Astrologers Strong India Influence

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31128, 3 August 1966, Page 12

Astrologers Strong India Influence

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter)

NEW DELHI. In a country where a future husband and wife often do not see each other before marriage, a suitable horoscope—together with riches and social standing—may be a decisive factor in arranging a marriage.

It will also almost certainly determine the exact date and time of their wedding. With this thought in mind the first act of orthodox Hindu parents on the birth of their child is to summon the family astrologer to prepare a horoscope. In South India, this is often written with a stylus on strips of palm-leaves strung together and carefully preserved. But Indian astrologers do not confine themselves to writing horoscopes. Their activities extend into almost every field of life. They advise politicians—and sometimes use their art as a platform from which to air their own political views—like one Bombay astrologer who predicted before the last United States general elections that Mr Johnson would win, and take steps “to prevent multimillionaire monopolists from ransacking the American people in the name of free trade.” Some specialise in astrological thrillers —like the one who wrote a pamphlet recently on the Kennedy assassination in which, he said, he was “incorporating the hidden

truth, astrologically scented, behind the ghastly murder of the late President of the United States.” Others give advice on medical matters. A man who consults them over his wife’s illness may be told that he should not co-habit with her on certain days of the week when their signs of the zodiac are in opposition. Some astrologers offer elixirs “concocted from nine precious stones” or lucky talismans whose powers are guaranteed to last one, two or 60 years, according to price. Five years ago, astrologers paralysed Indian life by predicting, from a conjunction of eight planets, a cosmic disaster which never occurred.

Many people slept in the open during the supposedly fatal week for fear of earthquakes, other cancelled travel bookings, and thousands bathed in the holy waters of of the river Ganges where the droning prayers of monks and priests filled the air. Nothing happened.

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