UNDERSTANDING SIKHISM – The Research Journal page 38

T here is no doubt about the popularity of as-trology all over the world. It is estimated that more than half the population either believes in it or interested enough to consult astrolo-gers and read predictions published in the media. Since the beginning of 20th century there is a marked resur-gence of interest in astrology in America and the num-ber of practicing astrologers could match that of psy-chiatrists. The number of people consulting astrologers is in-creasing at very high rate throughout the world. This practice has become more prominent than before among the Canadians of Indian origin, especially the Sikhs. Almost all the ethnic TV programs are broad-casting horoscopes and special sessions for future pre-dictions regularly. Some of the astrologers are so busy that they shuttle between Toronto and Vancouver very often to satisfy their clients. It has been noticed that some parents in India consult the astrologers to find out the best time and day when the planets will be in most favorable positions for a successful future of the un-born child. Then doctor is requested to force the birth at that particular time. It is strange that recently the University Grant Commis-sion (UGC) has issued a directive to a number of uni-versities at the behest of the Union Ministry for the De-velopment of Human Resources, to introduce Vedic Astrology as a science subject. It has expectedly gener-ated a lot of heat. Protagonists of Astrology Navile [4] says that in India, the Vedic period wit-nessed remarkable flowering of astrology. There is vast amount of Sanskrit literature on the subject explaining the complex system and techniques evolved over the centuries by the learned sages and philosophers. Astrol-ogy has always been recognized and respected as a no-ble profession. Hindu astrologers were consulted by the Mogul emperors and later by the British rulers. Through astrology, people explored the prospects of their health, wealth and happiness. Every venture, ac-tivity and even a journey were undertaken on the ad-vice of astrologers who pronounced the auspiciousness of the day and time. No wonder, astrology was raised to the status of a science in India. He supports astrology as science with following exam-ples