In a world of superficial horoscope apps, mastering Ashtakavarga sets you apart. As Raman writes in his preface: "The Ashtakavarga is the Upanishad of Jyotish. Without it, the astrologer is like a doctor without a thermometer."
This is perhaps the most famous feature of Raman’s Ashtakavarga system. Transits are usually difficult to judge because a malefic planet (like Saturn) might be transiting a friendly sign, yet yield bad results. Raman simplifies this: