Page:The Brihat jataka (IA brihatjataka00varaiala).pdf/13



is probably not one subject which is so ill-understood, which so many people pretend to know, and on which so many are prepared to express an opinion, as the subject of Astrology. The Indian proverb truly says that there is no man who is not a bit of a physician and an astrologer ; and it is equally true that there is 110 subject which is so ill-understood as these two. The fact is that the broad medical and astrological principles are so many that everybody of necessity learns a few of these, but experiences a difficulty in mastering all of them.

It would be interesting to note the various subjects with whch astrology is confounded. Persons with well. developed intuitions are often found to make correct predictions of events. The Yogis are persons of this description. Their peculiar knowledge is certainly not the result of any study of astrological works, We also find another class of men who imitate these men and also make striking statements. Birmingham gold is often taken for sterling gold ; German silver for pure silver; and we have a variety of inferior stones, white, red and green that are often mistaken for diamonds, rubies and emeralds, The world is full of this dual character of things. Every department of true knowledge has its inferior counterpart and so we have a number of men who, possessing no occult powers, but securing the help of a few elemental spirits, practise imposition on the ignorant public. But the world is not without a touchstone to detect the hollowness of their pretensions : these men will give you a few correct particulars regarding remote past events, a great deal of particulars regarding present events, one or two particulars regarding the immediate future, and no particulars at