Vedic Astrology: A Review

 !! Vedic Astrology: A Review!!

1-    Snowfall occurred in the Himalayas bringing cold waves to Madhya Pradesh. Whenever the full moon occurs there is a tide in the sea. The soldiers started to step up and the bridge started trembling, We shook a lanyard and the neighboring one started moving! (This phenomenon is called 'resonance').

All the cosmos is dough within, every particle entangled with others. An incident causes another to take place. Something is not isolated anywhere. Everything is not only connected but also depends on each other. They all are the whole one. In the beginning, all were the same. The ‘एकोऽहम् बहुस्याम’ Vedas have said also that there has been a lot from one. This is nothing but a literary explanation of the Big Bang theory. The state of ‘singularity’ is nothing but a scientific explanation of the Vedic theory ‘Advaita’. It is hard or almost impossible to explain the force which causes the Big Bang. How and where from this force suddenly appear! This is why the ‘Advaita’ philosophy negates the creation and called it ‘Maya’ the illusion. It is still a single, non-dual unit like the ocean and waves but hard to understand.

We cannot see the universe in the whole sense, because we are a part of it and certainly ‘a part’ cannot encroach on the whole. Physically we are forced to look at the world only in pieces. We are the integrated part of it. All of the universes are the same * entity. (*not one and not many but countless or immeasurable as our counting or measuring endeavor reduced its superiority over us)

The incident in one part of the universe affects the other part. The magnitude of the effect will depend on the distance of the other part and the intensity of the incident. Our solar system is like a family or a body in itself. This is part of a large family/body (universe). All components of the solar system affect each other. So, the Earth is also influenced by other planets. Each body has its own nature and it impacts according to its nature.

The Sages studied some bodies, in a particular field, moving on a specific path, and came across the effects on the earth. Even, the best efforts were made to determine the effect of the body according to the angular position and the speed.

Now the question arises as to why humans are particularly affected and why there is a difference amongst humans!

Consciousness is sensitizer than material and fluid is sensitizer than solid. The effect of the moon's gravitational force can be seen in the sea, not in the mountains. The result of the cruel vision of a cruel man is different for a child, a teenager, an adult, a woman, a plant, a tree, and a stone. It all depends on the sensitivity of consciousness and its level of development.

All the components of the world affect each other. Some effects may not be directly visible. The wooden table kept in the house is getting damaged slowly from the heat of the sun, but we cannot inspect it because its rate of combustion is so low that it can take thousands or millions of years to turn ashes.

The mechanism that controls the human brain depends on or is made up of some fluid (hormones) containing neurons. At the time of birth, the planetary position greatly influences the system (liquid) of the brain. At that time, it was susceptible to anything affected. The event of birth is the most important in human life. Suddenly, a delicate mind and body from a world go to the unknown world and open its eyes!

Indian Vedic Rishis studied how constellations and planetary bodies put the effects separately or jointly at a particular angular position on human bodies and developed the theme of Astrology.

There are many things/topics still to search for in science. This does not mean that they do not exist anymore. The law of gravitation worked even when it was not discovered. Science is progressive now and not completed. There are many important things to be discovered. And many times, he has to dismiss his prior recognition.

We should avoid any kind of superstition. Yes, I am talking about scientific superstition! Many scientific beliefs/rules were challenged and they have been proved wrong.

Edwin Hubble`s discovery disproved Einstein`s theory of the static universe. The wave nature of light disproved the particle nature and recent research admitted dual nature. But as per the Double Slit experiment, in reality, it contains the only mystery [of quantum mechanics]. There are so many examples and we expect furthermore.

We considered Pluto as a planet of our solar system but it did not remain later as a planet. Now again scientists are in favor of considering it a planet. Quantum physics has questioned the theory of causality.

I am not a rigid supporter of any assumption that we have now because no one is perfect in the universe. All branches of knowledge are always in progress and there is always the possibility of new things. So, we must avoid any kind of superstition. Science is a powerful force in understanding the way the world works. Science is a constantly evolving process. As new evidence is found, theories are updated and refined. This is how science progresses. Science is finding the truth.

Science is the only honest branch of 'knowledge' and I hope that it will be sure sometime at this stage later or sooner.

2-     Many intellectuals refrain from astrology, but mostly they are engaged in hypocrisy. They are generally anti-astrology to prove themselves modern. But if they face any problem, then they seek astrologers. Some intellectuals are really opposed to astrology. I support their thought. I have also been against astrology.

How much man winks with logic and conscience but to manage his personal life, he mainly follows the inherent tendencies/assumptions retained in the subconscious mind. He gives preference for weak arguments in his favor. This applies to both the pro and the opposition groups equally. Among many scientists of approximately equal intellectual levels, some are atheists while some believe in God. Some physicists believe in determinism while some in free will based on scientific findings. So, the conclusive or decisive part is always forced by the subconscious.  

"The successive study of knowledge is called science". People have some different concepts from this school’s definition. Which combines 'sequential study' with 'scientific method *' and puts away many branches of knowledge to enter the periphery of science. The scientific method is the only true method of acquiring knowledge. The knowledge obtained from this is authentic. Any 'factual event' or any concept of knowledge can be obtained by any other means such as the sixth sense, celestial sense, meditation, Samadhi, or any power beyond the senses. But their authenticity can only be examined by scientific method. Of course, astrological knowledge will also have been developed with the help of the 'scientific method'. With the effect of the long chronology, many of the inaccuracies, and unreasonableness have been taken seats. Many uncertain and unscientific grounds used in the calculations of astrological points are enough to keep this knowledge out of the 'science' perimeter. Prohibition of complete acceptance of the normative rules, interference of religion, etc, and many such points weaken this lore. Some such points are quoted here.

a-    The Disputed computational basis: The main pillar of Vedic astrological calculations is 'Ayanamsha' and this is a highly controversial affair. Many heads many minds. Every astrologer is free to use his own! Everyone is free to use his own scale of different lengths! This is a completely unscientific approach. On one hand, we try to calculate up to the Minutes and seconds for approaching divisional charts but do not know that this process is completely false with the use of different Ayanamsas. Each Ayanamsa offers different calculations and in this way, different horoscopes of a person are possible and whose results are also possible in different ways.

There are many other such issues as ‘Sunrise’, methodology of divisional charts, calculation methods for sub-planets, and many more.

b-     The lack of normative norms and irresponsible guides:

Sachin Tendulkar is one but his birth horoscopes are six or seven.

He used the Scorpio ascendant to predict Narendra Modi but suddenly based on the information received from any other source; he felt that the Libra ascendant was right! He was a highly experienced, elderly, scholarly ‘awarded’ astrologer. There was no difference for him in the result of changing the time of birth. The person born one hour ago was also the Prime Minister and what about the person who was born one hour later? All the results were the same but the horoscope and period (Dasa) sequence have changed.  

Another well-known great astrologer, for the authenticity of the birth time of such a person, seeks help from the sixth sense; and decides on media and friends’ advice. But they do not have any such astrological rule so that they can check the authenticity of such horoscope while the entire life story of such a person is in front of them.

There are no satisfactory rules and conditions to determine the planet’s strength and results. Also, there are no rules to finalize which planetary position in a horoscope is stronger than another. A lack of comparative study of planets’ position and strength in a systematic way is also seen. Generally, astrologers are blowing hot and blowing cold.

The leading guides need to work more seriously to remove anomalies in astrology.

Vedic astrology needs supporters and workers of scientific thinking, not the 'monkey friend' who uses the sword on his friend to escape the fly.

A list of the correct predictions of his counting will be found by every astrologer while not talking about countless erroneous wrong predictions.

c-     Lack of critical study: Criticism is the literary mode of discussing an object/subject, keeping its goal in mind, its merits, and its demerits. The task of criticism is to examine a composition thoroughly and determine its form and quality. Criticism is a very broad concept in which a genre, writer, tendency, etc. is evaluated analytically.

Criticism does not mean doing evil, as perceived by small-minded people. Both defects and properties are expected to be seen.

It is a great drawback of Vedic astrology that criticism has no place in it. When criticizing a theory or belief they consider it a personal attack. A well-known astrologer is not ashamed even little to threaten the editor of the magazine website, to remove articles that have been commented against their beliefs.

d-    To develop astrology scientifically, it is necessary to separate it from religion. To some extent, psychological logical interpretation of astrological treatments can be taken under. And anyway, the ‘worship’ aspect of religion is primarily a psychological process. God or some other absolute power is certain and that is pervaded in the cosmos and the laws of nature. The tendency to intrude on God everywhere is not right. People expect miracles due to their link to religion. And many astrologers take illicit gains from people's naive feelings.

Vastu rules can also be explained by psychological and the rules of ‘nature and the environment’ of "smooth integration".

The aim of Vedic culture has been always enlightenment or knowing the absolute. If it is a matter of lifestyle or developing a branch of knowledge or even means of entertainment (music) all the life-related fields are developed in such a way that they prove helpful in the process of enlightenment. ‘सा विद्या या विमुक्तये’ means that true knowledge leads to salvation is the main motive behind developing any branch of knowledge of Vedic culture. The motive of Rishis to develop Vedic astrology is only to know the system of the cosmos in a particular way that highly influences creatures of the earth. It shows our integrity with the cosmos. We are not separate from the universe. You can realize it deeply with the help of astrology. How are the existence and behavior (motion) of other planets regulating the behavior (motion, tide, etc.) of Earth, so the important part of human life is also regulated by the cosmos as we are an integrated part of it. It strengthens the philosophy of ‘Advaita’. We are all the same and not separated. Realize the truth with the help of astrology. Secondly, it can read the subconscious mind of a native in a better way which is much more useful in deciding the way of life at crucial stages. Nowadays we are using astrology as a mean standard of materialism.

No one is complete or absolute other than God. No person is final, beyond which we cannot think. We must go ahead with new ideas and experiments with logical thinking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Raghvendra Khare