Interest in astrology is growing in leaps and bounds all over the world as both individuals and countries realize its importance in handling difficult situations that defy all efforts and common sense. Astrology can provide very good insights that can help both nations and individuals deal with such situations but this subject has never been properly presented. The present work by my revered father and the doyen of astrology Dr. B.V. Raman, though written in the 1930's, is still very relevant to the present times and covers the ancient yet modern science of Jyotisha in a concise and comprehensive manner introducing the astrology-enthusiast to the wide range of topics that comprise Jyotisha.
Useful information and planetary details in interpreting a horoscope, whether of an individual or of a nation, have been included in these pages. Both the beginner as well as the advanced student of science will find all the details needed for methodically deciphering the future given in this title.
I thank Mr. J.P. Jain and Mr. Abhishek Jain of M/s. Motilal Banarsidass International for bringing out this edition after a hiatus of many years.
Astrology is the most ancient of all sciences. It is not a science like Mathematics, Botany, Zoology, Chemistry or Physics, the study of which requires strict adherence to the world's conventionalities of commonsense reasoning and ordinary logic. Astrology comprehends something higher, mysterious and subtle. It is not a mere appeal to the reasoning faculty of man but it is an appeal to his hidden powers and capacities. Astrological predictions cannot be simply based upon strict hypothetical principles or vague guesses but a certain amount of intuitive capacity must be brought to bear upon such attempts. The various rules given for future predictions are merely intended for our guidance and we must substantiate them by recourse to the study and examination of a large number of practical horoscopes. Collect the horoscopes of a number of people of all grades, ranks, temperaments and peculiarities and study them in the light of the principles enumerated in the following pages and then you will really get some precious intellectual food for your mental refreshment and you will be doubtless convinced that astrology is a practical and useful scierice.
Astrology relies more upon the skill and intuitive capacities of the interpreter than upon complicated rules. It gives a sketch of life. It is a mirror in which one's own figure is clearly reflected. Astrology comprehends the manifestation of a sort of relationship among all objects in nature, animal, vegetable and mineral. It records the interaction of influences of all things, visible and invisible.
While Ayurveda ranks as an Upaveda, Jyotisha or Astrology is one of the Vedangas. It was not a mere accident that distinguished practitioners of one of these arts were generally proficient in the other also. Cosmos is a unity and knowledge cannot be cut up and confined in rigid water-tight compartments.
Astrology when properly understood will be most useful in the daily transactions of life. A repetition of this idea would be superfluous as the very first chapter of the book deals with the "Necessity for the Study of Astrology".
This science had been cultivated to a high degree of perfection by the Hindus long before the so-called period of authentic history. Their researches may be brought under the following three important divisions: (1) Parasari, (2) Jaimini and (3) Tajaka. Almost all astrological books in India are after Parasara who is said to have lived before the dawn of Kali Yuga (more than 5,000 years ago). Even eminent authors and commentators like Varahamihira, Bhattotpala, Venkatesa and others, who have enriched the astrological field by the effusions of their fertile brains, have held Parasara in high esteem and have based all their writings on the principles propounded by him. Thus, there is absolutely no ground to doubt the accuracy of the Parasari system. The Jaimini School of Astrology considerably differs from that of Parasari in as much as the method followed by the former in the treatment of even the fundamental principles, is at considerable variance from that of the latter. In spite of Jaimini being held in very high esteem as the author of the great Poorva Meemamsa Sastra or the subtle and recondite system of philosophy, his astrological methods are not in vogue in India excepting that they are consulted as an alternative to Parasari. The Tajaka* is entirely devoted to the deciphering of Varshaphal or the annual results and its importance is revealed only in recent times. Thus the Parasari is the most common method having won the general acceptance of all eminent people in all ages.
I have mainly followed Parasara in the collection of material for this book and have devoted myself to a clear exposition of the various principles of astrology by following which the future of man can be revealed with sufficient accuracy.
In chapters dealing with Casting the Horoscope, Ashtakavarga, Death, Horary Astrology, Medical Astrology, Lost Horoscopes or Unknown Birth Times, etc., every effort has been made to illustrate the theoretical principles with practical examples.
The chapters on Death and Unknown Birth Times open fresh fields for research and investigation. It is with a view to drawing the attention of the reader to the necessity of instituting inquiries into the problem of Unknown Birth Times that these chapters have been included.
Horoscopes (198)
Medical Astrology (51)
Nadi (38)
Numerology (59)
Original Texts (254)
Palmistry (53)
Planets (264)
Romance (35)
Vastu (130)
Vedic Astrology (105)
हिन्दी (266)
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