The ‘fault’ in our stars
Fact or fiction? DOEL SENGUPTA weighs in on the astrology issue
India is known worldwide for its mysticism, spirituality and religiosity. The country boasts of being the land where many of the world’s major religious systems and spiritual philosophies took birth. It is no surprise then that foreigners flock to India to visit pilgrimage sites, which are also picturesque and travel-worthy, and delve in ancient mystical and spiritual pursuits that encompass practices like astrology, palmistry, numerology and face reading.
We all know that life is supposed to be happy. We expect our fair share of success, financial security and joy, knowing somehow we deserve it. And yet, some are increasingly happier, more productive and effective each day. Those who are not, invite a gloom, disillusionment and more failure into their lives, simply by their mental make-up. It is at these vulnerable junctures in our lives that we seek out the soothsayers and fortune tellers who by their way of words, craft and our faith in them direct us on a path.
According to the Centre of Inquiry, Babylonian omen ideas arrived in India around 450 BC during the Persian occupation, followed, around 200 AD, by Greek astrological ideas based on planets. To these were added new ideas to suit Indian culture. The end result was largely the Indian astrology still in use today, which exists in numerous schools disagreeing over details.
Naysayers feel that astrology has not kept up with astronomical advances such as discoveries of the earth having further tilted and identification of more planets and our understanding of the universe.
The practice of fortune telling is fairly prevalent in India. But, as science makes further forays into understanding the cosmos and our inner universe, most scientifically-minded and technology-driven people have debunked practices like astrology, numerology etc. as “unscientific” and mere mumbo jumbo. So, is there a science behind these practices, or are they mere pseudoscience that meddle with our subconscious and effect change?
Scientists say that astrology does not align with scientific tenets of being consistent, parsimonious, describing and explaining observed phenomena, is not empirically testable and falsifiable, and is not based upon controlled, repeated experiments, is not correctable and dynamic, is not progressive and is tentative.
In 2008, the Centre for Inquiry carried out an experiment, headed by Jayant Narlikar and assisted by Professor Sudhakar Kunte from the Department of Statistics at Pune University, Narendra Dabholkar from the Committee for the Eradication of Superstitions, and statistician Prakash Ghatpande.
Twenty-seven astrologers had participated, of which 15 were hobbyists, 8 were professionals, 9 had up to 10 years of experience, and 17 had more than 10 years of experience. Their average experience was 14 years. The experiment was announced at a press conference in Pune on May 12, 2008. Each participant was given forty horoscopes drawn at random from a set of 200 to judge whether their owners were mentally bright or handicapped. Established astrological organisations were also given these 200 horoscopes, a large sample size. They were then allowed one month for making their judgements. In due course, 51 astrologers asked for horoscopes, of which 27 from all over Maharashtra sent back their judgements. According to the scientists and statisticians, the experiment showed an abject failure of whether astrology works. In that, the sample was mixed with bright, average and mentally challenged people’s horoscopes and the astrologers apparently failed to decipher the assessee’s mental make-up.
According to Quartz India, the turnover for the Indian astrological business market is estimated to be over $30 billion (Rs 1.9 lakh crore). Soothsayers and fortune-tellers charge clientele anywhere between Rs 500 to upwards, going into thousands.
Chennai-based astrologer and numerologist KCS Ayyar, who holds a weekly column in a major Tamil daily, says that he charges on an average of Rs 1,000 for every sitting. Ayyar is confident of 100 per cent prediction rates and says he can’t go wrong. Ayyar says, “If you are able to make the chart of the horoscope accurately and adjust the Panchang appropriately an astrologer cannot be mistaken.”
Talking about fortune telling not according with astronomical advances, he has this to say: “Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, our first Prime Minister had an astrologer, MP Lahiri, who he gave 10 years to codify the Rashtriya Panchangam, and align astrological data with modern astronomical finds. Horoscopes based on these panchangs cannot be incorrect. Of course, just as a surgeon becomes more skilled with each surgery, just so does a fortune-teller become more accurate as he surveys more charts.”
As for naysayers, Ayyar has just these lines: “It is their ignorance. Fools obey the planets. The wise control them. Astrology is important.”
Ayyar’s compatriot Indu Sharma, a Mumbai-based astrologer, says, “Our puranas have extolled the virtues and malefic effects of planets with detailed description. An astrologer cannot go wrong if the client knows his birth time accurately. Simple remedies that cost no money can really benefit those facing obstacles and people should steer clear of fortune-tellers, who scare them with bad omens, as the aim of astrology is to live a happy, balanced life.”
She goes on to add: “Intelligence and logical thinking can achieve anything, and astrology is only logical thinking. Today more youth flock to fortune-tellers only because life has become more stressful and competitive for them and we can guide them in making career and life decisions.” Of course the possibilities are limitless.
Indian youth, though scientific-minded, seem to have taken to this ancient craft of fortune telling. With more start-ups investing their time, energy and money in astro online portals, tarot card reading, face reading, palmistry and of course astrology have almost become a fad.
In May 2004, the Supreme Court held that prescription of Jyotir Vigyan (Vedic astrology) as a course of study in universities “does not have the effect of saffronising education or militate against the concept of secularism which is part of the basic structure of the Constitution.” So now, Indian youth can collect a degree in the same.
Astrologers are of the view that if youth have an interest they should delve into the study of these Vedic systems on their own. As Sharma says, “They will find then that astrology accords with logic and reason.” Now that is quite a prediction!
Success invariably comes to those who follow their passion with commitment and persistence’. Let fear not take away your dreams. Courage is understanding fear and working past using it as an ally for better preparedness. — Astrologer Indu Sharma