Talks with Sri Aurobindo

31 JANUARY 1940

PURANI: I asked Kapali if he knew anything about the year of the gods. He says he can't exactly make out what is meant and doubts if it was Indian at all and wonders whether the astrologer has not simply put India's name to it. He will look up Varahamihira.

SRI AUROBINDO: No, it can't simply be imaginary because the astrologer has given exact and precise details and says that things have come out true according to it.

PURANI: Science has discovered many new planes now which weren't known before and couldn't be used by astrologers.

SRI AUROBINDO: He speaks of Uranus as well as Neptune; there is one Kutsa which I haven't heard of. But he has placed all these new planets in his calculations. Uranus seems to be the planet of dictators. Stalin is one and Daladier also.

PURANI: Daladier also?

SRI AUROBINDO: Yes, he is now coming forth as a dictator and is practically one.

PURANI: Kapali says instead of asking him you could yourself say something about the time of the year of the gods.

SRI AUROBINDO: The gods perhaps don't know anything about it.

SATYENDRA: They may have a different time-value.

SRI AUROBINDO: Based on astrological data perhaps, and so it is the astrologers who shouldn't know about it.

NIRODBARAN: Nishicanto had another letter from Tagore in reply to his. Nishicanto, advised by Dilip wrote to Tagore informing him of the refusal of Viswa Bharati to publish his book.

SRI AUROBINDO: Why? Tagore didn't know about it?

NIRODBARAN: They say he may not have as it is under the management of the committee with which Tagore has nothing to do.

SRI AUROBINDO: What does he write?

NIRODBARAN: Tagore says the same thing—that he has nothing to do with them. Any publication depends on financial considerations. They don't want to incur any loss over any book and that is why they refused Nishikanto's book. The next point he writes about is that Nisikanto, being a Yogi, shouldn't mind if some people don't like his poems; different people have different tastes; It is a foolishness to go out with a stick and fight with people who don't appreciate one's poetry. He says he has had to face people's criticism.

SRI AUROBINDO: He felt very bitter, didn't he?

NIRODBARAN: Yes, he admits that. By the way, I had a vision in which you were giving a hypothetical medical guidance. In medication I was discussing with somebody the diagnosis of a case. Suddenly I heard your voice saying, "Are you sure it is not typhoid?" There was no possibility of typhoid but because of your suggestion I had to think about it.

SRI AUROBINDO: Was it a vision or a dream?

NIRODBARAN: I don't know; it may have been either but I heard your voice distinctly.

SRI AUROBINDO: When was it?

NIRODBARAN: While you were walking. Does it indicate your possible future guidance or any cases coming?

SRI AUROBINDO: I don't know; it may possibly be guidance.

PURANI: Champaklal had a vision.

CHAMPAKLAL: I saw Nirodbaran meditating under a canopy in a Buddha-like posture. Does it mean anything?

SRI AUROBINDO: I can't say.

CHAMPAKLAL: I also saw him doing pranam, and you patting him.

SRI AUROBINDO: Do you see many visions of him?

CHAMPAKLAL: I have had three or four.

While Sri Aurobindo was lying in bed, Nirodbaran read out Tagore's letter.

SRI AUROBINDO: It seems Nishikanto was vexed because his book was not published.

NIRODBARAN: Nishikanto told me he didn't write about any vexation but he must have been vexed and a little of it must have found expression in the letter.