Haven't we seen a batsman look up to the sky and offer his gratitude when he hits a century? What is there to look up? Yes, there is something, someone, or some extraordinary power or force that guides our actions here! This force or power is invisible, divine, and very protective. It is called 'Vishnu', the all-pervasive pure consciousness, that is the enlightening, guiding force. This is the secret behind creation. When we look back at the way we have traveled the decades of our lives, we may discover some invisible hand guiding us through the ups and downs. In fact, someone is holding our hand or even sits within us and walks! It is He, who is seated within us that does all the job and we boast saying "I did this, I did that? It is very difficult to believe that some unknown, unseen guiding force acts and we may attribute it to our prarabhda (carry over?), karma phala (fruits of past actions), or the Stars (n which one is born?)! To some extent we may attribute all our actions to the stars and planets in our birth chart (janma kundali/horoscope). Events or things happen according to the influence of the planetary positions (including the sun and moon) and their movements (graha chara). A well-versed astrologer can interpret the birth chart if the date of birth and place (Lat. and Long.) and time of birth are accurate. Astrology may seem to be a little unscientific or irrational and, may be dismissed as an inexact science. But one cannot ignore the age-old shastra that is attributed to the great sage Bhrugu.
Now, what is so scientific about the stars (astronomy) and so unscientific about forecast based on our birth chart (astrology)? The answer is simple. we do not know much about stars. The stars are made of elements and their radiation influence our lives when their rays fall on the jiva from the date of inception to its death. Every planet exercises its influence on the life and activities of a person and the changes are attributed to the influences of the planet in its own house or house of a benevolent or malevolent planet. But we know something about our birth charts due to the efforts of great visionaries, Rishis like Bhrugu and mathematicians like Bhatta, Bhaskara, Varaha Mihira, who could calculate the distance of Stars from earth and their influence on our lives. We are all born under the influence of one or the other Star's direct rays at the time of our birth (right from the time of inception as foetus). Even the fate of the impregnated cell whether to multiply, grow, and take birth or to abort is decided by these external influences (stars). This is the reason why our very existence is not certain and everything depends on the 'Will of the Lord'. This is one of the reasons why we need the 'Grace of Lord' (daiva anugraha).
It is human trait, may be weakness or, whatever, that makes one to look for help in distress. Normally, we look to the divine grace and pray the God/s for that. God is the only invisible force that can help us, as we hope, it seems! Fate, luck, destiny apart, this divine force can save or help us, guide us. 'Alchemist' is a beautul short novel that depicts this. This is explicitly state in the Bhagavad-Gita, too. Blessed Lord, Sri Krishna says, "Come to Me. take refuge in Me. I shall help you, give you whatever you want, protect you, and even redeem you. Don't worry! maam upetya tu kounteya sarva paapebhyo mokshayishyami, ma shucaa!
What we lack is full faith, devotion and trust in Him?t
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