Download 2012 forecast - Vasthu Sastra

Is the end nigh?
Vasthu Sastra
By T. SELVA
Not quite, if you follow Hindu numerology and stop worrying about the Mayan
calendar, two astrologers say.
SPECULATION about a global disaster that could wipe out all life on Earth in 2012
has been gathering momentum for several years now. Last year’s blockbuster movie,
2012, accelerated fears with its spectacular depiction of cataclysmic earthquakes
worldwide and Los Angeles sinking into the sea.
And now, the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland and the spate of earthquakes in Asia
have heightened worries among some quarters, who view the calamities as early signs
of doomsday. I sat down with renowned Indian astrologers Master Yuvaraj Sowma
and E.K. Dhilip Kumar from Chennai to determine whether there is any truth to the
predictions by certain groups that a catastrophic event will happen on Dec 21, 2012.
According to both of them, to determine that, we need to study and understand the
ancient Mayan calendar, and the four yugas, or eras, as mentioned in Hindu
philosophy.
The yugas – Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali – represent a cycle of four ages.
According to Hindu cosmology, life in the universe is created and destroyed once
every 4.1 billion to 8.2 billion years. The cycles are said to repeat, like the seasons,
waxing and waning within the greater time-cycle of the creation and destruction of the
universe.
We are currently in the last era, Kali Yuga, which began in about 3200BCE. The Kali
Yuga spans about 432,000 years, and we have completed only 5,000 of those years –
so people need not be worried about the world coming to an end next year.
Master Yuvaraj says we can all understand that the end of our world lies somewhere
in the future because we know, subconsciously, that nothing lasts forever. What starts
must end. But will it end on Dec 21, 2012?
Based on numerology, the date 21-12-2012 has only the digits one and two. The
number of the Sun is one, and that of the Moon is two. The date 21-12-2012 adds up
to 11, which adds up to two again. It is believed that this date probably resonates with
people due to such patterns, rhythms or numerological significance being discerned.
But it is not only numerological significance that fuels the fear of those who support
the world-ending theory; they also point to the fact that the Mayan calendar ends on
this date.
The Mayan civilisation (circa 2000BCE to the 16th century) is believed to have been
super intelligent because of its astronomical wisdom; during its golden age (circa
250CE to 900CE) the ancient Maya were, for instance, able to calculate the lunar
cycle correctly for thousands of years.
As a result, people think they had the capacity to know things that even modern
scientists do not know regarding the end of the world, Master Yuvaraj adds.
However, Master Yuvaraj points out that not a single ancient scripture, including the
Mayan calendar, points to the world ending on Dec 21, 2012. A certain cycle in the
Mayan calendar – famously known as a long count period – ends on this date, and
they simply stopped calculating there. They never said the world would end with their
calendar.
According to Hindu scriptures, of the Dasavatharam (10 avatars) of Vishnu, the final
avatar is that of Kalki, when Vishnu appears as an entity that swallows everything in
the solar system. This, in a way, correlates with what scientists say about what will
happen when our Sun eventually runs out of fuel and turns into what is called a “red
giant” and destroying the planets closest to it.
But, again, this is not something that is likely to happen next year. According to
Indian astrology, planetary positions on Dec 21, 2012, do not show any extraordinary
tensions or violence. However, in the early hours of that day, the governing planet is
Saturn, hence it is an unfavourable date for any auspicious events like moving house,
buying a vehicle, having a wedding and travelling long distance.
The four eras
SATYA Yuga: the golden age, lasts 1,728,000 years.
Tereta Yuga: the silver age, lasts 1,296,000 years.
Dvapara Yuga: the bronze age, lasts 864,000 years.
Kali Yuga: the iron age, lasts 432,000 years.