The pioneers of Modern Astrology Prof. B S Rao and Dr. B. V Raman have left their rich legacy in the very safe and able hands of Mrs. Gayatri Devi Vasudev who has been pursuing Mission Astrology with equal brilliance and zeal. The mantle of the great masters fell on the delicate, but efficient shoulders of Dr. Raman’s daughter, who imbibed the sublime knowledge of Jyotisha at the feet of her brilliant father. She assisted her father as Associate Editor of The Astrological Magazine, succeeding him as the Editor of the esteemed magazine after the Master shuffled his mortal coil. It is a measure of her deep and unshakable commitment to the mission of her illustrious visionaries that she worked with untiring determination to revive the magazine after it had suffered the stroke of suspended animation for slightly over a year.
It was not mere coincidence that this onerous task fell on Gayatri Devi’s shoulders, but appears as part of a Divine Scheme. Like father, like daughter! She too was born with the deeply philosophical and enlightened sign Aquarius rising, receiving the direct aspect of Saturn, the lord of the Ascendant. Discipline, self-control and perseverance are Saturn’s forte and both father and the daughter displayed these qualities in no mean measure. The most salient feature that distinguishes the illustrious members spread over three generations is the dominance of fixed signs in their charts. The Ascendant and the Moon, including their lords, as well as some other planets are placed in fixed quarters, imparting endurance, fixity of purpose and unwavering determination.
The lords of the Ascendant and the Moon are disposed in mutual quadrants, bringing into harmony the physical and mental traits. The Moon in Samasaptaka (mutual 1-7 disposition) in the charts of Dr. Raman and Gayatri Devi that helped build up an abiding bondage and mutual understanding between the Guru and the Shisya was well aligned with the grandsire’s Taurus Ascendant, establishing a clear celestial linkage for the free flow of knowledge.
The Moon in Prof. Rao’s chart had acquired a fiery temper under predominantly Martian influence, making him a restless crusader for the resurrection and propagation of the ancient science of Jyotisha in all its pristine glory. Dr. Raman’s Moon in contact with the contemplative Saturn and visionary Jupiter imbibed in him a lofty quality, driving him to work relentlessly for the perpetuation and acceptance of astrology among the educated public the world over. Gayatri Devi derived her mental prowess from the combined impact of an indomitable Mars and an amicable Venus on the Moon enabling her to effortlessly carry on the lofty ideals of her distinguished predecessors.
If the mental vigour is derived from the disposition of the Moon, the intellectual acumen is acquired from Mercury’s position in the chart. Mercury rules the 5th house as well as the Karakattwa (signification) of intelligence in the charts of all the three stalwarts. In Prof. Rao’s chart Mercury joins the company of the Sun and Jupiter in the highest Kendra, making him a brilliant intellectual and a great scholar. The involvement of Mercury in exchange of signs with Saturn has the effect of imparting a sharp, invigorating intellect imbued with a philosophical outlook.
Dr. Raman has the Mercury positioned in a quadrant both from the Ascendant and the Moon, gaining high Raja Yoga dignity in association with Venus and Mars, the lords of the 9th and the 10th, thus acquiring great intellectual acumen and scholarship. Mercury’s disposition in mutual Kendras with Jupiter and Saturn imparted great analytical ability, intuitive power and deep understanding. Gayatri Devi has the distinction of Mercury in exaltation, receiving the trine aspect of Jupiter, thus endowed with the power of quick grasp and clarity of expression.
Chart 1: Prof. B. S. Rao: Born February 12, 1856 at about 12h. 15m. (1ST) at 18 N, 84 E with a balance of 8 years 8 months 10 days of Venus Dasa at birth.
If the qualities of the head and heart bestowed by a strong and dignified Moon are the essential prerequisites for launching a person on his life’s mission, it is the strength of the 10th house or the Karmastana, the house of action that provides the motive force for relentlessly pursuing and achieving the goal. The 10th house is strongly disposed in Prof. Rao’s chart with the 4th lord Sun and the 5th lord Mercury combining as powerful Yogakaraka, joined by Jupiter, the natural benefic.
The 10th lord Saturn is himself involved in a highly potent exchange of houses with Mercury. This resulted in a highly motivated life engaged in the single-minded pursuit of the lofty mission. Dr Raman too had the divine presence of Jupiter in the 10th powerfully aspected by the 10th lord Mars and the Ascendant lord Saturn to carry on his grandfather’s mission with full dedication and immense success.
These planetary dispositions also imparted great organizing ability, which led to the founding of the Indian Council of Astrological Sciences in 1984 and conducting several national seminars and conferences. It was the Yogakaraka Venus that joined the 10th house in aspect from Mars, the 10th lord in the chart of the great granddaughter that infused in her the passion for work and the motivation to follow in the footsteps of her illustrious predecessors. Her organizing capability was amply demonstrated during the First All India Conference on Vastu held in Bangalore in June 1995.
Mercury and the 3rd house rule communication and literary abilities. The Moon, owning the 3rd from Prof. Rao’s Ascendant, is well placed in the 10th from the 3rd receiving the aspect of his dispositor, a powerful Vargottama Mars. Mercury is well fortified in
Chart 2: Dr. B. V. Raman: Born August 8, 1912 at 19h. 43m. at 12 N 59, 77 E 35 with a balance of 6 years 21 days of Mars Dasa at birth.
Association with the Sun and Jupiter and in exchange of signs with Saturn. His rich contribution to the literature on diverse subjects left a deep impression on and continues to enlighten educated people. Dr. Raman emulated his prolific grandfather by enriching the literary world, particularly related to the hoary science of astrology, aided by the 3rd lord Mars in conjunction with a powerful Vargottama
Mercury and Yoga karaka Venus. His scores of valuable books, culling out and interpreting meaningful information from ancient texts, have remarkably served the interests of students and followers of astrology. The editorials that he penned in The Astrological Magazine for nearly 60 years were remarkable for their lucidity and expressiveness that illumined the minds of his countless followers. This gift of consummate communication skill has passed on to Gayatri Devi as well, facilitated by the 3rd lord Mars joining the Ascendant lord Saturn and Mercury in exaltation receiving Jupiter’s benign aspect. She has written several valuable books of great practical utility for the benefit of students of astrology. Her editorials in The Astrological Magazine and its successor Modern Astrology are a delight to read for the layman and the connoisseur alike, for the clarity and force of expression.
Dr. Raman was an equally gifted speaker, talking extempore on diverse subjects, aided by the 2nd lord Jupiter aspecting the 2nd from his strong position in the 10th Kendra. Mercury is also strongly disposed in Vargottamamsa and associated with Yogakaraka Venus and Mars. Dr. Raman’s record of successful predictions is legendary. He had great insight and intuitive power apart from his unmatched ability for astrological analysis, interpretation and judgement that helped him to arrive at correct forecasts.
Mercury, along with the 2nd house (vak) is also concerned with speech and predictive ability. For making successful predictions,intuition plays an important role. Here Jupiter and the 5th house have vital significance. Mercury holds the twin portfolio of the
Chart 3: Gayatri Devi Vasudev: Born October 24, 1949 at 15h. 33m. (1ST) at 12 N 59, 77 E 35 with a balance of 5 years 3 months 26 days of Saturn Dasa at birth (Lahiri Ayanamsa).
2nd as well as the 5th houses, well placed in the l0th and involved in favourable exchange of houses with his dispositor Saturn in prof. Rao’s chart. Jupiter occupies the lOth in Swa Navamsa in association with Mercury and aspects the 2nd. No wonder, he was vested with great powers of eloquence and kept his audiences spellbound. He was renowned for making many accurate predictions. His grandson was an equally gifted speaker, talking extempore on diverse subjects, aided by the 2nd,lord Jupiter aspecting the 2nd from his strong position in the 10th Kendra. Mercury is also strongly disposed in vargottamamsa and associated with Yogakaraka venus and Mars.
Dr. Raman’s record of successful predictions is legendary. He had great insight and intuitive power apart from his unmatched ability for astrological analysis, interpretation and judgement that helped him to arrive at correct forecasts. Not to be left behind, the great granddaughter too is supported by exalted Mercury aspecting the 2nd and in turn receiving the aspect of the 2nd lord Jupiter, powerful in vargottama and Neechabhanga. She is also an eloquent speaker and has kept up the rofty tradition by her excellent record of correct predictions.
Courtesy: MODERN ASTROLOGY (Author:S.K. Kapoor )
