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