The top advisors on astrology to major Indian figures were put to the test by the Indian Rationalists. They were paid for predictions of the Indian elections in 2004, which all pundits reagrded as a certain win for the BJP, with Atal Vihari Vajpayee to continue as Prime Minister. The Congress Candidate, Sonia Gandhi, was predicted to lose, and opinion polls gave them little or no chance. This is also what most of the astologers predicted. They were signally wrong on the futures of maost of India's politicians, as those who know the actual election results realise.
Prime Minister Vajpayee, Chandrababa Naidu and other politicians are devotees of Sathya Sai Baba, who says that astrology is valid, but that no one knows all the influences that the stars have since they are seen from a worldly viewpoint.
Indian Skeptic - July - 2004 25
It's Atal shining - Astrology
Courtesy: India Today, March 15, 2004
The feel-good factor, it would seem, has touched celestial heights. The coalition of stars appears to be voting the Bharatiya Janata Party back to power and Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the prime minister once again.
Vajpayee, the stars foretell, will lead the BJP and the NDA coalition back to power this summer.
The Bard has said tellingly in King Lear, "When we are sick in fortune- often the surfeits of our own behaviour- we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon and stars as if we were villains by necessity, fools by heavenly compulsion, knaves, thieves and traitors by spherical predominance... An admirable evasion of man to lay his goatish disposition on the charge of a star."
That may be a thought acceptable in rational times or when faced with an overwhelming bout of introspection. But it is not the first thought in a mind that is willing to stoop to conquer. It may appear to be an irony that in the 21 st century, when wireless is the medium and idiom. digital, there is a constituency that lays much store by astrology. Rulers of the princely states and holders of privy purses employed men with that third eye for the future. Even after five decades of democracy, the voter often wonders if it is chance or ability that determines the choice of rulers:
The best and the biggest, the Reagans, the later Gandhis, leaders, of men and nations are known to have & hidden inclination towards alien thoughts. Thoughts that help them vanquish the demons in the mind before they slay the demons on the field. When winning or losing is determined not just by how good you are or how good your opponent's opponent is but by sundry extraneous factors, not just mortals but even titans seek the soothing solace of a peep into the future. by Shankar Aiyar
PARAPPANANGADI UNNIKRISNAN
Personal astrologer to Jayalalithaa and Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
"Vajpayee is unlikely to lose his present position until February 2006."
Who will be the next prime minister?
ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE. His period of luck which began at 76 will continue till February 2006. He is
blessed with Akhandasamrajya yoga and Sarabha yoga.
Can Sonia become the PM? NOT NOW. Has capability and fame but wrong advisers and no recognition in her own camp. She is under the negative influence of the planet Mercury which will continue till she is 65.
Will L.K. Advani make it to the top job? POSSIBLE can become the prime minister by February 2006 when Vajpayee retires. His lucky period astrologically described as vyazha dasa will last till November 20, 2008
JAYALALITHAA Has an extremely fortunate horoscope but may suffer temporary setback until August
GAYATRI DEVI VASUDEV, Editor, The Astrological Magazine, Bangalore
"Since it is under Ashtam Shan/the BJP will lose a leading light of the party."
Next prime minister: CANNOT COMMIT but 'the BJP will come to power after making several compromises.
Will the government last the full term? Yes. Based on the party's (BJP's) chart the government will last the full term.
Can Sonia become the PM? NO The Congress will face setbacks and there will be a change in the leadership.
SHARAD PAWAR'S political life is revived.
MAYAWATI will be in the wilderness for some more time.
N. CHANDRABABU NAIDU will come back. JAYALALITHAA is going strong. UTTAR PRADESH could see a change.
Sonia is unlikely to get a taste of more power not in the near future, at least, say astrologers.
NAVIN KHANNA
Delhi-based astrologer-scholar reads the future for P3 People and politicians.
"I see reason for concern about a threat to General Musharraf’s life:"
Next prime minister: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Can Sonia become the PM? NO She is not strong enough to head the government. On the other hand, Varun Gandhi has a powerful and promising-horoscope.
Will L.K. Advani make it to the top job? Though it will be difficult for Advani to make it to the top job as there are stronger horoscopes elsewhere.
Will the government last the full term? Yes Despite problems between March and August 2005, Vajpayee will be in the seat of power till his last day.
Seat prediction: BJP will be the biggest party with 220 seats. The Congress win lose and may go below 100.
N. CHANDRABABU NAIDU will return as CM and do even better MAYAWATI wilj always be a force in Uttar Pradesh. MULAYAM S1NGH YADAV will have an average run. SHARAD PAWAR Average run for him too.
VIDWAN V. LAKSHMANAN
National vice-president, Indian Council of Astrological Sciences.
"The Congress can come to power before the new Lok Sabha completes its term."
Next Prime Minister: ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE. Jupiter dasa, which has just begun, is very favourable for him.
Can Sonia become the PM'? VERY UNLIKELY Manmohan Singh or P. Chidambaram, however, can become the prime minister
LK. ADVANI has chances of becoming the prime minister, thanks to the good positions Jupiter and Saturn are in. But Mars and Sun are in weak positions, therefore, he may not continue in office because of some internal conflicts.
N. CHANDRABABU NAIDU'S victory is almost assured.
JAYALALITHAA'S fame and importance will increase.
SANATAKUMAROAYASHANKAR SHASTRI
Ahmedabad-basedschotarofastrology
"Next July or August Vajpayee will make way for Advani as planets are well placed for the latter."
Next Prime Minister: ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE. But he may have to do some "political cobbling" to form the government. In July-August 200J3 he may make way for Advani.
Can Sonia become the PM? NO Her stars will remain in the darkest possible zone till September 2004.
L.K. ADVANI Planets are very powerfully placed in his kundii, from which he will derive immense political strength.
MULAYAM SINGH YADAV will do badly. SHARAD PAWAR may just about lose the polls.
CHANDRABABU NAIDU will do well.
The Celestial constellation would have us believe that it is a case of so near and yet so far for Advani.
VASHUDHA WAGH
Mumbai-based soothsayer, a favourite with Maharashtra's heavyweights
"Chances are bright for a third front government backed by the Congress,"
Next Prime Minister: ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE if the allies stick together. Chances are Chandrababu Naidu, Jayalalithaa and Mayawati may tilt the balance.
Can Sonia become the PM? NOT YET Sonia will emerge more powerful but cannot become the PM as yet. Will the government last the full term? YES
Seat predictionn BJP 195 seats, NDA280, Cong-plus 260.
MULAYAM SINGN YADAV can become prime minister one day. SHARAD PAWAR will land a plum job. JAYALALITHAA will play a key role in the next government. MAYAWATI will get maximum seats in UP, emerge powerful.
GEETASEN
Personal astrologer to Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other senior leaders.
"There are no inner party problems or leadership challenge for the BJP".
Next Prime Minister; ATAL BiHARI VAJPAYEE. This will be his last term.as PM. There is no cause for worry about his health, no inner party problems or leadership challenge.
Can Sonia become the PM?
NEVER. But will remain president of the Congress for 10 more years. Her daughter Prjyahka Vadra could, however, get the top job when she is 47. Rahul Gandhi will not contest elections.
Will L.K. Advani make it to the top job? NEVER but will continue to be in politics.
Will the government last the full term? YES
Seat prediction: BJP will improve its tally, the Congress will remain the same. None will get an outright majority;
CONGRESS will come to power but in the next polls; However, it won't be a Gandhi buta non-Gandhi who was. A member of the Rao cabinet who will be prime minister
KUSUM BHANDARI
Astrologer-educationist based in Kolkata, also writes occasionally:
"A gloomy incident with some bloodshed will bring down the government in 2006."
Next Prime Minister: MOST LIKELY ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE An old man of the arts will rule. The next government will be a coalition with no single decision maker.
Can Sonia become the PM? NO No woman will get the post. It will be a native inclined towards religion.
Will L.K. Advani make it to the top job? Not Now.
MULAYAM SINGH YADAV cannot be king by himself.
SHARAD PAWAR'S future is not very bright for him.
N. CHANDRABABU NAIDU may not return to power
L.D.MADAN
A favourite of the netas forecasts the future of Delhi's rich and powerful
"It is unlikely that Sonia Gandhi will ever become the prime minister."
Next prime minister: Atal Bihari Vajpayee Can Sonia become the PM? No
Will L.K. Advani make it to the top job? Very Likely After Vajpayee it looks like Advani.
Will the government last the full term? Yes The BJP. will have the largest number of seats.
See also India Today on these astrologers and more
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When stars failed to predict this astrologer's doom
Indian Skeptic - July - 2004 p. 30
Courtesy: The New Indian Express, March 27 2004
Mangalore, March 26: For years, Pandit M Hanumanth Rao Joshi of Bagalkote had claimed to have understood the "way of the stars" and their "effect" on human lives. But, today, he probably ever saw them when rationalist Narendra Nayak, with scores of enthusiastic Democratic Youth Federation India (DYFI) supporters exposed the astrologer who could not predict his own doom!
Rao was consternation personified when a team of rationalists, accompanied by media persons, including one from British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), stormed into his lair as he was attempting to rid Navak of his "troubles": Navak recounted how he blew the lid off the self proclaimed astrologer and exposed him. "I Wanted, for a long time, to expose some astrologer who proclaimed himself to be a famous astrologer and bring out the truth about him before the public". Unfortunately for Nayak, a city-based astrologer he had intended to expose disappeared overnight when he smelt a rat.
But Hanumanth Rao was gullible, enough to fall into Nayak's trap for the sum of Rs 5,000.
Nayak reveals:-"I went to a Rao's tiny room in a city notel on Thursday. He asked me to write my name and details about my family on a slate. He then kept the slate upside down and told my name and persona! details as I had written them down." What he actually did was to read the movement of my hands as I scribbled on the slate. This is something that anybody can do with a bit of practice, he explained, "But the poor chap did not know that I had given him wrong details!" —
Rao then said Nayak's brother was practising 'black magic' against him and planned to throw him out of the house and deprive him of his share of the family's ancestral property.
- The astrologer, of course, had the answer as well: an expensive pooja, which would cost Nayak Rs 5,500. "I told him I did not have the money off me and said I would come again the next day, to which he agreed, but not before I paid him an advance of Rs 300."
On Friday Nayak went to meet Rao who promised, him to "ward off all
evil" and rid him of all his troubles'. Rao's troubles; as it proved when the media barged into the room, had just begun.
Shocked by the cameras and microphones around him, Rao went into a stony silence, AS scribes put questions to him, a dazed Rao began to mumble incoherently. After sometime, however, he regained his lost composure and went on a justification spree,
"He (Nayak) agreed to whatever I said, "Rao argued. Asked how Rao had guessed that Nayak had two children, even when he had none, he said he had told these details based on information given by Nayak.
Asked to name his Guru, Rao thought for a moment and said:
"Devendra - buthe is dead now. "Holding out a copy of an advertisement issued by Rao, in which he had proclaimed to predict the future of a person after only seeing him, a DYFI member asked if he could predict his future. Rao fhen said he could do so only if the member could produce his 'Jaathaka'!
Rao then admitted that he had indeed duped Nayak and hundreds of gullible people. Asked how many families had he broken this way, Rao hung his head and nodded.
Rao confessed that he had come to Mangalore six 'months ago and that he was undertaking similar activities in Tumkur and Bangalore, among, other cities. Rao, who claims to have studied up to fifth standard, admired that he had duped a lady sub-inspector similarly
Justifying this "Tehelka style' sting operation, Nayak says: "All such people who win the confidence of the desperate and needy and later dupe them, must be exposed'. They take thousands for a ride, promising them contentment, later ruining them. Conning them for a just cause is not wrong". A crestfallen Hanumanth Rao said: "I will leave the district and go to some faraway place".
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Fake astrologer falls into rationalists' trap
Indian Skeptic - July - 2004 p. 31
Courtesy: Deccan Herald, 28.3.2004
'Such people use many tools to exploit the unsuspecting masses. Anything that goes against basic laws of science cannot hold its ground'
MANGALORE, DHNS:-A person went to a specialist in astrology and palmistry near Hamilton Circle in Mangalore on Thursday seeking some remedy for his problems. After giving a patient hearing, the astrologer, Pandith M Hanumanth Rao Joshi, asked the person to come on Friday evening with Rs 5,500 promising him total remedy to his problems.
The 'authenticity' of the astrologer was made public when the person none other than Rationalist DrNarendra Nayak walked into Joshi's office along with a dozen media persons including the BBC crew.
Though initially Joshi tried to assert that what he had said was right, he later admitted that his predictions were partially-right. Rnally he agreed that he was conning people to make a living as he had five children.
Speaking to media persons, Dr Narendra said Joshi's modus operand! was to ask his customer to write down the number of children, brothers etc "in a tiny slate and to keep it with him. By then he will observe the hand movement. Later, he will accurately say the number of brothers, 'sisters etc... and the customers will be conned.
Hailing from Bagalkot district, Joshi, before coming to Mangalore was 'offering his services in astrology' in Tumkur, Bangatore and Bagalkot.
Speaking to reporters, he admitted that he used to charge anywhere between Rs 100 and Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 for his services including poojas and homas. He also admitted of receiving Rs 300 from a lady police sub inspector in Mangalore some days ago for giving some 'advice' to her
"Such people use many tools to exploit the unsuspecting masses. Anything that goes against basic laws of science cannot hold its ground," said Dr Nayak who is also an assistant professor of biochemistry at the Centre for Basic Sciences in Kasturba Medical College Mangalore.
Though rationalist movement was picking up in coastal region, there were equal number of people who were falling prey to such people, he opines.
Dr Nayak, the secretary for the Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association, so far had conducted more than 3,500 such demonstrations all over India to expose the myths behind the so called miracles and debunk superstitions.
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Rationalist announces Rs 1 lakh astro jackpot
Courtesy: New Indian Express, 30.3.2004 Express News Service Mangalore, March 29
IN Dakshina Kannada a ritualised duel between astrologers and rationalists provides the much needed comic relief to an otherwise monotonous run up to the elections.
Since 1980s, barring the 1999 elections, rationalist Narendra Nayak has been announcing a reward of Rs one lakh to any astrologer, who will answer at least 19 of the 20 questions posed by him. As all answers were never anywhere near the mark, Nayak got to keep his money at the end of each election. "In 1999, I had gotten sick of the hilarious predictions and preferred not to solicit any more," says Prof Nayak. Nayak has changed his mind and is planning to challenge astrologers with his posers.
In 1980s, when politicians begun queuing up to seek advice of astrologers
at each step, Prof Nayak felt the need to examine the veracity behind election predictions. The contest was born out of the firm conviction that astrologers are taking everyone for a ride.
In the very first contest; over 50 astrologers responded. Those who scored more than four out of 20 marks in fact happened to be non astrologers, says a chuckling Nayak. In-1998 elections, many astrologers succeeded in answering one question correctly, that Vajpayee will be the next Prime Minister. None of them had been able to predict Rajiv Gandhi's assassination or the September 11 incident: "One hilarious prediction on number of Seats likely to be won by each party added up to 700 seats," recalls Nayak. Another predicted that Jayalalithaa will be the chief minister of Karnataka. Even astrologers with a set of impressive degrees could not zero in on correct results.
Prof Narendra Nayak who will leave for Punjab to attend a national conference of rationalists, plans to send the posers to astrologers after April 10. "By the time the nominations will have been filed and there would be a clear picture of each candidate in the assembly and parliament segments," he says. The stacks of letters that astrologers send him every election year is a time pass for Prof Nayak and his guests.
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Electoral Politics and Superstitions
Courtesy: Mangalore Today, April 2004
The combination of religion, superstition and politics is assuming alarming proportions lately: Every place of worship is visited, blessings sought from all and sundry and no stone left unturned, sorry, unworshipped in the fond hope that such acts would result in electoral victory.
When elections come it rains astrologers, mantriks, tantriks and what have you! This is because, every politician wants to win by hook, crook, black magic or any other means. The astrologers have a field day predicting auspicious times for filing nominations, starting campaigns and everything else too!
We see otherwise rational people losing their marbles' when the elections are around. Probably it is the worst sense of insecurity that comes on when one contests for an election. Every place of worship is visited, blessings sought from all and sundry and no stone left unturned.
