Even through the science of palmistry had started in india, this science is quite popular and also practiced in other far east Asian countries like china, japan, and in today's age it is also picking up its popularity in European and American countries. In spite of facing several criticisms and misconstrue, this science has become so popular around the world that today it has become a subject for scientific research. Background : In the beginning of the world history, Indian sages (Aryans) found out that it was possible to study the hidden abilities, motive power, merits and demerits in the character, health, education, nature of profession, conjugal life, etc. of a person by reading and analysing marks, signs, lines all over the body. There has been a lot of discussion about the art and science of palmistry. No one is very sure about how and where this scripture of palmistry originated from. But according to ancient scholars and masters of palmistry, India is the land of origin for this science. It is believed that a Rishi named “Samudra” collected innumerable information and data from different places and countries relevant to this subject and arranged them statistically and systematically which is also known as “Samudrik Shastra” named after him. Amongst various other beliefs related to palmistry, it is also said that this science was limited to only a specific section of the society mainly nomads or gypsies. Their types of predictions were not systematic and scientific. Even though the science of palmistry had started in India, this science is quite popular and also practiced in other far east Asian countries like China, Japan, and in today’s age it is also picking up its popularity in European and American countries. In spite of facing several criticisms and misconstrue, this science has become so popular around the world that today it has become a subject for scientific research. Outstanding practitioners like Cheiro, Benham, St. German and Fred Getting from the western countries, and K.C. Sen, Mihiracharya, L.R. Chowdhury and many others proved this to be a science based on statistics and system. Definition: Palmistry is a technique or process of predicting the past, present and future of a person by studying and analyzing the marks, signs, and lines on the palms or hands, thumbs, fingers and nails. It has two systems: 1. Eastern system or Samudrika Sastra 2. Western system Eastern System or Samudrika Sastra is made of three branches: a) Cheirognomy deals with fingers, nails, mounts, etc and shape of the hand b) Cheiromancy deals with lines and marks on the palm. c) Physiognomy deals with different body parts. Western system consists of two branches: a) Cheirognomy, deals with shape of the hand, fingers and nails. b) Cheiromancy interprets the lines and marks on the hand. In Greek word Cheiro means hand. Manteia means divination, gnome means understanding. Objective: To provide useful advice and offer insight into the opportunities that will come to one during the year ahead. To indicate the cycles one experience during the course of one’s life and offers guidance in career, romance, health and prosperity. To be used as a practical method of understanding one’s deeper nature, talents, ambitions, conjugal life, health and other inner characteristics. The main objective of this science is to predict in which direction a person’s life is heading. This science helps one to detect how to avoid misfortunes and guides towards leading a better life. For e.g., after studying a person’s palm, it is possible to detect if he is to face a serious illness or accident in future. If it is illness then the person is advised to take medical precautions and if it is an accident the person is advised to be extra careful. Hence, taking timely advice from an expert palmist one can definitely avoid or reduce the effect of any misfortune. Types of prediction 1. Predictive which means through actual study and analysis. 2. Speculative or Intuitive which shows through speculations or intuitions. Which hand should be studied or analysed? There are some misconceptions that right hand should be studied for male and left hand for women which may not be correct. In fact both hands must be studied properly because right hand is the major hand for the right handers and left hand would be the major hand for the left handers. The major hand shows the qualities gained by his/her own effort and merit and the other hand shows the qualities inherited from their parents or forefathers of the person. Do the lines change? There is a saying that individual fate is pre- destined and cannot be changed. The lines of hands do change according to the mental state, attitude, efforts, environment and diseases. Lines on the hand of the children up to the age of 14 are not reliable. Before proceeding with the hand reading First and fore most duty is to maintain proper time (4 hrs after sunrise) light, place, privacy, secrecy, approach, environment, and must have essential equipment like a printing kit or a powerful camera which capture the lines of the hand clearly, a (geometry) instrument box and a powerful magnifying glass. A palmist should prepare a complete list for hand reading. It is vital and most important to give accurate information and offer useful advice after step by step and careful investigation of both the hands. Hand reading should bring to light the inter-related matter that the future holds in store. Finally, a palmist must give good encouragement to turn any negative qualities or events into favourable attributes and positive actions. How to study and analyse When a palmist starts to study the hand at first he/she should correlate between the hands and physical or mental states. Secondly, between the hands and the character. Thirdly, between both the hands and the past, present and future life. Palmistry can guide a person, make him aware of his good or bad time, his strengths and weaknesses but is not a substitute to hard work & human efforts. In every step or situation of our life palmistry can work as guiding star showing us the path and by taking timely advice from a palmist one can lead a successful life. All the elements which are included in the study of Samudrika Shastra is shown in the flow chart.