Sunday, May 30, 2010

Modern Astrology Books

Modern Books

Light on Life (Not only the best Vedic astrology book in English, but a huge number of insights and gems for Western astrologers too.)

by Hart de Fouw and Robert Svoboda


Path of Light vol. 1 & 2 (Truly excellent new books by a brilliant and generous astrologer who shares his great depth of understanding of Jyotish. Highly Recommended!)

by James Kelleher


New Techniques of Prediction 1 & 2 (For advanced Vedic astrologers only, the brilliant predictive methods and understandings of a great Jyotish master)

by H.R. Seshadri Iyer



Learn Astrology The Easy Way (For beginning to intermediate students of Vedic astrology, this provides a very good education in Vedic astrology.)

by Dr. G.S. Kapoor


A Thousand Suns an excellent new Vedic book that covers a huge range of Vedic topics in a very accessible and easy-to-read conversational style. Highly Recommended!

by Linda Johnsen


Astro Sutras
Events and Nativities
and Art of Predictions
(excellent books by the late excellent astrologer Bhasin)

by JN Bhasin


How to Read a Bhava (a very small book that condenses divisional chart analysis quite well)

by Dr. T. S. Vasan


Varshphal or Annual Horoscope (an excellent book on Vedic Solar Returns)

by Sumeet Chugh


Predictive Astrology - An Insight (a comprehensive & excellent analysis of planets in houses)

by Dinesh S. Mathur


Practical Vedic Astrology (a fine compendium of 25 years of the authors notes, well organized)

by G. S. Agarwal


How to Read Your Horoscope (newly reprinted – excellent modern interpretations of lordships , planets in signs and houses, etc.)

By James E. Higgins III and Tom Hopke


Vault of the Heavens (a lovely and comprehensive textbook on Vedic astrology, complete with modern interpretations of the lordships for each Lagna, and more.)

& Core Yogas (a unique, descriptive, and comprehensive analysis of yogas)

both by Ernst Wilhelm


Navamsa in Astrology (extensive examination of the navamsa and classical approaches to it.)

by Chandulal S. Patel


A Course in Indian Astrology (101 lessons in astrology by knowledgeable Jyotishis)

by Prof. N.E. Muthuswamy and Prof. K.P. Dharmaraja Iyer


Dr. K.S. Charak has many books, including a two volume Elements of Vedic Astrology, Varshaphal (which Hart endorses), and my favorite of his Yogas in Astrology


Astrology and Jyotirvidya (a very intelligent and well-thought out book on many facets of Jyotish, including Nakshatras, Dasas, Prognosis, and much more.)

by Viswanath Deva Sarma


Mansions of the Moon (a wonderful book on Nakshatra myths, meanings, etc.)

by Kenneth Johnson


Predictive Astrology of the Hindus (extensive and excellent)

by Pandit Gopesh Kumar Ojha


The Astrology of the Seers (a very good book, but it mixes a little Western astrology in)

by David Frawley


The Lunar Nodes (some very good insights in this one)

by Komilla Sutton

also her Essentials of Vedic Astrology and her Indian Astrology coffee table book have merit.


Ganesha Hora Shastram (An incredibly deep exploration of each house, its occupants, and lord.)

by S. Ganesh


Nakshatras (The first Western book on Nakshatras, the product of a great deal of research.)

by Dennis Harness




Classical Vedic Texts


You can download a free collection of Classical Vedic Texts including Brihat Parahara Hora Shastra, Bhavartha Ratnakara, Bhrgu Sutras, and many more by clicking here. (Just scroll down the page a bit to find all of the classical Vedic texts.)

Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (the "bible" of Vedic astrology)

Translated by R. Santhanam


Phaladeepika (the second most important "bible" in Vedic astrology)

Translated by S. S. Sareen

(Do NOT get the translation by Kapoor, it's riddled with errors)


Uttara Kalamrita (an excellent book showing themes of each house in depth)

Translated by S. S. Sareen or by Dr. P.S. Sastri


Saravali (two volume classic focuses on planets in houses, decanates, etc.)

Translated by R. Santhanam


Bhrigu Sutram (a look at each planet in each house, with reference to 4 Vedic classics)

Translated by G. S. Kapoor


Brihat Jataka (one volume with extensive and interesting notes by the translator) and Sri Sarwathachintamani (two volume set with extensive, useful commentary of this major Vedic classic)

both translated by B. Suryanarain Rao


Jataka Parijata (3 Vol) (/w Original Slokas in Sanskrit and English Trans. My Vedic teacher, Hart often quotes this important work that is used as the textbook in Vedic studies in India )

by Subramanyam Shastri


Kalaprakasika (I haven't seen this one, but it's recommended by Hart)

translated by N.P. Subramaria Iyer

Link Pages

Jyotish Writings of P.V.R. Narasimha Rao