Aspects, Combustion, Debilitation & Dispositors (Predictive Technique) [SP]

The birth chart for an individual it is said is the chart of his past and the scheme of the future that is in store for him. It is the scheme of his life written in celestial language. This language is difficult to read and unless the person trying to read it has Divine blessing his effort will at best remain imperfect.

Our classics have given qualifications for an astrologer. In the First Chapter of Brihat Parashar Hora Sastra sage Parashar states in verses 6, 7, and 8 that teaching of this divine science to somebody will only result in good, but it should be taught to a student who is of peaceful disposition, who honours his preceptor and elders, who is truthful and who is God fearing. It should not be imparted to an atheist, an unwilling person or a person who is of crafty nature.

Astrology is a limb of the Vedas. It was taught to sage Parashar by Lord Brahma, the Creator, himself and therefore this supreme knowledge can effectively be imparted to only a person having inherent qualities of mind and character. Only such a person will be qualified to acquire the ability to decipher a birth chart correctly.

This knowledge was initially transmitted by the preceptor to his disciples and many intricate and crucial principles were discussed and explained to them. This tradition now does not exist. The tenor of life has changed. Some people sneer at this knowledge. There is an ongoing debate whether this knowledge is a science. Such an attitude may not help us in learning the subject.

The chart consists of planets, signs, nakshatras, and houses. The interface of these elements indicates the qualities, characteristics and the course of life of an individual. The more we try to learn about these fundamentals the better would we be qualified to decipher a chart.

A massive corpus of literature has grown over the theory and practice of astrology. Some of it has no roots in the ancient knowledge that has come down to us. This knowledge has admittedly not come down in unadulterated form but if the basic principles of the fundamentals are clearly understood the ability to determine the course of life an individual can be improved many fold.

Certain aspects of these fundamentals have been taken up for study in this book. Drawing on the knowledge available in the classics these aspects have been explained in detail. In many respects the explanations throw new light on and reveal new facets of these fundamentals. I am sure this effort of mine will prove to be of use to all astrologers.

Most of this book has been written in the United States during my sojourn in that country with Lalita at the places of our children Radhika and Rahul and our grandchildren Aditya, Rohan and Anushka. It was the most pleasant environment to take up this work.