13. Historicity of Astrology in Medieval Age

The Greek word zodiac meaning “circle around animals,” had been meticulously categorized by careful observation into twelve distinct symbols connected with planets including Moon and Stars in the Sky. During the 10th century, Western civilization reawakened to the mysteries of astrology due to emergence of Arabic translations which are survivors of the Hebrew, Greek and Latin origins. Roman Empire in particular, astrology was much used in artistic symbolism, to praise a King or a God. The Middle Age Astrology was bifurcated into four branches known as natural Astrology, Judicial Astrology, Natal Astrology and Horary Astrology. The great early designer of telescopes, John Kepler strongly believed that Astrology and religion were irreversibly enmeshed. He contemplated that God was made by the man from the cosmic elements falling under the influence of planets like the Moon. Galileo made many scientific inquiries about clocks and telescope, who created eminent books about the revolution of the planets.

William Lilly was the most renowned astrologer of United Kingdom during the 17th century,(1602-1681) rewarding the most definite work—Christian Astrology (1647) highlighting the aspect of Moon, leading to prophecies in Almanac from. The mythological thinking of Carl Jung touches the human mind through the concept of Gods and Goddesses that mimic the Moon’s gentle and unending pull on the forces of life. This hypothesis strengthens the belief of Astro-Science instead of thinking about the factual accuracy of the antecedents in our social life. It has gone beyond the boundaries to envision a new world of Lunar Astrology practiced in the Muslim world and divided into two -Judicial Astrology (ahkm al-mujum) and Popular Astrology.^[1] The former one used Ptolemaic understanding of the cosmos.

Popular Astrology combined with the wisdom of judicial astrology intermingling Sufi teachings as part of mystic schooling during the tenth century. Muslim religious scholars cast doubt about the religious acceptability of astrology as many of the astrologers were non-Muslims. As an exception, Arab Jyotisham is available in different part of the world. What Copernicus and Galileo propounded was suggested by Aryabhatta nearly 1500 years ago. Bhaskaracharya was the first who discovered gravity of the Earth 500 years before Sir Issac Newton. In his treatise ‘Siddhanta Siromani’ he described the planetary positions, eclipses, cosmography, mathematical techniques and astronomical equipment. He made a note on the force of gravity: viz., Objects fall on earth due to a force of attraction by the earth. Therefore, the earth, planets, constellations, moon, and sun are held in their own orbits due to this attraction. This principle remains today, unquestioned.