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Introduction
The government of India recently (2001) decided to reintroduce the subject of Vedic astrology into the schools and to teach it at a university level in non-Sanskrit courses. Naturally, this movement has met with tremendous opposition by a number of so-called modern or secular thinkers. They see the introduction of astrology as returning India to the dark ages and the harbinger of creating a Hindu religious state in the country. They would equate astrology with all the social evils and superstitions that the West associates with India.
However, astrology remains popular worldwide and is not limited to religiously conservative people (most orthodox Christians and Muslims have always been against it). In the West, it is common among the New Age and futuristic groups, though most scientists are opposed to it. In England, however, there is also a move to teach astrology in the schools and do scientific research on it.
The question arises: What is Vedic astrology and how important is it to understand India and its venerable traditions? The answer is simple: Vedic astrology is an integral part of Indian culture, as commonly used today as thousand years ago in the country. In fact, the computer revolution has made Vedic astrology, which requires detailed calculations, more accessible. Schools of Vedic astrology can be found in the major cities of India, offering in depth two year courses on the subject. Regular new books on Vedic astrology are coming out every year through the main publishing houses in the country and these continue to sell well. There is no region of India where astrology in one form or another is not popular or not part of older traditions.
Author - David Frawley
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