I am not a regular astrologer but it so happened that destiny had a prominent role in play to teach me astrological science and insights into deeper aspects of it.
To be very frank, it was something I was not aware of and had never intended to take up astrology. As mentioned here, I graduated from a prominent engineering college in India and having a nice educational background meant that I couldn’t take things without a logical base.
I am a professional trader and investor as well so along with technical, business and economic knowledge, I also use astrology in my work for added data points in decision making. I hardly refer to astrological science except for my work. Personally, I don't support it for general life as Krishna is the supreme controller and for a devotee, He Himself takes charge. Although a look into the chart can be helpful.
I am extremely grateful to Srila Prabhupada and without his grace and mercy, I will humbly admit that I cannot tread on the path of devotional service in no manner whatsover. Srila Prabhupada's most important instruction is to depend completely on Krishna under all circumstances and chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra.
So when destiny was pushing me into astrology (my sister, wife and many of my friends being the prime instrument, as mentioned here), I was very reluctant. I remembered Srila Prabhupada's words that a devotee doesn't need astrology and that his Guru Maharaj, Srila Bhaktisiddhant Saraswati Thakur was a great astrologer but gave it all up. I was stuck on the fact of how can I take up something which is not sanctioned by Srila Prabhupada.
My friends persisted in the fact that people in India do have a penchant for astrology and if somehow they can be connected to Krishna via astrology which is a Vedic Science, then what harm is there.
Anyone who has taken an astrological consultation with me knows that I don't give any gems or expensive remedies. The only solution to the miseries of the material world (dukhalayam asasvatam) is to take the Holy Name of Krishna.
After giving 3-10 predictions about the person's traits and past events without knowing anything about them at all, I try to redirect them towards reading Bhagavad Gita, worshipping Tulasi Maharani, listening to Kirtan, or other remedies from Vedic Scriptures depending on the chart's combination. It all works magically as I have observed in hundreds of charts!
While seeing the chart, my genuine intention is to sincerely help them by connecting them somehow or other to Krishna. When Krishna takes charge, all planets who are in fact dear devotees of Krishna, do not trouble the seeker and the life henceforth is moulded in such a way that the person never forgets Krishna.
Coming back to the subject, astrology is a science mentioned in Rig Veda, and often in Vedic Scriptures every now and then.
I was going through books, especially Srimad Bhagavatam and Chaitanya Charitamrta when I found the mention of planets and astrology many number of times. Prior to that, I never really believed in the subject. Also, after interacting with many amazing people out there, learned that it is a proper science and not just only hypothesis.
Each Jiva Tattva is influenced by arrangements of planets and stars along with the three material modes of nature.
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. Mahäräja 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.
- (Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.12.12 - Purport by Srila Prabhupada)
Srila Prabhupada did recognize the Vedic science but still always encouraged the devotees to depend on Krishna, because being the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna the controller of stars, can nullify any effect of any planet whatsoever.
The main problem people are facing today in terms of astrologers is that one will hardly find a genuine astrologer, someone who doesn't instil fear in the name of some planetary conjunctions. I have heard not from one but many people that they have spent a fortune on astrologers, remedies and gemstones, yet no result is in sight.
It's because one main principle is hidden by the astrologers: Karma can only be delayed but not denied.
It can only be nullified in one precise condition - Take to the service of Krishna!
Krishna states in Bhagavad Gita 18.66, "Abandon all varieties of dharmas and simply surrender unto Me alone. I shall liberate you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear."
"If you surrender to Krishna, with a slight kick Krishna can annihilate 100,000 Rahu planets." - Srila Prabhupada (Following Srila Prabhupada - A Chronological Series by Visala Dasa)
According to the Vedic culture, immediately after a boy's birth astrologers should calculate what category he belongs to. Astrology can help if there is a first-class astrologer. Such an astrologer can tell what line a boy is coming from and how he should be trained.
- (Journey of Self Discovery, 7. Perspectives on Science and Philosophy, JSD 7.1: Plato: Goodness and Government)
If one actually finds someone who is learned in Astro, then it can complement life really well. A real astrologer who knows this Vedic science in and out. A person who stands by righteousness and is not out there to cheat you. This Vedic science is recognized by our Acharyas but only when you get a real astrologer. Even Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Krishna Himself, who knows the past present and future of every living entity consulted an astrologer as a part of His pastime.
"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 astrologer immediately began to calculate.
PURPORT: Through astrology one can know past, present and future. Modern Western astrologers have no knowledge of the past or future, nor can they perfectly say anything about the present. Herein we find, however, that after hearing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu'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.
- (Caitanya Caritāmṛta Adi 17.104)
Now just think, an astrologer who is killing animals and eating them for the satisfaction of his tongue. Why will the 9 planets help him in decoding the chart? To get the right intuition, the daily life of an astrologer must be in sync with dharma. His habits must be right, his intentions must be right and he must accept that he is not God.
Furthermore, from the teachings of Mahabharat (as mentioned in detail here. A very very imp read!), destiny again made me stumble upon how even the greatest astrologer's calculations can go wrong if Krishna is in your favour.
So now I just see astrological science as a data point, and never really had planned to take up astrological consultations. It was just a destiny thing. I hardly take 1-2 consultations depending on time as have a different professional career altogether. The intent is mainly to help with genuine guidance leading to an overall holistic spiritual-centered life.
My style of predictive astrology is to give 3-10 predictions about a person's different spheres of life and then remedies from Vedic scriptures, if the chart suggests. Every particular remedy has a deep reason behind it that I tend to explain during the consultation so that one knows the reason behind it and doesn't consider it just mere words.
Scriptures flawlessly translated by Srila Prabhupada, like Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita and Chaitanya Charitamrta are so perfect that simply by reading and meditating upon them, one gets all spiritual perfection, what to say about material solutions.
For your guidance, the scripture is your astrologer. He knows your future, he knows your past. So therefore you should consult, you should consult, for our guidance.
- Srila Prabhupada, Lecture, Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-Lila 20.125, Nov 27, 1966
Reading each chapter of each scripture has a fal stuti (Benefit gained due to reading). Although the material benefit is a byproduct, the real intention and goal is spiritual enlightenment.
There is a small snippet from Chaitanya Caritamrta that Vrindavan Dham is inspiring to share at the moment.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is non-different from Krishna Himself, appeared 500 years ago to distribute the love of Godhead to fallen conditioned souls via the preaching of Hare Krishna Mahamantra. One of His personal associates was Ramanand Raya.
One day it so happened that the brother of Ramanand Raya, named Gopinath Pattanayak, who was the treasurer of the King was about to the punished by the King's son because some amount that was supposed to be returned back to the King was missing.
The punishment included Gopinath Pattanayak's head being crushed over swords, his complete wealth being taken away, and even his family being imprisoned. So this was materially a very uncomfortable situation.
The servants and relatives of Gopinath Pattanayak instantly rushed to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as the King was very much surrendered to Mahaprabhu. Being a sanyasi, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu refused to extend any kind of help as that's not the duty of a sanyasi.
Now what Mahaprabhu did further would astonish you!
Later that day, Mahaprabhu confided unto Sri Kashi Mishra (also one of the associates of the Lord) that he didn't wish to stay at Jagannath Puri any longer as people keep coming to Him for material problems. Hearing this Kashi Mishra requested the Lord by assuring that henceforth no one would come to him regarding material affairs.
It was a routine of the King to go to Sri Kashi Mishra's house each night and serve him by pressing his feet. That night also, the King went and when he came to know from Sri Kashi Mishra that Mahaprabu was thinking of leaving Jagganath Puri, he became very unhappy.
He at once told Kashi Mishra that he was not aware of the Prince's punishment order towards Gopinath Pattanayak. He immediately assured Kashi Misra that no such thing would happen.
Kashi Mishra again said that relieving Gopinath Pattanayak was not Mahaprabhu's aim rather it was the disturbance by various people. The King submissively told Kashi Mishra that it was not because of Mahaprabhu that he was doing such a thing, but because Gopinath Pattanayak was like a son to him.
The next day, the King went back, relieved Gopinatha Pattanayak of all the charges and even doubled his salary!!
So, on one hand, there was such a helpless material condition and the next moment, the material opulence also increased.
The Lord had no intention of awarding His devotee the happiness of material opulence, yet simply because of His being informed, such a great result was obtained.
- Sri Chaitanya Caritamrta (Antya 9.114)
Whether or not one understands it, if one hears of this incident concerning Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka's activities and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's causeless mercy upon him, certainly he will be promoted to the platform of ecstatic love for the Lord, and for him all dangers will be nullified.
- Sri Chaitanya Caritamrta (Antya 9.152)
One important fact to note here is that even after being relieved of the distressed material condition, Gopinatha Pattanayak was aware that this material opulence was not the complete mercy of the Lord, instead it was only a glimpse. The real mercy is when he would be detached from all material enjoyment and simply yearns to serve Krishna.
Coming back to the point, such pastimes of Lordships from the scriptures are what I mostly suggest as learnt by mercy of my Guru Tattva. It serves the dual purpose of doing the needful as well as taking to devotional service, which is the main agenda.
For example, when a couple who were struggling with childbirth reached out to me, I saw the fifth house of children had Capricorn (Maker) Sign's owner Saturn in a difficult position, thereby causing a substantial delay in childbirth inspite of reaching out to the top doctors throughout the country. For this specific case, as the chart guided me, I suggested reading Krishna Book and Gajendra Moksha Lila in Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 8. There is a deep reason behind it all, which is something I share in the Predictive Astrology Course, which will help anybody to learn to read their, family & friends’ astrological chart on OWN in the next 30 days!
If someone is facing legal atrocities, I would for sure suggest reading Mahaprabhu's special mercy upon Gopinatha Pattanayaka Lila.
Astrology is never meant to replace the Vaishnava Siddhanta but only to compliment it in such a way that it amplifies the message of our previous Acharyas and does not mute it.
My chart reading session, or even the detailed astrology course is not only meant to astrologically decode solutions but it's more of a healing session as well. With each of the people I connect to, I try to build a personal connection and go out of the way to help them with whatever knowledge the mercy of my Guru Tattva has provided in a limited capacity.
I firmly believe that giving value and helping is more important than anything else.
I have had the good fortune of connecting to some amazing prominent people throughout India as well as abroad, ranging from bureaucrats, technocrats, deans, professors, doctors, scientists, royal family members, artists, engineers, corporate leaders, CA's, students and people from all walks of life.
By the grace of my teachers, I have successfully helped many bypass marriage issues, childbirth issues, extramarital affairs, financial losses, market losses, career breaks or stagnation issues, business expansion etc. by taking to remedies from Vedic Scriptures and suggesting holistic spiritual life.
It has been an overwhelming journey, to say the least, and I go out of my way to sincerely help as a chart guides.
I have covered a few case studies of how I take readings.
Sincerely,
Aman Kashyap
Vraj Vrindavan
Jai Jai Shri Radhe!
Hare Krishna!