Dr B.V.

Raman – Architect of Astrological Renaissance

Written by

Jayasree Saranathan

(Published in the August, 2010 issue of The Astrological eMagazine)

It is not an exaggeration to say that every astrologer of today owes his knowledge of
astrology to a Phenomenon called Dr BV Raman. Without him, astrology would not
have gained wider readership, awareness and practitioners against all odds in today’s
world. It was because of his missionary zeal, astrology has got back its lost glory and
popularity.

He was not just like any other astrologer, but an architect for the revival and Renaissance
of astrology in modern times. No wonder he is rightly called as Modern day
Varahamihira. He has left a rich legacy behind him in such a way that anyone interested
in learning Vedic astrology can not learn without reading his books. As one among those
countless learners, I consider it as an honor and a repayment as well to write this essay on
the astrological significance of his colossal contribution to astrology.

Stalwarts like Mr S.Rajagopala Iyer had meticulously analyzed Dr Raman’s horoscope

(Notable Horoscopes) which also appeared in December 1957 issue of The Astrological
Magazine. The current analysis is done nearly half a century after that – at a time when
his name has become a legacy in the world of astrology.

Immortal names in astrology have come with the blessings of the Sun. Maya received
Surya Siddhantha from Sun God. Varahamihira recalls the blessings from Sun for his
knowledge of astrology. Prof Suryanarain Rao attributed his success to ‘the direct grace
of the glorious Sun’ (Brihad jataka, page 622). Similar grace of Sun is found in the
horoscope of Dr BV Raman also.

In his horoscope, sun is in upachaya in the asterism of Mercury, the important planet for
knowledge, astrology, research and writings. The position of Sun in Cancer aspected by
Jupiter from the 10th has a special mention in Saravali (22-31) that “the native will be
pre-eminent, be dear to the king, skillful and will destroy the enemies.” This support from
the Sun catapulted him to fame and unchallengeable eminence in spite of all antagonism
to astrology and astrologers in his times.

Jupiter on its part made him as expert in this mystic sastra and decipherment of the
commentaries on ancient astrological works. To quote Saravali again, Jupiter in Scorpio
ensured that “he will be an expert in sastras, be a king, will be commentator of many
bhashyas (commentaries), be skillful, will construct temples and towns.” (27-15)
Jupiter in Scorpio aspected by Moon from Taurus makes one a historical and poetic
writer (Saravali 27-26). The lucid writing that he introduced in astrology is thus
ingrained in his karmic profession.

Moon in Kendra other than lagna and aspected by Jupiter (300 important combinations
– yoga 251) gives a Raja yoga which is again reinforced in different words in
Phaladeepika. “If out of the lords of the 11th, 9th and 2nd houses, there be but one planet
that occupies a Kendra position in respect to moon, the person born becomes the ruler of
a full-blown empire”. Jupiter as 2nd and 11th lord is in kendra to moon making him the
ruler of an empire. The ruler ship and the type of empire must be deciphered from other
features of the horoscope.

The presence of Dharma Karmadhipathi yoga in addition to the above Raja yogas must
have a past karma to have made him a tall figure in astrology. That past karma can be
deciphered from the Vrinchi Yoga explained in ‘Brahma Rishi vakyam’. When the
lagna lord, Saturn and Jupiter are in exalted or own or friendly houses in Kendra or kona
to lagna, this yoga arises that will endow the native with Brahma gyana, knowledge of
the satsras based on Vedas, the luster of a Brahma gyaani, a huge following of disciples,
honors form kings, auspicious qualities, an understanding wife and children etc.

This book also states that the one born in this yoga would have relentlessly supported
vedic scholars and homas in his previous birth. As a result he would be born in Vrinchi
yoga with the Knowledge of the sastras of Vedas and would spread it. He would never be
reborn again and reach Brahma loka at the end of that birth.

Analyzing Dr Raman’s life and achievements in the light of these yogas, it becomes clear
that he was indeed born with a mission to resurrect astrology which is known as the eye
of the Veda Purusha. The perfect combinations in his horoscope showing a direct aspect
between dharma and karma lords of the natural Zodiac in 4th and 10th houses, of those
lords of his horoscope in the 7th and all these 4 lords in direct opposition in 5th and 11th
houses in the Navamsa show that Brahma deva, who was the first one to give out the
astrological knowledge to mankind, chose Dr Raman as his deputy to deliver the
knowledge in our times.

Such a chosen Deputy must leave a legacy for the benefit of posterity. It will be
interesting to know the exact legacy he has left behind. I am not going into the many
combinations in his horoscope that made him an astrologer. Now that we realize that he
has become a phenomenon unto himself, we have to see what his horoscope says about
the kind of legacy he has left behind.

For this we have to see his 5th house. 5th house of Purva punya is what makes one in a
birth. The thoughts that make a man are the by-product of his purva punya. Its reflection
is seen in the 7th house from the 5th (11th house in the horoscope).Though we see the 8th
house for the legacy that one gets from the death of parents, here we are concerned about
what a person leaves for others. The 11th house shows what one has accrued. That accrual
is what one leaves for others as a legacy. So we must see the 11th house of gains from the
5th, which means the 3rd house in the horoscope.

We have to see the connection between 5th and 11th lords and their aspects on 5th and 11th
houses and also the 3rd house and 3rd lord getting connected with these houses and lords.
Applying these parameters to well known persons from different fields who had left a
legacy in their name, we find some such legacy indicated in Dr Raman’s horoscope also.

As an example, in Saint Thyagaraja’s horoscope, the 11th lord Venus in the asterism of
moon is posited in 11th aspecting the 5th house. His 5th lord is Mars in Mercury’s house in
the 12th. Mercury, the lord of the 3rd is in the 10th in Ketu’s star. So the 5th house gave him
spirituality which became manifest in his 10th house of karma. But its by-product or
legacy is musical compositions. It is seen from Venus –moon in the 11th in association
with Saturn which stands classical compositions. Spirituality is what the 5th house gave
him. It resulted in a legacy of music. In this way we can analyse the horoscopes of
luminaries such as Swami Vivekananda, Raman Maharishi, Mahatma Gandhi and others.

Applying the parameters in Dr BV Raman’s horoscope, we find that his 5th lord Mercury
is in the 7th in the asterism of Venus which is known for deciphering sastras. Venus is in
Ketu’s star and Mars, the lord of 3rd and 10th joins them in the 7th. Mars is in the asterism
of Venus. Martian connection to Mercury and Venus shows acumen in mathematics
contained in Siddhanthas and astrology. The result was his famous conception of
Ayanamsa.

Now let us look at his 11th house. The 11th lord Jupiter is in 10th house in the star of Saturn
and is aspected by the 3rd and 10th lord, Mars. The Martian connection to 3rd house
resulted in voluminous writings whereas its 11th lord connection to Mars makes Raman
Ayanamsa as his legacy.

From another angle, if the lagna stands for the self (Dr Raman as the teacher), the 7th
stands for students. The 7th lord gives him eminence, as we see in the beginning of this
essay – sun, the lord of the 7th in cancer. Dr Raman is the uncrowned Ruler of his empire
of astrological students who come up generation after generation.