From astrology and vaastu to numerology and nameology, Indian netas’ faith in the occult runs deep

When Tamil Nadu’s newly elected Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay briefly appointed his personal astrologer, Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel, as Officer on Special Duty (Political), it reignited an old but uncomfortable question in Indian public life: where does governance end and belief begin?

The appointment, later revoked after political backlash, was justified in informal circles as an extension of personal trust. Vettrivel, who had reportedly predicted Vijay’s electoral breakthrough and advised an auspicious time for his swearing-in, suddenly found himself at the centre of a constitutional storm.

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Critics argued that such positions violate the spirit of Article 51A(h), which urges the state to promote scientific temper and rational inquiry. Supporters, however, see it as business as usual in a political culture where astrology often operates just beneath the surface of power.

When Radhan advised Jayalalithaa

Before entering contemporary political controversy, Radhan was known to be part of J Jayalalithaa’s wider advisory ecosystem. The former Tamil Nadu CM herself remained one of the most closely watched political figures in India when it came to numerology and astrological belief systems.

Among the most cited examples was her name change from “Jayalalitha” to “J Jayalalithaa”, widely believed to reflect numerological advice aimed at enhancing political fortune and stability.

She was also known for carefully curated symbolic choices in public appearances, including her preference for certain colours, such as green sarees, on occasions considered astrologically significant. In the last few years of her life, she wore the same coloured sarees, with the same pattern — a thin flowery border over a solid green or maroon.

PMs who believed in astrology

Over decades, India’s political establishment has repeatedly intersected with astrologers, godmen, tantric advisers, and vaastu consultants, sometimes informally, sometimes with official sanction.

The brief appointment and swift removal of an astrologer in Tamil Nadu is less an anomaly than a reminder.

During Indira Gandhi’s tenure, yoga guru Dhirendra Brahmachari, dubbed the “Rasputin of India,” was believed to wield extraordinary influence within the Prime Minister’s inner circle, shaping access and, even policy proximity.

Also read: Nadi astrology: The dramatic art of fate

Similarly, self-styled tantric Chandraswami became a controversial confidant of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, cultivating relationships that extended beyond spiritual counsel into the intersections of diplomacy, arms dealings, and political networking.

Redesigning govt buildings

In more recent decades, belief systems rooted in Vaastu Shastra have become institutionalised in state infrastructure itself. Former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao invested heavily in redesigning government spaces, including a new Secretariat complex built around vaastu principles.

That philosophy has not been limited to one administration. The current Telangana government under Revanth Reddy, despite previously criticising such expenditures, has reportedly carried out structural modifications in official buildings, adjusting entry points and internal layouts to align with perceived cosmic balance.

Also read: Vijay’s appointment of Radhan Pandit tells stars were always over Dravidam

In Andhra Pradesh, similar patterns have emerged across party lines. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, during his earlier tenure, implemented vaastu-driven changes to administrative complexes, including new gateways aligned with the “Kubera direction” and altered movement routes for official vehicles based on astrological advisories.

Karnataka has seen its own vaastu-driven political anxieties. The Chief Minister’s official residence, “Anugraha,” acquired a reputation for political misfortune after successive occupants, including SM Krishna, N Dharam Singh, and DV Sadananda Gowda, lost power before completing full terms in office.

Spiritual adviser to state advisor

Spiritual advisers have also periodically been absorbed into formal governance roles. In Andhra Pradesh, Chaganti Koteswara Rao was appointed as a State Advisor on ethics and values with cabinet rank by one government, while previously serving in advisory roles under multiple administrations across ideological divides.

This perception led to extensive structural interventions under different administrations, ranging from internal demolitions to spatial redesigns guided by astrological consultants.

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In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s residence and camp office also underwent Vaastu-related modifications after electoral reversals and political turbulence were attributed by advisers to structural imbalances. Portions of boundary walls were removed or realigned in an effort to correct perceived “energy blockages,” particularly in the northeast direction.

Belief system always existed

Behind these high-profile examples lies a quieter but persistent ecosystem of advisers who straddle architecture, ritual, and governance. Figures such as Suddala Sudhakar Teja in Telangana have been elevated to influential advisory positions in infrastructure planning, where traditional interpretations of direction, airflow, and cosmic alignment are formally integrated into state projects. Major architectural plans have, at times, been required to pass through such channels before execution.

The brief appointment and swift removal of an astrologer in Tamil Nadu is, therefore, less an anomaly than a reminder. In Indian politics, belief systems may not always hold official office, but they continue to sit very close to power.