JYOTiSH SHASTRA

                        PRABHASANA PARAMPARA

                                                              – By Acharya Sethumadhavanji

The credit of opening up human minds to the magnificence and immense potentialities hidden in the cosmos, goes to Indian Seers  It is they who through their extraordinarily deep meditations brought out the mystery behind the unimaginably immense cosmos with its infinite astral  bodies and cosmic phenomena which influence humans. Before the Western philosophers and scientists woke up to the reality of the immensity of the  Universe, our Indian Rishis were far ahead with their knowledge about the physical nature of the celestial bodies, Mother earth, including the baffling relationship that exists between human and the cosmic bodies.

We had been planning for a long time to invite a truly scientifically minded scholar to explain the wonderful Shastra of Astronomy with its essential ingredient of Astrology- directly related to human lives.

The first lecture in the series- Astrology as a Science- took place on 9^th June, Saturday from 4p.m.to 6p.m. The speaker Acharya Sethumadhavanji from Tirupati University, is a very learned scholar who is currently working on his thesis on Astrology. The talk was devoted to the introduction of the topic and for more than two hours the audience sat and listened spell bound. Some of the points are presented in the ensuing summary of his lecture.

Talking on Jyotisha the speaker categorized it into four- Vaidica Kala Jyotisha, Siddhanta Kala Jyotisha, Samhita Kala Jyotisha and Modern Jyotisha as we know it. While the earlier ones are more ‘Spiritual’, the present day Jyotisha has more of ‘Tamoguna’. During Vedic period the great seers had an open mind regarding Jyotisha.There was no scope of dispute or criticism. The earlier proponents were mostly rishis like Vyasa, Parashara, Sovanam, Yavvanam and others who were great rishis who had no inclination towards worldly affairs. Jyotish Shastra was referred to as the ‘Vedas Chakshu, ‘eyes of Veda’

Jyotisha itself can be divided into Skanda trayam – Prapancha or cosmic analysis, Bhautic , Worldly or Nature’s analysis and lastly, One’s inner self analysis

Speaking about the importance of jyotisha, the speaker said in India, each and every festival in temples or otherwise is decided by the planetary star positions. All our temple utsavas are thus identified with some astronomical sign or event. Utsavas are meant to elevate the human mind to a higher level of consciousness.

 Jyotisha’s approved text is Surya Siddhanta which is available only in Sanskrit. One of the chapters of Surya Siddhanta deals with ‘Jyotish Upanishad’,and provides an interesting conversation between mind and Brahma. In answer to the question on diversity, is the revelation that the earth is ‘golakar’ (global), so there is an unavoidable diversity in everything. This is probably the first statement about the global nature of earth-1000 of years before the West catches up with the idea.

(The word jyothisha refers to cosmic intelligence or consciousness). Coming to Jyotisha he emphasized that the ultimate aim of Jyotisha is to take man to liberation. It is the science of unfoldment of one’s ‘Karmaphala’. The position of ‘Guru’ in one’s horoscope provides clues as to the spiritual status of the person. In Jyotisha lies the keys to unlock the treasures hidden in a being and to decode their meaning and possibilities. Jyotisha can provide an unmistakably analytical study of one’s life.

Speaking of the role of Jyotisha in marriage, the speaker first gave the true meaning of the word ‘vivaha’ – as the carrier of the most auspicious. Marriage is the reflection of the union  of Prakriti and Purusha- cosmic mother and father. To make marriage wholesome and fulfilling 25 linkups are to be scrutinized so that there is perfect physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual balancing between the man and the woman. If there is clear ideological understanding and unconditional love, there is no need for jyothisham to step
in.                                                 

                                                                                         (more in the next)