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was, and he replied.
“You and I were born in the same village and we are related through the same family. You were born as a Hindu Brahmin, you became a monk, and disgraced your family even further by becoming a Jain monk! You are the black dot upon the name of the family.”
Although my immediate reaction was to become defensive, I did not show any shame or guilt. Instead, I answered the astrologer with a friendly challenge.
"Mr. Kedar," I began, “I have the most authoritative astrology text in India, the Brihat Parashri and it has predicted, based upon the charts, that I would become a Jain monk and have profound influence throughout India and the rest of the world. Is your astrology wrong?
Since the astrologer's entire reputation and career had been based on the truth of astrology, he did not know how to answer, since he boasted that astrology could never be wrong. Seeing his dilemma and realizing that his reputation and authenticity was at stake, the astrologer changed his entire attitude toward me.
“Guruji, I cannot contradict what the charts say. They always speak the truth. Destiny and the divine energy of the universe have brought you to where you are. If the astrology charts say that you were to become a monk, then it is right and inevitable that you are now one. Please accept my apology for questioning your identity and right to be a monk.”
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