• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
 
R 
ELIGION and
 A
STROLOGY
By Kalyan Sundaram 
Is GOD is there?
 The first question arose in the mind ever since man became civilized. Rishis and munis(1) were inthe hot chase for a definite answer to this question, since time immemorial. As a result of their Tapas(2), analysis-
 philosophical analysis-
found 
different
explanations. But in principle they allagreed YES there is something above and beyond what we see on earth. HE who is the almightyan omni potent and an omni present commands the Universe. Each and every atom on earth,planets, stars,space are all under HIS command and control.
Religion:
It is a discipline, a faith, a belief or a practice in a wide society. A very well learned manin the society or messengers of GOD set out such faiths or practices to be strictly followed bypeople to co-exist and live peacefully. There are many religions in the world. It is the history as weall know. Among all the religions, Hinduism though not started by a particular person or no knownoriginator still has remained till date a great Philosophy. It guides people through rituals and gooda lot of Poojas (prayers) to follow; without compelling on anyone's individuality or freedom. 
VEDANTHA:
It is a Philosophy, it is the Spiritual way of life shown by preachers at different timesin India and different parts of the World. Attaching ourself to that way ie. worship, prayers, tapas,homa, yagnya(3), are being performed
 
by us. Today there are four Vedas in practice. Rig, Yajur,Sama and Atharvana. Majority of Indians follow one of the first three VedasVedh or Vid means to know. All such findings like creation of movable and immovable are dealt indetail in the four Vedas Subsequently it is very much elaborated in Upanishads.(4), puranas. "Ahara mudala yezhuthellam adhi bhagavan mudatrye ulagu" said Thiruvalluvar.(5) in Tamil"Yena bhrmyathi lokajalam akhilam" in sanskrit language means the whole magic of the universeis moving because of HIM.The above two quotes only give us an understanding to the ultimate reality, the strength of Super natural power.
 
We can see the Sun, Moon, stars and other planets. We can feel the existence of the fiveelements-often referred to as 'Pancha bhoothas" in our shastras(6) -
Agni, Vayu, Water, Bhoomiand Space
. bhootha means vast enormous in size. They are called bhoothas because a personstanding in open air can never see the top, bottom, right end or the left end of these elements.God creates, protects and destroys living and non living things. It is cycle of events. Solelyattributable to nature. The secret work of nature. Only He who knows and we can hardly decodethe time or type of such events. Among living things particularly human beings do very well canmodify their living styles.The events what I mentioned above is only our day to day life on earth between birth and death of a plant or animal or human. The day or night; summer or winter, amavasya (new moon) or fullmoon, rain or shine all of them affect the life on earth.Man has no choice or control over that but man devised a method, a study to predict thechanges
 
and take the above changes to his advantage if not at least to safeguard himself from damage.
 
A
strology:
Thus the epic men toiled hard for years, centuries and discovered the “Panchanga”(7). Thepanchanga contains a collection of Astronomical datas/details of planets, stars and their movements and the effect of such movements which causes and changes in plant, animal andhuman lives on earth. Mainly the wisdom prevailed in Egypt, Greek and India almostsimultaneously. There was also exchange of knowledge adoption customization in their inventions. Of course today nobody takes out his car without consulting weather reports in newspapers.Over a period of time further observations, studies and discoveries were made by our ancientastronomers. Like Aryabhatta, Varaha, Mihira, Parasara etc. to name a few.Here in India, astronomers were giving predictions to Kings and to common public on allactivities. Be it timing of sowing seeds in fields (agriculture), child birth, marriage or wars. Good or bad things to happen in one's life. This is so because Jyothisham or jyothisha shasthra (scienceof astronomy) is in itself 
Astrology
.The study of the sky is astronomy. Calculations were made regarding the size, speed of movement, their rotation around Sun and position with respect to our planet earth. This is purely amathematical calculation. Primarily jyothisha meant to guide people in their daily affairs. Findingof auspicious times, avoiding inauspicious times became a routine in all walks of life. Dependingupon the status of Nine planets, 27 stars and twelve Zodiac signs, events were predicted. Let us see more about in depth of Jyothisha later in a separate article.
 
Todays space science development has come a long way from advanced vedicastronomical knowledge. Many religions prohibit the inquest into the secrets of nature by men.Still it is amazing how Western astrology, Chinese astrology, Arabic, Jewish etc., in addition toNumerology, tarrot, parrot reading and palmistry are very popular and widely being practiced inmany parts of the world.These are all fortune telling in one way. Vedic astrology in contrast finds the past, presentand future of a mans life or the status of a country. The past is the belief in previous birth. The'Karma' (an action or deed or activity) committed by a person in his previous birth(s) and theresult of such actions follows in this birth. An astrologer predicts from the birth chart (horoscope)of an individual the past also. Accordingly he explains what is in store for that individual.How and what was the basis of such predictions made by our Astrologers? The planetarypositions recorded in his/her Horoscope at the instant of his/her birth. In this way it is said thatevery individual enjoys good health, pleasures, wealth, children etc. What about a man'ssufferings, problems faced in his life ? Is it also predicted from the same chart? Yes the reasonscreating such problems can be analyzed and identified by an expert professional Astrologer.Man cannot change the fate or destiny. The karmic influences cause dismays, distressand decide the fate. Though man cannot escape the destiny, he can prevent such impact or course of his sufferings, by suitable remedies.(pariharas). To understand '
PARIHARAS
' for example when it is raining we can't stop the rain but can use an umbrella/rain coat. That willprotect us from becoming drenched. Another example: if there is flood we can divert the course of flood waters by digging canals or using sand bags.Hence the remedial measures to overcome many problems concerning business,children, health, litigation etc. can be done by special poojas, homas, chanting of mantras, usingyanthras, talisman etc. with the help of a well qualified Pandit or Guru who knows Atharv Vedaproperly.. To conclude Religion is the power to mankind. People who are religious will definitely findAstrology very useful and can make their lives easier.(-
A brief introduction about the Author 
.
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...