| I do not know why it is, but firmly entrenched in my | | | | Predictions regarding profession, job or business, |
| head is the concept of mystic India. | | | | change of place and its good and evil. |
| So, as soon as we hit the shores of Kerala, India we | | | | Predictions regarding profits in business and second |
| begin our search for a psychic. | | | | marriage. |
| First off, we need a palm reader (as you do). The call | | | | Predictions regarding expenditure, foreign visit, next |
| is out and finally someone at the resort tells us that | | | | birth and attainment of salvation. |
| a taxi driver of their acquaintance knows a palm | | | | Predictions regarding previous birth, sins committed |
| reader situated at Trivandrum, who speaks English | | | | and remedial measures for getting rid of the effect |
| and is very popular with tourists. | | | | of the evil effects of the past birth's sins. |
| Goody! How soon can we go? | | | | Predictions regarding which Manthra Jepam has to be |
| The most expensive part of any outing we are to | | | | worn on the body as Rakshai (Talisman) for self and |
| find is the transport. It is all well and good to catch a | | | | family's prosperity. |
| bus, but there is no bus stop near our hotel and the | | | | So many questions and so little money in my purse. I |
| only way to get to Kovalam Junction (where there | | | | am supposing that the locals only pay $4 for this |
| IS a bus stop) is by taxi or auto rickshaw. | | | | information but I am curious to continue. As I do not |
| We ask an auto rickshaw driver the price to Kovalam | | | | know what a lagnam is I skip those questions. I |
| Junction - 200 rupees. This is close to $Au5 to drive | | | | would rather like to be able to rid myself of the evil |
| to the bus stop and I am wondering how the locals | | | | effects of my past birth's sins but I'm reckoning that |
| can afford it. Enquiry reveals that they pay 20 rupees | | | | I will have to say an awful lot of mantras which |
| (50cents). So that is what tourists are up against. All | | | | undoubtedly come at extra cost. Therefore I decide |
| those 200 rupees add up very quickly, as one can | | | | on the predictions regarding profession, job or |
| imagine. | | | | business. |
| Admittedly, once you actually can find a bus, the bus | | | | He has said something that makes me suspicious of |
| fare is only 9 rupees for the half hour bus ride from | | | | extra charges so I look him in the eye and ask if I |
| Kovalam Junction to Trivandrum. However, | | | | will only have to pay 1600 rupees. Will this be the |
| Trivandrum is an awfully big city so unless your | | | | entire cost, I ask? He ignores the question. Danger |
| destination is on that bus route then you are back to | | | | ahead! |
| the same scenario - you have to get off and then | | | | He takes my thumb print. His assistant will have to |
| catch another taxi or auto rickshaw to your final | | | | check my thumbprint against the records of all the |
| destination! | | | | palm leaves to find my unique record. He will also |
| Therefore it seems the only sensible solution if we | | | | have to ask some special questions to help him find |
| are to see our palm reader is to book a taxi to take | | | | the exact palm leaf. Interesting - if my thumb print |
| us there, wait and bring us home. The driver who | | | | reveals a special record, why does he need to ask |
| knows about the palm reader agrees to take us | | | | further questions? And how does a thumb print |
| there and back for 700 rupees. Since workers in | | | | come into the equation in the first place? Hmm. |
| shops earn about 1500 rupees a month and even a | | | | I go outside to wait and while waiting I read his |
| hard working masseur only seems to make about | | | | promotional material. Meanwhile the driver is becoming |
| 3500 rupees a month, you can see that taxis in India | | | | very agitated. When will I be finished? |
| are just for the rich. Or the locals are paying a lot | | | | "Well, he said it could take another hour," I say. |
| less than we are! | | | | He does not look at all pleased but decides to go to |
| The appointment is made and we head off to see | | | | the temple to pray - no doubt praying that I will finish |
| the palm reader. He is located in what looks like a | | | | up quickly so he can go home. Still, why should I feel |
| very affluent section of Trivandrum. Across the | | | | guilty (which I do). He brought us here and so far I |
| street is the home of an ophthalmic surgeon (the | | | | am feeling like I have been dragged into a giant trap. |
| sign is proudly displayed in his garden). Obviously, our | | | | I read the promotional material. Apparently, a couple |
| palm reader is very good to be able to afford to live | | | | of centuries ago, a group of wise men got together |
| in such a nice part of town. | | | | and wrote down the history of everyone who will |
| I am ushered into his office which has the obligatory | | | | ever be born. These records were put on palm |
| Hindu altar and photos of his very stern-looking, | | | | leaves. The leaves were apparently sold at an auction |
| yogi-like ancestors. He comes from a long line of palm | | | | and my reader's ancestors must have bought them, I |
| readers. | | | | am supposing. All over the paper is written in capitals |
| I sit down at the desk and he brings out what looks | | | | -' Beware of touts - don't be misguided'. I wonder |
| like a very long closed fan. No, he does not read | | | | what this is all about. |
| hands, he read palm leaves! | | | | Oh, oh, a warning - "Experience has shown that only |
| Oh well, what the heck? I am here now, and hand | | | | 80% of the natives find that their predictions are |
| palm or palm leaf, it is after all, a voyage of | | | | correct." But, how can this be so if your very own |
| discovery. But what does it cost? | | | | palm leaf was written for you all those years ago? |
| He hands me a list of predictions that he can give. | | | | Still, this is a handy little 'out' for him, should anyone |
| Each question costs 1600 rupees! Wowie, zowie! This | | | | complain that their predictions do not come to pass. |
| is $41! He must be good! | | | | After an hour he calls me in. He has spent the time |
| I look at the possible questions - | | | | doing research on me (he says) and he waves |
| I quote directly from the brochure - | | | | around a long closed fan of palm leaves. However, |
| Predictions concerning money, eyes, family, education | | | | there is a problem. The total cost will be 3200 rupees |
| and communication skills. | | | | (a month's salary for a hard working masseuse for |
| Predictions regarding number of brothers and sisters, | | | | example) because the first part of the project - |
| their affection, help or ill feeling. | | | | where he has to ask lots of questions about my life - |
| Predictions regarding mother, house, vehicles, land | | | | is compulsory and also costs 1600 rupees. The poor |
| and pleasures. | | | | man has obviously been fretting about how he can |
| Predictions regarding children, their birth, death, | | | | extract as much money as possible from me and I |
| reason for not having children, adoption and remedial | | | | struggled with the desire to turn tail and walk out |
| measures of having children, future lives of the | | | | immediately or stay put, pay the extra and write |
| children. | | | | about his little scam. |
| Predictions regarding disease, debts, enemies and | | | | All right. I agree and hand over the 3200 rupees. His |
| court cases, remedial measures for avoidance. | | | | eyes light up. I can see him thinking that there is one |
| Period of marriage, reasons for delay in marriage, | | | | born every minute. |
| name, lagnam of bride or bridegroom, planetary | | | | This had better be a good story. I am thinking, oh |
| position, direction and distance of residence of bride | | | | well, it is only another $40 and he is thinking, I have |
| or bridegroom, future life with the husband or wife. | | | | just made a month's salary from this fool. |
| Predictions regarding longevity, accident and danger | | | | Can I wait another hour while he finds my palm leaf? |
| to life, age, month, day, time, star, lagnam and place | | | | The pressure is really mounting. I am feeling quite |
| of death. | | | | worried about the driver who must be tearing out his |
| Predictions regarding father, wealth, pilgrimage, luck, | | | | hair outside. |
| preaching through holymen, charitable deeds. | | | | This is part one of a three part article. |