Under scanner: Karnataka plans to monitor astrologers

By Anil Kumar M

BANGALORE: Soon, astrologers in Karnataka may have to register with the government. In an effort to check black magic, voodoo and witchcraft, the muzrai department is mulling over a policy in this regard. There is no law now to govern astrology, which is a huge business in the state.

"A committee comprising well-known astrologers, bureaucrats and experts will be constituted to find out ways to eliminate black magic. The committee will submit a report whether astrologers need to register with the government. The final decision will be subject to the committee's recommendations," muzrai minister Kota Srinivas Poojary told TOI.

The minister said they need to monitor those who exploit people in the name of astrology, witchcraft and rituals. "We have been hearing of reports that the services of black magic practitioners and sorcerers are enlisted even to cure fever. There are also reports of human sacrifice for treasure. All these should end," he said.

Astrologers are not happy with registration proposal

The government's plan to monitor astrologers comes after Karnataka Dharmik Parishad, the highest decision-making body on religious affairs in the state, decided to ban pictures of gods and goddesses on T-shirts and crackers. An official order on guidelines in this regard is expected to be issued within a week.

The proposal for registering hasn't gone down well with the astrologers and rationalists. Noted astrologer Daivajna KN Somayaji, though, welcomed the objective, saying he wanted to know the criteria for registration. "Which organization will fix qualification for us? Anyone can register and hang a board stating he is a government-recognized astrologer. This will lead to commercialization of the profession," he said.

Somayaji said the astrologers who have been in the field for many years will not come forward for registration.

Narendra Nayak, president, Federation of Rationalists Association of India, slammed the government move saying it will promote quackery. "Registration of astrologers means legitimizing it, which is against the Constitution of India," he said.

The above is from Rediffmail

Do you believe in Astrology?

I don't, my wife does.

I remember when I was in Patna, a person who claimed to read palms was sitting and reading palms in my landlords flat on the ground floor.

When he finished reading the palms of others he took my hand and asked me whether I believed in palmistry.

I told him I didn't but he could read my palm and tell me good things only. That's my belief.

I had a brother-in-law who could read horoscopes (not professionally) and predicted the future.

I never believed him although I liked to hear him.

I have a son-in-law who is also very proficient and he has a huge clientele whom he gives free advise.

I have a distant relative in Delhi who is just rolling in money just on Vastu Shastra advise and Gemstone sales.

In spite of having such a pedigree I still don't believe in them.

Why?

I believe,we go to the astrologer when we are in a fix, we have a problem.

Nobody goes to an astrologer in their heyday.

The astrologer knows this and he has three options.

YES - Giving you a date by which your work/wish will be done.

MAYBE - There is a possibility.

NO - This he seldom says for otherwise he will lose his clients.

If the YES comes true, people will start worshiping him.

MAYBE - gives the people some hope and make them come to him again and again. If it does not fructify, they believe it is their fate.

NO is used in marriages and starting new businesses. However, if the astrologer sees that the client is very interested in not accepting the NO, they find some IFs and BUTs, by which the NO can be converted to YES.

The same goes for all the visits we make to the temple, asking for boons from the gods and goddesses. I believe, God is infinitely more intelligent than us.

If we sitting on Earth can remote control and plan the landing and movement of Discoverer on Mars, don't you think he has programmed your every movement as he desires, even before you were born , from the conception stage to your burial ground.

This is what Krishna means to say in the Bhavat Gita when he says, "It is within your power to do the Karma only, the fruits of the Karma should be left to ME"

He has already programmed it.

This does not mean you should be fatalistic and leave everything to HIM. You have to do your Karma for that too has been planned in your programme.

What annoys me is the way the electronic media (TV channels) dish out these programmes on horoscopes, prophecies.

They consider themselves enlightened and are the first to start talking nonsense of any Guru when any adverse report is published about him.

They forget that just a few days ago they were regularly airing his programmes with much fanfare.

They make us a nation who believe only in horoscopes when actually it is your own effort which can take your forward.

I believe in one GOD who has made this ever expanding universe in which our Earth is but a very, very ....to infinity) tiny speck.

We are nothing without HIM and are alive as long as HIS power is within us.

As soon as HE withdraws that, we are dead.

But even when dead, we do not become nothing.

Our body returns to the earth either directly when we are buried or through the ashes and carbon/carbon dioxide when we are incinerated/burnt on a pyre.

Those ashes go into the soil for the plants/animals and other human beings.

That is recycling or rebirth on which we Hindus believe.

God has designed life on the earth in such a way that there is no waste.

One species waste is used by another species for its development and the cycle goes on. The only external aid HE gives us is the energy of the SUN.

So for we species living on this earth, our SUN is our main benefactor.

Yes, you could thank the SUN in gratitude and even worship IT as you would to any person who has done you a favour.

After the SUN, you could worship your parents who have been instrumental in furthering God's plan in bringing you into this world.

After your parents your could thank your teacher or Guru who has given you education. By Guru I mean any being that teaches you anything. That being may be a person or an animal or even a plant.

Lord Dattatreya had 24 Gurus. You can read all about them on http://www.slideshare.net/kamalsrathore/the-teachings-of-the-24-gurus-of-lord-dattatreya

However, we should be specially thankful to the Guru who leads us to the path of knowing HIM.

I have nothing against astrologers.

For them it is a profession to earn money just as the government has so complicated our tax regime so that hundreds of thousands of accountants are employed.

The government is a bigger crook than these astrologers.