Astrolgoy is a scientific study and application of the language of the

heavenly bodies. These heavenly bodies, determined on the basis of astronomy and mathematics, are mapped in the form of a horoscope. Their specific locations in the horoscope indicate specific happenings in the case of individuals, of multitudes and of geographical regions. Whether the Sun, the Moon, the planets and the stars themselves influence the terrestrial phenomena, or they only inbdicate such phenomena by their various dispositions in immaterial. What is important to us is that variations in their disposition determine variations in the events on the earth; the correlations are only too strong to be brushed aside by the critics of astrology. Sub Divisions of Astrology There are three main sub-divisions of astrology.

1. Samhita: This deals with collectivity or multitudes. It encompasses such varied areas as weather forecasts, agricultural produce, natural disasters, floods, famines, wars, earthquakes, cyclones, marker trends changes in government, national and international events, and virtually anything that influences the masses. The annual world predictions which are generally based either on the Hindu New Year commencing on the Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, or on the Solar Ingress into Mesha, fall under the Samhita astrology.

2. Siddhanta or Tantra or Ganita: This deals with the mathematical aspects of astrology. There are several treatises on Siddhanta astrology but five, among them, are considered as particularly important. They are : a. Surya Siddhanta b. Paulisha Siddhantra c. Romaka (or Lomasha) Siddhanta d. Vasishtha Siddhanta e. Paitamaha Siddhanta A proficiency in these is considered as a prerequisite for a good astrologer, according to the celebrated Varahamihira. 3. Hora: It deals with: a. Individual horoscopes, or Jataka, or natal charts. Muhurta or electional astrology, which concerns itself with the election of favourable planetary dispositions to achieve specific accomplishments in day-to-day life.