Strength of KP: Timing precision for yes/no horary questions, clarity in significator identification, reproducible rules.
Limitations and criticisms:
Birth Time Dependency: KP horary requires exact birth time to the minute. A 5-minute error can shift house cusps by 1°+, changing sub-lords and leading to wrong answers. For native charts, KP is also sensitive to birth time (more so than Parashara's whole-sign system).
Sub-Lord Table Errors: The original 249-arc table computed by K. Krishnamurti contains rounding errors and some disputed calculations. Different KP software produce slightly different sub-lord arcs (usually within 0.01-0.05°). This matters for horary but is often negligible for natal interpretation.
Over-Reliance on Cuspal Sub-Lord: KP's principle that cuspal sub-lord overrides all else is empirically mixed. Many KP practitioners have found charts where the cuspal sub-lord is malefic for an event, yet the event occurred (because other factors were strong). This suggests the hierarchy, while useful, is not absolute.
Rahu and Ketu Ambiguity: The rule that Rahu/Ketu inherit the significations of planets they occupy is logically sound but empirically contested. Some events predicted by Rahu show Rahu's shadowiness (delay, complication); others show the agented planet's straightforward nature. Practitioners disagree on how to weight Rahu/Ketu.
Missing Predictive Dimensions: KP, focused on timing and yes/no, often neglects the quality or texture of events. Will a marriage be happy or difficult? Will a job be fulfilling? KP significator rules can say the marriage "will happen" but give little insight into its nature. Parashara's Navamsha, divisional charts, and strength analysis (Shadbala) provide texture that KP lacks.
Limited Guidance on Spiritual/Psychological Questions: KP is excellent for practical events (job, money, health diagnosis) but weaker for philosophical questions (spiritual growth, purpose, inner conflict). Jaimini's karaka system and Parashara's Navamsha offer more insight here.
The lesson presents these limitations honestly and advises practitioners: Use KP for horary, event timing, and practical yes/no questions. Use Parashara (or Jaimini) for depth, understanding, and quality of life domains. Integrate both for comprehensive astrology.