Quote:Astrology is very dangerous for the Indians (may be for others too).

It must be generally discouraged rather than encouraged along with a

host of other Indian practices commonly touted as the "spirtual

sciences" of India. It is also necessary to differentiate astrology

from religion. While I happen to be a scientist by profession I am not

speaking from the point of view of a rationalist, western atheist

(not inclusive of the Charvaka or Epicurian) or the humanist. A

proper religion is very important for people and unlike most

scientists believe that atheism, rationalism and humanism are about as

futile as monotheism.



Astrology should be prised out of its place in the people's hearts

along with other things like vastu, pyschoanalysis and the like. It

should be kept in mind that what Wendy Doniger, Jeff Kripal and

Caldwell teach in USA, is as crappy as what T.Vaidyanathan teaches in

India and needs to be disbanded from our environs, just as astrology

etc.



If the effects of astrology were about as harmless entertainment as

watching a cricket match on TV it is OK-

But astrology has a perverse effect on Indians in many ways: Given

that the majority of Indians follow the arranged marriage system

astrology really affects their mate choice in a serious way and

creates undue competition between males for females.



Astrology causes a certain sense of inaction and social inferiority:

E.g. When the astrologer says that you would not have kids, one may

alter ones behavior with disasterous effects.



Astrology keeps the our people under fear and ignorance and they fail

to appreciate the beauties of nature. A friend and I once organized a

star viewing sessions where in we were to acquaint people with the

night sky and show them sights through our telescopes. Fear was the

one word that characterized much of the elder generation vistors.

mothers were telling children not to look at Saturn lest the 'evil

eye' fall on them. Yet another middle aged gentleman asked if seeing a

non-naked comet would have a bad effect on him. Another asked what the

presence of Uranus in his rAshi meant? Many lost interest our

astronomical details because astrology was not talked about.



Astrology may make one feel worse unlike religion that makes you feel

good.



Finally there is nothing vedic in 'vedic astrology' simply a misuse of

the word vedic as in vedic astronomy. You do not see much belief in

astrology in the vedic literature.



http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianCivilization/message/5150

Quote:We had this discussion before on this forum before & HH was willing to debate if the gung ho astrology supporters could do the following:



"For debating/trashing a counter-point made in this regard I however place some pre-condition. The person should be able to read and cite in original saMskR^ita a wide range of early Hindu texts. These include: 1) aushanasa adbhutAni 2) gR^ihya sUtra-s of different vedic traditions 3) atharva veda parishiShTa-s 4) yavana jAtaka of sphujidhvaja 5) bR^ihat saMhitA. I would also place a pre-condition that the person should actually be able to perform *vedic* rites of the nakShtra and graha variety by himself or at least know *all* operational details of these rites. And the person should know some basic Indo-European linguistics."