Upon my visit to New Delhi’s Darya Ganj Sunday book market in February, 1983, I picked up a used book on street pavement for a sum of Rs. 2/- titled a ‘Gift of prophecy’ authored by Jeane Dixon which was a good read, and favorite book of all time. I have read it a number of times since and it still has an impact.
Jeane Dixon born on Jan 5th, 1904 was one of the best-known American astrologer, and self described psychic who gained fame by apparently predicting President John f. Kennedy’s death, and many things more that happened accurate.
Throughout history, there have been persons who have made predictions that some believe to be accurate. Nostradamus the French born astrologer and physician from the 16th century, continues to captivate the world even after his death. He managed to predict many historical events accurately. While most believe these are mere co-incidences, fact remains the French man was quite faultless.
He predicted the French revolution [2], presence of leaders like Adolf Hitler and Napoleon, World wars and Great fire of London (1666) that destroyed two thirds of the capital and after the big blaze some pictures were interpreted as an accurate forecast of Nostradamus. The great fire of London, are some of his mysterious prophecies of all.
Within two cities, Nostradamus wrote, ‘there will be scourges the like of which was never seen.’ That description would certainly apply to what occurred in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; both cities were devastated by atomic bombs in the year 1945 at the end of world war [2]. The great fires that raged in each city consumed 66,000 and 39,000 (Nagaski) Japanese.
In 1983, french scholars published a wealth of the private correspondence of Nostradamus and demonstrated that most of the prophecies of his have been espoused in the modern era are either misinterpretations or outright fabrications.
Vangelly pandeya Gusherova, born blind Bulgarian mystic and herbalist, who spent most of her life in the Rupite area in the Kozhuh Mountains of Bulgaria, was believed to possess super natural abilities. She died in 1996 at the age of 87.
Edgar caycei was another popular seer, had a good track record, most of his reading were about people’s health but he occasionally commented on the future. However he predicted the fall of communism and the collapse of the Soviet Union. In the year 1932 Edgar cayce predicted that the Jews would return to Israel and advised the Jews to regard the anti-Semitism in Europe as the time to full fill the biblical prophecy for them to return. Edgar cayce predicted his own death on Jan 1st 1945, and informed people around him that he would be buried in 4 days. He died of a massive stroke on Jan. 3rd, 1945. If somebody like Nostradamus and Jeane Dixon were around now, we would medicate and institutionalizethem for their prophecies.
Back home, in 1967 a local daily carried an advertisement about an astrologer and palmist Acharya kusum who claimed owing exceptional skill with years of experience in astrology. I am told by my friend Sheikh Syed Ahamed that he would integrate face and hand readings with horoscope for comprehensive insights. Acharya Kusum was accessible through appointments, at hotels lalarukh and Jahangir in late sixtes and continued to solidify his position in Kashmir till his death in June 1985 at Chandigarh.
Most of his clients were unemployed youth and college students and had a full schedule. I saw Acharya Kusum first time in June 1968 at a dinner party hosted by my father’s cousin late Tyoub Shah Hamdani who was joint director industries then at his old residence Khan Qhai Moualla, Neel Gari Bagh Srinagar. He was dressed in 3 piece suit, and the way he would dress made people believe that he was a real astrologer, and was quite different than his counterparts seen dressed in coloured turbans and kurta-pyjama. Most of the guests around Achayra Kusum in the get together were his fans, who believed his predictions were true and genuine.
Soon after the dinner party was over, host Mr. Tyoub Hamdani was looking cheerful, pursued Acharya Kusum to predict his future. Acharya Kusum Suggested him to be humble and patient but his endless pursuit was responded with harsh answer. “Mr. Tyouby you will meet an accident while accomplishing office work”. Kusum’s comments brought the guests to pin-drop silence that was a bit long making every one present uncomfortable. Ignoring the conversation that fallowed, I quietly slipped out the back door. Uncle Tyoub Hamdanis official car met an accident near famous saint and seers shrine Pir Syed Mantaqir (RA) near a year later in April 1969. My whole family were in shock, so were others who knew Tyoub Shah Hamdani. He stands dearly missed even now. He was handsome, intelligent and above all a great humanitarian.
Visiting and making use of the services of fortune tellers is forbidden in Islam. The Holy Quran clearly states that only Allah (SWT) knows the unseen
(Author is columnist and can be reached t: [email protected])
