By K.N.
Rao, from www.journalofastrology.com
Astrology is the eye of wisdom.
Without eyesight, a man cannot find his way.
Prashna Marga, 1.12
It was in 1941 that my mother had taught me astrology. But in
1969 a Yogi had explained to me that astrology was the 'eye
of wisdom.'
Passing through narrow streets of a fort like locality on the
scooter of Natu Bhai I had my first darshan (glimpse) of my
astrology guru, Yogi Bhaskarananda.
Yogi Bhaskaranandaji
I neither knew that he was an astrologer nor that he wrote and
spoke extremely beautiful English. I had gone to have a darshan
of a Yogi about whom Natu Bhai had given an entire description:
"It was as though Jesus Christ had reappeared on this earth
of ours," he said, "A Christian bishop had once suddenly
stopped on the road once after seeing him."
Natu Bhai had not told me that his locks of hairs were golden,
soft like butter, and curly. I remembered the reaction of Bernard
Shaw who after seeing the hair of Rabindranath Tagore had wished
if only he too had such hair. My eyes instead of getting riveted
on his lustrous face were invariably above it. Physical beauty
has rarely attracted me. But it was a divine sight.
My name being Rao (not a name from the Hindi speaking area)
it was natural that he began conversation in English. Being
a Gujarati himself he spoke haltingly in Hindi. But like a torrential
flow was his literary and beautiful English. Using difficult
words had become natural with him for two reasons: he had done
a B.A. (Hons) in English literature and was so steeped in the
writings of Sri Aurobindo that long sentences had become a habit
with him.
What was it in him that left an impression on me? His exquisite
conversational ability or mature spiritual wisdom? For 40 years
he had done sadhana, scriptural studies and astrology in the
caves of the Himalayas. He hailed from a prosperous family and
was a baal brahmchari (a celibate from childhood).
Once, when during the course of conversation in our small group,
he started his discussion of a horoscope. I, as though, was
irritated. My mother was my first Jyotisha guru but when I saw
other astrologers I found them dogmatic, half-educated, uncouth
and fear-arousing cheats. Even today that is my impression.
Descending from metaphysical heights, he came to discussing
astrology, which he described as para vidya (divine knowledge).
I was surprised and my reaction did not remain unnoticed by
him.
One day he gave me a manuscript and asked me to take it home,
open it and edit it. Back home, I opened it and found that it
was a book on astrology!
I hesitated but when I started reading it, I found subjects
like "Jyotisha and Karma," "Jyotish and the Flow
of Llife Force," Jyotish and Yogic Psychology." Then
there were many aphorisms of predictive astrology based on his
own experience.
My mother had not taught me spiritual astrology. And now I began
to learn that "Jyotish is para vidya, the eye of wisdom,
demonstrable knowledge, not a bread winning subject."
My book, "Karma and Rebirth in Hindu Astrology"
is based on his analysis and discussion. He had given up astrology
in the last years of his life and someone stole that manuscript
also. I had to, therefore, write on this subject as I have acknowledged
in the preface to that book.
One day he predicted, after discussing my own horoscope, that
after doing astrology on international stages, I will renounce
life.
His was the physical frame of a Yogi, the diet of a Yogi, the
sleep of a Yogi and the self-control of a Yogi. He never fell
sick. Once he had said, "Whatever may be the ailment, do
fasting and drink the water of the Ganga. Everything will be
cured."
And then when I was transferred to Patna he had said, "in
eastern India, particularly in Bihar, there will be a revolutionary
agitation. I will make such a muhurta for you that amidst raging
fires all round you, you will not be hurt." It was a blending
of mundane and muhurta astrology. Things happened as he had
predicted. Between 1972 and 1975 there was the agitation of
Jaya Prakash Narayan and I witnessed violent incidents every
day.
"These fellows cannot even grasp the horoscope of Indira Gandhi."
He had said once. "She will trample on everyone and become a
powerful leader, an immortal leader of history." Those days
almost every astrologer had written that Indira Gandhi could
become M.P. (Member of Parliament) but never P.M. (Prime Minister).
reprinted with permission
Copyright 2006. Vaughn Paul
Manley. All Rights Reserved. |
