A CELEBRATED HINDOO ASTROLOGER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7270, 7 March 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

A CELEBRATED HINDOO ASTROLOGER.

Theri: is at present residing in Bombay (remarks the Times of India) a native gentleman who has made himself famous in all parts of the country by his proficiency in astrology. Hie name is Pundit Kasinath of Jhiud, and he brings with him three large boxes filled with testimonials from Rajans and Nawabs, Lieutenant-Governors, Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners, and others, and one from even the late Shere Ali, Ameer of Afghanistan. All the testimonials speak iu terms of praise of the pundit ; and while extolling hia wenderful powers, they refer to his courteous bearing and his refusal to accept *ll presents. One gentleman, in a testimonial tendered to the pundit, eays, " Though I caanot say I believe in such matters, he certainly told me one fact which 1 should doubt his hearinc anywhere." Another testimonial. 6igned by 36 Europeans and natives, says, " We thoroughly examined him, and in spite of our strong prejudice against any such knowledge and education, we finally found out that to the best of our knowledge and experience in life he is the only astrologer worthy of praise. We put to him questions, and he wrote them down before he spoke them out. He can tell the present, past, and future of a man's life by looking at his face merely." Many journals, both native and Anglo-Indian, have also referred to the pundit. He ie known by the title of Jeotirbid-Ratan, i.e., "the star of astrology," and is temporarily residing at Pydonie, in the building used as one oi the subdivisions! telegraph oirbes. Hundreds of natives visit him daily, and it is said that in no single instance has he failed to give a correct answer to the questions put to him. Amongst his visitors are some of the wealthiest suid best educated natives in Bombay, and bearing in mind that astrology has so much weight in Oriental politics and society, it is not surprisine to see the native visitors approach with profound and reverential awo one who is acknowledged by them to be a moat able exponent of the art. At an audience, one of our representatives was told to think of any flower, and a minute afterwards he was told by the pundit what Hewer he had chosen. Several other such feats were performed, and many of those present in the room were toid their past History with amazing accuracy. On his arrival in Bombay Lord Ripon was presented by the pundit with, an Urdu and Sanscrit address iu verse, written iu gold and enclosed in an elegant frame ; but a request that hie Lordship should give the pundit a hearing was not complied with, his Lordship stating that his time was already too fully occupied. The above area few particulars of a man who is considered remarkable by his community, and who brings with him bundles of testimonials from Europeans of all classes.