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