WHEN TO APPROACH AN ELECTIONAL ASTROLOGER
- GUIDANCE IN VEDIC ELECTIONAL ASTROLOGY
…… by V K Shridhar
Only Vedic Electional (Muhurt) astrology is capable to render complete guidance to aspirants as to when & when-not approach an Electional Astrologer. Limited information is available in western astrology, which is still under developing stages.
We have different branches of knowledge; science, history, economics, medicine, …; but none provides us any guidance / clue as to when an important life activity should be initiated so as to ensure highest certainty in its fruition. Here is Vedic Electional astrology (called Muhurt or Muhurtha) – which provides complete guidance to aspirants in their evolution. In this paper the author discusses as to when an aspirant should approach for election & when not.
Western astrology scantly deals with electional astrology. Hebrew astrologers had formulated some rudiments of Electional astrology. About 200 years ago Ben Franklin formed Farmer’s almanac for guidance in agriculture elections. William Ramesey touched some topics of elections. Vivian E. Robson in his book “Electional Astrology” has observed that “… I am filling a serious gap in astrological literature, for no book on Electional Astrology has ever before been published,..” Yet we find a huge numbers of electional astrologers in web sites following western astrology, & professionally guiding the aspirants.
Western astrologers, following Tropical system of astrology, have developed this branch based on Horary astrology & collection of stray references in their primitive astrological books; & are guiding aspirants as per their own astrological skill. On the contrary this branch was fully developed & laid down on Vedic literature & canonical treatises. Rather Vedic literature deals with propitiation & electional astrology, and other branches of Hindu astrology were evolved thereafter there from. It has withstood test of time for the last 5 millenniums. Specialization in different branches of Vedic astrology can be gauged from the fact that the exponents of Vedic Muhurtha, did deal with only this specific branch & did not write treatises on other branches of astrology. Only exception is that the great Acharya Varahmihir touched only one topic of election in traveling. Specialization in different fields of Hindu astrology in the inicient era was the hallmark. It is most regrettable that now-a -days astrologers deal with all branches of astrology, & do render guidance also. There is emergent need for specialist in different fields of astrology.
Aspirants before seeking guidance in electional astrology, may dare to ask one question from his astrologer: how many books on electional astrology he possesses in his library. Has he read about the subject ? The author has met some leading astrologers in the country & has found that there was no book on the subject in their library, still they rendered guidance on events of national importance, what to talk about personal matters.
In Hindu system of astrology, astrology is given status of “eyes of Vedas”, as one can perceive past, present & future through this futurity branch of knowledge; then its most useful branch – Election (Muhurtha) – has a rightful status of “brain”; as certain moments are auspicious / fruitful than other, is known through electional astrology only. And aspirant is rendered guidance to plan birth of life events for fruition of aspirants desires through astrological, spiritual, mundane, environmental omen & sound energies available at the moment of initiation of the selected activity.
Astrology emanates from spiritualism. Thus Vedic system of electional astrology deals exclusively about elections related to spiritual; activities. But simultaneously it also guides the aspirants about his mundane activities. It is essential for an aspirant to know as to when he should approach electional astrologer & when-not.
WHEN ELECTION (MUHURT) IS REQUIRED
Hindu system of Electional (Muhurt) astrology covers all the life activities right from conception to performing of the last rites after death. It also covers some activities on which there is no human control; like puberty & teething; with a view to take precautionary measures in addition to delineating their effects. Like horoscopy deals with only one radical chart at the birth time, Election (Muhurt) deals with figures of the Heaven at each activity conducted by the doer after his birth. Wise men who believe in human effort (Purushartha) & intent to endeavour for the righteous effort at right time, take the benefit of the knowledge blessed by our Sages. The guidance provided by this branch of knowledge is fundamental, & when effectively used along with the sound professional knowledge related to the activity, degree of success & fruition (Siddhi) is almost certainly assured.
Hindu electional astrology since the time immemorial from the birth of the Vedas is being profitably used in Yagyas (ceremony in which oblations are offered) & performing Samskaras (pronounced as Sanskaras - sacraments for purification of the body, mind & soul). None of these rites were thought possible without auspicious Election (Muhurt). Without auspicious Election (Muhurt) they lose their purpose of purification.
By acting on auspicious Election (Muhurt) for conception & Punvasan Samskaras (sanctification of pregnant woman), one can have choice of sex of progeny; safety & health of foetus can be assured through Seemanta Samskar (for health of foetus); warding of evil effects of planets & adverse birth time through Jaatakaram Samskar (for destroying evil effects on newly born); higher level in wisdom, education, wealth & profession is achievable through Vidyaarambh (starting of education) Samskar; longevity, health, disease free life through tonsure Samskar; continuous gain of ornaments & the like through ear boring Samskar; spiritual development & purification through Upanayana Samskar (wearing a scared thread); health & proper medical development through Aanaprashan (first feeding to a child) & first feeding in milk; peace of the departed soul through proper last rites; are achieved on compliance of prescribed Election (Muhurt)
Regarding marriage related activities, one should seek election for engagement, sending invitation cards, solemnizing of marriage, first sexual union & first return of bride to her father’s house; to ensure mutual love, virtuous wife and, felicitous & harmonious married life.
In lot many day to day activities, Election (Muhurt) has its role in achieving higher success through lesser efforts. Measure of pleasure & fruition of the desires are enhanced. Election (Muhurt) has its application in all the times to come including in the present socio-political & religious environments. Head of the state or Prime Minister shall have stable government, trouble free from foreign attacks or victory over enemy, better financial status & overall prosperity through oath / coronation at an auspicious Election (Muhurt); war can be won if started at a selected time; safety & defence of army personnel in wearing of arms in specified election has been recommended; aspirants must join service for betterment of career at properly selected time; good yield, more fruits in starting tilling, sowing, harvesting storing in agriculture can certainly be expected if started at a fortunate time; for early removal of illness specific time has been prescribed for preparation & administration of medicine & taking bath on recovery.
For constructional related activities; starting digging, laying foundation, fixing door frames & entrance gate, entering into house at a pre-determined auspicious time shall ensure safety, welfare, progeny & fortunes to the habitants.
Start of a travel of importance at favourable time for an aspirant shall surely bring success to him; wearing of ornaments & clothes in the prescribed Election (Muhurt) shall lead to prosperity & well being; fast progress, development & profits are assured in new venture & business initiated at felicitous Election (Muhurt). Purchase & sale of animal & their rearing; installation of idol of Gods also require election. Hindu astrology has separate treatises on war & the like activities, in which specific advice is rendered to the aspirant kings.
Generally election is advised for important life activities which have important effect on the life of an aspirant. Since astrology emanates from spiritualism, election is generally selected for auspicious activities, & not immoral / malefic activities like making a theft, deceiving some one, terrorist activities etc.
Now a days only marriage & ‘Jaatakaram’ (for destroying evil effects on newly born) ceremony to are performed with Election (Muhurt) by majority of people, & in some other Samkaras, Election (Muhurt) is followed in some regions of India. The last Antyeshti Samskar (rituals after the death) after death is followed by majority due to social customs & compulsions
The author feels that one of most important election is the first feeding of the child. It lays foundation of strength for the full life span of the child & ensures regular meals served with love, dignity & pleasure – the most sought for blessing by a human being. Importance to this election should be similar to the importance for election related to conception.
WHEN ELECTION (MUHURT) IS NOT REQUIRED
Election (Muhurt / Muhurtha) has emanated from Vedas, Shaastras, Puraanas, Shrutis, Smritis, scriptures, and other canonical, religious & mythological holy books. Thus religious dictums have precedence over the astrological aphorisms. Social environment & customs in which a native lives has over-riding importance over the religious instructions / dictums. Thus customs followed from time to time in family, society & country should also be given due weightage while deciding an election.
In the matters of daily routine & the activities performed daily, do not require Election (Muhurt). Like a person who daily shaves, need not follow Election (Muhurt) but shall do better to avoid after-noon & malefic days like Tuesday & Saturday, especially night-time. Special relaxations are made in certain elections like in shaving & hair cutting which can be done even on inauspicious day during pilgrimage, annual Sharadh (oblation to dead) of parents, before sexual union, on drinking, for servants of the king, artists taking part in plays & cinematography, on order of Brahmin or king, Deeksha related to Yagya, Agnayadhan, marriage, on death of parents, coming out of prison, during 10 days after birth & death (Janma & Maran Ashaucha) & by widows.
Like a person who has to travel urgently without having time to consult ephemeris or astrologer, he may travel to meet the exigencies like performance of death rites, to attend marriage & the like rites, on hearing obituary news. But can certainly eat, touch, donate or think of the specific items to facilitate the journey. maleficence (Doshas) in travel are not applicable in journeys performed in war, famine, natural calamities, attack, curse of king etc.
A bank or a commercial organisation engaged in daily transactions of crediting, debiting & lending money or sale purchase, may not conduct all the activities in Election (Muhurt), but should certainly avoid lending money to specific person on a malefic day or Wednesday or without Election (Muhurt) when a significant big deal is made.
When election for a major event is selected then, it is not required for other related activities. Like in election for marriage, there is no need for separate election for starting travel for marriage, decoration or beautification of the bride.
First dating may require election but not the subsequent ones.
Trifling matters like taking & receiving gifts, daily / routine visit to place of worship, writing routine letters, purchase of routine domestic letters, washing of clothes, joining a party & celebrations etc. etc. letters
ADVISORY ROLE IN ELECTIONAL ASTROLOGY
In addition to prescribing opportune / auspicious time for initiating an activity, the electional branch of Hindu astrology also advises / warns the doers about the prohibited periods for various activities. It also delineates about the adverse effects when specific activity is performed during malefic / inauspicious/ prohibited time.
In addition to prescribing different remedial measures on birth in inauspicious periods; other natural phenomenon like puberty has been very extensively dealt with, along with remedial measures, if it happens on an unfortunate time. Sages have conveyed that in female horoscopy in addition to radical chart delineations, fortune & virtues in a female are indicated from the time of her puberty, engagement, & first sexual union (Nisheka). Indeed the last three acts can be well controlled (made fortunate) through the knowledge; to inculcate virtues to have felicitous married life & to bring fortunes in females’ lives.
Matching of horoscopes of couple for felicity in marriage, relations between two individuals, selection of place or locality for habitation, suitability of certain facets of architecture of house etc. are some of the life activities where knowledge of Muhurt plays a guiding role.
It also guides as to when the remedial measures like fast, donations, ritual bath, Yagyas, Homas (oblations) are to be performed for their maximum effects. When to learn & recite mantras, (Japa, Tapa) are covered in this knowledge. Detailed prescriptions have been made to take medicinal baths to ward off evil effect of planets in transit & eclipses. References have also been made to gem therapy & propitiations for portents & omens. The core concept of the Hindu Muhurt Gian (electional prudence) is to donate Prakash (enlighten) to an aspirant enable him conduct all his life activities at the appropriate moments assuring him achievement of Siddhis(fruition).
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V K Shridhar is author of compendium on Vedic Muhurt astrology title “Hindu Electional Astrology”. E-mail : besttime.astrology@gmail.com.
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