India has preserved a great tradition of producing intellectual giants since time immemorial. Some of these prominent people were known as Rishis. Rishi is defined as someone who observes something new in nature (Rishih Darshanat)-[reference number1] or simply put, it is a Sanskrit term that was used to indicate a scientist. Even at the risk of doing it a bit out of context, it remains to be said that using the title of Maharshi even with the names of spiritual teachers and religious reformers like Swami Vivekananda or Swami Dayananda would not be appropriate in the real sense of the word. term, much less the usage that all other self-proclaimed god-men resort to today. Now we continue with our current concern.
Observing nature closely, Rishis discovered that everything in it seemed to work in a systematic pattern and that the planets of our solar system moved through the heavens with such precision that their positions and movements could be calculated centuries in advance. He found that the universe was governed by mathematical laws and mathematics, on the other hand, is nourished by the interrelation of various objects that comprise a system. Advanced explorations into the mathematical interrelationship of terrestrial life with the rest of the cosmos led them to the discovery of the correlation between the motion of the planets in our solar system against the backdrop of the remaining part of the observable universe and the nature of the events. in human life. This, in turn, seemed to solve the mystery of time to a certain extent, since future events in the life of an individual could be known with the help of a deep study of the mutual geometric positions of the planets at the time of his birth. . Astrology, developed along these lines, basically deals with the quality of a given moment such as, for example, what will be the future of a child that is born, a question that is asked, or a project started at a particular moment that represents a single point in the space. -continuous time. But the most important fact is that such developments were not made on any kind of conjecture or so-called superstitious belief in an omnipresent divinity, but were based on mathematical achievements and scientific revelations that are unparalleled to date.
Profound studies were carried out in the field of astronomy which paved the way for the evolution of the science of astrology in due time. The earth is described as being shaped like an egg, suspended in space like a magnet and moving in three different ways in our ancient astronomical texts. Of these, the last movement known as the precession of the equinoxes is responsible for the development of the sidereal or fixed zodiac concept which was widely used for horoscopic calculations in Indian astrology. Astronomical facts and concepts of immense importance, including even theories about the evolution of the universe, can still be found scattered throughout our ancient literature. India’s luni-solar calendar is ample testimony to India’s genius in astronomy. The age of the earth was calculated and recorded in the form of Srishti Samvat which tells us that 1,955,885,102 solar years have elapsed since the formation of our earth on March 26, 2001, while modern science has so far been unable to provide a exact figure.
The problem is that such knowledge is still contained in the Sanskrit scriptures of which there are no authentic translations available and are not considered fit to be studied in the light of modern scientific knowledge and instead are dismissed as bundles of superstition, especially in India. Today, most of the criticisms against Indian sciences in general and astrology in particular are largely biased and based on lack of adequate information.
The most common argument against astrology is that neither modern science has found any evidence of an astral connection to our lives nor does it lead to the common sense approach, and thus the basic assumption of astrology, that the planets influence our planets. events on earth, is refuted. The missing point is that science itself is common sense most of the time. For example, the dual nature of the electron, both particle and wave, is accepted as a scientific truth because it is observed to be so even when science is unable to explain the reason for such unusual behavior and similar is the case with the theory. of gravity that is accepted as true without any explanation of the underlying physical mechanism because the consequences of the theory agree well with the facts. As philosopher of science Karl Popper-[Reference number2] As has been emphasized, a good theory is characterized by the fact that it makes a number of predictions that could in principle be refuted or falsified by observation. So if such effects of the planets can be quantified in the form of objective predictions that come true, it should be taken as sufficient proof of the truth of astrology. In fact, Johannes Kepler, to whom modern science is indebted for the discovery of the laws of planetary motions, had studied the correlation of atmospheric and climatic changes with planetary motions from 1617 to 1629, the result of which is his book ‘ Astrometeorology’. ‘, that shows the real effect of the planets on our earth.
Astrology, as a science, can warn us of the dangers ahead and thus provide an invaluable opportunity to take due precautionary measures and be mentally prepared to be able to avoid the negative event itself or at least minimize the possible one. bad to a considerable extent. . Unfortunately, the notion of fatalism usually associated with such warnings may outweigh the good this study may otherwise do. Astrology is promoter of individual free will and this fact is amply demonstrated in the prescription of matching horoscopes for any form of alliance, selection of Muhurtha or auspicious time to start any important project and corrective measures based on planetary positions.
Many of the believers and even scholars of this subject of seemingly incredible possibilities perceive it as a closed science, which, in my opinion, is very incorrect. Astrology has as much scope for further study and research as any other current science that can be exploited for the good of humanity in general. All that is needed is to have an open mind and willingness to accept the truth while investigating such matters and discovering the true superstitions for oneself.
[reference number1]- “Rishirdarshanat” – Nirukta-2/11 [Reference number2]- A brief history of time- Stephen Hawking- Page 11