What is ‘Jayotish’? How is it related to knowing future? Can future be known? What is the benefit of knowing future?
All the celestial bodies whether, they shine themselves or reflect the light of other bodies are called ‘Jyoti’ in Sanskrit language. The knowledge related to ‘Jyotis’ is called ‘ज्योतिष’. Under ‘ज्योतिष’ come the studies of the subjects like algebra, arithmetic, geology and geography. In ‘ज्योतिष’ we obtain the knowledge of various planets, moons, eclipses, climate, day, month, year, ‘युग’,’मंवन्तर’, ‘कल्प’, dissolution of universe et cetera. Being a science, there is nothing illogical in ज्योतिष. But, today instead of this science, ज्योतिष has been linked with the fruits of actions of souls and is referred to foretelling of future. The very purpose of ज्योतिष, today, is taken as foretelling of future, obtaining desired results and obviating the undesired results by use of horoscope, lines on hands, planetary influences, zodiac signs, particular movements in particular body-parts, dreams et cetera. Wish to know future and change it in accordance with one’s desire can be well seen amongst illiterate as well as literate people. This reflects the spread of ignorance in our society. The dishonest, mischievous and selfish people have written many books advocating ‘ज्योतिष’ as a science of foretelling future. In this way, such people have served their own purpose by keeping the people away from truth.
As far as good or bad time is concerned, we must understand that there are many reasons behind success of a particular venture. Out of these reasons, if single reason is not present, then, that venture becomes unsuccessful. For the success of a venture, presence of all the reasons should be planned. Time is non-living and is away from favoritism and as such no question arises as to its being good or bad. Accordingly, if a particular venture is done at a time, when, all the reasons for its success are present, that venture becomes successful. For this reason only, time is called good.
In nowhere in any books written by Rishis, there is a mention that a particular date, month or time has any correlation with fruits of actions. In these books, whenever there is a mention of specific time, it is related with climatic conditions and their effects.
-By Doctor Dheeraj Arya (Book-Vedic Karamphal Sidhant in Hindi)
Like Earth, the other planets, too, are non-living and cannot be happy or sorrowful with any person.
The words by the names of planets found in Vedaas do not refer to celestial bodies. ‘ज्योतिष’ is there in the Vedaas but, only as a study of the subjects mentioned above and not in connection with the fruits of actions of souls. Following reasons prove the non-existence of ‘फलित ज्योतिष’, that is, ज्योतिष linked with fruits of actions of souls:
1 Non-acceptance of possibility of any change in the knowledge, thoughts, characteristics, behaviour et cetera in the time span from birth of a person to the occurrence of an event is very un-progressive.
2 It is against our day-to-day knowledge to believe that position of planets on a particular time affects more than one soul in the same manner and extent in the matters related with their bodily health and mental health.
3 If all our actions are predetermined and can not be changed, then what is the necessity of knowing future?
Following two types of solutions are recommended by the so called astrologers for minimizing or removing the planetary influences over our lives:
1 To wear different types of stones, pearls et cetera.
2 To perform actions like putting flour et cetera in water, to feed animals, to donate, to do ‘Havan’ et cetera.
Solutions recommended at Number 1 above are very illogical.
Solutions recommended at Number 2 are such sorts of actions, fruits of which by the principle of ‘कर्मफल’ are good only. Because of such actions, fruits of bad deeds can get delayed. As such, acceptance of such sorts of solutions by both literate and illiterate persons is very pathetic.
Effect of Planets
Everything of the universe affects the other non-living things of the universe. For example, a beautiful flower affects our mind and creates a desire in it for possession of the same, Earth attracts everything outside it up to a limit et cetera. Tides in seas are the effect of gravitational force of the Sun and the Moon. Soul does all its works through the body which is non-living. When Earth pulls body because of its gravity, then soul being dependent on body appears to have been pulled. The fact is– non-living things do not possess the power to attract living things, that is, God and soul. Since, ‘मन’ is very near to soul, effect over ‘मन’ by any other non-living object is considered equivalent to be the ‘effect over soul’.
No non-living object can come in the way of independence of soul to act. Souls enjoy independence to act in human bodies only. In other bodies like that of animals, birds and vegetation, souls do not enjoy independence to act.