Game Theory and Jyotishya

Nithin Sridhar
John Nash, the famous American mathematician and his wife died last Saturday in a fatal taxi crash in
New Jersey Turnpike. His most remarkable contributions were in the field of Game Theory. His
discoveries like Nash Equilibrium, have resulted in the use of Game Theory in various branches like
economics, politics, warfare, psychology, evolutionary biology, logic, ethics, social and human behavior
etc. This article seeks to explore, whether there are some common points between Game Theory and
Vedic Astrology (Jyotishya), which can be utilized to integrate them, so as to improve the efficacy of
Jyotishya. Before, proceeding further, let us briefly understand, what Game Theory is all about.
Game Theory is a systematic study of exertion of Free-Will. It is used to study, analyze and predict
various human decisions, where the decision of each Individual is influenced by the decision of the others
in the game, and all their decisions collectively determines the final result. Roger B. Myerson (in Game
Theory: Analysis of Conflict, Harvard University Press) defines Game Theory as “the study of
mathematical models of conflict and cooperation between intelligent rational decision-makers”. He
further states that, Game Theory provides general mathematical techniques for analyzing situations in
which two or more individuals make decisions that will influence one another’s welfare. Hence, Game
Theory aims to understand the mutual relationship and influence of free-wills of different people in the
game.
To be fully defined, a Game must have these four elements- players (those who exert free will and take
decisions), the actions (choices) that are available for the players to choose from, the strategies that each
player applies in taking action, and the payoff’s or the results that each player obtains as a result of his
actions. Some of the assumptions underlying the Game Theory include, the players being rational
individuals. That is, the exertion of free-will by each player will be aimed at maximizing his payoffs.
Secondly, every player understands that other players are playing for maximizing their own payoff’s as
well. Hence, the determining factor behind decision making is “self-interest”.
Now, if we link this concept of Game Theory to the concept of Karma in Hinduism, we will notice that
there are certain elements that are common to both. The concept of Free-Will plays a very important role
in Hindu view of the universe. The whole universe and all the interactions within the universe follows the
law of Karma- the law of cause and effect. Each action results in a specific result. Hence, the present
situations and life choices that an Individual faces, is a result of his own previous actions. Similarly, his
present actions will place him in various situations in future. Therefore, destiny and free-will are one and
the same thing- Karmas. The former refers to the actions performed by the exertion of free will in the past
and the latter to the exertion of free will in the present.
To the question, what drives a person to perform actions? “Desire for happiness” is the answer given by
Hindu scriptures. In other-words, self-regard and self-welfare is the primary motive behind all actions.
The Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha that constitutes the four purusharthas or goals of life that is
central to the Hindu way of life, is designed to lead a person slowly on a path that ultimately imparts
Supreme-Bliss. Hence, all actions be it for Dharma, Artha, Kama or Moksha, they are all guided by
motivations of attaining the results/payoffs offered by them. If it be said that, taking decisions in self-
interest is contradictory to practice of dharma (ethics and duty), the answer is given by Lord Krishna
himself in Gita (2.30-38). Lord Krishna urges Arjuna to fight the Righteous Mahabharata battle by saying
that, if he fights, then there are only two possible outcomes. Either Arjuna dies in the battle and attains
heaven and enjoy the heavenly world or he will conquer and enjoy his kingdom. In either case, following
his Kshatriya Dharma and fighting in the war is beneficial to Arjuna. Hence, even in the case of Dharma
(ethics, righteousness, morality, duty), being economically rational i.e. taking decision in self-interest is
the most natural reaction for a person. Another element of commonality is the factor of influence of
decision making process of one player on the other. Though in Game Theory it is explored in a purely
rational basis of how a player understands the strategy of the other, the Hindu Philosophy explores the
interactions between two Individuals based on the Karmic debts or Rina that binds them. Any interaction
between two people is not a coincidence, but it is outcome of complex bond of Rina or Karmic debt that
those Individual share with each other. And their present interactions and their mutual exertion of free-
wills will be influenced by this Karmic debt that exist between them. The Rina or Karmic debt is a bond
of give and take that is formed due to actions in the past.
Hence, the past Karmas that are bearing their results in the present for an Individual, the Karmic Rinas
between the interacting Individuals, the mental make-up of an Individual and the factor of rationality/self-
interest of the Individual will determine the manner in which he will exert his Free-Will. Game Theory
only uses the last factor, the factor of economic rationality or self-interest in its analysis of free-will. The
Behavioral Game Theory also takes into account the mental make-up of an Individual. But, both of them
have no information regarding the past actions. Hence, the Game Theory is only limited to present
exertion of free will determined by only a limited number of factors.
On the other hand, Vedic Jyotishya deals with predicting the future events based on the past Karmas that
have begun to fructify. Every person takes birth as a certain animal, or in a certain house and faces certain
situations in his life based on his previous Karmas committed over millions of past lives. The sum total of
all the previous karmas are called as “Sanchita Karma”. And a small portion of Sanchita Karma that is
ready to give results is called as “Prarabda Karma”. It is this Prarabda Karma that decides the time, place,
and manner of birth. It decides the various life events, various life situations that a person is placed into in
his life. Jyotishya uses various methods that includes using birth time and location and making the natal
chart, to determine the Prarabda Karmas that are in store for a person in that particular life. It then, uses
this information to predict the future events. But, what it does not take into account is the performance of
Agami Karmas. Agami Karmas are the actions performed by the exertion of free will in the Present. And
these exertions of free will can significantly change the events and directions in which the life of a person
is moving. But, Jyotishya does not take into account these Agami Karmas. Hence, many of the
predictions turn out to be untrue. If the concepts of Game Theory can be harmoniously integrated with the
concepts of Jyotishya then the predictions can be made more accurate. Further, Jyotishya will be able to
analyze and predict even the exertions of the Free Will in the present.