Dharmapada's New book

[Guest guest]

The following is a sample chapter my book, Astrologia Vedica. It is

available from Mantra E Books:

 

http://www.mantra-ebooks.com/

 

Just go to the above address and click on novel booklist, it is the first

book at the top.

 

It was originally translated and published in Portuguese in Brazil, where it

has been well received. Do take a look and I hope that you'll support my

effort.

 

Yours,

 

Dharmapada Dasa

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Two: Leave Well Enough Alone

 

Given the fact that Vedic astrology is coming down through the chain of

disciplic succession, then it should be understood in the same way that the

disciplic succession of sages presented it. According to the keystone verse,

that is the way in which the saintly kings understood transcendental

knowledge, what to speak of us. In the 34th shloka of the same fourth

chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, Shree Krishna also advises " Pariprashneya

Sevaya," or an attitude of humble inquiry and devotional service to go along

with it. That is the way to receive Vedic knowledge, astrological or

otherwise, according to Shree Krishna, whom Arjuna deemed infallible

Achutya ).

 

In the West, of course, it is typical to be challenging, especially in

academic circles.It is fashionable to be original and find out something

new, or even to disprove one's predecessors. That way, one makes a name for

oneself. This is actually a good way to go if the goal is to develop new

technologies, industries or to project oneself across oceans to new

continents. ( Who would have ever heard of Christopher Columbus if

he weren't original? ). It is not a good way, however, to understand Vedic

knowledge coming down in disciplic succession as pointed out in the Bhagavad

Gita.

 

The speculative, experimental approach to Parashari astrology simply brings

us to the point of fixing something which is not broken, even tampering with

the already refined. It is well documented that Vedic astrology is very

accurate in the timing of mundane events. In terms of personality analysis

also, Vedic astrology offers a soulful, instinctive perspective from Surya

Lagna, ( Sun chart ), an emotional perspective from Chandra ( Moon chart ),

and a more general point of view from the lagna proper or ascendent. It is

actually much broader that the Western system and replete with techniques

and methods of analysis otherwise unknown ( such as the planetary periods

and methods for assessing planetary strength ). So why not accept this

wonderful system of astrology as it has been handed down instead of

speculating on it with our imperfect senses?

 

And it is not reasonable to think that the Western system and Parashara's

complement each other. They are different systems with a different logic

behind them and a different set of rules for interpretation; they don't lead

to the same place by a different road. It would be more accurate to say that

they are mutually exclusive of each other. Maybe this is what Jiva Goswami

means when he says " Vipralipsa;" it is possible that we fool ourselves

without really knowing it.

 

Therefore, as we go about the study of Vedic astrology let us recall the

Gita's keystone verse and try to understand from the previous acharyas

teachers ). As a final inspiration, we shall meditate on Arjuna's words

from the seventh verse of the Gita's second chapter: Sishyas te ham shadi

mam tvam prapanam " Now I am a your disciple and a soul surrendered unto

you. Please instruct me."