UNDERSTANDING KRISHNAMURTI PADDHATI OR KP ASTROLOGY

‘Krishnamurti Paddhati’ or KP got its name from the inventor of this technique late Prof. K.S. Krishnamurti (1902-1978), who developed this new technique of arriving at predictions. KP is based on the stellar system of prediction and the ‘Sub Lords’ ‘ the invention which crowned Prof. Krishnamurti and his followers with success. The stellar system was initially developed by two friends, Meena I (late R. Gopalakrishna Row) and Meena II (late N.V. Raghava Chary).

Prof. Krishnamurti was a close friend to both of them. In stead of stopping at the stellar level of prediction, Prof. Krishnamurti undertook laborious research for decades and invented a further smaller division of each constellation (star) in the zodiac based on the unequal proportion f the Vimsottari Dasa system. This he named as ‘Sub’ (that is, sub-division of a star). The entire KP technique is based on proper evaluation and application of these Sub Lords.

Many KP learners and practitioners hold a common misconception that the inventor of KP, the late Prof. K. S. Krishnamurti, criticized the traditional system of astrology as practiced in India. Nothing is far from truth than this wrong notion. Hariharan[1], the illustrious younger son of late Krishnamurti pointed out that “it is grievous error to think that Prof. Krishnamurti disparaged Hindu or Western astrology”. In the preliminary chapters of KP Reader II Prof. Krishnamurti exhorts students of astrology to learn thoroughly the works of our sages and all books on astrology written by scholars on the subject’ (p: 22). Therefore, the inventor of this ingenious system of astrological prediction has himself laid importance in understanding the fundamentals of the traditional system of astrology for a better understanding and application of his own system.

How does KP differ from Traditional astrology?

The traditional system of astrology and Krishnamurti Paddhati have many points of departure and differences in their methods of prediction rather than constituting entirely distinct bodies of astrological knowledge. Krishnamurti Paddhati is basically a unique system of offering accurate predictions, correct up to the nearest minute, for the happening of an event by using certain tools and techniques invented by late Prof. K. S. Krishnamurti that are not to be found in the traditional or Vedic system of astrology. Krishnamurti Paddhati is not a different body of astrological knowledge. In Krishnamurti Paddhati we also use the same 9 planets with their same significations. We make use of the same 27 constellations with their natural significations and we use the same Zodiac with its 12 signs from Aries to Pisces with their natural significations. As far as the zodiac and its signs, planets, stars (constellations) and house (or bhavas) are concerned, there is no difference in the way how the traditional astrology and KP astrology considers them for their natural signification. The astrological attributions and significance of Sun, Moon and all the other planets is the same in KP astrology as it is in Vedic astrology. The astrological signification of the 12 bhavas or houses is the same for KP as it is for the traditional/Vedic system. Therefore, the natural signification of the sign Aries giving a fiery element, portion of the head, body structure etc. are used in the same manner in KP as it is used in traditional astrology. Similarly, the signification of the sixth bhava or house as the house of service, disease, first maternal uncle younger to mother, open enemies, hard work etc is taken in the same manner in KP astrology as it is in traditional astrology.

The major difference between Krishnamurti Paddhati and traditional astrology lies in METHOD of arriving at a prediction. The traditional system of astrology makes use of various charts and tables other than the birth (natal) or horary charts. Krishnamurti Paddhati technique on the other hand uses only a few tools that remain constant in every situation. The basis of the KP technique lies in two fundamental tools: the Placidus House Division and the Sub-division of the constellation.

In Krishnamurti Paddhati, the only system of house division followed is the Placidus (also called as the Semi-Arc) System of house division. In this system of house division, the birth or the horary chart is casted according to the precise latitude and longitude of the native or the place where the astrologer is sitting for analysis (if it is a horary chart). The Placidus system of house division, all the 12 houses may not be of equal length (longitude). It may so happen that some houses may be more than 30′ in length whereas some houses are less than 30′ in length. Moreover, it may also happen that there are two houses or bhavas in one zodiac sign and a sign which does not hold any house cusp.

KP astrology interprets bhava or house results primarily on the basis of the house cuspal sublords and the sublord’s stellar or constellational significations. And the planetary effects are determined by the planets occupancy in a particular star and a sub division within that star. These are explained in great detail in the subsequent chapters. Here we are only providing the fundamental differences in the modus operandi of arriving at a prediction through KP astrology vis-‘-vis traditional astrology. So, according to KP, even though the cuspal sub position is a very specific area demarcated by each of the 12 houses in the zodiac, these sub areas are under the lordship of 9 planets. Therefore, to arrive at a concrete prediction, the signification of a house (through the cuspal sublord) is taken into consideration through the 9 planets’ house signification.

Shri K. S. Krishnamurti also provided in his KP astrology a new tool called as the Ruling Planets (RP). These RP act as a divine guidance when the astrologer needs some clarification or confirmation on certain issues that may be impeding him to arrive at a final judgment. These ruling planets are a master key in the technique of KP and one has to become an adept at using these if one wishes to master this system of astrology. The use of RP in applied prediction is multifarious and infinite. The credit of the concept and its utility is solely attributable to the inventor of this system of astrology’Sri K. S. Krishnamurti.

Along with RP, Sri K.S. Krishnamurti also provided us with a set of sub numbers from 1 to 249. This set of 1-249 sub numbers has proved to be a very effective tool for analysis of horary or Prashna charts where certain specific queries are to be answered or where the birth time of the native is not known. To satisfy the curiosity of the readers at this point let us briefly say what this 1-249 sub numbers is. These sub numbers are basically the sub-divisions (and therefore, called as ‘subs’) of each of the 27 star of the zodiac in the proportion of the Vimsottari Dasa system. Traditional astrology however, has no such divisions of the stars of the zodiac.

[1] Hariharan, K. (1993). Notable Persons and Krishnamurti Padhdhati. Krishnamurti Publications, Madras, India.

History of the 6 Readers of KP Astrology

Many of you are aware that original KP books/readers were published in 2 volumes in 1966 from Sagar Publications  

But many of you may not be aware that the same 2 volumes were later published by Modern Astrological Research Institute, 13 Brahmin Street, Madras 15 in a ‘revised’ edition. In fact, the 2 volumes published by MARI, were under more scrutiny from K. S. Krishnamurti himself, because it was through his own book shop! In fact, in the advertisement on page 26 of Astrology &Athristha (A&A), March 1971 issue you can easily see that the advertisement uses the term “Revised in two Vols”. Note, that the publisher is Mahabala Publishers and Book Sellers, 12 Brahmin Street, Madras 15. So, the MARI edition is a revised version than Sagar 1966 edition. 

It is only a child’s guess to clearly understand that KSK’s revised 2 volumes by MARI is more reliable than Sagar publication 1966 editions, though there are only very marginal differences between the two version. 

Thus the true history is: 

KSK published “original” 1966 version of 2 volumes of KP reader from Sagar Pub and then a “revised version of 1966” edition published by MARI under KSK’s ownership, which was sold upto the end of 1971 plus a reader on Horary published in June 1970. 

Now what happened in 1971? 

KSK got his manuscript ready for 10 Readers of KP. These 10 readers were almost ready for being published while KSK was alive, and under his tutelage!! However, Readers from 7 to 10 were not in bounded volumes but were type-written, photocopied bundles of paper, which were in private circulation for proof-reading before it goes for final print.

But it never saw the light of the day.

Later these 10 Readers got bundled up into Six Readers.  

There used to be propaganda carried out in A&A for a few years from 1971 onwards about the improvisation in 1971 readers. It is but natural for any publisher to go about praising their new editions. But during his ill-health in 1971, there was no one to stop any alteration of the originality of his readers. 

So, the Six Readers came at a time when KSK’s health was fast declining. All these Six ‘regrouped’ readers were available for sale at the end of 1971 and KSK breathed his last in March 1972. 

The summary about these facts therefore, mean: 

1.      1966 KP two volume readers (Sagar edition and MARI edition) are the most original and undistorted version of KP.

2.      KSK already had his Horary Astrology published in 1970 as a separate reader little before even the 10 Readers were created.

3.      KP ten Readers are ‘expansion’ of KP literature, mainly from the published articles of A&A from 1963 till 1971 by KSK. These were not published publicly but were in private circulation as manuscript.

4.      1971 six readers are at best ‘regrouped’ version of previous 10 readers with many additions and deletions than the Original 1966 Readers.

5.      1971 Six Readers are more comprehensive in different chapters and topics.

6.      But for originality of KP principles, it is the 1966 versions of Sagar and MARI.

It is therefore a matter of personal preference whether one would go for originality of KP principle in order to learn, practice and profess KP or just get fascinated by the comprehensiveness in 6 Readers that came up in his last days, albeit without much of his intervention due to his declining health.

Write-up Courtesy: Dr. Andrew Dutta (Sri Indrajit) Retrieved from Dr. Dutta’s weblog https://sites.google.com/site/kpkrishnamurtiastrology/how-does-kp-differ-from-traditional-astrology

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