Suggestions to improve the Standards of Naadi Palm Leaf Astrology Centres.

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends on the occasion of completion of oneyear of Conference on Naadi in Pune, on 14 Oct 2007. I wish to bringforward some suggestions for discussion. Members are expected to criticallyexamine them and suggest for further improvements. Suggestions toimprove the Standards of Naadi Palm Leaf Astrology Centres. Wing Commander Shashikant Oak, while addressing in theConference made some suggestions to improve the standards of Naadi readingprofession. After some deliberations with some Chief Naadi Astrologers, theyhave agreed to implement most of them as far as possible in near future. Let ushope this conference puts them in right frame of mind for the rest of the suggestions. {IT IS REQUESTED THAT ANY ONEWISHES TO IMPROVE THESE SUGGESTIONS FURTHER AND / OR TRANSLATE IN TAMIL ORLOCAL LANGUAGE OF HIS/HER AREA, YOU ARE WELCOME. PLEASE PUT UP ON THE WEBGROUPAND HAND OVER TO THE CENTRES FOR IMPLEMENTATION UNDER INTIMATION TO THE UNDERSIGNED} There are many challenges before present NaadiCentres. The younger generation Naadi readers will have to cope up with therequirements of the present day customers. While respecting the old traditionsfully, they will have to give way to present day conditions and new paths willhave to be build up for the betterment of the divine profession of the ancientpast. Gone are the days when no one was bothered aboutproper running of any business. Now Consumer Courts, Rationalist pressur, Non-believers and Government regulations are out to watch wrong doingsat any time and at any place.Persons without proper ethics and high moralestandards are spoiling the reputation of Great Maharshees and their gigantic workof Naadi Palm leaf Astrology. Children of present Chief Naadi readers are notat all keen to learn the cryptic Tamil language. They see pathetic condition ofthe fellow readers. Disregard to the rituals they are expected to undertakebefore stating the days proceedings of Divine reading. Not so good activitiesin the non-working hours. Some code of conduct will have to be observed by allNaadi astrologers. Few suggestions in this direction are listed bellowfor the benefit of all Naadi lovers to observe them minutely while they visitthe centres of their areas. The purpose here is not to criticise any person orany Naadi centre in particular but to understand the reality of profession and suggestways for the betterment of it. 1. Regularity of opening of centres: - Open centres by 8:30 sharp (depending upon climatic conditionsand transport facility). The centre should remain open to accommodate the lastcustomer. If needed work in shift basis.2. Cleanliness: - Chief Astrologer's Office, Pujaroom and other business rooms including toilets and kitchens should be cleanedevery day. No cobwebs, black walls due to Aarti and oil lamps. If required getthem white washed every few months.3. Chappals and News Papers Stand:- Provide proper place to keep footwear outside canters. News paper andperiodicals be placed in as proper stand. (Naadilover Shri Babuji Bhagwat of Pune had provided free stands to somecentres in Mumbai and Pune)4. Use of TV: - Avoid seeing Tamil programmes, especiallywhen non-Tamil knowing clients are present in the centre.5. Morning prayers and Sadhana: - The chief Naadi astrologers shouldset up an example by getting ready for Morning Prayer by 07:00 every day. All other readers shouldperform Japams and Sadhana /Meditation. The clients present should be permittedto participate in the prayers and Prasad conducted before the day'sproceedings.6. Table attendants:- Should be available at giventimings. Avoid taking any thumb print by some other person. Unless the personcarrying is blood relation and alive. 7. Visitor's Book: - Visitor's Book should be kept readywith table attendants for the clients to write their experiences of Naadi readings.It will be evidence to see by the others to know what the experiences of otherswere clients who have seen Naadi leaves previously. The names and Addresseswill help centres to locate persons if required on later date.8. Photographic Albums:- Avoid display of Photo frames of celebritiesin open. Please make post card size Photo album of the visitors. Also add the photoswhile giving charity to needy and poor from the gifts given to the centres likesaris to women, ready made shirts or T shirts and pants; Lungi etc, Schoolstationary or text books to the children. Avoid giving cloth pieces it will burdenthem to spend money on stitching charges. 9. Centre's Opening Celebrations:- Every year celebrate some functionlike Pongal, Diwali, or centre's opening day. Invite nearby persons, societyresidents, celebrities and distribute sweets and flowers so that he friendlyatmosphere is created.10. Legal Advice and Police Protection:- Please arrange for advocate inadvance. He may be from your clients. Meet in charge of area Police Station. Invitehim and his staffs to centre so that the police are aware what type of activitiesare conducted. Especially for Non-Tamil speaking area centres Policeprotections is a must.11. Facilities to Staff Workers:- Following aspects may be kept inmind .Ø Proper food, stay and transportshould be provided where staff workers reside in the centre premises.Ø Medical and emergency help is to begiven without fail. Family members are contacted fast.Ø The staff should be encouraged tobring family members to reside with nearby areas. This will avoid frequentvisits to home towns and loss of working hands and days.Ø The staff should be encouraged tocelebrate Pongal, Diwali etc locally. So that the centre remains open withoutlong break.Ø Remittance of money to the family members inhome town is to be monitored by the chief Naadi Astrologers regularly.Ø Every staff should be given Name plateto be displayed on chest for easy recognition. Wearing of Name plates should bemade compulsory. It is easy to remember names of the reader by clients thatway. Ø Staff should not consume hard drinksand create disturbance to co-workers. Ø The Staff should be honest to theirspouses.12. Learning of languages:- Spoken English classes may beconducted for the staff, so that translation and searching of leaf becomeseasy. The staff working in outside Tamilnadu in non-Tamil speaking areas shouldbe encourages to learn the local languages.13. Employment Opportunities: - More andmore centres are opening in all parts of India. At present many sent out byparents as useless are joining the Naadi reading job. It is harming thereputation of Naadi readings. If job guarantee is given, many new faces withtalent and intelligence will join the profession.14. Certificate of grading:- Could be given to the youngreaders. It will help to know the standard of reader. 15. Naadi Astrologers from VaideeshwaranKoil should provide some financial support and by way of regular supply ofNaadi leaves to encourage centres run properly. They should get daily feedbackfrom the centres about number of clients served, and other activities of theday.16. The chief Naadi astrologers shouldencourage the staff to open new centre. The new centre should not createcompetition in the same locality of big cities or near by towns. 17. Shashikant {Wing Commander (Retd) Oak}