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Indian Astrology vs Indian Science
How would you fancy a postdoctorate degree in palmistry? Or perhaps a degree in astrology? The Indian University Grants Commission is now, controversially, offering funding to create university departments of Vedic Astrology.
The announcement has angered many Indian scientists, but as Science View discovers objections do not simply stem from science, but from those who fear that politicians are trying to create a new ‘Golden Age’.
In Science View Geof Watts is joined by the Indian Physicist Shobhit Mahajan, political scientist Gautam Sen, and the Financial Times' South Asia correspondent, David Gardner. To listen to the programme, please click here
All sorts of institutions around the world offer qualifications in subjects such as astrology and palmistry, but few of the bodies teaching the courses are reputable universities enjoying state support.
It is therefore unsurprising that the decision made by India’s University Grants Commission to offer cash for the creation of university departments of Vedic Astrology has created a rumpus among some of the country’s senior academics, particularly in the sciences.
Studying Vedic Astrology?
Vedic derives from the word Veda, meaning knowledge. It refers to things that come from the original knowledge of the Vedic scriptures of ancient India.
More than 30 of India’s 200 universities have already said that they intend to take part in the scheme which will provide funding for Vedic Astrology courses. These courses will be held at graduate and postgraduate level, with provision made for research at PhDs.
With plans for the first candidates to be enrolled for the coming academic year, each department that accepts the offer will be funded to pay for five teaching posts including one at professional level, a library, a computer laboratory and a horoscope bank.
Rejection Of Orthodox Science
Critics of the Government plans oppose them on various grounds. Some feel that topics like astrology represent a backward-looking rejection of orthodox sciences.
If this is the case it could be an expensive move for a country which is fast making it’s mark as an international force in the hi-tech industries.
Writing in the journal, The Spectator, David Gardner, the Financial Times’ South Asia correspondent outlined how more than 100 scientists and 300 political and social scientists have written in protest to the Indian government. Their letters cite the words of the renowned astrophysicist, Jayant Narlikar in that:
‘The elevation of astrology would take India “backwards towards medieval times”.’
A Question Of Priorities
It is estimated that over 90% of the Indian population, scientists included, believe in astrology. Whilst it may be appropriate to study their historical and cultural significance, further critics believe that astrology courses have no place on a university’s science curriculum.
This may seem a procedural problem, but it also highlights the need to prioritise spending money. In a country where 40% of the population are illiterate and educational funding is limited, critics have questioned if Vedic Astrology teaching should be paramount in a university syllabus.
Shobhit Mahajan works with the Department of Physics and Astrophysics at the University of Delhi, he is well aware of the poor conditions in many Indian universities. He comments:
‘I teach in a university that is amongst the most pampered universities as far as India goes, but I teach occasionally in classrooms that have no light. This means that if there is an overcast sky the students can not see the blackboard… I think judicious use of resources is very important.’
A New Golden Age?
South Asia observers have also argued that the introduction of Vedic Astrology study is an attempt to assert Hindu supremacy. This suggestion is politically charged with links being made to the government’s far right, fundamentalist views.
Speaking at an Indian Philosophy conference last December, Human Resources and Development Minister, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi urged scientists to read the Sanskrit. He claimed that modern science is ‘inconclusive and therefore unreliable’, and that it was therefore now important to ‘mobilise the overpassing of reason.’
Dr Joshi’s words are revealing to those who believe that the move towards vedic teachings are politically charged. Such critics claim that it is part of a wider challenge to empirical knowledge and that politicians are trying to promote their version of a new Hindu ‘Golden Age’.
The construction of such a Golden Age, according to critics, draws on the teachings of the Sanskrit. Influenced by the far reaching Rashtriya Swayamesevak Sangh (RSS) organisation, critics claim that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party dominating India’s ruling coalition government, are attempting to re-write India’s history.
This claim asserts that academic works, which cite the histories of anti-colonial action, would be withdrawn in favour of those drawing on the ancient scriptures. In eliminating such texts, the fact that the RSS played no role in the fight for India’s freedom would also be lost.
If this argument is to be believed then the question of Vedic Astrology has little, if anything, to do with matters of science, but more to do with understanding India’s past and redefining it’s future.
[Link mogu videti samo ulogovani korisnici]
Astrology vs. Astronomy
History
Astrology is very old indeed and began in Mesopotamia (now Iran and Iraq) about 6000 years ago. Some historians think it even older as some astrological artifacts have been dated as old as 12,000 years ago.
It began as a calendar designed to help the farmers way back then. Farmers have always recognized that there is a difference between the quality of morning and afternoon light. They found that there are certain times when it is best to plant, grow and harvest their crops for maximum growth and quality.
On the whole, it must have been man's reverence for the magical, strange moving lights in the sky. These lights were regarded as gods and the star gods led to the development of astrology. Out of the thick mists that conceal earliest history have come down to us a number of cuneiform tablets--brick and stone slabs inscribed with triangular or wedge-shaped characters--recording the very simplest astronomical phenomena: eclipses of the Moon, certain planetary movements, interpreted as predicting famine, war, peace or plenty.
Babylonia during the 17th and 18th centuries BC was riddled with superstition, and many omens were used and recorded--the bites of certain animals, dreams, patters of bird flight, the appearance of newborn babies. ("When a woman bears a child with small ears, the house will fall into ruin."). Superstitions included such eccentricities as the appearance in one's house of a pig with palm fibers in its mouth.
Constellations
Constellations are groups of stars, that have become associated with a figure, and myth. The Big Dipper, the Little Dipper, and Orion are probably the best-known and easily recognized constellations in the night sky. There are literally hundreds of constellations. Among these are the constellations of Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius,, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.
The Planets
Five visible planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were identified as gods. Each planet had interesting names and personalities. Their movement against the background patter of starts were regarded as significant and played a key role in many a Greek story.
The Ecliptic
The Ecliptic is the path the sun draws as the Earth moves around the sun. The planets also travel in the ecliptic.
Precession
A spinning toy top when it starts to slow down, starts to wobble. The axis of the spinning object wobbles (traces a circle) when a torque is applied to it. The axis of a wobbling top will start to trace a circle in the opposite direction of the spinning object.
The drifting of the sky charts is due to the Earth's precession. The axis of the Earth is moving in a circle. This movement is known as precession. It is like a top spinning and as it slows it wobbles.
Technically, precession is due to a combination of the Earth's nonspherical shape (it is an oblate spheroid, bulging outward at the equator) and the gravitational tidal forces of the Moon and Sun applying force (torque) as they attempt to pull the equatorial bulge into the plane of the ecliptic.
The north pole of the Earth goes around in a circle, making one complete precession cycle in a period of approximately 25,800 years. Over this cycle the Earth's north pole moves from where it is now (within 1° of Polaris) in a circle around the ecliptic pole. Back when Western astrology charts where created, the north pole was pointing close to the star Thuban.
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In the centuries centering on the year 2800 BC, the start Thuban was north pole star. For many years there was no north pole star. About the year 1500 AD the star Polaris moved into position (closer than other stars) and could be said to be the north pole star. Polaris will continue to get closer to the North Pole, and will be the closest around the year 2100. Precession is slow and it takes 71.5 years for the earth to tilt one degree.
Calendar Correction
Precession slowly messed up the calendars making the holidays shift away from their seasons. Easter was being effected. The pope did something about it. On October 4, 1582 the next day became October 15, 1582. Ten days were skipped. The calendar was switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Only the Catholic countries followed the order. England did not switch calendars until 1752. All this was due to precession.
The Zodiac
The word zodiac comes from the Greek word "zoion" meaning animal.
There are two basic types of zodiacs. One is the zodiac defined by astronomy and the other is defined by astrology. Astrology assumes and attempts to interpret the influence of the heavenly bodies on human affairs. Astronomy is the science that deals with the material universe beyond the earth.
Zodiac in Astronomy
In astronomy, the zodiac is a 8°-wide belt in the of the sky that is centered on the ecliptic. As seen from the earth, the sun, the moon, and the major planets all stay in this belt. In modern astronomy, the zodiacal constellations, like all constellations, are recognized as chance visual groupings of stars, with no natural significance.
In astronomy, the zodiacal constellations are aligned to their correct astronomical location. The constellations all take up varying amounts of space along the ecliptic. The zodiac serves as a convenient means of indicating the positions of the heavenly bodies.
Zodiacs In Astrology
There are two basic schools of astrology—Western astrology and Vedic astrology and these use different zodiacs. Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac and Vedic (Indian) astrology uses the sidereal zodiac. The differences between the tropical zodiac and the sidereal zodiac are due to precession. The source data used by the two schools is not the same and makes their results vastly different.
Vedic (Hindu) astrology is more scientific and uses the sidereal zodiac that loosely matches modern real world sky charts. This astrology at least knows where the stars and planets are located and places some value on modern astronomy charts.
Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac charts that are somewhere between 2000 and 5000 years old. It is not based on planets passing through actual celestial constellations, but passing through imaginary houses named for constellations. Western astrology charts are wrong and do not match the real sky. The positions of the sun, moon and planets have moved during the past 2300 years.
The "ayanamsa" is the distance or the difference between the imaginary Zodiac of the Western astrologers and the true Zodiac of the updated Vedic astrology. The ayanamsa continues to grow at a rate of 50.26 seconds per year. After thousands of years this amounts to about 23 degrees!
This is no trivial matter. A Virgo in western astrology is a Leo in Vedic astrology.
In western tropical astrology, the zodiacal year begins at the point where the plane of the ecliptic intersects with the earth's equatorial plane at the vernal equinox. This is when the Sun moves into the northern hemisphere of the earth's equatorial plane. Thus the Sun always enters the astrological zodiacal sign of Aries at the vernal equinox about March 20, but it will not cross into the astronomical constellation of the same name until nearly a month later. So in western tropical astrology, although the signs derive their names from the constellations, they are not the same thing.
Both astrology systems are otherwise the same. They divided the belt into 12 equal parts called houses of 30°. Each house is named for constellation. These are the Signs of the Zodiac.
The out of date tropical zodiac will coincide with the correct sidereal zodiac in about 25,800 years.
The 13th Sign --Ophiuchus
The astrological zodiacs do not count Ophiuchus as a constellation and thus we have 12 constellations in the astrological zodiac. The astronomers added Ophiuchus as one of the constellations, making 13 constellations around the zodiac. Some astrologers say that Ophiuchus was invented by the Royal Astronomical Society in 1930 to bedevil the astrologers. It is not that simple.
The problem of Ophiuchus is at least nineteen hundred years old, if not more. It dates back to at least the time of Claudius Ptolemy, the Classical father of astrology [c 130 - 170 AD]. Thus, Ophiuchus as a recognized zodiacal constellation predates the 1930 decision by the International Astronomical Union to adopt constellation boundaries by at least 1,700 years.
Ptolemy produced two great works, Al Magest, which charted the heavens, and Tetrabiblos, the seminal work of astrology - a compendium of essentially all the astrological knowledge of the Ancient Greeks. Al Magest contains the earliest Star Catalogue that we still possess.
In Tetrabiblos, Ptolemy treats Ophiuchus as a non-zodiac constellation; he follows the simple, inherited tradition of the twelve part, equal-sign zodiac. However, in Al Magest, Ptolemy actually charts Ophiuchus in the heavens. He looks at the reality of the stars above. He catalogues 29 stars in the constellation. 24 of these he measures to have a latitude above the Ecliptic. But 5 of these he observes have a latitude below the Ecliptic. In other words the figure of Ophiuchus crosses the Ecliptic [the path of the Sun] making it by definition a Sun Sign
New Planets
The good old way of doing things in astrology was further made complicated by the discovery of two new planets, Uranus and Pluto. These planets move slowly. One might wonder who was the god-like person that figured out what these planets did to a person's chart. A book in 1976 come out giving astrological information about a new planet they called "Transpluto" which had never been discovered.
Does Astrology Work
We can perform a mental experiment using economics. Astrologers should be rich. If the know anything about the future they would have an edge.
But this is not the case. Assuming that Vedic astrologers like to make money, they seem not to profit from their own craft. If they could predict the future even in a vague way, they would be rich by playing the futures or the stock market. But as astrologers they get most of their income from by doing charts.
Also there have been experiments. When Dr. Petriot's astrology chart was handed out to people answering an advertisement for their free astrology chart, 94% said it was accurate. Trouble was Dr. Petriot was a mass murder.
In 1971 the Survey Research Center of University of California sampled 1000 zabranjenos in the bay area, getting their birthdates and their claimed attributes. The astrology did not correlate any better than chance.
The Australian Skeptics in 1982 collected newspaper horoscopes and found they even disagreed with each other and did not have much consistency.
Believing in things that prove not true hurts the creditably of new age movements. It is best to experiment before believing. Have you ever considered using asteroids which are much closer than the Pluto to be included in a chart system? Problem is there are billions of them. Astrology is filled with a lot of razbijacs!
Is there Value in Astrology?
At first glance one can only say no. But psychologists use word association tests to try to find underlying complexes within a person that might need to be examined. Astrology, even if it does not work can help a person examine themselves. We are made up of archetypes according to Jung, and these archetypes such as father, warrior, mother, prostitute, jester and others can provide substance in our subconscious mind. By using astrology, people may look into things they might see before. Even if its by chance, looking at one's self is a good thing to do.
However, as far as I am concerned, I would rather work directly with my therapist and not put merit in the pseudo science of astrology as it keeps one ungrounded and puts faith in something that does not even benefit the astrologers themselves.
[Link mogu videti samo ulogovani korisnici]
Astrology Versus Genetics
April 18, 2003
Just about fifty years ago, James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA (a structure they call the double helix). Scientists all over the world are presently celebrating the 50th anniversary of this momentous discovery. Since its discovery, DNA has become the foundation of the sciences of Genetics and has given birth to genetic engineering.
As we all know, scientists believe in the significance of genes. Genes are certainly important but here at the Magi Society, we think scientists have taken their fervor for genetics much too far when they assert that all of us are the product of our parents' genes. As astrologers, we believe we are more the result of our astrologically derived natal charts. These two viewpoints could not be more different.
Scientists have been telling us that all of our abilities, such as our athletic, mental and artistic skills and talents, are all directly derived from our parents' genes. For over 50 years, the public around the world has not seriously questioned the scientists' assertions about the power of genes. But scientists are wrong about this and it is time that astrologers unite and question the validity of the scientists' assertion that we are what we are because of our genes.
The Magi Society would like to point out that what scientists are really telling us is that if we do not have great genes, then our children are screwed because they will not have great genes. This would mean that unless we have great genes, our children would not be very talented.
If genes were as important as scientists assert, it would mean that all average parents are screwed because average parents would have no chance of having super talented children. And children of average parents would also be screwed. You see, what the scientists are really saying is: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE GREAT GENES, THEN YOUR CHILDREN WILL NOT HAVE GREAT GENES - AND YOUR CHILDREN ARE SCREWED. Scientists never put it that way but that is what they are really saying when they say that we are the product of our genes.
How sad that would be! That is a horrible message but that is what scientists are really saying when they say we inherit our abilities from our parents' genes.
The Magi Society has a completely different message to the world. We believe that all parents have a chance to have children who are especially gifted and talented, even it the parents are not especially gifted themselves.
The Magi Society's message is a wonderful one for all parents because all parents hope that their children will be special, even if they themselves are not.
SCIENTISTS ARE WRONG ABOUT THE POWER OF GENES
Scientists have been predicting that genetic engineering will result in medical advances that will solve many health problems, create marvelous new drugs and will help humankind to lead healthier and longer lives. So far, none of these optimistic predictions have come true. Instead, the discovery of DNA has been used to reinforce one of science's favorite assertions - that we are the products of our parents' genes.
Scientists seem to be at home when they deal in the world of physical matter, such as DNA structure and things we can touch, see, hear, taste or smell. But science seems lost when it comes to anything that we cannot use our five senses to measure. Examples of things we cannot touch, see, hear, taste or smell would be our individuality, our personality, our energy level and our artistic and mental abilities.
Scientists are convinced that the key to our individuality and abilities lie in the 10 thousand or so genes that are in our chromosomes. They tell us that our abilities are derived from these genes. In other words, according to science, we are what we are because of our genes, and we inherit our genes directly from our parents.
At the Magi Society, we are astrologers. As astrologers, it is necessary to ask: If scientists were correct that genes and DNA are the primary influences on our uniqueness and individuality, where would that leave astrology? What is the importance of a natal chart if genes are as crucial as scientists assert?
Of course the Magi Society is very well aware that almost all scientists believe that there no value whatsoever to natal charts and that scientists simply ignore astrology. And we all also know that most astrologers have simply ignored genetics. But there is value and truth to both natal charts and genetics. It is time to combine the science of genetics with astrology and the way to begin to do so is to utilize Magi Astrology.
We are not going to deal much with genetics at this time on this website - you can read about genetics on zillions of other websites. But this website will tell you about ways natal charts influence our genes and are more important than our genes, and how our natal chart influences who and what we are - and we promise we will do this better here on this website than any other website.
OUR NATAL CHART IS MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN OUR GENES
There is definitely truth to some theories in genetics. For example, genes have a bearing on us in matters such as the color of our hair and eyes, our blood type, skin color, and many other such physical ways. But at the Magi Society, we have learned through Magi Astrology with certainty that astrology is more powerful than genetics in shaping exactly who we are. Our natal charts have a much more powerful and deeper influence on us than our genes.
Our genes determine our species, BUT it is our astrological natal chart that decides our place and individuality WITHIN our species.
Our genes determine that we are human beings as opposed to being a cat, dog or any other species. But our natal chart tells us how we differ from other members of our species, especially in terms of our personality, likes, dislikes, preferences and our relative abilities and talents.
To put it another way, it is our genes that make us human beings rather than dogs, cats or some bird. But it is our astrological natal chart that tells us what kind of human being we are most likely to be and what abilities we are blessed with. Genes will determine some of our personal physical attributes like the color of our eyes, hair and skin. But our natal chart gives us accurate signs about the type of person we are most likely to be - whether we will be submissive or aggressive, artistic or logical, etc.
Our natal chart will give us reliable signs about our special abilities and talents - for example, the stars can foretell if we can be great musicians or athletes, or math geniuses or great writers. Even though scientists claim otherwise, Genetics simply will not tell us what special talents we are blessed with.
(Haven't you noticed we almost never have more than one great talent - if genes worked, we would.)
Some of you may be surprised by what we just wrote since most scientists insist that genetics is what determines our talents or special skills, such as whether or not we can be great musicians, mathematicians or athletes. But this is simply not the case and scientists are ignoring all the facts that point to this significant limitation in the power of genes. The fact is that parents simply do not pass on their abilities to their children through their genes.
Think about this: How many great musicians have children who become great musicians? How many great mathematicians have children who become great mathematicians? How many great athletes have children who become great athletes?
Almost none.
Who is Michael Jordan's father and mother? Who is Wayne Gretzky's father and mother? Who is Sandy Koufax's father and mother? Guess what? Jordan, Gretzky and Koufax were the best athletes of their time but none of their parents were great athletes. Virtually all great athletes were born of parents who were not great athletes.
The same is true beyond athletes. Although scientists stubbornly push their theory that talent is inherited from genes, if you look around the world you will see that the facts are completely the opposite. The fact is that in every field of endeavor, virtually every super talented person or genius was born from parents who were not super talented. Galileo, Copernicus, Kepler, Newton, Einstein, Beethoven, Mozart, Leonardo De Vinci, Dickens, Nureyev, and on and on. You name the genius and we bet you cannot name either of the parents because you will find that neither parent was a genius. Ironically, this is also the case for James Watson and Francis Crick.
Just think about it - scientists have been telling us something that is completely contrary to what actually happens in real life and they have been getting away with it, as usual. That must change!
Here is another fact that obliterates the scientists' contention that talent is inherited through genes:
Not only are the parents of geniuses normal, so are the children of geniuses.
The fact is that in every field of endeavor, virtually every super talented person or genius has children who are AVERAGE. Galileo, Copernicus, Kepler, Newton, Einstein, Beethoven, Mozart, Leonardo De Vinci, Dickens, Nureyev, and on and on. You name the genius and we bet you cannot name any of their children because you will find that none of their children were genius quality. Ironically, this is also the case for James Watson and Francis Crick.
What does this all mean? It means that genetics, DNA and genes cannot be the "crucial basis" of special abilities. If genes were as important as scientists assert, then super talented parents would normally have super talented children. This would mean that there would be dynasties - but THERE ARE NO DYNASTIES.
More importantly, if genes were as important as scientists assert, it would mean that all average parents are screwed because average parents would have no chance of having super talented children. You see, what the scientists are really saying is: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE GREAT GENES, THEN YOUR CHILDREN WILL NOT HAVE GREAT GENES - AND YOUR CHILDREN ARE SCREWED. Scientists never put it that way but that is what they are really saying when they say that we are the product of our genes.
Such a message would be a horrible one for most of us to have to live with because more than anything else, most parents want our children to have a chance for greatness. Fortunately, Magi Astrology gives all of us a much more hopeful message. Our message is:
A BENEVOLENT PROVIDENCE DESIGNED ASTROLOGY SO THAT ALL PARENTS HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE ESPECIALLY GIFTED CHILDREN.
NO MATTER WHAT OUR GENES ARE, NO MATTER HOW POOR WE ARE, WE CAN STILL HAVE ESPECIALLY GIFTED CHILDREN BECAUSE GOD DESIGNED ASTROLOGY TO HELP US TO HAVE SUCH BLESSED CHILDREN.
This is because the Planetary Geometry formed in the sky at the time we are born is what determines what special abilities we are blessed with. At the Magi Society, our research has helped us to discover that astrology, especially Planetary Geometry, is the crucial determinant of special talents. It is the Planetary Geometry of the day a person is born that most precisely determines what special abilities the person was born with. We explained much of this in our three books and we will do so again on this website.
PLANETARY GEOMETRY IS THE KEY TO SPECIAL ABILITIES
For thousands of years, astrologers have tried to discover the astrological factors that determined who would be born with special abilities - with little success. The lack of success is mainly due to the fact that astrologers stopped at the number TWO.
Traditional Astrology stops at the number 2 and this has been a big problem for astrology. But Magi Astrology goes well beyond the number 2.
Traditional Astrology is very limited because it examines aspects formed by just two planets, such as Venus and Mars; or Jupiter and the Sun. But Magi Astrology is advanced enough to be used to analyze aspects made between more than two planets, such as between Jupiter, Pluto and Mars; or between Mars, Pluto, Uranus and Chiron. Magi Astrology deals with Multiple-Planet Aspects, but Traditional Astrology deals with aspects made up of only two planets.
It is Multiple-Planet Aspects that are the stars' signs of special talents. A PERSON WHO IS ESPECIALLY TALENTED WILL HAVE A MULTIPLE-PLANET ASPECT THAT FORETELLS THE NATURE OF THE SPECIAL TALENT.
PLANETARY SYNCHRONIZATION
There is more than one type of Multiple-Planet Aspect and we deal with them in our three books. The simplest form of Multiple-Planet Aspect is called PLANETARY SYNCHRONIZATION. Planetary Synchronization occurs when three or more planets are aligned such that each of the planets forms an aspect to each of the other planets. For example, a Grand Trine is a Planetary Synchronization because each of the three planets are in aspect to each of the other planets; all the three planets forming a Grand Trine are viewed as being SYNCHRONIZED.
[Link mogu videti samo ulogovani korisnici]
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