Astounding astrology

Speaking at the Golden Jubilee of the Sucharitha Movement, President R. Premadasa said that after he was born, his father had gone to meet the well-known astrologer K. W. Jinadasa and had asked him to cast his son’s horoscope. A few days later, he had gone to see him again to get the horoscope read. He found that the astrologer was reluctant to do so. After much persuasion, the astrologer had said that the predictions are of an unusual nature. “If the birth time of your son is accurate, he would one day rule the country.”

His father had scoffed at that rash prediction, as the country was under the British Raj at the time, with no Independence in sight. The astrologer then said that was what the stars foretold. The President said that this prophecy made in 1924 had come true in 1988, when he became the President of Sri Lanka, adding that he decided to reveal this secret as a tribute to the science of astrology and those who master it.

There was a professional astrologer and could verily be called ‘an astrologer royal’ as he was consulted quite often by the highest in the land. One day, while cleaning his room, one of his daughters came across a note in his father’s diary. The note contained in his own handwriting, the date and time he would die. The horrified girl promptly informed her elder sister, who was living in Colombo, about it. On the date given in the note, the elder sister arrived at her father’s home, together with her husband and children. After 2.30 pm, which was the ‘deadline’ given in the note, had come and gone and since their father was in good spirits and seemed quite hale and hearty, the elder sister and her family went back to Colombo, reaching their home about 5.30 pm. They had hardly got off their car, when the telephone rang. It was her younger sister, with the news that their father had died hardly five minutes ago. So, his prediction was accurate up to three hours.

The above two stories are of the ordinary type of astrology. Apart from it, there are the Indian Ola Leaves of Life and Destiny (Vakkeams). These ancient ola leaves are ready-made horoscopes written by Rishis. They not only give the names of persons but also the names of parents, in addition to other information pertaining to their lives. In the year 1954, when President R. Premadasa was a fledgling politician, while in Madras, met an astrologer who had the ola leaves. While awaiting his turn to meet this astrologer, he saw the latter reading an ola leaf. All of a sudden, the person who was seated in front of him shouted ‘Sari’.

“Wappada Peru Sari.” (Father’s name is correct). The astrologer’s face lit up with an innocent radiant smile. Then he continued to read the ola leaf. “Ummada Perung Sari” (mother’s name is also correct). The reading proceeded. “Adun Sari” he shouted, elated.

When Premadasa’s turn came, the astrologer noted the date and time of his birth and his lagna (birth-sign). He then drew a chart and from a nearby room returned with a bundle of ola leaves. “Please listen to me intently” “I do not know that much Tamil,” Premadasa said almost involuntarily. “It is alright. If necessary, I will explain in English later. Nevertheless, aren’t you able to recognise your father’s and mother’s names by their sound?” “Certainly, yes.” He then proceeded to read the ola leaves in a loud tone. Then something wonderful happened!

He pronounced his father’s name. “Is your father’s name…? “Yes” he said. The astrologer smiled and continued. Next, he mentioned his mother’s name. He who did not know even the visitor’s name proceeded to pronounce it. “Is your name Premdas?” “Yes! My name is Premadasa.” The reading then proceeded.

This is how Ven Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Nayake Thera found his ola leaf. “He went inside the room and brought a small bundle of ola leaves. It was the index Volume of those with that particular line on the palm. He read it with the help of a magnifying glass and said that the first letter of the name of the person with that palm should be ‘ku’. I told him that it was not so and asked him whether I should mention my name so as to help him. ‘Do not mention your name,’ he said. ‘I shall find it out myself.’ Although he read out several first letters of names by turning the pages. I told him that the first letter of my name was not among them.

While proceeding with the reading I heard him mention a name in a low tone. That was the name of a relative of mine who was born near my house, the day after I was born. I then told him that my name also should be there in a leaf near it. He reiterated that if it was so my name should begin with the letter ‘ku’. At my request he then read the name as it appeared in the ola leaf. ‘kunchan Mahattan’ he said. It was then that I realised the mistake I had originally made. He found this name at the very outset but due to my hastiness he had to waste his time. My first name was ‘Punchi Mahathtaya’ and in the Tamil version it was ‘Kunchan Mahattan’. Thereafter I told him that he had found out my name correctly.

“Then your mother’s name should be ‘Sinna Manikyam’ he said. My mother’s name is Heen Menike and I realised that in the Tamil version it is Sinna Manikyam. He then mentioned my father’s name too. ‘Mediyas Appasamy’ he said. As my father’s name was Methias Appuhamy. I surmised that what he said was correct. When I told him that the above details were correct, he told me that my horoscope was there with him.”

Ruhunu Puthra was in Madras on a short holiday and he went to this astrologer’s Nadi Institute. On arrival he was greeted in the eastern fashion, by a young man, in his early 30s, attired in the South Indian style. He had sharp eyes and a pleasing personality. After exchanging greetings, he opened a notebook and asked me for the date and time of my birth. I was able to furnish him with only the date as I had no knowledge of the time of my birth.

Next, he closely examined my right palm with the use of a magnifying glass and drew some kind of a diagram or a chart and announced that he would first make a preliminary investigation to see whether my horoscope was available with him. After about 15 minutes he returned with several bundles of ola leaves in his hand and commenced reading them or chanting what was written in the ola leaves, with much emphasis on pronunciation.

Reading out some names, he asked me whether any one of them tallied with that of my father’s. This went on for sometime, my answer always being in the negative. He showed no sign of disappointment but left his seat and returned with several other bundles of ola leaves and commenced reading as before. This time the second name he uttered was that of my father’s.

“Is your mother’s name Somawathie Kulasuriya?” “And your name …?”

Then he stated with a Dravidian accent, that I should have been born in a village called ‘Danaged-draa’. No doubt, he was he referring to the village Dangedera in Galle, the birthplace of Henry Pedris, the national hero. Aloud he commenced reading something which appeared to be in Dravidian or Classical Tamil and I saw him glancing intently at the ola leaf. He read and re-read it.

Then he looked at me with a broad and sarcastic smile and read out the ‘name of the girl who would be my future partner in life. He also read out to me how her name was derived and what it meant. The reading proceeded. (Ruhunu Puthra met this astrologer in 1961. His address at the time was): Prof. C. Chandrasheker, Kawmara Nadi Institute Roypettah, Madras 11, (Opposite Roypettah Police Station).