Is Astrology for Real?
Tens of millions of people visit astrologers for various reasons. Out of those millions, a few thousand email me every year. Often, they write to me when they are worried about something their astrologer has told them about the future. And, generally, the same fortune teller also tells them some upaya, remedy, like wear this stone or do this or do that, and the impending doom will be taken care of. Often (not always though), the prescribed remedy has a monetary value too. This is where the astrologer profits.
If they charge you for giving you a remedy, they profit from it directly. If they tell you to do something where no money is involved, they gain from it indirectly by winning your trust. You think, this is a good astrologer. He has no vested interest, he stands to gain nothing from it. But, the truth is today he’s telling you a “free” remedy, tomorrow he’ll tell you a paid one. Or, to you he’s giving a free amulet and he’ll charge the next reference client you will bring to this good fortune teller.
I’m not suggesting that all astrologers are out there to dupe you. On the contrary, there are many who are well-read, wise and intuitive. There are good ones too who genuinely believe in their systems of prediction. Unfortunately, that doesn’t necessarily mean the system is genuine. Recently, a betrothed one wrote the following:
We consulted an astrologer for advise on our marriage and were told that both our birth charts indicated that we would have serious conflicts and friction in our marriage unless we changed the date and the time zone of our wedding and also that my partner’s life could be in peril if we married and stayed in India after marriage. Please advise.
Before I tell you what I really think about this question and the astrologer, let me share a little story with you from a Hindu text.
Once upon a time, a certain master who was a great tapasvin, rishi, with many powers, had a brilliant pupil who was only 10 years old. The master, who happened to be an accomplished astrologer too, checked his student’s chart and realized that he was destined to live only till the age of 12. Greatly disturbed, he set out to change the course of destiny.
Taking his student with him, he approached Brahma, the creator, urging him to grant a longer lifespan to the young student.
“I see your plight,” Brahma said. “He’s bright and can help the mankind. But, my job is to create. We’ll have to implore Vishnu.”
“I see your plight,” Brahma said. “He’s bright and can help the mankind. But, my job is to create. We’ll have to implore Vishnu.”
With a view to help, Brahma accompanied them to see the blue-god, Vishnu, who said that his role was only to sustain the creation and therefore, he couldn’t possibly add more years to the student’s life interfering with the wheel of time. He advised them to go to Shiva.
Both Brahma and Vishnu joined the teacher and his student to meet Shiva, the destroyer. The foremost yogin, Shiva, pondered over the matter and replied that his job was to merely destroy in accordance with the laws of nature. That it was not appropriate to use his power to stop the wheel of dharma. They advised the master to let nature unfold the way it was planning to.
The master, however, wouldn’t relent and requested them to accompany him so he could plead his case with the god of death. The holy trinity, the student and teacher, went to Dharmaraja — the god responsible for ensuring death of each living being. Meanwhile, two years had passed and the boy turned 12. He dropped dead in the palace of Dharmaraja — in the presence of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, his guru, and Dharmaraja himself.
The teacher was startled. “The most powerful gods are here,” he said, “how can my student die now in your presence?”
Dharmaraja looked up, as if examining the divine record of the pupil to ascertain the cause of death and shook his head in disbelief.
“What happened?” the teacher asked.
Dharmaraja said, “This boy of exceptional intelligence was destined to do great things. Indeed, it was beyond my power to capture him. For, he could only die when none other than Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, along with his teacher and the student himself, in flesh and bones, would all come together and visit me in my abode! It was impossible had you not looked into his chart.”
Dharmaraja said, “This boy of exceptional intelligence was destined to do great things. Indeed, it was beyond my power to capture him. For, he could only die when none other than Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, along with his teacher and the student himself, in flesh and bones, would all come together and visit me in my abode! It was impossible had you not looked into his chart.”
Om Namah Shivay
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