Astrology has originated from Vedas (the oldest Hindu books of knowledge) and flourished in ancient India, lakhs of years ago. Its roots cannot be traced, but it was discussed and much regarded by all the great Indian seers like Parashara, Jaimini and others. Astrology is referred to as "Jyotish" , which means 'related to Light'. But then what is light?

The word light is indicative of knowledge, and darkness is a symbol of ignorance. Astrology lights the path of human beings and provides better guidance in molding their future.

We know that Sun is the principal source of light and heat. The rays of Sun fall on plants and produce food in them by 'photosynthesis', which is highly desirable for any plant to grow. Sun is a factor for the entire vegetation to grow on this earth and the animals and human beings are depending on it. Then , is there any surprise if Sun is called 'soul' of the universe ? Sun is also referred to as "Chakshu" of the Omnipotent. Chakshu means eyes. With eyes we can be in light. Without eyes we will be in darkness. Hence, Greeks and Egyptians called Sun as god of Astrology.

Light also refers to electro-magnetic waves or energies which are spread all over the world. There are cosmic rays which always penetrate into our earth"s atmosphere and cause disturbances in pressure and temperature on earth. Aeronomy says that tidal ways, floods and cyclones on earth are nothing but effects of reactions between various nuclear particles on the surface of Sun. So Light is most significant in this world.

There is another type of light, the light coming from various planets. This light is called radiation. This radiation always carries different types of energies. This light which comes from various planets and constellations continuously fall on all living beings on earth, since their birth till their death. We know that human brain and nervous system is a thousand times more sensitive than a photographic film. If we expose the photographic film to Sun, it gets spoiled immediately. Then why can"t we accept that the human brain and the nervous are also affected by Sun rays? We are all bathing continuously in an array of different radiations coming from different celestial bodies, and why can"t we say that those radiations will definitely affect our lives?

According to Dr. Percy Seymour [chartered member of the Institute of Physics and Fellow member of the Royal Astronomical Society, Director of the William Day Planetarium and principal lecturer in astronomy at the University of Plymouth], the solar magnetic wind of Sun is influenced by other planets which in turn leads to fluctuations in the earth"s magnetic field. Jane Blizard"s work for NASA showed evidence for heliocentric planetary conjunctions, oppositions, and certain 90" alignments giving rise to violent solar disturbances. Due to this, the fluctuations in the earth"s magnetic field will change from 0.0ci to 2.0ci (ci - International magnetic character figure), as noted by geophysicists. This means earth's magnetism will change depending on disturbances caused by solar magnetic wind. This change in earth's magnetism will bring changes in human beings - as observed by Professor Yves Rocard [Laboratory Director of Physics at the Ecole normale superieure in Paris]. Rocard devoted 30 years of his life to the study of the sensitivity of humans to magnetism. He detected reception sites in human body at the arches of the eyebrows, at the back of the skull, at the hollows of the knees, near shoulder blades and under heels. These parts are highly sensitive to magnetism. Scientists also found magnetite in human brain. Thus we can prove that the entire human body responds to planetary influences.

Radiations, light, magnetic fields, gravity etc., from different planets and constellations act upon human beings' body and mind and there by modify the way they take decisions and thus influence their future ' certainly a study is needed to establish this fact, and Astrology does this.

Mr. Arnold Meyer of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, observes that 'when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction they are both concentrating their forces on the same part of the globe at the same time; this accounts for the abnormal conditions... This conjunction does definitely affect a child born during conditions of this nature...'

We know the oceanic waves rise to their zenith on full moon days, and they will become calm on new moon days. This is due to electro-magnetic attraction of Moon on water. When the human being's body has 65% water content, why there will not be any affect of Moon on him?

A study conducted from 1957 to 1968 in Britain revealed that most of the murders are recorded on full moon days only, thus Moon is influencing some people to lose their mental balance.

Kraft published his 'Astro-physiologie' in 1928. There he offers a list of 72 persons who were born at about the same time. All these died at the same age and in a similar way. This cannot be dismissed as mere coincidence.

Donald A. Bradley published an important work called 'Profession and Birthdate'. It is a statistical analysis of the planetary positions found at the time of birth of 2492 eminent clergymen. He has proved beyond doubt that the planetary positions greatly influence the profession of people.

Varahamihira, Aryabhatta, Bhaskara, Kalyana Varma etc' practiced Astrology along with Astronomy. Varahamihira calculated the distances of planets and gave accurate description of various constellations in the sky in his great work 'BrihatSamhita'. Aristotle wrote a paper on Palmistry in 350 B.C., in which he clearly describes a lot of subject related to lines of palm.

Even the scientists like Copernicus, Tychobrahe, Kepler, Galileo and Newton have done a lot of work in Astrology.

Just because the modern pseudo scientist did not put a stamp of approval to it, we can not say Astrology is not a science. The science is ever changing , finding new theories and opposing its own doctrines. The scientists once declared that the Sun is revolving around the Earth. After Galileo constructed the telescope, the same scientists said that the Earth is revolving round the Sun. Whether the scientists found it or not, the truth is always same. Probably, the same scientist who is criticizing Astrology today, will hug it tomorrow in reverence.