Pandit Ashutosh Ojha

      Astrology comprises of many branches viz., the horoscope erected for the birth time, Mundane Astrology, Medical Astrology, Horary Astrology, Varshaphal or the Solar Returns Horoscopes and many more branches. Although our main purpose is to deal with the method and interpretation of the Solar Return charts yet what are these other branches of Astrology. Horoscope at birth is called the nativity or the Birth Chart or Janma Lagnam; Mundane Astrology deals with the Horoscope of Countries: Medical Astrology is concerned with the disease and medical sciences in general; the best time to pick up herbal plants and prepare medicine, selection of Doctors, time of administration of medicine or the right time for physical operations i.e., surgery. Horary Astrology takes into account the Chart erected for the time (without prior appointment, i.e., at random) of meeting with an Astrologer of the time of asking a question (in person).      The purpose of Astrology for a layman is to know the future. How expectant and attentive a person becomes when he opens up his palms to be read or his horosocope is about to be examined by a fortuneteller? The look which he throws is a mixture of hope, pride and beseeching and has no parallel.
     The main interest is not only in knowing the events but as to when and how these will materialize. For this purpose, there are various methods in Astrology. From the Natal chart (birth chart) the timing of events is arrived at with the help of various kinds of Dashas, antardashas, natural years of planets and most importantly from the Transits.
     Horary Astrology also called Prasna Kundal is another excellent method which makes it easier to arrive at the timing of events as well as it describes in details the manner and description of persons who will be helpful or those who will put obstacles in the realization of a goal.
     This branch of Astrology is based on the principle of from known to unknown. The belief is that events are so synchronized in life that only at a particular time they take shape and so a person when he goes to meet an Astrolger carries with him the essence of his stars. This meeting is a random meeting without prior appointment. The Astrologers erect a chart for the time of meeting and this chart tells us all about the past, present and future of the visitor. Some expert Astrologers can even tell the question of the person without being told about it and the answer is also correct to the dot.
     In this regard the majority of the astrologers agree that the chart should be erected for the time when the astrologer sees the client and not when he goes to see him or when he asks his questions. All related matters pertaining to the client viz., his questions, his walk of life, his surroundings will unfold themselves—accurate and fast. This brings us to the Solar return horoscopes. What is a solar return and in what manner it works, what are its advantages etc. All this is thoroughly discussed in the introduction and then in the main book. Here, we would like to indicate that all the principles and methods used in the Judgement of a Solar Return chart applies in toto to Horary Astrology.
     The present book 'The Solar Return' comprises the subject matter developed by 'Yavanacharya'. Acharya means Guru .and Guru of the 'yavanas'. The word 'Yavana' was used for the Persians and Arabs—The people from the west (Arabia & Persia) who attacked India a number of times and that made the scholars seek Asylum in Tibet with their monumental works—to save and preserve the sancitity of these books of Mantra Shastra, Spiritualism, Astrology etc.
      However, in the early 3000 b.c. India was attacked by the 'Shakya' dynasty from the East and then the scholars turned to the West to seek Asylum—The lesser evil so to say. And it was there that the system of the solar revolution was perfected The various names of the yogas viz., Itthashal, Ikkabal, Israf etc. indicate the root, the origin of this subject. These words are used in Persian.
      The chief subject matter of this book is the solar revolution, the return* of the Sun to the same sign, degree, minute, seconds that it had at the time and date of birth. A chart is erected for that date and time (as well as the place of birth of the native) and then due consideration is given to this horoscope (Varsh lagnam). It is our strong belief that this subject will. be easily learned by a person with even moderate abilities and he can master the basic difficulties with a few days' of study. It may be well understood and reduced to constant practice in less than four months. 'Practice makes a man perfect' and the more we practice it, the more closer to perfection we will be. The total perfection exists only in theory and not in reality, still no heights are denied if one wants to become perfect.
      The advantage of mastering this book is that you become proficient in one and the second one will come to you on its own. You know the system of the Solar return and you will also know Horary Astrology. All principles of the Solar Return applies to Horary Astrology.

• N.B. : The Sun does not move. It is the time taken by the Earth in the Ecliptic which is used by the term—The return of the 'Sun'.

We would like to add here that Horary Astrology is very useful in case:

1.The date and time of birth is unknown.
2. Closer inspection of the whereabouts and matters
related to a third party.
3. To know the question of the visitor without being told about it.
4. If a proposition of any type is made to an individual, and he is anxious and therefore uncertain whether to accede to it or not, let him note the hour and minute when the proposition was first made and his solutions will come. He will in a few minutes, arrive at the right decisions. The Ascendant, the planet there in, the lord of the Ascendant will describe the party making the offer — his character and his capabilities and this will enable the inquirer to arrive at a conclusion.

We would further like to point out as to when Horary Astrology fails:
1. When someone wants to get an enquiry on telephone.
2. The inquirer goes to the Astrologer empty handed or
in an arrogant manner.
3.The Astrologer either does not know the subject matter or is a conman in the 'grab' of a professional to grind his wheel.

     The present book is simple, easy to understand and does not rely on rigorous mathematical calculations. For easy references we have given various tables which will work like ready-reckoners. The different yogas have been well illustrated by example charts. The Tripati Chakra links the Nativity and the Solar Return chart. The results are accurate. The Varsh langa viz., the Solar Return chart is in fact a magnified version of the events to take shape in the year. From this we can also cast:

(A) Monthly Horoscopes,
(B) Daily Horoscopes, and
(c) Lunar Horoscopes.

     Monthly Horoscopes are cast when the Sun enters into the next sign of the Zodiac from the one which it occupied at birth. For example, let us say that Sun at birth was in Virgo 7° - 8' - 30". In order to calculate the second month we should see when Sun moves to Libra 7 deg. 8 min. 30 sec. For the 3rd month, Sun in Scorpio 7 dig. 8 min. 30 sees, and so on. These horoscopes of the months are interpreted in correlation - with (i)the birth chart and (ii) The Solar Return chart.

     What is indicated in the Solar Return charts will materialize only if it is also indicated in the Nativity and what is indicated in the charts for the months will take shape if it is indicated in the nativity as well as in the annual chart or monthly charts for after all these are only the magnified versions of the events indicated in the original Nativity.

     In addition to the horoscopes of the months, it is possible to cast daily and hourly horoscopes. By adding the daily motion of the Sun in a month's chart, we will get the daily horoscopes and by adding the 24 lh portion of the Sun's daily motion, we get the hourly charts, viz., if the motion of Sun is 60 minutes in 24 hours then add 2.5 minutes in the motion of Sun for each hour.

In general we take the average daily motion of Sun as 1 degree or 60 minutes. If the Sun is in Virgo in 7 deg. 8 min. 30 Secs. Then the horoscope for the next day will be when Sun is in Virgo 8 deg. 8 min. 30 secs. Add one degree for each day and 2.5 minutes for each hour. We should keep on changing the year as well according to the Solar Return charts.

Example:

Date of Birth 17.08.1974
     Completed years 20
     Beginning of 21st year 17.08.1994

     The chart for the first day of the first month will be the same as that of the solar return chart for the year.

     For the second day it will be for 18.8.1994; for 3 rd day 198.1994; for 4 th day 20.8.1994 and soon. In this monthly chart, all months constitues 30 days each.

Another method is to use each house of the monthly chart as to represent two and a half days viz., The first house, the first two and a half days, the second house for the next two •and a half days (upto the 5 lh day) and so on.

The lunar months are calculated when the moon comes to the same degree, minute, secs. etc. that it occupied at birth. The change is in the Zodiacal signs as in the case of the solar monthly horoscope. The year also changes. The way to interpret is the same as for the year chart. In order to know as to when the event will take shape, the difference between the degree of two planets in orbs' who are the applying to each other (Itthasal) or (Israf) separating will indicate the months, weeks or days according as they are in fixed, dual, or moveable signs respectively. In the monthly charts the events will be known by multiplying the difference in the degrees by 2.5 (2 and1/2) as to the day, hours and minutes according to the placement of planets in the fixed, dual, or moveable signs respectively.

The science of Astrology is fascinating, accurate and fast. It gives an insight into the future which no other science can do, i.e., as to what will happen after 30 years or 75 years? What disease or calamities will fall to a Nation or an Individual? One who is well prepared is stronger and worth more than 32 combined.

In India Horoscope is cast as soon as a child is born and many stories are around as to what this child will do or achieve in life by the sages who looked at his chart.

To conclude the matter now let us state that 'Ignorance is Bliss' but knowledge of the future is much better. The theory of karma enuciates that "what you sow so shall you reap" but the intensity of the destiny is three fold:

(1) What has to be will be—one who is born has to go some day.
(2) Certain things however can be totally eliminated—by prayers, by good deeds, by the blessing of others.
(3) Certain things can be modified by control on ones mind, which cames by meditation, by prayers, and also by taking steps to be prepared for the coming shadows.

'Fatalism' is a frame of mind behind which the weak, the lazy and those who want to find a lame excuse hide themselves for their inactions.

'Aham Brahmasmi'. \ am Brahma—The creator and I can achieve everything. Learned readers! believe in yourself— let confidence ooz out of every pore and success is yours.