Names, Letters & Planetary Rulerships — Vowels=Sun, Ka-varga=Mars, Pa-varga=Saturn; PVNR's Principle: Name the Strongest Yoga Planet
Planetary rulership of Sanskrit letters: Sun = all vowels (A, Aa, I, Ii, U, Uu, E, Ai, O, Au); Moon = semi-vowels (Ya, Ra, La, Va); Mars = Ka-varga (Ka, Kha, Ga, Gha); Venus = Cha-varga (Cha, Chha, Ja, Jha); Mercury = retroflex Ta-varga; Jupiter = dental Ta-varga (Ta, Tha, Da, Dha, Na); Saturn = Pa-varga (Pa, Pha, Ba, Bha, Ma). The first letter of a name continuously invokes that planet's energy every time people call that name. Traditional nakshatra-based naming: each of 108 nakshatra padas has an assigned letter — a mnemonic/coding system to reconstruct nakshatra from the name. PVNR's view: it's a mnemonic, NOT an astrological requirement. What matters is the sound people actually use. Better principle: give the child a name starting with the letter of the STRONGEST YOGA-GIVING planet in the chart. Avoid the letter of a badly-placed malefic. PVNR's own example: "PBR" during Saturn dasha (Pa-varga = Saturn) = peaked academically because Saturn gives Nijabhanga Raja Yoga in his chart; "Narasimha" (Na = Jupiter) = deepened into teaching and astrology; "Venkataraman" (Va = Moon, 11L in 6H with Rahu) = not ideal choice.
"When people call you by a name, they are continuously invoking the energy of the planet that rules its first letter. Give the name of the strongest planet in the chart — the planet that can give the best yoga."
— P.V.R. Narasimha Rao
Names, Letters, and Planetary Rulerships
Planetary Rulership of Letters (Sanskrit)
| Planet | Letters Ruled |
|---|---|
| Sun | All vowels (svara) — A, Aa, I, Ii, U, Uu, E, Ai, O, Au |
| Moon | Semi-vowels — Ya, Ra, La, Va, and derivatives |
| Mars | Ka-varga — Ka, Kha, Ga, Gha (harsh, powerful sounds) |
| Venus | Cha-varga — Cha, Chha, Ja, Jha (soft sounds) |
| Mercury | Ta-varga — ṭa, ṭha, ḍa, ḍha, ṇa |
| Jupiter | Ta-varga — Ta, Tha, Da, Dha, Na |
| Saturn | Pa-varga — Pa, Pha, Ba, Bha, Ma |
The first letter of a name brings out the energy of the corresponding planet. When people call someone by that name, they are continuously invoking and strengthening that planet's influence.
PVNR's Principles for Naming
Traditional Nakshatra-based naming: Each nakshatra pada has an associated letter (108 padas = 108 letters). Traditionally, babies are named with the letter of their birth nakshatra pada.
PVNR's view: This is a mnemonic/coding system — it lets the astrologer reconstruct the nakshatra from the name for transit readings. It is NOT an astrological requirement. Changing how you spell a name in English doesn't change its energy — what matters is the sound people actually use when calling you.
Better principle for naming: Give a name starting with the letter of the strongest planet in the chart, especially:
- If someone has Hamsa yoga → name starting with Ta/Tha (Jupiter's letters)
- If Saturn gives a strong yoga → name starting with Pa/Ba/Ma
- If Sun is exalted in Aries lagna → name starting with a vowel (Sun)
- Avoid the letter of a malefic planet badly placed in the chart
PVNR's personal example:
- Full name: Venkataraman Narasimha Rao — Va = Moon's letter; Moon is 11th lord in 6th house with Rahu → not ideal
- During Saturn dasha + academic peak: he was called "PBR" → Pa = Saturn's letter; Saturn gives Nijabhanga Raja Yoga in his chart → Saturn's energy activated his career and distinctions
- After education: went by "Narasimha" → Na = Jupiter's letter; Jupiter in his 2nd house → deepened into teaching/astrology