Horai Astrology: A Traditional Predictive Hindu Astrology

What is Horai Astrology? How it will helpful in finding your auspicious timings? Horai or Hora means hour (Sanskrit meaning). Horai Astrology is a form of traditional Vedic Hindu Astrology using predictive methods. According to Vedic Hindu Astrology, any given day is divided sixty (60) nazhigais. But modern calendars measures a day in terms of hour and a day has 24 hours. You have a question about each nazhigai in terms of minutes. Yes each nazhigai has 24 minutes and each hour has two and half nazhigais. Horai astrology considers two and half nazhigas as one single unit and predicts the ruling planets and their benefic and malefic effects on human beings. Certain time period, according to Horai astrology, is ruled by benevolent planets and hence these period is considered as auspicious and beneficial. Since some other period is ruled by unholy planets, the same is considered as inauspicious.

Horai astrology considers the sun rise and sun set as the starting points for day and night respectively. The calculations in generally assume 06.00 a.m as the time of sun rise and 06.00 as the time of sun set. This form of astrology takes into account only seven planets i.e, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. The shadow planets like Ragu and Ketu don't have horai. If Sunday means the Sun rules the first one hour i.e, between 06.00 and 07.00 am. The next six hours will be ruled by Venus. (0.7.00 to 08.00); Mercury (08.00 to 09.00); Moon (09.00 to 10.00); Saturn (10.00 to 11.00); Jupiter (11.00 to 12..00) and Mars (12.00 to 01.00) respectively. The cycle repeats till the sun rise in the next day. Similarly Moon rules the first hour on Monday; Mars rules the first hour on Tues day; Mercury rules the first hour on Wednesday; Jupiter rules the first hour on Thursday; Venus rules the first hour on Friday and Saturn rules the first hour on Saturday. The Horai table lists out the ruling planet and the horai period for both day and night.

How the Horai Astrologers attached value to the planets and set the sequence of occurrence? The sun is the ruling planet for Sunday. Hence the ruling planet also rules the first one hour immediately after sun rise. The orbits of the planets Venus and Mercury are positioned near to sun. Of the two planets Mercury finds place near to sun. So the next one hour is being ruled by Mercury. Third nearest planet to sun is Venus, hence it rules the third hour The fourth hour is being ruled by Moon; the fifth hour by Saturn; sixth hour by Jupiter and the seventh hour by Mars.

The horais ruled by Venus, Mercury and Jupiter are considered as auspicious. In addition to this waning moon is also considered as auspicious. You can fix the functions like upanayanam, tonsuring and ear boring ceremony, betrothal, marriage, seemandham, naming the child etc on an auspicious Hora period. Sani Horai is said to be auspicious for settling debts. The selection of this Hora will never allow you to go for fresh debts. Saturn Horai is also suits for rectification of doshas, pilgrimage (padha yatra) to holy shrines, planting trees and irrigation projects. Sun hora is most suitable for dealing with government and leagal matters.

Mars Horai is best suitable for registration of land and house properties, sale deed, sale agreement, will and power of attorney, division of properties among brothers and sisters, blood donation, organ donation and medical services. Mar horai is most suitable for testing or employing the weapon.

The lunar day following the new moon day (amavasai tithi) is called Prathamai tithi. According to Vedic Hindu Astrology, this first lunar day is considered inauspicious day. The Vedic Hindu Astrology considers the full moon day and new moon days as the most energetic days.

Since the lunar cycle commences as fresh, the day falling next to full moon day or new moon day will have much reduced energy (radiation) level,. People call this lunar day as 'pattimai.' However the Prathamai tithi falling next to new moon day will have nil energy level. Moon is considered as the ruler of the mind. Any act or decision will not bring good results. Therefore people will never choose this day for important functions like upanayanam, tonsuring and ear boring ceremony, betrothal, marriage, seemandham, naming the child etc. However the kings and chieftains were advised to go for waging war against enemy countries on this inauspicious day.