Insecurity about the future and predicting it has always fascinated humans. In earlier times, life revolved around nature, and nature we all know is unpredictable- this ingrained in the human DNA a feeling, desire and curiosity about long and short-term future. Many ways of Jyotisha –predictive astrology, including Ashtmangala Prasannam, were developed through observation and practice.
Jyotisha means light, such as that of the sun, the moon, or the heavenly body; extendedly, it can be considered mean to show light, direction, and seeing in the future. Jyotisha and astrology are initiatives in predictions.
SIX TYPES OF JYOTISHA.
Six different ways of Jyotisa emerged.
Jataka uses a birth horoscope.
Gola-what we know as Khagola – Astronomy.
Nimitta based on observations of Omens.
Prasanna means Horary, where the answer gets defined by the time the question has been asked.
Muhurtha, the Electional astrology, which depends upon Mhuruth, which is 1/30th part of the day or 48 minutes intervals.
Ganita is based on calculations, Mathematics based.
MURUTHA ASTROLOGY.
In the case of Muhuruths, we have 15 during the day and 15 at night. In consideration are actually four elements, Muruths, Tithi, Nakṣatra (constellations), and Karma (act or event), needed to be looked into for the success of an undertaking. The murutha way is the technique of selecting muhurta to create positivity and a positive link between the cosmic energies of the elected moment to the birth chart.
However, many would want to believe differently and say that there is no need to look for a muhurta or auspicious time frame if there is purity of mind, faith in God, one is full of contentment, and one honours the elders and the holy people.
FOUNDATION OF JYOTISHA.
The Jyotisha and predictive astrology process is based on three basic parameters and foundations. One that the future can be predicted. Two, like every event, the events in life also have precursors and early signals. The planets and their position define, describe and control our life, including actions, reactions, inactions and behaviour. However, it not being an exact science (well understood or lost), there still remains If-but-Parantu-Kintu-Lekin the probability of the prediction coming true. You may find people who go entirely by these predictions and believe in them and find people who would trash the subject.
PRASANNAM JYOTIDAM.
It is an ancient Vedic practice of answering questions through different processes that would not make sense to most of us. One of the ways is Kerala’s Prasanna Jyotidam.
Followers of Prasannam Jyotidam believe Astrology on its own is not as effective as understanding and predictions through Kalam (speculative theology) or Prasannam ( where the astrologer of Prasannam learning answers the question based on exact placement of Grah -planets – nakshatras and horoscope of the time the question was asked and or understood by the practitioner), Nimiitham (A defining event that is not a mere coincidence but happened with a purpose) and other related Vedic methods.
Prasannam Joythidam is a branch of Vedic astrology. It gives reasonably accurate results providing deep insights by analysing horoscopes of people, houses, land, temples etc. It primarily concerns questions like, How to succeed in life? What are the hurdles? How to overcome the problems? What Pariharam (ritual solutions) must be performed to overcome or ward off evil effects from the doshas and their impact periods and to pacify the malefic planet’s effects.?
If the person is not finding the right/correct/true/good events/episodes/occurrences in life, even after the prediction or a good birth horoscope, the Prasannam can guide by revealing (predicting) the likely causes like previous birth karma, pitra karma and doshas. We are a collective of all our present and past karma. And our misery or unhappiness is a result of not only our sins throughout our lives but a collective of sins of our ancestors. These can be solved or rather resolved by asking for forgiveness.
DIFFERENT WAYS OF PRASANNAM.
There are various types of Prasannam or processes of predictive directional solutions and answers to the future in life. There are many sub-acts of predictions. Some of them are Deva Prasannam, Thambula Prasannam, Hora Prasannam, Aaruda Prasannam, Sozhi Prasannam, Kerala Ashta Mangala Prasananm, Nadi Prasannam, Nimitha Prasannam, Gowri Prasannam, Gadigara (clock) Prasannam, Jamakkol Prasannam, Horarai Prasannam, Sagadevar Prasannam, Nakashtra Prasannam and many more. Though it is more practised in south India and focussed around Kerala, there are variants across the country. It is tough to understand or even collate information on all of them- and hence I will restrict myself to describing ( not explaining) a few of them.
DEVA PRASANNAM.
Deva Prasannam means Divine Udayam or that which is rising at a given point in time. It means seeking gods’ permission and is conducted primarily in temples by tantric and mantrics ( one who uses mantra). The term Prasannam denotes what is present at the time the question is posed to Swamiji. It answers queries about the problems in the family to know about whatever has happened and what the future holds for the person.
SOZHI PRASANNAM
Sozhi Prasannam, where predictions are made by reading the outcome of the throw of a few dice.
NADI PRASNANAM
It is believed that sages have predicted and written on palm leaves in ancient Tamil the future for all the people on the planet Earth. In Nadi Prasannam, the astrologer, who can read ancient Tamil, reads the palm leaves and interpret them to predict the person’s future or answer a particular question.
These palm leaves, called ‘Nadis’, are as old as the Chola era (300 BC-1279 AD). These original leaves are kept in safe custody in libraries and museums and are only accessible to a select few.
However, there are many claimed centres which claim to use Brahma Nadi, Muruga Nadi, Atri Nadi, Shakti Nadi, Ganesh Nadi, Nandi Nadi, Jeeva Nadi, Dhruva Nadi and Suka Nadi for predicting and answering questions.
Srisivanandi.com proposes an online reading of Nadi basis the thumb impression. They claim 5 generations of reading and practice. And part of the original nadi family of Vaitheeswarankoil. They also claim that the past is not covered, but the future prediction from the time of reading Nadi is covered. There is a Nadi reading centre in Delhi, too; it refers to Nadi predictions by Rishi Agastya. Now Nadi centres are all over the country, and everyone claiming to be the original provides online reading. There are different packages basis Sivanadi or Agastya Nadi system, and if one wants Thulliya Nadi, Sukshma Nadi, AdiSukshma Nadi or Sukshmathi sukshma kandam reading and it ranges from 2000- to 30,050 INR.
ASHTA MAGALA PRASANNAM.
Ashtamangala Prasannam astrology helps discover or reveal or identify the good and bad effects of the past, present and future. It suggests remedies required to remove the harmful effects to clear the problem and open the path to happiness in life. It helps determine the auspicious timings for various events in life. As the name suggests, it uses eight (ashta) auspicious (mangala) objects; Ghee lamps (brass lamps with a wick in clarified butter), Mirror, Gold, Milk, Yogurt, Fruits, Book, and a White cloth.
ASHTHAMANGALA PRASANNAM PROCESS.
The process is tedious and performed by two priests or astrologers. It includes doing the Puja of the Zodiac sign of the day. During this time, a young boy or girl under the age of 10 from the family is asked to randomly place the gold coin in one of the twelve houses drawn on a wooden plank. Based on the house the coin is placed in and the Ashtamangala number computed during the process, the question-answer session begins. This can be extended to days, and remedial measures are recommended after completing the full diagnosis. At the same time, it also finalises the person who will be performing the remedial rituals.
ASTHMANGALA NUMBER.
The process of computing the Ashtamangala number uses 108 cowry shells which have been specially selected, cleaned and sanctified. The astrologer meditates on his mantra and seeks spiritual guidance while touching the Cowry shells. The astrologer randomly divides the shells into three piles. On each pile, the astrologer looks for multiple of eight cowry shells and removes them, keeping the reminder. If there is no remaining Cowry, eight cowry shells are kept. The 3-digit number obtained is the Ashtamangala number of the prasna ( question). It reflects the past, present and future respectfully from left to right. Odd numbers are considered good, even numbers bad.
WHAT ASTHAMANGALA PRASNNAM ANSWERS?
Ashtmangala Prasannam usually answers specific questions like why the person or the family has not been getting desired. To find the dosha/sapa (curses) in the family. To find solutions for critical challenges in the family. Childless couples try finding why there is no progeny. Or any other challenges in career, successful relationships, business, goals etc.
ASHTHMANGALA PRASNNAM CONSIDERATIONS.
It is a complex process requiring two priests to finalise the details. It considers a lot of things, including Prathamaneetham (item which the person touches), Chakra Lekhanam (drawing pattern of Rasi Chakra), Position of Gold in the 12 houses placed randomly by the kid, the Ashtamangala Number, Tambulam (Betal leaves/ Pan leaves) & Areca nut (Adakka / pakku / supari). Additionally, it uses the reference to six different items like Aarudham – taken by Astrologer using sea shells (Kavadi/Varatika), Udayam – time of the Prasna, Lagnamsam – Navamsa of time of Prasannam, Chatram – derived from position of sun, Aarudham, Udaya Lagna, Sprishtanga – based on the body part where the enquirer touches and Chandran – position of moon.
It may seem not logical, but Ashtmangala Prasannam also considers the Time Astrologer starts from his place of stay for the Prasna (Nirgama), Omens during the journey to the place of Prasna (Marga), Nimittas while entering the place of Prasna, Deepam / Lamp its Oil and wick, Horoscope of the person and even the immediate family members. /immediate family members.
ADDITIONAL WAYS.
There are so many different ways of divination across the country that it is tough to list them all. I have seen the usage of rice flour, lamps and even ink marks on the thumb is used for reading the future.
UTTARAKHAND SHAMANISM JAGAR, JAGRATA.
I am not even venturing into JAGRATA- or calling of spirits- Gods and Goddesses or shamanism in this article. Here are some other ways of predicting the future.
Uttarakhand is made of what is referred to as Kedarkhand ( Garwhal) and Manaskhand ( Kumaon) in the scriptures. Jagar dance associates with the Jagar– where, to a particular beat and music – the priest dances and wakes the spirits of ancestors, God, and Goddesses to join the gathering and answer questions. It is also a way to seek forgiveness for any crime and to get future directions. Usually, it is a specified date and time on which the whole clan ( mostly the people of the village) gather together, and Jagar is done at night.
There are three types of Jagar. Dev Jagar, the invocation of a god, and usually local gods and Kul Devtas that come to the medium’s body, usually the priest. Bhut Jagar, or the invocation of a deceased person’s spirit or soul in the medium’s body. And the Masan Puja is rare.
The three main people involved in the Jagar are. The Jagariya, the singer of the ballads of the gods, leads the rituals and invokes the gods by calling upon them. The person has 2-3 other people singing in the chorus with him. The Dangariya (is the Shaman whose body is acted as a medium by the gods when they are called. The Syonkar is the organiser of the Jagar to seek divine interventions or answers to the issues.
TAROT CARD READING FOR FUTURE.
Tarot cards do not predict the future. They are directional and can only answer questions about the person raising the question. However, Tarot cards can help make decisions. These are specific sets of pictorial sacred cards drawn and read in conjunction. How they are drawn and flipped to reveal the picture- including the order determines the prediction.
This one is dedicated to my dear friend Uday Vijayan who asked me to write about it. A lot of material he sourced initially interested me on Prasannam Jyotidam. So here is all I could find, relate, and collate under the #IgnormatHindu series.
OTHER PROCESSES TO PREDICT THE FUTURE.
Some of the other types and acts of predicting the future through intervention and interpreting the coded messages are.
Astragalomancy. Here, the reader uses the position and combination of the small bones with marks carved onto them are thrown randomly. In many places, dice are also used for the same purpose. The dice could be the oblong ones of perfect cubes ( when cubes are used- it is known as Cubomancy).
BIBLIOMANCY. Opening a religious scripture like Bible and Ramayana ( at times any random book) and predicting based on the first thing the eyes see and read.
CARTOMANCY. Predicting by using playing cards
CRYSTALLOMANCY.Predicting reading the Crystal ball.
NOPTROMANCY.Predicting reading through mirror divinations.
CEROMANCY. Reading the future basis, the figures formed by melted wax on water. In some places, molten metal ( mainly Lead) is used for the purpose.
CLEROMANCY. Reading the future by through or tossing things in the air and seeing the pattern when and how they fall. Flowers, Rice, Cowry shells etc., are some of the items used.
ONEIROMANCY. Reading the future based on the interpreted meaning of dreams. Here the belief is dreams are the message from subconscious or ancestorial spirits.
NETNET.
The only thing sure in life is death. As humans, we are all insecure about the future and find ways to predict to decrease anxiety. There are many ways, some scientific and some not so scientific, but both have their set of followers. It is a question of belief; I have had enough experiences to believe.
CREDIT.
This one is dedicated to my dear friend Uday Vijayan who asked me to write about it. A lot of material he sourced initially interested me on Prasannam Jyotidam. So here is all I could find, relate, and collate under the #IgnormatHindu series.
DISCLAIMER.
This collation of information does not guarantee factual correctness. It is a collation from different sources. The author is not an expert on the subject. This is part of the #IgnorantHindu series of articles and blogs- where the author has tried to place basic information for public consumption.
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