ABSTRACT
Astrology as one may observe, everywhere in India, thrives on religion. Like Hinduism, Jyotish believes in several gods and deities; it is polytheistic in nature. Every planet and symbol of the zodiac is the manifestation of a certain divinity or demonic icon. In India the origin of several terminologies and mantras associated with astrology is rooted in Sanskrit, however, the functional language of jyotish is Hindi. The chapter entails a detailed account about the history and structure of astrology in India with the 12 signs or rashis observed in jyotish. It also covers aspects of fieldwork and the related negotiations. The field is a location that cuts across time and space, however, the inquiry around the phenomenon of astrology, challenged normative rules of the field. The study necessitated elementary learning of astrology, and the chapter includes accounts of the astrological socialization of a sociologist.
