RELIGION AND
ASTROLOGY
ARUN ROY
MUKHERJEE
Religion and astrology are
two different subjects. People in our country and particularly the Hindus, have
a misconception that astrology is an integral part of and/or approved by
religion. They also believe that astrology originated in the Vedas. The fact,
however, is otherwise. Astrology and religion are completely two different
subjects. Astrology originated in Babylon. When astrology came to India from
the middle-east countries via Greece and Egypt, it was rejected by our sages on
the ground that it is not useful to human life and society. The Vedas and the
Upanisadas, which are the very basis of Hinduism, do not deal with anything
relating to astrology. Vedas nowhere state of any relation between a planet in
the sky and a person’s life, character and destiny. It do not prescribe the
rules for casting the horoscope and also do not prescribe the rules for making
predictions on the basis of stars and planets and their positions in the sky.
On the other hand The Vedas and the Upanishads condemned the subject and its
faith stating that it takes a person to the darkest regions of ignorance.
It is admitted that there
are many reference about astrology & astrological predictions in the
Puranas, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The people of that period of time
believed, for one reason or other, in astrology and astrological predictions. And
that is the reason it is mentioned in the stories in the Puranas and the Epics.
However, It may please be noted that the Vedas and the Upanisadas are the texts
which are the basis and foundation of Hinduism and Hindu religion. When those
texts condemn a subject, no other text can overrule that verdict and can
neither authenticate nor endorse it.
Srimad Bhagbat Gita teaches us to have faith on one's own self and on God alone. Religious texts irrespective of faith, creed or class do not deal or deliberate on stars and planets or the methods of calculation of human destiny on the basis of those inanimate objects in the sky. Great religious teachers, sadhus and saints such as Sankaracharyya, Madhabacharyya, Ramanuja, Mahavira, Gautam Buddha, Chaitanya Dev, Guru Nanak, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, Guru Ramanand, Sant Kabir, Tailanga Swami and also great Tantric sadhaks like Bama Khsyapa, Kamalakanta and others did never preach or advice people on the basis of such faith. Goutama Buddha prohibited his disciples to study, preach or practice on the basis of such faith. Guru Nanak Ji openly condemned it. Swami Vivekananda condemned it being a weakness of the mind and asked people to be brave and face life with faith on one's own self and on God alone.
In other major religion around the world, such as Christianity and Islam, there is no mention of any relation between the stars and planets in the sky and a man’s life and destiny.
Srimad Bhagbat Gita teaches us to have faith on one's own self and on God alone. Religious texts irrespective of faith, creed or class do not deal or deliberate on stars and planets or the methods of calculation of human destiny on the basis of those inanimate objects in the sky. Great religious teachers, sadhus and saints such as Sankaracharyya, Madhabacharyya, Ramanuja, Mahavira, Gautam Buddha, Chaitanya Dev, Guru Nanak, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, Guru Ramanand, Sant Kabir, Tailanga Swami and also great Tantric sadhaks like Bama Khsyapa, Kamalakanta and others did never preach or advice people on the basis of such faith. Goutama Buddha prohibited his disciples to study, preach or practice on the basis of such faith. Guru Nanak Ji openly condemned it. Swami Vivekananda condemned it being a weakness of the mind and asked people to be brave and face life with faith on one's own self and on God alone.
In other major religion around the world, such as Christianity and Islam, there is no mention of any relation between the stars and planets in the sky and a man’s life and destiny.
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