|
Most people, when they think of Jyotish, the Indian system of astrology, invariably (and in my opinion mistakenly) think of temples, gongs, incense, pot-bellied priests, amulets, poojas and gemstones – all against the background of indecipherably mysterious but soothing chants. It seems that despite all the ‘airing’ that has gone on over last many years and despite the increasing openness in recent years – some individuals still consider Jyotish as being some kind of a cloistered and sacred closet that has a mystical aura without which it cannot exist therein lies the myth!). Some of these myths originate from ignorance or perhaps from partial knowledge while others are really rationalizations put forth by tropical astrologers who feel the need to reconcile with the differences cause by different frameworks but somewhat rules and symbolism. Like any other form of astrology, Jyotish has its share of psychics that knowingly or inadvertently use the horoscope and astro-symbolism as launching pads for their psychic flights. The advice they give is valuable and accurate, perhaps more so that given by many astrologers, but their experiences should not be converted into astrological rules as they pose a problem for those who truly utilize astrological rules as a logical structure. Perhaps there is no purely logical astrologer as all of us are psychic and intuitive to some extent, but we are talking about relative degrees of logic Vs gut feeling here. While denigrated and brushed aside as a fatalistic activity by any Sayers, Jyotish and its associated ‘Hindu’ theory of Karma (though ‘Do unto others as you would be done by”, the famous and familiar saying is hardly of Hindu origin or in Sanskrit, for that matter!) do not promote fatalism (doom and gloom!) or in any incontrovertible fate or predestined as being cast in the granite of time. Quite the opposite is true, actually! This is indicated by the very significant role of Muhurta or elective astrology (choose the right moment and you can change your basic fate) and remedial astrology (karma can be changed) are powerful messages against such ‘modern’ myths that try to chain Jyotish in the fetters created by their ignorance of what is the true big picture. If fate is sealed and we are merely sinning and hopelessly spiritual failures of puppets in the hands of some patriarchal God as some religious thoughts of more modern vintage would like us to believe, then what purpose does astrology serve? Other than confirming the morose existence and dire fate that we are destined to bear through our lifetimes and beyond (some even do not think there is a beyond!) – How would knowing a fate that cannot be changed serve us or our spiritual progress? Remedies on the other hand provide a ray of hope, but the concept while great can suffer the same fate as the opposite concept of predestined fate does. The commonest favorite being expensive gemstones and the recent trend of a large number of priests in some distant part of the globe chanting your sins away, for a donation. Astrologers are a resourceful bunch – always falling over one another in their eagerness to help! If gemstones are too expensive, they offer secondary and even tertiary gemstones; even a metal plate with mystic numbers engraved would do in a clinch! The list is endless and the sources for these are not any less in number. But can it all be that simple? Paying for your past sins is not a new concept and is prevalent in all religions other than some very modern bubbly ones, of course. But the concept of a rich person being able to clean up his karmic plate by frequent visits to the jeweler or to the internet-based priest is a bit difficult to absorb! I am not saying that this may be necessarily impossible, but difficult to accept lock stock and barrel, all the same.
Related Articles -
Astrology, hindu orgin, hindu theory and karma, jyotish gyan,
|
