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Beginner-beginner

Bepin Behari. (2003). Fundamentals of Vedic Astrology: Vedic Astrologer's Handbook, Volume One. Lotus Press: Twin Lakes, WI.

• Like its companion volume, "Planets in Signs and Houses" (2003), this book is a well-organized, portable reference guide to Jyotisha basics. Nicely typeset with clear chapter headings. Assets for the learner include an extensive table of contents, index, glossary, and a variety of handy charts.

  Introductory Topics in Part-1 and Part-2 = rashi (signs), bhava (houses), signs (rashi), yogas (combinations), nakshatra (lunar astrology), varga (divisional charts), Kalapurusha (the cosmic man, for medical astrology) and planetary friendships. Part-3 interpretation = more esoteric but still basic enough to guide beginners.

  Because this list of topics would be covered in any introductory Jyotisha class, Behari's "Fundamentals" makes a convenient textbook for a first class in Jyotisha or for self-learning. For my beginning classes, I recommend the pair, Vedic Astrology Handbook 1 and Handbook 2. Intermediate students are directed to more comprehensive English texts such as "Light on Life" (1996) and "Three Hundred Important Combinations" (1947, 1983)and others.

  The nakshatra descriptions are scaled-down versions from "Myths and Symbols" (1990). These simplified versions = 3-4 paragraphs each, which seems just right for the beginner who is already overwhelmed with the complexity of Jyotisha terminology. Intermediate students can search "Myths and Symbols" for more depth. Behari's drishti patterns seem a bit exotic, esp. for Rahu-Ketu (p 158-160). If the beginner needs more background on planetary aspects (drishti) there is an introductory treatment of Parashari drishti in David Frawley's "The Astrology of the Seers" (1990).

  Overall, a right-sized reference guide that is easy to buy and use for a class. Recommended to students and teachers who need an introductory English-language text for ready reference to basic Jyotisha concepts.

Bepin Behari. (2003). Planets in Signs & Houses :Vedic Astrologer's Handbook, Volume Two. Lotus Press: Twin Lakes, WI.

• Great textbook for a first class in Jyotisha or for self-learning. Organized in an easy look-up, reference book format. English vocabulary is well chosen. Descriptions of the planetary placements are clear enough that the engaged reader can perceive the underlying relationship between the graha (planet) which occupies the rashi (sign) and the graha which owns the rashi. This fundamental relationship is crucial to all Jyotisha interpretation.

  The reader who claims that the book (or its interpretations) is "flawed" may be reacting to a slightly fatalistic or judgmental tone in Behari's descriptions. It is true that the reader will need a moderate level of East-West intercultural competence to appreciate the rather somber writing style of men of Behari's generation. However, the descriptions are accurate and the tone, in the case of negative placements, is not unwarranted.

  It is also true that studying one's own nativity, exclusively and in detail, is never a good way to learn Jyotisha. It is almost impossible to take an objective view of one's own self. The mature student of Jyotisha will do case-studies of numerous charts (friends, family, celebrities) about which the factual life details are well known. After comparative study, the student can determine whether Behari's placement descriptions are accurate across a range of objective samples. This method will avoid the type of personal reactivity expressed by the angry reader above.

  As a student and teacher of Jyotisha in the West, I appreciate that the late Bepin Behari (and his USA publishers) have provided an accessible, affordable, and easy-to-use English-language guide to basic planetary placement interpretation. I would recommend Planets in the Signs and Houses to any beginning student or teacher of beginners.

Robert Svoboda. The Greatness of Saturn: A Therapeutic Myth   

Manik Chand Jain. (1973). The Stars and Your Future.   

This handy guidebook gives esoteric descriptions of each degree in the circle of 360. Very popular, and remarkably accurate for the navamsha lagna degree. Helpful tool for confirming degree qualities in  rectification. 

Many of Jain's popular books appear to have been heavily plagiarized, mainly from western sources, which has tarnished Jain's reputation in the West. It is clear that parts of The Stars and Your Future are outright copies of Isidore Kozminsky's Zodiacal Symbology & Its Planetary Power (1917) (see http://www.astroamerica.com/v-jain.html for evidence ) 

Nevertheless this little book is a marvelously useful Jyotisha utility, and highly recommended. 

Intermediate-beginner

Valerie Roebuck. (2002). The Circle of Stars . A brief , yet highly readable, cultural and linguistic history of the Jyotisha tradition. Roebuck's explanation of the Vedic nakshatra tradition is especially recommended. 

May be out of print or hard to find, but worth searching for. Roebuck provides a clearly written introductory, accessible introduction to Jyotisha for the modern educated audience. Roebuck holds a Cambridge Ph.D. in Indian art & history. Her lucid explanations of how Jyotisha has reached its current cultural condition, are grounded in Sanskrit linguistics & scholarly history (rather than patriotism or wishful thinking). 

In the clearest & most digestible way, Roebuck tells the tale of how solar/rashi astrological traditions entered India, and were eventually fused with the ancient, indigenous lunar/nakshatra map of the sky, which had persisted since the earliest Vedas. The Circle of Stars is the best resource in English for clear, linguistically accurate Nakshatra definitions. Highly recommended!

David Frawley. The Astrology of the Seers. 

Robert Svoboda and Hart de Fouw. (2000). Light on Life: An Introduction to the Astrology of India.

Robert Svoboda and Hart de Fouw. (2000). Light on Relationships: The Synastry of Indian Astrology. 

Shil-Ponde. (1939). Hindu Astrology Joytisha-Sastra . 

Advanced-beginner

Bepin & Madhuri Behari. Esoteric Principles of Vedic Astrology.  

Bepin Behari. Myths and Symbols of Vedic Astrology.   

Similar to Behari's "Planets in Signs and Houses" and "Fundamentals of Vedic Astrology", this semi-introductory Jyotisha text is a handy reference work for intermediate students of the vidya - with certain caveats.

Students of Jyotisha who are already educated in western astrology, and wanting to acquire proficiency in Jyotisha, may find Behari's descriptions too heavily laden with theosophical concepts, or simply too mystical. Even those who come to Jyotisha studies without western tradition background may find that Behari's theosophy overwhelms his astrology. Students unfamiliar with theosophical teachings may struggle to separate the classical Jyotisha information from his heavily embroidered cosmological context.

Having said that, the student will find value in owning one volume that fairly concisely explains the navagraha (nine planets), the twelve rashi (signs), and the twenty-seven nakshatra (lunar mansions). Since there is very little nakshatra literature available in English, Behari's nakshatra chapters, each a readable 2.5 pages, will be an important addition to the Jyotisha learner's library.

Other reference assets for learners include a detailed index (rare in Jyotisha books!) and glossary, as well as several large, appended tables. Overall, this volume is worth the purchase price. I used it to learn from, and now I teach from it. Recommended to intermediate-level students, who have already acquired basic Jyotisha terminology -- with the caution that Behari's theosophy and his astrology do need to be mentally separated, in order to make full use of the book.

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Bepin Behari. Timing of Events.   

B.V. Raman. A Catechism of Astrology.  

Dennis Harness. The Nakshatra.   A brief introductory overview and reference for beginners.  B. V. Raman's "Nakshatra Compatibility Chart" on p. 132-133 = a very helpful tool for quick marriage compatibility assessments.

Handy reference guide to the 27 (with Abijit, 28) Nakshatra, or lunar mansions, used extensively in Jyotisha practice to find the specific character of the Moon (& other lagnas).

Jyotisha contains both solar & lunar astrological lineages. Nakshatra readings are from the older, lunar component. Westerners accustomed to tropical, solar-only astrology will find nakshatra divisions perhaps a very new concept. (For a historical explanation of the merging of solar & lunar systems in Jyotisha, see Valerie Roebuck "The Circle of Stars".)

Harness' " Nakshatra" provides a nice way to dip one's baby toe into the rich & complex lunar-house system. It offers about 3 pages of description for each nakshatra. 3 pages turns out to be perfect for beginner-level quick reference without detailed study.

Each 3-page description includes David Frawley's definition of the nakshtra's "shakti" or divine energy, the central stars in its astronomical constellation, ruling planet & ruling deities, animal symbol, and descriptive psychological profile. (Harness has a PhD in counseling psychology.) There is a brief but useful section on Nakshatra as a tool to establish relationship compatibility, and a note on kuja dosha. Good index too! (A great rarity in Jyotisha books...) At the end, there is an appendix containing 12 basic rashi profiles, which may be helpful for early beginners.

If you are starting from a Western astrological perspective and have never heard of Nakshatra, by all means buy this modest volume for your Jyotisha bookshelf. It is approachable and easy to read.

Seasoned practitioners of the Vidya may find the descriptive material rather superficial, to the point of sounding vapid. This is definitely not a scholarly text. Considering the complexity of nakshatra lore, it is not even particularly informative.

However, there is one advanced feature that experienced Jyotishi may agree re-pays the cost of this book. That is Harness' by-permission copy of B.V. Raman's incredibly convenient nakshatra marriage compatibility chart, listed on p. 132-133. If one does frequent compatibility assessments, this chart can be a time-saver.

Despite its limitations or perhaps because of them, " Nakshatra" offers good value to its intended audience of early beginner students of Jyotisha. Harness has done a service by packaging "the tip of the iceberg" in a pleasant, accessible style.

Essential Classical Jyotisha Reference Works 

Three Hundred Important Combinations by Shri B. V. Raman

Jaimini Sutram

Jaimini Upadesha Sutram

Phaladeepika

Saravali

Hora Sara of Varaha Mihira

Bhrigu Sutram

Sri Sarwatha Chintamani

Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (recommended trans.= R. Santhanam)

Brihat Jataka of Varaha Mihira

Jataka Parijata 

updated: 04 July 2010  

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