Mangal Raj Joshi (1920–2005) was the Royal

Astrologer Astrology is a range of divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that claim to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the apparent positions of celestial objects. Dif ...

of Nepal, whose family worked for more than 20 generations for the Nepalese kings. Dr. Joshi holds a Ph.D. in Urban Study and Planning, and was a professor at Patan College. Joshi was also the chairman of the Nepal Panchang Nirnayak Samiti and vice chairman of the Asian Panchang Samiti. Joshi failed to predict the

Nepalese royal massacre The Nepalese royal massacre occurred on 1 June 2001 at the Narayanhiti Palace, the then-residence of the Nepalese monarchy. Nine members of the royal family, including King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya, were killed in a mass shooting during a ga ...

, a point used by some against the effectiveness of astrology. Since he died, Nepal has been without a Royal Astrologer.

General

At the age of 11, Joshi followed his father, Daibagya Krishna Raj Joshi's footsteps into astrology. The elder Joshi had edited and published ''Mangal Ephemeris'' for 77 yrs. Dr. Joshi also lent his presence to the education as a teacher at many colleges. His career began as a teacher at the

Tri Chandra College Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, more colloquially known as Tri-Chandra College, is a constituent campus of Tribhuvan University located in Ghantaghar, Kathmandu. Found in 1918 by Chandra Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, Chandra Shumsher, it is the oldest ...

in 1967. He was instrumental in the establishment of Patan Multiple College (PMC) in 1950 both as a teacher and programme in - charge. Later, he served as Principal of PMC in 1968. Besides his role as a scholar of geography and astrology, he had a diploma in Modernization in Education from Houston University, Texas, US. He also had a Ph.D. degree in Urban Study and Planning of Kathmandu Valley from

Patna University Patna University is a public state university in Patna, Bihar, India. It was established on 1 October 1917 during the British Raj. It is the first university in Bihar and the seventh oldest university in the Indian subcontinent in the modern er ...

, India. Dr. Joshi died in

Kathmandu , pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = Province , subdivision_name1 = Bagmati Prov ...

on 2 March 2005 from a combination of kidney problems and a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

, according to his son, Dr. Badri Raj Joshi, B.A., M.S.C. (Predictive Astrology), Ph.D., PGA. Since then, Prof. Dr. Madhav Bhattarai has held the office of President of the Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti.

Contributions

His contributions ranged from an

Acharya In Indian religions and society, an ''acharya'' (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a preceptor and expert instructor in matters such as religion, or any other subject. An acharya is a highly learned person with a tit ...

of Astrology to Professor of Geography, Nepali and

Nepal Bhasa Newar (), or Newari and known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, is a Sino-Tibetan languages, Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surro ...

at the master's level in PMC. Apart from this, he was graced with a golden crown as Royal Astrologer as well as recognition of his service to astrology at the International Astrologers Conference of 1988 in India.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Joshi, Mangal Raj 1920 births 2005 deaths Nepalese astrologers 20th-century astrologers 21st-century astrologers Nepalese educators 21st-century Nepalese educators 20th-century Nepalese nobility 21st-century Nepalese nobility Nepalese Hindus