Buddhism has a relation to both the astrological and lunar features of the Thai calendar. Having originated in northern India, in a Hindu setting Buddhism often carried with it astrological ritual features from Brahman India. In addition, as Buddhism easily accommodated many other beliefs, such as the Tai animism, it was early adopted by the Tais of southern China long before the founding of Thailand. Many old temple structures built by Tai kings had an astrological base in terms of design and construction and these were built to represent the universe and its astronomical bodies. The aspect of the position of the sun and its movement from Aries into Taurus would have become important to the Thais in later years because of the emphasis placed on auspicious movements of heavenly bodies, and it would have become even more important to the Thais because of the importance placed on the Thai 12-year cycle in conjunction with the 12 astrological signs of the zodiac.