Transcript of Conversation With Asutosh Ojha on September 20th, 1995

[Comment: Indicates source of birth data that he used to calculate Prabhupada’s chart. Also gives details of his academic qualifications and training as an astrologer. This shows his admiration and respect for Srila Prabhupada and how it was his father who urged him to do the chart.]

Asutosh Ojha (AO): I did not know what he [Nalini Kanta] says, I even did not understand that he was an astrologer. But I met him one time.

Shyamasundara Dasa (SD): You met Nalini Kanta?

AO: Yes he came to India to see me one time. I think maybe about six years ago. But he was talking about his own horoscope.

SD: Ah yes. Anyway I have to do a refutation, I have to make some criticism because that is the nature of this whole thing.

AO: Yeah, sure when ever someone referred that he has given reference of Prabhupada’s horoscope in his book you know.

SD: Yes.

AO: And he made Sagittarius rising. So I could not understand because I got the particulars from Prabhupada himself.

SD: Yes.

AO: And as far as I remember there were two people who brought it to me. One was Gurukrpa.

SD: Yes.

AO: And there was another person, Damodar Pandit.

SD: Wasn’t Hari Sauri one of them?

AO: Hari Sauri came, yeah, sure. Yes he came.

SD: Was there also Abhiram?

AO: Abhiram. Right.

SD: And also Yashodananda?

AO: Yashodananda, I’m not sure. I don’t remember him. But Damodar Pandit came to collect it from me.

SD: Aha.

AO: Because Damodar Pandit was many years in Vrndavan [so he met him often and was familiar with him]. But I remember Hari Sauri was there.

* * * * *

AO: We have scholars in our family.

SD: Your father was.

AO: My father was. Before that there was one person and his centenary was celebrated. He wrote 67 books.

Madhusudana Ojha, he was the Raja Guru of the Maharaja of Jaipur.

SD: Oh of Jaipur.

AO: We were the Gurus of the Maharajas of Alwar for six generations. We have been astrologers for six generations. So he wrote 67 books in which he has tried to describe how you can make airplanes and use the principles of atoms according to the Vedas you know.

SD: When was this?

AO: Madhusudana Ojha...

SD: He wrote Vimana Sastra?

AO: Right. And his books have been taken over by the Government of Rajastan who are now publishing it slowly.

SD: Oh really! When did he die?

AO: He died about 1915 [? not clear].

SD: What about your education.

AO: I started astrology when I was very young. My father said that from about age five I would start looking through astrology books. Looking at the pictures, especially of Scorpio. I also have a Bachelors Degree with Honors in Mathematics. I can calculate very quickly. Also a Masters Degree in English literature.

* * * * *

SD: Did you ever meet Prabhupada?

AO: I will write in my article that one part of me was telling me to meet him, my father said you should go and meet him. But my ego said no, I should not go.

SD: Why?

AO: Just like the ego of a Brahmana is [indistinct]. Brahmanas are unpredictable you know. I shall write about it.

SD: So you think Srila Prabhupada had a very powerful horoscope?

AO: Actually you know my father was the one who said “Ok come and my son will do the reading.” About Prabhupada’s horoscope.

SD: Aha

AO: And I said to my father. “Why you have fixed for me [this responsibility].” I was already very busy you know. And I didn’t have any time. “Why you have told people to come and see me.” He said “Well now you should see him.” I said alright. [Indistinct] But it was the will of God you know. So that’s how it happened. Because actually my father was not practicing for many years because of paralysis so he would pass on these people to me.

SD: Aha.

AO: Then he said I should charge only 30 Rupees, whereas I was charging over 200 Rupees at that time from foreigners you know. So I said why he should try to reduce my fees. Because on one side he didn’t want me to do astrology on the other he says ok do it for 30 Rupees. [indistinct] It kept on bothering me. . . SD: Were you impressed by Srila Prabhupada’s horoscope when you saw it?

AO: See in my [work looking at charts all day, looking at another chart] it was a routine thing for me [to examine charts]. I heard about Prabhupada even before you know. Because even before that one person used to come to talk to my father. What was his name? He was writing for Prabhupada.

SD: Pradyumna. That’s the one?

AO: And then also about the Hare Krsna Movement people we knew. I just saw the horoscope in the last days. But after one year I felt very sad that I missed the opportunity of going to see him you know. But maybe the Lord only wanted me to have this much touch with Prabhupada not seeing him physically. And I told someone that he [Prabhupada] should do Maha-mrtyunjana Japa, and all that. And I was told that Prabhupada said “no, just chant Hare Krsna.”

SD: Yes that is what he said.

AO: I don’t know who told me this maybe Smarahari said.

SD: Yes, you told him to get a Blue Sapphire and do Maha-Mrtyunjana Japa.

AO: He got the gem, they brought it from Hong Kong.

SD: You recommended the Blue Sapphire because he had Makara Lagna [Capricorn Ascendant].

AO: No. He had Makara Lagna and the Sani [Saturn] was very bad.

SD: Ashtama Sani [Saturn transiting the 8th from the Ascendant].

AO: Loss of life. I said there would be loss of life. Some disciple of his got very angry. He said that Prabhupada is going to live for more than 100 years. I said no.

SD: You should write this down.

AO: I remember it you know.

SD: Please write this down it is important.

AO: I said we don’t go...One who is born, his body has to go some day. So now is the time for it to go. And he will travel. He may have some urinary problems. He will come back. He will die in a holy place. You see this in the horoscope or not.

SD: Did I see that?

AO: In the horoscope it indicates. Because he had Ketu in the 8th.

SD: Ketu with Jupiter and Sun in the 8th house.

AO: Ketu with Jupiter in the 8th gives Moksha.

SD: Yes.

AO: Although Srila Prabhupada said he wants to come back. And pray and worship. The lord of the 8th. . . SD: Jupiter in the 8th like that. Sanketanidhi says that the person becomes a great devotee of Krsna.

AO: Ketu and Jupiter.

SD: Well Jupiter as 12th lord in the 8th house becomes a great devotee of Krsna.

AO: Other devotees I have seen [indistinct] have planets in the 8th house. It shows Bhaktimarga.

SD: I have also seen prostitutes with many planets in the 8th. It is a dangerous house. One must learn to control it. [Please see my discussion of the 8th house in my analysis of Nalini’s thesis.]

6.9 Transcript of Conversation With Sruta Kirti Dasa