The Seed Beneath the Volcano
Vol. I, K. Rajasekhara Reddi
U.G.'s maternal grandfather, Pantulu, was always eager to know what the future might hold for Krishna, or 'Kittu', as he called him [his grandmother called him 'Ramdu'], and had complete faith in Nadi astrology. One day, he took him to a Koumara Nadi astrologer he knew in Roypet. The astrologer received them cordially and inquired about their welfare. Seeing Krishna, he asked, 'Is he your grandson, Sir?' Pantulu replied, 'Yes, he is my daughter's son. I have brought him to you to know his future life. Here is his horoscope.' So saying, Pantulu handed the horoscope to the astrologer. 'Good, please wait.' The astrologer took the horoscope and went to search for the corresponding palm leaf book from ancient times.
It is said that the word 'nadi' means search. In Dravidian languages, particularly in old Tamil, these books were written on palm leaves (they were also written in Sanskrit, and though rarely, in Telugu). Many such books are popular in the Vaitheeswaran Koil area of Tamil Nadu. According to legend, Lord Shiva once incarnated as Bhrugu Maharshi. The Maharshi made earnest penance for a long time, attained higher levels of knowledge and powers, and prepared horoscopes of great people and future prophets on palm leaves. Pantulu consulted the Bhrugu Samhita, otherwise known as the Koumara Nadi astrologer. This gentleman was believed to have inherited the original literature of ancient times from his ancestors.
After an hour, the astrologer emerged with palm books written in Tamil. He was sweating profusely and apologized to Pantulu for the delay in searching for the correct horoscope. Wiping the sweat off his face with his upper cloth, he wrote down the whole horoscope of Krishna in Tamil, as written on the palm leaves. Afterwards, he translated it from Tamil to English and read it out to Pantulu before handing it over to him.
Pantulu paid the astrologer lavishly and took leave of him. He and Krishna walked to a typing institute. As the astrologer's manuscript got typed, Krishna observed the machine. The typist was not looking at the keyboard, though he typed speedily. Krishna keenly observed how his fingers were moving on the entire keyboard. He was surprised at the skill of the typist. Then they returned to Adyar.
On the return from Roypet, Pantulu was thoughtful and silent. Krishna attempted to talk to him and walked around him. He asked what the typed papers meant. Pantulu looked at Krishna silently for a few moments and spoke to him softly, 'Kittu, they say that if you read well, you will become a famous and a great person. So concentrate all your attention on your education. You must work hard. Do you understand?' Pantulu was imagining the great banyan tree lying dormant in the small seed.
Krishna expected something else from his grandfather. Had that Tamil astrologer babbled only this nonsense for so many hours? He suspected that his grandfather was hiding something from him and decided to find out the truth for himself in due course. Slowly, he left the room and walked out on the veranda. A number of children were at play there and he watched them attentively for some time.
Pantulu recalled his daughter's last words. On her deathbed, she had told him the same thing as the astrologer—the one matched with the other exactly. Her prophesy was not an imaginative wish. It was now clear that her words were destined to take shape in the future as reality.
It is said that the word 'nadi' means search. In Dravidian languages, particularly in old Tamil, these books were written on palm leaves (they were also written in Sanskrit, and though rarely, in Telugu). Many such books are popular in the Vaitheeswaran Koil area of Tamil Nadu. According to legend, Lord Shiva once incarnated as Bhrugu Maharshi. The Maharshi made earnest penance for a long time, attained higher levels of knowledge and powers, and prepared horoscopes of great people and future prophets on palm leaves. Pantulu consulted the Bhrugu Samhita, otherwise known as the Koumara Nadi astrologer. This gentleman was believed to have inherited the original literature of ancient times from his ancestors.
After an hour, the astrologer emerged with palm books written in Tamil. He was sweating profusely and apologized to Pantulu for the delay in searching for the correct horoscope. Wiping the sweat off his face with his upper cloth, he wrote down the whole horoscope of Krishna in Tamil, as written on the palm leaves. Afterwards, he translated it from Tamil to English and read it out to Pantulu before handing it over to him.
Pantulu paid the astrologer lavishly and took leave of him. He and Krishna walked to a typing institute. As the astrologer's manuscript got typed, Krishna observed the machine. The typist was not looking at the keyboard, though he typed speedily. Krishna keenly observed how his fingers were moving on the entire keyboard. He was surprised at the skill of the typist. Then they returned to Adyar.
On the return from Roypet, Pantulu was thoughtful and silent. Krishna attempted to talk to him and walked around him. He asked what the typed papers meant. Pantulu looked at Krishna silently for a few moments and spoke to him softly, 'Kittu, they say that if you read well, you will become a famous and a great person. So concentrate all your attention on your education. You must work hard. Do you understand?' Pantulu was imagining the great banyan tree lying dormant in the small seed.
Krishna expected something else from his grandfather. Had that Tamil astrologer babbled only this nonsense for so many hours? He suspected that his grandfather was hiding something from him and decided to find out the truth for himself in due course. Slowly, he left the room and walked out on the veranda. A number of children were at play there and he watched them attentively for some time.
Pantulu recalled his daughter's last words. On her deathbed, she had told him the same thing as the astrologer—the one matched with the other exactly. Her prophesy was not an imaginative wish. It was now clear that her words were destined to take shape in the future as reality.
Vasista and Vaiwamitra offer obesience to Goddess Parvati and discuss the tenth bhava (house of action, or karma) of the native.
Native's name is Gopala Krishna Murthy. Sitaramayya is the name of his father, and mother's name is Bharati. The planetary position at the time of his birth was as follows. Mithuna (Gemini) Lagnam. Sun and Jupiter in the Ascendant. Mercury, Moon and Saturn in the second house. Mars in the fourth and Rahu (the North Node) in the sixth house. Venus and Kethu (the South Node) in the twelfth house.
At this stage, Vasista says that the native will attain moksha in this very life.
Educational attainments must be very high. Endowed with versatility, imagination, intuitive perception and fluency of speech. He must attain prosperity through personal merit but there is no steady income and it will not be proportionate to his name and fame. He will have much more money than ancestral inheritance. Since he is distinctly spiritual-minded there will always be a kind of indifference towards money.
He comes in contact with great men very early in life. Breaks in education. Begins professional study in his twenty-third year but ends it abruptly.
After the twenty-fifth year he takes up the line of teaching or lecturing connected with an organization which stands for universal brotherhood and essential unity of all religions. That brings him wisdom, friendship with great men, increasing fame and reputation as a great speaker and respect of learned men. The nature of his work is such that he constantly travels and comes into contact with great men of different kinds and gains experience.
After thirty-fifth year, there is a change in life. Residence in foreign lands. There is an indication of constant and fruitless traveling around the world. Intense inward struggle. But the inner crisis will end up in good. He will be helped by a great teacher. He puts him on the right path. He will be helped by a woman who will help him to establish himself in foreign lands permanently.
Forty-fifth to fifty-fifth year are years of great importance in his life. He will be born again in his forty-ninth year. Becomes an international personality. He will always be on the move. Name goes to the four corners of the world. Blushing honors will be showered upon him. Books will be written on and about him. Great respect everywhere and in all lands. As years go by a great organization with huge properties and a great following grows around him to spread his teaching.
Fifty-fifth year or around, there is an indication of death under tragic circumstances. Failing which, he lives right up to a ripe old age preaching all the richness of his personal experience. Leaves his mark on the world as one of the great teachers of mankind.
