Saral Hastrekha Shastra

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Saral Hastrekha Shastra" by Rameshwardas Mishr and Arunkumar Bansal, based on the provided text:

Book Title: Saral Hastrekha Shastra (Simple Palmistry) Author(s): Pandit Rameshwardas Mishr, Arun Kumar Bansal Publisher: Akhil Bhartiya Jyotish Samstha Sangh

Overview: "Saral Hastrekha Shastra" is a comprehensive guide to palmistry, aiming to provide readers with a simplified and practical understanding of reading hands. The book emphasizes that palmistry is not just about predicting deficiencies but also about understanding oneself and finding solutions to overcome challenges, thereby leading a successful life. It highlights the hand as a key to unlocking an individual's inner potential, qualities, and abilities.

Key Themes and Content:

• History and Evolution of Palmistry:

  • The book asserts that palmistry originated in India, predating Roman and Greek civilizations, and its principles were disseminated to other countries.
  • Ancient Indian texts like the Vedas and Samudrik Shastra are considered the earliest scriptures on palmistry.
  • Palmistry spread to countries like China, Tibet, Iran, and Egypt, with Indian civilization contributing significantly to its clarity and uniformity.
  • The term "Cheiromancy" is derived from the Greek word "Cheir" (hand).
  • Despite facing periods of being declared superstition, palmistry has been revived and is recognized as a valid science.
  • Ancient Greek philosophers like Anaxagoras, Aristotle, Cardamis, and Pliny were proponents and educators of palmistry.

• The Scientific Basis of Palmistry:

  • The book argues that palmistry is a verifiable science, as human actions and the body's overall effect are deeply connected to the brain and hands.
  • There is a significant concentration of nerves between the brain and hands, meaning hand movements are directly linked to brain activity.
  • The unique patterns of lines and signs on each hand are attributed to subtle influences and inherent tendencies, possibly transmitted through vibrations.
  • The text draws a parallel to medical science, where ear analysis can predict future conditions, suggesting that hand analysis can similarly reveal future events and characteristics.

• Palmistry and Destiny:

  • Understanding one's own hands helps in self-awareness and self-control, leading to personal and societal progress.
  • The book traces the origins of palmistry to ancient Indian civilization (Arya Civilization), where it was preserved through various dynasties.
  • The lines on the hand are seen as an indelible truth revealing an individual's life and nature.

• Essential Tools and Techniques for Palmistry:

  • Materials: The book lists necessary items for palm reading, including magnifying glasses, paper, pencils, rubber pads, oils/lotions, torches, scales, cotton, and cloth.
  • Taking Hand Prints: Detailed methods are provided for taking hand impressions using soot, vaseline and copper oxide, or ink pads. It emphasizes the importance of capturing clear impressions for accurate analysis and encourages taking prints of both hands for comparative study.
  • The Palmist's Approach: Palmists are advised to be empathetic, listen patiently, avoid making definitive negative predictions (like death, divorce, accidents), and to offer guidance and reassurance, similar to doctors. They should build trust and focus on the positive aspects and potential solutions. Continuous study and practice are stressed.

• Types of Hands and their Characteristics:

  • The book categorizes hands into several types, each with associated personality traits:
    • Elementary Hand: Limited intelligence, low personality, potential for criminality, focus on basic needs (eating, drinking, desire), short and stiff fingers.
    • Square Hand: Organized, hardworking, obedient, visionary, punctual, disciplined, logical, adherence to principles.
    • Philosophical Hand: Ambitious, interested in humanity, intellectual, values knowledge over wealth, meticulous, social and religious inclination, prone to mysticism.
    • Active/Laborious Hand: Pointed upper part of fingers, fleshy wrist and Mount of Venus, capable of sustained effort, independent, prone to asking others to do their work, interested in travel, not superstitious.
    • Spatulate Hand: Spoon-shaped fingers, unique to individuals who are always trying to do something different, often achieve success later in life, may face family/relational challenges, can be careless, but generally progress through struggle.
    • Artistic Hand: Soft palms, generous, loving, sympathetic, appreciate beauty, enjoy dance and music, mentally weak in some aspects, inclined towards emotional work rather than pure logic.
    • Ideal Hand: Sharp intellect, attractive appearance, inclined towards spiritual or philosophical pursuits, detached from physical pleasures, well-balanced, often financially stable and happy.
    • Small Hand: If the mind line is clear and the hand is heavy, indicates sharp intellect and quick progress. If the hand is heavy, signifies shrewdness and careful spending. Successful in politics and administration.
    • Mixed Hand: Possesses a combination of traits from different hand types, leading to variability in personality, potential for both good and bad qualities, indecisiveness, and struggle for success.

• Signs on Fingers and Nails:

  • The book details various markings on finger joints (like Vajra, Kundali, Yava, Vratula) and their significance related to temperament, health, and behavior.
  • Nails are analyzed for shape, color, and markings, which can indicate health issues, personality traits, and potential future events.

• Gaps Between Fingers:

  • The spacing between fingers is analyzed to understand personality traits such as secrecy, skepticism, independence, and sociability.

• The Thumb:

  • The thumb is considered highly important, directly connected to the brain, and a reflection of divine will. It's divided into three parts representing willpower, logic, and love.
  • Different thumb shapes (club-shaped, flexible, hard, square, pointed, small) are described with their associated characteristics.

• Mounts (Panch Parmeshwar of the Hand):

  • The book explains the seven major mounts on the palm (Jupiter, Saturn, Sun, Mercury, Mars, Moon, Venus) located at the base of the fingers and thumb.
  • The development and signs on these mounts are correlated with various attributes like ambition, intellect, willpower, creativity, love, and health.

• Lines and their Significance:

  • Life Line: Indicates lifespan, vitality, and overall health. Its clarity, breaks, islands, and branches reveal life events and health patterns.
  • Head Line: Reflects mental abilities, thought processes, intellect, and learning.
  • Heart Line: Signifies emotional disposition, love life, and cardiac health.
  • Fate Line (Saturn Line): Represents career, destiny, and overall life path, including changes and stability.
  • Sun Line: Indicates success, fame, recognition, artistic talent, and prosperity.
  • Marriage Lines: Show marital relationships, love affairs, and their nature.
  • Health Line (Mercury Line): Relates to physical health, digestive system, and illnesses.
  • Travel Lines: Found on the Moon mount, indicating journeys and their nature.
  • Mars Lines: Associated with courage, energy, aggression, and resilience.
  • Wrist Bands (Manibandh): The lines on the wrist are linked to longevity and overall life well-being.

• Signs on the Palm:

  • The book details the interpretation of various markings like dots, crosses, squares, grids, stars, triangles, circles, islands, fish, trees, bows, lotuses, and serpents. Each sign's position on a specific line or mount has a distinct meaning.

• Practical Examples:

  • The book includes several case studies analyzing the hands of an artist, a murderer, a suicidal woman, a failed individual, and a person destined for "Rajyoga" (royal fortune) to illustrate the application of palmistry principles. These examples demonstrate how different lines, mounts, and signs combine to form a complete life reading.

• Remedies for Weak Lines:

  • The book suggests specific hand mudras (gestures) as remedies to mitigate the negative effects of weak or afflicted lines and mounts, thereby improving health and fortune.

Core Philosophy: "Saral Hastrekha Shastra" promotes a balanced view of destiny and free will. While acknowledging that past karma and inherent tendencies influence one's life (as reflected in the palm), it also emphasizes the individual's capacity to make choices and take actions (karma) that can shape their future. The book encourages self-awareness, effort, and a positive outlook to navigate life's challenges and achieve success. It aims to empower readers with knowledge and guide them towards a more fulfilling life.