Has Manjula's Kataragama prediction failed?

Did Manjula Peiris really say that ..... God Kataragama would be seen alive?

    On the last 17th last week an incredible phenomenon was witnessed where a massive crowd gathered at the holy ground of Kataragama. When inquiring about this it came to be known that a reputed astrologer, Mr.Manjula Peiris had made a prediction that God Kataragama would be present on that date. It was reported that he had said this at a programme on Derana channel by the name of Paara kiyana thaarakaa. However, the manner in which Manjula Peiris said this has not been broadcast on a second occasion by any media; except that the rumours which spread around from mouth to mouth was that he had said that God Kataragama would be coming to Kataragama on that day.

     When watching the video it is seen that he had mentioned on that programme that the 17th was an auspicious date to worship God Kataragama and that the ritual could be performed even at one's home; but does not say any story about any god coming there  or about a birthdate of the God. Then how did such a thing begin to spread round?

     This actually has been marketed by certain media. The countless number of people who thronged to Kataragma on the 17th across news flying through the media may have occurred on the strong belief that God Kataragama would be seen alive on that day ... if ever Mr. Manjula happened to say so. But no god was ever to be seen on that day of the 17th .... and therefore, some individuals then began reprimanding this astrologer from the early morning hours of the 18th .... saying that they had been duped by him after having uttered those false statements.

     Even 'kapu mahaththayas' who had got hooked up because of the massive masses had forgotten everything and had started scolding the astrologer. Whatever it is, nobody had even made an effort to understand with a sane mind the manner in which the prediction was made.

    The 'Paara kiyana thaaruka' programme is broadcast over the Derana channel live every Monday morning. On September 9th when the programme was being broadcast and when preparing to read the horoscopes, Mr. Manjula Peiris who requested for a minute's time from Saman who was directing the programme; it was in the undermentioned manner that Mr. Manjula Peiris had made the prediction referred to as follows: "Yes ... Sahan ... give me one minute ... there's going to be an auspicious hour of God Skandakumara on the 17th of September. This is not an auspicious hour that I am saying ...  it's according to how it's mentioned in books ... I am telling you'll who are suffering from poverty. Once or twice an year on a Tuesday if the Muwasirasa or Denata auspicious hour of Mars itself dawns, it is mentioned in books on Astrology that the God called Skandakumara's attraction would be drawn towards the masses every year. This is not something that was given to the public for the first time. On this day of Mars Denata auspicious hour, at 6 - 7 in the morning in the Mars 'horawa'. As such, this 'horawa' which occurs on Tuesday together with the auspicious hour and 'horawa' is extremely powerful.                              
    On this day, even if you're unable to go to Kataragama, you can light a lamp or make a wish or conduct a poojawa from your home itself; it'll be a moment when you'll be showered with blessings of God Kataragama who is known as Skandakumara. This occurs only once or twice an year. An auspicious hour of Mars itself does not occur on a Tuesday. It doesn't work if a different auspicious hour falls on a Tuesday. Therefore, those who can go to Kataragama on that day ... do so; those who can go to Bellanwila ... can go there. Those who can go to Alan Methini Aramaya ... can go there. Go to any place that's easy for you and ask whatever you like from God Skandakumara. Our effort is to relieve those who are faced with suffering. What we try to do is to see that at least one person praises saying , "this came right after doing this .... "; then it'll be a happiness that I gain in this human life.

   Therefore .. keep in mind ... make a pooja on Tuesday; it's a moment of great strength of God Kataragama ... and thereby solves your problem".
  
   That is all that he says about that topic. But how did the news of God Kataragama coming to appear on that day in Kataragama come to spread like this?
 The  Derana video which shows the extract of Manjula Peiris's prediction of September 9th, 2013 is seen below  


Derana video which shows the extract of Manjula Peiris's prediction of September 16th, 2013 is seen below

Distinguished Mr. Piyasena Rathuvithana has expressed his opinion in the editorial of the Subasetha newspaper about this debate:

SEEING GOD KATARAGAMA

It was reported that lakhs and lakhs of devotees gathered to Kataragama last uesday. It was heard that this kind of crowd had rocked there and other well-known 'devala's.

What was at the bottom of this was the statement made by astrologer Mr. Manjula Peiris. It could be assessed that such a situation has occurred for the lack of understanding certain statements of Astrology.

It is true that Tuesday, the auspicious hour belonging to Mars, the 'horawa' belonging to Mars and the 'panchamaya horawa' ..... all coming together is a suitable moment to pay homage to God Kataragama.

Not only God Kataragama .... even god's apparition could be seen by someone who had freed himself or herself from all blemish and who possesses pure spiritual nature at such a moment. I thought of writing this idea because of the necessity of expressing something about a criticism a certain television channel made by mentioning the name of Mr. Manjula Peiris.

If at all Mr. Manjula Peiris's statement is wrong, or is incomplete ... it could be criticised only by someone who possesses a similar knowledge or who has a more matured knowledge of Astrology. But putting such gypsy fortune-tellers into that group is a grave mistake. It should be the statement of the person that should be criticised ... and not the person. Then at the same time ... its accuracy should be pinpointed.

Another point where Astrology has been misunderstood must be mentioned here. In a certain instance, it was told that a marriage should not be consumed because the 'aayusha porondama' was not beneficial, even though all other aspects (offspring, health etc) were beneficial .. in the case of comparing the compatibility of the two horoscopes. That astrologer was someone who did not know what an 'aayusha porondama' was. When comparing the 'porondam' what was considered as the 'aayusha porondama' was not the life-span of the2 partners.

It was an inquiry as to whether it was the male or the female who would pass away after reaching the maximum span of life. The way to check it is even mentioned in the 'panchaanga lithas'. At a time when there were no bank system in the past, it was the male who knew most things such as where the husband's wealth was hidden and what the borders or margins of the lands were. Therefore the male had to live a longer period. The final funeral rites of the wife too had to be performed by the husband. Further ... in that society, a woman becoming a widow was considered unsuccessful.

To a large extent, it is someone with scant knowledge on Astrology who leaps forward to make a criticism on Astrology.

Criticism is a very difficult task. But that criticism should be truthful and should be without insult. It is not that there aren't people who try to show the country that they have a better knowledge than the rishis.