Charlatanry

[Guest guest]

Ananda the Rascal (to differentiate him from Ananda the Good who lives in

New Talavan) writes on CHAKRA:

 

 

"Although astrology has been proven to be considerably less accurate than

random guessing so far as predicting the future is concerned, Srila

Prabhupada believed in its theoretical efficacy (although wisely warning

devotees not to consult astrologers). The fact that he seemed to accept such

charlatanry is a reflection of his culture and upbringing, but it does not

mean that his explanations of sastra and bhakti are unsound. I only speak

against astrology because some devotees persist unwisely in claiming some

sort of centrality or essentiality for it. You know, bhakti is not such a

fragile house of cards that an attack on astrology will somehow cause the

collapse of bhakti."

 

I guess Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, who was a great astrologer, must be a

great charalatan, what to speak of Gargamuni who did Lord Krsna's chart, or

Nilambara Chakravarti who did Lord Chaitanya's chart. Then again Parasara

Muni, father of Vyasadeva, and himself speaker of the Visnu purana, is one

of the greatest charlatans, because he is the author of Brhat Parasara Hora

Sastra. Maitreya Rsi, principle character of the 3rd canto Srimad

Bhagavatam, and teacher of Vidura, is equally a charlatan, because it was to

him that the charlatan Parasara spoke the Brhad Parasara Hora Sastra too.

 

Not to be left out the list of great charlatans is Narada Muni who is

practically the spiritual master of every great personality in the Srimad

Bhagavatam. Naradara Rishi writes:

 

"The excellent science of jyotisha (astrology) comprising of Siddhanta,

Samhita and Hora as its three branches, is the clear 'eye' of the Vedas".

Narada Samhita 1.4

 

All the greatest astrologers throughout the history of Vedic culture (Bhrgu,

Vasista, etc) have all been great Vaisnavas. Why then, have Vaisnavas

engaged in such "charlatanry?" Because jyotisha is one of the shad-vedangas

-- six limbs of the vedas.

 

>From my forth coming book "Foundational Topics in Vedic Astrology:"

 

"The Vedas have six appendices called the shad-vedangas, the six limbs of

the Vedas. They are: siksa, chanda, nirukta, vyakarana, kalpana, and

jyotisha. Siksa is the science of proper articulation and pronunciation of

the Vedic phonemes (sounds). Siksa is essential because mantras are precise

sound formulas that must be executed properly if the desired result is to

manifest. Chanda is the science of poetic meter; in the Vedas there are

eleven chandas such as Gayatri, Usnik, Anustup, etc.(SB 11.21.41). Nirukta

is the science of etymology and lexicology; a famous nirukta was compiled by

Yaska. Vyakarana is the science of grammar. In ancient times Panini's

Ashtadhayayi replaced all other works on the subject because of his

masterful presentation and conciseness; it is still the standard. Jiva

Goswami wrote his own grammar called Harinamamrta Vyakarana, which has the

edifying quality of glorifying Sri Krsna. Kalpana is the science of rituals

and observations (viddhi). Jyotisha is the science of astronomy and

astrology. The Yajur and Rig Vedas have sections attached to them dealing

with astronomy, whereas the Atharva Veda has a section dealing with

astrology. Aside from the Vedas, many Rishis, Vedic sages, such as Parasara,

Garga, Narada, Sukadeva, Brghu, etc., wrote on this science and preserved it

in their own disciplic lineage. These authentic chains of gurus and

disciples are called guru-parampara or sampradaya.

 

The first pair of veda-angas: siksa and chanda teach us how to speak the

Veda. The second pair: nirukta and vyakarana teach us how to understand the

meaning of the Veda. While the third pair: kalpana and jyotisha teach how to

use the Veda; this idea of how to use the Vedic knowledge will be expanded

upon as we go on. Each vedanga is related to a bodily limb. Prasna Marga

states:

 

"The Vedas have six limbs, viz., Jyotisha, Kalpana, Nirukta, Siksha,

Vyakarana and Chandas. For the Vedas, the six important limbs, viz., the

feet, the face, the hands, the eyes, the nose, and the ears are represented

by Chandas [feet] , Vyakarana [face], Kalpa [hands], Jyotisha [eyes], Siksha

[nose] and Nirukta [ears] respectively."

 

Jyotisha is given the epithet vedachaksus, the eye of the Veda, because it

allows us to see through opaque time and to understand how the gunas are

working. In the Vedas great stress was made on performing sacrifices and

other observances at the correct time in order that such sacrifices and

observances bear fruit; this is one area of jurisdiction of the Vedanga

Jyotisha."

 

_________________

 

When I first joined the BI in 1978, HH Swarupa Damodara Swami (then

Brahmacari) told me that Srila Prabhupada wanted that astrology be

scientifically studied in the BI. Must have been one of his "colorfully

eccentric" moments.

 

Not content with belittling Srila Prabhupada, Ananda the Rascal and his

friends like Madhusudhani Radha dd and Vipramukhya Swami (who published his

text) are intent on attacking any aspect of Vedic culture (they despise the

Manu Samhita) which lies outside their miniscule capacity to understand.

And, sadly this is now being tolerated, nay it is protected "free speech".

Protected by the GBC EC. After being tolerated blasphemy and minimization of

Srila Prabhupada and Vedic culture will be encouraged more and more in

ISKCON, until ISKCON is dead.

 

yhs

shyama