ASHTAKAVARGA SYSTEM OF PREDICTION – PART 60 By Dr. E.S.Neelakantan

We, now come to the final part of my series on Ashtakavarga. For me, this is the end of a journey which has taken me five years from 2010 to 2015. But for the student, it is the beginning - you are now ready to explore the science yourselves. A teacher is a like a lamp. With that lamp you light another lamp called the student. The result is both lamps start burning brightly. With this in mind, our Rishis in their infinite wisdom stated, “Learn and also impart your learning to others”(Taittiriya Upanishad). You can divide Astrology into three main areas: (i) Reading of natal charts (ii) Reading of transits (iii) Reading of Horary charts. Of course, Muhurtha is also there, but in Muhurtha there is no necessity for a forecast. Ashtakavarga mainly deals with transits but the essence of Ashtakavarga can be imported into the reading of natal charts. The link between Astrology and the law of Karma can be challenged on the following ground; How was the first man born?If events of previous births are the case of this birth, then how was the first man born as he had no past Karma? Were the charts of Adam and Eve taken up for predictive analysis? The answers , I will furnish now to the best of my ablity and knowledge. The first man and the first woman were created by the Will of God. Subsequently the law of Karma took over. Similarly the first lion and the first lioness ( or a group of lions and lionesses) were created by the Will of God. Subsequently,all lions were born through the natural process of procreation.This is true of all creation,be it reptiles,animals,birds or humans.There must be a starting point for everything. God`s will is that starting point. Once the nine planets were created, Astrology as a science came into being.Who created the nine planets? God, who else?

You and I cannot manufacture the Earth or planets. A single human cell measuring 1/1000th of an inch contains instructions that can produce 1000 books - each book measuring 600 pages. God created insulin through the pancreas. But human beings have artificially created the same in the laboratory. Can we now equate Man with God? No, because the brain of the scientist who created the insulin was in turn created by God. Whatever scientists may say, God reigns Supreme in this Universe – nothing can match the originality of God`s creation. Even if you study in a college for 1000 years, you cannot understand the mind of the God , unless you look within and understand that you are the microcosmic aspect of God. If God were to be Omnipotent as we all know, how come so much suffering exists in this world? A pessimistic view is furnished by neuroscientist , V.S.Ramachandran in his concluding statements in “The Telltale Brain”, when he says, “As a scientist I am one with Darwin, Gould ,Pinker and Dawkins. I have no patience with those who champion intelligent design, at least not in the sense that most people would use that phrase . No one who has watched a woman in labor or a dying child in leukemia ward would possibly believe that the world was custom crafted for our benefit. Yet as human beings we have to accept – with humility – that the question of ultimate origins will always remain with us, no matter, how deeply we understand the brain and the cosmos that it creates.” I for one would say that there is more misery than joy in this Earth. Of the nine planets six are malefics and only three are benefics. Mercury in conjunction with a malefic becomes a malefic and even the Moon while waning is a malefic. This leaves us with only Venus and Jupiter to provide all the happiness, the world needs.That is obviously not sufficient but then this world in God’s view is only a passing cloud,not the eventual destination for you and me. One of India`s greatest Astrologers Shri.K.N.Rao wrote in his magnum opus , “ Yogis, Destiny and the Wheel of Time,” these words: Ecstasies stem from fires. In Astrological parlance what Shri. K.N.Rao meant was that you can achieve a state of euphoria or absolute clarity and fullness while transcending the realm of Astrology only if you have the fire of ambition or aspiration with

you. Many Yogis aspire to cross the world of limitation but unless they are fired by the spirit of renunciation, they tend to miss the goal and get yoked to the transmigratory cycle of births and deaths.The boon of Trikalajnana (knowledge of Past , present and future) is bestowed on a Astrologer for all the efforts he puts in for the sake of mastering Astrology. One must pursue the path of knowledge relentlessly until a stage comes when the curtain falls off and the entire future is visible to you like seeing a movie on a screen placed in front of you. Where Saraswathi (Goddess of Learning) is present, Goddess Laxmi (Goddess of Wealth) is absent and vice versa . This observation is made by poet Kalidasa in Raghuvamsa, while on the subject of Indumathi`s Swayamvara. Students of Astrology must know which is more important to them, Laxmi or Saraswathi. There is a price attached to everything in life. As the biblical dictum goes, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? (Mark 8:36). The role of an Astrologer is clearly mentioned in Brihat Samhita of Varahamihira. A prince who does not support an Astrologer meets with ruin. The reason is simple. When an astrologer is not consulted, all Muhurtas are based on random timings. Wrong Muhurtas head to disastrous results. Even men, who having conquered their passions and having cut asunder the ties of family and living in forests desire to consult Astrologers. A prince without an astrologer is like a night without a lamp or a day without the sun. One who wishes to live in prosperity should not live in a country where there are no astrologers. (This rule can be modified to say that when there is no astrologer in the country, they should at least consult an astrologer in another country through email !) It is said that a learned astrologer attains salvation and goes to Brahma Loka after death. An important warning is given to those who scorn at Astrology and Astrologers. One who ridicules the words of an Astrologer goes to hell after death. When so much of importance is given to Astrology and astrological texts, it is my humble desire that you as a student of this great science, should take up its study with complete dedication and seriousness. The world looks to astrologers for proper guidance and it is our duty to give

them correct guidance, suggestions and inputs for them to plan their actions. One suggestion I wish to give to clients who seek the services of an astrologer is this: An astrologer is one who interprets your chart but do not expect him to be a Fortune- Teller. If you go with that expectation, he might sugar coat the facts to make you happy. To budding astrologers my advise would be; Do not be harsh with your predictions but at the same time, avoid administering the sugar- coated pill too often. Astrologers must have the courage to speak the truth, while clients must be ready to face the truth. Remedial measures in Astrology are a boon to people reeling under adverse transits and Astrologers must advise remedial measures to soften the impact of adverse planetary transits. Having said that I must warn budding astrologers against becoming prophets of doom.Clients come with problems and astrologers must sincerely address their concerns. Their words must bring solace and give healing touch. They should not rub salt to the wounds. Never fish in troubled waters; instead pour oil over troubled waters. 99% of people in this world are good people. This is a valid assumption and if you proceed with this assumption you will find the world, only to be good. Astrologers must assume that their clients are benevolent and soon you will realize that it is true also. My Guru used to say: Your concentration must be only be on the chart, not on the person sitting in front of you. When you are guided only by the chart, your predictions will come true. Ignore the person who comes with the chart; else you will be misguided. I would also like the student to read the book “Parallel Universes of Self” by Frederick.E.Dodson. This book seeks to explain how events are created based on the “Many Worlds Theory” of Hugh Everett. As more research is done, we would probably get more clarity on the inter relationship between Astrology and Quantum Physics. (To know more about “Parallel Universes” I suggest that you read the book “Parallel Universes “authored by Fred Alan Wolf) We can look at events from the view point of both Quantum Physics or Astrology. In Astrology, it is the karma of the previous births that is primary. In Quantum Physics, it is the observer who influences the event. If scientists tend to look at Astrology with more seriousness, the correctness of rules could be established. Just as a Physics graduate is expected to learn Mathematics

and Chemistry as ancillary subjects, a student of Astrology must be familiar with Ayurveda, Adwaitha, Vedas and Upanishads, Dharma Sastras, Sanskrit Literature and allied subjects. It is impossible to know Astrology in isolation. Similarly, a student of Astrology must practice spiritual sadhana. It is widely believed that Astrologers tend to take upon themselves, the negative karma of their clients and to overcome that they should purify themselves by spiritual practices. A Vedic pundit once told me that he performs remedial measures to many people and for self purification on an annual basis he does Kooshmanda Havan for his own well being and that of his family. With these words, I bid adieu to all of you, thanking you for the patient reading. Many a time, I am aware that I departed from the text book lessons and took time to narrate some relevant (or even irrelevant) anecdotes. In Ayurveda, bitter medicines are administered by mixing them with honey. The human attention span is limited. To keep the interest alive, it becomes necessary to engage the reader and this method was adopted throughout in this narrative. Here is a verse written by Poet Kalidasa; Gurvarthamarthi srutaparadrsva raghoh sakasadanavapya kamam ! gatovadanyantaramityayam me ma bhutparivadanavavatarah !! ---- Raghuvamsa Sloka 24 of Canto V

MEANING A certain suitor who asked money for his learned preceptor , went to another donor, not having obtained his wish from Raghu — let there not be this new reproach on my name.

IMPLIED MEANING If after reading Raghuvamsa the student has to go to another author for quenching his thirst for learning -let that

reproach not fall on Kalidasa

While at the fag end of this narrative, if you feel clarity over what Ashtakavarga system of prediction is all about, I deem all my labours to have been rewarded.If the reader after reading all these sixty parts has to go in search of another author to quench his thirst for learning Ashtakavarga,let not that reproach be upon me as Kalidasa put it. “Luceat Lux Vestra” ( “Let your light shine”). This is the motto of the college where I studied (Loyola College, Chennai). Adapting this motto to become contextual, I wish all of you, “May the Light of Astrology within you shine in all its splendor”. May the blessings of the nine planets be with you always. Amen. ( concluded) Email: [email protected] Mobile: 94444 52674 ******************************