Fundamental Question Of Astrology
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A VERY FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION Apart from the generic name Jyotisa astrology receives the title ‘Hor stra’ (=Science of Time) in the ancient lore. As has been discussed elsewhere Jyotisa had its origin and evolution in a paradigm of thinking obsessed with time and existential questions – its an attempt to answer the mystery of time. In terms of modern terminology astrology involves a modeling of Time, the apparently incessant flow of time abstracted mathematically as a phenomenal wheel manifesting over the heavens. The most fundamental question involved in the examination of the truth of astrology is the validity of this modeling of the apparent path of the Sun into the Zodiac:1
The ecliptic is a circle and scientifically speaking, on a circle every point is on a par with the other to be considered as the zero point. Under such a situation what is the rationale of the choice of the zero point that serves the astrologers to delineate human and mundane destiny? The irrational foundation of astrology is beyond doubt if a convincing answer cannot be found for this question. Attempt to explain away the problem of the multiplicity of the Zodiac in the astrology under practice even by such people as the editors of the so-called “astrological journals” is the most fraudulent activity that makes claim as a science. The c ryas of yesteryears were not as irrational as these modern proponents as is evident from the old works:
1
•A •F
•B Where to choose 0 the 0 ? •C
•E • D
Astrologer Prudence Jones (1996, p.282) says, [The zodiac signs] rest on shaky foundations from the modern point of view. How in heaven do twelve 30-degree sectors of the ecliptic, measured from the vernal equinox but named after now-far-distant constellations, impart any qualities at all to the planets, houses, parts and nodes, which we view against their backgrounds? Do they do so in fact, or is this wishful thinking? Some astrologers justify the signs (taking, usually without explanation, the sun in the signs as their exemplar) as shorthand for seasonal characteristics. But this implies that their order should be reversed in the southern hemisphere, which seldom happens. And what, in any case of horoscopes for equatorial latitudes, where seasonal change is minimal, but where, of course, astrology was invented? [Foundations of Astrology. Astrological Journal, 38,5, 281-285]
In Da dhy yee, in the commentary to the 4th verse of Var hamihira’s Brhatjj taka, Bhattatiri had raised the question:
!"# $
%
Bhattatiri’s answer was really scientific:
&
' !" (
) $$$$
It is well evident that almost thousand years before an astrologer and astronomer of Kerala had spoken of a physical model of Time! • But what was the physical basis of this modeling? How could the formless Time be credited with a form or shape as K lapurusha?
!"
# $$
%$How was this accreditation achieved in Jyotisa? Modern physical conception of Time and Space or Space-Time Universe cannot find any meaning in an ancient act of modeling time. At the best it will be described as “naïve science” an arbitrary conception arising out of primitive imagination.
• If at all Time has got a form, a manifesting structure, who could have and
how could have experienced it?
K. Chandra Hari
The ecliptic is a circle and scientifically speaking, on a circle every point is on a par with the other to be considered as the zero point. Under such a situation what is the rationale of the choice of the zero point that serves the astrologers to delineate human and mundane destiny? The irrational foundation of astrology is beyond doubt if a convincing answer cannot be found for this question. Attempt to explain away the problem of the multiplicity of the Zodiac in the astrology under practice even by such people as the editors of the so-called “astrological journals” is the most fraudulent activity that makes claim as a science. The c ryas of yesteryears were not as irrational as these modern proponents as is evident from the old works:
1
•A •F
•B Where to choose 0 the 0 ? •C
•E • D
Astrologer Prudence Jones (1996, p.282) says, [The zodiac signs] rest on shaky foundations from the modern point of view. How in heaven do twelve 30-degree sectors of the ecliptic, measured from the vernal equinox but named after now-far-distant constellations, impart any qualities at all to the planets, houses, parts and nodes, which we view against their backgrounds? Do they do so in fact, or is this wishful thinking? Some astrologers justify the signs (taking, usually without explanation, the sun in the signs as their exemplar) as shorthand for seasonal characteristics. But this implies that their order should be reversed in the southern hemisphere, which seldom happens. And what, in any case of horoscopes for equatorial latitudes, where seasonal change is minimal, but where, of course, astrology was invented? [Foundations of Astrology. Astrological Journal, 38,5, 281-285]
In Da dhy yee, in the commentary to the 4th verse of Var hamihira’s Brhatjj taka, Bhattatiri had raised the question:
!"# $
%
Bhattatiri’s answer was really scientific:
&
' !" (
) $$$$
It is well evident that almost thousand years before an astrologer and astronomer of Kerala had spoken of a physical model of Time! • But what was the physical basis of this modeling? How could the formless Time be credited with a form or shape as K lapurusha?
!"
# $$
%$How was this accreditation achieved in Jyotisa? Modern physical conception of Time and Space or Space-Time Universe cannot find any meaning in an ancient act of modeling time. At the best it will be described as “naïve science” an arbitrary conception arising out of primitive imagination.
• If at all Time has got a form, a manifesting structure, who could have and
how could have experienced it?
K. Chandra Hari
