| Astrology is a type of divination based | | | | and practiced by many in India. It is |
| upon the idea that information about the | | | | regarded as vital in Indian culture. It |
| future or about a person's personality | | | | is used to make decisions about |
| can be discovered through the | | | | marriage, starting of new business, and |
| examination of heavenly bodies such as | | | | moving into a new house etc. Ancient |
| stars, planets, the moon, comets etc. | | | | Hindu Scriptures too gives a lot of |
| Astrology means the study that assumes | | | | importance to the various aspects of |
| and attempts to interpret the influence | | | | planetary motions and its effects on |
| of heavenly bodies on human affairs. | | | | humans. Chinese astrology stresses on |
| American Heritage Dictionary defines | | | | the five elements, metal, wood, water, |
| Astrology as the study of the positions | | | | fire, and earth. Even the zodiac signs |
| and aspects of celestial bodies in the | | | | used by them are also different from |
| belief that they have an influence on | | | | other forms of astrology. China was |
| the course of natural earthly | | | | isolated from the western for a long |
| occurrences and human affairs. The | | | | time. That is why Chinese astrology was |
| practice of astrology was prevalent in | | | | unknown to the western world. As Chinese |
| the ancient times too. Some of the | | | | astrology developed independently, a lot |
| well-known civilizations of the world | | | | of difference can be seen between the |
| used this field extensively. For | | | | western concepts of astrology and the |
| example, the ancient Chinese | | | | Chinese version. But the Chinese and |
| civilization, the Egyptian civilization, | | | | Indian astrologers were in touch every |
| the ancient Indian civilization, etc all | | | | now and then. Therefore, these two |
| practiced astrology at some point or the | | | | schools have a few things in common. In |
| other. Arabs too practiced Astrology | | | | spite of the geographical isolation, |
| before the advent of Islam. The ancient | | | | there are a few surprising similarities |
| Babylonians were probably the first to | | | | between the western and the Chinese |
| use Astrology. After that this science | | | | thoughts on astrology. It can only be |
| moved to countries like China and India. | | | | termed as a coincidence. Even though the |
| Greek astronomer Ptolemy was the first | | | | science of astrology was started and |
| ever person to write a book on | | | | developed in the east, the west was |
| Astrology. He codified the sun sign | | | | never without its share of astrology. |
| astrology that we know today. Ptolemy | | | | Recently, the trend of reading the daily |
| tried to predict the positions of | | | | horoscopes have caught up the western |
| celestial bodies relative to each other | | | | world. Suddenly, the western world has |
| and the earth through knowledge of their | | | | woken up to the possibility of knowing |
| orbital motions. During his time, | | | | and improving their future with the use |
| astrology was a part of astronomy. | | | | of astrology. More and more westerners |
| Later, astronomy became an exact science | | | | have started to believe in the |
| and Astrology remained a part of | | | | possibility of getting affected by the |
| Theology. Planetary observation is the | | | | powerful planets and stars. Western |
| basis of Astrology. | | | | scholars have included the subject of |
| History of Astrology is an important | | | | astrology in their research. Astrology |
| part of civilization and goes back to | | | | was never scrutinized and researched |
| the early days of the human race. Apart | | | | ever before the way it has been done |
| from being centers of learning in | | | | over the last few years. The astrologers |
| medicine, Baghdad and Damascus were also | | | | in India claim that it is a scientific |
| known as centers of astrology and | | | | method to predict the future. They still |
| astronomy. Arabs were pioneers in | | | | club this field of study within the |
| astronomy before the advent of Islam. | | | | parameters of Hinduism. They say they |
| The Babylonians were the first to name | | | | can prove that astrological predictions |
| the days of the week after the Sun, | | | | are indeed scientific. Hindus almost |
| Moon, and planets. They were also the | | | | unanimously believe in astrological |
| first to set out the twelve houses of | | | | predictions. In fact, religious Hindus |
| the horoscope. Egypt was one of the most | | | | cannot imagine life without Astrology. |
| important places in the development of | | | | More and more Indians have started to |
| astrology. It is thought that some of | | | | build their houses according to the |
| the astrological signs of the zodiac | | | | principles of Vastu Shashtra. This |
| originated in Egypt. Astrology was | | | | ancient Indian tradition is also |
| practiced even in the Vedic times in | | | | governed by astrological implications. |
| India. Astrology is one of the six | | | | Hindus believe that the overall |
| disciplines of vedanga. The Hindus | | | | prosperity and benefits of the occupants |
| believe that human fortune or misfortune | | | | is dependant on the Vastu principles |
| in life is due to karma, and karma is | | | | while building the house. Feng shui is |
| believed to be influenced by the | | | | one of the ancient Chinese practice of |
| movements of the planets. Among the | | | | placement and arrangement of space to |
| Hindus, Brahmins are considered to be | | | | achieve harmony with the environment. It |
| the best authorities on astrology. In | | | | is also an off shoot of Chinese |
| Modern India too, astrology is | | | | Astrology. This again is said to be |
| extensively used to determine the future | | | | scientific in nature. |
| and improve life. Astrology is studied | | | | |