Birth Time Rectification

In order to read and predict a horoscope, the astrologer must, erect the chart first. That requires an exact time of birth (preferably accurate to within a few minutes), the place of birth (city and country) and the birth date (date, month, year).

However, even though the native or her relative seldom misinforms the date of birth and the place of birth to the astrologer, the accuracy of the reported birth time has long been a major area of concern for the scientific minded astrologers.

Many people don’t have a clue about their actual time of birth because birth times are not always given much importance in the Western world. Eastern cultures tend to place much more importance on accurate birth times, since the practice of using astrologers is traditionally part of their culture. So often one of the first things an astrologer will ask a client is what is the source of the birth time? Is it taken from a birth certificate or other hospital records? Does the time come from your mother’s memory (or the testimony of another close relative that was present at the birth)? Was the time rectified (worked out retrospectively) by another astrologer or diviner? Since astrology is the science of time, accurate birth times are important if the reading itself is to be accurate.

This data will allow the astrologer to cast an accurate map of the planetary patterns that were current when you were born. From there, the astrologer will be able to interpret the meaning of the various patterns, placements and conditions of the planets, what they mean, and how they affect you.

In situations where the birth time is either unknown or only approximate, rectification will be necessary. This involves taking known events and dates from the client’s past and working forward to come up with a time of birth. This can be time consuming and the astrologer may need to charge a bit extra for the time and effort involved.

The accuracy of any astrological prediction is fundamentally dependent and strongly based upon three major inputs:
a) Accurate birth details of the native,
b) Sound knowledge and experience of the astrologer about the science of astrology and
c) The correct casting of the horoscope.

Of these three critical inputs, the correct casting of the horoscope is an essential sine qua non for which the accuracy of the birth details is of utmost importance.
 
This is because, as students of astrology, we are amply aware that wrong birth time would invariably lead to a wrong degree rising on the East as the Lagna (Ascendant) with wrong planetary degrees at birth. The problem is augmented more so due to the wrong longitude of Moon at birth (emanating from a wrong birth time) resulting in a wrong balance of Dasha at birth and the subsequent periods.

Since all the prediction is based on the cascades of Vimsottari Dasha periods of the nine planets, wrong time of birth will lead to prognostications of dubious quality for no fault of the astrologer or the science of astrology.

Therefore, what we require is an effective technique of birth time rectification, which would be robust in its application and yield consistent results. However, a mere rectification through a robust logic is not enough.

The rectified birth time should show immediately and clearly that the new (rectified) birth time is reflective of the native’s birth origin and life events. In this article, we will discuss a modern and well researched approach of rectifying birth time based on the principles of Krishnamurthy Paddhati (K.P.).
 
In addition to this, I would provide a novel means to ascertain whether this ‘rectified’ birth time truly reflects the origin of the native.