Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c14.22

v2.c14.22

There resides in Kumbhakonam a Śūdra named Govind Chetty. His art is even more amazing than that of Patvardhan. It is reported that he not only tells the correct time of birth but also the questions in any one's mind in any language together with their answers. But it could not be known if he does this with the help of astrology. He is not known to have written a work on this subject, nor has Patvardhan written any book so far. If they do, that would be a lasting benefit to the world. Otherwise, their gifts would only pass into the realm of anecdote where we hear so much about *Jośīs* who once displayed marvellous powers of prediction, but whose trace was completely lost in course of time. Works on astrology do mention some methods of finding the birth ascendant from one's physical traits. But if there are some books on the art of Patvardhan and Govind Chetty, they are not accessible to all. There is however no doubt that the basic principles of this art are traditional.