The Art of Matching Charts

Interest in astrology today has assumed a never-before kind of dimension. This has been due to the one-man crusade of Dr. B.V. Raman for over 6 decades to impress on the educated public the scientific foundations of astrology and the tremendous potential it carries in addressing the various ills of society.

The fundamental unit of society is the family. This unit faces great danger today and is more or less in a state of disintegration with more broken families everywhere than ever before. The reason for this sad state of affairs is not difficult to gauge and can be traced to the increasing fragility of marriages all around the globe. Divorce, separation and single parenting have combined to produce children with deep psychological scars that make them quite unfit to face the emotional challenges involved in their own adult lives, especially in man-woman relationships. It is only in India, inspite of various cultural and other onslaughts on her social fabric, that the institution of marriage and therefore, the building block of society, the family, continues to be in relatively good shape. This can be attributed to the high marriage, even today, is finalized, in most cultured families, on the basis of horoscopes. In other words, the role of horoscope matching in contributing to the health of the marriage, and therefore, of Indian society, is indisputable.

Matching of charts for marriage is not an easy job. It requires many years of practical experience as well as a good understanding of the theoretical aspects of astrology. Many a time, horoscope matching is entrusted to the family priest or a friend who, on the basis of the Kuta agreement almanac), either endorses or rejects the match outright. Such a snap-shot approach to the intricacies of horoscope matching, many times, leads to disastrous results and brings a bad name to astrology.

In the nearly thirty years I spent working in astrology under Dr. B.V. Raman, I was able to watch the great circumspection with which he approached the task or horoscope matching. He was never a professional astrologer but many friends would come to him for guidance. He seldom paid importance to Kuta agreement. He generally approved or rejected the match over the general strengths of the charts than merely on the Janma Rasis or Janma Nakshatras to which horoscope matching has been reduced to by half-backed practitioners of astrology. Such a slipshod and indifferent approach to matching has several times led to grave marital tragedies where either one of the spouses has died prematurely or irreconcilable differences have erupted between the couple damaging the union bey9ond repair. When this happens, the blame is conveniently shifted to the marriage Muhurtha or the horoscopes being wrongly cast, both reasons being absolutely untenable to a conscientious student of astrology.

One of the first steps in predictive astrology and which includes matching, and which Dr. Raman always emphasized strongly as absolutely necessary, is to check the correctness of the charts of the boy and the girl furnished by the parties. Only after ensuring this, can we proceed to the next step of analysing the chart. Therefore, anyone who puts the blame for wrong matching on wrong charts may be deemed to be ill-qualified to do the responsible job of comparison. Of course, now, with computers casting the horoscope, the excuse of wrong charts cannot work any more.

Muhurtha is a time-point defined by well-laid principles of astrology and planetary positions such that any activity initiated at that moment of time has a harmonious take-off. But a Muhurtha, no matter how good, cannot replace the indications in the birth chart. It can, at best, enhance the existing favourable natal indications or in their absence, dilute the malefic significance of a natal chart. In other words, shifting the blame on Muhurtha for a marital mishap resulting from a badly done job of matching is like putting the cart before the horse.

In cases of marital disasters occurring inspite of matching charts (invariably done by those ill-equipped to do it), I found the reasons for the mishap were inherent in the charts themselves and had been simply overlooked and not handled at all, possibly because it was thought Kuta agreement was the entire process of matching. The longevity would be poor or the indications for marital misery would be very strong or multiple unions would be shown by the natal planetary factors from the other chart. Where this had been done, probably by some experienced well-versed astrological savant, I found the marriages survived and this, despite major planetary afflictions. It was then I realized how important it was to take a very careful and deep look at each of the charts from different angle before venturing an opinion. In some cases, the afflictions can be so bad and so severe, nothing can be done about them and the only solution then is stoical acceptance of what awaits the native. This happens in the medical world too where the best expertise and the most sophisticated techniques simply fail to help in certain cases. However, as in medicine, in astrology too, the majority of cases can benefit from a judicious use of the principles of horoscope matching.

Marriages sometimes end in dowry-related tragedies. This led me to pay particular attention to horoscopic features that indicate such unhappy developments and which I have dealt with in a separate chapter. A careful study of the chart, while matching, can alert parents to dowry dangers before it is too late.

Likewise, astrological indications for early widowhood need not cause panic. There are methods to diffuse such indications at the time of matching. Early detection of such horoscopic features can even help in planning not only the young girl's marriage but also her future life by impressing upon the parents, the need to pay equal, if not greater, attention to her education and career. A separate chapter covers the topic of widowhood.

I also found that unusually but also unerringly, the Sun also has a strong adverse impact on marital life when placed in certain sensitive zones of a chart. While Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are universally acknowledged as malefic and under certain conditions, as leading to marital havoc, the Sun's role in causing such adversity is, by and large, newer recognised. After a careful study of innumerable charts, I found the Sun could be no les responsible for such unhappiness and more especially, in his Dasa, and which I have discussed in the following pages.

Marriages are sometimes finalized without matching of charts. This is because of the wide ignorance amongst parents of the importance of matching of charts and of its role in staving off post-marital dangers. Sometimes, matching is overlooked due to a strong prejudice against astrology. Both situations can be remedied by an open mind and diligent study of the subject. The sole reason for scoffing at astrology is because it has no official recognition and is not part of the academic curriculum, whether at school or college level, which also explains the many misconceptions concerning both its scope and limitations.

Dr. Raman's one desire in life was to bring astrology into the portals of the university so that this ancient heritage of over land could be applied to improve the quality of life at all levels. Unfortunately, for reasons best known only to those entrusted with our educational system, astrology ahs been denied a place in it. Of course, we are the losers for it. However, with more and more educated people, and more especially, brilliant Indians with excellent academic backgrounds evincing great interest in various aspects of astrology, it may not be long before Dr. Raman's efforts will be recognised in the West when Jyotisha will be given its due place in the academia in our own country too. This has always been the pattern with Indian brilliance and attainments. Formal recognition must come from the West first, then only will it follow in our land. Astrology is already causing ripples in thinking circles in the West.

This volume on the important subject of horoscope matching is meant to give a correct idea of the complex process involved in it. This book is a compilation of my editorials that have appeared earlier in The Astrological Magazine. The illustrations and the questions and answers are additional and aimed at clearing some common doubts usually encountered while matching charts. I am sure the book will help in removing many misconceptions on the subject amongst the laymen and in educating the student on the complex art of matching.

I express my thanks to my brother Mr. Niranjan Babu for his suggestions during the typesetting process.

I also thank Mr. K. Gopinath for typing the manuscript neatly, Mr. Y. Sanjeeva Rao for his suggestions, assistance and meticulous care in reading the proofs and Mr. Manohar, for the well-done job of typesetting.

I also express my sincere appreciation to Mr. J.P. Jain of Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd., for his interest in publishing this volume and his continuing support to our crusade for astrology.

About the book

This book is a complete and comprehensive guide to the intricate art of matching charts. For the first time ever, the book tells you what actually constitutes matching of charts and how to go about it. It shows you how to avoid charts that show marriage breakdown due to: Premature death Severe incompatibility Mental and psychological aberrations Loss of spouse Infidelity.

It contains examples from the author's case studies on: Good Poor Matching, Dosha-ridden Matching Dosha-free Matching.

It also answers questions on all that you ever wanted to know about matching of charts.

Mrs. Gayatri Devi Vasudev, editor The Astrological Magazine, has worked for 27 years with its Founder Editor Dr. B.V. Raman until his death is 1998 in his mission to bring astrology into the comity of sciences. She continues his mission and has been national vice president of Indian Council of Astrological Sciences founded by Dr. B.V. Raman in 1984.

Her predictions in The Astrological Magazine include the assassination of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the election of George Bush (Sr.), Ramakrishna Hegde's chief-ministership and subsequent loss of power, Benazir Bhutto's prime ministership and exit, the "end of the Rajiv era", the formation and continuance of the BJP led Government in India, the Kargil war, the prime-ministership of A.B. Vajpayee etc., the fire in the Bharatpur arms-depot, violence in Lanka, Nawaz Sharief's exit and military rule in Pakistan, the 26th Jan. 2001 Gujarat earthquake (The A.M., Jan. 2000), the earthquakes in Central America Russia and Central Afghanistan (The A.M., Jan. 2000), the defence scams (Jan. 2001), the Labour Party's victory in 2001, Khatami's return to power in Iran, Meghawati Sukarnopoutri's ascent to power, terrorist attacks on U.S. etc.

She has authored many books on astrology that include Clues to Interpreting Charts (under print), The Art of Matching Charts, Practical Horary Astrology and How to Judge a Horoscope-Volume II. She has edited Astrology and the Hoax of "Scientific Temper", Astrology in Predicting Weather and Earthquakes, Astrology, Vastu and Architecture, Dr. B.V. Raman – The Man and His Mission, etc.