Astrology and Mankind

The practice of astrology was prevalent in theregarded as vital in Indian culture. It is used to
ancient times as well. History of Astrology is anmake decisions about marriage, starting of new
important part of civilization and goes back to thebusinesses, and moving into a new house etc. The
early days of the human race. Some of theHindus believe that human fortune or misfortune
well-known civilizations of the world used this fieldin life is due to karma, and karma is believed to
extensively. For example, the ancient Chinesebe influenced by the movements of the planets.
civilization, the Egyptian civilization, the ancientAmong the Hindus, Brahmins are considered to be
Indian civilization, etc all practiced astrology atthe best authorities on astrology. The astrologers
some point or the other. Arabs too practicedin India claim that it is a scientific method to
Astrology before the advent of Islam. Arabspredict the future. They still club this field of study
were quite advanced in the field of Astronomy.within the parameters of Hinduism. Hindus almost
The ancient Babylonians were probably the firstunanimously believe in astrological predictions. In
to use Astrology. The Babylonians were the firstfact, religious Hindus cannot imagine life without
to name the days of the week after the Sun,Astrology. More and more Indians have started to
Moon, and planets. They were also the first to setbuild their houses according to the principles of
out the twelve houses of the horoscope. BaghdadVastu Shashtra. This ancient Indian tradition is also
and Damascus were known as centers ofgoverned by astrological implications. Hindus
Astrology and Astronomy in olden times. Egyptbelieve that the overall prosperity and benefits of
contributed a lot towards the development ofthe occupants is dependant on the Vastu
Astrology. It is thought that some of theprinciples while building the house. Indian
astrological signs of the zodiac originated in Egypt.Astrologers claim that they can prove that
Greek astronomer Ptolemy was the first everastrological predictions are indeed scientific.
person to write a book on Astrology. He codifiedHoroscope is a part of Astrology. Reading the
the sun sign astrology that we know today.horoscope daily has become a trend even in the
Ptolemy tried to predict the positions of celestialdeveloped countries of the West. The Western
bodies relative to each other and the earthmind has always put everything subject to
through knowledge of their orbital motions. Duringscrutiny and they tend to rely solely on scientific
his time, astrology was a part of astronomy.facts. But that is not preventing the western
Later, astronomy became an exact science andpeople from being obsessed with their
Astrology remained a part of Theology.horoscopes. Suddenly, the western world has
Chinese astrology stresses on the five elements,woken up to the possibility of knowing and
metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Even theimproving their future with the use of astrology.
zodiac signs used by them are also different fromMore and more westerners have started to
other forms of astrology.believe in the possibility of getting affected by the
India has a rich history of Astrology. Astrologypowerful planets and stars. Western scholars have
was practiced even in the Vedic times in India.included the subject of astrology in their research.
Astrology is one of the six disciplines of Vedanga.Astrology was never scrutinized and researched
Ancient Hindu Scriptures too give a lot ofever before the way it has been done over the
importance to the various aspects of planetarylast few years. In this regard, the Indian
motions and its effects on humans. Astrology isastrologers should come forward and show the
still studied and practiced by many in India. It isworld the power that astrology holds.