Prof K.S.

Krishnamurthi of Chennai, India is the founder

of the system popularly known as Krishnamurthi
Padhdhathi. Subsequently many astrologers who have
followed Krishnamurthi Padhdhathi, have brought out a
few additional theories like Four Step Theory of
Sarvashri Sunil Gondhalekar. We shall discuss the four step
theory as written by Sarvashri Sunil Gondhalekar in the following
lines:

Four Step theory

Now it is well known fact that the best Astrological method for
predicting timing of any event accurately is “Krishnamurthi
Paddhati” or “KP” in short. It is a gross misunderstanding that
this is a very difficult system to grasp. In fact, because of very
simple rules which are easy to understand, many astrologers
have opted to shift to this system. If someone has a basic
knowledge to work out correct longitudes of planets and erect a
cusp chart, this is the easiest method to understand. Now-a-
days even this much skill is not necessary because many
computer software are available to do these mathematical
calculations.
It is assumed that the readers are conversant with basic rules of
KP. In KP, the measure deviation from Traditional Astrology is
that the Planet gives the result of the house where its star lord is
situated in the horoscope. That is why it is known as Stellar
Astrology. However Prof. Krishnamurthi observed that
predictions based on planet and its star lord were not so
accurate. So he divided the arc of each star in nine parts in
proportion to period allotted to each planet in Vimshottari
Dasha. He called this as Sub. According to KP, this Sub has
power to decide whether the planet shall give favorable or
unfavorable results.
Sometime during 1990, I read articles titled “The Sub lord
speaks” written by Mr. K. M. Subramaniam. He suggested that
the star lord of the sub should be given importance while
predicting. I immediately recalled that Prof. Krishnamurthi had
also taken the star lord of the sub into consideration in some
articles in his Readers. So the thought appealed me and I
started my research in that direction. Based on research and
experience, I formulated a theory with specific rules using basic
KP principles. To distinguish it from KP it was given a
Page No 2
name “Four Step Theory”. I am glad to state that many KP
Astrologers have welcomed this theory and are practicing it.
Let me put forward the rules (and its interpretations wherever
necessary) of “Four Step Theory” for the benefit of the readers.

Rule No. 1
a) As per KP, a planet becomes a significator of the house
where it is deposited. And also becomes the significator of
the house(s) or cusp(s) owned by it.
However if the Stars owned by such planet are, i) occupied
by some planet(s), ii) not occupied by any planet or iii)
occupied by the same planet its signification should be
different. This is differentiated in Four Step Theory as
Primary (or strong) signification and Secondary (or weak)
signification as given below:
a1) If there are no planet(s) tenanted in the star(s) of a
planet, it is a Primary (or strong) significator of the house it
is deposited (even if there are other planet(s) in that
house).
a2) If there are no planet(s) tenanted in the star(s) of a
planet, it becomes the significator of house(s) owned by it.
However, if there are no planet(s) tenanted in house(s)
owned {except Uranus, Neptune and Pluto}, It becomes
Primary (Strong) significator otherwise it becomes
Secondary (weak) significator of the house(s) concerned.
Interpretation:
Please refer the chart attached on Page # 7. Let us consider
Jupiter. There are no planets in the star of Jupiter. Jupiter
owns house 2 and house 11.

As per Rule a1), Jupiter is Primary (strong) significator of

House 12 which is occupied by it. (Even though there is
another planet Venus deposited in that house)
As per Rule a2) Because of ownership, Jupiter is significator
of houses 2 and 11. However it becomes Secondary (weak)
significator of house 2 since Sun and Mercury are stationed
there. While there are no planets in house 11 so Jupiter
becomes Primary (strong) significator for house 11.
a3) If there are planet(s) {except Uranus, Neptune and
Pluto} tenanted in the star(s) of a planet, then the said
planet becomes weak significator of the house tenanted by
it, as well as, house(s) owned by it.
a4) When the planet is in its OWN star it becomes Primary
(strong) significator of the house tenanted by it (even if
there are other planet(s) in its stars). However it will be
Primary (strong) significator of the house(s) owned by it
only if there are no planet(s) {except Uranus, Neptune and
Pluto} tenanted in that house. Otherwise it becomes
Secondary (weak) significator.
“Only Primary (strong) significators are powerful to
give result” is most important rule of Four Step Theory.
 Secondary (weak) significators are like mirage, and do not
give results.
This is First Step. Let us move on to Second Step, now.
Rule No. 2
Planet is supposed to give results of the house where its
star lord is deposited. This is famous KP rule. In Four Step
Theory also, the planet will give results of house where its
star lord is deposited (even if there are other planet(s) in
that house) i.e. it will be a Primary (strong) significator of
that house.
However it becomes Primary (strong) significator of house
owned by its star lord only if there are no planets {except
Uranus, Neptune and Pluto} in that house or else it will be a
Secondary (weak) significator.
Therefore signification of planet at Star level is Second Step.
Interpretation:
i) Since we are working out the signification of the planet
at star level, here we need not consider the star lord (or
the sub lord) of the star lord in this step because we are
not working out signification of the star lord of the
planet.
ii) Planets conjoined with, aspecting/aspected by star lord
within an orb of 3 degrees 20 minutes shall only be
considered in this step. Please refer Rule No. 6
iii) To explain clearly, suppose the star lord of the planet is
Mercury. Then the planet(s) conjoined with Mercury
(within the orb), aspected by Mercury (within the orb)
and aspecting Mercury (within the orb) shall only be
considered in this step. It is not necessary to include
the star lord of Mercury.
 iv) In case of Rahu/Ketu appearing on this step please
follow Rule No. 7
Rule No. 3
Now we come to this third step. That is signification of
planet at the sub level. As per KP the Sub has the deciding
power to declare whether the result will be favorable or
unfavorable. This implies that this sub acts like a planet
(though in fact it is not a planet but it is mere sub division of
the star). Taking this clue from KP, the Rule No. 1 stated
above is applied for the sub (in Four Step Theory).
This signification of a planet at sub level is the Third Step.
Rule No. 4
In KP we have accepted the fact that any planet gives the
results of house deposited and owned by its star lord. And
we have seen that the sub in Step No. 3 acts as a planet.
Naturally this sub should also give the result based on its
star lord. So, the Rule No. 2 applies here. This is
signification of the planet based on star lord of its sub lord.
This is Fourth Step. I call this as a step of success.
Step no. 3 and Step No. 4 are very important in Four Step
Theory. In my experience many unsolved queries are solved
by use of these steps.
Rule No. 5
Prof. Krishnamurthi advocated use of Plaucidus System of
house division. It gives importance to starting point of
houses. During my studies, while forming this Theory it, was
experienced that the planet(s) near the cusp (within the orb
of 3 degrees 20 minutes) are capable of giving results of
that cusp as a Primary (strong) significator. It is further
observed that the orb can further be increased up to 5
degrees based on the experience of the Astrologer.
 However, such planet cannot act as Primary (strong)
significator for the house(s) owned by it. In my opinion,
there is a scope for research in this matter.
Rule No. 6
In Four Step Theory, an orb of 3 degrees 20 minutes is
considered for conjunction as well as aspects. When Planet
is Primary (strong) significator, any planet conjoined with it,
aspected by it or aspecting it (of course within the
prescribed orb) will also become Primary (strong)
significator of that house.
Secondly, if any planet aspects any cusp (not the house)
within prescribed orb, it will act as Primary (strong)
significator for such aspected cusp.
Rule No. 7
Rahu/Ketu have been given more importance in KP. Prof.
Krishnamurthi has said that Rahu/Ketu will first give results
of the planet(s) conjoined, secondly the planet(s) aspecting
them, next of their star lord and lastly that of the sign lord
where they are stationed.
In Four Step Theory, whenever Rahu/Ketu appear as star
lord (i.e. on steps 2 and 4) similar results are experienced. If
Rahu/Ketu are conjoined or aspected by any planet, the sign
lord where Rahu/Ketu are deposited will not be effective in
offering results.
In fact, as per my experience, Rahu/Ketu give results in any
of above order. At least till today I could not come to any
conclusion about this order. Further research is necessary in
this respect.
Rule No. 8
Many times it is observed that a planet becomes Primary
(strong) significator of favorable as well as unfavorable
 houses. Under such circumstances one gets confused
whether such planet will give favorable or unfavorable
results.
In my studies, I observed that when a planet is significator
of favorable and unfavorable houses, it gives favorable
results. However if such planet, ON THIRD AND FOURTH
STEP, becomes Primary (strong) significator of unfavorable
houses only it will not give result of that house. If such
planet is one of the DBA lords, it will not give result in its
period. This I call as Adversity of Sub.
Rule No. 9
In connection with any query, as in KP, we analyze main
house and two supporting houses. But in Four Step Theory,
the event will fructify only when chain of all such house
signification is completed by DBAS lords. Sometimes
additional supporting houses need to be considered viz. 5
and 8 for marriage, 7 and 5 for going abroad etc.
Rule No. 10
After fixing the DBAS for an event, transit of planets must
also be favorable. In KP the transit of luminaries are given
more importance. But in Four Step Theory, transits of DBAS
lords along with luminaries are considered. For checking
transit, we have divided the planets in two parts. 1) Slow
moving planets such as Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. In
case of these planets we have to check the sub they are
transiting.
2) Fast moving planets such as Sun, Mars, Mercury and
Venus. For these planets we have to check the star they are
transiting.
In case of Moon when it appears as one of the DBAS lords,
we have to check Karaka planet for the query. For example,
in case of marriage if Moon appears as one of DBAS lords
we should consider transit of Jupiter and Venus. In case of
Job one should study transit of Sun and Saturn. In case of
sell or purchase of house we have to consider transit of
Mars.
These Subs for slow moving planet(s) and Star lords for fast
moving planet(s) must be Primary (strong) significator of
favorable house(s) on First and Second Steps only for the
event to materialize. (It does not matter even such planet
signifies unfavorable house(s) along with favorable
house(s))
If such Sub or Star lord is Primary (strong) significator of
only unfavorable houses on first two steps, then event
cannot happen in this period. In such case we have to
examine next period.
Rules of retrograde planets are experienced while checking
transits. For example, assume that one is running Dasha,
Bhukti or Antara of Saturn. And if Transit Saturn is
retrograde it will give the result. However if the transit
Saturn is in the star of a retrograde planet it cannot give the
result in its period.
Planet D Sign Deg Min Sec Star StarLord Sub SubSub
Sun Pisces 22 ° 30 ' 23 '' Revati (2) Mercury Moon Rahu
Moon Scorpio 05 ° 44 ' 39 '' Anuradha (1) Saturn Mercury Ketu
Mars R Virgo 03 ° 50 ' 48 '' Uttar-Phal (3) Sun Saturn Venus
Mercury Aries 01 ° 53 ' 46 '' Ashwini (1) Ketu Venus Rahu
Jupiter Aquarius 05 ° 07 ' 53 '' Dhanishtha (4) Mars Sun Jupiter
Venus Aquarius 06 ° 17 ' 07 '' Dhanishtha (4) Mars Moon Mercury
Saturn R Leo 20 ° 47 ' 54 '' Purva-Phal (3) Venus Jupiter Mercury
Rahu Pisces 14 ° 01 ' 11 '' Uttarbhadra (4) Saturn Rahu Mercury
Ketu Virgo 14 ° 01 ' 11 '' Hasta (2) Moon Jupiter Jupiter
Uranus Gemini 08 ° 11 ' 55 '' Ardra (1) Rahu Rahu Venus
Neptune R Virgo 22 ° 56 ' 18 '' Hasta (4) Moon Sun Jupiter
Pluto R Cancer 22 ° 49 ' 03 '' Aslesha (2) Mercury Moon Saturn
Fortuna Virgo 27 ° 07 ' 30 '' Chitra (2) Mars Jupiter Venus

Cusps Sign Deg Min Sec H.Lord StarLord Sub SubSub

1 Aquarius 13 ° 53 ' 15 '' Saturn Rahu Mercury Rahu
2 Pisces 21 ° 34 ' 30 '' Jupiter Mercury Sun Sun
3 Aries 23 ° 35 ' 45 '' Mars Venus Saturn Rahu
4 Taurus 20 ° 22 ' 27 '' Venus Moon Ketu Mercury
5 Gemini 15 ° 11 ' 19 '' Mercury Rahu Ketu Mercury
6 Cancer 11 ° 42 ' 10 '' Moon Saturn Moon Mercury
7 Leo 13 ° 53 ' 15 '' Sun Venus Venus Moon
8 Virgo 21 ° 34 ' 30 '' Mercury Moon Venus Jupiter
9 Libra 23 ° 35 ' 45 '' Venus Jupiter Saturn Rahu
10 Scorpio 20 ° 22 ' 27 '' Mars Mercury Venus Rahu
11 Sagittarius 15 ° 11 ' 19 '' Jupiter Venus Venus Mercury
12 Capricorn 11 ° 42 ' 10 '' Saturn Moon Mars Venus

GOOD LUCK
Sunil Gondhalekar