The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c14.156

c14.156

¹ On the importance of the modern astrologer, the *jyotishi*, see Nesfield, *Caste System*, p. 58 87. It is said there among other things, "The first thing which a father after the birth of a child does, is to go to the jyotishi and tell him as accurately as he can the hour of birth. The jyotishi questions the stars and casts the horoscope by which the destiny of the child is determined." "In the case of illness or other misfortune, the astrologer is asked whether an evil star is in the ascendant which may have brought about the misfortune. When the answer is in the affirmative, as is naturally always the case, then the man seeking advice is told that he must make a gift of money or make some other present to propitiate the hostile star, and as the astrologer is the recognised exponent of the feelings and wishes of the star, he estimates what one would not otherwise have supposed, the gift required for the propitiation of the hostile star. This then constitutes a portion of the astrologer's dues." For bringing about betrothals and marriages, the services of the astrologer were indispensably necessary. When the family barber or napit had chosen a boy whom he considered eligible for a girl of the same caste, then no negotiations could be concluded between