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34 CSPatelInterviewCVA PDF
34 CSPatelInterviewCVA PDF
C.S.Patel
By
Gary Gomes, USA
Courtesy: Council of Vedic Astrology,
America
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but Sanskrit of astrology is simple in contrast to Sanskrit literature. I prepared three diaries
related to astrological Sanskrit (a) Sanskrit word and meaning (b) Prayay (Synonyms) word
(c) Paribhashik (Terminology)
This study helped me to interpret each and every word in my own way (It is to be noted)
There are two well known ways to denote the number known as Katapayadi Sankhya and
Arnavadi Sankhya, if one knows the use of these two methods of north and south of
numbering only then one can interpret the verses correctly.
[Students Comment: After watching Shri Patel for such a long time, I feel this has been his
strength over other authors from south and north, Patel Saheb knows both the systems
whereas most of others know only Katapayadi system. Also I have personally observed Patel
Saheb ponder over a shloka for days, just on One verse he would at times spend days and
days and finally he would get the hidden meaning, as if a Sage finally communicated to him.
I have also observed during my travels that there is no doubt that even Sanskrit scholars all
over India have the highest regard for Patel Sahebs translation.]
Journal: How would you recommend a student to study Jyotisha?
Patel: To learn Jyotish, a student must have an ardent desire to learn Jyotisha and not waste
time in reading other books & literature. All his spare time should be given to study this
subject. I advice them to study their horoscope when any incident occurred in their life and
to find astrological means for that event in charts of whole family members.
Journal: What qualifications should astrologer posses?
Patel: An astrologer should have good hold over Sanskrit. Astrological Sanskrit is quite easy
but authors have made free use of Paryay and Paribhashik word.
Journal: What preparation would you suggest a student take, to learn Jyotisha?
Patel: To learn Jyotish, a student must have an ardent desire to learn Jyotisha, Jyotisha
Jyotisha. He should not take interest in any other subject except Jyotisha and whenever he
learns something new he should make a note of such matters.
Journal: Do you think it is essential for a student to engage in spiritual practice to be an effective
astrologer? What practice would you recommend?
Patel: No it is not essential for a student to engage in spiritual practice. He must be pure at
heart, having good character and no vices in him and have an obliging nature.
[Students Comment: There is one thing that one can learn from Patel Saheb which is of
highest value ever, he often says For correct predictions, never EVER LIE he always
repeats this & today it is so much ingrained in me that even I say cow lies for business
negotiations it hurts me a lot. I have followed this teaching of Patel Saheb and it WORKS to
the T & phenomenal predictions ensue.]
Journal: What texts did you find most useful in your study of Jyotisha?
Patel: Brihat Jatak, Parasar Horashastra, Phaldeepika, PrashnaMarga and many more but the
five books most important for Navamsa study are Devakeralam, Dhruv Nadi, Vidya
Madhaviyam, PrashnaMarg and Horasara.
Journal: You are well known for your study of financial astrology and you have done well financially
as we understand. Does this financial success come from your study of jyotisha or other factors?
Patel: I have made a little held way in financial astrology. Karaka planets (Jupiter for silver)
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is important. When Rahu and Jupiter are in trine or conjunction in transit the price of silver
will rise considerably and ; when Jupiter make trine or conjunction with Ketu the price of
silver will fall (To evaluate shares and the stock market, its karaka Mercury is considered.)
Journal: How would you advise a student to study financial astrology?
Patel: One should note the falls and rises of the commodities in market note those dates and
try to make research in finance as to the reason for these rises or falls (Very often
retrogression date and direct date of planet of Kujadi indicates the turning point.)
Journal: How did R.G. Krishnan come to study with you?
Patel: In November 1982 one astrological society in Gujarat honored me and R.G. Krishnan
by conferring a title. Since then we are friends.
Journal: You are well known for finding interesting and important but over looked combinations in
Vedic books. How did you get interested in this?
Patel: There are some important verses containing Paribhashik words, it is difficult to
translate such verses. I start to read these verses over and over again for days together after
that I try to translate each couplet (Pada), after translating all four padas of verse I try to
come correct meaning of verse.
Journal: How do you know if a lesser known technique is working? Do you apply any tests?
Patel: By Appling to practical examples if it is found giving some results, I accept it. (e.g
Bhrigu Bindu)
Journal: Are there any classical texts that you find more valuable or that you prefer over others?
Patel: Practically every Standard text is valuable.
Journal: Are there any contemporary authors that you think should be studied carefully? Any one you
would recommend for an aspiring student?
Patel: There are very few authors who have tried to translate Sanskrit standard texts into
English such as V. Subramaniam Shastry. Nobody has done better work than him..
Journal: Do you do individual reading for people? Have you ever?
Patel: No I have not given life reading for any one. Casually some one comes and asks two
or three questions and I have helped them.
Journal: Do you use remedial measure at all? Which do you recommend if any?
Patel: No I dont recommend remedial measure but in an unmarried girls case I will
recommend fasting in a particular way on the day of the seventh houses lord. Similarly, if
someone wants fifth house results I will recommend fasting on the day of the fifth lord.
Journal: How would you prefer to be remembered for your contribution to Jyotisha?
Patel: I recommend students and astrologers to read my books more than once.
[Students Comments: Actually he always told me to read it minimum thrice; he would
always repeat it thrice, thrice in his cute adorable manner.]
Journal: Is there any recommended period of time a student should study before applying astrological
knowledge?
Patel: There is no period of time for study. It all depends upon how he studies the science.
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For my part any major event in my life, I tried to justify by the rules mentioned in my
books. Still I am unsatisfied.
Journal: Any advice for a student to avoid the confusion of multiple schools of thought we see in
Jyotisha?
Patel: My advice is to study Standard books in Sanskrit and their translation and apply these
rules in life in practice and study.
Journal: You are known to have deep study in nadi astrology can you tell us, which nadis you have
studied?
Patel: I have studied Devkeralam(Chandrakala Nadi), Dhruv Nadi By Jaymuni , Bhargav Nadi,
Bhrigu Nadi, Saptrishi nadi and others partially as mentioned in my articles published in
various Astrological magazines.
[Students Comment: Patel Saheb is being humble here or his memory fails during the
moment of this interview at this old age. In his possession I have seen many more nadis
which he has read like Guru Nadi, Ansh Nadi, Budha Nadi etc]
Journal: You are known for your immaculate translation of Sanskrit verses where many previous
stalwarts went wrong, how do you get it right? Do you ponder over a shloka (verse) for days?
Patel: Yes, I go on reading again and again till I am satisfied with the meaning. I tried to
translate each couplet (Pada) separately. Then I think the meaning of the verse.
Journal: At this age of 92 are you still active in Jyotisha and are you writing on any subject?
Patel: Yes, I am writing a book on retrogression against heavy odds.
(Death of my daughter, my ill health etc.)
Journal: For over 30 years many have asked you to translate FULL
Devakeralam, would you still oblige your fans or least to least would
you create errata for us knowing that you have corrected previous
mistakes in the translation.
Patel: At this age of 92, it is impossible to translate FULL
Devakeralam but I think to publish some pamphlets over sight of R.
Santhanam in translating to Devakeralam (Three Volumes)
Journal: Can you expand on Devakeralam, how may shloka in total as compared to what is
present in R. Santhanams translation, how many versions of Devakeralam are there?
Patel: There are 9182 verses in Santhanams book on Devakeralam; it is only of the total
verses . Also, there are three versions of Devakeralam. There are some manuscript in GOML
library (Chennai), Adiyar Library (Chennai) and Mysore Library (Mysore).
1
This is not Jaimini but JayMuni, they are two different people.
Saptarishis Astrology: Unfortunately, this fact that the current English form of Devakeralam being
JUST 1/4th none of the modern nor old scholars are aware of. Also, Patel had 3000 more shlokas of
Devakeralam which many of us have seen. Infact, if you observe his writings you would see him often
referring to a different shloka compared to Santhanams version and sometimes shlokas which are not
in Santhanams version. As my mentor says still we owe it to Santhanam, though every scholar in
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Delhi criticizes Santhanam for erroneous translation (at some places) but only Santhanam who was an
extremely hard worker could have done it and none of us who keep on criticizing him. Let us be grateful
and we need to give Santhanam the much deserved credit.
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is under preparation.
Journal: Again, my most heartfelt thanks to Mr. Patel for his time and for his lifes work.
Tribute to C. S. Patel
By
Keven Barrett
Courtesy: CVA & Gary Gomes, President, CVA
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