Swadhyay: Astrology, definite proof of the sea

We have been discussing how Swadhyaya or self-reading helps us come out of the well of ignorance and fixation on our biases. We discussed the books that show us a ray of hope in the well in the post "Swadhyaya: a ray of light into the well". Then we discussed the books showing us the limitations of our present-day understanding of reality in the post "Swadhyay: the books showing limitations of the well". Since 2011, I started exploring the nature of reality through one more subject called "Astrology". Astrology is the study of the planets of the solar system and their correlation with human life.

I started exploring the subject with the books of P V Narasimha Rao, who is an IITian now settled in the USA. His book on "Vedic Astrology" was the first book I read on the subject. I remember, I and my dear friend P S Sivasankaran used to discuss Astrology for hours in that period and correlated all the calculations of Astrology with Astronomy. This cleared many of our geography concepts also. 😇

I read many classic texts on Astrology after that such as Laghu Parashari, Vrihad Parashari, Phaldeepika, and many books written by K N Rao sir. In fact, I met sir at his home once. Slowly and gradually, I realized, especially after meeting K N Rao sir that the best way to learn astrology is to experiment with the horoscopes. I collected almost 400 horoscopes of close friends, relatives, and celebrities and started drawing correlations.

I started with the D1 chart and slowly started reading almost all the division charts. Initially, there were many difficulties in understanding the subject. During nights, I used to sleep with certain unsolved questions and when I get up in the morning, the answer will come to my mind. 

It's a very rich subject and capable to show us with certainty that there is an entire sea outside our well. If not misused, it makes us ready to take a definite step to come out of the well. The problem with the subject is that it is being practiced by an insecure lot of so-called astrologers who are using it for the mundane benefit ignoring its true potential. 

If we understand Astrology from the correct perspective, it is so precise that can only wonder about that. We understand the fine distinction between "free will" and "destiny". We understand that the situations we have to face, come into our life as per the law of nature. However, our responses are completely in our hands. we may decide to lose our temper or may remain equanimous which is a complete free will.

We also get to understand that our mind behaves differently under different Dashas and under the influences of different forces of nature, and if we let the mind take over our control, it will put us in great difficulty. We also get to understand the interplay of different forces of nature inside us. We get to understand that the well is too limited and too artificial a division. The entire universe is connected and acts as per the laws of nature.