Preface

...will it do? For this reason, Astrology original: "Jyotish-shastra" was created so that it would be evident to everyone and they would respect the Brahmins. Although many engage in such debates and counter-arguments, one must ask: who originally created this science and when? It is common knowledge that Astronomy original: "Khagola" - the study of the celestial sphere, Geography original: "Bhugola" - the study of the earth, Land Surveying original: "Bhumiman", the mathematics of Solar and Lunar eclipses, and the divisions of time such as day, night, fortnight, month, and year are all revealed through Astrology alone. As for the aspect of predicting results original: "Phaladesh", it is the wisdom of the ancient founding teachers original: "Acharyas" that while it is evident that all living beings receive fruits according to their own past actions, those actions and their consequences are invisible. To make them visible, those great souls established specific calculations original: "Hisab" and assigned them names such as the Sun and other planets, lunar dates, days of the week, constellations, yogas, karanas, ascendants, and auspicious moments original: "Muhurta". Through these, a thoughtful reader can describe the fruits of the past, future, and present. Just as in many mathematical operations a certain factor original: "Karana" is assumed to complete a task, similarly, in the predictive side of astrology, the "desired time" and "auspicious moment" serve as the factors through which all tasks are accomplished. Furthermore, this is a primary limb—the Eye—of the Veda-Personified original: "Vedamurti" - referring to God or the personified Vedas. The Veda validates this; without it, no rituals (sacrificial acts) of the revealed or traditional scriptures original: "Shrauta-Smarta" can be performed, and its miracles are directly visible.

1

"Knowledge came to the Brahmin and said: 'Protect me, I am your treasure. Do not speak me to the scornful or the crooked, so that I may remain powerful.'" A traditional Sanskrit verse emphasizing the sanctity of sacred knowledge.

And so on. The primary importance of Astrology in this regard is as follows: (Verse)

"Other sciences are merely for entertainment; there is nothing particularly special about them. But Medicine, Astrology, and the Science of Mantras bring conviction at every single step."

Other sciences are merely for amusement (to please the heart or for entertainment). But the science of medicine, the science of astrology, the science of mantras, and the codes of dharma provide proof (faith) at every step. For instance, in astrology, there is the direct mathematics of the planets: the elevation of the moon's horns original: "Shringonnati" - the visible tips of the crescent moon, eclipses, planetary conjunctions original: "Grahyuti", and the shadows of the planets measured by quadrants or sighting tubes—these all align perfectly at the correct time. Furthermore, in the consideration of births, yearly charts, and queries, if the "desired time" is accurate and the practitioner is well-learned, the results for the past, future, and present are found to be exactly correct. For the welfare of the world, Lord Brahma established this among the "limbs" of the Vedas after the division of the Vedas.

2

"A Brahmin should be initiated in his eighth year; one should perform the New and Full Moon sacrifices."

Such is the revelation original: "Shruti". The calculation of the "eighth year" is based solely on mathematics according to the movement of the Sun, and the knowledge of the New and Full Moon sacrifices original: "Darsha-Paurnamasa" cannot exist without Astrology. It is also written:

"The Vedas are indeed intended for the purpose of sacrifice, and sacrifices are ordained according to the sequence of time. Therefore, he who knows this Science of Time-Keeping—Astrology—knows the sacrifices."

Sacrifice original: "Yajna" is God Himself; the Vedas are useful for this; the measure of time belongs to time, and since the Supreme Soul is the "Soul of Time," the Sacrificial Being is called the "Soul of Time." That indeed is Astrology, by which...