KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY

PUBLIC LECTURE CENTRE FOR BUDDHIST STUDIES

AT R A N G J U N G Y E S H E I N S T I T U T E

Jyotiṣa and the Spiritual Path

PANDIT RADHA KRISHNA UPADHYAYA

In the Pāṇinīya Śikṣā, Maharishi Pāniṇi declares astrology,

Jyotiṣa, to be the eyes of the Veda. This shows how highly
astrology is valued in the Vedic tradition. Just as our ordi-
nary eyes show us the mundane path, Jyotiṣa shows us the
spiritual path. An expert practitioner of Jyotiṣa is considered
in the Vedic tradition to be capable of answering questions
such as which spiritual teacher is beneficial for us, which
path is favorable for us, which scripture we should study, at
what age we should enter religious practice, and whether
or not we have the capacity and appropriate saṃskāra to
pursue a specific practice. Additionally, the study of Jyotiṣa is considered the swiftest among
the six limbs of the Vedas to “see” or realize the meaning of the Vedas. Pandit Radha Krishna
will explain in what ways astrology, specifically Jyotiṣa, can support our spiritual journey. The
talk will be in Nepali, with consecutive translation into English.

Pandit Radha Krishna Upadhyaya is a lineage holder in the Dhanañjaya tradition of Jyotiṣa.
He received a traditional Brahmin education and learned the arts of family rituals, grammar,
astrology, and other traditional sciences. His thirst for spiritual practice, particularly for the
attainment of liberation, led him to study under many teachers in different traditions. He
completed several austere retreats, and practiced Kriya Yoga in the Lāhaḍī Mahāsaya lin-
eage for thirteen years. Specifically, from 2011 to 2015, he undertook an intensive medita-
tion retreat. After this retreat, he was instructed by the goddess Jalpa Devi, in whose temple
he was a priest for many years, to start helping people. Thus, he started helping people,
primarily through the means of astrology. He is also a co-founder of Samyak Astrology Ser-
vices. Since 2015, he also is a practicing Buddhist, which has vastly broadened his scope
of astrological knowledge.

SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, 20th of March
5:00 pm NPT (On-Campus & Online)
Classroom 103
Meeting ID:
Zoom ID: 431 318 1117
FEES:
No Charge - All Are Welcome
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Please call the RYI Office: 491 5975 or
write to us at admin@ryi.org.