Prof. B. J. Rao, a distinguished Jyotishi and author, once authored a book that revealed the misconceptions prevalent in the field of Jyotisa, which have been perpetuated by certain prominent institutions and writers. Unfortunately, many of his works are no longer accessible, and the legacy of this unrecognized authority remains largely unknown to many within the astrological community. In contrast, numerous authors who have promoted erroneous theories and ideas have gained unwarranted fame and recognition. Such is the nature of Kaliyuga, it seems.
The sacred knowledge of Jyotisa is safeguarded. Numerous elements related to this topic have been entirely disregarded by contemporary astrologers. The promotion and practice of misleading theories can lead to significant consequences and repercussions, as outlined in ancient texts. This is why traditional Jyotisis and scholars such as Sri Patel and Sri Bhasin emphasized the importance of Shastra Pramana. Unfortunately, faculty members at esteemed institutions often remain unaware of these important factors.Initially, the intention was to release a brief e-book to critique contemporary theories; however, the scribe has now opted to present the material as a series of articles. This article draws inspiration from the contributions of Prof. B. J. Rao.
The scribe has previously articulated how the term "divisional charts" is a misnomer created by contemporary astrologers who possess a limited grasp of the foundational principles and likely lack a thorough understanding of the essential mathematics involved in Jyotisa. Sincere seekers can access the article here. Furthermore, the scribe has now taken the initiative to critique several additional concepts that lack scriptural validation.
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Disclaimer: The quotations included in this article are intended for fair use, specifically for criticism, commentary, educational purposes, and consumer awareness. The original material is owned by its respective copyright holder. No copyright infringement intended.
1. Jyotish Ka 'Anarth'
A well-known author and self-proclaimed Pundit asserts that D40 signifies the Karma inherited from the mother, D45 denotes the Karma inherited from the father, and D60 reflects the native's past life Karma. Any rational individual familiar with ancient texts would recognize this as a mere fabrication. Nevertheless, this astrologer and his followers seem to prefer living in a state of illusion, resulting in theories that lack any classical foundation. Furthermore, this same author attempts to draw parallels between Grahas and Christian deities, which is blasphemous. According to him, Jesus is represented by Brihaspati, Angels by Shukra, Crusaders by Kuja and so on. In addition to this, he enjoys exploring various correlations and developing innovative concepts. He not only steals principles from ancient texts, attributing them to himself, but also invents new ideas, such as a fabricated Tithi Lordship. Furthermore, he incorporates Rahu and Ketu into the Vara Chakra to support his self-created theories. His writings are filled with numerous inaccuracies that could merit a distinct critique. He has propagated numerous misconceptions by asserting that the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra was authored by Maharshi Parshara. I have countered these assertions and demonstrated that the BPHS is an unreliable classic, comprising fragments from various texts (Read here). In reality, it is one of the most perplexing works, and anyone who teaches or studies it is likely to find themselves lost in the vast expanse of Jyotisa. He also claims that Jaimini Rsi was a disciple of Maharshi Parshara, a statement that is contradicted by existing commentaries on the Jaiminī Sūtras, which clearly indicate that Jaimini was a student of Rsi Garga. However, to uphold a falsehood, one must continue to fabricate more lies, creating an endless cycle. One can frequently observe inconsistencies in the statements of this astrologer, as his theories lack substantiation. My dear friend Kesar Ji has aptly named this individual as 'Anarth' of Jyotisa.
2. An Egoistic Astrologer
Another well-known author, stated: "The older generation of astrologer of Dr. Raman, including him have produced no research. They put Sanskrit wine in English bottles and became famous. In the arid desert of astrology, they became notable like cacti. They have no intellectual contribution, but we must be grateful to them for popularizing astrology."
Let us not forget, in an interview, he likens reading classics to discovering treasures within cow dung. Sri Raman was truly gracious enough to ignore the heinous criticisms of this author. In some of his writings, he mocks other astrologers for their incorrect predictions. He boasts of spirituality yet lacks the empathy to understand that humans might commit mistakes. In a different publication, he refers to Sri R. Santhanam as "a stenographer who became an astrologer in just four years". Additionally, in another work, he cites a reader's review to highlight his superiority over other authors. This is a striking example of self-aggrandizement and a subtle derision of his peers. About half of the book, he praises himself, criticizes others or else boasts about his connections.
".... I am an avid reader of astrological books, having a collection of nearly 90 books in Tamil and English induding the entire collection of B.V. Raman's books. But almost all the books are either reproduction of originals or a compendium of the original books according to author's scheme...... "
The translation by Sri Santhanam of one classic offers readers more valuable insights than all the works authored by this individual and his students combined. This author has made numerous mistakes in each of his books, and if these errors are highlighted, his uninformed students may resort to attacking me. In fact, the writings of this author as well as those who have trained under him are filled with multiple inaccuracies and fallacies. An old Marathi saying suggests that a student reflects their teacher. His research lacks foundation, and his writings are rife with mathematically implausible concepts and fantasies. It is ironic that he has taught at an institution; one can only imagine what his students have absorbed. Convincing them that their learning is merely a myth, easily debunked by quoting verses from Brihat Jātakam or other authoritative texts, is a challenging task.
For instance, the author states, "In the navamsha, Moon in the rashi of Mars aspected by Saturn, is another sanyas yoga." This author seems unaware that Rashi represents a 30° arc, with subdivisions being smaller segments. He further discusses aspects within these subdivisions while disregarding fundamental principles of Jyotisa. Actually, all this is pure nonsense and is applicable only to the charts presented in his book. His words are incoherent and his justifications are absolutely childish.
Another example can be found in his assertion: "In navamsha, from the dasha lord, the fifth house has vargottam atmakaraka Sun, aspected by the putrakaraka Mercury, a highly beneficial spiritual combination. But then see Vimshamsha the twentieth division. Here, Kumbha is the fifth house of Vimshamsha, with Ketu, the gyankaraka, associated with the Putrakaraka and aspected by Venus, and in the fifth from Kumbha there is Saturn aspected by Moon."
Here, he takes Bhavas within the subdivision. When he was unable to substantiate the occurrences using the Parashari method, he shifted to the Jaimini system. This approach appears to be a mere manipulation of terminology lacking any substantial rationale. May God protect students from his writings! I hesitated to employ such severe language, considering he is significantly elder than I am; however, I feel compelled to do so in light of the situation concerning Jyotish, which has arisen as a result of this author's baseless writings.
3. Pending Karma
Astrologers with a limited grasp of the field have introduced the notion of pending karma, which appears to be a mere marketing strategy. They assert that the sixth house signifies pending karma, a claim that lacks any substantial evidence. Another group of astrologers interprets retrograde planets as indicators of pending karma. For instance, if Kuja is in retrograde, they may say that the individual has unresolved karma with their siblings. Such theories are fundamentally flawed. One should inquire these astrologers why Surya and Chandra are not retrograde. It is a common understanding that everyone has some form of Rina (obligation) to their parents, which is why they are born into particular families. Furthermore, it is essential to question which specific past life they are referencing, given that an individual experiences numerous cycles of birth and rebirth. This approach to astrology, often found on platforms like YouTube, proves ineffective in practice and tends to appeal to those unfamiliar with authentic predictive astrology, where retrograde planets are considered to possess significant power.
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