Which is the best reference Lal Kitab?

Long back I had written an article by the name of "Which Lal Kitab Book" to tell Lal Kitab students which are the good and the bad books available on this subject. The article was written in year 2004 and since then, much water has flown through the Ganga. One very important development is that now almost all five editions of Lal Kitab are available in Hindi, which gives Hindi readers more options. Today, somebody asked about Lal Kitab reference books in my Lal Kitab discussion forum and this was my answer (with some enhancements) -

Lal Kitab is not a name of one single book. There are five books published during year 1939 to 1952 written by Pt. Roop Chand Joshi. One need to read all those books to understand Lal Kitab fully. In my opinion 1952 edition is the most exhaustive and must be the first book to be read by all Lal Kitab enthusiasts. 1952 edition also covers most of the content in previous editions and hence kind of super-set of all Lal Kitab editions. The best transliteration so far for 1952 edition is available in the form of "Arun Samhita", published by Hare Krishna Trust, Chandigarh. Due the nature of language used in Lal Kitab, it is very difficult to understand in one single reading. My suggestion to Lal Kitab students is that one need to read and reread Lal Kitab to understand it.

For further reading, I would suggest reading books in following sequence -

• 1942 edition (Lal Kitab - Tarmeem Shuda): Hindi transliteration of 1942 edition by Pt. Beni Madhav Goswami is available from Durga Pocket Books.
• 1940 edition (Lal Kitab ke Armaan): Hindi transliteration by Pt. Beni Madhav Goswami available from Himalaya Publications/ Sagar Publications
• 1941 edition (Lal Kitab - Teesra Hissa, also known as Gutka): Hindi transliteration by Yograj Prabhakar available from Rahul Computers, Patiala
• 1939 edition (Lal Kitab ke Farmaan): Hindi transliteration by Pt. Beni Madhav Goswami available from Himalaya Publications/ Sagar Publications. This is primarily a book on Palmistry aspect of Lal Kitab.

Two other recommended books are -

• Lal Kitab Prishthabhoomi Aur Vyakhaya by Pt. Krishna Ashant
• Lal Kitab Aur Kashta Nivaran by Sumat Prasad Kalka

Both of the above books are good introductory books, but have some serious shortcomings. For example, reasoning behind remedies is flawed in both the books. So wherever these authors have explained the working of Lal Kitab remedies, those sections should be ignored. Also Pt. Ashant book's section on background of Lal Kitab does not seems to be correct where he questions the authorship of Pt. Roop Chand Joshi. Probably both the books -Krishna Ashant's book and Arun Samhita - questioned the authorship to avoid copyright issues. Sumat Prasad Kalka's book has listed remedies for all nine planets in twelve houses. That is not only incorrect but also risky. Remedies should always be suggested by analyzing the overall chart and should not be given for individual planet position. Lal Kitab has given detailed grammar (rules for analyzing chart) and the cause of problem should be identified using the grammar and the remedies should be suggested to solve that particular problem. In other words, last two books should be used with caution.

Note:

• One can find a list of astrology book stores here.
• If you are looking for the book in English, you will have to rely on the old article for some information on the Lal Kitab books in English. Nothing much has changed on English landscape.
• I have a dedicated blog on Lal Kitab at http://www.lalkitab.in/. If you are mainly interested in Lal Kitab, you can subscribe that blog.
  

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Book Review: Astrology of Professions by K.K.Pathak

I bought few book this weekends. The one book that I want to talk about here is as follows -

Name: Astrology Of Professions, Priciples and Practices (Two Volumes)
Price: Rs. 275/- each (Rs. 550/- total)
Author: K.K. Pathak
Publication: Alpha Publication, Delhi

In the preface authors says "I have always had a yearning to study comprehensively the classical writings on professions and then interpret and correlate them to modern times." This is one of the objectives of the book. Authors further says "At the same time there has been a demand for a text which can be used almost like a handbook or a ready reckoner by readers for discerning and predicting about profession in a horoscope with ease".

After going through both the volumes, I must say though the author is successful in the second objective, he failed in the first objective. The book looks like just a collection of existing sutras that can be found in existing texts by classical authors like Bhrigu, Kalyan Varma, Narayan Bhatt, Yavanacharya etc. A person like me who already possesses those texts, will not find anything useful in this book. Author doesn't have any new research, neither has has any suggestion based on his experience. The book clearly lacks the depth and research.

As mentioned above, the book is divided into two volume. The first part deals with theory and second deals with around 160cases. Now a days it has become fashion to divide book in theory and practical. To me it doesn't make much sense because it creates a divide between theory and practicals. In my opinion, the cases should be discussed at the same place where theory has been discussed and there should be some connection.

There are total 160 cases in both the volumes dealing with cases like politicians, scientists, literature, artists, films, sportsmen, bureaucrats, technocrats, MBAs, MCAs and CAs. Most of these cases are part of second volume. The book also deals with remedies which is also the same remedies that you will find in any other Vedic astrology books.

All and all, this is a good book, if
1. You don't have classical texts and looking for a common reference point for vocations.
2. You are looking for charts of Indian personalities and celebrities at one place.

This book is not for you, if
1. You are thinking that you will find any new research in this book, or new ideas for determining profession.
2. You are thinking that you will get planetary combinations for modern education streams and vocations.

Related Posts:
1. Book Review: Chandrakala Nadi
2. Astrology Books and Authors for Beginners

YouTube for Vedic Astrology Books

How to find a Vedic astrology book on Internet?

You might be aware of YouTube.com, a popular website for sharing videos. On the same line, there is a website http://www.scribd.com/ for sharing documents. On this website you get almost all classical texts and lots of new books on vedic astrology. This website is not just for astrological books, and like youtube, you can search document on any subject here. I believe it also allows you to download the document for future reference. Like YouTube, it also has a related document section, so you will find similar files on the right pane. For example, I searched for Saravali, and also found Phaladeepika, Bhrigu Sutram, Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra etc. in the related documents list.

Here are the direct links to some of the classical books on vedic astrology
Stri Jatak
Satya Jataka
Bhavartha Ratnakara
Bhrigu Sutras
Uttarakalamritam
Phala Deepika
Kalyana Varma's Saravali
Mantreshwara's Phaladeepika
Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra
Jaimini Sutra (Commentory by Bangalore Suryanaran Rao)

Some of these documents may also be of your interest -
Mantras and remedies for the nine planets
Atmakaraka
Jyotish Alpha & Beta
FAQ on Retrograde Planets
Vedic Calendar
Loss and Gain in Career
Sri Yantra and Sideral Astology
Effects of Navamsa
Nabhasha Yoga

Related Posts:

1. Free Astrology Books Download
2. KP Astrology Books
3. Astrology Books and Authors for Beginners
4. Download Lal Kitab

Free Western Astrology Books

Wealth of western astrology books are available online here for free here. Few of them are in ZIP format and can be downloaded. Whereas few others can be read online. May not be the most popular one, but definitely an addition in your kitty (of course, free). Though most of the books are available in English, but few of them are also available in Spanish, French, Italian, and German. Please check the URL -

Download them or read online

Few More Books Download

One of the readers of this blog asked for Lal Kitab. I remember I had one copy of Lal Kitab in downloadable format. But this time I was unable to find it. I did a google search for Lal Kitab. But surprisingly it brings me to this blog. Anyway, I found another page where there were some other books available for download. You will also find some other Vaidik astrology treatise like Garga Hora, Bhavartha Ratnakar, Prashna Tantra and Sanketnidhi.

Please check the link here.

Free Astrology Books Download

I have seen lots of people searching for free Vedic astrology books. I have found one website where they have given all ancient Vedic astrology treatise like Brihat Jatak, Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (BPHS), Saravali, Garga Hora, and Horasara etc. Other than that you will find all four Vedas i.e. Riga veda, Sama veda, Yajur veda, and Atharva veda and upnishadas.

For ease of download I am also giving the direct link of the books here -

Brihat Jataka (zip.74KB)
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (zip.195KB)
Kalyana Varma's Saravali (zip.164KB)
Garga Hora by Sage Gargacarya (zip.56KB)
Horasara of Prithuyasas (zip.95KB)

First three books are called Brihattrayi (three biggies) of Vedic astrology. It means that these are the three most important Vedic astrology reads. Without these one can not complete his/her jyotish learning. I hope you will find it useful.

Here is the actual link of the page.

Keep enjoying the blog and don't forget to put your comments.

Astrology Books and Authors for beginners

When any student of astrology starts digging the subject a little deeper, the difficult question arises - which books and authors one should read? You will
find yourself in ocean of books where you have to find perfect match to your aptitude and requirements. There are translation of treatise from various sages, there are commentaries, there are books on various systems of vedic astrology and various other books. Confusion, confusion and more confusion !!!

There are books and authors which can destroy your learning altogether. For
example read Naryan Dutt Shrimali, infamous Indian astrologer, and I can assure you, you will forget whatever you have learnt in the past :-) So choosing right books and authors is very important for your astrology learning. Here I am presenting a list of authors who can help you in learning astrology. I am not presenting a list of books as it will be a big list in itself, there are many good books which suits different aptitude and taste. Here is the list and I tried to rank them according to the utility for the beginner -

1. J.N. Bhasin, Books published mostly form Ranjan Publications, Good books are: Janampatri Swayam Banaiye, Art of Prediction, Sapta Rishi Nadi, Uttar Kalamrita


2. K.S. Krishnamurti, Books published mostly from Krishnamurti Publications, Good book is Fundamental Principles of Astrology


3. Gayatri Devi Vasudev, Books published mostly from Motilal-Banarasidas
   & UPSBD, Good books are: Horary Astrology, How to Judge the
   Horoscope - part II.


4. Major Khot, Books published mostly from Motilal-Banarasidas, Good books are: Laghu-Parashari Siddhanta


5. K.N. Rao, Books published mostly by Vani Graphics, Gook book is:
   Astrology, Destiny and the Wheel of Time.


6. K.H.N. Katve, Books published by Nagpur Prakashan, Good books are: books in 25 books series.

I have chosen above authors due to their methodological approach and
clear-cut presentation.
There are few other authors that one should not (or never) read. Here is the list -

• Narayan Dutt Shrimali


• Rajesh Dixit


• Bhojraj Dwivedi