astrology come under Hinduism ?
1) No – astrology is pretty universal. But there is definitely a Hindu slant to the astrology practiced in India with references to Hindu deities and ‘parikarams’ tied to Hindu rituals. 2) Hinduism did not encounter strict monotheism early on; so scriptures do not mention ‘conversion’. But Hinduism does talk about two ‘changes’: change in your “deity of choice” and change in “Marga” or the Path you wish to follow: (Bhakthi vs Gnana vs Karma). The second type was frequently debated in public debates between heads of various groups. But as far as I know, there is always an understanding that one can switch from one choice to another and this is not dependent on your birth or family. 3) According to Hindu beliefs, it is not just man; All souls (which can take pretty much any body) go from body to body through births and deaths. “Good” people have only been good in this one lifetime you are saying. The ‘bad’ is probably a result of previous karma. 4) A Guru is someone who can guide you in
No. Astrology is just another science like agriculture or metallurgy. It is well developed in India, just like religion and philosophy. The theory behind astrology is based on the Indian view that everything in this universe originate from one source. So by a reasonable understanding of the dynamics in one part of the universe, one can expect a particular pattern of events in another part of the universe. Beyond that there is no relationship.
