an e magazine from ASSAM & NAGALAND      

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE FOR VEDIC ASTROLOGY

astrology with astrophysics met with only limited success, and that too in the form of general comments made by H. J. Eysenck and D. K. B. Nias (Astrology: Science of Superstition. 1982) connecting terrestrial biological phenomena with solar emission. P. Seymour (Astrology: The Evidence of Science. 1988) has opened a new horizon in this direction, but the inherent weakness of his work is that he could not successfully convince the readers that astrological tenets and canons by and large follow established rules of astrophysics.

The toughest problem in our endeavour to establish a tangible link between astrology and experimentally verifiable science was how to select a procedure by which one can correlate astrological rules with the fluctuations of energy regime on the earth's surface. Astrological predictions even if successful in fulfilling the prophecy cannot be accepted as a basis because they are subjective by nature. As for example, a prediction, "a person will be rich" can be quarried with "how much money makes a person rich?" He will have sons -how many?" He will be disease prone -how sick? etc.

To facilitate pure scientific investigation, one should be able to reduce all relevant data into numerical values, and if that is not possible, at least to some measurable standard units. In those cases where the strength of the planets (grahabala), the Naksatras, or strength of planetary aspects are given numerical values, or classified into groups having common denominators by classical Indian astrologers as Parasara, Yavanacharya, Varahamihira, Mantreswara etc. it becomes comparatively easy to attribute 'value' or unit of strength to celestial bodies.

As we do not have any precedence in this type of investigation we had to establish our own ground rules.

1. No attempt to establish credibility or veracity of astrological predictions is to be made.

2. No attempt will be made to synchronize lunar -stellar conjunctions (Astakas or Muhurtas) given in the standard Indian almanacs (Panchangs, base of elective predictions) with the astrophysical data on day to day variation of solar energy reaching the earth's atmosphere within the 27-day solar-terrestrial electromagnetic variation cycles as such synchronization will always be temporary in nature. The time length of the '27-day' lunar-stellar conjunction cycle and the 27-day solar-terrestrial energy variation cycle is not completely equal. This is probably one of the reasons why elective astrology gives above fifty percent correct results (or else it would not have survived) but never approaches 'cent percent accuracy'. It gradually got overshadowed by comparatively more 'accurate' zodiacal-ascendant astrology where rectification is much easier. The correct results will be above average when the synchronization is on, and as per law of average when the synchronization is ineffective.

3. Vedic sages and their intellectual heirs grouped the stars into constellations (Naksatras), each group identifiable by one or more signifying stars (chihna taraka or joga taraka). These Naksatras are included in different 'classes' and to each group particular type of functions or lordship over particular type of job was alloted. Naksatras belonging to a single class will lord over functions having similarity in nature, and the level of energy required to complete the job would be same or nearly equal.

4. Our endeavour will be to demonstrate that the periodic or sequential position of a Naksatra having lordship over 'high energy' functions in the 27 Naksatra series will correspond to the sequential position of a 'high energy day' in the 27-day solar -terrestrial electromagnetic fluctuation cycle, and the same correspondence should hold true in the case of 'low energy Naksatras' with 'low energy days', and 'stable Naksatras' with days of minimum magnetic fluctuations or disturbances.

The correspondence of periodicities beyond what is dictated by law of average will indicate that the synchronization has been done deliberately (not by chance), and as the ancient astrologers could not have passed instruments to measure the intensity of solar magnetism on day to day basis, indirect inferences must have been drawn from statistics of observed results, and these results are following a definite pattern.