Palmistry is a method of counseling that originated in India over 3,000 years ago. It is a part of a vast field of study, referred to as Samudrik Shastra. This literally means the ocean of knowledge. Palmistry is a sub-section of this vast knowledge that deals specifically with the study of the hand and the imprints therein. This is not foretelling. The original intent of palmistry was for personality assessment and counseling. One`s social attitudes, conscious awareness, emotional tendencies, and subconscious fears, blockages and strengths can be understood in great detail through this in-depth system. In palmistry it analyses the hand and the markings on it carry different meaning. Though these days it is used to predict the future of an individual, palmistry does well with the personality assessment task.

Palmistry existed in India for a few thousand years BC. Palmistry did not arrive in Europe till the 12th Century. Indian hand reading had already spread to China and Japan where it was refined. Arabic traders picked it up on their travels and took it to Europe. But since it was linked to Islam, Christian translators applied their own religious symbolism to the meanings of the hands at different Universities. Not after long period to this, the first European palmistry books appeared. In the 14th Century the Gypsies came to Europe from India with their system of Indian hand reading and combined it with their gifts for clairvoyance. Thus it can be said that these early forms of hand reading i.e. Arabic, Christian, and Gypsy, all came from ancient Indian palmistry as well.

The human palm best reveals the story of the human life in the past, present and future. The hand cannot perform a single action without the brain, and there are more nerves from the brain to the hand than to any other part of the body. From time immemorial the hands are the major messaging tools of the human community. Many ancient civilizations had good reason to study mankind through the hands as for example their shape, their texture, and the lines within them.

To summarize palmistry can be explained as the science of reading, deciphering meanings for analyzing potential abilities, inherent nature, and predicting future is known as Palmistry. Indian Palmistry or Samudrika, is practiced in India since thousands of years till date to help individuals in tapping their hidden potential and guiding them towards their goals. Palmistry has developed differently in both East and West worlds. In India, the focus is greatly on the past and future of an individual whereas in West it mainly focuses on psychic readings. This is particularly useful if individuals want to know more about their own potentials and discern their future. There are mainly two schools of thoughts namely the Samudrika and Skanda schools of Indian Palmistry. Indian Palmistry can be extremely useful for discovering one`s nature, aptitudes, and hidden potential, marriage compatibility, career information, and forecasting of any dangers that might come in way. The main lines which are read and scrutinized in Indian Palmistry include lines of father, mother, brother, sister, marriage, enemy, fame, vehicle, education, life, and many others. Certain auspicious signs that are often sought for in Indian Palmistry include fish, bow, Trident, lotus, tree, circle, triangle, serpent, and many others. Such symbols when found at their destined places, they usually increase fame, fortune, status, wealth, respect, success, and guard from enemies, besides others. Indian Palmistry, is a science, like other types of Palmistry which needs rigorous and detailed study. Palmists who master this science to perfection enable to discover the hidden talents, ward off dangers, and choose the right path to success.

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