THIS WONDER SCIENCE

We all know Astrologer's predictions do not come true. So, Astrology is nonsense. Still, we all want to know our future. Why don't you stop going to an Astrooger ? Most of us do not know what exactly is the composition of Astrology, how it evolved, its potential strengths, its content, its quality, principles and methods, and how it became popular.

What is true to our own Human behaviour in our own daily routine-life, it is just the same way with the behaviour of Planets (Grahas) in Astrology. For example, you feel mighty and powerful in your home, somewhat lesser powerful in a friend's home, and extremely careful in an enemy's home. Even your friends will not help you always. They also crticise you. Similarly, no Graha is always a benefic/malefic. Day-to-day, they change their attitude and intensity. Similar is the case with Grahas in Astrology. I ask you, what is the net-effect (beneficial or malice) of all your friends and enemies ?. Tell me. So, is the case in Astrology too. That is why this complex principled science, Astrology, is a Magna Carta for Human behaviour. In good (G)olden days, for both the Ruler and the ruled, Astrology was a GOOD guide in life. I emphasise it as a GOOD guide even now for us. Of course, we do not have that strong mental prowess as our ancient sages had.

Science is always a discipline of continuous search, inquiry, explanation and exploration, which never ends. Science & scientific temper (rationality) in humans survive as long as humans exist and human-minds function. Generally, we introspect deeply into reasons when we fail to accomplish a certain expectation, but we hardly do so when we succeed. And such an inquiry (probe) is the window to self-identify a better-way of performance in future, if at all such an occasion arises, or repeats. But how many of us ever encounter such repeating situations ? We never allow them to repeat, because we always correct ourselves mid-course with conscious knowledge of our earlier introspection. And this is why we don't face repeating situations. It will be sufficient to say that our failures have laid the appropriate steps to our successes. And in this spirit, Astrology helps in planning our preparedness to meet any situation, bad or good, wanted or unwanted, known or unknown, with a final goal to achive (what we want to be after all).

Origins of Astrology

The primitive-human in the stone age was primarily concerned about protection against onslaught of natural calamities like Volcanoes, Landslides, storms, earthquakes, forest fires etc., and dangers posed by contemporary living beings like animals, fellow humans etc.. That human also had to survive and be alive as long as posiible. Over time, this stage of human-life transformed into another form of human life where humans became able to gain either protection or control over such dangers. This transformation of human existence went further when humans began exploiting dangers turning them into advantages, by turning adversities into beneficial outcomes. Examples of this new enlightenment are innovations in agriculture with mastery in cultivating eatable foods, domesticisation of animals, development of habitations, and so on. During all these stages, the primitive human form kept on transforming continually. No doubt that this primitive human form serves us as the base-index of Human Resources Development (HRD). HRD means an archive of the past, a desire for the present, and a vision into the distant future.

Let us look at the better forms of human survival and existence in the past. Community living, agricultural practices, division of labour, occupations, activities, recreational modes, customs and rituals, festivals and many many means came into human existence and survival. For whose benefit ? and for what purpose ? When such human Reformation takes place, a Civil(ization) Code becomes necessary. This Code is just like our Indian Constitution made soon after Indian Independence which prescribes a certain human behaviour which was thought to be for the common good and progressing general well-being of its citizens. No doubt our Constitution is written. But are Vedas or Astrology-principles written anywhere ? Do we have a written or archeological documentation about that primitive human ? Still, Vedas and Astrology survived ages simply because some people felt them as essential for civiized human living and human survival and so much so fewer humans followed them, practiced them, and hence they remained in the hearts and minds of people who carried them intact (in tact) through ages unto us. Had they been written down or recorded anywhere or elsewhere in any other form, they too would have perished as Dinosaurs became extinct without leaving traces even. One fine example of this kind is the division of Lord Vishnu Time and Brahma Time etc..

Most probably, this could have been a proper and appropriate time for the evolution of Astrology. I am not at all attempting to determine the origin and timing of Astrology birth. I also do not say that Vedas were popularised during this time. But definitely there existed a NEED to have some mechanism to guide and lead people for civilized human behaviour in any civilized society. In a classroom of 50 pupils, the teacher evolves his (her) own style of putting the subject-matter into pupils' minds. Many parents develop and use multiplicity of unique techniques to bring-up their children the way they want their children to become in their life. Similarly, various Societies, and Religions also get evolved. Astrologers thus have a role to play in cautioning people against any unforeseen dangers in their life, so that they have enough time to plan to overcome such dangers. Human Resources Development implies that if each and every constituent member of a society is well-behaved, then beneficial bondages exist among people, and that society flourishes a long-time. For achieving this end, there shall be mechanisms to constantly consistently monitor and fine-tune society and its members continuously. And there shall also be some human potential to carry on this task.

In our present day society, we all come across a large cross-section of humans who practice Astrology. For some it is a livelihood, for some it is a hobby, for some it is an education for self. In Physics we all know Newton and his great contributions in Science. Like Newton there are many known Scientists. We also have Lecturers teaching Physics in Colleges and Universities. Compare Newton with a Lecturer. In any case Newton stands as a best scientist because of his mental abilities far outweighing those of a Lecturer. But we can never ignore a Lecturer who with his (her) own level of standing in Physics is doing his (her) bit of service. And such a Lecturer-level is always essential and necessary, otherwise it becomes difficult to measure and scale/grade all those engaged in the spread of science of Physics. This yardstick is common to any discipline, and so much so to Astrology as well. Just because we see an Astrolger sitting on the street, one shall not take it for granted that Astrology is not at all a discipline worthy of being a Science.

Astrology is full of terminology unique to itself like any other science discipline, and difficult to understand the etymology behind. I quote here for illustration, uniqueness of our Hindu system of numbering as an example. All of us know only upto Koti (Crore) which is 1,00,00,000 or 10⁷. Hindu system of numbering goes far far beyond Koti like Arbhudam (10¹⁰), Kharvam (10¹²), Padmam (10¹⁴), Kshoni (10¹⁶), Kshobham (10²⁴), Parvam (10²⁸), Paraardham (10³¹) and so on. Just write down the number 3-Paraardhams in expanded form on a paper and see how long it looks compared to the term. Hindu Brahmins recite (at begining of daily-puja) as dwitiya (second) paraardhe, which means I am alive on a day in the second paraardha (like Ahargana). Hindus have a unique way of signifying certain entities and facts in human life. Without understanding such terminology and notations, we certainly fail to understand the true meaning of these sanskrit slokas. In Mahabharat, in the final battle at Kurukshetra, Kauravas were said to be having 18 Kshonis (10¹⁶) force or army on their side which when read with above notation reveals how strong is their army in that battle. Also, by the day when Kauravas planned Padmavyuha (plot to kill Abhimanyu) during the middle of the battle, Kauravas must be having minimum of Padmam as 10¹⁴. Can we understand the author's mind depicting the depletion of kaurava force (army statistics in a battle) by understanding these terms . Ancient Hindu sanskrit texts (verses, slokas) are full of such notational terms integrated with definite notation significance, purpose to convey to Readers of vitally specific implicit information.

Astrology is Science

Astrology is a definite and accurate science. In fact, buy our ViziOn 2K v.2e software and use it, you will definitely conclude Astrology is terribly a Great Science. Because, you will be faced with many dates when the Astro-parameters give different combinations, and Astrologer has to decide one among such potential situations. This is purely scientific. Home science is study of nutrition, foods, and related aspects. Home scientists develop different nutritional mixes and experiment them (clinically and socially) for studying results. Agricultural scientists study many parameters for enhancing the yield of crops. All these disciplines do not yield results as expected. Two Agro-fields with similar characterstics in all respects do not give the same crop-yield. Doctors diagnose, give medicines. Some get cured, some not. And because they are certified as scientists, they are permitted to fail. Can we apply the same yardstick to Astrology as Science. We do not. When every thing is the same in terms of purpose, content, method, analysis, application, social use etc, there is no ground to disqualify Astrology as Science. Even Economics dealing with human and market behaviours is a Social Science. Or don't Astrologers (those who are seriously pursuing Astrology) conduct experiments, collect compile compose Birth information, comply with all requirements of a science, comment and introspect results with the help of all usual techniques in their laboratory (society) of experimental subjects (humans) and their behaviour patterns. Just as every scientist has his/her style of conducting experiments, Astrologers too perform such tasks as efficiently as anyone else.

Hindu Astrological texts are abundantly many in the form of Sanskritised verses (slokas) as well as commentaries in Indian regional languages. Brahma siddhanta, Surya siddhanta, Vaashishta siddhanta, Paitamaha siddhanta, Aryabhttiya, Sounaka siddhanta, Siddhanta Shiromani, Graha Laaghava, and so many siddhantas. Astronomy is indispensable in Astrolgy. Even in Astrological practices and customs, there are bound to be regional differentials in some of their interpretations depending on specific cultural zones, just as we have differential federal laws enforced in Indian States.

Aryabhatt introduced Epicycles theory and word-encryption of large numbers. Astrology is a well researched science by our Hindu sages. It is Yaagjnyavalka who devised the numerals' shape. The number zero is likewise invented in India by a Hindu sage. Astrology is study of the effects of the solar system on the life and behaviour of humans in particular, nature in general. We all know Science telling us that if Sun doesn't appear at all for few years, human life and human behaviour becomes miserable. This we know because Scientists studied and researched effets of solar radiation on living entities. Science did not progress comparatively much in the case of other planets. But only Astrology has some clues about their effects.

Astrology means

Astrology has immense immaculately rich material content. And to understand Astronomy and Astrology the student must possess high imaginative power to dream of solar system and planetary motions. But unfortnately, without proper understanding of Astronomical and Astrological basic fundamentals, people make predictions which obviously fail. So the fault is that of the practitioner and not that of the Astrological science. Most people without depth knowledge of Hindu Astrological Science often confuse between Astronomy and Astrology. Astronomy is the science of determining positions, motions, and confluence of planets. Astrology is the science of studying the combined (net or resultant) influence of planetary effects on humans during their revolutions with their independent speeds of motion. Those familiar with Astrology in depth understands the difference between Astronomy and Astrology at every step in Astrology. In Hindu siddhantas, Astronomical principles are explained by taking a particular place on earth as reference point (with Longitude and Lattitude). Hindu Astrology also considers Birth-place (Longitude and Lattitude) as reference for explaining and illustrating their theoryof predictions. Even Lahiri Ephimeries which are widely referred by present day Indian Astrologers also has a place taken as reference point for all its calculations. The case is also the same for any traditional Hindu Almanac called panchang. This reference point is called Ganith Kendr and in Astrology, both Ganith kendr and Birth-place kendr are considered crucial to every calculation either directly or indirectly.

Predictive Power of Astrology

While shortcomings in Astrological computations are responsible for 25% inefficiency, methods used for predicting future course of events'-happening are responsible for 75% inefficacy. On top of this list stands the aspect of planetary motions and their speeds measured in days. Even if they are correctly set, knowing the date of event-happening can be further vague and inaccurate too. Second, many aspects need concurrent consideration and study for that even-happening. To quote, such aspects as the responsible planets, responsible Bhavas and houses, planets' residence in those Bhavas and Rasis during their motion, other planetary aspections (Graha Drishti) on that Bhava and house, Planetary friendships and their enemity, proximity or closeness of planets, the various sub-divisions of Rasi called Shodasha Vargus, and so on. Such a complex complicated phenomenon is for an expert to concentrate and imginatively work-out all the calculations for determining resulting event's date or period of happening. It is humanly impossible to do such an exercise. There is also dearth of computer software. Knowledgeable and scholarly Astrologers who can associate in developing necessary software for such purposses are not forthcoming with innovative ideas. These are only some examples to explain why predictions go wrong. There is lengthy road ahead to trek into making people understand that Astrology is a wonderful deterministic Science. Astrology is the field of science that did not develop after the 12^th Century AD whatever be the compulsions of wars calamities and the like.

Astrology enriches HRD

Human Resources Development (HRD) means enabling its citizens to acquire superior talents in all walks of life. Ancient Hindu sages trained pupils in their Gurukulas for such superior talents. They never had the gadgets, aids, instruments what we have now. What they had was superb mind, and what we have now is perishable failure-prone aids and gadgets without which our minds do not function. Any human being who acquires superior mental ability in one disciplne, only he (she) gains the potential to apply (Transfer of Learning in Psychology) his/her mind equally well in any other field. And this is what should be aimed at if we want our societies to excell in all walks of life. Astrology has this capability to elevate human mental-prowesses to higher levels of thinking analysis and progress.