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AN INTRODUCTION ON RTSE IN TIBETAN BUDDHISM ASTROLOGY & HOROSCOPE

From Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia
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by T. Norbu Sithar


RTse is a very ancient knowledge which was originated in India and China and is practised widely in Tibet and in other transhimalaya regions. The word rTse is normally used in the sense of accounts, calculation, measure¬ment etc. But, here, the word rTse does not mean any of the above usages. It is a knowledge or science which brings to light our future events and their exact position. Generally these rTse are divided into two groups:


(A) Kar-rtse (Astrology). (B) Nag-rtse (Horoscope). Kar-rtse has only one sec¬tion known as Kar-rtse and Nag-rtse has different sections as under:

(1) Kyira-ley-rtse/Tserab ley-rtse,

(2) Kek-rtse and Ghak-rtse/ Thun-rtse and Shin-rise.


Kar-rtse in Tibetan Buddhist tradition is believed to have originated in India and Nag-rtse in China.


A very short description of the rTse is as under:


(A) Kar-rtse : By the influence of the stars and planets, the courses of seasons, volume of rainfall, and field of crops changes during the cycle of 12 months. The method and system for calculation of this term is by addition, substraction, multiplica¬tion and division of numerals and thereby obtaining result based on the movement of stars, moon, sun, planets and earth.


The main aim and objects of this astrology is for production of Da-Tho (Almanac in Tibetan tradition), for the interest of people. According to Northern Buddhist astrol¬ogy, a day or two may be less or more in one month, and a month or two may be less or more in one year.

This Da-tho predicts whether a day, month or a year is inauspicious or auspi¬cious. Certain days and month of a year are good or not are indicated by each person's stars.The exact time and day for lunar eclipse and solar eclipse are also predicted in the Da-tho.

Though Northern Buddhist astrology has started since long time back, it is still found to be a relevant and correct to consult our course of action in daily life.


This can be proved from the incidents taking places as per prescription in Da-tho. So far, the exact time and day of lunar & solar eclipse, as predicated in Da-tho have not failed. The science of Tibetan astrology has also been able to tell the condition of harvest and volume of rainfall in a year round. NAG-RTSE: (Horoscope)

(B) The method of calculation like plus, minus, multiplication and division are not adopted in Nag-rtse as in Kar-rtse. It is not very easy to describe exactly in English as most of the terms used in this rtse are not found in English words. On the whole the main aim of this Nag-rtse in Tibetan tradition is to predict the fate and fortune of a person's life.

In this system, every person has Lota' within the twelve sign, and one 'Kham' within the five elements of nature like earth, water, fire, air and wood. Every almanac year has one Lota & Kham.

In this way, for the calculation of this horoscope, one has to keep all these factors as methods along with the time, day, month and years of the person whose fate & fortune has to be assessed. Even the time, day and month of each also has their respec¬tive Lotas. The result or product from this calculation will not be like that of astrology i.e., in numeral form. Here result are shown in the form of Di-u-Karnak (black or white points)


A different kinds of Nag-rtse and their short description are as follows:


1. Kverab-ley-rtse/Tserab-ley-rtse (Horoscope for whole life) This horoscope tells about some one’s life history regarding the length of years to five, number of children to be born, obstacle at certain ages, economic position, education standard, health conditions, and precaution to take at a certain age.

The method of calculation is based on the time, date, year of the birth, individual's lota & Kham, the Almanac year in which he or she was born, There are also formulas

and other time factors in Nag-rtse like Parkha, Mewa Lokmen, Gumik etc.,

All these factors are contrasted with each other and the formulas derived pro¬duce the result in the form of Di-u-Karnak (number of black & white points) and finally tells the history of a person's life in writing, by looking at and consulting with huge volume of horoscope book called The Book of Bedru-Karpo.


2. KEK-RTSE: (HOROSCOPE FOR ONLY ONE YEAR)


The method of calculation is similar to the above one, but, here, the kek-rtse predicts events for a duration of one year only. In this rtse, like that of Tsera-lay-rtse, it suggests mantras and pujas to be performed for getting rid of obstacles that may come to the person during the period.


3. BHAK-RTSE/THUN-RTSE: (HOROSCOPE FOR MARRIAGE)

This horoscope is important for marrige. This horoscope tells whether the cou¬ple will be happy, prosperous and live a long life if they get married. The minor obstacle that are in the way of marriage can be easily cleared out by performing Mantras and Pujas or through other means as mentioned in the horoscope. But when the horo¬scope strictly warns that the marriage should not take place, one has to obey the prediction and follow the instruction therein.


The methods & formula used in this horoscope for calculation resembles the above two horoscopes.

4. SHIN-RTSE: (HOROSCOPE FOR DEATH)


Till today, this horoscope occupies an important place. To see this horoscope after a person's death is most important. Hence Buddhists believe in this horoscope since its beginning to the present age of science. The reasons why Buddhist give importance to it is out of love, sympathy and emotion for the dead person being permanently separated from us and therefore astrologer is asked to prepare a death horoscope when one dies. Thereby faithfully adhering to the result of horoscope the course of action will be carried out for the departed soul.


It is believed by some that once a death occurs in a family, the other family mem¬ber's life would be in danger. In order to avert this misfortune, the necessity of consult¬ing death horoscope is felt. According to horoscope, mantras are chanted arid pujas performed as a protective measure. The methods for calculation of this horoscope is also similar to other horoscopes. Only difference here is time, date, month and the year of the occurrence of death are taken as main factors. The result of the calculation of death horoscope is also found in other large volumes, but for practical purpose the following important points are to be noted:


A. On which object, the death person’s mind or soul is found attached to.

B. On which article or objects the spirit who took away the life of that person resides.

C. The funeral day and time of which the dead body be removed from one's

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D. Colour of the cloth for wrapping the dead body.

E. Direction of the face of the dead body inside the box.

E Ages or Lota of persons who should not see or touch the dead body.

G. Kind of life within the six realms which the dead person is likely to take in the next life.

H. Indication for special performance of Puja or making of idols required for higher birth than the present one.


I. Indication to make statue/thangkas (scroll) of Buddhas within 49 days of his or her death which are for the betterment of the dead person. Everyone carefully follows the instruction given in the death horoscope. An object may be of gods and goddesses which can be made either in the form of statues of any materials or in the form of thanka (scroll).

In Nag-rtse, after calculating inter-reaction of 6 different elements of rtse, the result will be summed-up in the form of numbers of Diu-Karnak. The detail description of these Di-us (points) are explained in a very famous book on rtse named 'Bedru-Karpo' or Bekar or other books of this kind which are in many volumes. Horoscope too explains the same thing in writing after consulting these points with the said books.




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