Introduction

If one considers [knowledge] a secret and does not reveal it to anyone, how can the propagation of science increase in the future? Through such behaviors, this peerless scripture original: "advitiyashastra" — referring here to the unique science of astrology has gradually vanished and reached its current [depleted] state. It is proper for the general public to make every effort toward the advancement of this wonderful jewel. Otherwise, it will be impossible to find such a priceless gem again. Especially, astrologers Jyotishi: practitioners of the traditional Indian system of astronomy and astrology should strive for its advancement, as it is useful for their entire lives, both for the past and the future.

In this, extreme labor must be put into reading and teaching so that people can provide accurate results that inspire confidence. Look! How much effort the great souls and teachers original: "Mahatma Acharyas" of the past undertook for the welfare and conviction of the general public to propagate this science; yet now, many people say that the science of astrology is nothing, nor do the planets have the power to give good or bad results—that whatever one's karma the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences is, that will surely happen.

In this situation, some atheists original: "nastik" — those who reject the authority of the Vedas or the existence of a higher order say that the Brahmins the priestly and scholarly class created this entire elaborate deception only for the benefit of their ignorant and lazy offspring. Now, the statement to be made here is that when this "perceptible science" original: "pratyaksha shastra" — a science based on observable phenomena has reached the aforementioned state of decay, it is no surprise that public rumor is such. Nevertheless, they are not aware of the fundamental purpose of this science; otherwise, they would never say such things so hastily.

The fruit of one's actions original: "karmaphal" must be experienced, but there is no understanding of what that is, or when and what its result will be. Through contemplation of this, the ancient teachers accepted the time of birth as the desired starting point and created such calculations through which that invisible fruit of action becomes visible. They established the names of those calculations as the nine planets The Navagraha: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, and the two lunar nodes, Rahu and Ketu starting with the Sun, the twelve zodiac signs starting with Aries original: "Meshadi", and the five limbs of the calendar Panchang: the traditional Hindu calendar based on five temporal elements. These [planets] themselves neither give anything nor can they do anything inauspicious; whatever karma one has earned, the result will be exactly that. However, through the calculation in the form of planets, that which was "unaimed" invisible/unperceivable becomes "aimed" visible/perceivable.

Now, an illusion has arisen here that if these [planets] are powerless and the fruits must be experienced according to karma, then the worship of planets and giving of charity are also useless. But this superficial view is the "logic of catching a bull by its horns" original: "shringagrahinyaya" — a Sanskrit idiom referring to a direct but simplistic or narrow approach to a complex problem. Its purpose is actually quite sublime: we performed such actions in the past that the result for us is to be misfortune or loss of wealth. This action and its fruit were invisible, but because the period original: "dasha" — a planetary period in astrology of the Sun or some other planet became difficult, the misfortune became known to us. This is a calculation that makes the fruit of karma known...