Astrologers light candles at the Purvanchal Jyotish Sansthan meet. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Jan. 6: The fifth state-level astrologers? meet began here today with a call to restore the faith of astrology in society.

The three-day meet is being organised by Ranchi-based Purvanchal Jyotish Sansthan in collaboration with the Astro Force Academy, Delhi.

Astrologers attending the meet expressed concern over the decline in respect for astrology and stressed the need for more research work in the subject in order to make it more relevant and rich.

K.P.S. Maudgil, eminent astrologer and president of the Astro Forces Academy said there are many misgivings about astrology and that the meet is being organised to remove them. ?This is a common myth that astrology is all about luck, which is not true. One has to be karmvadi and do purusharth to get the desired result,? he said.

He also sought to make it clear that astrology cannot change fate (prarabdh). He, however, said astrology can change the luck of a person. But, he said, in any case purusharth (work) has to be done by the person for the result he wants to achieve.

Criticising the government, Maudgil, who is based in Delhi, said astrology was not given proper attention whereas meteorology was given a lot of support.

?There are many aspects in astrology which needs proper research but we are not being provided any aid from the government. The subject is attracting attention across the world but the central government is not paying any attention to it,? he added.

The meet, which will see presentations by eminent astrologers of the state and also outside, will cover issues like tantra mantra, witchcraft in Jharkhand, protection from ghosts, use of stones, vaastu among many others. The astrologers will also discuss why predictions fail in many cases and how to ensure that the predictions are accurate.

More than 100 astrologers are participating in the meet being held at Digambar Jain Bhavan, Harmu Road.

Replying to a query, Maudgil said in most cases political predictions are not correct as leaders do not provide correct personal information about themselves which leads to miscalculations in their star positions.

?Also in many cases the predictions are biased by their political affiliations,? he said.