Destiny and Astrology.

Srisainathayanamah! Sri Ramanadevayanamah! Wishing all the readers a Happy and Blessed Vijayadasami!

Planetary gravitational forces influence the life on earth,and also believed that the actions or Karma of the people decide their destiny.In this present post an attempt is made to view Baba's opinion about the planetery forces on individuals and how Baba overrode the forces of the planets for the benefit of His devotees.Damu Anna a devotee of Saibaba married with two wifes but had no children.He consulted many astrologers and himself studied astrology to some extent and found that, as there was an inauspecious planet in his horoscope,there was no prospect of any issue to him in this life. But he had great faith in Baba and apprached Baba for help. Baba gave four mangoe and said to him," Do not eat yourself,but give them to your youndger wife. This mango miracle of four will give her four sons and four daughters." This was done and in due course it was found Baba's words turned out true and not those of the astrologers. A great astrologer,named Nanasaheb Dengle, told Bapusaheb Buti,who was in Shirdi,"Today is an inauspecious day for you,there is danger for your life." This made Bapusaheb restless. When they as usual came to Masjid, Baba said to Bapusaheb,"What does this Nana say? He foretells death for you.Well you need not be aftaid.Tell him," Let us see,how death kills." And later in the evening Bapusaheb went to his privy,for easing himself, where he saw a snake. His servent saw it and lifted a stone to strike at it. Bapusaheb him to get a big stick, but before the servent returned with the stick, the snake was seen moving away and soon disappeared.Bapusaheb remembered Baba's words of fearlessness. There lived in Bandra(a suburb of Mumbai), a Tendulkar family the members of which were devoted to Baba. The son Babu Tendulkar was studying hard day and night and wanted to appear for the medical examination. He consulted some astrologers. On examining his horoscope they told him that the stars were not favourable that year and he should appear for the examination next year when he would be certainly successful.That cast a gloom over him and made him restless. A few dats afterwords his mother went to Shirdi and saw Baba. Among other things she mentioned the gloomy and morose condition of her son who was to appear for the examination in a few days. On hearing this Baba said to her," Tell your son to believe Me,to throw aside horoscopes and predictions of astrologers and palmists and go on with his studies.Let him appear for the examination with a calm mind,he is sure to pass this year.Ask him to trust Me and not to get disappointed." The mother returned and communicated Baba's message to her son. Then he studied hard and in due course passed the examination.Another example Mr.Sapatnekar of Akkalkot was studying for law. A co-student Mr.Shevade met him. Other fellow students also got together and compared notes of their study. It was found by the questions and answers amongst themselves that Mr.Shevade was the least prepared of all for the examination and therefore all the students derided him. But,he said that though he was not prepared ,he was sure to pass the examination,as his Saibaba was there to get him through it successfully. "Ifully believe in Him and what He says will never be untrue.He has assured me that, I will pass definitely next year and I am confident that I will get through the final examination by His grace. Mr.Sapatnekar laughed at his friend's confidence and jeered at him and Baba. In course of time Baba's word was proved to be true, but Mr.Sapatnekar underwent many problems in his life. Finally Sapatnekar realised his folly and surrendered to Baba and after that he was blessed.Here one important thing to note is that Saibaba encouraged devotees like Ambadekar and Buti to learn Astrology. Astrology became livelyhood for Ambadekar. Once a devotee gave an astrology book to Saibaba expecting to get it back with Baba's touch as blessing.After turning a few pages Baba gave that book to nearby Buti.Though not interested, Buti read the book as it was gifted by Baba. Though he read only once he developed knowledge and skill and predicted correctly the time and result of the election for Kakasaheb.Tatyasaheb Kote was destined to pass away on the day of Vijayadasami but to the surpise of one and all, Baba took Mahasamadhi on that auspecious day and Tatya was saved. No one knows Baba's ways and deeds!

"According to the astrological science , predictions are made about coming events taking into account the influence of the stars.Is that true?" a devotee asked Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi. Bhagavan answered in the following way: "So long as you have the feeling of egotism all that is true. When that egotism gets destroyed all that is untrue. Then no body is there to say it won't be true. In the case of those whose egotism is destoyed, even if they appear to see they do not really see. Destiny is the result of past action. It concerns the body. Let the body acts as may suit it. Why are you concerned with it? Why do you pay attention to it? Should anything happen, it happens as the result of one's past actions, of divine will and of other factors. See what the present is. If you do this you will understand what is affected by or has a past or a future, what is ever present and always free and what remains unaffected by the past or future or by any past karma.So long as there is the sense of doership, there is the sense of enjoyment and individual will. But if this sense is lost through the practice of Vichara ( Enquiry of Self), the divine will will act and guide the course of events. Fate is overcome by Jnana,Self-knowledge,which is beyond will and fate.

In nutshell the above explanation leads one to perceive the idea that one who acts at the egocentric level ('I am the doer') be affected by the planetary forces or the law of Karma and one who acts at the God centric level ('God or Sadguru is the doer and I am only a player in the Divine Play') is liberated from the clutches of planets; by the law of Compassion of Higher Force. In other words supreme surrender to Sadguru or God connects the devotee to that Higher Force. Ref: Sri Saisaccharita, Sri Sai Leelamruthamu, 'Be As You Are',The teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi (Edited by David Godman). May Sadguru Sainath and Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi shower blessings on all the readers. Peace be to all!