PLANETARYINFLUENCES

ONHUMANAFFAIRS

(Revisedandenlargededitionofthebookpreviouslypublishedas
'AstrologyandModemThought")

BANGALOREVENKATARAMAN
Editor:THEASTROLOGICALMAGAZINE
 CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
PrefacetotheFirstEdition vii
PrefacetotheTwelfthEdition ix
IIntroductory 1
IIAstrologyandKarma 23
IIIWhatisAstrology? 43
IVPlanetsandMan 54
VAstrologyandSuperstition 84
VIStatisticalProof 100
VIIAstrologyandHistory 119
VIIIFutilityofFatalisticDoctrine 140
IXCanAstrologyPredictEarthquakes? 157
XAstrologyandWeatherForecasting 172
XIAstrologyasanAidtoMedicalScience 192
XIIAstrologyvs.Futurology 210
Appendix 225
 PREFACETOFIRSTEDITION

InthisbookIhavetriedtopresentacaseforastrology,andtorefutethechargethata
beliefinastrologyimpliesabeliefinfatalismwhichinitsturnparalyseshumanendeavorand
retardshumanprogress.FateandFreewillarerelativeterms.Sciencecannotleavethingsin
naturetoblindchanceandsocallednecessity.
Thereisagooddealofmisunderstandingandwrongnotionsaboutastrology,Karmaetc.,
duepartlytoignorance,partlytoindifferenceandmainlytopreconceivedopinions.
Thephilosophyofastrologyhasasitsstrongestweaponrelativity,andisbasedonthe
truththatetherealvibrationsextendfromtheSuntothegreatplanetsandfromplanettoplanet.
Allspaceisanetworkofinteractingforces.
IhavetriedtoprovethattheconceptofKarmaTheoryisnotawishfulimaginationbuta
productofdaringthinkingbaseduponcauseeffectrelationshipsoclearlydiscernibleinphysical
phenomena. Bertrand Russell, Jung, Plank, Heisenberg, Bohr and Eddington have all been
quotedtoshowthatModernThoughthasbeenapproachingthefringeofRealityrealizedbythe
MaharshisofIndiathousandsofyearsago.Infact,Ihavetriedtolinkuptraditionalphilosophy
withmodernscientificthought.Thenewconceptsaboutspace,time,matterandtheuniverse
haveafterallrevealedthatastrologymarkstherelationshipbetweenman'sconsciousegoand
whatwecallNature.
No'scientificauthority'acceptsthesuggestionthattheproperwayofdealingwiththe
problemsofastrologyisnottotheorizeaboutandcondemnthembuttoinvestigatethembythe
aidofwellattestedfacts.Suchanideaseemstobequiteforeigntothehabitsofthoughtofour
scientificopponents.AsDr.RichardGarnettewrote,"thestudyoffactsandtheobservationof
nature must always be stronger than any abstract reasoning; and the investigation of the
argumentsbroughtagainstastrologywilldistloseagreatreluctanceonthepartoftheobjector
"toresorttothetestimonyoffacts,andathoroughlyunscientifichabitofmind."
IfIhavesucceededinstimulatingmodernthinkerstotakeamorepositiveinterestinthe
investigationofastrologicaltruths,mylaborswillhavebeenamplyrewarded.
Bangalore5121946
B.V.RAMAN
 PREFACETOTWELFTHEDITION

PLANETARYINFLUENCESONHUMANAFFAIRSincorporatesmaterialbasedon
investigationsintocosmicterrestrialrelationsthatarebeingcarriedonbyseveralmenofscience
with whom I had the good fortune of personal discussion during my visits to Europe and
America.
ChaptersdealingwiththerelationofAstrologytomedicine,weatherforecasting,and
predictingearthquakeshavebeenadded.Thelastchapter"AstrologyvsFuturology"adoptsa
challengingtonequestioningthescaremongeringforecastsofthe"Futurologists"andassuring
thepublic,onthebasisofancientHinduastronomicalandastrologicalconcepts,thattheworld
willnotbedestroyedformillionsofyearstocome.
Experimental evidence presented in these pages cannot fail to impress even those
orthodoxscientistswhocontinuetobelievethatabranchofknowledgetobevalidshouldfitinto
theframeworkofknownlawsofscience,andnototherwise.
Scientificlawswhichourtextbookshavetaughtustolookuponaseternaltruthshave
collapsed like a pack of cards and new ones still lack the authority that their predecessors
enjoyed.Scientistshavealsogrownalittlemorecircumspectandnolongerproclaimgeneral
lawswiththefacilityoftheir19thcenturypredecessors.Becauseofthesedevelopments,someof
the scientists in the West have begun to view Astrology with less skepticism and more
seriousness.
InCarlJung'sopinion,"Westerncivilization,byignoringAstrology,gainslittleandmay
belosingmuch"bywhathecalls"thecontemptibletreatmentanddefamationofanancientart
whichdefiedareasonableexplanation"and,"after200yearsofintensivescientificprogress,we
canrisktestingtheminthelightofmoderntruths."
ThisbookexplorescertainconceptscherishedbygenerationsofthinkersinIndiathat
vicissitudestakingplaceinanypartoftheheavensmusthavetheirrepercussionsonhuman
affairsbecausemanisapartandparceloftheuniverse.
ThanksareduetoUBSPublishers'DistributorsLtd.,NewDelhi,forhavingbroughtout
thisneweditionattractively.
Dr.B.V.Raman
"SriRajeswari"Bangalore5600201stFebruary,1992
 I
INTRODUCTORY

Ithasbeencustomarytoassertthatuntilthecomingofmodernscience,manwasloaded
downwithsuperstition.Itisfartooeasyforsomeofthesocallededucatedpersonstodismiss
certainfieldsofknowledgeasastrologyasunscientificbecauseofignorance.Astrologyhasbeen
revealing,andthisisamplyborneoutbyresearchesofscientistsintheWest,asetofrational
hypothesis challenging some of the orthodox scientific beliefs with their materialistic and
deterministictenets.
Howdidtheastrologicallawscomeintobeing?Uponwhatkindofpostulateswerethey
based?Wasastrologyanobstacletoprogressorwasitthereverse?Thesequestionscanonlybe
answeredbyameticulousanalysisofthephilosophyofthecomplexculturewhichfashionedthe
thinkingofthesageswhobroughtastrologyintobeingwiththeotherbranchesofknowledge.
Thesagesviewedastrologyasaquestforverifiableknowledge.Theywerenotprimitivemen
merely conscious of the lure of the heavenly bodies as some of the modern educated
ignoramusesthink.ThegreatestsuperstitionoftodayisthethinkingthatuntiltheageofGalileo
orNewton,manwasignorant.Thisfictitiousbeliefhasbeensystematicallyspunbyasectionof
theWesternthinkersandassiduouslycontrivedbysomeoftheirIndiancounterparts.Before
Darwin,therewasaKanadainIndia;BeforeNewton,therewasaBhaskara;andbeforeany
otherphysicistorbiologistworthhisnamecameonthescene,thereweresageslikeParasaraand
scientistslikeVarahamihirawhowerecreativeinnovatorsandwhorecognizedthesimplebut
profoundtruththatmanandtheuniversewerenotunrelated.Thestrivingsofthesesagesareour
heritageandtheyfoundthewaybymeansofwhichwecanunlockthedoorofTime.
InIndia,astrologyhadalwaysoccupiedauniqueplaceandfoundillustrioussupporters
untilperhapstheadventandconsolidationoftheBritishpowerwhenforatimeskepticismand
derisionwerethepredominant features,characterizing theintellectualequipment ofthethen
educatedIndians,wholookeddownuponastrologyandalliedsubjectsasfitforstudyonlyby
unscientificminds.Infact,thedownfallofastrologyappearedirremediable.Itwasatthistime
thatlateProf.B.SuryanarainRaoundertookthetaskofrevivingthesubjectbydivertingthe
thoughtsoftheIndianculturedpublictothesecretsofauniqueclassofphenomenon,hitherto
theobjectofridiculetootherswhopassforbettermindsundertheconvenientnameofmenof
science. For a time the mere use of the word astrology was likely to create an attitude of
disparagementwhicheffectuallypreventedmanypeoplefromanimpartialexaminationofthe
facts.
Todayagreatdesireforseriousstudyofastrologyhasovertakenthevastmajorityofthe
educatedpeople.
EventodaytheattitudeofsomeoftheeducatedpeoplehereandintheWestisstill
largelydominatedbynineteenthcenturymaterialismwhichisgenerallyunsympatheticnotonly
toclaimsofastrologybuttothespiritualviewoflifeingeneral.
But Indian society has been permeated by faith in the spiritual aspect of things and
fortunatelytodayagreatdesireforseriousstudyofastrologyhasovertakenthemajorityofthe
educatedpeople.
Thereisgreatgrassrootstosupportforaradicalandthoroughreinvestigationofthe
generalstandpointofAstrologyasabranchofscienceofpermanentinterest,capableofadding
tothesumtotalofhumanknowledge.Thereiskeendesirethatthecontributionstocultureand
civilizationmadebyoarMaharshis(sages)inthepastshouldbebroughttolighttodaywhen
India has achieved national independence and resumed her free career as a civilised self
governingnationinthevanofadvancednationoftheworld.
Thegeneralskepticismconsequentontheprevalentmaterialismderivedpassivelyfrom
western currents of thought should not come in the way of the claims of astrology being
recognizedasacontributiontomodernscienceandtheartoflifeingeneral,especiallyforthe
reasonthatsuchskepticalattitudesarebeingcounteractedbymanypowerfultrendseveninthe
West.Thelatestadvancesinrelativityandatomicphysics haveledtosecondthoughtseven
amongst men of science themselves. Einstein himself has expressed in favour of theistic
hypothesis. Eddington and Jeans have been led from the intelligibility of astronomical
phenomenaintheremotestgalaxiestotheideaofaCosmicIntelligenceindwellinginthemin
somemysteriousway.
Thematerialistsandskepticshaveneverhadtheirownwayatanytimewhetherinthe
EastortheWestInIndiawehadtheLokayatsorCharvakas(purematerialists)battheyWerefew
andfarbetweenandtheycouldriotmaintaintheirpositionagainstthedominantschools.
Inviewofthevastmassofevidenceinsupportofastrology,theattitudeofderiders
wouldappeartobetheveryreverseofscientific.Infact,asDr.Whiteheadhaspointedout,
modernmaterialismisnotastraightreadingfromscienceatallbutamisreadingintermsof
prejudicemisledbythepopularideaofsticksandstonesunthinkingsubstancesunrelatedto
consciousness.
Dr.Whiteheadhasputitonrecordthatmodernscientistshavetheirownsuperstitions.
Thisisvaluabletestimony,comingasitdoesfromsuchagreatmathematician.
Itmaybesaidthatintheeyesofcommonsense,thereisanantecedentimprobabilityor
evenimpossibilityintheclaimsofastrologytheessenceofwhichisthattheplanetsandstarsin
theirpositionsandmutualrelationsinfluencehumanlivesintheirminuteparticulars.
Thisantecedentimpossibilitywillbeseeninitstrueproportionwhenwerealizethateven
thesimplestactoftheinteractionofmindandmatter,willandthenervoussysteminourown
bodies,hasyetbeenunexplainedintermsofmaterialism.Thereisanantecedentimpossibilityof
theirinteraction,onthecommonsensehypothesisoftheirutterdesperatenessorevenonthe
refinedhypothesisofDescartesofthedualismofmindandmatterasutterlydifferentsubstances.
Theworld,asamatteroffact,issofullofmysterythatcommonsensematerialismcan
makenothingofit.TouseShakespeare'slanguage,therearemorethingsinHeavenandEarth
thanaredreamtofinHoratio'sPhilosophy.
Astrologyhasalonghistoryfromthedawnofcivilization.InIndiawehaveevidenceof
astrologicalknowledgeeveninthegreatclassics,theRamayanaandtheMahabharata.
It is on record that Hindu astrologers at Alexander's Court predicted his death by
poisoninginBabylon.Alexanderavoidedthatcityforatimebutintheend,heentereditand
diedasforetold.JuliusCeasarconsultedastrologyinhisbattledispositionsandwassuccessful
but couldnotpayheedtothewarningofSpurinathathewoulddieontheIdesof March.
Napoleon,it is well known,was advisedbythe famous womanastrologer Lenormand who
repeatedlyadvisedhimnottomarchonMoscowbuthedisregardedherwarningandmethis
fate.InmedievalEurope,ofcourse,astrologyoccupiedanhonoredplace.AlbertusMagnus,
regardedasthefatherofscientificmethod,thoughaschoolmanandtheologianthoughtthatwise
men could annul or modify the effect of stars.Lord Bacon, the father ofmodern scientific
method (The Advancement of Learning) was himself a competent astrologer. He saw no
contradictionsbetweenscienceandastrology.Heheldthatastrologyshould"ratherbepurged
thanrejected".
Even the great Newton, the formulator of the Laws of Motion supposed to be the
cornerstonesofmaterialism,abletobanishGodfromtheuniverse,washimselfanastrologer.He
had a collection of astrological works in his library and when his friend and pupil Halley
protestedtohimabouthisregardforastrology,hereplied:"Ihavestudiedthesethingsandyou
havenot."
Such an answer should be presented to modern scientists with the query: "Is your
disbelief basedoninvestigation oronlyonapassivesecondhandacceptanceoffashionable
skepticismbasedontheprestigeofscienceandtechnology?"
Suggestionsandsocialprestigebasedontheachievementsofscienceinthemakingof
motorcarsorevenspacevehiclesorintercontinentalmissilesorjetplanesarenoautomatic
disproofoftheinfluenceofstarsandplanetsonthelifeofman.Thispointofviewthateach
branchofscienceandartshouldbejudgedbytheevidencesuitedtoitandnotbecondemnedout
ofcourthasbeengaininggroundinthesecondhalfofthetwentiethcentury.
Infactitisnoexaggerationtosaythatwehavenowintheworldofscience,lettersand
culturegenerally,averitablerenaissanceofastrologyandrelatedviewsfavoringfaithinthe
unseenorspiritualaspectsofreality,internalandexternal.
There are emerging scientists and investigators "Who are quietly gathering data and
testing them in various fields. Scientific method is being applied to probe the world of
astrologicalphenomenathepositionsoftheplanetsandstarsandtheirinfluenceonlives.The
olddogmatismisgivingway.
Astrologyisstandingoutasadistinctscienceandaftbasedonprovedastronomicalfacts
andisbeingdifferentiatedfrompopularpalmistry,crystalgazing,thoughtreadingandjugglery.
Itwillbeseenfromtheargumentsadduced,andthefactspresentedinthefollowing
pages, that none of the a priori objections to the idea of a relation between astronomical
phenomena and terrestrial happenings an unpleasant deduction but a fact objectively
establishedisseriouslytenable.
Asscientificinvestigationexhaustsitscuriosityandreducestherelationshipinthefield
ofmaterialphenomena,inevitablycomesthenecessityofconsideringhigherrelationships,due
to the fact that man himself is not a mechanical automation but is endowed with will and
intelligence.Astrologyinrespectofitsuniversalapplicationisafieldofenquirytooextensive
forlittlemorethansurfaceconsideration.
Acareful consideration oftheevolutionofhumanthought intheWestreveals three
broad epochs in man's efforts to understand the workings of nature. They are animistic,
mechanicalandmathematical.AsSirJamesJeanwrites:"Theanimisticperiodwascharacterized
bytheerrorofsupposingthatthecourseofnaturewasgovernedbythewhimsandpassionsof
livingbeings,moreorlesslikemanhimself.Becausepersonalityistheconceptofwhichhehas
mostimmediateanddirectexperience,hebeginsbypersonifyingeverything."
Jeansgoesontosay:1"Asthehistoryoftheindividualismerelythehistoryoftherace
writsmall,ourracedidmuchthesameinitsinfancyasitsindividualsstilldointheirsGreek
scienceconsistedinthemainofmerevaguequestioningsandspeculationsastowhythingscame
NewBackgroundofScience.
1
tobeastheywereratherthantheotherwise."
Solongasmencouldonlyexperimentwithobjectswhichwerecomparableinsize,with
theirownbodies,theyfoundinanimatenaturebehavingasthoughitsconstituentpiecesexerted
pushesandpullstooneanother.Thismechanisticviewofnatureinitsturnimpliesabsolute
determinismandexplainedtheworkingsofnatureintermsofthefamiliarconceptsofeveryday
life.Today,however,asJeanssays,2"wearebeginningtoseethatmanhadfreedhimselffrom
theanthropomorphicerrorofimaginingthattheworkingsofnaturecouldbecomparedtothose
ofhisownwhimsandcaprices(animism),onlytofallheadlongintothesecondanthropomorphic
errorofimaginingthattheycouldbecomparedtotheworkingsofhisownmusclesandsinews
(mechanism)."
ItmustbenotedthatevenmodernscientistsfallintothesameerrorofthinkingthatJeans
haschargedthemechanistsandtheanimistwith,becausewhilsttheanimistsandthemechanists
proceededinthesamegenerallinesasthechildandtheunreflectivesavage,themodernscientist
hasbuiltaninferentialworldoutoftheimpressionsgatheredthroughhissensesandinstruments.
Thescientistfeelsthatwhichisnotconvincingtohimorpossibletohimwouldbeandmustbe
sototherestofmankind.Tothinkthatphenomenonwhichisinexplicabletohim,mustbesoto
therestofmankindistoarguelikeafool.TotheancientHindusgoesthecreditofhaving
discoveredsomeofthefundamentallawsgoverningtheuniverseanditsinhabitants.3"Thesages
possessed a much more accurate, dependable and comprehensive instrument with which to
observe natural phenomenon their ability to function in what might be called a fourth
dimensionalconsciousnessorYogawhichenabledthemtonote,tomeasure,toweighandto
classifyallthefactsconcerningtheuniversewithoutmicrometersandtelescopes."Thissuper
consciousnesswhichtheyrequired,toputinProf.B.SuryanarainRao'swords,"byintensifying
thesenseenergiesinternallyaccordingtoapprovedyogicmethods"madethem"awareofand
abletocomprehendinfinitesimalunitsoftimeandspacetoosmalltobemeasuredbythemost
modernscientificinstrumentsandvastspansofyearsanduniverses,tooremotetobefoundeven
by the largest telescope". Concentration of the mind yields more valuable results than the
employment of laboratory methods with a mind that is incapable of intuition or internal
development.WhatEinsteinandEddingtonhavesaidabouttheuniverse,andwhattheyhaveyet
tosayaboutman'srelationtouniverse,theMaharshishavealreadysaid.Theirconclusionsare
neitheranimisticnormechanisticnormathematical.Thescientistkeepshisnosefixedtohis
mathematical formulae, seeking to divine the structure of the material universe. But the

NewBackgroundofScience.
2

HinduAstrologybyMankariPande.
3
Maharshis were not blind to the socalled unknown forces which lie back of material
phenomena.Theyfoundoutthegrandtruththatmanisthereflectionoftheuniverse.Thekeyto
understandthisfundamentaltruthliesinastrology.
Scientistshavebeenrapidlychangingtheirviewsandoutlookuponexternalnature,and
havebeguntotreadthedomainofHinduphilosophybypropoundingstrangeconceptsofspace,
timeandmatter,whilepsychologistsarebecomingmoreandmoreconsciousofthefactthat
mindcanwielddirectinfluenceontheouterworld,asecretknowntotheHinduslongbeforethe
period of socalled dawn of scientific knowledge. Wherever the scientist looks at, he is
confrontedwiththemysteryoflifewiththeresulthehasbeenpracticallygropinginthedark.
Unlessherecognizestheimportanceofastrology,thefundamentalproblemsaboutmanandhis
placeintheuniversemustalwaysremainamystery.Astrologytakesintocognizancetherelation
existingbetweenmanandthecosmos.
WehavesaidabovethatWesternscientificthoughtcouldbedividedintothreebroad
epochs,viz.,animistic,mechanisticandmathematical.Thesethreecorrespondalsotothethree
stagesofastrologicalthought.Inthebeginning,astrologydealtwiththeplanetarybodiesmainly
asentitiesfittobeworshippedandthisanimisticattitudestillremainsasanimportantfeatureof
remedialastrology.The'animism'hereisonlyaneuphemismandhasnothingincommonwith
'animism'oftheWest.Thesecondstageofastrologicalthoughtconcerneditselftoanelucidation
ofthe"periodicityoflifeprocess"themechanismofsciencecorrespondingintermsof
material activity. In the third stage, astrology served as a means to bring biological and
4
"psychological order into the inner natures of men who had been unbalanced". Recently
electricityandradioactivityledmantothestartlingconceptsoftwentiethcenturyphysicsthe
newwordofthought,widelyopentotheunknownanditis.astrologythatshouldsupplythekey
totheunknownandunknowable.
"ThelawofanalogypresupposesaUniversalAgentpermeatingtheentireuniverse"a
lifesubstancecomicenergyfillinginallspace.Itisnowbeingincreasinglyrealisedthata
certain'phaseofrelationshipexistsbetweenman'sconsciousegoandNature.Atsometimethese
wereheldtobephysiologicalandelemental.Nowtheyaretobepsychologicalandmental.And
astrologyintegratesandcorrelatesthisprincipleoforder".
Scienceisbeginningtorealizethat 5"wearenowfacedwithacosmicdeterminismin
whichourfreedomsbecomeillusions,asmisleadingasourragesandfears,whichwethinkare
volitionsbutwhichareregisteredevenwhenthecerebralcortexhasbeensurgicallyremoved".

AstrologyofPersonalitybyDaneRudhyar.
4

"AstrologyandModernScience,"byO.B.Vijayamuni,intheastrologicalmagazineforMay1948.
5
The law of Karma and its relation to astrology have a direct bearing upon the theory of
'determinism'whichmodernthinkerscouldhavedevelopedfurtherifthedoctrinesenumerated
thousands of years ago by the Hindus had been taken note of. It is only by assuming that
determinism in some form or other exists in nature that prediction can become possible.
AccordingtoLaplacethereisalawinnaturethat"likecausesproducelikeeffects".Thismeans
some sort of determinism exists suggesting thereby nature's uniformity. Haldane whilst
criticizing Laplace in this regard does not doubt the possibility of "a very high degree of
accuracyinthepredictionbothofphysicalandsocialhappenings".BertrandRusselconcedes
that6"acorrelationwhichhasbeenfoundtrueinanumberofcases,andhasneverbeenfound
false,hasatleastacertainassignabledegreeofprobabilityofbeingalwaystrue".Thisdefinition
isofgreatimportancetostudentsofastrology.Theabovestatementsautomaticallyleadtothe
acceptanceof'determinism'.Unlessthereissomesortofacauseeffectprinciple,prediction,
evento theextentRusselsuggests,wouldbeimpossible.Planckhonestlyconfessesthatthe
"knowablerealitiesofnaturecannotbeexhaustivelydiscoveredbyanybranchofscience"and
that"thismeansthat scienceisneverinapositioncompletelyandexhaustivelytoexplainthe
problems it has to face". Professor Einstien is stated to have observed: "Honestly I cannot
understand what people mean when they talk about the freedom of the human will."
Schopenhauersaidthat"mancandowhathewillsbuthecannotwillwhathewills".
Planck'sdiscoveryofQuantumTheoryissupposedtohavedisturbedtheprincipleof
determinism or causality. The materialist believes that chance and necessity explain natural
phenomena.Itshouldoccurtoanymanofaverageintelligencethatblindchanceinnatureis
meaningless,becauseitcannotexplainanynaturalphenomenasatisfactorily.Wedonotwishto
enlarge this question further because it belongs to the province of dialectics and involves
profoundthinking.Sufficeittosaythatcoolreflectionrevealstheoperationofsomeintelligent
designthroughouttheuniverse.ThisgrandtruthwasperceivedbytheSagesthroughintuitionor
introspection,aprocessasreliableinitspossibilitiesasitisdifficultofachievementbythe
modernscientist.
The next shock the law of determinism is supposed to have received was from the
discoveryofRutherfordthat7atomsattimesdisintegratethemselvesspontaneouslyandattimes
behave in a different way". Bohr found out 8"that the electron of the atom does not travel
uniformlyinacontinuousstreambutbyjumps".Theimpactofthesediscoveriesonthetheoryof

6
AnalysisofMatter.
7
Materialism,Marxism,DeterminismandDialecticsbyDasGupta.
8
Ibid.
causalitywasconsiderablebecausetheydemonstratedthat9"naturehadhardlyanysuchlawof
uniformity".ThiswasfollowedbyHeisenberg'snewQuantumMechanicsaccordingtowhich
10
"althoughthereoccursuddenbreaksandjumpsinthemotion,stilltheyaresominuteattimes
thattheeffectforallpracticalpurposesiscontinuousanduniform".Inotherwords,accordingto
theSanskritmaxim"dhatanamyatatpurvamakalaayet"(thereisnothingnewonthesurfaceof
theearth),scientificconcepts,aftertheinvestigationsofPlanck,EinsteinandHeisenberg,are
goingbacktothesameoldtheories fromwhichtheystarted.Eddingtonwarnsusthusin a
beautifulmanner:"ThereisnothingnewundertheSunandthislatestVolteFacealmostbrings
usbacktoNewton'stheoryoflightacuriousmixtureofcorpuscularandwavetheory.There
isperhapsapleasingsentimentinthisreturntoNewton.
Itwillbeseenthatalltherudeshocksthatdeterminismissupposedtohavereceivedwas
onlyintherealmoftheatomandtheelectron.Ifwetakeahumanbeingwefindthatsomesort
ofdeterminismexists.Evenindeterminateeventsaregovernedbystatisticallaws."Lawscanbe
foundwhichcangovernthebehaviorofcrowdsofelectrons".Inregardtomanthepastand
present canindicate thefuture,let us say,generally, thoughriotprecisely. Weneed not be
carriedawaybythehueandcryofthescientistaboutthebreakdownofdeterminismbecausehis
referenceisonlytotheatomicworld.Fundamentalthingsstillexistbeyondman'sunderstanding.
WehavesaidelsewherethattheancientMaharshisdiscoveredgrandtruthsthefringeof
which Einstein and Eddington have just now reached, by deep mental concentration.
Concentration of mind presupposes complete detachment. Without such detachment,
'investigation'intotherealmoftheunknownisnotpossible.Doesthemodernscientisthavethis
powerofdetachment?Heisenberghasprovedthatthe"investigatordoesaffecttheinvestigation
andthatthereisnogettingawayfromthisfact".Aslongasthescientistisunabletobringto
bearuponhisinvestigations'puremindandpurethought'hisconclusion,whichmaybetruein
atomicmatters,canneverbeacceptedastrueinsocialandhistoricalmatters.Themarvelous
achievementofhavingsoaredintothemysteriousregionsoftheabstractby'purethought'and
discoveredonegreatfundamentaltruthbelongstothosegreatMaharshislikeVyasa,Kanadaand
Kapila.
11
"Intheirprocessofthinking,theyhadanextraordinarydynamicpowerofassimilating
ideas."ThattheMaharshis'findingsaretobeacceptedasauthoritativeseemsasifechoedbyno
less a person than the great scientist Heisenberg when he observes thus: "Many of the
Ibid.
9

Ibid.
10

11
Materialism,Marxism,DeterminismandDialecticsbyDasGupta.
abstractionsthatarecharacteristicofmoderntheoreticalphysicstobefounddiscussedinthe
philosophyofpastcenturies.Atthattimetheseabstractionscouldbedisregardedasmeremental
exercisesbythosescientistswhoseonlyconcernwaswithrealitybuttodaywearecompelledby
therefinementsofexperimentalarttoconsiderthemseriously."
Intheface ofsuchaboldassertion onthepartofHeisenberg,itis strange that the
metaphysicalspeculationsoftheUpanishadsandtheAcharyasshouldstillbeanathematothe
scientific manoftoday.AsDr.Rhineobserves, 12"thereisanunfortunate taboobothin the
schoolandoutofitagainstdiscussionofbeliefsconcerningman'sultimatenature".
Everyadvanceinscientificresearch,everynewdiscoveryofnaturallaw,whetherinthe
realmofchemistryorbiology,meansarealextensionofthedeterministicprinciple,whichinits
turnimpliessomesortofcausalline.BertrandRusselobservesthus:13"Icallaseriesofeventsa
causalline,ifgivensomeofthemwecaninfersomethingabouttheotherswithouthavingto
knowanythingabouttheenvironment."Inotherwardsthepossibilityofpredictionisconceded.I
mustwarnreadersthat1amdeliberatelyomittingtousetheterm'Fate'thoughbothFateand
Determinismconnotemoreorlessthesameidea.Ishallsubsequentlydealwiththequestionof
FateandFreewillandtheirrelationtoastrology.
Oneofthereasonsforthedegenerationofastrologyappearstobeduetothefactthatthe
scientificmindbecamemoreorlessananalyticalmachine.Manhasbecometooselfishand
sensuality, mental chaos and intellectual perversion have become deeply rooted. Astrology
14
"perforceceasedtobevitalandnecessarytothecollectivitiesasaprincipleoforderbecause
thegrowingdominationoftheintellectualrationalprincipleenabledmantoprojectspeculatively
hisownorderintotheworld".Thebiologicalorderisindeedofadifferentkind.Theintellect
whichisbutaninstrumentalityhelpingmantoraisehisconsciousness"createsaseparativekind
ofindividualismbasedonanalysis..............Asindividualsbecamemoreandmoretheimportant
thing,"astrologydescendeditselftotheleveloffortunetelling.Thedeeperphasesofastrology
foundthemselvesrebornonlyafterthelateProf.B.SuryanarainRaoenteredthefieldandtook
upitscause.
Thesituation nowinthetrendofscientific thoughtisextremely confusing.Wemay
thereforeconcludethatinregardtoallhumaneventssomesortofdeterminismdoesexistwhile
intheatomicworld"determinismofastatisticalkindexists".
Whilecausalismandmechanismhavebeenvaluableadjunctsinthestudyofphysical

12
ReachoftheMind.
13
ReachoftheMind.
14
AstrologyofPersonalitybyDaneRudhyar.
phenomena,theyhavedonenothingtoexplainthepsychologicalphenomena.Sinceastrologyis
concernedasmuchwiththephysicalaspectofmanasitiswithhispsychologicalaspect,afew
observationsonthevaluesoftimeseemtobenecessary.Sincethecausalityprincipleappeared
inadequatetoexplainpsychologicalphenomenathegreatpsychologistJungfoundthat15"there
are psychic parallelisms which cannot berelated to eachother causally, butwhich must be
connectedthroughanothersequenceofevents".Junggoesontosay:16"Thisconnectionseemed
tometobeessentiallyprovidedinthefactoftherelativesimultaneity,thereforetheexpression
synchronistic". Time contains, according to Jung, "qualities or basic conditions manifesting
simultaneouslyinvariousplacesinawaynottobeexplainedbycausalparallelisms,asfor
example, in cases of the coincident appearance of identical thoughts, symbols or psychic
conditions".Inapersonalletteraddressedtome(thefulltextofwhichappearsintheAppendix)
Dr.Junghasconcededthevalidityofastrology.Asregardsthebasisofastrology,hedoesnot
giveacorrectpictureinasmuchashethinksthatcorrectastrologicaldeductions"arenotdueto
theeffectofconstellations,buttoourhypotheticaltimecharecters".EvidentlyCarlJungdoes
notappeartohavebeenawareoftheHindupointofviewinregardtoprediction.Thefutureisa
reflectionofthepast.Thehoroscopesimplyindicatesthefuture.Butthesocalledinfluenceofa
planetorastarisonlyaproximalcase.WemaynotsubscribetotheviewsofJungintheir
entirety.
They are quoted to the extent needed to support astrological thought. As the
'synchronistic'principlerepresentsatimeevaluationand"basedontheformativepotencyofthe
moment," it is closely, though not entirely, allied to the astrological precept. Planets are
manifestation of matter and they move in space. Their movements are regulated in time.
Thereforeastrologyconnectstime,spaceandmattertogetheranddemonstratesthesynchronistic
aswellascausalityordeterministicprinciples.Itisanartoflifeinterpretationandprovidesus
withatechniqueofselfimprovementandperfection.
Thatthereisdeterminismasoftenasthereisindeterminismintheatomicworldleadsus
tothinkthatontheonehandthereistheinevitableeffectofKarma,andthatontheotherhand
thereisFreewillalso.

SecretoftheGoldenFlower.
15

Ibid.
16
 II
ASTROLOGYANDKARMA

ItisinthiswaythattheMaharshispropoundedthegrandlawofKarmaandRebirth.If
thetheoryofrebirthisnotaccepteditisnotpossibletoexplainthedestinyofmanandallthe
differencesanddisparitiesinspiteofapparentlyequaldoesofeffortandwill.Environmental
conditionsandeconomicfactorsmayexplainthedisparitytosomeextent.Wherewecannot
explainthingswithreason,weatoncebringinthenameofchance,asafetyvalvetoconcealour
ignorance.Intheabsenceofcausalityordeterminism,chanceoraccidentistheonlyexplanation.
A problem whose explanation requires great thinking should not be disposed of out of an
accident.Onthecontrary,theinequities,differencesanddistinctions compelledthesagesto
acceptthetheoryofKarma.Inphysicalphenomenathecauseandeffectrelationshipcaneasily
be demonstrated but in regard to Karma theory the effect of action cannot be physically
analyzed.Itisaconception,indeedagrandconception,basedonsoundlogic.ThelawofKarma
operatesthroughaseriesofbirths.Manhastosuffertheconsequencesofhisactionsuntilhe
succeedsinregulatinghisactionsbytrueknowledgeandwisdom.TotheHindusthis17"karma
theory and freewill are not creations of a fanciful imagination" or false solace. They are
demonstratedfactsdemonstratedinthesensethattheSagesinastateofspiritualecstasydid
realizetheirtruth.Acriticalmindwillbeabletoseethatthereisastrikingresemblancebetween
apurethought(yogicintrospectionoftheMaharshis)andthelaboratoryinvestigation.Thelatter
hasshownthatinregardtotheatomicworld'determinism'and'indeterminism'obtainwhilethe
Maharshishaveshownthatwhenonceaman"hasdoneanacthemustgettheinevitableresult
ofhisownaction",andthat"thereisafreewilltoactornottoact,butoncetheactisdone,the
lawofKarmawillbringitsownresult.Thereisnoescapefromtheinevitableconsequenceof
actionbutbyexerciseoffreewill,manmayguidehisfutureandtherebycreatehisowndestiny".
Astrologyor HoraSastrarevealstheresultofourpastkarma,expressedprobablyintermsof
whatwecrudelycallplanetaryinfluences.
AstrologyandKarmaarethereforeinterrelated.Astrologyrevealstheconsequenceofour
actionswhichwedonotrememberinthislifeandareuntraceableinthisbirth.Theresultofour
unknownactionsiswhatwecall'fate'or adrishtra. ThelawofKarmathereforeindicatesthe
causeandeffectrelationship.
Beforetakingupthesignificanceofastrology,wehavetomakeafewmoreremarks

Materialism.Marxism.DeterminismandDialecticsbyDasGupta.
17
aboutthelawofKarma.ManypeopleimaginethatthetheoryofKarmaisbasedonfatalismand
predestinednecessityandthat,therefore,itleavesnoscopeforindividualdevelopment.Sucha
misconceptionispartlyduetotheignoranceofthetheoryofKarma.Onemustadmitthatthe
universeiseithercosmosorchaos;itcannotbepartlyruledbylawandpartlybychance.The
experiencesofgenerationsofthinkersshouldconvinceanyintelligentpersonthattheuniverse
andthelifeactivities areregulated bycertainlaws.IftheSunandtheplanetarybodies are
subjecttodisciplineandtheirmovementsandphenomenaareaccordingtoacertainorder,then
thelivesofindividualswhoinhabittheplanetarysystemsmustalsobeguidedbycertaindefinite
lawsandrules,andchancecannotmakeoneakingandtheother,abeggarbythemereaccident
ofbirth.
"ForthestudyofKarma,itisbesttoconsiderthemanatthelevelofhisindividualityor
'soul'.Thesoulissaidtobeimmortal.Onlythesocalledpositivistsandsomealliedschoolsof
thoughtdoubtthe,immortalityofthesoul.Aconsciousexistenceafterdeathhasnobetterproof
thanaprenatalexistence.ItisanolddeclarationthatwhatbeginsinTimemustendinTime.
Wehavenorighttosaythatthesouliseternalononesideofitsearthlyperiodwithoutbeingso
ontheother.Farmorerationalistheviewofcertainscientists,whobelievingthatthesoul
originateswiththislifealsodeclarethatitendswiththislife.Thatisthelogicaloutcomeoftheir
premise. If the soul sprang into existence specially for this life, why should it continue
afterwards?Itispreciselyasprobablefromallthegroundsofreasonthatdeathistheconclusion
ofthesoulasthatbirthisthebeginningofit.Itwasthisargumentwhichhadspecialweightwith
the Greek philosophers, whose reasonings upon immortality have led all later European
generations.Theyassertedtheeternityofsoulinordertovindicateitsimmortality.TheHindu
conceptionisofcoursemoreprofound.Man'sexistence,saysoneofthedisciplesofKapila,the
firstevolutionistintheworld,isamererepetitionofhisotherpreviousexistences.Hispresent
existenceisbutalinkinthechainofeternalexistencesconnectingthepastwiththefuture.Inhis
eachbirth,hecarriesonestepforward,theinceptivepurposeofhiscreationtoitsgoaland
consummationuntilitattainstheoneinwhichthepast,presentandfutureareblendedtogether
andtimeandspaceannihilated.Aboveall,ourinstinctivebeliefinimmortalityimpliesasub
conscious acceptance of this view. If we do not grant the immortality of the soul, the
inconceivability of annihilation or of creation from nothing becomes obvious. Granting the
permanenceofthehuman'spirit','soul','ego','atman'whateveryoucallitthelawof
Karma istheonlyoneyieldingametaphysicalexplanation ofthephenomenonoflife. It is
alreadyacceptedinthephysicalplaneasevolutionandholdsafirmethicalvalueinapplyingthe
lawofjusticetohumanexperience.
ThelawofKarmasuggests,thatouractionsphysicalaswellaspsychicalare
performedaccordingtocertainregularlawswithadefiniteendinview.Actionsperformedmay
fructifyinaminute,orinaday,orinayear,orinonelife,orinseverallives.Actions,when
performed,remainintheformofsomethingunseentillthetimeoftheirfructificationandduring
thisperiodthissomethingisknownas'adrishta'(thesocalledluckorfortune).Thereisno
escapewithouttheexperienceofthefruitsoftheseactions(desiresandthoughts)untilthe
wholeadrishtaisexhausted.
Feelingsof pleasureandpainandlikeanddislikecharacterizeallouractivitiesinany
walkoflife.
Thiscannotbedenied.Ancientwriterssaythatthesefeelingscannotbeattributedto
externalthings;foranexternalthingorobjectwhichgivespleasuretoamanatoneparticular
timecausespaintothesamemanatanothertimeinsteadofproducingpleasureatalltimes.
Hencethe(materialnottheinstrumental)causeistracedtothe'soul'whichistheseatofthese
feelings. Since the 'soul' is eternal, it cannot be the requisite cause, because if it were the
requisitecause,theeffectoughttohavebeeneverpresent,whichisnotthefact.Hence,the
presenceofadeterminingfactortotheAtmaisnecessary.TheancientHinduschoolsbelievedin
theexistenceofanunseenforce,whichiscalledDharmadharmaor'adrishta'orthesumtotalof
Karma.Itisthisunseenforcewhichhelpsthefructificationofthedeedsofthepast.
Accordingtoancienttextswhenonedies,hissoulwhichisenvelopedinasubtlebody
andinvestedwiththesumtotalofgoodandbadKarmapassesaftersometimeintoanotherbody
leaving offhisgrossbody,asamancastsoffwornoutclothes andputsonnewones. His
reincarnationtakesplaceinaphysicalbodycorrespondingwiththedeedsdonebyhiminhis
previous life. The processes of death and birth go on until the person concerned attains
emancipation. The cardinal doctrine of Karma therefore is the law of cause and effect in
accordance with the maxim "as a man soweth so shall he reap". The Darwinian theory of
evolution is defective inasmuch as it does not offer a satisfactory solution of the problems
agitatingthehumanmindfromtimesimmemorial.TheDarwiniantheoryofevolutionslopswith
man.Karmatheoryontheotherhandtakesusfurtherandsaysthataccordingtothemaxim
'actionandreactionareequalandopposite',whenthereisevolutiontheremustnecessarilybe
devolutionalso.HenceaBrahmininthislifemaybebornasaHarijaninthenextlife;arich
maninthislifemaybebornasapoormaninthenextlifeandviceversa.Thusthestationoflife
orthedegreeofwealth,etc.,thatonehasattainedinthislifeismostlyduetotheKarmaathis
creditinthepreviouslife.Karmaisduetoouractionsandouractionsareduetoourthoughts.
HenceitismanwhocreateshisKarmaforitistheproductofhisthought.
TherearethreecategoriesofKarma,viz.,(1)Sanchita,(2)Prarabdhaand(3)Agami.The
SanchitaoraccumulativeKarmapertainstoactionsthatarestilllyinglatent"likeseedsstocked
up in a granary for fruition in future lives." The present course of life is indicated by the
PrarabdhaoroperativeKarma,deedsoractionswhoseseedhasalreadysprungupandwhose
machineryhasbeensetinmotiontowardstheirfruitioninthepresentlife.Agamipertainsto
actionscontemplatedtobedone.ThereareseveralgradationsofKarmasuggestedinHindu
philosophicalandastrologicalworksandthesedetailsdonotconcernusnow.
18
"Itwouldfurtherseemthatmanisresponsibleonlyforsuchactsasaregeneratedinthe
mind.Heisnotresponsibleforactionswherethethoughtorintentdidnotrunwiththedeed.For
instance,inturningquicklyonastationplatformsomeonebumpsintoapersonstandingbehind
himasaresultofwhichthelatterfallsinfrontofatrain;theformerwouldnotberesponsiblefor
deathwhichheneverintended.Herethelawwouldseemtobethe'above'ofwhichEnglishlaw
is the reflected, though unconsciously reflected 'below'. For in English law, there must, to
constituteresponsibility,notonlybeanactusreus,thewrongfuldeed,butalsoamensrea,the
wickedmind."Thishoweverisaverygeneralcomparison.Prof.B.SuryanarainRaoobserves
thus:19"Beforethebirthofachild,ithassomeKarmatoitscreditandastheresultofthatKarma
ittakesbirthinaparticularfamilywithparticularsurroundings,specialphysicalfeaturesand
noticeable mental inclinations. This Karma of the infant which resulted in its birth and
surroundingsiscalled Sanchita orthatwhichalreadywasstoredin,bythischildbeforethe
presentbirth,toitscredit.Pararbdhaisthatwhichitdoesafterthebirth.Hereisagrandmystery
innaturewhichrequiresdeepandintelligentstudytounderstandit.Someoftheactionsofthe
childareduetoitspredilectionsforcertainthings,asbeingtheresultsofpastKarma.Butthe
childhasawillofitsown.Thisispartlyunderthecontrolofthepastkarmicresultsandpartly
independentofthem,likethemysteryofthenails.Thesenailsareapparentlydead,buttheyare
alsolivingfortheygrow,buttheycanbecut,carvedorburntwithoutanypaintoacertain
extent. How dead matter can grow out of living matter is a mystery which can only be
understoodbyahigherpersonwhoisongranderintellectualplanes?Whenthechilddoesanact
as.theresultofitspreviousKarma,itmustbeattributedtoSanchitaorstoredupKarma.But
whenitdoessomethinginitslifebythesemiindependentwill,theKarmawillbecharacterized
asPrarabdhaorthatwhichisdoneinthepresentstateofexistence.Butwhenamansaysthathe

KarmaandRebirthbyChristianHumphreys.
18

AnIntroductiontoAstrologybyB.S.Rao.
19
willkillapersonnextyear,orcommitadulterywithagirlaftersheattainsherage,ordocharity
whenhegetsrich,theKarmahasyettobedone,andthiswillbeclassifiedasAgami.Thisagain
maybetheresultofpastKarmaandpresentwillforce,joinedtogetherormaybeduetoother
mysteriousforces.
"ThuseachofthedivisionsofKarma,viz.,Sanchita,PrarabdhaandAgamihasagainto
besubdividedintothreeclasses.Allhumanactionsmaybebroughttogetherunder(1)Kayaka
bodily,(2)Vachakapertainingtospeech,and(3)Manasikamentalinfluences.Aman
doessomethingbyhisbody,suchaskicking,beating,squeezing,embracing,etc.,andallthese
physicalactionsarecalledkayakaorpertainingtothekayaorbody.Allthoseactionswhichhe
doesbyspeecharecalledvachakaandthesearestrongerthanthefirstsetofkayakaorbodily
actions. Thenthere aretheactions ofmind,thinkinggoodoreviland.theseareclassed as
manasikaormental.Asmindpoweristhegrandestyetdiscoveredinallnature,actionsofthe
mind are the most powerful and surpass in intensity all other kinds of actions. Sanchita,
therefore,aswellasPrarabdhaandAgami,hasthreesortsofKarmaattachedtoitandherecome
thecomplicationsofKarmatheory."
Karmatheoryteachesusthatsoulentersthislife,notasafreshcreation,butafteralong
course of previous existences on this earth and elsewhere, in which it acquired its present
inheringpeculiaritiesandthatitisonthewaytofuturetransformationswhichthesoulisnow
shaping.Itclaimsthatinfancybringstoearth,notablankscrollforthebeginningofanearthly
record,noramerecohesionofatomicforcesintoabriefpersonalitysoontodiscloseagaininto
theelements,butthatitisinscribedwithancestralhistories,somelikethepresentscenethemost
ofthemunlikeitandstretchingbackinto,andremotestpast.Theseinscriptionsaregenerally
undecipherable,saveasrevealedintheirmoldinginfluenceuponthenewcareer,butlikethe
invisiblephotographicimagesmadebytheSunofallitsees;whentheyareproperlydeveloped
inthelaboratoryofconsciousness,theywillbedistinctlydisplayed.Thecurrentphaseoflife
willalsobestoredawayinthesecretvaultsofmemoryforitsunconsciouseffectuponensuing
lives.Allthequalitieswenowpossessinbody,mindandsoulresultfromouruseofancient
opportunities,weareindeedtheheirsofalltheages.Fortheseconditionsaccruefromdistant
causesendangeredbyourolderselves,andthefutureflowsbythedivinelawofcauseandeffect
(Karma) from,thegatheredmomentumofourpastimpetuses.Thereisnofavoritisminthe
universe,butallhavethesameeverlastingfacilitiesforgrowth.Thosewhoarenowelevatedin
worldlystationmaybesunkinhumblesurroundingsinthefuture.Onlytheinnertraitsofthe
soularepermanentcompanions.Thewealthysluggardmaybethebeggarofthenextlife,and
theindustriousworkerofthepresentissowingtheseedsofgreatness.Suffering,bravelyendured
now,willproduceatreasureofpatienceandfortitudeinanotherlife,hardshipswillgiveriseto
strength,selfdenialmustdevelopthewill,tastescultivatedinthisexistencewillsomehowbear
fruitincomingonesandacquiredenergieswillassertthemselveswhenevertheycanbytheless
parsimoniaeuponwhichtheprinciplesofphysicsarebased.Viceversa,theunconscioushabits,
theuncontrollableimpulses,thepeculiartendencies,thefavoritepursuits,andthesoulstirring
friendshipsofthepresentdescendfromfarreachingpreviousactivities.Karmaiswhatwehave
done,andwehavetoenjoythekarmicresults.Thereforeitfollowsthatthe future isonlythe
past.Itshouldthereforebepossibletopredictthefuture.Theastrologerfeelsbymeansofhisart
thecloudofunexpendedKarmaintheauraandtriestoreadit.Planetsthereforesimplyindicate
theresultsofpreviousKarmaandhencethereisnothinglikefateordestinyinitsabsolutesense
controllingus.'Theindicationsofplanetsaresomethinglikeshowcausenoticesofalegalcourt.
Thesectionsmentionedthereinaretechnicalandtheyindicatewithwhatsortofcommissionor
omissionofdutythepersonischargedwith.Hemustmakepreparationstomeetthem.Thusa
manborrowsundulyfromanotherandfailstopayhim.Thiswillbringadecreeagainstthe
defaulterandanoticewillissueforitsexecution.Thedecreedoesnotprohibitthedefaulterfrom
earning money by any means and paying it off or going to the creditor and satisfying his
demandsbyothermeans,suchaspersonalservice,intercessionsofrelationsorfriends,pleading
formercy,etc.SimilarlytheplanetsindicatetheevilorgoodresultsofthepreviousKarmaand
leavesittomantocounteractthemorallowthemtohavetheirfullsway.Thusthegoodorbad
SanchitaKarmaatourcreditcanbeaugmentedorminimizedbythePrarabdhaKarmawiththe
aidofwillpower,whichislimitlessinitspotentiality."Astrologythereforedoesnotleadtoa
weakening of the will. Science explains the idiosyncrasies of plants and animals by the
environmentofpreviousgenerations,andcallsinstinct,hereditaryhabit.Inthesamewaythereis
anevolutionofindividuality,bywhichthechildopensitsnewerawithcharacteristicsderived
fromanteriorlivesandaddstheexperienceofanewpersonalitytothesumtotalofhistreasured
traits.Initspassagethroughearthlypersonalitiesthespiritualself,theessentialego,accumulates
afundofindividualcharacter,whichremainsasthepermanentthreadstringingtogetherthe
separatelives.Thesoulisthereforeaneternalwaterglobule,whichsprunginthebeginningless
pastfrommotheroceanandisdestinedafteranunreckonablecourseofmeanderingsincoldand
rain, snow and steam, spring and river, mud and vapor, to at last return with the garnered
experienceofalllonelyexistencesintothecentralheartofall.
Thatwehaveforgottenthecauses producingthepresentsequences ofpleasures and
pains,talentsanddefects,successesandfailuresisnodisproofofthem,anddoesnotdisturbthe
justiceofthescheme.Fortemporaryoblivionistheanodynebywhichthekindlyphysicianis
bringingusthroughthedarkerwardsofsorrowintoperfecthealth.
ThelawofKarmaprovidesagradedsanctionorreasonforrightliving.Itprovesthat
menareinessenceone,andthatanydeedwhichhurtsone'sneighborhoodorthecommonwealis
aninjurytooneself.Aboveall,itrevealsaplaneofconsciousnesswhererightbecomesthe
inmostlawofbeingandamandoesrightnotbecauseitpaysorbecauseitavoidsselfinjury,but
because,beyondallargument,hemust.Karmadestroysthecauseofenvyandtheconsequentill
will.Itremovesimpatience.Itlargelyremovesthefearofdeathforwhichthereistheinner
convictionofrebirthandbythelawofaffinityreunionwiththoseoneloves,whyworry.
ThebeliefinthetheoryofKarmaandreincarnationscatteredthroughthephilosophical
writingsofIndiareproducethescientifictheoriesoftheinvolutionandevolutionoftheelements.
The swarming millions of India have made the thought 'the soul is older than body' the
foundationoftheirenormousachievementsinGovernment,philosophy,architectureandpoetry.
ThroughouttheEast,itisthegreatcentralthought.Itisnomeresuperstitionoftheignorant
masses.ItisthechiefprincipleofHindumetaphysicsthebasisofalltheirinspiredooks.Such
ahoaryphilosophy,heldbythevenerableauthorityoftheages,rulingfromthebeginningof
timethebulkoftheworld'sthought,cherishedinsomeformbythedisciplesofeverygreat
religion,iscertainlyworthyoftheprofoundestrespectandstudy.
The conceit of modern progress has no more respect for ancient ideals than for the
forgottencivilizationofold,eventhoughinmanyessentialstheyhaveanticipatedoroutstripped
allthatweboastof.
In this connection a reference may be made to the observations of Lakhovsky on
immortalityandreincarnation.Hehasmadeanewapproachtothesegreatproblemsinthesense,
he explains the concepts on a material and biological basis. According to his doctrine of
Materialization and Dematerialization theprocessofcreationanddisappearanceofmatter is
perpetuallygoingon."Throughcondensationcosmicraysaretransformedintoelectrons,atoms
and molecules, and inversely in radioactivity, we witness the transformation of matter into
radiation."InhisbookMatterLakhovskyexplainshowraysfromonestarcanenterresonance
withchromosomesinlivingbeingsdwellingonanotherplanetorstarandgivebirthtolife.In
otherwords,hesuggeststhatlifecanbecontinuouslyconvergedthroughradiationfromone
planettotheother,orfromtheearthtoanotherplanetorstar.Bythisprocess,hethinkswelive
physicallyeternallythroughmaterializationofradiations.Readersmustbeawarethataccording
toHinduastrology,instudyingthe5thhouse,weareaskedtoascertainthefertilityorotherwise
ofthecouplebyaconsiderationofwhatarecalledbeejaandkshetrarepresenting,astheydo,
notmerelythespermandtheovumbutthe element whichreallymakesthemaleandfemale
fluids fertile or suitable for the entry of a new soul. The husband and wife may be
physiologicallynormal.Theirsexrelationsmaybehappy.Butstilliftheirbeejaandkshetraare
notstrong,whenjudgedaccordingtoastrologicalrules,theywillnotbringforthanyissues.This
wantof'fertility'intheseedorthebedderivesarationalexplanationfromLakhovsky,forhe
"claimsthattheactoffertilizationbetweenthesexesisitselfinsufficienttoproducetheliving
beingItisnecessarythatwhenfertilizationoccurs,atthismomentcertaincosmicradiations
materializewithinthefertilizedegg".Whetherornotinallhumanbeingssuchmaterialization
occurs,couldbeascertainedastrologicallybythebeejaandkshetramethod.
Lakhovskyobserves:
20
"Weallknow,besides,thatfertilizationoftendoesnotoccuruntiltheendofseveral
monthsandevenafterseveralyears.Thisdelayofimpregnationmaybeduetothespecific
radiations of the male or female, which are not always in resonance with the radiation of
materialization. Theorganismfromthefirstcell,initsdevelopment,isthusmaterializationof
raystransmittedbyitsotheregoonanotherplanet,andcontinuesduringitsdevelopmentto
evolveunderthedominationofthesamespecificcomplexofradiationscomingfromthebeing
thatoriginallygaveitlife.Theytransmittoit,byitsownvibration,duringitsentireexistence,all
thecharacteristicsofitsotheregodwellingonanotherplanet.
"All this explains how every living being (microbe, infusoria, plant, animal, man)
reproducesitselftoinfinityonotherplanets,whereitscomplexofradiationsfindsfavourable
conditionsofresonanceandsomaterializethemselvesinvariouspartsoftheuniversetoeternity.
Thesematerializations,bythepropagationoftheradiationsfromplanettoplanet,canrepeat
themselvesindefinitely,intheinfinityoftimeandspace.Thelifeofeverybeing,includingman,
onallplanetsisnothingbuttheresultormaterializationproducedbysuccessiveandeternal
resonances.
"Itthusfollowsthatallbeingsthatlosetheirlivesarenotdeadinreality,intheabsolute
senseoftheword,butcontinuetolivewiththeirfullconsciousnessinotherregionsofthe
universe.Theycouldperfectlywellberebornonearththroughapreviousrematerializationand
relive with their bullness of their personality in flesh and bone. Also, we are simply
reproductionsbymaterializationofbeingsexistingorhavingexistedonourearthoronother
planets.So,greatmenwhodiedinthepastarenotdead,butcontinuetoliveinfleshandbone,in
Eternity.LifeandDeath.
20
fullconsciousness,onotherplanets,andtheycontinuetheirwork.
"Thisreincarnationofhumanbeingsonotherstarscanexplaincertainfactsotherwise
difficulttoaccountfor.Thushowcanweunderstandtheextraordinaryaptitudesofamanof
geniusbornofmediocreparents?Thelawsofheredityseemsupersededandarepowerlessto
accountfortheexceptionalqualitiesofthisman.Onthecontrary,everythingisexplainedbythe
effect of the transmission of a complex of human rays through space, at the moment of
conception. This being of genius is formed by the process (of materialization of cellular
radiationstravelingthroughspacefromplanettoplanet)indicatedabove,thankstotheunionof
theunitedgameteswithraysofthesamecharacteristicrateofvibrationcomingfromanother
exceptionalindividualwhodiedonsomedistantstar.
"Thus great thinkers, great artists, great philosophers, great statesmen, and all other
geniusesofwhichhistoryhastransmittedtheirnames,are,inallprobability,repetitionsofother
thinkers,artists,philosophersandstatesmenwhohavediedonotherstarsorontheearth".
Indicating that the birth of such individuals must occur at times when stellar and
planetaryvibrationsareharmonioustotheirownrateofvibration,Lakhovskyconcludes:
21
"Thereisyetanotherreasonwhyweshouldnotputasidewithoutprofoundexamination
the theories that place special importance tothe marked influence onhuman destiny of the
positionofthestarsintheheavenatthemomentofconceptionandbirthofahumanbeing.I
haveelsewheredealtwiththequestionoftheinfluenceofthepositionofthestarsinmybooks,
TheSecretofLife,andEternity,LifeandDeath".
Lakhovskyclearlyupholdsthetheoryofastrologybyhisableandscholarlyexpositions
bearingoncosmicradiationsandtheirinfluencesonterrestrialaffairs.

Eternity,LifeandDeath.
21
 III
WHATISASTROLOGY?

Somepeopledefineastrologyasthescienceofstars.Otherssaythatitistheartbywhich
thefutureofmancanbeknown.Itmayalsobedefinedas"thephilosophyofdiscoveringand
analyzing past impulses and future actions of both individuals and nations" in the light of
planetaryconfigurations.Astrologyexplainslife'sreactionstoplanetaryvibrations.InSanskrit,
itiscalledHoraSastraorJyotishaortheScienceofTime.Allthesedefinitionsdonotconveya
correctideaofthesubject.Itismuchmorethanascience.Itisascienceofthesciences,thekey
toallknowledge.Itistheknowledgethatlinksmantonatureandestablishesthatorderregins
supremeinlifeandthatchanceandaccidenthavenoplace.Astrologycanbedefinedasthe
science of correlation of astronomical facts with terrestrial events. The celestial bodies are
conspicuousbythepresenceofsupremeorderintheirrevolutions.Whilethisisthecasecould
chaosexistontheearthanditsphenomena?Astrologygavetheanswerthatbyjuxtapositionof
celestialorderwithterrestrialphenomena,thepossibilityofmakingprognosticationscouldnot
bedoubted.Whenanapparenteffectistheresultantofacause,thenastrologybecomesasymbol
ofmeasurement.Theeffectofacauseisexpressedintermsofwhatwemaycallplanetary
influences.
Astrology is primarily concerned with the application of cosmic laws to terrestrial
phenomenaingeneralandmaninparticular.Hencepureobjectivesciencecannotlaydownthe
lawforastrologywhichdealswithadifferentsphereofexperience.Muchlesscanitdenyits
verysubjectmatteroritsrelevanceforhumanlifeorplaceinhumanculturewhichisconcerned
inthelastresortwiththeartoflife,utilizingeveryfacetofexperiencederivedfromobjective
natureanditseffectonhumanlife.
Astrologyresembleshistoryinanessentialrespectasascience.Historyisthescienceof
humaneventsinthepast,ascertainedandinterpretedinaccordancewithtestedmethodssuchas
thoseofobservation,testimony,examinationofMSS,coins,historicalmonuments,documents,
etc.Themethodisscientificinthesenseofbeingmethodicalandsystematic,usingverification
wherever possible. Interpretation uses human psychology the motivations of historical
personagesandoftheprobabilitiesintheconductofmassesofmen.
Experimentalverificationinthesensethatitispossibleinachemicallaboratoryisnotof
coursepossibleinhistorynorevenincontemporary sociology,forhumanbeingscannot be
experimenteduponlikeguineapigs(thoughitmaysometimes beattemptedinatotalitarian
systemofGovernment).Verificationispossibleinastrologytotheextentitispossibleinhistory
andsociology.
For instance, astrology reveals correspondences between the afflictions of Mars in a
man's horoscope and his bodily illness or an affliction of Saturn in the 12th house is
accompaniedbydeafnessoreartroubles.Similarlyeyediseasesappearinamansimultaneously
withafflictionsincertainstarsinhishoroscopeJyeshtaorAntares.
Sometimesdoubtersinastrologygofurtherandaskhowsuchcorrespondences canbe
true.
Thesensethatsuchcorrespondencesoreffectsofdistantplanetarybodiesonhumanlives
areimpossibleandcontrary,tonature,oracceptedviewofnature,andofthecosmos,restson
unconsciouslyacceptedassumptionsabouttheirnatureandabouttherelationsbetweenthem.
Butthisassumptionisarbitrary.Thereisnoreasonwhytherealinwardnessoftheheavenly
bodiesplanetsandstarsandtheirmutualrelationsandtheirimpactonhumanlifeand
destinyshouldresemblethethingsandrelationsofordinaryexperiencestocksandstones.
Theancientsmusthavediscoveredtheeffectsofplanetsonmanbytwomethods,viz.,intuition
and observation. The first according to the sages is definitely more trustworthy. Intuition,
introspectionor divyadrishti isanindividualexperienceorperceptionorafacultywhichthe
ancientMaharshishadacquiredduetotheiraustereandmorallivesandbythepracticeofyoga.
BertrandRusselconsidersthat"introspectionisvalidasasourceofdata,andistoaconsiderable
extent amenable to scientific controls". Intuition transcends intellect. According to Jung,
"intuitionisakindofinstinctiveappreciationirrespectiveofthenatureofitscontents.Through
intuition anyonecontent ispresentedasacomplete whole.Intuitive cognitionpossessesan
intrinsic nature of certainty and conviction which enabled Spinoza to uphold the Scientia
Intuitivaasthehighestformofcognition."PatanjalisuggestsinhisfamousYogaSutrasthatthe
Yogi,afterreachingacertainplaneofspiritualattainment,canestablishdirectcommunionwith
the different planetary bodies and perceive their mysteries without the aid of mechanical
contrivances.
Observation must have played its part equally well. The sages must have noted the
individualandcollectiveeventsinthelightofrecurrenceofcertainplanetaryconfigurations,the
psychologicalreactionsofdifferenttypesofpeopletocertainplanetarycombinations.Hundreds
ofyearsofsuchobservationsmusthaveconvincedthesagesthatthebirthincertainsignsofthe
zodiacwouldconfercertaindefinitepsychologicalandphysicaltraits.Theplanets,thesignsand
thezodiacbecamemerelyasymbolrenderingpossibletheapplicationofthelawsofperiodicity
toindividualandnationallives.
The truth of astrology has also been established by statistical methods. As Bertrand
Russelsays,"Statisticsideallyareaccuratelawsaboutlargegroups;theydifferfromotherlaws
onlyinbeingaboutgroups,notaboutindividuals."Statisticallyitcanbeshownthatseveral
astrologicalcombinationsarecorroborated.Itwillbeseenthatsomeofthegreatestthinkersand
intellectuals of all ages have endorsed the truth of astrology, and have consulted their
horoscopes.ThebardofAvonputsthefollowingwordsintothemouthofKingLear:
"Itisthestars,thestarsaboveusgovernourcondition."
Evenmorestrikingishisflairforastrologichumor.Hemakesadisgruntledplayerto
complain:
"ItisimpossiblethatanythingshouldbeasIwouldhaveit;forIwasborn,Sir,whenthe
Crabwasascending;andallmyaffairsgobackwards."
Dante'sastrologyiswritteninmajesticmeasure.Wefollowhimintothevastnessof
space:
"...IsawThesignthatfollowsTaurus,andwasinit.
Ohgloriousstars!Ohlightimpregnated
Withmightyvirtues,fromwhichIacknowledge
Allofmygeniuswhatsoe'eritbe,
Withyouwasborn,andhidhimselfwithyou
Hewhoisfatherofallmortallife,
WhenfirstItastedoftheTuscanair;
Andthenwhengracewasfreelygiventome
Toenterthehighwheelwhichturnsyouround
Yourregionwasallotteduntome."22
23
"ForDanteastrologywasthenoblestofthesciences,"writesH.FlandersDunbar."For
Dante,"shecontinues,"theprincipleofindividualizationistheinfluenceofplanetsandstars,or,
moreaccurately,oftheintelligencesbywhichtheyaremoved.Theego,createddirectlybyGod,
initsconnectionwiththebodycomesunderstellarinfluence,andatbirthisstampedlikewaxby
aseal.Allimpressionsfromthestarsaregood,sincethereisnolovablenessthatdoesnotreflect
thelovablenessofGod.Itistheharmonizingandproportioningofthesegoodqualitiesintheir
truerelationshipsthatmakethisorthatpersonmoreorlessperfect.Itislikelythatthemodern
reader,withhisoversimpleconceptionastrology,willlosemuchofthemeaningofDante......

Paradise,CantoXXII,seeHungad'sABriefHistoryofAstrology
22

SymbolisminMedievalThought.
23
Astrologywasbothmorecomplicatedandmorescientificinthemethodthanthefamiliarbirth
monthpamphletssuggest."
Goethe commits himself in no uncertain terms to both the theory and practice of
astrology.Hebeginshisautobiographythus:"Onthe28thofAugust1749,atmidday,asthe
clockstrucktwelve,Icameintotheworld,atFrankfortontheMaine.Theaspectofthestars
waspropitious;theSunstoodinthesignoftheVirgin,andhadculminatedfortheday;Jupiter
andVenuslookedonwithafriendlyeye,andMercurynotadversely;theattitudeofSaturnand
Marswasneutral;theMoonalone,justfull,exertedallthemoreasherpowerofoppositionhad
just reached her planetary hour. She, therefore, resisted my birth which could not be
accomplished until this hour was passed. These auspicious aspects which the astrologers
subsequentlyinterpretedveryfavorablyformemayhavebeenthecausesofmypreservation."
ManlyP.Hallobservesthus:'Letussupposeforamomentthatthebiographiesofgreat
menweretobewrittenbyscientists.Thefollowingmightbeaneat,briefandconservative
treatiseuponthesubject,AbrahamLincoln:'AbrahamLincoln,classmammalian,specieshomo
sapiens,wasabodyoccupyingplacewhichintegratedin1809anddisintegratedin1865.This
bodywaspresumablycomposedofapproximatelythefollowingelements:Oxygen65percent,
carbon18percent,hydrogen10percent,nitrogen3percent,calcium2percent,phosphorus1
percent,theremaining1percentbeingmadeupofsmallquantitiesofpotassium,sodium,
chlorine,magnesium,iron,iodine,fluorineandsilicon.Thetypeispeculiartotheplanetearth.'
"ThisdescriptionoftheGreatEmancipator,thoughhighlyscientificandtruetofact,
neverthelesspassesbeyondthevanishingpointofunimportance.TherealAbrahamLincolnwas
an intellectual energy, a moral force, a courageous spirit, whose life and works profoundly
influencedthecourseofcivilization.Physicistsmightcomputehisspecificgravityforeverand
yetneverdiscoverAbrahamLincoln,theMan.
"Inharmonywiththisviewpoint,wemighthazardthespeculationthatastronomershave
not yet 'discovered' theintelligent universe.Thougheveryelement incosmos befound and
classified,thecosmositselfmaystillremainunknown.IfastronomerssaythatJupiterisamass
ofgases,theybutstateatruthequallyapplicabletoman.Yet,theaveragesavantwouldscarcely
rejoiceinsuchadefinitionofhimself.Hewouldratherinsistthathismoleculesandatomshave
conspiredtocreateagenius.
"Itisquitescientifictopresumethattheuniversebestowedallitsintelligenceuponman,
leavingnothingbutthemechanicalqualitiesofrotationandrevolutiontobedistributedamong
the suns, moons and stars that race of giants which populates the firmament? If human
behavior isintelligent,whyisnotuniversalbehaviorintelligent? Ifaninsignificantmassof
atomsonthisearthcouldproducethatPrometheansoulofAbrahamLincoln,whyshouldnota
greater mass of atoms in the sky engender a still vaster spirit? If no evidence of divine
intelligencecanbediscoveredinthechemicalcompositionofthestars,itmaybesaidwithequal
truththatnoevidenceofhumanintelligencecanbediscoveredinthechemicalcompositionof
man. The ancient pagan belief that the stars were the bodies of Great beings replete with
wisdom,whocouldbeproperlyregardedas"divine",isnomoreunreasonableorinconsistent
withsciencethantomaintainthathydrogenandoxygen,togetherwiththirteenotherelements,
when combined in the form of a college professor, are capable of propounding advanced
problemsincalculus.
"If,then,astrologypostulatestheheavenlybodiestobefociofintellectualenergy,it
claimsnothingmoreunreasonableforthestarsthanthatwhichisevidentinmanhimself.Byhis
benevolenceordespotism,asinglemancanchangethemoraltemperofcivilization.Historyhas
demonstratedthatamanmayhaveaninfluencefarbeyondthatwhichwouldseemconsistent
withthemeasureofhisstatureoritsphysicaldisplacement.Furthermore,thispersonalforcewill
communicateitselftofuturegenerationsandcontinueasadynamicimpulselongaftertheman
himself has been dissipated. Likewise the sidereal bodies, as parts of universal harmony or
equilibrium, as factors in a balanced scheme, and modes of behavior certainly constitute a
heavenlyenvironment,eachcontributingitsphysicalraytotherestandreceivingintoitselfthe
moralelectricityofbrothersspheres".
Lawrence J. Benditt, an M.D. of Cambridge University and Phoebe D. Payne have
argued that 24"wearefacedeither withthefactthat theextraordinarily accurate readings of
astrological maps without the astrologer ever having seen the person are purely psychic or
intuitive,orelsewithamysterywhichgoesdeepdownintothequestionoftherelationshipof
manwiththeseemingobjectiveworld,whetherasshownintheheavensorthemoremundane
sphereofeverydaycontacts.Thefact,nevertheless,remainsthatevenorthodoxpsychologists,
somewithaprejudiceagainstsuchseeminglyfantasticnotions,havefoundthemselvesforcedto
realizethatanexpertastrologercanbeofveryrealvalueinassessingthetypeandcapacityofa
personwhosehoroscopehehasmade.Hecan,forinstance,predictsuchthingsaswhethertwo
peoplearelikelytofindmarriageeasyordifficult,creativeorfrustrating,whetherthereisa
criticalphaseoflifepending,andhowthepersonconcernedcanbestdealwithit".
Tyrellbelieves25"thatnotonlyastrology,buttheoccultgenerally,isanobscurepointer

ThisWorldandThat:Chap,XI.
24

TheNatureofHumanPersonality.
25
toanaspectoftheuniverseabove,andbeyond,thespatiotemporal;Casualframeworkandthe
worldofsenseperceptiononwhichsciencehashithertoreliedinitsattemptstodescribethe
objectiveuniverse".
 IV
PLANETSANDMAN

Do planets influence man? The reader can find an exhaustive answer in Prof. B.
SuryanarainRao's IntroductiontoAstrology, amasterpiecewithinitsrestrictedscope.Ishall
onlyattempttoshowthatplanetsdoinfluenceterrestrialaffairs.Whentheearthiscalledintoits
presentshapebythesolarinfluences,whereisthelogicofsuggestingthatbodiesonitssurface
arenotaffectedbythem?Atriflingchangeinweatherthroughsolarcausesbringsneuralgia,
headache,bronchitis,soreeyes,fever,smallpox,cholera,dysentery,plagueandahostofother
diseasestoonumeroustodetail.Warmaniaisastrikingillustrationofplanetaryinfluences.Our
temperandmoodsdependuponthesecretionsofductlessglands.Fearisamatterofendocrine
secretions; indecision is a matter of thymus; genius is a matter of thyroid. Sun's cycles of
behaviorhavetheircorrespondingeffectsontheseglandsandtheirsecretionsandconsequently
onhumanbehavior.Eachindividualcellofourbodyisalivingintelligententity;cellsgroup
accordingtothelawofaffinityandformtissue,thetissuesformorgans,eachorganperforminga
function,allinterdependenttoaconsiderableextent.Thuseveryorganhas'intelligence',being
composedofcellsthatknowwhattodoandhowtodoit,anditistheintentionofNaturethat
theyshallperformtheirworkperfectly,unlesstheymeetinterferencetheprincipleofwhichis
wrongsuggestion.Abeingbecomescognizantofstimulibythefacultiesofperceptionthough
thefivesenses,themainoneofwhichisprobablythesenseoffeeling.Feelinghasalargerrange
thananyoftheotherfaculties.Notonlycanobjectivethingsbesensedbytouch,butwecanalso
feel invisible elements such as heat, cold and planetary vibrations. Planetary vibrations of
varyingcharacterarecontinuallyexertinganinfluencewhichistakenupbyoursensorynerves
withtheresultingbodilyreactions,mental attitudes andmoods.Thereforeitispossiblethat
solar,lunarandstellarenergiessupplythecellsthroughthemediaofthenerves,theirmotivity.
Different planetary vibrations astrologically designated as yogas or aspects supply
differentsensorystimuli,accordingasthevibrationsdifferinwavelengthsintensity,frequency,
etc.
Amongsttheresearchesofscientistswhohavestudiedtheeffectsofsunspotsandcosmic
raysonhumanlifeandtherebyacceptedthebasicprinciplesofastrology,themostoutstanding
arethoseoftheRussianbiologistandphysicistProf.GeorgesLakhovsky.Hewasperhapsthe
firstmodernscientisttoopenlystatehisbeliefthatradiationsfromstarsandplanetscanaffect
thefuturedestinyofanindividualatconceptionandbirth.Thisremindsusofthegreattheoryof
theMaharshisabouttheimportanceofAdhanaLagnaorconceptiontime.Ifwillbenotedthat
VarahamihirapropoundedthistruthtwothousandyearsagowhenEuropeancivilizationwasyet
tobeborn.ProfessorLakhovskyobservesthusinhisbookLeGrandProblem:"Itisnotwithout
reasonthatthesagesofantiquityintuitivelyattachedgreatimportancetothepositionofthestars
intheskyatthemomentofbirth,fornotonlydotheradiationsfromthesestarsexercisean
influenceontheanimalandhumanembryobut,sinceallsubstance,livingorinert,isconstituted
of electrons which are materialized radiations, the formation of all organic beings on earth
depends directly on the influence of these radiations on the human egg at the moment of
conception."Inotherwords,Prof.Lakhovskyhasshownthatcosmicradiationspouringonthe
earth fromouterspaceandcomingfromvariousstarsandplanets"actonthechromosomesof
thecellnucleiwhicharecosmoelectricalresonators,absorbandtakeupthesecosmicradiations,
which aretransformedinto vital electricity andthat mysterious forcewecall life. And in a
similarmannerhethinksthatbraincellsthroughantennaelikeprojectionsabsorbstellarand
planetaryradiationsjustasradioantennaeabsorbradiowaves."
AccordingtoProf.Lakhovsky,"thegametesofthe fertilizedegg,whichcomposethe
chromosomesthatdeterminehereditarycharacteristics,arealteredtoaspecificwavelengthatthe
time of conception and are capable of entering resonance with the radiations of the same
vibratoryratecomingfromanotherplanetorstar."Consequently,observestheprofessor,"the
ultramicroscopicfieldofforce,constitutedbythecombinationofthegametes(inthefertilized
egg)canenterintoresonancewithradiationscomingfromplanetsandstarshavingthesame
oscillatory character. This radiation couldverywell comefromanindividual whodied ten,
twenty,ahundred,athousandorevenamillionyearsbeforeonanothercelestialbody,which
harmonized with the ultramicrocosmic field of the gametes and which animates the egg,
communicatingitsaptitudes,qualitiesandintellectualfaultstothenewlyformedbeing."Hereis
muchfoodforreflectionwhenascientistpresentstherevolutionarytheorythatthehumanbeing,
fromthemomentofconception,ismoldedbyinpouringradiationsfromcelestialbodiesandthat
thedestinyofthelivingorganismisbiologicallysealedatbirth.
TheSunisaddressedintheVedasasthesouloftheuniverse.HeisthevisibleGod.
Without Sun's heat and light nothing could exist in the world even for a single second.
VarahamihiracallstheSunasKalatmaortheSoulofTimebecauseTimeexistsonlyonaccount
oftheSun.Infact,theSunisthefountainheadofthelifeforce.TheSun'spoweristhecauseof
thecyclicmotionsoftheearthandotherplanets.SanskritsciencescallhimasThrayeeThanuor
thethreesouledasHeisheldtobethecauseofbringingintoexistence,sustainingandfinally
destroying all terrestrial phenomena. Bhoutikasutras give different names to the Sun each
connotingthenatureofoneoftheaspectsofHisworkintheSchemeofevolution.Forinstance,
oneofthenamessuggestedin Bhoutikasutras isMartanda.Thisisfullofmeaning.Maharshi
GobilasaysthatMartandaimpliesthelendingofthePowerofdissolutiontotheuniverseatthe
timeofPralayaorannihilationandastheSunisresponsibleforthis,hewouldbetheinstrument
ofdestructionandisthereforestyledMartanda.Sciencehasbeenseekingtounravelthemystery
oftheprocessesoccurringontheSun.Acloserstudyofwhatareknownas'cosmicrays'would
seemtoholdoutpromiseofreward.Thesecretofthecosmicrayswillprobablybefoundinthe
Sun,andSciencewillthenbeforcedtoadmitwhatthegreatMaharshishavebeenproclaiming
allthesethousandsofyearsthattherealsecretoftheuniverseliesintheSun.TheSunisalso
calledSavita.Somasambhuacommentatorof Bhoutikasutras, opinesthat "Suvanti" isalife
forcewhichjoinsallobjectsinnature,createslifeactivityandhelpscreation.Allobjectsin
naturegainchaitanyaoractivitythroughSuvantiandsincetheSunhasthispropertyinhim,heis
calledSavita.Wedonotproposetoenlargeuponthissubjectanymoreinthisbook.
Theplanetshoweveraremerelyreflectorsortransmittersoflightandsolarenergy.The
solarandplanetaryraysradiolikewavesaffectbiologicalandpsychologicalprocesses.
The rays of influence are unseen vibrations. They are not perceptible to the physical eyes.
Human sight has its limitations. It can observe things only that are vibrating between
481,000,000,000and764,000,000,000vibrationspersecond.Thereforetheraysofinfluencecan
be cognized by other senses and means. In fact, the assignment of astrological natures and
characteristicstoplanetsseemstohavebeenbaseduponthevibrationstheory.Forinstance,the
vibrationsofSaturnareslow,hencethingsofacorrespondingnatureareattributedtohim.At
firstthoughtperhapswefinditdifficulttobelieveinanydirectinfluencebetweenourselvesand
thestars.Butwemustnotlosesightofthefactthatweareinelectricalcontactwiththecelestial
bodieswhosechemistryiseverchanging.Itispossibletocalculatemathematicallytheattraction,
saybetweenSunandtheEarth."LetM1,andM2representthemassesofthetwocelestialbodies;
D, the distance between them; and C, the gravitational constant, and equal to 1.069*10 9
poundals." The mass of the Sun is 1.9*1027 tons; the distance between the two bodies is
9.282*107miles.Thereforetheforceofattractionbetweenthemisequalto

M1*M2*C/D2=(1.9*1027*2240)*(5.87*1021)*160*109/(9.282*107*5280)2*320.19=N/D=X

Therefore, X = 3,454,100,000,000,000,000 tons. Such then is the magnitude of the

attractionbetweentheSunandtheEarth.Thisforcewhichisinthenatureofastressortidal
actionisperpetuallyatwork.
IshallnowquotefromMr.ArnoldMeyer:26"Sograduallydowebecomeaccustomedto
thesechangesbroughtaboutbythetidalforcesfromdaytodaythattheywouldperhapsescape
our notice altogether, so far as the Sun is concerned, were it not for the fact that we are
occasionally'caughtout'asitwerebytheactionofthespringtides,whichsuddenlyoverflow
andfloodourpublicbuildingsathightideontheThames.
"ThereasonforthisisthatwhentheSunandtheMoonareinconjunctiontheyareboth
concentratingtheirforcesonthesamepartoftheglobeatthesametime;this,addedtogether,
accountsfortheabnormalconditions.Undernormalconditions,thereisalwaysahightideat
LondonfiftyminutesaftertheMoonhaspassedthemeridian,i.e.,thepositiontheSunoccupies
everydayatnoon,Greenwichtime.
"Since astrology deals more particularly with the effects of heavenly bodies upon
mankind,itdoesnotrequiremuchimaginationtoappreciatethefactthatthisconjunctionofthe
SunandtheMoondoesdefinitelyaffectachildbornduringconditionsofthisnature.Forwithin
ourownbodies,wehaveinnumerableglandswhoseworkisthesecretionofhormones.These
are for ever adjusting themselves in harmony with our chemically changing environment
without,andareresponsibleforouremotions,desires,mentalbalance,rateofgrowth,andlength
oflifeonthisplanet."
Mr.ArnoldMeyerisfortunatelynotan'astrologer'butascientistandamemberofthe
BritishAssociationfortheAdvancementofScienceandauthorof TheCirculationofMatter,
ElectronsandStars.Thereforewehavetoattachsomeweighttohisstatements.
AccordingtoDr.VGore,27"Itisbutcommonsensetosaythattheplanetarypositionsof
theSunandtheMoonwhichaffecttheseawatercausingtidesareboundtoaffectallthestoreof
fluidsonthesurfaceoftheearthorcontainedinvegetablekingdomorinhumanbeings.
"Thebloodisnotonlyafluidbutcontainsthesamesaltsthataredissolvedintheocean
andthattoopracticallyinthesameproportion.Itcontainsnearly80%sodium,4%calciumand
4%potassium.Thepercentagewithrespecttomagnesiumvaries.Thissimilaritybetweenthe
compositionofsaltsinbloodandinseawaterisnotaccidental.Lifehasitsoriginintheseaand
theearth'searlyhistoryisoneofthesealifeandassuchitshouldbesusceptibletothesame
influenceoftheMoonandtheSun.

27Astrology'sPlaceintheWorldofScience.
26

Astrology,DestinyandCosmicFactors.
27
 "Hinduastrologershavegivenpredictionsforeachdayofthelunarmonth.Fortheeighth
day, that is when the Sun and the Moon are 90 apart they have said Ashtamayam
VyadhinashastuorAshtamiVyadhiNashini.Thatistheeighthdayremovesthediseaseorcures
the ailments. On this day the Sun and the Moon, being 90 apart, diminish each other's
attractions on the fluids. The blood in the human beings remains thus comparatively in an
undisturbedstatefromtheoutsideinfluences andanymedicinenewlystartedonthisdayis
boundtobemoreeffectiveifitisproperlychosenandthatiswhythereistheimportanceofthis
dayitbeingVyadhinashini.
"Isthisnotcommonsensetouseastronomicalobservationsinphysiographywithrespect
tophysiologyandhygiene?andsoiftheastrologersclaimthattransitsofplanetsataparticular
timeaffectthehumanthoughtsorconduct,healthandeverythingthatmattersthen,whereisthe
lieandwhyastrologyshouldberidiculed!"
Ifouractivities,physiologicalandpsychological,areregulatedbyglandularsecretions
whichintheirturnareconditionedbychemicalchangesoccurringinnature,thenitfollowsthat
sincethechemicalchangesarebroughtaboutbyplanetaryradiation,manisaffectedbysuch
electricdischarges.
Fromagravitationalandtidalpointofview,theforcesofattractionexistingbetweenthe
earthandafewplanetsareasfollows:
Moon... 20,185,000,000,000,000tons
Jupiter... 138,900,000,000,000tons
Venus... 138,250,000,000,000tons
At a modest estimate, the energy received by the earth from the Sun is about
127,000,000,000,000h.p.TheSunradiatesanincomprehensibleamountofenergynearly
2,200,000,000timesasmuchenergyasthatwhichlightsandwarmsandgiveslifetoourplanet
andhundredsofmillionsoftimesasmuchenergyasisinterceptedbyalltheplanets,satellites,
etc.,combined.Inotherwords,if,theoutputofsolarenergy,intermsofunitsis2,200,000,000,
then the earth receives onlyoneunit andthis infinitesimally small quantity ofsolar energy
shoulders the responsibility of creating, protecting and destroying the entire terrestrial
phenomena.SuchisthegrandeurofthegloriousSunandwhatwondertheancientscalledhim
JagatChakshu and Karmasakshi. Thuswillbeseenthemagnitudeofattractionsbetweenthe
earthandtheplanetsisindeedtremendous.Thismustbecontinuallyvaryingduetotheplanets
continuallyvaryingdistancesfromtheSunandfromoneanother.Consequently,theinfluenceof
planetsuponmankindisundoubted.Inahoroscope,theSun,theMoonandtheLagnarepresent
thesoul,themindandthebodyrespectivelyofanindividual.TheSunmaybevisualizedasthe
dispenserofthevariouscosmicmatter,andtheMoonasthemixerofthismatter,whilethe
Lagna may be taken as a catalytic agent. The other planets are, of course, symbols for
interpretingthesecosmicinfluences.HowcloseisouraffinitywiththeSun,whosechemical
elementshavespectroscopicallybeenshownnotonlytobe oneandthesame elementsasour
surroundingshereonearth,butactuallyidenticalwiththosefoundinourownbodies.Toputit
differently,theultimateparticlesofourownbodyaredefinitelyapartoftheSunitself.
RecentstudiesofscientistsinAmericaandelsewherehaverevealedthatthesunspotsand
solarradiationsdoinfluencebiologicalbehavior.
Sunspotshavebeenobservedovermanyyearsandtheyarefoundtovaryinnumberwith
aperiodwhoseaveragelengthis11.1years.Varahamihirahadmadeconsiderablestudyofthis
phenomenonascouldbeseenfromhisfamousBrihatSamhita.Modernauthoritiesconcludeasa
resultofresearchesthat"theexistingabnormalchangeswhichwecallweatherhavetheirorigin
mainlyinthevariationsofsolarradiations".Manyplacesonearthshow morerainfallduring
sunspotmaximathanduringsunspotminima:Stetsonremarksthus:"Itisthe23yearperiod
whichDr.Abottbelievesisparticularlyimportantinweatherandclimateforecasts;theUnited
Statesisnownearingthecloseofaperiodofconsiderabledroughtwhich,accordingtohisbest
estimate,willnotreturnuntiltheyear1975.Hebaseshispredictionontwicethesolarcyclein
recordsofbothsolaractivityandweather.Hefindsthisdoubleperiodparticularlyimportantto
precipitation."
Wehaveallheardofultravioletandinfraredradiation,etc.Lightthatisvisibletothe
humaneyeconsistsofcorpuscles,orperhapsitiswavemotion;inanycaseitisvibratingat
differentspeedsandcorningtousindifferentwavelengthsaccordingtothatpartofthespectrum
we choose. 28"Visible light includes wavelengths of from about 7,700 Angstrom units,
(abbreviated"A")whichisthelimitattheredend,to3,600A,thelimitatthevioletend.
Beyondtheredinthespectrum,thelongwavesareinvisibletousbutareappreciableasheat
waves,andarecalledtheinfrared.Ifthewavesbeshorterthan3,600A,theyareintheregion
oftheultraviolet.However,thehumaneyevariesinrange,andsomecannotseeraysasshortas
3,600Anorthoseaslongas7,700A.Thetrueultravioletcompriseswavesfrom3,600Ato
below 100 A. The Angstrom is a metric unit of length and is 1/10,000,000 millimeter, a
millimeterbeingabout1/25inch.
"TheSuncontainsinfrared,visibleandultravioletrays,butastotheshortwaveside,
thereisalayerofozoneintheatmosphere,thatcutsoutallraysshorterthan2,900A.
HughRiceinAmericanAstrology,1942.
28
 "Itisfortunatethatmostoftheultravioletlight(properlyradiation,as'light'wouldbe
visibleradiation)isabsorbedbythethinlayerofozoneintheatmosphereabout25milesabove
thesurface.Forifitwerenotfortheozoneprotection,animalsandplantswouldsufferuntold
harm, unless perhaps they became adapted to the much greater volume of this light. As
conditionsare,wesaythat'justenough'ultravioletpenetratestohelptokeepuswellanddono
realdamage.Raysharmingtheeyesarethoseshorterthan3,050A,thosehavingthegreatest
valueontheskinextendfrom2,900to3,130A,andthebeneficialeffectsareconnectedwith
theproductionofvitaminD.Tanningeffectsarenature'swayofprotectingthehumanracefrom
toomuchoftheultravioletradiationbecausewithdeepeningofskincolortheraysareabsorbed
andchangedtoheatrays,anddonotpenetrate. Certain oftheultravioletraysaredistinctly
bactericidal,notablythoseform2,380to2,490A.Theseareactually'deathrays'tobacteria."
Thequestionis,doestheultravioletcontentvarywiththesunspotcycle?Astronomers
havefoundthatitdoesvary;occasionallyasmuchas30%.Withtheincreaseofsunspots,there
isalowpoint:atleastthereisafairlycloseagreement.Wedonotinferthattheultravioletlight
comes directly from the sunspots but as Stetson says: "It seems entirely possible that such
changesastakeplaceintheSunthatresultinitsproducingmoreultravioletlightsostirup
thesolaratmospherethatsunspotsarenaturallyconcomitantcircumstances."
29
"PlantlifeisanothereffectthatcanbetracedtotheSun.Treeringshavebeenstudied
for years,especially byDouglass oftheUniversity ofArizona.Atreeringpattern, with its
narroworwidespacingbetweentherings,indicatesthestateoftheclimateduringthetree's
growth.Bythismeans,weathercanbetracedbackover3,200years.Sincetreesareaffectedby
rainfallorthelackofit,sunspotperiodsarethenrelatedtoperiodsofrainordrought.Wherethe
ringsarecrowded,adryseasonisinferred;similarlywherefarapart,aseasonofplentifulrain.
Not all investigators agree that tree growth as seen from the rings can be correlated with
sunspots,yetbasedondataofDouglass,itiseasilynoticedthattheydoshowmoregrowth
duringyearsofgreatestsunspots.
"Thequalityoflightanditsquantityhaveinthemainathreefoldeffectonplants:(a)the
intensitymustberight.Chlorophyll,thegreenpigment,musthaveenoughsunlighttoform,but
toointensealightisdestructive;(b)thenumberofhoursperdaythataplantisexposedtolight
partlygovernsitsgrowth,fordifferentplantsaresensitivetodifferentlengthsofdaylight;(c)the
wavelengthorcoloroflighthasanimportanteffect.Someneedraysofthelongendofthe
spectruminordertogrow.Itisacomplicatedmatterbutsomedayweshallknowmuchmore
aboutit.Ifthecycleofsolardisturbancechangesthequalityofsunlightverylikelythegrowthof
HughRiceinAmericanAstrology.1942.
29
atleastsomeplantsislikewisealtered; qualityofsunshineisthoughttobereallyimportant
factor(italicsours).
"Some good scientists hold that there is nothing at all in the claim that business,
manufactures,industry,etc.,areallrelatedtosolarperiodicities;ontheotherhand,certainwell
knownscientistshavefoundapositivecorrelation.ProfessorHuntingtonofYale,oneofthe
world'sleadinggeographers,believesthatsolarvariationshavetheirresultsonthehealthand
behaviorofman.Stetsonhasfoundthatbusinessactivity,productionofautomobiles,building
contracts,andotherthingsofthisnaturehavefollowedsunspotsinfluctuationsduringthelast
fewyears.Hebelievesthatthehypothesisthatsunspotsaffectbusinessiswellonitswayto
beingproved,andthatfurtherinvestigationsshouldconfirmtheidea."
ReadersareawarethattheHindusenjoinedcertainrestrictionsinregardtofood,etc.,a
fewhourspriortotheactualoccurrenceofaneclipseandduringthedurationoftheeclipse;for
theMoonwouldscreenoffcorpusclesstreamingfromtheSunat100milespersecondandthe
effectwouldbesomesortofcorpuscularshadowandtheearthwouldfeeltheeffectofthis
corpuscularshadowsometwohourspriortothearrivalofthe'lightshadow'.Recentstudiesin
connection with radio signals reveals a relatively low ionization density at the time of the
corpusculareclipse,aconditionwhichdoesnotshowitselfonthedaybeforeoronthedayafter.
Itisthereforepossiblethatelectricaldisturbancestakingplaceattimesofsunspotactivityhave
someeffectonthedelicatefibersofournervesandbraincells,resultinginachangeofour
temperamentandbehavior.
AmongstthevillagersinIndia,itisstillanoldbeliefthattreesshouldnotbecutnearthe
timeoftheNewMoonforthenthesapwilldryquickly.ThattheMoonhasaninfluenceon
plantshasbeenshownbyDr.L.Kolisko.Shehasshownthroughexperimentsconductedfor
over nine years that the maximum growth of wheat corresponded with the period of the
increasingMoonjustafterthesummersolsticeandthat"maizewasfoundtogrowbestwhen
plantedtwodaysbeforeFullMoon".Experimentsconductedwithothervegetablesrevealedto
her a moreorlesssimilar correspondence,thus provingtheastrological theoryofplanetary
influencesonvegetablelife.
Gold is always associated with the Sun. In fact one of the names for the Sun is
'Hiranyagarbha'. Dr. Kolisko has even shown the influences of planets on metals. Her
experimentswereasfollows.30"A1%solutionofthe(metallic)saltorsaltstobestudiedwas
placedinanopenvesselandacylinderoffilterpaperwasleftstandinginituntilallthesolution
had beenabsorbedbycapillary attraction. A'picture' was thusformeduponthefilterpaper
AstrologyinEverydayLifebyRupertGleadow.
30
whichshowedthateachsolutionhaditscharacteristicformsandcolors.Goldchlorideshowed
consistentlythesameformsandthesamecheerfulyellowcolorexceptduringaneclipseofthe
Sun,whentheformswerespoiltandthecolorchangedtopurple."31
PhysicistMauriceAllennotedatthetimeofsolareclipseon261954thatattheexact
momentoftheeclipsethependulum'slevelofoscillationchangedsuddenly.Hisexplanationwas
theremustbeacosmicforcewhichtheMoonscreensfromus.
AccordingtoMekiTakataofTohoUniversity,Tokyo,theindexofflocculationofblood
suddenlyriseswhentheSundirectsaconcentratedbeamofwavesonearth.Dr.Takatafound
thatduringtotalsolareclipse,astheMoonbeginstocovertheSuntheflocculationindexstarts
todeclinereachingitslowestpointwhentheeclipsewascomplete.Takataconcedes,"manisa
livingsundial".
That planets influence epidemics is beyond dispute. 32"Whilst the germ theory about
whichsomuchfussismadebythemodernpathologistisanassumptionofthecausesofthe
existenceofwhichwehavenoevidencetoaccountfor,thefrequencyofthecoincidenceof
volcanic eruptions and earthquakes with the outbreaks of epidemics, tends to support the
hypothesisofplanetaryactionbeingtheexcitingcauseofallthesephenomenatherapidand
extreme prostration of muscular strength, a very early symptom, together with excruciating
headache,seemstopointtoelectricalchangesbeingintimatelyassociatedwithinfluenzaand
thesechangesinelectricalconditionoftheatmosphereareduetoplanetaryaction."
Professor Tchijevsky has concluded, 33"that epidemics of influenza have an average
periodofapproximately11.3years,whichisthesameasthesunspotperiodandamongother
thingsthatthefirstwaveofanewepidemicofinfluenzamaybeexpectedaboutthreeyearsafter
everysunspotmaximum."Hisresearchesenabledhimtopredictin1930theinfluenzaepidemic
of1936.Varahamihirahasdealtwiththeastrologicalcausesforepidemicsandplagueinhis
BrihatSamhita andthisclearlyimpliessomesortofcorrespondencebetweencertaincelestial
phenomenaandthevarioustypesofdiseases.ItlooksasthoughtheinvestigationsoftheRussian
ProfessorTchijevsky,extendingoveragoodmanyyearsduringwhichhetookintoconsideration
all the important epidemics and plagues since the 15th century have merely confirmed the
ancientastrologicalprinciples.Hisconclusionsare: (a) Epidemicssuchasinfluenzahavean
averageperiodof11.3yearssameasthesunspotperiod.
(b)Thefirstwaveoftheepidemicgenerallyoccursaboutthreeyearsaftereverysunspot

31
ForfurtherdetailsreferencemaybemadetoMrs.Kolisko'sworkAgricultureofTomorrow.
32
ATextBookofAstrologybyDr.A.J.Pearce.
33
AstrologyinEverydayLifebyRupertGleadow.
maxima.
(c) And the "virulence of microorganisms varies in direct relation to the electrical
tensionoftheatmosphere".
Tchijevskihasalsoshownbymeansofcorrelationcurvesremarkable coincidence of
sunspot phenomena with the occurrence of revolutions, wars, strikes, agitations, programs
againstJewsinRussia,lynchingsinU.S.A.andpopulationmigrations.Dr.Tchijevskihasalso
establishedanincidenceofcorrelationbetweensunspotmaximaandcardiovasculartroubles.
Justlikeinfluenza,thepeakperiodsofmeasles,plague,choleraandotherepidemicshave
alsosomesortofrelationtothesunspotsandotherperiodicities.Inreferencetotheperiodicityof
measles,wecommendthefollowingfrom34Dr.JohnBrownbe'spaper.
"Theconclusionswhichmaybebasedontheresultsofthisinvestigationcannotinthe
presentstateofknowledgebecompletelyformulated.Muchmorespadeworkisrequiredbefore
therelativeimportanceofthedifferentfactorsatworkcanbeaccuratelygauged.Itseemstobe
provedhoweverthatepidemicsofmeaslestendtorecurwitharegularperiodicitywhichpersists
oftenforalongseriesofyears.Agreatvarietyinthelengthoftheseperiodshasbeenfoundto
exist,theshortestperiodfoundbeingthatofoneyearinParisandthelongestthatofthreeyears
in Dundee, Scotland. Any but a biological explanation of these phenomena seems to be
untenable,andthefactsfurtherseemtoprovethattheperiodicityisinfinitelymoreprobablydue
tosuchchangesasmayeasilyconstitutethelifecycleofaninflictingorganismratherthanthe
periodicchangesinthesusceptibilityofthehost.Itisnotunusualforthecompletelifehistoryof
themeaslesorganismsto correspondalmostexactlywithamultipleofthesolaryear (italics
ours),initselfasuggestivecoincidence,butevenifthishasbeendulyallowedfor,something
remainswhichrequiresfurtheranalysis."Herewhatinterestsusmostasstudentsofastrologyis
thesuggestedcoincidencebetweenthelifehistoryofthemeaslesorganismandamultipleofthe
solaryear.Theword'coincidence'iseitheracloaktoconcealone'signoranceofrealfactsora
deliberateintentiontoignoretherealcauseofacertainphenomenon.Whenthereisaseriesof
coincidencesbetweenpeak 35yearsofdeathsfromanepidemicandcertainvariationsinsolar
energy(whichinitsturncouldonlybebroughtaboutbyvariationsinthemovementsofplanets
withreferencetotheSunandthemselves),thenitcanbesafelysaidthatsomesortofalaw
existswherebythenextperiodwhentheepidemicwouldrecurcouldbeeasilyanticipated.This
isastrologypureandsimple.
Studentsofastrologyknowthatmeasles,smallpox,etc.,areassociatedwiththeplanet

PhilosophicalTransactionsofRoyalSociety208.
34

WalterBowermann's'CyclicalDiseases'inAmericanAstrology.
35
Mars.ThetropicalyearofMarsis1.88whichisthemeanaverageofitsperigee.WheneverMars
makeshisclosestapproachtothe'earth'martianepidemicsshouldmanifest'.Drs.Faureand
Sardouhavefoundoutbyindependentobservationsthat84%ofthepassagesofsunspotsover
themeridianoftheSuncorrespondedtoaworseningoftheirpatients.Thesunspotmaxima
correspondswithJupiter'scyclesalsobecauseJupitergoesroundtheheavensonceinabout12
years.ThismaywellsuggestthatthesunspotsarecausedbyJupiter'spullasisevidentfromthe
periodicityofepidemics.InSeptember1880,Jupiterwasatperihelion(orclosesttotheSun);the
sunspotmaximumin1883and1881witnessedthemaximumofspinalmeningitis.Againthe
samediseasereacheditsmaximuminU.S.A.in1893(JupiteratperihelionJuly1892,sunspot
maximum1803):in19045(Jupiteratperihelion,June1904sunspotmaximum(1905)and
191718(JupiteratperihelioninApril1916andsunspotmaximum1916).
Whenmodernscientistsnotethecoincidencebetweenthesunspotactivitiesduringthe
revolutioninFranceinabout1789,1830,1848and1870,inRussiain1906and1917,inSpain
in1937andHungaryin1956withmassupheavals,whentheincreaseincorpuscularradiation
fromtheSunhadincreasedeffectonhumanmovements,itlooksasthoughmodernastronomers
areonlyconfirmingVarahamihiraofancientIndiawhohadalreadyenunciatedthisremarkable
parallelismbetweensunspotsandearthlyaffairswars,popularuprisings,etc.
Modernmeteorologyisalsonoticingawonderfulassociationbetweenmeteorological
facts and astrological views. Mr. John, Nelson, Engineer in the RCA Communications
DepartmentofU.S.A.,hasfoundthatwhatarecalledthebeneficaspectsofplanetspacifying,
apparently,totheionospherewhileotherrelationshipsmaleficaspectsdisturbingtoit.
Astrologerspredictwars,revolutionsandpoliticaldisturbanceswhenJupiter,SaturnandMars
areinconjunction, i.e., thesamedegreeormutualanglesof90and180involvingcertain
constellations.Nelsonhasdiscoveredthatthemostsevereionosphericdisturbanceswillcome
when the combined influences of Mars, Venus and Mercury are such that all three will be
arrangedinpositionsofgreatconcentrationofplanetaryinfluenceneartheSaturnJupiterteam.
Andthesearecorrelatedtomagneticdisturbancesontheearth.Naturally,theseeffectsarelikely
todisturbthedelicateandcomplexsystemsinthelivingorganismsontheearthwhichregulate
andstimulatethoughtandfeelingandaction.
When we met Mr. Nelson at a common platform at the "International Astrology
Conference''heldatNewYorkon151971hesaidthatplanetspossiblyinfluencetheSunina
manner that caused a temporary change in the Sun's radiationcharacteristics although the
mechanismofthisinfluencewasnotknown.Mr.Nelsonhasbeenabletopredictwithgreat
accuracymagneticdisturbancesbasedonastrologicaldata.
E.ChapelofParis,aformerGeneraloftheFrencharmy,pursuingstatisticalresearchfor
morethan30years,hascometotheconclusionthatthereisarelationbetweentheasteriods,the
meteorological conditions and the socalled spontaneous fires and explosions, occurring
sometimesbyseriesandforwhichnorationalexplanationsseemavailable.
AccordingtoDr.MauriceFaure"everythingcanbeexplained interms ofsunspots".
Basine his conclusions on the observation of the movements of sunspots from M. Vellot's
ObservatoryatMountBlanc,Dr.Faureobserves:"Outof25movementsofsunspots21were
accompaniedbysignificantincreaseintheincidenceofillhealth.AfterwardsIestablisheda
correlationbetweenmovementsofthesunspotwithsuccessionsofsuddendeaths."
Dr.Faureisoftheviewthatsunspotsareresponsibleforawholeseriesofaccidentsand
thatthe"electricforcesemanatingfromtheSunaffectournervoussystemandexcessivesolar
activitycausescomplexeffectsonmandejection,attacksofgoutorrheumatism,headaches,
neuralgia,etc.,"
TraditionallytheSunisassociatedwithvitalityanddiseaseoftheheart.IftheSunis
afflictedinahoroscopeitindicatesthatoneispredisposedtowardshearttrouble.Inaletterto
theAcademyofMedicinedatedMarch3,1959,Dr.PoumaillouxandM.Viart,Meteorological
Engineer, wrote: "Our find ings point to a really remarkable correlation between increased
frequencyofmyocordialinfarctusatcertainmomentsofmaximumsolaractivityandpeaksof
geomagneticdisturbance."
Dr.Becker,usingdataavailablefromInternationalGeophysicalYearStudies,reveals
thatpatientsadmittedtohospitalsforpsychiatricdisturbancescorrelatedwithsolarflares.His
researchshowsthattheelectricalchargeofaperson'sbodychangesdrasticallywhentheearth's
magneticfieldisaffected.Electricalfields,accordingtothisscientist,arealsoconnectedwith
suchphysicalprocessesasaccidents,wouldhealing,etc.Seasonalchangesintheintensityof
geomagneticfieldmayexplainwhysusceptibilitytovariousinfectionsvarieswiththeseason.
Ataninternationalsymposiumonrelationsbetweensolarandterrestrialphenomena,held
inBrusselsin1964,Prof.HellmutBergoftheUniversityofColognedeclaredthat"serious
tubercularcaseswereindangerofdyingondayswhentherewasaviolenteruptionontheSun".
SeventeArrhenius,aSweedishscientist,provedbystatisticalinvestigation,of25,000
cases,thatthereisacorrelationbetweenthefrequencyofhumanbirthsandtherevolution/ofthe
Moonintheecliptic.
Asamatteroffact,hehasshownthatmenstruationoccursinalargenumberofwomenat
oneparticularpointinthelunarmonth.Asregardstheindividual,menstruationusuallyoccurs
whentheMoonarrivesatacertainfixedpointinthehoroscope,Varahamihiraclearlymentions
in BrihatJataka, thatthemensesofawomansetsineverymonthwhentheMoonisinan
UpachayafromtheLagnaandthatthemensesareduetotheinteractionofMarsandtheMoon.
Climate is regulated by the movements and influences of planets. Consequently, the
influencesofclimateareclearlyperceptible.Ifthereisanyfactorintheconstitutionofmanand
his temperaments which vitally influences him for work or for laziness, for strength or for
debility,forintelligenceorfordullness,itistheclimate.Theseinstancessuggestthatbetween
thevariousatmosphericalinfluencesandthevitalactivityofthehumannervesthereseemstobe
aconnectionwhichtheknownscienceshavenotyetbeenabletoaccountfor,buttheeffectsof
whicharetoooftenclearlyfelttobeeasilydoubtedordenied.Achangeofclimatehasbeen
firstlyconsideredbythegreatestphysiciansasamostpowerfulremedyforeffectingcures.The
Seabreezeowesitspreeminentlysalutaryinfluencesonthehealthofmantoitspurity.The
extraneousparticleswhichdefilethecloseatmosphereofcrowdedcitiesandconvertitintoahot
bedofdiseasesanddeatharemostlyabsentfromtheunadulteratedaircurrentswhichsweep
overthewideexpanseofwaterandthisfactgreatlyrenderstheclimatehighlysalubrious.The
moisturetempersthesharpnessofthewind,andmakestherespiratoryorganslessliabletothe
banefulattacksofcatarrhalaffections.Theinfluenceofsalineparticles,ofiodine,ofozoneand
of peculiar electrical and magnetic conditions, also contribute their beneficial effects. Pr.
ClarenceA.Mills,ProfessorofExperimentalMedicine,UniversityofCincinnati,hasfoundthat
the contrast between Oriental andOccidental vitality duenot to"national, racial or cultural
differences,buttoclimate"."Theebbandflowofhumanvitalityfluctuatewithclimaticchanges,
withman'senergyrisingduringstimulation,coldperiods,andrecedingwithdebilitatingoalm
warmth."Whenthebarometricpressure 36"isslowlyrising,humanactivityisatitszenith;a
mediumdegreeofefficiencyoccurswhenthebarometricpressureisatanystablelevel;andthe
lowest ebb accompanies falling barometric pressure. Spongelike, the body and brain cells
absorbwaterandswellwhentheoutsidepressurefalls.Alongwiththisabsorptionandswelling
thereisdisturbanceoffunctionalefficiencyandanupsetinthenormalbodywaterbalance.On
the other hand as the outside pressure rises,the body andbrain cells empty and functional
efficiency rises". Just before a severe storm, living organisms manifest increased nervous
tension.Animalsbecomebellicoseandunmanageable,childrentendtobepeevishandpetulant
andadultsaremoreirritableandquarrelsome."Therearealsoobviousphysicalchangesonthese
lowpressurestormydays.Assomebodiesgainwatercontenttheirweightincreasesasmuchas
F.A.RockweninAmericanAstrology,1942.
36
fourorfivepoundsinonedayandtheremightbesomespreadoflegorcalfcircumference.The
braincellscannotexpandastheyareencasedinarigidstructure.Thereforethepressurefallsand
the resulting intake of moisture from the gastrointestinal tracts leads to irritability, worry,
discomfortandtemperflares.Inextremecasesifthebraincellsbecomesowaterloggedthat
oxygensupplyiscutoff,faintingorcomamayresult.
The researches conducted by Dr. Mills of America conclusively prove that climatic
conditions influence human growth, vitality, reproductivity, crime, prosperity, health and
achievement.
 V
ASTROLOGYANDSUPERSTITION

Dr. W. Fliess, a German physician, has studied the annual periodicities in various
biologicalphenomena,thusconfirmingthepersistenceofthesolarcycleatmanyplacesoutside
the wellknown seasonal fluctuations in the rates of marriages, births and deaths. Fliess
'discovered'thecycleof23and28daysasbiologicaldata.Inoneofhispublications,hesays:
"whatismostinterestingisthefactthattheyearandthedayruleourlifejustasbothofthem
determine the fast or slow movements of our planets. And that does not involve only our
physicalbutalsoourspiritualexistence,ourcreativedays(italicsours)."Inotherwords,almost
allWesternsavants,whohavetriedtodemonstratetheexistenceofsomesortofbiological
rhythm in human activities, have been indirectly lending support to the astrological theory.
AccordingtoGocharaorthetransitsystem,theMoonpassingthroughthedifferentsignsfrom
hisownpositioninthebirthchartissaidtomakethenative'spsychologicalreactionsdifferon
differentdays.Ononedayonewillbesubjecttoseriousfitsofdepression,onanotherdayto
strongsexualurges,onathirdtocreativethoughtsandonthenexttofitsofillness.Alltheseare
discernibleastrologicallybutaslongasthescientistlooksatastrologythroughglassescolored
byhisownpettheoriesandprejudicedideashehasgottobegropinginthedark.Thefollowing
queryofFliessputbyhimselfattheendofhislecture'PeriodicalWaysofMan'isgermaneto
thepresentdiscussion."Whywonder?Don'tweinheritthephysicalsetupofourparents,their
livingsubstanceandconsequentlyoughtwenottoinheritlikewisethecharacteristicsoftheir
substancepertinenttotime?Thisquestionsetsonethinking.Untilnowweneverconsideredthe
influenceoftheyearonhumanexistence.Thatiswrong.Forfacingtheproblemcreatedbythe
year'smotiononlife,wecannotbutexpecttofinditsmarkonhumanbeingsaswellasonthe
floweringofplants,thematingurgeofbeasts...WhyshoulditstopatMan?IsnotManalinkin
thechainoflifejustasbeastandplantare?"
Modernscientificobservationshaveonlybeencorroboratingthe"superstitious"beliefs
heldbyastrologersthatrhythmicoccurrencesinnatureareguidedbyastronomicalinfluences.
WhatFleiss,SwobodaandKraffthaveobservedhadbeentoowellknowntotheancientHindus
who,havingstudiedtheperiodicityofpsychologicalandbiologicalfunctions,havebequeathed
tousvasttreasuresofastrologicalknowledge.Ourignorance,prideandprejudicecomeinthe
wayofourappreciatingthewisdomofourancientswhilewehaveacquiredaknacktonodour
headsinapprobationifthesameprinciplescomeoutofthemouthsofmodernscientists.Thisis
indeedaveryunhealthytendency.Whatwecallinthejingleofscientificterminologybiological
urge','psychologicalimpulse'andsoonhasbeenexplainedinsimpleandeasilycomprehensible
astrologicalformulaebywayofyogas,arishtas,andothercombinations.
A.N.WhiteheadsaysinhisIntroductiontoMathematicsthat"thewholelifeofnatureis
dominatedbytheexistenceofperiodicevents, i.e., bytheexistenceofsuccessiveeventsso
analogous to each other that without any straining of language they may be termed the
recurrence ofthesameevent.Ourbodilylife is essentially periodic.Itis dominated by the
beatingsoftheheartandtherecurrenceofthebreathing.Thepresuppositionofperiodicityis
indeedfundamentalfromconceptionoflife.Wecannotimagineacourseofnatureinwhichas
eventsprogress,weshouldunabletosaythishappenedbefore."
Allrhythmsinnature,biologicalorpsychological,correspondtocosmicalprototypesand
are rooted in astronomical relations. From this reason earthly doing and being enlarge
themselvestothecosmosandclearlyshowtheunityandharmonyintheUniverse.Anditwas
justthisknowledgethatwaspromulgatedbythestarlorethroughagesinthatfamousformula'as
above,sobelow.'
A,M.Fox,aCambridgebiologist,bringsforwardanumberofinstancesbywhichhe
provestheexistenceoflunarperiodicitiesinthelivingorganisms.
H. L. Moore of New York showed the connections between cycles in rainfall and
economicsandtheeightyears'periodicityoftheplanetVenuswithrespecttotheEarthandthe
Sun.
Similar investigations of many other scientists lead more or less decidedly to the
conclusionthatacomplexrelationcannotbedeniedbetweencertainastronomicperiodicitiesand
the occurrence of seisms of volcanic eruptions, of cyclones, as also the variations of other
atmosphericpressure,ofthegrowthoftrees,etc."Dr.Budaihascollectedmanyotherinteresting
examplesoftheMoon'sinfluenceonhumanbeings.HeobservesthatthedayofNewandFull
Moon,andthetwodaysthatprecedeandfollowthemareparticularlydangerousforhealth."
Thisisquiteinaccordancewithacceptedastrologicalprinciples.
OnthebasisofhisfindingsDr.LarnordJ.RevitzofDukeUniversityhasendorsedthe
ancientbeliefthattherewouldbemoreunrestamongtheinsanewhentheMoonisfull:Revitz
says: 37"Whateverelsewemaybeweareallelectricmachines.Thusenergyreservesmaybe
mobilisedbyperiodicuniversalfactors (suchastheforcesbehindtheMoon)whichtend to
aggravatemaladjustmentsandconflictsalreadypresent."
The study of human character and temperament, of endowment and platitudes has
PsychiatryandJournalofSocialTherapy,July1966.
37
becomealargedepartmentofpsychologytoday.Itmaysurprisemanytobetoldthatastrology
hasagreatcontributiontomaketothisbranchofcontemporaryscience.
Thescienceandartofthediagnosisofpersonalitytraitswillbeofvitaluseinmany
departmentsoflifetodayeducation,industry,administration,etc.
Thehoroscopecanconstructafairlyaccuratepictureoftheindividual'spsychehis
temperaments, his likes and dislikes, aptitudes, his moods,his abilities and weaknesses and
strongtraits.Forinstance,itissaidthatonebornwhenthedistancebetweentheSunandthe
Moonis12willbe'Vyasanasaktachittascha',meaning'giventoworrying'.Thisinformation
canusefullysupplementthediagnosisofnormalpsychologyarrivedatbyitsvocationaltests,its
intelligenceandothercharactersofvariouskinds.Itcanhelpeducationalinstitutionsinguiding
studentsinthechoiceofcareers.Itcanhelpindustryinmakingthemostofthedifferenttypesof
workersingivingthemjobssuitabletotheirtemperaments.Aboveall,itcanhelptheindividual
toguidehisplansandcareertosuithischaractertraits,avoidlinesinwhichhehasnoflairand
take up lines in which he has a natural aptitude. Astrology reveals the general tendencies
inherentincertaintypesofpersonsbyreasonofthepositionsoftheplanetsandstarsattheir
birth.Wecanusethemintheartoflifeandmakethebestofourendowment.Thusoneborn
when Dhanishta and the 8th lunar day coincide will be cruelhearted, vindictive and easily
amenable to sycophancy. If other combinations also indicate rulership, he will most likely
becomeatyrant,bentoninflictingmiseryonthepeople.Otherpeoplemaybewareofsucha
personandmaytakesuitablestepstoneutralizehispowerformischief.Or,hehimselfmighttry
tominimizehiseviltendenciesbygivingthemlessplayinlife.
Recentinvestigationsbypsychologistshaveconfirmedthediagnosticpowerofastrology.
ForinstanceanAmericanpsychologisthasmadeaneightfoldclassificationofhumanbeings
correspondingtoeightsegmentsof45eachcommencingfromtheNewMoon.Accordingto
this classification, whoever is born at any particular phase of the cycle is stamped by the
characterofthatphase.ThisconfirmstheancientideaoftheeffectoftheMoon'safflictionin
insanityandrelateddiseases.
A French Criminologist has assembled statistics to show that apparently motiveless
murders, attacks and criminal behavior of many kinds rise and fall in a 28day cycle
correspondingtothephaseoftheMoon.Otherobservershavenoticedsimilareffectsofthe
Moononotheraspectsoflife.Dr.EdsonAndrewsofAmericahasnoticedacorrespondence
betweensuccessesandfailuresinsurgeryandthephasesandpositionsoftheMoon.Hisrecord
of1000casesoftonsillectomyshowed82%bleedingcrisesoccurringbetweentheMoon'sfirst
and thirdquarters.Prof.RavitzofPennsylvarianSchoolofMedicinethinks thatthere isan
increaseintheelectricalpotentialofhumanbeingsevery14dayscausingchangesofmoods
duetotheMoon'sinfluence.
ThegreatSwissPsychiatristCarlJung,pupilofDr.Freudandfounderofavariantof
psychoanalysisofhisownhasbeenagreatinfluenceamongpsychologistsandpsychatriststo
use astrological science in medicine and psychiatry. They have found it illuminating in
diagnosingthe predispositions oftheirpatients towards certain types ofdisease, mental and
physical.TheMoonrulesthemind,theSunrulesthesoulorselfandMercuryrulesthenervous
system.
Theexaggerationofcertaintraitswhichoccurinnormalpeopleaswelliscausedbya
combinationoffactorsinvolvingtheMoon,Mercury,theSun,Mars,etc.
ThisremindsusoftheageoldastrologicaltheoryofHindus.
() meaning that if in a horoscope the Moon and Mercury are in certain mutual
dispositionsafflictedbyMars,SaturnortheNodes,itgenerallyindicatesmentaldisorder.
Wefindsuchcombinationsactuallyoccurinthehoroscopesofpersonssufferingfrom
obsessionalneurosis,delusionsandfalseviews.Afalsebeliefisaformofdissociation.Whena
personinamentalhospitalbelievesthatheistheemperoroftheworld,obviouslyitisacaseof
dissociation.
ThedeclinationofMercurycanalwaysgiveaclueastowhetherapersonwilltendto
brood over the past, or hug his illusions or escape into a futuristic Utopia. But if there is
Jupiterianaspect,thepictureisentirelychanged.Thepersonwillbethoughtfulandwillhave
much understanding and judgment. Remove the Moon and substitute Mars and you have
mechanical aptitude. Thisissomethingentirely new inobservational science.Itis a proven
instanceofacertainplanetarypatternhavinganeffectthattheelementsofthepatterndonot
have.
ManypsychologistsandpsychiatristsareexperimentingintheU.S.A.andelsewherewith
astrologicaltechniques.Manyofthem(whomImetatNewYork)areconvincedthathoroscopes
properlycastandintelligentlyinterpretedcouldbeavaluablediagnostictest.Theyareofthe
viewthat"ahoroscopeismoreusefulthanRorschachtest:ARorschachshowsonlythepatient's
conditionatthetimeofthetestwhereasahoroscoperevealshisbasicpsychologicalsetup".
Apartfrompsychiatrydealingwithmentaldisorder,astrologyisofusetooinordinary
medicine.ThiswasrecognizedinancientIndiawhenAyurvedawaslinkedwithJyotisha,the
onepractitionerbeingrequiredtoknowsomethingoftheother.Todaythisuseofastrologyis
againcomingtotheforce.
Anoutstandingpsychiatristmakesthefollowingobservationswhichmustbeacceptedas
justified:"IdonotknowthatsomnambulismismoreprevalentduringtheFullMoon,butIknow
thatthesexualorgansaremorestimulatedduringthisperiodthanatanyothertimebothinbeasts
and homosapient. Seasonal changes, climate, electrical storms and volcanic actions are
obviouslycorrelatedwiththephasesoftheSunandtheMoon.Everydropofmoistureisaffected
bytheFullMoonevenasourtidesareregulatedbyit.Menstrualperiodsareinfluenced.Moon
struckcouplesareapttoengageinaffairsoftheheartduringthisperiod.Itisthegodmotherof
sprooningcouples.Uponthematinginstinctofwildanddomesticatedanimals,ithasadistinct
bearing.AtFullMoonhardshellsbecomesoft."
The influences of the Moon on human affairs appears with such persistence in the
writingsofancientHindusthatitisimpossibletoignoretheirtestimonyinanyorderlysurveyof
the subject.Manyofthesereferences restuponabasis ofcareful observationandrecorded
experience. Bhoutikasutras observe thus: (1) Kalakarshanam Suryagolat, (2)
Suryachandramasou nitya sambandhat meaning that the Moon gets its kala or light by
attractionfromtheSunandthatthereisinteractionbetweentheSunandtheMoonalmostevery
second.NeithertheMoonnortheplanetsaretheoriginalsourcesoflightorheat.Allreceive
theirlightfromthegloriousSun.Thislightisnaturallyintheshapeofvibrationsofthelight
waves.ThesevibrationsarerefractedorreflectedfromtheMoontotheearthandvarywidely.
ThevibrationsfromMarsaremuchlowerandslowerthanarethosefromVenusorMercuryand
yieldadistinctionincolorwhichisperceptiblethroughandmeasurablebythespectroscope.
VibrationsfromtheMoonalsovarygreatlyinbothforceandfrequencyasisindicatedbya
variationintheMoon'scolorfromsilverywhitetoruddy.Whenweconsiderthateveryknown
basicelementemitsanindividualradiationwhosedifferencesareexpressedinArmstrongUnits,
itwouldbestrangetopresumethatthesevibrationswerewithoutanyphysicalmanifestationor
influenceonearthlymatter.Thefactisthesevibrantraysrouseandmovetheelementsofthe
earthproducingbothchemicalandphysicalchangesthereof.Itisbecauseofthesevariationsin
thechemicalandphysicalstructureoftheearthitselfthebaseonwhichallvegetationmustbe
sustainedthatthefertilityofthesoilandthesturdinessofthecropdependinaverylarge
measureupontheMoon.Therearemanyancientbeliefs aboutthemysterious power ofthe
Moon,manyofwhichscienceisfindingtohaveabasisinfact.Variousideasonceconsidered
superstitiousnowappeartohavesomescientificexplanations.Basedontheseobservations,the
ancientMaharishishavegivenusanumberofcombinationswhichenableustounravelwith
appreciable accuracytheamountof influence thelunaexerts onaparticular individual. The
ancientshavealreadydiscoveredtheseeffects.Allthatsciencehastodoistoexplainthem.You
canobservethatsomelunaticsorneuroticpeopleseemtohavetidesofirrationalityriseandfall
withinthemaccordingtothewaxingandwaningoftheMoon.Wehavepersonallyknowna
familyinwhichthehusband,ashorttemperedyoungman,becomesexcitedastheMoonwanes
withtheresulthardlyaNewMoonpasseswithoutsomeseriousquarrelinhishousewhich
upsetshismentalequilibriumandrendershimuneasy.
Alldiseasesandmoreespecially,skindiseases,insanityandepilepsywerebelievedtobe
subjecttotheinfluenceoftheMoon.Ishouldsaythathereagaintheancientswererightintheir
conclusions.Weknowasamatterofexperiencethatthesediseasesgetmorevirulentintheir
effectsatthetimeoftheNewMoon.Noonecandenythat.
Whether or not one believes in the influence of the Moon on animal and human
organisms, one cannot but be struck with the rhythmic changes in the level of the sea, in
atmosphericphenomenaandinradioreceptionkeepingstepwiththeMoon'sphases.Atthetime
of New Moon or at the time of Full Moon, the tides in the ocean are much greater, the
disturbanceintheatmospheremorethanatothertimes.Whyisthisso?BecausewhentheSun
andtheMoonareclosetogetherinthesky,asatNewMoon,orwhentheyarediametrically
opposite,asatFullMoon,thetwoconspiretoproducesuchdisturbances;theyactuallypullat
theoceans,drawthewaterup,asitwereinaheap,causinghugetides;theypullattheparticles
ofthegasesformingtheatmosphere,andiftheatmosphereisalreadydisturbedwithpassing
cloudshereandthere,theysupplythesparktoproducerain;theypullatyouandatme,liftingus
allup,sothatyouwouldbeactuallyweighinglessatNewMoonandatFullMoonthanatother
times.ButthegreaterpartofthepullisduetotheMoonbecauseofitsnearnesstous;theSunin
spiteofitsheavymass,becauseofitsgreaterdistance,playsonlylittleinthedrama.Thelifting
forceduetotheMoonissuchastoreducetheweightofabody by thefraction1/842440A
4,000tsnoceansteamer,forinstance,losesonepoundofitsweightwhentheMoonisdirectly
overhead.Nomeasuringinstrumenthasbeendevisedtodetectsuchaminuteeffect;yetthisis
sufficienttocausethetidesandallthekindredphenomena.Becauseofthepossibilityofrain
aboutthetimeofNewMoonwhentheatmosphereisdisturbed,thereisachancefortheplants
planted atthewaxingseasontogrowbetterthanthoseplantedatthewaning.Again asthe
various cells composing animal organisms respond to the lifting force of the Moon, it is
understandablethatpeoplesufferingfromskindiseases,lunacy,epilepsy,diseasesinvolving
convulsionsandtheeffectsofpoisonousbites,suffermoreatthetimeofNewMoonthanat
othertimes.Theseaurchinsbecausetheyhavetheirwholebeinginthewatersoftheocean
whichkeepstepwiththephasesoftheMoonhavetheirreproductiveliferegulatedbytheMoon.
Iwouldearnestlyurgephysiologistsandnaturaliststostudythecorrelationsbetweenanimallife
andthephasesoftheMoonandplacetheirconclusionsonascientificbasis.
'Wehaveseenthatthesolidearthrisesandfallsundertidalforcesandthat,asmeasured
byMichelson,thisriseandfallatitsgreatestisabout9inches.Theriseandfallshouldbe
greatestatNewMoon,forthentheSunandtheMoontogetherattempttodistorttheearth.We
knowthattheearthquakeisduetotheinstabilityintheearth'scrust.Itisthereforereasonableto
expectthisinstabilitytobeinfluencedbytideproducingforcessuchasresultfromtheMoon's
gravitationalpull.WhenthetidalforcesaregreatatthetimeoftheNewMoon,theyareenough
tosupplythesparktobringaboutconditionsforanearthquaketohappen;thetidalforcesare
triggerforcesinthattheystartthemechanismwhichalreadyisawaitingaspark.Ityoutabulate
thedevastatingearthquakesofhistory,youwillfindthatmanyofthemhavealwaysoccurred
aboutthetimeoftheNewMoon.TheGreatBiharearthquakeoccurredonthenightofMay31,
1935,adaybeforetheNewMoon.Someotherearthquakeshaveoccurredaboutthetimeofthe
NewMoonwhentwoormoreplanetswereinconjunction.Thisonlystrengthensthe'trigger
forces'theory;forthegravitationalpulloftheplanetscombinedwiththatoftheSunandthe
Moontendstocreateconditionsfortheoccurrenceofanearthquake.Inspiteofmuchadvanceof
knowledge,thescientistisstillunabletopredicttheoccurrenceofanearthquake.Heisableto
predictwithgreataccuracy,yearsinadvance,theoccurrenceofeclipsesandofphenomenafar
abovehishead;butheishelplessinregardtophenomenawhichoccurabouthimanddirectly
under his feet. Can the astrologer predict the occurrence of earthquakes and thus earn the
gratitudeofmillionslivinginearthquakeareas?Yes,hecanprovidedtheancientprinciplesare
carefullystudied,properlyunderstoodandcorrectlyapplied.
 VI
STATISTICALPROOF

ThattheMoonhasadefiniteeffectontheperiodicityofhumanbirthswasdemonstrated
byaSwissstatistician.K.E.Krafftwhobasedhisworkonthevitalstatisticsofthecantonof
Zurichcametothefollowingconclusions.OneoftheproblemsessayedbyKrafftwasthatofthe
similarityofthebirthdates,whichseemtooccursooftenamongmembersofthefamily."These
coincidencesinwhichnotmerelythemonth,buteventhedayrecurarefoundtoofrequentlyto
warranttheirattributiontopurechance."38
Krafft concluded:39 (a) "that the distribution of female births is much more regular
throughoutthedaythanthatofmalebirths,(b)thatabout40minutesaftertheMoonhaspassed
tolowermeridianthenumberofbirthsdiminishesby2050percent,butincreasesagainwhen
shereachesapoint60fromthehorizonbylongitude(thisobservationwasmadeonatotalof
2,218births),(c)thatthereismarkeddecreaseinbirthswhentheMoonisinthesecondhalfof
thesignAquariusbutwhensheisinthefirsttendegreesofPiscesthereisacompensating
increase, (d) thatatFullMoonthenumberofmasculinebirthsdiminishes andmaximumof
masculinebirthsisreachedabouttwoandahalfdaysaftertheFullMoon,(e)thatthenumberof
births increases when the Moon is approaching the ecliptic from the south, and attains a
maximumwhensheisthreeorfourdegreesshortofhernode,(f)thatmalebirthsaremore
influencedbytheSun,femalebirthsbytheMoon".ComparetheseobservationsofKrafftwith
the theory of Pranapada propounded by Maharshi Parasara. You will get much food for
reflection.AccordingtothesageParasara,humanbirthscanoccuronlyatcertainintervalsand
notalways.Itisthemisfortuneofthepresentcenturythatwehardlythink.Weadvanceapriori
argumentscondemningastrology.Andweareaccustomedtothenotionthatmoderninstruments
ofobservationalonecanbringtolightthenatureofphenomena.Objectiveandinductivestudy
wasnotanewmethodintheintellectuallifeoftheancientHindus.Themethodsemployedby
themtounravelthemysteriessurroundingsomeofthefundamentalproblemsoflifearenotand
cannotbeknown.Itiscommonsensetobelievethatthingsexistedbeforewewerebornandthat
thingshappenedprettymuchthenastheydonow.Stillreasonableasbeliefis,itisnotdirect
knowledge. Even so simple an assertion as 'I was born' involves a distinct succession of
deductionswithanunquestioningfaithinone'spostulates.Suchanassertioncannotrestondirect
knowledge.Youmayknowthatyouexist;youcannotknowsodirectlythatyouwereborn,

AstrologyinEverydayLifebyRupertGleadow.
38

Ibid.
39
although theinference is reasonable andtheconclusion highly probable. Therefore our pre
possessionsshouldnotblindustotherecognitionofthesimplefactthattheastrologicaltheories
andcombinationswerepropoundedbySagesbymethodswhichareasreliableandtrustworthy
as those employed by modern thinkers. We should not be under the impression that the
conscioussubstitutionofobservationandreasonforauthorityandfaithasaguidetotherealities
oftheworldisacomparativelyrecentexperience.
AFrenchscholarandstatisticianMichaelGaquelin,whosetouttodisproveastrology,
carried out a rigorous study of astrological matters but soon found substantial ground for
accepting that "a specific cosmic seal does affect various physical, chemical and biological
reactions".Hefound"authenticatedcorrelationsinaverylargenumberofcasesbetweenthe
positionsoftheplanetsJupiter,Mars,Saturninthefouranglesofthehoroscopeandcertain
professionaltypesdoctors,militarymen,painters,priestsandCongressmen.Ofeachcategory
some 500 to 1000 births were considered. He found Mars predominantly in the zones of
influenceinthehoroscopesofmenofsports,athletesorofficersintheofficialservices.Itis
togetherwithJupiterinthechartsofgenerals.Saturnisdominantinthechartsofpriests.The
horoscopesofscientistsandmedicalmenrevealMars,JupiterandSaturninzonesofactivation''.
InthewordsofDr.Gaquelin:"Inotherwords,wesomehowhadtointegrateourpeculiar
planetaryeffectsintothetotalpictureofmodernscience;Theproblemwas,howcouldthisbe
done?Onepossibilityisthatsomeformofradiationissuingfromtheplanetsmarksthenewborn
atbirthwithaninfluencewhoseeffectpersiststhewholelifelong.Letustakeanexample:Ifa
childisbornwhenMarsisrising.Wecouldassumethattheplanetexertssuddenactionthat
modifiesthechild'sorganism.Afterthisaction,thechildwouldhave'somethingmore'thanhis
parentsgavehimthroughheredity.Andthis'somethingmore'wouldhavesufficientlystrongand
lastinginfluencestoresultinthechild'shavingspecificgiftsandadefiniteorientationtowardhis
existence." But Gaquelin's investigations are confined to Western concepts. His ideas about
Hinduastrologyareperverseandprejudiced.
TheFrenchmathematicianPaulChoisnaurdinvestigatedthehoroscopesof119persons
ofgreatintellectuals.Hisinvestigationsrevealedthatinnoneofthesecases,theMoonwastobe
foundinthesignofScorpio."Theoreticallyhisstudyisopentothisobjectionthatintellectual
power is a matter of opinion and appreciation rather than fact." But in reality his list was
composedofallthosepersonswhohadattainedgreatdistinctioninPhilosophy,Science,etc.,
suchasFlammarian,Byronandothers.40"Andyet,of1,450ordinarypeople140werefoundto
have the Moon in Scorpio. This extraordinary deviation from the laws of probability may
AstrologyinEverydayLifebyRupertGleadow.
40
surpriseanyonebutanastrologer;yetisquiteinharmonywithastrologicalprincipleswhichsay
that the Moon in Scorpio gives strong feelings, and intensely personal outlook and violent
prejudices.Thusplaced,theMoonevidentlyhindersthedevelopmentofthecandorandfair
mindednessthatcharacterizethegreatestintellects."Accordingtoastrologicalrules,Marsisthe
military planet. Ifastrologyis true, then horoscopes ofall military leaders musthave Mars
stronglydisposed.In200horoscopesofmilitarymen'takenatrandom,'Choisnaurd"found;that
Mars had considerably more aspects among the soldiers" Here is the; table he drew up
showingthepercentageofeachclasswhohadMarsinaspecttoanygivenplanet:

Marsin Percentage Percentage

Margin
aspectto ofcivilians ofsoldiers
Mercury 44 58 plus14percent
Venus 36 50 "14"
Uranus 45 58 "13"
Sun 50 60 "10"
Moon 50 60 "10"
Jupiter 54 59 "5"
Saturn 45 50 "5"
Neptune 46 48 "2"

Prof.EllsworthHuntingtoninhis MainSpringsofCivilisation dealsexhaustivelywith

cyclesandhassomeinterestinginformationtogivethatcouldbeconsideredtohaveabearing
upon astrological theories.Someofhis conclusions are:(1)Conceptions normally are more
numerousinJuneassomethinghappenstousthenbiologically,(2)birthsofworldprominent
peoplehappeninFebruary,(3)occurrenceofsuicide,insanityandsexcrimesteachamaximum
inJulyandAugust,(4)thereisseasonalvariationinmentalactivityalso.Hehasalsodetected
the existence ofrhythms in intellectual activities, emotional disturbances andthe like. Prof.
WesleyMitchellsaysthatinbusinessnoothercycleisasstrongasthatof41to43months.Ifthe
ancient Hindus had no knowledge of these rhythms, i.e., correspondences between celestial
configurationsandterrestrialdevelopments,howcouldtheyhavegivenruleswherebythefuture
trend of commercial events could be anticipated?. For instance, we are told in an ancient
astrological workthat whenever Mars enters Leo,gold, copperandall redcoloured articles
would becomeavailable inplenty withthe result,therewill beincreased businessactivities
pertainingtothesemetals.MarsentersLeooncein540days.Thisisanimportantcyclewhose
effects,whencarefullystudied,mayrevealfactsofgreatimportancetothecommercialworld.
Ifastrologybetrueitfollowsthatanytwopeoplebornonthesamedayatthesameplace,
andatsamehour,willhaveasimilardestiny.K.E.Kraffthasshownthistobetrue.
 41
"InhisbookastrophysiologicpublishedatLeipzigin1928Krafftdrewupalistof72
personsof2or3whowerebornapproximatelythesamehour,dayandplace,andinvariably,
theyhavediedataboutthesameageandinasimilarmanner.Thedatawereobtainedfromcivil
registersofthetownsofBasleandGenevaanditisopentoanyonetoverifythem.Wecannot
quotethewholelistbutafewexamplesaregiven.Coincidencemightexplainasinglecase.But
an unbroken series of thirty coincidences must surely be a little too much for any one's
credulity."
Inthisconnection,weshouldnotforgettorecognizethelaborsofsomeoftheWestern
astrologers who have shown statistically the truth of astrology. Symours considering the
horoscopesofoveronehundredcentenarianscametothefollowingconclusion:42"AriesandLeo
areparticularlyfrequentasrisingsign,butthesignsofearth,particularlyVirgo,arerare.The
eighthhouseisfarmorerarelyoccupiedbyplanetsthananyother.TheSunandtheMoonhave
hardlyasinglesquareofSaturnandMars,"butplentyofgoodaspectsfromJupiterandVenus.
Ourownresearchestowhichweshallsubsequentlymakeareferencerevealconvincingresults.
Whetherwecallitdeterministicprinciple,karmicindicationorplanetaryinfluence,the
factisthattheexistenceofcorrelationsbetweencelestialchangesandterrestrialphenomenais
demonstrated.Wedonotknowandwecannotknowwhetherlivingorganismsshowthesame
rhythmsastheheavenlybodies,butweknowforcertainthattheyexhibitanalogousperiodicity.
Theprecessionoftheequinoxinthedifferentconstellationsseemstobeintimatelyrelatedtothe
differentphasesofhumanculture.Astrology,itseemstous,canhelptosolvethemysteriesof
evolution.Itprovidessuchaframeofreferencethathumanevolutioncanbeseeninatruer
perspectiveandwithgreaterobjectivity.Thezodiacisameasuringrod.Forinstance,theaxisof
theearthissupposedtotakeaperiodofabout2,592,000yearstomakeonecompleteturn.We
maysuggestthatduringeachoneoftheserevolutionsoneofthemainphylogeneticdivisionsof
humanitymayhavebeenproduced.TheNegro,MongolianandCaucasianracesofthepresent
dayrepresentthelastthreewavesofevolutionaccordingtothisscheme,butitallowsmoretime
for man's evolution than paleontologists are disposed to admit. Enough is said about these
periodicities inthearticles thathaveappearedintheastrological magazine thatitwould be
unnecessarytoquotethemhere.

AstrologyinEverydayLifebyRupeitGleadow.
41

AstrologyinEverydayLifebyRupertGleadow.
42
 Placeof Numb Se DateandHourofBirth DateofDeath CauseofDeath
Birth erin x
Civil
Regist
er
Plainpalais 1 F 22ndJan.1822 9a.m. 26thJune SenileDecay
1906
Geneva 39 F 22ndJan1822 10a.m. 17thJan.1908 Do.
Geneva 273 F 22ndMay1833 lam. 24thApr. Bronchial
1920 Inflammation
Versoix 11 F 22ndMay1833 2a.m. 1stJan.1921 Do.
Basle 2648 F 18thSep.1901 330a.m. 5thSep.1920 FluandMeningitis
Basle 2656 F 18thSep.1901 420a.m. 30thApr. Fluand
1919 Tuberculosis
Basle 2194 F 7thAug.1901 9a.m. 1stJan.1921 Pulmonary
Tuberculosis
Basle 2195 M 7thAug.1904 9a.m. 3lstMay1919 Do.
Geneva 229 F 8thAug.1904 7a.m. 20thFeb. Do.
1921
Geneva 47 M 18thFeb.1901 245a.m. 11thFeb1921 Asphyxiationby
Near carbonmonoxide
Geneva 88 M 18thFeb.1900 3a.m. 22ndMay Asphyxiationby
1909 drowning
Basle 498 M 18thFeb1901 4a.m. 18thFeb1901 Asphyxiationby
inhalingamniotic
liquid

Thefactssofaradducedshowclearlythatmanissubjecttocosmicinfluences.Asultra
violetandinfraredraysandotherelectricalwavelengthsreadilypenetratethehumanbodyand
eventhesolidboneoftheordinaryperson'shead,soitisevidentthattheseexcessraysprimarily
affectemotional,mentalandpsychicalfaculties probablythroughtheglandularsystem.Itis
apparenttherefore thatwearelivinginaveritable seaofvibratory energies which silently,
unerringlyandequitablysupplythemeansofcreating,maintaininganddestroyingthemyriads
of forms of life in our little universe, according to the response of each to the different
stimulationsandaccordingtocapacityandneedsofeachattheirstageofevolution.Adogunder
prolongedirritationofexcessorultravioletorinfraredraysmaygomadandbitepeople.A
human being might control and direct the increase of energy into powerful efforts towards
betteringhisownconditions.
I have with me fifty horoscopes of persons who have died from tuberculosis. The
AscendantortheLagnaishardly Aries,LeoorSagittarius.Maleficplanetswereinvariably
foundinGeminiandVirgoandJupiterandVenuswerehighlyafflicted.
Thelawofheredityisequallyfeltintheastrologicalmapsoffamilies,byrepetitionof
commonastrologicalfactors.Whatwecall'Rajayogas'arecertainspecialdispositionsofplanets
affectingthecombinedradiationattheparticularmomentofbirthinsuchawaythatthenative
would become great, famous and outstanding. The moment of birth is not certainly an
insignificantepoch.Thechildabouttoissueoutofthewombwillbeinaplasticstateandthe
delicate glandular organisms are readily molded bytheplanetary influences surrounding us.
EverythingdependsuponthepreciousminuteorMuhurthawhenalltheglandsofthebodyare
adjustedandnaturefixesherseal.Strangeasitmayseem,themixingofvariousingredients
causedbytheinteraction(orchemicalaffinity)ofthedifferentplanetswiththematterofour
ownbodyatthetimeofone'sbirthdefinitelyportrayone'scharacterandthereforedestiny.
Somepeoplesuggestthatthetruthofastrologymustbe"demonstrated"asifinastrology
we merely handle material objects. But if the truth (or falsehood) of astrology is to be
demonstrated,itdoesseemtousnecessarytoask,first,whatconstitutesdemonstration.
Astrologypurportstodescribethecharacter anddestinyofpersons.Sodoeshistory.
Historyissurelyadisciplineofunchallengeablereality.Butisitscience?Andisdemonstration,
inthestrictestsenseofthatterm,possiblewithinhistory?WasAurangzebagoodorabadman?
WasMaryQueenofScottsagoodorabadwoman?Thatisaveryhumanquestion,asalsoa
verylegitimatehistoricalquestionwhichadmitsofprecisehistoricaltreatment.Butdoesthe
answer,onewayoranother,admitof"scientific"demonstration?Canyouputit"toanimpartial
test"?
ThoseofuswhomightwishtoaffirmthegoodnessoftheScottishQueenoftenfind
ourselvesinverygreatperplexity.YetthatMaryStuartwasdefeatedatLangside,thatshewasa
lessablepoliticianthanElizabethorCecil,thatshewasexecutedatFoitheringayarehistorical
facts,andarecertainlynotscientificfactsandtheydonotadmitofscientificdemonstration.
Theyadmitofthekindofdemonstrationthatispossiblewithinhistory.Butthatdoesnotmean
thatthereisanythingvagueorindeterminateaboutthem.Nowastrologyhasatleastthismuchin
commonwithhistory:thatpartatleastofitsaimistoportrayhumancharacter.Butit
differs fromhistory in sofar as part at all events ofastrology has also reference to
scientificfacts.Insofarasastrologyrelatestofactsofthescientificorder,itdoesadmitof
scientificdemonstration.Andscientificdemonstrationoughttobegivenandhasinactuality
beengiven.
 Thatthehigherreaches ofastrologyareconcernedwithhumancharacterandhuman
experience necessarily places astrological truth outside the possibility of ''scientific
demonstration",justas,forexample,the"truth"ofportraitpaintingorofhistoricalportraiture
also lies outside that possibility. Yet alike astrological, historical and artistic portraiture are
subject each to its own proper kind of critical judgment. It requires genius, however of
somethingakintothatpaintaportraitofwhoseartistictruthitisworthwhilespeaking.Italso
requiresgeniusor,atleast,aquitespecificastrologicalgifttoachievetheparalleltask
withintheastrologicalfield.Whereisthatastrologicalgeniusortalenttobefound,andwho
istorecognizeitifitwerefound?Certainlynotthescientificallytrainedmind.Itisjustnotthe
scientistwhoiscapableofpassinganysortofdiscerningjudgmentaboutastrology.Thatisthe
radicalmistakeofthosewhoaskfora'demonstrationofastrology'.Itisnotatthebarofscience
thatastrologyinitsverynaturecanstandorfall.Thehistorian,thepsychologist,thepoet,the
novelistmighthavesomeastrologicaldiscernment.Thescientistassuchcouldhavenone.
Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's. Therefore, the dubious critics of
astrologyshouldbeginbyconsiderationofthosebranchesofastrologythatrefertotheobjective
world only and not to experience. Let them first scrutinize such work as Krafft's and then
perhapstheywillbeawareofthedifficultycontainedinthequestionhowonepassesfromthe
knowledgeoftheworldofexternalobjectstotheknowledgeoftheworldofinnerexperience.
Itisaremarkablethingthattheimportanteventsoflifealwayshappenatastrologically
importantmoments,thatistosay,whentheDasasandBhukthis(astrologicaltimemeasures)of
powerfulorweakplanetsoperate.Asanexample,wecantakeupthehoroscopesofNapoleon,
Hitler,Mussolini,KingGeorgeVI,HirohitoandStalin.ThedominantcombinationsinHitler's
horoscopearethedispositionofSaturninthe10thandMarsinthe7th,eachaspectingtheother
powerfully.Jupiterthebeneficishoweverconsignedtoaminorposition.Astrologicaltextbooks
saythatMarsandSaturncombination(whichincludesaspectsalso)incertainhouses,subject,of
course, to the general strength or otherwise of the horoscope is said to make the subject
extremelyaggressive.Itisnotmerecoincidencethatthisdispositionofplanetsobtainsinthe
Fuehrer'shoroscope.Awarningwasgivenintheastrologicalmagazine,asearlyas1937,inthe
followingwords:
"ThenativitiesofMussoliniandHitlerwilldriftEuropetowardsadangerouszone.It
nowremainsforcountrieswithwiserstatesmentosetrighttheequilibriuminEuropeanpolitics.
NotetheEmperorofJapan'shoroscopeandseehowItaly,GermanyandJapanwithabsolute
impunitybreakthepubliclawoftheworld."AsregardsthefatesofHitlerandMussolinienough
hadbeenwrittenbyusinthecolumnsoftheastrologicalmagazine.Thefollowingextractswill
showhowpredictiveastrologyrevealsthefutureinaremarkablemanner:
43
"ThesecondpartoftheMoon'ssubperiodcommencesfromabout11thOctober1944
andcontinuesforninemonths.ItisonlyduringthisperiodthatHitler'scareermustcometoan
end.DevelopmentsinGermanyinthenearfuturewillbesudden,dramaticandunexpectedand
HitlerwouldhaveaviolentendespeciallybecauseofthepowerfuldispositionofMars."
The above delineation is one that will commend itself to the student of astrology,
particularlythepositionofMarsreferredtointhelastline,itbeingacommonobservationthat
Marsinthehouseofdeathsignifiesaviolentend.InHitler'scase,theSunisindeepexaltationin
the10thdegreeofAries.WhenhewassenttoprisonattheendofMarch1924,Saturnwas
exactlyintheoppositedegree(Lagna).InregardtoMussoliniandItaly,thefollowingforecast
maybenotedwithinterest:
44
"1943and1944loomasimportant yearsforItalyforeshadowingthedestruction of
Fascism.StormsarealsobrewinginthehoroscopeofPrinceofPiedmontandwillbreakwhenhe
ascendsthethrone.SaturnbytransitpassesthroughtheorbofthisdegreebyaboutOctober1944
andtheexactdegreeistransitedbyaboutJuly1945.Thusaboutthistimesomethingtragicmay
happentotheDuce."
Mr.CyrilPagan,writinginMarch1955issueof AmericanAstrology ofNew York,
observesthus:
"InApril1947issueoftheastrologicalmagazine,theEditorDr.B.V.Ramanmadeone
ofthemostsuccessfulpredictionsofmoderntimes,whenhepennedthesewords:'Marsand
Saturn will be in conjunction in the last degree of Cancer on November 12, 1947. These
combinationsalsopointtotheloss(byassassinationasviolentMarsiswithSaturninthe12th)
ofarespectedmassleaderofthiscountry'(p.247).Therecannotbetheslightestdoubtbutthat
Dr.RamanhadGandhi'sRasiChakrabeforehimwhenhewrotetheseominouswords,forthe
conjunction of Mars and Saturn, to which he refers, occurred at 11h. 21m. 45s. U.T. on
November12,1947,whenthesidereallongitudeofthemaleficswasCancer2806'28"and
thereforeclosetoGandhi'sMooninCancer2655'.GandhiwasassassinatedatNewDelhion
January30,1948(seehorarychart)sothatDr.Raman'sprediction,whichwaspublishedatleast
10 months before the event, found an astonishingly accurate, if tragic, fulfillment. The
confirmation ofthisforecastputsDr.Ramanintheforemostrankoftheworld'ssuccessful
astrologersandrendersthestudyofJyotishareallyworthwhile."

Theastrologicalmagazine,1913issue.
43

Theastrologicalmagazine,1943issue.
44
 Theabovearetheastrologicalpredictions,pureandsimple,madequiteinadvanceand
baseduponastrological principles.Theintroductionofthispersonalelement inanessayon
astrologyistobedeploredbutsinceproofisneededtoconvincetheskeptic,suchadigression
maybeignoredbytheindulgentreader.
Itisacommonknowledgethatthetenthhouseorthemeridianisaconspicuousposition
inahoroscopeanditissaidtoruleone'smeansoflivelihoodandpubliccareer.Saturnin(or
aspecting)the9thand10thisalwayssupposedultimatelytoindicatefallfromhighposition.The
horoscopesofPhillipIIofSpain,NapoleonI,LouisXVIII,Kaiser,HitlerandMussoliniare
illustrationsofthedominanceofSaturnwhilstJupiterextremelywellplacedhasgivenquitethe
oppositeresultsinrespectofElizabethI,GeorgeIII,QueenVictoria,GeorgeVandGeorgeVI.
 VII
ASTROLOGYANDHISTORY

Therelationbetweenastrologicalfactsandgreatpoliticaleventsinhumanhistoryopens
upavastfieldoffertileandilluminatingstudy.Historyandastrologywillthrowlightoneach
otherandmayoffervaluableguidancetostatesmen.ThetransitsofSaturnthroughAriesfor
instanceshowfrequentandastonishingcoincidencewithgreateventsinEnglishhistory.When
SaturnwasinAriesin1939EnglandhadtodeclarewaragainstGermany.
SimilarlyinIndianhistory,thetransitsofSaturninCancerandJupiterinPiscesseemto
haveimportantconsequences.WhenSaturnwaslastinCancer,threeimportanteventstookplace
inIndia:theIndependenceofIndia,thebirthofPakistanandthedeathofMahatmaGandhi.
Calculatingbackward,wehavetheseriesofevents:thefirstbattleofPanipat,secondbattleof
Panipat, first Mysore War, first war of Independence, etc. The birth of the Indian National
Congress and Montague's declaration of Responsible Government have all happened while
SaturnwasinCancer.IfthetwoseriesSaturninCancerandJupiterinPisceshappento
intersecteachother,weshouldexpecteventsofgreatimportancetooccur.Thisseriesfellin
18571858whenthefirstWarofIndependencewaswaged,anditfellagainin197576when
emergency was declared and an authoritarian regime established. This proved to be a very
significantperiodinIndianHistory.Outstandingpredictions,suchasNixon'sfallfrompowerin
1975,developmentsinIranleadingtotheexitoftheShah,recentaffairsinIndia,earthquakesin
Iran,developmentsinS.Africamadeinthecolumnsoftheastrologicalmagazinehaveallbeen
fulfilled.
Thereseemtobeenoughbasisforthestudyofwhatmaybecalledpoliticalastrology.I
venturetosay,riskingderisionbythoseincontrolofNationalGovernmentsthatacompetent
astrologicalbureaucouldgiveGovernmentenoughinsightintofuturecomplicationswithforeign
powersthatwouldbeworthmillionsofrupees,evenifonly60%ofitspredictionscomeouttrue.
Astrologershavealsofounda20yearperiodicityinthecorrelationbetweenthedeathsof
AmericanPresidentsinofficeandJupiterSaturnconjunctions.
1840W.H.Harrison,electedPresident,diedinofficefromanassassin'sbullet.1860
AbrahamLincoln,electedPresident,wasassassinated.1880JamesA.Garfield,elected
President,wasshottodeath.
1900WilliamMackinleyelectedPresidentforasecondtermanddiedlaterduringhis
termofoffice.1920WarrenC.HardingelectedPresidentanddiedintheWhiteHouse.1940
FranklinRooseveltelectedPresidenttoathirdtermanddiedinoffice.1960Kennedy
electedPresidentandwasshotdeadinoffice.
ThelateProf.B.SuryanarainRaohasquiteanumberofremarkablycorrectpredictions
tohiscredit.AnalyzingtheLunarYearAnanda(191415)heobservedthusintheMarch1914
issueoftheastrologicalmagazine:
"Therewillbesuddenoutbreaksofpassionandexcitementamongthearmiesleadingto
anarchy,anddenunciationofoldkinglyauthority,greatlossandconsternationandthewarfever
willbeatitshighestpitch.AEuropeanwaristhreatened...........andtheUnitedStatesshouldbe
verycarefulinnotbeingdraggedintoaruinouswar.TwodeathsamongtheEuropeanroyalties
areindicatedandoneofthemwillbefromviolenceortreachery.Politicalrelationsalloverthe
worldduringthemonthsofAugustandSeptemberwillbehighlyexcitedonaccountofthesolar
andlunareclipsesfollowingoneaftertheotherwithinafortnight."
TheassassinationoftheArchDukeofAustriaandtheoutbreakofthefirstworldwarare
allmattersofhistoryandneednoexposition.
AccordingtoTehijevsky,inEnglandtheLiberalsaresaidtohavebeeninpowerduring
sunspotpeaksandtheconservativeswhenthesunspotswerescarce.
Late R.A. Proctor, a great astronomer, repeatedly delighted himself in attacking this
'hoary'and"explodedsuperstitiontowhich,however,heconcededanoblepast,historically,and
aperfectlyreasonablebasisintheory.Buthewentontoadd,"thisfascinatingtheorywhichhas
ineveryageattractedthegreatestmindsdoesnotworkoutinpracticeandhardfact".Acareful
studyofallthatMr.Proctorhaswrittenonthesubjectshowsconclusivelybytheludicrous
blundermade,thathehadnotacquiredenoughpracticalknowledgeofthesciencetoevencasta
horoscopeandmuchlesstointerpretthesame.Onceheventuredoutoftheforestofgeneralities
intotheopentochallengetheenemy(Astrology)andfellavictimtohistemerity.IntheCornhill
MagazineforJuly1877,appearedanessayfromhispenentitled"ThePlanetofWar"inwhich
thefollowingpassageoccurs:
"ButifMarswereintruththeplanetofwar,ifhisinfluencepouredfromnearathand(in
perigee)uponthenationsofthisearth,excitedthemtowarandbloodshed,wemightwellfear
thatcomingmonthswouldbringdesolationinmanyfairterrestrial fields.ForMarshasnot
blazedsofiercelyinourskiessince1845,norwillhesoshineagainfor47years."
45
"The GodofWar,whohas anoccasional roughsenseofhumour,did pick up the
gauntletthuscontemptuouslythrownathim.TheRussoTurkishWar,declaredon2441877,
and first regarded by European diplomacy as a mere 'walkover' for the Russians, soon
ATextBookofAstrologybyDr.A.J.Pearce.
45
developedsymptomsofunexpectedseverity.OntheverydayonwhichMarsenteredhisdomal
dignity Aries, Plevna was carried by storm with a carnage unsurpassed in history. The last
NapoleonicWars(andthe1standthe2ndWorldWars)shouldallbeconstruedasironical
answers of planets to the pedants who dare to dispute their influences on the destinies of
mankind."
46
"Sir John Herschel characterized the assertion that comets cause 'warm summers,
epidemics andso forth' as 'all wild talking.' History however abounds with coincidences of
epidemics,wars,overthrowofkingdoms,faminesandearthquakeswiththeappearanceofgreat
comets.Hencebyanempiricallawwemayventuretosaywhenagreatcomet,orseveral,shall
appear,certaingreateventswillimmediatelyfollow.Butthiswouldbynomeansnecessarily
involveabeliefthatthecometswerethecauseofsuchevents,forallthesephenomenamightbe
the result of a common natural cause." Shakespeare must have intuitively realized the
significanceoftheappearanceofcometsinthefollowinglines:
Whenbeggarsdietherearenocometsseen;
Theheavensthemselvesblazeforththedeathofprinces.Varahamihirahasdealtwiththe
questionofcometsinhis BrihatSamhita. HeusesthetermKetufortheseoccasionalvisitors.
Theeffectsgenerallydependupontheirpositionsintheparticularzodiacalsigns.Thelistof
coincidencesfurnishedbelowmustconvinceanyfairmindedcriticthatafteralltheappearance
ofcometsisnotmerelyofscientific(?)interestbutindicatessomethingelsealso.
DanielDefoeinhisJournalofthePlagueYearmentionshowmuchthealarminLondon
wasincreased,whenthegreatplagueoftheyear1665wasinitsearlystages,becauseablazing
comethadappearedsomeweeksearlier.Thiscometwasofa"dulllanguidcolor"anditsmotion,
"veryheavy,solemnandslow",theinterpretationbeingthat"aheavyjudgment,slowbutsevere,
terribleandfrightfulwasalreadybegun.In1666alittlebeforetheGreatFire,anothercomet
appeared,portendingajudgment"sudden,swiftandfiery".Hementionsthatmanyremarked
"thatthosetwocometspasseddirectlyoverthecity,andsoverynearthehousesthatitwasplain
theyimportedsomethingpeculiartothecityalone".
InAugust1193B.C.thereappearedinGeminiacometofmostdreadfulaspect,visible
throughoutEgypt,andimmediatelyfollowedbythedeathofKingAmenemas.In479B.C.a
cometwasobservedbytheGrecians,whichwascrookedlikeahornandlastedtwentytwodays.
DuringthistimeoccurredtheseafightsatSalamis.In430B.C.afieryandredcomethungover
Athensforseventyfivedays,andthePelaponnesianWarbegan.In371B.C.therewasagreat
comet like a beam, extending over 60 degrees of the horizon. This was at the time of the
Ibid.
46
inundationandearthquakeinAchaia.In356B.C.atthebirthofAlexandertheGreat,appeareda
cometatfirstbushyandbearded,whichafterwardstooktheformofaspear.In134B.C.atthe
birthofMithridates,KingofPontus,acometwasvisibleofextraordinarysizeandsplendor.In
183B.C.acometinPisces,brightastheSun,wascoincidentwiththedeathofScipioAfricanus,
andagainatthedeathofCaesar.In71A.D.thereappearedagreatcometinVirgo,therulerof
Jerusalem.Thiscomettooktheformofasworddirectlyoverthatcity.ThisoccurredonEaster
Sunday,the8thofApril.Itwasvisibleawholeyear,untilthetakingofthiscitybyTitus.In218
A.D.agreatcometwasvisibleinPisceseighteendays,duringwhichtimeHeliogabalusdefeated
MacrimusandbecameEmperorofRome.In323A.D.acometinVirgoappearedcoincident
withConstantine'svictoryoverLuciniusandin337A.D.anothercometinAries,ofterrible
grandeur,wassimultaneouswiththedeathofConstantino.In392A.D.asmall,brightcomet
appearedintheheavensaboveRome.ThesamenightValentinian,theEmperor,wasstrangledin
hisplace.In493A.D.therewasagreatcometinVirgo;forwhenRomewassackedbythe
GothsunderAlaracontwopreviousinvasionsin396and402A.D,acometappearedlikea
sword.In423A.D.thereappearedaterriblecometwhichforetoldthewarbetweenRomeand
Persians.In455A.D.RomewassackedbyGensericwhenagreatcometappeared.InDecember
539A.D.alargecometappearedinSagittarius,whichremainedaboutfortydaysduringwhich
nearlythreelacsofpeopleperishedbytheearthquakeatAntioch.In546A.D.acomet,inthe
shapeofalance,wasvisibleoverthecityofConstantinople,andduringthetimethatitremained
tenthousandpersonsdieddailyoftheplague.In570A.D.acometappearedwhenItalywas
takenbytheLombards.InSeptember602A.D.acomet,intheshapeofasword,hungover
Constantinople,andtheexecutionoftheEmperorMauricefollowed.InMay604A.D.abright
cometwasvisibleatRomeandGregorythegreatdied.In613A.D.afierycomet,visibleovera
month, hovered over Rome and the Persian War began. In 800 A.D. a large but mild and
beneficent comet was visible with the transfer of Empire of Charlemagne, and another in
Novemberof814A.D.wasimmediatelyfollowedbyhisdeath.Intheyear1106A.D.acomet
was seen in the east, sending beams, like burning torches and fiery darts. This marked the
beginningoftheterriblewarsofCrusades.InJuly1264A.D.appearedinTaurus,acometof
mostsignalmagnitude.ThisremainedthreemonthsanddisappearedthenightPopeUrbanthe
fourth died. The comet of 1456 June (supposed to be Hally's comet) saw the surrender of
ConstantinopletotheTurks.ThenextappearanceofHally'scometjn1531wasfollowedbythe
ragingofspottedfeveralloverEuropeandbythedeathofover30,000peopleinthefamous
Lisbanearthquake.WhenthesameHally'scometreappearedin1682,Catanawasdestroyedby
anearthquakeand60,000died.Thenin1759thesamecometwasvisible,followedbyoutbreak
ofearthquakesinTripoli,Syria,etc.In1909,thedeathofEdwardVIIfollowedtheappearance
ofthesamecomet.Comingtomoderntimes,thereareanynumberofinstancesdemonstrating
thefactthattheappearanceofcometshasbeenfollowedbygreatcalamities,themostrecentone
beingthedeathofMahatmaGandhisoonaftertheappearanceofacomet.
Itmaynotbeoutofplacetomentionherethatwhilstmostofthepredictionsmadeby
real astrologers have turned out to be correct, the world was alarmed several times by the
predictionsoflearnedastronomers.In1856,greatexcitementwascausedbythepredictionofa
learnedastronomerthatthecometof1556wouldreappearandcomeintocollisionwiththe
earth.Manypersonswentfoolishlymadaboutthecometwhichafterallneverappeared.
Prof. Corrigan, Director of Carlton University, once stated in an article in Popular
Astronomythat"thecertaindestructionoftheworldisimminentthroughthebreakingawayofa
newplanetfromtheSun,producingaterrificexplosionwhichwillprobablysmashtheearthand
surelydestroyallanimallifeonlandaswellasinwaters".Theprofessorwasacleverman,more
shrewd thanastrologers.Whilehiscalculations basedonmathematics gavehiminformation
regardingtheparticulartimeofdetachmentoftheplanetfromtheSun,theydidnotrevealtohim
thepossibledate,onwhichthecatastrophewouldoccur.Dr.FalbeofAustriafixeddefinitelythe
endoftheworldon13thNovember1899at33p.m.Wearenowinbeginningof1982and
thankGod,Dr.Falbe'sprophecyhasbeenfalsified.LordKelvinwasofcoursemoreguarded.He
didnotbindhimselftoanydateonwhichtheworldwouldbedestroyed.Hefixedaboutfour
centuriesforthedestructionofalllivingbeingsonthesurfaceoftheearthforwantofoxygenas
thisprecious "asomethingwillallhavebeenconsumedbythattimebymenandindustrial
workshops. There was again another panic creator in the shape of Mr. Gore of the Royal
AstronomicalSociety.Mr.Goreobservedthusaboutthespeedydestructionoftheworld:"The
Sunisabouttocollidewithoneofthespentstarsthatloomdarklyinspace.Inabout11.8years
thedistancewouldbereducedto4,000millions,andinabout14yearsthedarkbodywould
reachtheorbitofUranusorratheritwouldbeatthesamedistancefromusasUranusforitspath
willnotintersecttheorbitoftheplanet.Bothplanetswouldbereducedtogaseousstatewithin
anhourandastupendousamountofheatwillbeproducedsufficientnotonlytodestroytheearth
butmostoftheplanetsofthesolarsystem.IntheastrologicalmagazineforDecember1898,a
yearbeforeDr.Falbe'stimefixedfordestructionoftheworld,intheissueforMay1906,a
coupleofyearsbeforethetimefixedbyMr.Gore,Prof.Raowrotestronglyagainstthesepanic
mongersandassuredthepublicthatnoheedbegiventothepredictionstheseerraticscientists.
 AnotherwiseSolomon(ofcourseastronomer)cameforwardwithstartlingpredictions
thatbetween17thand20thDecember1919,tremendousthingsweregoingtohappen.Toquote
thispredictioninfull,ofProfessorAlbertPorter,wouldcauseunnecessarypressureonpagesof
thisbook.Hewentsofarastosaythatthewholesolarsystemwouldbestronglyoutofbalance
onaccountoftheconjunctionofsixplanetswhichwouldpulljointlyontheSun.EventhenProf.
Rao came to the rescue of the people to drive out panic, when he strongly asserted in the
astrologicalmagazineforOctober1919thatnocombinationswereavailableaccordingtoHindu
calculations,whichwoulddisturbtheequilibriumofthesolarsystem.Prof.Raoobserved:
"Whatdoestheidioticprofessormeanthatonthatdaysixmightyplanetsarewithin26
degrees of each other?" He further continued thus: "We assure the people that no such
cataclysmshappenandtheymayquietlyattendtotheirwork."
"Hadanastrologerforetoldsuchcalamities"observesDr.Pearce,"thenewspaperswould
have viewed with virtuous indignation and denouncement when the scare was found to be
groundless.Thisfiascoisnotrememberedagainstastronomers,andthismarksthedifference
betweenorthodoxandheterodoxscience."
Astronomersclaimtohavediscoveredasingularbondofrelationshipbetweencomets
andshootingstars.Buthithertotheyhavefailedtodetermineeithertheorigin,therealstructure,
orthecausesofthewonderfulchangesofshapeofcomets.
Dr. Richard Garnett, Editor of the famous Encyclopaedia of Literature series is of
opinionthatastrologywiththesingleexceptionofastronomyis,asregardsdata,themostexact
ofallexactsciences....Someofhisotherobservationsare:"Theprinciplesofhis(astrologer's)
art have come down to him in essentials from the most remote antiquity, they have been
publishedinathousandbooksandareopentotheexaminationofalltheworld.Hiscalculations
areperformedbynomorecabalisticalprocessthanarithmetic.Itisthepeculiarboastofhis
system, in its application to human beings, to enthrone law where law would be otherwise
unrecognizedandtoleavenoopeningforanythingpreternatural."Inhisarticle'TheSoulandthe
Stars'publishedintheLondonUniversityMagazinefor1880,headducestheexamplesofsuch
historicalpersonagesasEmperorPaul,GeorgeIII,GustavusIV,EmpressCharloin,CharlesIIof
Spainandahostofotherinsanemonarchsandablyshowshowmentaldiseasesareliableto
occur to when Mars and Saturn occupy certain positions in the horoscope. He also gives
examplesofwhathecalls'eccentricityaccompaniedwithgreatmentalpower',thehoroscopes
consideredbeingthoseofVoltaire,Feebre,ArchbishopWhately,GladstoneandSaintSimon,in
allofwhichhefindsacertainjuxtapositionofMercurywithMarsandUranus,andconcludeshis
famousessaywiththefollowingwords:"Weclaimnothingmorethantohaveestablished a
primafaciecase,andtohaveearnedthelibertyofspeculatingagainst.Suchspeculationscarried
totheirlegitimateconsequenceswouldproduceamoremomentousrevolutioninhumanthought
thanallthediscoveriesofthiswonderfulage."RichardGarnettwasnoastrologer.Hewasa
CuratoroftheBritishMuseumandhasstudiedmanyfieldsofscience.Thereforehisdeductions
merittheseriousconsiderationofallcriticsofastrology.
Inastrology,Venusissupposedtorulemarriageandthesexelement.Hispresenceinthe
7th excites passions and the person will be highly sexed. Mars in combination with Venus
indicates more than one marriage, want of happiness from marriage, etc. This is strikingly
brought out in almost every horoscope examined by us in which MarsVenus affliction is
present.OutofsixtyhoroscopesstudiedbyuscontainingMarsVenuscombination,18casesof
violentquarrelandseparationaretobefoundwhenMarsandVenuswereinexactconjunction
inthe2ndhouse.In40casesmorethanonemarriagehadtakenplace.Inthetworemaining
cases,noabnormalitycouldbeseen.Nohighintelligenceisnecessarytoappreciatethesimple
truththatinthemajorityofcasesofmelancholiaSaturnwillbedominant.
TheassociationofVenuswithSaturn,MarsorRahuisalwaysindicativeofeitherwant
ofhappinessindomesticlifeoroversexualitymakingoneseekillegalsexgratifications.Though
Idonotwishtoburdentheindulgentreaderwithastrologicaltechnicalities,Imustcommendto
hisattentionthefollowingtwohoroscopesoutoftheseveralhundredsinmycollection,typically
illustrativeofcertainastrologicaldicta:

Venus Moon
SunMoon
Rahu Ascdt.

Mercury
Mars Sat
Jupiter
ChartNo1 ChartNo.2

Sun
Mars
Ascdt. Mercury
Venus
Rahu

InChartNo.1,VenusisassociatedwithRahuwhiletwomaleficplanetsaretobefound
oneithersideofthiscombination.Thesubject'swifewasalwayssicklyuntilherdeath.He
didnotactuallymarryasecondwifebuthadhisownimmoralways.Hesufferedfromvenereal
complaintsandhadabsolutelynopeaceofmind.Intheotherchart,thereisagainaconjunction
of Mars and Venus. The Moon and Mercury, rulers of the mind, are subject to aspect and
associationrespectivelyofSaturn,andtheSunandRahu.Themanmarriedtwice.Hehada
terribleturnofvenerealmindandcontactedsevereformsoffemalediseasesfromwhichhe
sufferedagreatdeal.Histwowivesdiedbeforehim.Hehadabsolutelynofamilyhappiness.
Instances canbemultiplied toshow thatacertain juxtaposition ofVenus,Mars and Saturn
alwaysgivesrisetosexualaberrationsandmaritalinharmony.Ifsuchafflictionsarepresentin
thehoroscopesofchildren,theyindicatethetrendofthementaldevelopmentandbybringingup
thechildreninastrict,moralandreligiousatmosphere,theycouldbemadefittingcitizens.
47
Thebirthoftwinsandtheirdifferinglivesaresometimesproducedasanargument
againstastrology.Whenthequestionoftwinsisrightlyunderstood,theargumentwillreallybe
infavorofastrology.Twinsaresometimesalikeandsometimesdifferent.Sometimestwinswill
havesomecommoncharacterandothersdifferent.Suchvariationsasaruleareduetoslight
differenceinthetimeofbirth.Thewordtwinimpliestwoentitiescomingintomanifestation
under the same planetary pattern. This must also be extended to include two children born
approximately (if not exactly) for the same time regardless of parentage or environmental
conditionsofbirth.Manycuriouscasesinpointhavecometoourattention.Infact,Ihavewith
methehoroscopesoftwootherpersonsbornonthesamedaythatIwasbutatdifferenttimes.
Oneisadoctor,theotherisabankerandwhatthethirdis,thereaderknows.Theremarkable
factisthatinallthetwoothercasessomeoftheimportantpastexperienceshaveparalleledthose
ofmine.On16thFebruary1937,aninternationalnewsfromDetroitannouncedthediscoveryof
twoseventeenyearoldhighschoolgirlsbornonthesamedayofthesameyear,2291920,two
hoursapart,butindifferentcountries.Notonlytheyhavethesamebirthdate,thesamename,
theylookalike,bothplaythepiano,bothareaccomplishedswimmers.Anothercaseinpointis:
Twomenbornon2741902,oneat1215a.m.(Banaras)andtheotherat1038a.m.(Tanjore).
Thereisapproximately10hoursdifferenceintheactualtimeofbirth.Yettheyfoundthattheir
livespresentedthefollowingstrikingsimilarities:(a)Bothhaveachroniccatarrhalconditionof
the throat, (b) Both have exceptional eyesight, (c) The fathers of both are contractors, (d)
Grandfathersofbothhadaccidentstotheirfeetfollowedbyinfectionanddeath,(e)Thefather's
motherdiedwhenthefatherwasabout5yearsold.(f)Bothhadtwosistersandonebrother,(g)
Bothareinterestedinthescientificstudyofastrology.
Gleadow.
47
 ItmaybeofinteresttoreaderstoknowthatbothEmersonandLyttonwerebornon
2551803at118p.m.(Boston)and8a.m.(London)respectively.BothEmersonandLytton
becamemenoflettersofmuchdistinction.Eachhadaninfluenceonthepoliticsofhistime.
Eachwroteandpublishedpoetryduringmuchofhislife.Eachdrewinspirationfromhismother
tofollowacareerofletters.EmersonhasMercury,theintellectualplanetinthe10thinhisown
placewhilethephilosophicalJupiterisinLagna.WhereasLyttonhasthesensualplanetVenus
inthe10thandtheemotionalplanetMooninLagna.Hereisthedifference.Onaccountofthe
stress of Jupiter and Mercury respectively on Lagna and the 10th, Emerson's field was
philosophyandhewrotefortheelectthosewhowerewillingtothinkdeeply.Lyttononthe
otherhandwroteforthecommonpeople,choosingforhisfielddramaandfictionconsistentwith
the predominance of lunar and Venus influences on Lagna and the 10th respectively. The
followingmaybenotedasindicatingmoreorlessparalleleventswithslightdifferencesinthe
natureoftheresults.
Emerson was elected Assistant Preacher in 1829, while Lytton attained his first
prominencein1828asanovelistthrough'Pelham.'In1831,Lyttonhadlotofdifficultywithhis
wifefromwhomheseparated,theseparationbeingmadelegalin1836.Emersonlosthiswifein
1837. The JupiterVenus disposition in Emerson's chart gives a clue to his intellectual
attainments.Heworkedfortheremovalofbigotry,revisionofthenarrowChristiantheological
conceptsandbroadeningofviews.In1872Emerson'shealthfailedandhediedin1882while
Lytton died in 1873. Note the relative strengths of the 8th house in both the horoscopes
accountingforthedifferenceintheirrespectiveperiodsoflongevity.
Wehavetwomoreoutstandingchartstoconsiderasanillustrationoftheidentityofbirth
dates.BothAbrahamLincolnandCharlesDarwinwerebornonthesameday,viz.,1221809.
CharlesDarwin'sbirthtimeisnotknown.LincolnwasborninKentuckybetween7and11a.m.
What Lincoln accomplished in the abolition of bodily slavery, Darwin accomplished in the
abolitionofmentalslaveryintheWesternintellectualworld.Eachhasleftanameinhisown
particularspherewhichposteritywouldgratefullyremember.Theyfeltanddidthattheywere
friendsofallmenandtheydirectedtheireffortstowardsacquiringinformationwhichtheworld
atlargemightbenefit.BetweenthelivesofAbrahamLincolnandCharlesDarwin,thereare
outstandingparallels,astheywerebornonthesamedayofthesameyear.Thedepartmentsof
lifeaffectedbytheinfluencesaredeterminedbythepositionsofplanetsinhousesandNavamsas
whichdependeduponthetimeofdayofbirthandthereforetherewillnecessarilybeequally
outstandingdifferencesinthekindoffortunesattractedtocertaindepartmentsoftheirlives.
Lincolnlosthismotherattheageof9asalsoDarwin.RoundtheworldjourneybyDarwin
beganin1831.Lincolntootookanepochalvoyage.Thetwodislikedtheirstudies.Lincolnwas
assassinatedinhis56thyearwhereasDarwindiedinhis73rdyear.Thetimesofbirthbeing
different,theperiodsoflifeinwhichonehadfortuneprovedunfortunatefortheotherandvice
versa. Wecanciteanumberofinstancestoshowthatparallelismprevailedinrespectofthe
livesofpersonsbornonthesamedate,monthandyear.
 VIII
FUTILITYOFFATALISTICDOCTRINE

Anynumberoffurtherproofsinsupportofthevalidityofastrologycanbeadduced,but
we feel that we have given enough evidence in favor of a rational system of scientific
foreknowledge and the subject is deserving of impartial examination and ready acceptance.
Astrologycanneverbeconsideredasarelicofthepseudoscientificsnobberyofthemiddle
ages.ThegreatKepler,whoformulatedthemathematicalprinciplesoftheconstitutionofthe
solarsystem,whichwereafterwardsprovedbyNewton,saidaboutastrology:"Amostunfailing
experience of the course of mundane events in harmony with the changes occurring in the
heavens has instructed and compelled my unwilling belief." These words of Kepler, says
Sepharial,"embodyasoberconvictionfromexperiencealtogetherinkeepingwiththescientific
reputationsofthisgreatgenius,"anditissheerpresumptiononthepartofuninformedcriticsof
astrologyto"repudiatethisdictumbyascribingthebelieftodelusionandsuperstition,orthe
remarkablepredictionofwellknownastrologerstocoincidence".Alittlereflectionwillsuggest
totheAveragethinkingmindthataseriesofcoincidencesmakesalaw."Theignorantspeakof
lawsiftheywerecompellingforcesintheuniverse.Theyareinfactnothingbutourmental
perceptionofthecorrelatedsuccessivenessofevents.Lawisamentalconceptnotacosmic
energy.
Asingle bonafideprediction, whichwas trueastotime andnatureofevent would
establishanaprioriargumentforthescientificvalueofastrologyifitcouldbeshownasit
certainly can that the prediction was made from mathematical calculation of planetary
configurationsandthattheeventpredictedcouldnothavebeenforetoldotherwise.
Summingup,wefindthatastrologyisnotonlyamostfascinatingintellectualstudybutis
aremarkabletoolforscrutinizingthefringeoffutureevents.Asanhistoricalphenomenonitis
uniqueinallowingustofathomthementalityofmoreorlessdistantculturesinspaceaswellas
intime.Astrologycannotbecalledascienceinitsnarrowsensebecausesciencedealsonlywith
materialobjects.Yetastrologyisbaseduponscientificdata.Anysubjectthatdealswithlife
objectscannotbecalledascience.Astrologyisanappliedscienceandthereforebecomesanart.
Wehavealsoshownthatmodernscientificthinkingisinsuchgreatconfusionthatitcansay
nothing definitely against determinism or fate. "Chance in nature baffles a complete
comprehensionandappearsmeaninglessandwhimsicalasitisnotpossibletounderstandnatural
phenomena."Theexplanationofferedbyadialecticalmaterialistliesinthecombinationofboth
chanceandnecessity.Ifnecessitycanbeequatedwithcausalrelationship,somephenomenonor
eventcanbeexplainedbyphysicalandenvironmentalconditions,butothersareagainmattersof
chance.Tothisextentnecessityleadstodeterminism.Modernsciencehasconfessedthat,toput
inPlanck'swords,"itisneverinapositioncompletelyandexhaustivelytoexplaintheproblems
ithastoface".
Thedomainofscienceiscertainlydifferentfromthesocialandpoliticalspheresoflife.
Whateverislatentinourlife,thatonlyisrevealedbytheplanetarycombinationsandthatonly
takes a new form which was lying dormant (Karma) but capable of being enlivened under
efficientdirectingforce(Freewill).ThusKarmaorFateorDeterminismcanexistsidebyside
withfreewill.ThisistheHinduviewandmodernconceptsaregraduallyveeringtowardsthis
importantdiscoveryoftheancients.
"Man'sactionmovesonthelinesthathisownKarmaistracingforhim.Buthiswillis
free to fashion his Karma. It is determinism to the extent that Karma which is dynamic is
shadowedbymedievalandunchangeablelawofKarma,butlifewhichisguidedbyfreewill
does not follow any preordained pattern. Determinism thus appears as a law a law that
operatesthroughchangesaccordingtotheconditionsofeachcircumstanceandenvironment."
Indianphilosophyhasalwaysdeniedtheexistenceofamercilessfatewhichwouldplaywith
manasitpleases.Onthecontrary,theMaharshishaveunequivocallydeclaredthatmanhas
controloverhisactionsbuthisactionshavenocontrolovertheirresults.Thehoroscopeshowsa
man'scharacterandtemperament.IfitshowsthatowingtodominanceofMarsandRahuhe
wouldbecomeacriminal,itdoesnotmeanheisfatedtobecomeso.Whatitmeansisthatheis
justthesortofpersonwhowillhavecriminaltendenciesbuttheycanbecheckedbypropercare
andtraining.Supposeanemotionalcrisisisindicatedinaparticularyear.Onecancertainlymeet
thecrisisifoneknewwhenitwouldhappen.
Letusbealittlemoreexplanatory.Oneofthefirstphilosophicalquestionsthatrisesin
themindofathinkeristhatofhumanfreedom.Ifthefutureofmanisdeterminedbytheplanets
andstars,thereisnothingthathecanachievebyhisowneffort.Hislifewillbereducedtothat
ofapuppetwhichhastomakeeverymovementinmechanicalobediencetothepullsofthe
operator.SometimestheologiansforgettheelementofhumanfreedomwhenglorifyingGod.
Theyattributeeverystateofmind,consciousandunconscious,toGod'simpellingsuggestion
fromwithin.Ifthisistakenstrictly,humanfreedomdisappears.Hewillnotbefreetochoose
between good and evil. In fact the very meaning of good and bad will disappear from the
vocabularyofhumanlife.Withfreedomwilldisappearallsenseofresponsibility,moralorother,
allsenseofsinorwrongdoing,andallaspirationforanoblerstateofbeing.
Inthisquandary,theologiansthinkofdoctrinesoftheselflimitationofGodwholets
man have a certain delegated freedom like that of a servant under a master. Absolutist
philosophersthinkofchangingthenotionofDeitytothatofasuperpersonalorattributeless
(nirguna) Beingandreducefreedomtothestatusof vyavahara orempiricallife,disappearing
withtheegoitselfinthestateofparamarthaorultimatesalvationormokshaormerger.Buton
the plane of empirical existent; freedom has a real value and is indispensable for the self
regulationofhumanbeings.Onthisplane,itisnotnecessarytoassumethatastrologydestroys
theopportunityforhumanchoice.
For astrology reveals only the general influence of the planets and stars on our life
careersatdifferenttimesinourlifeanddevelopment.Itrevealstendencies.Itrevealsgoodand
badtimesforcertainkindsofchoice.
Therealsituationisthatmanispartlyfreeandpartlydetermined.Hisphysicalnatureand
hisheredityandhispositioninthecosmosandeveninsocietyaredetermined.Hebeginswitha
certain numberoffactsthathecannotchangehisparentage,hisnationality,hisplacein
geographicalregionorcountry,histemperament,eventhelifefundofenergythesearehis
capital.
Buthecanusethiscapitalinvariouswayssoastorisehigherorsinklowerinthescale
ofvalue.Hecanbetterhimselfincharacterandsocialstatusordiminishhisstaturebybad
conduct. Manhas enoughfreedomtomakeormarhimself.Hehasnotenoughfreedom to
commandnatureandhistorytosuithisfancies.
Thereisnoreasontothinkthatastrologysealsthefateofeveryhumanbeingatbirth
determiningeveryoneofhisactsofchoiceeverymomentofhislife.Astrologydoesnotsupport
theideaofkismetorfateorcompletelydeterminedlifeformanlikeamechanismmovedby
previouslyoperatingcauses.
InaccordancewiththegeneralbackgroundofIndianthought,Indianastrologysupports
theideaofrebirthandkarma.
A man's heredity is his inheritance from his own deeds in a previous life. A man's
characterandpotentialitiesarethesummationofhisowndeedsinpreviouslives.Hispresentlife
isinfluencedby prarabdha (operative)karmatendencies ofhispreviousdeedsthathave
startedtofunction.Thereareothershiddeninhisnature;hecanpreventthebadonesamong
themfromtakingshapethroughhischoices.Hecanmodifythefuturewhilehehastosufferthe
consequencesofthepast.Eventhepasthecanconvertintostrengthbythewayhefacesitby
patienceandacceptanceanddeterminationtochangeforthefuture.
Indianastrologyenvisagesthewholecosmos,particularlytheSunandtheplanetsasco
operatingwiththehumanindividualinmoldinghisselfformationandselfrealizationinthe
efforttoreachMoksha.Theuniverseisa karyakshetrathe valleyofrealizationthrough
deeds.HencethereisroomforbothfreedomandcosmicJawintheIndianschemeofthings
whichissharedbyIndianastrology.
ThereisthusaprofoundviewofindividualitypervadingtheIndianvisionoflife.Each
individualhastotreadthepathofbhusarasamsaraalonefrommigrationtomigrationorlifeto
life through many societies and many partnerships, using the gift of limited freedom he is
endowed with, which is sufficient not to create the universe, but to achieve selfrealization
through jnana (knowledge), bhakti (devotion), karma (action) and lokaseva (service to
humanity).
ThusastrologyinIndiaispartofthewholeofIndiancultureandcivilizationandplaysan
integralpartinguidinglifeforallatallstagesoflife.
Astrologycanbestudiedwithadvantage,tohelpmedicine,agriculture,meteorologyand
psychology.Theonlythingis,oneshouldnotattempttomakeastrologyfatalisticandtouseitas
ameansofevadingtheresponsibilitiesoffreewill.Inthewiderangeofphysicalsciencethereis
noquestionofhighernationalimportancethanastrology. 48"Sofarfromabeliefinastrology
leadingtofatality,itistheneglectofastrologythattendstofatalityforthelawsofnaturegoon
workinguntilthecatastrophearriveswhichmighthavebeenforeseen,anditseffectsmitigated,
hadthewarningoftheheavensbeenattendedtobystatesmenandphilosophers."
Oneofthemostimportantusesofastrologyisthedirectionofeducationandselectionof
aprofession.Howoftendowenotcomeacrossmisfits?Cananymodernsciencepretendtosay
thatitcanshowthevocationforwhichoneisbestfitted?Educationiswastedbecausemillions
of people pursue wrong vocations. If modern education cannot enable parents totell their
children,whattheycandobest,thenthewholecurriculumofstudyrequirestobethoroughly
overhauled.Anastrologercandiscoverontheverydaywhenthechildisborn,whetherthere
wouldbeanyaptitudeforphysicsorphilosophy.
AfewwordsaboutastrologyandmodernpsychologyandIshallclosethischapter.The
Hinduundoubtedlydeservethecreditforhavingdiscoveredanastrologicalcumpsychological
classificationofhumanbeingswhichhasenduredforalltheseyears.
The astrological classification is based upon marked differences of emotional and
physical characteristics though the play "ofemotion forms the mostfrequent and obviously
ATextBookofAstrologybyDr.A.J.Pearce.
48
strikingfeatureofanybehavior".ItisnoteworthythereforethatthepositionoftheMooninthe
horoscopeissupremelyimportantinasmuchastheMoonisthekarakaofmindandalltheforces
released by the play of our emotions. To all external appearance anatomical and
morphologicalthereisnodifferencebetweenmanandman,thoughNaturehasbeenperhaps
carefultoseethatnotwohumanfaces,exceptinveryrareinstances,havethesameappearance.
Similarlyacarefulobservationextendingoverlongintervalsoftimehasrevealedthatdifference
isperceptiblebetweendifferentorgansofdifferentindividuals.ThusAmayhavealongnose;B,
snubbednoseandsoonsothatconsistentwiththesevariations,differences intheolfactory
powersmaybenoticed.Astrologicalwritershavedistinctlyrecognizedfourtypesbasedonthe
predominanceoftheearthy,fiery,wateryorairyelements.Here'element'doesnotmeanthe
'element'ofmodernscience.Aknowledgeofthepsychologicalmakeupofapersonbasedon
theastrologicalqualificationisnotaninsignificantfactorinasmuchasitanalyseswhatyouare.
Of course, the twelve zodiacal types aim at a sharper characterization of certain typical
differences.Theemotionalbehaviorofmanistracedbymodernpsychologiststowhatiscalled
the'affectpersonality'.'Affect'isnottheonlythingthatischaracteristicofmankind.TheMoon's
positioninthehoroscoperevealsthe'affectpersonality'whilethesigninwhichtheascendant
fallsandthelordofthesignrevealtherealpersonality"psychologicalfunctionsveiledin
obscurity,andscarcelydiscernibletothemajorityofthepeople."Wedonotrequireamodern
psychologisttoteachusthedifferencebetween'affect'and'real'personalityforthesehavebeen,
already explained, may be in euphemistic language, by ancient astrological writers. When
consideringthepsychologicalpersonalityofperson,duecareistakentoseethatthephysical
peculiaritiesarealsoimpressed.
Itisafactthatweareinthehabitofjustifying"ourselvestoanyonewhoholdsus
responsibleforanemotionalactbysayingthatweactedonlyonimpulse"andwewouldnot
havedonesoifwehadnotbeeninthatemotionalcondition.Inthisjustificationliesanattempt
todistinguishoneselffromone'sown'affect'.Againifamanjudgesusbyour'affect'oremotion
wesayhelacksunderstanding.Inotherwords,injudgingaman,factorsotherthantheemotional
onesarealsoimportant.Psychologists callthe'real'personalityastheegowhichisentirely
differentfromtheemotionalpersonality.Theemotionalpersonalitymaybeahigheroneasin
instancesofgenerosity,sacrifice,etc.,butthesecannotbesustained.NowtheMoonindicatesthe
'emotionalpersonality'whiletheLagnaortheascendantindicatesthetrueoregopersonality.
TheMoonsignifiessensation,instincts,impulses,cautiousness,imaginationandchangeableness.
Thetruepersonalityisthatwhichisbornintothisworldinaphysicalbody.Itbringswithit
tendenciestotypesofthought,feeling,andaction,inbornanduntaught,beingderivedfromits
pastcareerasasoul.Theseinnatefacultiesareexpandedandincreasedbyitsexperiencesofthis
life.
Wehaveattemptedtodrawthedistinctionbetweenthetwotypesofpersonalitieswitha
viewtoemphasizingtheneedforacorrectappreciationoftheLagnafactorasdifferentfromthe
Moonfactor.
Astrologyteachesusthatinspiteofagreatvarietyofmotivesandtendencies,certain
groupsofindividuals,characterizedbyanobviousconformityintheirmannerofmotivationcan
bedifferentiated.Aknowledgeoftheastrologicaltypetowhichonebelongswillbehighly
usefulinadjustinghissocial,sexualandpsychologicallifeinsuchawaythathecanfollowthe
lineofleastresistance.
Thougheverypersonalitybelongstooneofthetwelvezodiacaltypesandisevolving
underitsinfluenceyet,onecannevergiveadescriptionofatype,"whichabsolutelyappliesto
oneindividualdespitethefactthatthousandsmightinacertainsensebestrikinglycharacterized
by it. Conformity is one side of the man while uniqueness is the other". In our above
observations, wehave merely dealt withthe psychological aspect ofthe "real" and "affect"
personalities;butintheastrologicalaspect,amorecomprehensiveaccountofthepersonalityis
clearlyrevealed.
Modernpsychologistshaverecognizedthreetypes,viz.,(a)sensationtypes,(6)thinking
types, and (c) feeling types. According to Jung, people belonging to 'sensation type' bother
themselvesverylittle"aboutthepossibilitieswhichliehiddeninasituation".Thosebelongingto
the 'thinking type' "cannot adapt themselves to a situation which they cannot comprehend
intellectually". Thosebelonging to thethird type"give themselves upwhollyto the lure of
possibilities".Ofcoursethistypeclassificationisverygeneral.
Astrology is not merely the summation of psychology, but it is certainly intimately
connectedwithpsychologicalconcepts.Infact,Dr.Jungassuresrecognitionforastrologyinthe
followingwords:
"Astrology is assured of recognition from psychology, without further restrictions,
becauseastrologyrepresentsthatsummation,ofallthepsychologicalknowledgeofantiquity."
Wesaid abovethatastrologyisthescienceofsciences foritrefers tomanythingsbesides
psychology from weather and crop forecasts toState matters and individual affairs. Nor
astrologyistobeidentifiedinitsessencewithanyexperimentalorempiricalscience.Justas
mathematics is the organizing principle of science dealing with inanimate matter so also
astrologyistheorganizingprincipleofsuchsciencesasdealwithlifeandsignificanceinrelation
toalllivingbodies.BertrandRusselsaysthat"thewholepracticalutilityofknowledgedepends
uponitspowerofforetellingthefuture".Sinceastrologyanswersthisrequirementitmustbe
considereduniversalknowledgeandsuperiortootherbrancheswhichapplyonlytoadefinite
periodoftime,duringwhichtherehasbeencontinuousobservation.
Theuseofastrologyhasbeenhintedatalready.Comingtothefunctionsofastrology,the
mostimportantoneisthatitdispenseswiththetextbookmaximsofethicsandprudenceand
showsyouawayoutofdeadlocksorblindalleys.Beliefinastrologyreallyleadstoanewkindof
morality.Itiscertainlydifferentfromandmoreliberatinginmanyrespectsthantheethical
limitationsoftheordinarymen.Astrologypostulatesanunendingchainofexistences,asortof
perpetual seesaw which, amongst a seeming waste of incredible energy, contributes to the
conservation of the universal sumtotal. It promotes a theoretic appreciation of the Advaita
doctrine,forthemanwhoisontoptodayisfoundatthebottomtomorrow;neitheroftheresults
isduetosheervolitiononhispart,butapparentlypredeterminedconsequenceoftheperpetual
movementofthewheel.Wearenotallofuscourageousnihilists.Wethereforefindsomepetty
consolationforourfailuresinlifebyattributingthemtothestars.Othercompensationswhich
astrology offers us are no less valuable. If weare foretold aperiod of calamity or trouble,
advanceintimationhastheeffectofpreparingustobreakthebackofthemisfortunebymeeting
ithalfway,andtakingitunawares.
Theimportanceofastrologyinthesociallifeofmanismanifold.Humanneedsand
aspirationsfurnishacontinuousmotivepowerforastrologicalinquiry.Wecandividetheneeds
ofahumanbeinginsocietyintoseveralgradesofurgencytoeachofwhichastrologyhasa
definite relation. The dynamic needs of human society find the motive force in political
movementsthetrendofwhichcanbeclearlyascertainedbyastrologicalconsiderations.Thepre
knowledge would be a great asset to humanity. Mortality and illness rates can be easily
ascertained and steps taken to prevent such happenings and control disease. Man breeds at
haphazard,andtheresultingchangesinquantityandqualityofmenhavethemostviolentsocial
repercussions.Allthesedevelopmentscanbeascertainedwiththeaidofastrologysothatthe
ultimate happiness of men may be ensured. In fact, there are large tasks for mankind to
undertake.Astrologyhelpsrealizationofalltheseideals.Thesecretvalueofastrologyliesinthe
factthatyouareaskedtofollowthelineofleastresistancesothatmaximumsuccessmaybe
attainedwithminimumeffort.
Somearecurioustoknow"theofficialreactionoftheMarxistorthecommunisttothe
subjectofastrology".Weareinclinedtotheviewthatthecommunistsmusthavenothingbut
contemptforastrology,sinceitpostulatesafuturestateofexistencewhichisrepugnanttothe
materialistviewoftheuniverse.Theydreamoftheapotheosisofthecommonmanbysimple,
incendiarymeans:butforgetthatthemomenthebecomesuncommon,hebecomesthearch
enemyoftheCommunistState.ThepureCommunist,ifonecangetatone,mustbeofheroic
mould.Forhelabors withalltheaccumulated zealandarrestedmomentumofcenturies, to
establishhismillenniumforthespanofageneration.Hemaynodoubtentertainthebeliefthat
themissionaryfervorthathaspromptedhimtoactionwillcontinuetopromptothersafterhim,
andthathisproletarianElDoradowillendureforever,oncehesetsitonitsfeet.Thisisin
reality the old fallacy in a new garb; the old mysticism which believed in a survival of
personalitytransferredtoanequallyuntenablefaithinthesurvivalofaStateorsociety.How
littlejustificationthereisforsuchapleasingfictionwillbeevidentfromthepersistentsea
changewhichCommunismhasbeenundergoinginthehomeofitsbirth,fromthedateofits
birth.
 IX
49
CANASTROLOGYPREDICTEARTHQUAKES?

On 28th July 1976 China suffered one of the worst catastrophes in its history. An
exceptionallyviolentearthquakehitaverydenselypopulatedindustrialregion,150kilometers
eastofPeking.ThecityofTangshanwasreportedintotalruin.Atleast1,00,000peoplearesaid
tohavelosttheirlives.ThequakedamagedbuildingsinPeking,andfearingmoreshocksmight
follow,Peking'ssixmillionpeoplestayedoutoftheirhouses.Thetremorsweresaidtobeof
suchmagnitudethatnotonlydamagewascausedtoPeking'sHallofthePeoplesbutseveral
dams,bridgesandpeasants'housesweredestroyedinmanypartsofnortheastChina.
Apartfromthehugelossoflifeandpropertyandtheneedfordiversionofresourcesto
rehabilitatetheareasdamaged,itseems,theearthquakeinChinahadpoliticalimplicationsalso.
Theimpactoftheearthquakeon"superstitiouspeasants"worriedtheGovernment,becauseof
theanticipation(ofthepeasants)thatthisnaturalphenomenon"presagedanationalcalamityora
changeofdynastyashadbeeninterpretedwhenmonarchsruledtheland".
Scientists,asusual,arenotagreed,astotheexactcauseofearthquakes.Thoughthe
Russians claimed about 15 years ago to have made an important discovery in the field of
earthquakeprediction,nothingfurtherhasbeenknownastowhetheranyreliablesystemof
forecastingearthquakeswasdeveloped.Theirdiscoverythatthe"ratiobetweenthevelocitiesof
naturalwavemotionsthroughthegrounddroppedsignificantlydaysbeforeanearthquakeand
thenreturnedtonormaljustbeforeittookplace"issaidtobeanimportantsteptowardsthe
directionofmakingearthquakeforecasts.Butnotwoscientistsseemtoagreeeitherregarding
thecauseofearthquakesormethodsofforecast.
AftertheKoynadisasterin1967,the"waterload"theorywasadvancedbytheFrench
scientistRotheandlaterbytheIndianscientistsGuptaandRastogi.ThenateamofUnesco
expertsfoundthat"theimpoundedwaterwasnotthecause".SubsequentlyDr.McKenzicof
Cambridgeand
Dr.BrunneofCaliforniaUniversities advancedthetheorythat"earthquakes lubricate
themselvesatanearlystageandthenspreadrapidly".JohnMichellofCambridgeUniversity
attributedthevibratorymovementsinearthquakestowhathecalled"elasticwavestraversingthe
crust".Whileseismologyissaidtobea"science"andtheseismographiscapableofregistering
even distant earthquakes, of course after they have happened, we have yet to hear of a
EditorialbytheAuthorreprintedfromOctober1976issueoftheastrologicalmagazine.
49
seismologisteverhavingpredictedcorrectlytheoccurrenceofanearthquake.
Theastonishingfactisthatmostofthescientists,engagedinearthquakestudies,donot
seemtotakeanintegratedviewofwhatishappeningonorabovetheearth'scrust.
Ofalltheknownsciences,Astrologyalonetakesintocognizancethatallphenomena
includingtheoccurrenceofearthquakesareregulatedbyplanetarymovements.Suchatheoryis
notanidlefancyespeciallyinthelightofthefindingsofatleastsomeofthescientiststhat
earthquakescanbetriggeredbysolaractivity.ForinstanceDr.Andersonaseismologistofthe
CaliforniaInstituteofTechnologydoesnotlookatseismiceventsinisolation.Inananalysisof
the17yearperiodofviolence(1897to1914)"duringwhichtherewerequakesofamagnitude
greater thaneightontheRichter scale"hesawthat"tsunamis(tidalwaves30meters high)
increasedinnumber,thelengthofthedaychanged,thatis,theearth'srotationsloweddown,the
world'smeantemperaturerosebyonedegreeandthe'Chandlerwobble'wasatitspeak".He
saysfurtherthatthesewereinterlinked.Allthesegeophysicaleventsarepartofalargeenergy
chain.TheperiodicityoftheChandlerwobbleis40yearsandthisissaidtoexplainthe1950and
1952earthquakesinAssamandKamchatka.
ThereforethevagariesoftheSunarenotwithoutconsequencesforourplanet,letalone
forthehumanspeciesonit.Danjon,DirectoroftheobservatoryatParis,announcedthatduring
January,FebruaryandMarch1963,thedayshadbeenshorter.Anditiswrothwhilenotingthat
Danjonannouncedanimportantdeviationintheearth'srotationbeforethedisasterofAgadir.
Ifasscientistsclaimtohavediscovered,theSun'svagariesalterthedurationoftheday,it
is reasonable toassumethat they mayeven induce earthquakes. In1968astronomer Trellis
showedevidencethatthe"gravitationaleffectoftheplanetsmoderatestheelevenyearsolar
activitycycle."ConsequentlyitistheSunandtheplanetaryjuxtapositionsthatcouldafforda
mathematically workable method to forecast all natural phenomena, including of course
earthquakes.
Theancientclassic GargaSamhita tracesthequakingoftheearthto"Ketus"ordark
spotsontheSun.Andthistheoryisgainingconfirmationamongstasectionofwesternscientists
notintentonstickingtoorthodoxtheories.
Chile was rocked by a deadly earthquake in May 1960. And two days earlier the
scientistshadfoundthatahugespotwaspassingoverthecentralmeridianoftheSunandthey
thoughtthatthespothadcausedthedisaster.
Manyscientistshavestartedattributingthoughtheymaynotpubliclyadmitthisthe
periodicity of solar spots to planetary configurations. Indeed it is not the Sun alone who
provokestheearthquakeshocks.TheotherplanetsandtheMoonalsostimulatetheactivityof
thesubterraneanforces.Thesescientistshavealsofoundthatacomparisonofthegraphsofsolar
activity,theoccurrenceofearthquakesandthevelocityofearth'srotationrevealthatcurvesare
distinctlysimilarthusshowingadefiniteconnection.Dr.Stetsoncomesforwardwiththetheory
that"whentheorbitoftheMoonisinaparticularlycloserelationtotheepicentersofearthquake
sources,thestrainontheearthatthatpointisatitsmaximumandthereforethecrustoftheearth
islikelytobreakproducinganearthquake".InotherwordswecansaythatDr.Stetsonhasfound
thattheMoon'smovementshavesomethingtodowiththeoccurrenceofearthquakes.Other
planets,especiallytheSun,Mars,SaturnandJupiterarereallyresponsibleforearthquakeswhile
theMoongivesthefinishingtouch.
Dr.RudolphTomaschek,ageophysicistfromtheUniversityofMunich,"afterchecking
the places of all the planets during 134 severe earthquakes" has reported what he calls, "a
relationship between the positions of planets especially Uranus and earthquakes". It is an
astrologicaldictumthatmoreearthquakesoccurwhentwoormoreplanetsareinlinetotheearth
andespeciallyaboutthetimesofFullMoonandNewMoon.
AsearlyasthebeginningofKaliyuga(3100B.C.)Parasarahasobservedthus: Arka
chandragrahaanagrahavikrithacharajamschakampanahayulu:meaningthatwhenthecourse
ofaplanetisdisturbedfromthenormalpathowingtotheattractiveforceofotherplanetsthere
is a shaking of the planet which is perceived as an earthquake. Though Gargi says that
earthquakesareduetovolcaniceruptionsParasara'sviewseemstobemorereasonableasitcan
beprovedastrologically.Infact,planetaryactionasanexcitingcauseofearthquakesisonly
doubtedbythosewhohavenevermadeanyfairandcompleteinquiryintoit.Aristotleplacedon
recordthefactthatitsometimeshappensthatthereisanearthquakeaboutthetimeofeclipseof
theMoon.
By means of monthly lunations and solar and lunar eclipses, one could predict
earthquakes.Whenanumberofsuperiorplanetsareinconjunctionorinthesamedeclinationor
inthesamelatitude,therewillbeearthquakes.SeveralplanetsintheTropicsalsogiverisetothis
phenomenon.EclipsesfallingatquadrantstoJupiter,SaturnorMarsalsoproduceearthquakes.
The area of the occurrence is generally indicated by the zodiacal sign in which the above
combinationsoccurorbythesignwhichhastheconjunctionortheeclipseonthemeridianorthe
Nadir.ThelocalityisalsoindicatedinplaceswhereSaturnorJupiterisinthemeridian.
A study of the available astrological literature reveals that (a) earthquakes generally
occuratornearthetimesofeclipsesandnewandfullMoondays;(b)thetimeofoccurrenceis
generallybetweenmidnightandsunriseormiddayandsunset;(c)planets,especiallythemajor
ones,occupyeithermutualquadrants,trinesorareinmutualconjunctionoropposition;(d)the
ascendant,the4th,the7th,the8th,the12thorthe10thhouseattheplaceoftheoccurrencewill
begenerallyafflicted; (e) theasterismofthedaymaybelongto prithvi (earth)or vayu (air)
category;and(f)theMoonandMercurywillbeincloseconjunctionorinthesameconstellation.
Thesearegeneralcombinations andstandtobetestedinthelightoftheearthquake
occurrencesinthepast.

Jupiter
Moon Mercury Mars
Ketu

Ketu
ChartNo.1
NAVAMSA
RASI
Mars Sun
RahuSun Venus
Venus Saturn

Sat. Moon
Ascdt. Jupiter Rabu
Merc. Ascdt.

TheTokyoearthquakewhichoccurredon191923resultedinthedeathof1,40,000
peopleanddestructionofmostofTokyoandYokohama.Therewasalunareclipseon26th
AugustinvolvingLeoAquarius,thepointrisingatTokyobeingaspectedbyMars.Thequake
struckTokyoastheMoonenteredtheconstellationofBharaniruledbyYama,thelordofdeath.
Onthedayoftheearthquake,the10thdegreeofScorpiowasrisingatTokyo,theconstellation
involvedbeingthatofSaturn,theascendantbeingaspectedbytwomaleficsandMarsbeing
exactlyinthe10thhouse.Itwillbeseenthatthereisaconglomerationoffourplanetsinthe10th
house. But seven planets are clustered within an arc of seventytwo degrees. When such a
clusteringtakesplace,earthquakesandcycloneshappen.Buttoidentifythetimeandlocalityis
stilladifficultmatterevenforastrologicalsavants.

Ascdt. Ketu
 Venus Ketu Mars
ChartNo.2RASI NAVAMSA
Sun,
Sun
Moon
Moon Saturn
Mars,
Merc
Rahu

Jupiter Rahu
Jupiter
Venus Ascdt.

On1511934,amassivequakeoccurredinBihar.ItwasanewMoondayandseven
planetswereinconfigurationinthesignofCapricorn.TheSun,Mars,VenusandtheMoonwere
allinexactconjunctionintheconstellationofUttarashadharuledbytheSunlordofthe8th.Tt
will be noted that the earthquake actually occurred after the Moon entered Capricorn. The
occurrenceofthisearthquakehadbeenforecastbyanumberofIndianastrologers,longbefore
theeventhappened.Thesigninvolvedisearthy.ShockswerealsofeltinMexicoandChileruled
byCapricorn.ForChinathedeadlyconjunction falls intheNadir.Theconjunction and the
eclipsehavebothtakenplaceinCapricorn.MercuryisincloseconjunctionwiththeMoon.
TheAgadirearthquakewhichoccurredjustbeforemidnighton2921960leftnearly
12,000peopledead.
Thequakeonthe29thFebruaryfollowedthenewMoononthe26thinAquarius,anairy
sign.Onthe28ththeMoonjoinedMercuryandonthe29ththeMoonwasexactlyinakendra
fromSaturn.ThedispositionofRahu,Saturn,Jupiter,theMoonandMercuryinmutualkendras
issignificant.

Moon
Ascdt. Jupiter
Mercury Sun
Mars Venus
Ketu

Sun
ChartNo.3
NAVAMSA
RASI

Mars Mercury
Venus Ketu

Saturn Saturn
Ascdt. Rabu
Jupiter Moon
 SeveralthousandsquaremilesofnorthwestIranweredevastatedbyasevereearthquake
on50291962,thefirstshockhavingoccurredat1055p.m.75townsandvillageswereruined
andtenthousandpeoplewerekilled.TheLagnaatthetimeofthequakewasTaurusanearthy
sign andtheearthquakefollowedinthewakeofthenew Moonon29thAugust.Themost
significantfactoristheMoonpassedoverMercuryon1stSeptember.Jupiterisinthe10thand
MarsandJupiterinmutualtrines.MercuryandMarsareagaininmutualtrines.
Coming to the recent Chinese earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado,
estimatedthemagnitudeofthefirstquake(whichoccurredon512871976)at115a.m.(I.S.T.)
or345a.m.PekingTimeas8.2points"ontheopenendedReichterscale"andsaidthatitwas
theworld'sstrongestfor12years.

Ketu Jupiter Asc.262 Ascdt.

Sat.Moon Merc.
SunMer. Venus
ChartNo.4
Venus KetuJupit. NAVAMSA
RASI

Ketu
Mara

Rahu Saturn SunMars

Itis saidthat Chinesescientists hadpredicted afew weeks earlier oftheimpending

earthquake.AccordingtoDr.C.BarryRaeigh,geophysicistandhiscolleaguesintheteamthat
visitedChinaamonthearlier,theradiostationsinPekinghadbeenwarningthepeopleaboutthe
naturalcalamity.ItisalsoacknowledgedtheGovernmentcouldnotgiveanyadvancewarningto

Rasi:TaurusAscendant;GeminiMars;CancerRahu;LeotheSun;VirgotheMoonandMercury;
50

LibraVenus;CapricornKetuandSaturn;andAquariusJupiter.
Navamsa:TaurusMercury,SaturnandKetu;CancerAscendant;VirgotheSunandtheMoon;Scorpio
VenusandRahu;andAquariusJupiterandMars.
TheSun10249';theMoon11228';Mars14041';Mercury11547';Jupiter3446';Venus113'44';Saturn
51

1046';Rahu1968';andAscendant852'.
thepeopletostayoutofdoors.
Oneimplicationofthedisasteris,theearthquakepredictingsystemmighthavefailedto
work.ButtheAmericanvisitors,referredtoabove,learntthattheChineseareabletoforewarn
onthebasisof"earthquakelights"or"groundglows"discernedintheirlaboratoriesandalsoby
peculiaranimalbehavior.GeophysicistssaytheChinesetheoryof"groundglows"isconvincing
"because of the considerable release of electricity" during the earthquakes, which means a
correlationbetweenpositionsofplanetsandtheelectricaldisturbances.TheAmericanvisitors
didnotwishtodismissthetheoryofunusualanimalbehavioralso.Twohoursbeforethequake
tigersattheTienstinzoobeganactingstrangely.Therewaspanicamongthechickens.Pigs
refusedtoentertheirholesandhorsesandsheepranaboutinafrenzy.Howwonderfulisnature's
earthquakesensors!
InChartNo.4,theLagnaisGeminianairysign.Thereisafiveplanetcombinationin
thesecondhouseaffectingthe8thorhouseofdestruction.JupiterandMarsareinmutualsquare.
Theearthquakeonthe28thfollowedonthewakeofthenewMoononthe26th.Themost
importantfeatureisagaintheclosenessoftheMoonandMercury.OnthenewMoonday,the
MoonwasinPunarvasuandtheearthquakeoccurredwhenheenteredAslesha,theconstellation
heldbyMercury.ItseemsevidentthattheMoonandMercuryhaveasignificantroletoplayin
causingearthquakes.
OnthedayoftheChineseearthquakeexceptJupiter(andtheshadowyplanetsRahuand
Ketu)therestareclusteredwithinanarcof38.
IntheJanuary1978issueoftheastrologicalmagazine,wehadobservedbasedonthe
totallunar eclipseon1691978"thatthereistheprobabilityofamajorearthquakeaboutthe
areaofIran".OntheverysamenightoftheeclipsedayapowerfulearthquakehitIrankilling
10,000people.
Fromthechartsgivenabovecertainbasicastrologicalfactsbearingontheoccurrenceof
earthquakesthrustthemselvesprominentlybeforeus.Ifaccordingtomodernscienceeverything
inlifeiselectricalinnature,thenthetiniestatomandthegreatcosmos,includingtheplanets,the
earthandtheSun,arechargedbodieswithafieldaboutthemandthereforesubjecttocertain
mathematicallaws.Wedonotknowwhetherearthquakesarecausedbygravitationaleffectsof
theSun,theMoonandotherplanets.Thegroupingofplanetsincertainsignsshowsignificant
correspondence with earthquakes. Planets may affect the forcefield of the earth and cause
earthquakes.Infieldsofknowledgesuchaspredictingearthquakesastrologyhasmuchtooffer
to contemporary seismology. If only modern scientists could keep their minds open, the
accumulatedwisdomofastrologycouldbeofgreatassistance.
Thelossoflifeanddamagetopropertyarethechieffeaturesofagreatearthquake.The
numberofpersonskilledinafewminutesisindeedappalling.Fatalistsmaywanttoknowwhat
wouldbetheuseofknowingwhenearthquakeandothernaturalcalamitiesoccur.
Theansweris,itiscertainlynotpossibletopreventtheoccurrenceofearthquakes.But
wemayendeavortolessenthedestructivepowerofearthquakesbyforecastingtheiroccurrence
inadvance.
Though by no means conclusive, astrological data lend support to the theory of
correlationofplanetaryconfigurationswithnaturalcalamities.
 ASTROLOGYANDWEATHERFORECASTING

For Bangalore, midnight Tuesday 22nd October 1975 was a nightmare because "a
downpourthelikeofwhichithasnotseenperhapsfordecadesdescendedonitallonasudden
leavingbehindanunprecedentedtrailofsuffering,tribulationandmisery".Withinabriefspan
ofanhourandahalfithadrainedalmostfourinchesrenderingnearly5000homeless,injustone
locality.Wholesalegraindealerssaid"asmuchasRs.15lakhsworthofstockshadbeenwashed
away in the mini floods.Hundreds of bales ofexpensive textiles andthousands of bags of
cementgotunderwater."
Themorning'snewspaperscarriedtheForecast:"generallycloudywithsunnyintervals.
Oneortwoshowerslikelyintheeveningorlight"(boldours).Therewasnoindicationofeven
ordinaryrainletalonethedeluge.ThesamephenomenonhappenedrecentlyatBombay.The
meteorological forecast was "some showers" but the city had a deluge. Yet meteorology
continuestobearespectable"science".Thepresentdaymeteorologistsseemtothinkthatto
forecastweatheristheirexclusiveprivilege.Meteorology,sofaraspredictionofweatheris
concerned, has retrograded rather than improved. Let the modern meteorologists study their
recordsofobservationswiththeconjunctionsandaspectsofplanetsandtheirmovementsin
differentconstellations.Suchastudywouldrescuemeteorologyfromitspresenthopelessand
helplessstate.
Itispossibleforastrologytoforecastweathermoreaccuratelythanmeteorology?Thisis
the question most frequently asked by the laymen. Because of their training and a priori
considerations,somescientistshaveatendencytodisregardafactofgreatimportance, viz.,
astrologically it is possible toforecast weather, muchmore accurately thanmeteorology. In
astrologyasinotherfieldsofscientificstudy,thegreattemptationthatexistsistheurgetodeal
withtheproblembyoversimplifyingit.Thusforinstance,thewesternastrologermightstickto
the proposition that a certain aspect between two major planets might cause storms. This
inferenceisindeedanoversimplificationandnotconsistentwiththetechniquesemployedin
Hinduastrology.Thecomprehensivemethodsofweatherforecastingaretobefoundinancient
classics and they should be understood and. applied through systematic investigation and
research,asotherwiseourperformancesmayfallinlinewiththerecklessperformancesofthe
meteorologists.
According to the theory of astrology propounded by ancient sages, all phenomena
including rainfall, floods, etc., are regulated by planetary movements. Of late some of the
scientistshavebeenindirectlyendorsingastrologicaltheories.Forinstancein1962GlenW.
BrieroftheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnologyannouncedthediscoveryofaremarkable
correlationbetweenthephasesoftheMoonandrainfallinU.S.A.Similarresultswerearrivedat
independentlybyE.E.AdderleyoftheRadiophysicsDivisionoftheCSIROinAustralia.When
precipitation datawereplottedinterms oftheMoon'sphases,itwas foundthat heavy rain
occurredmostfrequentlyaboutfourdaysafterfullMoonandreachedasecondarypeakabout4
daysafternewMoon.InotherwordsthegreatestamountofrainfellwhentheMoonwaseither
45or225fromtheSun.ThesefindingswerebasedonthestudyofdatatakenfromU.S.
WeatherBureauprecipitationstatisticscoveringtheperiod19001949anddates of maximum
rainfallforeachcalendarmonth.
Itshouldbewithin the keenobservation ofastudent ofastrologythat rain tends to
increasewhentheMoonisatoneofitsnodesirrespectiveofitsphase.Whetherthemechanism
involved is gravitational or electrical we do not know. But there is no doubt that a clear
correlationpersistsbetweenthemovementsoftheMoonandvariationsinquantitiesofrainfall.
AperusaloftheSanskritastrologicalworkssuchasBrihatSamhitashouldconvinceany
doubtingThomasthatweatherforecastsamongstancientIndianrulersplayedanimportantpart
inpublicadministration.MeteorologywasadistinctlycomprehensivescienceandVarahamihira
deserves much credit for 1m writings embodying the important results of observation and
experimentcarriedonthroughmanycenturies.
TotheancientHinduastronomers,theweatherindicationsofonesingledayinayear
formthesubjectofsomuchcalculationindeterminingthefutureagriculturalprospectofthe
land,whiletotheinexperiencedeyeofawesternmanofscience,thedayappearsasindifferent
as any other day of the year. This suggests that modern science is still far behind in her
investigationofthelawsofnature.
Thescienceofweatherforecastingdevelopedbythesagesexplainsthecauseaswellas
theeffectofatmosphericchangesthroughrepeatedoccurrencespfplanetarypositions.
Exhaustiverulesforforecastingweatherhavebeengiveninancientbooks,butweshall
givehereonlyafewofthem.Thosewhowishtomakeadetailedstudyofastrometeorologycan
refertoworkslikeGargaSamhita,BrihatSamhita,etc.
Thepositionsofplanetsinthenorthofthecelestialequatoraresaidtohaveadefinite
influenceonthemovementsofthepressuresystemsforperiodsofwholeseasons.Itmustalways
beunderstoodthatthereisa"humanelement"thatgivesthewrongresultsandthatitisnotthe
faultofnature.Itiscommonsensethatwecannotforecastaflood,evenwhentheplanetary
combinationsfavorit,inthemiddleofadesert.Norcanweforecastacoldwaveinthetropics
becausesuchthingsdonotgenerallyhappen.Whilemakingforecastsoneshouldclearlytake
noteofclimatologyandgeographyoftheland.
IthasbeenfoundthatwhenJupiterisinperihelionthereisgreatdroughtandwhenin
aphelion more dampness and cold weather than usual. When a planet enters Cancer it will
influencemoretheweatherinthenorthernhemispherewhilethesouthernhemisphereismore
influencedwhenthesignisCapricorn.Theseason,timeofthemonth,day,etc.,shouldallbe
consideredbeforeaforecastismade.GenerallywhentheSunconjoinsMercury,theweatheris
given to windy spells along coastal areas and increase the depth of high and low pressure
systems.WithVenus,theweathergivesrisetoincreaseinrainorsnow.WithMars,theweather
becomeswarmerandespeciallyinAries,thesummerbecomesverysevere.WithJupiterthe
weatherbecomesdryandsometimesastheseasonchangesitwillbringdrought.WithSaturnthe
pressureisstagnateoverlongperiodsandcolderthannormalfortheseason.WithRahuorKetu,
theweatherisseverefortheseasonandchangeable.
WhentheSunandtheMoonareinneutralasterismstherewillbewinds;whentheyare
infeminineasterismstherewillbelightningandphosphorescence;andwhentheSunoccupiesa
feminineasterism,andtheMoonamasculineasterism,orviceversatherewillberains.
AtthetimeoftheSun'sIngressintoGemini,ifVenusoccupiesthe2ndor12thfromthe
risingsignandwhenatthesametime,theMoonoccupiesawateryNavamsainanysign,there
willbecopiousrainsduringtheyearinquestion(AriestoPiscesisayear).WhentheSun,the
Moon,Mars,SaturnandRahucrossthewaterysignsintransitandMercuryandVenusconjoina
SthulaRasi,therewillbeveryheavyrains.
WhentheSun,MercuryandVenusoccupythesamesignandthesameNavamsa,there
willbeheavyrains.ButiftheseplanetsoccupythesameRasi(sign)andNavamsaandthey
happentobewaterysigns,therainswillbeallthemoreheavy.
WhentheSunoccupiesanearthysignandtheMoon,MercuryandVenusoccupywatery
signs,andatthattimeifarainbowisseeninthewesternside,thenalsotherewillbeplentiful
rains.
In'VarshaRitu'(JulyAugust)arainbowintheeasternsidedoesnotgiverain.Inthe
other'ritus'(seasons)arainbowintheeastwillbringin'rains'.Arainbowinthewestduringthe
VarshaRitubringsinapour.
WhenthemockSunisvisibletothenorthoftheSun'sdisc,therewillberain;tothe
souththerewillbeatempest;andonbothsides,a'flood'willcomein.TothetopoftheSun's
discmeanssomedangertotheking,andbelowitwillmeansomecalamitiestothepeople.
WhenitrainsonthenewMoondaysandthedayssucceedingthem(Prathipadadays)
therewillbegoodrainfallduringthatbrighthalfofthelunarmonth.IfitrainsonfullMoondays
andthedarkPrathipada(1stlunardate)therewillbenorainsinthedarkhalf.InbothPakshas
(halflunarmonths)whenitrainsduringthefirst15ghatikas(6hours)inDwiteeya(2ndlunar
day)andthelast15ghatikasinPrathipada(1stlunarday)therewillbecopiousrainsduring
thosePakshas(fortnights).Whenitrainsonlyalittleonthosedays,rainswillbescarceduring
thosePakshas(fortnights).Ifitdoesnotrainthen,therewillbenorainduringthatPaksha
(fortnight).
Whenthewindsblowfromthenortheastintheevening(sandhya)ofthefullMoonday
ofAshadha(JulyAugust)month,therewillbedownpourandconsequentluxuriantvegetablelife
duringtheensuingyear.
Whenitrainsonthe4thlunardayofthedarkhalfofAshadha(JulyAugust)andonthe
dayruledbyPoorvabhadrainthesamemonth,therewillbeluxuriantvegetationduringtheyear
ahead.
Whenthe 5thlunar dayofthe brighthalf ofthelunar month falls ona Sunday (in
Ashadha)therewillbealittlerain.IfitisonaMonday,therewillbeadownpour.Ifitisa
Tuesday rains will be fierce; Wednesday would bring in a storm; Thursday general
prosperity;Fridayrainandloss;Saturdaytherewillbemiseryeverywhere.
IftheconstellationofRohinicoincideswiththe10thlunarday(inthemonthofAshadha)
therewillbeterriblerains.
TheSunoccupies21/4NakshatraseverymonthbeginningfromAswini(alphaArtetis)
makingup12monthsfromAries.HeoccupiesPoorvashadhainthemonthofSagittariusand
staystherefor13daysand8hours(13degreesand20minutes).Ifduringthe1stday,allthesky
includingtheSunisfoundtobecompletelycoveredbydarkclouds,therewillberainduringthe
monthofGeminiwhentheSunoccupiesAridra.Similarly,ifduringthe2nddayalltheheavens
arefoundtobedarkbyclouds,therewillberainduringthelatterpartofGeminiandthefirst
partofCancerwhentheSunwilloccupytheasterismofPunarvasu.Similarlyonthe3rdday,4th
day,5thday,6thdayandsoontillthe14thday,ifthesameconditionsprevail,therewillbe
rainsduringthesucceedingmonthswhentheSunwillbeinPushyami,Aslesha,Makha,Pubba,
tillMoolainregularsuccession.
Theaboveinformationisusefulgivinglongrangeforecastswhichappeartohavebeena
specialitywithourancientmeteorologists.Iftheheavensareclear,thentherewillbenorain.
 Rainscanbeexpectedinthefollowingperiods:
(a) Whenthecombustionperiodsofthevariousplanetsbeginandend. (b) Whenthe
Moonconjoinwithotherplanets,(c)FullMoonandNewMoondays,(d)WhentheSuntransits
CancerandCapricorn,(e)WhentheSunoccupiestheAridraasterism.WhenMercuryconjoins
JupiterorVenusorwhenJupiterjoinsVenustherewillberain.WhenMarsandSaturnjoin
togetherwithoutanyaspectorassociationofgoodplanets,thendangerfromfire,lightningand
stormscanbeexpected.
We are also enabled to determine the very day of the occurrence of rain from a
knowledgeofthenatureofthecloudsduringtheday.Whencloudssurroundedbyaradiance
resemblingthatoftheMoon,whiteasnectar,withablueblackspotinthecentre,andpouring
layersofwaterpassfromwesttoeastoreasttowest,wecanpredictthattherewillbeavery
heavyshowerbeforelong.
Ifintherainyseason,thesunriseisobservedtohavea'halo'intheeastandthenoon
(midday)ismarkedbytheintenseheatoftheSun'srays,wecanmakesurethattherewillberain
thatday.Apartfromatmosphericfactors,theancientmeteorologiststooknoteofthebehaviour
ofcertainanimalsasindicatingimmediaterainfall.Theyare:Cowshastenhometomeettheir
calves.Catsscratchthegroundwiththeirclaws.Hillsshineatadistanceandseemtohaveablue
coloring.ThediscoftheMoonhasacircularredline,thecolorbeingthatoftheeyesofthehen.
Chamelionsclimbuptreesandstarestupidlyatthesky.Cowstooseemtostareupwards.Cocks
crowinthedaylookingup.Flashesoflightningaremarkedinthenortheast.TheMoonis
observedtohavethecolourofhoneyoroftheeyesofparrotsordoves.ThediscoftheMoon,
thoughenvelopedinelouds,seemstoemanatearadianceroundinshapePrathiChandra
(mockMoon).
Weareaskedtopredictthattherewillberainsimmediatelyifthefollowingareobserved:

Pearls ofthunder crash in the nighttime, deep red flashes oflightning are observed
duringdaytime;coldwindsblowfromtheeast;youngsproutingleavesraisetheirheadshigh;
birdsfreelybatheinwaterorindust;serpentsbaskinthesunshinelyingongrass;cloudsassume
thecolorofapeacock,parrot,wildcroworchathakabirdandseemtohavetheshapeofwaves,
hills,tortoise,pigsandfishes.
Evidently,theancientmeteorologistswerekeenstudentsofnatureastheyhavetaken
intoconsiderationeverykindofphenomenonwhich,indicatesachangeintheweather.
If the Lagna rising at the time of Aries ingress happens to be a watery sign and is
aspectedbywateryplanetstherewillbeproperrains.IftheRasiisafieryoneandisassociated
withoraspectedbyfieryplanets,therewillbenorain.
WhenAriesingresshappenstofallonRohini,Anuradha,Jyeshta,Uttarashadha,Abhijit,
Sravana, Dhanishta, the year is known as 'Indra Mandala'. The year will be happy and
prosperous.WhentheSankramana(solaringress)fallsonBharani,Krittika,Pushyami,Makha,
Pubba,VisakhaandPoorvabhadra,theyearisknownas'AgniMandala'.Theeffectwillbefear
fromfire,povertyeverywhere,cropsfailandautumncropsaredestroyed.Whentheingress
happenstobeonAswini,Mrigasira,Punarvasu,Uttara,Hasta,ChittaorSwati,thentheyearhas
'Vayu Mandala'. Fearfromkings,storms andscarcity ofrains willbe theresult. When the
ingresshappenstobeonAridra,Aslesha,Moola,Poorvashadha,Satabhisha,Uttarabhadraor
Revatithentheyearhas'VarunaMandala'.Goodrainsandgeneralprosperitywillensue.
IfthefifthdayofthebrighthalfofthelunarmonthChaitrafallsonMondayorThursday,
rainfall will be equally spread throughout that year; if on Wednesday, disturbed rains
accompaniedbywinds;Friday,cropswillbedestroyed;SaturdayorTuesday,therewillbepoor
rains.
Ifthe8thdayofthebrighthalfofthelunarmonthVaisakhafallsonSaturdayorTuesday
faminewillsetinandtheyearwillbemarkedbyabsenceofregularrains.Theconstellation
MrigasiraorAridra,risingonthe1stdayofthelunarmonthJyeshta,producesexcellentrains.
ThefourdayscommencingfromtheeighthdayinthebrighthalfofthemonthofJyeshta
(MayandJune)areknownasVayudharanadaysthatisdaysfromthewindsthatblowon
whichthenatureofthehealthofthepregnancyoftheraincloudsmightbedetermined.Ifinthe
saidbrighthalfofJyeshtathereshouldbeafallofraininthefourdayswhentheMoonparsed
throughtheasterismsfromSwatitoJyeshta,therewillberainintherainyseason, i.e., from
SravanatoKartika(AugusttoNovember).IfontheDharana(rainsupporting)daystheSunand
theMoonshouldbecoveredbywetcloudstherewillbegoodrain.
ThemonthofJyeshta(MayJune)seemstobeveryimportantformeasuringtherainfall.
IfthereshouldberainwhentheMoonpassesthroughcertainasterismsfromPoorvashadhato
MoolainthelunarmonthofJyeshta,therewillalsoberainwhentheMoonpassesthroughthe
sameasterismsintherainyseason.IfthereshouldbenoraininthemonthofJyeshta,therewill
benoraintherainyseason.IfthereshouldbeafallofrainwhentheMoonpassesMrigasira,
Chitta, RevatiandDhanishtainJyeshtatherewillbegoodrainintherainyreason.Ifthere
shouldbeafallwhentheMoonpassesthroughSatabhisha,JyeshtaandSwati,thesubsequent
rainfallwillbeordinary.
 WhentheMoonpassesthroughtheasterismofRohiniinthedarkhalfofthelunarmonth
Ashadha,RohiniYogaiscaused.Theastronomer"shallascertainthedirectionofthewindatthe
timewhentheMoonentersRohini.Heshalldividethisdayinto9equalparts(3hourseach)
commencingfromsunrisethepartsrepresentingseverallytheeightfortnightsofthefour
monthsoftherainyseasonfromSravanatoKartika;andheshalldetermineonwhichmonthor
fortnightandhowlongtherewillberainjudgingfromthedirectionanddurationofthewind."If
ontheRohiniYogaday,theskyshouldbeclearandwithoutcloudsandtheSunexceedinglyhot,
therewillberainintherainyseason".Mankindwillnotbehappyandtherewillbenorains
whatsoever if there should occur unusual phenomena such as meteoric falls, thunderbolts,
mockfires,etc.,ontheRohiniYogaday.
AcarefulstudyoftheserulessuggeststhatthetransitoftheMoonintheconstellationsof
PoorvabhadraandSwatiinthelunarmonthofJyeshtaishighlysignificant.Observationofthe
sky,directionofthewind,appearanceofmocklight,haloes,comets,lightning,thunderbolts,
etc.,haveallreceivedverycarefulattentionoftheancientwriters.
Hereisanexperimentsuggestedinanancientworktonotethedirectionofwindandits
predictiveuse.Ofcourseinitsplacewecanemploythelatestmodernmethodsforobservingthe
directionofthewind.
(a)"Onewhowishestoknowthedirectionofthewindshouldgetathickclothof24feet
lengthand6feetwidth.Heshouldhoistthisclothonapolemeasuring144feethighfirmlyfixed
totheground,onthemorningofthe15thdayofthelunarmonthAshadhaandobservethe'flag'
carefully.
"Iftheflagfliestowardstheeast(whichmeansthewindblowsfromthewest)crops
thrivewellduringtheyear;towardsagneya(northeast)rainfallwillbebelownormal;south
orniruti(southwest)cloudsformbuttherewillbelittleornorain;westexcessiverainfall
andstrongwinds;vayavya(northwest)excessiverainsandstrongwinds;northenough
rainstogivegoodcrops;eesanya(southeast)destructionofcropsbyheavyuntimelyrains."
(b) Whenthe7thdayofthebrighthalfofthelunarmonthAshadhacoincides withthe4th
quarterofPoorvabhadra,UttarabhadraorRevati,aclearhalowillformaroundtheSunandthe
rainswillbemixedwithheavywindsduringtheyearinquestion.
AccordingtoHindumeteorology, Venusis closelyassociated withrainfall. Here are
somehints.
(a) Rainfall will be below normal in the year in which, during the lunar months of
Sravana,Kartika,Margasira,MakhaorJyeshta,VenussetsandasolareclipsecausedbyRahu
occurs.
(6) There will be unprecedented rainfall resulting in heavy floods when Venus rises
heliacallyorsetsintheconstellationsofSwati,VisakhaandAnuradha.
(c) Forwantofrains,faminewillbreakoutwhenVenusrisesorsetsinoneof the
constellationsfromJyeshtatoSravana.
(d) TherewillbedroughtconditionswhenVenussetsinorretrogradesinMakhaor
Uttarashadha.
(e)WhenMarsandSaturnareinconjunction,rainfallwillbeverylow.
(f)Cloudsbecomescatteredandrainfalldisturbed,whentheSun,MarsandVenustransit
thesamesign.
(g)IfJupiterjoinstheabovecombination,cloudswilldeliverrainsinplenty.
(h)WhenJupiterretrogradesinRohini,theyearwillhavelessrainfall.
MuchrainresultswhenJupiterisinPisceswhileVenusisinCancer.Heavywindsoccur
whentheyareinanyairytriplicityandextremeheatisfellwheninafierytriangle.Inanearthy
triplicitytheclimateisrenderedverydry,exceptwhenJupiterisstronglyaspectedbyamoist
planetatthetimeofitsingressintoanearthytriplicity.
WhenMarsisinAriesintrinetotheSuninLeoahotseasonismadehotterstilland
warmthaddedtoacoldperiod.Raininabundanceisshownwhentheyareinawaterytriplicity
andinconjunctionwithVenus.Veryheavyrainfallfollowsaneclipseoragreatconjunctionin
Cancer,ScorpioandPiscesandmoresoifSaturnandJupiterseeeachotherortheyaspectthe
phenomenareferredto.
It is well known that when the Sun is in conjunction with Sirius the heat becomes
offensiveandnoraincouldbeexpectedunlesstheSunisaspectedeitherbySaturnandJupiteror
Venus.WhenVenusistransitingtheareaknownasPleiadesinTaurusthereismuchrainandthe
airiskeptcool.
DuringthecoldseasonVenusinconjunctionwithSaturngivesrain.Innorthernand
southernlatitudes,fartherthantheTropics,therewillbeheavysnowfalls.Duringthehotseason
intheequatorialregionstherewillberainandhailstorms.
MercuryinconjunctionoroppositionwithVenusgivesbothsunshineandshowers.Real
gloomyweatherwithheavymistsresetswhenMercury,MarsandSaturnformatrigrahayoga
havingtheaspectofVenus.Cold,dullweathercanbeforeseenatatimewhenSaturnisaspected
byeitherSunorMarstogetherwithanaspectofVenus.
JupiterinawaterysigninconjunctionwithorinoppositiontoVenusgivesshortshowers
andaverycoolatmosphere.Thepeoplegetanewzestforlife.Jupitersoplacedwithanaspect
ofSaturninanairysignproducesawindyandwetday.PlentyofrainfollowswhenMarsin
CancerisaspectingVenusinLibraandtherainswillcontinueforseveraldaysiftheMoonand
Jupitercasttheiraspectalso.
Marsrulesthunderandwhenheisinafierysign,therewillbeterrificthunderwithout
rain.Sometimeslightningalsooccurs.IfheisaspectedeitherbyVenusorSaturnheavyrain
withlargedropsofwaterwillpourdownaccompaniedbyviolentthunder.WhenevertheSunis
inconjunctionwithorinoppositiontoSaturntheweatheriscool(orcoldaccording tothe
latitude)ifMarsorMercurydoesnotaspectstheSun.SimilarindicationsarenotedwhenJupiter
isinconjunctionwithorinoppositiontoSaturn.TheaspectofMarsandSaturnproduceclear,
coolweatherwithslightshowersbutSaturnandVenusproduceadullwettime.Anyplanet
separatingfromanaspectofJupiterandapplyingtoanaspectofSaturn,reducethetemperature
oftheair.Inlatitudeswherewinterisnormaltherewillbebittercoldwinds.Alongtheequator
thetemperaturewillbereduced.
AmildwintercanbeeasilyforeseenwhenatthetimeofSun'singresstoCapricorn
(alongDecember22)theMoonorVenuspassesoverSaturnandjoinsJupiter.Averycold,hard,
frosty and snowy winter follows if the movement is from Jupiter to Saturn. Astrologers in
EnglandandGermanycanverifythis.DroughtsarenoticedwhenSaturnisunaspectedinAries,
LeoorSagittarius.
StrongsouthwestwindsareindicatedwhenMarsorSaturnoccupyGemini,Libraor
Aquariusandareinoppositionorsquaretoeachother.MarsinGeminiandSaturninPisces
assuredly bring heavy blowing. Southwest winds do result when Jupiter is in Aquarius in
oppositiontoSaturninLeo.NorthwestmonsoonwindsareruledbySaturnandSouthwest,by
Jupiter.Whentheyareinairysignsthedirectionofthewindiseasilyascertained.Southwest
windsalsoarisewhenaneclipseoccursinanairysign.Northwinds,Jupiter;easterly,Saturn;
western,Mars;southern,Venus;andmixed,Mercury.Theairisessentiallyruledbytheplanet
whichisapplyingtotheMoonafteritsconjunction,oppositionorsquarewiththeSun.
Theabovemethodsmaylooksomewhatfantastictous,educatedasweare,accordingto
Westernmethods,buthavingdueregardforthewisdomofthesages,itwouldbewelltotestthe
truthoftheirstatements.Anappealtofacts,ifconductedfairlyandextendeddaybydayovera
sufficientlengthoftimeforacasualobservationnowandagainisnotsufficientissureto
convincetheobserverthatcertainplanetarypositionsdoactuallyaccompanydefinitechangesin
weatherandthatthisoccurstoofrequentlytobedismissedaschancecoincidence.
 Modernastronomersandmeteorologistswouldfinditmoreusefulandmoreinstructive
towatchforandstudysuchcoincidencesthantoconfinetheirobservationsofMarsandSaturn
tothedelightfulamusementof"testingphotometricallyandalsophotographicallythelusterof
theconjoinedplanets".
 XI
52
ASTROLOGYASANAIDTOMEDICALSCIENCE

Ifwecloselyexaminetheinnumerablecombinationslistedinancientclassicaltextson
whatiscalledmedicalastrology,therewouldbefoundtoexistanamazingseriesofparallels
betweentheregularmotionsoftheplanetsinthesolarsystemofwhichourearthisapart,and
theebbandflowofphysical,mentalandemotionalphenomenapeculiartohumanlifeonearth.
Ofwhatuseafterall,toextendtheboundariesofourphysicaldomain,bythediscoveryofnew
starsandgalaxiesifsomeattemptisnotmadeatthesametimetodiscoverthesignificanceof
thesephenomena,asappliedtolivingbeingsandtheirproblemsofexistenceandevolution?
TodaywhilenoseriousorsystematicattemptshavebeenmadeinIndiatoassessthepractical
importanceoftheancientdiscoveriesinthefieldofastrology,itisencouragingtofindthatsome
menofsciencepsychologists,doctors,etc.,intheWesthavebegunbuildingupanewscienceof
astralorstellardiagnosisonthedemonstrablebasisoffactsandstatistics.Whatisinterestingis
thefactthattheinvestigations ofthesescientificworkershavebeenindirectlycorroborating
manyofthebasicconceptsofmedicalastrologyasrevealedbyourancientsages.
Throughoutthecenturies,astrologyhadhadcloseconnectionswithmedicine.Inancient
India,astrologyandAyurvedawereintimatelyconnected.AnAyurvedicdoctorwasrequiredto
be an astrologer too. But with the introduction of allopathy into India, the importance of
astrologyasadiagnostictestwasreducedforatime.Butnowareactionappearstohavealready
setinlargelyduetothefactthatahandfulofleadingmedicalmeninEuropeandAmericahave
beenexperimentingwithmedicalastrology.
The dependency between the Sun and diseaseincidence is indeed remarkable. Apart
fromwaveradiation,theSunalsosendsoffflowsofcorpuscleswhicharesometimesdabbed
"the solar wind". Instruments installed on artificial satellites and rockets have shown that
corpuscularradiationpreventsflowsofplasmawhichhavemagneticfieldsoftheirown.This
magneticfieldinteractswiththemagneticfieldoftheearthandinfluencesterrestrialphenomena.
Itcanaffecttheelectricalpotentialofanindividualincludingtheelectricalactivityofthebrain.
(The human brain, according to Vasiliev, radiates into surrounding space electromagnetic
energyintheformofradiowaves.)Duetothiselectricactivity,variousnerveimpulsesare
sorted outandconverted intosensations, thoughtsandactions.Itwillbeseenthatit is the

SummaryofalecturedeliveredbytheauthorattheAllIndiaInstituteofMedicalSciences,NewDelhi,on
52

2621975.
geometricalarrangementsofplanetsthatgiverisetosolarflares.Intheastrologicallanguage,
theseplanetaryarrangementsarethe yogas whichdenoteadefinitepatternofevents.Human
beings, as Dr. Michael, M.R.C.S. says, have around them an energyshell or field, which
correspondstothehaloaroundaradioactiveparticle.Thebodyradiates,theintensityvarying
withthedifferentorgans.Thereforeitshealthorillhealthdependsupontheharmonyexisting
betweenitsownradiationandtheintensityofradiationsreceivedfromtheSun,aswellasfrom
thecosmosatagiventime.
Inplainlanguage,certaininfluencesareexertedonourbodiesbyplanetsandstarsand
thesearetendencieswhichcanbedealtwithbyhumanbeingsinapositiveornegativemanner.
TheexperimentsofDr.EdsonAndrewshaverevealedthat82%ofbleedingcrisesoccur
betweentheMoon's1stand3rdquarters.AccordingtoProf.Revitz,thereisconsiderablevoltage
increaseintheelectricalpotentialofahumanbeingvery14daysatthetimeofNeworFull
Moon. These electrical changes correspond with sharp changes in the person's moods.
ConsequentlytheforcesbehindtheMoonaresaidtoaggravatemaladjustmentsandconflicts.
The entire writing on nishekavidhi or conception deserves attention of modern
gynaecologists.Clearideasconcerningtheperiodicfertilityinawomanandtheircorrelationto
certaincosmicpatternshavebeengiven.AccordingtogynaecologistsOginoandKnaus,thebest
fertileperiodsforconceptioninwomen(inthecaseof28and30daysofmenstrualcycles)are
the 14th, 15th and 16th days from the commencement of menstruation. It appears that the
pituitarycontrolstheuterusuptothe16thdayfromthecommencementofthemenstruation,i.e.,
theruptureofthegraffianfollicle.AndaccordingtotheastrologicalworkJatakaParijata,the
nightsof14,15and16arethebestforconceivingoffspring.Theseobservationsagreewiththe
experimental evidence collected byProf.Knausthatonthe15thnightfromthelast day of
menstruation,theovumisborn.
Ishouldliketodigressabitandmakeareferencetothefamoustheoryof"Thridosha".
As commonlyunderstood,Vata,Pitta andSleshmaaretaken tomeangas,bile and phlegm
respectively,andsothetheory,inthefaceofit,maylooksomewhatunacceptable.Butifwe
examinetheconceptsofAyurvedainacriticalway,wecanfindacloseresemblancetowestern
scientificthought.
Thewordvataisderivedfromtherootva,meaningmotionorindicativeofmotion(....).
Thewordpittahasitsrootintapa(...)meaningagitation,excitation,energy,KaphaorSleshma
meansclasp,attraction,embrace,gravitation(...)Chakrapani,thefamouscommentator,clarifies
thatonehastounderstandtheinherentmeaningofthethreewordsvata,pittaandkaphaas
motivity,agilityandgravityrespectively.Putinadifferentway,thesethreequalitiescorrespond
tomotion,energyandinertia.Itmaynotbequitesafetoassumethatvata,pittaandkaphaare
justthethreechemicalsubstancesofwind,bileandmucus.
Ittookyearsoftheoreticalreasoningandpracticalexperimentationforsciencetoaccept
thatenergyisaqualityofmattertillthepresentationbyEinsteinofhistheoryofrelativity.The
discoverythatanystateofmatterisformedbythethreequalitiesofinertia (sleshma), energy
(pitta)andmotion(vata)shouldindeedgotoAyurveda.
AsthegreatSusruthasays,justastheSun,theMoonandWindarenecessaryforthe
regularfunctioningofthisworld,soalsoitispitta,vataandsleshmathatregulatethehealthof
thehumanbody.Theeffectofthethreephysicalqualities(motion,energyandgravitationor
inertia)onthelivingcellisonthesamelinesasitisinthecosmos.
Thehumanailmentscouldbelinkedtotheoutcomeofthegravitationalpullsexertedby
planetsthroughrotationandrevolution.Thedisequilibriumthatarisesinthedoshasaredueto
theinteraction between thefieldforcesemanating fromtheplanets ontheonesideand the
humanorganismontheother.
Accordingtoastrology,therearethreegroupsofasterismswhichareinlinewiththe
threedoshasofAyurveda.Forinstance,oneborninavatagroupofconstellationswouldindeed
begenerallypredisposedtowardsdiseasesarisingfrom vata. Similarly,theplanetsandsigns
havealsogovernanceoverthethreedhatus.TheSungovernsmostlypittaandalittleofvata;the
Moonmostlyvata.etc.Intheastrologicalliterature,thereisathoroughclassificationofdiseases
andtheplanetarypatternswhichcausethem.TheMoonrulesthemind,theSunrulesthesoulor
selfandMercuryrulesthenervoussystem.Disordersarisingfrompsychosisandneurosisand
certainmentalabnormalitiesexaggerationofcertaintraitsrecognizablenearlyinallpeople
arerespectivelycausedbyacombinationoffactorsinvolvingtheMoon,Mercury,Mars,Saturn
andtheNodes.Anotherpsychologist,basedonstatisticalresearch,hasdiscoveredamarked
correspondencebetweendifferenttypesofmentaldisordersandMercury'safflictions.Obviously
thisremindsusoftheageoldtheoryoftheHindus.
() meaning that if in a horoscope, the Moon and Mercury are in certain mutual
dispositionsafflictedbyMars,SaturnortheNodes,itgenerallyindicatesmentaldisorders.
Inactualpractice,suchacombinationispresentmostlyinthehoroscopesofpersons
sufferingfromobsessionalneuroses,delusionsandfalsebeliefs.Thedeclinationorkrantiof
Mercurycangiveaclueastowhetheraperson's'escapemechanism'willmakehimbroodover
thepast,orhugtheillusionofafool'sparadiseinthepresent,orgetintoUtopiaofthefuture.
ButifthereisaJupiterianaspect,thepictureisentirelychanged.Thepersonwillbethoughtful,
andwillhaveaveryunderstandingmindandgoodpowerofjudgment.RemovetheMoonand
substituteMars:youhavethemechanicalaptitude.
Ifoneissufferingfrommentalfatigue,enhancedselfconsciousness,developmentofan
inferioritycomplex,generalirritability,deepseatedfear,youcansaythathehastheMoonand
RahuinconjunctionaspectedbySaturn.IfinsteadoftheMoon,theafflictioniscenteredonthe
Ascendant,thesymptomsrevealthemselvesintheformoffatigue,eyetremor,nausea,soreness
ofthemuscle,etc.MelancholiaisproducedbythesimpleconjunctionoftheMoonandSaturn.
Thepersonsuffersfromacutedepression.Ofcourse,constellationalpositionsmodifytheeffects.
TheSunJupiterMarsinfluencescenteredonMercuryortheMooninduceschizophrenia.Ifthe
rulingperiodhappenstobethatofMars,heispronetodevelopapersecutioncomplex.There
are,ofcourse,manyformsofschizophreniarangingfromthedaydreamerandfantasyweaver,
downtothepersonwhorelapsesintoakatatoniccondition.Theessentialpatternofthemental
malady is clearly discernible in the horoscope. Studies in astropsychology have revealed
interestingdetailsasregardsthepositiveandnegativetraitsofplanets.Onthepositiveside,the
Moonisimaginativeandvariable.Onthenegativesideirresponsible,moodyandvacillating.
Saturnisconscientious,clearheaded,careful,selfcontrolledandconservativelyconscious.On
thenegativeside,heisnarrowminded,fixated,callous,miserlyandambitiousinaselfishway.
On the positive side, Rahu is unconventional, independent and humanistic. On the
negativeside,heisunsocial,eccentric,neuroticandmildlydestructive.Theinterpretationof
thesetraitsdependsupontheexperienceandskillofthepsychoastrologer.
ManypsychiatristsandpsychoanalystsintheWesthavereportedthattheyhavefound
thathoroscopesproperlycastandintelligentlyinterpretedisavaluablediagnostictest.Thesay
that"ahoroscopeismoreusefulthanaRorschachtest:ARorschachshowsonlythepatient's
conditionatthetimethetestistaken,whereasahoroscoperevealshisbasicpsychologicalset
up".
The science of medical astrology deals with innumerable diseases. Diseases like
consumption, blindness, hysteria, menstrual disorders, leprosy, rheumatism, gastric troubles,
cardiac troubles, etc., have been dealt with extensively. Medical science with its improved
instruments,Xray,bloodtests,cardiogram,etc.,hasnodoubtmadegreatstridestowardsbetter
methodsofdiagnosis.Butwehavetonotethatmedicalknowledgeshouldgobeyondthescience
ofthediseases.Thephysicianmustclearlydistinguishthesickhumanbeingdescribedinbooks
from the concrete patient whom he has to treat. The physician's role is to discover the
characteristicsofthesickman'sindividuality,hisresistancetopathogenicfactors,hissensibility
to pain, his past and his future. The outcome of an illness in a given individual has to be
predicted not by a calculation of the probabilities but by a precise analysis of the organic,
humoralandpsychologicalpersonalityofthisindividual.Anditisonlythehoroscopethatcan
providethispersonality.Bystudyingahoroscope,thephysicianwillknowthecharacterofthe
patientwhetherhiswillisweak,andwhetherheisnegativeoremotional.
"Symptoms"giveindicationsofdiseasewhichisintheprocessofmaterializing.Butthe
horoscopecanshowthelatenttendenciestodiseases.Whentheplanetaryaspectshavebeen
stirredintoaction,theDasa(period)andBhukti(subperiod)dispositionsgivethediagnostician
thekeytoit.Thekeytothemysteriesofthehumanbodyliesshroudedinphysiology.Medical
scienceslicestissues,examinesthemunderthemicroscopeandseekstofindwhereThedisease
lies.Thevitalforcewhichsustainslifecomesintothebodyfromthefourthdimension.The
reasonwhyvitalizmisneglectedinmodernscientificstudyisbecausetherearenoinstruments
capableofrecordingitdirectlywhilstastrologyprovidesareadycluetotheindividualitiesof
thisforce."Electrocardiographs,electroencephalographsandmeasuringthemetabolicrateare
usefulbutcannotberevealingenough.Therearenotmerelytwomaintypesofmetabolismbut
inreality12differenttypes,towhichtheonlyclueisastrology.ThustheSun,wheninTaurus
andreceivingtheraysofSaturn,istumorforminganddefinitelypointstotheneedforaspecial
wayoflivingwhichisquitedifferentfromanindividualwhohastheSuninVirgoandsquared
byMars,forthelatterdoesnotproliferatethecellsasdoestheformerbutbreaksthemdown
whichreadilyulcerate.OrwhenSaturnisinAquariusandafflictstheSunortheMoon,oneis
unaccountablynervous,andjittery,hasundueperspiration.MarsinVirgo,inbadaspecttothe
SunandtheMoon,giveshyperinsulism.Theyhavetheoppositeofdiabetes"
"Therearealsoconditionsnot recognizedinmedicinewhich,nonetheless,markedly
interferewithhealth.ThosewhohavetheSunandtheMooninfierysignsorconstellationsare
subject to a condition which, while not a disease, can have very detrimental results if not
corrected.Theytendtobecomedehydratedandiftheyliveinadry,warm,sunnyclimatewill
developanervousstatealmostimpossibletodiagnose."Thesearesomeoftheimportantrulesof
anindividualhygiene.
The extraordinary insight medical astrology affords the doctor into the nature of the
wholeofhispatienthastobeexperiencedtobebelieved.Thequickinsighthecanobtainin
differential diagnosis will save his time. For instance, Saturn in Libra, afflicting Mercury,
induces very obscure spasms in the blood vessels of the kidney which frequently is only
confirmedaftermanybloodchemistryexaminationssimplybecausetheconditioncomesand
goes.
ThepositionoftheSunisofthegreatestconsequenceinunderstandingthevitalityofa
person.Thecausesofvariationinsolarradiationintensitiesatthesurfaceoftheeartharethe
orbitaldistancebetweentheSunandtheearth.
InJuly,whentheSunisinCancer,forinstance,thedistancebetweentheSunandthe
earthisgreatest.Duringthisperiod,thebiologicalenergywaxesinthenorthernhemisphereand
biological activitytakes onanewpattern.InJanuary(whentheSunisinCapricorn), heis
nearesttotheearthandtheradiationintensityexceedsby7%.Thehoroscopeiscast,takingthe
longitudeandlatitudeoftheplaceofbirth,whentheangular,solarandplanetarypositionsaffect
animateorinanimatethings.
Astrologically,one,whohasCancerrising*willhavelowvitalityandheistooloathto
followtheadviceofothers.Heissuspiciousbynatureandlacksfaithinothers.Butwhenthe
Sunisinthissign,thenativehasmorevitality.Cancerhastheruleoverthestomach,diaphragm,
upperlobesoftheliver,thepancreas,andthegastricveinandserumoftheblood.Whenthesign
isafflicted,thepersonwillbepredisposedtoindigestion,flatulence,dropsyandsclerosisthe
exactdiseasedependinguponthenatureofafflictedplanetCancerpeoplearefondoffoodand
areheartyeaters.Consequently,theyareoftenafflictedwithdiseaseswhichoriginateinwrong
diet.
Asasample,Ishalldealwithoneortwodiseases.Intherealmsofappendicitisandheart
diseases, thousands of horoscopes have been studied and the fundamental astrological
ingredientsofthesediseaseshavebeendefined.RahuandMars,prominentinrespectofthe6th
house, reveal one's susceptibility to appendicitis and it will manifest under the directional
influencesoftheafflictedplanets.Becauseofthisadvanceknowledge,oneshouldadoptaplan
ofoperationtocounteracttheseinfluences.
Similarlywithregardtoheartdiseases.Astherearemanyformsofheartdiseases,the
indicatorsvary.
AnafflictiontotheSunisasinequanonofhearttrouble.Whenotherplanetaryaspects
enterthisbasicpicture,furthercomplicationswillappear.AnafflictionbyKeturevealsaheart
weakenedbypoisonfromsomemalfunctioningorganorfromanotherdiseaseorinfection.For
coronarythrombosis,theafflictionmusttakeplaceincertainsensitiveareas.Whilethephysical
and medical aspects of heart trouble are extremely involved and no two doctors like two
astrologerscompletelyagreeintheirdiagnosis,theastrologicalinfluencesarenotdifficultto
trace.Closelyalliedwithheartdifficultiesinpopularthinkingishypertensionhighblood
pleasuresupposedtobethemostprevalentofalltheirailmentsinAmerica.Infactithasthe
distinction of being called "all American disease". While hypertension may occur without
accompanyingdifficulties,itismostoftenassociatedwithobesity,arteriosclerosis,gallbladder
troublesandkidneyinfections,thoughitmaychooseanymaladyasitspartnerincrime.The
basichoroscopicalindicatorsofhypertensionareprominentangularSunplusanafflictedSaturn
orMars.Theplanetfromwhichthemalefic(SaturnorMars)drawsitschiefaffliction (e.g.,
squareMercury)willdeterminethenatureoftheaccompanyingdifficulty,ifthereistobeone.
AnafflictionfromJupiterpredisposestovascularconstructionbyarterialdeposits,fromRahu
encourageshightensionindailylifeandwillcauseanincreaseinadrenalsecretions.Ifthesign
involvedisLibra,itindicatesaccompanyingkidneytroublecausedbypoisonsfromtheupper
alimentarytract.Similarlyallotherdiseasescanbejudgedfairlyaccurately.
ThesignsAriestoPiscesrulethedifferentorgansfromheadtofootanddiseasesofthe
organsconcernedcanbeascertainedbystudyingtheaffliction.
Awordaboutcancer.Thoughitisafrighteningword,doctorssayitiscurableprovided
adequatetreatmentisbegunintime.Sothetimefactorisimportant.AccordingtoDr.JohnJ.
Schifferes,cancerissaidtobeagroupofdiseasescharacterizedbywhathecallsuncontrolled
"lawless"growthofbodycells.Healsosaysthatnobodyyetknowswhatcausescancer.When
Americanexpertscameoutwiththeirreport,linkingcigarettesmokingandcancer,manyheavy
puffers,itissaid,stoppedreadingthereport.TheGermanexpertssaythatpollutedairisatthe
bottomofthisdisease.Nowcancerisbeinglinkedwithagoodheadofhair.Afterexaminingthe
hairpatternsof186lungcancerpatientsinahospital,twoNewOrleanphysicianshavecometo
thehairraisingconclusionthatbaldnessandcarcinomadonotgohandinhand.Lungcancer,
theysay,strikesthreetofourtimesasofteninmenwithbountifulhairasinmenwithbaldspots.
Thiskindofhairsplittinglogiccanonlyleadtosidesplittinglaughter.Acertainresultofallthis
confusionisgoingtobethatnobodywilllistenanymoretoexperts,hairbrainedorotherwise.
Butitopensupvariousotherhilariouspossibilities.MorepeopleintheWestaregettingtaller,
saysareport;andmorearealsogettinglungcancer;heightandcancerarelinked.Peopleprone
tobitetheirfingernailsorchewleadpencilsortwistclipsintosurrealisticshapesarepositively
protectedfromcancer!
Whatevermightbetheopinionofexperts,200or300horoscopesofcancerpatients
studiedfurnishmaterialforcertainbroadconclusions.TheconstellationofAsleshashouldbe
relatedtotheAscendantorthe6thhouseandafflictedbyMars.
 Manyofthereadersmaybefamiliarwithastrologicalterminology.Atleasttheywillbe
knowing there are 12 signs of the zodiac, 27 stars and nine socalled planets. It is by a
permutationandcombinationoftheinfluencesshedbythesevariousbodiesthatanastrological
materiamedicahasbeenconstructed.Thefundamentalpurposeofmedicalastrologyistoaida
physicianindiscoveringwhatdiseaseswouldbeproducedunderdifferentplanetarydispositions
andthedurationofsuchdiseasesWhenproperlyapplied,astrologywouldquicklydeterminethe
seatofdisease.
Whenmedicalastrologyhassomuchtoofferinthematterofdiseasediagnosis,whyisit
beingignoredbythemedicalprofession?Conservatismandprejudicemaybepartlyresponsible
andignoranceofthesubjectpartlyresponsible.
Scientificorthodoxycouldbeasharmfulasreligiousorthodoxy,butmedicalmenwho
seemtobeopenmindedenoughtomakeinvestigationswhichtranscendtheregionsofaccepted
medicalmethods,areintheminority.
Research work would eventually tend to corroborate what ancient astrologers have
writtenregardingtherelationshipexistingbetweenthemotionsoftheheavenlybodiedandman's
healthandsickness.
Science,bydefinition,shouldcoverallfieldsofknowledgeandifknownlawsofscience
cannotexplainasetofphenomena,thenthelawshavetobesuitablyvaried.Itisinterestingto
notethatwhilenothingisbeingdoneinIndia,inspiteofthetalllalkofencouragingAyurveda,
theUnitedStates Department ofHealth,EducationandWelfarehasannouncedthatthereis
enoughevidenceforexpertresearchintohealthindicationsinaperson'spalmandfingerprints.
Dr.Rosnersaysthatscientistshavebeenawareforsometimepastthatcertainabnormalfinger
andpalmarpatternsoccurinabout70%casesofmongolism.
The remedial aspect of astrology is also very important. For certains afflictions or
arishtayogas inthehoroscope, i.e., inharmonious dispositions ofplanets whichmay express
themselves as mental or physical afflictions, remedial measures based on mantrasastra are
suggestedinancienttexts.
Thearishtayogasmerelyindicatethedeficiencyoftherequisiteornormalenergyquanta
andthiscanbecompensatedbymantraswhicharenothingbutpacketsorbundlesofadjusted
formsofsoundvibrations.Recentresearchescarriedonsoundwaveshaveclearlyshowntheir
therapeuticalvalue.Inprescribingdifferenttypesofmantrasfordifferenttypesofmentaland
physicalafflictions,ourancientmedicalmenlikeDhanvantri,Susruta,etc.,seemtohavebeen
alivetothetremendouspotentialityofsoundvibrations.
 XII
53
ASTROLOGYVsFUTUROLOGY

The socalled Futurology is the latest addition to the list of modern sciences or
speculationsabouthowhumanaffairslooklikeinthedistantfuture2000A.D.,4000A.D.,
etc., etc. Recently hundreds of "scientists, teachers, sociologists", etc., met in America to
"visualizethemeaningofthe21stcentury".Theyclaimthat"futurology"hasnowbeenaccorded
(perhapsbythemselves)"thestatusofanimportantdiscipline,notonlybecauseitrepresentsan
essentialfunctionofthethinkingmanbutalsobecauseitbringswithinitsambitallhuman
knowledgeandallsciencesandartsandstrivestointegratethem".Andwhatisastrologybut
futurologybuiltonsounderandmoresystematicmathematicallaws.Butthescientistwould
rathercoinanewtermandbasehisfindingsonspeculationsthantoadmitastrologyintothe
comity of socalled accepted sciences. Many a scientist have made up minds and refuse to
concedethatbeforetheyknewanythingoffuturology,thereweresavantsandsagesinthispart
oftheworldwhohadmadedeepstudiesoflawsofnaturewhichlinkedhappeningsontheearth
withhappeningsinthecosmos.
Even in the West, there are some fairminded scientists who admit that at all the
boundariesofscience,theycomeupagainstwhatareperhapsthe"inherentlimitationsofhuman
understanding".
Take,forexample,thechasmthatexistsbetweenwhatbiologydescribesandwhatthe
mindexperiences.Ifwetrytocontemplatethelimits ofspaceorthebeginningoftime, we
encounterinsolublecontradictionsinphysicalsciences.Whyshouldnumericalandgeometrical
lawsgovernthetransformationsofthe"transiententitiesoftheatomicandsubatomicworld"?
Thetriumphofstructuralchemistryissaidtobeanessentialunderstandingofthegeneticcodein
livingmatter.Butwhythecodebearingmoleculescanreplicatethemselvesonlyinalivingcell
andnotinisolationisbafflingthescientists.
Theconfusionevidentinthethinkingofthepresentdayscientistsabouttheuniverse,life
andmatterandfutureofmankindisclearlyreflectedintheoftencontradictorystatementsmade
bydifferenteminentscientistsonthesamesubject.
TheancientHindusavantsdeclaredthatgravitation(...)wasaproperty(...)ofmatterand
Newtonsaidthesamething.TheGermanphilosopherErnestMachsaidthatlocalbehaviorof
matterisinfluencedbythedistantpartsoftheuniverseanideawhichappearstohavebeen

SummaryofalecturedeliveredbytheAuthorattheIndianInstituteofWorldCulture,Bangalore,on1stJanuary
53

1978.
borrowedbyDr.Hoyle,butwhichindeedisthebasicassumptionofastrologicalscience.
Thereisafloodofnewtheoriesletloosebysomeofthe"futurologists"who,wearingthe
mantle of modern science, indulge in statements which smack of scaremongering and
amusement.
Thelatestbogeyofthesescientistsisthattheworldisfacedwiththegrimprospectof
populationexplosion.Thesescaremongersaredefinitethatthe"next75yearswillbeamost
criticalperiodinman'shistory.Wewillfacedisaster".
Accordingto SirJulian Huxley population increase is the"keyproblemofour age".
AccordingtoPeterBishop,"thereisrightwithustodayagrowingperilmoreappallingeven
thanaHBombexplosion".TheBritishastronomerHoylewidenshishorizonandforecaststhat
in5000A.D.anewspecieswillinhabittheearth.Heis"precise",unlikeastrologerswhoindulge
inprobability,thatintheyear2000A.D.,theworldpopulationwillbe6,000million;in2250
A.D.,itwillbe25,000million;andin2400A.D.only428yearsawayfromnowmanwill
haveonlystandingroomonthisplanet.Howcanweallowsuchanuncontrolledgrowth?Prof.
Hoyleopinesthatthiscanbestoppednotmerelybycuttingthebirthratebutby"raisingthe
deathrate".Explodeacoupleofhydrogenbombsnowandtheworldwillbesaferby2400A.D.
Thescientistsdonotstopatthat.Theygofurtherandsaythat"therewillbeacollapseofthe
world'spopulationafterithastouchedapeakof25,000million;andpleasemarkthesucceeding
statementin300years'time(fromthetimeofpeakpoint),therewillbepopulationcollapseto
thelevelof2000million.Andthiswillagainrisetothepeak,collapse,rise,collapse;etc.
constantly oscillating; and following a "process of biological distillation" man will be quite
another creature bythe endof 6999A.D.All this is very exciting coming as it does from
scientistsfuturologistsandnotfromastrologers.
Thenwehavethebleakforecastofthehumanraceautomaticallyannihilatingitselfon
Friday13112026.Thisistheconclusionofthebrainchildofthescientistacomputer.This
wasprogrammedsometimeagoattheNationalInstituteofNaturalResourcesinMexicoCityby
feeding"birthrate,mortalitytrends,existingfoodresourcesandfutureforecasts".Accordingto
theforecastofthiscomputer,"ourgreatgrandchildrenwillbethelastmenandwomentowalk
ontheearthasweknowit".
If,accordingtoHoyle,the worldpopulation willbe6,000million in2000A.D. the
Mexicoscientistsestimatethepopulationtobe7,000millions.Betweenthecalculationoftwo
modernscientists,thedifferenceisjust1,000million!not100,1,000soreven1million.Yet
theyarescientistsandnoscientistdarecriticizethembecausetheirconclusionsarebasedon
"scientific"faces.
Andwehavethestrangephenomenonofsome"scientists"inIndiawhoperhapsignorant
ofthelatestfindingsinphysicalsciencesestablishingcorrelationsbetweenplanetarymovements
andterrestrialeventscrydayinanddayoutthatastrologyisnosciencebecausenoonepredicted
the dateofthis orthatevent. Stretching theargumentofthese"scientists", theinference is
evidentbecause'Aryabhata' wasanuisance,'Bhaskara'aflop,andSriHarikotalaunching a
miserablefailure,spacescienceisnoscience!
Wecanfullysympathizewiththeplightofsuch"scientists"whohavemadeuporclosed
minds and who consider it their privilege to attack astrology day in and day out not on
intellectualorlogicallevelsbutonlooseandignorantgeneralizations.
MostoftheseexpertslikeProfessorBarryCommonerandDr.HeiuzVonPorsterofthe
bourgeoisieWestorMr.IgorVernadskiofSocialistRussiapredictWorlddestructionthrough
overpopulationorsomegiganticupheavalinspaceor"wewillpoisonourselvestodeath"even
duringthenextcentury.
Thereareotherscientists,absolutepessimists,likeJacquesPiccardwhothinksthathe
"wasseriouslydoubtfulwhethermankindwouldlastoutanotherhundredyears."Accordingto
othersyet,theworldwillend"aroundtheyear2070"becauseof"atomicthreatandwidespread
suicidalpollution".
Theseprophetsofdoom,allscientistsenjoyingthepatronageofcivilizedGovernments
allovertheworldandnotpoorastrologerswhohavetodependupontheirownresourcesand
whatlittlepatronagetheygetfromthethinkingpublic,donotleaveushere.Theygofurtherand
assertcategoricallythat"unlessthebirthrateisdrasticallychecked"herewehaveasilver
lining"civilizationasweknowitisdoomed.Governmentswillcollapse,lawandorderwill
vanish,massrioting,plaguesanddiseasewillsweeptheearth".Wahtisappallingis,mankind
willliterallygobacktothejungle!Tothesefuturologistsofthiswayofthinking,thepopulation
explosionandallthehellitwillletlooseonusaregrimpossibilitiesoffact"intheforeseeable
future".Ifwearetobelievethesespeculators,thenbythetimeyoucompletereadingthischapter
"another1,800babieswillhaveutteredtheirfirstcry".Eveninregardtothetimefactorasto
whenthiscatastrophewillbefalltheearth,theyarenotuncertainthoughnotquitedefinite.Just
45yearsfromnowandyouaredoomed!
Thescaremongeringoffuturologistsisnotconfinedmerelytothedoomofourplanetby
populationexplosion.Othercatastrophesarealsoanticipated.
AccordingtoDr.BruceC.HeazenoftheLaMountGeologicalObservatory,theearth's
magneticfieldwillreverseinabout4000A.D.Whatistheconsequence?Theearth'smagnetic
fieldblinksandalllifeonearthincludingofcoursethatofthepuinycreatureManwillbe
unprotectedfrombombardmentfromcosmicraysandtheumbrellainspacenowprotectingyou,
meandDr.Bruceisremoved.Drasticmutationsinlivingthingswillbecausedbycosmicrays
andtheconsequencesofthis"mutationepidemic"cannotbegrasped.Dr.Heazenalsotellsus
thatthis"magneticswitch"hasoccurredbeforeinthehistoryoftheearthandthatithappens
every700,000toamillion(italicsours)years.
Thefirstsignsofthemutationepidemicwouldbe"troublewithcompasses".Scientists
willholdpublicdebatesifofcoursetheirthinkingpowerisnotaffectedbythecosmicforces
bombardingthemwhenthereisnomoretheearth'smagneticfieldtoshieldthemofhowtomeet
thecomingcatastrophe.
"Biologistswouldsoonannouncethatplanetsandanimalswereproducingnewspecies.
Thespigotofevolutionwouldbeturnedon.Newflowers,newinsectswouldemerge.Perhaps
newvirusandbacteriathatwouldignoreallofman'santibioticswouldcauseariseinthedeath
rate.
"Thenthefullblowwouldfallwhenitwasfoundthatmoreandmorebabieswerebeing
bornfreaks.ThethalidomideepisodeinEuropewouldbenothingtothegenerationofmonsters
beingbornallovertheworld.
"Withthetechnologicalprogressthatonemightimagineinthenext2,000years,could
mancreatehisownumbrellaofmagnetism,possiblywiththeenergyoffusionreactions?
"Orwouldithelptosendprospectiveparentsintodeepcavesbeyondthereachofcosmic
radiation?
"Sincethedeathratewasrisingandmanyofthechildrenborncouldnotsurvive,there
would be a decrease in the earth's human population. Controls on population which must
certainlybeputintoeffectonthiscrowdedplanetlongbeforetheyear4000,mighthavetobe
removedinordertokeepthespeciesgoingatall."Andintheyearofgrace4001A.D.there
wouldbethebirthofthefirstchildofthenewsuperhumanrace!
Thereadingsoffuturologistsgivenaboveareindeeddarkandpessimistic.Ofcourse
brightershadescontradictingtheevilindicationsarealsonotmissing.
According to Henry Dreyfus, by 2000 A.D., "moderately welloff people will have
homesfilledwithmarvelsofinvention".Ifyouhappento;be"moderatelywelloff"andare
luckyenoughtofiveforanother20years,youwillbeableto"varythelightinginyourhouse"to
matchyourmoodandcoolcrisplightingforreadingorwarmpinklightingfordining.Yourwife
willbakeacakeina"microwaveoven"whichcooksfoodwithoutheatingtheovenandwhen
themealisover"thedisposalplasticplatesandcutlerywillbegroundtodustandautomatically
flushedaway".Otherpropheciesare:"WholefamilieswillbeabletovisiteachotherbyT.V.
Thecheapestordinarycarwillbeaturbopropelledmachinedoing150milesanhoursuspended
onefootabovethegroundonanaircushion".
AccordingtoDr.JosephSchultz,"womenin2000A.D.willhavepurpleororangehair
andpaleblueororangeskinmakeup.Theycansleepwiththeirmakeupintact".
ThentherearecelestialcatastrophesanticipatedbyastronomersoftheSunburningout,
or an extraterrestrial object smashingtheearthorputting thesolarsystem outofgear. The
chancesoftheSunexploding"onceduringitslifetime",saytheastronomers,"arequitehigh".If
andwhentheexplosiondoesoccur,howwillbethesceneontheearthjusteightminutesafter?
Fearfulbeyonddescription?
"Theskywillbefilledwithweirdpatternsofwhitehotfire.Allorganicmatter,alllife,
willbeburnttoacinder,theseaswillboilaway.Astheaironthesideoftheearthfacingthe
Sungoesupwithheat,coldairwillrushinfromthenightsideatfrightfulspeedsdestroying
everythinginitspath.Whereitwillbenight,lifewillbeasphyxiated.Thedeadmatterwillturn
intoashwhenexposedtotheSun.
"Afewdayslater,burninggasesfromtheSunwillenvelopthedeadearthwhich,getting
hotterandhotter,willmelt,turnintogasandstealwayintothedeadnightofspaceintheformof
theprimordialparticlesfromwhichittooktheshapeweknow."ItisnotclearwhattheProfessor
meansby"afewdayslater"astherecanbenodayanywhereinthesolarsystemwhenthe
Sunisdead.Butthatisofcoursescientificreasoningwhichcannotbequestioned.
The speculations of many of these scientists are of course supported by a series of
calculationsand"statisticalstudies"whichhavealltheglitterofscientificreasoningaboutthem
butwhicharebasedonassumptionswhichhavethemselvestobedefinitelyproved.
Theancient Maharshishaveclearly shownthatcropfailures,financial slumps, wars,
earthquakesandbirthanddeathratesareallcorrelatedtosolarradiation.Inotherwords,the
usualprinciplesofastrologycanexplainthepresentpopulationcrisisastheycanexplainevery
other crisis and conflict which twentiethcentury mankind is said to face. Apart from
contraception, economic circumstances, abortion, etc., the important factors contributing to
differentialfertility,isthepresenceorabsenceoftheBeejaandKshetrafactorsinthehoroscopes
of different persons. These again depend upon the moment of birth, that is the planetary
juxtapositions.Whilescientistsmaybejustifiedinanticipatingafearfulfuturefortheworldby
population increase, basing their conclusions on their own pet theories, we, as students of
astrology,areconstrainedtofeelthatthereisnoastrological basisforthefearthat"human
reproductionwilloutrunresources".
Thereisalsoarecognizableconnectionbetweenthemovementsoftheequinoxandlong
rangeterrestrialaffairssuchaspopulationtrends,historicalchanges,massmovements,etc.At
themoment,theequinoxisin757'PiscesinthesecondquarterofUttarabhadraruledbySaturn
buttheNavamsabeingVirgo.TheequinoxenteredtheNadiAmsaofmaitriin1956.Itpasses
throughmandira(1974)andvaruna(1984)gettingintojalaplavain1998.Thiswillbejustabout
thetimeofanticipatedpopulationexplosion.Whenitentersmadira,theworldisinforalotof
carnagebywars,pestilenceslandplagues.Theequinoxialmovementinjalaplava(Navamsaof
Mercury ruling the nervous system, etc), produces immense stress on human beings. Stress
makesforenlargedadrenalsandadrenalglandshavebeencitedasapopulationsafetyvalve.
Thusthereisabsolutelynoindicationoftheearthfacingthecalamitythescientiststhinkitdoes.
ByA.D.2000,whenJupiterandSaturnwillagainbeconjoinedinAries,theworld'sequilibrium
willhavebeenconsiderablyrestoredbytheoutbreaksofwars,earthquakes,famine,etc.,andthe
fallingdownofbirthrates.
Whatevermaybetheforecastsoffuturologists,cosmologistsandprophetsofdoom,a
referencetoHinduastronomicalliteraturecangiveusacluebasedonastronomicalfactorsasto
whentheworldortheexistingorderofthingsislikelytocometoanend.Notuntilthisperiod
comesisthereanyprospectofthecatastrophesenvisagedbymodern"scientific"futurologists
everhappening.
The theory of Yugas has a scientific basis and is not merely based upon fantastic
imaginativeness and arbitrary theorizings, as some modern savants want us to believe. The
"Sankalpa",whicheveryHinduisexpectedtoknowandwhichisrecitedateveryceremony,is
thekeytounfoldthewholemysterythatenshroudstheviewofthetimeatwhichtheearth
assumeditspresentform.TheHinduastronomers,assumingthattheplanetswereinalineof
meanconjunctionwiththefirstpointofAriesatthebeginningofaMahayugaandthatthese
planetswilloccupythesamepositionsatthebeginningofthenextMahayuga,ataplaceon
equator, whose longitude is 76 E. of Greenwich calculated the period of a Mahayuga at
4,320,000yearswhichtheysupposedtobetheL.C.M.ofthedifferentnumberofdaystakenby
each planet to make one revolution round the zodiac. As most readers must be aware, a
MahayugaorChaturyugaismadeupofKrita,Treta,DwaparaandKaliandcontains12,000
Devaor4,320,000ordinaryyears.71MahayugasconstituteoneManvantra(308,448,000years)
and 14 Manvantaras or Manus make up one Kalpa or Brahmadina or Brahma's day
(4,320,000,000years).NowaccordingtotheSankalpa,alreadysixManvantarashavepassedin
thepresentKalpaandtheseventhisnowgoingon.TherearestillsevenmoreManvatarasto
come.
Inthe7thManvantara,27MahayugashavepassedandwearenowinthelastYugaofthe
28thMahayuga.Wecan,therefore,computethenumberofyearspassedinthepresentKalpa
thus:
DawnoftheKalpa.... 1,728,000years
6ManusorManvantaras... 1,850,688,000years
TwentysevenMahayugas... 116,640,000years
Inthe28thMahayuga:
Krita... 1,728,000
Treta... 1,296,000
Dwapara... 864,000
Kali 5,080
3,893,080years
1,972,949,080yearsDeducttimeoccupiedincreation17,064,000years
Totalfromtheendofpresentcreation1,955,885,080years
WearestillinthebeginningofKaliyugaandhaveyettopass426,920yearsbeforethe
presentYugaends.Therefore,thereisnoprospectofadelugeortheannihilationoftheearthin
ourlifetimeorinthatofevenourgreatgreatgrandchildren.Hinduastronomershaveassigned
313trillionmortalyearsasBrahma'sageorthelifespanoftheuniverse.
TherearetwomajorPralayasordissolutions:Naimittikaorincidentaldestructionofall
creation,ofallthelivesthathaveaform,butnotofthesubstance.Thesubstanceremainsin
statusquotillthenewdawninthatBrahmaratri.Theuniverseisthusalternatelycreatedfrom
and dissolvedinto its material cause atthe endofevery Brahmaratri and Brahmadina. The
secondisPrakritikaorMahapralayathegreatDissolutionwhichissaidtooccurattheendof
thelifeperiodofBrahma.InthisfinalPralaya,everythingintheuniverse,materialaswellas
nonmaterial,isdissolvedintoatoms.
Thecreativescientistisusuallymoreconcernedwiththerelationofthingstooneanother
thanwithmereanalysisofwhatthesethingsare.Andarealastrologerisnotdifferent.Hisquest
isforthequestionswhichstillremainthemostabsorbingandtheoldestofall:thecosmosandits
relationtomankind.
 APPENDIX
Prof.CarlJung'slettertoProf.B.V.Raman
KusnachtZch.,September6th1947

DearProf.Raman,
I haven't, yet received the astrological magazine, but I will answer your letter
nevertheless.
Since you want to know my opinion about astrology I can tell you that I've been
interestedinthisparticularactivityofthehumanmindsincemorethan30years.AsIama
psychologist, I am chiefly interested in the particular light the horoscope sheds on certain
complications in the character. In cases of difficult psychological diagnosis I usually get a
horoscopeinordertohaveafurtherpointofviewfromanentirelydifferentangle.Imustsay
thatIveryoftenfoundthattheastrologicaldataelucidatedcertainpointswhichIotherwise
would have been unable to understand. From such experiences I formed the opinion that
astrologyisofparticularinteresttothepsychologist,sinceitcontainsasortofpsychological
experiencewhichwecall"projected"thismeansthatwefindthepsychologicalfactsasit
wereintheconstellations.Thisoriginallygaverisetotheideathatthesefactorsderivefromthe
stars,whereastheyaremerelyinarelationofsynchronicitywiththem.Iadmitthatthisisavery
curiousfactwhichthrowsapeculiarlightonthestructureofthehumanmind.WhatImissin
astrologicalliteratureischieflythestatisticalmethodbywhichcertainfundamentalfactscould
bescientificallyestablished.
Hopingthatthisanswermeetsyourrequest.
Iremain,Yourssincerely,(Sd.)C.G.JUNG.
 REFERENCESCONSULTED

AnIntroductiontotheStudyofAstrologybyB.SuryanarainRao
HumanKnowledge,ItsScopeandLimitsbyBertrandRussel
SecretoftheGoldenFlowerbyCarlJung
EpidemicCatastrophesandthePeriodActivityoftheSunbyTchijevsky
ContributionstoAnalyticalPsychologybyCarlJung
AStudyinHistorybyA.J.Toynbee
Astrology'sPlaceintheWorldofSciencebyArnoldW.Meyer
MainspringsofCivilisationbyEllsworthHuntington
ActionsofRadiationsonLivingCellsbyW.E.Lea
TheSecretofLifebyGeorgesLakhovsky
ATextBookofAstrologybyA.J.Pearce
AstrologyinEverydayLifebyRupertGleadow
Marxism.Materialism,DeterminismandDialecticsbyD.N.DasGupta
BrahmaSutrasofVyasa(EnglishTranslation)bySridharMajumdar
NewBackgroundofSciencebyJamesJeans
TheUniverseintheLightofModernPhysicsbyPlant
TheUniverseAroundUsbyJamesJeans
AstrologyofPersonalitybyDaneRudhyar
ABriefHistoryofAstrologybyTempleHungad
HinduAstrologybyMankariPande
Astrology,DestinyandCosmicFactorsbyV.Gore
D'AstroBiologiebyK.E.Krafft
DerGeistderAstrologicbyGeorgeMutter
Plato'sCosmologyTranslatedbyF.M.Cornford
TheMetaphysicalFoundationsofModernSciencebyEdwinA.Burth
ReachoftheMindbyJ.B.Rhine
ThePsychologyofTimebyMaryStuart
YogaVasistaBrihadaranyakaUpanisbad(EnglishTranslation)bySwamiMadhavananda
EthicalRelativitybyE.A.Westermarek
TheInvisibleInfluencebyAlexanderCanon
AmericanAstrology1942,1944and1948
EconomicJournal1921
JournaloftheRoyalStatisticalSociety1922
ArthasastraofKautilya(EnglishTranslation)byR.ShamaShastry
BrihatJataka
BrihatParasaraHora
Panchasiddanthika
BrihatSamhita
MuhurthaChintamani
AgniPurana
YogaSutrasofPatanjali
GheranSamhita

BooksonAstrologybyDr.B.V.Raman
AstrologyforBeginners
AManualofHinduAstrology
ACatechismofAstrology
HinduPredictiveAstrology
HowtoJudgeaHoroscopeVol.I
HowtoJudgeaHoroscopeVol.II
ThreeHundredImportantCombinations
PrasnaMargaVol.I
PrasnaMargaVol.II
PrasnaTantra
NotableHoroscopes
MyExperimentswithAstrology
NirayanaTablesofHouses
BhavarthaRatnakara
AshtakavargaSystemofPrediction
GrahaandBhavaBalas
HinduAstrologyandtheWest
PlanetaryInfluencesonHumanAffairs
MuhurtaorElectionalAstrology
StudiesinJaiminiAstrology
KlachakraDasa
Raman'sOneHundredTenYearsEphemeris(18912000)