Astrology in India

Many records dating back to 3,500 BC have revealed that India had good developed knowledge of astrology even in ancient times.

Many records dating back to 3,500 BC have revealed that India had good developed knowledge of astrology even in ancient times. These records can be found in certain libraries of Maharajas or kings and in the libraries of certain states in India. There are actual detailed records of astrological science continuous from 6,500 BC.

One of the earliest works on Vedic astrology was Pita Maha Siddhantha by Pita Maha who wrote this book around 3,000 BC. Another popular astrologer Vashishttha wrote several books on astrology, astronomy and philosophy around 3,500 BC. His popular work was Vashsishttha Siddhantha.

The other authoritative texts written by Vashsishttha were the Panch Siddhanta Kosha, the Soorya Siddhanta, the Nityananda, the Brhat Jataka, the Aryabhat, the Mansagari, the Ranveer, and the Laghu Parashar. The most popularly followed astrological classics today are the ones written by many sages like Parashara, Varahamihira, Garga, Jaimini and their followers.

The Indian astrology was well respected in other parts of the world. In his book, Ancient Calendars and Constellations, E. M. Plunkett has written about the high estimation in which Indian astrology was held. In The Life of Appollonius of Tyana, the Greek philosopher and astrologer, written by Philostratus about 210, Appollonius was highly respected as he had studied astronomy and astrology with the sages of India.

The book named You and Your Hand by Count Louis Hamon who was known as Cheiro has upheld the great astrological heritage of India. He has stated how the great past of India contained the secrets of life and philosophy which the following civilizations could not controvert but are forced to accept.

He has also mentioned an instance which demonstrated that the ancient Hindus understood the precession of the equinoxes and made the calculation that a complete cycle took place in every 25,870 years which has been difficult to establish even today with modern instruments and techniques. He further states that the observation and mathematical precision necessary to establish such a theory has been the wonder and admiration of modern astronomers.