Late HaNamantasa Nemasa Katwe – 1 A Tribute To An Astrologer Par Excellence by Chandrashekhar Sharma

Article by Chandrashekhar Sharma

Central India is known as the land which has given Vedic astrology many renowned writers of astrological classics that include Neelkantha, Jeevanatha, Vaidyanātha, Varāha Mihira, Narāyana Bhatta, GuNākara Kālidaasa, DhunDhiraj and many others. Another such great astrologer, of relatively recent times, was Late H. N. Kātwe who came from Karnataka and stayed for the last part of his life in Nagpur, which is at the heart of Vidarbha, the center region of Central India. He stayed with Mr. D.M.Dhumal of Nagpur publications for about 10 to 12 years and left this world on 11^th August 1949. An ardent devotee of Lord Hanuman, his spiritual guru was Gondavalekar Mahāraj. He learnt jyotish from Krishnānand Saraswati Yati (sage), whose commentary of Jaimini sutra is a valuable manuscript and who was guru of “Vyankatesha” the author of “Vyankatesha Vyākhyā”.

Late Kātwe was known for his forthright nature and accuracy of predictions. He stayed with Mr. Dhumāl, who later on prevailed upon Katweji to write books on various aspects of astrology. Kātweji wrote 18 books, about his thoughts on various aspects of astrology, including one on the philosophy of astrology which is titled “Adhyātma Jyotish Vichāra[1]”. Other books that he wrote are:

1. Ravi Vichār
2. Chandra Vichār
3. Mangal Vichār
4. Budha Vichār
5. Guru Vichār
6. Shukra Vichār
7. Shani Vichār
8. Rahu/Ketu/grahana Vichār
9. Bhava Vichār
10. Bhavesha Vichār
11. Yoga Vichār
12. Adhyatma Jyotish Vichār
13. Daiva Vichar
14. Teja Vichār
15. Prashna Vichār
16. Gocara Vichār
17. Daiva Rahasya
18. Shubhaashubha Graha NirNaya.

He has quoted, liberally, from Brihadayavana Jātaka, Garga Jātaka, Lomasha SaMhitā MānasāgarI PārāsharI, texts of GaNakabhāskara Nawāthe, Moghe, Rigveda, BhagvadgItaa, Kālidaasa, JIvanātha, Jayadeva, Vaidyanātha, DhunDhirāj, Kalyānverman, Shirnivāsa Sharmā, Ăryagrantha, Hillāja Jātaka, BrihatpārāsharI, HarivaMsha, VashiSTha, Kāshināthāchārya, Jāgeshwara, Mantreshwara, NārāyaNa Bhatta, Abdul Rahim KhānKhānā, Gholapa, Gopāla Ratnākara, Bhrigu, GYārNava Tantra, yogakuNDalaupaniSada, yoga shikhopaniSada, Bhairava Yāmala etc. It is also interesting to note that he has also quoted from Rafael and thus has taken into consideration opinions of western astrologers. He has indicated his reservations about some of their assessments, but has nonetheless quoted the results of the outer planets like Herschel and Neptune without any reservation. At the same time he has said that as he did not get confirmed results of Pluto, he would not comment on its efficacy in astrological predictions. This gives an insight into his nature. He would only accept different results given for a yoga when he experienced them in real life charts and not otherwise. He has also given information about the aspects that are considered to be from Tajik or western astrology. This gives an indication of his being open to new ideas, though of an earlier generation that is presumed to have closed mind to any new idea. He has also been forthright in putting forth his own opinion which might, sometimes, be thought to be at variance with the generally accepted norms. So the picture that emerges is that of a great soul, and astrologer, who is open to new ideas but is never afraid to give his honest opinion on the science of astrology even if it is against the popularly held beliefs.

When we read Kātweji’s books we find his being unsparing of even himself, when analyzing his own chart from an astrological perspective, which is worth emulating by modern astrologers. It is also interesting to note that he puts his name as Jyotish student H.N. Kātwe, a sign of a realized soul whose very humility ensures that knowledge of the divine shall never desert him. I am giving below the chart of Late Kātwe, here for the benefit of the students of the divine science of astrology. The readers may find that degrees of some of the planets differ, somewhat, from those given by Late Kātwe, in his book but that is, perhaps, because a different almanac used by him. However here is no change in the placement of even Navāmsha position of the planets.

Late Katwe analyzes this chart in following manner.

Ascendant: Dhanu lagna (Sagittarius Ascendant) jātakas (people) are born astrologers. They can remain unmarried and though he got married, he lost his wife early and never remarried. Dhanu lagna is seeker of higher knowledge and so was Late Katwe.

2^nd Bhava: Lord of the 2^nd is retrograde and occupies the 10^th and Sun and Mercury occupy the 2^nd bhava which according to Late Katwe leads to his being bereft of wealth. This also makes one speak truth and gives less happiness from family.

3^rd Bhava: Jupiter and Venus in the 3^rd bhava and its lord Saturn being retrograde gave him 3 brothers. He lost his elder brother early and the relations with other brothers were strained.

4^th Bhava: Lord of the 4^th (Jupiter the Lord of Pisces) is placed in 3^rd bhava and hence he lost his mother when he was 43 years of age (I think it is 4^th month as indicated in his comments on 10^th bhava, so early) and could not accumulate wealth.

5^th Bhava: Aries arises in 5^th bhava and its lord Mars is in 12^th bhava, leading to his not having any progeny. Rahu in the 5^th gave an analytical mind and also made him an author.

6^th Bhava: Jupiter the lord of the 4^th (happiness) and Venus (Karaka for spouse) occupying the 3^rd did not allow happiness from spouse as she died early in his marital life. Life after marriage was full of sorrow.

7^th Bhava: Lord of the 7^th being in 2^nd (6^th from 7^th) did not allow him to do any business. Lack of happiness form wife as last life’s wife also became his wife in this life and died early.

8^th Bhava: Moon the 8^th lord being in its rasi of exaltation should give longer life but death could occur in forest as Taurus is related to forests (He died at home of Mr. Dhumāl in a city when about 57 years of age which for those times was longer life).

9^th Bhava:  Jupiter and Venus aspecting the 9^th made him undertake many pilgrimages but Moon and Neptune (Neptune is in his 6^th bhava but the software used by me does not allow this to be shown in print) being in 6^th bhava did not pursue worship with dedication.

10^th Bhava: Sun and Mercury in 2^nd allowed him to write 24 books on astrology (this includes translations of Marathi books in Hindi). This gives happiness form father till 41^st year of age but differences were there as Saturn occupies the 10^th bhava. He quotes Chamatkāra Chintāmani for 10^th bhava Saturn and says that 10th bhava placed Saturn did not allow him to get milk from his mother.

11^th Bhava: Lord of the 11^th Venus occupying the 3^rd did not allow, much, gains to accrue to him, 3^rd being a dusthana.

12^th Bhava: Rahu in 5^th indicates some benefit from quest of almighty and Mars being in 12^th caused him to be jailed for some time.

This is a different method of analyzing a chart and students of astrology could benefit from this.

Late H. N. Kātwe is perhaps the only Vedic astrologer, of modern times, who has written extensively about the connection of Jyotish with Vedanta. In his book “Adhyātma Vichāra” Late Kātwe has mapped the planets to the various charkas on the path of rise of kundalini and proposed that Yoga shāstra was developed by Dravidians, and Ăryans learnt it from them. The learned in ancient sciences might disagree with him but his proposition is certainly not without logic. He has also quoted from scriptures and tantra texts to support his theory.

He has opined that one can find out the chart of the previous birth of a Jātaka by casting the birth chart, with the Rāsi depositing Saturn as rising lagna. He has analyzed his own chart in this manner to find out what he had done in previous life. He has called Sun as Brahma, Moon as Māyā, Saturn as related to renunciation and liberation related to Rahu. He connects Mercury and Rahu to Mulādhāra chankra, Venus to SwādhiSThāna chakra, Sun to MaNipura chakra, Mars to Anāhata chakra, Moon to Vishuddha chakra, Jupiter to Adhnyā chakra and Saturn to Sahasrāra chakra. He has written extensively on various aspects of spirituality in this book which would certainly be of interest to those who would like to pursue the connection between Vedanta and jyotish.

His other books that deal with his thoughts (vichāra) on different planets, Bhavas and so on are written in the style of “Chamatkāra ChintāmaNi” and he has given opinion of different authorities on each planet in each grahas and followed it up with his own thoughts about them. He has held that exalted planets rarely give only good results attributed to them while those in debility give good results. He has given some charts to support this theory. I tend to agree with him but only in respect of the natural malefics. Astrologers may like to read more of Katweji’s books to understand him fully and benefit from his wisdom. His books in Marathi and Hindi are available with the publisher “Anil Digambar Dhumal” Nagpur Prakashan, opposite Shri Ramkrishna Math, Dhantoli Nagpur-440012.

About Author: Chandrashekhar Sharma, from Nagpur, has good knowledge of sanskrit and a well known name in the internet forums for his humbleness & kindness to teach each and everyone.  He has been an ardent student of this science from decades with deep thoughts into various disciplines. He is the author of  the book “Vedic Astrology Demystified”, published by Parimal Publications Delhi “.