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