26-Apr-2010, 06:24 AM
Astrology is an ancient "science" of India. It is noted in the Upanishads as "lower knowledge." We all grew up depending upon astrological predictions and charts. It was very much part of our daily lives and we did not bother to question its veracity. This is a much abused system in India and also abroad. Most astrologers are good mind-readers and they know what to say to soothe the minds of people who consult them.
Here let me share with you all four encounters I personally had with astrology. I feel compelled to share these experiences here even though I am a rationalist.
1. In 1956 my father took over the general managership of a bank from another gentleman who claimed to be an amateur astrologer. This elderly man never charged anyone for his predictions. This man drew an astrology chart on my father and my older brother. Some years later, after training as a chartered accountant, my older brother opened a practice at Udupi. The old astrologer called him on his own as said, "You will not practice in Udupi. Your horoscope says you will pracrtice in Mangalore." My brother ignored him. A week later, my brother's ex-boss, under whom he had trained suddenly died from a massive heart attack at age 39. His father came to my brother and pleaded him to take over his ex-bosses practice. His second son trained under my brother. My brother has been practicing as the leading chartered accountant for 48 years now.
2. The same old astrologer called my brother around 1970 and told him, "Your father's chart shows that he would be critically ill on such and such a date in 1971. You better be with him." My brother made a careful note of the date. He took time off from his work and came to stay with my father on the predicted critical date. My brother stayed with my father in his room all night. Around 5.30 next morning, my father suddenly became sick and he could not talk. He had a stroke and he had left sided paralysis. Immediately my brother rushed him to the hospital where my ex-boss, a cardiologist, treated him. Even though the paralysis resolved 90%, he had residual symptoms.
3. My grandfather knew of a well-known astrologer in Mangalore. He told my grandfather that he would die at the ripe old age of 90 on a certain date in 1971. My grandfather informed my brother about it. As the day of his predicted death, the old man arranged all his papers and stuff. On the predicted day he died in bed.
4. On June 15th 1974, my older boy was born in a hospital in Middletown, CT. The doctor delivering the baby gave us the worst news any prospective father could hear, "You son has a birth defect in his left leg due to the medications given by your wife's doctor to control vomiting." It was a shock of my life. My mother in law who was with us hid the information from my father in law in India. As per Brahmanic requirement, we gave my father in law the exact date, time, location, etc. to draw a horoscope on my son. The man who drew the horoscope was my ex-professor of physics, who was also an amateur astrologer. He never charged anyone any money. The next day we got a call my my father in law in which he said, "Mr. Achar says the child has a birth defect in his left leg. Is that true?" My mother in law did not want to upset my father in law. So she said, "No. The child is doing very well!."
The next day my father in law called again and said, "Mr. Achar says he is baffled. He re-charted the horoscope. He says it shows a birth defect in the child's left leg." Once again, my timid mother in law held back her tears and said, "Mr. Achar must have made some mistake. The child is just fine!"
A met with Mr. Achar several years later. He was rather upset with me saying, "You know, you made me look like a liar when you lied to your father in law!"
The rationalist in me has no way to explain these personal experiences. Now, let me ask you guys, what is your opinion of what have written here?
Here let me share with you all four encounters I personally had with astrology. I feel compelled to share these experiences here even though I am a rationalist.
1. In 1956 my father took over the general managership of a bank from another gentleman who claimed to be an amateur astrologer. This elderly man never charged anyone for his predictions. This man drew an astrology chart on my father and my older brother. Some years later, after training as a chartered accountant, my older brother opened a practice at Udupi. The old astrologer called him on his own as said, "You will not practice in Udupi. Your horoscope says you will pracrtice in Mangalore." My brother ignored him. A week later, my brother's ex-boss, under whom he had trained suddenly died from a massive heart attack at age 39. His father came to my brother and pleaded him to take over his ex-bosses practice. His second son trained under my brother. My brother has been practicing as the leading chartered accountant for 48 years now.
2. The same old astrologer called my brother around 1970 and told him, "Your father's chart shows that he would be critically ill on such and such a date in 1971. You better be with him." My brother made a careful note of the date. He took time off from his work and came to stay with my father on the predicted critical date. My brother stayed with my father in his room all night. Around 5.30 next morning, my father suddenly became sick and he could not talk. He had a stroke and he had left sided paralysis. Immediately my brother rushed him to the hospital where my ex-boss, a cardiologist, treated him. Even though the paralysis resolved 90%, he had residual symptoms.
3. My grandfather knew of a well-known astrologer in Mangalore. He told my grandfather that he would die at the ripe old age of 90 on a certain date in 1971. My grandfather informed my brother about it. As the day of his predicted death, the old man arranged all his papers and stuff. On the predicted day he died in bed.
4. On June 15th 1974, my older boy was born in a hospital in Middletown, CT. The doctor delivering the baby gave us the worst news any prospective father could hear, "You son has a birth defect in his left leg due to the medications given by your wife's doctor to control vomiting." It was a shock of my life. My mother in law who was with us hid the information from my father in law in India. As per Brahmanic requirement, we gave my father in law the exact date, time, location, etc. to draw a horoscope on my son. The man who drew the horoscope was my ex-professor of physics, who was also an amateur astrologer. He never charged anyone any money. The next day we got a call my my father in law in which he said, "Mr. Achar says the child has a birth defect in his left leg. Is that true?" My mother in law did not want to upset my father in law. So she said, "No. The child is doing very well!."
The next day my father in law called again and said, "Mr. Achar says he is baffled. He re-charted the horoscope. He says it shows a birth defect in the child's left leg." Once again, my timid mother in law held back her tears and said, "Mr. Achar must have made some mistake. The child is just fine!"
A met with Mr. Achar several years later. He was rather upset with me saying, "You know, you made me look like a liar when you lied to your father in law!"
The rationalist in me has no way to explain these personal experiences. Now, let me ask you guys, what is your opinion of what have written here?
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