QUOTES

 

 

2. Auspicious Characteristics

 

     There are certain characteristics of different limbs which are considered to be very auspicious and are fully present in the body of the Lord. In this connection, one friend of Nanda Maharaja, speaking about Lord Krishna's auspicious bodily symptoms, said, ``My dear King of the cowherds, I can find thirty-two auspicious symptoms on the body of your son! I am wondering how this boy could have taken His birth in a family of cowherd men.'' Generally, when Lord Krishna appears He does so in a family of kshatriyas (kings), as did Lord Ramacandra, and sometimes in a family of brahmanas. But Krishna accepted the role of son to Maharaja Nanda, despite the fact that Nanda belonged to the vaishya community. The business of the vaishya community is trade, commerce and the protection of cows. Therefore his friend, who may have been born into a brahmana family, expressed his wonder at how such an exalted child could take birth in a family of vaishyas. Anyway, he pointed out the auspicious signs on the body of Krishna to the boy's foster father.

     He continued, ``This boy has a reddish luster in seven places--His eyes, the ends of His hands, the ends of His legs, His palate, His lips, His tongue and His nails. A reddish luster in these seven places is considered to be auspicious. Three parts of His body are very broad: His waist, forehead and chest. Three parts of His body are short: His neck, thighs and genitals. Three parts of His body are very deep: His voice, intelligence and navel. There is highness in five parts of His body: His nose, arms, ears, forehead and thighs. In five parts of His body there is fineness: His skin, the hairs on His head and on the other parts of His body, His teeth and His fingertips. The aggregate of all these bodily features is manifest only in the bodies of great personalities.''

     The fate lines on the palm are also considered to be

auspicious bodily symptoms. In this connection, one old gopi informed King Nanda, ``Your son possesses various wonderful fate lines on His palms. There are the signs of lotus flowers and wheels on His palms, and on His soles there are the signs of a flag, a thunderbolt, a fish, a rod for controlling elephants, and a lotus flower. Please observe how auspicious these signs are!''

 

 

KB-37    

 traverse the ground of Vrindavana and which touch the breasts of the gopis, covered with tinges of kunkuma. He thought, ``I am so fortunate that I will be able to see those very lotus feet on this day, and certainly I shall be able to see the beautiful face of Krishna, which is marked on the forehead and the nose with tilaka. And I shall also see His smile and His curling black hair. I can be sure of this opportunity because I see that today the deer are passing on my right side. Today it will be possible for me to actually see the beauty of the spiritual kingdom of Vishnuloka because Krishna is the Supreme Vishnu and He has advented Himself out of His own good will. He is the reservoir of all beauty; therefore my eyes will be filled today.''

 

 

KB-52    

 

      Even though she pacified herself by thinking that the time for Govinda to arrive had not yet expired, Rukmini felt that she was hoping against hope. Not expressing her mind to anyone, she simply shed tears, unobserved by others, and when her tears became more forceful, she closed her eyes in helplessness. While Rukmini was in such deep thought, auspicious symptoms appeared in different parts of her body. Trembling began to occur in her left eyelid and in her arms and thighs. When trembling occurs in these parts of the body, it is an auspicious sign indicating that something lucrative can be expected.

    

ADI-13

88. Nilambara Cakravarti [the grandfather of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu] then did an astrological calculation and said that in that month, taking advantage of an auspicious moment, the child would take birth.

 

89. Thus in the year 1407 of the Saka era in the month of Phalguna [March-April] on the evening of the full moon, the desired auspicious moment appeared.     

 

 

The explanation of the horoscope given by Bhaktivinoda Thakura is that at the time of the birth of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu the constellations were situated as follows: Shukra (Venus) and the constellation of the Ashvini stars were in the Mesharashi (Aries)... This science is known especially by persons who are called nora-shastra-vit, or those who know the scripture of the name Hora. On the strength of astrological calculations from the Hora scripture, Nilambara Cakravarti, the grandfather of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, ascertained the auspicious moment in which the Lord would appear.

 

 

ccadi17 .TX 103      On another day an astrologer came who was supposed to know everything--past, present and future. Thus Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu received him with all honor and put this question before him.

 

      Brahmanas generally used to become astrologers, Ayur-vedic physicians, teachers and priests. Although highly learned and respectable, such brahmanas went from door to door to distribute their knowledge. A brahmana would first go to a householder's home to give information about the functions to be performed on a particular tithi, or date, but if there were sickness in the family, the family members would consult the brahmana as a physician, and the brahmana would give instruction and some medicine. Often, since the brahmanas were expert in astrology, people would also be greatly inquisitive about their past, present and future.

 

Although the brahmana appeared at Lord Caitanya's house as a beggar, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu received him with great respect because he was a qualified brahmana who knew the astrological science perfectly. Although brahmanas would go door to door just like beggars, they were honored as very respectable guests. This was the system in Hindu society five hundred years ago, during the time of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This system was current even one hundred years ago; even fifty or sixty years ago, when we were children, such brahmanas would visit householders like humble beggars, and people would derive great benefit from the mercy of such brahmanas. The greatest benefit was that a householder could save a great deal of money from being spent on doctor bills because the brahmanas, aside from explaining the past, present and future, could ordinarily cure all kinds of diseases simply by giving instructions and some medicine. Thus no one was bereft of the benefit of a first-class physician, astrologer and priest.

 

TX 104 "Please tell Me who I was in My previous birth," the Lord said. "Please tell Me by your astrological computations." Hearing the words of the Lord the , the astrologer immediately began to calculate."

 

Through astrology one can know past, present and future. Modern western astronomers have no knowledge of the past or future, nor can they perfectly say anything about the present. Herein we find, however, that after hearing Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's order, the astrologer immediately began his calculations. This was not a facade; he actually knew how to ascertain one's past life through astrology. A still existing treatise called the Bhrigu-samhita describes a system by which anyone can immediately get information about what he was in the past and what he is going to be in the future. The brahmanas who went door to door as if beggars had perfect command of such vast knowledge. Thus the highest knowledge was easily available even to the poorest man in society. The poorest man could inquire from an astrologer about his past, present and future, with no need for business agreements or exorbitant payments. The brahmana would give him all the benefit of his knowledge without asking remuneration, and the poor man, in return, would offer a handful of rice, or anything he had in his possession, to satisfy the brahmana. In a perfect human society, perfect knowledge in any science--medical, astrological, ecclesiastical and so on--is available even to the poorest man, with no anxiety over payment. In the present day, however, no one can get justice, medical treatment, astrological help or ecclesiastical enlightenment without money, and since people are generally poor, they are bereft of the benefits of all these great sciences.

 

TX105  "Through calculation and meditation, the all knowing astrologer saw the greatly effulgent body of the Lord, which is the resting place of all the unlimited Viakuntha planets."

 

...The astrologer saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be the very same Personality of Godhead. We can just imagine how learned he was, yet he was traveling door to door, just like an ordinary beggar, for the highest benefit of human society.

 

 

tx 109 [The astrologer said] "You are now the same Personality of Godhead that You were in Your previous birth. Your identity is inconceivable eternal happiness."

 

      By the power of astrological science one can even ascertain the position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Everything is to identified by its symptoms.

 

 

TX 112      The astrologer said, ``What I saw in meditation was full of opulence, and therefore I was confused.     

 

It appears that the astrologer not only was a knower of past, present and future through astrological calculation, but was a great meditator as well. Therefore he was a great devotee and could see Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be the same personality as Krishna. He was puzzled, however, about whether Krishna and Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were actually the same person.

 

sb1.12 TX 12

 

     Thereupon, when all the good signs of the zodiac gradually evolved, the heir apparent of Pandu, who would be exactly like him in prowess, took birth.

 

 

Astronomical calculations of stellar influences upon a living being are not suppositions, but are factual, as confirmed in Shrimad-Bhagavatam. Every living being is controlled by the laws of nature at every minute, just as a citizen is controlled by the influence of the state. The state laws are grossly observed, but the laws of material nature, being subtle to our gross understanding, cannot be experienced grossly. As stated in the Bhagavad-gita (3.9), every action of life produces another reaction, which is binding upon us, and only those who are acting on behalf of Yajna (Vishnu) are not bound by reactions. Our actions are judged by the higher authorities, the agents of the Lord, and thus we are awarded bodies according to our activities. The law of nature is so subtle that every part of our body is influenced by the respective stars, and a living being obtains his working body to fulfill his terms of imprisonment by the manipulation of such astronomical influence. A man's destiny is therefore ascertained by the birthtime constellation of stars, and a factual horoscope is made by a learned astrologer. It is a great science, and misuse of a science does not make it useless. Maharaja Parikshit or even the Personality of Godhead appear in certain constellations of good stars, and thus the influence is exerted upon the body thus born at an auspicious moment. The most auspicious constellation of stars takes place during the appearance of the Lord in this material world, and it is specifically called jayanti, a word not to be abused for any other purposes. Maharaja Parikshit was not only a great kshatriya emperor, but also a great devotee of the Lord. Thus he cannot take his birth at any inauspicious moment. As a proper place and time is selected to receive a respectable personage, so also to receive such a personality as Maharaja Parikshit, who was especially cared for by the Supreme Lord, a suitable moment is chosen when all good stars assembled together to exert their influence upon the King. Thus he took his birth just to be known as the great hero of Shrimad-Bhagavatam. This suitable arrangement of astral influences is never a creation of man's will, but is the arrangement of the superior management of the agency of the Supreme Lord. Of course, the arrangement is made according to the good or bad deeds of the living being.

 

sb1.12 TX 18

     The good King [Yudhishthira] inquired: O great souls, will he become as saintly a king, as pious in his very name and as famous and glorified in his achievements, as others who appeared in this great royal family?

 

...He was happy to learn from the learned brahmanas that by astrological calculations the child would be born a first-grade devotee of the Lord, and more confidentially he wanted to know whether the child was going to follow in the footsteps of his great forefathers. That is the way of the monarchical state. The reigning king should be a pious, chivalrous devotee of the Lord and fear personified for the upstarts. He must also leave an heir apparent equally qualified to rule over the innocent citizens...

 

sb1.12 TX 29

 

Thus those who were expert in astrological knowledge and in performance of the birth ceremony instructed King Yudhishthira about the future history of his child. Then, being sumptuously remunerated, they all returned to their respective homes.

 

The Vedas are the storehouse of knowledge, both material and spiritual. But such knowledge aims at perfection of self-realization. In other words, the Vedas are the guides for the civilized man in every respect. Since human life is the opportunity to get free from all material miseries, it is properly guided by the knowledge of the Vedas, in the matters of both material needs and spiritual salvation. The specific intelligent class of men who were devoted particularly to the knowledge of the Vedas were called the vipras, or the graduates of the Vedic knowledge. There are different branches of knowledge in the Vedas, of which astrology and pathology are two important branches necessary for the common man. So the intelligent men, generally known as the brahmanas, took up all the different branches of Vedic knowledge to guide society. Even the department of military education (Dhanur-veda) was also taken up by such intelligent men, and the vipras were also teachers of this section of knowledge, as were Dronacarya, Kripacarya, etc. The word vipra mentioned herein is significant. There is a little difference between the vipras and the brahmanas. The vipras are those who are expert in karma-kanda, or fruitive activities, guiding the society towards fulfilling the material necessities of life, whereas the brahmanas are expert in spiritual knowledge of transcendence. This department of knowledge is called jnana-kanda, and above this there is the upasana-kanda. The culmination of upasana-kanda is the devotional service of the Lord Vishnu, and when the brahmanas achieve perfection, they are called Vaishnavas. Vishnu worship is the highest of the modes of worship. Elevated brahmanas are Vaishnavas engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and thus Shrimad-Bhagavatam, which is the science of devotional service, is very dear to the Vaishnavas. And as explained in the beginning of the Shrimad-Bhagavatam, it is the mature fruit of Vedic knowledge and is superior subject matter, above the three kandas, namely karma, jnana and upasana. Amongst the karma-kanda experts, the jataka expert vipras were good astrologers who could tell all the future history of a born child simply by the astral calculations of the time (lagna). Such expert jataka-vipras were present during the birth of Maharaja Parikshit, and his grandfather, Maharaja Yudhishthira, awarded the vipras sufficiently with gold, land, villages, grains and other valuable necessaries of life, which also include cows. There is a need of such vipras in the social structure, and it is the duty of the state to maintain them comfortably, as designed in the Vedic procedure. Such expert vipras, being sufficiently paid by the state, could give free service to the people in general, and thus this department of Vedic knowledge could be available for all.

 

 

sb1.14

 

TX 22

O Brahmana Shaunaka, while Maharaja Yudhishthira, observing the inauspicious signs on the earth at that time, was thus thinking to himself, Arjuna came back from the city of the Yadus [Dvaraka].

 

Ssb1.16

 Chapter Sixteen

 

How Parikshit Received the Age of Kali

 

.TX 1

Suta Gosvami said: O learned brahmanas, Maharaja Parikshit then began to rule over the world as a great devotee of the Lord under the instructions of the best of the twice-born brahmanas. He ruled by those great qualities which were foretold by expert astrologers at the time of his birth.

 

     At the time of Maharaja Parikshit's birth, the expert 

astrologer brahmanas foretold some of his qualities. Maharaja Parikshit developed all those qualities, being a great devotee of the Lord. The real qualification is to become a devotee of the Lord, and gradually all the good qualities worthy of possession develop. Maharaja Parikshit was a maha-bhagavata, or a first-class devotee, who was not only well versed in the science of devotion but also able to convert others to become devotees by his transcendental instructions. Maharaja Parikshit was, therefore, a devotee of the first order, and thus he used to consult great sages and learned brahmanas, who could advise him by the shastras how to execute the state administration. Such great kings were more responsible than modern elected executive heads because they obliged the great authorities by following their instructions left in Vedic literatures. There was no need for impractical fools to enact daily a new legislative bill and to conveniently alter it again and again to serve some purpose. The rules and regulations were already set forth by great sages like Manu, Yajnavalkya, Parashara and other liberated sages, and the enactments were all suitable for all ages in all places. Therefore the rules and regulations were standard and without flaw or defect. Kings like Maharaja Parikshit had their council of advisers, and all the members of that council were either great sages or brahmanas of the first order. They did not accept any salary, nor had they any necessity for such salaries. The state would get the best advice without expenditure. They were themselves  sama-darshi, equal to everyone, both man and animal. They would not advise the king to give protection to man and instruct him to kill the poor animals. Such council members were not fools or representatives to compose a fool's paradise. They were all self-realized souls, and they knew perfectly well how all living beings in the state would be happy, both in this life and in the next. They were not concerned with the hedonistic philosophy of eat, drink, be merry and enjoy. They were philosophers in the real sense, and they knew well what is the mission of human life. Under all these obligations, the advisory council of the king would give correct directions, and the king or executive head, being himself a qualified devotee of the Lord, would scrutinizingly follow them for the welfare of the state. The state in the days of Maharaja Yudhishthira or Maharaja Parikshit was a welfare state in the real sense of the term because no one was unhappy in that state, be he man or animal.Maharaja Parikshit was an ideal king for a welfare state of the world.

 

sb1.19

 

TX 26

This son of Vyasadeva was only sixteen years old. His legs, hands, thighs, arms, shoulders, forehead and the other parts of his body were all delicately formed. His eyes were beautifully wide, and his nose and ears were highly raised. He had a very attractive face, and his neck was well formed and beautiful like a conchshell.

 

.TX 28

He was blackish and very beautiful due to his youth. Because of the glamor of his body and his attractive smiles, he was pleasing to women. Though he tried to cover his natural glories, the great sages present there were all expert in the art of physiognomy, and so they honored him by rising from their seats.

 

sb3.21

 

.TX 15

     Therefore, desiring to marry a girl of like disposition who may prove to be a veritable cow of plenty in my married life, to satisfy my lustful desire I too have sought the shelter of Your lotus feet, which are the source of everything, for You are like a desire tree.

 

     In spite of his condemning persons who approach the Lord for material advantages, Kardama Muni expressed his material inability and desire before the Lord by saying, ``Although I know that nothing material should be asked from You, I nevertheless desire to marry a girl of like disposition.'' The phrase ``like disposition'' is very significant. Formerly, boys and girls of similar dispositions were married; the similar natures of the boy and girl were united in order to make them happy. Not more than twenty-five years ago, and perhaps it is still current, parents in India used to consult the horoscope of the boy and girl to see whether there would be factual union in their psychological conditions. These considerations are very important. Nowadays marriage takes place without such consultation, and therefore, soon after the marriage, there is divorce and separation. Formerly husband and wife used to live together peacefully throughout their whole lives, but nowadays it is a very difficult task.

 

      Kardama Muni wanted to have a wife of like disposition because a wife is necessary to assist in spiritual and material advancement. It is said that a wife yields the fulfillment of all desires in religion, economic development and sense gratification. If one has a nice wife, he is to be considered a most fortunate man. In astrology, a man is considered fortunate who has great wealth, very good sons or a very good wife. Of these three, one who has a very good wife is considered the most fortunate. Before marrying, one should select a wife of like disposition and not be enamored by so-called beauty or other attractive features for sense gratification. In the Bhagavatam, Twelfth Canto, it is said that in the Kali-yuga marriage will be based on the consideration of sex life; as soon as there is deficiency in sex life, the question of divorce will arise.     

 

sb3.24

 

.TX 15

     Therefore, today please give away your daughters to the foremost of the sages, with due regard for the girls' temperaments and likings, and thereby spread your fame all over the universe.

 

     The nine principal rishis, or sages, are Marici, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrigu, Vasishtha and Atharva. All these rishis are most important, and Brahma desired that the nine daughters already born of Kardama Muni be handed over to them. Here two words are used very significantly--yatha-shilam and yatha-ruci. The daughters should be handed over to the respective rishis, not blindly, but according to the combination of character and taste. That is the art of combining a man and woman. Man and woman should not be united simply on the consideration of sex life. There are many other considerations, especially character and taste. If the taste and character differ between the man and woman,their combination will be unhappy. Even about forty years ago, in Indian marriages, the taste and character of the boy and girl were first of all matched, and then they were allowed to marry. This was done under the direction of the respective parents. The parents used to astrologically determine the character and tastes of the boy and girl, and when they corresponded, the match was selected: ``This girl and this boy are just suitable, and they should be married.'' Other considerations were less important. The same system was also advised in the beginning of the creation by Brahma: ``Your daughters should be handed over to the rishis according to taste and character.''

 

     According to astrological calculation, a person is classified according to whether he belongs to the godly or demoniac quality. In that way the spouse was selected. A girl of godly quality should be handed over to a boy of godly quality. A girl of demoniac quality should be handed over to a boy of demoniac quality. Then they will be happy. But if the girl is demoniac and the boy is godly, then the combination is incompatible; they cannot be happy in such a marriage. At the present moment, because boys and girls are not married according to quality and character, most marriages are unhappy, and there is divorce.

 

sb6.1

 

.TX 49

     As a sleeping person acts according to the body manifested in his dreams and accepts it to be himself, so one identifies with his present body, which he acquired because of his past religious or irreligious actions, and is unable to know his past or future lives.

 

...It should be understood that a person who does not have Vedic knowledge always acts in ignorance of what he has done in the past, what he is doing at the present and how he will suffer in the future. He is completely in darkness...    

 

According to his association with the material modes of nature--goodness, passion and ignorance--a living entity gets a particular type of body. The example of one who associates with the mode of goodness is a qualified brahmana. Such a brahmana knows past, present and future because he consults the Vedic literature and sees through the eyes of shastra (shastra-cakshuh). He can understand what his past life was, why be is in the present body, and how he can obtain liberation from the clutches of maya and not accept another material body. This is all possible when one is situated in the mode of goodness. Generally, however, the living entities are engrossed in the modes of passion and ignorance.

 

...One who is in complete darkness cannot know what his past life was or what his next life will be; he is simply interested in his present body. Even though he has a human body, a person in the mode of ignorance and interested only in his present body is like an animal, for an animal, being covered by ignorance, thinks that the ultimate goal of life and happiness is to eat as much as possible. A human being must be educated to understand his past life and how he can endeavor for a better life in the future. There is even a book, called Bhrigu-samhita, which reveals information about one's past, present and future lives according to astrological calculations. Somehow or other one must be enlightened about his past, present and future. One who is interested only in his present body and who tries to enjoy his senses to the fullest extent is understood to be engrossed in the mode of ignorance. His future is very, very dark. Indeed, the future is always dark for one who is grossly covered by ignorance. Especially in this age, human society is covered by the mode of ignorance, and therefore everyone thinks his present body to be everything, without consideration of the past or future.

 

sb6.2

 

.TX 26

     Ajamila said: Alas, being a servant of my senses, how degraded I became! I fell down from my position as a duly qualified brahmana and begot children in the womb of a prostitute.

 

     The men of the higher classes--the brahmanas, kshatriyas and vaishyas--do not beget children in the wombs of lower-class women. Therefore the custom in Vedic society is to examine the horoscopes of a girl and boy being considered for marriage to see whether their combination is suitable. Vedic astrology reveals whether one has been born in the vipra-varna, kshatriya-varna, vaishya-varna or shudra-varna, according to the three qualities of material nature. This must be examined because a marriage between a boy of the vipra-varna and a girl of the shudra-varna is incompatible; married life would be miserable for both husband and wife. Consequently a boy should marry a girl of the same category. Of course, this is trai-gunya, a material calculation according to the Vedas, but if the boy and girl are devotees there need be no such considerations. A devotee is transcendental, and therefore in a marriage between devotees, the boy and girl form a very happy combination.

 

sb7.13

 Chapter Thirteen

 

The Behavior of a Perfect Person

 

     This Thirteenth Chapter describes the regulative principles for sannyasis and also describes the history of an avadhuta. It concludes with a description of perfection for the student in spiritual advancement.

 

     Shri Narada Muni has been describing the symptoms of various ashramas and varnas. Now, in this chapter, he specifically describes the regulative principles to be followed by sannyasis. After retiring from family life, one should accept the status of vanaprastha, in which he must formally accept the body as his means of existence but gradually forget the bodily necessities of life. After vanaprastha life, having left home, one should travel to different places as a sannyasi. Without bodily comforts and free from dependence on anyone with respect to bodily necessities, one should travel everywhere, wearing almost nothing or actually walking naked. Without association with ordinary human society, one should beg alms and always be satisfied in himself. One should be a friend to every living entity and be very peaceful in Krishna consciousness. A sannyasi should travel alone in this way, not caring for life or death, waiting for the time when he will leave his material body. He should not indulge in unnecessary books or adopt professions like astrology, nor should he try to become a great orator. He should also give up the path of unnecessary argument and should not depend on anyone under any circumstances. He should not try to allure people into becoming his disciples just so that the number of his disciples may increase.

 

 

sb7.13

 

.TX 19

     Your Honor appears learned, expert and intelligent in every way. You can speak very well, saying things that are pleasing to the heart. You see that people in general are engaged in fruitive activities, yet you are lying here inactive.

 

     Prahlada Maharaja studied the bodily features of the saintly person, and through the saint's physiognomy Prahlada Maharaja could understand that he was intelligent and expert, although he was lying down and not doing anything. Prahlada was naturally inquisitive about why he was lying there inactive.

 

sb8.18

 

.TX 5

     On the day of Shravana-dvadashi [the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhadra], when the moon came into the lunar mansion Shravana, at the auspicious moment of Abhijit, the Lord appeared in this universe. Considering the Lord's appearance very auspicious, all the stars and planets, from the sun to Saturn, were munificently charitable.

 

     Shrila Vishvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, an expert astrologer, explains the word nakshatra-taradyah...

 

 sb9.18.TX 23

     Shukadeva Gosvami continued: Because such a marriage is not sanctioned by regular scriptures, King Yayati did not like it, but because it was arranged by providence and because he was attracted by Devayani's beauty, he accepted her request.

 

     According to the Vedic system, the parents would consider the horoscopes of the boy and girl who were to be married. If according to astrological calculations the boy and girl were compatible in every respect, the match was called yotaka and the marriage would be accepted. Even fifty years ago, this system was current in Hindu society. Regardless of the affluence of the boy or the personal beauty of the girl, without this astrological compatibility the marriage would not take place. A person is born in one of three categories, known as deva-gana, manushya-gana and rakshasa-gana. In different parts of the universe there are demigods and demons, and in human society also some people resemble demigods whereas others resemble demons. If according to astrological calculations there was conflict between a godly and a demoniac nature, the marriage would not take place. Similarly, there were calculations of pratiloma and anuloma. The central idea is that if the boy and girl were on an equal level the marriage would be happy, whereas inequality would lead to unhappiness. Because care is no longer taken in marriage, we now find many divorces. Indeed, divorce has now become a common affair, although formerly one's marriage would continue lifelong, and the affection between husband and wife was so great that the wife would voluntarily die when her husband died or would remain a faithful widow throughout her entire life. Now, of course, this is no longer possible, for human society has fallen to the level of animal society. Marriage now takes place simply by agreement. Dampatye 'bhirucir hetuh (Bhag. 12.2.3). The word abhiruci means ``agreement.'' If the boy and girl simply agree to marry, the marriage takes place. But when the Vedic system is not rigidly observed, marriage frequently ends in divorce. 

 

sb10.1

 

.TX 57

     Vasudeva was very much disturbed by fear of becoming a liar by breaking his promise. Thus with great pain he delivered his first-born son, named Kirtiman, into the hands of Kamsa.

 

     In the Vedic system, as soon as a child is born, especially a male child, the father calls for learned brahmanas, and according to the description of the child's horoscope, the child is immediately given a name. This ceremony is called nama-karana. There are ten different samskaras, or reformatory methods, adopted in the system of varnashrama-dharma, and the name-giving ceremony is one of them. Although Vasudeva's first son was to be delivered into the hands of Kamsa, the nama-karana ceremony was performed, and thus the child was named Kirtiman. Such names are given immediately after birth.

 

SB 10.8.5

     O great saintly person, you have compiled the astrological knowledge by which one can understand past and present unseen things. By the strength of this knowledge, any human being can understand what he has done in his past life and how it affects his present life. This is known to you.

 

...Therefore any gentleman, dhira, must be interested in jyotisa, astrology.

 

     Nanda Maharaja was trying to take advantage of the opportunity afforded by Gargamuni's presence, for Gargamuni was a great authority in this knowledge of astrology, by which one can see the unseen events of past, present and future. It is the duty of a father to understand the astrological position of his children and do what is needed for their happiness. Now, taking advantage of the opportunity afforded by the presence of Gargamuni, Nanda Maharaja suggested that Gargamuni prepare a horoscope for Nanda's two sons, Krishna and Balarama.

 

.TX 6

     My lord, you are the best of the brahmanas, especially because you are fully aware of the jyotih-shastra, the astrological science. Therefore you are naturally the spiritual master of every human being. This being so, since you have kindly come to my house, kindly execute the reformatory activities for my two sons.

 

     The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, says in Bhagavad-gita (4.13), catur-varnyam maya srishtam guna-karma-vibhagashah: the four varnas--brahmana, kshatriya, vaishya and shudra--must be present in society. The brahmanas are required for the guidance of the whole society. If there is no such institution as varnashrama-dharma and if human society has no such guide as the brahmana, human society will be hellish. In Kali-yuga, especially at the present moment, there is no such thing as a real brahmana, and therefore society is in a chaotic condition. Formerly there were qualified brahmanas, but at present, although there are certainly persons who think themselves brahmanas, they actually have no ability to guide society. The Krishna consciousness movement is therefore very much eager to reintroduce the varnashrama system into human society so that those who are bewildered or less intelligent will be able to take guidance from qualified brahmanas.

 

     Brahmana means Vaishnava. After one becomes a brahmana, the next stage of development in human society is to become a Vaishnava. People in general must be guided to the destination or goal of life, and therefore they must understand Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead... ...Nanda Maharaja took advantage of the opportunity of Gargamuni's presence by requesting him to perform the necessary reformatory activities for his sons to guide Them toward the destination of life.

 

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     Thereafter, at the auspicious time for the appearance of the Lord, the entire universe was surcharged with all the qualities of goodness, beauty and peace. The constellation Rohini appeared, as did stars like Ashvini. The sun, the moon and the other stars and planets were very peaceful. All directions appeared extremely pleasing, and the beautiful stars twinkled in the cloudless sky... 

 

     When the time was mature for the appearance of the Lord, the constellations became very auspicious. The astrological influence of the constellation known as Rohini was also predominant because this constellation is considered very auspicious. Rohini is under the direct supervision of Brahma, who is born of Vishnu, and it appears at the birth of Lord Vishnu, who in fact is birthless. According to the astrological conclusion, besides the proper situation of the stars, there are auspicious and inauspicious moments due to the different situations of the

different planetary systems. At the time of Krishna's birth, the planetary systems were automatically adjusted so that everything became auspicious.

 

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     In an astronomical treatise by the name Khamanikya, the constellations at the time of the appearance of Lord Krishna are very nicely described. It is confirmed that the child born at that auspicious moment was the Supreme Brahman or the Absolute Truth.

 

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     After this incident, Vasudeva asked his family priest, Gargamuni, to visit the place of Nanda Maharaja in order to astrologically calculate the future life of Krishna. Gargamuni was a great saintly sage who underwent many austerities and penances and was appointed priest of the Yadu dynasty. When Gargamuni arrived at the home of Nanda Maharaja, Nanda Maharaja was very pleased to see him and immediately stood up with folded hands and offered his respectful obeisances. He received Gargamuni with the feeling of one who is worshiping God, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He offered him a nice sitting place, and when he sat down, Nanda Maharaja offered him a warm reception. Addressing him very politely, he said: ``My dear Brahmana, your appearance in a householder's place is only to enlighten. We are always engaged in household duties and are forgetting our real duty of self-realization. Your coming to our house is to give us some enlightenment about spiritual life. You have no other purpose to visit householders.''... 

 

     Nanda Maharaja addressed Gargamuni as one of the great authorities in astrological science. The foretellings of astrological science, such as the occurrence of solar or lunar eclipses, are wonderful calculations, and by this particular science, a person can understand the future very clearly. Gargamuni was proficient in this knowledge. By this knowledge one can understand what his previous activities were, and by the result of such activities one may enjoy or suffer in this life.

 

     

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Devaki and Vasudeva. According to astrological calculation, Devaki could not have a female child, although everyone thought that the eighth child of Devaki was female. In this way Gargamuni intimated to Nanda Maharaja that the female child was born of Yashoda and that Krishna was born of Devaki, and they were exchanged. The female child, or Durga, also informed Kamsa that the child who would kill him was already born somewhere else. Gargamuni stated, ``If I give your child a name and if He fulfills the prophecy of the female child to Kamsa, then it may be that the sinful demon will come and kill this child also after the

 

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 Krishna then learned the art of foretelling events by seeing signs. In a book called Khanarvacana, the various types of signs and omens are described. If when one is going out one sees someone with a bucket full of water, that is a very good sign. But if one sees someone with an empty bucket, it is not a good sign. Similarly, if one sees a cow being milked alongside its calf, it is a good sign.The result of understanding these signs is that one can foretell

events, and Krishna learned the science. Krishna also learned the art of

 

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In India, unlike in the West, it is common for astrologers to make minute calculations of the astronomical situation at the moment of one's birth. Indeed, a person's horoscope is read not only when he is born but also when he dies, in order to determine what his situation will be in the next life. All this can be determined by astrological calculation. In this verse, Lord Krishna is accepting those astrological principles, confirming that if one leaves his body at a particular time, he may attain liberation. If one dies at one moment, he may be liberated, or if he dies at another moment, he may have to return to the material world. It is all a question of ``chance,'' but that chance someway or other is what one has. For the devotee, however, there is no question of chance. Whatever the astrological situation, the devotee in Krishna consciousness is guaranteed liberation. For others, there are chances that if they leave their body at a particular moment, they may attain liberation and enter the spiritual kingdom, or they may be reborn.

 

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So when a child is born the astrologer is called. Still that system is followed.  But due to this Kali-yuga the astrologer has also become a false, and this has become a formality. Somebody is following, somebody is not following. So as soon as a child is born. You will find Maharaja Pariksit, as soon as he was born, his grandfather, Maharaja Yudhisthira, called for astrologer.  This is called jata-karma. Just after the child is born, this astrologer will come and he will see the moment, the astronomical situation, and make a horoscope, and then immediately his future activities and everything will be clearly made, that "This child is born at such and such moment. He will be like this and this."  And that will be...  You will be surprised...  Not surprised.  This is calculation.  In my horoscope it is written there, "At the age of seventy years he will go across the sea."  It is written there.  Yes.  And there are so many things still.  So this astrologer was so accurate.  I have got that horoscope.  Not here.  If some day I shall, then will show.  It is clearly written there that "This time he will go across the sea."  Just see.  The cirumstances became so that I have come.  So astrology is so nice.  So when Krsna was born the same principle was followed.  Astrologer was called for, and there were good astrologers.  And the great astrologer, a famous astrologer who came to see Krsna's birth affair, he was Gargamuni.  His name was Gargamuni.  Yes.  So that Gargamuni, by astrology, said to Krsna's father Nanda Maharaja, "This boy, this child who is born as your son, He had three colors before."  Asan varnas trayo hy asya:  "This child had three colors before.  I see."  Just see the astrology.  From astrology he says that "He had three colors before."  That means God.  "He had three colors before."  Grhnato 'nuyugam tanuh:  "According to the age, according to the millennium, He had three other colors."  Suklo raktas tatha pita idanim krsnatam gatah:  "And He had that white color and red color and yellow color.  Idanim, just now, He has assumed this black color."  So this was the astronomical calculation of Krsna's birth.  Satya-yuge dharma-dhyana karaya 'sukla'-murti dhari'.  Now, sukla-murti, that white incarnation of God, He will teach the people...

 

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 1: Is astrology of any importance to a way of life, I mean...

P: Yes. This is a science. Yes. This is a science. It is a science. That science is acceptable by the human society. Medical science, legal science, engineering science. Similarly, astrology also, another science. But the astrology is simply useful so long you have got this body, but as soon as your body is finished, there is no more use of astrology.

 

 

 

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 Tamal Krsna: What is the position of astrology in Krsna consciousness?

Prabhupada: Astrology is a science. Krsna consciousness has nothing to do with astrology, but it is the general custom that as soon as a child is born the astrologers come. That is the Indian system, Vedic system.

 

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 Because as soon as he can study the pulse, how it is beating, in which way... That is, that requires little experience. Then immediately the formula is that if the pulse is beating in this way, then these symptoms will be there. And he will ask the patient...

Brahmananda: To confirm the symptoms.

Prabhupada: Yes. Confirm the symptoms. If he says: "Yes," then immediately diagnosis is there. And as soon as diagnosis is there, the medicine is there. Simple method. Similarly, astrologers, they will see the constellation of the stars, and then the formula is there. "If this star is now with this star, if that planet is with that planet, then this is the result." So this Ayurvedic astrologer and physician requires little clear brain. Otherwise, very nice. The research work is already there. Just like we are. What is our research? Krsna says: paras tasmat tu bhava anyah. "There is another nature." We believe it.

 

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   In the... According to Vedic civilization, after the birth of the child, there was name-giving ceremony, what kind of name. So that was calculated astrologically, that what kind of name he should be given, because the name should carry some meaning of the activities of his life. So Krsna is named here Hrsikesa.

 

Bhagavad Gita 18.5  

                           Radhastami

 

                    London, September 5, 1973

 

 

When Krsna was born at Nanda Maharaja's place, or Krsna appeared then,..

 

So according to Vedic system there is jata-karmah. As soon as child is born, immediately horoscope is made and according to horoscope his name is given. There are dasa-karma. Dasa-karma. So one of these is at the birth, that before the child is begotten, there is one samskara, garbhadhana-samskara. Similarly, after the child is born, then another samskara, jata-karma-samskara. So there are so many samskaras. Samskarad bhaved dvijah: By following the samskara, purificatory process, one becomes brahmana. The upanayana-samskara, the sacred thread samskara. So when Krsna was having the jata-karma-samskara by Gargamuni, the priest of Vasudeva...

 

He was sent to Nanda Maharaja to perform the Krsna's jata-karma. So he was a learned astrologer. He said, "Nanda Maharaja, your this son formerly had three other colors: sukla raktas tatha pita...

 

                          Morning Walk

 

                  Los Angeles, December 8, 1973

 

Svarupa Damodara: When Nehru said that all factories, chemical factories and these iron factories are our temples, these are our temples.

Yasomatinandana: Nehru was a big atheist too, he openly declared.

Prabhupada: Yes, he was first-class atheist. Now he has become a dog. Yes, some astrologer has said. He has become a dog in Sweden. A man has got two dogs. Out of the two he is one. 

Yasomatinandana: Nehru?

Prabhupada: Yes. That is quite believable.

Yasomatinandana: Yes Prabhupada, it's a fact.

Svarupa Damodara: How does he know that is..? 

Yasomatinandana: It's fortunate to become a dog.

Prabhupada: Ha? The astrologers, they sometimes approached. Ah, what is the position of this man, Vivekananda, Ramakrishna, Gandhi? And they say something. So he has said about Nehru like this. Astrologer, he was hesitating, then he said. It was spoken by one very respectable person, Sridhara Maharaja.

Svarupa Damodara: Who?

Prabhupada: My godbrother.

Svarupa Damodara: Sridhara Maharaja. Oh.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Svarupa Damodara: Similarly also, Srila Prabhupada, some astrologers say that Srila Prabhupada...

Prabhupada: No, no. Suppose if he has said, how can you disbelieve it? How can you disbelieve it? That is... Because in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, tatha dehantara prapti. "After giving up this body, one has to accept another body." So he has accepted another body but nobody can tell what body he has accepted. If the astrologer says, you have to accept it. You cannot say, "No, he has not accepted dog body." You cannot give any proof. So anyone can say anything. But it is a fact that he has accepted another body...

 

Svarupa Damodara: Srila Prabhupada, are these astrologers, ah, are, can we believe in them, what they say? Called pseudo- science.

Prabhupada: No. Astrology is a science. (break) ...that I shall go to the foreign countries and throughout the whole world I will establish so many temples, so many things... this...

Svarupa Damodara: So they have some intelligence to tell that...

Prabhupada: No, no. That is calculation, calculation. This astrologer, this astrologer was a very big astrologer and when I was in service, Dr. Bose's laboratory, so Dr. Bose was treating one patient. He was vomiting blood. So he was treating as tuberculosis. Then he could not cure him after giving all medicine. Then he asked the astrologer, this astrologer who made my horoscope, "What is the matter? Panditji, can you tell?" So he calculated. He said, "You are making wrong treatment. He has got some sore in the throat. It is not heart." And he treated, he was cured.

Yasomatinandana: Vedic science is so perfect.

Prabhupada: Yes. He knew it.

 

 

                        Room Conversation 

                      with Latin Professor

 

                  Los Angeles, December 9, 1973

 

 

So every knowledge is there in the Vedas. There are so many Vedas. Even for our ordinary dealings, just like Ayur-veda. Ayur-veda means medical science. Similarly, Dhanur-veda, military science. Similarly, Jyotir-veda, jyotis, the astronomical science. And those who are, mean, accustomed with Vedic knowledge, it is so nice and, I mean to say, perfect  that... Take, for example, that Ayur-veda, medical science. Their process is that this body, the physiological condition, is depending on three things, tri-dhatu, kapha-pitha-vayu: mucus, bile and air. And the air is felt by the pulse beating. So they learn how to examine the pulse beating, the heart beating. And they have got description. Just like the sparrow walks, the crow walks, so in this way they have given the example, "If the pulse is beating like the walking of the sparrow, walking of the crow, then his health, his condition, is like this, and the symptoms will be like this." So the physician first of all studies the pulses, and he remembers the symptoms, and he corroborates, asking the patient, "Do you feel like this? Do you feel like this? Do you do this, like this?" If it is corroborated, then his diagnosis is given: "He has got this disease." So similarly, in Jyotir-veda they have got similar symptoms: "If such and such stars are now nearer to this star"--they have got this calculation--"then the position is this." So they learn very quickly. Indian brahmanas, they learned Jyotir-veda, Ayur-veda, very quickly. Because brahmanas they are meant to go to every house to inform the date, the everything. So generally people are inquisitive about the health. So they ask, "Now I am feeling like this." So they give medicine. And they give some astrological hint also. So in this way people gave them some contribution. That is their livelihood. So this... All the systems were made very easy on account of this Vedic injunction. So therefore we take Vedic knowledge as perfect, and we understand everything by Vedic knowledge about God, about His place, about His activities.

 

 

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.15.38 Los Angeles, December 16, 1973

 

So this Abhimanyu, father of Maharaja Pariksit, only sixteen years old... His mother Uttara... So king of.., Maharaja Virata... So when he was born... There is Vedic ceremony, jato-karma ceremony. After a child is born.. Oh, what a horrible age we are now! We are killing before the birth of the child. This is kali-yuga. Such... It is so welcome, auspicious, a child is born in the family. There is ceremony, jato-karma ceremony. Before the child is born there is ceremony, garbhadhana ceremony. Sarva-bhaksana (?) ceremony. Such a nice culture. Where it has gone now? Now child is killed within the womb of the mother by the mother. This is called Kali-yuga. And it is scientific advancement. The scientists, the priests, they give order. The doctor gives out... "Yes, do it." Just try to understand what is Kali-yuga. So anyway, this is the Vedic system, that when a child is born, immediately his horoscope is made. Astrological science is so perfect. The moment the child is born, immediately  calculated, "What is the position of this moment?" Then they derive calculation, "This child will be like this, this will be this, will be this, this." I had also horoscope. The other day I was talking. And it was clearly written, that horoscope, that "This child after seventy years, he will be great religious propagator and establish so many temples."

Devotees: Jaya!

Prabhupada: Yes. This is astrology. Those of my students who have seen my horoscope in India, it is clearly written there. So that is horoscope. So while the brahmanas were writing horoscope, so Maharaja Yudhisthira's anxiety was... They were describing, "This child will be so, such a great hero, he will do this..." And it was mentioned that "He will die also, being cursed by a brahmana." That was... So Yudhisthira Maharaja did not take care of that, how he will die. He simply took care how he will live. He inquired from the learned brahmanas, "Whether this child will be exactly prototype of our dynasty? Because this is a... Kuru dynasty is the parampara system of emperors, all-perfect. So whether this child will be like that?" That was his nquiry, first. So all the brahmanas replied, "Yes, sir, this is just quite fit, your family." Therefore it is said here that susumam gunaih: "By quality, exactly like Maharaja Yudhisthira." So unless one is qualified, highly qualified, how he can be installed as the head of the executive of the state or the world?

 

 

                          Morning Walk

 

                 Los Angeles, December 29, 1973

 

 

Prabhupada: ...not come?

Karandhara: He's coming Prabhupada. He just pulled up.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Jayahari(?): Prabhupada, this morning you talked about astrology in your lecture. Is this accepted in the Vedic scripture and by the gurus?

Prabhupada: Oh yes. Astrology means... That is also Vedic. Jyotir-veda. Jyotir-veda. That is also part of the Vedas. The brahmanas, they learn these three things: astrology and medicine. These two things. A brahmana is supposed to go to every householder's place, and he will inform, "Today is such and such tithi. The such and such thing should be done." And if required, if somebody inquires about, "Now I am going to that place. What will happen? Just find out the auspicious moment," so they will give him. Still it is current. It may be wrongly done or rightly, but the system is still there. Astrologer. The king should be always accompanied by a first-class astrologer. (break) ...there is a whole street, both sides simply astrology. (break) ...good

astrologers.

Jayahari: Astrology is very popular in the western world. (break)

Prabhupada: Where is our scientist? 

Svarupa Damodara: Here, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Oh, how are you? Thank you very much. Come on. How are you? Feeling all right? 

Dr. Wolf: Fine, thank you.

Prabhupada: Hare Krsna.

Svarupa Damodara: I brought a friend, Srila Prabhupada, from Calcutta. He was my class friend in Calcutta. He is from St. Xavier's College. He graduated.

Prabhupada: Oh. Bengali?

Sujit: Bengali. (Bengali conversation)

Prabhupada: (Bengali) ...Mahatma Gandhi Road.

Svarupa Damodara: Daniel, come here. Daniel Sardar.

Sujit: Sujit.

Prabhupada: Sujit, oh. (Bengali conversation regarding his being a student of science, chemistry and plastics engineering, and Srila Prabhupada tells him that he attended Scottish Churches' College) (break) ...astrology?

Sujit: What is my opinion?

Prabhupada: No. I am asking scientist.

Svarupa Damodara: First of all I did not believe astrology in the beginning. I thought it was a pseudo science.

Prabhupada: No, you may think, but what is the opinion of the scientist?

Svarupa Damodara: Oh, scientists would say that there is no background.

Prabhupada: So how it so happens?

Svarupa Damodara: Because they say something which cannot be proved by experimental science, that does not work, calling science.

Prabhupada: So then how do you say that life is from matter? That cannot be proved by experiment.

Svarupa Damodara: That is why they are going to prove it. They are trying to prove it.

Prabhupada: Then again, "going to prove." They cannot prove, they'll not not admit it.

Sujit: See, astrology, I think, what he said is half true. Astrology is a science but it is not an exact science like mathematics and chemistry.

Prabhupada: No, No, it is mathematics. Astrology is simply based on mathematics. Exactly.

Svarupa Damodara: To calculate the planetary...

Prabhupada: Just see. The comet...

Sujit: It is from astronomy.

Prabhupada: Astronomy, yes. Astrology is part of astronomy. Yes.

Sujit: It's part of the science. It has been accepted as part of the science.

Prabhupada: No, it is...

Svarupa Damodara: Astrological science is mostly speculative theory.

Prabhupada: Astronomy also.

Sujit: They are proving a lot of things. They are calculating when a certain star can be in certain positions.

Svarupa Damodara: No, that can be done.

Prabhupada: So our astrology is calculated by the position of the stars. By astronomy you calculate the position of the star, and they know, "If the star is in such and such position, the result will be like this." That is astrology.

Svarupa Damodara: This looks like collecting some facts from some experience.

Prabhupada: No, no. It is calculated by the astral movement. It is a great science. People do not know it now.

Svarupa Damodara: So Wolf Prabhu was telling me that "So we don't believe in astrology, but when Srila Prabhupada says, then you believe."

Prabhupada: Huh?

Svarupa Damodara: Wolf, he was telling me that, because I was telling him that I did not believe in astrology. Then one day Srila Prabhupada was talking on astrology. Then Wolf said, "If Srila Prabhupada said, then you believe. And if it is not said by Srila Prabhupada, you don't believe."

Prabhupada: No. We believe in astrology.  But because it is a difficult science, people do not understand it properly. That is another thing. In my practical life I see. In my horoscope, everything is written, what I am doing. Everything is written. So...

Svarupa Damodara: That would be called like genius. Sometimes. If somebody can predict what is going to happen in the future, can be, just like, taken...

Prabhupada: No, these astrologers can give everyone exact, the history of life, what is going to happen, what happened.

Svarupa Damodara: But it is true, though Srila Prabhupada, in our family life, when we want to do something, they always go to a...

Prabhupada: Astrologer. Yes.

Svarupa Damodara: And then they... (break end)

 

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740103MW.LA    

 

hundred miles away. 

Guru-krpa: (break) We saw from the plane.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Guru-krpa: Forty-five minutes on the plane from Miami we saw the comet.

Yasodanandana: It was there for forty-five minutes.

Prabhupada: Yes, a bad sign...

Yasodanandana: As big as the sky.

Prabhupada: How big?

Yasodanandana: Big as the sky. It was flashing for forty-five minutes, this big...

Guru-krpa: Flashing in horizontal directions.

Devotee: The four or five first flashes were very, very big and regularly every thirty seconds it was big flash, bigger than lightning, brighter, very bright.

Guru-krpa: Very brilliant.

Prabhupada: One part like this?

Guru-krpa: Yes, very fast.

Devotee: Across the sky, shooot, shooot, shooot. Very fast.

Guru-krpa: About forty-five min.., we.., it was still going but the plane passed it and it stayed behind.

Prabhupada: Uh, so, this is a bad sign. Constellation. According to astronomical calculations. Therefore we, we follow the astrology according to the constellation. The child born, everything has connection, the constellation of the star has influence on the child. So therefore the horoscope-maker takes the calculation of the constellation and then calculate what is his future. This dhumraketu is described in Dasavatara-stotra, dhumraketum iva kim api karalam. Dhumarketum iva. Dhumarketum iva kim api karalam. As soon as there is comet, there will be some disaster. Very great disaster. In our childhood we saw the comet, not this like. That was small comet. Still, the first world war was there declared. That we have seen in 1914.

Nara-narayana: Halley's comet.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Nara-narayana: I think they called it Halley's comet. Halley's comet.

Prabhupada: Now the... You can expect at any moment disaster in this material world, but the comet is the sign that there will be some great disaster. It is... This material world, in every step there is disaster. Padam padam yad vipadam. But those who have taken shelter of Krsna, the disaster is not meant for them. Samasrita ye padapallavam plavam. Padam padam yad vipadam na tesam. So how big it is?

 

740302CC.MAY   

 

born, Gargamuni, the family priest... It is the system among the Vedic culturalists that as soon as a child is born, immediately his horoscope is made and his past--future is calculated, janma-grasthi(?). So, that function on account of poverty and many other causes, nobody practically practices. But this is also one of the samskara. Before birth there is samskara, garbhadhana samskara, while the chld is within the womb, there is samskara. In this way, a human body is purified by different kinds of 

samskaras or purificatory methods. Dasabhidasamskara. Samskara 

 

751111MW.BOM

 

Harikesa: One devotee asked me, "If the scientists don't know anything about the universe, then how is it they can predict exactly when there is going to be an eclipse of the sun or the moon for hundreds of years in advance?"

Prabhupada: That is very preliminary knowledge. That is not...Just like you can predict that after two months there will be winter. That does not mean that you are very advanced scientist. (laughter) Any child can say. The rascal predicted that there is some comet, and it never appeared. He did. So therefore they are rascals. What is already scheduled, everyone knows. He can say that. (break) ...story about Kali dasa. Kali dasa was such a fool. It is a long story. It will take time. So he was sitting on a branch of a tree and cutting. So some intelligent man came, was passing: "Oh, you rascal, you'll fall down." So he did not care. He would go on. And when he actually fell down, he, "Oh, you are so nice astrologer." What is astrology? It is a common sense. If I say, "At six o'clock in the evening there will be no sun," (laughter) is that astrology? Even it is astrology, this astrology is known to everyone. Hare Krsna.

 

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Tamala Krsna: But it's not good for construction.

Jayapataka: No, no, it won't be...

Prabhupada: No, it will not continue. A few hours in a day, stop. Yadi varse maghera sesa, danda-raja punya desa. This is the month of Magha. So at the end of Magha, if there is little rain, then it is to be understood that the king of that country is very pious and blessed. This time a little rain is required. Yadi varse maghera sesa, danda raja punya desa. There is a book, Khanara Vacana, astronomical prediction in this small verses.

Jayapataka: Pradyumna prabhu had a copy of that book.

Prabhupada: Khanara Vacana?

Jayapataka: I was looking at it. It was very practical. Even how to... How many feet you should plant the different trees, banana and others.

Prabhupada: Khana was a woman, very intelligent. Wife... I think she was wife of Varaha Mihira. He was very great astrologer, and she learned from her husband, and then she explained in common language. That is Khanara Vacana.

Tamala Krsna: Who?

Prabhupada: This Khanara Vacana. She was... I think so... I don't know whether... She was the wife of a great, a very big astrologer.

Jayapataka: There was nine rsis of one raja, and then she was the daughter of one of those rsis.

Prabhupada: Oh, maybe, daughter or wife.

Jayapataka: Wife of a..., also.

Tamala Krsna: It's amazing how everything is so scientifically analyzed in the Vedas. The Westerners...

Prabhupada: Therefore we say "perfect." Sruti-pramanam.

Tamala Krsna: Even to the point of knowing about a certain amount of rain coming at the end of a particular season and how that indicates about the administration.

Prabhupada: Yes. Yes, everything. Danda raja punya desa.

 

 

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village to village, town to town. And if you keep strictly on the principles and chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra, then your mission will be successful. There is no doubt about it. So vartamano 'nyayoh kalo, there are three different features of time--past, present, and future. So those who are learned scholars, from one point, they can calculate what is the past and what is the future. Evam janmanyayor etad dharmadharma-nidarsanam. There is astrology, there are experienced persons, they can say what was the past, what will be the future, this is one side. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement is, even without any knowledge of the past, without any knowledge of the future, if you take the present opportunity, then your life is successful. The present opportunity is that in this age, Kali-yuga, Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared. Anarpita-carim cirat karunaya, what, anyone knows this verse? .vs anarpita-ciram-cirat karunayavatirnah kalau

 

 

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Adi-kesava Maharaja and others have developed it through the years now, in the last two years. (break) 

Abhiram: I just now returned from Delhi, Srila Prabhupada. 

Prabhupada: Yes. 

Abhirama: So I went to see the astrologer with Yasoda-nandana Swami, and he did more calculations on your chart.

Prabhupada:. You can get on light.

Abhirama: So basically he explained when the difficult times will come according to the planets. Then he made it very clear that beyond the planetary influence, it would be very difficult for calculations for a person in your position. For an ordinary man he can say very clearly. And he can say for you which planets will disturb, but he cannot say for sure how much they will effect because being a saintly person, there is naturally some resistance to these influences. So he made that very clear, that you should not think that these are final. So he said, according to your birth, the longevity shows very clearly. And then he gave a date. The longevity is 81 years, five months and twenty-nine days, which means February 28, 1978, six months from now. This is according to birth and stars, arrangement. But on this point he made it very clear that this was from your birth, this was set, but it can change. Due to pious activities, due to the hand of Krsna, this can change. So... And then he described that during the next six months, the first week of September, Saturn will pass over Ketu and it will agitate the influence of Ketu even more. So the first week of September the resistence will go down, will become weaker. Then he mentioned that there may be some trouble from... Maybe financial or maybe from juniors, from subordinates. Then this period, if you can pass, through 1978, then there is four or five more years clear ahead, if you can pass through "78. This was what he said, that after '78 there would be four or five years which would be more or less clear of difficulties. He said that you could go on easily for four or five years after that, if you can pass through 1978. And he said, according to birth arrangement, the fatal date is February 28, 1978, in six months. At that time there's what's called the completion of a Ketu maha-desa, which began at your birth. But he stressed several times that we should not take these calculations to be final on account of your position. He said these are for ordinary men. He said it is always the case that a man of spiritual advancement will have the ability to overcome his fate. He quoted the case of his father who was in the Sri Sampradaya and he was apparently very pious and he lived so many years beyond his fatal date. And even so many astrologers had given the calculation, but still, he went on because of... He said he would fast on ekadasi and so many days and so much jap, like that. So he said for a man of your position he could not even say for sure. He said that definitely the hand of Krsna would be involved. So like this, he seemed to have a very sober idea. And he was hopeful that the blue sapphire would have some beneficial effect, at least to relieve you to some degree. He thought that by now you should have noticed a little bit at least. (break) besides the gem, there is a good Ayurveda physician. He can also relieve the effects. That they know the art if you can find the proper man. I inquired if there is proper man in this district. He said he didn't know anyone in this area. He knows of a man in Delhi. I took his address, and I tried to contact him but I have not yet contacted him. He was not available. However, we have contacted a man... We read the report to you the other night. 

Tamal Krsna read you when we were upstairs? He was suggesting the pearl and the oxidized gold and bark of Arjuna tree. That man is the chief physician of this big Ayurvedic hospital in Delhi. He's the chief resident physician there. He lives there at the hospital and he's in charge. He has expressed a serious interest in you, and he's a very, very pious man. He wants to come to visit Vrndavana. His wife is an Ayurveda physician, he is the chief physician of the hospital and there is another professor of

Ayurveda. They all want to see if they can offer some suggestion. So on Sunday...

Prabhupada: Why not bring them?

Abhirama: Yes. On Sunday we have arranged. They will come for a visit of Vrndavana and they will come to see you to see if they can relieve you of some difficulty. As far as we could find in Delhi, these are the most reputed men, and they are actively practicing and teaching. They are recognized.

Prabhupada: Make that arrangement. Yes. On Sunday?

Abhirama: Yes, on Sunday, Srila Prabhupada. Today is Thursday. So these were the major points, Srila Prabhupada. For six months there's trouble, especially in first week of September. And if you can pass through '78, then he sees four or five years ahead clear.

Tamal-krsna: That means divine intervention, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: The chant is given. The calculation there is finished. That doesn't matter. Rather, if I am finished now, it will be glorious.

Tamal-krsna: It will be what, Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: Glorious.

Tamal-krsna: Living will also be glorious.

Prabhupada: Yes. Let us see.... as Krsna desires. All right. Thank you. Would you like to send to that Nabadwip astrologer?

Tamal-krsna: Yes, I'm going to write to Jayapataka this evening. I'll give him the information.

Prabhupada: You have got the janma.

Tamal-krsna: Oh, yes. I'll have Abhirama... What he has given, I'll have him write it up and add it to that other report. I have a file I'm keeping in case you want to hear again. Pradyumna is here, Srila Prabhupada. Would you like to hear Caitanya-caritamrta?

Prabhupada: Yes. (break) Can you guarantee life? Then you are controller. Your socalled advanced medicine or adavanced knowledge has no meaning. You have to die. Then where is the 

 

 

 

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stay nicely.

Tamal-krsna: Prasadam.

Prabhupada: Prasadam. And remain here for some time. Of course, according to my horoscope, these days are my last days. But if Krsna saves, that is a different thing. They have calculated eighty-two years and two months?

Tamal-krsna: Eighty-one years, five months, and twenty-eight days.

Prabhupada: That is the.., according to calculation of my horoscope. Eighty-one years will be completed, and eighty-second year will begin. It doesn't matter. I leave this body. Even in death I'll live. One year before or one year after... Now as far as possible, I have trained you. Try to follow the principles. And go ahead. Don't be set back by maya's tricks. Go ahead, forward, at any cost. Bhaktivinoda Thakura said... So many obstacles are coming. Maya is strong. And still, we are going forward. That's all right.

Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada. (break)

Sruta-kirti: ...started on the beach walk at Pico Blvd. and went down to Venice Beach and you used to walk, on Venice Beach.

 

 

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nails.

Hamsaduta: Prabhupada you've become so thin. You've become so thin. You have to become better.

Bhagatji: (Hindi)

Prabhupada: (Hindi) (Pause) (Break) 

Hari-sauri: Of course, you have so many disciples around the world who are always praying for your health, so ten brahmanas would not achieve very much. He repeated also what he said before that the period up until next March would be very difficult time.

Prabhupada: Hm?

Hari-sauri: He said that up until next March, that would be a very difficult time. But if Your Divine Grace goes beyond that time, then for three or four years then health will return.

Prabhupada: Back side itching.

Hari-sauri: All the back? Are these astrological charts very much applicable for a devotee, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: No.

Hari-sauri: Because Krsna can do anything.

Prabhupada: Yes. (break) Tamal Krsna. Tamal Krsna.

Tamala Krsna: Yes, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: Don't waste money for this astrology.

Tamala Krsna: In London when we were going to get the astrologer to do, when I heard it was expensive, then we cancelled. How much money he is asking here?

Hari-sauri: He didn't say a price He said it would take two or three days to do a detailed chart.

Prabhupada: It is useless. Better arrange as many hours as possible to chant kirtana. That is... 

Tamala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada? Today we did kirtana starting in the afternoon till the evening. So do you want more than that?

Prabhupada: I can hear day and night.

Tamala Krsna: So should we arrange..? Maybe we should arrange starting in the morning going till night.

Prabhupada: That is according to your convenience. But kirtana is very sweet.

Hari-sauri: Last June we were doing twenty-four hours.

Prabhupada: That is real business. These astrologer are karmis. We have nothing to do with the karmi.

Hari-sauri: Their measurement of happiness and distress is how much nice wife and children they get and how much money they get.

Prabhupada: Yes. Bhagavata reading and kirtana... Hm. Hm.

Hari-sauri: They don't understand that the real happiness is giving every-thing to Krsna.

Prabhupada: Yes. Don't waste time and money in any other way.

Tamala Krsna: Sometimes I find that you're sleeping, Srila Prabhupada. So I was just wondering at night when you do most of your sleeping whether we should still do kirtana. I was thinking that we could do it up until nine o'clock at night and then begin in the morning again.

Prabhupada: No.

Tamala Krsna: You'd like it to be throughout the night?

Prabhupada: Um hm.

Tamala Krsna: Okay. We'll have enough people here so that we can do it. We will start this tomorrow, Srila Prabhupada, tomorrow morning, because it's difficult to arrange now. Most of the devotees have begun to take rest.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: They'll definitely like it, though, because 

 

 

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 .he 771008R2.VRN

 

 

Room Conversation

 

Vrndavana, October 8, 1977

 

 

Tamal-krsna: ...reading of your chart for free Srila Prabhupada. The man is a devotee. I thought it would be good to read to you. His name is Gopesh Kumar Ojah, and his son's name is Asutosh Ojah.

Brahmananda: He asked for Prabhupada's blessing.

Tamal-krsna: Yes. He wanted your blessings. He says... This is a very detailed chart he did. And the calculations are given. He said Sukra as Muntesa, Varsa-lagnesh, has no directional strength. Therefore the solar return is not good. The lord of the sixth house if conjunct Mangal, not good. The following days are not auspicious. the 27-28 of September, 24-25 of October, 20, 21, and 22 of November, and 3 and 4 of December. He says, "Srila Prabhupadaji is at present undergoing the fag end of Ketu Mahadasa and it will last until the 13th of January, 1978. Ketu is in the eight house.

Brahmananda: Means death.

Tamal-krsna: The eight house is called the house of death. He says Ketu is in the eight house with the sun, which is the lord of the eight house, and Krusu? (Guru--Jupiter), the lord of the twelfth and third houses. They are all in the eighth house. Mercury in Ketu started from 16th January. Budha (Mercury) is the satesa(?) (lord of the 6th, editor) also, disease. Sani has gone to the eighth house, which is the house of death, from the 7th September. That's the day you had your operation. Sani as lagnesh in the eight house and the transit over Jupiter and Ketu. The negative effect continues throughout October 1977, November 1977, and from the first of December 1977 Saturn becomes almost stationary and becomes more malific. Saturn becomes even worse. In January 1978 until April 1978 it again traverses the same degrees and becomes stagnant on Jupiter and Ketu in the last week of February. The native has...

Prabhupada: January '77 we have passed.

Tamal-krsna: January '78, Srila Prabhupada. It says that you're supposed to have lived for seventy-five years, but everything beyond that was an extension by Krsna. 

Prabhupada: Where is... 

Tamal-krsna: Juice? They're just making it, Srila Prabhupada. It says here that the moon is in the eight house which is very bad. The patient may not recover. Then he gives various planets which are also not well aligned. The conjunction of another two planets is very bad. Hospitalization and ill health are intensified in the present year. The days which are not good is when the moon passes in the 22nd to the 23rd of naksatra, which are 27-28 of September, 24-25 October, then some days in November and December. He says Surya will apply for Rahu on Saturday, the 8th of October. That's today. This is very bad, this day. Today is Ekadasi. Surya will apply for Rahu. Prashna, Lagnesh, Mangal, in the eight house. The medicine will not give any relief. The native will make a fight for life as Surya-Mangal are good friends and Saturn, or Sani and Sukra are enemies. There is no benefics in nine, six, eleven and three. Mangal indicates the effects of Sakini. There is difficulty in recovery. The seventh dasa starts on the 13th of January, 1978. It says. "We have noticed that the periods are all negative until March-April 1978, and the main trouble was due to Sani. We suggested that blue sapphire be tried, and he should keep it on. Hospitalization and travels are indicated." Then he says the worst days of all for you are today and tomorrow. He says it is very negative, as well as the llth which is mixed. But these are all very inauspicious days. The 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, and llth of October. He says the only remedy in this case is to do maha-mrtyum-jaya japa and havan. Previously also, now also, we have recommended Siva. Lord Siva is the presiding Deity of Sani, and with this the native will be able to overcome disease and lifespan increases. 

Hari-sauri: That's the mantra he gave to me.

Tamal-krsna: Astrologically it is up to the eighty-one years, four months approximately. Says, "Japa and havan." Prabhupada: Chant Hare Krsna. It is finished. So where is juice? You're asking him for juice.

Tamal-krsna: Grape juice.

Prabhupada: You sit down and chant.

Tamal-krsna: I think that's why you're having difficulty this morning now also. These days now are very difficult. The only reason I felt to read this is this man is not trying to make money. He did not charge anything. I didn't feel that he was simply doing it as a business.

Prabhupada: It is not prepared? And you were asking me if you can...

Tamal-krsna: When I asked you was... You took rest again, Srila Prabhupada, so I couldn't make it at that time. We started it at the bathing time.

Prabhupada: How long it takes?

Tamal-krsna: It shouldn't take this long. (pause)

Prabhupada: More. (Pause)

Tamal-krsna: I'll rearrange it, Prabhupada. 

Prabhupada: I want to lie down. 

Hari-sauri: Come acomude(?) this side of Srila Prabhupada. I'a going to take these clothes away.

Prabhupada: Oh. 

Tamal-krsna: Srila Prabhupada? Do you want a little more juice? Sit you up for a minute just to drink this juice? You want some more now or a little later?

Prabhupada: Later.

Tamal-krsna: Okay. (soft kirtana starts--break)

Prabhupada: Now you accept this. Live very simple life and you save time for channting Hare Krsna.

Hansadutta: Yes, Prabhupada.

 

 

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fight is between government and them.

Jayapataka: Many barristers in Calcutta say that if due to political pressure, this or that, some people come and ask us to try to file a petition for dropping charges, that there's no need to do that because the case is well in our favor.

Prabhupada: Yes. If you drop, they get opportunity.

Jayapataka: Yes. No, we have no intention to drop the charges. That will not clear our name. The day I returned, the Secretary  General... Rather, the General Secretary of the State Congress Party, Mr. K.K. Sukla, he just happened to visit our mandir, and he heard the whole story and he said that he'll give whatever support he can, and if they get back into any power, then he'll see that our programs get full assistance. Then our lawyer told us that he has been talking to some ministers in the present Communist government and they're saying that they're willing to support our movement if we do some works that are beneficial for the people. They're not saying that we're not doing any so far, but any other things like the bridges or the schemes we have, they're willing to give us support for those. By your mercy everything is gradually changing around. The Tantric astrologer there he gave some predictions.

Prabhupada: What is that?

Jayapataka: Well, about two weeks ago he had told Bhavananda that he would be called to Vrndavana and that all the GBCs or leaders of the Society would be called to Vrndavana to see Your Divine Grace. He said that actually Your Divine Grace is a pure Vaisnava and like type of avatara, empowered person of Krsna, so that he shouldn't really speak anything because he's simply a Tantric type of astrologer 'cause you are able to change your fate or change according to your desire. He predicted that all the GBCs would be coming. He said that up till the November 28th is the last date of the sickness, and that after that, then your sickness... You would take a month or so to fully recuperate, and then from January, on you'd be quite healthy again, and for at least seven years you wouldn't have any trouble with health. The

big day... He put the biggest day at November 28th.

Hari-sauri: The worst day?

Jayapataka: That's the end of the bad period.

Hari-sauri: I'll get the other chart. This man in Delhi did another chart.

Prabhupada: Why November 28th?

Jayapataka: Why? That's just his... He may or may not be accurate.

Bhavananda: What is the occurrence on that day?

Jayapataka: He said that that's the last day of the...

Bhavananda: That's the day Venus changes houses.

Prabhupada: Hm?

Kirtanananda: That's the day Venus changes houses.

Jayapataka: He said that he is praying that Krsna will keep you here 'cause without a pure devotee in the world then everything becomes dark.

 

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they're engaged at that time.

Prabhupada: According to horoscope, life is finished. Still, I living. What should be the interpretation?

Kirtanananda: The interpretation.

Svarupa Damodara: About the conference?

Prabhupada: No, about... About me.

Hari-sauri: Life is different from matter.

Kirtanananda: Srila Prabhupada, even the astrologers all say that you are transcendental, that if you want, you can change your horoscope. And that's what you told us, that Krsna said the choice is up to you.

Prabhupada: So what do you think?

Tamal-krsna: I think, Srila Prabhupada, that you should continue to try, and Krsna will help you because we all want you. The whole world wants you very much and there's no reason why Krsna cannot do this. If we remain determined, then Krsna will surely fulfill our desires. We're not desiring it for any selfish reason that you should live. We're desiring for the benefit of the whole world. There's every reason to continue to try and make the effort to remain.

Prabhupada: So something to eat. What shall I eat?

Svarupa Damodara: Something liquid. (whispering among disciples)

Kirtanananda: Three hours later.(whispering among disciples)

Prabhupada: They cannot come for three days. Eh?

Svarupa Damodara: Many are coming for three days except a few. From Agra I expect about fifty, and from Mathura there will be about fifteen to twenty, and from Delhi I expect about thirty for tomorrow. Then, on Saturday, Sunday... Sunday is going to be... Everybody's coming on Sunday, whomever  I invited, in Delhi schools and colleges are still going on.

Prabhupada: Fifty, fifteen.

Svarupa Damodara: Yes. So it will be about a hundred. These are

 

 

 

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Upendra: Would you like this side for a change, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krishna: I'll be in the next room, Srila Prabhupada. (break) Shall I get the report? You want me to get the report of the astrologer? 

Prabhupada: Hm.

Tamala Krishna: Okay. Here's Kirtanananda Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: So the final inauspicious day is not come yet.