A CASE FOR THE BASE OF ASTROLOGY

By
Sreenadh Malayinkizh

Vedic astrology, a branch of knowledge of our ancient

Vedas, has three main branches or Skandhas, namely, Sidhantha
dealing with Astronomy and Mathematics, Samhita dealing with
Omens and Hora dealing with Horoscopy, Horary and Muhurtha.
Astrology is also called Kalavidhana Sastra or a science that
imparts advice about ‘Time’ and its divisions. It helps us to
determine the nature of the past, present and future and to
find out how the flow of time affects humans, animals and
plants. The aim of this branch of knowledge is also to
foresee the pleasures and pains of the life on this earth.

Time is the cause for everything that is good and bad -

pleasure or pain - in life. Time is the cause of all
movements. Even thought is time bound. Thoughts cannot break
away form the boundaries caused by time, as they are based on
our past and present experiences. To predict the happenings
of the future incidents of life, we should study the Time.
But we cannot see, touch or hear the Time. However, we can
know and comprehend it with our mind and analyze it. This is
possible only because we can observe movements. Even thought
is a movement. It is only by watching the movements that the
concept of the ‘Time’ originates in our mind. The movements
we observe from the earth, like the flying of birds, fall of
withered leaves from trees, the flowering of plants, the
sunrise and sunset, the waxing and waning of the Moon and the
subtle cosmic schedules like the movements of planets, make us
experience the existence of Time. Time is the cause of all
movements. It is the cause for the movements of Earth, Moon
and planets. It is the cause for life and death of plants,
animals and humans. It is the cause for all our worldly
happenings like births, marriages, accidents, diseases,
deaths, wealth or poverty or other events, which one could
conceive of.

To know about, in advance, the events of the life of

humans or to predict the future of anything, we should study
Time. We cannot study it directly. But there is a way out,
as the Time is the cause for all movements. So, if we study
the movements of cosmic bodies like Earth, Moon, Planets,
etc., we can know, understand and comprehend the rhythm of
Time, its ebbs and flows. If we are able to know the rhythm
of Time or the flow of time felt by the human minds, we can
predict the life incidents of humans. We can say what he is
and what he would become. At the same time, let us not forget
that the prediction is probabilistic. Astrology originates
from this basic rationale. It is not irrational or
irrelevant. In fact, throwing mud on the truthfulness and
sincerity of Rishis who created this branch of study is
irrational.

By watching the clock we can determine time. But the

clock does not control time. When the birds cry we know that
it is sunrise. Still, it is not the birds, which cause the
sunrise. Similarly the study of planetary movements helps us
to predict the past, present and future events of life. In
fact, it is not the planets that control the destiny of
humans, but time. The sunlight that is reflected by the
planets and the attractive forces of planets may have only a
little impact on human destiny, but the impact of time is
supreme. Here I am emphasizing the importance of time in
shaping human destiny compared to the impact of light or
attractive forces of planets. It is a truth both the wise
astrologer and the scientist know. Planets are just
instruments that help us in understanding the rhythm of time,
the instrument that helps us in predicting the human destiny.
Planets are utilized in astrology in this way. Every believer
of Vedic astrology should understand this truth.

When one understands this basic rationale of astrology,

the unnecessary arguments and debates will stop. We must try
to see astrology in its true theoretical foundation. Why
should we argue whether astrology is an art or science?
Astrology is nothing but Astrology. If somebody asks whether
bat is bird or not, what would be the answer? It will only
create an unending array of positive and negative arguments.
If somebody asks whether history is science or not, even
without my intervention, one will know that the result would
be the same. Bat is bat, history is history and astrology is
nothing but astrology, neither science nor an art.
 The fault lies in our view. Why should we try to cast
something into a particular mould, or to limit subjects into
some colored boxes? Man wants to classify everything. The
truth would be always beyond all the classifications. It
stays outside all the classification attempts. The fault lies
fundamentally with the fragmented human brain that tries to
classify everything, which ultimately leads to erroneous
knowledge. This fundamental error remains unsolved and we are
trying to limit the subjects in to predefined boxes. It is
the second mistake. Will these repeated errors lead us to
correct knowledge and view?

When I have written this much, I felt that the fundamental

classification error of fragmented human brain should be
clarified further. Let me explain. We divide the time in
many ways, such as hour, minute, second, or Nadi, Vinadi in
Indian system, or as Christian, Vikrama or Kaliyuga eras.
Many other systems could be used to divide time. Year, month,
day divisions or the solar, sidereal, lunar, will all be the
same. There are thousands of methods! All these
classifications originated in human mind. Truly, time is
beyond all these classifications. Are the hour-minute
divisions or the nadi-vinadi divisions correct? Time is
continuous. All these classifications are created by the
fragmented human brain to comprehend time. Our view is
fragmented. It is like a fragmented mirror that shows the
picture of the complete and continuous world in a fragmented
way. Even though these classifications are necessary for
humans to study and comprehend time, the continuous entity
“Time” does not need all these classification. Despite the
presence or absence of all these classifications, the Time
will prevail. Existing always and beyond. Yes, all the
classifications are wrong. But human brain cannot but have
them. That is why it is said that every branch of study is
nothing but “attempts to comprehend the incomprehensible and
complete world with fragmented classifications.”

In a fragmented mirror, the reflected world would also be

fragmented. It is the fundamental limitation of human brain
or mind. That is why it is said, “The eternal truth is
realized only in a mindless state.” The Vedic verse “etho
vacha nivarthanthe aprapya manasa saha” (where the mind turns
back with the unreachable words) - that is Truth,” points to
this direction. Due to all these, we cannot but accept the
fundamental error of trying to comprehend the non-fragmented
existence (world), with the fragmented mind. Can we not at
least avoid the second error, i.e. trying to limit astrology
into some predefined boxes such as science or art? Can we not
avoid such arguments as whether astrology is art or science?
Let us try to comprehend astrology in its true theoretical
foundation. We must view science as science and art as art
and must not mix up both. As the humanity is a quality of man
that is not limited by class, creed, color, religion or caste,
astrology is a subject that cannot be limited within the
classifications such as science or art.

When I see the efforts of people to classify astrology

into predefined moulds such as science or art, I am just
feeling compassionate, because these classifications are
unscientific and non-systematic. A relevant doubt is how to
classify all the subjects under human study. The thought
process of human mind can be broadly classified into two - 1)
analytical 2) holistic. The astrologer refers to this duality
using the words ooha-apoha, mathematicians use the words
differentiation-integration and others use the technical term
analytical approach - holistic approach. Whatever be the
terms used, they point to the fundamental difference in the
thinking approach. These are two different thinking methods.
Most of the braches of knowledge we have today is the product
of one of these approaches.

Science is the product of analytical approach. We used to

say that science tries to study everything by dividing it into
smaller and smaller parts. Science has its own method, based
on analytical approach, termed Scientific method. Data
collection, concept, formation, analysis, verification are the
parts of it. A theory is the final output. Some of these
theories may later proclaimed as true mirrors of knowledge or
laws. Some of them on new data-input, either get refined or
discarded. Thus, science is a continuous search for truth.
Starting from small laws that control our daily life and not
stopping in-between, it searches for a single law that
comprehends everything to describe the whole. Some theories
that are refined further and further, become stronger
rationally and experimentally. These are proclaimed as laws
that become the foundation of science to help or promote
further study. Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology etc., are
all branches of science. Mathematics, though does not follow
the scientific method, has a systematic foundation and is a
product of analytical approach. “Fact to generalization” is
the prime motto of analytical approach. Nevertheless,
holistic study method is an entirely different and worthy one.

The holistic approach has given raise to many branches of

knowledge. Let us start from the most common example - i.e.
Psychology. Psychology says that all the mental diseases,
which may have even physical symptoms, are caused by
unhealthiness of mind. In other words, Psychology finds its
foundation in the concept called Mind. If we knew all about
the processes in brain, nervous system, and the chemical
reactions in brain and body, this concept of mind will not be
necessary. We feel the Mind because of the combined and
coordinated function of all these. Even though we cannot find
the ‘Mind’ by subdividing the body in to its minutest parts
i.e. by physical analysis, nobody will say that psychology is
a useless subject. By using the classifications such as
conscious-subconscious-unconscious, id-ego-superego (or the
Indian classical division Chitta–buddhi-ahankara) we believe
that psychology leads us towards truth. All the branches of
knowledge that originate from the holistic method use one or
more non-provable concepts as their foundation, which are
accepted based on their usefulness. Psychology is no
exception to that. The ancient Indians used the word ‘Sastra’
(ancient advice) to indicate such branches of study. Like
Psychology that speaks about Mind, Ayurveda that speaks about
Tridoshas or Vaatha-Pitha-Kapha, Homeopathy and Naturopathy
that speak about Vital force, Astrology speaks about Planets
and Signs. All are the products of holistic approach. In
this sense subjects such as Psychology, Ayurveda, Homeopathy,
Naturopathy, Astrology etc., do not come under the broad
classification called Science. Still we know that nobody will
dare to say that Psychology, Ayurveda etc., are useless. In
the view of our ancients, Sastras lead us to truth, help us to
comprehend the truth more clearly and help us to know the
truth that are useful for our existence. Astrology that
depends on holistic approach is no exception to this. In this
study-method called holistic approach, some basic concepts are
formulated, to cover all our ignorance about the details and
to help the further study. This hypothetical foundation
becomes a springboard for further study. Here also,
psychology can be taken as a suitable example. When we know
100% about the processes and behavior of brain and body, we
understand which chemical reactions lead to each thought and
emotion. Then we could clearly state how and where the memory
is encoded, with its minutest details. When our knowledge
grows that much and we attain the ability to control all
these, using chemical and physical mechanisms (machine driven
or otherwise), we can discard the concept of mind and
psychology. Until then psychology will exist, despite
whatever be the reaction of the scientists to it. Similarly,
when we understand how the rhythm of time influences the
living organisms and their life incidents (100% i.e. to its
minutest details) astrology can be discarded. Until then,
whatever be the opposing arguments, this branch of knowledge
known as astrology is bound to prevail.

Even those who accept that Psychology, Ayurveda,

Homeopathy etc., as holistic methods, tend to reject
astrology. Why? They ask - “How can you say that astrology
is based on a fundamental concept like Mind, Tridosha or Vital
force, used by other branches of holistic approach? Can you
consider the Sun, the Moon and the Planets as concepts? Signs
such as Aries, Taurus are the divisions of sky. How can they
be concepts? All those who sincerely study the ancient Vedic
astrology know the answers to such questions.

Assume that we collect the common characteristics or life

incidents of children born, when the Sun is in some particular
sign. Instead of considering these characteristics as that of
time, they are projected to the Sun. The Sun is considered
the significator of all such characteristics. Later, when the
Sun is in the same sign, when a child is born, we predict
that, that the child will have those predefined or pre-
collected characteristics. The technique is of projecting the
characteristics to those that are not of the Sun to the Sun
and later taking them back from the Sun. Here the Sun
becomes not the Sun that we see with our naked eyes. The Sun
becomes a concept. This Sun is the God Siva, father, gold,
soul, courage, success, light, king, government, service,
light, forest, peak, hill... and so on. Sun is man, middle-
aged, bald, and the significator of diseases due to heat. All
these ideas are formed thus. Not only the Sun, but also the
Moon and the Planets become concepts in this way. Whatever is
called significators in astrology, they are all concepts
(Hypothetical constructions to mould the truth). Yes, in
astrology, the Planets, Houses and Signs are called
significators. Therefore, the Signs, Houses and Planets are
the basic concepts used in the holistic study-method called
astrology. Apart from this, some other basic concepts that
are used by Vedic culture such as Panchabhootas (Earth-Water-
Fire-Air-Sky), Trigunas (Satwa – Rajas – Thamas) etc., are
also well utilized in astrology.

Of the two approaches such as analytical and holistic,

Astrology and Ayurveda are closer to holistic approach. As
these two methods, analytical and holistic, are fundamental to
the thought process itself, why should they compete with each
other? Why should the branches of study that are part of
holistic approach try fruitlessly to become part of any
science, a product of analytical approach? Even physics
should resort to the use of concepts such as stress, strain,
force, time etc. Ayurveda cannot stand away from the fact
that the use of its methods should cure a patient. The world
we see is composed of the facts and concepts, viz., matter and
mind. Because of all these, the analytical approach that
takes facts as the starting point and the holistic approach
that takes concepts at the starting point should ultimately
meet and help each other to the ultimate enrichment of human
knowledge. They are like Yin and Yang, the opposing counter
parts of the same thing. As both of them are the foundations
of the thought-process itself, one defeating the other is
impossible.

Even this classification such as analytical or holistic is

not complete. We cannot bring all the subjects under the sun
into this classification. As I mentioned earlier, all the
classifications are nothing but the creations of human mind.
The truth would remain outside all these classifications. In
our case also, it will be true. (Just think of bringing
subjects such as art and history into this classification.) A
Vedic astrologer should be ready to approach astrology with
such realizations, because astrology is a part of a holistic
approach, to study the rhythm of time and make probabilistic
predications.
 Sreenadh
sreesog@yahoo.com