A Reading List in Vedic Astrology

by Hank Friedman I spent several hours going through my entire Vedic library for the best books in my collection. Here they are. I hope that my research serves you well. [Note: about 90% of the Vedic astrology books that I've purchased -- and I've purchased a lot of Vedic books! -- have been either rehashes of Classical works with no new insights, or poor translations, or simply the speculations of authors who haven't mastered Vedic astrology. That is, in part, what inspired me to provide the following reading list. I don't want you to waste your time or money, which is easy to do because so many Vedic books are just not worth getting.] Important Update: I have just expanded this Vedic Astrology booklist and created a page on Amazon that both describes each book and allows you to easily order any of them. You can view this new listing by clicking here to see what books shaped my understanding of astrology, and even get copies for yourself. Note: You can download formatted copies of both modern and Classical Vedic texts for free here. [Just scroll down to the section entitled: Astrology (Jyotish) in Hinduism] 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 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