Why we need to reform our approach to Jyotisha.

Abhigya Anand

Part 2: A Tug of War: Post-medieval rational thinking vs. the acceptance and study of Mystery

Thus Jyotisha is a Science in its own unique way. Something that modern science cannot fully comprehend at least at the moment. Jyotisha is capable of doing what the best available methods in forecasting discovered by Science cannot. It is the earliest form of data science, which according to even some modern scholars, inspired data science. It is significantly responsible for the evolution of geometry, mathematics, astronomy, economics and a host of other fields now cherished by Science. 

It once experienced a Golden age, when it was consulted for almost every major decision by some of the greatest Emperors and decision makers of the ancient world. 

In an even ancient time, it was the pastime of those who had advanced so much intellectually, that they were elevated to the status of deities and sages. 

A time when technology had reached the peak of peaks and there was an abundance of Wise people who sought to conquer their minds and transform their base instincts to enlighten themselves.

Jyotisha played a major role in the spiritual lives of these Mystics.

We will talk about this in detail later, for it is relevant to our exploration of the field.

Alas, ridden by the continuously reducing caliber of  experts in the field, and the abundant combination of cheap superstition with astrology - the field was unfairly neglected and left out towards the medieval era when a new form of rational thinking dawned upon the Western civilization.

‘I shall only believe what I see’ declared the new breed of rational mind, positioning itself as the sole authority on the thought process and rejecting everything that it was not capable of comprehending as either non-existent or as a mere coincidence. 

(Often, sceptics have only one way to deny that an accurate prediction was made by a person who used astrological methods. They say it was a ‘sheer coincidence’ and ‘you got lucky’. Hilarious, if not unreasonable)

This, coupled with the lack of true knowledge and callous disregard of ethics among astrologers contributed to a decline in Jyotisha around the world. 

The invaluable research done into the influences of the stars on humanity went from misuse to disuse, eventually practised by those who had nothing else to do, or by those who used it for the elite few, in secret, influencing some of the most important decisions of our time.

Restrictive as it is, this post-medieval system of thought sought to replace previous philosophies entirely, giving birth to the Industrial Revolution and other great Scientific advancements of our time. But as with other totalitarian ideologies like communism, it sought to completely uproot and destroy the previous knowledge systems and their lost theories. It sought to root out any form of thinking that went beyond the rules of thought. 

Thus was born the Evidence Based Scientific system. This method of thought coupled with the fast  of course have contributed a lot to bring us where we are today. 

However,  the problem is, evidence can only be given for that which can be observed with available instruments. For example, one can see the water getting boiled in a pot, reason why so and provide an explanation resting firmly with the Laws of Nature and with evidence using instruments such as a thermometer.

But what about influences which cannot be observed with our physical senses? Cannot be explained with the theories that exist today? Cannot be reasoned nor described? Talk of the unknown, it scares the dogmatic mind. 

When confronted with revelation and unable to find solace in the limited, known laws of Science, the rational mind deludes itself into deriding the source of the revelation.

Imagine explaining how the sages were aware of the peculiarity of cosmological and astronomical knowledge without using the mechanical equipment and logic that we have access to today!

Imagine explaining how a terror attack with the approximate timeframe,  region and scale was predicted using Jyotisha when the Mossad and CIA failed to warn people of it. Or predicting an earthquake with approximate regions that would be almost impossible to do for even the best of our scientists today. 

Imagine explaining how Mars and Jupiter could affect happenings on Earth to a man who has incapacitated his curiosity by constricting his mind from exploring possibilities.

What was difficult to understand for me initially was how humans, when trained in the confines of intellectual prisons they created for themselves, cannot accept the possibility of forces they know not, choosing to live in their construct of reality.  

The Earth is not even a speck in the magnificent Cosmos, surrounded by millions upon millions of stars, constellations and planets, some of which operate in our Solar system. 

To think that we know all the influences that these may have on us is akin to the short-lived termite thinking it knows everything that could affect the tree it lives in, just because it is gifted with some very good sensory capabilities. Would it know about nuclear energy, Solar storms, cosmic radiation, oceanic weather patterns and so much more?

However, when confronted with a revelation, few seek to walk towards the Truth. Most cower and reject whatever just happened. Out of fear that their fragile concepts that they thought were strong may be shattered. Thus astrology was declared a pseudoscience. 

While elite members of society, from presidents and billionaires utilized the best minds and the other spectrum, the unintelligible masses were to contend with their counterparts, the unintelligible astrologers who, with the exception of a few, brought more disrepute to the astrology than the rationalists.

Everything that rises, shall fall. Astrology itself is not immune to the laws of destiny. 

With the last Great Conjunction supercycle, new philosophies successfully sought to replace the old ones, entirely.

However, that which is eternal, shall rise again. 

Today, Jyotisha is rising again. Confronted with a series of revelations, many have sought to ignore and deride the obvious. While a few pondered away, and many believed what they saw to be beyond human comprehension, accepting the reality of mystery.

Fewer, chose to tread the paths of logic to see where they could see the truth behind Astrology. If you are reading this today, you have chosen to seek answers to the questions of life. To study the mysteries of the Cosmos in relation to our World. To find patterns in the light from the stars and cast them onto  our minds.

On the other hand, a lot of the knowledge systems connected to ancient Jyotisha are lost, underdeveloped, or cryptic and ambiguous. This renders some amount of information either irrelevant or harmful if taken on face value.

Hence, the burden of properly understanding the science and searching for the truth rests on our shoulders. 

Using data science, and recent advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, we sure can unearth some of the lost knowledge and validate the patterns already described. 

Thus, we must adopt the mindset of exploration, and discovery. 

And as the Wise sages said, this path of Jyotisha, leads to a lot more than just predictability. It leads to Atmavidya, or self realization - to one who is intent in going beyond just the material aspects of Science. 

But in our course, we will not be able to lead you beyond the material confines of Science. That is a task you must undertake, as none of us mere mortals, basking in the glory of ignorance, can lead you there. 

Nor are we capable of explaining completely and scientifically how planets actually affect humans. That is a task, which presently considered impossible, may be undertaken by generations far more capable than us.

We will merely introduce you to the art of understanding these patterns, finding answers to questions and predicting the future, using rules and methods, explained in the most detailed ways by the Ancient Sages like Parashara Muni, Satyacharya and other pathbreakers who sourced the knowledge intuitively. 

We are merely standing on the shoulders of those intellectual giants who cleared the path for us to at least see and categorize these influences.

These great sages were known as Trikalajnanis, ones who had mastered the secrets of the Universe enabling them to see the past, present and future - and yet be in complete peace and deep meditation. Of course not every aspect of this Sacred knowledge is to be handed over to intellectual animals who have little to no control over their senses. 

Hence, the sages, wise as they were, gave us what they deemed appropriate for us to know, and encrypted the rest  in inexplicable verses and verses with partial meaning, or decided not to share the bulk of it declaring that this knowledge is only meant for those who have risen above the harmful grasp of the 6 enemies of the soul, Lust, Greed, Anger, Delusion, Arrogance and Jealousy.

The fraction of what they gave us was further mangled over periods of time, getting destroyed by political attacks, natural disasters and barbaric acts such as burning of libraries by Mughal invaders. 

What we have today is still a wealth of over 100,000 verses with invaluable explanations of the permutations and combinations in the sky and what effect they would have on our World, from our day to day lives to Natural events such as disasters and periods of prosperity. 

But the question burning in the minds of the inquisitive ones is, how does it work?

Why does it work?

How must we approach Jyotisha so our analysis is accurate? 

Jyotisha needs reform. How exactly should we restore the scriptural treasures we have neglected or lost? How do we reform our analytical methodology and approach? 

Also, when Jyotisha is proven consistently, it raises bigger questions. 

Does it mean that everything is predestined?

What is Fate, what is Free Will?

These answers to these questions, although shrouded in mystery, will be explored in the next chapter.