It is the first time I have seen someone ask such a genuine and structured
question of how to get started and reach the professional level of astrology. I
really hope you complete your journey and wish you luck.
Start with the books of mathematics written in easy ways. It is absolutely a
crime to venture into predictive astrology without no practical knowledge of
the basic calculations. Often, when we begin with the lack of basic
understanding, we end up making stupid extrapolations and assumptions to
suit our ignorance. That is the first pit in which any learner of astrology falls.
Either people make up their own explanations which are utterly wrong, or
they get so confused that they give up completely.
Before even going into astrology, learn the planets in their mythological
roles. That is extremely important and will make it pretty easy to memorize
the functions and roles of the planets. The first book I would suggest
is Navgraha Purana by V S Rao. It is not actually a Purana but a story
book. It compiles the stories about the planets from different mythological
texts into one single book written as a story. It is interesting to read, simple
and much like any novel.
So, first advice is to begin with a book on Siddhanta. The mathematical
aspects of astrology. There are two which I absolutely love. First is B V
Raman’s A Manual of Hindu Astrology (1935), and the second is B.
Suryanarain Rao’s The Astrological Self Instructor (1893).
Thereafter, move on to Sripati Paddhati to understand houses, calculation of
houses, and all the mathematical aspects of a horoscope. The first two books
I mentioned talk about the planets, their speed, ayanamsha, division of time
in astrology etc. This book describes how houses are different from signs and
how we can caculate them. What is a cusp and other technical points used in
the actual analysis of the horoscope.
Next, there are seven great books to begin astrology with. The actual
predictive one. These have been translated numerous times and are
commonly available. These are:
1. Brihat Jataka of Varahmihira
2. Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra of Parashara
3. Hora Sara of Prithyuyasas
4. Jataka Parijata of Vaidyanath
5. Phaladeepika of Mantreswara
6. Uttara Kalamrita of Kalidasa
7. Saravali of Kalyana Varma
These are basically the same things written by different authors. Much like
reference books for the same subject. If you read one in depth, you’ll be able
to skim through the others in hours. Just focus on the differences and
additional details given in them.
Once you have done this, you should move on to the broader horizon of
astrology. About the mundane aspects and overall analysis of years, days,
events, muhurat etc. The books are:
1. Muhurat by B V Raman (for starter)
2. Narada Samhita of Mahamuni Narada
3. Brihat Samhita of Varahmihir
4. Purva Kalamrita of Kalidasa
These again are mostly same but skimming through all makes it easy to learn
and memorize. Brihat Samhita is the primary text book for in-depth
understanding. Muhurat by B V Raman is your go to book for all clarifications
and for basic understanding.
Now, for the practical aspect of predictions and to understand how exactly to
give out predictions, use B V Raman’s books. He has beautifully shown how
things work in reality. If you do not have a guru or a teacher, consider him to
be your teacher and follow everything he has written. There is no other
author you can blindly trust but B V Raman. The books that help in the
practical aspects are:
1. How to Judge a horoscope (Vol 1 & 2)
2. Notable Horoscopes
3. 300 Important Combinations
4. The Art of Prediction (This one is by J N Bhasin not Raman)
5. There is also a book by R Santhanam on how to judge horoscopes,
but I cant remember the name.
If you complete these honestly, take my word you’ll be better than 70% of
Indian astrologers even on your worst day.
Now, as for the advanced astrology, the following books are recommended.
But fair warning, these will be pointless and senseless if you haven’t covered
the above ones. Even if you read and remember the below books, they won’t
give results. The books are written as sutras or codes. What exactly do they
say can only be deciphered after perfecting the above books. Only Prashna
Shastra is something that will make sense even if you haven’t honestly
covered all aspects of astrology above.
Prashna Shastra (Art of Predictions by making any random
horoscope):
1. Prashna Tantra
2. Prashna Marga
3. Bhuvan Deepika
Advanced Astrology:
1. Jaimini Sutram
2. Tajik Neelkanthi
3. Lal Kitab (original in 3 volumes)
Swara Shastra (Predictions through analysis of Breath and sound):
1. Swara Chintamani
2. Narpati Jaicharyaswarodaya
It is said that an astrologer learned in Swara Shastra is the most valuable
gem in any king’s court. That a king cannot win a critical war despite
advantage in strategy, numbers, technology or anything if an astrologer
learned in Swara Shastra is with the opponent’s side. It is one of the highest
forms of divination and extremely difficult to get the hang of. Which is why
you may not even find authentic translations or any commentaries as well.
Nadi Astrology:
Texts of Nadi astrology are far too many to enumerate. But all of them end
with the word Nadi. No matter which Nadi book you pick up, if you can
understand it and practice it, you will become ten times as better as you
were before starting.
This is the absolute perfection of astrology but just as difficult to understand.
Word by word, the entire book needs to be broken down and understood
through experience. But these are the only texts in which each and every
word will make sense and come true every time it is tested.
Other than these, there are thousands and thousands of texts, rare and
valuable ones that cannot be described in one answer. However, I’ll give a
few honorable mentioned in the end. Ideally, an astrologer should go through
all or most of them. But it is difficult to even get your hands on them. It may
take a man’s entire life to just get hold of one of these in its unadulterated,
and original form.
Ravan Samhita:
Almost impossible to get, this is one of the greatest works ever written on
astrology. A few of the concepts that I know from Ravan Samhita are such
magnificent tools that it will almost be a heart attack if I get a chance to go
through the actual book.
Dhundiraj’s work on astrology:
Maharaja Dhundiraj is said to be an avatar of Lord Ganesh who visited Kashi
as an astrology to teach King Ripunjaya the value of devotion. The work of
Dhundiraj on astrology is such an amazing one that I cannot begin to
describe it. It gives about great insights in astrology and gives such a process
that can open doors to numerous possibilities. But again, the work is not
conceptual. It would need a lot of knowledge to decipher the theory behind
what the book says.
Abdul Rahim Khan-I-khana’s Masterpiece:
The maestro poet Rahim was also an astrologer! He has a book on astrology
with just a hundred verses or so. I would describe it with just one doha of the
book, I am not sure if I remember it word for word, but this is what is says.
Kya jyotish dekhega kya jyotish kahega;
paida hua balak baadshashi karega!
(No matter what on earth the astrologer has to say, the child born with such a
combination will be a King throughout his life)
Rahu Centric Theory by Sri Tatvam Asi:
This may be read earlier or later, you will be able to appreciate it earlier while
learning astrology too. But if you go through it towards the end of your
journey in learning astrology, a major secret would be revealed. A huge
mystery would be resolved.
There is no end to learning, and we should keep reading no matter how much
we know. But still, a structure always helps a learner.
Hope it helps.
