It is known to all that the 9 planets of Vedic astrology keep going round the zodiac staying in each sign for a specific time period, beginning with the Moon which is the fastest and takes about 29 days to complete one round of the Zodiac. Next are Mercury and then the Sun which take around 12 months to complete the round. Venus keeps in pace with the Sun and Mercury so mostly these three planets will be found with in 40 degrees of each other. Mars, takes 18 months to make a runaround, Jupiter takes 12 years, and Saturn 30 years. The nodes take 18 years to make a cycle.

 In this the nodes always move in reverse direction to other planets. Sun and Moon have direct motion only. The rest-Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn have retrograde Motion also. (Retrograde is an apparent optical illusion. Actually planets slow down hence others over take them when the concerned planet appears to be going back ward .The same illusion created for a passenger traveling by a train seeing landscape moving backwards)

Retrogression carries a special significance in Vedic astrology. Retrograde planets do not give effects in their normal pattern. To quote an example when retrograde planet becomes significator for an event like marriage, it may get settled then cancelled and again resettled after some renegotiations etc.

Prediction in Vedic astrology is based on Karakatwas (significations) of planets. Planets have three kinds of significations. One is the fundamental significance such as Sun is Atma karaka (soul), Moon is Manah karaka (conscious mind), Mars is dhairya/bala (courage and strength) karaka, Mercury is Buddhi karaka (intelligence) karaka, Jupiter is gyana/Dhana (wisdom) karaka, Venus is sukha (comfort) karaka and Saturn is Nyaya karaka (dispenser of justice). The nodes are karmic control planets and Rahu acts as terminator.

The second type of Karakatwa of planets is Bhava Karakatwa. Planet owning ascendant is sarira karaka, that owning 2nd is kutumbha karaka, that owning third is karaka for younger siblings that of 4th is Matru karaka, that of 5th is putra karaka (progeny) that of 6th is ripu, Rina and Roga karaka that of 7th is Kalatra(spouse)karaka, that of 8th is Ayu (longevity)karaka, that of 9th is dharma(piety)karaka, that of 10th is karma is karaka (profession), that of 11th is labha (gain) karaka and that of 12th is Vyaya (loss)karaka

The third type of Karakatwa is Jaimini prescribed as Aatma, Amatya, Bhratru, Matru, Pitru, Putra, Gnati and Dara karakas.
 
Late Dr B.V Raman has simplified the method of prediction in three key mantras.

For judging any event, take into consideration the following factors; - The concerned Bhava, the Bhava lord and the Karaka for that bhava. If all the there are strong, well placed and well associated then the event will come about in the major and sub periods of these three lords.
If they are ill placed, ill aspected and ill associated then the event would not come about in the native’s life.
Most common examples are marriage and child birth.

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