K. N. Rao

Kotamraju Narayana Rao (Telugu: కోటంరాజు నారాయణ రావు; born 12 October 1931), also known as K. N. Rao (Telugu: కే.న.రావు), is a Hindu astrologer and author of many books on Hindu astrology.
Born in Machilipatnam town of Andhra Pradesh, Kotamraju Narayana Rao retired from the Indian Audits and Accounts Service as Director General in November 1990. Rao learned astrology from his mother K. Saraswati Devi. He is the Advisor and founder member of the world's largest school of astrology, being run in the Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, New Delhi. He also edits the Journal of Astrology, a three monthly carrying articles and researches relating to Vedic Astrology.
He was the Chief Guest at the Second Conference of the American Council of Vedic Astrology in 1993. He was also expected to attend Third and Fourth Conference in 1994 and 1995 respectively but did not attend the conference. He was responsible for introducing Vedic astrology as a study course in the Indian universities during BJP Government in centre. At present, he is guiding research in various aspects of Vedic Astrology.

Views on Astrology

Replying to a question related to use of the term Vedic astrology to describe Indian astrology, he said, "Technically, Jyotish should not be called Vedic Astrology. For Yagnas and Karmakanda the Vedas are the authentic source. For the householders it is the Smritis. But both the Vedas and Smritis are in the Puranas. Just as the entire Creation has emerged from Him, so too the entire literature of the world is an offshoot of the Puranas. There is no iota of doubt about it. In the Vedas, there is no methodology provided to determine Tithi, Vaar, Nakshatra, or planetary Sanchara (transits). Even the methodology for determining timing of Parvas (festivals), or Eclipses is not mentioned in the Vedas. What is not in the Vedas is in the Smritis. And whatever is not found in these two is to be known from the Puranas."

About importance of mathematical skills and use of computers in astrology, he says, "I am a strong believer in the fact that manual/mental calculations help you better visualize and develop instincts for practicing astrology. I am generally wary of depending exclusively on Jyotish software programs in the market." He adds, "Despite my reservations regarding use of astrology software programs, the availability of computers is very helpful and a great time-saver for a serious astrologer. If I have access to a Jyotish program that I have verified as dependable, I use it right away. If not, I do some manual calculations to check its accuracy repeatedly and on an ongoing basis. Mostly the basic horoscopes generated by these software programs are accurate, but the supplementary features, such as less-used Dasha systems or Ashtakavargas etc., are often faulty or simply wrong."

Speaking about the role of intuition in astrology, he says, "As an astrologer advances, almost magically, more of intuition starts coming into play." He further states, "Patanjali's Yoga Sutras[28] tell us that there exists a Jyotishmati Nadi (or a predictive intuitive channel) within us, which when activated one can see past, present and future. Here one needs no horoscope or knowledge of astrology."

Predictive ability

He made a number of correct predictions about political upheavals, natural and man-made disasters and major world events. This include predictions about a big change in the central government in 1989, Sonia Gandhi's political rise after 1998, fall of Deve Gowda government in 1997, chances of US President Bill Clinton being involved in land or sex scandals, Gujarat earthquake in 2001 and untimely death of Benazir Bhutto.

Some of his predictions also turned out to be incorrect which includes the prediction that there are no chances of a mid-term poll in 1999 or 2000 and the then parliament would last 5 years with more than one PM without elections, chances of a workable solution to Israel-Palestine conflict and emergence of a full-fledged Palestine state around 2002–03, a devastating attack by USA which will frighten the nations into silence and submission in 2004, chances of an Indo-Pak war between May and October 2002 which can escalate into a nuclear war and that there would be a nuclear war before 2007 in any case.

Publications

Books by K. N. Rao

1. Learn Hindu Astrology Easily
2. Astrology, Destiny & The Wheel of Time
3. Ups and Downs in Career: Replicable Astrological Techniques Using Transits of Saturn & Jupiter
4. Planets and Children
5. Predicting Through Jaimini's Chara Dasha
6. Predicting through Karakamsha & Jaimini's Mandook Dasha
7. Karma and Rebirth In Hindu Astrology
8. Dips into Divinity Astrology and History
9. The Nehru Dynasty
10. Timing Events Through Vimshottari Dasha
11. Learn Successful Predictive Techniques of Hindu Astrology
12. Yogis, Destiny and the Wheel of Time
13. Enigmas in Astrology
14. Tried techniques of predictions and some memories of an astrologer
15. Risks and Tricks in Astrological Predictions
16. Kaal Sarpa Yoga-Why such fright?
17. Jyotisha the super-science: A rich heritage of India’s composite culture

Rao as editor

1. Finer Techniques of astrological prediction
2. Saadhe saati, a balanced view
3. Famous Women
4. Mystery of Rahu in Horoscope
5. Chor Prashna
6. Planets and Travel abroad
7. Predict Effectively through Yogini Dasha
8. Advanced Techniques of Astrological Predictions : a collection of essays