(First Published in ‘Grahankit’, Aug. 2006)
Literal meaning of short cut is a nearer route or a by-path. But quite often it is not easiest of best way.
The general opinion is that there can be persons using short cut for any of the following reasons— To be in hurry or not having sufficient time, absence of will or capability to know thoroughly, to be lazy, exhausted or tired, tendency to complete the work somehow, not being aware of difficulties in the shortcut, or if aware then to have some selfish intention in it, no need for himself where work is going on smoothly, to use it when work is done for some body else, not willing to exert the brain and so on. Suppose there are set of steps necessary for doing a work in most proper way, then in ‘short cut’ some of these are given a miss knowing that there will be some disadvantages or shortcomings due to it. This is the general opinion. Again short cuts are not necessarily easy. For example, going to the top of a hill by a regular, motor able way is longer, taking more time but safer and easier. On the other hand taking a by-path, one has to face steep climbing up or down, is more stressful for body and more prone to accidents and mistakes. Broadly speaking, it can be said that short cut saves some time and it is good for that only.
A short cut is desirable only in some cases and only some times. In general a highway or well traveled proper path is always preferable. But for an important work, in doing which hindrances should not appear, which should be beneficial to our self and also for others, one on which the welfare of ourselves or others is dependent, in such cases the use of ‘short cut’ is going to be harmful. Now I also don’t say that this opinion of mine will be totally applicable to all short cuts, but it is definitely worth considering. The bad effects of the sort cut are serious or mild only in relation to the considered aim of the work.
The short cuts used in the villages are very dangerous. There are thorns, glass pieces, nails, up and downs, streams, mud, bad odors. Some times one has to jump, and chances of missing are more. There are many such risks and hin- drances. Many a times there is a chance of suffering, either soft or serious, effects without reason. In cities, the problems short cuts are like filthy residential area, prevalence of unlawful trades, unnecessary botheration hooligans and addicts, eve teasing, unsafe roads, haphazardly parked vehicles, missing the way in the narrow winding by lanes, groups of children playing and quarreling on road etc. Because of many such difficulties, the purpose of taking short cut for work is not served and that work also is not done.
Let us now turn to the main subject. Our prevalent astrology is a big store of short cuts. I am going to discuss here how far proper it is for astrologers to use these short cuts.
Through my various articles, number of times I have mentioned the various difficulties in memorizing innumerable rules and methods in astrology, huge collec-
tion of stanzas for fruits, long time required for doing countless mathematical cal- culations. But even after mentioning this repeatedly, so far in many years, nobody has expressed to me a single word against it; therefore I presume that it is a certifi- cate that all this is true and appropriate. There was a period when there was one group of persons having a through study of astrology, and the other group needed only the broad tricks, i.e. only the rules of thumb. The second group also needed the help of astrology very badly for social service. Some of the highly essential jobs were being done by these rules of thumb e.g. the rains and the preparatory works before rains, marriages, festival Muhurtas, and rituals which were dependent on these tricks and guesses. The highly studied group of the astrologers was in cities, with the kings and in the group of high society, and was also respected. Due to this reasons the common man was kept aloof from them and thus he was deprived of the direct benefit of such a valuable knowledge. On the other hand the second group, by learning the short cuts of this science, was able to do the jobs of the commoners.
In the course of time the conditions changed, the kingships started diminish- ing. And during this period only the second group felt that this system of astrologi- cal guesses was essential to be continued. But this group had no deep knowledge of this science. In this period only a substantial addition of the short cuts was made by the students of this Shastra. The aim was the common man also should be able to use these tricks as “better than nothing”. Today I am give only some of them for the fear of too much expanse. Only expectation is that this should be useful to you for study. I don’t have any objection for you to leave any matter you disagree with. I don’t want to say that the above mentioned was the only reason, but it is one of the many reasons. The main reason of short cuts being prepared is the same as mentioned in the beginning. The main reason is that the extent of study of the astrology is very vast and human memory is simply insufficient for it. This same picture is seen even today at some places. But in today’s short cut era also, the proportion of crowd is comparatively less with the really knowledgeable persons of astrology.
I am telling about a person who used to meet frequently and I used to get information when asked. (You may call it a story.) He had great liking for astrology. He started to study but study was not complete. Though the study is insufficient, what harm is there in giving guidance to the people? With this view he started giving guidance to people while study was continuing. Also being conscious of less study, initially he started to tell without accepting money. Due to so called insistence, he kept a box with a beautiful name, “Social service” out side the main entry door of his room. After some days, it was told that some people say that box is not safe outside. Therefore due to the so called insistence of the people the box was kept right in front of him. Due to this the no. of free clients was no doubt reduced. But may be this change had happened in favorable period, the weight of the box went up. Now he could not spare time for completing the study, though consultation work remained in full swing. After some years when I went to him, I observed a large board with his photo on the door. I was shocked to see the photo and after
reading the board from near, I was surprised. His name was prefixed with degrees, like “famous…Maharaj..”, which was new to me. After reading further, I knew that he teaches astrology and there is great demand for those having degree from him. My purpose in telling this is that if you hear some such thing anywhere you should not be surprised.
For the creation of short cuts, this and the like were the breeding abodes, from where the short cuts and the rules not in Shastra were created. To the ancient rules of Shastra, now such new rules under the head “This is my opinion” have been added. For determining the rules, the ancient divine visionaries took the sup- port of the highest knowledge of their Sadhana, have prepared the effectiveness of the planets and those are being used by our astrologers, till today, since last thou- sands of years.
I prepared the software of graphics, by the support of only the rules given by the ancient science, and started getting correct answers. It is seen by you in the article of June 06 issue with reference to Mr. Promod Mahajan. Such great and useful knowledge is available in the ancient Shashtra.
But now the era of short cuts has come in it. It seems to possess the highest knowledge of Sadhana is no more essential for preparing the Karakatvas. There is no need of divine vision. The effects and the fruits of the unknown planets like Uranus, Neptune and Pluto have already been prepared. Many books for one planet have entered the market. Many have written the effects of the same planets though there is no agreement between them, but these have been made available to the new learners. The new generation will get expertise with the study of these books. Such new rules of the type “This is my opinion” have been placed in their hands. No need is felt for preparing the hypothesis, by verifying thousands of cases by scien- tific method. Only on the basis of 5-6 (tallied) horoscopes, the rules are created. Every thing is by shortcut. If these persons are big names, accepting boquets on the stage, then who is to question them and what? Time has come for knowledge- able people to see, towards which direction this ancient Shashtra is going?
Note: On the basis of my study of the ancient Shashtras my opinion is as
follows. Basically the divine visionaries have composed the Jyotish Shastra (As- trology) tying it to the common practice of “visible to the human eye”. Due to this reason, even though they had the knowledge of the things not visible to the human eyes, they have not included following in the ancient Shashtra. 1. The satellites, around any of the planets, not visible to the eyes, 2. Rahu – Ketu, 3. The invisible planets beyond Saturn, 4. The remaining galaxy. The inclusion all of these being improper, was not done intentionally. Opposite to this, no planet in fact becomes retrograde, but because it so appears to the eyes, that matter has been included. According to this method only the system of Ayanamsha (sidereal time) is ac- cepted. Therefore, whichever aspects have been used in ancient Shashtra, that only should be considered as the limits of Jyotish Shastra. Therefore if Rahu to Pluto etc are to be taken and the ancient rules are to be used, then it is going to be a mistake. If this is not agreeable and if you don’t have spiritual divine vision and Sadhana, then the effects of these planets will have to be fixed by investigating lacs of cases
with these planets by scientific method, and publishing the results of the research. Accepting some body’s opinion will be a matter of loss to the science and these shortcuts are going to cost very dear to the Shatra.
To remove incompleteness in decision of time, in the ancient Shastras it is suggested that Gochari should be given priority.
After deep study of the ancient Shastra, broad knowledge of the fruits due to destiny, which the Jataka can be certainly had with the help of horoscope. But the deficiency about ‘as to when that fruit will be made available ?’ was definitely felt by the students of the Shastra. For this, later on day-year, Ashtottary and Vinshottary etc. various systems were forwarded for time decision. This clearly means that one system was evolved, but after investigation, students did not find that satisfactory, therefore another was evolved. In the original ancient Shastra it is written that the Gochari be used but the knowledge of its use could not be available, hence it could not be carried to completeness.
Because the thorough study of Astrology was impossible for the common- ers, hence to remove all this deficiency the shortcuts like Gurubal, Chandrabal, the fruit of Chandra Rashi, chance of marriage, the good and bad periods in Panchang, the Hora of the day, tally of Gunas, etc. started getting created. I don’t want to say that every thing in these shortcuts was inappropriate, but I consider it to be neces- sary to clarify the real nature of shortcuts.
For solving the question of marriages of the people in the society the ‘Grahamelan’ system has been given in the ancient Shastra. But it is found that the majority of the present astrologers do not know the system of Grahamelan at all. Further it is also complicated for use. Therefore it seems that the alternate shortcut of Gunamelan was created. If we consider the rules and principles of Shastra, the decision about any subject, can not be kept dependent on any one Bhava, Rashi or planet. This entire scheme has been given karaktvas and these are all related to each other. Therefore for any one subject, more than one Rashi(sign), Bhav(house) and planets have to be considered in totality. But referring to only one satellite ‘Moon’, two short-cuts are created. 1) Gunamelan and 2) Moon Rashi fruit.
Gunamelan-
The rule “the formation of Jyotish Shastra is not dependent on any single planet” was discarded while preparing Gunamelan. Only because the planet Moon has the fastest speed amongst all the planets next to the Lagna, it was accepted. The process of marriage having being woven with the horoscope, this speedy planet was free, so it was used in the Gunamelan. In fact according to the Karaktvas given to it, the Moon does not possess full authority to interfere in the subjects like marriage happiness and family life,. But by keeping aside the ancient Shastra, by connecting this Moon with the Awakahada Chakra, the use of its speed has been fully accepted mechanically. Therefore no body has given any Shastra base for ‘why only Moon in the quadrant of a Nakshatra has been accepted in this shortcut’; or at least I have not seen it having been given anywhere. But it is not powerful is the opinion of many learned persons along with me.
Mangal Dosh, One Nadi, novel gunamelan for the Koot and Nadi Dosh, jaab (an- swer) to Mangal, blood group to Nadi, to see the Mangal Dosh by Bhavchalit, Tripaad Shani, in Shani Sadesati some Adichki Shubha and rest Ashubha, escape ways like non powerful Mangal, or Jaab (answer) etc.
Due to this, if the girl is not approved, if the home condition is not good, then in this system some excuse for the refusal is always available. In the Gunamelan chart there are 36 Gunas (points) in all for matching. It is told that only after fully considering Nadi, Guna, Yoni, Varga etc. of boy and girl if there are 18 or more than 18 Gunas are obtained then there is no harm in arranging the marriage. But I don’t understand the reason behind the refusal, even after Gunas being 18 or more, on the basis of some dosha of Nadi, yoni, or the like “Let there be the Mangal in our kundali, but the Rahu in the 7th house though it is Jaab to our Mangal(Mars), we
don’t want that” are many such types of objections are seen being forwarded in the match making.
Further, nowadays so many varieties are coming up as per the will or whims. 1- The Mangal is not seen by any body in Bhawchalit, there is no time to do that or don’t know how to do it. “My aunt had a Mangal, but nothing bad has happened, then what happens here?” 2- The marriage can be arranged by changing in the quadrant of the Nakshatra. “What difference is there in Ram and Rawana, both are same, both have R!”. If it is not matching with the name as per Nakshatra then take the given name. 3- If the Nadi is same, then do like this. Check the blood grop and decide. 4- “Does it not match? Then let us take a different time of birth and make it to match, by another Horoscope. Our astrologer will definitely do it.” 5- In our family we never give the horoscope. 6- Have you seen the Horoscope of the girl? Let it, we shall see the girl first and decide later.
The above mentioned things may not be false altogether. Or you can take at it as a current social system. Even then it is a short-cut, because it is not comparable with Grahamelan of the Shastra. If you think of using the astrology, then due impor- tance should be given to the ancient Shastra. Though it may not be binding for others, but it is definitely so at least for the astrologers. If the astrologers use Gunamelan in place of Grahamelan, then what is the value of the ancient Shastra? According to my opinion the astrologers should use the Panchang (almanac) only for the Gochari and preparing the horoscope. I think to use such short-cut by side tracking the real rules of astrology, is quite un-becoming for the astrologer.
Moon Rasi Fruit —
The ascendant horoscope only is capable of giving complete information about the Jataka. If you take the Horoscopes of 1200 persons, there is always a difference here and there, in the positioning of planets. Among these 1200, we may find about 100 persons of Mesh Ascendant; even then we shall come across no. of differences in their birth charts. The life of every body is different, so the horo- scopes too must be different, this rule is in conformity with ascendant horoscope. But to study the Ascendant Horoscope is to study the whole of astrology! This is definitely difficult. Then what to do?
scopes, 100 may have Mesh Rasi for these 100 only one type of prediction. Being so rejectable and hopeless, even then the people read it with interest, therefore in the news papers, the Rasi Bhavishya by well-known astrologers (though wrong) is given without fail. That incases the circulation of the news papers no doubt, and their honor too. When the correct future can be known from the right type of horoscope, if by side tracking this, the astrologers themselves start utilizing the short-cut of moon Rasi prediction, then should we treat them as Astrologer?
Guru Bala (power of Jupiter), Chandra Bala(Power of Moon), Hora -
This method also is not becoming of the ancient Shastra, even then it is a “time being” useful Panchang system for the Society. Overall, and in public man-