Astrology and Faith
Today is a great day for me! Today is the most holy day of Mahasivaratri (lingodbhava subha raatri), birth-day of Bhagavan Sri Siva and also my Birth Day (English calendar). On this holy occasion, I publish this special article (extra) in my blog. Siva-arpana Mastu ! March--2--2011
The astrologer is not a medical doctor. He should keep himself within the limits of his own profession (knowledge) and not claim to be a miracles-worker.
Maharishi Parasara (sage-astrologer) has suggested chanting stotra or manthra with devotion, and charity etc. can undo the malefic effects of planets and or periods. In any scheme of faith-cure, prayer to God is primary and important. It should be done according to the religion the person belongs to. Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains etc. have done it sincerely, with deep faith, and have stories of fully successful or half successful cures to report. These claims should be closely examined astrologically by an astrologer, and medically by a doctor. It is a double explanation of such phenomena that will restore faith and keep intact a belief in a good system of medicine and prayer - BOTH.
The astrologer is aware of Prarabdha (destined karma) in human life and knows that in some cases nothing can be done. Doctors generally keep treating a patient even when they know that it is a case without any hope because they have to, because they are paid for it or because they are greedy. Greedy astrologers also prescribe very costly remedies and keep exploiting their clients. But then it will not solve the real problem of the client. What is to be done? Surrender to the lord (Bhagavan) in whatever form you worship him. Believe in prayer to God and surrender to Him. Does it solve the problem? The answer is mostly yes, if you pray honestly and lead an honest and pious life. There are cases when nothing worked; there are cases when it worked partly; and there are cases where it worked like a miracle. It is better to try the well known spiritual method, remedy of honest prayer and increase your tapobalam (spiritual strength). Prasna Marga :- Karma-arjitham poorva –bhave sadaadi Yat-tasya panktim sam-abivynakti = The entire bundle of the fruits of Karma, both good and bad, he would have acquired through many, many births and lives in the past and present would be distributed to present and many births in future. With asubha Karmas in this life, it can manifest as bad effects in this life even if horoscope shows very good results. Likewise, subha-karmas in this life can manifest as good effects in this life, even if horoscope shows some malefic effects in its charts; so poojas, homas. Dannas (donations for charitable purposes and temples), japas of manthras alleviate the malefic effects. = “yata jaatakataha prasno guna-doshir–vividyatae Tata-asubha-subham vidhyaat karma-vedai-r-iha-aarjitai” (1: 43).
Mahakavi Sri Kaalidaasa (expert-astrologer also) remarked * STHOTHRAM KASYA NA THUSTAYAE? * = WHO IS THERE WHO IS NOT IMMENSLY PLEASED BY PROFUSE PRAISE? So all deities, gods, goddesses and planet-deities are definitely pleased when we recite these manthrams at least three times daily, with true devotion; FAITH IS THE MAIN PILLAR ; faith and devotion definitely protect the persons from the malefic / harmful effects of planets and doshams (defects) in the horoscope. They also give mental and physical strength, needed to face the challenges in day-to day life, and lead life quite successfully. This is the foundation of modern psycho-treatment for many diseases. Faith Cures ! Faith Remedies !
Vane, rane’, sathma, jala, agni-madhye, maha-arnave, parvatha masthaka evaa; suptham-pramatham; vishama-sthitham vaa, Rakshanthi punyaani, puraakruthaani = (sloka by Veda Vyasa Maharshi) . Even if a person is in perils like in thick forest, in the middle of a battle-field fighting fiercely, in the middle of flood-waters surrounding on all sides, in the middle of forest fire around him, or in the middle of a ocean, or on the top of a steep mountain sleeping there, or consumes poison, he / she is rescued by the ( punya-phalam) fruits of good deeds he / she performed in previous and present life. If a person does punya (good deeds) and pious performances like japam, tapam, poojas and such other good tasks, he always is protected by the effects of these punya-karmas in times of dangers and losses. So suitable santhi-performances (punya-karmas) to malefic periods and planets is strongly recommended.
Here are some suggestions:
1. If the patient can pray himself it is best; example : Sri K.N.Rao (a renowned and expert-astrologer) did in 2000 when the doctors in Delhi and Lucknow said that he would never be able to walk again. He took no medicines. He did his japam with true devotion, chanting Vishnu Sahasranam, Narayana Kavacham, and did some yoga exercises. In two years he recovered and was able to walk without a walker, climb stairs both in his own house and in the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Delhi) and resumed teaching Astrology to students.
2. If the patient is unable to pray himself as happens in some cases, someone in the family who loves him and who is interested in his getting cured, sincerely, should do it.
3. There are cases when the entire family prays and what happens after that is described as a miracle by all.
4. In some cases where a kamakandi pandit (purohit) is asked to do it. Make sure that the pandit knows karmakanda properly and is pure, spiritually disciplined and not greedy. These days, it is like asking for the impossible.
5. There are cases where Mahatmas (saints) have showered their grace on a patient and cured him or her. These are rare but very amazing. Sri Saibaba cured some devotee-patients was well-known. Here is a story which tells us how prayer with faith and devotion can save a person even from death.
Story of Markandeya who conquered death : Once upon a time, there lived a sage called Mrikandu with his wife Marudvati on the banks of holy river Godavari. Both were devotees of Shiva. The couple was childless, and so decided to perform austerities so they would be blessed with a child. Then one day, Shiva appeared before them. Shiva asked the couple if they desired an ordinary son who would live a long life, or an exceptional son who would live a short life. The couple asked for the latter.
In due course, Marudvati gave birth to a boy and the child was named Markandeya (literally: son of Mrikandu). Markandeya was an exceptionally gifted child, and became an accomplished sage early in his childhood. He was especially devoted to Shiva, and had mastered the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, he chanted it thousands of times daily with devotion and faith for over nine years. -------------------------------- The mrityunjaya mantra is considered one of the maha mantras of efficacy or a great Sanskrit mantra because of its high potency to give protection and manifold blessings. Maha mrityunjaya literally means the great victory over death. It is associated with Bhagavan Shiva, the destroyer of ignorance, and the liberator from the cycle of death and rebirth. It is therefore a life giving mantra that not only protects the physical body and gives health, but purifies the mind at a deep level.
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
Om tryambakam yajamahe
sugandhim pushtivardhanam
urvarukamiva bandhanan
mrityor mukshiya mamritat.
"I bow down to that three-eyed Lord Shiva, who is full of sweet fragrance, who nourishes all living beings. May He free me from the bondage of samsara and death, just as a ripe cucumber is separated from the vine. May I be fixed in immortality!"
Bhagavan Shiva is said to have three eyes, because he sees the past, present, and future simultaneously. He is the lord of the three worlds - physical, astral, and causal. He is also beyond the three gunas - sattva, rajas, and tamas - or creation, sustenance, and destruction. As we chant the maha mrityunjaya mantra we identify with Shiva, develop his attributes, and receive his blessings.
In the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, sage-astrologer Maharshi Parashara prescribes the maha mrityunjaya mantra as an astrological remedial measure on at least 24 separate occasions. In Chapter 55 and in verse 52 he says,
"In this critical period, with the recitation (japa) of mrityunjaya mantra the malefic (harmful) effects will get mellowed down (reduced) with the blessings of Bhagavan Shiva." =======================
At the age of sixteen, his time on this earth had come to an end, and so Yama, death personified, came to take him away. At the time, Markandeya was in a temple worshipping the icon of Shiva (Shiva Lingam). When he saw Yama, out of fright, Markandeya grabbed a tight hold of the Shiva Lingam and prayed (Lord) Bhagavan Shiva to protect him. Yama threw his noose around the boy-sage, which encircled the Shiva Lingam too.
Suddenly, the Shiva Lingam burst open with a thundering roar and a majestic, fiery form of Shiva appeared out of the blazing light. Enraged that Yama should have the audacity to encircle the Shiva Lingam with his noose, Shiva struck down Kala (Yama is also called Kala, time, since time brings death to all things) with His trident, and Kala was no more. Markandeya was spared from death. Shiva blessed Markandeya with eternal life and proclaimed that he shall forever remain a sixteen-year-old sage; he shall never have death. The assembly of Devas (Gods) who had witnessed the spectacle begged Shiva to revive Yama, as a world without death would put unnecessary burden on the earth. Shiva then revived Yama, and declared that His devotees were forever to be spared from the noose of Yama.
Since that day, the fiery form of Shiva that appeared to save the boy-sage Markandeya is called Kalasamhara Murti Significance of the story : The story as narrated above comes to us from the Skanda Purana. There are other versions of the story that differ in details, but our concern here is to understand what we are being told in this beautiful tale. What does it mean for Markandeya to be saved by Shiva and for Shiva to destroy Kala?
For Markandeya to be saved by Shiva means that Shiva's Anugraha Shakti (divine love) had descended upon the boy-sage. Markandeya had at a young age attained enlightenment and become a jivan-mukta. He was no more bound by time (kala) or death. He had broken through the cycle of birth and death. Verily, Markandeya had gained oneness with Lord Mrityunjaya and conquered death itself.
For Shiva to destroy Yama and become angry that Yama should have the audacity to encircle the Lingam indicates that Shiva is beyond death and time. He is the Eternal Lord. He is the Ruler of time (Mahakaleshvara); He is the Originator of time (Mahakala) and Destroyer of time (Kalari or Kalasamhara Murti). Time in the story is represented by Yama since time brings death and dissolution to all things, but Shiva brings death to time itself. So, He is called Mahakalakala or Mahakalabhairava. When all things decay, Shiva alone remains. As He alone is beyond death and time, Shiva is called Maha Mrityunjaya, the great Conquer of Death.
The moral of the story is that we, like the boy-sage Markandeya, should also pray and meditate on Shiva-Mrityunjaya, for He alone can take us unto the state beyond the cycles of samsara:
aum mṛtyuñjaya mahādeva trāhi māṁ śaraṇāgatam |
janmamṛtyujarāvyādhi pīḍitaṁ karmabandhanaiḥ ||
Aum, O Great Lord Mṛtyuñjaya, I take refuge in You, pray protect me; And relieve me of the painful experiences of birth, death, old-age and disease.
Aum Kalasamhara-Murtaye Namah.
In short, what is being suggested in this article, “Astrology and Faith”, is - never stop praying whatever be the circumstances. ----------------- I dedicate all these articles in this blog to Sri Parama Paalakas (Supreme Rulers of this entire Universe): Bhagavan Sri Siddhi Vinayaka, Sri Lakshmi Narayana and Sri Gouri Sankara and Sri Saraswathi and Bhagavan Sri Venkateswara ! --------------- You can get my full particulars from my web-site : www.jyothishi.com. You can get my astrological services by contacting me by e-mail: pandit@jyothishi.com and know my fee particulars. I have 48 years of experience / practice as an active astrologer. ==============
