On Prasna, or Vedic Horary Astrology - Comments?

[Guest guest]

On Prasna, or Vedic Horary Astrology - Comments?

 

3:23 PM 4/26/05 Tue

 

In the years since I was first indtroduced to Vedic Astrology, May

1998, I have studied mainly natal horoscope applications. This is due

mainly to the fact that I have not been able to gain access to a wide

degree of the literature available on Prasna, as I have on Jatak, or

Natal Astrology.

 

Moreover, it seems that there are as many different approaches to

Prasna as there are different approaches to Vedic Astrology itself.

Of the books I have read, I have found such varied and different

approaches coming from B.V. Raman (who's methods closely mirror

Western Horary), Krishnamurti (who seemed to advocate using a number

method and applying it to the naksatra rising at the time of

question), VK Choudry's "System's Approach" method, which seems to

focus on his 6, 8 and 12 House functional malefic system, along with

Ketu, whom he considers to be more malefic than Rahu) and Hart deFouw

(who, in the book "Hindu Astrology Lessons" advocates a "four

cornerstone approach" where the angles of the chart are focused on in

terms of the various questions that are asked and are to be answered.

No doubt these are but a few of the methods that can be and most

likely are employed by Vedic astrologers worldwide and especially in

India.

 

Because I love horary so much I would really love to learn more about

how some of the readers actually use prasna; perhaps I can pick up on

some really good hard and fast rules. In particular I'm very

interested in learning the more "Vedic" principles instead of merely

aping the Western methods (no disrespect to the great William Lilly);

I guess I'm something of a purist at heart.

 

Right now I'm finding that the method advocated by deFouw seems to

work best but I'm still seeking and learning.

 

Any ideas or input on this?

 

Thanks

 

Salaam,

Mu

[Guest guest]

Hey, Mu

 

There's a good book by Sumeet Chugh on vedic horary astrology. You

should read that one. His method is similar to one used by BV

Raman's daughter. Chugh, however, explains his ideas better than the

former. He also uses various techniques to supplement the prashna

chart reading, such as the Tara Chakra and Chandra Kalanala Chakra.

 

Regards,

 

John R.

 

 

 

valist, "MuMin Bey" <mumin_bey> wrote:

>

> On Prasna, or Vedic Horary Astrology - Comments?

>

> 3:23 PM 4/26/05 Tue

>

> In the years since I was first indtroduced to Vedic Astrology, May

> 1998, I have studied mainly natal horoscope applications. This is

due

> mainly to the fact that I have not been able to gain access to a

wide

> degree of the literature available on Prasna, as I have on Jatak,

or

> Natal Astrology.

>

> Moreover, it seems that there are as many different approaches to

> Prasna as there are different approaches to Vedic Astrology itself.

> Of the books I have read, I have found such varied and different

> approaches coming from B.V. Raman (who's methods closely mirror

> Western Horary), Krishnamurti (who seemed to advocate using a

number

> method and applying it to the naksatra rising at the time of

> question), VK Choudry's "System's Approach" method, which seems to

> focus on his 6, 8 and 12 House functional malefic system, along

with

> Ketu, whom he considers to be more malefic than Rahu) and Hart

deFouw

> (who, in the book "Hindu Astrology Lessons" advocates a "four

> cornerstone approach" where the angles of the chart are focused on

in

> terms of the various questions that are asked and are to be

answered.

> No doubt these are but a few of the methods that can be and most

> likely are employed by Vedic astrologers worldwide and especially

in

> India.

>

> Because I love horary so much I would really love to learn more

about

> how some of the readers actually use prasna; perhaps I can pick up

on

> some really good hard and fast rules. In particular I'm very

> interested in learning the more "Vedic" principles instead of

merely

> aping the Western methods (no disrespect to the great William

Lilly);

> I guess I'm something of a purist at heart.

>

> Right now I'm finding that the method advocated by deFouw seems to

> work best but I'm still seeking and learning.

>

> Any ideas or input on this?

>

> Thanks

>

> Salaam,

> Mu

[Guest guest]

Hi Mu, John, et al...

 

Thanks for the discussion on Prasna and your book

recommendations.

 

I have not been able to find much good information on

the history of Prasna Tantra. Have you?

 

As you know, there is a great deal of information out

there on Western Horary astrology, particularly as it

has seen somewhat of a revival in the past 30 or so

years in the West.

 

>From what I have read, the "Father" of Modern Horary,

William Lilly, derived much of his information from

the 13th Century work of Guido Bonatus, who learned it

from the Romans, including Latin translations of 9th

Century Arabic texts by Abu Ma'Shar. Evidently, the

Arabs learned it from the Greeks--Ptolemy, Dorotheus

of Sidon, and Antioch of Athens--and the Greeks

derived their knowledge from the records in Egypt (at

Alexandria), which came from the Babylonians.

 

Like Western Horary astrology, Prasna Tantra relies on

the use of omens for divination, so both these systems

have probably drawn upon the omen literature of

Babylon and later Sumeria, the areas in the Middle

East that many historians believe gave rise to all

branches of astrology.

 

Prasna Tantra also uses the Persian (Tajika) aspects,

so, did it come to India by way of Arab traders?

Prasna Tantra is mostly followed in Kerala, right? I

know that the Indian records state that astrology

became a systematic area of study around 3200 BC, but

I am not aware if Prasna Tantra was part of this early

system.

 

What I am getting at is that IF Western Horaray and

Prasna Tantra have the same origins (from the Arabs

who derived much of their knowledge from the Greeks,

who derived it from the ancient Babylonians) then the

two systems are highly similar, as we already know

from studying and practicing both.

 

It may be useful and liberating in some wild and

mysterious way to combine and refine techniques from

both systems into a new universal system that uses the

Sidereal zodiac. I have been doing this very thing

using Varshphala and Western Solar Returns and it

works well for me. I imagine this idea is subversive

to some traditionalists for whom "never the twain

shall meet."

 

Love your thoughts and ideas, thanks so much!

Juliana S.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi John and all...

 

Yep, learning and applying the principles and

techniques to get results is what it's all about in

our business. At the same time, some of us benefit

from studying astrology's history, which can provide a

good foundation for understanding.

 

Thank you again for your good information and your

book recommendations. I have not used the chakra

system from _Uttara Kalamrita_ but will definitely

look into this.

 

Like you, I also pay attention to omens (nimitta) with

prasna and all the readings I do, too, and I use omens

for guidance in my own life and in the energy healing

work I do, as well. Omens can be an amazing source of

validation and truth!

 

Anyone who might be interested in reading a good book

on the origin of omens/nimitta in ancient Babylon

might like to read a book called _Omens of Babylon_ by

Michael Baigent (Penguin, 1995).

 

Best,

Juliana