Can "Astrology" be mastered as a course?

With more and more colleges offering Jyotish Shastra or Astrology as a formal course in college, we find out if it can indeed be studied like any other subject, especially since most assume it is an art that calls for intuition rather than a Science that calls for factual knowledge

Suhani Dewra

With more colleges like Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Basheerbagh, incorporating courses for ‘Jyotish Shastra’, one wonders what it takes to master the art or science that is based on ‘belief system’. Yes, the Wikipedia page for astrology defines it as a ‘belief system’ which believes that the happenings in astronomical phenomenon affects the events in one’s life.

Does a course of a few years arm one so well that one can foresee the events of life and correctly predict the future? A few calculations and minor information of the person allow one to peep into the unknown tomorrow? “The art of predicting future is an esoteric science and one has to have some kind or natural gift to predict future correctly. Attending astrology classes only helps in understanding the 'Math' (calculating the positions of stars and planets) and being familiar with the terminologies of the subject. However, the foresight that an astrologer needs cannot be taught in a classroom,” opines Rambabu, a part-time astrologer in Hyderabad.

He does not hold a degree in Astrology, yet his passion for it made him do thorough research on the subject. He compared the birth time of his family and extended family members to the developments in their lives. “I can say I have a natural talent for it. I do not know where it comes from, though,” he shares. Gopal Krishna, faculty with Indian Council of Astrological Sciences (ICAS), has a different take on it. For Krishna, nothing in this world needs a special talent and can be learnt and nurtured.

“One has to have commitment towards the subject to understand it thoroughly. Post that when one tries to foresee one’s future, a chart with correct analysis of how happy or unhappy the client is in life is crucial. Be it marriage, job or friendship, only after analysing the client’s situation, the astrologer can give useful suggestions,” he says.

Agreeing with him is yet another astrologer, Balaji Ramanathan. A central government employee and a part-time astrologer, Balaji says, “For me, astrology started even before I earned a Post Graduate degree in it from Sreeramulu Potti University, Hyderabad, in 2008. Prior to that, I was a self-read astrologer. I believe any candidate with an interest in astrology can learn the science by attending the classes. There are two parts to it- acquiring knowledge and predicting skills. The course helps one gain knowledge, while practicing under a right guru trains one in ‘predicting skills’.”

Institutes that offer courses in astrology

. Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad.

Contact: www.teluguuniversity.ac.in

. Indian Council of Astrological Sciences

(It has chapters across the State)

Contact: www.icas.org.in

. Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati.

Contact: www.rsvidyapeetha.ac.in

. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Hyderabad.

Contact: bvbhyd@rediffmail.com