Scientific temper calls for thorough scrutiny, free from any preconditioning whatsoever, before arriving at any finding. The same rule would apply before you try to condemn any other discipline beyond your own domain. The irony, however, is that it has become a fashion to criticise ancient disciplines like astrology if ever some effort is made to create grounds for organised study. Fresh hullabaloo has begun after IGNOU introduced 2 years course in Astrology. Astronomers and astrophysicists may have a fair understanding of the cosmos, but they are ill-equipped to relate their knowledge to life sciences, which astrology specialises. Without a holistic understanding of the dynamics of life, it is unfair to cast aspersions on disciplines like astrology.
Indians knew that Earth goes round the Sun much before Galileo and Copernicus. Yajnavalka talked of it in early 9th/8th BCE. Later Aryabhatta came out with the same proposition in 5th CE. So, to say that modern universities will now teach otherwise, makes a mockery of the commentators themselves. Our age old disciplines need the ground necessary for further research to make them conversant with our contemporary needs. Agreed, the astrologers must update themselves with modern astronomical findings, and which is happening. Most of the almanacs in use now are based on planetary placements as observed by modern astronomical observatories.
In so far as level of astrology in ancient days is concerned, I wish to add that Valmiki Ramayana mentions eclipses and planetary alignments at the time of major events described therein — Ram’s birth chart; war between Ram and Khar; death of Bali; Hanuman’s entry in Sri Lanka. Using Planetarium God software, Pushkar Bhatnagar has checked and found them to be correct. On that basis, in his book: Dating the Era of Lord Ram, he has established that Ram was born on 10th January 5114 BCE.
It will be interesting to note that the system of numbers, followed by Mathematics developed while pursuing the corelation between planetary placements and weather cycle in India. Rig Veda mentions 52 verses (1 to 164-1 to 52). They all pertain to weather forecast. The whole exercise began while trying to develop a method to foresee probable weather cycle. The ancients first discovered that weather cycle corresponds to annular cycle of the Sun seen relative to Earth. They later discovered that though the periodicity remains the same, there are variation in rain pattern every year. Further search led them to explore the role played by other planets moving round the Sun. When they had fair understanding of the corelation between planetary cycles and weather pattern, they felt the need of symbolism to formulate their knowledge. In the process, they conceptualised the number system, which was followed by mathematics. It is now acknowledged all across the world that number system originated in India. Had the system of numbers, and mathematics not taken roots, the ground would not have been made for further development of science.
Here again, it will be of interest to note that ancient Indian knew very well that all motions are relative, much before Einstein came up with his findings. In fact, even the time scale operative at different dimensions of existence are relative. There is a story of King Raivata in the forepart of Mahabharat. The king having failed to find a suitable match for his daughter, travelled all the abode of Brahma, the god personified for creation. Brahmaji was in his court. When informed, he abandoned the court, and invited the king and asked: “What brought you here? The king said: “Who other than you, the creator, would know better, the one meant to marry my daughter.” Brahmaji laughed and said that for a few moments you had to wait, before you could see me, many yugas have gone by on the earth. The time you spent reaching here, your destiny’s rule is over. So, in a way it is suggested that measure of time is relative. In ancient days, story-telling method was used to make people aware of realities of life.
Before, understanding the relevance of astrology, it will be desirable to have an overview of the making of this world. Science believes that energy streams excited following the Big-Bang event at the primordial-source, where all forces would be in a unified state.
The discussion continues ...
The writer is an astrologer, vastu consultant and spiritual counsellor. Connect with him at
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