ASCENDANT IN INDIAN ASTROLOGY

                                      ARUN ROY MUKHERJEE

In Indian Astrology Ascendant holds a key position. The physical and mental features as well as nature and character of a person are determined on the basis of his ascendant. The planets which are beneficial, harmful or neutral are determined on it. It also determines the zodiac signs and the lords who play important parts in deciding about the wealth, education, income, occupation, marriage and marital life, children, relatives, nature of calling and many other things. In Indian astrology when a horoscope is cast, the astrologer, therefore, first arrive at the ascendant of the person based on the birth date, time and place of the person.

What is the ascendant ? In short, the ascendant of a person in his horoscope, is the zodiac sign which rises on the eastern horizon at the time of his birth. Say, a child is born at 4.30 Am at a certain place on a certain date. The astrologer, with the help of a Panchang or almanac or according to the positional astronomy, finds out the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at that particular place on that date and time. The rising zodiac is the ascendant of the new born. The ascendant is considered as the first house. In the above case if Libra is rising, then Libra is considered as the ascendant and 1^st house of the new born child. Scorpio onwards to Virgo are the 2^nd to 12^th houses respectively of the child. We all know that a day is divided into 24 hours and there are 12 zodiac signs in the sky. Therefore the ascendant or the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon changes roughly every two hours. The ascendant sign of children taking birth on the same date and place changes accordingly as per the time of their birth.

The vital question is when the ascendant has so much importance in horoscope and in astrology for prediction purposes, is the method applied to calculate and arrive at the ascendant is accurate? The method adopted is to find the zodiac sign which appears to rise on the eastern horizon on the date and place at the appointed time. We are aware that a zodiac sign is an imaginary figure arrived at by drawing imaginary lines between some stars which appears to be close to each other on a plane surface in the sky. The fact however is that those stars are far apart from one another both horizontally and also vertically and have no relationship among those as a cogent and homogenous and homologous body capable of a concerted power and action. Therefore, we know that zodiac signs, which are imaginary creations of human beings, comprises of stars. We must also note three more factors which are a) that the stars are far away in the sky, 2) we see an object either when the light emitted from it reaches our eyes or when light is reflected from the object and hits our eyes and 3) that it takes time for the light to travel from the object to our eyes on earth. It may be noted here that light travels at a speed of 186000 miles per second. But most of the stars are so far away from us that the light from those stars, even travelling at so high speed of 186000 miles per second requires a number of years. There are stars in our Milky Way galaxy light from which takes more than 100 years to reach us. Light from most of the stars in the 12 zodiac signs takes about 50 to 500 years to reach the earth.

In that context, keeping in mind the facts stated above, it may be safely concluded that when we see a star and a zodiac sign at a particular position the sky, the said star or the zodiac sign was at that position only at some 50 or 500 years ago according to the distance it is situated away from earth and not now when it appears before our eyes. If a star is 50 light years away from earth its today’s position at a particular point of time in the sky will be known only after 50 years when the light emitted by it now will reach our eyes. Therefore when we see a zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon and decide the ascendant in the horoscope, it is not done on the basis of facts but on a seeming assumption and as it appears but not truly.

In Indian astrology all horoscope are prepared and ascendants are calculated on the basis of that seeming assumption and as it appears and on not the basis of facts. The zodiac signs are imaginary figures and the calculation of ascendant is done on a faulty basis. The entire prediction process in astrology is, therefore, blatantly faulty and imaginary  devoid of any relation with the facts.

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                 HOW ACCURATE IS MY HOROSCOPE ?

                                        ARUN ROY MUKHERJEE

It is said that unless the birth time is recorded correctly, horoscope reading will also not be perfect. The watch recording the event must also give correct time. We all know that. But even when the watch gives perfect and accurate time and the time of birth is recorded accurately, will it give the position of stars and planets with the same accuracy ? I was born as the Sun rose on the horizon. In my horoscope the Sun is in the same line as Aries and at 9.45 degree of Aries. It is said that Sun is exalted in my horoscope. Everyone in my family was very happy. But the question is that did the Sun rise on the horizon exactly at that time as noted in my horoscope at the place of my birth on that date? After taking into consideration the Standard time, Local time. Sidereal time etc. etc. and calculations normally required to arrive the time of my birth for the purpose of calculating the ascendant and for casting my horoscope, I still think that the Sun did not rise on the horizon at the moment and time as noted in my horoscope and as recorded by the time shown on the watch. We know that we see an object when the light either directly or reflected from the object, hits our eyes. Therefore the time taken by light to travel from that object to the eyes of the observer should also be taken into account. Do we consider the time taken by light to travel from the object to the observer also into account when noting the time of happening of the event ? In the case of Sun it takes about 9 minutes for the light to travel from Sun to the earth. Therefore when we see Sun rising and touching the horizon and note the time as per our watch, the actual event happened about nine minutes before that. And when we see the event of Sun rising on the horizon, the Sun actually moves a little higher on the sky. Those having knowledge of Astrology will confirm that such difference of 9 minutes in the time of birth may actually make a difference in ascertaining the Ascendant in some suitable cases. Thus the Sun, in my horoscope, is not at the position shown but a little ahead. My horoscope does not accurately reflect the position of the Sun.  In fact not only in my case but  for everyone else too the same rule applies. Their actual birth times are nine minutes prior to those recorded by watches and also as in their horoscopes. So it can be said that their horoscopes are faulty as a result of a sheer misconception. In case of Sun, it may be matter of a few minutes but we must also check how it reflects in cases of other planets.

My brother’s horoscope is much better. It has exalted Saturn at 19 degrees in Libra and exalted Jupiter at 4 degrees in Cancer. It was a cause for great jubilation. Then I somewhere found that the four major stars which constitute the Libra constellation 1) Alpha Librae or Zubenelgenubi is 77 light years,  2) Gemma Librae or Zubenelakrb is 152 light years, 3) Iota Librae is 377 light years and  4) Mu Librae is 235 light years away from the earth. It means that when my brother was born and Saturn was seen as in the zodiac sign of Libra, those stars forming the Libra sign may or may not have been at that position and/or Saturn was not in Libra at all. This is because when we saw those stars of Libra constellation it was the light emitted by those stars about 77 years to 377 years prior to the time of birth of my brother and as seen in the sky. Those stars were there so many years ago and not exactly at the time we saw those at the time of my brother’s birth. The same thing happened with Cancer. The 3 major stars comprising Cancer constellation are Beta Cancri or Al Tarf, Iota Cancri and Alpha Cancri which are 290, 158 and 173 light years respectively away from the earth. Therefore, Jupiter was not actually in Cancer at my brother’s birth time. But one point is sure that those stars will be at that very spot when we saw them during my brother’s birth but only after 77 years, 152 years, 377 years and 235 years respectively in case of those stars belonging to Libra and 290 years, 158 years and 173 years respectively in case of those stars of Cancer constellation. But Saturn and Jupiter will not be on the same spot at those times. But why not ? We all know that Saturn covers the 12 zodiac signs in 30 years. If it is in Libra today, it will come back to Libra after 30 years again. So, Saturn will not be in Libra after 77, 152, 377 or 235 years as none of those years are multiples of 30.   In case of Jupiter, it covers all the 12 zodiacs in 12 years. If it is in Cancer on a particular day it will again be seen on Cancer after 12 years. Therefore, by a simple calculation we find out that Jupiter will not be in the same place as the Cancer after 290, 158 or 173 years.

What happened with mine and my brother’s horoscopes happens with everybody else. In fact the position of planets vis-à-vis the zodiac signs at a particular point of time as seen from the earth, is never accurate. It just appears that a planet is in line with a star and/or a zodiac when we see it but their relative actual positions in the sky is not the same. What appears before our eyes is not the true position. Yet, we cast out horoscopes on the basis of what appears before our eyes, which is an illusion in fact. We also depend on it for prediction of events in our lives and also use it as a guide in our lives. 

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                  BIRTH PLACES OF THE PLANETS

                           ARUN ROY MUKHERJEE

In Astrological text we find a Sanskrit Sloka which reads as followd :

“Chandrajna-Shukra-Dhumarka-Paribesara-Karmmuka:

Guru: Pata: Shani: Keturgraha: Syurdhadashakramat.”

Astrologers claim that the Sloka is composed  by Rushi Parashara, which when translated means that Ravi (Sun), Chandra (Moon) Mangal ( Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus) and Shani (Saturn) are the seven planets which are visible in the sky and are called as “Prakash Graha.

In Astrology, it is believed  Sage Parashara stated that even the Sun and the Moon are planets and belong to the group of the seven planets which are visible. We have already discussed in one of our previous posts about the point whether such astrological treaties were really composed by the Vedic sage Parashara or by some other person at a much later date either having assumed the pseudonym Parashara or having Parashara as his name also. We will now take up the subject on what Astrology states about where the Planets were born or in other words what are the birth places of the different planets according to the Sloka quoted above..

Where do you think was the Sun born ? I would say that the Sun was born somewhere in space within the Milky Way galaxy in the sky above and I believe all of you will agree with me. But no. We are all wrong if we have faith in Astrology and particularly the one most revered as the Vedic Astrology, followed by the astrologers in India.  I quote the Sloka written in Sanskrit :

“Utpannaharka: Kalingeshu Yamunayancha Chandrama:

 Angarakastvbatyancha Magadhesu Himangshuja:

Saindhabesu Gururjata: Shukro Bhojkatey tatha.

Shanishcharastu Sourastre Rahurvainatikey Pure

Antarvedyang Tatha Keturityeta Grahavumaya.”

Now we know that the Sun was not born in space within the Milky Way Galaxy but was born on earth in Kalinga, India. Yes Sire. It is in India where the Sun was born and the place of its birth is in Kalinga (the place known as Odisha in present time). However, how and when the Sun went to its present position in the sky above is not known. Astrological texts also do not enlighten us on that point.  Not only the Sun but all other planets were born on this poor earth only and fortunately for us in India itself.  Though we could not find any other Sloka to find out the dates and times of birth of those planets but we hope our learned astrologers have some records to give us the details. If our learned astrologers help us with the information, we can prepare the horoscopes of all of them and know their future. Now let us note down the birth places of those planets on the basis of the Sloka quoted above :

The Sun was born in Kalinga , Moon in Yamuna. We do not know whether it is the river named  Yamuna or a city, town or village known by that name. Mangal (Mars) was born in Avanti Desha and Budh (Mercury) in Magadha (i.e., a place in present day Bihar). Guru or Jupiter was born in Sind (now in Pakistan), Shukra or Venus in Bhoj and Shani or Saturn was born in Saurashtra. It did not stop at that. Even Rahu and Ketu, the two imperceptible planets (Aprakash Graha) were also born in Vainatikpur and Antarvedi. However, I must admit that I do not know where these two places were or are now.

Thus we see that the Divine Science of Astrology gives us enough information related to the birth places of our planets which however does not agree in the least to what we have learnt in our school and college days. So in order to be a devout believer of astrology, the so called divine science we have to completely disregard what Aryabhatta, Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Einstein and the like have taught us and so shall we do to be a pious believer.

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                           PLANATARY SYSTEM IN INDIAN ASTROLOGY

                                      ARUN ROY MUKHERJEE

There are nine planets under the Indian system of Astrology. Those are Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. Earth is not considered as a planet. But Sun and Moon are considered as planets but Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are not. Instead Rahu and Ketu are.

The first question that arises in our minds is why earth is not considered as a planet though it is one of the planets in the Solar system and where we live. Astrology came into being in Babylon in the very early days of civilization. Later it spread into other countries in the middle-east. Greeks also became interested in the subject and they developed the subject further. The people in those countries believed that earth is at the center of the universe and all objects in the sky including Sun, Moon, different planets and Stars revolve around the earth. We must however, note that those people, even in those early days of civilization, could distinguish between a planet and a star and rightly identified Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn as planets as distinct from the stars. Originally those people did not know about Rahu and Ketu and did not consider those two as planets or any entity at all in their scheme of things. Rahu and Ketu were included as planets by the Indian astrologers.

Astrology came to India through the middle-east countries and after the invasion of Alexander, the Great, the improvements made by the Greek astrologers also became known to the Indian astrologers. Astrologers, in India, also believed that earth is at the center of the universe and all astral bodies including Sun, Moon, planets and stars revolve around the earth. This is the reason that in Indian astrology Sun and Moon are considered as planets and not as a star and a satellite of earth respectively. And this is also the reason that earth and its position is not indicated in a horoscope. In the horoscope its position is at the center.

Indian astrologers had no knowledge of the existence of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto and those have not been included in the list of planets. The knowledge of their existence came at a much later time but astrology in India did not include those in the system because they did not find reference about their nature, qualities etc. in any of the ancient texts. Some astrologers, however, take those also into account and attribute some characteristics but such ideas are generally not followed by all.

Here is a peculiar situation that many new ideas like “Sade Sati” “Kaal Sarpa” etc. have been invented and incorporated in Indian astrology and those ideas have been accepted by almost all the astrologers and they also make predictions on that basis and also prescribe remedies to get relief from the supposed ill effects of “sade sati” and “kaal sarpa”. The most possible reason may be that the astrologers may not have found any personal advantage in taking Uranus, Neptune and Plato and incorporating those in the system but could see a great financial advantage to themselves by incorporating the ideas of “sade sati” and “kaal sarpa”. 

In the final analysis we find that in astrology Sun is a planet, Moon is a planet and Rahu and Ketu are also planets. In fact we have a “Stotra” which is known as “Nava Graha Stotra” which gives a short description of each of those and extol their virtue.  The basic facts on which horoscopes are drawn and predictions made are erroneous and yet millions of people in India depend on the system and have faith on it.  

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                                        ASPECT OF PLANETS

                                           ARUN ROY MUKHERJEE

In Astrology, it is believed that the planets look into and towards the direction of the various zodiac signs and if any planet is in that zodiac or house, it also look on or cast aspect on that planet also. But the planets do not cast aspect equally in all directions and on all the zodiac signs. Each planet follows a different mode, pattern and direction and more on some zodiac signs and less on others. For example, Jupiter casts full aspect on the 5^th, 7^th and 9^th houses or zodiac signs from the place it is in the horoscope calculated anti-clock-wise. It also casts 3/4^th aspects on 4^th & 8^th places and 1/4^th aspect on 3^rd & 10^th houses. Mars casts full aspect on the 4^th, 7^th and 8^th places, 50% aspect on 5^th & 9^th and 1/4^th aspect on 3^rd & 10^th houses. Saturn, on the other hand, casts full aspect on 3^rd, 7^th and 10^th houses, 3/4^th aspect on 4^th & 8^th houses and ½ aspect on 5^th & 9^th houses. The subject also states that all other planets including Sun, Moon, Rahu and Ketu also casts aspects on different zodiac signs and on planets therein somewhere fully and somewhere at a lesser degree.  

It may be said that such “looking” or “Casting aspect” so selectively, more in some directions and less in other, is possible if the planet has a conscious mind which it can apply and use it at its discretion or if the planets body or structure is such that reflection of light or energy and its forces acts in such a fashion that its forces act in that order. In Indian astrology planets are not only taken to be conscious but are also given the position of God or a deity by the names of Guru for Jupiter, Shani Deva for Saturn, Daitya Guru Shukracharyya for Venus and so on. Astrologers consider the planets as living being having a conscious mind. But so far no proof has been forwarded in support of such claim and it has not been established that the planets are living beings having a mind which it can apply at its own free will. It may also be mentioned here that such personification of the planets has been condemned both in the Vedas and the Upanisadas.   

On the other hand we know that the planets are round in shape except for Saturn which, though round in shape, has three rings around it. All the planets rotate around their axes while revolving round the Sun. The normal rule states that a round object, if emitting any force, energy or power, will do so only in equal proportion all around it while rotating and revolving at the same time.  It will not do so selectively more in one direction and less in another. Therefore the fact is in contradiction with the astrological theory of selective aspect of planets.

We therefore find that the astrological theory on aspect of planets selectively on the different houses or zodiac signs is not supported either by facts or by any rules of nature.  The theory of aspect of planets in astrology is a figment of wild imagination and has no logical or scientific basis.

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                               OWNERSHIP OF ZODIAC SIGNS BY PLANETS

                                      ARUN ROY MUKHERJEE

In astrology each planet owns at the least one zodiac. Mars is considered the owner of Aries and Scorpio, Venus  the owner of Taurus and Libra and Mercury the owner of Gemini and Virgo and so on. Only Sun and Moon own one zodiac each. Sun is the owner of Leo and Moon is the owner of Cancer.

The theory of ownership of zodiac by a planet in the solar system is possibly the most bizarre and ludicrous of them all.  We very well know that a planet is attracted to Sun by the pull of its gravitation and revolves around the Sun due to the operation of two opposite forces. The Sun attracts the planets and the planets’ force drives it towards the outer space. These are known as centrifugal and centripetal forces.  The planets can neither go beyond the gravitational field of Sun nor fall back on Sun and merge with it. They go around the Sun in their respective orbits. As a result, a planet and its forces and energy, if any, are restricted within the gravitational field of the solar system. In view of this we will have to consider the astrological theory of ownership of zodiacs by the planets.

A planet which does not have the power and energy to go beyond the solar system, owns a zodiac which consists of more than one star (sometimes as many as 7 or 8) some of which are much bigger in size than our Sun lying millions and millions of miles away in the sky. We shall have to take that as granted if we believe in astrology and its various theories used for predictions of events, past, present and future.

Some people interpret that ownership does not mean ownership as such but that the planet rules over that house or zodiac. It is difficult to understand the difference between the terms “ownership” and “Rule over” in the present context. There is, however, no explanation regarding the system through which a planet in a solar system, limited in its power within the gravitational field of Sun, can rule over a zodiac consisting of several stars lying far far away in the sky.

Some others interpret such ownership stating that the nature, character and attributes of the planet and zodiac being the same and compatible,  match well. There again the question remains about how the nature, characteristics or attributes of both the planet and the zodiac as a whole is known. Can it be verified ?  No explanation is offered in support of such claim and as proof in support. How do we know about the qualities and characteristics of the planets and the zodiacs ? There is no explanation or method to prove such qualities and characteristics. It may be noted that astrological predictions depend on the said theory of ownership of zodiac by the planets.

Lastly a question may be asked that zodiac signs, as we know, are creations of human imagination and are only imaginary figures. Zodiac signs are the creations of human beings by drawing imaginary lines between a few stars which appear to be lying close to one another on a plane surface in the sky. Therefore any idea about their ownership, rule, nature, characteristics or attributes are also bound to be imaginary.

            RETROGRADE MOVEMENT OF PLANETS

                              ARUN ROY MUKHERJEE

If we watch the sky and the movement of the planets, it is sometimes noticed that a planet is moving backwards as if in a reverse gear. Normally each planet moves in its orbit in a single forward motion. But sometimes it is seen as moving in the opposite direction. This is known as “retrograde movement” of planets. Astrologers believe that planets, while moving in its orbit in one direction, suddenly stops moving in the same direction and then start moving backwards or on reverse direction. This backward movement is known as retrograde movement in astrology.

However, the truth and the fact is that retrograde movement of planets as seen from the earth is actually an optical illusion. The planets while revolving in its orbit around the Sun, move in a single forward motion and never move backwards or retrograde. If the planets actually suddenly start moving backwards, it would cause a total chaos or “Pralaya” in the solar system. In a single year more such retrograde movement can be observed in case of more than one planet. Sometimes even more than a single planet go into retrograde position. Yet, it does not cause any turmoil in the solar system and no “Pralay” happens. The movement of planets does not depend on their own sweet will so that those are able to change direction at random or at their own pleasure. The movement of planets in their own orbit is caused by the operation of two natural forces known as centrifugal and centripetal forces. One of the said two forces attracts the planet towards the sun and the other which tries to force it away and beyond the gravitational pull of the Sun. The result of these two opposite forces make it move round the sun in an orbit. It is also not true that another natural force or energy start operating in between the centrifugal and centripetal forces and causes retrograde movement of planets. The retrograde or backward motion of planets as seen from the earth may be aptly explained by a comparison when two moving objects running in the same direction run at different speed. When you are travelling by train you see another person who is also moving in the same direction as the train but on a cycle on a road by the side of railway track at a speed slower than the train. The train’s speed being more than the cycle, you will see as if the man on the cycle is moving backwards although he is actually moving forward in the same direction as you are. This is the retrograde movement. The reverse of this happens when you move in the opposite direction of each other. From the train it will seem to you that the cyclist is approaching you too fast. This is known as the “Atichar Gati” in astrological terms. The earth revolves round the sun in 365 days but Jupiter takes 12 years on earth to complete its journey around sun. Jupiter takes more time primarily because it is farther away from sun than earth and therefore, its orbit is much bigger and it has to cover a much longer route to complete its journey. When earth and Jupiter comes on the same side in their journey, from earth it appears that at certain stage Jupiter starts moving backwards. In reality Jupiter does not move backwards. It carries on its forward movement in the same track at its normal speed. But, from earth, it so appears that Jupiter has stopped moving forward and started moving back. It is the same feeling which a person experiences while travelling in a train and watching a cyclist on the road beside who is also moving in the same direction. The entire experience is an optical illusion.

That the retrograde movements or “Atichar Gati” movement of planets is an optical illusion and not a natural phenomenon actually happening can be proved from another example. We all know that earth is also a planet. If all other planets have retrograde movement and “Atichar Gati: movement, then Earth, as a planet, must also have those movements while revolving round the sun. In fact, if we go to the outer space or into another planet, say, Jupiter or Saturn, we also can observe the retrograde movement and “Atichar Gati” of the earth from there. Now the question is whether the earth actually move backwards or in reverse gear while revolving round the sun. We all know that seasons on Earth change due to the revolution of earth around the Sun. The different seasons like summer, rains, spring etc. comes to Earth because of its movement around the Sun. If Earth actually moved backwards while going thru its orbit around the Sun, we would have experienced a peculiar change of season where we would have experienced a repeat of the season already ended even after the advent of the next season. In that case after going thru summer for a certain period of time, spring will start coming back and we would enjoy spring for quite some days  and summer would come back again after those few days of repeat spring on earth. So also, while passing thru heavy rains during the rainy season, suddenly summer would appear back. Temperature would rise high, Land would start drying etc. And again after that spell of summer, rains would come back for a second time. And this process would continue to happen from time to time throughout the year and also year after year without a break. That apart, we would have witnessed another spectacle right from the earth itself. We would have seen all the objects in the sky, the stars etc. moving in the opposite direction than as we see those normally from east to west during the night on all those days when the Earth goes into retrograde movement. The stars would then appear to move from west to east in the sky during those days of retrograde movement of earth.  And during day time the sun would rise in the west and set in the east. Does it happen or  happened ever ?  No. Because, during retrograde movement the earth actually do not move backwards or on the reverse but continue to move in the same direction it normally does everyday throughout the year. We actually do not experience any such thing on earth. Because the Earth does not actually make any such backward movement.      

In astrology so many predictions are made on the basis of retrograde motion of planets but in fact such retrograde motion of planets is nothing but an optical illusion and not happening actually. Therefore the entire predictions based on retrograde movement of planets and also “Atichar Gati” are purely imaginary and rather illusionary and not based on facts.                                                 .

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