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This is in response to C. M. Fernando's (University of Moratuwa) letter of 11.8.2002 which lists ten questions and a final question, Should astrology be revised scientifically?

Today, in the 21st century Science and Technology takes precedence over myth and mystery, Science is based on experimentation, observation, reasoning and testing. Knowledge thus acquired is based on (a) what I came to know must be true (b) I must be sure that it is true (c) I must have right to be sure.

Astrology is based on astrological statements (vedas) handed down initially by word of mouth and then written in books as slokas or stanzas. Over centuries this method of propagation of basic principles of life had been a common feature in India and the neighbouring countries. In fact what Gautama Buddha expounded was handed down by Arahants verbally until 5 centuries later they were put down in writing as the Tripitaka at the Sanghayanas. Jesus Christ's teaching's too were codified later as the gospels by later day saints.

Astrology from ancient times had been a practical and useful subject to seek guidelines on momentous occasions of life such as matrimony, house-building, housewarming and for regal ceremonies like coronations and on spiritual occasions like abhishekams. Gautama Buddha certainly did not believe in rituals of any form for his task was to find a way out of re-birth or rebecoming in order to fine a way out of this unsatisfactory state called life.

Apart from Buddha's philosophy, in the practice of Buddhism as a religion there is a stanza in the Maha Jayamangala Gathas or stanzas of Supreme Blessings which in Pali is as follows; "Nakkatha - yakka - bhutanam papaggaha nivarana Pattisanu bhavena - hantu mahyam uppaddava." A translation is as follows; By the power of this protection may no misfortune result through stellar constellations, non-human beings, evil spirits and malefic planets.

Astrological predictions are based generally on the position and translation of the planets, Nodal points (Rahu and Kethu) relative to the stellar constellations. The almanac describing the days of the year indicating transits of planets is based on empirical calculations described in vedic literature. The Vedic saints of yore were wedded to truth, their morals and ethics were blemishless and their words were accepted within that framework

This is also so in the case of Buddha's concept of Nibbana which is ineffable, yet accepted as experiential.

Ayurveda is also another branch of knowledge which when applied can cure many ailments of the human body without having undergone the usual pharmacological and clinical testing. Similarly Vedic astrological knowledge has given empirical methods of finding day to day planetary positions. The value given for the precision of the equinoxes in present day astronomy falls quite close to the ayanamsa of the vedas.

While this has given credibility to Vedic calculations, yet no scientific explanation has been forthcoming in any comprehensive way to satisfy present day scientific thinking. For this reason alone it is not fair to discard Vedic astrological knowledge. It is our duty to develop this knowledge into scientific astrology by investigation and research on scientific lines. This should fall within the curriculum at graduate level in a university.

Modern cosmological theory assumes that the entire universe was contained in a dimensionless point at the beginning of time. At the instant of the Big-Bang everything interacted with every other thing. Thus the universe is united through a mechanism called Phase Entanglement. To understand this process some explanation is needed. Particles in quantum physics are represented by mathematical entities called Wave Functions. This describes the properties of particles in respect of location, direction and speed of movement.

When two such particles interact, their wave functions get entangled so that they could be given a single wave function. The entanglement remains intact even after the two particles move apart but never vanish whatever be the distance of separation. They remain inter-connected transcending space and time. This entanglement is subtle and never disappears thereafter. The entire Universe is one inter-connected while there is thus a place for astrological statements like conjunction of planets, aspects of planets and opposition of planets.

It is true that astrologers still use the geo-centric model of the universe which is a pre-Corpenican concept. Yet Big-Bang and mechanism of Phase Entanglement may mean that the centre of the Universe is everywhere. Astrologers have used the earth only as a reference point. Mechanics of Phase Entanglement suggests that planets, stellar constellations which come out of the Big-Bang can have an influence on Earth and her inhabitants although Earth is just a spec in the Universe.

- M. B. G. de Silva , Former Director, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology.

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