Some Thoughts about Cuspal Interlink Astrology

Recently I’ve been exploring a Hindu astrological technique called “cuspal interlink” theory, which was developed by Indian astrologer S.P. Khullar, based on the pioneering work of the late K.S. Krishnamurti (1902 – 1978) who developed KP astrology. Krishnamurti had the idea of basing astrological predictions on Nakshatras, which underlie the Vimshottari dasa predictive system, in combination with the Western idea of quadrant houses, specifically those of Placidus. He subdivided each Nakshatra into 9 unequal parts or “Subs” based proportionately on the durations associated with each planet in the Vimshottari system. Khullar went a step further with his “cuspal interlink” theory [KCIL] and subdivided each “Sub” into 9 unequal “Sub-Subs”, also based proportionately on the durations associated with each planet in the Vimshottari system

The Nakshatras of Hindu astrology are small star groupings or asterisms, which are also referred to simply as “Stars.” Twenty-eight such Star groupings of unequal sizes exist. Perhaps for reasons of mathematical simplicity, Hindu astrology divides the zodiac wheel into 27 equally-sized groupings called Nakshatras, which are named after the original 28 unequal asterisms, much as the 12 equally-sized “signs” of the zodiac are mathematical constructs named after the 13 constellations in the zodiac circle.

Unlike Western astrology, which places great emphasis on the planetary rulers of signs, the system developed by Krishnamurti, and further elaborated by Khullar, stresses the role of the Nakshatras which planets occupy. Specifically in the Vimshottari dasa system (which is one of many Nakshatra-based methods), each Nakshatra is paired with a planetary “lord.” These planetary “lords” vary with the dasa system and should not be regarded as “lords” in the same way that Western astrologers view the planetary rulers of signs, which have an intrinsic relationship with the nature of the zodiacal sign.

Because this Nakshatra-based approach depends primarily on the Star groupings or asterisms rather than the zodiacal signs, it is often referred to as “Stellar” astrology. Because Stellar astrology originated in novel theorizing about the Vimshottari dasa system, it is especially useful in doing predictive work with this dasa system. To illustrate this point, let’s consider a case example.

Recently I was watching a video about birth time rectification in Vedic astrology. The presenter, a distinguished practitioner of Jyotish, noted that the birth chart of the famous Indian astrologer B.V. Raman revealed no connection between the planet Jupiter (a natural signifier of children) and the 5th house of procreation, yet Raman had nine children, most of whom were born during his Jupiter mahadasa. Like Western astrology, and especially Hellenistic approaches which strongly influenced Indian astrologers, traditional Jyotish is largely based on planetary rulers of zodiac signs. Given this odd finding of the absence of influence of Jupiter on the 5th house according to traditional Jyotish, I wondered whether Jupiter would be strongly connected to the 5th house in Stellar (Nakshatra-based) astrology.

Here is the chart of B.V. Raman, calculated in the sidereal zodiac with the birth time Raman apparently rectified for himself and with the Khullar ayanamsa of Cuspal Interlink theory. (Raman had invented his own ayanamsa, which I assume he used for his own chart.) Placidus cusps are used in the Bhava-Chalita chart in the center.

[image error]

B.V. Raman has Aquarius rising (sidereal zodiac). His 5th whole sign house of children is Gemini, which is unoccupied. Mercury, which rules the sign Gemini, lies in Leo in the 7th house. Western astrologer might more easily visualize the above chart in its circular format:

[image error]

Jupiter, a natural signifier of procreation and children, lies in Scorpio, in the 10th whole sign house in the Rasi chart and in the 9th Placidus house in the Bhava chart. Traditional Jyotish uses whole sign houses and specific aspects for each planet. Jupiter and Mercury are unconnected by traditional standards. (By Western astrological theory, Jupiter in Scorpio is very closely linked by square aspect to Mercury in Leo.)

Modern Jyotish might regard Jupiter in the 9th house of the Bhava chart, which is the 5th from the 5th (the bhavat bhavam principle), to be a close connection between Jupiter and the 5th house which would indicate prolific powers of procreation and the likelihood of fathering many children. In any case, from a strictly traditional Jyotish point of view, there is little if any connection between Jupiter and the 5th house in this natal chart.

Now let’s turn to “Stellar” astrology to see if it reveals a significant Jupiter-5th house connection. In Stellar astrology we must consider the Nakshatras occupied by each Planet and by House Cusp in the chart, and also the Sub and Sub-Sub sections of those Nakshatras or “Stars.” The following tables show the Nakshatra or Star positions in this natal chart along with their Subs and Sub-Subs.

[image error]



[image error]

In the above lists, “Ld” refers to the Nakshatra “lord” which is the planet associated with a particular Nakshatra in the Vimshottari system for predictive purposes. If we look at Jupiter, we see that Jupiter occupies the zodiac sign Scorpio and the Nakshatra Anuradha, which is associated with Saturn in the Vimshottari dasa system. Western astrologers would regard Mars (the ruler of Scorpio) as the sign-based dispositor of Jupiter. In Stellar astrologer we could in a similar way regard Saturn as the Nakshatra-based dispositor of Jupiter. A basic principle of Stellar astrology is that Planets give the results of the Nakshatra lords (aka “Star lords”). Thus, in B.V. Raman’s chart, from a Stellar astrology perspective, we must study Saturn as the Nakshatra-based dispositior of Jupiter, to see what results Jupiter might indicate during its dasa period.

We are specifically interested in the 5th cusp of children and its relation with Jupiter in this chart.

The co-rulers of the Gemini 5th cusp are: Mercury as sign ruler, Rahu as Nakshatra ruler, Saturn as Sub ruler, and Jupiter as Sub-Sub ruler.

We have seen that Jupiter, during its dasa period, will give the results of its “Star lord” Saturn, and now we see that Saturn is one of the co-rulers (namely the Sub ruler) of the 5th cusp, which establishes a clear link between Jupiter and the procreative 5th, which we did not see using traditional methods. In KCIL the Sub ruler of a cusp qualifies or specifies the promise of the cusp. Thus Jupiter, through its “Star lord” Saturn, qualifies the promise of the 5th cusp of children. Jupiter is a planet of expansion and abundance.

In addition, the planet Jupiter does not serve as the Star lord of any other planet (see the column under “Ld” in the list of planets. This condition indicates that Jupiter has what is called “positional status” and will also give the results of the Bhava house it occupies and the cusps which it co-rules during its dasa period. As previously noted, Jupiter occupies the 9th Bhava house, which is the 5th of the 5th, and indicates significant procreative potential.

Another principle of cuspal interlink theory is that the Sub-Sub lord of a cusp indicates the promise and potential of that cusp. In Raman’s chart, the Sub-Sub lord of the 5th is Jupiter, which has both positional and stellar status, and thus shows the promise and potential of having many children during its dasa period.

The results of the cuspal interlink analysis is consistent with the findings of the D-7 or saptamsa divisional chart, which is used to study the native’s procreation. Here is Raman’s D-7, based on his own rectified time of birth. As you can see, Jupiter occupies the 5th house of children in the D-7 chart. Jupiter is also conjunct benefic Venus, which rules the 2nd of family increase. In the natal chart, Jupiter rules the Pisces 2nd house which signifies additions to the family. It is no surprise that he fathered a great number of children. The presence of Ketu with Jupiter and Venus in the 5th house of the D-7 may reflect the added burdens and responsibilities of providing for such a large family.

[image error]B.V. Raman D-7 saptamsa chart

The point of this example is that Stellar astrology and cuspal interlink theory add a dimension of Western astrology to traditional Jyotish, which results in being able to derive more information from a natal chart.

[image error]