The science of astrology originated in Bharat, also known as "India,"
and has been practiced continuously for more than 8,000 years. Records
of astrological knowledge are to be found in the history of all nations
and among the relics of all civilizations, past and present.
CHINA: Aside from the Vedic records, perhaps the oldest records of
astrological practice are to be found in China. The Chinese have been
as scrupulous in preserving their records as the Hindus of Bharat.
CHALDEA: Although mention is made by later writers of famous
astrologers in Chaldea, particularly Berosus, who lived about 3,000
BCE, no actual manuscripts of Berosus are available if indeed such
writings were ever made. But, undoubtedly the science of astrology was
practiced at a very remote period in the history of the Chaldeans and
the astrology of the Greeks and Romans was directly derived from this
source.
BABYLON: The first mention of astrology as it was practiced by the
Babylonians appears to place the period at about 2,500 BCE, but no
actual records of literature concerning the Babylonian contribution to
the science have been discovered to date.
EGYPT: It is evident that the Egyptian knew and used astrology many
thousands of years before the time of Christ, and the earliest Egyptian
astrologer mentioned is Petosiris, a priest who lived during the reign
of Nicepsos about 800 BCE. If Petosiris wrote any books on astrology,
however, they have not been found. The earliest Egyptian authority on
astrology whose works are available today and actually form the basis
on which modern astrology is practiced in the Western world was
Claudius Ptolemy. Ptolemy was born at Pelusium in Egypt, about 70 CE,
and attended the school of Alexandria. His Tetrabilos is the source of
many of the errors which have been perpetuated in the modern systems.
PERSIA: The earliest Persian astrologer of whom any record exists was
Al Hakim. This famous astrologer lived and practiced his science during
the reign of Darius. Al Hakim is reputed to have written many books, th
most widely mentioned by later historians being the Judicia Gimaspia.
If this work or any other writings of Al Hakim exist today, they have
not been made available for general inspection. However, Al Hakim
achieved fame because of some amazing predictions, not the least
popular of them being the birth of Jesus.
ARABIA: Astrology is and always was held in great veneration by the
Arabs. This region is the birthplace of many learned astrologers and
wise men. They traveled extensively and brought their knowledge with
them into Greece and Rome. Some of their writings have come down to the
West through the Greeks and Romans, but in such fragmentary form that
they are of little practical use today. Such fragments as have been
preserved, however, furnish indubitable proof that the technique of the
Arabian astrologers was of a very high order, indeed. Records of a
nomadic people, though, are difficult to obtain.
BHARAT: In Bharat records exist today which point clearly to a highly
developed knowledge of astrology as far back as about 6,500 BCE and
actual manuscripts are still extant which were written about 3,700 BCE.
SOme of the originals have been destroyed or lost but actual copies of
these originals were made by alter astrologers. these are to be found
in the libraries of Maharajas and in the libraries of certain states in
Bharat. Actual, detailed records of astrological science are continuous
from about 6,500 BCE. One of the earliest authors of Vedic astrology,
copies of whose work are still to be found, is Pita Maha who wrote a
treatise on astrology called Pita Maha Siddhant(a). He lived and wrote
this book about 3,000 BCE. Five hundred years later, another
author-astrologer named Vashishtth(a) wrote several books on astrology,
astronomy and philosophy. His most important work, and one which was
used as an authority by all subsequent writers on the subject, is
Vashishtth(a) Siddhant(a), but he wrote may other equally erudite and
authoritative texts such as the Panch Siddhant(a) Kosh(a), Soory(a)
Siddhant(a), Nityanand(a), Brhat Jatak(a), Aryabhat, Mansagari,
Ranveer, and the Laghu Parashar. E. M. Plunkett writes in his book
Ancient Calendars and Constellations: "The opinion of the Greek writers
at the beginning of the Christian era may be quoted as showing the high
estimation in which Indian astronomy was held. In the Life of
Appollonius of Tyana, the Greek philosopher and astrologer, written by
Philostratus about 210 CE, the wisdom and learning of Appollonius are
set high above his contemporaries because he had studied astronomy and
astrology with the sages of India." In a book called You and Your Hand
by the late Count Louis Hamon, known better as Cheiro, this statement
is found: "people who in their ignorance disdain the wisdom of ancient
races forget that the great past of India contained secrets of life and
philosophy that following civilizations could not controvert, but were
forced to accept. For instance, it has been demonstrated that the
ancient Hindus understood the precession of the equinoxes and made the
calculation that it [a complete cycle] took place once in every 25,870
years. the observation and mathematical precision necessary to
establish such a theory has been the wonder and admiration of modern
astronomers. they, with their modern knowledge and up-to-date
instruments, are still quarrelling among themselves as to whether the
precession, the most important feature in astronomy, takes place every
25,870 years or every 24,500 years. The majority believe that the
Hindus made no mistakes, but how they arrived at such a calculation is
as great a mystery as the origin of life itself."
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