Chapter no. 1 BASIC CONCEPTS

Horoscope
A horoscope is the map of the heaven showing planetary positions and
ascendant for a given moment at a particular place. The sign of the
zodiac rising on the eastern horizon of the place at the given moment
is lagna or the ascendant and is also known as the first house or the
first bhava or house. The ascendant is called lagna in astrology
because the word lagna conveys a sense of being tied down; the
ascendant ties the position of the planets to the place and the time
of the moment.

Zodiac is an imaginary belt stretching about 8 degree north and 8
degree south of the ecliptic(path of the sun around the earth) within
which all planets revolve in course of their movement around the
earth.

Geocentric approach is adopted for astrological calculations assuming
earth i.e our observation point as the center of the universe and
noting down positions of celestial bodies with reference to it.
Houses(bhava) and Sign (rashi)-The horoscope has 12 portions. These
are known as houses. They correspond to the twelve signs of the
zodiac. The first portion is known as house no.1 and so on till the
end of the 12th house meets the starting point of the first house.
The zodiac is also divided into 12 equal compartments of 30 degree
each. The commencement of zodiac is reckoned from the first point of
Aries followed by Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio,
Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and lastly Pisces.. Taking earth as
the reference point these seem to move in a continuous circle around
the earth from east to west. The sign which is rising on the eastern
horizon at the time of birth is known as lagan and placed in house
no1 of the horoscope and the remaining signs are placed in the
subsequent houses in order of signs of the zodiac.

Differences Between Lal-Kitab and Vedic system of astrology.
1.In lal-kitab system the first house is considered as the sign Aries
and so on till 12th house=Pisces. The sign which occupies the house
is virtually neglected. The lagna rashi or the ascendant is
considered only for erecting the Chandra kundali. Apart from this
factor the rashi occupying the houses are treated to be non-existing.

2. The method for erecting Chandra kundali is also different in the
two systems. In traditional system the sign occupied by Chandra is
placed in the lagna and subsequent signs follow. But in lal-kitab
system the horoscope is erected as usual staring from the first
house. The rashi no. which occupies the lagna is noted down and
Chandra is placed in that no. house and subsequently with reference
to it other planets are fitted in. e.g. suppose a person has sign
Aquarius then moon will be placed in house no.11 and other planets
placed in various houses of the horoscope with reference to it.

3. The unique method in lal-kitab in which combination of two planets
make a masnui planet. e.g. Guru and Rahu together make Budh or Budh
can be split into two parts i.e. guru and Rahu.

4. The system of transit/progression of the planets is also totally
different. The tables have been devised by the author and yearly
transit or varshphal is derived from this table. It is nowhere
concerned with the position of planets in the sky.

5. In thy varshphal Rahu and Ketu needn't be 7 houses apart they can
even come together, similarly there is no condition for distance of
mercury and Venus from sun.

6.The planets occupying the same house remain together in progression
also.

7. The aspects are also slightly different from the traditional
astrology.

8. Naksahtras or asterisms are not considered in the lal-kitab system.

Role of palmistry and occurrence of events in life.

Even the children born on the same time and the same place don't
haves identical destinies and no two persons have the identical lines
in their palms. Even the numerous people who die in calamities don't
have time of death being shown either in the horoscopes or in the
lines of the palm. So the lal-kitab tries to amalgamate the two and
draw a basic grammar for interpretation. So occasional resort to
palmistry is an added advantage and has been referred to by the
author at numerous points. Moreover the astronomers have till date
reconciled on the Ayanamsa. Thus at times horoscopes vary when
different Ayanamsa are used. Therefore the horoscope prepared by
using ephemeris is corrected by palmistry and the events of life of
the native e.g. Events like snakebites, collapse, demolition, or
sale of house, problems related to eyesight, trouble to paternal
uncle, loss in machinery etc confirms that the native is under the
Saturn's Dhayiya(two and half years) or Sadhsati(Seven and half)
years malefic spell. This clear and visible manifestation shall be
given preference over speculation on basis of horoscopy.