By Ghanshyam Singh Birla
In the East, the sciences of astronomy, astrology and palmistry come from the Sanskrit root jyot, which translates as light. Jyotish refers to astronomy, the science of the movement of the heavenly bodies (seen as points of light), and astrology, the study of the influence of the light of the planets on our lives. Palmistry, or Hast jyotish (pronounced joe-teesh), combines the words light, and hast, meaning hand. Together, Hast jyotish is defined as the study of the influence of the light of the planets on our lives as registered in our hands through the mounts.
|  | The mounts, or parwat, meaning �small mountain� in Hindi, are individual pads of flesh on the palm (Fig. 1). The mounts are the astrological counterparts to the planetary bodies of our solar system � the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, in addition to Rahu and Ketu, which are not physical bodies but points of intersection related to the movements of the Sun and Moon.
Each mount mirrors the distinct characteristics associated with its corresponding planet. The quality of each mount represents how each of us as individuals manifest in our behavior, the positive or negative characteristics associated with that planet. |
Consequently, by studying each of the mounts, both individually and in relation to one another, we can see our potential strengths and weaknesses.
According to the ancient sages, the qualities of each mount and its associated planet express through our thoughts and behavior. By understanding the potential of each planet and how they are manifesting in our hand and personality, we are better equipped to exemplify their best qualities in our life. We are able to make more informed choices enabling us to fulfill our karmic obligations. For example, if we are aware that the planet Venus, related to love, pleasure and artistic expression, is dominant in our hand, we can learn to channel our creativity in a focused way rather than dissipating it in an excess of social activities. Consequently, we can channel our popularity in a constructive manner, being more disciplined and concentrated in order to cultivate our gift.
| In addition to a specific planet, each mount is also associated with a particular element, chakra, related sensory and motor organs (indriyas), and set of personality traits. The Divine Light � God � manifests in the mounts of the hand, just as pure light through a prism manifests in the colors of a rainbow (Fig. 2). In Vedic teaching, when the mounts are balanced and working in synergy together, they produce the full color spectrum. Ideally, then, when we are able to integrate all areas of our lives in perfect harmony, we reflect the Divine Light. | | |
Before going into an in-depth understanding of the mounts, it is important to understand them in relation to the other features of the hand.
| | The Three Levels of Consciousness Seen in the Mounts, the Major and Minor Lines
The three levels of consciousness�superconscious, subconscious and conscious�are seen through the mounts, major and minor lines, respectively (Fig. 3).
The mounts reflect our superconscious nature�the depth of our convictions developed over a period of lifetimes. They provide the ground upon which the major lines�our subconscious�function. The minor lines�our conscious mind�indicate to what extent we are aware of our deeper subconscious and superconscious nature. |
The Major Lines�The Expression of Our Subconscious Mind
The three major lines�heart, head, and life�are superimposed upon the mounts (Fig. 4). They relate to our subconscious level of awareness, and indicate how we feel, think and live respectively.
The major lines channel information from our superconscious mounts that express through our feelings, thoughts and life style. | | |
The Minor Lines: The Expression of Our Conscious Physical Nature
The minor lines relate to our conscious mind and show to what extent we are able to dive into our subconscious in order to bring its wealth to the surface of consciousness. The most commonly found minor lines are: Saturn (destiny), Sun, and Mercury, which are also superimposed upon the mounts. They indicate how fulfilled we are with our work, level of success and self-expression respectively. There are numerous other minor lines, such as the girdle of Venus, the union line, as well as wisdom and obstruction markings. | | |
The minor lines are channels of expression for the mounts and major lines (Fig. 5). They denote how consciously aware we are of our subconscious and superconscious. For example, the presence of a Sun line shows we have reached a certain degree of happiness in how we feel, think and live related to the three major lines of heart, head and life respectively. In addition, the presence of a Sun line shows we have tapped into the superconscious qualities of the Sun mount � including dedication and authenticity resulting in success and magnetism.
The presence of conscious lines shows we are awakened enough to explore problems, seeking solutions by challenging ourselves with questions much like the �Kipling method� of the five �Ws� and one �H�: who, what, when, where, why and how.
The Mounts�The Attunement to Our Superconscious Soul Nature
| The mounts comprise ten zones of the hand. Eight of these mounts relate to a corresponding celestial body: Luna (B) (Earth�s moon, a natural satellite), Venus (D), Mars negative (E-) and Mars positive (E+)�forming the Mars galaxy�Jupiter (F), Saturn (G), Sun (A) (the star at the center of our solar system), and Mercury (C). In addition, there are two mounts, Rahu (L) and Ketu (M), known in Eastern literature as the shadow (chaya) planets (Fig. 6). These mounts do not relate to actual heavenly bodies, but denote the two points of intersection where the Moon crosses the ecliptic � the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. In the hand, Rahu and Ketu also act as points of intersection between the other mounts. | | |
The mounts relate to our superconscious level of awareness and relate to the following: perception (Luna), love (Venus), physical strength (Mars negative), mental strength (Mars positive), ambition (Jupiter), structure (Saturn), success (Sun) and self-expression (Mercury). Rahu and Ketu denote our present and past environment respectively.
The mounts are the foundation upon which the major and minor lines travel and reveal the grounds of our being (Fig. 7). If we view the hand as a map of the mind, then the hills and valleys of the mounts are its terrain, the living soil of our superconscious. Some mounts may be fertile and evenly formed, others depleted, and others even hazardous. Some may be too dry and others too humid. Some may be in a state of transition from one condition to another. Others may have stayed as they are for eons.
Like the continents and countries that comprise Earth, the mounts that constitute the entire hand must not only be balanced | | |
themselves, but in harmony with one another. Each mount designates a territory with a specific role to play. When the mounts are in harmony, our entire foundation is strong and capable to support the lines that travel across them. In addition, when the mounts are balanced, the major and minor lines are nourished by a rich reservoir. As the mounts correspond to the most profound transcendent aspect of our awareness, it is through them that we can tune into the depth of our soul nature.
Ghanshyam Singh Birla Biography
Ghanshyam Singh Birla, Founder of the Birla Center and the Birla College of Vedic Palmistry
| | Renowned Vedic Palmist-Astrologer Ghanshyam Singh Birla has been pioneering the Vedic Arts in the West since emigrating from his native India more than four decades ago.
Ghanshyam opened the world famous Birla Center in Montreal at a time when palmistry was banned under archaic witchcraft laws, yet he went on to found the Birla College of Vedic Palmistry, which today offers a 540-hour Vedic Palmistry Diploma Program recognized by the Canadian Government. |
Ghanshyam began studying Vedic Palmistry and Astrology at the age of five under the tutelage of his grandfather, an accomplished practitioner of the Vedic Arts and Sciences. By the time he graduated university he had read more than 10,000 palms and charts and soon opened his first Palmistry Center in New Delhi. Since arriving in Canada in 1970, Ghanshyam has consulted, taught, and lectured throughout North America. He has also authored many scholarly articles on Jyotish and Hast Jyotish, and has published four widely-acclaimed books: Love In The Palm of Your Hand; Magnet Therapy; Destiny In the Palm of Your Hand; and Introduction to Hast Jyotish. His latest book, Adventures in Consciousness: The Mounts, will be released in early 2015.
Ghanshyam continues to teach and consult privately at both the Birla Center in Montreal and at his lakeside Wellness Center situated on a beautiful 500-acre forest preserve in Cheneville, Quebec. He is currently completing a series of 18 comprehensive text books on Hast Jyotish and writing his autobiography.
For more information about Ghanshyam, The Birla Center, enrolling in the Palmistry Diploma Program, or to book a consultation, please call 819 428 4298, or visit: http://birlacenter.com.
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