About the Book
Book: Hindu Astrology
Author: Dr Anthony P Stone
Publisher: Pippa Rann
Price: Rs 499/-
Astrology, a science with deep historical roots, continues to influence worldwide, bridging ancient wisdom and modern knowledge, says Kumar Chellappan
Lord Rama, as part of his education under the guidance of Sage Vasishta, underwent strenuous training in Vedas, Vedanga, Smritis, Upangas, Upasmritis, astronomy, astrology, weaponry and medicines. By the time he completed his education under Vasishta, Lord Rama had become an authority on all these subjects. He did not stop his learning process with these subjects. Sage Vishwamitra also trained him in commando warfare as well as in the art of surviving under extreme conditions. The epic also explains how Lord Rama selected the spot as well as the muhurta for the construction of the Sree Ramaswami Temple at Rameswaram. The battle for saving Sita from the custody of the demon king Ravana was fought as per the plans drawn out by Rama.
These incidents prove the expertise of Lord Rama in areas like astronomy, astrology, construction engineering and statesmanship. There are cynics and “intellectuals” who doubt the authenticity of the Ramayana itself, not to speak about Ram or Ram Janma Bhoomi. Let us leave the Ramayana and move over the 20th and 21st centuries when it has been established that astrology is a science despite the charge that it is nothing other than superstition. Had it been claimed that astrology had its origin in Europe or the USA, their response would have been different.
The book “Hindu Astrology-Myths, Symbols and Realities” authored by Dr Anthony Stone is proof of the seriousness with which researchers hold this science. Dr Anthony Stone is a British-born mathematician and evangelist who has been awarded a PhD in theoretical physics from Oxford University. He had years of teaching experience in different places in India during 1956 to 1975 and used his sabbatical in the subcontinent to learn Sanskrit, Hindi and astrology. Though he is no more, the book on astrology authored by him has evoked interest in the topic. The book has been published by Pippa Rann books thanks to the initiative of Prabhu Guptara, his former colleague. But the truth is that there is no Hindu Astrology anywhere in the world. There is only one branch of astrology and India is home to this topic, according to Padma Vibhushan Dr B M Hegde, renowned cardiologist and former professor of cardiology, University of London.
Stone has questioned the propriety of equating astrology with science. Perhaps he may not be aware of the fact that the heads of many countries in Asia, Europe and Africa turn to astrologers in India to know their future and the reliability of their colleagues. The first thing that comes to mind is an incident quoted by Kinattinkal Sankaran Nair, former chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in his memoirs “Inside IB and RAW-The Rolling Stone that Gathered Moss” (Manas Publications). Nair belonged to the 1943 batch of Indian Police (precursor to Indian Police Service) and was known among the intelligence fraternity as the desi James Bond.
Nair, while serving as internal security advisor to Kwame N’Krumah, the President of Ghana. During his tenure in Accra, capital city of Ghana, Nair was asked by N’Krumah to get the horoscope of the latter’s son prepared by any of the astrologers in India. “Mr Nair, I have heard that astrology is a highly developed science in your country. Could you have my newly born son’s horoscope cast and interpreted in India? I am very keen to know what his future will be,” said N’Krumah.
There were many instances which prove the efficacy of astrology and palmistry. Stone has left many points unsaid in his work. Astrology is not about the date, place, and time of birth of a person. It has many more perspectives like Nimitham, the direction from which the person approaches the astrologer, the physical condition of the astrologer at the time when he is requested to make the prediction and so on. The stars and planets keep on changing their positions many times in the course of the day and that is what makes the time of birth an important factor in the science of prediction.
It is an established fact that persons born under different zodiac signs have their own characteristics. The quacks, for whom there is no dearth in our country, have spoiled the reputation of this branch of science. Remember, the world keeps on moving as per the motion of the stars and planets. Acharyas consider astrology as the eyes of the Vedas. An astrologer is a good mathematician but a mathematician does not make a good astrologer.