Lal Kitab needs no formal introduction. It is popular amongst neophytes
and masters of astrology equally. The enamoured of the remedial measures of Lal Kitab and
the astrologers who suggest them take pride in them. The measures are too simple to be
explained in detail and too typical to be understood by an intelligent human being.
Whatever be the facts they are quite effective and cannot be just given up for their
simplicity. Rather they bring credit to him who suggests them. On the face of it Lal Kitab is an important treatise
on palmistry and astrology. Ordinarily the palmists talk of mounts and lines Sun, Moon and
Mars etc. but it is in Lal Kitab only that we comes across the birth charts of the natives
having twelve houses and all the planets (earliest known nine planets) posted there. Rules
of prediction are also very much like those enunciated in astrology. Despite all this, the
astrology of Lal Kitab is different from astrology we know of, be it eastern, western or
of any origin.
Lal Kitab is essentially palmistry.
The astrological contents that are added to it are to reflect the findings of a palmist or
rather to corroborate it. The palm has been divided into 12 parts just as the natural
Zodiac is divided into twelve signs like Aries, Taurus etc. Some types of shapes have been
alloted to planets. These shapes wherever they exist on palm are supposed to be occupying
particular houses of the birth chart. These signs represent the planets they are alloted
to. Thus we have the twelve houses and the nine planets posted in the chart having twelve
houses. The astrological chart is ready on the basis of the palm. They are often different
from the birth charts prepared on astrological principles. The authenticity of
astrological charts is to be corrected by the chart prepared from palm imprints. How
charts are made from the palm is not our subject here. We propose only to discuss and deal
with astrological contents of the book.
Whatever be the system or method of
preparation the chart has ascendant or the lagna and the other twelve houses numbered
serially. Though they are the 12 sings of the Zodiac the signs have no significance in the
chart. For signs, we may say, each horoscope is to be treated just like the horoscope of
Kala Purusha; that is, house No. 1 should be considered as identical with Aries in all
cases. As Sun is exalted in Aries and debilitated in Libra, we say that Sun is exalted in
Lagna and debilitated in the 7th house. The lordship of the houses will also go
likewise. Mars is always the lagna Lord and Venus the 7th Lord.
In the palm we talk of lower Mars and
upper Mars. In Lal Kitabs astrology we have two Mars, one a malefic or bad Mars and
the other a benefic or a kind of good Mars. This is one peculiarity of Lal Kitabs
astrology. Both the Mars have their own properties.
As regards the comparative power of
the planets it is the same as given in classical texts but at the same time we come across
the concept of equivalent planets. Mercury for instance, is considered to be equivalent to
Sun in power of giving results.
We have a concept of blind or
sleeping planets and blind or sleeping houses in Lal Kitab. The planets are supposed to
have an aspect of some houses and affect the results of those houses. In Lal Kitab if the
aspecting planet has no planet in the aspected house the aspecting planet becomes a blind
planet in the aspected house the aspecting planet becomes a blind planet himself. It may
be pertinent to note that the aspect of the planet is not the same in each house. Sun if
posited in house 2 shall not aspect the 8th house but the 6th house
only and if 6th house is unoccupied sun becomes blind. In short it is the house
that grants aspect to the planet. The house is blind if it has no planets in it. This is
the concept in astrology also. We call that house as weak.
There is also a concept of the
artificial planets. A group of two planets together form one particular artificial planet
or a substitute of that planet. Sun and Venus together form one artificial Moon. Likewise
there are artificial planets for each of the planets including the nodes Rahu and Ketu.
There is also a concept of
sacrificial goats. If, suppose, Sun is afflicted by Saturn the effects of Sun shall be
affected. This will not affect the effects of any other planet like Mars, Mercury or Rahu
etc. According to Lal Kitab the affliction of Sun shall be passed on to Ketu. In other
words the affliction would affect the results of Ketu. The affliction of Saturn would be
spoilt. The wife of the native may die or suffer from miseries and troubles. It may be
brought on record that such effects have actually been noticed although Saturn does not
represent wife nor he is the significator of wife. Such results do need a deep research
and the results are likely to enrich our astrology.
We have a basic assumption that a
planet gives the results of the houses of his lordship and those of the house occupied by
him. He may, according to some, also offer the results of house or houses of which he is
the natural significator although we have our own reservations but the planet in Lal Kitab
can give results of any house by applying suitable remedies. This is a revolutionary
concept and really needs deep research work like the assumption of sacrificial goats
referred to above. |