Research in Retrograde Planets

8/10/2019 Research in Retrograde Planets

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/research-in-retrograde-planets 1/8



2

5. The main house cuspal sub lord should be related with other house pertaining to the

question.

6. Finally, Rules 3, 4, and 5 should be SIMULTANEOUSLY satisfied to denote a positive

answer. If any one of the Rules 3, 4 or 5 is not satisfied, it shows a negative result for the

querist. Results will not fructify.

It is therefore, clear that the inventor of this system of astrological prediction placed a lot of

emphasis on retrogression of planets and its practical utility in prediction. Later authors such as Sri C.

R. Bhatt, Sri J. Hasbe, Sri M. P. Shanmugam, Sri V. Ramamurthy have equally emphasized in their

writing about retrograde planet’s capacity to alter prediction. Today in the KP fraternity there appears

to be opinion divided upon the role of retrograde planets in the light of the above rules. There is one

school of thought that considers the above rules given by Guruji to be true with respect to both natal

and horary horoscopy. The second school of thought makes a clear distinction that the above rules of

retrogression apply only to horary and not to natal horoscopy. Whereas, the third school of thought take

a detour and believes that the rules of retrogression as propounded by KSK applies to horary only if the

main cuspal sublord is in the star of a retrograde planet. They do not take exceptions to the cuspal

sublords being retrograde. However, no systematic research has yet been published to test these issues.

In the year 1996, late Dr. (Pandit) Kesav Ranjan Kar published an article on retrograde planets

in KP & Astrology Yearbook. Subsequently another article appeared in the 1997 issue of the same

magazine. Both these articles were a landmark paper in the theory of retrogression of planets for two

reasons: firstly, the paper was based on his personal research, and secondly, he was able to provide

certain pre-tested rules that were amenable to further hypotheses testing. Experimentation, testing and

inference are the hallmark of a natural science and Dr. Kar paved the way for modern practitioners of

astrology to take up a new research agenda. However, though Dr. Kar’s papers have immense merit in

their own respect, today we need research output in astrology that would stand the test of rigor and

statistical validity. In this respect it is noteworthy that Sri. A. R. Raichur and Sri. Kanak Bosmia

are doing very commendable, statistically rigorous and valid research in KP astrology. In theApril issue of KP E-Zine Sri Bosmia has beautifully summarized the research contribution of Dr. Kar

with respect to retrogression of planets.

In this article I suggest a research framework that may assist in operationalizing research in

retrogression. The purpose of this framework is exploratory in nature and the exact model would be

determined by the research questions and the hypotheses to be tested in deductive approaches.

While researching on retrogression of planets in KP, one would need to clearly articulate

the research question to be addressed.



4

KP astrology). In B type data situations, the main cuspal sublord was NOT retrograde and results

were achieved. (A normal outcome according to classical astrology). In C type of situation the main

cuspal sublord is retrograde and no results were achieved. (Another normal outcome according to

classical KP rules). Finally, in D type of situations, the main cuspal sublord was not retrograde BUT

no results were achieved. (A situation of anomaly requiring inductive research designs). Such

situations may arise due to a multitude of factors such as effects of other rules, astrologers’ mistakes,

etc. Type D data situations are perhaps the most complex wherein the researcher needs to be careful

about and control for extraneous effects such as astrologers’ mistakes. One practical solution to such

data situations would be to recast and reanalyze these datasets by two additional astrologers. This

would help in bringing inter-rater reliability and the much needed data validity in the process of

scientific inquiry. Once the various types of data situations are analyzed, one may then proceed in

systematic data analysis with manual tabulation followed by software driven statistical analysis. The

results obtained would be much more reliable in understanding the efficacy of various rules of

retrogression found in classical KP texts.

The above matrix a simplistic form of data sorting with two parameters. However, in situations

requiring more than two parameters, suitable modifications in the research design is possible with the

guidance of an able research supervisor. The design of multi-parametric model should not be viewed as

a challenge but rather a necessity borne out of practical consideration. Sri Rangarajan Krishnamurty’s

research on a couple of KP topics is based on such multi-parametric research designs.

I now provide two case examples to justify the importance of research in retrogression rules in

KP astrology. The first example is that of a lady whose query was: My monthly menses has stopped.

Am I pregnant? She gave the KP horary number 248 and I analyzed on the same day—15th April

2007—at 7:16 pm (IST) in my residence at Hyderabad. The chart is provided below.

Moon, the reflector of mind and the bearer of the radicality of a horary chart, signifies 5 and 11.

So, the question of child birth is reflected in the chart. Moreover, Moon’s strong signification of 12th

shows the tension and worries at the back of the lady’s mind.



5



6

Since the question is put by a lady, the main cusp that was considered was the 5th cusp. The 5th

cuspal sublord is Mercury. It is not retrograde. Moreover, Mercury is an A grade significator of 5 and

cuspal significator of 5 and 11. At the stellar level, Mercury is also a good significator of 5. Mercury is

in Meena rashi—a fruitful sign, and Mercury’s starlord Saturn is also in a fruitful sign—Cancer. This

analysis tempts us to pronounce that the lady is pregnant. However, I pronounced that the lady is

NOT PREGNANT for a simple reason. The reason is also related with retrogression and is part

of our 3rd

question discussed above. Even though main cusp sublord, Mercury, is direct, Mercury is

in the star of Saturn which is retrograde at the time of judgment.

This case is a classic example for research questions 1 and 3 discussed above. But one needs to

be careful in classifying this case. If we consider only Question 1 then this case falls in Type A,

whereas if we view it as an anomaly with respect to question 1, then this case becomes classified as

Type D. What we need is a very good number of such case examples where the results can be put to

tests for classical KP rules. On 20th April 2007 this lady informed me that on this date she had her

normal menses, which meant that she was indeed not pregnant!

The second case is about a MBA graduate, Ms. Mittal, who asked me the question when will I

get a job? She gave me the KP horary number 57 and I analyzed the query on 22nd March 2007 at 1:53

pm (IST) in Hyderabad. The lady was working with a multinational but gave up her job due to health

reasons and was seeking a job in a better position and pay package. The chart is provided below.

Moon, the significator of mind, signified 11 and 2 along with 10 at the stellar level. Thus, the

query was clearly reflected. The main cusp considered for the analysis was the 6th

cusp. This is

because she was curious to know about the timing of the job. It was a case of timing service and

therefore, I considered 6th cusp to be more appropriate than 10 th. Here the 6th cuspal sublord was Sun

signifying only 9 and 3. Sun’s sublord Saturn, though signified one of the auxiliary houses—namely

the 2nd house— it was retrograde.

NOW THIS WAS A CRITICAL SITUATION. If we consider the first case study to be

true and reflecting a correct retrogression rule in KP then we should also say that this lady is not

destined to get a job since the starlord of the main house cuspal sublord is retrograde. This is atypical example of dilemma that any astrologer would face. In the first case, the retro starlord of the

main cuspal sublord did not deliver the result. So, by virtue of scientific logic, the same should hold

true in this case also and we should declare negative result.

But previous research on retrogression rules by Dr. Kar points out a rule that if Sun is related

with retrograde main cuspal sublord or its retro starlord or both then there is no effect of retrogression.

Note, that in this second case, the main cuspal sublord’s starlord--retro Saturn--was the planetary

starlord of Sun. This direct one-to-one connection of Sun with retro Saturn rendered it powerless to

deny results.



7

Upon working out the Dasa, Bhukti and Anthara and emphasizing on the Ascendant Starlord of

the RP on my date and time of judgment, I declared to Ms. Mittal that she would be getting the job and

gave her two time periods of one week each. The first time period was 22nd to 28th April 2007 and the

other was 11th to 16th June 2007. On 8th April 2007 she informed me that she has got an appointment

letter from American Express Bank for the post of Business Analyst and her joining date was 23rd April

2007. Retrograde planet delivered result.

To conclude therefore, I would like to emphasize on the development of proper research design

in executing research on various dictums of astrology in general and KP astrology in particular. We

need clearly focused research questions followed by testable hypotheses for deductive frameworks,

rigorous analytic techniques with high inter-rater reliability and constant ex-post data testing with the

research findings. Research in astrology should also conform to norms of scientific testing for greater

validity of rules. Only then we can predict safely without the attendant danger of making mistakes and

drawing the flak of our clients. Sri Kanak Bosmia has done a yeoman service to the KP field by

publishing KP E-Zine and I would be more than glad to offer my guidance for any person who would

like to do some serious and systematic research in astrology. They may contact me without hesitation.

Research in Retrograde Planets

Documents

Transcript of Research in Retrograde Planets