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It was with a sense
of pleasant surprise and a degree of disbelief that I had
responded to the news from our family friend about regular
courses on Astrology being conducted. The end of our
discussions made up my mind. I was determined to join the
course and decide for myself whether Astrology had the ability
to visualize the future as is made out, or are the so called
rationalists correct when they debunk it all as hocus pocus.
With a great feeling of expectation, I joined the course and
was relieved to find in the group a number of fellow
engineers, managers, doctors, bureaucrats, senior police
officials etc. Not to forget we also had in the group two
professors from the Delhi University, one from the field of
Medicine and the other from Psychology. The two years spent in
the study were indeed rewarding
The
basic objective of any pursuit to know the future is to
provide man with some tangible or intangible benefit to man in
his day to day life. The essence of living is harmony. A man
in harmony with his environment, with his work, with his
desires and with his family can lead a meaningful life. Any
attempt to have knowledge of the future should be positively
oriented and used as a contribution towards harmonizing ones
life. It is indeed a blessing that the timing is coinciding
with the personal computers becoming a household item.
Normally a detailed preparation of a complete horoscope with
all its parts may have involved hours of tedious calculations.
This can now be accomplished within seconds and does not
require the astrologer to have any proficiency or knowledge of
astronomy or mathematics.
The
two years provided a rich treatise of the varied facets of
Vedic Astrology, and believe you me; they are indeed varied
having a vast range of subjects and specializations. Needless
to mention that to become a specialist in any of the fields of
astrology would entail an amount of effort, time and
dedication very much similar to those required for becoming a
specialist in any field of professional specialization like
engineering, medicine etc., as are in vogue these days. May I
venture to say that the innovative effort required would be
manifold due to the lack of inadequate research and
development in this subject consequent to the detriment
suffered by Vedic astrology at the hands of the Mughal and
British rulers of India.
A
subject, which impressed me tremendously, is Ashtakvarga.
Credit for this is very much due to Mr.Vinay Aditya, who
taught the subject to us. Perhaps but for his handling of the
subject in his own unique open and innovative manner, the same
level of understanding and appreciation may not have been
possible. He has authored a book on the subject, “Dots of
Destiny”; acknowledged widely as being the best on the
subject. Appreciation is also due to Mr.Vinay Gupta who
subsequently taught the subject.
The
shloka 12 in the chapter on Ashtakvarga in Brihat Parashara
Hora Shastra states:
"While
answering Maitreya, the most outstanding student, the sage
Parashara says that the Jyotisha Shastra has been divided into
two parts, i.e. general and specific. The portion already
described is the general part and now I take on to the
specific part."
It is this specificity that has attracted me to Ashtakvarga. While the basic Natal Chart, Yogas, the Dasha
system and the Transit give us clear indications of the
direction of events broadly, to be able to pronounce the
relative nature of the results duly quantified on a particular
day, day after day, with precision has proven elusive so far.
Possibly I speak for a majority of us who had taken up the
study of astrology, it is the desire to be able to have a
precise judgment of a day, to the extent possible, that has
been one of the prime motivating factor for taking up this
study.
Precision
involves details; more the details better the precision. Sage
Parashara further states that just as there are auspicious and
inauspicious results of the twelve houses, with respect to the
Ascendant and the Moon, in the same way, these houses have
favourable and unfavourable results in relation to the other
planets. The results relating to the auspicious and
inauspicious events connected with the life of the native in
the predictive astrology are based on the positioning of
planets, for example the planets being in the signs of
exaltation, friendly, inimical or debilitation, located in an
auspicious or inauspicious house etc., and the timing of an
event has been attempted on the basis of different Mahadashas
and Antardashas etc. According to Maharishi himself, it is
difficult to say, whether an event will take place in all
certainty. At times these parameters could emanate signals
which are contradictory to and conflicting with each other.
Therefore, under these contradictory situations, it is
difficult to delineate the results. So much so, the
predictions go quite wrong. To tide over these vexed problems,
the Maharishi Parashara has expounded the Shastra of
Ashtakvarga in great detail.
Owing
to the complex, laborious and time consuming calculations
involved, Ashtakvarga may not have attained the heights that
it has the potential of in the earlier times despite its
strength and precision. The fact that such a subject was
conceived and formulated in the times when virtually no
calculation aids were available, is in itself a statement of
its underlying importance. With the growing popularity of
computers these extensive calculations have become relatively
simpler, fortunately for aspiring astrologers of the current
times. The availability of modern day computational aids has
made it practical for astrologers having a research
orientation to be liberal in attempting to apply various
theories and hypothesis in this area. The time and effort
involved for the mathematical calculations has reduced
sufficiently for the astrologer, neither to be scared or
disheartened at the prospect nor lose focus or direction of
his basic research. Ashtakvarga can be incorporated as well
onto a Varshaphala Chart, Prashna Chart, any divisional chart
etc. Mr.Vinay Aditya had seen a vision, which he had expressed
thus:
"Computer
astrology hitherto has been quite inane and its utility has
been restricted to mathematical presentations only. I foresee
a future when computer programs
will be able to churn out a
new kind of Varshphala,
or a daily report based entirely on Ashtakvarga and transits
which would give meaningful ‘How
is your day today’ from your individual birth data."
Similar predictions based on the Sun-sign or the Moon-sign
presently dished out in newspapers or magazines are so
generalised that they become preposterous; their popularity is
only due to rules of probability.
The
desired objective therefore would be to have a system, which
would incorporate the genius of the Ashtakvarga principles
along with the other vital astrological factors and produce a
purposeful report for the native on a day to day basis duly
quantified numerically. To begin the strength of the natal
planets needs to be determined. This maybe based on the
following factors:
| 1. |
Number of benefic points obtained by the planet in
their own Bhinnashtakvarga.
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| 2. |
Benefic point contributed by Kakshya lord or not.
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| 3. |
Kakshya-bal of the planet based on panchda
maitri status with Kakshya lord.
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| 4. |
Planet being combust or not.
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| 5. |
Shadbala status of the planet.
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The
strength determined by the above contributing factors would
have an effect on the auspicious or inauspicious effects of
the transit. Planets having a higher strength will enhance the
auspicious results and planets with lower strength will
enhance the inauspicious results.
Likewise
the strength of the planets in transit is to be determined.
For evaluating the transit strength the following factors may
be taken into consideration:
| 1. |
Benefic points obtained by the planet in the sign being
transited in its Bhinnashtak. |
| 2. |
Rasibala
of the planet based on the on panchda
maitri status with Kakshya lord in which it is currently
situated.
|
| 3. |
Benefic
point contributed by Kakshya lord or not in the sign being
transited by the planet currently.
|
The amalgamation of
the above two strengths calculated could be suitably
quantified in a numerical manner depicting the auspiciousness
or the inauspiciousness of a particular day for the native.
Mr. Shyam S. Kansal has done pioneering work in this field. He has
successfully developed software using Ashtakvarga and other
relevant quantifiable astrological parameters which aims at
providing a sound basis to anyone looking for astrological
guidance in everyday endeavours. He has also attempted to
quantify factors that were hitherto not quantified. He has
been the first and is the only person in our knowledge so far
who has recognized the potential of Ashtakvarga and married it
to computers with very successful predictive
results.
The
degree of success can only be adjudged based on actual
results. Therefore permit me to share a chain of events in
their chronological order. Convinced of the veracity of the
efforts invested and feeling that the time was ripe, he
decided to share his views with the outside world. Though the
system is equally applicable to all aspects of everyday life,
being an astute businessman it was the world of finance that
was chosen by him. On 12th November 1996 he sent an
open letter to various fund managers, portfolio managers,
stockbrokers etc. introducing his method of analysis and
prediction. Therein also was a set of predictions pertaining
to the movement of leading pivotals on the stock market for
the period until 31st March 1997. That this is not
a tall claim in retrospect is borne by the fact that a leading
financial newspaper,
Business Standard carried an article
based on this very letter on the front page of its edition
dated 5th December 1996.
It must be mentioned that
the tone of the article was satirical in nature, but that is
not a matter of discussion here. I do now wonder if it was a
mere coincidence that this article caught my attention then,
and that I had approached Mr.Vinay Aditya with the same to
seek his views. I did resolve to trace and contact Mr.Kansal
to have him throw more light on his approach. It was indeed a
pleasant surprise when Mr.Vinay Aditya informed me a couple of
weeks thereafter that I need not make further efforts as he
had received a letter from the very same
Mr. Kansal. It was
with a sense of expectation that I approached Mr. Kansal to
understand and appreciate his achievements. The meeting was a
satisfying experience; and at its conclusion I had gained a
friend with similar interests and impressed by the thorough
dedication to the
subject displayed by him.
Needless
to mention that his predictions regarding the movement of the
pivotals during that period were correct. Sensex (Bombay Stock
Exchange Sensitive Index)
was predicted to witness a sudden
upsurge around 13th December 1996 for a short
period. On 4th of December 1996 Sensex hit a
52-week low.
Business Standard in its edition dated 5th
of December 1996 has quoted analysts at Unit Trust of India
expecting the Sensex to touch a level of 2600 within the
forthcoming settlement. In this backdrop the
Sensex shot up
sharply by 143 points on 11th of December. This led
a
leading stock analyst to state in The Economic Times that “…it
is interesting that this type of rally should take place at
the fag end of the year. Normally this is the time when shares
have fallen…. It is extremely difficult to predict whether
this rally will carry on.”
Particularly
interesting has been the case of Bajaj Auto Ltd. The share was
predicted to lose value while majority of the market felt that
it would shoot up. Astrological analysis prevailed over the
conventional economic analytical approaches and the share took
a battering in the coming months. The significance of the
period and the intensity of its impact on the company can be
gauged on the basis of the
interview of its chairman Mr.Rahul
Bajaj published in The Economic Times on 15th May
1997. He says,
“ …Hence there must be some other reason. It could be political
uncertainty. But even the political uncertainty began after
February ’97, but the fall in growth started in October or
November. The decline could be on account of the fall in the
Sensex, but again does not explain the entire fall.
……Political uncertainty does not explain the low growth in
the second half of the year. We had a very good monsoon,
therefore purchasing power should have been higher. My dealers
say that people are just not buying scooters. Perhaps they are
saving instead of buying. I had to cut down production plans
for two-wheelers.”
So
much so that the Economic Times carried an article in its
edition dated 3rd of October 1997 with the headline
being “Bajaj stock
value plummets 40%”. The
story does not end here. Encouraged by the vindication of his
efforts, he arranged to have the reports of previous ten years
generated through the system described above, validated by
none other than Mr. Rahul Bajaj, chairman of the company. Of
the 74 critical dates identified, 69 were confirmed as having
been significant for the company in some or the other manner.
Of the remaining 5 adequate data was not readily available.
This goes on to confirm the multilateral utility of the method
and its multidimensional applicability in all spheres of
everyday life. This could go on further, but the point I am trying
to make has in all probability been conveyed.
The
practical applications of Ashtakvarga
as explained have
unlimited potential waiting to be tapped for the good of
mankind. However, as far as the readers of Vedic Astrology are
concerned all that has been stated is about the past. What of
the coming months? Based on this very methodology, the share
of Bajaj Auto Limited is likely to be doing well on the
bourses during most of July & August and part of September
1998. On the flip side the scrip will be under bear pressure
and face declines during November and December 1998. Happy
punting!
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