Indian Horoscope - Your Future by the Stars

Astrology and Horoscopes Astrology is the study of the influences of the planets, stars and other celestial phenomena in our lives. Foretelling the future has been a very intriguing science since time immemorial. In India, fixing of marriages, celebrating festive occasions, arranging important meetings, etc. as per astrological predictions is a norm. Horoscopes are an integral part of astrology in India. It is a diagram representing the planets in the zodiac. Each individual has a unique horoscope and therefore possess different traits and personalities. Astrologers are employed to analyse individual horoscopes. They are considered to have the skills to compare horoscopes and, for example, advise on matrimonial compatibility. Astrologers in India thus play a very significant role in determining the futures of many people. The Characteristics of Horoscopes A horoscope or Jathakam is a record of the astronomical data of a moment in time. This can be of any occasion like the birth of a child, the start of a project, the start of a journey, etc. It records the planetary positions of that moment in a particular format as set out in Hindu holy texts. It is made with the position of stars and planets for each of the twelve zodiac signs depending on the year. The horoscope is carefully and precisely plotted from the above data to determine the influences that can impact an individual's life or an occasion. There are various formats of recording the horoscope in various parts of India. The North Indian format comprises of diamond-shaped boxes and the South Indian format is of rectangular boxes. Interpreting the Horoscope The horoscope itself is only a record of astronomical data and needs to be interpreted to understand its consequences. In Hindu astrology the nine celestial influences that are used for interpretation are the sun, the moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, and the north and south lunar nodes (Rahu and Ketu). In addition to these 9 celestial influences, an astrologer will also examine the signs of the zodiac where these celestial influences are located, the houses in which they are residing, and certain key relationships between these components. In addition, an astrologer will also calculate the planetary periods (dashas) that are used to determine when events are likely to occur in a particular chart. Each of the celestial bodies, plus the signs of the zodiac and the houses carry symbolic meanings that are used to make an astrological interpretation.

The interpretation involves three steps: 1.Noting the important features of the chart 2.The process of chart weighing which involves the distribution of zodiac signs and houses 3.Chart shaping which assess the placement of planets by aspect and position and establish a pattern which occurs between them Digital Horoscope Reading Computer programs are now available that can interpret horoscopes. Many astrologers now use these programs and offer these services to their clients. When horoscopes are read manually, the interpretations can differ depending on the astrologer. However, interpretations of horoscopes by computer programs are found to be more consistent. In the hands of an expert astrologer, astrology can be a powerful tool for good. But like any tool, it should be used with discretion and caution.