HH RADHANATH SWAMI ON ASTROLOGY

Question:
My horoscope says so much about my life and it was all coming true but ever since I have taken up Krishna consciousness, it has gone topsy-turvy… Doesn’t astrology works for devotees?

Radhanath Swami Answers:
Astrology can predict what you will further experience in life according to your Karma. This is the science of Astrology, but I know one of the greatest astrologers in India who lives in Bangalore. He is a very genuine astrologer and when a devotee of Lord Krishna comes to him for consulting, he frankly tells them, “I can tell your destination according to your karma. But because you are a devotee and you have surrendered to Krishna, not anything I may say necessarily will affect your life.”
Krishna Says in Bhagavad Gita –
“mahatmanas tu mam partha
daivim prakritim asritah”
Bhagavad-Gita 9.13
“O son of Pritha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.”

When you surrender to Krishna, you come under the influence of divine nature. Although due to your past activities and Karma you have a destiny but when you surrender to Krishna you are no longer under the laws of karma. Krishna can either let you go through the reactions of your karma or He can intervene and separate you from that condition.

 In 1966, when Srila Prabhupada had a very major heart attack, he was taken to a hospital. As soon as he regained his consciousness he said, “I cannot tolerate the doctors in hospital. Take me back to the temple.” Later at the temple, Srila Prabhupada said, “It was my destined moment to die. But Krishna has more work for me in His mission.”

 So when you become a devotee, Krishna could intervene in your destiny in any way he wants. Even if your destiny is to be prosperous and successful, Krishna can bring complete calamity in your life and take away everything–if He feels that is good for your spiritual progress. And even if you are supposed to be diseased and die young, Krishna can give you healthy body–if He feels that is good for your spiritual progress.

But unless you utilize your independence to surrender to Krishna then we are simply victimized by the results of our previous activities.