bhagolblog

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Essays on the computed sky

Seven series, twice a week: panchang craft, worked computations, the fears examined, and the twenty-seven stars taken one at a time. A reading is a decision tool, not a prophecy.

Never met any of this before? Every essay here has a two minute plain English version, written for somebody who knows nothing about astrology, Sanskrit or the Indian calendar.

Start with the gist
A Company-school painting on aged cream paper. A Brahmin astrologer sits cross-legged on a blue-and-white patterned mat decisions How to choose an astrologer You cannot grade a reading by its output, so grade the room instead: what gets said in the first five minutes, and what happens when you try to leave. Raman Patel · 29 July 2026 A wide-field photograph of a dark star field. A large, bright orange star with a broad glowing halo sits in the upper le nakshatra-files Rohini, and the moon who would not keep the rota An orange point comes up in the east a few hours before the sun. That is Aldebaran, and this is the story of the moon who would not leave her. Yamini Sardesai · 28 July 2026 A gilt brass planispheric astrolabe photographed front-on against plain white, fully assembled. The pierced rete of curl tradition The many schools of jyotisha Parashari, Jaimini, Tajika, nadi, and the regional computation traditions: one sky read through several different grammars, and why that is a strength. Rukmini Athavale · 25 July 2026

July 2026

9 essays
29 Jul How to choose an astrologer, Raman Patel decisions 28 Jul Rohini, and the moon who would not keep the rota, Yamini Sardesai nakshatra-files 25 Jul The many schools of jyotisha, Rukmini Athavale tradition 21 Jul Why two panchangs disagree, Priya Sharma almanac 18 Jul What a birth chart actually computes, Meghnad Chitnis computed-sky 14 Jul The gemstone question, Nikhil Verma myth-vs-method 11 Jul Krittika: the blade and the flame, Yamini Sardesai nakshatra-files 07 Jul What an honest reading looks like, Ankit Sahu founder-notes 04 Jul The question you have been avoiding, Raman Patel decisions

June 2026

9 essays
30 Jun Bharani: the bearer, Yamini Sardesai nakshatra-files 27 Jun Entering the Hora Shastra by a side door, Rukmini Athavale tradition 23 Jun The slow clock of precession, Meghnad Chitnis computed-sky 20 Jun Rahu kaal, without the fear, Priya Sharma almanac 16 Jun Ashwini: the first spark, Yamini Sardesai nakshatra-files 13 Jun Where are the intellectuals?, Ankit Sahu founder-notes 09 Jun Kaal sarp: anatomy of a modern fear, Nikhil Verma myth-vs-method 06 Jun Astrology and the anxious mind, Raman Patel decisions 02 Jun Who was Parashara?, Rukmini Athavale tradition

May 2026

10 essays
30 May Computed, not composed, Ankit Sahu founder-notes 26 May The mangal dosha panic, Nikhil Verma myth-vs-method 23 May The arithmetic of Vimshottari, Meghnad Chitnis computed-sky 19 May The five limbs of a day, Priya Sharma almanac 16 May Fear is not guidance, Ankit Sahu founder-notes 12 May Bring a decision, not a fear, Raman Patel decisions 09 May Sade sati: a field guide, Nikhil Verma myth-vs-method 05 May How to read a panchang, Priya Sharma almanac 03 May Why your moon sign changes between apps, Meghnad Chitnis computed-sky 01 May Why we are building bhagol, Ankit Sahu founder-notes