In
his great work Maharishi Parashara explains that there are three divisions
(skandhas) to the holy science of Jyotisha. These are Hora, Ganita and Samhita.
Hora (or Jataka,as named elsewhere) refers to interpreting the planetary
positions at someone's birth in terms of his karma, or past acitivities. Ganita
(or Siddhanta) refers to calculations of planetary positions and movement. This
branch may be called astronomy and it has a basic role in determining the time
units, favourable times for Vedic rituals and serves as a basic for erecting the
Janma Kundali, or birth chart as well. And finally the third one is Samhita, which refers not only to
celestial phenomena but to a wide range of other omens (lakshana or shakuna) for
predicting the future events.
"
. . . I shall relate to you the science of astrology as it was heard by me from
Brahma. The teachings of this science of astrology are to be given only to the
students who are good and peacefully disposed, who honour the perceptors and
elders, who speak only truth and who are God-fearing. It is only in this way
that good will follow. The teachings of this science,
again, should not be given
to an unwilling student, to an atheist or to a crafty person."
The Qualifications
of an Astrologer
In
the above quotation we have seen that this science should be received through
the parampara or disciplic succession. So the first qualification of a Jyotishi
is to become accepted as a disciple of a learned and pure brahmana, who have
received this science in the disciplic succession and mastered it. The further
qualifications are listed by Maharishi Parashara and other sages in their works
as follows:
"
O vipra! The shastra expounded by Lord Brahma for Mahatma Narada and he (Narada)
with all humbleness narrated the same to Rishis Shaunaka etc. and I have
unfolded the same shastra as it is, before you. This knowledge should never be
imparted to a person who is jealous, backbiter, dull, arrogant and unknown. This
supreme and pious shastra amongst all Vedangas should be taught well to the
humble, devoted, truthful, intelligent, submissive and known persons. (. . .) A
person knowing the subjec matter of Hora Shastra should be truthful and able to
exercise control over his senses. The auspicious and inauspicious predictions of
such a person will come true." (BPHS, vol. 2., pg. 794-795., transl. by G.C.
Sharma)
Acharya
Varaha Mihira amongst others lists the following qualifications for an
astrologer:
"Now
the following are the virtues of an astrologer: He must be clean, efficient,
bold, eloquent, possessed of genius or ready wit, knower of the time and place,
sincere, not timid in assemblies, not to be overpowered by his fellow students,
expert, free from vices, well-versed in the art of performing rituals of both
curative and preventive types, as well as in that of magic and bathing, engaged
in the worship of Gods, observances of austerities and fast, possessed of great
power generated by the wonderful achievements of his
scientific knowledge and capable of answering queries made by others and
suggesting remedial measures for troubles other than the visitations of
God." (Brihat Samhita, transl. M. Ramakrishna Bhat, vol.1, pg. 8.)
And
finally, Pandit Harihara also elaborates on this subject as follows:
"
The exalted and recondite science of astrology is to be studied only by
Brahmins. A proper study of the subject leads one to the acquisition of wealth,
merit, salvation, respect and fame. (. . ) That person, who has mastery of this
science, who has a good knowledge of mathematics, who leads a religious life,
who is truthful, who is free from conceit and who is well versed in the Vedas,
mantras and tantras, he alone can be called a Daivajna or seer.
All
the predictions made by such a person will come true and will never be false.
The learned support this statement. (. . .) He who has acquired a thorough
knowledge of the different Horas, who is an adept in the five Siddhantas, who
has inferential ability and who is initiated into a secret mantra by a perceptor,
can alone know horoscopy" (Prashna Marga, transl. by B.V. Raman, Vol. 1,
pg. 9-13.)
Here
the Pandit points again to the basic qualification of a Jyotish:
Accepting
an authentic guru and receiving the guru- (or siddha-) mantra from him. This
proves that astrology is not a mundane science subject to empiry and logic, but
a transcendental science understood by the grace of the Guru. Seeing nowadays
the state of Jotish where it is, I aimed at pointing out the importance of this
feature and the other qualifications that all aspiring vedic astrologers should
develop if they want to be faithful to the tradition and qualified to understand
thi great mistery of Jyotish. As Jyotish is a Vedic science, we should adopt the
Vedic process of learning enunciated even by Lord Kερλa Himself in the
Bhagavad-gita:
tad
viddhi pranipaatena pariprashnena
sevayaa
upadekshyaanti
te jnaanam jnaaniinas tattva-darshinah
" Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth." (Bg.4.34. transl. by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada).
© Gauranga Das
