Astrology

Tryst with Astrology

I do not think of any family in Tamilnadu not consulting an astroger at some time or other.

The day of independence for India-15th August- was selected by an astrologer from Kolkatta. As Governor-General, Lord Mountbatten could not be in two places on the same day to give transfer of power, the option was given to Pakistan to choose either 14 or 16th. As Mohamad Ali Jinnah did not want to be left behind, he chose 14th Ausugt. He then wanted to prove that right from the beginning he was one-up on India. Pandit Jawaharla Nehru gave his famous speech "Tryst with Destiny" on an auspicious day chosen by an astrologer. Almost all the empires of the word had a court astrologer. Nosterdamus even gave predictions for the world.

Astrologers, according to me, perform the role of psychiatrists in the West.. They infuse a sense of optimism. When we hear good predctions, we feel confident that things would work out.The predictions are never one hundred percent correct nor are they totally wrong.I
once consulted a famous astrologer in Ahmedabad in connection with fixing of premises for Essar.Just by seeing me and my face only, he predicted my "lagna" and "rasi". I was amazed. Some of his predictions came true,particularly with regard to my date of retirement.Just out of curiosity, I have tried "Nadi Josyam" and "kili Josyam".

My first remembrance about an astrologer is about a visit to Ponmalai along with my mother. We went to consult a lady who had a big reputation in the neighbourhood for good predictions. She was also known as "Pooja Mami".When my mother consulted her with my horoscope and asked her whether I would become an IAS Officer, she said that whether or not I would qualify for IAS, she could not say. She, however said, that I would be successful in life,On our return my mother told me that we had wasted time by visiting this Mathaji. I could realise that my mother was saying this because the Mathaji did not confirm about my IAS aspirations. For my mother, IAS was the ultimate accomplishment in life.This happened when I had not even completed Intermediate Examinations.

In mid fifties,my paternal Periappa (father!s cousin) used to come to our house for teaching music to my sister Vasantha.He was more an astrologer than a singer. He did not have the correct male voice for a singer. He was known as "Sangeethabhushanam Mani Bhagavathar". My mother would consult him with my horoscope. He predicted that I would be very successful in life beacuse of the confluence of three planets, Whenever we met, he encouraged me, I began to dream. He had instilled in me a sense of optimism.When he came to attend my marriage after many years, I prostrated before him. When I gave him Rs 100/ for his return journey from Madras to Tiruchi, he had tears in his eyes. I have never met him again. Incidentally his prediction that I would become some-body big in Textiles and Steel came partially true in later years.I forgot to mention about this Periappa in "My Life Story".Though we never paid his tuition fees in time, my Periappa came to our
house regularly because he liked the food cooked by my mother.

I had consulted astrologers for matching horoscopes and for fixing time of marriages. Fixing time is very important for any auspicious occassions. I endorse the famous statement "Nallor Seyyathathai Neram Seyyum".

I want to mention about this astrologer from Madras. He had predicted that my brother Ramani would suffer from cancer one year before it had actually happened. He had used the words "Selgalil Balamillai". He had also predicted the actual time of recovery correctly. With this, the entire family began to have immense faith in him. We consulted him frequently. I also recommended him to my many friends. On his advice, I took Meena and Venkat to Rameswaram. In due course, he became an astrologer for Promod Mahajan and Vajpaye. When he began to ignore old customers after acquiring high connections, our family stopped seeing him.I do not know whether he had predicted the death of Mr mahajan by his own brother. I have not seeen him for the last ten years. I began to loose faith in him when his prediction that Meena would beget a child did not come true.

To conclude, I do believe that good astrologers can predict good/bad periods. They cannot make specific predictions.Most importantly, they cannot predict their own death. I remember one incident in my life. An astrologer from Kerala had come to our house in Mumbhai in 1994. He predicted that my son would go abroad for studies (this was before he got his visa) and return to India after 17 years.. Happy with his predictions, I asked him whether he would come again to Mumbhai. He replied " Do not worry Balu,I will live upto 2012 and most definitely see you after three years". He died in 1998 and I did not see him again.
I may recall a small story I had read in a Tamil Magazine. There was a very famous astrologer in Madurai. All his predictions came true. People flocked to him. The Police also came to know about his prowess. When they wanted to catch a thief, they consulted him. Sure enough, he predicted correctly. Based on the directions given by the astrologer, the Police caught the thief who was sentenced to three years imprisonment. After the release from prison, the thief went to the astrologer in disguise and consulted him. Before leaving, the old thief asked the astroger for how long he(astrologer) woulkd live., When he told him that there is yet another twenty years, the thief took out a knife and kiiled him,saying that he had only twenty seconds now. I think the story was written by Jeyakanthan.

Eminent playwright,William Shakespeare hightlighted his lack of belief in astrology with the words "The fault, my dear Brutus, lies not in our stars, but in ourselves that we are underlinks".

To believe or not to believe in astrology-"-your take mate" (as the Australians would say).