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The Secret Behind Vimshottari Dasha SystemThere are many types of Dashas, ten of
which are based on Nakshatras. Vimshottari Dasha is held to be the most
important Dasha System in Jyotisha of Vedic-Puranic tradition. Most often,
astrologers of this tradition do not even take into consideration other dasha
systems and base their conclusions solely upon Vimshottari.
But there are two obstacles which prevent accurate timing of events with the
help of vimshottari system. One is the use of Drik-pakshiya mathematics, ie,
modern astronomy , for finding true longitudes of planets and ascendant, etc.
Second problem is the use of solar year for reckoning, in spite of the fact that
all ancient texts explicitly mention that the year of vimshottari system
comprises of 360 days only. Due to these two errors, the timing of events in
vimshottari system errs by many years.
Vimshottari system is based upon lunar nakshatra, hence its year ought to be
lunar. Indian tradition year is a ccombination of solar and lunar, known as
luni-solar year, like other ancient systems. In lunar year, there are 360 tithis
or lunar days, which is the year of vimshottari system. 360 tithis are equal to
354.37 solar days. Therefore, there is a difference of 3% between solar year and
vimshottari year. Add to this 3% error the difference on account of
Drik-pakshiya and Saur-pakshiya positions of Moon. Drik-pakshiya world is the
phenomenal sensory world , which is manifest to human sense organs. It is the
material world. Saur-pakshiya world is the non-material world in which deities
reside. All ancient texts of Vedic-Puranic tradition say that the Grahas of
Jyotisha are gods and are diverse incarnations of God. God and gods are
conscious entities and it is wrong to conceptualize them as material bodies.
Material planets intruded into astrology only
during past one or two millenia, but even today there are a large number of
astrologers in India who refuse to accept computer softwares based upon modern
astronomy, and use traditional almanacs or panchangas. These traditional
panchangas are crudely made, yet the vimshottari timings based upon them prove
to be far more accurate than those based upon materialist astronomy.. Now,
highly precise software based upon traditional Surya-siddhantic system is also
in the market, distributed as a freeware for philanthropic purpose. If
birth-time is approximately correct, and few very good or very bad events in the
life of a person is known, then precise birth-time can be fixed, and thereafter
very accurate forecasts can be drawn from this software, accurate upto
prana-dasha. This software has been tested for natural disasters like floods,
earthquakes, cyclones, etc and the result is 100% positive.. Total annual and
fortnightly (actually, during solar nakshatra)
rainfall data of past 135 years of India have been tested, and this software is
100% accurate. But this software is not based upon the faulty interpretation of
Surya-siddhanta by E. Burgess. Instead, ancient Surya-siddhantic methods have
been used in it.
The maximum amount of correction made in mean Moon according to Surya-siddhanta
is nearly 1.5 degrees less than that made according to modern astronomy. It is
nearly 1 / 9 of a nakshatra which is equal to 13˚:20� . Due to this
factor alone, vomshottari period of Venus, Saturn and Rahu (lunar node) will
vary by 2 years and more. Add to it the difference due to descrepancies between
Surya-siddhantic mean Moon with the mean Moon of materialist astronomy. And then
add the 3% error due to wrong year imposed upon vimshottari system. Total error
in timing of vimshottari dashas will be over 5 years in modern era, when
differences between mean planets of Surya-siddhanta show minimum divergence from
those of materialist astronomy. In distant ages, the difference was greater. In
21000 years, difference between Drik-pakshiya and Saur-pakshiya positions of
planets increases by 180Ëš. Within a few centuries, Drik-pakshiya astronomy
will lose its charm in
astrology as vimshottari dashas will show intolerable errors.

Even today, Drik-pakshiya astronomy gives errors of ± 5 years in timing of

vimshottari dashas. As a result, 19% of Maha-dashas and a much greater portion
of antar-dashas are wrong. Pratyantar, sukshma and prana dashas are almost
always in the wrong. As a result, astrologers take a recourse to other dasha
systems, palmistry, numerology, etc for satisfying their clients.. Very few
persons are trying to test the Surya-siddhantic software, due to the venomous
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propaganda against Surya-siddhanta by materialists. Surya-siddhanta is not a
text of materialist astronomy, and it is interpreted materialistically by
materialists, by comparison with planetary positions. The proof of
Surya-siddhanta is Phalit Jyotisha ( predictive astrology) based upon it, it is
wrong to use modern astronomy as a yardstick for testing the reliability of
Surya-siddhanta. I have met persons who refuse to test Surya-siddhantic software
of Phalit Jyotisha named 'Kundalee', calling
Surya-siddhanta to be an outdated and useless work ! Even criminals get a
chance to prove themselves, but Surya-siddhanta is denied this chance in a
materialist age. By rejecting the only accurate method of astrology, who will
prove to be a loser ?
Now let us talk about the design of Vimshottari system. Arrange the planets
according to the plan as depicted in upper picture. This arrangement is based
upon planetary distances. Omit Rahu, Ketu and Moon initially, which are not full
planets. Inner planets, including Sun, are in the right half of the upper
picture. Outer planets are on the left side of the upper picture. Now add up
their duration of years as given in the vimshottari dasha system.. In left half,
we get
(Saturn 19) + (Jupiter 16) + (Mars 7) = 42 years

and in right half we get

(Mercury 17) + (Venus 20) + (Sun 6) = 43 years

Total of all 9 planets is 120 lunar years in the vimshottari system. Both halves
should have 60 years each. Left half in upper picture has a deficit of 18 years,
which only Rahu can give, and right half has a deficit of 17 years which only a
combination of Ketu and Moon can supply. Thus we get the lower picture of
vimshottari dasha system. Rahu and Ketu must be placed opposite to each other,
and Moon should be placed alongwith the Sun but not between Sun and any planet (
i.e., Venus). It is safe to put Rahu and Ketu away from Sun and Moon . Since
distances from the Sun was the basis of this plan, vimshottari dasha system
ought to start with Sun. As in the lower picture, we get the sequence Sun : Moon
: Mars : Rahu : Jupiter : Saturn : Mercury : Ketu : Venus which is the sequence
given in all ancient texts, esp. by Sage Parashara.
In adhyaya 3, khanda 16 of Chandogya Upanishada, there are 7 shlokas which
describe three stages in the lifespan of a person, being of 24, 44 and 48 years
respectively, which are the number of syllables in three important Vedic metres
Gayatri, Trishtup and Jagati. Total lifespan of a human being is here said to be
of 116 years.
In Vimshottari dasha system full lifespan of a human being is equal to 120 lunar
years, which is equal to 116.4 solar years which, when rounded off, is same as
that given in the Chandogya Upanishada.
One question remains to be answered : what is the rationale behind the number of
years assigned to different planets in the vimshottari dasha system ? Who will
find a plausible answer to this intriguing question ? -VJ
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Vimshottari Timings for Planets of Mixed AttributesOften a planet is both good
and bad, how to decide when we get which result?

Often a planet possesses both good and bad attributes. How we should decide when
we get which result during the dashas of such a planet of mixed attributes ? For
instance, if a student takes appears in an examination during the dasha of such
a planet, whether he/will get through or fail? Or will he hover at the passing
point ?

For instance, if Jupiter is in moolatrikona in a particular horoscope , it is

highly auspicious on account of that. But if it is lord of 6th and 11th houses
at the same time, it is highly malefic.

It is wrong to assume that these opposite attributes cancel each other. In

rainfall analysis, I found that such planets cause excessive rainfall on account
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of being in moolatrikona, but cause destruction from rains and/or flooding due
to their malefic nature.

I have worked for many years in rain prediction, and there I had faced tricky
questions. What will be total amount of rainfall due to a planet which is good
(eg, exalted) and bad (eg, in 12th house)? The answer I found, from analysis of
past data of 136 years procured from IITM (Pune) is that net result will be
nearly ±5% of normal rainfall, if other planets do not influence that
particular region (ie, have no aspect and no relation with rain's karaka). But
places pierced (viddha) by malefic planets in Sarvatobhadra chakra in that
region will be badly hit by excessive or scanty rainfall depending upon
magnitude of aspect, and places pierced by benefics will be blessed with rains
conducive to good harvest.

In individual horoscopes, similar situations, however, produce different

problems. Many persons are confused about malefic and benefic planets. Jupiter
as lord of 3rd and 6th houses is malefic, but if it is situated in mooltrikona,
it is benefic as well. Now a question arises : when such a planet will give its
good results, and when its malefic fruits will be reaped ?
Rule-I :

The answer is simple : during MD (mahadasha) of Jupiter, one will get good
results during AD (antardasha) of Jupiter's own AD or ADs of friendly relatives,
and bad results during ADs of enmical planets. This principle works down to
prandasha level. For instance, if such a mixed Jupiter is karaka of
sukshma-dasha, it will give give good results during prana-dasha of its friends
and bad results during prana-dasha of its enemies.
For instance, a native topped school board exams during Jupiter's MD and
Jupiter's AD (pratyantara and sukshma were of auspicious planets too). But the
same native failed to get through the examinations just two years later during
AD of Saturn, although Saturn was lord of 4th and 5th houses and was therefore
auspicious for that native. The cause was mutual enmity and conjunction (yuti)
relation between Jupiter and Saturn. Jupiter gave its good results during its
own AD , but during Saturn's AD mainly the malefic results of Jupiter were
manifest, benefic results of both Jupiter and Saturn lied dormant. It was the
worst period in the life of that native. He could not leave his house for a long
period due to illness, depression and bad relations with everyone, and failed in
examinations.
But during Saturn's MD and Jupiter's AD, things were good for the same native,
because Saturn, being an auspicious planet (kendresh plus trikonesh) gave its
good results through its yuti relative jupiter, and suppressed the bad effects
of malefic Jupiter due to mutual enmity. It was the best period in the life of
same native and he excelled in whatever he attempted ! Thus, Jupiter's MD gave
both best and worst results in the life of a single native.
It is a general principle, which works only when aspects of both planets (eg,
planets causing MD and AD) are nearly equal upon the bhava we are analyzing. If
any one of them has very strong influence in comparison to the other planet over
that particular bhava, the stronger planet will break the above rule and give
its own good or bad fruits in proportion of its strength.
Net result becomes more complex when influences of other planets are also
considered, which we must do, because many influences are effective for whole
life irrespective of dasha. For instance, a person will not become long during
MD of Saturn and dwarf during MD of Mercury.

Rule-II :
Now let us consider another problem. Suppose we are in a situation in which we
an answer in binary language or yes or no. Eg., whether one will pass or fail in
an examination, live or die during a critical surgery, etc. Mixed answers will
not do under such circumstances. Such cases are rare when a patients neither
lives nor dies, and relapses in a coma, or a student's result is washed away by
floods in the board office.

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In such situations, we have to evaluate the net auspiciousness or
inauspiciousness of all the five karaka planets of five levels of Vimshottari,
taking into account benefic and malefic properties of each of them. Long
practice coupled with intuition developed by means of inner purity helps in this
evaluation. During such an evaluation, an exalted planet in 12th mansion must be
counted as a normal planet.
Only general outlines are presented here. Both of above laws work always work
perfectly, but only when we follow the siddhanta (mathematics) of ancient sages.
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I said above " Both of above laws work always work perfectly, but only when we
follow the siddhanta (mathematics) of ancient sages. "
Prevalent methods of computing Vimshottari dashas contain two major sources of
error in timing, one on account of Drikpakshiya Moon and another on account of
wrong duration of 'year' used. Canonical texts strictly define Vimshottari' s
year to be of 360 days. Solar year is slightly over 365 days. Hence, Solar year
must not be used for Vimshottari. Vimshottari is made from lunar asterism
(nakshatra). Hence its year is lunar. Lunar year is of 360 lunar days (tithis).
This is Vimshottari' s year. Unfortunately, few astrologers use this correct
year for Vimshottari computations. As a result, there is a 3.07% error in the
length of Vimshottari year. If true moon is acurately computed, Vimshottari
timing at birth will be correct, but will err by one year after 32.57 years, by
two years after 65 years, and so on. As a result, 8% of mahadasha timings and
70% of antar-dasha timings will be wrong ! Very few persons will have accurate
pratyantaras in their
Vimshottari tables ! If birthtime true moon is also wrong, there will be
greater error !
Among all the Vedic softwares I have hitherto seen, only two softwares give the
option of selecting lunar year in computing Vimshottari, and few people take
advantage of these options ! New theories of predictive astrology (Phalit
Jyotisha) are being invented to account for the mismatch in predictions and
reality, instead of trying the ancient method of sages.
Some practising astrologers knew this mismatch in timing, but did not know the
reason. Dr Kameshwar Upadhyaya, former editor of Vishwa Panchanga published by
BHU (Benaras Hindu University), told me many years ago that all planets start
giving results many months before their real Vimshottari timing begins. At that
time, he was using solar year for Vimshottari reckoning. He is one of the most
busy practising astrologers of Varanasi and has analysed a remendous number of
horoscopes made with the help of all sorts of methods. Now he is convinced that
lunar year should be used for Vimshottari reckoning, but fears that majority of
astrologers will become his opponent due to professional reasons, hence keeps
quiet but uses lunar year in his own computations. Same is the case with some
other reputed astrologers.
But there is another, more serious, problem : use of Drikpakshiya Moon in Vedic
Astrology, which results in considerable error in Vimshottari reckoning. But the
magnitude of this error remains constant throughout the life of a native. For
instance, if a planet starts giving its results 6 months before its computed
time according to lunar year, all planets will show same error of 6 months
throughout the life of that native. Hence, it will be easy to recognize that
there is an error of 6 months, which can be remedied by using Saurpakshiya
correctives according to ancient techniques. Magnitude of this error is
different for different persons, sometimes running into years !

How long this wrong Vimshottari year will prevail is a matter of our collective
choice. Test of the pudding lies in tasting it. Predictive (Phalita) astrology
of Vedic sages is an exact science, provided we keep true to their Ganita.
Grahas of Vedic Jyotisha are deities, according to all ancient authorities, and
deities cannot be perceived sensorily. I have dared to write on this blasphemous
topic in an age of materialism, in which material objects of sky are believed to
be deities. Let me see what is the reaction ! -VJ
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The Secret Magic of Vimshottari

It is a universally accepted fact that any faultless astrological technique of
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exact timing of events either does not exist or lies hidden, although philistine
astrologers (nakshatrasoochakas ) may declare themselves to be omniscient.

All known methods in Vedic Astrology can be divided into two categories, as far
as mathematics is concerned : (1) those dependent upon modern physical astronomy
and (2) those relying on traditional methods. Both these categories have
numerous variants. Major problem in the first camp is astrologically correct
value of ayanamsha, and main problem in second camp is computational crudities
of various types.

We assume that both these camps take for granted that in mathematics sidereal
(nirayana) system is correct and in predictive astrology (phalita jyotisha)
Brihat-Parashara- Hora-Shastra (BPHS) and ancient texts based on or akin to BPHS
are to be relied upon, because that is the accepted meaning of Vedic Astrology
or Jyotisha.
There cannot be mutually incompatible two correct techniques of timing, either
both of them or at least one of them must be incorrect. As far as the first
school based on physical astronomy is concerned, all possible values of
ayanamsha have been experimented with during past one hundred years, without any
conclusive outcome in the favour of any single value of ayanamsha. It proves
that even after we get some perfect solution to the problem of ayanamsha, there
must be other unrecognized errors which must be removed if we want any exact
technique in timing of events. One such source of error is erroneous length of
the Vimshottari year. Some software developers, like Sri Jyoti Star in the USA
and Kundalee in India, have experimented with various types of Vimshottari
years, without any conclusive result, because a third source of error was never
noticed by any practitioner of Vedic Astrology among the computer using guys :
hidden Saurpakshiya offsets in
Drikpakshiya longitudes of planets. Most of the computer using astrologers
might not have heard these esoteric terms, whiich are fundamental in the
curriculum of Vedic Jyotisha taught in Sanskrit universities of India. These are
ancient concepts, and Ketaki system had revived these concepts during 20th
century. Kamlakara Bhatta was the most staunch proponent of this Saurpakshiya
mathematics during recent centuries, but due to Western hegemony and faith in
modern science this ancient system was never tried by any software developer.
Many reputed scholars of Sanskrit universities on India have concluded that
unless this beejsamskrita (offset corrected) method of Suryasidhanta is adopted,
foolproof timing of events will remain a distant dream. On 18 Oct 2005, after
two days of discussions in a conference held at Sampoornanand Sanskrit
University in Varanasi, an unanimous decision was taken by academic stalwarts
from six states of India that all panchangas of India ought to be made according
to Suryasidhanta and a committee headed by me (Vinay Jha) was formed to
implement this unanimous decision, whose parties were Dr Nagendra Pandey
(currently HOD of Jyotisha at Sampoornanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi), Dr
Shukdeva Chaturvedi (former HOD of Lalbahadur Shastri Kendriya Vidyapeetha in
Delhi), Dr Ramchandra Pandey (former HOD of Jyotisha of Benaras Hindu
University, Varanasi), Dr Radhakanta Mishra (currently HOD of Jyotisha at KSD
Sanskrit University in Bihar), etc. This unanimous
decision was implemented and eight panchangas were started in many states of
India and a horoscope making Kundalee software was also launched, based on the
same beejsamskrita Suryasidhantic mathematics.
Mathematical discussion of this tricky affair is not advisable here. My aim here
is merely to illustrate, with some examples, this traditional method of Vedic
Ganita (mathematics) , which was simply known as Siddhanta (theory) by all
ancient astrologers of India. Without a sound Siddhanta, a sound predictive
astrology is just impossible. There were 18 ancient Siddhantas, of which Surya
Siddhanta was lauded as the best by Varah Mihir. The beauty and greatness of
BPHS cannot be properly fathomed unless we use the Ganita (Surya Siddhanta) of
those very ancient masters who created Phalita.

Some rules must be observed before we proceed. Rashi chart should be used only
for determining friendships, aspects, strengths, debilities, etc of planets.
Predictive work should be entirely based upon the Bhava-chalita kundali. Many
astrologers use Rashi kundali for predictons because it saves time, and this
habit has now become almost a rule ! Ascendant is defined as a point in
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ecliptic. The latter is elliptical. Hence, ascendant and consequent bhavas are
all parts of this solar ellipse. Rashi kundali is circular and therefore all 12
parts are equal. But bhavachalita kundali is elliptical because its 12 bhavas
are unequal.
Now we come to our main theme. Birthtime bhavachalita (D1) and navamamsha (D9)
kundalis and associated aspect charts are given in following two pictures. Let
us explore the timing of marriage of a registered user (cf. http://www.mysticbo
ard.com/viewtopi c.php?t=58583 & postdays=0 & postorder=asc & start=0) according
to
BPHS and Laghuparashari. All the rules and techniques used below are well known
to all Vedic astrologers, but these rules work with perfection only if all the
three mathematical offsets are taken into account. Following analysis is based
on a software (Kundalee) in which all necessary corrections proposed by
aforementioned academics have been taken into account.
Birthtime : 17:07:1983 at 19:34, Nellore (14:27 N, 80:02 E)
Marriage time : 10:08:2006 at 11:04, Hyderabad

Saurpakshiya Vimshottari at the time of marriage :

MahaDasha(MD) = Jup, AD = Sat, PD = Rahu,SD = Ven,PrD = Merc
Let us consider birthtime Bhava-chalita (D1) and Navamasha(D9) charts. Following
is the aspects (max. 60) on 7th house :
Jup = 51 ; Ketu = 39 ; Sat = 38 ; Moon = 10 ; Rahu = 6 ; others = 0.
Merury resides in 7th house.

Due to more aspect on 7th house than any other planet, marriage took place in
Jupiter's MD.
But Ketu and Saturn have nearly equal aspect on 7th. Ketu has Yuti relation with
Jupiter, but Saturn has a yuti relation with lord of the 7th house Moon.
Firstly, Jupiter's being lord of 3rd and 12th houses and being merely samagrihi
in 11th house is far weaker than exalted Saturn in 9th house with lord of 7th
Moon. Hence, yuti relation with Jupiter is not imparting enough weightage to
Ketu in its contention with Saturn as a force to reckon with as regards 7th
house.
Secondly, Jupiter is friendly to both Ketu and Saturn in bhavachalita, but in D9
Jupiter is friendly to Saturn but enmical (tatkalika) to Ketu, the latter being
further weakened by being placed in 12th house. It forced Ketu out of the race,
and made Saturn factor of AD.
Moon in spite of being lord of 7th house had only 10' aspect and in D9 was
debilitated in D9, hence it went out of the race. Mercury is combust (asta) with
debilitated Sun, hence it was powerless. Jayakaraka Venus is lord of 8th house,
resides in 6th and has no aspect on 7th. Hence it had no effect on marriage. In
bhavachalita, all other planets are totally ineffective in this regard. In D9,
exalted Saturn has yuti relation with Mercury and Rahu. Since Mercury is combust
in bhavachalita, Rahu emerges as the most powerful contender for factor behind
pratyantara dasha when we consider the combined effect of bhavachalita and D9.
Among the remaining, we find Jayakaraka Venus as factor of SD and Mercury
sitting in 7th as factor of Prandasha, in spite of their weaknesses, because all
other planets are totally ineffectve. Mercury is 10°:34':35'' degrees away from
Sun (after applying Saurpakshiya offset in longitudes according to ancient
canons), and is therefore not totally combust. Venus is also not too bad, and
therefore its property of Jayakaraka was not totally destroyed on account of
residing in 8th and lacking aspect on 7th.

Careful comparison of all planets in D1and D9 with regard to their influences on

7th house should be made by readers to determine the five planets needed for
Vimshottari timing. D1 is bhavachalita and not Rashi-chart, because BPHS
explicitly uses the word Lagna for D1, and ancient mathematical canon
(Suryasiddhanta) defines Lagna as in terms of elliptical ecliptic and not in
terms of circular bha-vritta. If such precautions are taken, measure of error in
determination of time of events will gradually reduce.
In the chart of husband of this native, two planets are so powerful for the 7th
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house that they were repeated in Vimshottari sequence Ineffectiveness of other
planets also contributed to this.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

--------- ---This topic is growing too big. Such problems should be solved by
means of comparison of both types of softwares, popular ones, and
Suryasiddhantic. It is not possible to wipe out Suryasiddhanta in spite of
centuries of propaganda against it by Semitic invaders and their intellectual
offsprings. Suryasiddhanta is not a text of physical astronomy, its Grahas are
incarnations of gods. BPHS also holds same views. Physical planets have no power
to control destinies of men and nations, and they cannot be propitiated either.
If material planets are accepted to be factors in astrology, their forces must
be material forces. But how can we compare the gigantic material forces of Sun
and Jupiter with Mercury ? And what is the material force of Rahu or Ketu ?
Injecting materialism in astrology is destroying it. Jyotisha, being Vedanga, is
a part of Veda, and is a part of religion
rather than of material science. Its criterion of truth is not heavenly
position of material objects perceived by sense organs, but the reliability of
Phalita (predictive branch of astrology). 2000 AD was the year of minimum amount
of offset in longitudes between Drikpakshiya (physical) and Saurpakshiya
(Suryasiddhantic) planets. Now, this offset has begun to increase, and will
reach the value of 180° in 23000 AD. When this offset was considerable, no one
talked of material objects. Observatories are things of Kaliyuga. Astrological
Grahas are deities who control lives of creatures.

Reading such arguments, some people start crying wolf about obscurantism. But
they forget that all great scientists like Newton, Neils Bohr, Einstein and
Schröedinger were believers in God, the last of them being a staunch supporter
of Vedanta who got a Nobel Prize by proving through his Wave Mechanics that
material things are mere perceptions and nothing exists in the universe
excepting Waves (of Consciousness? ) : this is what Badarayana and
Shankaracharya taught!
My chief concern here is to bring to notice some little known aspects of
Vimshottari and of the mathematical aspects of astrology. The purpose of this
topic is not to assert that Vimshottari is enough for timing of events. There
are other techniques in Vedic Astrology. But Vimshottari is by far the most
important of all, and its importance has reduced due to three factors already
pointed out by me : wrong ayanamsha, wrong length of Vimshottari year, and wrong
or no longitudinal offsets in planetary positions.

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