Perhaps I had it in myself since childhood, used to go and sit in kirtans with my grandmother and enjoy the melodious chants. I used to constantly question her on the various pictures of gods and goddesses housed in her little temple. She used to regale me with stories from the scriptures. Growing up, it all stayed with me, though I was caught up with my studies, college and then the University and then a long career in media and advertising, spanning across two decades.

Somewhere in the middle of it all, in 2004, I started reading the scriptures. In them, I found a reference to the Jyotisha shastra and I was drawn to the subject. I started reading on my own and then finally got enrolled at Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, Delhi. This is where I met my Jyotisha Guru, KN Rao Sir. Retired as the Director General of Indian Audit Services, he had set up the school after he gave up active service. I still continue to learn and research on the subject under his able guidance. I am indebted to him for teaching me astrology and beyond.

He has always said that Jyotisha is that enigmatic juncture which fuses the apara vidya or wordly knowledge with the para vidya or transcendental knowledge. A bridge to the higher realms. Truly.