By Abhaya Mudra Dasi
Who would not miss Aindra Prabhu? Even the dham of Vrindavan will miss him. Whoever has listened to his bhajan has been transferred into the Vaikunta realm by a unique and outer-worldly sound vibration. I remember the times in Bulgaria when we were living under very austere temple conditions: taking baths in snow water, freezing in the winter and squashing body to body in the small rooms. We were preaching boldly in the streets and constantly listening to Aindra Prabhu. The sound of his chanting was similar to boarding an airplane that snatches away the conditioned souls from every misery of the material existence.
It was Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, who was dissatisfied by mere beautiful melodies accompanying the most exalted Hare Krishna mahamantra. To make this point clear, the Acharya once switched the most experienced kirtan leader amongst his disciples to a devotee who had no vocal capabilities. Exquisite sound vibration has noting to do with the potency of the maha mantra. Aindra Prabhu profoundly understood this principle. His singing of the mahamantra was infused with laulyam, a most intense desire to join the Supreme Lord in His pastimes. Melody was not important to Aindra Prabhu. The notes were only a means to express his craving to have Shri Krishna in person. And still his bhajans have the most unique sound vibration coming as prove that the Spiritual world is so vast and deeply special.
Dearmost to all devotees, Aindra Prabhu has carved an extraordinary example. His desire to be constantly emerged in crying for Krishna can be reproduced in any corner of the world. If the crying of one person for Shri Krishna in a spot of Vrindavan can have such a deep effect on the minds of all devotees around the world, then–if every devotee prays to Shri Shri Radha Krishna with intensity 24 hours a day–the word will be spiritualized. It really will. Location is not important. The spiritual world is manifested within the mahamantra. The topmost abode is there where a pure devote resides. Those were some of the feelings I absorbed from Aindra Prabhu.
His appeal to all devotees of Shri Krishna residing currently in this earthly dimension was to love the mahamantra. I have a feeling that in his last lectures he was expressing readiness for an ultimate empowerment. The time and place he left this world show that he has joined Their Lordships Shri Shri Radha Krishna, but not for long. The parallels with Narada Muni’s previous life are striking. Aindra Prabhu was always engaged in constant remembrance of the Absolute Truth and material recognition was not important to him: “Thus I began chanting the holy name and fame of the Lord by repeated recitation, ignoring all formalities of the material world. Such chanting and remembrance of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord are benedictory… “(SB 1.6.26) He left this world fast in an experience compared to a lightning: “And so, O brahmana Vyasadev, in due course of time I, who was fully absorbed in thinking of Krishna and therefore had no attachments, being completely freed from material taints, met with death, as lighting and illumination occur simultaneous.” (SB 1.6.7)
Aindra Prabhu left this world in the holy dham of Vrindavan in the presence of His Deities and shaligram shilas, bowing down to them, uttering the holy name. The time of departure shared by his nearby friends shows a moment of astronomical conjunction of the default atma-karaka (soul significator) Sun with dharma-karaka (self-realization significator) Jupiter in the highest drekkana*. Doubtless, all these facts add to the conclusion about Aindra Prabhu’s ultimate designation.
Still, the words of his later lectures, so deeply infused with the style of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, displayed his intense desire to be engaged in the ultimate preaching of the holy name. Srila Prabhupada was once asked by a senior disciple if there are devotees who never get liberated from the material world. His Divine Grace answered that those are the acharyas. Narada Muni, the space traveler, is one such Acharya. And now we have witnessed the final departure of a devotee who has prayed for such an exalted position. We all love Aindra Prabhu and pray for his blessings. For his red hair and ruddy complexion, signs of a strong Mars, have been ultimately transformed into the most intense spiritual passion to never give up the Holy Name and always inspire others for the ultimate achievement of:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krshna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
*Drekkana – a “divisional chart”, produced by dividing the rashi chart into three parts. Consequently a planet from the rashi chart is transferred into a position in the drekkana chart according its division of degrees. Previous and future lives can clearly be seen from the drekkana chart.
You said:
I have read jyotish classics extensively and have found no such reference regarding Drekkana and past and future lives. Can you please provide jyotish sastra pramana to support this claim of yours.
In fact there are very few and scanty references in classics regarding past and future lives and none of them reference Drekkana so I will be very interested to know what your source for this is.
Thank you for reading my article Atmavidya Prabhu.
Why not just write to me at dkrishna108@yahoo.com?
Abhaya Mudra Dasi
Hare Krsna Prabhu,
Please accept my deepest pranams. Jaya Jaya Prabhupada!
I am noticing herein reference to Aindra Kirtanchandra prabhu’s jyotish data. Is that available for personal study?
warmest regards
y.a.s
Mohinimurti dd
NSW Australia
ref #3
Dear Mataji,
Hari Bol! All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
You made your authoritative statement in a public forum so why not answer in the same way so that all other interested parties can get the benefit. Or are you now only going to answer queries in private regarding public authoritative statements that you have made?
I don’t know if I am the only one but this seems more than a bit odd.
Either you have jyotish sastra pramana to support your statements or you don’t. If you do then please present them. If not then I guess you wont, in which case you should say that it is not based on pramana but according to your own ideas–the “Abhaya Mudra Samhita.”
In any case your answer like your categorical statements should be public not private.
Ad
Dear Mohinimurti dd,
There is no information openly available on the Aidra Prabhu’s birth date and date of disappearance. You can contact AindrasFan Circle on Facebook. They will be able to provide you with information for your personal study.
AMD
Dear Atmavidya Prabhu,
Thank you again for your interest. The reason I want you to contact me is because in this way we can discuss and share information. If you are satisfied only by my answer here it is fine with me.
The writings of Viyasadeva are mainly composed to benefited the mankind in Kali Yuga. This has been confirmed by him in Srimad Bhagavatam in his conversation to his spiritual master Narada Muni. The writings of Parashara Muni, the father of Vyasadeva, similarly give the foundation for astrology in Kaly Yuga. There are also other great astrologers as Brighu and Gargamuni, whose treatises are mostly lost in Kali Yuga.
continues next…
The study of the drekkana chart is laid down by Parashara Muni in Parashara Hora Shastra. It has been future developed by his followers and students who has added their own purports to the main rules. Matreshvara for example, with reference to Parashara has written his Phaladeepika. Other astrologers, who come from different schools but revere Parashara, have made contributions to the interpretation of the drekkana chart as well. Achyuta Daivajna Nadi who is in the line of jyotish coming from Brighu Muni has written volumes on nadi astrology with interpretation of the drekkana sub-divisional chart called Deva Keralam. Jaganath Rath, the main astrologer of Orissa in the mids of 20th century has made a special contribution to the Jaganath drekkana interpretation. Of course Jaimini in his Upadesha Sutras, Varahamurti in his Brigat Jataka and King Kalyana Varma in his Sarvali all give presentations on the drekkana varga chart.
An experienced astrologer may seem to make his or her rules but those are always based on the previous authorities. If we have to discuss how this new rules are made we have to go and look for the origins of knowledge. How this knowledge, which emanates from the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be ever contained unchanged when Shri Krishna in the form of Paramatma is in everyones heart. It is obvious that because of this fact everyone is given the right to contribute and share knowledge, and still Knowledge stays the same. What is substance of Knowledge and what is Original Knowledge? Shri Krishna is the source of all Knowledge and if you want to know something you can ask Him directly. Why not? He is also in your heart.
I have made a presentation to glorify Sriman Aidra Prabhu — his exemplary life and departure. With or without astrology his greatness cannot be denied. It is only my contribution to add one jyotish fact in his glorification.
As for the title of the book you are suggesting, it is interesting because it has already been implied to me by a body of friends…
I would like to share with you an article on the drekkana of Lord Chaitanya published on Mithuna Twiins web site for your pleasure. It shows a factual application of the drekkana chart to past lives since we know that Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
http://www.vedicastrologers.org/www.vedicastrologers.org/Articles/Entries/2010/8/14_Drekkanas_of_Lord_Chaitanyas_Horoscope.html
Your servant,
Abhaya Mudra Dasi
Re: # 7 & 8
My Paramatma disagrees with your Paramatma.
Dear Mataji,
Hari Bol. Thank you for taking the time to answer my comment even if it was a challenge.
However, you have not actually answered it. All you have done is said that Drekkana chart has been mentioned in various texts like Bhrhat Parasara Hora Sastra, Phala Dipika, Candra Kala Nadi (aka DevaKeralam), Brihat Jataka, Saravali, and works of Sanjay Rath on Jaimini—you mentioned his grand father whom Sanjay Rath misleading says was a great astrologer of Orissa to bolster his own position (Sanjay cannot be trusted as he is a gross speculator and known to cheat and lie, someone else pointed this out before). This seems to exhaust your library (-:
You forgot to mention that Varaha Mihira gives more than one definition of Drekkana, the one he uses and the one advocated by Yavanas.
There is also Parivrittitraya and Somanatha drekkanas used by some Jaimini followers.
Practically every classical text gives a definition and use of drekkana so what you have given is nothing new.
However none tell us to find out past or future birth from Drekkana. Phala Dipika discusses about past and future life at the end of the 14th chapter, it is mostly a rehash of Brhat Jataka but drekkanas do not figure into the picture.
So far no classical author mentions use of drekkana for purva or uttara janma. And, Varaha Mihira in Brhat Jataka 25.15 tells us to refer to higher works of astrology to determine other lives. You have only mentioned lower not higher works.
You state:
But previous authorities do not support use of drekanna for other births. You have not bought any proof from previous authorities to support this. So what you are saying is not based on them but either on your own or someone else’s (Sanjay Ratha??) speculations (guesses).
continued …
Part 2
Then you said:
I consulted Paramatma and He told me that you don’t know what you are talking about and are speculating. He also said that you should stop doing it. He said that internal revelations have to be confirmed by guru, sadhu and sastra (GSS), if not, then they are our mental concoctions and delusions.
Hmm seems like my paramatma disagrees with your paramatma. Whose is right?
On another point predicting about past and future births is the favorite playground of those who can’t predict about this life. Predictions about other lives can’t be verified while those of this life can. Hence the appeal to predict about other lives by talentless astrologers.
You said:
It is certainly our duty to glorify a devotee but you didn’t present jyotish fact but rather guess work and speculation which ultimately detracts from your presentation.
Yhs
Ad
Hare Krishna Atmavidya Prabhu,
Your question to me was not put in the form of getting knowledge but in a challenging way.
Questions have real value only when they are used for getting knowledge. That is in fact our relation with Paramatma: questions and answers. Putting an intelligent question is also as difficult as getting an intelligent answer. Ask yourself first what is your objective of your conduct here online.
There is no question of my Paramatma or your Paramatma. If you have gotten an answer from Paramatma and you have asked Shri Krishna in the heart in the same challenging way you have asked me, it is doubtful you have received a direct answer. My advice to you is to keep reading more books and you may one day find all the answers for your empirical understanding. But the real understanding of astrology comes from practice. I have not only seen thousands of chart but have also read them in the face of the inquirers. This service has been given to me by Guru and Shri Krishna. Om Tat Sat
Dear Atmavidya Prabhu,
This commentary is mainly for the benefit for the rest of the readers, since your question was not put in a inquisitive manner.
There is no need of reading other books but Srimad Bhagavatam in order to become expert astrologer. Everything is there in the conversations of Lord Kapila with Devahuti. Everything is there in the 5th canto as well. If someone tells that OM is not the underling principle of this Universe, then he has not understood OM (or further the potency of Hare Krishna mahamantra). It seems that counting to 9 is not an easy childlike learning experience. The numbers have their deeper meanings. In the counting process the number 3 is important because its multiplication by itself gives the ultimate number 9.
–>
We can read the past life and future life from any chart. We do not really need to go to other varga charts if we have the vision to see them at a glance in the rasi chakra. Because all divisional charts are derivatives of the main chart their separate layout is done solely for visual convenience. They are not meant to be read like the main chart because they only give a complimentary perspective on an issue. For example, if we take a stone, we can read it from many different angles: like chemical composition, like physical weight and measure, like visual color and so on. You may say that only one way of reading the stone is right but you will not be correct. The rasi chakra unites all perspectives.
The drekkana chart especially deal with the number 3. The number 3 is represented by the 3 modes of material nature, which is the underlying principle of attachment to matter. In this way we can see the taste, or attachment a person has to this world. In this light, from the point of attachment, we can determine where he or she is coming or going. The number 3 is also related to our brothers and sisters? There is most karmik link between siblings (from the physical experience of the matter.) Brothers and sisters are designated as such because they have lied in the same womb. The womb is the location where karmik potential grows to take the shape of a body. If there is a physical reference of oneself in this world, a close comparison in body, character and behavior, those are our brothers and sisters. There is no better resemblance of oneself in this world but a brother or a sister. So the drekkana chart gives us the indication of our trends of taste. Ultimately, where we come from and where we go before and after death is according to what taste we have developed. Hopefully that is the taste to always remembering Krishna and never forgetting Him.
I do not know either Atmavidya Prabhu or Abhaya Mudra Devi in the slightest. And I know nothing about astrology. I belong to the small section of devotees who prefer to stick to Prabhupada’s instructions recorded in Srila Prabhupada’s Siksamrta (Volume 1, p.97-8). Significantly, they only occupy one page and a half, but they are worth reading.
That being said, I find the debate between Atmavidya Prabhu and Abhaya Mudra Devi to be instructive and would like to see it conducted to its conclusion. Regarding Abhaya Mudra Devi’s latest question to Atmavidya Prabhu: what the objective of his conduct online is, I personally feel that his objective is to benefit the community of laypersons who know nothing or very little about astrology. I noticed that his tone became progressively more aggressive, but it seems to me that it is because his questions have not been answered authoritatively. Whether in material or spiritual circles, the norm is to substantiate one’s statements with conclusive proofs and it seems to me that Atmavidya Prabhu has been doing just that and asked for the same. Regarding getting knowledge from the Paramatma, it is stated in Bhagavad-gita 18.58 that “No conditioned soul actually knows what is to be done and what is not to be done, but a person who acts in Krsna consciousness is free to act because everything is prompted by Krsna from within and confirmed by the spiritual master.” So even though astrology is a material science, since Abhaya Mudra Devi asserts that she is practicing astrology under the instruction of her spiritual master, I suggest that the matter of whether “her” Paramatma is right or not be referred to him and publicly answered on this website for the benefit of all of us.
Thank you. Hare Krsna. And happy Janmastami.
Your servant,
Visakha Priya dasi
Re: #11
Dear Mataji,
Hari Bol. Sorry for late reply, been busy .
When I first questioned you I gave you the benefit of the doubt that perhaps you had come across something I had not in my 25 years of study of jyotish so I asked you for some reference. You have not been able to provide any credible source.
You refer to your intimate relationship with paramatma as your source of your revelations. This of course is an irrefutable argument that you have taken refuge in as paramatma is never wrong therefore all your statements must be perfectly correct because you are guided by paramatma. And now no one can challenge you as you make no mistakes. And, of course it seems that only you have access to paramatma because if someone else consults paramatma and has a divergent view from you then they have not really connected with paramatma otherwise they would be in agreement with you. How wonderful this must be to be channeling the Paramatma.
Regarding Vedic pramana you seem to be terribly confused. There are three basic levels: pratyaksha, anumana and shabda. Empirical, inference and authoritative sastra in ascending order of precedence.
Yet you sneer at me because I asked you what jyotish sastra pramana do you have to substantiate your claims by saying:
However my asking for sastra pramana is the highest level of shabda pramana not the empiric way as you infer. You have to resort to this because you had no sastra pramana to support your position hence you ridicule the need for sastra pramana. You then state:
However it is “practice” which is the “empiric” way not sastra pramana.
Empiric study alone will get you nowhere unless it is based on shabda. It will all be speculation and that is what we have come to expect from you.
Real understanding of astrology comes from the following:
• One must have the destiny to be an astrologer as indicated in their horoscope.
• One must study and read many of the jyotish sastras.
• This study must be under the guidance of a jyotish guru.
• One must perform sadhana.
• Then comes practice.
continued…
part 2
One must practice based on the previous foundation of karma, study of texts, guidance of guru and sadhana. Such a combination is necessary and sufficient for real understanding of jyotish. Practice while necessary is not sufficient in itself.
Who would go to a doctor who never studied, or had teachers or any aptitude for medicine but just “practiced” on unfortunate patients? That is called the “trial and error” method and leaves a trail of dead bodies in its wake.
You say that understanding comes from practice but practice of what? Practice of what you read in books and what your mentor has taught you. If you have not studied or been given lessons exactly what will you be practicing? Hence your proposition –to practice without prior study or lessons– is reduced to an absurdity.
Re #13
You are the one who said that Drekkana was used to determine other births but when I asked for pramana you could not give any. In fact I provided jyotish references about past and future births. Mihira Acarya said to go to advanced texts for these matters. You could not provide such so now we get this “explanation” from you.
The idea that the meaning of the varga chart is related to the number is very recent speculation— a guess. And has no support anywhere in ancient texts but is the creation of Kali-yuga minds. To be blunt it is false. Drekanna is not related to the three modes as you speculate (but is to siblings as that is what sastras say).
Saptamsa: division by 7 is for children and grand children but there is no relation between 7 and children.
Navamsa: division by 9 is often seen for spouse but no relationship between “9” and spouse.
Dvadasamsa: division by 12 is for parents and forefathers, again no relationship between “12” and such relatives.
Vimsamsa: division by 20 is for upasana and spiritual life, there is no relation between “20” and spiritual life.
We could carry on for all the vargas. I am well aware that some persons (like Sanjay Rath) have gone to a great deal of trouble to fabricate such numerological theories but there is no pramana to support it.
I once attended a seminar many years ago given by KN Rao and some of his associates. One of his junior associates tried, like you, to establish the meaning of a varga chart based on numerological word jugglery. However when a member of the audience asked for pramana to support this K.N. Rao and other seniors quickly disassociated themselves from the numerological position and said it was false.
Dear Mataji,
I’ve been following this very interesting discussion, but somehow or other there is no response made from your side. I think that I am not the only one who would like to hear your response to Atmavidya Prabhu’s points. I think that we readers deserve to get a response from your side about your text. Otherwise you lose your credibility and authenticity.
It is good that Atmavidya Prabhu brought certain important points to our eyes; e.g; asking you to support your statements by quoting bone fide astrological sources, and your statements related to Paramatma, that also has to be checked through the eyes of sastra and Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Could you please make a response for the readers benefit, so that we didn’t waste our time by following this discussion that hasn’t been concluded from your side? Thank you,
Your servant,
Tdd
Re: #12
You said:
There are plenty of devotees in ISKCON and outside of it who have read and studied Srimad Bhagavatam very deeply. They have not read books on jyotish. Yet we find few who are knowledgeable in astrology what to speak of expert. This is one reason why the GBC could not decide about Srila Prabhupada’s chart. Because though they knew Bhagavatam they didn’t know jyotish. And for the same reason devotees get mislead by cheaters claiming to be experts. This is why jyotish has fallen into disrepute.
We assume that you have studied the Bhagavatam yet we find you wanting when it come to knowledge of jyotish. You could not even answer a simple question that we asked you. Which was to provide pramana for your statements. To provide pramana for your position is the brahminical standard, it is what Srila Prabhupada and the Bhagavatam teach us.
To Atmavidta and Tundagidya Prabhus.
Apparently we speak two different languages. No matter how many answers I gave you you will always be unsatisfied. Moreover, from the very beginning you are fault thirsty.
The western mind and the mind from the east function differently. While the westerner is very accurate in the details the eastern mind sees the whole picture even when obviously there may be some miss in the details. The western mind will always be inaccurate even in its accuracy because living entity even in his perfect state has only 78% of the qualities of Shri Krishna.
I am sure even now you do not understand what I am talking about but there are people out there who do. English have become the official language of the world and that is also valid for the Hare Krishna movement, moreover because Srila Prabhupada introduced sanathan dharma in English and went to Boston. In this way devotees who speak English have become audible speakers in the Hare Krishna movement but their way of thinking and expression is not necessarily a reflection of the way of thinking and expression of the entire community. I happened to speak and write English because I have lived in US but my way of thinking structure has not changed to American. There are many devotees out there who are happy to hear someone speak in their way of expression.
Also, regarding shastra. I am born in Bulgaria and Bulgarians are mentioned 72 times in the Mahabharata. Vedic culture has been alive in my place of birth. People here naturally have knowledge about Vedic astrology and medicine. I am sure you have not heart about neither about Bulgaria nor Vedic culture in this region. For me your authority on astro shastra is irrelevant the way I am not authority for you. I am sure if you present your points to someone living in Kimpurush they will not understand you even if in your own opinion you are very logical. You should admit a cultural clash. You do not understand my way of thinking but that doesn’t mean it is inferior. Western imperialism has crept in a subtle way even amongst devotees.
We as devotees may think we are superior to the rest of the world, the teachers of the world, but in the after math we are part of this world. We also reflect the good and bad on this very peace of land called at present Earth.
Your servant,
Abhaya Mudra Dasi