By Kavita A Chhibber
The history of astrology is as old as history itself, to say the least…Astrology has lived through the ages in numerous countries and cities such as Babylon, Persia, Egypt, Greece, China, Chalden, and Rome… who can forget Nostradamus, the famous French astrologer whose predictions still make waves today?… Astrology is the key to all knowledge that connects man and nature. It establishes the fact that nothing in life happens by accident.
The birth chart is a sketch of the heavens at the time of birth as viewed from the place of birth. To make a birth chart, the astrologer needs, the date of birth, the time of birth and the longitude and latitude of the place of birth. The longitudes of the planets entered in the chart are geocentric, and thus the degree, minute and second in a particular sign will be the same whether the birth is in India or any other part of the world. The time zones however will differ, and adjustments will need to be made accordingly.
The mathematical system which forms the foundation of the Hindu astrology considers 27 nakshatras and 12 rasis (signs). Another fundamental basics of Hindu calculations is the ecliptic, that is the path of the sun, as it passes through the ecliptic tincture with the results of other planets and nakshatras near enough to influence and determine the career or destiny of creatures on earth is noted. Astrology assesses the nature and extent of these influences.
The Birth Chart is divided into twelve sections and each is referred to as a house. It is not known why particular events of human life are attributed to particular houses in the horoscope by the ancient sages, but they probably had some scientific basis for the allocation of all the events of human life to the twelve houses.
The first house deals with the beginning of life, childhood, personality, the physical body and character. The second house represents family, face, right eye, food, health, self acquisition, source of death. The third house rules brothers and sisters, intelligence, cousins, and other immediate relations. The fourth house indicates peace of mind, home life, mother, conveyance and property. The fifth indicates children, emotions, intellect and fame. The sixth rules over debts, disease, enemies, illness and disappointments. The seventh represents, spouse, married life, sexual diseases, business partners and general happiness. The eight indicates longevity, legacies and gifts, and cause of death. The ninth rules father, religion, fame, leadership, journeys and communications. The tenth indicates occupation, profession, temporal honors, and foreign travels. The eleventh represents means of gains, elder siblings, and the twelfth house rules losses, expenditure, divine knowledge, and moksha the state after death. It is also important to study the placement of the Moon in the chart.