denotes that he was destined to take birth in a favorable family environment to achieve his mission. Since the Moon also denotes children, its exaltation shows that the native was fortunate to have a daughter drawn to the study of astrology successfully. Since the Moon denotes the general public, its exaltation combined with the placement of Saturn in the 3rd shows that the native was fortunate to edit and publish an astrological magazine to the satisfaction of the public and also enthral them through his power of speech.
Jupiter is in the 9th Bhava though placed in the 10th sign from the Ascendant. As the natural lord of the 9th sign of the Zodiac, Jupiter is placed in his own Bhava which is a Bhagyastana. As Jupiter stands for Guru, and the 9th for father, the patriarch of the family was the Guru of the native. Since the 9th is a fiery mental house standing for higher knowledge and Jupiter denotes the urge for growth and expansion, the native was blessed with the Bhagya (good fortune) in achieving his ambition through self-effort and thereby become popular and respected in society. Since the 9th also stands for publications and creative activities, he started his own publishing house in which he published several of his books. The 9th house represents foreigners, foreign countries, foreign travel, lectures, institutions etc., and the placement of Jupiter in the 9th was fortunate for the native to lecture overseas and earn respect there. The philosophic spirit is ideally blended in all his ideas, thoughts and words. Jupiter denotes social life and its position in the horoscopes ensures special success through manifestation of ideal social instincts such as honesty, sincerity, compassion and candour. The position is ideal for the maintenance of excellent social relations with leading personalities of various segments of society.
Jupiter and Saturn arc 180° apart in opposition. This is a separative and opposing aspect as the name itself suggests. The aspect terminates a system of vibrations without necessarily unifying them. Jupiter and the 9th denote Universities.
The Jupiter-Saturn combination indicates his intense efforts to obtain recognition for astrology and towards introduction of the subject in the Universities. The opposition aspect is one of hindrance in the success of these efforts. Jupiter when afflicted by bad aspects denotes breach of promise and pretension of virtue. All the leading personalities of the educational segment of society would have promised him to do what he wished but later backtracked.
The Sun in Cancer in the 6th and Venus in the 7th from the Ascendant arc both actually in the 6th Bhava. The two planets in the same Bhava is an indication of good relations with his father and also with the governmental and administrative authorities. The Sun gives self-confidence and self-reliance since the 6th is the house of work. The 6th denotes disease and since the Sun and Neptune here arc free from any bad aspects and the Moon as the 6th lord is exalted, the native was blessed with a healthy life free from any disease. The Sun in the 6th makes work a pleasure.
Mars and Mercury are in Leo in the 7th Bhava. This combination gave him a very alert and responsive mind as well as memory, a mind that was adept at fact, illustration and detail. Ready and fluent speech, wit, mental agility and a keen sense of humour also prevailed because of these planetary factors. The combination of these two planets, environment-wise, represents the so-called rationalists of the scientific community. Mercury is in 90° aspect with Jupiter as well as Saturn. A 90° aspect is of the nature of Saturn, a bad one being most critical and conflicting. It creates severe hindrance and limitation to the efforts put in, thereby not allowing them to succeed easily. Mercury in the 7th denoting the scientific community in bad aspect gives skeptical responses from this section.
Dr. Raman breathed his last during Venus Dasa, Venus Bhukti, Saturn Antara. One may ask why Ketu Dasa with Ketu in the 8th Bhava did not bring about death. This is because Ketu is in 60° aspect with the Sun and 120° aspect with the Moon which are good. Good aspects being pleasant and harmonious, no untoward incident can take place particularly in so far as longevity is concerned. Venus is in Makha ruled by Ketu who is in the 8th Bhava, a house of death. Saturn is the ruler of Pushya in which the 6th cusp, denoting disease, falls. Also Cancer which houses the Nakshatra Pushya is a detrimental position for Saturn. Saturn is placed in a Nakshatra ruled by the Moon, who though exalted, also happens to be the ruler of Hasta, in which the 8th cusp falls denoting death. Saturn is the lord of the 1st and the 12th cusps, the first cusp denoting self and life and the 12th denoting termination ( of the self).
