Ask for the name
A specific award, from a specific body, in a specific year.
Ask for the address
A real, fixed location is a basic accountability signal.
Ask directly
A credible practitioner won't mind being asked.
Why Vague Claims Are So Common
"Renowned," "award-winning," "India's top astrologer" — these phrases show up everywhere and mean almost nothing on their own, because there's no accountable credential behind them. Anyone can print a banner. What's harder to fake is a specific, named credential you can actually look into, which is why it's worth asking for one directly. See Prof. Sastri's own credentials page as an example of what a specific, checkable answer looks like.
What to Actually Ask For
The name of the award and the organisation that gave it. The year. Whether there's a physical office tied to the practice, and where it is. None of these are unreasonable questions, and a practitioner confident in their own standing will answer them plainly rather than deflecting with more vague praise.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Prof. Subhas Sastri
Astrologer & palmist, Bankura — Jyotish Padma Bhusan Award (2016)