Lal Kitab : The Red Book of Astrology - 2

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(Note : I m not author of the article, I only collected and collated)

 

Please note that the intention is to only highlight the differences

between Lal Kitab method and the classical Indian astrology. This is not

at all meant to be a criticism of any school of astrology.

 

Pandit Roop Chand Joshi had the highest respect and regard for the sages

and the scholars, current and of the years past, who founded this

knowledge for the good of everyone. Lal Kitab is an extension of the

existing Indian astrological system.

 

1. Ascendant or Lagna (the first house in a horoscope) is always

considered to be having Aries sign in it. A traditional Indian

horoscope is converted to the Lal Kitab system by changing the Lagna

sign to Aries and the sign of the second house to Taurus and so on. The

planets that are in these houses are not changed, only the Rashis

(signs) are changed. This removes the need for having to consider the

" Lord of the first " (Lagnesh) or Dhanesh, Shashtesh etc. Each

house in a horoscope has been assigned a fixed lordship of a Rashi,

which is Aries for the first house, Taurus for the second house and so

on.

 

2. Rahu and Ketu, (the lunar nodes) which are always seven houses (180

degrees) apart from each other in the traditional Indian astrology, do

not have to be bound by this condition. Especially, while making an

annual progressed horoscope using Lal Kitab's Varshphal table, these

two may or may not be seven houses apart. These two can even occupy

adjoining houses. Rahu and Ketu can even be together, when a horoscope

is made based on one's palm or the house that one lives in (Makaan

Kundli.)

 

3. In the traditional Indian astrology, Sun, Mercury and Venus are

always positioned close by. Lal Kitab removes this condition also. These

planets can be spread all over the horoscope, distant from each other,

just as in the case of Rahu and Ketu.

 

4. Multiple planets that are together in the birth chart in a particular

house, remain grouped together for the rest of one's life. While

preparing the annual horoscope, these planets move together as a group.

For example, if one has Jupiter, Sun and Saturn together in the first

house in the birth chart, these planets will move together to the fourth

house in one's 25th year of life (See the Varshphal table in the Lal

Kitab for details.)

 

5. In order to judge a horoscope, one need not consider the Nakshtra

(constellation) or Rashi. Also Lal Kitab does not consider the effect

of transition of planets (gochar) thus eliminating the need for an

almanac. The only time one needs an almanac is, when one is preparing

the natal birth chart. After that, an almanac is not needed at all,

ever.

 

" Rashi chhor nakshatra bhoola, naa hee koi

panchaang liya,

Mekh raashi khud lagna ko gin kar, barah pakke ghar

maan gayaa "

 

Roughly translated:

 

" He " disregarded the constellations and the birth sign and got

rid of the almanac (where one considers current planetary transitions)

" He " fixed Aries as the sign in the first house and similarly

the twelve signs in the twelve houses of the horoscope.

 

6. All the things around us have been fixed as representatives of, or

belonging to, the nine planets. Relatives, professions, things placed

in a dwelling including cattle, pets, trees, plants etc. establish good

or evil effect of a planet.

 

7. Need for Navaansh and other charts, such as Saptaansh etc. has been

completely eliminated from Lal Kitab consideration. Only the basic natal

chart is required. Lal Kitab has its own way of making the Chandra

Kundli, which is looked at in special circumstances.

 

8. Lal Kitab neither has Vinshottari Maha dashaa, nor the Sade Sati

consideration of Saturn. It does, however, have its own planetary cycle

of thirty-five years.

 

9. Mangaleek dosh has been eliminated from consideration. However, since

Mars has been assigned two mounts on the hand (Upper and Lower mounts)

Lal Kitab considers Mars as giving dual effect – good and evil.

 

10. A method for casting horoscopes of twins, triplets, etc. has been

described in the Lal Kitab. This method provides distinct horoscope for

each child. The later born of the twins is considered older.

 

11. For timing of events, Lal Kitab provides a methodology that goes

into as much detail as hours, minutes and seconds. Again, this facility

neither requires complex calculations, nor the use of an almanac.

 

12. Malefic effect of planets can be of two types: Graha Phal and Rashi

Phal. An Upaya can be utilized to guard against the Rashi Phal effect.

Graha Phal can not be altered by ordinary mortal beings. It is the

Rashi Phal effect that can be modified using the upayas.

 

13. Lal Kitab system neither prescribes nor prohibits fasts.

 

14. Lal Kitab is neither a Tantrik book nor does it have anything to do

with witchcraft. The whole idea behind the upayas is to take advantage

of the " doubtful " position of certain planets and minimize their

evil effects. Ordinary mortal beings cannot completely eliminate the

evil effect of a planet; however the evil effect can, generally, be

reduced. The Lal Kitab system does not claim to be " God's

promise "

" Duniyaavi hisaab kitabb hai, koi daawaa-e-khudaai nahin "

 

15. Lal Kitab system can not be used to harm others; there is no

provision in it to do that. This system attempts to defend one against

evil planetary effects.

 

16. Lal Kitab system is secular in nature. In order to perform an upaya,

one can go to one's religious place of choice, which could be a

temple, a gurudwara or, a mosque or church. If one feels that one cannot

perform an upaya in one of these religious places, or in case one is an

atheist, the upayas can be performed at an intersection where two roads

intersect at a right angle.

 

17. All the upayas are to be performed between dawn and dusk. There are

only two or three exceptions and those are explicitly mentioned in the

Lal Kitab. There is absolutely no requirement to perform particular

upayas on particular days (unless specifically mentioned.) These upayas

can be performed by one's blood relatives or spouse (male or

female.) Any variation of this rule would be a figment of one's

imagination and against the principles of this system.

 

18. As stated before, this system does not consider itself superior to

other prevalent systems of astrology.

 

19. The Lal Kitab should be utilized to help others:

 

Kar Bhalaa hoga bhalaa, Jab tak naa ho, bhalay ka buraa

 

20. And finally, Pandit Roop Chand Ji blessed all the readers and

practitioners of the Lal Kitab system:

 

Khush Raho Aabaad Duniya, Maal-o-zar Badhtey raho,

Madad Maalik apni dega, Neki khud kartey chalo

 

May you all be happy and prosperous. Possess material goods; God

will help you if you will help others (through the knowledge contained

in these books.)

 

*** *****

AN INTERVIEW WITH PT. ROOP CHAND JOSHI – December 1982.

 

I had the distinct privilege of meeting Pt. Roop Chand Joshi , many

times. I live in the United States and although Panditji never cared to

know my name, yet he was always very kind to me. When I met him for the

last time on November 14, 1982, he looked frail and yet he had

brightness in his eyes, and a very energetic and charismatic look. After

he read a couple of horoscopes for me (I was the last one that morning;

Pt. Som Dutt had already shut the entrance door to indicate that

Panditji was not available for the day.) I was taking leave of him, I

wished him well and told him that we'd be meeting again in another

year or so. That is when he declared that it was our last meeting.

" I am not going to be around for the next meeting. It is time for me

to depart. Do you wish to ask me anything? " I asked Panditji these

questions and took very rough notes:

 

1. How did this knowledge come to you? People have all sorts of stories

about it?

As a youngster, I had intuition and was able to read palms and faces.

Lots of times, for no rhyme or reason, I would say something and it

would come out to be true. Yet, I was not serious about it. I was more

concerned about my work ands my studies. It was that fateful night; I

had come to Pharwala on my first annual leave for two months. The very

first night, this " taaqat " (Power) appeared to me in my dream

and told me that I was to be taught this " ilm " (knowledge) The

next morning, something made me pick up a pencil and a notebook and my

fingers started writing what was discussed the night before. I tried to

resist it, but it was of no avail. All during my leave, everyday this

" exercise " continued. I would be almost in a semi-conscious

state. It was scary. And, I could not take my attention off this. I

knew that I had been had (hearty laugh). And was I ever? Till this day,

I am 84 years old now, this ilm has been haunting me if you want to call

it that way. I can't go anywhere, people recognize me and ask me to

read their horoscope. In a way, I feel this has been a big

" zahmat " (nastiness) in my life but on the other hand, I am glad

that He chose me to help the fellow beings. Going back to the topic. I

was instructed to read and re-read the material and start practicing it

as soon as possible. Once I mastered the basics, my intuition would

automatically open newer avenues. I marvel at all this. Although, I

toiled like a slave all my life, had next to nothing by way of family

life, yet I am glad that I was able to bring forth this knowledge. It

is so fascinating; I marvel at it.

 

2. Why did you not give your name as the author of the books?

 

What difference does it make to have Pt. Roop Chand's name on these

books? Without my name being used on the book, I am quite well known.

Can you imagine how it would multiply the lines outside my house if

people knew who the author is? Many people in my village (Farwala) have

started practicing Lal Kitab astrology because many outsiders do not

know who the author is. It has been so difficult for my family with a

big " hujoom " (crowd) always outside my house. My family never

enjoyed any privacy ever. To salvage whatever little I can, I shun

publicity; of course, I cannot shut my doors. Also, since I was in

Defence organization working for the British India government, it would

have been hard to get permission to publish anything. My officers, both

British as well as Indians knew what I was doing – in fact, they all

used to consult me, yet I decided not to ask for permission to publish

under my name. For the 1952 edition, I could have given my name as the

author because I took early retirement and was under no governmental

obligation. To stay anonymous was a decision I had made early in life

and I stuck with it all my life. Those who know me, know who I am. Those

who don't know me, should be least of my concern.

 

3. Why were these books written in Urdu?

 

In the late 30s, Urdu was the common man's language. I wrote with

" Aam Public " in mind. Our traditional astrological books are in

Sanskrit or Sankritised Hindi. I did not want this ilm to become a

property of the select few – Lal Kitab's purpose is to make

astrology easy and accessible to general populace and what better way

than to write in a language that everyone understood (at that time.) I

even used prevalent Punjabi phrases wherever relevant. Here and there, I

used Farsi or Arabic words for emphasizing a point just as English

authors use French or Latin words and phrases. Also, I used Farsi for

things, which may not sound decent in our conversational language. For

example, to describe certain body parts or diseases, I used Farsi or

Arabic words.

 

4. How come you never charge for your services?

 

My purpose is to help the " aam duniyaavi saathi " (my fellow

human beings.) He has been kind to me in that He provided me with enough

means to raise my family reasonably comfortably. I am financially not a

rich person but I have enough to get by. My purpose has been to help

people to the best of my ability. By not charging, I retain my

independence. If I don't want to see someone's horoscope, I am

at liberty to do so. I do not go to people's house to read their

horoscopes, regardless of how powerful or rich they may be. Rajas and

Generals have come into my Baithak as have the Chief Ministers and other

high placed officials. I have never asked anyone for a favour, One of

the ministers got our village connected to the main road so that people

can get here without much difficulty. (The road led right to

Panditji's house in Farwala.) The rest of the village has benefited

as a result. Last year, I went for a checkup at All India Institute of

Medical Sciences in Delhi. Some of its senior doctors have come to me in

the past. You should have seen how they were all surrounding me. People

were trying to figure out as to who this V.I.P. is. I told my son (Pt.

Som Dutt) " You always ask me what have I earned in my life? Can you

count the number of Doctors trying to look after me? " They were all

too eager to help me. At times, I go to the nearby town of Phillaur

(where Punjab Police training academy is located.) All the Police higher

ups get out of their cars and with folded hands, show me their respect.

Why do they do so?

 

regards,

Lalit Mishra,

www.Vedicastrologyandhealing

<http://www.Vedicastrologyandhealing>