There are many methods in astrology for comprehending events and predicting the future. Today I will be discussing those methods.

(i) Transits: This is the most common in practice. Predictions are made depending on the transit positions of the 9 planetary bodies with reference to the moon in the birth chart, the most common practice in India. Some look into this with reference to Lagna also. Westerners do the same with reference to the sun-signs. Transits are also seen in a similar way with reference to many other points in the birth chart.

(ii) Ashtak Vargas: This concept of assigning some benefic points for each of the seven planets in certain houses or bhavas relative to the positioning of that planet has been propounded by the seers of yore. Off late this has received a critical re-look by the current day astrologers. More number of points in a particular house, the more will be the beneficial effects while a planet is transiting through that house and vice-versa.

(iii) Progression: The movement of the signs and planets away from the positions they occupied in the birth chart of an individual constitute the progressive chart. The relative positions of the progressed planets and signs with respect to those in the birth chart form the basis of predictions. Again, there are different schools of astrology practicing various calculations to arrive at the progressions. These include, the sun cycle, moon cycle, annual cycle etc.

(iv) Prashna or Horary: This system is based on predicting the happening of a particular event posed by the questioner to the astrologer. Based on the time of query or a number given by the questioner, the ascendant is found out and the horary chart is cast with the planetary positions at the time of query and the predictions are doled out.

(v) Varshpahal: This is similar to the progression method. Based on the exact day and time of every year, when the sun returns to its natal position in the birth chart, predictions are assayed.

(vi) Jaimini: This school of predictions was supposed to have been enunciated by the sage Jaimini, in which variable “Karakatwas” are assigned to different planets depending upon their relative longitudes in a Rasi. The planet with maximum value becomes Atma karaka and the one with minimum value, the Daara karaka. This is in contrast to the fixed Karakatwas of the planets as envisaged by the sage Parasara, where the Ravi is always the Atma karaka and Sukra is always the Daara karaka etc.

(vii) Krishnamurthy: This is based on the concept of finding the star-lord, sub-lord and sub-sub lord of any planet or the bhava. Depending on their inter-relationships among themselves and also with respect to the particular bhava(s) signifying the event, the astrologer assays the predictions.

(viii) Parasara in different manifestations: This is the most ancient and a thorough source of all astrological predictions in India. Almost all astrologers in the country are initiated into this science through Parasari and at one time or other take recourse to this system for predictions.