Predicting Rain

Lesson on Mundane Astrology

Sri Jagannath Vedic Center
Delhi, India
Predicting Rain.....................................................................................................................1
Ravi Rohini Pravesha Chakra
Forecasting rainfall has been one of the primary functions of Jyotish. In the days of yore
when the economy was primarily agricultural planning depended on accurately
forecasting rainfall and crop. !arious methods are a"ailable in Jyotish for this purpose
and include #1$ Ra"i Rohini Pra"esha %ha&ra'1( #)$ Rohini %ha&ra #*$ +aptan,di !edha
%ha&ra #-$ Jala .,di %ha&ra #/$ 0rin,di cha&ra etc.
0he Ra"i Rohini Pra"esha %ha&ra is gi"en below1
Table 1 Rohini Pravesha Chakra
2ay 1 ) * - / 3 4 5 6 17 11 1) 1*
Rain 4) /7 -/ -) *6 *- )1 *7 )5 )- )1 13 1)
Rule811 Rohini na&shatra is the fourth na&shatra rec&oned from Aswini and e9tends from
0aurus 17:8)*:)7;. 0he sun tra"erses this na&shatra in 1* days as rec&oned from the date
of its entry #day81$. 2epending on the day from this Rohini entry if e"en a meager rain is
noticed the starting date of rainfall #monsoon season$ is predicted using the Rohini
Pra"esh cha&ra.
Chart 1 Rohini Pravesh 2002

Example 1: this year #)77)$ the +un chart for the entry of the +un into Rohini na&shatra
is drawn. If on the "ery day of its entry #day81$ a brief shower or rain is noticed in any
region then predict that the monsoon shall commence 4) days thereafter. +ince the date
of entry is May )/ )77) then the 4)nd day will be August )/ )77)')(. It is e"ident that
this re<uires a genuine obser"ation of rainfall and that this has to be noted for ma=or
"illages in a region before a final conclusion is drawn for the region as a whole. 0his is a
late monsoon and the farmers will ha"e to be ad"ised to depend on irrigation facilities
and accordingly time their sowing.
Example 2: If some rainfall is noticed on the ninth day from the date of Rohini Pra"esh
then rainfall should be predicted from the )5th day thereafter. 0he ninth day rec&oned
from May )/ )77) is June ) )77). 0he )5th day rec&oned from this date is June )6 )77)
and this is the day the Monsoon will begin. 0his is an early monsoon and hence the
farmers will ha"e to be forewarned to <uic&ly sow the seeds and be prepared.

Rule )1 If during the Suns passage of Rohini nakshatra excessive heat is noticed, then
predict that during the forthcoming monsoon/rain season ample rainfall shall occur!
Rule *1 If heav rainfall "like those causing flash floods# occurs during the Suns passage
of Rohini nakshatra, then during the su$se%uent monsoon/rain season
excellent/ade%uate rainfall shall occur!
Rule -1 If lo& rainfall or 'ust meager sho&ers &ith moderate temperatures occur during
the Suns passage of Rohini nakshatra, then during the su$se%uent monsoon/rain season
drought like conditions &ill prevail in the region &ith ver lo& or meager rainfall!
Suita$le irrigation schemes &ill have to $e launched and &ater &ill have to $e managed
carefull!
Assignment
1. >et the meteorological data for #a$ any station #b$ any district and #c$ any country
during the period of Rohini 0ransit and chec& the "alidity of the rules.
). ?hat is the importance of Rohini .a&shatra and what is its lin& to rainfall@
Rohini Chakra
0his %ha&ra is based on the tide factor. It is a well8&nown fact that the tide follows the
Moon and the height of the tide is also proportional to the gra"itational pull of the Moon.
An days of the full Moon the tide is the highest as the Moon has a tremendous pull. 0he
Moon indicates the tide and conse<uently rainfall. Its fa"orite na&shatra is Rohini which
is its Moolatri&ona #office$ although the e9altation of the moon occurs in Britti&a
.a&shatra #): 0aurus$.
0he longitude of the Moon #or simply Moon sign or star$ at any point of time indicates
the point of high tide and conse<uently the point #or signCstar$ in the se"enth house from
it also indicate high tide. 0he signs in the fourthCtenth from the Moon sign will indicate
the low tide. If the high tide of the Moon indicates high rainfall then the low tide
signsCstars indicate low rainfall.
Drawing the Rohini Chakra
(&o constellations from the )oon star are called Samudra "Sea#, the next t&o are called
(ata "$ank/shore#, the next one is called *arvata "mountain# and the next t&o are called
Sandhi "'unction#+,-! In this manner the ./ nakshatra "including the intercalar
nakshatra 0$hi'it# are group into the four categories of samudra, tata, parvata 1 sandhi
respectivel!
Judgment of results
2raw a chart for Mesha +an&ranti #solar ingress of sidereal Aries D used for +am"atsara
determination$. %ount from Janma na&shatra to Rohini na&shatra. If Rohini na&shatra is
in +amudra predict e9cellent and ade<uate rainfall and e9cess har"est E grains. If Rohini
na&shatra is in 0ata predict =ust ade<uate rainfall and sufficient har"est E grains. If
Rohini is in Par"ata predict sporadic and meager rainfall with poor crops low yield and
shortage of food. If Rohini na&shatra is in sandhi then predict draught or floods causing a
bad har"est and
Example 3: .ew 2elhi +am"atsara %ha&ra #during )77) A2$. 0he +am"atsara %ha&ra
is used for mundane astrology including the prediction of rainfall drought earth<ua&es
etc. In the e9ample the Moon is in 1*Ar14; in Aswini na&shatra. 2raw the Rohini
%ha&ra for this .a&shatra.

Chart 2 New Delhi, amvatsara Chakra
0able ) Rohini %ha&ra F9ample *
Samudra(Sea) Tata(Shore) Parvata(Mountain) Sandhi(Junction)
2 2 1 2
Ashvini Bharani Krittika Rohini Mrigashira Ardra Punarvasu
Pushya Ashlesha Magha Purva Phalguni Uttara Phalguni asta !hitra
S"ati #ishakha Anuradha Jyeshtha Mula Purva Ashadha Uttara Ashadha
A$hi%it Shravan &hanistha Sata$ishak Purva Bhadra'ad Uttara Bhadra'ad Revati
Rohini is in the second column in 0ata #Gan&Cshore$ indicating =ust about sufficient
rainfall and that there will be ade<uate rainfall in the world.
+imple rule1 0his calculation can also be done in a simple manner by counting from the
Janma na&shatra to Rohini e9punging multiples of 4 and then rec&oning the position of
Rohini. If the remainder is 18) the result indicates +amudraH if *8- 0ataH if / Par"ata and
if 34 or 7 +andhi
Example 2: 2etermine the rainfall for India in )77). 0he same chart8) is used. 0he
Janma .a&shatra is Aswini #1$. %ounting from this to Rohini #-$ we get four #-$ both
inclusi"e. 0his indicates 0ata #ban&Cshore$ indicating =ust about sufficient rainfall and
that there will be ade<uate rainfall and har"est will be =ust sufficient.

.ow for India as a region consider the Lagna na&shatra. Lagna is in Pisces which is an
ubhayodaya rasi while its Lord Jupiter is in >emini. 0he results of the Lagna shall be felt
in the middle #or beginning$ while that of the Lagna lord shall be felt later. Lagna is at
))Pi-6; in Re"ati #)5$ na&shatra. %ounting from here to Rohini #-$ both inclusi"e we get
fi"e #/$ indicating Par"ata or that in the beginning there shall be drought li&e conditions.
0he Lagna lord Jupiter is at 1->e*4; in Ardra #3$ na&shatra. %ounting from here to
Rohini #-$ both inclusi"e we get twenty8se"en #)4$. F9punging multiples of 4 the
remainder is si9 #3$ that is a +andhi confirming that there shall be drought li&e conditions
and flash floods in some regions.
It is noteworthy that in the middle of the year there were "arious announcements of
drought and e"ery part of India either feared drought while parts of Gihar had flash floods
and loss of li"esI Jowe"er later the Monsoon pic&ed up and there is =ust about sufficient
rainfall for ade<uate har"est and food.
Assignment
1. 2etermine the Mesha +an&ranti chart for any nation and determine its
results for any gi"en year in the past. %ompare this to the actual rainfall
for the year.
). Predict the rainfall for ne9t year #)77*$ for three countries and compare
this to the rainfall that will happen ne9t year.
Sapta Ndi Vedha Chakra
Chart 3 apta N!"i Chakra
Saturn Sun Mars Ju'iter #enus Mercury Moon
(
a
k
s
h
a
t
r
a
Krittika Rohini Mrigashira Aridra Punarvasu Pushya Ashlesha
#ishakha S"ati !hitra asta Uttara Phalguni Purva Phalguni Magha
Anuradha Jyeshtha Mula Purva Ashadha Uttara Ashadha A$hi%it Shravan
Bharani Ashvini Revati Uttara Bhadra'ad Purva Bhadra'ad Sata$ishak &hanistha
()di !handa #)ta &ahana Saumya (ira Jala Amrita
Bh)ga *ama Madhya Soumya
+tarting from Britti&a na&shatra the twenty eight na&shatra #including Abhi=it$ are placed
in the se"en .,di in the sna&e order #+arpa gati'-($ mo"ing forward and then re"erse. A
group of four na&shatra constitute a .,di.
%handa #caKLa$ .,di1 0he group of four na&shatra Britti&a !isha&ha Anuradha E
Gharini fall in this category. +aturn represents this .,di. %handa means fierce "iolent
cruel impetuous hot and angryH 0he Jari"amsa refers to it as a demon causing diseases
while the Matsya Purana uses this to describe the clouds that cause the deluge #drowning$
of the earth. 2e"i Mahatmya refers to this as one of the eight sa&ti of 2urga and its use in
Mahisasura &illing. As such this is a "iolent and "ery destructi"e nadi causing e9cess heat
and wind.
!ata #",ta$ .,di1 0he group of four na&shatra Rohini +wati Jyestha E Aswini fall in
this category which is represented by the +un. !ata refers to the ?ind8>od #!ayu$ and
indicates strong winds that blow away rain clouds. 0hus this is also a "iolent nadi
causing strong wind.
2ahana #dahana$ .,di1 0he group of four na&shatra Mrigashira %hitra Moola E Re"ati
fall in this category which is represented by the Mars. 2ahana means burning
consuming by fire scorching destroying and specifically refers to the Fire8>od #Agni$.
0his is a "iolent and destructi"e .,di causing by e9cess heat.
+aumya #saumya$ .,di1 0he group of four na&shatra Ardra Jasta Poor"asadha and
Mttar Ghadrapada fall in this category. Jupiter represents this nadi. +aumya means placid
gentle or mild and refers to the +oma =uice'/(. As describing a mood it indicates happy
pleasant cheerful and also a worshipper or an adherent. 0his is a pleasant non8
destructi"e nadi causing mild temperatures and moderate breeNe.
.ira #nira$ .,di1 0he group of four na&shatra Punar"asu Mttar Phalguni Mttarasadha E
Poor"a Ghadrapada falls in this category which is represented by the !enus. .ira means
=uice or li<uor and also refers to water. 0his is a bene"olent nadi causing some
waterCfluid #humidity$ in the atmosphere.
Jala #=ala$ .,di1 0he group of four na&shatra Pushya Poor"a Phalguni Abhi=it E
+atabhisa= fall in this category which is represented by the Mercury. Jala specifically
means water. 0his is a benign .,di causing rain and distributing water o"er the planet
causing the greenery to flourish.
Amrita #amrita$ .,di1 0he group of four na&shatra Ashlesha Magha +hra"ana E
2hanistha fall in this category which is represented by the Moon. Amrita means Olife
re=u"enating nectar; and refers to water for human beings and as such to those li<uids and
=uices that re=u"enate life or cause life to sustain. 0his is a "ery beneficial nadi causing
water.
0he n,dis are further grouped into three parts called Ghaga. 0he middle +aumya nadi is
called Madhya #literally Omiddle;$ while the three nadi prior to it are called Pama Ghaga
and the three succeeding it are called +aumya Ghaga. Pama is the >od of death and the
three %handa !,ta E 2ahana nadi belong to the portion presided by Pama #represented
by +aturn$. +auma is the Moon8>od who re=u"enates and sustains life and the three .ira
Jala and Amrita nadi belong to the portion presided by +auma #represented by the Moon$.
Judgment of Results
1. If malefic planets are in the Pama portion and benefic planets in the +aumya
portion then mediocre results obtain for the year.
). If either of benefic or malefic planets are in the Madhya #middle$ portion then the
nature of the planet shall dictate its result.
*. Planets in %handa nadi indicate e9treme winds and heat.
-. Planets in !,ta nadi indicate strong winds hurricanes etc but no heat.
/. Planets in 2ahana nadi indicate tremendous heat but low winds.
3. Planets in +aumya nadi indicate a pleasant weather.
4. Planets in .ira nadi indicate some humidity and mild to moderate rain.
5. Planets in Jala nadi specifically indicate rainfall especially if it is the Moon.
6. F"en one planet in Amrita nadi gi"es substantial rainfall for the year.
17. Planets in their own nadi show profound increase in the indications of the nadi.
For e9ample if Mars is in 2ahana #heat$ nadi we should e9pect e9cess heat with
low or stagnant wind.
11. 2etermine the na&shatra occupied by the Moon and the nadi this na&shatra is in.
If the Moon con=oinsCaspects the lord of the nadi then there shall be rainfall. 0his
is sure to happen during a full Moon.
1). 0he Moon in Amrita nadi and three other planets in Amrita nadi indicate rain
throughout the dayH four planets in Amrita nadi indicate rain for three days
consecuti"ely fi"e planets in Amrita nadi indicate rain for se"en days
consecuti"ely and if all planets are in Amrita nadi the whole earth has rainfall
and appears li&e an oceanI
1*. 0he Moon in Jala .adi and three other planets also in Jala nadi indicates rain for
half a dayH fi"e planets also in Jala nadi indicates rain for fi"e days.
1-. 0he Moon in .ira nadi and three other planets also in .ira nadi indicates rain for
one Prahara #* hours$H four planets instead indicates rain for half a dayH fi"e
planets instead in .ira nadi indicates rain for three days.
1/. If all planets other than the Moon are in Amrita nadi then it rains consecuti"ely
for 15 daysH if instead they are in Jala nadi it rains for 1) days and if in .ira nadi
the rainfall is for 3 days.
13. If all planets are in the +aumya Ghaga then at least * days rainfall is obser"ed
whereas if the malefic planets are in Pama Ghaga then shortage of rain occurs.
14. If all planets other than the Moon are in 2ahana !,ta or %handa nadi e9cessi"e
heat and strong winds cause and the earth to dry up.
15. If malefic planets con=oinCassociate with the Moon E !enus e"en if other
indications li&e their presence in +aumya portion #.ira Jala or Amrita n,dis$ are
for good rainfall there will be a shortage of rain. An the other hand benefic
planets influencing !enus E Moon indicate rainfall e"en if they are in Pama
portion #%handa !,ta E 2ahana .adi$.
16. 0he "arious traditional tools for timing should be used. 0hese include #a$ the
moment of retrogression E direct motion #especially of +aturn E Jupiter$ or #b$
the time of +unrise #udaya &,la$ which can be used for the day or #c$ the moment
of solar ingress into a sign called +an&ranti which can be used for the predictions
for the month while the Mesha +an&ranti can be used for the year itself or #d$ the
natural seasons ruled by the si9 planets with the +un indicating specifically for the
year etc.
F9ample -1 Predict the seasons using the +am"atsara %ha&ra
0he +am"atsara cha&ra will always ha"e the +un at Nero degrees in Aries in Aswini
na&shatra and hence this effect is to be ignored. 0he remaining si9 planets as per 16 #d$
abo"e are used to predict the seasons.
Refer to %hart8)1 0he +aptan,di !edha %ha&ra is gi"en below
Saturn Sun Mars Ju'iter #enus Mercury Moon
(
a
k
s
h
a
t
r
a
Krittika
MARS
Rohini
SAT
Mrigashira
RAH
Aridra
JP
Punarvasu Pushya Ashlesha
#ishakha S"ati !hitra asta Uttara Phalguni Purva Phalguni Magha
Anuradha Jyeshtha
!"T
Mula Purva Ashadha Uttara Ashadha A$hi%it Shravan
Bharani
#"$
Ashvini
M%%$&
M"RC&
S$
Revati
'A(
Uttara Bhadra'ad Purva Bhadra'ad Sata$ishak &hanistha
(adi !handa #ata &ahana Saumya (ira Jala Amrita
Bhaga *ama Madhya Soumya
0he aspects to the planets are seen as per the +ar"atobhadra cha&ra. As an e9ample let us
e9amine the Moon to determine the rainy season.

#i$%re 1 arvatobha"ra &hakra showin$ aspe&ts on 'swini
0he Moon is placed in a !ata nadi which should normally indicate scanty rainfall. Lord
of !ata nadi is the +un and it con=oins the Moon indicating e9cellent rainfall in the year.
'Rule 11 abo"e(
0he Moon is also ill aspected by +aturn E Betu from Rohini E Jyeshtha respecti"ely
indicating fears and initial shortages i.e. the rainfall maybe delayed #+aturn$. Jowe"er it
is well con=oined by natural benefic Mercury indicating that there shall be sufficient
water for the crops. !enus is ill placed in a 2ahana nadi and is ill aspected by Mars
showing some trouble to the seeds and crops due to e9cess heat and wind in the initial
months of monsoon. 'Rule 15 abo"e(.
Assignment
1. In"estigate the other methods for prognostication and determine how you will use
this &nowledge for each season month and day.
). 0ry to predict tomorrow;s weather and &eep a list of the right and wrong
predictions. Pat yourself for a good prediction and try to find out the errors you made in
the wrong predictions. 0ry to predict the e9act time rain would start on a particular day.
Late Pt. Ramesh Ghattacharya could do this and so can you with some practice.
*. ?hat are the other methods for predicting rainfall@ Ja"e you in"estigated this area
at all@ 0a&e a loo& at the classics and maybe you will find some clues and tools.
Footnotes
'1( Literally +olar ingress of Rohini na&shatra chart.
')( May 3 days Q June *7 Q July *1 Q August )/ R 4) days.
'*( Pronounced samudra taa par"ata E sandhi respecti"ely
'-( +arpa gati indicates mo"ing onwards and then re"erse as the table progresses.
'/( A &ind of nectar emanating from the Moon #Mind$ or li&e the Moon and referring to
the Moon8>od