Longevity and Life Span

This book on Longevity is an extended study on the principles of Longevity in Indian Astrology. Starting with the various concepts as depicted in different Sanskrit classical texts, t he author analyses the different types, combinations, nature of different ayurdayas. The different causes for longevity of the native like place, nature, etc. Are correlated with live examples of personalities. The Basic tenets for determining the longevity based on Drekkanas, jaimini Astrology, pindayu method, Kalachakra dasa, Ashtakavarga, Krishnamoorthy padhathi, are enunciated. The influence of Nakshartaras, Maraka periods in the natives life, are explained with examples of horoscopes. The importance of the second and ninth house in determining as well as the practicing astrologer to arrive at a plausible life term of native by proper use of this book.

Sri. P. M. Gopalachary, hails from a family of great scholars with cultural background from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. He retired as the Head of the Department of Oriental Languages, in VR College, Nellore. He learnt Jyothisha from Sriman Vikrala Raghavacharyar, son of famous scholar Vikarla Ramachandracharya o f 19 century. Sri. P M Gopalachary has five post graduate degrees in various subjects to his credit. His several articles have been published in Dr. B. V Raman’s Astrological Magazine from Bangalore, Dr. Nimai Banarji’s Planets and Forecast from Orissa, Sri Jandhyal’s Bhavishyvani (Telugu) from Guntur, and Yoganjali from Nellore. His articles are also being published in various E-Magazines as well. He was giving his advice through. Ammas. Com, Mystic Board etc. He has published several books in Telugu namely “jyothirvidya Mahodadhi, Astro Palmistry, Kuberavastu, Ibbandulu Santhulu, Srichakra sevanam, Gopalakrishneeyam, Gocharaphaladarsini, Vivdhadaspahaladarsini, Krishnamurthi paddhathi, Ayrudaygananareethulu, Janakalasamskaramu, sub (Kakshya) mahima.

He is continuing his research oriented studies in different Vedic Astrological systems, apart from his lively interest in Chinese, Burmese and Western Astrological Systems as well.

He is running an institute “Sri Mahaganapathi Astrological Research Institute”. As Director of this institute he has trained more than 200 student astrologers. He is the President of Simhapuri Jyothisha Vidyapeetam, Nellore. He is also a Member of several associations and academic bodies like ICAS, Magi Society, American Federation of Astrologers, International society for Astrological Research, Feng Shui Society of U. K. etc.

He was awarded several titles like Jyotirvidya Mahamopadhyaya,, Jyotirvdyamahodadhi, Daivagina Visarada, Dynamic Astrologer, by Dignitaries in Nellore.

He gives free medical advice to the needy, free of cost based on Homeopathy and Ayurveda. He also studied Ayurveda from Sri Chilakapati Srinvasasachary, Sri swayampakula Venkataramansasarma and Machavolu Ramnaiah, and learnt Homeopathy from Dr. K. Narasimhachary.

He is an ex-Rotarian (1998-2008) and served as the president of Rotary

In this little book I wish to present the different views of the Ancient Sages, Astropandits, modern research scholors, on Longevity and Span of Life.

We know pretty well, that no single principle or method will work correctly and efficiently in all cases. So the readers and scholors are requested not to be haste in predicting and declaring the longevity of any native.

In Sanskrit Longevity is called AYUSH. "Ayurda Agne". The sacred fire is addressed as Ayurda. It means gi ver of Ayush. Not living years. But it means Energy, Vitality, Living force etc. Here ayusha is energy. To protect it one should wake at about 3.30 a.m. (Brahmee muhurtha).Ayurveda means the knowledge or treatise which deals with Ayush. Here also not the years one will live. It deals with Physical and mental energy. “Brahme Muhurthe uttishteth swastho raksharthm ayushaha”

The general blessing "Satamanam Bhavathi, Satayuh Purusha ssatendriya Ayushyevendriye prati thishtthi. " Also gives the same meaning. The word Ayush stands for Indriyas. Saatha means powerful and sharp. One will live for more than hundred years with powerful indriyas (senses).

So Longevity is not equivalent to Ayush. Deerghayu means Very Very lengthy energy, which causes to live more and more years. A battery with more energy, works for a long period. Is it wrong to call the Sun, a Planet

The Moon is treated as feminine even by scientists. The pro-noun she is used instead of noun 'Moon'. How a planet be male or female. The Infinite article is used before the Moon and the Sun. But in reality every planet has a number of moons in the solar system. There are number of Suns in universe, say astronomers.

Americans call all Europeans as western people though Europe is in the east to America. Japanese are called as Far-eastern people, though they are in the west to the people in Florida. Are these not anomalies.

The words Operation, Constitution, Father etc. gives different meanings in different places. In "Operation Blue Star." and "Operation Theatre" does the word' operation' has the same meaning? The word Constitution in politics is different from the word constitution in medical terminology. Every Science and treatise has its own terminology. The word 'GOODS' in Economics is not same as the word GOODS in Accounts. Computer HUB is different from Hub in a bicycle.

The word father in "Father in a church", "the father of a nation" does not denote the father who really gave birth to a child,

In Sanskrit 'Bhaga' means vagina. Bhagavathi means reverred or respected woman. But a crooked clever scholar will explain the word "the woman with vagina". In Telugu 'poolu' means flowers. Butin Tamil it means penis. The word facial has different meanings in different contexts. One should not apply as per his own wishes. Besides the custom and tradition, the context, the environment etc. should be observed.

Graha means which catches or shows influence. Though the word planet has been taken as synonym for Graha, the definitions and meanings are different. It is no matter whether it is big, large, small, little, tiny, self luminary or not, with physical substance or not, but only the qualification is showing influence on living beings on the earth.

This is the definition of a Graha. These nine, Ravi (though astronomers call star), Chandra (who is called a satellite), the brilliant Sukra, Big and large Guru, the tiny Budha and Kuja, Sani who is irregular in shape, Rahu and Ketu who are not seen and has no physical body- all these are called grahas in Vedic astrology.

Sun also is a graha only. All grahas receive light and energy from Sun. Sun also catches energy heat etc. from major and fixed stars. It can be traced by observing the heat, produced by the Sun in different seasons. The Sun is influenced by the stars. In May and June, KrittikaandRohini (Karthari). Generally people think, the Sun is nearer to the earth at in the month of October also. Then he is not so hot as he is in May.

The nodes also show their influence on the Sun and the Moon besides on the earth. It can be understood by the word "Grahana". Grahanam means to catch or to get into hold. The nodes catch the Luminaries. Then, latter's influence is not felt on the earth. Graha+na (No influence).

In Chinese astrology there are 108 stars. But they are not at all physical matter in the universe. They are hypothetical and arrived at by five elements combination.

One should not keep one's finger on terminology of any subject.

There are other balagrahas, which hurt the infant and children in various stages. And we find some aprakasak grahas also in astrology.

There is asayingin Sanskrit "Jamathadasamograhaha". This means the son-in-law is the tenth graha. Here the human being, son-in-law is called as graha, as he influences the wife's family. He is not a planet. In the word 'Vigraha' we see graha. It means Visishya Grihnathi. The figure influences the devotee excessively.

In Vedic astrology, we find another term 'Dhanya', grain. Every graha is being represented by a Dhanya. Among them, Rice and wheat are called as cereals. Black gram, Toor gram, Green gram and Bengal gram are called as pulses. Beans are someway different from pulses. Sesame is called as seeds. We extract oil from sesame and not from other pulses or cereals. Horse gram is very different from all these. But in Vedic Astrology all these are called as Dhanyas. That is its own terminology. .

The Zodiac is divided into 12 signs (Rasis). In Vedic Astrology, only 27 constellations (Nakshatras) are taken, which comes In the path, in which the Earth moves. Every constellation is a group of some number of stars. All these stars move along with signs towards east. But the so called star, the Sun appears to be moving in these signs from east.

The stars move with the 12 signs towards east whereas the Sun moves within the 12 sings as the other planets do, in an opposite direction. That is the difference between the stars and hteSun as per Vedic Astrology

Whether Astrology is a science or not? In my opinion, Astrology is not at all a Science. The scope of science such as Physics, Chemistry, etc. is limited. The scope of Astrology is unlimited. In every science, only one or two aspects are dealt, whereas in Astrology large number of aspects are dealt and it is on living beings. but in the fundamental sciences the observation and practical are done on non living things and that too in a limited Laboratory.

We study science subjects up to the intermediate or +2 level. Then afterwards we do further studies like medicine, engineering and post graduate studies on different subjects indifferent areas of knowledge. When he enters the job he is practicing the subject of learning, then he is called a programmer or Doctor or technocrat and does practice and his work is called practice and not science.

The word science is modern. The word Sastra is an ancient one. The knowledge when we learn is called Science. The invention of any drug, medicine or machinery comes under science but medicine to a patient, the driver of a car, the pilot in airoplane also is to be called scientist. The subject politics is called Political Science when it is being studied. The person who takes part in Politics is not called as Political Scientist.

I wonder why even the Indian Vedic astrologers are very eager to call the Astrology as a Science. Astrology is a Treatise. A Sastra. It is like Meemassa Sastra, Vyakarana Sastra, Tarka Sastra etc. It is flexible. Greater in scope, than any other fundamental sciences. We should not apply the loose definition of the modern term Science to Sastra.

When we apply or practice the scope widens.